Revelation part 2 - End Times

Introduction – End Times

• As the church continues to degenerate, God brings out the final phase of his plan – to regather Israel and rule from the Holy City, Jerusalem.
• This will trigger the final series of events leading to Christ’s second coming

Signs of the last days

2 Timothy 3:1-4 ESV – in the last days.. people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive…, …lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

Matthew 24:14 ESV  – 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.

Signs of the last days (Cont’d)

Matthew 24:29-32 ESV – “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man….,

Israel Regathered (1948)

• “He will raise a flag among the nations.. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 11:12 (NLT)
• “The time is coming when my people will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole earth with her fruit!” Isaiah 27:6 (NLT)
• “.. Has a nation ever been born in a single day?.. by the time Jerusalem’s birth pains begin, the baby will be born; the nation will come forth.” Isaiah 66:8 (NLT)

7th seal – 7 trumpets – Jacob’s trouble – first half (Rev 8-11a)

Also referred to as the great tribulation (first half), the timeline is:

• 1260 days (Rev 12:6)
• 3.5 years – Rev 12:14 (time, times and half a time)
• Forty two months – Rev 13:5
• During which time:
• There is destruction on earth
• Two witnesses die and rise

7th trumpet – Jacob’s trouble 2nd half, Day of the Lord (Rev 11b-14)

Also called the second half of the great tribulation, it covers another 3.5 years approx:

1290 days

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.

The Second Coming of Christ

Jacob’s trouble (latter part of 2nd half) – (Rev 15-18)

The worst part of the Great Tribulation is left to the last from which the righteous appear to be saved as rapture has occurred:

• 7 disasters
• Fall of Babylon
• Assembling of kings for battle of Armaggedon

Millenial Rule (Rev 20a)

The millenial rule where Christ rules the earth with his saints is kicked off with a grand celebration. The final phase of the “first resurrection” occurs – Rev 20

 and features:

• Marriage supper of lamb – Rev 20
• Satan bound for 1000 years – Rev 20
• Feast of tabernacles – Zechariah 14:16,17
• Israel 100% compliant – Jer 31:33
• Long lives – Isaiah 11
• Israel evangelizes nations – Isaiah 49:6, 42:6
• Ruled by martyrs and saints – Rev. 20:5
• Lion and lamb sleep together – Isaiah 11

Christ’s Rule

“‘.. I will appoint responsible shepherds to care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one of them will be lost or missing,’ says the Lord….

‘..I will place a righteous Branch on King David’s throne. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this is his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.

Jeremiah 23:3-6 (NLT)

New Age (Rev 21)

The grand and final destination is opened up only to those who’s names are not blotted from the book of life:

• New heaven and earth
• Saints reign with Christ…

Discussion

1. Before He rides the victory horse,

  Christ had to die on the cross.

What message do we get for our lives here?

2. Why do you think the great tribulation targeted at the Jews (Jacob’s trouble)?
3. While Christ’s rule brings on the perfect governance, what can we do to emulate that environment in this world?