The End Of The World Is Coming … The Second Tuesday Of Next Week
“The end of the world is coming!” We’ve heard that statement many times. In fact, nearly every year since 1980 someone has made a prediction to this effect. That’s forty years of bad dates. Online dating services have better records. But what does it mean, "the end of the world is coming?" From what we read in the media, various groups of people have their own ideas. For some, they believe that it is the end of human life on Earth. Others believe that it is the Judgement Day, when God passes judgement on mankind. Others say it is “The Apocalypse.” But what does the Biblical record tell us?
First, at Christ’s return on the Day of Trumpets, after the events of the “Apocalypse” have taken place, the Earth and human life upon it are not totally destroyed. [See Mat. 24:29-31]. Although we are told that if those days preceding this were not shortened, all life would end. [See Mark 13:20]. However, it is the sixth head of the Beast, 666 that is destroyed prior to Christ’s return. Satan and the false prophet are put away. Thus, from a positive perspective, the “Apocalypse” is the triumph of good over evil. It’s just that the transition from now to then will be the worse time in human history. [See the Feature article, And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor].
Second, it is not the Judgement Day some expect. This comes later, a thousand years later, when the seventh head of the Beast is manifest, “for a short time.” [Rev. 17:10, 11, Rev. 20:7ff; see the Feature articles, Heaven Can Wait and Heaven Can Wait II].
The “end of the world” order of events, actually Christ's return, follows the prophetic order of the seven holy days during the three times a year to be observed that were given to all Israel. [See the Feature article, The Relevance Of The Holy Days In The Plan Of God In The Last Days]. If we were in a three-act play, we would be nearing the end of the second act, with the return of Christ as the beginning of act three. For a detailed explanation, see The Hijacked Elephant beginning in chapter five, a complimentary download on our Home page.
While the word Apocalypse has become synonymous with the events leading up to the end of the world, the word apocalypse in Greek, apokalypsis, simply means a revealing, hence the book of Revelation. And it does reveal to us the events that precede Christ’s return, as well as the period of a thousand years of peace that follows. But between now and Christ’s return, there is much trial and tribulation to go through for the inhabitants of Earth. As it’s said in Revelation, Satan has power to make war with the saints and overcome them. [See Rev. 13:7]. So let’s take a look at the Biblical record. [See the Feature article, Revelation 17: Big Brother, The Beast Of Babylon].
The Biblical record’s account of “the end of the world,” i.e., events prior to Christ’s return, begins in Revelation chapter 15 and continues through chapter 20 verse 6. The first verse of chapter 15 says, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven last plagues; for in them is filled up with the wrath of God.” This wrath is directed at the sixth Beast, Babylon the Great. And we are told, “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day ….” [Rev. 18:8].
Chapter 16 marks the beginning of the account of the pouring out of these plagues upon the Earth. The first of these plagues are grievous sores afflicting those who had the mark of the Beast and worshiped his image. The second plague causes every living creature in the sea to die. The third plague made all the rivers and fountains of waters to turn to blood. “And I heard the angel of the waters say ‘You are righteous, O Lord, who is and was and shall be, because you judged thus, for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets and you have given them blood to drink.’” [Rev. 16:4, 5].
The fourth plague was the sun burning so hot it scorches men with fire. The fifth plague of darkness was poured out on the throne of the Beast [see Rev. 13:2], which will be in Jerusalem at that time, and his kingdom so that “they gnawed on their tongues for pain.” As the Biblical Commentary Jamieson, Fausset and Brown explains: “Greek, ‘owing to the pain' occasioned by the previous plagues, rendered more appalling by the darkness … so this ‘gnawing of their tongues’ is through rage at the baffling of their hopes and the overthrow of their kingdom.”
The sixth plague dried up the river Euphrates “that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” As we read in 16:16, these kings will be gathered in the place called Armageddon.
The seventh vial was poured into the air, a voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne saying “It is done.” At this point, the greatest earthquake since “men were upon the Earth” happens [also see Jer. 10:10, 11]. As a result, Jerusalem splits into three parts, and cities of the nations fall. Islands disappear and mountains are no longer found. Great hail, each weighing about 100 pounds or 40 kilos follows all this. Without getting into the math, these hail stones would be about a cubit or 18 inches, give or take, in diameter, if they are made of ice. As the city of Babylon the Great is destroyed by fire, perhaps they are meteorites. If made of hot iron and nickel, then it would be like getting pummeled by fiery 100 pound cannon balls traveling at great velocity, easily enough power to destroy a city. [See Rev. 16:17-21].
It is at this point that Babylon the Great, the 666, or sixth head of the Beast is destroyed in one hour. As we are told, “All the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her and the merchants of the Earth became rich through her.” [Rev. 18:3].
Now as horrific as this is, and it certainly is terrifying, life on Earth is not ended for mankind. We are told that Babylon the Great is destroyed with fire. The kings, who committed fornication with her, lament when they see her burning. The merchants shall weep and mourn over her from afar, casting dust on their heads, none able to buy her merchandise any longer. [See Rev. 18].
The “Apocalypse” that we associate with the end of the world, is a series of judgements, the seven seals and plagues, upon all the nations of Israel and the sixth Beast of Revelation including those who have the mark of the Beast and worship its image. It is Babylon the Great that is destroyed. See the Feature article, Who Do We Believe The Lies?, and chapter six, The Blind Man’s Elephant. So while this is an extremely frightening time, its culmination is directed at the sixth Beast, and the evil it has perpetrated on Earth. And when this is done, we are told, “Rejoice over her [Babylon the Great], heaven and the holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her.” [Rev. 18:20].
This all takes place just prior to the return of Christ on the Day of Trumpets. Christ's return marks the end of the Christian age. Then, the remnant of Israel will be gathered together into the land promised to Abraham, initiating a period of a thousand years of peace on Earth. See Eze. chapters 40-48 for details.
While this is what many believe to be “the end of the world,” this period is two-fold: 1-it is a judgement upon the children of Israel by the sixth Beast, 666 due to our ungodliness lasting for a period of 42 months; 2- then, God visits judgement upon this sixth head of the Beast in one day at the end of the 42 months. [See the Feature article, Obadiah And The Prophetic Parable Of The Tares]. Christ returns and ushers in a thousand years of peace. It is only after this that the seventh head of the Beast, Gog and Magog, is loosed for a little while. Read Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 for details. Then comes the great judgement day, and the end of this Earth. [Read Rev. 20; also the Feature articles, Our Corrupted Compass and Damascus A Heap Of Ruins].
But if you’re looking for a date marking the end of the world, the second Tuesday of next week is as good as any. [See Mat. 24:32-36]. For details of the coming of the Lawless One, see the Feature articles, The War Dispatches, Obadiah And The Prophetic Parable Of The Tares and Is The US And Great Britain In End-times Bible Prophecy?.
First, at Christ’s return on the Day of Trumpets, after the events of the “Apocalypse” have taken place, the Earth and human life upon it are not totally destroyed. [See Mat. 24:29-31]. Although we are told that if those days preceding this were not shortened, all life would end. [See Mark 13:20]. However, it is the sixth head of the Beast, 666 that is destroyed prior to Christ’s return. Satan and the false prophet are put away. Thus, from a positive perspective, the “Apocalypse” is the triumph of good over evil. It’s just that the transition from now to then will be the worse time in human history. [See the Feature article, And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor].
Second, it is not the Judgement Day some expect. This comes later, a thousand years later, when the seventh head of the Beast is manifest, “for a short time.” [Rev. 17:10, 11, Rev. 20:7ff; see the Feature articles, Heaven Can Wait and Heaven Can Wait II].
The “end of the world” order of events, actually Christ's return, follows the prophetic order of the seven holy days during the three times a year to be observed that were given to all Israel. [See the Feature article, The Relevance Of The Holy Days In The Plan Of God In The Last Days]. If we were in a three-act play, we would be nearing the end of the second act, with the return of Christ as the beginning of act three. For a detailed explanation, see The Hijacked Elephant beginning in chapter five, a complimentary download on our Home page.
While the word Apocalypse has become synonymous with the events leading up to the end of the world, the word apocalypse in Greek, apokalypsis, simply means a revealing, hence the book of Revelation. And it does reveal to us the events that precede Christ’s return, as well as the period of a thousand years of peace that follows. But between now and Christ’s return, there is much trial and tribulation to go through for the inhabitants of Earth. As it’s said in Revelation, Satan has power to make war with the saints and overcome them. [See Rev. 13:7]. So let’s take a look at the Biblical record. [See the Feature article, Revelation 17: Big Brother, The Beast Of Babylon].
The Biblical record’s account of “the end of the world,” i.e., events prior to Christ’s return, begins in Revelation chapter 15 and continues through chapter 20 verse 6. The first verse of chapter 15 says, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven last plagues; for in them is filled up with the wrath of God.” This wrath is directed at the sixth Beast, Babylon the Great. And we are told, “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day ….” [Rev. 18:8].
Chapter 16 marks the beginning of the account of the pouring out of these plagues upon the Earth. The first of these plagues are grievous sores afflicting those who had the mark of the Beast and worshiped his image. The second plague causes every living creature in the sea to die. The third plague made all the rivers and fountains of waters to turn to blood. “And I heard the angel of the waters say ‘You are righteous, O Lord, who is and was and shall be, because you judged thus, for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets and you have given them blood to drink.’” [Rev. 16:4, 5].
The fourth plague was the sun burning so hot it scorches men with fire. The fifth plague of darkness was poured out on the throne of the Beast [see Rev. 13:2], which will be in Jerusalem at that time, and his kingdom so that “they gnawed on their tongues for pain.” As the Biblical Commentary Jamieson, Fausset and Brown explains: “Greek, ‘owing to the pain' occasioned by the previous plagues, rendered more appalling by the darkness … so this ‘gnawing of their tongues’ is through rage at the baffling of their hopes and the overthrow of their kingdom.”
The sixth plague dried up the river Euphrates “that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.” As we read in 16:16, these kings will be gathered in the place called Armageddon.
The seventh vial was poured into the air, a voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne saying “It is done.” At this point, the greatest earthquake since “men were upon the Earth” happens [also see Jer. 10:10, 11]. As a result, Jerusalem splits into three parts, and cities of the nations fall. Islands disappear and mountains are no longer found. Great hail, each weighing about 100 pounds or 40 kilos follows all this. Without getting into the math, these hail stones would be about a cubit or 18 inches, give or take, in diameter, if they are made of ice. As the city of Babylon the Great is destroyed by fire, perhaps they are meteorites. If made of hot iron and nickel, then it would be like getting pummeled by fiery 100 pound cannon balls traveling at great velocity, easily enough power to destroy a city. [See Rev. 16:17-21].
It is at this point that Babylon the Great, the 666, or sixth head of the Beast is destroyed in one hour. As we are told, “All the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her and the merchants of the Earth became rich through her.” [Rev. 18:3].
Now as horrific as this is, and it certainly is terrifying, life on Earth is not ended for mankind. We are told that Babylon the Great is destroyed with fire. The kings, who committed fornication with her, lament when they see her burning. The merchants shall weep and mourn over her from afar, casting dust on their heads, none able to buy her merchandise any longer. [See Rev. 18].
The “Apocalypse” that we associate with the end of the world, is a series of judgements, the seven seals and plagues, upon all the nations of Israel and the sixth Beast of Revelation including those who have the mark of the Beast and worship its image. It is Babylon the Great that is destroyed. See the Feature article, Who Do We Believe The Lies?, and chapter six, The Blind Man’s Elephant. So while this is an extremely frightening time, its culmination is directed at the sixth Beast, and the evil it has perpetrated on Earth. And when this is done, we are told, “Rejoice over her [Babylon the Great], heaven and the holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her.” [Rev. 18:20].
This all takes place just prior to the return of Christ on the Day of Trumpets. Christ's return marks the end of the Christian age. Then, the remnant of Israel will be gathered together into the land promised to Abraham, initiating a period of a thousand years of peace on Earth. See Eze. chapters 40-48 for details.
While this is what many believe to be “the end of the world,” this period is two-fold: 1-it is a judgement upon the children of Israel by the sixth Beast, 666 due to our ungodliness lasting for a period of 42 months; 2- then, God visits judgement upon this sixth head of the Beast in one day at the end of the 42 months. [See the Feature article, Obadiah And The Prophetic Parable Of The Tares]. Christ returns and ushers in a thousand years of peace. It is only after this that the seventh head of the Beast, Gog and Magog, is loosed for a little while. Read Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 for details. Then comes the great judgement day, and the end of this Earth. [Read Rev. 20; also the Feature articles, Our Corrupted Compass and Damascus A Heap Of Ruins].
But if you’re looking for a date marking the end of the world, the second Tuesday of next week is as good as any. [See Mat. 24:32-36]. For details of the coming of the Lawless One, see the Feature articles, The War Dispatches, Obadiah And The Prophetic Parable Of The Tares and Is The US And Great Britain In End-times Bible Prophecy?.
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