Day 21 – Bonus Material: The Day of the Lord Timeline

Day 21 – Bonus Material: The Day of the Lord Timeline

Meeting the requirements of daily life can often be exhausting. Maintaining schedules, raising children, handling the responsibilities at work can compound to leave us very little time to contemplate the future of our world. God definitely has a plan and He has revealed some of the details of what He has in store for this world. Prophecies in Daniel, Ezekiel, I Thessalonians, Matthew, Revelations and others give us glimpses into the end times and allow us to construct a timeline for the specific events that make up “The Day of the Lord”.

We are currently living in a period called “The Church Age.” The rapture of the church will bring the church age to an end and we are told in God’s Word that the rapture is imminent. Nothing needs to occur on earth before God can tell Jesus to “go get your bride.” Seven years after the rapture, Christ will return to the earth accompanied by His church and this event is referred to as “The Second Coming.” The seven-year period between the rapture and the second coming is referred to as the Great Tribulation period. The Book of Revelation gives us details on many severe punishments that are poured out on the earth as the earth careens toward a final battle called Armageddon.

During this tribulation period, events and conditions on the earth are so bad that it might seem like God has abandoned His creation and Satan has taken over full control. It would be a very big mistake to assume that God has lost control and a careful study provides encouragement because we can be assured that Jesus wins in the end. Here are some of the major events of the Great Tribulation period:

Christ returns to rapture His church. The dead in Christ will be resurrected from their graves and we who are alive in Christ will be caught up into the air with Jesus. 1 Thes. 4:13 - 18

The Antichrist signs a peace treaty with Israel promising peace and security to war weary Israel. Daniel 9

God indwells and protects 144,000 witnesses to go forward and evangelize the world. Many will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ even in the face of tremendous persecution. Rev. 7

Peace is removed from the earth and war breaks out everywhere. Ezekiel 38 and 39

World-wide famine overcomes the earth as a result of all the wars. Rev. 6: 5-6

People are killed war, hunger and wild beasts. Rev. 6: 7-8

Persecution of Christians intensifies as many face martyrdoms. Rev. 6: 9–11

The false prophet and Antichrist are worshiped and people take the mark of 666. Any who refuse the mark must be killed. Rev. 13:2–17.

Christ returns with his saints to fight the forces of evil at the Battle of Armageddon. Matthew 24.

Christ defeats Satan and his earthly forces of evil. Satan is bound 1000 years. The antichrist and false prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire. Rev. 19:20–21, 20: 1–3

Christ sets up His throne in Jerusalem and rules the earth for a 1000-year period called the millennium. Life proceeds on the earth and many people come to know the Lord. Rev. 20

Satan is released for a final period before he is completely defeated and thrown into the lake of fire forever. Rev. 20

All unbelievers are resurrected and must stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment. Unbelievers are sent to hell for eternity if they have never accepted the saving work of Christ. Rev. 20:11-15

The City of New Jerusalem descends from the sky and is established on earth where Christ will rule for eternity. No more sin, no more pain, no more… Rev. 21