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General Timeline

The Rapture: Jesus returns "in the twinkling of an eye" to take His followers to Heaven, resulting in the instantenous disappearance of millions of people, sending the world into chaos and confusion.

A new world leader, whom the Bible calls the Antichrist, emerges on the scene bringing a temporary semblance of order and peace. He will also bring a False Prophet to establish a one-world religion (Revelation 13:3,11-14)

Beginning of The Seventieth Week, or The Tribulation

The Antichrist signs a seven-year mutual protection pact with Israel highlighted by the reconstruction of the temple. (Isaiah 28:14-19; Daniel 9:27). The Tribulation is broken into two equal parts; each of which is three and one half years long. (Revelation 11:2,3; 12:6,14; 13:5) As part of the pact, Israel is allowed to reinstate offerings and sacrifices according to the law of Moses. (Matthew 24:20; Leviticus 22:17-33) This means the Temple will probably be built on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem (current location of the Muslim Dome of the Rock) because that is the only acceptable place for sacrifices according to the law of Moses. (Leviticus 17:1-9)

The First Six Seals (Revelation 6:1-17). The four horsemen are figurative of the death and destruction that will soon be released upon the earth. The first act of God's wrath and judgment begins with the sixth seal.

• First Seal: White horse with a rider who goes forth to conquer.
• Second Seal: Red horse with a rider who takes peace from the earth and causes men to kill each other.
• Third Seal: Black horse with a rider holding a pair of balance representing famine.
• Fourth Seal: Pale horse whose riders are Death and Hell, and they kill one-fourth of mankind through war, pestilences and famine.
• Fifth Seal: The souls of believers who were persecuted and killed for their faith are seen crying out to God that He execute vengeance.
• Sixth Seal: A great and terrible earthquake, the sun becomes black, the moon turns to blood, and meteors fall to the earth. People are depicted as running to the mountains and crying for the rocks to fall upon them for they know the wrath of the Lamb has come.

144,000 of Israel. 12,000 from each of 12 tribles, are sealed as "Servants of God" (Revelation 7)

The Seventh Seal: Silence in Heaven for a half-hour depicting preparation and solemnity as the terrible Trumpet Judgments are soon to begin (Revelation 8:1)

The First Six Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8,9,11:15-19)

• First Trumpet: A great hailstorm of fire mingled with blood destroys all grass and one-third of all trees.
• Second Trumpet: A great meteor, like a mountain burning with fire, falls into the sea turning one-third of the oceans to blood. This destroys one-third of all life in the sea and one-third of all ships in the sea.
• Third Trumpet: Another great meteor called Wormwood falls into the rivers poisoning one-third of all rivers and springs (fresh water), which kills many people.
• Fourth Trumpet: The sun's light and strength is cut by one-third. Likewise the moon's light is cut by one-third, and a one-third of all stars are darkened. This would suggest that not only will there not be much daylight, but it would also be extremely cold. An angel then flies through the heavens crying woe for the trumpets which are yet to sound.
• Fifth Trumpet: An angel opens the bottomless pit from which arises a column of smoke darkening the skies. In the smoke there are locusts which have power to torment mankind with their stings for five months. The torment will be so great that men will seek death but will not find it. The Bible describes these locusts as having the bodies of horses with breastplates of iron, the faces of men with teeth like lions, and tails like scorpions.
• Sixth Trumpet: An army of 200 million horsemen are released upon the earth and kill one-third of mankind. The horses have heads like lions and tails like serpents and they breath out fire and smoke.

Mid-Point of the Tribulation (3 1/2 years)

Seventh Trumpet: Preparation for the Vial Judgments; The 24 elders worship God.

After three and one half years pass, the Antichrist goes into the Temple where he declares that he is God incarnate and only he should be worshipped. This is called The Abomination of Desolation. (John 5:43; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Daniel 9:27) The False Prophet caused images (idols and statues) of the Antichrist to be made and they are given life (Revelation 13:15-18). This may be the time when the current false religious system in place is destroyed, much to the delight of the leaders of the ten kingdoms (Revelation 17:1-7).

The Antichrist breaks his seven-year treaty with Israel; and causes the sacrifices to cease. (Daniel 9:27).

War in Heaven results in Satan himself being cast down to earth. An angel proclaims a warning of woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because Satan is now on earth, full of hatred and wrath, knowing that he has but a short time. (Revelation 12)

The Antichrist causes all men to obtain a mark on their forehead or hand, without which they can neither buy nor sell (Revelation 13:11-18). During this time, the Antichrist receives a fatal head wound, perhaps through an assasination attempt, which is healed to everyone's amazement (Revelation 13:3).

Second half of The Seventieth Week, or The "Great" Tribulation

The judgments in the second half are so terrible that this time is referred to as the period of Great Tribulation. Those in Israel (Judea) flee to the mountains for divine protection in the wilderness (Matthew 24:15-22)

Believers are persecuted by the organized one-world church and killed in large numbers. However, those who do not receive the mark of the beast reign with Christ as priests of God for 1,000 years after the Tribulation. These will also live eternally with God in Heaven. (Matthew 24:4-14; Revelation 13:15-18; 14:9-13)

Two Witnesses are granted special power and authority by God to preach a message of judgment and salvation. They are given the ability to bring about plagues as often as they desire for 1260 days (the length of the second half.) (Revelation 11:3-14) note: Luke 16:31. They are eventually killed and their bodies lie in the streets for three and one-half days as everyone rejoices. However, they rise from the dead and ascend to Heaven.

The First Six Vial (Bowl) Judgments (Revelation 16)

• First Vial: All people who have the mark of the Beast are afflicted with terrible and painful sores.
• Second Vial: The oceans become as the blood of a dead man.
• Third Vial: Rivers and springs (fresh water) is turned to blood.
• Fourth Vial: The sun's heat is intensified, and men blaspheme God because of the great heat.
• Fifth Vial: Darkness covers the earth; people gnaw their tongues because of the great pain they are suffering. Sadly, men do not repent of their evil, but continue to blaspheme God.
• Sixth Vial: The Euphrates River is dried up, preparing the way for the armies of the east. The Antichrist and the False Prophet causes the leaders of all nations to send their armies to the place called Armageddon.

The End of the Seventieth Week, or The "Great" Tribulation

The Seventh Vial Judgment: A voice from Heaven proclaims, "It is done." A great earthquake, more powerful than any previous earthquake, divides Jerusalem into three parts, cities across the earth crumble, and mountains disappear. Great meteors weighing one thousand pounds each fall from the sky. Babylon, a great city of world trade and influence, is destroyed (Revelation 17-18) causing men to wail and mourn (Babylon may also be the seat of the false religion in place, or Mystery Babylon - see notes under Mid-Point).

Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21): Armageddon is the ancient hill and valley of Megiddo, west of the Jordan in the plain of Jezreel between Samaria and Galilee. It is the appointed place where the armies of the Beast and False Prophet are to be defeated. It appears initially that Israel will be destroyed. In the midst of the battle however, the Lord Jesus Christ returns with His armies clothed in white, destroying the armies of the earth, with blood "flowing even to the horses' bridles" (Revelation 14:19-20).

The Beast and the False Prophet are defeated and thrown into the Lake of Fire, and Satan is bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Revelation 19:20; 20:1-3)

The Millennial Reign of Christ

Christ beings His 1000 year reign on earth known as The Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6). It is a wonderful time of peace and rest as believers "live and reign with Christ."

Final Defeat of Satan

At the end of the 1000 years, Satan is loosed for a little season. Satan and his armies surround Jerualem but are defeated as God sends fire from heaven, and Satan is bound and cast into the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 20:7-10)

The Final White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:7-15). All people whose names are not found in the Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 20:11-15)

A New Heaven and New Earth is created where we will dwell in righteousness and peace forever. A New Jerusalem comes down from God out of Heaven, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor pain, for all these things will pass away (Revelation 21-22)

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