When will the End Times begin?
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. (Isaiah 46: 10)
From the beginning of ancient times, God has revealed how this age will end and the next age will begin. He wants people to be prepared for what will happen.
The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. (Daniel 9: 26)
Based on the Holy Bible, this appears to be the timing of the final events:
An Unprecedented War
16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand... (Revelation 9: 16)
18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur… (Revelation 9: 18)
According to Revelation 9: 13-21, the 6th Trumpet war will be devastating. One third of the world’s population will be killed in the 6th Trumpet war. This war originates at the Euphrates and involves 200 million soldiers. (See: What is the 6th Trumpet?)
Although it has not yet reached its climax, it appears that the 6th Trumpet war began on 9/11/2001.
An Unprecedented Treaty
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven’… (Daniel 9: 27)
As a result of the unprecedented carnage of the 6th Trumpet war, an unprecedented peace treaty will be established. According to Daniel 9: 27, a peace treaty will be established for a period of 7 years. Halfway through the treaty, it will be violated by the Antichrist. (See: What is the Antichrist?)
The treaty will allow for the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount. In keeping with the Lord’s mandate in the Old Testament, the Jewish people will resume making animal sacrifice and offerings to the Lord (once the Temple is rebuilt).
Animal Sacrifice and Offerings will be Ended
27 …In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering… (Daniel 9: 27)
Sacrifice and offerings will be abolished halfway through the 7-year treaty. Based on Daniel 12: 11, this appears to happen 30 days before the Abomination that Causes Desolation is set up. Therefore, it appears that animal sacrifice and offerings will be abolished about 1,230 days into the peace treaty.
The 2 Witnesses will begin Prophesying
3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11: 3)
Revelation 11: 1-14 describes the 2 witnesses. They will prophesy for 1,260 days. They are God’s special witnesses. They will bear witness to the evil in the world during the Great Tribulation. After the Great Tribulation and the testimony of the 2 witnesses, God will judge the world.
The 2 witnesses will be able to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they choose. No one will be able to harm them or stop them. After they complete the 1,260 days, they will be killed and their bodies will lay in the square for 3-1/2 days. Then they will be resurrected. (See: What are the 2 Witnesses?)
Because their bodies will lay in the square for 3-1/2 days and the Antichrist is still in power at that time, it appears that they may arrive 3-1/2 days before the Abomination that Causes Desolation is set up (as a final warning that the Great Tribulation is about to begin).
The Abomination that causes Desolation is set up
27 … And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (Daniel 9: 27)
After animal sacrifice and offerings are abolished, the Antichrist will set up an” abomination that causes desolation.” Based on Daniel 12: 11, it appears that this event will take place 30 days after animal sacrifice is abolished.
15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. (Matthew 24: 15-21)
When the abomination that causes desolation is set up, it will mark the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. (Revelation 11: 2)
5 The beast[Antichrist] was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. (Revelation 13: 5)
The Great Tribulation will last for 42 months (1,260 days).
A Remnant of Israel is Protected
6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12: 6)
14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. (Revelation 12: 14)
A remnant of Jewish people will be taken into the wilderness and protected by God during the 1,260 days of Great Tribulation.
Although they do not yet understand it, God has prepared His chosen people for this event by mandating that they build and live in temporary shelters in remembrance of how God protected them and provided for them when he took them out of Egypt.
15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.(Revelation 12: 15-16)
Satan will attempt to annihilate the Jewish people as they flee to the wilderness but God will supernaturally protect this remnant from Satan.
The Great Tribulation
17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Revelation 12: 17)
The Great Tribulation will last for 1,260 days. When Satan realizes that God will not allow him to completely annihilate the Jewish people, Satan will redirect his rage toward the followers of Jesus Christ. (See: What is the Great Tribulation?) (See: What is the Great Multitude in White Robes?)
The Wrath of God
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3: 10)
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” (Revelation 16: 11)
After the Great Tribulation, God will pour out His wrath onto the world. Revelation 16 describes 7 different plagues that will be poured out as punishment for the evil that took place during the Great Tribulation. (See: What are the 7 Golden Bowls?)
The Rapture
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” (Revelation 19: 1-2)
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19: 7)
After the Great Tribulation and before the battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ returns to gather his elect. (See: What is the Rapture?) (See: What is the End Times Harvest?)
The Battle of Armageddon
18 This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 38: 16)
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Revelation 16: 16)
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (Daniel 7: 11)
12 The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time. (Daniel 7: 12)
20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia [180 miles]. (Revelation 14: 20)
At the end of the time of God’s wrath, the Antichrist’s armies will be gathered together at a place called Armageddon. Jesus Christ arrive in time to destroy the Antichrist’s armies before they can annihilate the remnant of Israel.
Although the terrifying beast with the boastful spokesperson will be completely destroyed, the other beasts will not be destroyed. Instead, they will be stripped of their authority and allowed to live for a while longer. (See: What is Armageddon?) (See: What is Gog and Magog?)
The Jewish people will recognize their Messiah
4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. (Isaiah 35: 4-5)
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zechariah 12: 10-10)
The Jewish people are finally able to recognize their Messiah. They will deeply grieve when they realize what their ancestors did to him. But Jesus Christ loves them and has already forgiven them. And Jesus saves them before the Antichrist’s armies can annihilate the Jewish remnant. (See: Why didn’t the Jews recognize their Messiah?)
Satan is Bound for 1,000 Years
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Revelation 20: 1-3)
Satan is bound for 1,000 years. After the 1,000 years, Satan will be let loose for a short time.
The Antichrist’s armies are Buried
11 “‘On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, in the valley of those who travel east of the Sea. It will block the way of travelers, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon Gog. 12 “‘For seven months the Israelites will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. (Ezekiel 39: 11-12)
Israel will be burying the dead (the Antichrist’s armies that were killed at the battle of Armageddon) for 7 months.
The Temple is Reconsecrated
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?” 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” (Daniel 8: 13-14)
The Jewish Temple will be re-consecrated 2,300 days after sacrifice had been abolished. This appears to happen 965 days after the battle of Armageddon. (2,300 – 1,335 = 965)
The Lord Reigns
9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. (Zechariah 14: 9)
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”(Revelation 11: 15)
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19: 14-16)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7: 13-14)
16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. (Zechariah 14: 16-17)
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 9-11)
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 about Jesus and because of the word of God. They[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share 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. (Revelation 20: 4-6)
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. (Isaiah 65: 19-20)
The Lord’s eternal reign begins at the end of the Great Tribulation but the initial 1,000 years is different from the eternity that follows. During the 1,000 years, there are still humans being born and dying (although they live for hundreds of years). During that time, Jesus Christ rules the earth with an iron scepter.
The Final Battle
7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20: 7-9)
10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20: 10)
After 1,000 years, Satan will be released for a final war against Jesus Christ. Satan will lose and he will be permanently cast into the lake of fire for eternal torment.
The Final Judgment
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3: 9)
God will eventually judge the people of the world. Although He does not want anyone to perish, people will perish if they do not repent.
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (Romans 14: 12).
5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4: 5)
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12: 36-37)
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books… 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20: 11-15)
After the 1,000 years and the final battle between Satan and Jesus Christ, the dead stand before God’s great white throne. Each person will be judged by God for every empty word they have spoken and according to what they had done. Anyone whose name is not written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. (See: Does Hell really exist?)
The New Heaven & New Earth & New Jerusalem
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (Revelation 21: 1-2)
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21: 3-5)
27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21: 27)
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22: 3-5)
In Summary
Although God has not said the exact day that these things will start, He has provided a timeline. The final countdown begins when a 7-year peace treaty is established which provides for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.
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