End Times Overview
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Scripture: 1 Thes 4:13
Download message PDF file by clicking link above. Disc 108 - End Times Overview - 1Thes 4:13
Dave Shepardson - Calvary Chapel Nuevo - www.wordbymail.com
This is our FINAL Msg in the Discipleship 100 series
& it is a Whirlwind Overview of what the Bible says
about
"The End Times"
It's sole purpose is to Encourage Us
To Run The Race,
To Keep The Faith,
To Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
An understanding of where YOU FIT in the End Times,
And ultimately, an understanding of HEAVEN,
& your citizenship there
Is an incredible source of Encouragement & Peace
in the difficult times we live in today
So LET'S PRAY & we'll get right into it
I guess any Overview of the "End Times"
has to start with the subject of OUR
DEATH
Because DEATH would be considered - our "END TIME"
Death is a fearful fact of life !
Job 18:14 calls death "The King of
Terrors"
But for the Christian - death has been reduced
to the role of an USHER
Heb 2 says - Jesus
has destroyed the one
who has the power of death,
in order to FREE US from the fear of
death
& 1Cor 15:54 says death is "Swallowed Up" in
VICTORY
Thru Jesus Christ
So let's take a quick look - at what the Bible says
happens to us -
when we die
Before the resurrection of Christ
all who died went to SHEOL (the place of
the dead)
Which Luk 16 describes as TWO "compartments"
separated by an impassable gulf
One of PEACE for those who had Faith in God
& One of TORMENT for the Wicked
When Jesus Conquered death - He emptied SHEOL of the Righteous
&
Ushered them into PARADISE
Which is where those who have FAITH in Christ
now go Immediately when they die
Jesus told the Thief on the Cross
"Today you will be with me in
paradise"
& 2Cor 5:8 says "to be absent from the body,
is to be present with the Lord"
The moment a Christian dies
he is in the presence of Jesus Christ - in
Glory
However, in an event that can cause some confusion (in our
finite minds)
there is a moment when those who have died in Christ
will be united with their NEW Resurrection
Bodies
& that occurs at the same time as - THE RAPTURE
THE RAPTURE - refers to a moment
when Jesus Christ "Catches Up" believers
into the air
GREEK word = HARPAZO = "Snatched Away"
LATIN equivalent = RAPTURO (RAPIO) from where we get RAPTURE
It's described in 1Thes 4 - & we should turn there
1Thes 4:13-14 - ESV
(key verse) 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed,
brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who
have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus,
God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep (died).
So - they are WITH God & He will bring them with Him
1Thes 4:15-16 - ESV
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that
we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede
those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the
dead in Christ will rise first.
So - God brings them "With Him" (v.14)
& they "Rise First" (v.15)
Which means they are with God now - & will be United
with their Resurrection Bodies at the
rapture (see 1Cor 15)
(cont'g) - 1Thes 4:17-18 - ESV
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will
always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
At the Rapture - Those who've Died in Christ - those Alive
in Christ
ALL get their Resurrection Bodies
& so - this is an event that you definitely DO NOT want
to miss
& the ONLY way to make this event
is to put your Faith in Jesus Christ alone
Now AFTER the Rapture (n Pre-Trib Rapture theology)
comes THE GREAT TRIBULATION
This is a specific & radical 7 years of Great
Tribulation
that ushers in the Judgment of God on the
earth
The book of REV is not the only place
the details of the Tribulation are found
but it's the best outline of the events
In REV CH 5 - a Scroll with 7 Seals is opened by Jesus
Christ
Who is the only one found worthy to open
it
& in Rev Ch 6 - we see those seals usher in
the beginning of the Great Tribulation
1) Rev 6:2 - The Anti-Christ
brings a False Peace to the earth
2) Rev 6:4 - That
False Peace is replaced with WAR
3) Rev 6:6 - A Great
Famine sweeps the Earth
4) Rev 6:8 - Death
takes out 1/4th of the earth's population
5) Rev 6:10 - The Martyrs
of the Tribulation cry out for Judgment
6) Rev 6:12 - (6th
seal) brings incredible Destruction & Judgment
But then - - - it gets worse
The 7th seal opens up another 7 Judgments
called the Trumpet Judgments
& things on the Earth go from bad to worse
1) Rev 8:7 - 1/3 of the earth is burned with fire
2) Re 8:8 - 1/3 of the sea is turned to blood
3) Rev 8:10 - 1/3 of
the fresh water is destroyed
4) Rev 8:12 - 1/3 of
the light of day & night is destroyed
5) Rev 9:1 - Tormenting creatures released from the
bottomless pit
6) Rev 9:13 - Angels
are sent to kill 1/3 of all mankind (left)
Then - after a pause in Revelation - the 7th trumpet blast
ushers in . . . 7 more Judgments
These are the 7 BOWL Judgments - found in Rev Ch 16
1) Rev 16:2 - Sores put
upon those who took the mark of the Beast
2) Rev 16:3 - ALL the
sea water becomes blood, & ALL sea-life dies
3) Rev 16:4 - ALL of
the fresh water becomes blood
4) Rev 16:8 - The Sun
scorches men with fire
5) Rev 16:10 - The
kingdom of the Anti-Christ becomes dark
6) Rev 16:12 - Armies
of the world prepare for battle of Armageddon
7) Rev 16:17 - A
shout "It is Finished", then intense Devastation
3 sets of 7 judgments in the Great Tribulation
each worse than the previous
& every one of them is Just & Right Judgment
on the Devil, his World, & Those who
have chosen his side
THE HEAVENLY SCENE
But what about us?
WHERE are the Believers during all of
this Judgment
We believe (again Pre-Trib theology)
that we are involved in a couple KEY
events IN HEAVEN
during all this Judgment on Earth
in Rev Ch 4 - BEFORE all the Judgment begins
the church is caught up into Heaven
& it's very clear what we will be primarily doing there
Rev 4:4 - ESV
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on
the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden
crowns on their heads. (righteousness, life, glory)
These 24 elders are Representative of US - All Believers
& let's see what they're primarily
doing
Rev 4:10-11 - ESV
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated
on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their
crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for
you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
While Judgment is poured out on the earth
we are Primarily - Worshipping in Heaven
But there are at least TWO major events taking place
while we are in Heaven during this time
1) The Judgment Seat of Christ
2) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
1) The Judgment Seat of Christ
2Cor 5:10 says
10 For we (meaning believers) must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he
has done in the body, whether good or evil.
But this Judgment Seat for believers
is NOT Judgment - as in SALVATION
This is judgment - as in REWARD
either gained or loss
ALL believers will stand before Christ
to be rewarded for their Faithfulness
or to lose reward
but either way - We're there because we are Already SAVED
1Cor 3:13-15 - ESV
13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will
disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what
sort of work each one has done.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will
receive a reward.
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will
be saved, but only as through fire.
SO - One significant event occurring in Heaven
is the Judgment Seat of Christ - for
Believers
But there's another significant event
occurring during this time
2) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
This is where Jesus Christ
will finally be joined to His Bride (the
church) - for Eternity
Rev 19:6-9 - ESV
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great
multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of
thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb
has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for
the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those
who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” . . .
You have GOT to MAKE SURE - you are invited
to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
& the ONLY way to get an invite - is by receiving Christ
as your Savior
& thereby becoming part of His Bride
& this is one Wedding you DEFINITELY DO NOT want to MISS
!
After the Judgment Seat of Christ - for Believers
& after the Marriage Supper of the
Lamb
The Second Coming
All this time - The Great Tribulation is
being "Poured Out" on the earth
. . .
while Believers are
receiving their rewards
&
attending the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
But - Then what . . . What happens next ?
well - it REALLY gets good about now
Back on earth - the Armies of the World
have been gathering together
for the last Great Battle on this
earth
The Battle of Armageddon
& it seems like - after the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
-
Jesus says to His Bride (US)
Hey, let's go on a horseback ride . . .
cause there's something I want you to see
& Jesus Christ - with us following as Witnesses . . .
Comes back to earth to execute
Final Judgment on the armies of the world
Rev 19:11-16 - ESV
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The
one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges
and makes war.
12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems (crowns),
and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called
is The Word of God.
14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following
him on white horses.
15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations,
and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the
fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord
of lords.
skip down to Rev 19:19-21 - ESV
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their
armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and
against his army.
20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its
presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the
mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown
alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was
sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
MAN . . . I wish I could read MORE on the 2nd Coming
because it is incredible
But you can read the refs yourself in the Discipleship Manual
SO - we've made it up to the 2nd Coming
& now . . .
THE MILLENNIUM
After the 2nd Coming
there is a Thousand year period (called
the millennium)
Where Satan will be BOUND, &
Christ will set up His Kingdom on earth
for 1,000 yrs
(PreMillennial Theology)
And - in a way we can’t fully understand
WE (the Saints) will REIGN WITH Christ
Over an earth that is NOT ruled by the Devil
but has also not been made totally Made New
(yet)
Rev 20:1-3 - ESV
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in
his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.
2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan,
and bound him for a thousand years,
3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he
might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended.
After that he must be released for a little while.
After the 1,000 year Reign of Christ on the Earth
the Devil is loosed from the pit
For his FINAL JUDGMENT
Rev 20:7-10 - ESV
7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be
released from his prison
8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the
earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand
of the sea.
9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp
of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed
them,
10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and
sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented
day and night forever and ever.
& FINALLY the Devil receives
his eternal Judgment - in the Lake of
Fire
Are we Done Yet ?? - - NO
After the Devil is condemned to Eternal Judgment
There comes that
moment when every NON-BELEVER
will finally get their Day in Court
& it's called the THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
& it is where ever NON-believer is judged by their WORKS
& NOT ONE is Saved by what they have DONE
Rev 20:11-15 - ESV
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on
it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books
were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the
dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had
done.
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead
who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what
they had done.
14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second
death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was
thrown into the lake of fire.
Please Hear Me - If you DEMAND to stand before God
& be judged by how good a person
you've been
You WILL NOT PASS - Because you are a sinner
If you want to avoid this Judgment
Your name MUST be written in the Book of
Life
& the Bible says the ONLY way for that to happen
is for you to put your Faith in Jesus
Christ
Because THEN - you enter Heaven - in HIS Righteousness
which is the ONLY WAY IN
But we're not quite done yet
in our whirlwind overview of the end
times
After the Final Great White Throne Judgment
FINALLY - we get to THE NEW HEAVEN AND
EARTH
that we commonly call HEAVEN
Rev Ch's 21 & 22 - Are possibly
the most ENCOURAGING Ch's in the entire Bible
Because they describe our Eternal Dwelling Place with God
I would encourage you to spend MUCH TIME
in these two Ch's
Rev 21:1-4 - ESV
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place
of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and
God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former
things have passed away.”
skip down to - Rev 21:27 - ESV
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who
does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s
book of life.
The GREATEST Encouragement for a Christian
is to Grasp all we can about what HEAVEN
is like
Because HEAVEN is really what it's ALL about
Christian - Set your sights on Heaven
because that is where your HOME is,
& that is where your REWARD is
& if you have not yet
made Jesus Christ your Savior & Lord
Then - I pray this Whirlwind Overview of the End Times
will bring you to make that decision
Let's Pray