Prophecy

The Bible's words concerning the future have always been greatly scrutinized. One reason for this is curiosity; we wonder what's going to happen next. Another reason comes from our humanity; we wonder what will happen to the human race, and individuals personally.

The Bible itself speaks much about the future. Charles Swindoll noted in his booklet, Eternity:

One out of every 30 verses in the Bible mentions the subject of Christ's return or the end of time.
Of the 216 chapters in the New Testament, there are well over 300 references to the return of Christ.
Only 4 of the 27 New Testament books fail to mention Christ's return.
In the Old Testament, such well-known and reliable writers as Job, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, as well as most of the minor prophets wrote about the return of Jesus.
Christ Himself spoke of His return often (such as John 14-16).
Those who followed Christ's teachings and wrote New Testament scriptures frequently mentioned Jesus' return in their preaching and writings.

This site lists the future events in chronological order, as Pastor Johnston understands the way the Bible presents God's unfolding drama of history.

The Rapture

This pictures God snatching away (the meaning of the NT word 'arpazw in 1 Thessalonians 4:17) people who have trusted Christ as Savior during the church age. That same NT word is also used in Acts 8:39 to picture the Spirit moving Philip from one location to another, and in 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4 to describe Paul being taken up to Paradise. As the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 marked the beginning of the church, so this day of Rapture ends the church age. Some confuse the Rapture with the Second Coming. They are different events.

The Rapture (from 1 Thessalonians 4) Christ's Second Coming

Meet Jesus in the air (v. 17) All will see Christ's coming (Matt. 24:29, 30)
Takes believers to heaven (v. 16-17) To take vengeance on unbelievers (2 Thess. 1:8)
Comes for believers (vv. 15-17) Christ comes with His saints (Jude 14)
Christ stays in the air (v. 17) Christ lands on Mt. Olivet (Zechariah 14:4)
A time of comfort (v. 18) A time of sorrow for most (Rev. 19:17-21)

While believers are in heaven during this time before the Second Coming of Christ, the following events transpire:

Church age believers are given their rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthains 10).
Church age believers receive their final resurrection bodies.
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb takes place, where Jesus officially takes the church as His bride (Rev. 19:6-9).

The Tribulation

Background

The foundation for understanding the Tribulation is laid in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures. In Daniel 9, the prophet Daniel himself had understood the words of another Jewish prophet, Jeremiah. He had been told by God that the Babylonian empire would control God's people Judah for 70 years. Daniel began to pray, noting that 70 years of captivity had almost been marked. He reminded God of His promise to deliver. God answered Daniel with even more information than he had asked for. God gave Daniel a thumbnail sketch of His final dealings with Israel as a nation. Daniel 9:24-27 give the following reference points:

God will complete His promise to bring in righteousness and anoint the Messiah at the end of a 490 year calendar (v. 24).
That calendar begins when a command to rebuild Jerusalem is given (v. 25). Historically, that took place in 445 BC.
From the beginning of the countdown to the cutting off of the Messiah shall be 483 years, roughly ending in 30 AD (v. 26).
A leader of the peoples who destroyed Israel (the Romans) shall help confirm a seven-year covenant with Israel (vv. 26-27). Israel will again practice sacrifice, apparantly connected with temple worship. This seven-year time is commonly called the Tribulation. In the midst of that time, this leader will cause the sacrifices to cease, and desecrate the place of worship. This leader is commonly known as the Antichrist, the first Beast of Revelation 13.

The Antichrist

He will appear in the latter times (Dan. 8:23).
He will not appear in that role clearly until the final Day of the Lord begins, a time synonymous with the Tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:2).
His appearance will be preceded by some sort of departure, either a departure from the faith of a departure of believers in the Rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
He may be a non-Jew, if the imagery in Revelation 13:1 is significant (the sea can be symbolic of the non-Jewish world).
He rises from what is left of the Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26).
He will finally lead the last form of Gentile world domination (Rev. 13:1, 8; Dan. 7:7-8).
He eliminates three rulers in his rise to power (Dan. 7:8, 24).
His rise comes through a peace program (Dan. 8:25).
He is personally characterized by intelligence, persuasiveness, and craftiness (Dan. 7:8, 20; 8:23; Ez. 28:6).
His chief interest is in might and power (Dan. 11:38).
He plays a part making a seven-year security arrangement with Israel, which he breaks after half that time has taken place (Dan. 9:27).
He is ultimately energized by Satan in the last 3 1/2 years of his leadership (Rev. 13:4).
His claim to power is seemingly proved by miraculous power (2 Thess. 2:9-19).
He becomes a special opponent of Christ, His program, and His people (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24, 25; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 17:4).
He will be directly judged by God in a failed military activity in Palestine near the end of the Tribulation where he loses a battle (Ez. 28:6; Dan. 7:22, 26; 8:25; 9:27; Rev. 19:19-20).

A General Timeline of the Tribulation (based on the Book of Revelation)

The First Half of the Tribulation

Begins with the signing of the security agreement with Israel by the individual ultimately known as the Antichrist
The first 3 1/2 years are characterized by conflicting promises of peace and safety, yet various problems confront the world. The Holy Spirit's restraining of sin in general is stopped (2 Thess. 2:7). The first 6 seal judgments from God begin; people cry for the mountains to cover them from God's wrath (Rev. 6).
144,000 ethnic Jewish people are called by God and spread His word (Rev. 7).

The Second Half of the Tribulation

The seventh seal, consisting of the seven trumpet judgments, begins (Rev. 8-9; 11:14).
Two special witnesses from God are killed and lay in Jerusalem's streets for three days. They are resurrected and ascend to heaven (Rev. 11:1-13).
The last of the seven trumpets sounds, consisting of the seven bowl/vial judgments. Introduced in Revelation 11, chapter 16 lists those especially harsh judgments, perhaps lasting in time less than 12 months. By the time the sixth trumpet has sounded, over 1/2 of the world's population that was alive at the beginning of the Tribulation will have died.
A unique blending of religion and politics has emerged by this time, referred to Mystery Babylon (Revelation 17-18). It seems to refer to a literal rebuilt city of Babylon, portrayed as a center of world power, economics, and religion. Both the political and religious systems fail, the city falling into sudden destruction in one 24-hour period.
The Antichrist loses a military battle in Palestine, perhaps personally killed in the defeat by Christ at His return (2 Thess. 2:8).

The Second Coming of Christ

Jesus returns with an angelic army (host) and believers raptured seven years before (1 Thess. 3:13; Jude 14). It is obvious that it is Jesus; people don't wonder who is coming.
He seems to travel and fight for His people who are in Petra, battle at Armageddon (yes, that battle), and finally stop on Mt. Olivet outside Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4).
Jesus gathers the people and nations of the world before Him, and He judges them. The results of this judgment determine whether these living people who have survived the Tribulation will be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Christ alive as subjects; people classified as His sheep enter in, people classified as goats are executed (Matt. 25:32). This judgment and organization seems to take some time, perhaps 75 days (Daniel 12:11-13).
People who believed God like Abraham did before the church age began, who inherit eternal life, are resurrected in what is called the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:4-6). These people also enter the Kingdom of Christ alive.

The Kingdom

Christ's Kingdom is described in some basic ways in Scripture:

It lasts for 1000 years (Rev. 20:6).
Satan is bound and restrained at the Kingdom's beginning (Rev. 20:2-3).
Christ personally will reign as King over everyone on the earth (Isaiah 9:6; 11:4; 40:11).
God's influence will reach even mundane items of life (Zech. 14:20).
Jesus reigns over Israel in particular, headquartered in Jerusalem (Isa. 60:2, 3, 10; Micah 4:1-2).
People who have survived the tribulation alive, having been evaluated by Christ as obeying God by faith, will enter the Kingdom as mortal humans (Matt. 25:31-34). These mortal humans will live normal lives, working, starting families, and having children. Resurrected believers and Church-age believers enter the Kingdom too.

The Kingdom time has these features:

Justice and equity will be the norm (Isa. 11:3, 4; 23:5).
A perfect King will be in charge (Isa. 11:5).
Israel will be unified and in one family (Ex. 37:15-22).
Resurrected believers from all ages will be there for all to see (Rev. 20:4-5; Isa. 61:10; Dan. 12:2).
The Holy Spirit will cause people to follow God's statutes from their hearts (Ez. 36:27; Joel 2:28-29).
Peace will truly rule the day (Isa. 9:7; Micah 4:3).
The poor will be cared for (Ps. 72:4, 12-14).
The world will be a better place (Isa. 35:6-7; Ez. 34:26).
Animal nature will change (Isa. 11:6-8).
Physical deformity and disease will be rectified (Isa. 35:5-6).
A temple will stand, and sacrifices will be made. These sacrifices seem to be commemorative in nature, as is the case today with the Lord's Supper (Ezekiel 40-48).
People will be satisfied with life in general (Isa. 61:7).
Jesus will rule with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9, 11-12). People will be expected to serve Him (Dan. 7:14). People will take places under Him in governmental roles (Matt. 19:28; 1 Cor. 6:2).
He will be watching for sin, and will judge it harshly. An admittedly unclear verse seems to state that though people will live full, healthy lives, people who oppose Christ and do not follow Him after a 100 year probationary period will be executed (Isaiah 65:20).

The Kingdom time draws to an end when Satan is loosed, and leads one last assault against Christ in the final battle of Gog and Magog. Taking those who are mortal and have not trusted Christ as Savior, he strikes against Christ, but is defeated. The losers end up in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).

Jesus then ends this Kingdom period with an event called the Second Resurrection. This involves people who have never trusted Christ as Savior; people who are going to hell. These people are resurrected and experience the Great White Throne Judgment, where the extent of their punishment will be determined (Rev. 20:11-15). Their works determine, not their destiny, but their level of displeasure. Judas is said to go to his own place (Acts 1:25).

The New Heaven and New Earth

Revelation 21 presents us the clearest picture of one of God's final acts presented for us in the Bible, the presentation of the New Heaven and Earth. 2 Peter 3:5 tells us that the world standing after Genesis 1's creation perished, being destroyed by water. 2 Peter 3:7, 10 tell us the earth that stands now will be destroyed by fire as part of God's judgment against sin and sinful people.

A new heaven and earth come into view in Revelation 21. The new heaven is not clearly described. The new earth replaces the earth now standing, because the current one will pass away. One unique feature of the new earth will be a lack of oceans (Rev. 21:1).

An added feature of this future time will the the appearance of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2-22). This place:

Is a real city (21:2).
Contains God's throne (22:3).
Those saved during the church age will live there (21:9; 3:12).
No church building will be there; the focus will be on the person of God (21:22).
There will be no night, and no need for the sun there. The light there seems to emanate from God Himself (22:5, possibly as was the case in Genesis 1:3).
The city will be cubic in shape, about 1500 miles long per side (12,000 furlongs is about 1500 miles), enclosed by a wall over 200 feet high (144 cubits).
The city will have 12 gates, each with an angel present, each gate named for a tribe of Israel (21:12). Each gate will be made of an individual pearl (21:21).
The city will be like pure gold in appearance (21:18), the wall around it like Jasper (a color perhaps either translucent white or light green)
The streets will appear like gold, perhaps in appearance to transparent glass (21:21).

This is the place where God's final promises of the future eternal state are finally realized, when...

"...God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

From Revelation 21:4

Resources for additional study:

Things to Come, J. D. Pentecost
The Bible and Future Events, Leon Wood
A Revelation of Jesus Christ, J. B. Smith
Understanding Revelation, Gary Cohen
Charts on Revelation, Salem Kirban

Compiled by Pastor Douglas Johnston