READING TIME: 2-4 MINUTES
November 12, 2019
David, I am interested in studying future prophecy, but it is a bit overwhelming. Could you please give me a concise overview of future events?
I plan to answer this question in two parts.
Note: eschatology is a debatable topic. This material is written from a pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, and dispensational viewpoint, but I recognize other viewpoints that differ from mine.
A. The rapture and the judgment seat of Yeshua
1. Presently believers are waiting for Messiah Yeshua’s imminent coming. This is when He comes to “rapture” (take) the universal church (true believers) (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
2. The rapture will occur before the seven-year Tribulation. All believers will be judged at the judgment seat of Yeshua in heaven for the good and bad (i.e., “worthless” – 2 Corinthians 5:10) deeds we have done since becoming believers, resulting in rewards or deprivation of rewards (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
3. The believer will not be condemned concerning his sins (1 Corinthians 5:5; 11:32; Hebrews 12:7).
4. During this life, believers are chastened/disciplined for the sins they commit (1 Corinthians 5:5; 11:32; Hebrews 12:7).
B. The Tribulation
1. The seven-year tribulation (the 70th week of Daniel) will begin when the Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel; this covenant will result in a false sense of security and a time of pseudo-peace (Daniel 9:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).
2. During the first half of the Tribulation, Israel will live in “peace” in their land (Ezekiel 38:8, 11, 14).
3. The sacrifices of the future third Temple will be instituted and the third Jewish temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27).
C. 21 Judgments
1. During the Tribulation Messiah Yeshua, the Lamb will pour out His wrath upon the world through 21 judgments: seven seal judgments (Revelation 6:1-17; 8:1), seven trumpet judgments (Revelation 8:1-9:21; 11:15-19), and the seven bowl judgments (Revelation 16:1-21).
D. Satan cast out of heaven
1. In the middle of the seven-year Tribulation, Satan will be thrown out of heaven, and then he will proceed to empower the Antichrist (Revelation 12:7-11) and will intensify his persecution of the Tribulation saints (Revelation 12:12-17).
E. The Second Coming
1. Commercial/Political Babylon will be destroyed (Revelation 16:19-21; 18:1-24) and the Campaign of Armageddon will begin (Revelation 16:12-16).
2. Jerusalem will fall (Zechariah 12:1-3; 14:1-2) and the remnant of Israel who is still alive at Messiah Yeshua’s Second Coming will receive regeneration when they look upon the One they pierced (Zechariah 12:10-13:2; also see Deuteronomy 30:6-8; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 37:1-14; Romans 11:26-27; Revelation 1:7).
3. This change of heart on the part of the remnant of Israel is a type of “prerequisite” for Yeshua’s Second Coming (Matthew 23:37-39).
4. Yeshua will return to earth at His Second Coming with the armies of heaven (including angels and the church) following Him (Zechariah 14:1-15; Matthew 24:27-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation 19:11-16).
5. Earthly armies will be destroyed by Yeshua and the armies of heaven (Zechariah 14:12-15; Revelation 19:19-21).
6. The nations that attack Jerusalem will be severely judged by God for coming against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:9; 14:3, 12; Revelation 19: 11-13, 15).
7. Yeshua will judge the living Gentiles based on how they treated Jewish people, Yeshua’s physical brothers, during the Tribulation (Matthew 25:31-46; also see Joel 3:1-3, 11-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-21).
8. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 19:20).
9. Satan will be thrown into the abyss and bound for 1000 years (for the duration of Yeshua’s millennial reign) (Revelation 20:1-3).
