End-Time Events

- seems all the more glorious when seen through the filter of our suffering here

on earth!

A Biblical Outline of End-Time Events

America has been blessed with unusual freedom for more than two centuries. But now -- as multitudes reject God's Word, justify immorality, laugh at evil, and embrace depravity -- the protective walls of justice and integrity are fast eroding. In their place, we see a rising tower of global tyranny.

Americans are no longer safe from the persecution that has tested the faith of Christians through the centuries. In fact, God warns us that the global battle against Biblical Truth will surely intensify. While we don't know His timing, He tells us to be alert -- always ready to follow His way, trust His grace, and demonstrate His strength -- no matter how fierce the foe.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-18

This chart is merely my prayerful attempt to list His Scriptures in the order He shows us. While God's Word is unchanging and totally worthy of our trust, my understanding is incomplete. I don't know His timing beyond what He has told us in His Word, but I believe He wants us to take His warnings and revelations to heart. As Paul wrote, "Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." 1 Cor. 13:12

BE ALERT TO THE "SIGNS OF OUR TIMES"

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy

and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:2-4

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they ...did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." Matthew 24:36-39

Matthew 24

Mark 13

Luke 21

Apostles' Letters

Revelation

"Jesus... said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you. 'For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ...And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Matt. 24:4-5, 12.

“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.... But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand." Mark 13:5-6, 23

“...take heed that you not be deceived. For Many will come in My name, saying 'I am He,' and 'The time has drawn near.'" Luke 21:8

"....when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them.... But you, brethren, are not in darkness so that this day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess. 5:4-4

"...the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." 2 Pet. 3:10-11

"Blessed is he who keeps the words of this prophecy in this book." Rev. 22:7

BEGINNING OF 'BIRTH PANGS' (war, famines, earthquakes, plagues...)

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places." Matt. 24:7

"Nation will rise against nation... There will be earthquakes... and... famines and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows." Mark 13:8

"There will be great earthquakes... famines and pestilences..." Luke 21:11

The 7 SEALS:

SEAL 1. White horse: "went out... to conquer" [tactics include deception]

SEAL 2. Red horse: "take peace from the earth... kill"

SEAL 3. Black horse: "had scales... [weigh] wheat..."

SEAL 4. Pale horse: "to kill with sword... hunger... death... [wild] beasts..." Rev. 6:1-8

PERSECUTION

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake." Matt. 24:9

"...they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten.... But when they arrest you and deliver your up, do not worry... what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that, for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:9, 11

"...they will... persecute you... you will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will [be]... an occasion for testimony." Luke 21:12-13

"...the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service." John 16:2-3

SEAL 5: Persecution: "I saw... the souls of those slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held." Rev. 6:9

"...we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment [compared to God's glorious eternity], is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

DECEPTION, BETRAYAL, APOSTASY, "FALLING AWAY"...

"And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another..." Matt. 24:10

"...brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all men for My Name's sake." Mark 13:12-13

"...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness....
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind..." Rom. 1:18-32

"...in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves... proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents... despisers of good... lovers of pleasure..." 2 Tim. 3:1-5

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but... they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Tim. 4:2-4

"And many will follow their destructive ways... the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words..." 1 Peter 2:2-3

FALSE PROPHETS WILL DECEIVE MANY

"Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ... For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders... to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Matt. 24:11, 24.

"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect." Mark 13:22

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." 1 Tim. 4:1

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies... and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." 2 Pet. 2:1-9

"For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity." 2 Pet. 2:18-19

GREAT DISTRESS ON EARTH

"The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?"

Joel 2:11

"For there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Matt. 24:21-22.

SEAL 6. "There was a great earthquake, and the sun became black... the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell... the sky receded as a scroll... every mountain and island was moved out of its place. ...men... hid themselves.... and said..."Fall on us and hide us ... from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'" Rev. 6:12-17

GOD'S PROTECTION IN THE MIDST OF CALAMITY

(Old Testament protection while the wicked are punished):

"...put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within [Jerusalem]. ...do not touch anyone who has the mark." Ez. 9:4,6. [This is God's protective mark; not the beast's mark]

"The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." Psalm 34:7

"For if God... did not spare the ancient world... but saved Noah... and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot who was oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked.... then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly... and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment." 2 Peter 2:4-9

"Do not harm the earth, the sea or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." Rev. 7:3

The following verses suggest that the sequence of the 7 seals shows events that are parallel to other parts of Revelation. For example, Rev. 7:17 promises the same final comfort we find in Revelation 21:5. Both follow "the great tribulation."

"These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation.... They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore, the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Rev. 7:13-17

"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then, He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new." Rev. 21:4-5

MOUNTAINS MELT, SIGNS IN THE SKY, 1st TRUMPET

"The LORD is coming. ... The mountains will melt under Him and the valleys split like wax..." Micah 1:3-4

SEAL 7 & The 7 Trumpets.

TRUMPET 1: "hail and fire followed, mingled with blood... thrown to the earth, and a third of the trees were burned up..."

TRUMPET 2: "something like a great mountain burning with fire... and a third of the living creatures in the sea died."

TRUMPET 3: "a great star fell from heaven... a third of the waters became wormwood; and many... died from the water, because it was made bitter." Rev. 8:7-11

SIGNS IN THE SKY, the 2nd, 3rd & 4th TRUMPETS

"The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars diminish their brightness." Joel 2:10

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken." Matt. 24:29

"But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken." Mark 13:24-25.

"I will show wonders in heaven above.... The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and notable day of the Lord." Acts 2:19-20.

TRUMPET 4: "a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened....

"I heard an angel... saying with a loud voice: 'Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet..." Rev. 8:12-13

DEMONIC BEASTS from the pit, the 5th & 6th TRUMPETS

TRUMPET 5: "Then the fifth angel sounded. ...he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose. ... the sun and the air were darkened....

"...locusts [like horses] came upon the earth.... They were commanded not to harm... any green thing.... but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads... they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months... In those days men will seek death and will not find it.... And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit." Rev. 9:1-6,11

TRUMPET 6: "'Release the four angels who are bound...' The four angels... were released to kill a third of mankind....

"I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red... and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions [and tails like serpents].... By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed....

"But the rest of mankind... did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols ... and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts." Rev. 9:13-21

THE 2 WITNESSES

"I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy [1,260] days... These have power to shut heaven so that no rain falls... and to strike the earth with all plagues....

"When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them....

"...after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them.... they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, 'Come up here...'" Rev. 11:3-13

GOSPEL PREACHED IN THE WHOLE WORLD

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14

"...you will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations." Mark 13:9-10

"I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue and people." Rev. 14:6

THE EMERGENCE & GLOBAL REIGN OF THE ANTICHRIST

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him... that day will not come until the rebellion [apostasy] occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed." 2 Thess. 2:1-3
"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:9-12

Note: Though John lists his visions in the order he received them, but the contents of his visions are not always chronological. For example, the information given in Revelation 17 foretells what will happen in chapter 13. (The same was true of Daniel's Old Testament visions. While each was introduced chronologically, their contents overlapped.)

In chapter 17, John introduced the beast that existed in the past, but "is not" currently:

"I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.... The beast... was [in the past], and is not [now], and will ascend [future] out of the bottomless pit..." Revelation 17:3-8

That beast would "ascend" in a future time. But that future time is actually four chapters earlier. In Rev. 13:1, we see the return of that anti-Christian beast. In that scene, the beast "is" already. It has revived and returned after the healing of its deadly wound:

"I saw a beast rising out of the sea [apparently the visible exit of the pit], having seven heads and ten horns... and on his heads a blasphemous name... and his deadly wound was healed." Revelation 13:1-3

"I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns....

"The woman was... adorned with gold and precious stones... having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornications....

"The beast... was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit..."

"And the ten horns which you saw on the beast... will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

"For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled." Rev. 17:3-4, 8, 16-17.

This event (in Rev. 13) follows Rev. 17, as you saw in the note above:

"I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns... and on his heads a blasphemous name.... And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority....

"... his deadly wound was healed..."

"And it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them... All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life..." Rev. 13:1-2, 7-8

"I saw another beast coming out of the earth. ...he exercises all the authority of the first beast... whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs... even makes fire come down from heaven...

"...he causes all... to receive a mark ... no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark..." Rev 13:11-13, 16-17

"...another angel followed saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen,... because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Revelation 14:8

"And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit..." Rev. 18:2

[Notice that the beast and Babylon -- two centers of evil --clash with each other, even as they are linked together]

The 7th (last) TRUMPET & CHRIST coming in the CLOUDS

TRUMPET 7: This section on the last trumpet begins in Revelation 11 and concludes in Revelation 14. There is an interlude starting in chapter 12 where the scene shifts to an earlier (and most vital) event. "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed... in the twinkling of an eye, at the last TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised... incorruptible." 1 Cor. 15:51-52. "...in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished..." Rev. 10:7 "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever..." Rev. 11:15. "...and behold, a white CLOUD, and on the CLOUD sat One like the SON OF MAN, having on His head a golden crown and in His hand a sharp sickle.... And another angel came out... So He who sat on the CLOUD thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped." Rev. 14:14-16 [See note]
"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... 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." 1 Thess. 4:16-17.
"...in the night vision... One like the SON OF MAN, coming with the CLOUDS of heaven. ... His dominion is an everlasting dominion..." Dan. 7:13-14	"Then the sign of the SON OF MAN will appear in heaven... all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN coming on the CLOUDS of heaven with power and great glory. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a TRUMPET, and they will gather together His elect ..." Matt. 24:30-31	"...they will see the SON OF MAN coming in the CLOUDS with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds." Mark 13:26	"...they will see the SON OF MAN coming in a CLOUD with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:27-28	"Behold, He is coming with CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him.... And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him." Rev. 1:7-8.
The Greek word for reap (theros) can also be translated "harvest" or "gather." The same word is used in the next scene, which deals with the gathering of all who refuse to trust God and repent. They would face "the great winepress of the wrath of God." Rev. 14:17-20 We don't know the timing between the two events. God's schedule isn't tied to our sense of time, and throughout the Bible we see prophecies that show similar events to be fulfilled at different times. Often, the first fulfillment is a sign of the coming of the second event. I tend to believe that we (who are joined to Jesus by faith through the cross) will be saved from the next set of terrors: the 7 BOWLS of wrath described in Revelation 16. But obviously, the "wicked" would still be alive to face the judgment. The words of Jesus in Matt. 13 don't reveal the timing of all these things, but it does add insight into the "harvest" or "reaping" we see in Revelation 14: “He who sows the good seed is the SON OF MAN. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire." Matthew 13:37-42

7 BOWLS OF WRATH

"Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, 'Go and pour out the BOWLS of the WRATH OF GOD on the earth.' So the first went and poured out his bowl..." Revelation 16:1-2

BOWL 1: "...foul and loathsome sores" broke out on people who had accepted the mark of the beast .

BOWL 2 & 3: "the sea" and rivers turn into blood.

BOWL 4: People are scorched with fire.

BOWL 5: Utter darkness, sores and pain. Rev. 16:2-10

BOWL 6: "unclean spirits" come from the mouths of the dragon, beast and the false prophet. They "go out to the kings of the earth.... to gather them to the battle of.... Armageddon." Rev. 16:10-16

BOWL 7: Lightning, a massive earthquake... The great city split... The "fierceness" of God's wrath fell on Babylon.... Huge "hailstones" rained down on the people. Rev. 16:17-21

START OF THE MILLENNIUM

"I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast... and had not received his mark.... And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years...." Rev. 20:4-5

"Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." Rev. 20:6

"He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit... so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while." Rev. 20:2-3

AFTER THE MILLENNIUM

"When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations... to gather them for battle... They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown…" Rev. 20:7-10

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE & THE JUDGMENT

"As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow.... Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened." Dan. 7:9-10

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..." 2 Cor. 5:10

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God.... And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged.... 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...." Rev. 20:11-13

NEW HEAVEN & NEW EARTH

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. ... I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Rev 21:1-2

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. ...they shall be His people..." Rev 21:3, 5

"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the lamb's book of Life." Rev. 21:27

NO MORE TEARS OR MOURNING

"He will swallow up death forever... the LORD God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away...." Isaiah 25:8

"To console those who mourn...give them beauty for ashes... joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness... that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:3

"I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow." Jer. 31:13

"God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then, He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new." Rev. 21:4-5

GOD'S LIGHT AND THE WATER OF LIFE

"...and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!" Ps. 23:6	"He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he will be my son." Rev 21:6-7	"The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light." Rev. 21:23	"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb." Rev. 22:1	"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Rev. 22:17
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Note from Berit: This chart may not be finished. I will continue to update it as God leads. Please help us by sharing your insights and letting us know if we have left out relevant Scriptures. We pray that this outline of Scriptures will encourage you to discern "the signs of the times" and to stand firm on the Rock of His Word until the day of His long-awaited coming! As He told us,

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:2-4

"If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19

Questions and comments from our visitors:

From Daniel Le Blanc: "I was hoping to see a place where the Rapture would be given and referenced. I’ve held back from forming a final conclusion after reading many opinions written by those more gifted than I. In some cases I was astonished to have to read page after page of opinion, scripture, points developed and restructured, followed by more opinions, scriptures, etc.

     "The Rapture (I pray there is one) would occur before God sends His Divine Wrath upon mankind just before His return. If this is correct than the only question is: Where does God indicate in the Scriptures when (not a specific date) He will send His Wrath?"

Berit's Response: I tried to just put Scriptures in a topical and chronological order, avoiding words that are not used in the Bible. The word “rapture” doesn’t occur in the Bible, so I just brought together Scriptures that describe the event usually indicated by the word "rapture." I don’t have all the answers, but I pray that God will guide me in understanding His message to us in His Word.

As for the timing, it fits under the 7th and last Trumpet. I tend to believe that Jesus' coming in the clouds to gather His elect happens before the 7 bowls of wrath are poured out. The warning and encouragement in Luke 21 indicates that the final outpouring of God's wrath will occur after the "escape" He has promised His people:

“...take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing...and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.... Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things....and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:8-9, 29-31, 34-36

From Lynda Wolfe: "Thank you for your Biblical view on eschatology - so many times people try to fit their pre-conceived ideas from fictional books into end time outlines. It is such an encouragement to see that there are others out there who hold to the Bible as the final authority. Never give up on the Truth!   I appreciate your site and the integrity of the articles. May God Bless you for your work.

Berit's Response: Thank you, Lynda, for sharing our concerns. I appreciate your warning about misleading influence of "Christian" fictional books. We tried to illustrate that problem in our 2002 review of The Indwelling, "Left Behind: New Age Imagery Helps Popularize Prophecy:

"Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins have used a Jewish Christian character, Tsion Ben-Judah, to take their readers on an imaginary journey toward another 'bright light.' Their story echoes the details described in countless New Age and neo-pagan testimonies. Ponder this portion:

"'Tsion began feeling a tingle....The clock still read 12:57, but he felt as if he were floating.... He saw himself asleep on the couch. He had heard of out-of-body experiences but had never had one, or dreamed one.... He felt weightless, moving higher.... despite his incredible lightness of being, he felt as conscious and aware as he had ever been. Though he knew he was unconscious, he had never been so attuned to his senses.'

"After a six-page interlude, the heavenly scene continues with the appearance of a 'face ringed with hair massive as prairie grass.' 'Are you Jesus the Christ,' asks Tsion. 'No, son of the earth, I am merely one of his princes,' answers Michael, the archangel.

"The earthly man and the heavenly angel begin a discussion of theological questions -- some of which God Himself had left unexplained in His Word. But never mind the uncertainties, the authors have created both the needed answers and the authority figures to communicate them. Caught up in the thrills of the plot, it's easy to forget that... neither Tim LaHaye nor Jerry Jenkins have divine access to the extra-biblical visions they plant in the minds of their captivated readers. Instead they illustrate a key danger of Biblical novels: re-imagining God's Word in the context of enticing man-made visions....

"A semblance of truth in an unbiblical setting will always help validate lies and distort the truth. God didn't give us freedom to adapt His Word to our personal perceptions. When we do so, we undermine the holy and absolute nature of the Bible itself."

"Every word of God is pure... Do not add to His words..." Proverbs 30:5-6

"You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it..." Deuteronomy 4:2

"If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life...." Revelation 22:18-19

From Rick Beltz: "The white horse of Rev. 6 is NOT conquest. It is religious deception, which we find all over the world in pagan Christianity."

Berit's response: Thank you for alerting me to this issue. Your message encouraged me to highlight the warnings about deception in other passages. Yes, deception is everywhere! And as Truth and factual thinking erodes, the forces of deception multiply fast.
     "But Revelation 6:2 actually says, "behold, a white horse. And he who sat on it had a bow... and he went out conquering and to conquer." I have to be true to the words written in the Bible. According to other New Testament Scriptures (cited in the early parts of this chart), "deception" is part of the conquest, but my intention and hope is to rely fully on God's Word.

More from Rick Beltz: The word "conquer" or "conquering" in the Greek is as follows from Strong's: 3528 nikao (nik-ah'-o); from 3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively): KJV-- conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.

It is not the type of conquering as in war of a soldier on a horse with a bow and arrow or even modern warfare. The word in this case reflects the fact that this is Satan's world and God has allowed him and his churches to "conquer" and deceive the world because Adam & Eve and all their descendants chose to believe Satan rather than God."

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