The next event of God’s prophetic calendar is the imminent rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The rapture will be visible, personal, premillennial (2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 11:25-27), and pretribulational (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7, 9; John 14:1-3; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 4:4; Revelation 13:6; Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:24-27). Following the rapture, God will turn again to Israel (Romans 11:25-27). The events of the tribulation are not part of God’s program for the church but for Israel (Jacob’s trouble – Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:24-27). The church will be in heaven during the tribulation at which time the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8-10; Romans 14:10-12) and the Marriage of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1-10) will take place.

Following the rapture of the church the Antichrist will be revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8). He will become the leader of the revived Roman Empire (Daniel 7:20, 24) and will sign a treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:26-27). The signing of the treaty will begin the seven year period known as the tribulation. At the midpoint of the tribulation, the Antichrist will break his treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15), Satan will be cast down to earth (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:7-12), and the world will experience a time of unprecedented wrath and judgment (The Great Day of the Lord – Zephaniah 1:14-18; Great Tribulation – Matthew 24:21). The Great Tribulation will culminate with the return of Christ. The Lord will return, with the church believers, to defeat Satan and his armies (Daniel 7:13-22; Zechariah 14:3-9; Revelation 19:11-19). The beast and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20), and Satan will be bound for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-2). Preparation will then be made for the Millennial reign of Christ. The Old Testament saints and tribulation martyrs will be resurrected (Daniel 12:2-3; Revelation 20:4); Israel will repent (Zechariah 12:9-13:2); there will be a mass conversion of Gentiles (Zephaniah 3:8-10); both Israel and the nations shall be judged (Ezekiel 20:33-38; Joel 3:1-3); and the Millennial Temple will be constructed (Ezekiel 40-48). The Millennial Kingdom will be inaugurated, and Christ will rule and reign for 1000 years.

At the end of the Millennium, Satan will be loosed to deceive the nations and lead them in a final revolt (Revelation 20:7-9). God will destroy them with fire and cast Satan into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:9-10). Then the unsaved of all ages will be resurrected and judged at the Great White Throne. They will be eternally consigned to conscious torment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). The present heavens and earth will be destroyed, and a new heaven and earth will be made in which the redeemed of all ages will dwell eternally with God (2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1-22:5).