Today I was reading up more on the eschatological events surrounding the rapture, and cross-referencing relevant parts of the Bible.
Timeline: Rapture -> 7 years tribulation -> Jesus thousand year reign, with Satan bound -> Jesus second coming / return
Let’s look at these events one by one, where the Bible describes it.
Rapture:
God’s children would be taken up to be with Him, similar to how Noah was taken to safety in the ark just before the flood (Matt 24:36-41).
This would occur suddenly: two in the field, one taken one left (v40-41).
He would descend from heaven with His angel, and gather His elect with a loud shout / trumpet, both dead and alive in Him (Matt 24:40-41, 1 Thes 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:51-53).
And no one knows the day / hour this would happen, only the Father (v36).
And the rapture of the church, might happen at a time when we least expect it, so we have to be prepared at all times for His return (Matt 24:42-51).
7 years tribulation:
God will unleash His judgement on the inhabitants of earth, through: 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls of wrath (Rev 4-19).
This tribulation will be very intense never seen before, but for the sake of God’s elect, it will be shortened (Matt 24:21-22).
We note here that God’s elect could refer to those saved during the difficult tribulation period, where they decide to turn to Christ.
And possibly also those Christians who missed the rapture, as mentioned above.
The total duration of this tribulation, would be during a 7-year period.
Daniel 70th weeks prophecy (Dan 9:24-27)
70w = 69w (fulfilled) + 1w (unfulfilled, 7 years tribulation)
1w = 7 years
1/2 w = 3.5 years
Messiah has already come within the 69w = 483 years: from which Dan received prophecy from angel Gabriel to the time Jesus was crucified / Messiah being cut-off (v25-26).
The last week: the 7 years tribulation, is broken down into 2 parts.
1w = 3.5y (1/2w) + 3.5y (1/2w)
A wicked ruler will make covenant with people for 7 years (v27).
But at the middle 3.5y (1/2w), he will break the covenant, putting a stop to Jewish sacrifices.
Similarly, in Dan 7:25, we see there will be a ruler (horn emerging out of the 10 horns), that will wear out God’s people the saints, for a time (1y), times (2y), and half a time (1.5y), total 3.5y.
From here can see here that the devil is a liar, and full of deceit.
In the garden of Eden, he first deceived Eve, to disobey God eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge (Gen 3:1-5).
For the remaining 3.5y (42mths), he will then place an image of himself / the beast in the temple (Rev 13:1-5).
And he will require / deceive the world to worship him, by performing great signs, wonders, and miracles (Rev 13:8,12-15).
Then he will force / deceive many to take on the mark of the beast, for survival, else they cannot buy or sell (Rev 13:16-17).
God’s elect who would not take on the mark of the beast / worship him, would thus have to undergo a immensely difficult period.
And during the tribulation, many Christians will be persecuted and killed for Christ sake, but the one who endures to end will be saved (Matt 24:9-14).
Towards the end of this 7-year period, Jesus would finally come and fight off Satan / the beast, all those who oppose Christ, and who take on the mark of the beast (Rev 19:11-21).
He would again descend from heaven, and gather His remaining elect, left on earth during the tribulation (Matt 24:29-31).
And those who have not chosen to follow Christ / take on the mark of the beast, will mourn on His coming (Matt 24:30).
Jesus thousand year reign:
After the 7 years tribulation, Satan would be bound for a thousand years, where he would be prevented from deceiving the nations further (Rev 20:1-3).
And those who have endured the tribulation, and resisted taking on the mark of the beast, will reign with Jesus for a thousand years (Rev 20:4-6).
After the thousand years, Satan would be released from his pit, to continue deceive the rest of the earth again, but God will finally cast him in hell (Rev 20:7-10).
Jesus second coming / return:
God (the Father) / Ancient of Days would then judge the world, everyone dead / alive have to stand before the throne of God (Rev 20:11-15, Dan 7:9-10).
Those who did not receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour, whose names are not written in the book of life, would be judged according to their works, and thrown to hell (Rev 20:12-15).
Judgement for the wicked who would be thrown into hell where there is gnashing of teeth, while righteous shine forth with glory as their Father (Matt 13:41-43).
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