Prophecy 101

To many people Bible Prophecy seems like some obscure passages that tells us about the end-times. Just the opposite is true! Most people who have very little understanding of the Bible just think the book of Revelations is where all Bible Prophecy is at, not true! While the book of Revelations is primarily Prophectic, there are numerous passages in the Bible, in both the Old & New Testament, that teach us about the end times. These passages illustrate geographic locations, the times, the circumstances, the nations involved, and the outcome! These verses also provide us with warning signals of when these catastrophies are about to occur!

So lets get started and with the basics of Bible Prophecy! Afterwards we will breakdown these topics with Biblical References. Here is the condensed cliff notes concerning the end times and what WILL happen:

The Rapture of the Church will Occur! Jesus Christ will come to gather all of His saved born-again believers, to spare them of the wrath that is about to follow! Many people, perhaps Millions, will vanish "in the twinkling of an eye" from this earth. (1 Corinthians 15:52) - (Revelation 3:12)

There will be a period of time of what the Bible calls the "Great Tribulation" that lasts for seven years. There will be wars, there will be pestilence, and there will be a World Leader that appears, who will seem to have all the answers. He will NOT appear to be evil, just the opposite! This World Leader is known in the Bible as the Beast, or as many today call him, the AntiChrist! The AntiChrist is Satan in human form! This period of time will be a true test for those left behind accepting Jesus as their Savior! (Daniel 11:36-38) - (Revelation 13:3-5)

The AntiChrist will eventually enter into the rebuilt temple of Solomon in Jerusalem and proclaim himself to be God! He will also demand that a mark be received on the right hand or forehead of his followers and believers. This mark will have two purposes. One will be a bonding allegiance to him, the other will be a means of control. The Bible says that no one will be able to buy, sell, or trade unless they have this mark! (2 Thesalonians 2:3-4) - (Revelation 13:16-18)

This AntiChrist will sign a 7 year peace treaty with Israel, but it will be utter deception! He is actually intent on destroying Israel and makind! Eventually his reign will end in the apocolyptic battle called "Armageddon". (Daniel 9:27)

While there are certainly numerous differing theological opinions concerning the last days, especially surronding when the Rapture takes place, we are going to illuminate you to the facts with Biblical references to prove it! There are basically three views concerning the timing of the Rapture. There is the Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation schools of thought. In studying the scriptures, the Bible strongly illustrates the Pre-Tribulation view. While there are several verses that we will review that convey this, lets take moment to look at Gods previous actions on His judgements.

Sodom and Gomorrah is an excellent example! Sodom and Gomorrah was a city in which evil thrived and sexual immorality spun out of control. Lot and his family lived in this city and was a God fearing man. The time came where God was set to destroy this city and the inhabitants. However, God told Lot to leave this city! To make a long story short, Lot pleaded with God to spare this city to no avail. It came to the point where God sent angels into the city to usher Lot to leave! Once they safely escaped the city, it was destroyed as God foretold by fire and brimstone!

Another prior example of this appears with Noah. The earth was filled with violence and immorality. Once again God was set to destroy the earth by a GREAT flood! God saw favor in Naoh and commanded him to build the ark. Once completed, God instructed Noah to enter the ark and sealed it sparing Noah and his family from this cataclismic destruction!

Just from these two examples we God both saving and removing His believers from the destruction and wrath that He poured out. And the same will surely follow. Why would God want to pour out His wrath and judgement on His followers? Now lets review some KEY verses that indicate the divine protection in Christ, assuring us that we will be protected by Him!

Revelation 3:10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

It is quite plain to see in the above verses that Jesus Christ is proclaiming a promise of protection! This passage is referring to the last days and His true followers being spared from the worst of all wrath that is to proceed. How will he protect the believers, what will he do? Paul indicates to us below in Thessalonians a bit more detail of this occurance!

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

So herein lies the answer to the various tribulational viewpoints. Lets ask these simple questions based on the above verses:

Will we be a part of the great tribulation? Revelation 3:10-11 proclaims this promise of being spared!

Are you sure we will spared, couldn't we go through part of the tribulation before Christ returns? In Matthew 24:37-40 It is crystal clear if you think objectively! He tells us that people will be living their lives, partying, getting married, etc. Would this be normal behavior during the Great Tribulation period? Absolutely not! The Bible proclaims this will be the worst time ever in history of this planet with wars, disease, famine, rivers and oceans turning into blood! I have a hard time thinking people will be so non-chalant about it!

Is there any other facts that back this up? Look at Revelation 24:42! Look, if we were in the 7 year period of the great tribulation, wouldn't we be expecting him at any time to come for us? He is telling us otherwise, we will not expect His coming, it will take us by suprise! It's obvious that it would be prior. Again, look at the examples of Noah and Lot!

There is much more Biblical evidence that also solidifies the Pre-Tribulational interpretation, but lets finalize this crash course in Prophecy 101! After the believers are removed from the earth, comes the "Anti-Christ"!!! Who is this Anti-Christ and what does the Bible say about him?

The Bible gives many descriptions of the AntiChrist such as "The beast, the man of sin, the son of perdition" however he will not appear to be as such, just the opposite! The Bible teaches us in numerous verses that he will appear to be the world's problem solver, a peace maker, and will show false miracles and lying wonders, deceiving many!

The AntiChrist will sign a 7 year peace treaty with Israel. This peace treaty will be a lie!

The AntiChrist will declare that a mark be given to all mankind to be received on the right hand or forehead.

The AntiChrist will issue this mark as both an allegiance to him and for transactions of buying and selling.

The AntiChrist will enter into the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and proclaim to be God or the Messiah.

The AntiChrist will want to be worshiped as God. Many people will worship him!

The AntiChrist will have those that accept Jesus or refuse to follow him to be executed.

The AntiChrist will break his 7 year peace treaty with Israel and turn against the Jews.

During the reign of the AntiChrist God's wrath will be poured out over all the earth, these are the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, and the 7 vials of judgement. (Read Revelations chapter 6-10 and chapter 15-16 for details). And in the final battle, the AntiChrist will lead all the armies of the earth to the valley of Armageddon for a war against God and will be destroyed by Jesus Christ! (Revelation 19:19-21)

But there is total and absolute hope for anyone who turns to Jesus Christ in this period of Great Tribulation! There will be the infamous "two witnesses" that will preach the Word of God and will be given power to destroy those who come against them by fire (Revelation 11:13). There will be a return of the twelve tribes of Israel totaling 144,000 in Jerusalem who will proclaim the Gospel of Christ (Revelation 14:1) Actually many will turn to Christ in this time, and there will be some martyrs for Christ during this period.

Are we near this point you may ask? The apostles specifically asked Christ, "What will be the signs of Your coming?" In Luke 21:7-38 Christ clarifies much of this however, there are so many signs given in both the Old and New Testament to save both space and time I would refer you to the Prophetic Table on this website which covers the most obvious ones!

It is my hope and prayers that this "Crash Course" in Prophecy has shed some light into the basic knowledge of the End Times! Please feel free to comment or send your questions to us, we may post them on the FAQ page!