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End Times Timeline
According to the classical dispensationalist (pretribulational premillennial) model
End Times Timeline Pretribulation Rapture (Harpazo) Judgement Seat (Bema) of Christ Marriage of the Lamb Magog Invasion Battle of Gog and Magog Tribulation (70th^ Week of Daniel) Great Tribulation Abomination of Desolation Second Coming (Parousia) of Christ Battle of Armageddon 75-day Interregnum Judgement of the Sheep and Goats Millennium Marriage Supper of the Lamb Satan’s Final Rebellion (Final War of Gog and Magog) Great White Throne Judgement Eternal State
Note:
Italicized event names denote possible (but uncertain) timings Scripture quotations are from the NASB 1995 unless otherwise stated Italicized words indicate words not present in the original texts, but that are implied by them Underlined words correspond to the name of the object/event/period in whose section they appear Literal translations (lit.) are sometimes given in parentheses
Pretribulation
Rapture (Harpazo)
The Greek word ἁρπάζω ( harpazō ) means “to seize” or “to snatch out/away” This word also appears when Paul describes a man whom he knew who was raptured
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. — 2 Corinthians 12:
It appears again in the symbolic passage of Revelation 12
And she [the woman, representing Mary, and, by extension, Israel] gave birth to a son, a male child [Christ], who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. — Revelation 12:
An imminent event
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord [the Tribulation, preceded by the Rapture] will come just like a thief in the night. — 1 Thessalonians 5:1–
Believers who died after Christ’s resurrection are given resurrected physical bodies
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and (lit.: who ) remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. — 1 Thessalonians 4:16–
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. — 1 Corinthians 15:22–
Intended to keep the Church from the Tribulation
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 on the earth. — Revelation 3:
Analogy: God recalls His “ambassadors” 1
This allows the Antichrist to take over
And you know what restrains him [the “man of lawlessness”; i.e., the Antichrist] now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming. — 2 Thessalonians 2:6–
The “restrainer” is likely the Holy Spirit, acting through the Church
— Ezekiel 38:1–
“Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.”
— Ezekiel 38:14– Invasion of Israel from the north by a coalition of nations
Battle of Gog and Magog
Described in Ezekiel 39
Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38–39) Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16, 19)
Gog leads the invasion The Antichrist leads the invasion
Armies drawn by God 2 Armies gathered by demons 3
Israel initially at peace 4 Israel in the midst of the Tribulation
Armies gather to plunder Israel 5
Armies gather to fight Christ and His army 6
Takes place on the mountains of Israel 7
Takes place between Megiddo and Bozrah 8 9
Attackers destroyed by wild beasts, fire, etc. sent by God 10
Attackers destroyed by Christ’s “sword” (His Word) 11
Distinct from the Battle of Armageddon
⅚ of the invaders destroyed by God? The phrase “sixth part” only appears in the KJV , and may be a mistranslation: the word א ׁשָׁשָ ( shawshaw , “to lead on”) was probably confused with ה ּׁשָׁשִ ( shashah , “to divide into six parts”)
And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (KJV)
Most modern translations have something similar to “drive you on” or “drag you along”
... and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (NASB)
I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (NIV)
And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (ESV)
Israel uses invaders’ weapons as ‘fuel’ for 7 years
“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them , both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord God. — Ezekiel 39:9–
Dead buried in the Valley of Hamon-Gog over a period of 7 months
“On that day I will give Gog a burial ground there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it will block off those who would pass by. So they will bury Gog there with all his horde (lit.: crowd ), and they will call it the valley of Hamon-gog (or the multitude of Gog ). For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. — Ezekiel 39:11–
Tribulation (70th^ Week of Daniel)
A 7-year period of distress for the world, especially Israel, also called the time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble
For behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’” Now these are the words which the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: “For thus says the Lord, ‘I (lit.: We ) have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace. ‘Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale? ‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it. ‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves (lit.: him their slave ). But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them [after the Tribulation]. — Jeremiah 30:3–
“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
God.’” — Zechariah 13:8–
3 rd^ temple built in Jerusalem
Then there was given me a measuring rod (lit.: reed ) like a staff; and someone said (lit.: saying ), “Get up and measure the temple (or sanctuary ) of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. — Revelation 11:
Two witnesses prophesy on Earth for the first 3½ years
Leave (lit.: Throw ) out the court which is outside the temple (or sanctuary ) and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months [i.e., 3½ years]. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days [i.e., , where 360 days is the length of a ‘prophetic year’], clothed in sackcloth.” — Revelation 11:2–
After these 3½ years, they are killed by the Antichrist
When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. — Revelation 11:
They are resurrected and raptured after 3½ days
But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. — Revelation 11:11–
An earthquake subsequently destroys ⅒ of Jerusalem and kills 7000 people
And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people (lit.: names of people, seven thousand ) were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. — Revelation 11:
Great Tribulation
There was given to him [the beast from the sea with ten horns; i.e., the Antichrist] a mouth speaking arrogant words (lit.: great things ) and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months [i.e., 3½ years] was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is , those who dwell in heaven.
— Revelation 13:5–
And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as (lit.: and ) he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time ; and as soon as they finish (lit.: to finish ) shattering the power (lit.: hand ) of the holy people, all these events will be completed.
— Daniel 12:6–
The last 3½ years of the Tribulation, beginning with the Abomination of Desolation Saints handed over to the Antichrist
It was also given to him to make war with the saints (or holy ones ) and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. — Revelation 13:
He [the beast with ten horns, the 4th^ in Daniel’s vision] will speak out (lit.: words ) against the Most High and wear down the saints (lit.: holy ones ) of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they [the saints] will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. — Daniel 7:
“Time, times, and half a time” is generally understood to mean ‘a year, two years, and half a year’ – 3½ years, which is consistent with the description in Revelation 13
Abomination of Desolation
Occurs halfway (3½ years) through the tribulation The Antichrist puts an end to sacrifice and offering, and sets up an abomination in the temple
... but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations (or detestable things ) will come one who makes desolate (or causes horror ), even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” — Daniel 9:
Those in Judea are told by Jesus to flee to the mountains
“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. — Matthew 24:15–
Second Coming (Parousia) of Christ
The Greek word παρουσία ( parousia ) means “presence” or “coming/arrival” It often refers to the Second Coming of Christ (the return of Christ to Earth) It is also used in some other contexts (e.g., the Rapture; the personal presence of Paul, Titus, Stephanas, etc.; the coming of the Antichrist) Occurs at the end of the tribulation
All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; but Jerusalem (lit.: it ) will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. People (lit.: They ) will live in it, and there will no longer be a curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. — Zechariah 14:10–
Battle of Armageddon
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan] and out of the mouth of the beast [the Antichrist] and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world (lit.: inhabited earth ), to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon (or Armageddon ). — Revelation 16:13–
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war... He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. — Revelation 19:11–14, 19:
The Greek word Ἁρμαγεδών ( Harmagedōn ) comes from the Hebrew ֹוּד גִ מְ ר הַ ( Har Mĕgiddown , “Hill/Mount of Megiddo”) Many Old Testament battles took place near Megiddo:
“The kings came and fought; then fought the kings of Canaan at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; they took no plunder in silver. — Judges 5:
However, Josiah would not turn away (lit.: his face ) from him, but disguised himself in order to make war with him; nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of Megiddo. — 2 Chronicles 35:
Zechariah alludes to Hadadrimmon, the place in the valley of Megiddo where a national lamentation was held for the death of King Josiah 14
And in that day I will set about to (lit.: seek to ) destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit (or a spirit ) of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. — Zechariah 12:9–
Antichrist and False Prophet thrown into Gehenna
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence (or by his authority ), by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone [Gehenna]. — Revelation 19:
Antichrist’s army slain by the ‘sword’ of the Word of God 15 16 17
And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. — Revelation 19:
Satan and his demons bound in the Abyss for 1000 years
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in (lit.: upon ) his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. — Revelation 20:1–
75-day Interregnum
From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335 days! But as for you [Daniel], go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age (lit.: days ).
— Daniel 12:11–
From the installation of the Abomination of Desolation until the end of the Tribulation, there are 1260 days (3½ prophetic years), but Daniel is told that there will be another 30 ( ) days until some event, and then another 45 ( ) until (presumably) the beginning of the Millennium Some possible events: Removal of the Abomination of Desolation? Cleansing of Jerusalem and the land after the Battle of Armageddon (e.g., burying the dead)? Judgement of the Sheep and Goats?
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. — Isaiah 9:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” — Luke 1:32–
Peace, productivity, prosperity, long lifespans
Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as (lit. on ) the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it. And He will judge between the nations, and will render (or reprove many ) decisions for many peoples; and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war. — Isaiah 2:2, 2:
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved. — Amos 9:
“I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying. “No longer will there be in it (lit.: from there ) an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out (lit.: fill out ) his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred (lit.: the one who misses the mark ) will be thought accursed. — Isaiah 65:19–
Great increase in Earth’s population – we deduce this from the fact that the enemies of God, alone, will be numerous
When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore (lit.: sea ). — Revelation 20:7–
Jerusalem will become the “centre”/focus of Earth
4 th^ temple (described in Ezekiel 40–48) built in Jerusalem A river flows from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea
And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea [the Dead Sea] and the other half toward the western sea [the Mediterranean Sea]; it will be in summer as well as in winter. — Zechariah 14:
“Shekinah” Glory (visible manifestation of the invisible God) returns to Israel for the first time after leaving the 1st^ temple (Solomon’s temple) c. 586 BC
And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. — Ezekiel 43:
The glory of God was removed in stages from the 1st^ temple:
- From near the Ark of the Covenant to the threshold of the Temple
Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple (lit.: house ). — Ezekiel 9:
- From the threshold of the Temple to the Eastern Gate
Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them (lit.: over them from above ). — Ezekiel 10:18–
- From the Eastern Gate to the Mount of Olives
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them (lit.: over them from above ). The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. — Ezekiel 11:22–
Marriage Supper of the Lamb
Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” — Revelation 19:
Occurs at (or just before) the beginning of the Millennium
… for I say to you, I shall never again eat it [Passover] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God [the Millennial Kingdom].” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” — Luke 22:16–
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books (or scrolls ) were opened; and another book (or scroll ) was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books (or scrolls ), according to their deeds. — Revelation 20:
Resurrection and judgement of all unbelievers , who are thrown into Gehenna
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was (lit.: anyone was ) not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. — Revelation 20:13–
Eternal State
Believers who were alive at the beginning of the Millennium or were born during the Millennium given new physical bodies (most likely) New Heaven and new Earth created by God
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind (lit.: heart ). — Isaiah 65:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. — Revelation 21:
New Jerusalem comes down to Earth
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And he carried me away in the Spirit (or in spirit ) to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance (lit.: luminary ) was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. — Revelation 21:2, 21:10–
No temple (God and the Lamb are its temple)
I saw no temple (or sanctuary ) in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. — Revelation 21:
No death, mourning, crying, pain, etc.
- 2 Cor. 5:20 ↩
- Ezek. 38:4 ↩
- Rev. 16:14 ↩
- Ezek. 38:11 ↩
- Ezek. 38:12 ↩
- Rev. 19:19 ↩
- Ezek. 39:2 ↩
- Rev. 16:16 ↩
- Isa. 63:1 ↩
- Ezek. 39:4–6 ↩
- Rev. 19:21 ↩
- Rev. 13:1–10 ↩
- Rev. 13:11–18 ↩
- 2 Chr. 35:22–25 ↩
- John 1:1 ↩
- John 1:14 ↩
- Rev. 1:16 ↩
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” — Revelation 21:3–
No need for sunlight or moonlight
And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. — Revelation 21:
Curse from Genesis lifted
On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of (or crops of ) fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him — Revelation 22:2–
No night
And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have (lit.: do not have ) need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. — Revelation 22:
