The Bible & the End Times Revelation The Bible & the End Times

Key Bible Passages Jesus’ Teaching about the End Times Matthew 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21 Two topics The destruction of Jerusalem The second coming Jesus promised his disciples that he would come again.

Key Bible Passages Jesus’ Teaching about the End Times Before his return there would be “birth pains”—events before the destruction of Jerusalem. There will be wars, famine, earthquakes, and pestilence. Wickedness will increase. There will be fearful events and signs from heaven. People will be deceived by many false messiahs.

Key Bible Passages Jesus’ Teaching about the End Times Before his return there would be “birth pains”—events before the destruction of Jerusalem. Believers in Christ will be persecuted and killed. Believers will be witnesses of Jesus to kings. Many will turn away from the faith. There will be betrayals by parents, brothers, and friends.

Key Bible Passages Jesus’ Teaching about the End Times Before his return there would be “birth pains”—events before the destruction of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. The “abomination that causes desolation” will stand in the holy place. Jerusalem will be trampled on by Gentiles.

Key Bible Passages Jesus’ Teaching about the End Times Matthew 24:29-31 Judgment language: The sun will darken, the moon will not shine, and the stars will fall. False prophets will perform signs, and miracles. Severe ocean activity will disturb the nations. People will faint with terror.

Key Bible Passages Jesus’ Teaching about the End Times Matthew 24:29-31 Judgment language: Jesus will appear in the sky. The trumpet will sound. Angels will gather God’s elect.

Key Bible Passages Jesus’ Teaching about the End Times Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” – Matthew 24:36 Matthew 24:35 on refers to the second coming of Christ. See also Mark 13:32.

Key Bible Passages Pauline writings about the End 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 The Lord will descend. The dead in Christ will rise first. The living will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord and be with him forever.

Key Bible Passages Pauline writings about the End 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 Don’t believe those who say the Day of the Lord has already come. The Day of the Lord will be preceded by: Rebellion The revelation of the man of lawlessness

Key Bible Passages Pauline writings about the End The man of lawlessness will: Oppose and exalt himself over God. Set himself up in God’s temple. Proclaim to be God. Be revealed when the one holding him back is taken out of the way.

Key Bible Passages Pauline writings about the End The man of lawlessness will: In accord with the power of satan, counterfeit miracles. Deceive those who do not love the truth. Be overthrown and destroyed when Jesus comes.

Eschatology Terminology Revelation Eschatology Terminology

End-Times Words to Know Eschatology Biblical teachings about the events leading up to the second coming of Jesus. From Greek, eschatos [final] + logos [word or idea] = “a word about the final things” or study of last things.

End-Times Words to Know First Coming of Christ The earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ, about 4 BC–AD 30. Second Coming of Christ The bodily return of Jesus to earth for the day of Judgment. Premillennial views have second coming after “great tribulation” to set up earthly kingdom for 1000 years.

End-Times Words to Know Church Period The time period from the beginning of the church (about AD 30) until Christ’s second coming. See John 14.

End-Times Words to Know Millennium The thousand-year reign of Jesus on earth, described in Revelation 20:4–6. From Latin, mille, meaning “thousand.” Premillennial The belief that the millennium is a future event and Jesus will return before the millennium.

End-Times Words to Know Amillennial The millennium is a symbol of Christ’s present reign among his people. Postmillennial Jesus will return after the millennium. The millennium is the time in which most of the world submits to Jesus, and peace and justice reign.

End-Times Words to Know Preterism The eschatological viewpoint that suggests some, if not all, biblical prophecies about the end times refer to specific events that happened in the first century. From Latin, praeter, meaning “past.”

End-Times Words to Know Preterism (Destruction of Jerusalem) The antichrist may refer to Emperor Nero (AD 37–68). The tribulation may refer to the Jewish War (AD 66–73). The destruction of the temple in prophecy may have occurred in AD 70. The Jewish War is also known as the Great Revolt or the First Jewish-Roman War.

End-Times Words to Know Rapture Term comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, when Jesus Christ returns for his people. From Latin, raptus, meaning “carry away.”

End-Times Words to Know Rapture Historic premillennialists, amillennialists, and postmillennialists understand the second coming of Jesus and the event described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 as the same event.

End-Times Words to Know Rapture Dispensational premillennialists believe that the rapture and the second coming of Jesus are two separate events. They place the rapture before the great tribulation. The second coming is after the “great tribulation” when Jesus sets up His earthly kingdom for 1000 years.

End-Times Words to Know Tribulation Greek word thilipsis that occurs in the New Testament some 45 times. The term is generally used to describe outside pressure or persecution on believers See: 1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Cor. 8:1; Rom. 5:3; Jn. 16:21; James 1:27; Heb 10:33; Rev. 2:9-10 See Revelation 7:14.

End-Times Words to Know Tribulation (Great) For Premillennialists it is a specific time when disasters happen on the earth and people who are faithful to Jesus suffer intense persecution, possibly lasting seven years. Premillennialists place the great tribulation near the end. Dispensational premillennialists typically believe that the tribulation will last exactly seven years. See Revelation 7:14.

End-Times Words to Know Tribulation (Great) Many historical premillennialists view the reference to “seven years” as a symbol of the completeness of God’s dealings with the world as the end of time approaches. Most amillennialists and postmillennialists treat the tribulation as a symbol of calamities and persecutions that have occurred throughout church history.