The End: God’s Prophetic Plan
The end-time events prophesied in the Bible are among the most confusing, misunderstood, and outright ignored portions of Scripture. For many of us, the prophecies found in Revelation, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc. can seem not just inaccessible, but frightening, too. Studying this topic is a daunting task, and even among Christian circles, there are elements we don’t all agree on. But if prophecy makes up over one-fourth of the Bible, it should not be dismissed - we should study it diligently and seek to understand God’s plan for the future! I believe the prophecies found throughout the New Testament should not be reserved just for Bible scholars or prophecy “nerds” like me - God wants us all to understand them! In fact, John writes that we are blessed when we study the prophecies found in Revelation!
“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” - Revelation 1:3 (NIV)
Today, I’ve laid out what I believe to be an accurate timeline of the main events prophesied for the end times. However, I would encourage you to study these passages of Scripture on your own as well. As with any Bible teaching, don’t just take my word for it - open your Bible and discover what God has planned for the future yourself!
**Note: This is just a brief outline - check back later for more detailed discussions on these topics!
The Church Age
At this point in history, we find ourselves in the Church Age, which began on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and will end with the rapture of the church. From the time that Jesus first walked the earth until now, everyone who has come to faith in Jesus has become part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Scripture similarly describes believers in the Church Age as the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-32, Revelation 19:7, Mark 2:18-20). Although we do not live in the end times currently, we are living in a time in which the stage is being set for the fulfillment of many end-time events prophesied in the Bible.
The Rapture
Although the word “rapture” cannot be found in the Bible, the event it refers to is clearly portrayed in the New Testament. The doctrine of the rapture was first introduced in John 14:1-3 when Jesus promised to take His followers to be with Him:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” - John 14:1-3 (ESV, emphasis added)
Paul would later describe the rapture event in greater detail. According to his writings, two things will occur during the rapture - believers who have died will be resurrected, and believers who are still alive will be transformed into their glorified bodies. Together, they will all be caught up to meet Jesus in the air and be escorted to heaven.
“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” - 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 (ESV, emphasis added)
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (ESV, emphasis added)
The Greek word that Paul uses in the last passage is harpazo, which means to “catch up, seize, snatch away, pluck, or take by force.” According to these passages, believers will literally be “caught up” to meet Jesus in the air and be taken to heaven. The occurrence of the rapture will simultaneously bring the church age to a close and signal the beginning of the end times. God will remove His faithful believers from the earth before the hour of His judgment comes (see Revelation 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9). Even though teachings on the rapture are often met with accusations of “fear-mongering,” the Bible teaches us that we should be encouraged by the promise of the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:18, Hebrews 10:25). The rapture is our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), and we as Christians should share in the hopeful expectation that Jesus will one day return to take us to our heavenly home! In “the twinkling of an eye,” we will enter into eternity with our wonderful Savior. As believers who have put their trust in Jesus, there is no greater hope!
The Tribulation
Daniel 9:26-27 tells us that “the prince who is to come” – a world ruler more commonly known as the Antichrist – will make a seven-year covenant with Israel, thus marking the beginning of the tribulation period. The Bible is packed with prophecies regarding this seven-year period, but the passages that most directly describe the tribulation are Daniel 2, 7, 9:24-27, Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21, and Revelation 4-19. This period will be a time of trouble and distress far beyond anything the world has ever seen. Jesus said,
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” – Matthew 24:21-22 (ESV)
Although it’s difficult to understand why humanity will have to endure such turmoil, we know that God will use it to finally accomplish His purposes for the earth and humanity. The tribulation period will fulfill the 70th “week” prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27 and will be the culmination of God’s prophetic vision for Israel (see Fulfilled Bible Prophecy for more background on Daniel’s 70 weeks). During this time, God will unleash His wrath on the earth for our sin and rebellion against Him (Isaiah 26:21, Revelation 15:7-16:1). However, He will also extend grace to all who call upon Him during the tribulation. As God makes Himself known to those left on the earth, “a great multitude” of people will repent and place their trust in Him (Revelation 7:9-10, 13-14). The tribulation will be God’s final effort to draw humanity to Himself before Jesus comes again!
Jesus’ Second Coming
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords.” - Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV)
This is the main event! Jesus’ return is the culmination of all Bible prophecy and all of human history. Notice, however, that His second coming will be quite different from the first. Jesus first entered the world humbly and quietly, offering His life to pay the penalty for our sins. Conversely, Jesus will return to earth with the armies of heaven as a conquering King, destroying the armies of the Antichrist and taking His rightful place on the throne (Matthew 24:27-30, Revelation 19:11-21). Jesus will return with all power and authority to judge those living on the earth (Matthew 25:31-46), resurrect the dead (Revelation 20:4-6; Daniel 12:1-4), bind Satan (Revelation 20:1-3), and establish His kingdom!
The Millennial Kingdom
Christ will set up His kingdom and reign on Earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-6), and the utopic society that humanity has always longed for will finally be realized.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” - Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’” - Revelation 11:15 (ESV)
During this time, Satan will be bound and unable to deceive mankind as he has done from the dawn of creation. However, at the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released and will make one final attempt to overthrow God’s kingdom, but Scripture indicates that the battle will be over before it even begins (Revelation 20:7-10). Satan will be defeated once and for all, leading to our final stop before eternity.
The Great White Throne Judgment
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done…And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:11-12, 15 (ESV)
Before the final judgment, the heavens and the earth will pass away (Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10). Then Jesus will judge everyone who has ever lived and did not put their faith in Him (John 5:22; 2 Timothy 4:1), and they will be sentenced to hell forever. Pastor and prophecy scholar Mark Hitchcock writes,
“This sentence may seem harsh to us. It may even seem unfair. But we must remember that God is infinitely just. The price for sin must be paid. Christ Himself personally bore the wrath and punishment of God for human sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). Each person must either accept the infinite pardon Christ has freely offered or pay the infinite price himself or herself. The price must be paid - will we pay it ourselves or accept Christ’s payment in our place? That is the supreme choice. Either way, God is perfectly just.”[1]
Eternity
Revelation 21-22:5 describes a new heaven and a new earth, where those who put their trust in Jesus will live with Him for eternity. We will finally dwell with our Creator, just as He intended. This is the ultimate hope and expectation for every believer!
“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in [the city], and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” - Revelation 22:3-5 (ESV)
Notes
[1] Mark Hitchcock, The End: A Complete Overview of Bible Prophecy and the End of Days (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale, 2012), 441.