If I could convince people that the Millennial Kingdom led by Jesus begins on earth within twenty years, would they change anything in their life? Keep in mind, that the great trial for everyone living on earth even begins some seven years sooner. First, God will send His two witnesses to first tell the world the truth but the world will hate them and wish to kill them but any harm directed toward them will fall on their own head.
These two prophets of God will have the power to smite the nations as often as they wish (Rev 11:6). That being true, the reality than is that those not in Christ will experience the start of this great trial on earth within the next 10 to 15 years. The reason for the great trial is to deal with evil people who are following Satan and to remove all who are opposed to the rule of Jesus on earth. None that reject Jesus as Lord will enter the Millennial Kingdom that He will set up on earth.
There is no reason for true believers to be tried because they already are in the spiritual body of Christ. Their sins are covered by the blood Jesus shed for them at the cross. Therefore, those in Christ are taken to be with Christ before this great trial on earth even begins (1Th 4:15 through 5: 1-11 & Rev 3 10). If Jesus is ruling within twenty years, that means the Rapture is likely to occur within the next 10 to 15 years.
Some Bible prophecy teachers say that about half of the people in the world will be killed during the tribulation period. I think it is highly unlikely that half the population will survive. I believe at least two-thirds will be killed and it might be more than five-sixths.
We know that two-thirds in Israel are killed during the refining of Israel in their trial (Zec 13:9), so I think the Gentile nations that oppress Israel are likely to reap double on their own head as payback during the Great tribulation and the judgment of the nations.
If you read all that is said about the events on earth in Revelation, it is hard to see how billions of people can survive through it. The Old Testament scriptures also confirm that. In fact, if Jesus did not return to cut short the time of this destruction for the sake of His elect, no flesh would have survived on earth at all (Mt 24:22). Even after the tribulation of those days, there still remains the Sheep and Goat Judgment where Jesus determines who will enter the kingdom and who will be cut off by how they treated His Israelite brethren (Mt 25 31-46). That said, I do not think that there will be billions of mortal beings entering the Kingdom.
I have already written about why I surmise that Jesus will return in the 2030’s so I will not repeat that again here. You can read the articles.
Biblical week indicates the kingdom on earth established 2030-2035
Seventh millennium in two decades, these are the prophetic years
Reasons to believe why Jesus will return before 2050 AD
The prophetic end of the age is likely to occur around 2030 AD.
From 2010 until the Messianic Age Millennial Kingdom of Yeshua.
What I would like to do is to point out the more recent obvious trends that continues to support most of what I said in those articles.
Iran is now one month away from making nuclear warheads anytime that she so chooses and Israel is getting mighty concerned about that. The Arabs are also concerned about a nuclear Iran starting a new empire by first taking over the fertile crescent.
Saudi Arabia is so angry at Obama for not taking action against Iran’s nuclear weapons program and for destabilizing Arab nations that they have made plans to acquire nukes from Pakistan. They say they might even give nukes to Egypt. Saudi Arabia paid for much of the Pakistan nuclear program so she is likely to have access to some of these weapons when she wants to take possession.
The Saudis are now financially supporting the military of Egypt because Egypt has enough population to oppose any Iranian takeover. Turkey also has the population numbers but she now seems to favor Iran rather than the Arabs (Iran and Turkey are not Arab nations). As long as the Twelfth Imam Mahdi cult is running Iran, it is not likely that Iran will change direction on its nuclear weapons development program. Therefore, most likely, either Israel will soon hit Iran’s nuclear facilities, or there will be a nuclear race in the Middle East. In either case, Katie-bar-the-door!
Nationalism is now rapidly rising in EU nations against the Muslim threat and because of high unemployment and the tax and austerity programs being forced on them by EU bureaucrats. I think the Beast/Antichrist will come from and lead a populist nationalistic movement in Europe much like his last forerunner (Hitler).
The Roman Catholic Church has a very strange Pope and even many Catholics think so. You can read about the possibilities in my article, Is Jesuit Pope Francis the Antichrist or the False Prophet?
Obama is undoubtedly a Communist whose ideology is rapidly leading America to its own destruction. By 2017 America will be over $20 trillion in debt. If the Interest rates rise to just that of normal times, the Interest alone will add another trillion to the national debt each year. This is not sustainable.
In addition, America’s electrical grid is very vulnerable to an EMP or cyber attack. When even the former Homeland Security Chief says the electrical grid will soon be attacked and fail, we ought to take that warning seriously. The death estimates for an extended grid down situation in the U.S. is 60 percent to 90 percent dead within one year. It looks like the U.S. could soon be out of the picture as a superpower and that certainly will seriously destabilize the rest of an already unstable world.
Russia is rebuilding its military while America’s military is being emasculated and defunded by the Obama administration. Vladimir Putin’s dream of building a new Russian Orthodox Empire and becoming its next Czar looks plausible. Russia will become a world power again and her Czar (Putin?) will fulfill the Gog role in Ezekiel 38 and 39.
China is rapidly becoming a superpower and the restraint of the U.S. in East Asia will soon be gone. China with its one child policy has caused a huge surplus of men in their country and the greatest number of these will be of fighting age by around 2030. They will be the backbone for the 200,000,000 man army coming from the East (Rev 9:16).
The great apostasy is spreading almost unrestrained in much of Christendom. Third wave Pentecostals claiming signs and wonders and mystical experiences have now gone mainstream and they have replaced any serious Bible study in much of the Evangelical Protestant world. Christianity is taught as the means for people to acquire material things or for gaining advantage over others.
Rather than trusting in God’s living Word, confession of faith within this rapidly spreading heretical movement means having faith in your own spoken words, or the words of their spiritual Guru, or the words that they conjured up in their own mind that they then tell people came from God.
Many calling themselves Evangelical Christians now follow heretical charismatic personalities instead of the Jesus of the Bible. Christianity is also becoming increasingly hostile toward Israel as Replacement Theology is taught by whole denominations.
Homosexual perversion is now spreading all over the world as normal acceptable lifestyles. Secular humanism “progressives” with the governments that their converts demand are in open rebellion against God’s laws. They enforce their own laws on others that oppose God’s laws and the God-given marriage covenant and family structure. Porn is now everywhere, drugs are everywhere, morality is mocked, and evil is said to be good. The name of Jesus and honoring the true God of creation is not allowed in “progressive” nations. However, anything else goes in “progressive” societies given over to a reprobate mind (Rom 1: 18-32). We ought to know what comes next, if we know the scriptures.
Think about it, twenty years is not that far in the future. In twenty years Jesus probably will be ruling in Jerusalem and everything leading up to the second coming will probably already be in the past. How then should people be living if they actually believed that Jesus is Lord and that He will be ruling in His Millennial Kingdom within 20 years?
From the last chapter of Revelation (I just happened to be there):
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
People can scoff or believe, yet the truth of what is fortold is going to happen as He said it would.
Romans 1:18-32 — reprobate mind(s) — reinforces that the unjust and filthy will continue in their ways…
while the spirit of truth indwelling in His genuine bride reinforces that the righteous and holy shall continue in their ways [until they are raptured or otherwise prior].
Don – I know there is a verse, well mis-used and twisted by the cults, about 2000 years from Jesus’ resurrection to His return, but I can’t find it / recall it. I thought Jesus spoke it Himself, but there’s also similar in Hosea. ???
I like December 2022 as a great time for the Rapture of the Church, the Bride of Christ. Shavuot in June of 2033 seems like as good a time as any for the start of the Millennial Kingdom season. Considering the deception that happens mid-tribulation as the considered conclusion to an apparent tribulation when the Rapture happens in December of 2022, I am planning for a tremendous Chistmas with the “Reason for the Season” in that year!
Great article. Wish it was sooner, but 20 years isn’t bad. Keep up the good work and thanks for providing such articles for the edification of the saints. We are all so spread out over great distances in dry and thirsty lands where no water is, and need reminders that there are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. It’s refreshing to find such siblings! Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen!
Craig,
There is no such verse in the scriptures. The Hosea scripture is the only thing close if you believe a day in that prophecy is a thousand years.
Hi Don,
Greatly enjoyed the article this morning. As a treatment provider for addictions, and having contacts with so many in the community as part of my work, I very clearly see what you are describing as the breakdown of our society. The city I live in has 40+ churches, and the percentage of the population that attends church has not change even as population has grown for the last 20 years. Drug use has almost become normalized, even for teens. Now, the abuse of marijuana and alcohol is seen as “acceptable as long as it doesnt get out of control”. The pursuit of the mood altered state, along with acceptance of many other deviant behaviors is even among people who claim to be christians is rampant. As a Professional of behavioral science, I am careful to avoid seeing “that which confirms” what I want to believe. But research is verifying a dramatic change in our society where there is a significant change in moral standards consistent with what we would expect in the end times.
Also, having contact with teenagers, I have noticed a great change over 15 years of working with this age range. The profound lack of coping skills even among those who do not use drugs is staggering. The generation coming out of our schools are truly ripe for deception as they lack critical thinking, problem solving and coping skills. Which I believe makes the easy prey for accepting satanic deceptions.
I’m still holding out for 2019 rapture… 🙂
Thanks Don, and I hope your healing up well.
Rod
Don and Craig,
While I have no more insight than anyone else, I have noticed in God’s Word that the numbers 3 and 7 have a tendency to be very significant.
Somewhere around 2030, will be the 3rd (from Christ’s Resurrection) and 7th Millennium Anniversary from The Creation.
I have my doubts that The Lord God Almighty is going to let pass the biggest event in human history, the Sacrifice of The Lord Jesus and His Resurrection…without incredible significance.
Couple that with the dead end that the world is headed and the lining up perfectly as told to us in God’s Word of all things….and I think we know the season is upon us.
Hi Rod,
And the evidence is coming in that these drugs are permanently changing brains with all the consequences that this will bring on society.
Hi Don,
Very definitely.. We are over medicating our society to begin with… Add to that other illicit substances and you have a perfect storm of sorts. Brains are indeed being altered by pharmaceuticals.
It sure can’t be headed anywhere good.
Rod
Excellent review Don. I trust everyone will read those past articles you pointed out, but as this is such an accurate review they probably don’t need to.
Rod, the article below from the Omega Letter is very much in line with all that you touch upon regarding present day attitudes, and my thoughts as I read it was, “So, what’s different?” At least they wont be hypocritical in their ‘worship’.
http://www.omegaletter.com/articles/articles.asp?ArticleID=7714
Thanks Brian,
I will check out the latest Omega letter you cited. 🙂
Rod
I do have to wonder if the hatred of The Truth might be a partial cause of the drug use.
Even a logical atheist has to see that there is no hope for the current direction of mankind…then again, an atheists solution is to get more Jesus out of society which we are seeing.
Couple that with the atheist theology and forbidden talk of The Lord Jesus Christ and Biblical Principals that the young are exposed to in schools across the United States and probably other nations…and the drug use and confusion doesn’t seem that far fetched.
I have read that some of the cults actually encourage a drugged state of mind to reach a “zen” state of conscientiousness.
Sounds to me like Satan is working very hard in these last days.
David,
Using drugs to reach a different state of “conscientiousness” is not new. That has been going on since recorded time. Use of drugs for religious reasons is not new. What is new is the acceptance of mood altering chemicals for pleasure and recreation. Which fits into the type of thinking that I can fitting into what scripture says will be increasing as we approach the return of Christ.
We are not seeing new “sins”.. We are seeing a different level of acceptance and open defiant attitude toward any type of Godly morals and values.
Just my 2 cents.. 🙂
Rod
Don,
I believe this is on topic… Regarding the two witnesses and the 144 thousand protected followers / messengers – Do you have a guestimate in the timing of their arrival in terms of the seal breakings or do they follow there after ?
Hi Craig,
The sealing of the 144,000 is after the 6th seal is broken according to Revelation 7 which starts with the words “after these things” (after the first six seals are opened). I am one of the few that believe these seals are broken before the final seven years that is left for Israel even fulfill begins. Also, in the middle of those seven years the Antichrist kills the two witnesses and we know their ministry is for 1260 days so their ministry has to begin in the first half of the final seven years as well. Some would say the 144,000 do their work in the Great tribulation (the last half of the seven years) but I think that is highly unlikely since the Antichrist will be in control and Israel will have fled from him to the mountains.
Hi Don,
I would rather think that the rapture could and will occur at any moment and I am not really sure that Satan can/will be able to set his kingdom up right away in the aftermath of the rapture.
Where do you see the rapture fitting in with your 2030 timeframe? Do you believe the ascension of the antichrist will immediately follow the harpazo?
Hi Susan,
Like I said in the article, I see the Rapture occurring within the next 10 to 15 years.
No one will receive power to become the Beast until there is war in Heaven and Satan and his angels are cast down unto the earth and the restrainer of the Son of Perdition is taken out of the way. Then the Beast rises out of the abyss and kills the two witnesses. I think it is mistake to think that anyone is the Antichrist until Satan empowers him in the midst of final seven years.
I’ll go out on a limb and say that those [bride] living in/on the American continent may not make it to the rapture – meaning, events preceding the breaking of the first seal could take us [American bride] to be with the Lord prior to the rapture.
Don
Great article – the world is truly unraveling…so how do we get the lost to listen to this? I am finding success witnessing to the lost who have small children – they see the unraveling and are worried about what will happen to their little children…
As to my understanding of your timing… 20 years would be 2033 to Jesus ruling… with a tribulation by 2026 (which is when you also put the rapture)- that would be 13 years out. Later you have a window for the rapture of 2023 to 2028 (10 to 15 years) – I agree with the shorter end of this window for way too many reasons to get into here. Bravo!
I see the seven trumpets as enclosing the Day of the Lord period – ending with the 7th trumpet – the very Day of the Lord which is the rapture (agreeing with Paul’s writings). During that period the two witnesses will be “raising heaven” from the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem – and Revelation 13:11 says they have 1,260 days – which is 3 1/2 years on the Jewish calendar (not 7 years as you have said). It looks to me that they will themselves be killed and raptured at the abomination of desolation event – they becoming first fruits (along with the 144,000 Messianic Jews) which leads the rapture of all those who are in Christ not long after that.
As to the dead – the 4th seal says the green (yes the proper translation would be green not pale) horse has the “authority over 1/4 to kill…” – I don’t see them as actually killing 1/4 of the planet (who then would they have on their side if they kill them all?). However, the 6th seal features 1/3 of the world being killed. I think along with the two witnesses and the Christians who will still be witnessing – this 2.5+ billion in deaths will be enough for this refining period. Most of the rest of the world (all that opposes God) will be killed at the 7th trumpet – this is Armageddon – so then in reality very few on the planet will be alive in Christian faith when Jesus actually returns to earth (echoing His question will He find faith on earth when He returns).
As to the church falling away, I believe the parable of the ten virgins (which are those who call themselves Christians) shows that only five of them (1/2) are truly Christians in Christ who will be raptured.
So how do we live until then? We should live our lives as Ambassadors of Christ – personally giving our heart, our head and our habits over to God’s will so that we are more fully empowered by His Holy Spirit to build His kingdom with our healing, helping hands. This is the same that Christians have always been called upon to do – and what we should do even if the rapture isn’t only 10 years away.
Maranatha!
Craig,
I have much the same thought.
The direction of the U.S. is likely to continue to snowball downhill until there is nothing left.
Not to say that there won’t be some remnant that survives coming events and could possibly see the rapture, but I think the U.S. is unlikely to be a contributing world power by the end of the decade.
The economics alone are enough to sink the U.S shortly…and that’s not even taking into account possible terrorist and/or EMP possibilities, etc.
I have to wonder if the U.S. “decision makers” are going to be forced into UN rule and furthering the ‘One World Government’ scenario shortly.
What ?…in February, 2014…our “leaders” are going to try to kick the economic can down the road AGAIN…how much longer can they do that ?…I think that ‘can’ is about to go to the recycle bin.
I think we are about to see why the U.S. is not in Biblical “end of the age” prophecy.
Don,
You would never be able to prove the return of a King to those who don’t believe. Concerning Christians, I don’t think most recognize the coming Kingdom of God, they seem to believe there concern should be getting to heaven, being ignorant of the resurrection to life that happens at his return.
I surely hope the Lord returns soon, we who believe and have been waiting on the beloved King shall rejoice. My being convinced or at least very hopeful for the Lord to return to his Kingdom doesn’t affect how I live my life other than I realize I am a citizen of another Kingdom and this present Kingdom is not much of a concern to me. I don’t have the attachment that many do, whether I am awake at his return, or whether I am asleep, I will never truly be at home until I am with the Lord in his Kingdom.
Praise God
Fount,
Sorry for the delay but you were identified as SPAM by my software. Actually, I probably never should have posted your comment anyway.
You have said some things that simply are not true. I do not set a date for the Rapture. I said it should occur within 10 to 15 years, that means it is likely to occur at anytime before the next 15 years. We do know how much time there is from the Rapture until the last seven years for Israel.
I do not recall saying anywhere that the two witnesses will be around for 7 years. I know and have said specifically many times and in a comment to this article that they would give their testimony for 1260 days.
What you said about the 144,000 is conjecture. The scripture does not say if they are killed or are taken to heaven alive. The rest associated with what you said in that paragraph is also just your conjecture.
If you read the detailed events that go along with the sickly pale green horse it could easily mean that these events kill 1/4 of the population on earth. I would not say they have to, but a world war over a fourth of the earth like is described could kill billions. Who says the pale horse takes sides? This is talking about hell on earth being unleashed on earth as the result of the wars of men. All sides lose in a modern nuclear world war especially if radiation, weaponized small pox, or something similar is released on earth.
The ten bridesmaids parable does not suggest that half of those calling themselves Christian will go in the Rapture. I doubt if more than 10 percent of those in the world that identify with Christendom will go in the Rapture. Besides, the 10 bridesmaids most likely are not the Bride, and it is unlikely that parable given to Israel is talking about the Rapture of the Church.
My point was that few people would survive to the Kingdom. I see that also is your conclusion, so other than giving us your usual shoot-from-the-hip conjectures to refute what I said, I see no constructive reason for your comment.
Hi Don,
Dr.McGee once said he didn’t believe more then 10% of professing Christians are actually saved. What a sad observation, but I am afraid it is true. And those of us that are in the 10% are not producing the fruit we could be. No wonder the church is in such a bad state of apostasy and lukewarmness.
Just because one is saved does not mean they are untangled from the chaff/weeds and, thus, would miss the rapture. Some also shall enter the kingdom (regardless of rapture) with no rewards (or something to that effect… The exact verse escapes me – it has the word ‘fire’ in it if memory serves).
As for producing fruit, I don’t feel as if I’m that productive. Then again, it seems that all we have are interpersonal witnessing opportunities, for which I try to make every effort to talk about the prophecies / prophetic times. I figure I am planting seed. I know one thing – people know I believe God and what He says. That should probably count for something.
And, trying to resist all the evil. That’s hard.
Craig,
Let me try to clarify.
Those in Christ will go in the Rapture. Those that just identify with Christianity and have not been born of the Spirit will go into the great trial for all those that dwell on earth.
Those taken in the Rapture will be changed into the likeness of Christ and appear before Him for judgment to answer to what they did in their natural bodies with the spiritual gifts that the Lord gave them. Those that built on the Temple of God with common human materials will see their works burned up but their souls are precious and they will be saved. After this judgment of rewards, or taking away of what rewards of what some could of had, they will return with Jesus at His seconding coming to earth.
All those that are not taken in the Rapture but that survive through the tribulation in their natural human form will not enter the Kingdom on earth if their acts during the tribulation show that they were indifferent toward or against those brethren preaching the gospel of the coming Kingdom.
Don I was wondering what you think of what some preachers teach that those who rejected Christ in this age, and the Holy Spirit is taken away with the church, that it will be difficult if not impssible to get saved during the trib.
Kate,
The Holy Spirit is not going to be taken out of the world or nobody at all could be saved.
We cannot judge who will get saved, it is the Holy Spirit that draws people. Many reject the Christian message today because the message has been corrupted by those delivering the message. That will not be true in the tribulation, all will hear the Gospel of the Kingdom.
All will hear all the evidence in the first half of the tribulation by the two witnesses and 144,000. Then those that do not believe only do so because they actually hate the truth and reject the Lord. These will then be sent a great delusion so that they will believe a lie.
Hi Don,
I always find it interesting that those who make the “10%” of those who call themselves Christians are “real” Christians claim always count themselves in that “10”%…. Just an observation…
Rod in Oregon
Hi Rod,
Sure, it is pretty much the same in any religion where the religious compare themselves to others. However, in true Christianity the real test is why do they believe Jesus is their Lord and Savior. If they can’t answer that biblically they probably never met Him and they probably were never born of the Spirit…Just my own observation.
Rod, perhaps I should explain. I was making the assumption, if what I have heard said by a pastor (who was known for his fruitful ministry and still today his verse by verse study of the scripture can be heard on the radio), was a fact (which none of us can say because only God judges the heart) then if that assumption is true, it is sad indeed.
The comment was made by Don as well, so not sure if you were addressing him or myself.
For those of us that are saved it is certainly not because of any self merit. So nothing to boast, but Christ who saved a sinner by His grace. Ephesians 2:5 -8
Continuing with the current path of the comments…
I can not say how Jesus conquered death. Scripture tells me that He did. All I can do is call on the name of the Lord and trust that Jesus will save me.
Now it’s the living holy part that’s the challenge. And a challenge that is.