​In our journey through the End Times Bible Study, we’ve explored the prophetic framework, the signs of the times, and how we should live in light of Christ’s imminent return. Now, let’s take a step back and look at the big picture—a timeline of events as laid out in Scripture, particularly through the lens of a Literal, Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Millennial viewpoint.

This overview is not meant to be exhaustive, but it will help us to understand the flow of prophetic events and where we, the Church, fit into God’s plan.


🕰️ Daniel’s 70th Week: The Prophetic Framework
“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city…”
                                                                                          —Daniel 9:24–27
Daniel’s prophecy outlines 70 weeks (or sets of seven years) for Israel. The first 69 weeks have already been fulfilled. The Church Age—where we are now—is a pause between the 69th and 70th week. Importantly, the Church did not replace Israel.  God’s covenant with Israel remains, and the final week (seven years) will be fulfilled during the Tribulation.   We will look at this in greater detail when we move forward in our study on the book of Daniel. 


📜 The Revelation Timeline (Pre-Trib Perspective)
Here’s a general sequence of events based on Scripture.  The overall order of items like the battle of God and Magog may change, but this is the general order/timing as we can see in scripture.

1. ✝️ Resurrection of Jesus
Detailed in the Gospels, this is the cornerstone of our faith and the beginning of the New Covenant.

2. ⬆️ Ascension of Christ
“I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again and receive you to Myself.”
                                                                                         —John 14:1–3
Jesus ascended to heaven and promised to return for His Bride.

3. 🕊️ The Church Age
Described in Revelation 2–3, this is the current age of grace and evangelism.

4. ⚠️ End Times Signs
As discussed in Part 2, we are witnessing the convergence and acceleration of prophetic signs.

5. 📣 The Rapture
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
                                                                                        —1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
“We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
                                                                                        —Romans 14:10
Christ returns in the air to gather His Church. Believers are taken to heaven and appear before the Bema Seat of Christ for rewards.

6. ⚔️ Battle of Gog and Magog
This battle is described in detail in Ezekiel 38 & 39.  It is clear from history that this has not yet occurred and may actually happen before or during the early stages of the Tribulation. More on this in the next post!


🌍 The 7-Year Tribulation (Revelation 4–18)
“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’”
                                                                                          —Daniel 9:27
The Tribulation begins not with the Rapture, but with the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and the Antichrist.

During this 7 year tribulation we see that there will be three Sets of 7 Judgments (21 in total):

• Seal Judgments — Revelation 6
• Trumpet Judgments — Revelation 8–9
• Bowl/Vial Judgments — Revelation 15–16

As believers looking at this from a Pre-Trib perspective, we are reminded not to fear, because 
“...we are not appointed to wrath.”
                                                                                             —1 Thessalonians 5:9

There are also several events which will occur 3 ½ years into the tribulation at the "midpoint" of the tribulation.   These midpoint events include: 

• The Antichrist breaks the peace treaty
• The Antichrist commits the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10)
• The Antichrist sets up an image of himself to be worshipped  (Revelation 13)
• The beginning of the Great Tribulation  (Revelation 7:14; Jeremiah 30:7)
  

At the end of the 7 year tribulation there will be a final attack on Jerusalem and on JESUS which leads to the Battle of Armageddon.


👑 The Return of Christ
“I saw heaven standing open… and the armies of heaven were following Him.”
                                                                                              —Revelation 19:11–14
Jesus returns with His Bride to defeat the Antichrist and establish His Kingdom.   That's right...for those of us who are Christians, our view for this event will be from behind JESUS because we will be WITH HIM!


🔒 Satan Bound and Christ’s Millennial Reign
“He seized the dragon… and bound him for a thousand years.”
                                                                                            —Revelation 20:2
Christ reigns on earth for 1,000 years. Satan is bound, peace is restored, and righteousness prevails.


🐍 Satan’s Final Defeat
“When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released… but fire came down from heaven and devoured them.”
                                                                                              —Revelation 20:7–10
Satan is released briefly, deceives many, and is ultimately defeated forever.


⚖️ The Great White Throne Judgment
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it…”
                                                                                               —Revelation 20:11–15
All unbelievers are judged and cast into the lake of fire. This is the final judgment.


🌅 New Heaven and New Earth
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… He will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
                                                                                               —Revelation 21–22
God creates a new Heaven, a new Earth and a new Jerusalem. Eternity begins. No more pain, death, or sorrow.  Just perfect fellowship with our Savior - JESUS CHRIST!


🙏 Final Thoughts
This timeline is not just a roadmap—it is the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Every event points to His glory, His justice, and His love. As believers, we can look forward with TRUE HOPE, knowing that we are not destined for wrath but for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.   If you do not already know HIM as your LORD and SAVIOR, DO NOT DELAY, for HE IS COMING SOON!  Don't be caught unaware!

                                                           “…Come Quickly…Lord Jesus.”
                                                                                             —Revelation 22:20

​In the first two posts of this Bible Study series, we explored the prophetic framework of Revelation and the compelling signs that suggest we are living in the End Times. But now comes the most important question of all:       What should we do about it?

If we truly believe that the return of Jesus is near, our response must go beyond curiosity or casual interest. It must move us to action, urgency, and faithfulness.    Let's take a quick look!


🧭 We Are Called to Be Watchful
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
                                                                                                —Matthew 24:42
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples to stay alert. Not to panic. Not to hide. But to watch. To be spiritually awake and aware of the times.
“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
                                                                                                —Matthew 24:44


🔥 We Are Called to Be Holy
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”
                                                                                                —2 Peter 3:14
The End Times are not just about prophecy charts—they’re about purity. If we believe Jesus could return at any moment, we should live like it. This means repenting of sin, walking in obedience, and pursuing holiness - constantly.   This should be our regular practice.  Considering everything going on in the world...living Holy will probably make us really stand out!



📣 We Are Called to Share the Gospel
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
                                                                                                —Matthew 24:14
The Great Commission doesn’t pause during turbulent times—it intensifies.  Technology has made it possible to reach the ends of the earth. But it’s not just about global missions—it’s about your neighbor, your coworker, your family.   Who can you share the Gospel with today?  Who can you reach BEFORE it is too late?



🛡️ We Are Called to Be Watchful and to Stand Firm
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”
                                                                                                —1 Corinthians 16:13
As the world grows darker, believers must shine brighter. That means standing firm in the Truth, even when it’s unpopular. It means refusing to compromise, even when it’s costly.



🙏 We Are Called to Encourage One Another
“…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
                                                                                              —Hebrews 10:25
We weren’t meant to walk this journey alone. The closer we get to Christ’s return, the more we need each other.  Staying in the word, coupled with fellowship, prayer, and encouragement are our lifelines in these last days.  This reminds me once again, why Bible Studies like this are so important and so powerful!


🕊️ We Are Called to Live with Hope
“While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…”
                                                                                             —Titus 2:13
The End Times aren’t just about judgment—they are all about Jesus.   Our hope isn’t in politics, economics, or human solutions.  Our TRUE HOPE is in JESUS our Savior and HIS soon return!.


🙏 Final Thoughts
We may not know the exact moment of Christ’s return, but we do know this: He is coming soon!!   When He does, we want to be found faithful.   So let’s live with urgency.  Let’s love with compassion.  Let’s serve with joy.  Let’s proclaim the Gospel boldly.  Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus—the Author and Finisher of our faith.
 
                                                  “…Come Quickly…LORD JESUS!”
                                                                                              —Revelation 22:20

Continuing from our Bible Study, let's take a look at answering the question "Are we living n the End Times"?

​There’s a growing sense among believers and even non-believers that something is shifting in the world. The pace of change continues at a mind boggling pace. The headlines are relentless and the signs—well, they seem to be everywhere. After more than thirty years of studying Bible prophecy, I believe we are witnessing the convergence and acceleration of events that Scripture foretold thousands of years ago.

Let me be clear: only God knows the exact day and hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36). But Hebrews 10:25 tells us that believers will see “the Day” approaching.  Additionally, 1 Thessalonians 5 reminds us that while the world will be caught off guard like a thief in the night (v. 2), but we as children of the light will not be surprised (v. 4).

So why now? Why is this so important?

🚨 Acceleration and Convergence
I believe that what we are seeing is a rapid acceleration of global events—political, technological, cultural, and spiritual.  At the same time, there is a convergence of prophetic signs described in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and the Book of Daniel.   In Daniel 12:4, the Old Testament prophet was told: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” 

I believe we are in this period of "the end" as we see all of these things coming together.  Like birth pangs, these signs are increasing in both frequency and intensity.


🔟 Ten Reasons We May Be in the Last Days
Let's take a look at ten compelling reasons—supported by Scripture and current events—that suggest we are living in the End Times. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is definitely a sobering one.

1. 🇮🇱 Israel’s Rebirth as a Nation
“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.”
                                                                —Ezekiel 36:24; 37:21
In 1948, Israel became a nation again—fulfilling a key prophecy and restarting God’s prophetic time clock.  Remember, many people who lived before 1948 thought that this couldn't possibly be a literal fulfillment, but GOD re-birthed the Nation of Israel in one day!


2. 🕍 Jerusalem Under Jewish Control
“Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
                                                               —Luke 21:24
In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel regained control of Jerusalem. In 2017, the U.S. formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital—another prophetic milestone.  Jerusalem remains under Jewish control today!


3. ⚔️ Wars and Rumors of Wars
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars… but the end is not yet.”
                                                                —Matthew 24:6
From global conflicts to civil unrest, the world is on edge. Ezekiel 38 describes a coalition—Russia, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, Libya—poised to attack Israel.  We’re watching those alliances form in real time.   Just in the past few years, we have seen major wars between Russia and Ukraine, Africa, and almost continuous wars in the Middle East...I'd say that we are hearing of Wars and Rumors of Wars!


4. 🏛️ The Re-Emergence of the Roman Empire
“The seven heads are seven hills… They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come…”
                                                                  —Revelation 17:9–10
Rome was never truly conquered.  Even though most people put the "end date" of the Roman Empire at around 476 AD, scriptures tells us that a Revived Roman Empire will re-emerge in the Last days!  In fact, Daniel 2, 7, and 9 all provide details of a revived Roman Empire in the last days. The formation of the European Union in 1993 may be the beginning of this fulfillment.


5. 🌍 Global Government and Religion
“All the world marveled and followed the beast.”
                                                                  —Revelation 13:3
“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast…”
                                                                  —Revelation 13:8
The 2008 global financial crisis showed how quickly people would surrender sovereignty for security.   We saw this again with the COVID lockdowns just a few years ago.  The G20 and World Economic Forum continue to push for global solutions—including the “Great Reset” to be implemented by 2030.


6. 🌀 Cultural Perversion
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves… without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good…”
                                                                   —2 Timothy 3:1–4
As in the days of Noah and Lot, wickedness is rampant. What was once shameful is now celebrated.


7. 🌪️ Natural Disasters
“There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
                                                                     —Matthew 24:7–8
From hurricanes to wildfires to earthquakes, natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity.  Many people have said that, there have been natural disasters since the beginning of time, however, I would argue that the frequency and severity is increasing at scales that we have not seen before.


8. 🦠 Pestilence
“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places…”
                                                                      —Luke 21:11
COVID-19 was unprecedented in its global impact. Each year brings new warnings of deadlier outbreaks and new "global restrictions".


9. 💔 The Love of Many Will Grow Cold
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”
                                                                     —Matthew 24:12
We see it everywhere—anger, division, violence. From riots to shootings, the world is growing colder by the day.


10. 🌐 Spiritual Signs
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
—Matthew 24:14
Thanks to technology, the Gospel is reaching every corner of the globe. At the same time, apostasy is rising. According to Barna:

• Only 66% of U.S. adults identify as Christian
• Only 4% of all adults—and just 6% of self-identified Christians—hold a biblical worldview

🙏 Final Thoughts
We are not called to panic—we are called to prepare. The signs are not meant to scare us, but to wake us up. Jesus is coming soon. The question is: are we ready?
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
                                                                             —Matthew 24:44

Let’s live with urgency, share the Gospel boldly, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus—the Author and Finisher of our faith!

                                                    "...come quickly...Lord Jesus!"
                                                                             — Revelation 22:20                                                       

This week we began our new End Times Bible Study.   This BLOG post summarizes some of the information discussed during this week's session.   The study is scheduled to take place the Second Tuesday of each month at 7PM ET.  This blog series, based on the monthly Bible Study, will offer an overview of the Book of Revelation and the End Times from what I believe is the most biblically sound and realistic viewpoint: a Literal, Pre-Tribulation, and Pre-Millennial perspective. I know that there are other viewpoints out there, but our study will be based from this viewpoint.  If you are interested in more information, just contact us!

​                       ____________________________________________________

​For over thirty years, I’ve been captivated by the study of biblical prophecy and the End Times. It’s a topic that has sparked countless debates, inspired deep devotion, and—let’s be honest—caused more than a little confusion. While there are many interpretations out there, one truth remains: we won’t fully understand everything until we are in glory with our Lord - but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t study it. In fact, God’s Word encourages us to do just that.  


📖 Why Study Prophecy?
Before diving into the details, let’s answer a foundational question: Why does Bible prophecy matter?

• 28% of the Bible is prophetic—that’s roughly 8,000 verses!
• 333 prophecies are about Jesus—109 were fulfilled at His first coming, leaving 224 yet to be fulfilled.
• God doesn’t want us to be ignorant
  “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep…”
                                                                                                               —1 Thessalonians 4:13
• It’s all about Jesus—the more we study prophecy, the more we understand His character, His plan, and His glory.
• There’s a blessing in it
  “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it…”
                                                                                                               —Revelation 1:3

Let’s be clear: this study is not about setting dates or indulging in speculation. The focus is found in Revelation 1:1--“The Revelation of Jesus Christ…” It’s all about Him!


🔍 How Should We Approach Bible Prophecy?
I believe in starting with the plain sense of Scripture.  As David Reagan of Lamb & Lion Ministries wisely once said:   “When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense lest you end up with nonsense.”

That means we will interpret prophecy literally unless the text clearly indicates symbolism.



🧭 Understanding the Different Viewpoints
There is a very broad landscape of viewpoints related to End Times theology.  Four of the main viewpoints include:  

• Preterist:  Everything happened in the 1st century A.D.
• Historicist:  Fulfilled progressively throughout church history
• Symbolic (Idealist):  Entirely spiritualized, not literal
• Futurist: The events in Revelation will be fulfilled in the future (Revelation 4:1–2) 

(The last one -  "Futurist"  -  is my viewpoint.)

 
There are also differing views on the timing of the Rapture and honestly there are some who even question if the rapture is real (more to come on that as we get into our study).  The primary viewpoints on the rapture timing include:

• Pre-Trib: Before the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; Revelation 3:10)
• Mid-Trib: At the midpoint of the Tribulation
• Post-Trib: At the end of the Tribulation
• Pre-Wrath: Just before God’s wrath (6th seal) (Revelation 6:17)
• Partial Rapture: Only some believers are taken before the Tribulation

(The first one -  "Pre-Trib"  -  is my viewpoint.)
 
Likewise, there are different views on the Millennium - the 1,000 Year Regin of Christ.  The primary views include:

• Amillennialism: Symbolic reign during the Church Age
• Postmillennialism: The Church ushers in Christ’s return after a golden age
• Premillennialism: Christ will literally reign on earth for 1,000 years after the Tribulation (Revelation 20:1–6)

(The last one -  "Premillennialism"  -  is my viewpoint.)


🧩 The Structure of the book of Revelation
Unlike many other books of the Bible, Revelation unfolds in a sequential manner. It often shifts between scenes in heaven and on earth—like a divine “meanwhile”.   There are also parenthetical sections that pause the timeline to give deeper insight into key events or characters.  An example of this is found in Revelation 4:1:  “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven…”


👥 Key Characters in the book of Revelation
As we journey through this study, we’ll encounter many significant figures:

• Jesus Christ – The central figure of the entire book (Revelation 1:12–18)
• John the Revelator – The apostle who received the vision (Revelation 1:9)
• The Two Witnesses – Possibly Moses, Elijah, or Enoch (Revelation 11:3–12)
• 144,000 Jewish Evangelists – Sealed servants of God (Revelation 7:4–8; 14:1–5)
• The Martyrs Under the Throne – Those who died for their faith (Revelation 6:9–11)
• The Antichrist, False Prophet, and Dragon – The unholy trinity (Revelation 13:1–18; 12:3–9)
• The Woman (Israel) – Gives birth to the male child (Revelation 12:1–6)
• The Harlot (Babylon) – Symbol of the Antichrist’s domain (Revelation 17:1–6)

🙏 Final Thoughts
This study isn’t about fear—it’s about faith. It’s not about predicting the future—it’s about knowing the One who holds the future. As we walk through the Book of Revelation and End times Prophecies, my prayer is that we will grow in our understanding, deepen our love for Jesus, and live with greater urgency and hope!

Let’s begin this journey with open hearts, open Bibles, and eyes fixed on Jesus—the Alpha and the Omega.
                “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
                                                                                                                     —Revelation 22:13


                      "...Come quickly...LORD JESUS!"
                                                                                                                    —Revelation 22:20