CET: 2 Introduction to the Endtimes

Chapter 2

Introduction to the Endtimes

Their purpose & pain

Contents

A) The purpose & pain of the Endtimes

B) The importance of understanding the Endtimes

C) The 7 Primary Endtime Events

D) A preview of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching

Primary Points

• The Endtimes consist of certain events predicted in Scripture surrounding Christ’s Second Coming.
• God’s purpose for Endtime events is to take control over this Earth.
• There will be a surprisingly long, painful, shocking, and even bloody road to get to the perfect and eternal New Earth.
• There are many reasons that understanding what the Bible teaches on the Endtimes is very important for our Christian life.
• Salvation is the only topic in Scripture mentioned more than the Endtimes.
• There are seven primary Endtime events taught in Scripture.
• This book will give you an understanding of the sequence of Endtime events as Jesus taught in His Endtimes Teaching.

A) The purpose & pain of the Endtimes

Jesus Christ IS COMING BACK! His Return will change the world more than any other event in human history. In fact, it will end this world. This is why this topic is called the Endtimes. The Endtimes consist of certain events predicted in Scripture surrounding Christ’s Second Coming. ^[1]

Therefore, what is God’s purpose for Endtime events? To take control over this Earth. Ever since Lucifer rebelled, there has been a Cosmic War for Glory between God and Satan. The battlefield has been the people of this Earth ever since Satan’s great victory in the Garden of Eden. Since then, in God’s sovereign plan, the whole world is under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19 NIV). Satan, sin, demons, and death reign on this Earth and rule most of the people in the world. There are many, many more people obeying and glorifying the Devil, than those obeying and glorifying God.

But we are to pray every day: Our Father in Heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, and your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven (Matt 6:9-10 ^[2]). Christian, the Day is coming when this prayer will be granted in full!

Now, God’s name is not honored, but rather, used as a curse word all over the world. But the Bible says of God, All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name (Ps 86:9 NIV). That is a promise that will be fulfilled in the Endtimes.

Today, God’s will is not done on earth as it is in Heaven. The world is full of His rebellious enemies. However:

The end will come, when [Christ] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (1 Cor 15:25 NIV)

The book of Revelation predicts and describes Christ’s defeat of all his enemies, and God’s ultimate victory in the Cosmic War for Glory. His victory is so certain that it is described in Revelation in the past tense. For example, John heard loud voices in heaven proclaiming, “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15 NLT).

Eventually, all the Endtime events will bring about God’s ultimate purpose and will for this Earth. This is to create a New Earth where:

God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Rev 21:1, 3b-4 NIV)

Understand it will not just be God the Son Who is coming to Earth. Twice in Revelation, God the Father is described as the One Who is coming (Rev 1:8; 4:8). The Endtimes will include God the Son’s Second Coming. But it will also result in God the Father’s Coming. And He will bring all the purity and perfection of Heaven with Him to a New Earth, and eternally remove all impurity and sin. Hallelujah, that is where the whole world is headed!!!…

But there will be a surprisingly long, painful, shocking, and even bloody road to get there. As the Apostles said, we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22 NIV).

First of all, the road to get to God’s reign on Earth is LONG. The promises above in Revelation were given over 2,000 years ago. The one from Psalms 3,000 years ago. In Genesis, God promised that one day Christ would defeat Satan (cf. Gen 3:15). That promise was given over 6,000 years ago! No one knows when the Endtimes will begin (cf. Matt 24:36). This world could endure under Satan’s rule for many more thousands of years. Even at the end of Endtime events there will be another 1,000 years of Christ ruling a world that ends in a massive rebellion against God (cf. Rev 20:7-9). The road to the End is LONG.

Secondly, it will be PAINFUL. Jesus said the world will experience the worst wars, famines, earthquakes, and plagues in human history (cf. Matt 24:4-8; Luke 21:11 NIV). To His elect He said, “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers” (Matt 24:31 NASB; v. 9 NLT). And after that, during Christ’s Wrath, locusts will descend on the earth and sting like scorpions and torture God’s enemies for five months. In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them! (Rev 9:3-6 NLT). The road to the End will be PAINFUL.

And SHOCKING. As noted in chapter 1, Daniel received Endtime visions of how the Antichrist will oppress his [God’s] saints and He will cause a shocking amount of destruction (Dan 7:25 NIV ^[3]; 8:24 NLT). Daniel was obviously a very brave man. But seeing what the Antichrist will do to the saints shocked him to the point that his face turned pale, and he felt weak and sick for several days (cf. Dan 7:7, 15, 19, 21, 25, 28; 8:26-27 ^[4]).

Finally, the road to get to the End of this world will be BLOODY. Christ’s blood first made a way to enter the Paradise we are traveling to. Along the way, a great multitude of Christian martyrs in the Endtimes will be beheaded (Rev 7:9; 20:4; cf. 6:9). The Bowl Punishments will turn all the seas, rivers, and springs of water on the Earth into blood (Rev 16:3-4 NIV). Because the wicked world will shed the blood of God’s saints, He will give them blood to drink as they deserve (Rev 16:6 NIV ^[5]). And when Christ finally destroys His enemies at the Battle of Armageddon, “blood [will flow] … in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle (Rev 14:20 NLT; cf. Rev 19:15-18; Joel 3:1, 9-13).

God’s path and plan to get to the End of this wicked world will be long, painful, shocking, and bloody. But His plan will result in the end of Satan, sin, and suffering forever. That is one purpose of the Endtimes.

All of this is why Jesus described the Endtimes as birth pains (Matt 24:8). Only women who birth a child can fully appreciate the metaphor. In Jesus’ day it was relatively common for women to die a painful death in childbirth. Modern hospitals have reduced the risk, and medications can diminish the pain. Still, giving birth is among the most painful of all human experiences. That is one reason Jesus used it to represent the suffering of the Endtimes.

But there is another reason He called this period birth pains. God has ordained that pain comes before blessing. Accordingly, birth pains are the necessary human anguish that produces the wonderful new life of a baby. Likewise, the painful destruction of this current world is a necessary step to the creation of a whole New World. Which is why Jesus commanded us in the context of the Endtimes: “Do not be frightened. These things must happen first” (Luke 21:9 NIV). ^[6]

There is a lot of very bad news revealed in Scripture about the Endtimes. But in all the bad news about the temporary pain experienced in this world, do not forget the even better Good News about where everything is headed: a new, perfect, sinless, and Satan-less Earth where God reigns and we live forever!

B) The importance of understanding the Endtimes

There are several important reasons to understand what the Bible teaches about the Endtimes. First, as noted in the previous chapter, “Salvation is the only topic in Scripture mentioned more than the Endtimes. It is clear that God wants His people to understand the doctrine of the Endtimes in Scripture!” (sec. A).

Accordingly, God wants us to be those who have loved His appearing (2 Tim 4:8 NASB). The Greek word here (ēgapēkosi) means to highly value something and experience great pleasure in it. ^[7] Unfortunately, however, the doctrine of the Endtimes is perhaps the most ignored, confusing, controversial, and frightening topic for Christians today. And all of this greatly hinders their ability to “experience great pleasure” in this doctrine. Which is another reason for this book. As John Piper has recently written: “Love for Christ’s appearing is deepened not only by seeing reasons for what makes it wonderful, but also by overcoming obstacles and misunderstandings.” ^[8] A more biblical and clear understanding of the doctrine of the Endtimes will help God’s people love Christ’s appearing more.

Secondly, there is a theological reason for studying this topic. Nothing in Scripture reveals God’s glory more than prophetic Scripture. Just read through the book of Revelation. Even if you do not fully understand all of it, its display of God’s greatness, power, holiness, and GLORY will make you feel inspired with awe and reverence. That’s God’s intended affect for all the prophetic Scriptures.

There are also several practical reasons God wants us to understand the Endtimes. First, He wants His Church to be watching and ready for it, when it begins. We read: Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” (Matt 24:3 NLT). In response Jesus very carefully and intentionally described many signs and events that will signal His Return.

As also noted in the previous chapter, this is why throughout Christ’s sermon on the Endtimes He said: “Be on guard! Be alert!” … “keep watch” … “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:33, 34, 37 NIV). Watch! for what? Current events in our world that would signal the beginning of the Endtimes, and that Christ’s Return is near.

This leads to a second practical purpose God wants you to understand the Endtimes in Scripture. If you are living when they begin, you will need to be prepared for experiencing them. As discussed in this book, there are popular teachings that claim the Church will not be present for the events that Jesus described in His Endtimes Teaching (cf. Matt 24:1-31). But as we study Christ’s Endtimes sermon, that view will be proven false.

This is one reason the Bible has so much to say to the Church about the suffering and persecution that will occur in the Endtimes. The Church will be there! Therefore, having a more biblical understanding of this topic will help you and your family be prepared to experience the Endtimes.

Finally, understanding what Scripture teaches about the Endtimes will greatly help you have an eternal perspective on your life. Studying and understanding the biblical promises that this Earth will be destroyed, and an eternal New Earth is coming, will help you properly evaluate everything in your life. And to live a holy life. This is the repeated testimony of Scripture.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed (Tit 2:12-13 NLT).

Likewise, the Apostle John wrote:

We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He really is. And all who have this eager expectation will purify themselves, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3 ^[9]; cf. Rom 13:11-14; 1 Cor 7:29-32; 2 Pet 3:10-14).

Too many Christians claim that studying and understanding biblical prophecy has no practical relevance to the Christian life. But what is more practical and relevant than holiness? God’s word tells us the better we understand Christ’s Second Coming, and have an eager expectation of it, it will purify our lives.

Studying the Endtimes confronts us with this important reminder: The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17 NIV). Understanding the Endtimes is perhaps the very best thing we can do to help us obey the challenging command to: set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Col 3:1-2 NIV).

But here is a hard truth: Endtime events could literally begin TODAY, or not for another 1,000 years. That is the biblical truth. Scripture’s teaching on the Endtimes presents it this way. This is because God has wanted every generation of Christians to believe they could be living in the Last Generation Church. God wants us to live with this challenging tension between expectant watching and patient waiting. On one hand, to plan on living a long life. But also not be surprised if the Endtimes begin TODAY. It is this latter biblical expectation that gives us a purifying and eternal perspective on our life. Which is why Jesus repeatedly commanded us to Watch! (Mark 13:33, 34, 37).

C) The 7 Primary Endtime Events

[Please stop and take a moment to read just the first 31 verses of Matt 24 before reading the following]

It is believed that Scripture generally reveals 7 Primary Endtime Events. Most of them are clearly mentioned in Christ’s Endtimes sermon. These are listed below in the biblical order of their occurrence.

1) The Beginning of Birth Pains

Jesus said that a False Christ(s), devastating wars, famines, earthquakes, and plagues will be the beginning of birth pains (Matt 24:4-8 NIV; Luke 21:9-10; cf. Rev 6:1-8). The purpose of these is to prepare the world for Antichrist’s worship and dictatorship.

2) Antichrist’s Claim to be God

After the beginning of birth pains, Jesus said His people will “see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation’” (Matt 24:15 NIV). Paul described this event when he wrote: The man of lawlessness … will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple [in Jerusalem], proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess 2:3-4 NIV). And the world will believe him so that All the people who belong to this world [will] worship the beast [Antichrist] (Rev 13:7-8 NLT).

3) The Greatest Persecution

Jesus said after Antichrist’s Claim to be God, “then there will be the greatest persecution of God’s elect people. It will be greater than any persecution since the world began, and it will never be equaled again” (Matt 24:21 ^[10]). This will be the Antichrist’s Wrath against God’s elect and saints because they refuse to worship him (cf. Matt 24:9, 21-22; cf. Rev 6:9-11; 13:7-10; 14:12; Dan 7:21, 25).

4) Christ’s Return

Jesus said, “Immediately after the completion of the greatest persecution, then ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

Then the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the sky. And then all the peoples of the Earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory. (Matt 24:29-30 ^[11]).

5) The Church’s Rescue

Jesus said after all the peoples of the Earth … see the Son of Man coming then He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet sound, and they will lift up and gather together God’s elect people from one end of the sky to the other, from everywhere on Earth (Matt 24:30-31 ^[12]). This is the “rapture” of the Church described elsewhere (cf. 1 Thess 4:15-17; 2 Thess 2:1-4; Rev 7:9-14). It occurs Immediately after the completion of the greatest persecution of God’s elect people (Matt 24:21, 29), but before the time of Christ’s Wrath. The word “rapture” is a common term used by Christians, but it does not occur in Scripture, and does not describe this event as clearly as the Church’s Rescue. Therefore the latter term will be used throughout the Endtimes Essentials.

6) Christ’s Wrath

Jesus revealed that immediately after the Cosmic Signs marking His Return and the Church’s Rescue, then everyone remaining on the earth will cry out “hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Rev 6:15-17 NIV). This period of Christ’s Wrath will include the Trumpet and Bowl Punishments and is completed with the Battle of Armageddon (cf. Matt 24:37-39; Rev 6:15-17; chs. 8-9; 15-16; 1 Thess 5:1-10; Isa 13:9-13).

7) Christ’s 1000-year Reign on Earth

This event is often referred to as the Millennium (cf. Rev 20:1-10). During this period, God will literally fulfill many of His OT promises to Israel. But the Christians who experience The Greatest Persecution, including refusing Antichrist’s mark, will also be rewarded with the unique privilege of experiencing the First Resurrection and reigning with Christ on the Earth during this time (Rev 20:4; cf. 13:11-18; 14:11-12).

These are the 7 Primary Endtime Events predicted in God’s Word. Most of them will be discussed in more detail in the Endtimes Essentials series. The Bible’s teaching on the Endtimes can be simplified into these 7 Primary Endtime Events. But there are a vast number of additional Endtime events and details revealed in Scripture.

After the completion of the 7 Primary Endtime Events, Eternity will begin. Initial events in Eternity will include The Great White Throne Evaluation of every person who has ever lived (cf. Rev 20:11-15; Matt 25:31-46), and the creation of a New Earth (cf. Rev 21:1) for God and His people to live on for eternity.

D) Preview of Christ’s Endtimes Teaching

This book is the first volume in a series called the Endtimes Essentials. By Christ’s Endtimes Teaching we are referring to Christ’s Endtimes sermon, or “the Olivet Discourse.” Understanding this passage of Scripture is the primary goal of this book.

In the next chapter (3), important principles for interpreting Christ’s Endtimes Teaching will be discussed. In chapter 4, Christ’s Endtimes Teaching in Matthew 24 will give us a clear understanding of major Endtime events and their sequence. Jesus’ sermon on His Coming will challenge and correct many popular views on the Endtimes. Chapter 5 will demonstrate that several passages in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians will confirm our interpretation of Jesus. Fortunately, Jesus and Paul are much more simple and clear on the outline and order of Endtime events than many believe.

Chapters 6 and 7 will demonstrate that Jesus’ Revelation and Daniel agree with the outline of Endtime events in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. Chapter 8 will draw some important initial conclusions from our study.

Chapter 9 will discuss some things in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching that have been confusing and difficult for many to understand. Chapter 10 will discuss the important commands in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching.

Chapters 11-16 will evaluate popular views of the Endtimes based on Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. Unfortunately, it will be demonstrated that there are many misleading and harmful myths in the Church today on this doctrine.

In addition, Appendix A is a detailed table of contents for Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. Appendix B is a glossary of terms used throughout the Endtimes Essentials series. Appendix C is a collection of the graphics in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching illustrating the sequence of Endtime events as taught by Jesus, Paul, and Daniel.

God’s great grace to you as you study the most important passage in all of Scripture on the Endtimes for the Church.

1. 
   There is a biblical sense in which the Endtimes began with Christ’s First Coming (cf. 1 Cor 10:11; 1 John 2:18). Theologians call this “realized eschatology” or the “already not yet” aspect of God’s Kingdom on Earth. Christ’s First Coming and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit have initiated some things that will be consummated in Christ’s Second Coming and even after the completion of His 1,000 year Reign on Earth. Unfortunately, some focus so much on what can be included in “realized eschatology” that they neglect a biblical understanding of what is still to be fulfilled in biblical prophecy. Therefore, the “Endtimes” throughout the Endtimes Essentials will be defined as certain events predicted in Scripture surrounding Christ’s Second Coming. ↑
2. (Matt 6:9-10) Our Father in Heaven, may your name be honored, may your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

   Honored translates the Greek word hagiasthētō which means “treat as holy, reverence” (BDAG). This is superior as most English speakers do not use the traditional word hallowed (NIV, NASB), nor readily understand what it means. The suggested translation is very close to the NET which also uses honored here. ↑

3. Here the NIV 1984 version is used to preserve the word saints which helps us understand these prophecies involve all of God’s people, including the Church. ↑
4. Fear is repeatedly described in Scripture as a sin. Unfortunately, some Bible versions of Daniel’s reaction suggest he was afraid. On the contrary, the Hebrew in these texts can also mean to “inspire awe,” be “unpleasant or shocking,” “upset, unsettle.” None of them have to mean feeling afraid or terrified. For more on this see Additional Studies on the Endtimes, ch. 5. ↑
5. See endnote #4 above. ↑
6. Birth pains as a prerequisite to restore Israel was alluded to in the Prophets (cf. Isa 66:8; Jer 23:23; Hos 13:13; Micah 4:9-10). W&S note:

   From these verses there arose in Judaism the idea that the messianic Kingdom must emerge from a period of suffering that was called the messianic woes or “the birth pangs of the Messiah.” This does not mean the woes that the Messiah must suffer, but the woes out of which the messianic age is to be born. (921) ↑

7. BDAG, #2. The NIV translates ēgapēkosi in 1 Tim 4:8 as longed for and NLT as eagerly look forward to. But BDAG does not list any NT or ancient Greek examples of this word being used that way. Unfortunately, commentaries basically ignore helping us to understand this remarkable phrase. Fee and Marshall actually say nothing about it. Knight only mentions the NIV translation is a possibility, but gives no justification for it. ↑
8. Piper, 180. ↑
9. The suggested translation of 1 John 3:2-3 is a combination of the NIV and NLT.

   
   ↑

10. 
    For an explanation of the suggested translation of Matt 24:21 see ch. 3, sec. E. ↑
11. For an explanation of the suggested translation of Matt 24:29-30 see ch. 3, sec. D. ↑
12. For an explanation of the suggested translation of Matt 24:31 see ch. 4, sec. C. ↑