Introduction to the End Times Session
3
I.
3 Time Periods leading up to Jesus ‘Return
a.
The beginning of Birth Pangs. Jesus commanded us to watch and pray during
the period called the “beginning of birth pangs”. Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 give us signs
to watch for as we wait for Jesus to return.
(earthquakes, pestilence, wars, rumors of war, fearful sights, commotions,
nation against nation, great signs in heaven)
Theses signs will be like birth pangs; they will grow in intensity and
happen more frequently.
b.
False Peace and Safety. The period of birth pangs will end when the
Antichrist signs a 7 year peace treaty with Israel. This 7 years period is referred to in
scripture as the “Tribulation”. There
will be great war in the Middle East and the Antichrist will arise as a world
leader who will bring false peace.
i. “When
they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor
pains upon a pregnant woman.” (1 Thess.
5:3).
ii. “Then
he (Antichrist) shall make a covenant (peace treaty) with many for one week (7
year period), but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifice
(in the Jerusalem temple, and break the covenant).” (Dan. 9:27) The Antichrist will make a peace
treaty designed for seven years, however in the middle of the seven-year period
(3 ½ years later) he will break the treaty.
1.
The signing of a 7 year peace treaty will be
the key event to warn believers they are in a “false peace season” and to watch
for the Antichrist to break the treaty.
c.
The Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation period is the final 3 ½
year period before Jesus returns. During
this time period the Antichrist shows his hostility openly and requires all
people on earth to worship him. “There
will be great Tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the
world until this time, nor ever shall be.”
(Matt. 24:21-22)
i. Scriptures
tell us plainly in many different ways that the Great Tribulation will be a 3 ½
year period. It is described as: 42 months (Rev. 11:2, 13:5); 1260
days (Rev. 11:3, 12:6); Time, times, and half a time (Dan.
7:25, 12:7; Rev. 12:14); Middle of the Week (Dan. 9:27)
ii. The
purpose of the Great Tribulation is to purify God’s people, bring in the
harvest and the salvation of Israel, expose false believers, demonstrate God’s
power in protecting the saints (Rom. 9:17), and purge the earth from the
defilement of sin (Isa. 24:4-6, Zech. 13:2).
iii. The
Abomination of Desolation: The primary
sign of the Great Tribulation (final 3 ½ years). “When you see the ‘abomination of desolation’
spoken of by the prophet Daniel standing in the holy place…then there will be
great tribulation.” (Matt. 24:15-22).
The Abomination of Desolation will occur when the Antichrist declares himself
to be God. Central to the Abomination is
the image
of the Beast (Antichrist) which will be a statue (image or idol) which
will be in the temple (rebuilt-Jerusalem).
“He (False Prophet)…telling those who dwell on the earth to make an
image to the beast (Antichrist)…He was granted power to give breath to the
image so that it should speak and cause as many as would not worship the image
to be killed.” (Rev. 13:14-15) The
Antichrist will require people to take a mark (mark of the Beast 666) on
their right hand or forehead. Those who
refuse to take the mark will not be allowed to buy or sell necessities of
life. (Rev. 13:16-17)
d.
The timing of the Abomination of
Desolation will occur in conjunction to Jesus taking the scroll and opening the
seven seals found in Revelation 5:8.
When the bowls of prayer are full, Jesus opens the first seal. In other words, when the prayer movement is
mature worldwide. The 7 seals,
trumpets, and bowls are released by Jesus the Lamb of God. (Rev. 5:5, 6:1, 8:1) These judgments have a 3-fold purpose: to warn God’s enemy of coming judgment,
warning the lost to receive salvation, and to signal victory for God’s
people. Promise of protection for the
saints (believers) in the End Times (Zeph. 2:3, Mic. 7:14-19, Isa. 11:15-16,
Rev. 7:3)
i. Seven
seals. (Rev. 6)
1.
First Seal (White Horse): Antichrist’s political aggression
2.
Second
Seal (Red Horse): bloodshed and
World War
3.
Third Seal (Black Horse): famine and economic crisis
4.
Fourth Seal (Pale Horse): disease and death to ¼ of the earth
5.
Fifth Seal (Prayer Movement): releasing God’s judgments and martyrs
6.
Sixth Seal (Cosmic Disturbances): natural atmosphere-cosmic crisis
7.
Seventh Seal (Anointed Prayer): angel gives incense to enhance the End-Time
prayer movement that contributes to releasing the Trumpets.
ii. Seven
Trumpets. (Rev. 8-9)
1.
First Trumpet (Food Supply): Burning 1/3 of the earth’s vegetation
2.
Second Trumpet (Food Supply): Destroying 1/3 of
the earth’s seas
3.
Third Trumpet (Water Supply): Poisoning 1/3 of
the earth’s fresh water
4.
Fourth Trumpet (Light, Energy): Darkening 1/3 of
the earth’s light
5.
Fifth Trumpet (Torment); Release of a locusts
plague
6.
Sixth Trumpet (Death): 1/3 of the earth’s population killed
7.
Seventh Trumpet (Rev. 11) The Rapture of
the Church to meet Jesus in the sky?? What
is the Rapture? “We who are
still alive and are left will be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord
forever.” (1 Thess. 4:17) “The seventh angel sounded…the kingdoms of the world
have become the kingdoms of our Lord…You have taken Your power and
reigned.” The believer’s judgment is
found during the seventh trumpet. “We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…in a moment...at
the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised.” (1 Cor. 15:51-52) Immediately after
the tribulation…(Matt. 24:29) See 1
Thess. 2:1-8
iii. Seven
Bowls in Revelation 16 (Recall the ten plagues of Egypt)
1.
First Bowl:
sores to the Antichrist worshippers
2.
Second Bowl:
sea turns to blood and kills all in the sea
3.
Third Bowl:
all the fresh water turns to blood
4.
Fourth Bowl:
scorching heat and fire from the sun
5.
Fifth Bowl:
darkness on the Antichrist’s global empire
6.
Sixth Bowl:
demons lure the nations to Armageddon
7.
Seventh Bowl:
worst earthquake, 120 pound hail stones
II.
Believers are Protected and Will
Overcome. “They overcame him
(Antichrist) by the blood of the Lamb, the power of their testimony, and they
did not love their lives even unto death.”
Rev. 12:11
a.
God will manifest His provision and protection
for His bride like He did in the Exodus.
God provided all the needs of His people as they journeyed through the
wilderness. “As in the days when you
came out of Egypt, I will show them miracles.”
(Mic. 7:15) “Do not harm the
earth or the sea until we have sealed the bond servants our God.” (Rev. 7:3)
b.
Believers will call out to the Lord. “Keep on the alert at all times, praying that
you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place.” (Luke 21:36)
c.
VOW:
“Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, O
Lord. Revive Your works in our day, in
our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” (Hab. 3:2)
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