END TIMES OF THE WORLD

For centuries Christians have speculated about the meaning of the “mark of the beast” and the number 666, both of which are discussed in Revelation chapter 13. We are told that a symbolic beast with two horns, and who spoke like a dragon, “forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead” (13:16).

What is this strange “mark”?

The Beast’s “Mark”

The Greek word used for “mark” is charagma. It was the technical term for the Roman imperial stamp that appeared on various documents. The charagma was a seal stamped with the name and date of the emperor and attached to commercial documents. Apparently, it also stood for the emperor’s head stamped on coins. Thus, the charagma represented the likeness or name of the emperor.

What point was John trying to get across when he was speaking of a “mark”?

The mark is probably not meant to be something visible to the eye, as was the Nazi practice of tattooing numbers on concentration camp inmates. Nor should we assume it to be an identity card of some kind, like a Social Security or credit card.
More likely, the mark is a symbol. It is something that identifies who belongs to the beast – or to God. There is an Old Testament parallel in Ezekiel on which Revelation draws. John’s readers would have readily understood the point he was making. In vision, Ezekiel saw a man with a writing kit at his side. He heard the Lord say to the man, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it” (Ezekiel 9:4). Here are people who are “marked” for protection.

In like manner, Israel was “marked” by blood smeared on the doorposts of their homes. On the eve of the Exodus, the death angel swept through Egypt, killing the firstborn. He passed over any door marked with blood (Exodus 12:21-23). This mark was merely a symbol, as the angel would have been quite able to distinguish between an Israelite and Egyptian.

Earlier in Revelation we read of the 144,000 servants of God who were sealed on their foreheads with “the seal [sphragis] of the living God” (7:2). They were also to be protected from the plagues that would devastate the earth (7:3). Those not having the seal were afforded no protection (9:4).

The “mark of the beast” is a counterpart to the sealing of the faithful people of God. The beast will attempt to identify and protect his people (and destroy his enemies) even as God knows and protects those who are his people.

How does the beast know who are his own?

Simple: they are all willing to worship him and his image. Their worship is the mark by which they are identified! Those who refuse to worship will be exposed by their refusal to perform the act of idolatrous obeisance. Their steadfast loyalty to God, however, will be the evidence that they carry the seal of God. The “mark” of the beast is not visible writing, just as the “seal” of God’s servants is not done in writing. It is the behavior of the person that indicates where the person’s allegiance is.

Of course, the refusal to worship the beast will bring serious personal and economic consequences for the people of God. That’s because, “No one could buy or sell unless he had the mark” (13:17). Those who do not worship the beast are not allowed to participate in the economic life of the community.

The false political and religious system wields tight economic control over those whom it dominates. No one is exempt from this harsh economic repression. Whether small, great, rich, poor, free, or slave – all must comply (3:16-17). Individuals who refuse to serve the beast are not allowed to carry out the smallest economic transactions. This has always been a favorite way by which governments and authorities shut out undesirables from the system. They don’t allow them to participate in the benefits of the economy in one way or another.

That means they cannot buy food, obtain shelter, clothing or receive medical help. This implies starvation, exposure and death for those who do not worship the beast.

“His number is 666”

The meaning of 666 is a mystery as well. Some speculated that there was a connection to June 6, 2006—06/06/06. However, in Revelation chapter 13, the number 666 identifies a person, not a date. Revelation 13:18 tells us, “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.” Somehow, the number 666 will identify the Antichrist. For centuries Bible interpreters have been trying to identify certain individuals with 666. Nothing is conclusive. That is why Revelation 13:18 says the number requires wisdom. When the Antichrist is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), it will be clear who he is and how the number 666 identifies him.

The location of the mark

The account in Revelation says those who receive the mark of the beast will receive it “on their right hand or on their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16). Many people think it will be some kind of physical mark in or on one’s skin, and this certainly could be. Yet because the book of Revelation employs many symbols, we must also consider the possibility that these references to the “right hand” and “forehead” are symbolic. If so, what do they mean?
The right hand can represent our actions, works and labor. The forehead can symbolize the inner beliefs, the intellect and what is in the mind. The mark of the beast is thus related to what we believe in our mind and what we do with our hands. Compare this with Deuteronomy 6:8, where God commanded ancient Israel to bind the commandments “as a sign on your hand, and … as frontlets between your eyes.”

The connection between our thoughts and our actions is a good explanation of faith. In the Bible the real “faith of Jesus” has two parts, belief and acting in faith on those beliefs.

“Is it possible for a person to be saved/forgiven after taking the mark of the beast?”

The question then arises as to whether a person who has received the mark of the beast can be forgiven. The answer to this question seems to be “no.” Revelation 14:10–11, describing the fate of someone who takes the mark of the beast, declares, “He also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

The eternal destiny of those who take the mark of the beast is the lake of fire. Why is taking the mark of the beast a damnable sin against God? Why would God condemn a person to hell for taking the mark of the beast? It would appear that taking the mark of the beast will be a blasphemous act of willful defiance against God. Receiving the mark of the beast is essentially worshipping Satan. Those who take the mark have made the choice to serve Satan rather than obey God and receive Christ as Savior. When people make that decision during the tribulation, God will grant their request to be eternally separated from Him.

 

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In his vision in Revelation 19:7–10, John saw and heard the heavenly multitudes praising God because the wedding feast of the Lamb—literally, the “marriage supper”—was about to begin. The concept of the marriage supper is better understood in light of the wedding customs in the time of Christ.

These wedding customs had three major parts. First, a marriage contract was signed by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom, and the parents of the bridegroom or the bridegroom himself would pay a dowry to the bride or her parents. This began what was called the betrothal period—what we would today call the engagement. This period was the one Joseph and Mary were in when she was found to be with child (Matthew 1:18; Luke 2:5).

The second step in the process usually occurred a year later, when the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride at midnight, creating a torchlight parade through the streets. The bride would know in advance this was going to take place, and so she would be ready with her maidens, and they would all join the parade and end up at the bridegroom’s home. This custom is the basis of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13. The third phase was the marriage supper itself, which might go on for days, as illustrated by the wedding at Cana in John 2:1–2.

What John’s vision in Revelation pictures is the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) in its third phase. The implication is that the first two phases have already taken place. The first phase was completed on earth when each individual believer placed his or her faith in Christ as Savior. The dowry paid to the bridegroom’s parent (God the Father) would be the blood of Christ shed on the Bride’s behalf. The Church on earth today, then, is “betrothed” to Christ, and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all believers should be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom (the rapture). The second phase symbolizes the rapture of the Church, when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father’s house. The marriage supper then follows as the third and final step. It is our view that the marriage supper of the Lamb takes place in heaven between the rapture and the second coming (during the tribulation on earth).

Who is the Bridegroom?

The question has but one answer. The Bridegroom can only be “the king’s son” of (Matthew 22:1-14), the Lord Jesus Himself. (In John 3:29), long after John the Baptist had introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

John was asked to identify himself. He made it clear that he was not the Christ (in John 3:29), he referred to Christ as “the bridegroom,” to himself as: “the friend who attends the bridegroom [and who] waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.” Clearly Christ is here referred to as the Bridegroom as well at the Lamb. Thus, Christ is the Bridegroom at the marriage of the Lamb.

Who is the Bride?

A verse of importance is found (in Ephesians 5:32). The Apostle Paul, speaking to husbands and wives of their relationship together, likens the husband to Christ and the wife to the Church. He sums it up (in verse 32), by saying, “This is a profound mystery: but I am talking about Christ and the church”, clearly indicating that the perfect picture of the relationship between the Lord Jesus and His Church is that of a bride and a bridegroom.

Therefore, when a person accepts Jesus Christ, he or she becomes a member of the Church, the true invisible Church, and is automatically espoused or engaged to Christ. This engagement will be finalized at the marriage of the Lamb.

Where and When Will This Marriage Take Place?

The marriage of the Lamb must take place in heaven, for (in Rev. 19:11), after the marriage of the Lamb and the marriage supper of the Lamb, we find the Lord Jesus coming in what we call “the Glorious Appearing” to set up His kingdom. For this reason, we must conclude that the marriage and the supper have occurred in heaven. Their location (in Rev. chapter 19), shows these events to have taken place at the end of the Tribulation, just before the millennial reign of Christ on the earth.

(Ephesians 5:27), indicates the manner in which the Bride will be presented to Christ: “a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” This condition will exist only after the judgment of Christ when believers have been completely cleansed and the Church is made whole.

For that reason, we believe that the Judgment Seat of Christ, which will take place during the Tribulation, will precede the marriage supper of the Lamb, and immediately after the judgment of reward has been presented to the last believer, the marriage of the Lamb will take place. All Christians who have trusted in Christ during the age of grace, from the day of Pentecost to the Rapture of the Church, will make up His Bride.

The Identity of the Guests:

Some invited to the wedding ceremony are guests and not the Bride. Obviously, a bride is never invited to a wedding supper, nor is a bridegroom. Those who are invited are the friends of the bride and groom. Who are these friends or guests? It cannot be the Church because the Church is the Bride.

John the Baptist, one of the last Old Testament saints, indicated that he was a friend of the Bridegroom (John 3:29). These Old Testament saints will be in heaven and will have their rewards, but they are not the Church, not the Bride of the Christ. They are the friends of the Bride and Bridegroom, who at this point, can be seen as the ones invited as guests to the feast.

So then, all the believing dead from Adam until the resurrection of Christ will be guests at this feast. In addition to them will appear those who have received the Savior during the Tribulation, both Jew and Gentile, many of who will have been martyred for the testimony of Christ.

Not to imply that the Old Testament saints are inferior to the Church, or the body of Christ, but merely to point out that this is a special blessing for the Church. Now Israel, or the guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb, have promises and relationships to Him in which we shall not share; however, the marriage supper of the Lamb is an experience reserved for the Church.

 

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The Rapture: What Is It?

The word rapture does not occur in the Bible. The term comes from a Latin word meaning “a carrying off, a transport, or a snatching away.” The concept of the “carrying off” or the rapture of the church is clearly taught in Scripture.

The rapture of the church is the event in which God “snatches away” all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth during the tribulation period. The rapture is described primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50–54. God will resurrect all believers who have died, give them glorified bodies, and take them from the earth, along with all living believers, who will also be given glorified bodies at that time. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

The rapture will involve an instantaneous transformation of our bodies to fit us for eternity. “We know that when he [Christ] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). The rapture is to be distinguished from the second coming. At the rapture, the Lord comes “in the clouds” to meet us “in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). At the second coming, the Lord descends all the way to the earth to stand on the Mount of Olives, resulting in a great earthquake followed by a defeat of God’s enemies (Zechariah 14:3–4).

The doctrine of the rapture was not taught in the Old Testament, which is why Paul calls it a “mystery” now revealed: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).

The rapture of the church is a glorious event we should all be longing for. We will finally be free from sin. We will be in God’s presence forever. There is far too much debate over the meaning and scope of the rapture. This is not God’s intent. Rather, the rapture should be a comforting doctrine full of hope; God wants us to “encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Who will suffer Great Tribulation?

Another point I have discovered in my studies, is that the Great Tribulation isn’t going to necessarily be for the “world”, but for the Saints of God. Take a look at these scriptures:
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
Jesus said in Luke above that His day, the day He returns, would be as the days of Lot and Noah. When destruction came on the world at the flood and at Sodom and Gomorrah, the only people that had “tribulation” were the men of God. Lot was persecuted and so was Noah, by the people who did not believe. The wrath of God was poured out on the other people after God saved His faithful. The world today is just like it was before the flood and before Sodom and Gomorrah destruction. The wrath of God will be poured out only after He has saved His faithful, but the time of trouble called the Great Tribulation will be trouble for the saints, not the rest of the world. This is discussed in detail in chapter 10 of this book.
1 Thess 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
The Lord will come as a thief in the night, but only to those in darkness, not to those who know the Lord. They shall say, “Peace and Safety”, just as the world was reveling in abandon before the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. What is the call of the New World Order? Peace and Safety!
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation , and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Those that come out of great tribulation in this passage are the Saints of God

Differences between The Rapture and The 2nd Coming

We believe that much of the confusion about the Rapture is caused by a lack of understanding that Christ comes first for believers, and then comes later in what is properly called the Second Coming, or His Glorious Return as King of Kings. Here are some of the differences between these two events.

 

The Rapture	The 2nd Coming
– Christ comes for His own 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18	– Christ return with His own Revelation 19:14
– Believers taken to Father’s House John 14:3	– Believers come to Earth Matthew 24:30
– Seen only by believers 1 Corinthians 15:52, 19:11-16;	– Every eye will see Him Revelation 1:7 Matthew 24:30
– No reference to Satan	– Satan bound Revelation 20:1-3
– Earth not judged	-Earth judged Revelation 20:4-5
– A Mystery 1 Corinthians 15:51	–  Foretold in Old Testament Dan. 12:1-3; Zech. 12:10; 14:4

 

The Rapture: When Will It Happen?

The rapture will be instantaneous, in “the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). Scripture nowhere encourages us to try to determine the date of Jesus’ return. Rather, we are to “keep watch, because we do not know on which day our Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42). We are to “be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when we do not expect Him” (Matthew 24:44).
There is no debate among Bible scholars as to whether there will be a rapture, but much discussion has occurred over when the rapture will occur. There have been five main theories put forward as to the timing of the rapture and they all surround what is known in prophetic biblical teaching as the “tribulation” period, which is mentioned by Christ in Matthew 24 and described in great detail in Revelation 4—19. The five hypotheses are:

1. Post-tribulation – believers are raptured at the end of the tribulation period, when Christ returns in judgment (cf. Revelation 19).
2. Pre-wrath – believers are caught up somewhere between the sixth and seventh seals described in Revelation.
3. Mid-tribulation – living believers are taken in the middle of the tribulation period.
4. Partial rapture – only faithful believers are taken to be with Christ at the beginning of the tribulation, with unfaithful Christians being left to endure it.
5. Pre-tribulation – believers are caught up to be with Christ before the tribulation begins.

Deliverance of the Saints from wrath

Here are some of the passages which indicate that believers of this Church Age will not be left to suffer the outpouring of God’s wrath:

“But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1Thessalonians 5:9)

And if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day with their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment… (2 Peter 2:6-9)

In the message to the Church of Philadelphia (Missions Period), God said:

Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)

Please keep in mind that the Bible does not teach that Christians are delivered from persecution, trials and temptations. In fact, the opposite is true. In 2 Timothy 3:12 we are told, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (KJV) The books of James and 1 Peter were written to encourage Christians when they are called upon to go through trials. Paul himself spoke about his “thorn in the flesh” as a trial allowed by God in order that God’s strength could be shown through him. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

 

WHAT THE RAPTURE WILL LOOK LIKE!

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The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was never simply a building or structure, but an earthly dwelling place for the Divine Presence of God. You might ask yourself, “If the sanctuary was ‘a copy and a shadow of what is in Heaven (Hebrews 8:5),’ and Yeshua (Jesus) ‘serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord (Hebrews 8:2),’ why contemplate building the Holy Temple?”

The Lord said,“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell [shakan] among them.” (Exodus 25:8; see also Exodus 40:34–35 and 1 Kings 8:11)This dwelling (shakan) forms the related word Shekhinah, which is not found in the original Hebrew Bible, but it is used in rabbinic literature and Bible translations to describe the Lord’s Divine Presence.

The First Temple

The first stationary abode built to honor the God of the Bible originated with King David of Israel. As “the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains’” (2 Samuel 7:2).

Although God had directed the Israelites to build Him a tabernacle—a tent that could easily be moved as they journeyed through the wilderness (Exodus 25-26)—He had not asked them to build Him “a house of cedar” (2 Samuel 7:7).

God was obviously pleased with David’s desire but did not permit David to build a permanent building for Him. Instead of allowing David to build Him a house, God promised David that He would make David a “house”—meaning that David’s throne would be established forever—and that David’s son would build a “house” for God’s name (verses 11-13).

As promised by God, one of David’s sons, Solomon, built “the house of the LORD” (1 Kings 6:1). This temple, located on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem and commonly referred to as “Solomon’s Temple,” became the center of religious worship in Israel. This temple lasted about 400 years from its construction during the reign of Solomon to its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. (2 Kings 25:9).

The Second Temple

After 70 years of captivity in the Babylonian Empire, the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the temple. Although they began working on the temple almost immediately after their return, opposition by neighboring peoples and a laxness among the Jews themselves hindered the construction. Finally, in approximately 515 B.C. the temple was rebuilt on the same site on which it had previously stood.

Many sources, such as the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, refer to this second temple as the temple of Zerubbabel (article, “Temple”), the “governor of Judah” (Haggai 1:1) who helped coordinate its construction (Ezra 3:8; 5:2). This temple was standing when Jesus came to earth as a human. Jesus warned His disciples of the coming destruction of the temple and that not one stone of the temple would be left on top of another. (Matthew 24:1-2)And it had undergone major renovations by King Herod. Altogether this building stood for almost 600 years until its destruction by the Romans in A.D. 70.

 

The Prophetic Return to Israel and the Third Temple

“I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them.” (Amos 9:14–15)

God always planned to bring the Jewish People back to the Land on His terms not man’s. And just as the prophets foretold, the Jewish People are returning to the Holy Land from the four corners of the earth after 19 centuries of global exile:“Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:5–6)Not only are the exiles of Israel returning to the Promised Land, but preparations to build the Third Temple are progressing through the efforts of the Temple Institute and the Temple Mount Faithful Movement.

Why Build the Third Temple?

The Prophet Ezekiel witnessed the departure of this Divine Presence from the Temple (Ezekiel 10:18–19).But he also saw the rebuilding of an eternal and permanent dwelling place of God on the Temple Mount in the Holy City of Jerusalem.“The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. … I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple. He said: ‘Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever.’” (Ezekiel 43:4–7)

Rambam (Rabbi Moses Maimonides), a medieval Jewish philosopher and Torah scholar, said that the Temple has eternal significance.He wrote in Hilchos Bais HaBechirah (The Laws of God’s Chosen House)that the Temple had two primary purposes:

To reveal to mankind the Divine Presence of God, which dwelt above the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant.“There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the Ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.” (Exodus 25:22)

To facilitate the offering of the required sacrifices.

Since the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70, however, the Jewish People can no longer offer these sacrifices. In fact, 202 out of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah cannot be performed without a Temple.
(Temple Institute)
With no Temple in Jerusalem, the Jewish people now worship the God of Israel in their local community synagogues and in the study of Torah.Instead of offering animal sacrifices, they now offer Tefillah (prayer), Teshuvah(repentance), and Tzedakah (charity).

Many think that animal sacrifices have been done away with forever, but according to Bible prophecy, this simply isn’t so. The Lord tells the Prophet Ezekiel that in a future Temple, the prescribed sacrifices will be offered:“The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the priests’ rooms, where the priests who approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings—for the place is holy.” (Ezekiel 42:13)

Third Temple: When Will It Be Built?

President Trump’s announcement to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is being seen as a huge step toward establishing the Third Temple. But the Third Temple will exist during the Great Tribulation. Daniel refers to this temple when he says that “the prince who is to come” (the Antichrist) will enter it and stop the sacrifices in the middle of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27). The Apostle Paul mentions it when he declares that the “man of lawlessness” will profane the temple by entering it and declaring himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The Third Temple is also mentioned in the book of Revelation when John is told to measure it — a symbolic way of telling him to assess its spiritual condition (Revelation 11:1-2).

This raises the question as to precisely when the temple will be rebuilt. The Bible does not reveal the answer to this question. All it says for certain is that the temple will be in existence when the Antichrist reveals himself (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), and that will be in the middle of the Tribulation (Daniel 9:27). Since this will be only three and a half years into the Tribulation, many have concluded that the temple will likely be rebuilt before the Tribulation begins, because how could such a magnificent building be constructed in such a short period of time?

But this conclusion overlooks the fact that the temple can be literally resurrected overnight! That’s because the Jews plan to erect a tent temple like the Tabernacle of Moses, and they are ready to do so at any moment. Everything has been prepared. Once this temporary temple is put up, they will resume the sacrifices and then start building a more permanent structure around and above the temporary one.

Currently there are two major obstacles to the reconstruction of The Third Temple. One pertains to its location. The next temple can only be built where the two previous temples stood because the Holy of Holies must be on the exact same spot. But no one knows for sure where the previous temples were located on the Temple Mount. Most scholars believe that they stood where the Dome of the Rock currently stands. That conclusion may be wrong, but there is no way to prove the exact location without conducting archeological excavations on the Temple Mount, something which is currently prohibited by the Muslims. If The Third Temple is to be built where the Dome of the Rock now stands, then that Muslim structure must first of all be removed either by Man or God. It could, of course be burned to the ground by a saboteur, or it could be destroyed by an earthquake.

The second obstacle is the attitude of the Jewish people and their leaders. Currently, there is no desire among them to build a third temple. The average Israeli is very secular. He knows that any attempt to build a third temple would result in immediate war with the Muslims. Only a handful of ultra-Orthodox Jews have a passion for The Third Temple. They are the ones who have made all the preparations. But they have no popular support. Something will have to happen to create a surge of nationalistic pride that will demand a new temple. This catalytic event could be the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant.

There is a distinct possibility that the ancient temples were not located where the Dome of the Rock currently sits. There is strong evidence that their location was to the north of the Dome and that the sacrificial altar inside the Dome was the one that Solomon built in “the middle of the court” to handle the thousands of special sacrifices which he offered to the Lord on the day The First Temple was dedicated (2 Chronicles 7:7). If that is so, then The Third Temple could be built north of the Dome of the Rock, putting the Dome in the Court of the Gentiles. This may well be the solution the Antichrist will come up with when he negotiates a peace between the Jews and the Arabs (Daniel 9:27).

To summarize, there is definitely going to be a third temple. It will most likely be erected at the beginning of the Tribulation in the form of a tent temple, like the Tabernacle of Moses. A more permanent structure will then be built around and above it. The Antichrist will desecrate this temple in the middle of the Tribulation.

The Third Temple will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Jesus. The great earthquake at that time will radically change the topography of Jerusalem and all the earth (Revelation 6:12-17). In Jerusalem it will result in the provision of a very large level area where the Millennial Temple will be constructed. This is the temple from which Jesus will reign over all the earth. It is described in detail in Ezekiel 40-46.

Sign 1: The Restoration of Israel to her land

Ezekiel 36:24 (NIV)
24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.

Ezekiel 37:11-13
…Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

Amos 9:13-15 (NIV)
13 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills.
14 I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.

What it looks like

The Jews were banished from the Holy Land following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD. Almost 2000 years later, following Hitler’s Holocaust, God brought the Jewish people back into the land and Israel was re-established as a nation on May 14, 1948. This remarkable prophecy is a sure sign God has begun dealing with the nation Israel again, just as God promised.

We Gentiles have been allowed to share in her new covenant spiritual blessings for almost 2000 years. The time has come for the Church to return the favor. As Christians, we should remain in strong support for the “Apple of God’s Eye.”

Current Status

FULFILLED

Sign 2: The occupation of the city of Jerusalem by the nation Israel.

Zechariah 8:7-8 (NIV)
7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. 8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

Zechariah 1:14-16 (NIV)
14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.’ 16 “Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the LORD Almighty.

What it looks like

The world witnessed Israel taking full control of the city of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War. Since then, the division of Jerusalem and the ownership of the Temple Mount have been the source of countless U.N. resolutions, diplomatic crisis, and calls for war. Still, the “Peace Process” has been unattainable. Jerusalem has become a burden to the world.

From God’s point of view, Jerusalem is the center of the world. He said through the prophet Ezekiel, “This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her” Ezekiel 5:5.

In 2009 I visited the land of Israel and the holy city Jerusalem. I gazed upon the beautiful Temple Mount while standing atop the Mount of Olives, the sight of Jesus Second Coming. Jerusalem is the focal point of all history, beginning, middle and the end. It is here where the Messiah will rebuild His Temple and reign over the entire world. As we enter 2011 the world is anticipating a Palestinian state in the land of Israel and East Jerusalem to serve as the capital of the future Palestinian state. And, exactly as prophesied in Zechariah, the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem is being divided before our very eyes.

Current Status

FULFILLED

Sign 3: Dramatic Increase in Travel and Knowledge. Global Satellite Communications

Revelation 11:9-10 (NIV)
9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them…

Daniel 12:4
But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.

What it looks like

In the last decade there has been an explosive increase in travel and knowledge, especially with the advent of the Jet Age and the Internet. The world has become a global community and economy.

The Book of Revelation tells us the inhabitants of the earth will be able to simultaneously view the dead bodies of the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem. As recently as 100 years ago, these verses were difficult to comprehend. In fact, this was impossible until global satellite technology was invented in this generation.

There are literally thousands of satellites in space making our world a global community. We witness news around the world as it happens. Our generation is the first to be able to literally watch and see all the events of the Book of Revelation come to pass.

Current Status

FULFILLED

Prophecy Sign 4: The Revival of the “End Times” Empire

Daniel 2:40-44 (NIV)
[40] Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron–for iron breaks and smashes everything–and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.
[41] Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.
[42] As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
[43] And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
[44] “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.

Daniel 7:23-24 (NIV)
[23] “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.
[24] The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.

Revelation 12:3 (NIV)
[3] Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.

What it looks like

The seven kings/major empires (Rev 12:3 Seven Heads) would appear to be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persian, Greece, Ancient Rome (“Phase I”), Islamic Caliphate and the final re-emergent revival of the Roman Empire (“Phase II”) or the Islamic Caliphate?

In both Daniel 2 and 7, we see four major kingdoms: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome-with the fourth one fragmenting, but then ultimately re-emerging in the “last days.”

There are a number of Biblical texts that strongly suggest that the coming world leader, commonly called the Antichrist, will emerge from the region of the eastern leg of the Roman Empire.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 5: The Rise of the Antichrist

Revelation 13:18 (NIV)
18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.

Daniel 11:36-39 (NIV)
36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.

Daniel 8:23-25 (NIV)
23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

What it looks like

I have seen nothing on this front yet. I keep watching and wondering. Who is he? Where is he? And when he appears, I anticipate things to happen shockingly fast as he rises to great power in a very short time. It’s possible that Gog of Ezekiel 38 fame is another name for the Antichrist which means he would first come down from southern Russia possibly into the Iraq, Iran, Syria arena, all beds of instability.

The Antichrist and his kingdom will be associated with the #666. On June 5, 2000 the WEU adopted its Assembly Recommendation 666 which created the office “High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy” giving this one person special emergency (military) powers. Not sure if that relates.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 6: Temple Rebuilt and Sacrifices Start

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NIV)
[3] Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. [4] He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Daniel 9:27 (NIV)
[27] He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him”.

What it looks like

The rebuilding of a third temple in Jerusalem will occur on the Temple Mount area. A Problem: Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque located on the Temple Mount. The Sanhedrin’s peace initiative was launched on May 1, 2007. Jewish group devoted to rebuilding Temple in Jerusalem sent letters to all world leaders, including Arab ones, inviting them to take part in project, attend conference on Temple Mount in Israel. In the letter, the rabbis warn that the world is nearing a catastrophe, and write that the only way to bring peace among nations, states, and religions is by building a house for God, where Jews will worship, pray and offer up sacrifice, according to the vision of the prophets.

I believe the Jews will soon be allowed to rebuild a third temple on the Temple Mount. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has spent approximately $27,000,000 on preparations for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. Most all the temple articles are completed, and the sacrificial altar is currently being built. The Jewish Sanhedrin, which was re-established in 2004 after a hiatus of 1,600 years, along with a prominent Muslim author, Adnan Oktar, are calling for the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple as the way to world peace and religious harmony.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 7: A seven year covenant signed with Israel

Daniel 9:27 (NIV)
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.

What it looks like

Anyone who takes Bible prophecy literally understands that a time of tribulation awaits the inhabitants of this earth. Our Lord spoke of it in Matthew 24:21, “There will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now.” This time of tribulation is to be seven years (Daniel’s 70th week) and is based on his prophetic vision in Daniel 9:24-27. This passage explains that the coming antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel and the many for one ‘seven’ year period and in the middle of the ‘seven’ he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. For this reason, most prophecy teachers also are looking for the future Antichrist to begin Daniel’s 70th week by signing a covenant with Israel and the many nations for seven years.

Every day we hear something about Middle East Peace talks, or lack thereof. Regardless, at some point they will be completed and this will be the first sign that we will see indicating the end times have begun. Daniel 9:27 tells us it will be a seven year covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. It may include the permission to rebuild the third temple in Israel. Here’s the problem; the 7 year covenant may not be as conspicuous as we might like. In other words, it may not be revealed to the world, until well after the fact. To say it another way, the covenant could have already been signed, but we have not yet been informed.

The sequence of events in Daniel 9:24-27, then, provides a step-by-step outline of God’s prophetic timetable. The seventieth week – the seven years remaining – will transpire in the end times. But before this last “week” could take place, Israel needed to regain control of her Promised Land (which she did in 1948) and then the entire city of Jerusalem (which she did in 1967). When will the seventieth week begin? In His Olivet Discourse, Christ tells His disciples that “when you see all these things (things associated with the seventieth week), recognize that He (Christ) is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass until all these things take place. (Matthew 24:33,34). ‘These things’ referred to by Christ are the events that will occur during the seventieth week, not before, and they must take place before we can look for the return of Christ. Therefore, the seventieth week has tremendous significance to all who are ‘looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus’ (Titus 2:13).

The covenant between Antichrist and Israel (Dan. 9:27). The terms of this covenant are not listed, but it is clear it will be a non-aggression pact, perhaps even a military alliance that will enable the Antichrist to gain power over the 10 kingdoms during the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th week (Dan. 7:23-24; 8:23-25; Rev. 17:8-17). It will include the protection of Israel in their national establishment and restoration and assure them at least temporary peace (Dan. 8:25; 9:27; 11:36-45). The length of the covenant is to be 7 years (Dan. 9:27).

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 8: The Mark of the Beast

Revelation 13:16-17 (NIV)
16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,
17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Revelation 14:11-12 (NIV)
11 There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”
12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

What it looks like

People will be required to take the identifying symbol 666 on the forehead or on the right hand. It is a mark of allegiance – one of the most specific identifying characteristics of end-times. Without such mark, no person allowed to buy or sell. Do NOT take this mark. Those who accept the mark will forfeit any further opportunity for salvation.

The Mark of the Beast is the identifying symbol (666) that the Antichrist and his False Prophet will demand of every person on earth at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week. Today, RFID is all around us and is commonly being used to ID animals, and now, people. Many are speculating that RFID is the technology to fulfill the prophecies concerning the Mark of the Beast. It may be, but the truth is, we don’t know for certain. (I am not so sure. I wonder if it might be something much simpler, like a tattoo indicating loyalty to the Antichrist.)

The actual Mark of the Beast won’t come to pass until the Antichrist has come to power. The Mark of the Beast serves two purposes: First, it will separate the followers of Antichrist from those who reject his blasphemy. Those who believe in Jesus, will see through Antichrist’s deception and will refuse to take this mark of allegiance to the Beast. Those without the Mark will be easily identified as enemies of Antichrist’s Empire. Second, the Mark of the Beast will be an additional tool in Antichrist’s arsenal of persecution. Individuals who do not take the Mark of the Beast will be unable to buy and sell. As a practical matter, this will perform a great hardship on believers, as they will have great difficulty buying food and other necessities.

At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, an angel will announce a warning to the entire world concerning the Mark of the Beast and the reign of Antichrist. The angel will explain that anyone who receives the mark will be eternally damned, and will forfeit any further opportunity for salvation. The angel tells the faithful to persevere, keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus. Revelation 16 reveals that God will visit physical plagues on those who have received the Mark of the Beast.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 9: Antichrist receives a Deadly Head Wound

Revelation 13:3 (NIV)
3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

What it looks like

A fatal head wound will permanently damage his arm and right eye. According to Zechariah 11:16, the Antichrist’s arm will be completely withered and his right eye totally blinded.

This story will broadcast around the world. It will be beyond belief. It will challenge your faith. And if you are not prepared, it will cause you to doubt everything the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ. The Antichrist will receive a very literal deathblow to his head and then he will be miraculously brought back to life.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 10: The Antichrist is revealed.

Matthew 24:15 (NIV)
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-

2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV)
4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

What it looks like

Antichrist proclaims himself God in the rebuilt Temple. Sets up an image of himself and demands global worship.

This is the most significant and specific sign we will see. Exactly half way into Daniel’s 70th week, at the 3 ½ year mark, the Antichrist will walk into the rebuilt temple, in Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount and proclaim himself God. This is the pivotal event the Bible warns us about. From this point on, Satan will reign through the Antichrist for another 3 ½ years. It will be the most horrible period of history that has ever occurred.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Prophecy Sign 11: The Beginning of the Birth Pains

Matthew 24:8 (ESV)
8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

What it looks like

At the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week we will observe a sharp increase in false teachers, wars, rumors of wars, famines and earthquakes. These sufferings represent the 4 horsemen of the Book of Revelation. These birth pangs will be mild in comparison to the Great Tribulation (hard labor) and the Day of the Lord which will result in Israel’s spiritual salvation (birth).

I would consider that the birth pangs have begun in light of recent disasters (Tsunamis, earthquakes, wars in Middle east etc.). The first four horsemen/seals are progressive judgments. They commence and then will grow in intensity all the way up to the point that the beginning of the 1,260 day great tribulation.

Current Status

POSSIBLY BEING FULFILLED

Sign 12 The Preaching of the Gospel to all Nations

Matthew 24:14 (ESV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

What it looks like

The Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached to all nations before the Second Coming.

I suspect this prophecy has been fulfilled in our generation, but it could be referring to the supernatural presentation of the gospel by angels in the Book of Revelation.

Current Status

BEEN FULFILLED

Sign 13: The Rise of the False Prophet

Revelation 13:11-14 (ESV)
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.
12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.
13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,
14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

What it looks like

During Daniel’s 70th Week, a second beast arises, known as the False Prophet. The False Prophet will be cloaked in religion and will be given supernatural powers, which he will use in the service of Antichrist. The False Prophet will perform great miracles in the name of Antichrist, and will use his demonic powers to deceive men into worshiping Antichrist as God. The False Prophet is also Antichrist’s henchman – he will be responsible for the creation of the Speaking Image of the Beast, and will oversee the use of the Mark of the Beast – “666” – as a tool to separate Antichrist’s followers from those loyal to Christ.

At this time I have no idea who the False Prophet might be. I do know the Scriptures talk about the lie that will envelope the earth and lead many astray. God will allow this massive delusion to occur and it will involve the deceptions of the False Prophet.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 14: Gog of Magog attacks Israel

Ezekiel 38:1-2 (ESV)
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him

Ezekiel 38:8-9 (ESV)
8 After many days you will be mustered. In the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual waste. Its people were brought out from the peoples and now dwell securely, all of them.
9 You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.

What it looks like

Gog (the Antichrist) from the land of Magog will lead an attack upon Israel

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

 

Sign 15: Mystery Babylon Revealed and Destroyed

Revelation 17:1 (NIV)
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

Revelation 17:5 (NIV)
5 This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Revelation 17:18 (NIV)
18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

What it looks like

Revelation 17 and 18 include some of the most profound, and difficult, prophecies in the Bible. In these chapters we are given some astounding information regarding Antichrist and another symbolic woman, a very powerful end-times city called “Mystery Babylon the Great.”

Two full chapters in Revelation are devoted to the identity and the destruction of Mystery Babylon. It seems to be a combination of a religious/political system. The Antichrist will ride her to power, establish himself as world ruler, and literally destroy her in a single day. Prophecy students have lots of thoughts on this prophecy, but it remains the most mysterious to me. For many years I was not sure who Mystery Babylon is. Is this a powerful nation that will join forces with the Antichrist? Does it look more like the radical Muslim threat against Israel and the West? Could it be a reference to modern day Iraq, where the original Babylon existed? I have come to believe that Mystery Babylon is “End Times” Jerusalem, who will commit spiritual adultery when she joins forces with the Antichrist and exports the worship of the Beast to the entire world. The position is not without some difficulties, but overall I think it is the correct interpretation.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 16: Martyrdom of the Church and the Jews

Revelation 12:17 (NIV)
17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring–those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

What it looks like

Throughout history, Satan, the Red Dragon, has abused mankind, and specifically the Woman, the nation Israel, in an attempt to kill the Messiah. During the End Times, this persecution will intensify, and Satan will become laser-focused in his final persecution of the Woman and her final offspring, the Church. These verses clearly teach the Church will endure the Great Tribulation. Why does God allow this attack upon His Bride? As He has throughout the history of the Church, God allows persecution and suffering in our lives in order to purify believers and make the Church stronger.

The Church and Israel will have a difficult time during the reign of terror of the Antichrist and the False Prophet. All out spiritual war commences when Satan will be cast out of heaven to this earth. We will be called to remain patient during this 3 ½ year period, which is a relatively short time. We are called to be faithful, keep his commandments and some will have the high privilege of being martyrs as they hold to their testimony of Jesus during the Great Tribulation.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 17: The Coming of Elijah (One of Two Witnesses)

Malachi 4:5-6 (NIV)
5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.
6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Revelation 11:3-5 (NIV)
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.

What it looks like

We have a good idea of the identity of the Two Witnesses. We know for certain that one of the Two Witnesses is the prophet Elijah. In the final Chapter of the final Book of the Bible, the prophet Malachi offers an account of the Day of the Lord. Malachi is the last book of prophecy in the Old Testament, and the following verses describing the Day of the Lord are the last verses of the Old Testament. In these verses, God gives his last words to the nation Israel; He promises that the Prophet Elijah will come and minister to Israel prior to the Day of the Lord. Note that the Two Witnesses have a special relationship with the nation Israel; they are both Old Testament figures and during the End Times they will minister to the Jewish people, represented by the 144,000 Jews. Practicing Jews today continue to teach that Elijah will appear to announce the coming of the Messiah. In fact, Jewish tradition demands that a plate be set for Elijah at the feast of Passover.

The prophet Elijah will re-appear before the second coming of Christ. He is one of the Two Witnesses, future prophets who will perform great miracles in Israel for 3 ½ years. They will directly oppose the Antichrist as he rules the world from his headquarters in Jerusalem.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 18: Cosmic Signs and Disturbances in the Sky

Revelation 6:12-14 (NIV)
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,
13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Matthew 24:29 (NIV)
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

What it looks like

The sixth seal is the cosmic sign marking the end of the Great Tribulation and announcing Jesus’ Second Coming. This prophetic sign will be visible to the entire world and will proclaim that the end of the world is imminent. This sign of the end of the age is specifically a sign of hope for Jesus’ disciples, to let them know that the Rapture is at hand. The sixth seal consists of at least six unparalleled cosmic disturbances, indicating that the final period of Daniel’s 70th week – the Day of the Lord (God’s Wrath) – is about to begin. These cosmic disturbances are as follows: (1) Great Earthquake; (2) Solar Eclipse; (3) Red Moon; (4) Stars Fall from the Sky; (5) Sky Splits Apart; and (6) Mountains and Islands are destroyed.

Alarming cosmic disturbances will appear in the sun, moon and stars announcing the return of Jesus Christ. These wonders in the heavens will polarize the inhabitants of the earth, either causing fear to grip one’s heart, or “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 19: The 144,000 Sealed

Revelation 7:4 (NIV)
4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

What it looks like

During the End Times, many Jews will become willing followers of Antichrist at the inception of the seven-year agreement, which is ostensibly designed to protect Israel. They will view him as a defender of Israel, and perhaps even the Messiah prophesized in the Old Testament. However, there will be a remnant group of Jews from Israel – 144,000 to be exact – that will see through the deception of Antichrist. As Daniel’s 70th week progresses, these Jews will refuse to worship Antichrist or accept his mark. Remember that, although the 144,000 reject Antichrist, they will not become believers during this time period – otherwise, they would become a part of the Church and be raptured up to heaven prior to the Day of the Lord. Think of the many Jews who recognized and rejected the evil of Hitler, but did not necessarily believe in Jesus. The group of 144,000 will realize that they are in imminent danger from Antichrist, and will begin to flee Jerusalem after the Abomination of Desolation occurs – when Antichrist proclaims himself God in the Jewish temple, ushering in the Great Tribulation. The 144,000 will flee into the wilderness, to an undisclosed location – some believe the rock city of Petra. See Rev 12:13,14 and Isa 16:1-4). They will be supernaturally sealed by God’s angels prior to the Day of the Lord, protecting the 144,000 from God’s Wrath and the seven trumpet judgments of the Day of the Lord.

During the Great Tribulation 144,000 Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel, descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, will trust in Jesus. They will reject the Antichrist and not take his mark. These will be the first fruits of the beloved nation Israel who will accept Jesus as Messiah, and there will be many more to follow.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Sign 20: The Rapture of the Church

Matthew 24:30-31 (NIV)
30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NIV)
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

What it looks like

The Bible describes this moment as a gathering of a Great Multitude of saints from all tribes, tongues, and nations that “come out of the Great Tribulation.” This Great Multitude is comprised of all believers who will arrive in heaven as a group, marking the end of the Great Tribulation. With a great trumpet call, God will send His angels to gather His elect, whether they are living or dead.

Matthew 24:29-31, as well as in other places within the New Testament, Jesus revealed about 2000 years ago that he will return in the future to judge the living and the dead. This is a core Christian belief that is reflected in the Apostles’ Creed, which is a summary of Christian beliefs that was written many centuries ago. The Apostles’ Creed is recited by Christians during Christian worship services.

I hope I am wrong, but based upon my studies of the Scriptures for over 35 years, I do not believe the Church will be spared the suffering of the Great Tribulation. In fact, I believe it is our destiny. During the Great Tribulation, the Church will remain God’s faithful witness to Jesus Christ and the saving power of His blood. We will persevere as the power of our testimony is demonstrated through our filling and total dependence upon the Holy Spirit. The Rapture of the Church will be one of the last signs indicating Jesus’ return and kingdom are about to take hold.

Current Status

NOT FULFILLED

Ezekiel’s prophecy of the rebirth of Israel in 1948 and its precise fulfillment in our generation on May 15, 1948 is one of the greatest fulfillments of Bible prophecy in history. Twenty-five centuries ago, while he was a slave during the Babylonian Captivity, (606 – 536 BC), the Lord revealed to the prophet Ezekiel, the precise year – 1948 – when Israel would finally be restored to the Promised Land.. The Jew’s eternal relationship to the Holy Land is a major theme of Bible prophecy. In the Bible, times were specified in precise detail regarding the duration of the time when the Jews were to be exiled from the Promised Land and when God will allow them to return to the Holy Land

The First Captivity – (Egyptian) – 430 years

The Lord prophesied to Abraham precisely when the Jews would return from Egypt from their First Captivity that lasted 430 years of captivity in Egypt (Genesis 15:13; Exodus 12:40-41).

The Second Captivity (Babylonian) – 70 years

Similarly, the Second Captivity of 70 years in Babylon, as prophesied in Jeremiah 25:11, ended precisely in 536 BC when the Jews returned to Jerusalem as decreed by the Persian king Cyrus the Great.

The Third Captivity (Worldwide)

The Scriptures contain numerous prophecies about the final return of the Jewish exiles to their Promised Land in the “last days.”These Bible prophecies were fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became an independent, united nation for the second time in history, and for the first time in 2,900 years.

Ancient Prophecies in the Bible that promised the Rebirth of Israel in the “Last Days”

Jacob’s descendants would regain control of Israel

Bible passage: Amos 9:14-15
Written: about 750 BC
Fulfilled: Since 1948
In Amos 9:14-15, the prophet said that there would come a time when the exiles of Israel would again have Israel as their own land and that they would never be uprooted again. Amos lived about 2700 years ago, during a time when the people of Israel were being forced out of their homeland by a succession of foreign invasions. Despite many centuries of exile, many Jews returned to Israel and reclaimed sovereignty over a portion of their ancient homeland. This declaration of independence, in 1948, triggered a war with the surrounding countries, which objected to the presence of a Jewish state. On May 15, 1948, the day that armies from the surrounding countries invaded, Azzam Pasha, the Secretary General of the Arab League, said “This will be a war of extermination and a momentous massacre which will be spoken of like the Mongolian massacres and the Crusades.” Similar quotes were uttered by others during the war of 1948-49 and during the two major wars that followed. Despite its tiny size, Israel prevailed in these wars, preventing its people from being uprooted again, as they had been in ancient times.
Amos 9:14-15
I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Israel would be brought back to life

Bible passage: Ezekiel 37:10-14
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: 1948

In Ezekiel 37:10-14, the prophet receives a vision in which Israel was seen as a scattering of dried-up bones. In this vision, God tells Ezekiel that the bones (Israel) would be brought back to life. Just as Ezekiel had prophesized about 2600 years ago, the Jews were brought back to the land, and the country of Israel was brought back to life. Israel re-established sovereignty in 1948, a mere three years after the end of the Holocaust, during which the Nazis killed about one-third of the world’s Jewish population.
Ezekiel 37:10-14
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet–a vast army. Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

Isaiah spoke of a Israel being reborn in one day

Bible passage: Isaiah 66:7-8
Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: 1948
In Isaiah 66:7-8, the prophet foreshadowed the re-birth of Israel in 1948. Isaiah describes a woman giving birth before going into labor, and he speaks of a country being born in one day. This accurately describes what happened on May 14, 1948 – when the Jews declared independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2900 years.
During that same day, the United States issued a statement recognizing Israel’s sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally was born in a single day.
Isaiah said the birth would take place before there would be labor pains. And that too is precisely what happened. A movement called Zionism began in the 1800s to encourage Jews worldwide to move to Israel, which at that time was called Palestine. Within hours of the declaration of independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
When reading Isaiah 66:7-8, keep in mind that Israel’s status as a sovereign nation was established and reaffirmed during the course of a single day, and that it was born of a movement called Zionism, and that its declaration of independence was not the result of a war but rather the cause of one.
Isaiah 66:7-8
“Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.”

Israel would be re-established as a united nation

Bible passage: Ezekiel 37:21-22
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: 1948
In Ezekiel 37:21-22, the prophet said that God would one day bring the people of Israel back to Israel, as a united nation. This might have been a shock for Ezekiel. He lived about 2600 years ago. At that time, the people of Israel had already divided themselves into two separate kingdoms. And, both kingdoms had been conquered by foreign invaders, who forced many of the people, including Ezekiel, into exile. But, when Jews reclaimed sovereignty in 1948, they did so as a united people, creating one nation – Israel.
Ezekiel 37:21-22
and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.

The second Israel would be more impressive than the first

Bible passage: Jeremiah 16:14-15
Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BC
Fulfilled: 1948
In Jeremiah 16:14-15, the prophet said the second Israel would be more impressive than the first. In many regards, it is. The first time that Israel was established as a country was after Moses led the descendants of Jacob (typically referred to today as Jews) out of Egypt, where they had been enslaved for 400 years. They then conquered Canaan and established Israel about 3400 years ago. But the second time that Israel was established was after the Jews had been scattered far and wide for a few thousand years. This time the Jews had to return from as far away as the United States, China, Russia and South Africa.
Jeremiah 16:14-15
“However, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when men will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their forefathers.

Ezekiel predicted when Israel would be re-established

Bible passage: Ezekiel 4:3-6
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: 1948
In Ezekiel 4:3-6, the prophet said the Jews, who had lost control of their homeland, would be punished for 430 years. This prophecy, according to Bible scholar Grant Jeffrey, pinpointed the 1948 rebirth of Israel. Here’s a summary of Jeffrey’s theory:
Ezekiel said the Jews were to be punished for 430 years because they had turned away from God. As part of the punishment, the Jews lost control of their homeland to Babylon. Many Jews were taken as captives to Babylon.
Babylon was later conquered by Cyrus in 539 BC. Cyrus allowed the Jews to leave Babylon and to return to their homeland. But, only a small number returned. The return had taken place sometime around 536 BC, about 70 years after Judah lost independence to Babylon.
Because most of the exiles chose to stay in pagan Babylon rather than return to the Holy Land, the remaining 360 years of their punishment was multiplied by 7. The reason is explained in Bible’s book of Leviticus. (Leviticus 26:18, Leviticus 26:21, Leviticus 26:24 and Leviticus 26:28). In Leviticus, it says that if the people did not repent while being punished, the punishment would be multiplied by 7. And, by staying in pagan Babylon, most exiles were refusing to repent.
So, if you take the remaining 360 years of punishment and multiply by 7, you get 2,520 years. But, Jeffrey says those years are based on an ancient 360-day lunar calendar. If those years are adjusted to the modern solar calendar, the result is 2,484 years.
And, there were exactly 2,484 years from 536 BC to 1948, which is the year that Israel regained independence.
(In this Bible passage, Ezekiel is asked by God to symbolically act out the 430 years of punishment)
Ezekiel 4:3-6
… Then take an iron pan, place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face toward it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. “Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel. “After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.

The people of Israel would return to “their own land”

Bible passage: Ezekiel 34:13
Written: between 593-571 BC
Fulfilled: after May 14, 1948
In Ezekiel 34:13, the prophet said that God would gather the people of Israel scattered throughout the world and bring them back to “their own land.” After many centuries of dispersion, hundreds of thousands of Jews returned to their ancient homeland beginning in the late 1800s. But, millions more returned after Israel declared independence in 1948. In other words, millions of exiles returned to their ancient homeland which was now truly “their own land” in the sense that it was now a sovereign Jewish state.
Ezekiel 34:13
I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.

God would watch over the people of Israel

Bible passage: Jeremiah 31:10
Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BC
Fulfilled: 1948, etc.
In Jeremiah 31:10, the prophet said that God would one day gather the Jews back to Israel and that He would watch over them like a shepherd. Believe what you wish, but there is evidence that God indeed has watched over the re-established nation of Israel. Hours after Israel declared independence in 1948, the surrounding countries attacked, hoping to replace the Jewish state with an Arab state. These countries are much larger than Israel. But tiny Israel prevailed in that war and was able to capture additional land, increasing the land size of Israel by 50 percent. Israel also prevailed in the two other major wars that followed.
Jeremiah 31:10
“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’

Israel’s army would be disproportionately powerful

Bible passage: Leviticus 26:3, 7-8
Written: perhaps around 1400 BC
Fulfilled: 1948-49, 1967, etc.
In Leviticus 26:3, 7-8, the Bible says that the army of Israel would have a supernatural power to prevail during times of conflict, if the people are obedient to the Lord. This Bible passage says that 5 people would be able to chase away 100 people, and that 100 would be able to chase away 10,000. Is there any proof to this incredible claim? Judge for yourself:
Example 1: Within hours of Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon invaded Israel. The combined population of those countries was at least 20 million at that time. Israel had fewer than 1 million Jews. Even so, the Jews won the war and expanded the size of Israel by 50 percent.
Example 2: During the War of 1967, Israel attacked the air force bases of the surrounding countries and took control of Jerusalem for the first time in about 2000 years. They also seized additional territory. That war lasted a mere 6 days.
Example 3: On Oct. 6, 1973, Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria. Other countries later joined the attack. But the Jews were able to push back the attacking armies and occupy land outside of Israel’s borders.
Leviticus 26:3, 7-8
“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, … You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.”

The fortunes of the people of Israel would be restored

Bible passage: Deuteronomy 30:3-5
Written: perhaps 1400 BC
Fulfilled: 1948, etc.
In Deuteronomy 30:3-5, the Bible said the Jews would be scattered worldwide and that they later would return to their homeland and have their fortunes restored. This prophecy began to be fulfilled in modern times during the late 1800s when many Jews returned to Israel, from as far away as China and the United States, Russia and South Africa. Israel declared independence in 1948. Today, Israel is among the world’s most prosperous countries. In 1999, for example, Israel’s per capita Gross Domestic Product was twice as prosperous than the neighboring countries.
Deuteronomy 30:3-5
then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.

The Most Significant End Time Prophecy

The “end time” events described in the Olivet Discourse and the book of Revelation could not take place without Israel back in their land. Israel’s return to the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the 20th century is the most important event that signals the soon return of Jesus Christ.
Israel’s rebirth as a nation has also served as a catalyst for other “end time” prophecies that are beginning to converge on the world scene (Dan 2:42-22; Ezek 38-39). The Apostle Paul told us “…that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Tim 3:1-7). Jesus said there would be a time of worldwide conflict and wars that would be “the beginning of sorrows” (Mt 24:8). Christ said, “except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved” (Mk 13:20).
Christians who take the Bible seriously should be actively watching the prophetic shadows that are appearing in today’s headlines. And as we entertain the possibility that we may be the generation Jesus was talking about in the fig tree parable nearly 2000 years ago, we are admonished by the Scriptures to watch and be prepared (Mt 24: 37-51).
One day there will be a generation of Christians that will escape the grip of death and be ushered into Heaven, the “final frontier” for believers (1 Thess 4:13-5:11). The generation that is “left behind” will face the ruthless tyranny of a global dictatorship (Rev 13:11-18). The world stage is now being set for the closing act of this dispensation, and the climax of world history (Christ’s return) is drawing near. As God’s children, we may very well be the generation that is chosen to “escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Lk 21:34-36). That possibility is certainly worth pondering!

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is the hope of believers that God is in control of all things, and is faithful to the promises and prophecies in His Word. In His first coming, Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem, just as prophesied. Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Messiah during His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. However, there are some prophecies regarding the Messiah that Jesus has not yet fulfilled. The second coming of Christ will be the return of Christ to fulfill these remaining prophecies. In His first coming, Jesus was the suffering Servant. In His second coming, Jesus will be the conquering King. In His first coming, Jesus arrived in the most humble of circumstances. In His second coming, Jesus will arrive with the armies of heaven at His side.
The Old Testament prophets did not make clearly this distinction between the two comings. This can be seen in Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7 and Zechariah 14:4. As a result of the prophecies seeming to speak of two individuals, many Jewish scholars believed there would be both a suffering Messiah and a conquering Messiah. What they failed to understand is that there is only one Messiah and He would fulfill both roles. Jesus fulfilled the role of the suffering servant (Isaiah chapter 53) in His first coming. Jesus will fulfill the role of Israel’s deliverer and King in His second coming. Zechariah 12:10 and Revelation 1:7, describing the second coming, look back to Jesus being pierced. Israel, and the whole world, will mourn for not having accepted the Messiah the first time He came.
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels declared to the apostles, “‘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’” (Acts 1:11). Zechariah 14:4 identifies the location of the second coming as the Mount of Olives. Matthew 24:30 declares, “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.” Titus 2:13 describes the second coming as a “glorious appearing.”
The second coming is spoken of in greatest detail in Revelation 19:11-16, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes 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. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Six purposes for Christ’s return as described in the Bible:
• To defeat the Antichrist and his armies (Revelation 19:19-21)
• To regather and restore Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6, Jeremiah 30:10; 33:6-9; Ezekiel 36:24-38; 37:1-28)
• To judge the living—the division of the “sheep and the goats” to determine who can enter heaven at the end of the Tribulation (Matthew 25:31-46; Ezekiel 20:33-38)
• To resurrect the dead—the resurrection and rewarding of Old Testament believers and martyred Tribulation believers (Revelation 20:4-6; Daniel 12:1-4)
• To bind the Devil—the first event mentioned after Christ returns to defeat the Antichrist is the binding of Satan in the bottomless pit for one thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3)
• To establish himself as king to reign over the earth (Revelation 19:16; Daniel 2:44; Matthew 19:28; Luke 1:32-33)

When is Jesus coming back?
Jesus will come back soon. However, no one knows the exact time when Jesus is coming again. Mark 13:32 says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Interestingly, the disciples asked Jesus the same question just before He returned to heaven. At that time, Jesus told them it was not for them to know the times or seasons which are in the Father’s authority. Therefore, Jesus may come back tomorrow, next month, next year or 100 years from now. So what does this mean for you and me? Always be ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Watch and focus on Jesus because the devil is seeking to distract mankind from understanding the signs and closeness of Jesus’ coming.

Why is Jesus taking so long to come back?

Jesus is patiently waiting to come back, because He is giving humanity as much time as possible to choose and follow Him. Jesus wants as many people as possible to repent and return to heaven with Him. 2 Peter 3:8-9 says, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

What will happen to the sleeping saints?

John 5:28, 29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

What will happen to the living saints?

1 Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:51 – 53
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

How does Jesus Christ reward the righteous at His Second Coming?

Daniel 7:27 “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
1 Peter 5:4 “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

How does Jesus Christ reward the wicked at His Second Coming?

2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8 “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Revelation 11:18 “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”