Before The Beginning Of Human History

Before the beginning of time (human history), there always was the triune God. At some point before God created the universe, before God created mankind, God chose to create a vast host of powerful, rational creatures called Angels, who would reside with Him (Colossians 1:16; Psalms 103:21; Psalms 148:2). Chief of the angels was Lucifer, until he rebelled against God and his fallen name became Satan. (Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:12-15).

One third of the Angelic beings chose to follow Satan in his rebellion. Satan and his angels instigated a conflict in the spiritual realm that continues to this very day. The drama of this spiritual warfare storms across the pages of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Opposed to God, Satan has devised a vast array of subterfuges and counterfeit activities which appeal to the sin nature of unregenerate mankind. The harmless appearance of these myriad influences camouflage their evil intent.


The Bible consistently and emphatically warns against consorting with the world, the flesh and the devil. Nations that turn away from God will eventually fall. God must ultimately destroy the degenerate and pervasive effects of evil activity. The fate of demon-influenced societies is recorded forever in the Scriptures as a future deterrent to those who would not turn back to God.

And so, today in America and around the world, we are experiencing the conditioning of humanity by fear tactics for the events that bring about the beginning of the end times — the coming judgments from God. Listen closely for the resounding ‘hoof beats on the horizon’. 

The following is a chronological listing of the ‘Last Days’ which many scholars believe we have entered. Dramatic overnight changes in our personal lives caused by a ‘pandemic’ (in the year 2020) of global proportions went into years of “control-by-fear tactic.” Evil men with ulterior motives disguised by ‘masks of deceit,’ (untruths) have forced the world to wear masks of conditioning for control.

The world finds itself in hostage to: “the fear of dying.” What a brilliant strategy by the forces of darknesscontrol the minds of men with fear tactics designed to condition for takeover and defeat.

Under God, with liberty and justice for all,” is subtly becoming: ‘Under tyranny with injustice for many and liberty as dictated.’

God’s Plan for the Ages has never been changed by the ages. 

CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS OF THE LAST DAYS:

  • RAPTURE
  • TRIBULATION
  • SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
  • ARMAGEDDON
  • MILLENNIUM 
  • GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT
  • ETERNITY 

The Historical Certainty of  The First Advent of Christ guarantees the Future Certainty of the Second Advent of Christ. 


Please note: The following is a summary of the end time events. At the conclusion of this study you will fined recommended reading for a more detailed study on future events. 


THE  RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH 

This study is primarily concerned with the next great event on the calendar of prophecy:  THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.

The Rapture of the Church refers to the events prophesied in 1 Thessalonians  4:15-18; John 14:2-3. Even though there are other passages, we will focus on these two verses for our summary study.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that,  we who are alive and remain, will be caught up together with them, in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”  

Notice: Three times Paul stated that Christ would come for us and call us up; into the clouds; into the air. Christ here is not said to come down to the earth.  Furthermore He calls the Church UP to meet Him. Read it in your Bible, especially if you have a copy of the KJV Study Bible or the NASB Study Bible, (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18) for comparison during study and teaching. 

The concept of the Rapture was first announced by Christ Himself, in John 14:2,3. The disciples had gathered in the Upper Room to observe the Passover. For the first time it was revealed that prior to the Second Coming there would be a removal of believers in Christ from the earth. They would meet the Lord in the “air” and go to the place He was going to prepare for them, an obvious reference to heaven. 

The truth of the rapture of the Church is a wonderful revelation presented to us by Christ Himself, and explained in more detail by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. 

Today, this is where we are in prophecy awaiting the Rapture the shout and the trumpet. But, be reminded as stated above, the Rapture has been the expectation of every generation since the first century, when these words were originally written.


THE GREAT TRIBULATION

The Great Tribulation.” A proper understanding of what happens in the Great Tribulation and the terrible judgments that will fall in that period make any thought of the Church going through this period unthinkable

The Rapture and the Second coming may be more easily understood and remembered, in this way: Rapture is the event in which Christ takes the Church from earth to heaven; whereas the Second Coming is an event in which Christ brings the Church from heaven to earth.

At the Rapture, Christ will descend from heaven to the air above the earth, command Christians who are dead in the grave, and living, to be TRANSLATED that is, to receive instant transformation of their bodies. Both the living and the resurrected dead will rise from the earth, to meet the Lord in the air, and proceed in triumph to heaven. Upon arrival in Heaven, the “Judgment Seat of Christ” and The Marriage Supper of the Lamb will be fulfilled.  

Meanwhile, back down on earth seven horrible years of Great Tribulation will take place and carry the world to its final climax by the literal Second Coming of Christ to establish His long-awaited Kingdom here on Earth in Jerusalem. 

JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST  (JSC)

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people.”  

The Bible makes clear that all will be judged, but not at the same time, not at the same place. And the basis of the indictment is much different at these two Judgments. 

Please turn to 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, where we read that all spiritually born-again believers in Christ will be judged at the “Judgment Seat of Christ”: “So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”   

(JSC)  JUDGMENT OF REWARD?

This judgment is not about morality! Sin is/was paid for at the Cross. This judgment is for Christians who have been forgiven their sins “all sins.”  Therefore, this judgment is related to REWARD. All born-again Christians have been justified! We have Christ’s Righteousness (doctrine of imputation). This is indicative of the words: “good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). In the original signature, these words express “valuenot  morality. The question becomes whether or not the value is acceptable or worthless in the sight of God. Good receives reward. Bad, means loss of reward.  

A POINT OF DOCTRINE: When the Holy Spirit is in control, our deeds done in the spirit are REWARDED IN HEAVEN at the JSC! This is what John 4:23 and 24 is expressing. When the Holy Spirit controls we are in fellowship (in literal worship mode). 

BE TRUTHFUL WITH GOD!

With these things clearly in mind, we can now better understand the true purpose of the JSC rewards given or lost at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  Judicially, the penalty for all the sins ever committed (past, present, future) have been paid forgiven by Christ’s sacrificial spiritual death on the Cross.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). Our experiential walk with Christ is all about our relationship with Christ. Being filled with the Spirit, is true worship. Fellowship is a God-designed lifestyle for the believer and it is accomplished by the Holy Spirit not us, but the Spirit in us. We worship and serve God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

The Holy Spirit must be allowed to perform God’s Plan for your life and in so doing God receives the glory, and you receive rewards in Heaven at the JSC.  This is God’s Grace Plan for the believer.


Great White Throne Judgment  (GWTJ)

The GWTJ is for unbelievers, who’s sin(s) has never been forgiven, because he/she has not trusted Christ as Savior and Lord (John 3:15-18, 36). Salvation the forgiveness of sin is received only through faith in Jesus Christ (John:14:6;  Ephesians 2:8-9).

Immediately after the Church is removed from earth to heaven, the Great Tribulation described as “The time of Jacob’s Trouble,” will commence. This is a period of 7 years. Much is recorded in Scripture regarding this terrible time that is yet future, but could occur any moment with the trump of God.

This period ends with the Second Coming of Christ with vengeance on the world of unregenerate mankind.   

Christ will destroy all his enemies the enemies of His people. This is called Armageddon. Christ will then establish His earthly kingdom for one thousand years called the “Millennial Reign of Christ,” centered in Jerusalem.

ETERNITY: The GWTJ is the climax of history. Then God will create a new Heaven and a New Earth and so shall we ever be with the Lord in total bliss … thanks to God’s Plan of Grace centered in His Son Jesus Christ.


For those of you who really want to go into the future and search out Scripture on the End Times, two books are recommended: Both are by the same author of Bible Prophecy, the gifted Bible Scholar: Dr. John F. Walvoord: “MAJOR BIBLE PROPHECIES 37 Crucial Prophecies That Affect You Today;“ and “ARMAGEDDON, OIL AND THE MIDDLE EAST“ What the Bible says about the future of the Middle East and the End of Western Civilization. Both books are published by Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Happy Studying in Fields of Grace.

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