Frequently Asked Questions about the End Times
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT WE STUDY THE END TIMES AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION? Studying what the Bible has to say about the future, End Time Bible prophecy, empowers us to be victorious in love and power during the most glorious and difficult time in history. It prepares us to actively participate under Jesus in the end-time events and to rightly interpret Jesus’ leadership in the coming global crisis, instead of being offended by Him (Mt. 11:6). Studying the End Times awakens urgency in us for intercession, knowing that our prayers may minimize evil and increase victory. Understanding end-time Scriptures strengthens our confidence in God’s sovereignty by knowing that He is in control and is never surprised (Joel 2:13-14; Zeph. 2:3; Mt. 11:6; 24:4; Phil. 1:10; Rev. 12:11).
HOW MUCH DOES THE SCRIPTURE SAY ABOUT THE END TIME? Most of the prophets in the Bible spoke about the future “Day of the Lord” which relates to the events of Jesus’ coming.
HOW DO WE KNOW THE END-TIME SCRIPTURES WERE NOT FULFILLED IN 70 AD? The events of 70 AD do not fulfill most of the details of many Scriptures about the Great Tribulation. For example, Revelation 13 requires a talking image, the mark of the beast, a healed head-wound, mandatory worldwide worship of the Antichrist and a false prophet. Jesus said the Great Tribulation would not happen until after we see the abomination of desolation, standing in the holy place for exactly 1,290 days which would result in the threat of every human being killed (Dan. 12:11). Nothing close to this scenario happened in the first Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD), when Jerusalem and the second temple were destroyed in 70 AD, ending at Masada (73 AD). In the second Jewish revolt against Rome 500,000 Jews were killed, in addition to the destruction of 1,000 villages (132-135 AD). The fifty million babies aborted each year worldwide, overshadow both 70 AD and WWII.
WHAT IS THE GREAT TRIBULATION AND HOW LONG IS IT? It is the time period just prior to Jesus’ return to earth (Dan. 12:1; Mt. 24:21-22; Mk. 13:19-27). In this time frame, God will release unprecedented judgments on the Antichrist’s kingdom as seen in Revelation 6; 8-9; 16. It is three and a half years in duration (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).
WILL THE CHURCH BE ON EARTH DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION? The Church will absolutely be on the earth during the Great Tribulation. Jesus’ Bride will partner with Him in this very important time of history at the very climax of this age.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH’S ROLE IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION? The Church will be a great witness for the Lord and will participate in the release of God’s judgments under Jesus’ leadership through the unified global prayers of faith (Ps. 149:6-9; Mt. 18:18-19; Jn. 14:12; Rev. 8:4; 22:17). The End Times is the Church’s finest hour where miracles will occur, and supernatural prophetic direction will be released. The miracles of Acts and Exodus will be multiplied and combined on a global level (Mic. 7:15).
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR THESE EVENTS? The key to preparing is to consistently and prayerfully study what the scriptures say about the End Times. Jesus called this “watching”. Daniel received revelations of God’s prophetic purposes for this generation by diligently studying what God’s Word said about it (Jer. 29:10-14). He embraced a lifestyle of Bible study with prayer and fasting (Dan. 9:2-4) to receive “skill to understand” (Dan. 9:22). And get into the habit of praying every day for help and guidance as you strive to be a faithful witness in every way you can, fulfilling the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)
HOW CAN WE KNOW WHEN JESUS IS COMING IF HE SAYS IN MATTHEW 24:36 THAT “NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR”? Jesus did not say we could not know the season or the conditions surrounding His coming. Neither did Jesus say that the Church would not know the day and hour in the generation the Lord returns. We must seek God’s word as to when this begins because only He knows. God did not want to make the day and hour known in the early Church, but Daniel and the Apostle John made it clear the Messiah would come exactly 1,260 days after the abomination of desolation (Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5).
DURING THE END-TIME “FALLING AWAY”, WHY WILL BELIEVERS REJECT JESUS? Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 that people are condemned because (1) they do not love the truth; and (2) they take pleasure in unrighteousness. Paul explains to Timothy that those who depart from the faith will do so after “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1). A few years later, Paul adds that, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Paul describes this type of believer (and unbeliever) in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. The central issue is that they are lovers of themselves. The victorious believer in Revelation 12:11 will overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and the fact that they did not love their lives to the death.
WHY IS THE BOOK OF REVELATION IMPORTANT? This book gives us more information on the End Times than any other book in Scripture. It has a special purpose in equipping God’s people to participate with Jesus’ end-time plan and to overcome with victory in the Great Tribulation. It is the “prayer manual” for the end-time Church.
HOW CAN WE TELL IF A PASSAGE IN REVELATION IS SYMBOLIC OR IF IT SHOULD BE TAKEN LITERALLY? The general rule is that Revelation means what it says and says what it means (common sense reading) unless an angel explains it otherwise. We interpret a passage symbolically when it is clearly indicated by the text. For example, in Revelation 1:20, the angel tells John the seven lamp stands are symbolic of seven Churches.
DO OTHER COMMENTARIES REFER TO THE PARENTHETICAL (explanatory) SECTIONS AS INTERRUPTING THE CHRONOLOGICAL STORY LINE? Yes, many throughout history have understood the structure of Revelation in this way.
WHAT IS THE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATION 2-3 FOR US TODAY? Jesus identified the issues that would most challenge the end-time Church and then addressed them by strategically selecting seven Churches in the first century that were challenged in those very same ways.
ARE WE ABLE TO KNOW THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES? Yes, Jesus commanded the people who lived in the generation of His return to know the signs (Mt. 24:32-44). Jesus rebuked those who did not heed the prophetic signs that pointed to His coming (Mt. 16:1-4; Lk. 19:41-44). Prophetic signs serve the Church in the same way a weather station signals coming trouble so that people can prepare and save lives.
CAN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES BE UNDERSTOOD? Yes. The scriptures on the End Times and the signs of the times were written to be understood by all since most people throughout history have been uneducated laborers. The Scripture was written for them. Jesus and Paul emphasized the know-ability of the prophetic signs of the End Times (Mt. 24:32-34; Lk. 21:25-29; 1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Thes. 2:1-11). A common misunderstanding is that we are not to know the times and seasons of His return (Acts 1:7-8).
HOW MUCH INFORMATION DOES THE BIBLE PROVIDE ON THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES? There is more prophetic evidence about Jesus’ second coming than any other prophetic event in the Bible. The End Times is the most written-about subject in all of Scripture. There are over 150 chapters in the Bible in which most of the chapter is about the End Times.
IS IT TRUE THAT EVERY GENERATION BELIEVED THEY WERE LIVING IN THE GENERATION THE LORD RETURNS? It is a common misperception that most generations believed they were in the End Times. It is true that a very small group (less than one percent) of every generation might have thought they were at the end. Only once has there been a universal sense that was sustained over decades that it was the time of the end, and that was during the generation of the first apostles.
HOW LONG IS A BIBLICAL GENERATION? A generation in Scripture ranges from forty to 100 years (Gen. 15:13-16; Num. 32:13; Ps. 90:10; Mt. 1:17; Acts 7:6). Moses spoke of Israel’s captivity in Egypt as lasting 400 years or four generations (Gen. 15:13). Thus, a generation could refer to 100 years. There were fourteen generations from Abraham to David covering nearly 1,000 years (Mt. 1:17).
HOW CAN WE BE CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE LIVING IN THE GENERATION THE LORD RETURNS? There are many biblical trends that reveal the “season or generation” of His coming (Mt. 24:4-8). They include the emergence of global prayer (Isa. 56:7), the increase of knowledge (Dan. 12:4), the great international witness and harvest from all nations (Mt. 24:14; Rev. 7:9), and the increase of wickedness (Dan. 8:23; Rev. 14:9). Plus wars (Ukraine), famines (the WHO estimates that 600 million people go hungry every day), disease (Covid-19) and earthquakes in many places. Insane! Nearly 2,000% increase in major quakes since 1900! What is going on? – Strange Sounds
WHAT IS DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS (DAN. 9:24-27)? The angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel that God’s purpose for Israel involved a prophetic period of seventy weeks. In the modern world a week speaks of a period of seven days. However, in the ancient world a week represented a period of seven years. Gabriel spoke to Daniel about a prophetic period in which God would deal with Israel’s salvation over seventy weeks or 490 years (70 x 7 years = 490 years). However, after the initial sixty-nine weeks (69 x7 years = 483 years), a “pause” was put on the prophetic calendar when Jesus the Messiah was “cut off” or crucified. There is one week or seven years left in God’s prophetic calendar and plan in bringing salvation. The first sixty-nine weeks of the “seventy weeks” prophecy of Daniel 9:24-26 have been fulfilled beginning from Nehemiah’s command to rebuild the city of Jerusalem in 445 BC (Neh. 2:1) to the time of Jesus’ first triumphal entry into Jerusalem to be crucified (Dan. 9:25).
WHAT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE SORROWS (BIRTH PANGS)? The birth pangs occur in a significant prophetic period in which Jesus predicted that there would be twelve worldwide trends all occurring in the same generation (Mt. 24:4-8; Mk. 13:5-8, Lk. 21:7-18). Matthew gives seven major trends: false christs, wars, ethnic conflict, economic warfare, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Luke describes five more: commotions, fearful sights, great signs from heaven, distress in the nations and roaring waves. The Greek word for birth pangs is translated as sorrows in the KJV. It is to be compared with the increasing trauma a woman experiences during childbirth.
HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN THE FINAL SEVEN YEARS OF THIS AGE START? It begins with a covenant, or peace treaty, made between the Antichrist and the nations, bringing peace and safety as Paul prophesied in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (Isa. 28:14-18; Ezek. 38:8-12, 14; 39:26; Dan. 8:24-25; 9:27; 11:21, 45; Zech. 11:16; Jn. 5:43; Lk. 19:11-28).
HOW WILL WE KNOW THAT THE ANTICHRIST IS COMING INTO POWER? The main signs are the signing of the covenant and placing the abomination of desolation in the Jewish temple, when the Antichrist stands in the temple of Jerusalem proclaiming himself as God (Mt. 24:15, 2 Thes. 2:4).
IS THERE A MATHEMATICAL CALCULATION THAT PEOPLE NEED TO FIGURE OUT REGARDING 666 (REV 13:18)? The exhortation to understand the mark of the beast will become increasingly relevant as the End Times approach. It will be obvious who the Antichrist is after he takes his seat in the temple claiming to be God (2 Thes. 2:4). We will not be able to “calculate” it before that time. Some believe that calculating the number will involve the ancient practice of gematria which was used to hide messages in numbers by substituting numbers for letters of the alphabet in order to give a numerical value to the letters, for example, “a” stands for 1; “b” for 2; “j” for 10; and so on.
WHAT DOES THE “NUMBER OF MAN” SIGNIFY? Seven is the number of perfection. Six is the number of man that falls short of perfection. Three is the number of God and three sixes speak of the satanic trinity (Satan, Antichrist and False Prophet).
WHEN DOES THE FINAL THREE AND A HALF YEARS START? It is marked by the abomination of desolation being placed in the temple. (Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:12-18).
WHAT IS THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION? This occurs when the Antichrist stands in the Jerusalem temple and declares himself to be God by setting up an idol in the temple and then seeking to force all who are on earth to worship him (Dan. 11:31-32; Mt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-17). The Antichrist’s statue or image will be the greatest abomination to God in history, because the Antichrist will demand to be worshipped as God and many will fully respond to this demand.
WHEN IS THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION SET UP? It will start midway through the Antichrist’s 7-year covenant, marking the final three and a half years of natural history. It will occur after the Antichrist puts a stop to the sacrifices in the temple. The desolation will occur in two different ways. First, the Antichrist will seek to desolate or destroy any who refuse to worship him. Second, God will desolate or destroy in judgment all those who yield to the pressure to worship the Antichrist. The abomination of desolation is referred to seven times in Scripture, five times by Daniel (Dan. 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11) and twice by Jesus (Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14).
WILL THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IN THE TEMPLE BE ALIVE? The False Prophet will command all to make an image (a statue or AI presence?) related to worshipping the Antichrist (Rev. 13:14, 15; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). He will cause the image to come to life and speak.
WHO IS THE RESTRAINER IN 1 THESSALONIANS 2:6-7? The restrainer is currently holding back the Antichrist from exercising his full power. The restraining force will be removed to allow the Antichrist to come to a place of international political and spiritual power. The restrainer of the Antichrist is the power of God’s Spirit. The “mystery of iniquity” (Eph 2:2) will be allowed full sway during the 3 ½ years of great tribulation.
WHO IS THE HORSEMAN OF THE FIRST SEAL JUDGMENT IN REVELATION 6? It doesn’t say here who the first horseman is, but we find another picture of “a white horse” in the 19th chapter of this same book, “and He that sat upon him (the white horse) was called faithful and true… And his name is called the Word of God”–who of course, is Jesus. (JN.1:14) And following Him are the armies of Heaven (the resurrected saints) who are also riding white horses as they come down from Heaven to defeat the forces of the Antichrist and take over the world at the Battle of Armageddon. (Rev.19:11-14) Jesus’ weapon is His bow or His Word (Psa.7:12). And He is the One Who has the “crown” or right to rule this world and will soon destroy His enemies who are resisting it and usurping His throne. Therefore, this white horse could only be Jesus and his Church, as they are the only ones in this world who are now conquering the world spiritually with the love of God. “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1Jn.5:5) All these other seeming conquerors are actually being overcome and conquered by the world and its “lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.” (1Jn.2:16) And the Church will soon, with Christ, physically conquer the world and rule it for a thousand years! (Rev.5:10; 20:4)
DO THE FOLLOWING THREE SEALS IN REVELATION 6 DESCRIBE THE RESULT OF THE ANTICHRIST’S ACTIVITY? Yes. While Jesus and Christians are witnessing and winning souls, the spirit of the Antichrist is also going forth to deceive and cause death and destruction. This leads us to a world war in the second seal, which in turn causes famine and economic crisis in the third seal and calamity in the fourth seal. FIRST comes the proclamation of the white horse’s message and the conquest of many souls. THEN the open rejection by the unbelievers of the other three horsemen crystalizes into open antagonism resulting in these “souls of them that were slain for the Word of God.” This is the way it’s been all throughout history!
WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESSES IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION? The two witnesses are prophets who will preach with great power and release God’s judgments against the Antichrist’s empire during the Great Tribulation. (Rev. 11)
WHO IS THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME OF DANIEL 9:26? He is the Antichrist who makes a covenant with many nations including Israel (Dan. 9:27).
WHO IS THE BEAST IN REVELATION 13:1-8? He is the Antichrist.
WHY IS THE ANTICHRIST CALLED THE BEAST? His character is like a wild animal. He will be unreasonable, ferocious, cruel and without reason or mercy. The term beast is used thirty-six times to describe the Antichrist (Rev. 11:7; 13:1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2, 10, 13; 17:3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17; 19:19, 20; 20:4, 10).
WHAT DO THE FOUR BEASTS IN DANIEL 7 REPRESENT? Most scholars agree that the vision of Daniel 7 predicts four successive ancient empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) described as four beasts. These empires played a key role in Israel’s history between 605 BC when Israel went into Babylonian captivity to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
WHAT ARE THE SEVEN HEADS? The heads refer to seven empires from world history.
WHAT ARE THE TEN HORNS? The horns speak of a future ten-nation confederation that will work closely with the Antichrist in the End Times (Rev. 17:11-13, 17).
WHO IS THE OTHER BEAST IN REV. 13:11? He is the false prophet.
WHAT ARE THE “TWO HORNS LIKE A LAMB” ON THE SECOND BEAST SYMBOLIC OF? WHY IS THE FALSE PROPHET DISPLAYED AS HE IS (REV. 13:11)? These two horns represent the false prophet’s demonic power that is probably displayed in religion and in economics. He will use his power behind the façade of being like a mild and gentle lamb.
WHO ARE THE 144,000 OF REVELATION 7 AND 14? The 144,000 are true Christians that are sealed by God to be protected from His judgments in the Book of Revelation. These 144,000 which receive the seal of God are not physical Israel. They are the true spiritual Israel. As the Apostle Paul said, “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel.… That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise (those who accept Jesus) are counted for the seed.” (Rom.9:6-8)
These 144,000 “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” In other words, they obey and follow, and if you think Israeli Jews are obeying the Lamb, you need to take another look at how they are mistreating their neighbors, the poor Palestinian refugees, many whom are Christians!
The 144,000 are the leaders of “the great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues…which came out of Great Tribulation.” (vs.9-14) –And in the original that means the Great Tribulation, the one that precedes the Second Coming of Christ. Whether the 144,000 is a symbolic or literal number we don’t know, but we do know this: they are going to be God’s cadre during that horrible tribulation period to lead the rest of the Church through it and to stand up and witness against the Antichrist system unto the very end.
WHAT IS THE THIRD WOE? There are three “woes” that happen in chronological order and are the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets (Rev. 8:13). The third woe is the seventh trumpet which involves the release of the seven vials of wrath or judgement.
WHAT IS THE LITTLE BOOK IN REVELATION 10? It is a book that contains key prophetic information for the End Times. This may be the same book with the same prophetic information that Daniel received in Daniel 12. Daniel sealed up comparable prophetic information with an angel of similar glory and a corresponding oath related to the final three and a half years (Dan. 12:4-10). The little book is not the same book taken from the Father by Jesus (Rev. 5:7).
WHAT ARE THE SEVEN THUNDERS OF REVELATION 10? They are seven prophetic messages that the Lord will strategically reveal to the end-time Church. They have been sealed up until the End Times like some of Daniel’s prophetic words (Dan. 12:9).
WHAT IS THE BOTTOMLESS PIT? It is a temporary prison from which the Antichrist ascends during the tribulation (Rev. 11:7, 17:8). The demonic locusts seen in the fifth trumpet come from this pit (Rev. 9:12, 11). It is also the place where Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3).
WHEN WILL JESUS RAPTURE THE CHURCH? The Rapture will occur in association with the last trumpet (Isa. 27:13; 1 Cor. 15:50-52; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 10:7; 11:15-17). The last trumpet is the last in a series of seven trumpets as seen in Revelation 8-9.
WHAT IS DISPENSATIONALISM? It is the belief that world history is divided into seven different times or dispensations. It includes an understanding of the End Times that was developed by John Darby starting in 1830 and made popular by the Scofield Reference Bible. It teaches about a “secret rapture” of God’s people before the Tribulation, thus teaching that the Church does not go through the Tribulation. The theological idea of dispensationalism is less than 200 years old. The belief that there is a “secret rapture” of the Church is a serious error that causes people to be unprepared for the darkest and most glorious hour of history.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE? Pre means before so to be pre-trib means one believes that Christians will be raptured before the Great Tribulation begins. We believe that Scripture does not support the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.
WHO ARE THE ONES TAKEN FROM THE FIELD AND WHO ARE THOSE LEFT BEHIND IN MATTHEW 24:38-42? “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” (Lk. 17:34-37)
In the context of this passage, Jesus is answering the disciples’ question about His second coming. At His second coming, He will appear in the clouds and we who are believers will suddenly fly up to meet Him in the air! “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.” (1Thes 4:16-17) In this context, Jesus is the body, and we are the eagles. We partake of Him spiritually, as He was referring to in John 6, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Here again speaking of the rapture. (Jn 6:53) Also, at the “last supper”, again Jesus continued the symbolism of the disciples partaking of His body and blood: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Mat 26:26-28)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN THE POST-TRIBULATION RAPTURE? Since post means after, to believe in the post-tribulation rapture means you believe Christians will be raptured at the end of the Great Tribulation at the Second Coming of Jesus. The Bible explicitly teaches this. After describing the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:15-26, Jesus states when believers will be raptured in Matthew 24:29-31: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Mt. 24:29-31)
WHEN DOES JESUS’ SECOND COMING (AKA THE RAPTURE) HAPPEN? Jesus returns at the seventh trumpet or the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52; Rev. 10:7; 11:15-19). This occurs at the end of the Great Tribulation, which is 1260 days, 42 months, or 3 1/2 years after the placing of the abomination of desolation in the temple in Jerusalem. (Dan 7:25; Dan 12:7; Rev 11:2-3; Rev 12:6, 14; Rev 13:5) So, once the Antichrist stops the daily sacrifice and places his image/idol in the temple, in the middle of the 7-year covenant or peace treaty, then you can start counting the days until Jesus returns!
WILL EVERY EYE SEE JESUS AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SKY? DO WE ALL SEE THE SKY SPLIT AT THE SAME TIME? Rev_1:7 “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Our God is a God of Miracles! His return is going to be totally supernatural. It is no problem for God to fulfill the Scripture and have every eye see Him at the same time.
WHO IS THE WOMAN IN REVELATION 12? The woman here represents the Church, who throughout Revelation is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” (Rev.19:7; 21:9) The Church consists not only of the New Testament but also the Old Testament believers. Moses and the Children of Israel are called “the Church in the wilderness.” (Ac.7:38)
WILL THERE BE AN ACTUAL WAR IN THE HEAVENS (REV. 12)? Yes, war will break out between Satan and Michael the archangel. The result is that Satan will be cast to the earth. (Rev. 12:7-9) The war will happen at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Satan now operates in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).
WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST? The False Prophet causes all to receive a public mark on the right hand or forehead (Rev. 13:8; 14:9-12; 15:2; 16:2; 17:8; 19:20; 20:4). No one may buy or sell (basic necessities of life such as food, electricity, etc.) except one who has the mark. Economic survival will be the issue. To refuse the mark is to be refused all benefits of the social institutions. The mark being on the right hand or forehead makes those who have refused to take it obvious to all. The mark will be required and will have severe penalties socially and economically. This will result in relational and economic conflict and pressure on a daily basis. However, to take this mark is to become demonized and reprobate, ending in eternal judgment (Rev. 14:9-11). The mark is a mark of loyalty and worship.
WHAT IF I TOOK THE MARK OF THE BEAST TO FEED MY FAMILY? WILL GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME? God is the Judge; it’s for Him to decide. He is also a God of love and mercy. However, Revelation 14:9-11, says clearly that those who receive the mark of the beast will suffer eternal damnation! Taking the mark is an act of satanic worship; Paul warns us in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, of a falling away that will occur in the End Times.
ARE THE PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY THE “GRAPES” IN REVELATION 14:18-20 THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE KILLED BY THE VIALS OF WRATH IN REVELATION 16? Yes.
HOW DOES CHRIST TREAD THE WINEPRESS? This is an eschatological winepress (Isa. 63:1-4; Rev. 14:17-20; 19:13) in which Jesus gathers the evil leaders of the earth to Jerusalem to kill them. The “wine” that will flow from this winepress is their blood. The blood on His robe during this treading of the winepress denotes His intimate involvement in the judgment process. It also makes a public statement that He fully believes in the judgments He is releasing whereby so many people are killed.
HOW CAN A GOD WHO DOES NOT LIE SEND “STRONG DELUSION” TO UNBELIEVERS? God doesn’t send the “delusion” upon innocent people, but on unbelievers who refuse to receive the love of the truth (Rom. 9:20-23; 2 Thes. 2:10; 1 Tim. 4:1-2).
IS IT HUMAN BLOOD THAT FLOWS IN REVELATION 14:20? Yes. It is going to be a mixture of both human blood and animal blood in the context of a great rainstorm (Ezek. 38:22) causing a river of blood to run nearly 200 miles (the distance from Megiddo in the north to Bozrah in the south). “The angel…gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 The winepress was trampled…and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 1,600 furlongs (200 miles).” (Rev. 14:19-20)
HOW DO WE SEE THE MERCY OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF SUCH SEVERE JUDGMENTS? It is an expression of great mercy that Jesus will take action to drive evil and oppression off the planet. The principle of judgment is: God is using the least severe means to reach the greatest number at the deepest level of love without violating anyone’s free will.
WHAT IS THE HARLOT BABYLON? It is the evil commercial and economic system that will function as the center of worldwide demonic religious and economic networks, preparing the earth to receive the Antichrist (Isa.13-14; 21; Jer. 50-51; Rev. 17-18).
WHY DO THE TEN KINGS HATE THE HARLOT IN REVELATION 17:15? The Harlot establishes a unified, powerful, worldwide religion with great influence and wealth that will likely provoke the ten kings to jealousy.
WILL THE TEMPLE BE REBUILT IN JERUSALEM IN THE END TIMES? The temple will be functional some time before the Great Tribulation and is often referred to as the “Tribulation Temple”. This temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist as he brings an end to all Jewish sacrifices, and sets up the abomination of desolation, and proclaims himself to be God (Mt. 24:15; Mk.13:14, cf. Dan. 9:27; 2 Thes. 2:3-4)
WHAT IS THE TIME OF JACOB’S TROUBLE (JER. 30:7)? This refers to the Great Tribulation. Both Daniel and Jesus refer to this time as the greatest time of trouble that Israel will ever know (Dan. 12:1; Mt. 24:21-22).
THE FORTY-TWO MONTHS IS THREE AND A HALF YEARS, BUT HOW DOES 1,260 DAYS EQUAL THREE AND A HALF YEARS? The Jewish calendar is different from today’s 365-day Gregorian calendar. There are 360 days in a Jewish year. We can compare the following passages to see the different terminology used to describe the Antichrist’s oppression of the Church and Israel for three and a half years. For example, the Antichrist will be given authority to continue against Israel and the Church for forty-two months. (Rev. 13:5). The Gentiles under the Antichrist’s leadership will oppress Jerusalem for forty-two months (Rev. 11:2). The two witnesses prophesy in Jerusalem for 1,260 days (Rev. 11:3). The remnant of Israel will be hidden from the Antichrist in the wilderness for 1,260 days (Rev. 12:6) which is also described as time, times and half a time (Rev. 12:14). The Antichrist will be given authority to continue against the saints for time, times and half a time or three and a half years (Dan. 7:25). The strength of God’s people will be completely shattered after three and a half years or time, times and half a time (Dan. 12:7). The term time refers to one year, times refers to two years and half a time speaks of half of a year.
ARE THERE CITIES OF REFUGE IN THE END TIMES? Cities of refuge in the Old Testament referred to towns in Israel where those who unintentionally killed someone could claim the right of asylum. This idea of a city of protection is used by some today yet with a different application. In Zephaniah 2:3, the prophet tells the people to “Seek righteousness and humility because God may hide us in the day of His judgments.” Believers are not appointed to suffer God’s wrath (1 Thes. 5:9-10). Believers partner with God in releasing His judgments.
IN DANIEL 12:7 IT SAYS “AS SOON AS THEY FINISH SCATTERING THE POWER OF THE HOLY PEOPLE, ALL OF THESE EVENTS WILL BE COMPLETED.”, SO ARE THE “HOLY PEOPLE” REFERENCED HERE JEWS OR CHRISTIANS AND IS THE POWER REFERENCED HERE SPIRITUAL OR NATURAL POWER? Daniel is told in Daniel 12:1 that there is a time of trouble coming unlike any other time in history and that in that time “your people” will be delivered. It is clear from the context that “your people” means Daniel’s people, God’s chosen. Before Jesus came to earth, the Jewish nation was God’s chosen and holy people. When Jesus began His ministry on earth a new chosen and holy people were born (born again), all those who chose to believe in Jesus, both Jews and gentiles. At the end of the great trouble, the “holy people,” will have their power destroyed. The angel is talking about their natural power and ability to resist the persecution of the Antichrist.
WHO ARE THE RESISTERS? Many people will be resisting the activities of the Antichrist as well as resisting salvation and will not join the Church or accept salvation during that time. The Bible frequently refers to them as “those that are left” or “those who remain” in the nations after God’s judgments are completed. These will have an opportunity to be converted after Jesus returns and then populate the millennial earth. (Isa. 4:3; 10:20; 11:11; 49:6; 65:8; 66:19; Jer. 31:2; Ezek. 20:38-42; 36:36; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:32; Amos 9:9-10; Zech. 12:14; 13:8; 14:16).
WHEN WILL THE RESURRECTION TAKE PLACE? The Bible describes two resurrections at the end of the age. Believers will rise at the time of Jesus’ return, at the seventh trumpet (Lk. 14:14; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes. 4:5-18; Rev. 11:15; 20:4-5). These resurrected saints will rule with Jesus for 1,000 years as He restores all things (Rev. 2:26-27; 20:4-6). The “rest of the dead” will rise at the end of the Millennial Kingdom for judgment (Rev. 20:5).
WHEN ARE THE SAINTS JUDGED? They are judged at the time of the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:18) at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15). The Greek word for judgment seat of Christ is bema seat or the place to receive a reward (2 Cor. 5:10).
ARE HELL AND THE LAKE OF FIRE THE SAME PLACE? No. Hell is the temporary place where unbelievers go until the final judgment takes place after the Millennial Kingdom in Revelation 20:15. The lake of fire is the final place of judgment for the Antichrist, False Prophet, Satan, demons and all unbelievers (Rev. 20:15). Unbelievers will take part in the resurrection of condemnation (Jn. 5:29), enduring eternal torment of body and soul.
WHEN DOES THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB TAKE PLACE? It may occur after the rapture when Jesus celebrates His wedding to the redeemed as His Bride (Rev. 19:7-10). A marriage supper (wedding reception) normally follows a marriage.
WHO RULES AND REIGNS IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM? Jesus, as King of Kings, will personally govern a worldwide Kingdom from Jerusalem in partnership with resurrected saints, establishing a biblically based social order (Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5). The saints’ roles in the Millennium are as priests (intercessory worship) and kings (ruling). In Revelation, the saints are called kings who reign on the earth (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 22:5) and priests (Isa. 61:6; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). Priests will worship, intercede, and mediate the knowledge of God to others (non-resurrected people on the millennial earth, to saints and angels in the New Jerusalem, etc.). As kings, the saints will rule with a rod of iron and will judge and administrate punishments on sinners. The rod of severity against sin will be used by Jesus with His saints (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 11:4; 24:23, 32:1; Jer. 30:21; Ezek. 45:8-9; Mt. 19:28; Rev. 2:27; 19:15; 12:5).
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST RULING THE EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS? There will still be multitudes of people on earth after the battle of Armageddon. People who neither accepted the Antichrist nor received Jesus as their savior. The millennium of benevolent reign over them will afford them ample opportunity to either receive Jesus or reject Him.
WILL ALL THE WICKED PEOPLE OF THE ANTICHRIST’S EMPIRE BE KILLED WHEN THE SAINTS BEGIN TO RULE THE NATIONS AT THE START OF THE MILLENNIUM? They will be killed but we are not sure how long it will take to gather all the nations before Him and then separate them from one another (Mt. 25:32). Judging the nations implies several stages of activity, which includes capturing, trying, sentencing and executing them.
WILL THE MARTYRS FROM THE TRIBULATION BE THE ONLY ONES WHO REIGN IN THE MILLENNIUM? In Revelation 20:4, John saw thrones and a group of people sitting on them, and judgment was committed to them. This large group is comprised of the saints from all of history (Dan. 7:22, 25-27; Mt. 19:28; 20:21-23; 25:23; Lk. 19:17-19; 22:29-30; Rom. 8:17-18; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:5). Then John highlighted a smaller group within the large group. These beheaded martyrs are especially emphasized but are only a part of the larger group that will be given authority to rule the nations.
WHERE WILL THE SAINTS LIVE? The saints’ residence will be in the heavenly city, New Jerusalem, yet they will rule with governmental responsibilities on earth. Paul said our citizenship is in heaven which is the New Jerusalem (Phil. 3:20–21).
HOW WILL THOSE WITH RESURRECTED BODIES AND NATURAL BODIES RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM? Resurrected saints will relate to but not fully co-mingle with those in natural bodies. Inhabitants on the millennial earth (with non-resurrected bodies) will work closely with saints with resurrected bodies. Marriage will continue among those in non-resurrected bodies. Those with resurrected bodies who live in the New Jerusalem will not be given to marriage. “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” (Mat 22:30) Jesus spoke with His disciples for forty days in His resurrected body (Acts 1:3).
DO PEOPLE KEEP BECOMING CHRISTIANS IN THE MILLENNIAL REIGN? Yes, people will keep becoming Christians in the millennial reign. Unsaved people who resist the Antichrist and survive the events of the Great Tribulation will still need to be converted and taught in the ways of Jesus. This will be true for those born during the Millennium as well. Jerusalem will be the spiritual center of the millennial earth where both saved and unsaved people will go to learn the ways of Jesus (Isa. 2:3).
WILL THERE BE DEATH IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM? Yes. Isaiah reveals that although life spans will be lengthened considerably, humans will still die and must await the final resurrection of the dead (Isa. 65:17-25; Rev. 20:5-6, 11-15).
WILL THERE BE MARRIAGE IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM? Yes, among those with natural bodies. The resurrected saints will not marry (Mt. 22.30), however, those who remain with natural bodies will still be able to marry and have children (Isa. 65.20).
IN THE MILLENNIAL REIGN, WILL SIN BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE MANIFEST? Scripture depicts Jesus ruling the nations with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9; Rev. 19:15). He rules them with kindness, mercy, righteousness, justice, and great affection, but also with a firm hand in dealing with sin and rebellion among the nations (Zech. 14:16-21). There is not very much sin in society as Satan is bound during the 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-3) and the earth is being progressively discipled and “Christianized” into the righteousness of Christ in obedience and meekness. God’s law will go forth to all nations from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-4).
WHY IS GOD GOING TO RELEASE SATAN AFTER THE 1,000 YEARS (AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM, REV. 20:7-9)? Satan will once again be free to deceive the nations. Jesus allows the “snake” back in the garden to reveal man’s heart and God’s justice in judgment. God demonstrates the justice of His eternal judgments by showing that rehabilitation will not occur and that men rebel even in an ideal environment because they love sin. Men will not be able to blame their sin on their difficult circumstances. God will openly manifest the truth about the depth of human sin (called the mystery of iniquity in 2 Thes. 2:7) and about Satan as being incurably evil. Satan deceives the nations, revealing that he was not rehabilitated or changed.
WHERE WILL THE NEW JERUSALEM DESCEND IN THE MILLENNIUM? It will descend to a place above millennial Jerusalem on Mt. Zion creating a vast governmental complex joined by a corridor of glory. This governmental center of heaven and earth is referred to as Jesus’ Throne of glory (Mt. 19:28; 25:31). It is not clearly revealed as such but is understood by implication when taking into account all the specific details of the prophetic Scriptures. It will be a vast, high city that connects with the earth. The New Jerusalem will descend to millennial Jerusalem connecting the two Jerusalems. Jesus rules in heaven as the Son of God (heavenly Jerusalem) and on the earth as the Son of David (earthly Jerusalem). The New Jerusalem descending to earth will create a new situation in which the spiritual and natural realm will operate together dynamically. This will cause an open heaven over the earth as the veil is lifted. A tidal wave of glory will spread to all nations from millennial Jerusalem; this is the time in which all the earth will be filled the glory of the LORD (Hab. 2:14).
WHEN WILL JESUS ESTABLISH HIS THRONE? At the Second Coming, Jesus will establish His Throne of Glory on the earth in Jerusalem (Mt. 25:31-32; Jer. 3:17).
DOES JESUS HAVE ONE THRONE OR TWO? IS IT ON THE MILLENNIAL EARTH OR IN THE NEW JERUSALEM? Yes! His Throne of glory is both on earth and in Heaven. It is one throne with two expressions. We could understand it as Jesus’ Throne of Glory being a vast governmental complex with the far upper end extending into the New Jerusalem and the far lower end of it based in the millennial temple in Jerusalem in what can be referred to as a corridor of glory between the two Jerusalems (Rev. 22:3).
WHEN DOES THE NEW JERUSALEM COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN? The New Jerusalem descends from heaven to earth in two stages. The first is at the end of the Great Tribulation at the start of the millennial earth (Rev. 21:10). The second stage is when the New Jerusalem descends fully to the New Earth (Rev. 21:2) after the Millennial Kingdom.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE NEW JERUSALEM WILL DESCEND TO THE EARTH DURING THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM? There are four reasons the New Jerusalem is close to millennial Jerusalem yet not on the earth. First, millennial Jerusalem is about ten square miles or 4,500 rods times 4,500 rods (a rod is approximately 10.5 feet; Ezek. 45:6; 48:15-19, 30-35). The New Jerusalem is 1,380 miles (Rev. 21:16); thus it is too large for the ten-mile area of millennial Jerusalem. Most believe the unit of measure is rods (10.5 feet) not cubits. The NKJV adds the word cubits in italics to designate it is not in the original text. Second, the kings of the millennial earth come into the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:24-26). Third, the leaves in the New Jerusalem are for the healing of the millennial nations. Therefore, people on the millennial earth have access to these healing leaves (Rev. 22:2). Fourth, angels guard the entry to the city to keep sinners out (Rev. 21:12, 27; 22:14-15), as angels guarded the entrance to the Garden of Eden after Adam sinned Gen. 3:22-24).
ARE HEAVEN AND EARTH COMPLETELY DESTROYED? WHEN IS THE EARTH PURGED WITH FIRE? Theologians debate if this present earth will be renovated (renewed) or annihilated after the Millennium. Heaven and earth will be purged with fire at the end of the Millennial Kingdom to cleanse them with fire from the effects of sin. (1 Pet.3:7; 2 Pet.3:7,10-13; Rev.20:9; 21:1) This present earth will continue forever (1 Chr. 23:25; Ps. 37:29; 78:69; 104:5; 105:10-11; 125:1-2; Isa. 60:21; Ezek. 37:25; Joel 3:20; Rev 20:7-9).
WHAT IS THE NEW EARTH? WILL THERE BE A LITERAL NEW EARTH AFTER THE MILLENNIUM? WILL THE OLD EARTH DISAPPEAR? “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.” (Rev 21:1) The New Earth is the permanent resting place of the New Jerusalem and will not disappear. A New Earth speaks of this earth that God made at creation; the earth He called good. It will be the eternal home of the New Jerusalem, and God and all His children. (See verse references in previous question.)