What Will Happen to Our Planet? Chronological Order of Future Events

Bible Study

15For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

– 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

14And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

– Revelation 13:14-15

5We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

– 2 Corinthians 10:5
(NASB® © 2020)

What will happen next? What will the future of our planet look like?

The Lord is coming soon! We are convinced of this – and we long for it. But while we await the Lord from heaven (1 Thes 1:10), this evil world can only expect the worst. While we will be in complete joy and rest in heaven, this earth will experience something that will eclipse everything that has happened before.

The following table is an attempt to depict the events that will take place on this earth after our rapture. If we “love his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8), we as Christians will have an interest in how the Lord Jesus will accomplish His aims and purposes..

At the same time, we want to warn people about this terrible future (2 Cor 5:11). It is still the time of grace!

 

Chronological order of future events
Event Scripture Verses
Rapture; the Holy Spirit leaves the earth 1 Thess 4:15-17
Judgment Seat of Christ 2 Cor. 10:5; 1 Cor. 3:10-15
Marriage of the Lamb Rev 19:6-9
  • Events in the first 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th week of 7 years (“beginning of sorrows”; Mt 24:8)
Time of worldwide catastrophes (seal judgments) Mt 24:4-13; Rev 6
Europe’s alliance with the Jews (Antichrist) Dan 9:27
Proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom Mt 24:14
  • Events in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week
Satan is thrown out of the heavenly places Rev 12:7-12
Beginning of the Great Tribulation Mt 24:21; Dan 12:1
Setting up of the abomination idol in the temple by the Antichrist (the second beast from Rev 13) Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14; Rev 13:14.15; Dan 9:27; 12:1
Worship of the Antichrist 2 Thess. 2:3.4
European Prince (Roman dictator; the first beast from Rev 13) receives the throne and power from Satan. Rev 13:4.5
Persecution of the God-fearing Jews (the remnant) Rev 12:13-17; 13:7
God-fearing Jews flee to the surrounding mountains Mt 24:16
God’s two witnesses will minister in Jerusalem and get murdered Rev 11:3-13
  • Events in the last 3.5 years (42 months=1260 days = “time: times and half a time”; Rev 12:14)
Destruction of Babylon, the fallen church of the end-time Rev 16-18
7 trumpet judgments (mainly over Europe) Rev 8+9
7 bowl judgments (they enable the approach of armies from the east) Rev 16
Egypt invades Israel, then the king of the north (Syria; Arab alliance); judgment of the king of the north Dan 9:27; 11:40-45; Rev 9:1-11; Is 10:12
Gathering of the armies of the Roman Empire at Armageddon Rev 16:14-16
  • Events at the end of the Great Tribulation
Christ’s appearing (accompanied by His own) on the Mount of Olives Rev 19:11-16; Zech 14:3-5; 2 Thess 1:7.8
Battle of Armageddon, death of the armies Rev 19:17-21; Mt 25:31-46; Joel 4:2
Beasts (ruler of Europe and the Antichrist) will be thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 19:17-21; Is 11:4
Satan is bound for 1,000 years. Rev 20:1-3
Defeat of the occupying power in Jerusalem and Israel’s enemies Sach. 12+14
Judgment of Edom and other kings Is 13-27; 34; 63; Jer 46-51; Sach. 12:1-6; Ps 83; Joel 4:2
Destruction of the Russian armies in Israel (king of the furthest north; Gog and Magog) Ez 38+39
Judgement of the godless Jews Rev 14:17-20; Mt 25:1-30; Ez 20:34-38
Judgement of the living Mt 25:31-46
End of the first resurrection Rev 20:4-6
Establishment of the millennial kingdom of peace Rev 20:4
  • Events in the millennial kingdom of peace
Return of the Jewish remnant that fled during the tribulation Ps 122
Return of the ten tribes of Israel from all the nations Ez 20:34-38
Reconstruction of Jerusalem Jes 63:17f.; Zech 8
Construction of the temple and establishment of the sacrificial service Ez 40-48
Return of the glory of God into the temple Ez 43:1-9
Loosing of Satan, who then deceives the earth again Rev 20:7-9
Fire from Heaven, judgment on the devil and his demons Rev 20:10; Jud. 6; 2 Pet 2:4; Mt 25:41
Judgment of the dead (unbelievers only) Rev 20:11-15
The new creation of heaven and earth – eternal state Rev 21:1-8

 

 

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