End Times Timeline, Study notes of Voice

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End Times Timeline According to the classical dispensationalist (pretribulational premillennial) model End Times Timeline Pretribulation Rapture (Harpazo) Judgement Seat (Bema) of Christ Marriage of the Lamb Magog Invasion Battle of Gog and Magog Tribulation (70th Week of Daniel) Great Tribulation Abomination of Desolation Second Coming (Parousia) of Christ Battle of Armageddon 75-day Interregnum Judgement of the Sheep and Goats Millennium Marriage Supper of the Lamb Satan’s Final Rebellion (Final War of Gog and Magog) Great White Throne Judgement Eternal State Note: Italicized event names denote possible (but uncertain) timings Scripture quotations are from the NASB 1995 unless otherwise stated Italicized words indicate words not present in the original texts, but that are implied by them Underlined words correspond to the name of the object/event/period in whose section they appear Literal translations (lit.) are sometimes given in parentheses Pretribulation Rapture (Harpazo) The Greek word ἁρπάζω (harpazō) means “to seize” or “to snatch out/away” This word also appears when Paul describes a man whom he knew who was raptured I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. — 2 Corinthians 12:2 It appears again in the symbolic passage of Revelation 12 And she [the woman, representing Mary, and, by extension, Israel] gave birth to a son, a male child [Christ], who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. — Revelation 12:5 An imminent event Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord [the Tribulation, preceded by the Rapture] will come just like a thief in the night. — 1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 Believers who died after Christ’s resurrection are given resurrected physical bodies For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and (lit.: who) remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. — 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. — 1 Corinthians 15:22–24 Intended to keep the Church from the Tribulation Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. — Revelation 3:10 Analogy: God recalls His “ambassadors” 1 This allows the Antichrist to take over And you know what restrains him [the “man of lawlessness”; i.e., the Antichrist] now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming. — 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8 The “restrainer” is likely the Holy Spirit, acting through the Church And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (ESV) Israel uses invaders’ weapons as ‘fuel’ for 7 years “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord God. — Ezekiel 39:9–10 Dead buried in the Valley of Hamon-Gog over a period of 7 months “On that day I will give Gog a burial ground there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it will block off those who would pass by. So they will bury Gog there with all his horde (lit.: crowd), and they will call it the valley of Hamon-gog (or the multitude of Gog). For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. — Ezekiel 39:11–12 Tribulation (70th Week of Daniel) A 7-year period of distress for the world, especially Israel, also called the time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble For behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’” Now these are the words which the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: “For thus says the Lord, ‘I (lit.: We) have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace. ‘Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale? ‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it. ‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves (lit.: him their slave). But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them [after the Tribulation]. — Jeremiah 30:3–9 “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. — Daniel 12:1 Fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy about 70 weeks (of 7 years each) “Seventy weeks (or units of seven) have been decreed for your people [Israel] and your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish (or restrain) the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy (lit.: prophet) and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree (lit.: word) to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince (or an anointed one) there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza (or street) and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing (or no one), and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its (or his) end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined (or war will be decreed for desolations). — Daniel 9:24–26 The 70 “units of seven” are 490 years The first 69 ( ) units – 483 years – describe the time from Artaxerxes giving permission to the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem (“issuing of a word”) to Jesus entering Jerusalem (as Messiah) Jesus was subsequently crucified (“cut off”), and Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed by the Romans The materialization of the final unit has been suspended: note that “everlasting righteousness” has not yet been brought in, nor has the most holy (Jesus) been anointed Jesus himself spoke of the Tribulation in the Olivet Discourse For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life (lit.: flesh) would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect (or chosen ones) those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There (lit.: Here) He is,’ do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show (lit.: give) great signs (or attesting miracles) and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. — Matthew 24:21–25 The Antichrist (symbolically, the beast from the sea 12 ) and False Prophet (symbolically, the beast from the land 13 ) rule over Earth The Antichrist confirms a covenant (peace treaty between Israel and other nations?) during this time And he [the Antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week... — Daniel 9:27 ⅔ of Israel perishes and the remaining third recognizes Christ as Lord “It will come about in all the land,” declares the Lord, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” — Zechariah 13:8–9 3rd temple built in Jerusalem Then there was given me a measuring rod (lit.: reed) like a staff; and someone said (lit.: saying), “Get up and measure the temple (or sanctuary) of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.  — Revelation 11:1 Two witnesses prophesy on Earth for the first 3½ years Leave (lit.: Throw) out the court which is outside the temple (or sanctuary) and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months [i.e., 3½ years]. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days [i.e., , where 360 days is the length of a ‘prophetic year’], clothed in sackcloth.” — Revelation 11:2–3 After these 3½ years, they are killed by the Antichrist When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. — Revelation 11:7 They are resurrected and raptured after 3½ days But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. — Revelation 11:11–12 An earthquake subsequently destroys ⅒ of Jerusalem and kills 7000 people And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people (lit.: names of people, seven thousand) were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. — Revelation 11:13 Great Tribulation There was given to him [the beast from the sea with ten horns; i.e., the Antichrist] a mouth speaking arrogant words (lit.: great things) and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months [i.e., 3½ years] was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. — Revelation 13:5–6 All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; but Jerusalem (lit.: it) will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. People (lit.: They) will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. — Zechariah 14:10–11 Battle of Armageddon And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan] and out of the mouth of the beast [the Antichrist] and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world (lit.: inhabited earth), to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon (or Armageddon). — Revelation 16:13–16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war... He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. — Revelation 19:11–14, 19:19 The Greek word Ἁρμαγεδών (Harmagedōn) comes from the Hebrew ַהר ְמִגּדֹו (Har Mĕgiddown, “Hill/Mount of Megiddo”) Many Old Testament battles took place near Megiddo: “The kings came and fought; then fought the kings of Canaan at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; they took no plunder in silver. — Judges 5:19 However, Josiah would not turn away (lit.: his face) from him, but disguised himself in order to make war with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of Megiddo. — 2 Chronicles 35:22 Zechariah alludes to Hadadrimmon, the place in the valley of Megiddo where a national lamentation was held for the death of King Josiah 14 And in that day I will set about to (lit.: seek to) destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit (or a spirit) of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. — Zechariah 12:9–11 Antichrist and False Prophet thrown into Gehenna And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence (or by his authority), by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone [Gehenna]. — Revelation 19:20 Antichrist’s army slain by the ‘sword’ of the Word of God 15 16 17 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. — Revelation 19:21 Satan and his demons bound in the Abyss for 1000 years Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in (lit.: upon) his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. — Revelation 20:1–3 75-day Interregnum From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335 days! But as for you [Daniel], go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age (lit.: days). — Daniel 12:11–13 From the installation of the Abomination of Desolation until the end of the Tribulation, there are 1260 days (3½ prophetic years), but Daniel is told that there will be another 30 ( ) days until some event, and then another 45 ( ) until (presumably) the beginning of the Millennium Some possible events: Removal of the Abomination of Desolation? Cleansing of Jerusalem and the land after the Battle of Armageddon (e.g., burying the dead)? Judgement of the Sheep and Goats? Resurrection of the Old Testament and Tribulation saints? Construction of the 4th temple? Judgement of the Sheep and Goats “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world [the Millennial kingdom]. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ ... “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ ... These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” — Matthew 25:31–46 Believers separated from unbelievers; the latter will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgement This is not the same as the Great White Throne Judgement: At the GWT judgement, everyone is thrown into Gehenna The GWT judgement is for the dead, whereas the S&G judgement is for those currently living Millennium 1000-year literal, physical kingdom on Earth ruled by Christ Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. — Revelation 20:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest (lit.: be) on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6 But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them [after the Tribulation]. — Jeremiah 30:9 Christ will reign on David’s throne, which is on Earth Takes place on Earth The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet (lit.: feast of fat things) for all peoples on this mountain [Mount Zion]; a banquet of aged wine (lit.: wine on the lees), choice pieces (lit.: fat pieces) with marrow, and refined, aged wine (lit.: wine refined on the lees). — Isaiah 25:6 Attended by all believers I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline (or dine) at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven — Matthew 8:11 Satan’s Final Rebellion (Final War of Gog and Magog) When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore (lit.: sea). And they came up on the broad plain of the earth (lit.: breadth of the earth) and surrounded the camp of the saints (or holy ones) and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. — Revelation 20:7–9 Unbelievers still exist in the Millennial Kingdom, whom Satan gathers for a final rebellion Armies surround Jerusalem and are devoured by fire from heaven Satan thrown into Gehenna And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. — Revelation 20:10 Great White Throne Judgement Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence (lit.: face) earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. — Revelation 20:11 Demons in Tartarus thrown into Gehenna This is the “time” that the demons that Jesus cast out were referring to And they [the demons] cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other (lit.: What is to us and to you, a Hebrew idiom), Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time [of judgement]?” — Matthew 8:29 The Book of Life and other books are opened And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books (or scrolls) were opened; and another book (or scroll) was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books (or scrolls), according to their deeds.  — Revelation 20:12 Resurrection and judgement of all unbelievers, who are thrown into Gehenna And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was (lit.: anyone was) not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. — Revelation 20:13–15 Eternal State Believers who were alive at the beginning of the Millennium or were born during the Millennium given new physical bodies (most likely) New Heaven and new Earth created by God “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind (lit.: heart). — Isaiah 65:17 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.  — Revelation 21:1 New Jerusalem comes down to Earth And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And he carried me away in the Spirit (or in spirit) to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance (lit.: luminary) was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. — Revelation 21:2, 21:10–11 No temple (God and the Lamb are its temple) I saw no temple (or sanctuary) in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. — Revelation 21:22 No death, mourning, crying, pain, etc. 1. 2 Cor. 5:20 ↩ 2. Ezek. 38:4 ↩ 3. Rev. 16:14 ↩ 4. Ezek. 38:11 ↩ 5. Ezek. 38:12 ↩ 6. Rev. 19:19 ↩ 7. Ezek. 39:2 ↩ 8. Rev. 16:16 ↩ 9. Isa. 63:1 ↩ 10. Ezek. 39:4–6 ↩ 11. Rev. 19:21 ↩ 12. Rev. 13:1–10 ↩ 13. Rev. 13:11–18 ↩ 14. 2 Chr. 35:22–25 ↩ 15. John 1:1 ↩ 16. John 1:14 ↩ 17. Rev. 1:16 ↩ And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” — Revelation 21:3–4 No need for sunlight or moonlight And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. — Revelation 21:23 Curse from Genesis lifted On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of (or crops of) fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him — Revelation 22:2–3 No night And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have (lit.: do not have) need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. — Revelation 22:5