Many are confused about Bible prophecy yet if we rightly divide the word of truth the plan of God is perfectly clear. The following is a summary.
- The Church age concludes when the “fulness of the Gentiles” comes in (Rom.11:25).
- God has determined 7 years on the Jews and Jerusalem in order to “finish the transgression”, i.e. bring the nation to repentance and “bring in everlasting righteousness” (Dan.9:24). There can’t be a millennial kingdom without a redeemed Israel!
- Two events are signs to the Jews that the last 7 years has come. Christians will disappear at the Rapture of the Church and a European leader will sign a security agreement allowing Jews to rebuild the Temple where two Jewish prophets preach for 1,260 days. Both signs occur simultaneously. (Dan.9:27; Luke 17:34-36; Matt.24:40-42).
- The 7-year Tribulation is described in Revelation chs 6 to 18 chronologically. Also in Isaiah chs.24 to 27. Seven Seal judgments are followed by 7 Trumpet judgments and the 7 “last plagues” are 7 Vial (bowl) judgments in the second half of the Tribulation.
- Immediately after the Rapture, 144,000 Jewish men will be saved and preach the Gospel of Christ’s coming kingdom in “all the world”(Matt.24:14). These are the “firstfruits” of Israel and are martyred by the mid-point of the Tribulation (Rev.14:1-5).
- Egypt (“the king of the south” Dan.11:40) will invade Israel and Israel and Antichrist as the leader of Europe, will destroy Egypt. Many Muslims turn to Christ (Dan.11:40-43; Isaiah ch.19:18-25). This is another “Arab” war led by Egypt.
- Islam is angered. Russia leads Turkey, Iran, Libya & Sudan into Israel (Ezek.38/39). Europe stands aside (Dan.11:44) and 2/3 of Jews in the land perish (Zech.13:9) before the remnant seek the Lord and “all Israel” is saved (Ezek.39:22-29; Jer.31:34, Rom.11:26). God then destroys Islam and Russia (Rev.6:12-17). Russia and the isles are burned (Ezek.39:6) and 1/6 of their army flee to Siberia (Joel 2:20). This concludes the Seal judgments.
- Four environmental Trumpet judgments devastate 1/3 of land and seas (Rev.8:1-13). 9. The bottomless pit releases demons and the European leader is demon possessed. He becomes “the Beast” or “Antichrist” and seeks to destroy the godly Jews(Rev.9:1-11).
- The Great Asian war will slay 1/3 of men at the 6th Trumpet judgment (Rev.9:13-21). 11. At the midpoint of the 7 years the Beast moves into the Jewish Temple claiming to be God and establishes global government with the “mark of the beast” (Rev.chs.10-14).
- The “7 last plagues” are Vials poured out on the kingdom of the Beast (Rev.15-16); Israel is protected (Rev.12:6,14); fights for survival (Zech.12) and welcomes Christ at His coming in glory “when He will return from the wedding” (Luke 12:36; Isa.25:9).
- Rome is burned (Rev.17-18); the Beast cast into the lake of fire (Rev.19:20); Christ will return (Rev.19); All Israel will be regathered to the land (Matt.24:31) and Gentiles will appear before Christ’s throne (Matt.25:32). The “sheep” inherit the kingdom; the “goats” go to the lake of fire (Matt.25:34,41) and the Tribulation martyrs are raised to reign with Christ (Rev.20:4) for 1,000 years before there is an eternal new heavens and new earth (Rev.chs.21-22).