Sunday School Lesson 50
END TIME PROPHECIES
MEMORY VERSE: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” – 2 Peter 3:10
BIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 13:6-22
INTRODUCTION: The event usually referred to as “the end of the world” (eschaton) is described in 2 Peter 3:10 This is the culmination of a series of events called “the day of the Lord,” The Bible has a lot to say about the end times. Nearly every book of the Bible contains prophecy regarding the end times. Taking all of these prophecies and organizing them can be difficult. Following is a very brief summary of what the Bible declares will happen in the end times.
LESSON OUTLINES:
- FROM RAPTURE TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION
- THE MILLENNIAL REIGN TO THE END
1. FROM RAPTURE TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Christ will remove all born-again believers from the earth in an event known as the “rapture” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54). At the judgement seat of Christ, these believers will be rewarded for good works and faithful service during their time on earth or will lose their rewards, but not eternal life, for lack of service and disobedience (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
The Antichrist (the beast) will come into power and will sign a covenant with Israel for seven years (Daniel 9:27). This seven years period of time is known as the “tribulation”. During the tribulation, there will be terrible wars, famines, plagues and natural disasters. God will be pouring out His wrath against sin, evil and Wickedness.
About half way through the seven years, the antichrist will break the peace covenant with Israel and make war against it. The antichrist will commit “the abomination of desolation” and set up an image of himself to be worshipped in the Jerusalem temple (Daniel 9:27); 2 Thessalonian 2:3-10), which will have been rebuilt. The second half of the tribulation is known as “the great tribulation” (Revelation 7:14) and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).
2. THE MILLENNIAL REIGN TO THE END
At the end of the seven-year tribulation, the Antichrist will launch a final attack on Jerusalem, culminating in “the battle of Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16;19:19-20). Jesus Christ will return, destroy the Antichrist and his armies, and cast them into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21). Christ will then bind Satan in “the Abyss – bottomless pit” for one thousand years. Christ will rule His earthly kingdom for this thousand years period. (Revelation 20:1-6)
At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released and will deceive many. He will be defeated again and then cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7-9) for eternity. Christ then judges all unbelievers at the great white throne judgement, casting then all into the lake of fire. Death and hell will also be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10-15). Christ will then usher in a new heaven and New earth and the new Jerusalem – the eternal dwelling place of believers. There will be no more sin, sorrow, or death. (Revelation 21-22)
CONCLUSION: The knowledge of this end time events is for believers to be well prepared.