the BIBLE'S ECHATOLOGY
TIMELINE
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DAY 1: A Covenant With Many
The book of Daniel introduces us to a time frame of 70 weeks, each “week” being a seven-year period. The completion of the events during these 70 weeks (490 years) will achieve salvation for all of Israel. Of these 490 years, 483 have already transpired. The remaining seven years will occur in the future.
Throughout the Bible, particularly in Revelation, we are informed of events that will take place during this final week, starting with a seven-year covenant of peace initiated by the Antichrist on day one.
My Two Witnesses
On the very day peace is declared, two men, who are believed to have lived out their lives on earth ages ago, will reappear in Israel dressed in sackcloth. Referred to as lampstands and olive trees, these two men will be given the task of sharing the gospel with men and women of Israel for 1,260 days, a period that spans the first half of the seven years.
If Bible history has taught us anything, it’s that rogue teachers of the gospel in Israel will eventually be seen as a threat. And so, to ward off those who will try and kill them, these two men will be granted the power to smite the land with plagues and consume their attackers with fire.
According to Malachi's book, one of these two men may be Elijah, who stopped the rain for 1,260 days when he was alive (1 Kings 17). So, if the powers God gives them are tied to their lives on earth, Moses, who is renowned for having turned waters into blood, is a likely candidate for the second witness.
"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord."
- Malachi 4:5
Israel At Rest
With the freedom that their newfound peace will allow, the Bible alludes to the people of Isreal rebuilding their temple, which will allow for the resumption of the sacrificial worship that God instructed them to carry out during the days of Moses. Meanwhile, a nation to the far north will plan to take advantage of the Israel’s vulnerability and gather armies from other nations to invade the Holy Land. The northern nation is called the King of the North, and the Antichrist is called the King of the South.
Day 1,261: Rumors Of War
When the Antichrist (King of the South) learns that armies from the north are advancing, he and his own army will take over Israel’s temple to lie in wait for the impending attack, causing the worship inside the temple to cease.
On this same day, the Antichrist will kill the two witnesses, leaving their bodies without burial. According to both Jesus and Daniel, the events of this day will soon be followed by the beginning of the great distress as well as the rapture.
According to Jesus, the people of Israel are to respond to this takeover by fleeing to the mountains, leaving their temple desolate. Thus, it is the Antichrist who is called the abomination that causes desolation.
Also, bear in mind that, while there will be tribulation during this period, it is not called the "tribulation period" in the Bible. In fact, only half of the seven years will be filled with great distress. Because this name is so commonly used when referring to the entire seven years, many believe that a pre-tribulation rapture must occur before these seven years begin.
Framing the Timeline
To provide a quick recap, there will be a covenant of peace on day 1 which will kick off the ministry of the two witnesses who will prophesy for 1,260 days. On day 1,261 (the middle of the week), the abomination (Antichrist) will slay the two witness, enter the temple in Jerusalem, and cause the sacrificial worship to cease.
Now we are informed that there will be 1,290 more days until the end of all things. This assures us that 30 days will follow Israel's restoration at the end of the 7 years, giving us a grand total of 2,550 days.
Day 1,264: Kings Collide
Three days after the Antichrist enters the temple, God will resurrect the two witnesses, allowing their ascension into heaven to be seen by people from every nation who celebrated their deaths. On this same day, the armies from the north will arrive to face off with the Antichrist’s army.
Before this day is done, an earthquake will cause a giant sinkhole to swallow a tenth of Jerusalem, killing 7,000 of the city’s attackers. Lastly, because the King of the North and his armies will far outnumber those lying in wait, the Antichrist will be defeated and killed.
Day 1,335: Blessed to Attain
After stating that the rapture will occur around the time the abomination enters the temple on day 1,261, the angel who was speaking with Daniel named day 1,335 as being significant to those who are blessed and who will endure until this day.
In the Bible, verses that begin with “blessed is he” or “blessed are they” do not suggest behaviors that one will do to be saved. Because salvation is not earned, these verses name attributes of those are saved. Thus, “blessed” in verses like the one referenced below refer to the saints.
In Daniel 12:12, the importance of day 1,335 is emphasized with an exclamation point. While the angel did not state outright that the rapture will occur on this day, it is indeed within a close proximity to day 1,261 given the vastness of the timeline. Also, should the rapture occur any earlier, there would be no saints present on the earth to attain to it.
Food for thought!
Fatal Wound Healed
The Bible refers to the the Antichrist as both a man and a beast. In Revelation, which focuses on the beast, we're told how Satan take will on the likeness of this deceased man who brought peace to the world. With God's church no longer present to refute him, Satan will deceive the people of the world with claims to be their resurrected savior and king.
Apostasy
Alluded to in the Bible as Satan's right hand, a man known as the false prophet will have a significant role during this time. In an effort that will involve persuasion and coercion, this religious figure will promise peace to those who will—and death to whose who will not—submit to the Antichrist. Those who submit will be tagged with the infamous mark of the beast, which is the number 666.
Instead of focusing on the identity of this man known as the false prophet, the Bible makes a great effort to inform us of his affiliation and where he comes from. You can read about this man's significance in chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation.
The Antichrist's identity, however, is fleshed out among 26 chapters in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, he is developed so fully that only one may may fit his description. Contrary to popular understanding, '666' is not one of those identifiers.
144,000 Sealed
The ministry of the two witnesses will involve sharing the gospel with the people of Israel who, in turn, will minister to those who will remain on the earth after the rapture. In the selection of Scripture linked below, we see that the two men will have converted a total of 144,000 men and women, whose being “sealed” will allow them to remain unharmed during the great distress that is to come.
In his vision as described in Revelation, John is shown images of people who arrive in the throne room after being killed for their testimonies of Jesus amidst the great tribulation. These likely will have encountered one or more of the men and women who make up the 144,000. And their deaths will be the result of their rebellion against the Antichrist.
Day 2,520: Israel Restored
This final day of the seven years marks the completion of the 70 weeks, whereby all Israel will be saved. While none of the end times events we learn about in the Bible are said to occur on this day, we are well informed of all that will play out over the remaining 30 days.
Christ's Return
After a final plague darkens the sun and moon, and after a certain number of people had been killed for their public professions of faith, Jesus will emerge triumphantly from within a fiery cloud and gather to himself all who survived with their testimonies, along with the people of Israel who will repent upon seeing their Savior whom they had denied, and whom their people had crucified.
Often understood as describing the events of the rapture, this passage gives us an earthly perspective of Jesus' gathering of the saints upon his return.
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
- Matthew 24:40-41
Armageddon
With Jesus now visible to the entire world, the Antichrist (Satan) will gather together armies from the nations to assemble in Israel's Jezreel Valley for the ultimate battle between good and evil. Upon decimating all opposing forces, Jesus will seize both Satan and the false prophet and throw them into the lake of fire for their evil acts of deception.
Day 2,550: Earth's Destructon
While there is room for speculation over whether our earth will be completely destroyed at this time, the Bible’s description of it being made uninhabitable is clearly understood. Along with giant hailstones, an earth-shaking quake will put an end to the remainder of humanity on our planet. This final scene paves the way for God’s creation of a new earth, where we who trust in Jesus will enjoy His presence and each other forever.
