History before the End

4 kings (beasts) arise in succession (past empires?) (Dan. 7:3)

1. Like a lion, with the wings of an eagle. It’s wings are torn off and it stood like a man. The heart of a man was given to it. (Dan. 7:4)

• Kings of Media and Persia rule (where?) (Dan. 8:3-4,20)

2. Looked like a bear. It was told to “get up and eat your fill of flesh” (Dan. 7:5)

• King of Greece destroy kings of Media and Persia (History?) (Dan. 8:5-7,21)

3. Looked like a leopard. It had four wings like a bird. It had four heads and was given authority to rule. (Dan. 7:6)

• Out of Greece come 4 more kingdoms – Greece split instead of creation by growth (Dan. 8:8,22)

4 (final beast). Terrifying and frightening. Large iron teeth. Crushed and Devoured all it’s victims and trampled all that was left. It had ten horns. (Dan. 7:7)

• One of the four kingdoms will have another kingdom come out of it which will become powerful (England-America?) (Dan. 8:9)
• out of this nation comes the antichrist (Dan. 8:9-12, 23-25)
• This will happen in the later part of the reign of the 4 kingdoms which came out of Greece, when rebels have become completely wicked (Dan. 8:23)

Rapture of the Church

What is the Rapture?

• Not all believers will die, but all believers will be taken to be with Christ. (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
• We will then be with the Lord forever. (1 Thess. 4:17)
• Given a heavenly body (1 Corinthians 15:52-54)

Timing of the Rapture (There is not agreement about the timing of the Rapture in relation to other End-Times events.)

• We do not have signs before the Rapture, but we do have signs for the return of Christ.
• We will not know the time. It will come like a thief in the night. (1 Thess. 4:2)
• It will be a surprise, just like in the days of Noah. (Matt. 24:36)
• It will happen quickly “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:52)
• The Rapture will come before the tribulation. God will keep believes from the “hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world.” (Rev. 3:10) (I am not sure about this.)
• The Rapture will come after or during the tribulation. We will be persecuted and put to death because of Christ. (Matt. 24:9-10) (I am not sure about this. These verses could be references to a time before the tribulation.)

What will happen

• We will hear the noise of the archangel (1 Thess. 4:16) and a trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thess. 4:16) before we rise.
• Those who have died in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive will rise to meet the Lord with them in the air. (1 Thess. 4:16-17)

Judgement Seat of Christ

(I am still looking for clarification/evidence for this event at this time)

Evidence for this event

• Every person will stand before God’s judgment seat at some time (Romans 14:10)
• Believers will appear before the judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10)
• At the Rapture believers will be taken to heaven without death (1 Cor. 15:51-52)
• Since we will all stand before God’s judgment seat and since some will be taken alive, each of those taken must appear before God’s judgment seat at that time.

We will receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10)

• Crowns
• The imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:25) – those who bring the flesh under the Holy Spirit’s control
• The crown of exultation (1 Thess. 2:19) – soul winner’s crown
• The crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8) – live for Christ’s return with righteousness
• The crown of life (Rev. 2:10) – saints who suffered for Christ
• The crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) – Elders and those leading the church
• Those whose works do not stand when tested by God will still enter heaven, but will not receive crowns. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)

Tribulation

7 Seals (Rev. 6, 8)

1. White horse and rider – rode as a conqueror on a conquest (Rev. 6:2)

2. Red horse – take peace from the Earth, men slay each other (Rev. 6:4)

3. Black horse – cost of food goes up (famine, etc?) (Rev. 6:5)

4. Pale horse – named Death, Hades followed close behind – kill ¼ of earth (Rev. 6:8)

5. Martyrs call for judgement. They are told to wait until the complete number come to Christ. (Rev. 6:9-11)

6. Earthquake, sun turned black, moon turned red, stars fall to earth, mountains and islands removed, all people hide in caves. (Rev. 6:12-16)

7. Silence, prayers of saints go to God, fire from heaven and an Earthquake. (Rev. 8:1-5)

7 Trumpets (Rev. 8-9)

1. Hail mixed with fire and blood. 1/3 of earth burned up. (Rev. 8:7)

2. A huge mountain (comet) thrown into the sea. 1/3 of the sea turned to blood, 1/3 of sea creatures die, 1/3 of ships destroyed. (Rev. 8:8-9)

3. Star fell to earth on 1/3 of rivers and springs. Name of star is Wormwood. 1/3 of water turned bitter, many people die. (Rev. 8:10-11)

4. 1/3 of sun struck, 1/3 of moon, 1/3 of stars turned dark. 1/3 of day and 1/3 of night dark. (Rev. 8:12)

5 (first woe). abyss opened, sun and sky darkened by smoke. Stinging locusts come. They only hard people who do not have the mark of God, they do not effect plants, etc. They stay for 5 months. People will want to kill themselves, but will not be able to. (Rev. 9:1-11)

6 (second woe). Angels of Hades released to kill 1/3 of humans. There are 200 million troops. (Rev. 9:13-16)

• Gentiles will trample the temple for 42 months (Rev. 11:2)
• 2 witnesses will prophecy for 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3)
• any who try to harm them will die (Rev. 11:5)
• they can shut up the sky so that it will not rain while they are here (Rev. 11:6)
• they can strike the earth with any plague as often as they like (Rev. 11:6)
• after 1,260 days the beast will kill them (people will rejoice) (Rev. 11:7-10)
• after 3 days they will rise again (the people will be terrified) and go to heaven (Rev. 11:11-12)
• there will be a severe earthquake. 1/10 of the city (Jerusalem) will collapse, 7,000 people will die (Rev. 11:13)

7. God’s temple in heaven opened. The Ark of the Covenant is seen. There are earthquakes and a hailstorm (Rev. 11:19)

God’s people are protected in the desert for 1,260 days (time, times and ½ a time) (Rev. 12:6)

Dragon (Satan) goes to kill believers who are not in the desert protection area. (Rev. 12:17)

The Second beast causes all people to get the mark of the Beast (666) on their right hand or forehead. People cannot buy or sell without it.

3 Angels

1. Proclaims “Fear God for judgement has come. Worship Him” to the whole earth (Rev. 14:6-7)

2. Proclaims “Babylon is fallen” (Rev. 14:8)

3. Proclaims “All who receive the mark of the beast or worships him will receive God’s wrath.” (Rev. 14:9-11)

Harvest of the Earth? (Rev. 14:14)

7 Bowls of God’s wrath (God’s final plagues) (Rev. 16)

1. Ugly, painful sores on those who have the mark of the beast and worshipped him (Rev. 16:2)

2. Sea turned to blood, all sea life died (Rev. 16:3)

3. Rivers and springs become blood (Rev. 16:4)

• those who killed the saints forced to drink blood (Rev. 16:6)

4. Sun can scorch people with fire. (People still refuse to repent) (Rev. 16:8-9)

5. The beast’s kingdom is put in darkness (Rev. 16:10)

• people still have painful sores (Rev. 16:11)

6. Euphrates dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the east. (Rev. 16:12)

• evil spirits gather kings together for battle (Rev. 16:14)
• gather at Armageddon (Rev. 16:16)

7. Voice from heaven “It is done!” (Rev. 16:17)

• Greatest earthquake ever (Rev. 16:18)
• All cities collapse (Rev. 16:19)
• Babylon receives wrath of God (Rev. 16:19)
• Huge (200 lb.) hailstones fall on men (Rev. 16:21)

Babylon is destroyed forever (Rev. 18)

Key Players of the Tribulation:

Beast comes out of the sea (Rev. 13:1)

• Other names: prince (Dan. 9:26), the little horn (Dan. 7:8,11), Anti-Christ
• 10 Rulers – antichrist comes – 3 kings fall away (leave/killed?) (Dan. 7:24)
• has a fatal head wound that has been healed (Rev. 13:3)
• He will be a Gentile (Rev. 13:1) (“Sea” refers to gentile nations in prophetic writing.)
• Earth given to antichrist for a time, 2 times and half a time (3.5 years?) (Dan. 7:25)
• Dragon gave the beast its power (Rev. 13:2)
• Men follow the beast (Rev. 13:3-4,8)
• Beast has the power to blaspheme God (and rule) for 42 months (Rev. 13:5-6)
• Beast given power to make war against the saints. Given authority over all peoples. (Rev. 13:7)
• He will be a world dictator (Dan. 7:23, Rev. 13:7-8)
• devour the saints (Dan. 7:25)
• speak arrogantly against God (Dan. 7:25)
• destroy earth (Dan. 7:23)
• attempt to change sacred seasons and laws (set self up as God?) (Dan. 7:25)
• be skilled in intrigue, have power, cause great destruction, succeed in all he does, destroy the powerful, destroy the holy ones, by his cunning he will spread lies and he shall call himself great. Without warning he will destroy many and will rise up against Christ/God. (Dan. 8:23-25)
• The antichrist will end sacrifices to God and overthrow the sanctuary. (Dan. 8:10-12)
• After the end of sacrifices and the start of the trampling of the temple the antichrist will rule for 2,300 days then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated. (Dan. 8:13-14)
• God will destroy him, not men (Dan. 8:25)

Second beast comes out of the earth (Rev. 13:11)

• Other names: false prophet (Rev. 19:20)
• has authority of the first beast (Rev. 13:12)
• perform miraculous signs (Rev. 13:13)
• causes people to worship the first beast (Rev. 13:12)
• sets up an image of the first beast to be worshipped (Rev. 13:14-15)
• causes all to get the mark of the beast (666) on his right hand or forehead (Rev. 13:16,18))
• no one can buy or sell without the mark (Rev. 13:17)

Return of Christ (Rev. 19:11-16, Matt. 24:30, Isaiah 66:15, 18)

Before Christ returns

• The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world (Matt. 24:14)

Wage battle against the kings of the earth

• Beast and kings fight Christ and are destroyed (Rev. 19:19-21)
• Armies of heaven follow Him (Rev. 19:14)
• The Lord will go out and fight the nations (Zech. 14:3)
• The flesh of those who fight against Jerusalem/the Lord will rot while they are standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, their tongues will rot in their mouths (Zech. 14:12)
• Men will panic and attack and kill each other (Zech. 14:13)

He will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4)

• The mount of Olives will split in two (Zech. 14:4)

Judgement of the living

Jews (Matt. 24:44-25:30)

• Rewarded
• For obeying God and doing what he has called them to do (Matt. 24:46)
• Those who are ready and waiting for Christ when He returns (Matt. 25:10)
• Those who are acting on faith in obedience to God (Matt. 25:29)
• Punished
• For ignoring God’s command and acting selfishly (Matt. 24:48-51)
• For those who are not ready and waiting for Christ when He returns (Matt. 25:10-12)
• Those who are not acting on faith and acting in obedience (Matt. 25:29-30)

Gentiles (Matt. 25:31-46)

• It seems to me that the people are separated first (Matt. 25:32-33) and then later given what their deeds deserve (Matt. 25:34). They are not separated on the basis of works (Eph. 2:8-9)
• Rewarded
• Those who serve others in obedience to Christ (Matt. 25:34-40)
• Go to eternal life (Matt. 25:46)
• Punished
• Those who do not serve others in obedience to Christ (Matt. 25:41-45)
• Go to eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46)

Thousand Year Reign of Christ (Rev. 4)

Also called: The Millennium, Kingdom Age

Satan bound for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3)

Characteristics of the Millennial Reign of Christ

• Christians judge with Christ for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4, Matt. 19:28, 1 Cor. 6:2, 2 Tim. 2:12, Rev. 5:10, Rev. 20:6, Dan. 7:27)
• Weapons will be turned into tools, no one will learn war (Isaiah 2:4)
• We will have shade from the heat of the day and shelter from storm (Isaiah 4:5-6)
• There will be peace, justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9:6-7)
• The wolf will live with the lamb, leopard with the goat, the lion with a calf and a yearling, A cow will feed with the bear, lion will eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 11:6-7, Isaiah 65:25)
• A child will lead “dangerous” animals (Isaiah 11:6)
• An infant will play near the hole of a cobra, a young child put his hand into the vipers nest (Isaiah 11:8)
• The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:9)
• Deaf will hear, blind will see, humble and needy will rejoice in the Lord (Isaiah 29:17-19, Isaiah 35:3-6, Isaiah 42:7)
• There will be rain for crops and food will be plentiful (Isaiah 30:23-26)
• No more illness, sins are forgiven (Isaiah 33:24)
• Desert grow crops (Isaiah 35:1-2)
• Tyranny will be far from us, we will have nothing to fear, terror removed, attackers will surrender (Isaiah 54:14-15)
• We will have joy and peace (Isaiah 55:12)
• The light of the Lord will replace the sun and the moon (Isaiah 60:19)
• No more crying (Isaiah 65: 19)
• Live for many years (die at 100 is young) (Isaiah 65:20-22)
• Work will not be in vain (Isaiah 65:23)

Release of Satan and Satan’s condemnation

After 1,000 years Satan released for a short time (Rev. 20:7-9)

• he collects people from around the earth, including Gog and Magog, to fight God’s people. (Rev. 20:8-9)

Jesus sets up his court (Dan. 7:26)

• Satan, the Beast, all ungodly are destroyed forever and ever. (Rev. 20:10, Dan. 7:26)

Evil Condemned and Righteous Glorified

God’s great white throne setup (Rev. 20:11)

• all people are judged (Rev. 20:12-13)
• those whose names were not written in the Book of Life are thrown forever into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:14-15)

New Heaven and New Earth

Prophesied (Isaiah 66:22)

New (perfect) heaven and earth replace the old, which have been destroyed. (Rev. 21)

We will live there forever (Rev. 22:5)

Characteristics

• What will not be there
• Sea (Rev. 21:1)
• Tears (Rev. 21:4)
• Death (Rev. 21:4, Matt. 20:36)
• Mourning (Rev. 21:4)
• Crying (Rev. 21:4)
• Pain (Rev. 21:4)
• A temple of church building, because God is its temple (Rev. 21:22)
• Sun or moon, because the glory of God gives it light (Rev. 21: 23)
• Sin, evil forces, anything impure, deceit (Rev. 21:27)
• Sickness (Rev. 22:2)
• Any curse (Rev. 22:3)
• Night (Rev. 22:5)
• Marriage (Matt. 20:35-36) We shall know and love everyone perfectly and fully. Marriage is no longer needed. We will be like angels.
• What will be there
• Face-to-face fellowship with Christ (1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 John 3:1-2, Rev. 22:4)
• Full, complete knowledge for all (1 Corinthians 13:12)
• Abundance (Rev. 21:6)
• Shining, brilliant beauty…a celestial city (Rev. 21:10-11,18-21)
• Meaningful service (Rev. 22:3)
• Worship