Content
- The End Time
- When will this happen?
- Who is the End Time Antichrist?
- Who is the End Time False Prophet?
The End Time
The Bible says that Jesus will come again, see The Return of Jesus.
We must then distinguish between the following:
- The Rapture when Jesus comes in the air for the Body of Christ,
probably during the Great Tribulation. - The return of Jesus when he comes down to Earth to fight for Israel
at the end of the Great Tribulation.
There will be a 7-year Tribulation period, divided into two periods of 3.5
Prophetic Years (Dan 9:27), where the second half is called the Great Tribulation.This means that Jesus comes twice, but it's only the second time that he comes down to Earth. Jesus will then return in the same way he went to Heaven
(Acts 1:6–11). He then returns fully visible, from Heaven, through the clouds,
in physical bodily form (Mat 24:27–31, Mark 13:24–27, Luk 21:25–28).
All will then see him when he comes down to Earth (Rev 1:7).
Jesus said that no one knows when he will return, we must be ready for his return
at all times (Mat 24:36, 42, 44, 25:13, Mark 13:32–33). That day will come as suddenly as a thief at night (1 Thess 5:2). This is about about
the Rapture.
However, as we approach
the Rapture, we can express the signs of the time when Jesus comes (Mat 24:32–33, Mark 13:28–29, Luk 21:29–31). For Christian believers, that day need not come unexpectedly (1 Thess 5:4). But to the wicked it does
(Mat 24:37–39, Luk 17:26–30). Also for those Christians who aren't awake
(not being alert) that day will come unexpectedly (Rev 3:3).
Before this happen, the gospel will be proclaimed among all nations (Mat 24:14,
Mark 13:10). This is done through, among other things, the internet and YouTube.
There will be a great
apostasy (falling away) at the end of time (Mat 24:11–13,
Mark 13:5–6, Luke 21:8, 18:8b, 2 Thess 2:3, 2 Tim 3:1–5). Such is life in our time. The
apostasy opens up to Antichrist who people will follow, but will be stopped by Jesus when he returns to Earth (2 Thess 2:1–12).
Gog from Magog will attack Israel, probably just before the 7-year Tribulation period, but will be defeated by God himself, further opening the way for Antichrist to take world power. Magog may be Russia, as it's said to be the furthest north (Eze 38:6, 15, 39:2), but we can't be sure. Other nations will also follow Gog (Eze 38:5): Persia (Iran), Cush (Sudan), Put (Libya, North Africa), Gomer, and Togamah (Turkey).
The attack will come when Israel is at peace with her neighbors (Eze 38:8b, 11, 14).
Israel can have peace when Israel's covenant (Abraham Accords) with surrounding nations is strengthened at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week (also known as the
7-year Tribulation period (Dan 9:27a)). This war will likely begin just before Israel's covenant with surrounding nations is strengthened.
The Two Witnesses will appear during the first half of the Tribulation period. They will prophesy and preach the gospel in great power (Rev 11:5–6) testifying to the world that Jesus is king and will return. They will prophesy for 1260 (360x3.5) days = 3.5
Prophetic Years (Rev 11:3).
The Christians will be persecuted during this time (Mat 24:9–10, Mark 13:9, 12–13, Luke 21:12, 16–17).
My opinion is that the two witnesses aren't individuals but the anointed believers of the house of Israel and the anointed believers of the house of Judah. The anointed Gentile believers are grafted into the olive tree like wild olive shoots of the house of Judah. Jesus is from the
tribe of Judah. We are still waiting for these olive trees that represent the anointed believers of the Jewish people. This speaks for a revival of the Jewish people, see
The 144,000 in the Book of Revelation. The 144,000 Christian Jews are servants of God who share the gospel of Jesus Christ with great signs and wonders during the Tribulation period.
This means that the two witnesses will operate with great power the first 3.5
Prophetic Years of the 7-year Tribulation period. During this time, the persecution of the believers will increase. Afterwards the Great Tribulation begins. Antichrist then persecutes and kills believers on a large scale. It will be the greatest distress that has ever come upon the Earth (Mat 24:21, Mark 13:19).
Six seals are first broken with start at the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation period, see The Horses in the Book of Revelation. When the seventh seal is broken,
seven angels will blow their seven trumpets one at a time, see
The Seventh Seal and the Seven Trumpets in the Book of Revelation.
When the seventh trumpet blows, seven bowls of wrath in Rev 16 will be poured out. In conjunction with the seventh trumpet before the seven bowls of wrath are poured out (Psalm 91:5–10), I believe that The Rapture occurs. But those who choose to follow Antichrist, have received his mark (Rev 16:2), and worship his image, will suffer these seven bowls of wrath. All Christians have probably left the Earth at The Rapture before it happens. It's still possible to become a Christian afterwards, see The Sheep and the Goats.
For the sake of believers, the time between the start of the Great Tribulation and
The Rapture will be shortened (Mat 24:15–22, Mark 13:14–20).
At The Rapture, Christians are raised up, meet Jesus in the sky, and are taken to Heaven (1 Thess 4:17). It's called the first resurrection (Rev 20:6). It's when there is a strong trumpet call that the Christian believers are raised. At the sound of the last trumpet call Christians will raise up (1 Cor 15:51–53, 1 Thess 4:15–17).
Afterwards, Babylon is destroyed, which isn't Rome or Jerusalem, but probably
New York, see What is Babylon in the Book of Revelation? The last thing Antichrist does is to attack Jerusalem, but is defeated by Jesus when he returns
(Zechariah 12:3, 8–9, 14:2–3, Rev 17:14, 19:15–16), see more about this in
Explanation of Satan's Attack on the Woman in the Book of Revelation.
Jesus then returns to Earth fully visible at the end of the Great Tribulation
(Mat 24:27–31, Mark 13:24–27, Luk 21:25–28), see
When Jesus returns, there will be judgement on the nations, see the story of
When will this happen?
The traditional view is that Jesus' ministry lasted about 3.5 years, and then
Jesus was crucified at 30 AD, see
When did Jesus Die? in
When Did Jesus Die and When Was He Born? The daily sacrifice in the temple was then no longer needed (Dan 9:27). In a sense, Jesus abolished the daily sacrifice.
He established a New Covenant (Jer 31:31–34, Luke 22:20). After seven years
Jesus appeared to
Paul about 34 AD who then converted, see
Biblical Timeline.
Then began the real mission among the Gentiles; the time of the Gentiles began.
During the end time there will be a Tribulation period of seven years. In the midst
of this period, Antichrist will abolish the daily sacrifice. He will sit in the temple and proclaim himself to be God (2 Thess 2:4). See this explained in
Ezekiel's Temple. Then the Great Tribulation begins, and will last for 3.5 years (Rev 12:6),
The following interpretation is based on Hosea 6:1–2: "
Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days (2000 years)
he will revive us; on the third day (
millennial kingdom)
he will raise us up, that we may live before him."
A day in these Bible verses can be interpreted as about 1000 years according to
2 Pet 3:8–9 and Psalm 90:4.
My personal opinion about this time is as follows: There may be about
2000 years between these two interpretations of the 70th "week", that is,
- Adding 1260 days to April 17 2030 gives September 28 2033.
- Removal of 1260 days from April 17 2030 gives November 4 2026.
If so, the Tribulation period begins in October–November 2026 AD,
and Jesus returns in September–October 2033 AD.
The time of Jesus' second coming is considered unknown, as Jesus said that his return is like a thief in the night (Mat 24:36–44, Mark 13:32–37, Luk 21:34–36,
Rev 3:1–6).
But these verses are most likely about the Rapture.
Paul's writing in 1 Thess 4:13–5:8 can be interpreted as the time of his return at the
Rapture is unknown even to believers, but
when the
Rapture occurs it won't come as a surprise to believers (Rev 3:3).
When
Jesus returns to Earth he will also come as a thief (Ref 16:15). Here it means that it will be a surprise for the unbelievers and for those who aren't ready for his coming. But at least when we reach the 7-year Tribulation period it's possible to calculate the date when he returns by knowing when the Tribulation period begins, see more about this in
Ezekiel's Temple and
What is Babylon in the Book of Revelation? This gives the following possible scenario:
- Antichrist will act like a Roman dictator (Julius Caesar) and will make himself dictator for life with unlimited power.
- The leader of Russia as Gog (see Gog from Magog) with his coalition of countries attack Israel. The attack comes when Israel is at peace with its neighbors (Eze 38:8b, 11, 14). (Maybe some time 2025–26).
- Since Gog loses this war, it opens up for Antichrist.
- Antichrist will strengthen a peace agreement (see Abraham Accords) by involving more of the countries around Israel. When the new peace agreement is signed between Israel and its neighbours, the 7-year Tribulation period begins. (Maybe in October–November 2026, see End of Time in
When Did Jesus Die and When Was He Born?) - Antichrist will in the first 3.5 Prophetic Years of the Tribulation period make himself world ruler. Not by exercising the fighting forces he will have at his disposal, but by threatening people and countries to use this power to shape them into his image. He threatens those who oppose him. He gains power primarily through threats, see time 6:08–8:08 in The Rise of a Dictator.
- He abolishes the daily sacrifice and sets up the abomination of desolation
in the temple 1,290 days before Jesus returns (Dan. 12:11), see
Ezekiel's Temple. The abomination is likely an image or statue of Antichrist.
This is 30 days before the middle of the Tribulation period.
- After the 3.5 Prophetic Years of making himself world ruler, he will sit in the temple and proclaim himself as God (2 Thess 2:4), see Ezekiel's Temple (Maybe in Passover 2030 (April 17), see End of Time in
When Did Jesus Die and When Was He Born?) - During the last 3.5 Prophetic Years of the Tribulation period
(the Great Tribulation) he will persecute anyone he perceives
to be disloyal to him (not having the mark).
It includes Christians and Jews on a large scale. He will act as Nero did.
He will then have the False Prophet at his disposal. - At some time during the Great Tribulation, The Rapture occurs.
- At the end of the Great tribulation he will attack Israel and Jerusalem,
and then Jesus returns. (Maybe in September–October 2033,
see End of Time in When Did Jesus Die and When Was He Born?)
Who is the End Time Antichrist?
The United States is a revived
Roman empire. It will turn into a
nationalist nation ruled by Antichrist as its president. He is alive and active today. He will rule the entire world during the Great Tribulation. He will:
- come in his own name (John 5:43),
- have the mouth of a lion (Rev 13:2a),
- elevate himself above others (Dan 8:25b, 11:36a),
- be boastful (Dan 7:20b, Rev 13:5),
- being a pathological liar (throwing truths to the ground) (Dan 8:12b),
- deny God the Father and the Son (Jesus)
(Rev 13:6, 1 John 2:22, Dan 7:25), - be a vile and evil person (Dan 11:21, 2 Thess 2:8a),
- love gold and money (Dan 11:38, 1 Tim 6:10),
- be called the little horn (Dan 8:9),
- strengthen a covenant between Israel and many other nations (Dan 9:27),
- disguise himself as a force for good (2 Cor 11:14–15),
- revealed through the apostasy (falling away)
(2 Thess 2:3, 9–12, 2 Tim 4:3–4), - having the ego to call himself God (being the Savior of mankind)
(2 Thess 2:4), - succeed in whatever he does (until Jesus returns) (Dan 8:12c, 24),
- be a descendant of the Assyrian people (Mica 5:6b) and
Ancient Rome (Dan 9:26b).
Who is the End Time False Prophet?
A strong candidate to be the False Prophet is the
last pope before Jesus returns,
the religious leader of the Catholic church, see
The Roman Catholic Church.
He will have his focus on
nationalism and have a close relationship with Antichrist. It's unknown when in time the False Prophet will emerge as the Antichrist's close companion. It could be in the middle of the 7-year Tribulation period. He will:
- appear gentle and peaceful (Rev 13:11–13, Mat 7:15),
- trying to make the world worship the beast (Rev 13:14–15, 19:20b).
