The End Times in Chronological Order: A Complete Overview to Understanding Bible Prophecy

by Ron Rhodes

Biblical inspiration may be defined as God’s superintending of the human authors so that, using their own individual personalities and even their writing styles, they composed and recorded without error His revelation to humankind in the words of the original manuscripts. In other words, the original documents of the Bible were written by men who were permitted to exercise their own personalities and literary talents but who wrote under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the result being a perfect and errorless recording of the exact message God desired to give to humankind.

Even though human beings were used in the process of writing down God’s prophecies, these men were all literally borne along by the Holy Spirit. The human wills of the authors were not the originators of God’s message. God did not permit the will of sinful human beings to misdirect or erroneously record His message. Put another way, God moved, and the prophet mouthed these revealed truths. God revealed and man recorded His Word to humankind.

The Literal Method Does Not Eliminate Figures of Speech

In short, as the famous dictum puts it, “When the literal sense makes good sense, seek no other sense lest the result be nonsense.” I follow this dictum throughout the rest of the book.

The Literal Method Does Not Eliminate the Use of Symbols

The Bible is filled with symbols. But each symbol is emblematic o...

The Literal Method Does Not Eliminate the Use of Parables

Six Reasons for a Literal Approach There are at least six good reasons for adopting a literal interpretation of Scripture (including prophecy). 1. It is the normal way to understand all languages. 2. The greater part of the Bible makes sense when taken literally. 3. This approach will allow for a secondary (allegorical) meaning when demanded by the context. 4. All secondary (or allegorical) meanings actually depend on the literal meaning. We would not know what is not literally true of God unless we first know what is literally true. 5. It is the only sane and safe check on our subjective imaginations. 6. It is the only approach in line with the nature of inspiration (the idea that the words of Scripture are “God-breathed

The biblical text itself provides numerous confirmations of the literal method of interpretation. For example, later biblical texts take earlier ones as literal, as when the creation events in Genesis 1–2 are taken literally by later books (see Exodus 20:10-11). This is likewise the case regarding the creation of Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:6; 1 Timothy 2:13), the fall of Adam and his resulting death (Romans 5:12,14), Noah’s flood (Matthew 24:38), and the accounts of Jonah (Matthew 12:40-42), Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2-4,11), and numerous other historical figures.

Further, at Jesus’s first coming, He literally fulfilled more than a hundred predictions, including that He would be… from the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15) from the line of Seth (Genesis 4:25) a descendent of Shem (Genesis 9:26) the offspring of Abraham (Genesis 12:3) from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) the son of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6) conceived of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) heralded as the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3) the coming King (Zechariah 9:9) the sacrificial offering for our sins (Isaiah 53) pierced in His side at the cross (Zechariah 12:10) “cut off ” (or killed ) about AD 33 (Daniel 9:24-26) resurrected from the dead (Psalm 2; 16)

By rebuking those who did not interpret the resurrection literally, Jesus indicated the literal interpretation of the Old Testament was the correct one (Matthew 22:29-32). Jesus’s use of Scripture constitutes one of the most convincing evidences that Scripture ought to be interpreted literally.

As an example of the importance of context, consider Matthew 24:34: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” Did Jesus mean that all end-time prophecies must be fulfilled during the first century, as modern-day preterists hold? I don’t think so. Consulting the context indicates that Christ was saying that those people who witness the signs stated just earlier in Matthew 24—the abomination of desolation (verse 15), the great tribulation such as has never been seen before (verse 21), the sign of the Son of Man in heaven (verse 30), and the like—will still be alive when the remaining end-time prophecies find fulfillment. The future tribulation period will last seven years (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 11:2), so Jesus is saying the generation alive at the beginning of the tribulation will still be alive at the end of it. Context clears everything up.

The word apostasy comes from the Greek word apostasia, which means “falling away.” The word refers to a falling away from the truth. It depicts a determined, willful defection from the faith or an abandonment of the faith.

In keeping with the idea that the church will be raptured before this time of tribulation begins, no Old Testament passage on the tribulation mentions the church (Deuteronomy 4:29-30; Jeremiah 30:4-11; Daniel 8:24-27; 12:1-2). Likewise, no New Testament passage on the tribulation mentions the church (Matthew 13:30,39-42,48-50; 24:15-31; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 5:4-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11; Revelation 4–18). The church’s complete absence would seem to indicate that it is not on earth during the tribulation.

Further, a pretribulational rapture best explains the massive apostasy that engulfs the world following the removal of “the restrainer”—apparently the Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:3-7). The Holy Spirit indwells all believers (John 14:16; 1 Corinthians 3:17), so He will essentially be removed when the church is raptured, thus making possible the eruption of apostasy.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-18 the dead in Christ we who are alive Encourage one another with these words. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:10-11 asleep awake Encourage one another and build one another up. We can thus infer that both passages refer to the rapture. There are also parallels between 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Jesus’s description of the rapture in John 14:2-3. For example: • John 14:3 depicts Jesus descending from heaven to earth. Likewise, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says Christ “will descend from heaven.” • In John 14:3 Jesus says to believers, “I will come again and will take you to myself.” First Thessalonians 4:17 reveals the believers will be “caught up” to Christ. • In John 14:3, Jesus promises, “I will…take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also.” First Thessalonians 4:17 affirms that believers “will always be with the Lord.” • Jesus shares His words in John 14:1 so that His followers’ hearts will not be troubled. Likewise, Paul shares the information in 1 Thessalonians 4:13,18 to minimize grief and bring encouragement. These similarities make clear that both passages are referring to the same event—the rapture of the church. The scriptural evidence reveals that it takes place prior to the tribulation. This is confirmed in the fact that the rapture involves Christ coming for His saints in the air prior to the tribulation, whereas at the second coming He will come with His saints to the earth to reign for a thousand years (Revelation 19; 20:1-6). The fact that Christ com...

A mystery, in the biblical sense, is a truth that cannot be discerned simply by human investigation, but rather requires special revelation from God. Generally, this word refers to a truth that was unknown to people living in Old Testament times but was revealed to humankind by God during Jesus’s and the apostles’ ministries (Matthew 13:17; Colossians 1:26).

In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 the apostle Paul describes the rapture as occurring “in the twinkling of an eye.” This phrase is Paul’s way of demonstrating how brief the moment of the rapture will be. The fluttering of an eyelid, the blinking of an eye, is exceedingly fast. This means the bodily transformation that living believers will experience at the rapture will be nearly instantaneous. One moment they will be on earth in mortal bodies, and the next moment they will meet Christ in the clouds, instantly transformed into their glorified resurrection bodies.

Scripture portrays Christ as the bridegroom (John 3:29) and the church as His bride (Revelation 19:7). The backdrop to this imagery is rooted in Hebrew weddings, which had three phases. First, the marriage was legally consummated by the parents of the bride and groom, after which the groom went to prepare a place to live in his father’s house. Next, the bridegroom came to claim his bride. Finally, there was a marriage supper, which could last several days. All three of these phases are seen in Christ’s relationship to the church, the bride of Christ. 1. As individuals living during the church age come to salvation, under the Father’s loving and sovereign hand, they become a part of the bride of Christ (the church). Meanwhile, Christ, the Bridegroom, is in heaven, preparing a place for the bride of Christ to live in His Father’s house. 2. The Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) comes to claim His bride (at the rapture) and take her to heaven, where He has prepared a place for her (John 14:1-3). The actual marriage takes place in heaven prior to the second coming (Revelation 19:6-16). 3. The marriage supper of the Lamb will follow the second coming, apparently taking place during a 75-day interim period between the second coming of Christ and the beginning of the millennial kingdom (see Daniel 12:11; compare with Matthew 22:1-14; 25:1-13).

We can see other parallels as well. Just as ancient Jewish grooms paid a purchase price to establish the marriage covenant, so Jesus paid a purchase price for the church (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Also, just as a Jewish bride was declared sanctified or set apart in waiting for her groom, so the church is declared sanctified and set apart for Christ the Bridegroom (Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; Hebrews 10:10; 13:12). And just as a Jewish bride was unaware of the exact time her groom would come for her, so the church is unaware of the exact time that Jesus the Bridegroom will come, though it is an imminent event.

In keeping with this, Scripture often describes the rewards Christians receive at the judgment as crowns that we wear. In fact, there are a number of different crowns that symbolize the various spheres of achievement and award in the Christian life. • The crown of life is given to those who persevere under trial and especially to those who suffer to the point of death (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10). • The crown of glory is given to those who faithfully and sacrificially minister God’s Word to the flock (1 Peter 5:4). • The imperishable crown is given to those who win the race of temperance and self-control (1 Corinthians 9:25). • The crown of righteousness is given to those who long for the second coming of Christ (2 Timothy 4:8).

The term day of the Lord is used in several senses in Scripture. The Old Testament prophets sometimes used it to describe an event to be fulfilled in the near future. At other times, they referred to an event in the distant eschatological future (the future tribulation period). The immediate context of the term generally indicates which sense is intended. In both cases, the day of the Lord is characterized by God supernaturally intervening in order to bring judgment against sin in the world. The day of the Lord is a time in which God actively controls and dominates history in a direct way instead of working through secondary causes.

Christians will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Unbelievers will be judged at the great white throne (Revelation 20:11-15).

• Scripture refers to a definite period of time of tribulation at the end of the age (Matthew 24:29-35). • It will be of such severity that no period in history past or future will equal it (verse 21). • It will be shortened for the sake of the elect (verse 22), as no flesh could survive it. • It is called the time of Jacob’s trouble, for it is a judgment on Messiah-rejecting Israel (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1-4). • The nations will also be judged for their sin and rejection of Christ (Isaiah 26:21; Revelation 6:15-17). • This tribulation period will last seven years (Daniel 9:24,27). • This period will be so bad that people will want to hide and even die (Revelation 6:16).

Parallels to Jesus’s Olivet Discourse In Jesus’s Olivet discourse, He speaks of things that will occur during the first half of the tribulation period, and more than a few Bible expositors have noticed the parallels that seem to exist between these events and the seal judgments. JESUS’S OLIVET DISCOURSE (MATTHEW 24) false christs (verses 4-5) wars and rumors of war (verse 6) famines (verse 7) earthquakes (verse 7) THE SEAL JUDGMENTS (REVELATION 6) the antichrist (verses 1-2) men slay one another (verses 3-4) famine (verses 5-6) a great earthquake (verses 12-14) A comparison of Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 seems to indicate that these horrific events occur during the first half of the tribulation period. Woe to those who live on earth during this time, for things are about to get even worse.

In what ways does Satan act as the ape of God? • Satan has his own church—the “synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9). • Satan has his own ministers of darkness—false prophets who bring false sermons (2 Corinthians 11:4-5). • Satan has formulated his own system of theology, or “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 2:24). • Satan’s ministers proclaim a counterfeit gospel (Galatians 1:7-8). • Satan has his own throne (Revelation 13:2) and his own worshippers (13:4). • Satan inspires false christs and self-constituted messiahs (Matthew 24:4-5). • Satan employs false teachers who bring in destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1). • Satan sends out false prophets (Matthew 24:11). All this mimicking indicates that Satan’s plan has always been to establish and lead a rival rule to God’s kingdom.

Daniel 9:24-27 reveals that the event that will mark the beginning of the tribulation period is the signing of a covenant between the antichrist and Israel. We know it is the antichrist who does the signing, for verse 26 tells us that the signer will be “the prince who is to come.” The antichrist will thus be the covenant maker, and he will come into power by heading up a revived Roman Empire (see Daniel 7:8).

THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS MATTHEW 25:31-46 occurs at the second coming occurs on earth includes the sheep, the goats, and the brothers based on treatment of Christ’s brothers The righteous enter the kingdom, and the unrighteous are cast into the lake of fire. No resurrection is mentioned. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT REVELATION 20:11-15 occurs after the millennial kingdom occurs at the great white throne includes the unsaved dead of all time based on works The unsaved dead are cast into the lake of fire (none of the saved are present). The unsaved dead are resurrected to be judged.

First, as individuals living during the church age come to salvation, they become a part of the church, the bride of Christ, betrothed to the divine Bridegroom. Second, the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) comes to claim His bride at the rapture, at which time He takes the bride to heaven, the Father’s house, where He has prepared a place to live (John 14:1-3). The actual marriage takes place in heaven, sometime after the church has been raptured, prior to the second coming (Revelation 19:11-16). The bride is dressed beautifully in fine linen (verses 8,14). Third, the marriage supper of the Lamb apparently takes place on earth during the 75-day interval between the end of the tribulation period and the beginning of the millennial kingdom.

In the chronology of the book of Revelation, the millennial kingdom clearly follows the second coming of Jesus Christ. Revelation 19 and 20 are chronological, with the second coming described in chapter 19 and the millennial kingdom described in chapter 20. The second coming lays a foundation for the establishment of the millennial kingdom. John Walvoord explains that the second coming… includes the destruction of the armies gathered against God in the Holy Land (Revelation 19:17,21), the capture of the Beast and the False Prophet and their being cast into the lake of fire (v. 20), the binding of Satan (20:1-3), and the resurrection of the martyred dead of the tribulation to reign with Christ a thousand years (vv. 4-6). A literal interpretation of Revelation 20:4-6 requires that Christ reign on earth for a thousand years following his second coming.

Daniel’s prophetic book also informs us that only the saints enter into God’s kingdom. We are told that “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom…The time came when the saints possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7:18,22). The word saint in Daniel is from an Aramaic word that is derived from a Hebrew root oilp. This word has the connotation of a divine claim and ownership of the person. It connotes that which is distinct from the common or profane. In other words, profane people do not enter into the millennial kingdom. Only those who are God’s people—those “owned” by God—enter in.

The new heaven and earth will be this present universe—only it will be purified of all evil, sin, suffering, and death. The Greek word used to designate the newness of the cosmos is not neos but kainos. Neos means “new in time” or “new in origin.” But kainos means “new in nature” or “new in quality.” So the phrase “new heavens and a new earth” refers not to a cosmos that is totally other than the present cosmos. Rather, the new cosmos will stand in continuity with the present cosmos, but it will be utterly renewed and renovated.

Because you and I are so accustomed to living in a fallen world that has been viciously marred by sin and corruption, we cannot conceive of what life might be like in a heavenly habitat that is without such sin and fallenness. From birth to death, we are confronted with imperfection on every level. But in the eternal city, we will experience nothing but perfection. I love A.T. Pierson’s description. There shall be no more curse—perfect restoration. The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it—perfect administration. His servants shall serve him—perfect subordination. And they shall see his face—perfect transformation. And his name shall be on their foreheads—perfect identification. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light—perfect illumination. And they shall reign forever and ever—perfect exultation.

The heavenly city measures approximately 1500 miles by 1500 miles by 1500 miles. Though some interpret these big numbers symbolically, allegedly carrying the idea that “saved people are never crowded,” I think the dimensions are intended to be interpreted literally. The eternal city is so huge that it would measure approximately the distance from Canada to Mexico, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rockies. That is a surface area of 2.25 million square miles. (By comparison, London is only 621 square miles.) Put another way, the ground level area of the city will be 3623 times that of London. If the city has stories, each being 13 feet high, the city would have 660,000 stories. That is huge! A city that high might seem to present a formidable challenge to city travelers. We must not forget, however, that our resurrection bodies will likely have amazing capabilities. Some expositors believe our new bodies will have the ability to fly and get places fast. That would be very exciting! Someone calculated that if this structure is cube-shaped, it would allow for 20 billion residents, each having his or her own private 75-acre cube. If each residence were smaller, the city would have room to accommodate one hundred thousand billion people with plenty of room left over for parks, streets, and other things you would see in any normal city. The eternal city could either be cube-shaped or pyramid-shaped—and there are good Christian scholars on both sides of the debate. Some prefer t...