My passion for learning about the End Times began back when I was home-schooled and I spent almost 50% of my time reading. My mom had read the series Left Behind by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. After a while, they started coming out with books called Left Behind: The Kids. I remember I started reading them, oh, when I was probably about 9 or 10. The characters in the books were ages 12,13,15, and 16 when the series began so it was fairly easy to relate with them.
Now, I am using this blog to write about and share what I believe about the End Times and the book of Revelation (and other books dealing with the prophecy of Jesus' second coming) but what I say here, is just my opinion. It is a mixture of what I believe the Bible is saying, and what I have heard other people teach on (which, by the way, I always take back to the Bible to make sure it matches up with the Word of God). So, if you disagree with some, or all, or none of what I am saying, it's not gonna hurt my feelings. Go ahead and believe whatever...this is just my opinion. But beware, I am not good with confrontation (because at the same time, I can also be very stubborn), so if you start arguing with me, please be nice... :-p
Ok. There is so much to say, I don't really know where to start...but I will start with a rough timeline...I will elaborate each point more later on...
1. The "birth pangs" or "sorrows"
2. Antichrist signs a seven year peace treaty with Isreal, and the nations.
3. 3 1/2 years of peace between nations.
4. The abomination of desolation
5. 3 1/2 years of war
6. Jesus physically returns to the earth to start His 1,000 year reign on the earth.
7. New Jerusalem and New Earth combine to make what we will live in for eternity.
Before I go any further, I want to state another personal conviction of mine. In the Left Behind books, the Christians disappear into thin air, leaving behind their clothes, and even things like contacts or teeth fillings. They called this "the disappearings". Today, this theory is called the "Dispensationalism" or a "secret rapture" where God take His believers in a split second. I personally do not believe this theory is biblical. But, I do believe we will be "Raptured". 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 says "Now this I say, brethren, that (1)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at (2)the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and(3)the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
(1) If flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, then were did all the bodies go when they disappeared in that "secret rapture"?
(2) What is the last trumpet? During the Great Tribulations, God will release judgments on the Antichrist, and his followers. These judgments are known as the 7 bowls, 7 seals and 7 trumpets. Revelation 11:15 says "Then the seventh angel (or trumpet) sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever."
So basically, this 7th trumpet starts Jesus' descent onto earth and the end of the 7 year Tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 then says "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 (meaning, those who are physically dead and buried). Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (or raptured) in the clouds to meet Him in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord."
(3) But wait! (1) said that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God... and yet 1 Thessalonians is saying that the "alive Christians" will be "caught up in the clouds". Won't we still be flesh and blood then? Aren't these two verses contradicting themselves?
No, they are not. Because firstly, (3) states "...and we shall be changed." Now, I'm not exactly sure what that means, but it very well could mean that our physical bodies will somehow change into our spiritual beings. But, that's just my thought. I have no idea if it's right. But also, when we are "caught up in the clouds" we will be with Jesus. Jesus is flesh and blood. He was living on earth around flesh and blood and corruption for 33 years before He died on the cross. So being "caught up in the clouds" is different than "inheriting the kingdom of God".
Does that make sense?
So, these verses are the reason why I do not believe that the "dispensationalism" is biblical.
Now back to the timeline.
1. The "birth pangs" or "sorrows"
Matthew 24: 4-8
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.(The Greek word for birth pangs is translated into sorrow in this NKJV translation)
Why "birth pangs"? Because it is the beginning of birthing a new order for the earth. A new order in which Jesus comes to reign on the earth. What happens when a woman is in labor? When the contractions start, the get worse and worse until eventually the baby comes.
Ok then...what are the birth pangs? When will we know they are happening?
The scripture above lists, wars and ethnic conflict ("nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom"), famines, pestilences, and earthquakes.
Luke 21:7-11 says
So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the endwill not come immediately.” Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
I personally, believe that we are in the first stages of the birth pangs now. I believe that these birth pangs started either in 1948 when Isreal became a nation again, or in 1967 when Jerusalem came under Jewish rule. This article (by Mike Bickle, International House of Prayer) explains why better than I can:
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The New Testament has apostles functioning with prophetic revelation. When you study the prophets in
Scripture, what God does in Israel is the reference point or litmus test for the end times. As Gentiles—most of
us in this room are Gentiles—God causes the timing of His redemptive plan to be related to the city and nation
that He is coming back to and from which He will rule the nations. The city and nation that Jesus is coming
back to where He is going to rule the world from is Jerusalem. It is the reference point on the timing of His
return. All the timing in the Scripture related prophetic events to the city of Jerusalem and the nation of Israel.
The most dramatic thing in history happened in Israel. After 2,000 years, Israel became a nation. This is
unprecedented in world history. It stands in a category of its own—way out there, all by itself.
It said in the Old Testament in many places directly or by implication, Israel had to be a nation in the generation
in which the Messiah returns. We are going to look at some of these passages, so you can become more aware
of them. The prophets of the Old Testament 2,500 to 3,000 years ago prophesied that Israel would become a
nation, and they will occupy the city of Jerusalem before the Messiah returns.
That was all fine and easy back in the Old Testament when Israel was in the land and controlled the city of
Jerusalem, so those seemed like pretty normal prophecies. Then, the Roman armies came in 70AD. They
scattered the Jewish nation to the four winds, took over the city of Jerusalem, and disbanded the nation. All of a
sudden, many of the Old Testament prophets were asking, “How is Israel going to become a nation again? How
will Israel be reinstated in their statehood—their nationhood?” That was OK for maybe fifty years, or maybe
even a hundred years. But then, the people of God began to say, “Huh? This is getting a little more difficult to
happen. For 6,000 years since Adam, no nation in the history of the world has ever been without a homeland for
one generation, and then they recovered the land.”
Two thousand years later, it looks impossible. There is not by chance. It has never been done. Even after forty
years, it had never been done. Suddenly in May 1948, Israel becomes a nation and the prophetic time clock
starts up again. For those who are unfamiliar with Bible prophecy, this might seem like a small thing; but it is a
gigantic shout from heaven that the end-time clock began on May 14, 1948.
Yeah, it hurts your brain doesn't it? Here's one more reason why I think we are in the birth pangs now. And this, is just something I have thought up in my head...not really anything I've heard. All those verses list famines and earthquakes etc. as signs of the times. But what about just plain disobedince to God? I mean think about it. Can you list somethings that our society is accepting now that they weren't accepting 50, 60 years ago? I can.
Abortion.
Homosexuality.
Witchcraft.
Pornography.
Maybe I'm wrong...but were there as many Pride parades 50 years ago as there are now? Do you think that Harry Potter would have been an acceptable book to read?
Luke 12:2-3 says
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I don't know if that pertains to my theory, but to me it fits. I feel like it's saying, those sins that you hid before, will no longer be hidden, but will be proclaimed with loud, and proud voices.
Ok, I'm gonna have to finish this up some other time and finish the remaining 6 points of the timeline...for those who are interested. But I will say one last thing.
I truely believe that Jesus is coming back soon. If not my generation, then my kids. I have a desire to be there and see Jesus come back after the 7 years with the Antichrist. Yeah, it's scary to think that 20, 30 years from now, life as we know it could be over. But you know what? I'm either gonna die and be with Jesus in Heaven, or be with Him at the end of this world. So really, the end result is the same; it's just the getting there that's different. And in Heaven, our past pains and hardships won't matter anymore...so what's the difference?
:)
P.S. Eschatology is the study of the end times.
