Intro. To End-Times

Part I

How many of you like to watch the odometer of your vehicle click over to a major milestone. I remember our last car, and when it turned over to 100,000 miles. I wanted to witness it when it turned. I knew I would probably not own the car when the next big rollover occurred at 200,000

On December 31, 1999, most of us were watching the countdown to a new millennium. Y 2 K we called it.

I believe we are seeing the odometer or the time-clock of this world and its history setting the stage for the next major milestone in God's plan. And today, we begin a brand new series on the End Times.

In a matter of minutes on September 11, Americans were forced into the world of terrorism. Despite the fact that terrorists repeatedly declared their intentions against the nation they called the "great Satan," - the land of the "infidels." Despite the fact that they stated they would kill and maim massive numbers, few people took them seriously. It just couldn't happen here, we thought. But our free and open society made it quite easy for them to carry out their deeds. When things happen like what happened in our country on September 11, there is always a surge of interest in Bible prophecy.

I have seen the interest in Bible prophecy ebb and flow during my lifetime. In the 1940s, we had what was thought to be the war to end all wars (WWII) and many sermons and books were written on end-times during this time. Then the interest waned for 15 - 20 years, until the 1960's, when America was engaged in the Vietnam War, and there was much political unrest and violence in our streets. And again, there were dozens, possibly hundreds of books written on the End-times.

It was during this time (late 60's) that Hal Lindsey wrote his best seller, The Late Great Planet Earth. In 1972 he writes his next best seller, Satan is Alive On Planet Earth. In 1973 - There's a New World Coming. In 1974 - The Liberation Of Planet Earth.

After the Viet Nam War, the interest in end-time prophecy died down. But in 1990, when the war in the Persian Gulf flared, suddenly apocalyptic literature became one of the hottest subjects in Christian bookstores. Even Time magazine featured a two-page article on this biblical subject.

In the late 90's, with the coming of Y2K, there was again a flood of renewed interest in the end times. And now, the terrorists attacks on our own soil. Books on Bible prophecy - including everything from hidden Bible codes to personal identification systems that might be the precursor to the Mark of the Beast - 666, were published, Today you can find prophecy books on practically every thing from A to Z. From Arafat to Zhirinovsky - From Armageddon to Zionism

Let's face it - we all have different degrees of concern and curiosity about "if, how and when" the world is going to end. Maybe you haven't really given it a thought. Maybe you can't think about anything else. Allow me to suggest a quick quiz to determine your "End Times Tolerance."

You are "End Times Impressionable" if……

• You don't shop at warehouse stores like Costco because you don't think you'll be around long enough to eat a 37 pound box of cornflakes.
• You are afraid to get money from the automated teller machine because the bank assigned you a PIN number of 666.
• You freaked out when you went to church and found no one there, thinking the Rapture had taken place - only to realize later that you showed up an hour early because you forgot to change the clock for daylight savings time.
• An earthquake has you scrambling to find that Bible you haven't read since the eighth grade.

If we have described you, then this series of lessons is for you

You are "End Times Insensitive" if……

• You think the "Apocalypse" is a car manufactured by Toyota
• All the talk about the "Doomsday Event" has you baffled. You can't figure out why everyone is making such a fuss about a W.W.F. wrestling match.
• The increasing frequency of floods, earthquakes, droughts and other environmental disasters is of no concern to you - except for ruining the coffee bean harvest and raising the cost of a Starbucks latte.

If these statements describe you, then you need to get a clue. You have either been hiding under a rock, you have just returned from a decade-long vacation in Antarctica without the luxury of CNN or USA Today. You also had better be here each week, so get up to speed with what is really going on.

Here is why each of us need this series of lessons. Everybody has a theory about how the world is going to end. Religious scholars look to ancient sacred manuscripts and predict the coming judgment of God. Environmentalist point to the dangers of global warming and environmental calamities. Scientists warn of meteor showers which will pummel the earth. And the publishers of supermarket tabloids predict an invasion of mutant alien creatures who are descendants of Elvis. Who can we believe? What information is trustworthy and reliable?

It is my opinion - and I don't think that I am going out of a limb here the Bible is the only reliable source for information about the end of the world. But you won't have to take my opinion for it. I will show you why the Bible can be trusted. Then you can decide for yourself.

What is so important about knowing how things will end, or about knowing what is going to happen when I die" Knowing what is going to happen when you die just may change the way you live in the here-and-now.

The Bible says that God has an intricate plan all worked out, and everything is going according to his schedule. He is going ahead with it whether you of I believe it or not. He won't cancel the whole thing just because we deny it. So I think you owe it to yourself to see what the Bible says about God's plan for the world….and for you. Your life will depend on it…..and your life after death will be determined by it.

I believe there is a natural curiosity that people have about the future. Even people who, under normal circumstances, are not very religious, are fascinated about this issue. Why else would the sayings of Nostradamus and Tarot Card reading on TV be so popular?

When people do something like what happened on September 11, most of us feel helpless to respond or deal with it effectively. I think all of us - Christian or non-Christian - know that we are all vulnerable. In times of Crisis, people in America turn to God. I am reminded of the Psalmist, who wrote at a time when Israel had gone through a disaster.

It reads: "then they remembered that God was their Rock; and the Most High God, their redeemer." (Psalm 78:35)

As most of you know, Geneses 50:20 says God has the ability to take something intended for evil and turn it around for good. Perhaps this terrible tragedy will cause people to recognize that all our sophistication, all our power and all our smugness is not enough. Like Israel, we need God.

As I mentioned a moment ago, the Bible says that God has a timetable. He has had one ever since the creation of this world. But, in His Word, He has given us a glimpse of some of the detail of this timetable. Some of the things in God's timetable have already occurred.

Galatians 4:4-5 NIV

4 In the fullness of time [according to God's timetable], God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. 5 In order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

We all were born under the law of God, and all of us have broken that law and sinned. So God sent His only Son to pay the penalty of that broken law - which was death. What's more, He didn't just set us free, but He adopted us as His sons & daughters.

the Father. He and his disciples were standing atop the Mount of Olives. One moment they had been talking to Jesus, and the next moment they saw him rise through the clouds, hidden from view.

Acts 1:9 (KJV) "….while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight."

I can imagine that for a few second there was complete silence, and they gazed at the cloud that engulfed Him. For 3½ years, they had been with Jesus nearly every moment. In the most recent 40 days following his resurrection from the dead, Jesus had been coming and going, as He showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive……and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Would He come back again. There had been many times when He had left them alone. Sometimes He just disappeared out of their sight (Luke 24:31). But this time, somehow His return would be different. When Jesus left, it didn't take them by surprise this time. Jesus had warned them about it on several occasions. One thing was certain Jesus was coming back again. Along with telling them of his departure, he promised to return.

John 14:2-3 (KJV)
1. Let not your heart be trouble; Ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

It is important to notice that all the Lord promised on this occasion was the simple fact that He would return for His followers. In other words, they would see Him again. He didn't elaborate with much detail at this point. His intention was to provide comfort to his disciples about his leaving. He did not want their hearts to be troubled. But He did not say anything about HOW he would come back,……or WHEN His coming would occur.

It was then, while they were still on the Mount of Olives looking at the clouds, that they notices the two angels. It was they who would begin to unfold some of the details about their Lord's return.

In Acts 1:11, they say:
....Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

We find other details about his return in the writings of others. We are also told of many other events that are going to occur in the End Times.

We all have questions about the end-times and how it relates to us today. Here are a short list of questions that you may have right now. We will be tackling most of these and more during this series of lessons.

1. Can we really believe the Bible speaks about things happening in our day?
2. How close are we to World War III?
3. Why have the Jews and the Arabs always been bitter enemies?
4. Why are there so many different views of End-Time prophecy?
5. Are current nations like the U.S., Russia, China and Egypt mentioned in the Bible?
6. Why is there continuous turmoil in the Middle East?
7. Will Russia play a part in the fulfillment of End-Time prophecy?
8. Could there be any connection between Anthrax and the pestilences mentioned in Matthew 24?
9. Will the attempts to make us feel secure in America really be the forerunner of the Mark of the Beast?
10. Is Hell a real place?
11. What is heaven like?
12. Does the Bible talk about nuclear warfare in the end-times?

For the rest of the time we have today in our class, I want to devote it to a general overview of end time prophecy, as the Bible depicts it. I want you to raise questions and/or make comments. This will give me some idea when we get to the detailed study of these events.

I believe the most significant single truth in all the Bible - both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the certainty of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. While there may be some disagreement as to when the second coming will happen there exists absolutely no disagreement among fundamental believers that Jesus is coming again.

CAN YOU QUOTE OR READ TO ME SOME SCRIPTURES WHICH SHOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT JESUS IS COMING AGAIN?

John 14:2-3 (KJV)
1. Let not your heart be troubled; Ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Acts 1:10-11 NIV
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Hebrews 9:28 NIV
28 So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Matt 24:44 NKJV
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

That indicate that it is close. It could happen within the hour, or be delayed 5 to 10 years or more. But it will happen. And we can never take the chance that we are not ready for when He comes.

Paul gives the Corinthian believers some much needed assurance concerning the return of Christ. He speaks of Christ in Heaven, ……and we on earth.

1 Thess. 4:16-17 tells us…….the Lord will descend……from heaven…..

And when He does, 3 things will accompany that descent. He will descend with a shout,…with the voice of the archangel….and with the trump of God.

Then Paul turns towards the earth, and said……the dead in Christ will rise first…..then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.

Then He gives a very comforting promise. …..and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

WHAT IS THIS EVENT MOST OFTEN CALLED?

The event where we rise to meet Christ in the air, is called the Rapture.

ONCE WE HAVE MET CHRIST IN THE AIR, WHERE DO WE GO?

We all go to heaven with Him. We go to the place He has been preparing for us.

ONCE THE CHURCH HAS BEEN TAKEN TO HEAVEN, WHAT HAPPENS ON EARTH?

Shortly after the rapture of the Church, there will be the beginning of a period of turmoil such as this world has never seen.

WHAT IS THIS PERIOD KNOWN AS??

The Tribulation. Most of the Book of Revelation deals with what happens during this time on earth.

IF THE "DEAD IN CHRIST" HAVE BEEN RESURRECTED AT THE RAPTURE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE UNGODLY DEAD?

WHEN ARE THEY RESURRECTED?

Rev 20:4-6 NIV
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 The rest of the dead (the ungodly dead) did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Those who have died without knowing Christ as their personal savior, are not resurrected for another 1,000 years. This introduces the subject of the resurrection, which we will study in detail later. What we see in these verses is that everybody will be resurrected, regardless of their relationship with God. We also learn here that not all are resurrected at the same time. What we will learn as we study this subject in detail, is how each resurrection takes place, what happens to each of these groups of people.

IF CHRIST HAS MET US IN THE AIR AND TAKEN US WITH HIM TO HEAVEN, DOES HE EVER ACTUALLY COME TO THE EARTH? AND WHEN?

A few minutes ago, we just briefly mentioned what is going on here on earth while we are with Christ. The tribulation, and all that may portend, is taking place. It is after this tribulation time when Christ come back to earth.

Matthew 24:29-30 NAS
29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken,
30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

We have mentioned the Rapture, when Christ descends from heaven, and we rise to meet him in the air. And now we have this event, where Jesus comes all the way to earth, immediately after the Tribulation. This event is mentioned many places, among them Revelation 1:7. NAS Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen.

Not everyone sees him at the Rapture. But here, at the completed 2nd Coming, all eyes will witness his return.

HOW LONG AFTER THE RAPTURE DOES CHRIST'S COMING TO EARTH OCCUR?

7 years.

I know this will be a point of possible dispute, and we will have plenty of time to discuss the myriad of views in a later lesson.

If there is 7 years between the Rapture and the complete return of Christ to the earth, that indicates the Christians, who went to heaven following their meeting Christ in the air, will have been with him for those 7 years.

DURING THE 7 YEARS THAT WE ARE IN HEAVEN WITH CHRIST, WHAT IS TAKING PLACE THERE?

Two things occur in heaven while we are there with Christ.

1. The Judgment Seat of Christ.

This event is mentioned in multiple places. One is in Romans 14.

Romans 14:10 NKJV
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

First of all, this verse as well as the others that address this event, show us that only believers are at this judgment. Remember what we read a moment ago in Revelation 20:4-6 how the ungodly dead are not resurrected for more than 1,000. The Judgment Seat of Christ is not an event where all the bad you have ever done is revealed. It's not that kind of judgment. This is sometimes referred to as the BEMA judgment because that is the Greek word translated "judgment seat." It takes that name from the elevated platform where the judges sat at the original Grecian Olympic games. The winners of each event would parade before this BEMA, and receive a laurel wreath, signifying their victory. That is the kind of judgment which will occur with only believers. They will be rewarded for their faithfulness.

Another event that takes place in heaven during the 7 years we are there.

2. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

This event is also mentioned in several places, with the greatest information about it mentioned in Revelation 19.

WHAT IS A MARRIAGE SUPPER?

This harks back to Jewish tradition, both in the Old and New Testaments. It is a wedding feast. This is no small event. This could go on for days, according to Jewish customs. I believe this wedding feast will be of such magnitude, that it might go on for months or years.

WHOSE MARRIAGE SUPPER IS IT?

It is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We need to make sure everyone understands who this is.

WHO IS THE LAMB?

It is Jesus Christ. In John 1:29, we find John the Baptist speaking about Jesus, saying; ..behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

WHO IS THE OTHER PARTY IN THIS MARRIAGE FEAST?

WHO IS THE BRIDE?

It is the church.

Ephesians 5 shows us that the relationship between Christ and the church is illustrated by that of a husband to his wife.

Before leaving this event, let's read the place where it is mentioned in Revelation 19.

Revelation 19:6-9 NKJV
6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."

In this same chapter, immediately following the record of this glorious event, we are told that Christ comes back to the earth, putting an end to the Tribulation. So we know this event occurs prior to Christ's complete return to the earth.

IS CHRIST ALONE WHEN HE COMES BACK TO EARTH?

No!! All the saints that were caught up to meet Christ in the air, at the Rapture will accompany Him back to earth. They are the Bride of Christ. Others will also we come to earth with Him. The Old Testament saints and well as the Tribulation saints will be included.

Jude 14 NKJV
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,

Now let's go back to Revelation 19, in the verses following the record of the Marriage Feast.

Revelation 19:14 NKJV
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Earlier, when we read Revelation 19:6-9, we learned who these are that are clothed in fine linen, clean and white. They are the Bride of Christ, who is celebrating the marriage to the groom, Christ, at the wedding feast.

AT THE TIME CHRIST COMES TO EARTH WITH HIS SAINTS, WHAT IS TAKING PLACE ON EARTH AT THAT VERY MOMENT?

The Battle of Armageddon will be at its height.

Revelation 16:16 NKJV

16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

WHAT DOES CHRIST DO IMMEDIATELY UPON ARRIVING ON EARTH?

Four things are mentioned, three of which take place if fairly short order. The fourth takes a little time to complete. The first three things that happen quickly are:

1. He destroys the armies of the Antichrist. 2. The Antichrist and his right-hand man, the False Prophet, are cast into the lake of fire. 3. Satan is bound with chains and cast into the bottomless pit.

Returning again to the sequence of events portrayed in Revelation 19.

Revelation 19:19 NKJV
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

The beast is the Antichrist. He is often referred to in this manner in the book of Revelation. And he is making war against the one sitting on the horse, and against his army. According to verse 11, earlier in the chapter, we know that the person sitting on the horse is Christ. And his army are the saints, clothed in white - his bride - which accompany him back to earth.

Revelation 19:21 NKJV, tells us the action Christ takes.
21 And the rest [that's all the armies of the Antichrist] were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

So one thing that happens upon Christ's arrival to earth, is the destruction of the armies of the Antichrist.

Again, return to the sequence of events in Revelation 19 for the second thing Christ does..

Revelation 19:20 NKJV
20 Then the beast (that's the Antichrist) was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Here we have the second thing that occurs when Christ arrives. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast alive into the Lake of Fire. Later, we will study in greater detail these two people. And we will look at who makes up the armies of the Antichrist.

Now for the third thing Christ does in short order. Satan is put in chains and cast into the bottomless pit. We have completed Revelation, chapter 19, and now we begin chapter 20.

Revelation 20:1-3 NKJV
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

The fourth thing that takes place immediately after Christ defeats the Antichrist and his armies is the setting up of His (Christ's) kingdom here on earth for 1,000 years. We find that in the next verse. Revelation 20:4 NKJV 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

WHAT WILL LIFE BE LIKE DURING THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST?

1. Justice & Equity (Isaiah 11:4, Jer. 23:5)

2. The saints will reign with him (Rev. 20:4)

3. Peace

4. Long life

5. Restoration of Creation

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE 1000 YEARS?

1. Satan is loosed from the bottomless pit for a short time.

2. The White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15)

3. The ungodly are cast into the Lake of Fire.

4. We see the New Heaven and the New Earth.

ETERNITY BEGINS FOR ALL PEOPLE!

Last Updated: Wednesday September 07 2011
©2001 John's Notes