End Times Timeline According to the classical dispensationalist (pretribulational premillennial) model End Times Timeline Pretribulation Rapture (Harpazo) Judgement Seat (Bema) of Christ Marriage of the Lamb Magog Invasion Battle of Gog and Magog Tribulation (70th Week of Daniel) Great Tribulation Abomination of Desolation Second Coming (Parousia) of Christ Battle of Armageddon 75-day Interregnum Judgement of the Sheep and Goats Millennium Marriage Supper of the Lamb Satan’s Final Rebellion (Final War of Gog and Magog) Great White Throne Judgement Eternal State Note: Italicized event names denote possible (but uncertain) timings Scripture quotations are from the NASB 1995 unless otherwise stated Italicized words indicate words not present in the original texts, but that are implied by them Underlined words correspond to the name of the object/event/period in whose section they appear Literal translations (lit.) are sometimes given in parentheses Pretribulation Rapture (Harpazo) The Greek word ἁρπάζω (harpazō) means “to seize” or “to snatch out/away” This word also appears when Paul describes a man whom he knew who was raptured I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. — 2 Corinthians 12:2 It appears again in the symbolic passage of Revelation 12 And she [the woman, representing Mary, and, by extension, Israel] gave birth to a son, a male child [Christ], who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. — Revelation 12:5 An imminent event Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord [the Tribulation, preceded by the Rapture] will come just like a thief in the night. — 1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 Believers who died after Christ’s resurrection are given resurrected physical bodies 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 and (lit.: who) remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. — 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. — 1 Corinthians 15:22–24 Intended to keep the Church from the Tribulation Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. — Revelation 3:10 Analogy: God recalls His “ambassadors” 1 This allows the Antichrist to take over And you know what restrains him [the “man of lawlessness”; i.e., the Antichrist] now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming. — 2 Thessalonians 2:6–8 The “restrainer” is likely the Holy Spirit, acting through the Church Judgement Seat (Bema) of Christ The Greek word βῆμα (bēma) refers to a platform/rostrum for a judge or king Pilate and Herod sat on these Occurs sometime before the Second Coming of Christ This is because Christ returns with His saints (believers) Believers are rewarded to varying degrees Now if any man builds on the foundation [Christ] with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work (lit.: of what sort each man’s work is). If any man’s work which he has built on it [the foundation] remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. — 1 Corinthians 3:12–15 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body (lit.: the things through the body), according to what he has done, whether good or bad. — 2 Corinthians 5:10 Marriage of the Lamb ... Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride (lit.: wife) has made herself ready.” Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” — Revelation 19:7, 19:9 Occurs after the Judgement Seat of Christ but before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Takes place in heaven The Bride of Christ (the Church) is wed to Christ ... for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. — 2 Corinthians 11:2 Attended by raptured believers only Magog Invasion And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired (or clothed in full armor), a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; Persia, Ethiopia (lit.: Cush) and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you. — Ezekiel 38:1–6 “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.” — Ezekiel 38:14–16 Invasion of Israel from the north by a coalition of nations Battle of Gog and Magog Described in Ezekiel 39 Distinct from the Battle of Armageddon Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38–39) Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16, 19) Gog leads the invasion The Antichrist leads the invasion Armies drawn by God 2 Armies gathered by demons 3 Israel initially at peace 4 Israel in the midst of the Tribulation Armies gather to fight Christ and His Armies gather to plunder Israel 5 army 6 Takes place between Megiddo and Takes place on the mountains of Israel 7 Bozrah 8 9 Attackers destroyed by wild beasts, fire, etc. Attackers destroyed by Christ’s “sword” sent by God 10 (His Word) 11 ⅚ of the invaders destroyed by God? ָשׁ ָשׁא The phrase “sixth part” only appears in the KJV, and may be a mistranslation: the word (”shashah, “to divide into six parts) ִשׁ ָשּׁה shawshaw, “to lead on”) was probably confused with) And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (KJV) Most modern translations have something similar to “drive you on” or “drag you along” ... and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (NASB) I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (NIV) And I will turn you about and drive you forward, and bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel. — Ezekiel 39:2 (ESV) Israel uses invaders’ weapons as ‘fuel’ for 7 years “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord God.