What should Christians who are interested in end-times
prophecy be watching for, and what is a potential timeline of those events? Certainly, the entire Middle East is in upheaval and has been for several years now. ISIS is diminished but continues to be a threat. Syria is still at war with itself. Iraq is more unstable now than it was during the time of Saddam Hussein’s rule. Iran grows more threatening every month to those in the region, and exhibits more internal unrest daily. Turkey continues its move away from democracy; becoming less friendly to Western nations and more united with Muslim nations in their region. Russia and the U.S. continue to play their high-powered chess game, using the Middle Eastern nations as their game pieces. Here is a brief description and rough timeline of the events I
personally am watching for, based on my understanding of scripture regarding the end times:
The Rapture of the Church (true followers of Christ) – At any
time now...there is nothing which would preclude the rapture from occurring this very instant, but it could also occur after the Destruction of Elam, and just prior to
the Psalm 83 War.
For
this we say 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. For 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. Then
we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these
words. I Thessalonians 4:15-18
The Destruction of Elam
(southwestern part of Iran) - At any moment a "calamity" sent from the Lord could occur. This event may be militarily brought about (notice reference to "the sword"), or by a natural or accidental means. It has also been noted by Prophecy teacher Bill Salus that the Bushehr nuclear plant is in this area of Iran. The reactor, made by German companies and put together by Russian companies, is located near the sea where salt-spray is constantly attacking the components and causing deterioration. The location is also on two major fault lines, and an earthquake is very probable at some point in the future.
“
The Sudden Destruction of Damascus (capital city of Syria) – After the Destruction of Elam, and just prior to, or sometime during, the Great Middle East war most likely. The city of Damascus will become a ruin, and it seems it could occur as quickly as a few hours. The country of Syria has been at war internally for several years now and is devastated. Many other countries such as Russia, America, Turkey, and Iran continue to involve themselves to one extent or another in the fighting within Syria. This event may even be the catalyst for the Great Middle East war against Israel, if Israel was involved with Damascus' sudden destruction in any way. Israel and Syria have technically been at war with each other since 1948 when the Nation of Israel was established.
“1 Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city and will become a fallen ruin... 14 At evening time, behold, there is terror! Before morning they are no more. Such will be the portion of those who plunder us and the lot of those who pillage us.” Isaiah 17:1, 14
The Great Middle East War (“Psalm 83 War”) - Possibly soon after the Destruction of Damascus event, an attack against Israel involving all the countries immediately surrounding Israel will occur. After
the Destruction of Damascus, the predominately Muslim countries around Israel will band together to wipe Israel from the map. In fact, the disruption of the United States by the sudden disappearance of a portion of the population (the rapture) may be a key factor in emboldening the countries around Israel to attack, knowing the U.S. will not be capable of coming to Israel’s immediate aid, or no longer have the inclination to protect Israel as a nation after the Christian population's influence is gone. It appears from scripture that the Israeli Defense Forces
will defeat these countries with the guidance and protection of God, just as they won the Israel
Independence and Six Day wars previously.
"1 O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. 2 For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves. 3 They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,That the name of Israel be remembered no more.” 5 For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah" Psalm 83:1-8
Gog and Magog War (“Ezekiel 38 War”) - After the
Great Middle Eastern War and most likely about 4 years prior to the start of
the Tribulation. Israel will be dwelling
securely in unwalled villages, something that may come about due to the annexation
of much of the surrounding territory taken from the defeated countries around
Israel during the Great Middle Eastern War. a coalition of countries (involving countries in an “outer ring” around Israel) will be led by Gog and Magog (Russia) to invade Israel. The purpose stated in scripture clearly is to "capture spoil and seize plunder", to "carry away gold and silver, to take away cattle and goods." These are possibly the spoils that Israel claimed after defeating the surrounding countries in the Great Middle Eastern War. Russia has taken note of the riches now in Israel, and is drawn to take them for themselves. God Himself will defeat the invaders through supernatural means, as a
way of declaring His protection and support for Israel.
3...Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; 5 Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you. 7 “Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. 9 You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.” 10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 11 and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12 to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?’” 14 “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; 16 and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.” 17 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? 18 It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD, “that My fury will mount up in My anger. 19 In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. 23 I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD.”’ Ezekiel
38:3-23
The Seven Year Period of Tribulation (“Time of Jacob’s Trouble”) –
After the Rapture (unknown how many years after though), and after the Gog and
Magog Ezekiel 38 War. It will last for
seven years, with the first half being a period of perceived unity and peace and the second half being a period of unequaled death and destruction on earth. Note that the Tribulation does not start immediately after the Rapture, but when the Antichrist and Israel initiate a
covenant together. The covenant with the Antichrist will allow the Jewish temple to be rebuilt, and temple worship and sacrifices will begin to take place once again in Jerusalem. During this time, the focus will once again turn to Israel. The Jews will acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah, and will turn to God in large numbers. God will specifically set aside 144,000 Jews to act as His witnesses. God will supernaturally protect these Tribulation Saints from the judgments being poured out on the earth.
"Then
after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the
people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to
the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he
will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the
week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of
abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete
destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." Daniel 9:26-27
The Battle of Armageddon - At the end of the seven year period of Tribulation and just prior to the Millennial (actual 1000 year) reign of Christ on earth. The Antichrist and False Prophet gather their armies outside of Jerusalem on the plain of Har Maggedon to battle the Lord. Jesus returns along with the Church (you and me as believers) and defeat the Antichrist and his armies. Satan is bound and thrown into the pit where he remains for 1000 years during the Millennial reign of Christ on Earth.
"19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time." Rev. 19:19-20:3
The Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth and Final Battle - Immediately following the Tribulation period and the Battle of Armageddon. Christ reigns physically on Earth from Jerusalem during this 1000 year period of peace. At the end of this period, Satan is released from the pit and deceives many people from all over the earth to attack Jerusalem. Fire comes down from Heaven and devours them all, and Satan is finally defeated and thrown in the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and False Prophet are.
“7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Rev. 20:7-10
