End Times Prophecy Study

Inspired by God Created 9/22/99

Last Modified: 05/26/2004; 05/16/2013

1. Why should we study prophecy?

· Because God gave us the mystery to understand (Eph 1:9-10 Col 1:24-27, Is. 48:6, Dan. 2:29)

· Because God wants us to read and heed prophecy (Rev. 1:3)

· Because Jesus gave us this message ahead of time (John 14:29)

· To get a greater understanding of God’s plan and purpose (2 Tim3:16)

· So you will be able to give and answer for your Christian hope (1 Peter 3:15)

· To encourage others (Heb.10:24)

· To help others come to know Christ or resist the Antichrist if left behind (2 Tim 2:26)

2. The proper attitude toward prophecy

· No man knows the day – (Matt 24:36, 1Thess 5:12, Matt 24:50, Matt 25:13,Luke 12:46)

· Don’t set dates (same references as above) (Acts 1:7)

· Jesus commands us to discern the times (Luke 21:28, Luke12:54-56, Matt 24:32)

· Jesus said to be alert, not ignorant (1Thess 4:4-6, Matt 24:42)

· God’s calendar not like ours (2 Peter 3:8-10) - ignore the scoffers

3. Signs of the Times

Prophecies From Matthew 24 and Luke 21. These are signs that Jesus said would signal that the end is near:

· False Messiahs – David Koresh (Waco Texas), Rev. Moon, Jim Jones (Guyanna

· Wars & Rumors of Wars – escalation of Military activity all over the globe (Matt 24,25)

· Famines – grain supplies are now at their lowest point in US History

· Pestilence - the number of new uncured diseases is on increase. West Nile, Mad Cow Disease, SARS, Bird Flu, Aids have reached epidemic proportions.

· Earthquakes - continuous increase in serious earthquakes (over 7 Richter): 1 during the entire 1910’s decade. 156 between 1990 and 1995. Hundreds since 1995.

Other prophesies in the Bible (Old & New Testaments) that have come true or are coming true

· Love of mankind grows cold (Matt 25)

· Israel Reborn – happened in 1948 (Ezek 37)

· Hebrew language restored (Zeph3:9)

· Significant increase in knowledge ( Daniel 12:4) technology curve remained relatively flat from prehistoric times until about 100 years ago. But in the last 100 years there has been an technological explosion

· Israel restored as a fruitful agricultural center – Israel rebounded from desert 100 years ago, planted 200 million trees, now “the most agriculturally efficient nation on the planet” supplies all of Europe w/ fruit. (Is.27:6)

· Revival of Roman Empire – the European Union (Dan 2:44)

· Rebuilding of the Temple (Hag. 2:9 latter temple, 2 Thess 2:34 Antichrist will sit in )

· Rebuild the Temple (Ezek. 43:10-27; Eke 44:all) – Jewish students (Levi) preparing for temple ceremonies

· A move to one world government (Rev 13)

· Mark of the Beast system will be created – scan bar codes, embedded chips, cashless trends (Rev. 13:16-18)

· Rebuilding of Babylon – Saddam Hussein has been doing this for several years

· “Kings of the East” China will march of a battle highway to Israel. Actual concrete freeway being laid. China’s economy will soon exceed US, and China recently gained military advantage through spying. The army will be 200 million men strong. China is selectively breeding male children. (Rev. 16:12-16, Rev. 9:15-16)

· River Euphrates will be dried up to allow Kings of East to cross. This river has been a military barrier for centuries, but now a damn is in place that will completely dry up the river. (Rev. 16:12)

· Godlessness on increase in last days (2 Tim 3:1-9)

· Hole in ozone layer causing sun damage to earth (Rev. 16:8-9)

· Ecological damage (Rev. 11:18)

· Global TV – ability for whole world to see an event live (Rev. 11:9-10)

· Mass increase in wealth (James 5:1-5) News reports state that Bill Gates is richest person in modern history, and will soon become the world's first trillionaire. Wealth will be transferred to the righteous before the rapture (Prov 13:22, Is. 45:3, Is. 60: 5, 61:6, Zephaniah 3:17-20)

4. What about the rapture?

The rapture of the church is a time when Christians will be swept up out of this world. Their bodies will vanish. They will be taken into the air to be with Jesus and received “glorified bodies”. The kind of body Jesus had after His resurrection.

· Dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thess 4:16, Is. 26:19, John 5:25,28-29, John 6:39,40,54)

· Saints will be caught up (1 Thess 4:17, John 6:30, 5:25)

· We shall not all sleep (die) (1 Cor 15:50-53)

· Why God will take us out before the tribulation (1 Thess 5:9, Rev. 3:10; Luke 21:36)

· What we’ll experience during the rapture (Is. 35:10, Is. 24:14-15, Is. 32:18, Is. 32:17-18 )

· Others raptured: Enoch (Heb. 11:5, Gen. 5:23), Elijah ( 2Kings2:11), Jesus (Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9)

· Our glorified, resurrected bodies (Phil 3:21, Is. 35:3-6) Jesus is example

4a. Rapture vs. Second Coming (they are two different events)

· The Rapture is when Christ is in the air. He doesn’t come to earth but brings us up to meet Him.

No one sees Him except those raptured. (1 Thess 4:17)

· The Second Coming is when Christ physically and visibly comes back to establish His Kingdom - after the seven years of tribulation. At that time “every eye shall see Him” (Rev. 1:7)

5. Where will we go at the Rapture?

After the rapture we will be in heaven, while the earth goes through seven years of tribulation. During that seven years in heaven we will be rewarded with crowns for our good works on earth. We will also attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The following are characteristics of that time:

· Peaceful dwelling (Is. 32:18) and Complete Joy (Is. 25:8-9)

· Heaven praise, worship, service (Rev.19:1-6) Man above angels (1Cor.6:2-3)

· Marriage supper of the Lamb (Is. 25:6, Rev.19:7- 10)

· Judgement seat of Christ (Rev.1:14, 1 Cor.4:5, 2 Cor. 5:9-10, Rom 14:10-11, Ecc. 12:14, John 5:27) (*JVI 126-130)

· Works tested by fire (1 Cor. 3:13-15)

· Award ceremony – crowns ( James1: 12, Ps. 62:12, Matt. 16:27) (*BA)

· Motives weighed – (Jeremiah 17:10)

· Types of crowns – “Righteousness” for eagerly waiting for Jesus (2 Tim. 4:8); “Life” for perseverance under trail (James 1:12, Rev. 2:10); “Glory” for ministering the word (1 Peter 5:4); “Incorruptible” for temperance and self-control (1 Cor. 9:25)

· We’ll lay our crowns at God’s throne (Rev. 4:10). This is for God’s glory.

6. Those left Behind

· Unsaved world will be left, including most business leaders, world leaders, and politicians (Rev. 6:15)

· Scientists will try to find answers to disappearance and come up with other explanations (Is. 5:21,

1 Cor 1:25-29, 1 Cor 2:14, 1 Cor 3:19-20)

· They will try to discount rapture and message of Jesus. (Is. 30:9-11)

· Many “religious” people and marginal Christians left behind as shown in parable of Virgins Lamps (Matt. 25)

· Shock of the rapture turns new converts to Christ; and makes formerly passive Christians become fervent. These people become the new Church (tribulation Saints), but will face intense persecutions for their faith.

7. The Antichrist’s System/Events

The devil will have an agent on earth in the form of a man who will be a world leader. This person is the Antichrist described in scripture - also called the “lawless one”, the “man of perdition” or the “beast”.

· Currently, the Holy Spirit that resides in today’s Saints is holding back the Antichrist, but once Saints are out of the way(rapture), Antichrist will be able to emerge - also judgements. (2Thess 2:7-8) (Holy Ghost goes with us)

· Antichrist (a charismatic leader) seems to bring calm to turmoil after rapture (2 Thess. 2, Dan 7:24-25)

· Antichrist signs peace treaty with Israel triggering the start of tribulation (Dan. 9:27)

· Tribulation to last seven years (Dan. 9:24, 27)

· Things begin to get bad - Seal Judgements (Rev. 6:1- 8:5) murder, plagues, land shifts, changes in sky (*B&S )

· Antichrist Institutes “commerce” system - Mark of the Beast (likely a chip) (Rev14:9, Rev. 13:11-18)

Note: hand and forehead mark imitates God’s markers in Duet. 6:8

· False Prophet is Antichrist’s enforcer (Rev. 13:11)

· Antichrist breaks peace treaty after 31/2 years ( Dan. 9:27, Is. 33:8)

· Antichrist gets fatal wound, miraculously recovers in 3 days (copy). People marvel, worship him (Rev. 13:3-4)

· Antichrist takes control of whole world (Dan. 2:42, Rev. 13:3, 13:1, 17:12,16)

· Antichrist sits in the Holy Temple, declares himself god, perverts temple (Dan. 9:27, 2 Thess 2:4-12)

8. Tribulations & Judgements

· Characteristics of tribulation: judgement (Rev. 14:7); wrath (Is. 26:20, 21); trial (Rev. 3:10); trouble (Jer. 30:7); destruction (Joel 1:15); darkness (Amos 5:18); desolation (Daniel 9:27); punishment (Is. 24:20-21)

· Earth burns, people die (Is. 24:3-6, Zech 14:7-9); Water dries up (Is. 4:17)

· Plagues, despair, ruin (Joel 1:1-12, Is. 1:6-9, Is. 2:6-21)

· Saints go into hiding. Underground churches develop (Rev. 13:9-10)

· Many Saints killed (martyred) for not taking mark, not renouncing Christ (Rev. 2:10)

· Seal Judgments (Rev 6:1 – 8:6)

· Trumpet Judgements (Rev 8:6 – 11: 19)

· Bowl Judgements (Rev 15:1 – 19: 6)

9. Other Tribulation Events

· 144,000 Jewish Evangelists called (Rev. 7:1-8) preach throughout world about Jesus (possibly Jews for Jesus)

· Two Witnesses’ ministry and murder (Rev. 11:3-8)

· People gloat and celebrate death of Two Witnesses as their bodies lay in the street (Rev. 11: 9-10)

· Two Witness raptured (Rev. 11:11-12)*

· Converted Jews and other Saints raptured (Is. 11:11-12) * (same chapter and verses as previous line)

· Those who come out of the great tribulation (Rev. 7:14-16) – Tribulation Saints

· Jewish Evangelists come into Christ’s presence (Rev. 14:1-5)

10. Battle of Armageddon Culminates with Second Coming of Christ

At the end of the tribulation will be the Battle of Armageddon. Jesus will come back along with all the saints who were raptured. This mighty army will defeat the Antichrist’s armies. In the last showdown, Jesus will be in a one on one fight with the Antichrist where He will defeat the Antichrist and throw him into a bottomless pit for 1000 years.

· Antichrist mounts battle against the Kings of the East (China) (Dan. 11:40, Rev. 16:14-16)

· Jews repent, call Messiah. Jesus arrives w/Saints (us!!!) (Ps 149:6-9, Jude 14,15, Rev. 19:11-15, 2 Thess 2:8, Col 3:4)

· Everyone sees Him and knows who He is (Rev. 1:7, Col. 3:4, John 19:37, Is. 33:17, Matt 26:64, Mark 14:62, Dan 7:13)

· Jesus sets His foot on Mt. of Olives, splits the land in two, causes earthquake and water flow (Zech 14:3-9, Ezek 43:1-9)

· Jesus and Saints battle and defeat Antichrist and his armies (Hab. 3:13, Rev. 19:15-19, Is. 33:18-19)

· Antichrist (a.k.a. Beast) and False Prophet thrown into lake of fire (Rev. 19:20)

· Satan chained and thrown into pit for 1000 years (Rev. 20:1-3)

· Judgement of the living nations - Sheep & Goats (Matt 25:31-46)

11. Millennial Kingdom

· Christ’s throne in Jerusalem, reign of peace (Eph 1:9, Is 33:20-22; Zech. 14:3-4, Zech 14:9, Rev. 16:17-21, Ezek 43:7)

· 1000 years with Christ (Rev. 20:1-15, Is. 33:17-19)

· Raptured Saints Reign with Christ (Rev. 20-:4-6)

· Saints martyred during tribulation come back to life to reign with Christ (Rev. 20:4)

· Justice administered, Saints repaid/compensated (2 Thess. 1:6-10, Luke 14:14)

· Life expectancy extends, unrenewed people live hundreds of years and glorified saints can’t die.

12. Satan Released & Defeated

At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is released from his prison. At that time he convinces some unrenewed people (many born during the 1000 years) to join his rebellion against Christ. Remember these people still have the old sinful nature of Adam.

· Satan leads rebellion (Rev. 20:7-9)

· Satan defeated and thrown into the lake of fire w/Beast, False Prophet (Rev. 20:10)

13. Great White Throne of Judgement

· Judgement of dead unbelievers. Dead brought to life to be judged in "second resurrection" (John 5:28-29

Rev. 20:5-6, Rev. 20:11-15)

· They will given various degrees of eternal punishment in hell (Rev. 20:13)

14. New Heaven/Earth, Eternal Joy

God creates new heaven/ earth where joy will be everlasting. God will dwell with us like he did with Adam and Eve.

· New Heaven, New Earth (Rev. 21:1-5, 2 Peter 3:13)

· New Jerusalem (Rev. 20:1-2-8 , Rev. 21:9 - 22:5, Is. 33:20-24, Jer 31:38-40)

· No more tears, pain (Rev 21:4)

· Jesus throne will be on earth (Rev. 22:4)

· No more night, darkness (Rev. 22:5)

· God dwells among us. We will be able to see God’s face! (Rev. 21:3, 22:4)

15. What We Should Do Now

· Live in unity, edify other Saints (1 Peter 4:7-11, Heb. 10:24)

· Eagerly await for Christ (1 Cor 1:5-8)

· Live holy as you wait for Jesus (2 Peter 3:11-13, Heb. 12:11)

· Be watchful and ready (Luke 12:36-40)

· Encourage one another (1Thess 5:11, Heb. 10:25)

· Discern the times, tell others, preach Jesus, save them from the fire (Jude 1:21-23)

· Sound the alarm (Joel 2:1)

· Warn people about what to do if they miss the rapture; make a "Tribulation Survival Kit" (2 Tim. 4:2)

Primary Sources

· The Holy Bible (NIV, KJV) - God

· Prayer and divine revelation - Holy Ghost

Other Sources

· Revelation to Calvary – a drama by Pastor & Mrs. Roland Yarborough

· The Prophecy Promise Book – Jack Van Impe

· Guide to the End of the World – Bruce Bickel & Stands Jantz

· The King Is Coming TV broadcast, newsletters, and books - Dave Breese

· The Bible Answer Book – Ron Rhodes

· The Signature of God video by Grant R. Jeffrey

· Prophecy Central Website – www.prophecycentral.com

· John Hagee T.V. lectures

· Revelation Unveiled – Tim LaHaye

· Prophecy Today t.v. show – Hal Lindsey

· Jack Van Impe TV broadcast

· Ready to Rebuild – Ice and Prince

· And many other articles, books, radio broadcasts, and t.v. shows

Terms & principles for discussion

· Beast or Antichrist

· New World Order – one world government

· Kings of the East

· Battle of Armageddon

· The 144,OOO

· The Two Witnesses

· Church Age or Age of Grace

· False Prophet

· Glorified Bodies/Resurrected Bodies

· Judgement Seat of Christ

· Judgement of living nations (sheep & goats)

· Great White Throne of Judgement

· Kingdom Age

· Mark of the Beast

· Millennial Reign of Christ or Millennial Kingdom

· Parable of the Virgins and Lamps

· Second Coming of Christ vs. The Rapture of the Church

· Tribulation Period

· Tribulation Saints

· Unholy Trinity

· Antichrist’s Fatal Wound

· Satan’s pattern of imitations