I have been reviewing old notes I have on The End Times.
This is what I have always believed the Bible says about the end times, and I still do until the Holy Spirit convinces me differently in the Word of God. All these components are laid out in Scripture. I'm not speculating. I'm not writing Christian fiction. This is what I believe the Bible says based on my studies of the Holy Scriptures for many years. I say this with no disrespect to anyone who believes differently on the scriptures than I do. Unity is very important in these days of the true Believers.
I will be as brief as possible and to the point.
Concerting how lengthy it can be.
I believe Scripture is very clear on this to me. And it's very clear on what's going to happen when Jesus comes. First, His coming will be launched when He raptures the church gathers the redeemed church to Himself, glorifies them in their heavenly home, and rewards them. Then He will unleash a time of tribulation on the earth, a horrific time of judgment that will literally alter the universe as we know it as well as bring about horrific destruction and death. During that time, however, Israel will see the One they have pierced, repent, be saved. A fountain of cleansing will be opened to them. They will embrace their Messiah and God's promise through Romans chapter 11 of the salvation of Israel will be fulfilled. There will be then conversion of people from every tongue and tribe and nation at that same time, even while unparalleled judgment is going on in the world. At the end of that time, the Lord will come, destroy the ungodly of the world, establish His kingdom, take the believers into the glorious 1,000-year kingdom. He will bind Satan and demons for the duration of that 1,000 years. And then at the end, let them loose and they will gather unbelievers who have been born during that kingdom and not believed in Christ. They will gather into a final rebellion. Christ will destroy them all at that rebellion. All unbelievers will then be from all the ages brought before the Great White Throne Judgment of God and they will be sent into the Lake of Fire in resurrection bodies suited for that suffering forever. The Lord will then disintegrate the universe as we know it, create a new heaven and a new earth, which becomes the infinitely righteous and perfect dwelling place for the godly in the presence of God forever.
When we talk about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, we're talking about the events that necessitate Jesus' coming being brought to their completion, and their fulfillment, and their realization.
The word Rapture is found in the Latin Translation of the scriptures beginning in the 4th century in the Latin it means (Catch up or Caught up quickly.)
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ESV
For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
(Revelation 3:10 ESV)
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-22 ESV
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (11) Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (12) We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (15) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (16) Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies, (21) but test everything; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil.
John 3:18 ESV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:36 ESV
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 5:24 ESV
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Romans 5:1-2 ESV
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:8-11 ESV
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (10) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (11) More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 8:1 ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:33-39 ESV
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. (34) Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (36) As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” (37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (38) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, (39) nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (5) he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Grove Oak Church
