FUTURE EVENTS TO BE FULFILLED

As a preacher of God’s word for over 50 years now, I truly believe in my heart, and in my spirit that we are at the very brink of our Lord’s return. It is my duty, and my heartfelt desire as a Pastor to inform all our readers about this event spoken about so clearly in the Bible.

Some of our readers may not know the order of events that are about to happen in the future, so we are going to give a brief outline of what is to come for this world and the people in it. Our remarks will have to be limited because of the scope of all the information relating to the various activities.

One thing I believe is important to know is that America is never even mentioned in end time events. People who do read the Bible tend to have at least a vague understanding of this, but for most it is just not something that has been given much thought. In view of our world today it is a very definite possibility America may be changed so much in the “near” future that it will not even be known as America. I believe this is very important because of the great change that is upon us this very moment in our country.

BEFORE THE RAPTURE

Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.  Ezekiel 38:23

Just before the rapture, or some think just after the rapture, scholars do not know, God will destroy Russia and Iran with their allies when they come down upon Israel as revealed in Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39. This invasion is generally understood to be toward the end of this present time. A full study of Ezekiel 38 and 39 will help you understand the significance of this battle in end time events, but it is too detailed to discuss in our outline.

There is some good news, but most of what it looks like for the future is frightening, especially for those left behind after the rapture of the Church.  The next prophetic fulfilment is the rapture of the church, not the rapture of religious or non-religious people.

THE RAPTURE

There have been several raptures in the Old Testament, first with Enoch who walked with God. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24). Later, Elijah was caught up in a Chariot of fire. Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:11). Even Jesus, rose and went back to heaven.  The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ made up of all born again believers is also destined to be caught up to be with the Lord. The Apostle Paul refers to this:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Jesus is coming at any moment and he will receive all who have trusted him as their Savior.  This is the next event on God’s calendar and there will be no warning given.  Left behind will be all the unsaved peoples of the world to face the coming Anti-Christ, as well as the wrath of God, Satan, and man.

BEMA JUDGMENT

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Following the rapture all believers will be taken to the judgment seat of Christ to be examined. We will not be judged for any of our sins because Jesus paid for all our sins on the cross. Our judgement will have to do with how faithfully we served the Lord after we were saved.  How much did we do, or sacrifice for the Lord. Then Christ will give out rewards to those who have earned them. Some will get many rewards, while others, may not get any.

HEAVENLY REWARDS (The Five Crowns)

1. The Victor’s Crown – 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
2. The Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thess. 2:19
3. The Crown of Righteousness – 2 Timothy 4:8
4. The Crown of Life – James 1:12, Rev. 2:10
5. The Crown of Glory – 1 Peter 5:4

Please take time to read these scriptures.

JESUS TAKES THE CHURCH AS HIS BRIDE

Revelation 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

After the Bema judgment all believers, known as the church, will be given by God the Father, to Jesus as a Bride. The bride will be made up of Gentile and Jewish believers. The scriptures reveal the church as the Bride of Christ to show our closeness to the Lord.

THE MARRIAGE SUPPER

Revelation 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

After the wedding, the Bride (the church) will be given a grand supper by the Lamb of God who is the Lord Jesus Christ. What a big table and what a feast is awaiting all the children of God. The fun and happiness will just be beginning at this grand supper but will last forever because of the grace of God.

THE NEW JERUSALEM

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The new Jerusalem is the home of the Bride.  Take time to read Revelation chapter 21 and see the glorious description John the Revelator describes about this.  There is no home or castle like that on earth, yet this is where the bride of Christ will live forever.

While we (the believers) are now with the Lord, and enjoying all this, down upon the earth the worst time to live in the world is beginning to take place. 

THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION

These are the words of Jesus as he reveals what is awaiting all those LEFT BEHIND after the rapture. 

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The world will be in chaos after the rapture when millions of people suddenly disappear. There will be the seven seal judgments, seven trumpet judgments and the seven bowl judgments. Remember, what Jesus said about that time?

John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Jesus is talking here about the Anti-Christ, who will be gladly accepted with his charismatic appeal.  He is the one the world will quickly allow to lead them, even though they have been warned about what a wicked man he is.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

One of the major things the Anti-Christ will do is accept the peace treaty that Israel has. This could have something to do with the peace treaty that is being worked out right now with Israel, and some of the Arab nations.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.  Daniel 9:27

The seven-year tribulation will start when the peace treaty is confirmed. It will soon escalate into war followed by famine, resulting in millions of deaths from disease, starvation, wild beasts, and war. The Anti-Christ will also kill untold numbers of people for rebelling against him.  What an awful time to live on the earth. Yet over and over God had warned men.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Revelation 19:10-14

When all the nations of the world’s armies have gathered against Jerusalem, to completely, destroy her suddenly Christ will appear. He will be riding a white stallion and He will be followed by the armies of heaven. The Lord will only have to speak, and all the armies will be destroyed. Then all the nations of the world will be gathered before him in judgment.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  Matthew 24:31-34

The sheep represent the saved and the goats represent the unsaved.

THE 1000 YEAR MILLENNIAL REIGN

Isaiah 1:6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;  And a little boy will lead them

This will be when Jesus sets up his kingdom and the curse is lifted, and peace and prosperity arrives.  It is the time the Jews Messiah has come to rule the world.

SATAN BOUND

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. Revelation 20:1‑3

Satan is now chained and placed in the abyss confined for a thousand years.  He is not going to be out to tempt or harm people during Jesus’ 1000-year reign.

After all the unsaved are destroyed Jesus will then enter his one-thousand-year reign from Jerusalem. This period of time is unlike any the world has ever known. This is the kingdom the Jews have long yearned for.  They had rejected their messiah when he first came because they wanted a messiah who would bring in a kingdom where they would be the head of all the nations. But the Jews failed to accept God’s plan and it has cost them dearly.

SATAN LOOSED

Near the end of the 1000-year reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed for a short period and he will go out and deceive many who never trusted Jesus as their savior.  He (Satan) will lead these in a war against Jesus, but fire comes down and destroys them and Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire.

THE GREATWHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Revelation 19:11

At the conclusion of the thousand-year reign of Christ the Great White Judgment will be held for all the unsaved who had lived in the world.   None of these people will be saved, but they will all be judged for how they lived in God’s world. 

Remember This:

1. The Great White Throne Judgement is for the unsaved.
2. The Bema Judgment is for all believers, the saved.

RESURRECTION OF ALL THE UNSAVED

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:12-15

Yes, Jesus had paid for every one of these people’s sins. He offered every one of them free salvation, but they rejected it for various reasons.  Now they are forever condemned and separated from God.

Heaven and earth will be melted by fire:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.....But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  2 Peter 3:7, 10

Sin has contaminated God’s creation and now he is going to purge away the effects of sin. Heaven, and the earth will be purged by fire as God makes the world brand new for his people to live in forever.

A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1

A big change is coming for this new earth.  It will be more beautiful than ever and there will be no seas or oceans.  Think of all the land mass that will be created when there is no more sea.  The oceans were used for the protection of nations, for food and for the clouds to bring rain to water the land.  Now God will sustain the new earth with a different principle.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;  and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  Revelation 21:4-5

There are many other things that will be going on at this time that are not mentioned in this brief outline, but we hope what we have said will be helpful. God has a plan, and he is working out that plan right before our eyes.

The important thing now is for all of us to be looking for the Lord and trying to get others saved, so they too can enjoy the Savior for eternity.  Keep watching Israel because she is key to God prophecies.

Heavenly Father, we do not have the words or the ability to thank you and praise you as we should.  How great you are and your love for us indescribable. We thank you and praise you for salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. “Loving the Savior,” Preacher

"CALL UPON THE LORD TODAY AND BE SAVED"

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8     

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  1 John 5:13