An Apocalyptic Portfolio of End Time Events

I have written this article in response to various requests from people, including my father, who desires an understanding of end-time prophetic events and their possible order.

Coffee Scribe takes a pre-tribulation approach to eschatology. With that said, teaching other views is not heresy as it is not pivotal to salvation, and therefore I can not claim to be right in my viewpoint either. From that perspective, I both humbly and lovingly present a chronological order of end-time events that I believe the Bible reveals. Concerning the Rapture of the Church; no one knows the day or the hour (its exact time remains hidden)—for that reason, I have placed the Rapture as point number one being that the Bible reveals its occurrence as being imminent (meaning it could happen at any time, both soon and without any warning signs).

An End Times Snapshot

In brief, here is a very quick summary of how I believe the end-time events may likely play out:

1. The Rapture of the Church removes the Restrainer.
2. Israel subjugates their surrounding neighbors in fulfillment of Psalm 83.
3. The Gog-Magog battle destroys the Russian and possibly Muslim influence in the Middle East, makes the world aware of God’s presence, and restores Israel’s belief in the God of the Torah.
4. The Antichrist (Ezekiel 38:17) conquers what’s left of the Middle East and makes a peace covenant with Israel to complete either a ‘revived Roman empire’ or a Muslim-like caliphate type of world-ruling empire.
5. Israel spends the seven years of the Tribulation burning the weapons, or this happens during the first seven years of the Millennial Kingdom.
6. Jesus returns at the end of the seven years to defeat His enemies at the battle of Armageddon resulting in Israel acknowledging that Jesus is God’s Son.
7. Jesus gathers the people from all over the world for the Sheep/Goat Judgment, which results in only believers entering the Millennial Kingdom.

The remainder of this article provides further detail, along with Scripture references and explanations for those that would like a broader view on this topic as follows:

A Chronological Order of Events

One

The Rapture (2 Thess. 2:7 & 2 Thess. 4:17-18)

• The “Rapture” is the “catching away” or “gathering together” of the “Church”—those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, to the Messiah, during the “Times of the Gentiles” where the non-Jewish Nations have come to faith in Messiah Jesus (Luke 21:24, Rom. 11:25).
• The “asleep (or dead) in Christ” (New Testament saints) will receive their new glorified (resurrected) bodies at this time; this is typically referred to as the “first resurrection,” (1 Cor. 15:51-53). Old Testament saints will receive their resurrected bodies after the Tribulation (Dan. 12:1-2).
• Note: The Rapture is a signless event that could happen at any moment versus the Second Coming of Christ which has very specific signs associated with it as outlined in an end-times timeline according to the Book of Revelation.

Two

Psalm 83 & Isaiah 17 Wars

• All countries who share common borders with Israel intend to wipe her off the map.
• Damascus, the oldest remaining city on earth, will no longer be a city—she will become “a ruinous heap.”
• Note: These wars seem to be taking place at a time when the people shall say; “peace and safety;” then sudden destruction cometh upon them… (1 Thess. 5:3). Note also that these wars could very easily take place prior to the Rapture.

Three

Gog – Magog War # 1 (Ezekiel 38)

• The Middle East countries who surround Israel but who do not share common borders with her intention to take a spoil.
• Note: I have placed this war after points number one and two as the Rapture is imminent. Again, this war could easily take place prior to the Rapture.

The above three mentioned events (which may be classified as pre-tribulation in nature) may very well be the catalysts that help to put into motion the prophesied global economic collapse; the one-world government which leans on the one-world religion. Once the ‘son of perdition’ aka the Antichrist, enters the scene perhaps due to this collapse—will be the start of the Tribulation period which is the fulfillment of the 70th-week prophecy of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) when the Antichrist confirms a peace treaty or covenant in point number five below. In other words, what proceeds from this point forward is the beginning of the Tribulation as follows:

Four

The Lawless One (Antichrist) is Revealed
(The first of the seven seals is opened! – the rider on the white horse – Revelation 6:1-2)
For a list of each of the seven seals; seven trumpets; and seven bowls (vials) judgments, see our poster by clicking here
(2 Thess. 2:8)

• After the “Restrainer” is removed which is the indwelling Holy Spirit in those who are the Church is removed or taken out of the way by the removal of the Church during the Rapture, then the man of lawlessness will be revealed. This is the first “seal judgment” of Revelation 6:1-2.
• Note: Points four and five go together. It is at the signing or more accurately, the confirming of a peace treaty (as it may be a pre-existing treaty) that the Tribulation period actually begins.

Five

The Tribulation Period Begins – Daniel’s 70th Week (Rev. 6-19)

• The seven-year Tribulation period comes from the prophecy of the “70 weeks” in Daniel 9:24, where each “week” is a time period of seven years. The Tribulation period is the last, or 70th “week” of that prophecy. We are currently in the interval of time between the 69th week of years and the last week of years yet to be fulfilled. The Tribulation will start once the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) “confirms a covenant with many for one seven,” (of years) that were decreed.
• The Tribulation is called the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7): Jacob, referring to Israel—for rejecting her Messiah. This is a time of judgment concerning Israel and the world with the focus on Israel, as the Jewish people and the Nation of Israel. “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness,…” (Daniel 9:24-27).
• It is important to note that the Church does not replace Israel according to Jer. 31:35-36. Why this is important is that the Tribulation’s focus is Israel and not the Church as the Church will not be here but would have already been caught up to heaven during the rapture.  
• This period of seven years is broken down into two halves of 3½ biblical years (42 months) of 1,260 days each, as the Jewish custom of 360-day year is applied.
• The “Two Witnesses” will bring to faith those in the Tribulation period who recognize their need of salvation in Messiah (Rev. 11:3-14). There will also be the ministry of the 144,000 Jewish men of Revelation 7:1-8 who will be preaching the gospel to the entire world.
• It is thought that during this time the “Judgment Seat of Christ” and the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb” will occur in heaven with the raptured Church saints (2 Cor. 5:18, Rev. 19:6-10).
• The Judgment Seat of Christ is for New Testament saints in Christ, to receive rewards and is not a time of judgment nor about salvation. It does not determine if believers get into heaven—as it is not about “where,” but rather “how” (1 Cor. 3:9).
• Midway through the seven-year Tribulation, (at 3½ years), the “abomination of desolation” will occur where the man of lawlessness will enter the third temple and declare himself to be God and will put an end to Jewish worship sacrifices (Dan. 927b). At this point, it will be exactly 1,260 days to the Second Coming of Christ—unlike the rapture of which is unpredictable (can happen at any time “imminent”) concerning its occurrence of which “about that day or hour no one knows,” (Matt. 24:36)—which is also a Jewish idiom. However, we who “are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you,” (1 Thess. 5:4) will be able to recognize the times and the season of when His return is near. 
• The Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and the Jews are scattered and many of them will turn to the LORD, realizing that Jesus is their true Savior (Rev. 12:17).

Six

The Glorious Appearing – The Second Coming of Christ (Rev. 19)

• Jesus comes to the earth to reign and rule on the earth for 1,000 years. Jesus’ feet will literally touch the Mount of Olivers and split it in half as prophesied in Zechariah 14:4—unlike the Rapture where Jesus comes in the air to take His bride with Him to heaven (1 Thess. 4:17).

Seven

The Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21)

• At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus comes to the earth (Rev. 1:7) with His bride—the raptured Church saints, and the armies of heaven (Mark 14:62), to defeat the armies of the Antichrist and to reign and rule on the earth for 1,000 years.
• The “Judgment of the Nations” (Matt. 25:31), will take place when Christ will judge the survivors of the Tribulation, separating the righteous from the wicked as “sheep” and “goats.” It is thought that at this time the Old Testament saints will be raised from the dead (Dan. 12:1-2).
• The Judgment of the Nations is an event that will occur seven years after the rapture, immediately following Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth. As Jesus Christ sets up His earthly (1,000-year) kingdom, His first order of business is to judge the nations and eliminate the unsaved from entering the millennium. This judgment is to be distinguished from the Great White Throne Judgment. Here there is no resurrection; the persons judged are living nations; no books are opened; three classes are present, sheep, goats, and brethren; the time is at the return of Christ, and the scene is on the earth. The post-Tribulation survivors who came to Christ will enter the millennium and populate the earth. Their children and their children’s children will make their decisions for or against following Messiah, will live and die.

Eight

The Thousand-year Millennial Kingdom of Christ (Rev. 20)

• Satan is bound and thrown into the “bottomless pit,” abyss (prison—a temporary holding place, Rev. 20:3).
• The raptured saints will sit on thrones in Christ’s authority to reign and rule with Him (Matt.19:28), and the knowledge about God will cover the whole earth (Isaiah 11:9). People will be getting saved during this time.
• God’s servant, David will be the prince forever (Ezekiel 37:25).
• “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,” (Isaiah 65:20-25).

Nine

Gog – Magog War # 2
(Rev. 20:7-10 & Ezekiel 39)

• When the thousand years are over, Satan will be loosed (released) from his prison for a short time to go out to deceive the nations… to gather them for “the last battle.”
• Fire will come down from heaven and devour those opposing armies.
• Satan, the beast, and the false prophet will then be cast into the “Lake of Fire” and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Ten

The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15)

• Typically referred to as “judgment day,” all those in hell will be brought forth and all the wicked from all eras of history will be resurrected to stand before God in a final judgment. This is called the “second resurrection,” which leads to what the Bible calls “the second death.” The verdicts are read, and all of sinful humanity, who have rejected the Messiah will be cast into the Lake of Fire to join Satan, the beast, and the false prophet.

Eleven

The New Heaven and New Earth (Rev. 21)

• Following the Millennium and the final judgment, the new heaven and new earth are created as the old universe passes away by fire. The first heaven and the first earth are replaced by a new heaven and a new earth, predicted by Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22. The present universe will thus be cleansed from all the effects of sin.

Twelve

The Holy City – New Jerusalem (Rev. 21-22)

• The Holy City, New Jerusalem will come down from God out of heaven and reside upon the earth where God will dwell (tabernacle) with mankind forever.
• All tears, pain, sorrow, and death will be removed in that heavenly New Jerusalem where all believers will live.
• “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life… and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Rev. 22:2). Creation began with a tree and “ends” with a tree.

Revelation 22:7 – King James Version (KJV)

“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of this prophecy of this book.”