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READ THIS IF ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE LEFT THIS EARTH!

The ‘taking away’ (rapture) of Christians and the aftermath

WHEN TO READ THIS

Read this when social media and the Press report that a large number of people have simply vanished.

Read this when professing Christians have simply vanished.

Read this if you want to know what will happen when all professing Christians vanish – it is written in the tense that indicates this event has occurred.

This will happen at some time, but no one knows when. There has been a lot of speculation, especially since SARS-Cov-2 (COVID19) pandemic began that Jesus Christ would return; but his return is not predicated on certain events and such speculation was futile. Speculation rose during the phony war period of World War 2, and during the Middle Eastern wars, and more recently when tension between Syria, Tukey and other players occurred.  These all speculative based on no real evidence, all of which probably merely added to your scepticism of what these Christians were talking about.

But this has now happened – remember the reason you are reading this - you will need to have an understanding of what has happened and what will transpire. It is all set out in the Christian Bible, and a summary is set out below.

WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED?

Christians have been taken to heaven!

Christians who were true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have been taken to heaven. The event, as you noticed happened silently, and without any pre amble. This is exactly as the Christian Bible said it would happen. Firstly the bodies of those Christians who had died were instantly given new bodies and their souls, which had been living in Paradise[1], were united. Immediately after Christians alive on this earth (and Christians only) heard a very loud shout and a loud sound, like that of the shoffer horn (usually made from a rams horn) heard in Israel, which alerted them to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ – who raised them up from the earth, whether they were asleep, travelling to work, playing sport or in a meeting, to meet those that had been resurrected – and all have taken them to heaven.[2] This all happened in a microsecond – faster than the blink of an eye.[3]

You are reading this because you are unsaved and currently lost – but take heart, you can still be saved, although your salvation will require great courage.

The sudden departure of all true believing Christians is called the rapture – they have been taken by God to heaven. [4] The word ‘rapture’ does not exist in the English Bible because it is Latin and describes what the Apostle Paul tells Christians would happen in the Book of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  Many, including so called Christians have scoffed at Apostle Paul along with the many Christians who believed what Paul wrote – but this event has now come to past.

Why have Christians, and Christians alone, been taken to heaven?

The only people that have been taken to heaven – that is carried away or raptured - are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ – the group which is known as the universal church[5], or more rightly the Messiah’s church.[6]

The Church does not include Old Testament saints (such as Moses, or David), Tribulation saints (those that but their faith in Jesus in the next little while), or Millennial saints (the Kingdom that will be setup in about seven years’ time, with Christ as the King); the Church includes only those who have been saved between the activities spoken of in Acts 2 (33 AD) and when the Rapture occurred.

God has always wanted humans to trust in Him – to put their faith and trust in Him; indeed He wants to walk and talk with individuals (it happened in the very beginning in the Garden of Eden – which you probably think is a myth – but the events of what has just happened might prompt you to reconsider what you believe are myths). From Adam, whose pride and lust caused him to disobey God, all have sinned; and the sinful nature of humans has been passed onto every person that was ever born; all have sinned and fall short[7] – and sin is punishable by death (Romans 6:23). Because God is holy all sin must be judged – God’s holy character demands this – He cannot look upon a sinner, and thus sinners must be removed from His presence. Those unbelievers that have died are in Hades – but occupants of Hades will be thrown into Hell in seven years’ time (or more shortly depending upon when you are reading this – see below).

A remedy was offered by the Son of God whose name in English is The Lord Jesus Christ (or simply Jesus Christ), or Yeshua (in Hebrew) and who is the Messiah. He died on a cross (a form of Roman torture) in Jerusalem some 2000 years ago – and in doing so paid in blood the debt of our sin, and thus appeased the wrath of God toward anyone who accepts this gift – the gift of the redemptive blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 1:18). Thus salvation can only be accomplished one way – believing in the Lord Jesus Christ – because only faith can save (John 3:16 [read all of John 3]; Romans 3:21-30). Christians did this – they put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ – and Jesus Christ acting as the Great High Priest, advocated before God the Father on their and my behalf, who justified each believer (because of the death of Jesus Christ) and who now has brought us believers into His kingdom. On the day of rapture – Jesus returned and gathered all who had faith in him.

Those left behind are simply non-believers, and not believing that God was able to save you from judgement, will leave you and all others like you to face the judgement wrath of God. The next seven years is judgement – Christians were taken because they do not need to go through judgement – this was the agreement between Christ and God the Father. Any who believed in Christ were saved from judgement (Romans 5:9 etc).

But you say you have been doing good!

If you thought you were a Christian because you spent a fair amount of your life doing good deeds or following instructions from the church on how to be good – it will now be evident everything you have done has been in vain. It failed because you were never good enough to do good works to appease the wrath of God. What you should have done, and what the Bible tells everyone to do, in nearly every one of its sixty six books is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you would have been saved. Don’t muck it up now – put your faith and trust in Christ now and you will be saved;

Most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. (John 3:11)

You have a second chance

You need to believe this: all your misconceptions about Christians believing in myths and strange and impossible-to-believe events have just been proven wrong. That heaven exists is not a myth and more importantly believe me now – hell does exist. It is a place prepared for Satan (and he also exists, and is real – his manifestations will be seen by all very shortly, if it has not already occurred), but hell will also be used for those that hate God.

That any person who does not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will be cast into hell is a certain truth; whatever your local football club may say. Hell awaits for sinners who have not repented irrespective of what the progressive social left have decreed – sexual immorality will be judged in the same way as blasphemers, thieves, liars, adulterers and those that do not pay their tax.

Resurrection does occur

More importantly, resurrection of the dead is a fact – not only have all Christians (those that believed in Christ) have been taken by God to heaven, but all those that have died have been resurrected. That a person can be resurrected has been stumbling block for many unbelievers especially in the western world[8] – scoffed at by, perhaps even you, and certainly by the early Jews who persecuted to death many who promulgated that Jesus Christ (the first to rise from the dead to eternal life), and in recent times of governments, football clubs, the Media and the public in general. That God is able to resurrect bodies is a fact[9] – and equally that God will judge those that hate him is also a fact[10], [11] and hell awaits all unbelievers.[12]

God is about to judge the whole world, including you

God is about to judge the whole world;[13] but in particular Israel for rejecting their king – the Messiah, and the rest of the world for crucifying him.[14] However, God is slow to anger and is a merciful God (Psalm 103:8) and He is about to give you a second chance – take it while you can.

You can be saved

But there is only a very short window of opportunity – it is a race against time. Although Christians could never predict when they would be taken to heaven – when either they would die or when the rapture would take place, the Bible is very explicit in the timing of the next events, down to the number of days, and indeed the Bible also gives the number of hours certain events will last along with numbers of those that will perish. For instance, in the next seven years at least one third of the population of this world will perish – and this could be you.

God, as you read this, is raising up messengers (evangelists) amongst the believing Jews because they have suddenly learnt the awful truth that their sages and Rabbi’s have been totally wrong; that these brilliant intelligent men spent a lifetime fabricating and promulgating a false and deceptive doctrine which misled not only the Jews but the whole world. They have learnt that the words of Jesus are in fact truth –as he said of himself – “I am the way the truth and the life.”[15] These Jews will very quickly (even as you read this) come to an understanding of what has happened, and will place their faith and trust in the Yeshua (Lord Jesus Christ), repenting of their sins, and then go and evangelise the world. This they can do, since Jews have been dispersed into every nation – every language and every culture – and therefore are ideally placed to preach the gospel to the whole world, as commanded by Jesus.[16] We even know how many, the Bible is very precise; 144,000 Jews will become evangelists in the next little while (Revelation 7:4).

You still have a chance to be saved from the fire of hell – but the next seven years, if you survive that long (you have a 50:50 chance of getting to the actual end of this judgement period), at which point you will brought before God himself and then you will be thrown into hell. The Bible shows that you will have no credible defence, and this judgement will be terrifying and more difficult than anything that has ever happened to you or anyone else, unless you turn to God now!

Terminology

The next seven years has been called many different things by Christians and different terms are used in the Bible. The Old Testament saints usually knew the period you are in as the “End Times”, but this term is also used by some writers of the New Testament[17]. The New Testament saints know it as the “Last Days” or the “Great Tribulation”[18] or just the “Tribulation”[19]. The Jews might use the term the “time of Jacob’s Trouble”[20]. Many other terms are used such as; “day of the Lord”, “day of wrath”, “day of distress”, “day of trouble”, “day of darkness and gloom,” and “wrath of the Lamb”. These all mean the same thing – seven years of the wrath of God poured out on the earth.

Since the Bible provides a large range of descriptive words and phrases for this seven year period you are in; in this document I use the term “Tribulation” but the Bible also uses; Great Tribulation, for it will be

Purpose of the Judgement of the World

The Bible sets out clearly the three main purposes for the Tribulation.

  1. To make an end to wickedness and the wicked ones[21]. Essentially it is firstly to deal with those that hated and persecuted God by killing his Son, persecuting His people, the Nation of Israel, and punishing those that promulgated wickedness.
  2. To provide the last and ultimate opportunity, for a period of less than seven years, for people to be saved from the wrath of God; the whole world will hear the message of the evangelists and all humans will have a choice – accept God, or accept the counterfeit who is the Devil.[22]
  3. To break the unbelieving will of the Jewish nation; purging those that hate God, and saving those that turn to Him.

The most extensive biblical comments on the tribulation are found in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, chapters 6 to 19 where the Apostle John provides a detailed exposition of the Tribulation; with the details of most events provided by the Old Testament Prophets – thus one needs to read both the New and Old Testaments together to get a complete picture of what is happening now.

HOW TO RESPOND

What you need to do now?

If you are reading this because your Christian friends have suddenly disappeared, or you have seen or heard on social media the strident panic of your friends, because a massive number of people of simply disappeared - all I can say is turn to God. It is good you are reading this – it will help you be saved from God’s judgement and ultimately hell!

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "the just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17)

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:12)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16-18)

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me (Jesus) (John 14:1)

NOTE WELL:

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!  (James 2:19)

WHAT WILL HAPPEN FROM NOW ON?

Overview

The nature of the Great Tribulation is summed up in the Bible by two verses;

  • At that time … there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time (Daniel 12:1).
  • For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. (Matthew 24:21)

The following is a very brief description of the more salient events you will witness in the coming few years.

How much of the world will the Great Tribulation encompass?

The Tribulation will encompass the whole world – no place or person will be spared. In the end Christ Jesus will appear in the sky, and at that point all the nations and peoples of the earth will mourn and tremble in great fright;[23] and finally every single person will bow down before God and acknowledge him as the Lord God Most High.[24],[25]

The role of Satan

Satan[26] is the ruler of darkness and has been the ruler of this earth since Jesus Christ rose from the dead and entered heaven; albeit constrained by the Holy Spirit.[27] During this time his power has been severely curtailed – but this will be loosened to the extent he will destroy much of the earth cruelly using humans who will subject themselves to him. Satan is real, a demonic power, who controls about one third of all demonic beings (often called fallen angels). Do not believe him, but he will in the next seven years be the leader of the largest counterfeit religion ever to be established. He will establish a leader – as a counterfeit Messiah who will do counterfeit miracles.[28] In doing so he will deceive non-Jews[29] and authorised the work of a world leader whom Christians (and the Bible) refer to as the Antichrist, as this person will oppose Christ in all ways.

Halfway through the next seven years Satan will be excluded from Heaven (for all eternity) and he will be confined to the earth until thrown into Hell (Rev 12:7-17). During this time he will attempt to annihilate Nation Israel.

It will be Satan that brings together the nations of the world to Armageddon, in the Valley of Jezreel near Megiddo for the final campaign against Israel – a number of battles that has been spoken about in movies and many books (mostly very wrong). However, the campaign will be fought in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, in Jerusalem and in Petra (called Bozrah in the Old Testament).[30]

The World Lead – Call the Antichrist

A world leader will arise early on in the next seven year period – this is likely within months of the rapture of Christians, who will rule the earth. He is known as the First Beast in the Bible and also as the Antichrist. The Antichrist he exists before the Church is removed from this planet, but has had, till this point, no power to deceive or defeat. He is neither royalty nor sovereignty but will rule,[31] directly empowered and controlled by Satan.[32]

Evangelism will continue

After the Rapture, the Lord God will commission 144,000 Jewish believers to go and preach the gospel.[33] These 144,000 will have had their eyes opened to see the true meaning of the gospel, and real fact that Messiah came some 2000 years ago to die for their sins and that of the whole world, and through faith their sins are paid for. These Jews, who have put their faith and trust in the Messiah, will evangelize the world in accordance to Jesus’ command in Matthew (28:16-20)[34] and in accordance to the prophecy found in Revelation 7:1-8).  As a result millions of people, including Jews, will come to the saving knowledge of Christ and be saved.[35] Some of these will be people who the Church tried unsuccessfully to bring to the saving knowledge of Christ, who learnt the tenets of the Last Days, but whose hardness of heart prevented the Holy Spirit from convicting them. Others will have actually spent years going to church on Sunday, attending Bible studies, and listening to their friends talk about the things of God, including the rapture, but never considered their desperate need for repentance and salvation. Many may have also believed they were good enough for God; but are now are found to be in the desperate situation of heading for the eventuality of being cast into hell in a few short years.

The rapture will be the last piece of evidence they need to become convicted.

The Bible indicates that about one third of the Jewish Nation will accept their Messiah, Yeshua (Christ) and be saved (Zechariah 13:9) and they shall call YEWAH (Jehovah) their God (Elohim) (See Hosea 6:1-2[36]).

Russia Muslim-country war with Israel: Pre-Tribulation (post rapture) Ezekiel 38 & 38

Prior to the seven years of God’s judgement (but perhaps running into this current period) Israel will be attacked by Russia along with various Muslim nations the surround her. Some have muddled this battle with that of the Campaign of Armageddon. But first war of the End Times is very specific about the actors involved; this is in comparison with the Armageddon Campaign which involves the nearly the entire world. The war which is occurring, or is about to occur, involves Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan (and possibly Afghanistan), Turkey (and possibly Azerbaijan and Armenia), Iran, Sudan and Libya (and perhaps Algeria and Tunisia) led by Russia. These ‘northern’ countries attempt to destroy Israel but fail – Russia will hardly survive, and we are told the aftermath includes a seven month period where the dead are buried and the land cleansed. Of importance, many Israelis will become believers in the Lord God Most High.

Commencement of the Tribulation – when to start counting down 7 years

The Tribulation in Bible prophecy is the period of time that begins with the signing of a covenant between Israel and the person that the Bible refers to as the Antichrist who will govern the whole world for a short period. From the time of the signing of this covenant to the end  of what is called the Great Tribulation will be seven years, at which point the second coming of Jesus Christ occurs. [37] The signing of the covenant or agreement occurs on earth, however, the first events of the Tribulation are held in heaven where a decree of destruction is issued from the Throne of God that provides authority for all actors in the arena for the period of seven years, led by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[38]

This will take place after the Russia & Muslin-country war with Israel, a severe but short war when countries, mostly from the north of Israel, will attempt to annihilate her, but fail.

Recurring events

  • Civil violence and war between nations
  • Pandemics and local diseases causing severe illness, skin conditions and death
  • Starvation through famine and human induced stoppages of food production or its destruction of transport systems – especially marine (Revelation 8:9; 18:19).
  • Natural events: earthquakes, tsunamis, hail storms that kill many people, storms that kill people (i.e. tornadoes, snow storms, and heatwaves), volcanoes and dust/volanic events that darken the sky
  • Blackouts where no light will be seen, especially from the stars and moon[39] – there are five of these ins all; they are short in nature but will scare all peoples.

Timeline of the Tribulation

The Bible sets out the timing of events. The Old Testament (have you ever read the Old Testament?) sets out the details of the events and the Book of Revelation, the last book in the Christian Bible sets out the timing of the events – start reading from Chapter 4 (the chapters prior to this have already occurred by this stage).

Broadly speaking the next seven years will be in two halves[40] – it is unlikely that you will be able to exactly determine the end of the first half, and the commencement of the second. These two halves can be broken down into;

  1. Stage 1: First Half (3½ years or 1260 days[41]) (Revelation 6-9, 17)
  2. Stage 2: Middle (Revelation 10-14)
  3. Stage 3: Second Half (1260 days) (Revelation 15,16 & 18)
  4. Stage 4: End stage (30 + 45 days)[42] and the coming of Christ in all his glory

Over the next seven years the following will occur: a period of judgements by God will come into effect – some fall directly upon humans through ‘natural disasters’ such as earthquakes and some via human instruments including war. These will affect everyone: it will cause about half of the world’s population to die – through starvation, disease (pandemics), natural disaster such as earthquakes along with acts of violence & war. About two thirds of the ecosystem of the plant will die or be destroyed – climate will catastrophically change – the world heats up[43]. Cities will be destroyed and governments will topple, and many public services will cease to exist or be too chaotic to be functional. Jeremiah 30:11 says that one outcome of the Great Tribulation will the destruction of the nations to which Israel was scattered.

For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you; though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished.' (Jeremiah 30:11)

First Half (Revelation 6:1 – 18:24)

The First Half reveals the Antichrist, whose auspices is the counterfeit god, played out by Satan, manifests himself like god, giving authority to the Antichrist, raises false prophets, and will force people to worship the Antichrist as one would worship God.

The following events will occur – not necessarily in this order; indeed some will start co-incidentally and some will start sequentially.

  • The Antichrist will go out and war against any nation or people that do not accept him as world leader
  • First world war of the tribulation (Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya and Sudan vs Israel)[44]
  • World-wide famine; could be due to climate change but probably also caused by disease (such as African swine flu or some new communicable fatal viral disease) and war.
  • One quarter of the population of the earth will die from disease, famine, starvation, war and wild animals (which also includes viruses and mosquitoes)
  • Earthquakes and subsequent consequences which probably include volcanoes and tsunamis.
  • One third of all freshwater ecosystems destroyed or rendered unpotable
  • The natural environment including the cosmos will suffer severe loss  of up to 30%
  • The world will be divided into 10 sovereignties or areas of rule, ruled by 10 distinct rulers (the Bible uses the term King, but this can mean a President or other world leader)[45]. The Antichrist will declare war on these 10 rulers, and will kill three of them with seven submitting to his authority. When this occur a second political system will occur.
  • All religious systems will be unified into a one-world super-system which will control all religious affairs of the world for the first half of the tribulation.

Stage 2 – Mid-Tribulation

  • Second world war of the tribulation; the Antichrist will invade Israel
  • Non-Jews will control the Temple Mount for 42 months. All Jewish sacrifices on the Temple Mount (that commenced at the beginning of the Tribulation) is ceased and the Temple will be desecrated for 1290 days, most likely by sacrificing pigs, which are not kosher and considered unclean.[46],[47]
  • The Antichrist will supersede the one-world religious system and he will take over the Temple Mount and declare himself to be the one true god.
  • The world leader, called the Antichrist will be killed, but then resurrected by Satan, to the amazement of the world.
  • Jews will be severely persecuted in every nation.
  • The False Prophet will arise and will demand all people worship the Antichrist.
  • Only those that have some mark (seal)[48] on them will be allowed to buy and sell – these cannot be saved from hell, their abode after judgement by God.[49]
  • Two men (most likely Jews) will arise and attempt to convince the world and its people they need to turn to God; but mostly to those that live in Israel and Jerusalem – they will also tell you about what will happen and about the cause of the current troubles afflicting everyone. They will have power to kill and bring disease & droughts upon populations (for 1260 days) but the world leaders will hate them. They will be killed by a person the Bible calls The Beast. After which, while the leaders of the world celebrate (as they did when Hitler and Osama Bin Laden were killed), these two witnesses of God will come back to life 3½ days later – viewed by everyone[50] (social media etc., which will be in fully operational) – and great fear will fall upon the whole earth. At exactly the same time a very great earthquake will occur that will kill 7000 people and destroy 1/10 of Jerusalem.

Stage 3 – Second half

  • A second political system is set up under a one-world political rule
  • The religious system will consist of worshiping the Antichrist who has declared himself god. Those that worship the Antichrist will take his mark, which has a numeric value 666.[51]
  • Severe skin infections will affect all humans who have the mark of the Beast
  • All living creatures in the sea die – the sea will turn red like blood
  • All living creatures in freshwater die – fresh water will turn red like blood
  • The River Euphrates will dry up – allowing the armies to prepare and advance to the Holy Land.
  • The temperature of the earth will rise suddenly – the cataclysmic eventuality of climate changes comes to fruition.
  • Third world war: The War of the Great Day of God the Almighty – (Campaign of Armageddon)
  • A fourth and fifth blackout occurs across the entire planet

Stage 4: End stage 30 + 45 days: coming of Christ in all his glory[52]

  • All people who believe in Jesus and confess his name of Jesus during the Tribulation but died, will be resurrected.
  • All old testament saints are resurrected
  • Christ returns and destroys all the armies of the world – all will see him, all will bow and acknowledge him as king
  • The enemies of God are destroyed (their bodies will be eaten by birders) – their souls are cast into Hades; the Beast and the False Prophet will be cast into Hell.

What’s coming after God’s judgement on earth?

God promised through a covenant that he would establish a kingdom on this earth. This kingdom will be centred in Jerusalem and will rule the whole earth. The King will be the Messiah – Jesus Christ, who will rule from the ancient thrown of King David. God is ridding the earth of all who hate him especially his own specially chosen people – the Israelites, who rejected his son, Yeshua (i.e. Jesus Christ).

APPENDIX

Many, including Christians and those calling themselves Christians, have argued that Christians will go through the Tribulation. The event you are witnessing attests to the fact this is not true. But more importantly the Bible does not support this notion. The Bible provides a three-fold purpose for the Tribulation – none of which involves the Church because it is about judgement and evangelisation.

The New Testament teaches that the church will be taken at the rapture to be with the Lord before the Tribulation begins, because God has not destined His bride[53] for His wrath (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Revelation 3:10). The logic is simple – Christ has already suffered for believers; there is no justification (and righteousness must prevail[54]) for further judgement.

Other groups of redeemed individuals will go through the tribulation, but not Christ's bride, the church.

Notes on the Campaign of Armageddon[55]

You will no doubt have heard of the Battle of Armageddon – this will happen, however not in the way most people have described it. The Battle actually does not take place at Armageddon – that’s the place the armies will assemble, before rushing down to Jerusalem in order to attack the city. The other important point is that this is not the first war against Israel during this time – you may have already heard of Russia along with various Muslim counties including Turkey and Iran attacking Israel, which occurs very shortly after all Christians have been taken to heaven.

The preparation for the Armageddon campaign will commence in the city of Babylon, which will very shortly be declared by the Antichrist as his capital city. The initial battle (skirmish) is the destruction of Babylon.

The army will consist of armies from countries to the east of Jerusalem (which is neither China nor India), consisting of Iraq and Iran (Assyria and Babylon) along with other nations of this world totalling 200 million men. This army will be gathered for the sole purpose of destroying Israel once for all time, but firstly this army destroys Babylon. But rather than face his enemies who are in the east, the Antichrist, controlled by Satan, sets out to destroy Israel – which is and has been Satan’s ultimate aim – by firstly attacking Jerusalem[56].  This campaign to destroy all Jews will fail because unknown to the Antichrist, God himself takes up the cause for His people, the Jews; and as Psalm 2 demonstrates such a battle is pure folly. The armies will march from the Valley of Jezreel (which is known by western Christians as the Valley Armageddon) where the ancient city of Megiddo stood and the battle will be joined in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. [57] However, the Jews will escape to Petra (Bozrah in the Bible) and although Jerusalem falls, the people are saved. It is in this precarious position – their city Jerusalem destroyed and the city dwellers in the heat of the desert in Petra – that nation Israel will accept Yeshua (Jesus Christ) as their Messiah[58] – the same whom they demanded to be crucified some 2000 years ago. And at that point in time God will intervene[59] and utterly destroy the armies of the Antichrist and with mighty wonders will change the landscape around Jerusalem for ever.

References to the next seven years in the Bible

The English Bible has been translated from the Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) so these terms will vary depending upon the version English Bible you read. But this list gives some idea of the terms used.

Old Testament

The Time of Jacob's Trouble - Jeremiah 30:7
The Seventieth Week (a seven) of Daniel - Daniel 9:27
Jehovah's Strange Work - Isaiah 28:21
Jehovah's Strange Act - Isaiah 28:21
The Day of Israel's Calamity - Deuteronomy 32:35; Obadiah 12-14
The Tribulation - Deuteronomy 4:30
The Indignation - Isaiah 26:20; Daniel 11:36
The Overflowing Scourge - Isaiah 28:15, 18
The Day of Vengeance - Isaiah 34:8; 35:4; 61:2
The Year of Recompense - Isaiah 34:8
The Time of Trouble - Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15
The Day of Wrath - Zephaniah 1:15
The Day of Distress - Zephaniah 1:15
The Day of Wasteness - Zephaniah 1:15
The Day of Desolation - Zephaniah 1:15
The Day of Darkness - Zephaniah 1:15; Amos 5:18, 20; Joel 2:2
The Day of Gloominess - Zephaniah 1:15; Joel 2:2
The Day of Clouds - Zephaniah 1:15; Joel 2:2
The Day of Thick Darkness - Zephaniah 1:15; Joel 2:2
The Day of the Trumpet - Zephaniah 1:16
The Day of Alarm - Zephaniah 1:16

The New Testament:
The Day of the Lord - I Thessalonians 5:2
The Wrath of God - Revelation 15:1, 7; 14:10, 19; 16:1
The Hour of Trial - Revelation 3:10
The Great Day of the Wrath of the Lamb of God - Revelation 6:16-17
The Wrath to Come - I Thessalonians 1:10
The Wrath - I Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 11:18
The Great Tribulation - Matthew 24:21; Revelation 2:22; 7:14
The Tribulation - Matthew 24:29
The Hour of Judgment - Revelation 14:7

Terminology of the End Times

Taken from with slight modification to the language from < http://www.lastdaysmystery.info/last_days_glossary.htm > (Accessed 25 March 2020)

Abomination That Causes Desolation, The

An abomination is something hateful and disgusting. To desolate is to ruin or lay waste. This biblical event will happen when the Antichrist declares himself to be God in the temple of God in Jerusalem. It is prophesied to occur in the middle of Daniel’s 70th Week, Daniel 9:27

Antichrist – The Beast, Man of Lawlessness

The world leader who will rise to power out of the fourth beast kingdom as prophesied in Daniel 7. He will confirm a covenant with Israel and then, after three-and-a-half years, he will put a stop to the sacrifice and offering in the temple when he declares himself to be God. During the Great Tribulation he will receive power from Satan as he deceives the world and attempts to destroy the people of God.

Armageddon

The place (Megiddo, Galilee in Israel) where the armies of the world will gather prior to the final battle where the followers of Antichrist are destroyed when Jesus Christ returns on the Day of the Lord; the actual battle will be in the Valley of Jehoshaphat Joel 3:2).

Babylon The Great – Mystery Babylon The Great

A powerful city-state or superpower at the end of the age, which will hold a position of great influence over the world until it is destroyed by the fourth beast kingdom.

Beast, The – Antichrist, Man of Lawlessness

This is the world leader of the fourth beast kingdom. This incredibly successful world leader will receive power from Satan and attempt to destroy the people of God.

Beast Kingdom, The Fourth

The fourth beast kingdom, led by the Antichrist, will rise to power during the last days and rule over the whole world. This kingdom will initially have ten kings, then another king will arise among the ten and overthrow three of the kings. Then the kingdom will have seven heads and ten horns.

Believers - Saints, Elect, Servants of God, Followers of Christ, Christians, Church, Body of Christ

Those who have truly placed their faith in Jesus Christ; those who have their names written in the Book of Life.

Book of Life

God’s record of all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Christ – Messiah, Anointed One, Son of God, Jesus Christ; Yeshua

The title of the anointed one of God; the Messiah who is to come and establish the Kingdom of God on earth.

Daniel’s 70th Week – The Tribulation

This non-biblical term refers to the last seven years of Daniel’s 490-year prophecy. To date 483 years of the 490 years have been completely fulfilled. One seven-year period is still outstanding and will be fulfilled during the end times. This seven-year period begins with a covenant confirmed with Israel by the Antichrist.

Day of The Lord – Day of Wrath, Day of Salvation, Day of Redemption

The day when Jesus Christ returns to gather His elect, punish the unbelieving world and establish the Kingdom of God on earth. The Day of the Lord is a very significant event in God’s prophetic plan. It is referred to by name 24 times in Scripture and written about so often that the prophets abbreviated its name by referring to it as “the day” or “that day.” Several times in Scripture it is called “the great and dreadful day” because it will be both the day of deliverance and a day of judgment.

End of The Age – The Last Day, Day of The Lord

One of the terms Jesus used to refer to the time of the harvest and His return when He gathers His elect and judges the world.

End Times – the last days

The period of time leading up to and including Daniel’s 70th Week.

False Prophet, The

A member of the counterfeit trinity (Satan, Antichrist and False Prophet). This trinity dominates the earth during the Great Tribulation. The False Prophet is the second beast of Revelation who comes out of the earth and sets up the system that uses the Mark of the Beast.

Harvest, The – Resurrection of The Righteous, First Resurrection, Resurrection of Believers

The gathering of the saints at the end of the age.

Judgment Seat of Christ –

The judgment for believers which will occur at the return of Jesus Christ and when the saints will receive their reward for what they have done in Christ.

Kingdom of God – Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom

The final and everlasting earthly Kingdom, which will be ruled by Christ and His followers.

Michael The Archangel

The archangel who protects the people of God and restrains the secret power of lawlessness.

Millennium

The non-biblical term for the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.

Rebellion, The – The Falling Away, The Apostasy

The event Paul referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as marking the turning away from faith in Jesus Christ which will likely take place during the Great Tribulation.

Resurrection, First –The Harvest, Resurrection of Believers

The gathering and change that will take place in all believers at the return of Christ. The First Resurrection includes the living and the dead in Christ.

Resurrection, Second

A non-biblical term for the raising of the unbelievers at the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth.

Rapture

A latin term used to describe the catching up of living believers to meet the Lord in the air, at the return of Christ.

Satan – The Devil, The Great Dragon, That Ancient Serpent

A powerful angel who rebelled against God and strives to rise to the throne of God by destroying the people and plans of God. He will be defeated and thrown from heaven by Michael at the time of the abomination that causes desolation. Satan will give his power to the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation until he is captured and bound in the Abyss during Christ’s thousand-year reign. Satan will then be thrown into the lake of fire for eternity.

Scripture – Bible, Word, Word of God, Word of Truth, Gospel

The holy written and infallible Word of God.

Second Coming – Second Advent, Return of Christ

A non-biblical term for the Return of Jesus Christ from heaven to earth.

Temple, The – House of God

The structure called the “House of God” and the place of Jewish worship in Jerusalem located on Mount Moriah. Solomon built the first temple and the second temple was rebuilt during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Herod restored the second temple to a state of grandeur but again it was completely destroyed in 70 AD just as Jesus prophesied. There will be a third temple built sometime in the future but before the mid period of the Tribulation.

Tribulation, The – Daniel’s 70th Week

A non-biblical term which refers to the seven-year period at the end of the age, as prophesied in Daniel 9:27.

Trumpet, The Last

The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15, which will signal the resurrection of the living and the dead in Christ.

Tribulation, The Great – Time of Jacob’s Trouble

The three-and-a-half year period of unparalleled persecution and suffering of God’s people brought on by Satan through the Antichrist and False Prophet. This is the most documented period of time recorded in Scripture being referred to as: 42 months, 1,260 days, and a time, times and half a time. This period begins with the abomination that causes desolation and ends with the return of Christ on the Day of the Lord.

White Throne Judgment, The Great

The final judgment of individuals which will take place after the thousand-year earthly reign of Christ. The White Throne Judgment appears to be the judgment of unbelievers.

Wedding Banquet, The – The Wedding Feast, The Wedding Supper

The celebration of the union between Jesus Christ and the Bride of Christ (all true believers). It will take place on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, as described in Isaiah 25:6.

Word of Truth - Holy Bible, Scripture, Word, Gospel, Word of God

The holy written and infallible Word of God.

Wrath of God - Day of The Lord

God’s judgment and punishment on the unbelieving and disobedient world, which will be poured out on the Day of the Lord.

 

Endnotes

[1] Paradise is a part of heaven and is the abode of the righteous after death and before the coming of Christ.

[2] The Bible states: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

[3] 1 Corinthians 15:52

[4] Many have called themselves christian, few are actually born again believers who have confessed the name of Jesus Christ.

[5] We need to be careful when we use the word ‘church’. The church was made up of many who were not believers in Jesus Christ – these are still with you today. Christians referred collectively as everyone who thought they were christian, irrespective of whether they were or not, constitutes Christendom. The True Church comprises only born-again believers in Jesus Christ; it will be apparent to you that many have not been taken to heaven – these are non-believers irrespective of what they say. In summary, those taken were the Universal Church which is the spiritual organic body whose head is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and members are born again (John 3:3, 6; 1 Peter 1:22, 23) believers in Jesus Christ.

[6] For a fuller explanation of the Church read: “The Universal Church” Arnold Fruchtenbaum < http://www.arielcontent.org/dcs/pdf/mbs097m.pdf > (Accessed 29 March 2020) and “The Church – what is it?” W.P.T. Wolston available at STEM Publishing: < https://www.stempublishing.com/authors/wolston/CHURCH00.html >  (Accessed 29 March 2020).

[7] For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

[8] Read all of chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15)

[9] Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:12)

[10] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:5)

[11] The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. (Psalms 89:22-23)

[12] Matthew25:46; Psalm 9:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 13:15, 42 25:41; Jude 1:7. In the final day judgement occurs and unbelievers are thrown into hell: “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:13-15)

[13] The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31)

[14] There is confusion about this – the Jews in fact did not kill Jesus Christ; the Jews condemned Christ based on false testimony and ‘fake evidence’ – fabricated by the local religious politicians. They then turned Jesus over to the Romans, and it was the Romans, who represent all non-Jews, that crucified him. Thus all of humanity is guilty of this offence.

[15] John 14:6

[16] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."(Matthew 28:19-20)

[17] Hebrews 1:2

[18] Matthew 24:21; Revelation 2:22; 7:14

[19] Matthew 24:9 etc.

[20] Jeremiah 30:7 (referring to the time that Daniel wrote about in Daniel 12)

[21]  Isaiah 24:19-21; Matthew 24:38-39 (noting this is a parable to illustrate the principle of the Great Tribulation that is about to, or has occurred)

[22] Revelation 7:1-17; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:18, 19

[23] For example: The LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation (Jeremiah 10:10)

[24] At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11)

[25] Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. (Daniel 7:27)

[26] Satan is mentioned in all 39 books of the Old Testament and 19 of the New Testament, including multiple times by Jesus Christ, the Messiah. For example: Matthew 4:10; Mark 3:26; Luke 13:16; & John 12:31. His origins can be found in Ezekiel 28:11-5 and his final judgement outlined in Isaiah 14:12-14.

[27] Christians, when they were on earth, had the Holy Spirit within them – it was called being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, which was somewhat different to the Old Testament saints such as Moses, or David. Indwelt Christians acted as a constraint of evil on this earth, along with the Holy Spirit in and of himself.

[28] Matthew 2:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11

[29] Revelation 12:9; 20:3

[30] Revelation 16:16; but also see Joel 3:9-14 & Zechariah 14:2-3

[31] Although no direct comparison can be made, Hitler was neither royalty nor sovereign but managed to rule the entire nation of Germany including its judiciary and executive government.

[32] Revelation 13:2, 4

[33] Matthew 28:19, 20

[34] Some like to make this command belong to the church – it doesn’t; it is solely for the Jews. However, Jesus in Luke provides a similar, but distinctive command: ‘Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”’ (Luke 24:46-47) This command from Luke is clearly to the Church that was formed on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem under the tutelage of Peter (See Acts 2f).

[35] These new believers in Jesus will form the Tribulation Believers who will be saved but many will die first from martyrdom.

[36] References for Israel’s return to Jehovah their God: Psalm 79:1-13; 80:1-19; Isaiah 53:1-9; 59:20-21; 61:8-9; 64:1-12; Jeremiah 30:3-24; 31:31-40; 32:37-40; 50:4-5; Ezekiel 11:19-20; 16:60-63; 34:25-26; 36:24-32; 37:21-28; Hosea 6:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Zechariah 9:11; 12:10-13:9; Romans 11:25-27 (and probably some others).

[37] Daniel 9:27; Revelation 5

[38] Isaiah 28:14-22

[39] E.g. Revelation 6:12

[40] The Seven Year period is the last of the ‘sevens’ of Daniel 9:24 who uses the term 70 ‘sevens’ which Arnold Fruchtenbaum points out is badly translated in the English to ‘weeks’ (the later would require sharuot when in fact the Hebrew is shavuim), where week means ‘a period of seven’; thus Daniel means periods of seven years and not seven days (Daniel 9:24-27). Note verse 27; “And he [The Antichrist] shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." 

[41] Years are based on 360 days per year – the number of days are given in Revelation 12:6, the years in Revelation 12:14 and Daniel 12:7 (noting ‘time, times and a half’ is one plus two plus half which equals three and one half years)

[42] An exact understanding were the 30 and 45 days will fall is not fully understood.

[43] Revelation 16:9

[44] Revelation 6:3-4

[45] Revelation uses metaphors for world leaders as do secular literature: heads of states may be referred to as mountains or stars.

[46] The Jews will manage to build another temple – indeed they have been preparing for this for years. However, this temple will be operated in futile attempt to appease God, but cannot, because it is built in the absence of faith in God (Isaiah 66:1-4). Non-Jews (Gentiles) will desecrate the Temple as per Daniel 9:27.

[47] Antiochus IV Epiphanes (meaning God Manifest), a pagan king, conquered Israel in the 2nd century BC desecrated the temple in the same way in about 168 B.C. He is a model of the coming Antichrist.

[48] It is a counterfeit mark or seal (which is placed on the person, not into) in contrast to the seal of the Holy Spirit that Christians received when they confessed the name of Christ as their saviour. Satan is playing out what Christ accomplished as a counterfeit in order to deceive  billions of people on earth and take them with him to Hell, which He knows God has prepared for him and his angels (Revelation 20:10).
Much rubbish has been written about this aspect of the End Times. The purpose of the mark or seal will be an authority to purchase necessities for life (and to trade). It will be used by God as a mark of those that hate Him and on whom judgement will be poured – severe ulcers and sores will cover the bodies of all who have allowed the Beast to mark them (Revelation 16:2). Those that have given their life to Jesus Christ – cannot receive the mark – only those that worship the Beast (Revelation 13:16, 17).

[49] [He] also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:16-18)

[50] Revelation 11:1-14

[51] Note that the mark is not the number 666, but rather the numeric value is this number. The Bible says: ‘Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666’ (Revelation 13:18). This is based on the fact each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numeric value.

[52] The period of the Tribulation is seven years of 360 days each (7 x 360 = 2520 days). Counting from the midpoint when the Abomination of Desolation (when the Antichrist takes over the Temple and sacrifices pork as an offering – the abomination) takes place to the end is 1260 days (2520 divided by 2 = 1260). But Daniel 12:11 says that "there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days", which is 30 days past the end of the Tribulation. However, the Bible provides no indication of the importance of these thirty days.
Daniel 12:12 mentions 1335 days past the midpoint which is 75 days past the end of the Tribulation. The fact that this verse says that "blessed" is the one who makes it that far suggests this point in time will mark the coming of the Messiah and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. At this point anyone not already condemned to hell in the Judgment of Nations (Matt. 25:31-46) will be allowed to enter the kingdom. They will certainly be blessed!

[53] The Church is referred to the Bride of Christ, who will be presented to Christ the Bridegroom, perfect in all ways, washed with the blood of Christ (Ephesians 5:26-27). There is shortly going to be a Marriage feast in Heaven with Christ and the Church Christians who have been raptured (Revelation 19:6-9).

[54] Romans 3:21-31

[55] Described by the sixth bowl judgement in Revelation 16:12-16.

[56] For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2)

[57] For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will ALSO gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land (Joel 3:1-2).

[58] Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)

[59] Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3)

David L Simon
27 January 2019; Edited and updated 27 June 2022
\Escatology\When all Christians leave this earth (the Rapture and thereafter) (draft)


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