“For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord, and has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His
word and heard it? Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury, a violent whirlwind! It will fall
violently on the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has executed and
performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.” Jeremiah 23:19-20
I. WHY STUDY THE END-TIMES?
A. The End-Time is not optional study for fringe eccentric Christians. The Gospels (89 chapters): give us a record of
Jesus’ miracle power at first coming to accomplish redemption. The end-of-the-age (100 chapters) about Jesus’ miracle
power in taking leadership over the earth.
B. Why study the End-Times? To prepare the Church to be victorious in love and to participate in releasing God's
glory. To prepare the Church to rightly interpret the crisis instead of being offended by it. To awaken the Church with
urgency in intercession knowing we can minimize evil and increase victory in geographic areas, establishing pockets of
mercy (Joel 2:13-14; Zephaniah 2:3). To strengthen our confidence in sovereignty (God is in control and never surprised).
C. Essential component to understanding the apostolic gospel
“…searching what, or what manner of time, “the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He
testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” 1 Peter 1:11
D. There are at least 100 paragraphs and passages in the apostolic writings referencing end-times in calling the
church to passion for Jesus (holiness).
E. Common lies related to End-Time prophecy:
1. It is not relevant (it is just for the curious).
2. It is impossible to understand. 2 Timothy 3:16 (confidence to study)
3. Every generation has believed they were the final generation. Only two generations have had a universal
conviction about this. If it is not the last generation for the world before Jesus returns, it is surely your last
generation. (Eternity and the revelation of the brevity of life is a powerful motivator)
F. Confidence to study – as we grasp foundational truths of the End-Times, then we have confidence and zeal to go
deeper in our study of other End-Time passages. One of the biggest hindrance today is the false conclusion that
End-Time prophecy is too difficult to understand, so why even try.
G. Certainty of victory – to establish confidence in the fact of the ultimate victory of God’s Kingdom on earth in all
spheres of life. Our lives and labors matter and will prevail.
H. Confidence in sovereignty – God is fully in control without being surprised. He is in control of the End-Time crisis,
which was planned from the beginning. Result: lifestyle of stable love instead of panic and fear.
I. The revelation of Christ: The study of end-times reveals the fierceness of Christ leadership culminating with the
events of the 2nd Coming as He leads the earth into fullness of that that which He accomplished through His death, burial
and resurrection. End-time prophecy is about both the unveiling of events and the beauty of the personhood of Christ
Jesus. Somehow Jesus’ divine administrations are powerfully and intricately woven together with revelation of His beauty.
J. Faith – by understanding End-Time prophecy, we can then discern the biblical prophecies when they actually come
to pass before our eyes. Then, we are greatly encouraged that God is in control and that He cares for us. Then we have
courage to continue to proclaim more to others without the fear of man or of suffering consequences.
K. Warned – so that we have discernment of what seductions to avoid or what not to do. For example, to avoid the
positive presentations to take the mark of the Beast, or to participate in the seemingly prosperous economic and religious
enterprises of the Babylon the Great Harlot.
II. DAY OF THE LORD: TWO EXTREMES AT THE END-OF-THE-AGE.
The day of the LORD is Great and very Terrible (Joel 2:11; Malachi 4:5)
A. The Day of the Lord refers to the unusual End-Time events related to the Second Coming of Jesus. These events
(positive and negative) will come to fullness in the final 3½ years before Jesus returns.
B. The Day of the Lord is a time period where God’s zeal for righteousness, for His people and against wickedness is
fully and openly manifest.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering not willing
that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
1. It will be a Great Day for the responsive and the greatest revival in history.
2. It will be a very Terrible Day to the rebellious because they will experience the most severe judgments of God
in all history as well as experiencing Satan’s rage against them.
C. The coming global crisis will be the great crisis the earth has even seen.
“For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time,
no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21
“… a people come great and strong, the like of whom has never been; nor will there ever be any such after
them, even for many successive generations.” Joel 2:2
“And I will do among you what I have never done, and that like of which I will never do again, because of all
your abominations.” Ezekiel 5:9
D. Youthful (teenage) idealism, strength and zeal will come crumbling under the pressure of the coming crisis.
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be
weary and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up
with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and faint Isaiah 40:29-31
III. THE STORM: TRIBULATION (7 YEARS) AND THE GREAT TRIBULATION (3½ YEARS)
"At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince (archangel) who stands watch over the sons of your
people (Israel); And THERE SHALL BE A TIME OF TROUBLE, such as never was since there was a nation,
even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered…(Daniel 12:1)
A. The tribulation is a 7 year time period at the end of the age when a demonized world leader called the Antichrist
(1 John 2:18) develops and then rules over a worldwide system including government, finances and religion. This period
will see a breakthrough of the Holy Spirit as well as a series of violent events that will bring the most severe crisis to the
earth.such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered…
(Daniel 12:1)
Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; It is the time of JACOB'S TROUBLE, But he shall be saved
out of it. (Jeremiah 30:6-7)
“…those who call on the Lord will be saved (delivered)…” (Joel 2:32)
B. Jesus' teaching on the Great Tribulation.
For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until
this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)
And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be
shortened. (Matthew 24:22)
behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power
was given to them over ¼ of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the
earth. (Revelation 6:8)
So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill
1/3 of mankind. (Revelation 9:15)
C. Jeremiah’s prophesy of the Great Tribulation
Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of JACOB'S TROUBLE, but he shall be
saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:7).
I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again, because of all your
abominations." Ezekiel 5:9
D. The events of the Great Tribulation are described in 3 distinct series of activities resulting in 21 specific crisis-
events (7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls of wrath - Revelation 6-19).
1. For example - Military crisis (Revelation 6:4 Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:10, 20-24; Joel 2:1-9). Economic crisis
(Revelation 6:5). Famine (Revelation 6:6). Wholesale death involving earthquakes, famines, pestilence and calamities
(Revelation 6:8). Great signs and fearful sights (Luke 21:10, 25). The number of martyrs come to complete number
(Revelation 6:9-11). Great shaking (Hebrews 12: 25-28).
2. The terms the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation emphasize the negative dimensions of the last years of natural
history, whereas the position dimensions are emphasized in terms like the Great Harvest which includes the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32).
E. John twice repeated (Revelation 9:15, 18) for emphasis that 1/3 of the human race will be killed. This is in addition
to the ¼ who died in the Fourth Seal (Revelation 6:8). It has been projected that by 2025 AD the population of the earth
will be over 8 billion people. Using the hypothetical number of 8 billion, one-fourth (2 billion people) dying in the fourth
Seal judgments would leave 6 billion people still alive. The Sixth Trumpet points to 1/3 of this 6 billion dying leaving 4 billion
people alive. The death toll of these two judgments would equal 4 billion or 50% of the original number of over 8 billion
living on earth before the Great Tribulation (these are of course hypothetical numbers). The death toll of World War II in a
six year period (1939-45) was nearly 50 million people. The death toll of the two judgments (Fourth Seal and Sixth Seal)
will be nearly 100 times the total of World War II yet in half the time. If 4 billion people die in the last 3 1/2 years (1260
days) then 3.17 million would die on a average every day. Thus, more would die per month than all of WWII.
IV. GOD'S PURPOSE FOR TRIBULATION.
A. God's purpose for Tribulation – to use the least severe means to produce the greatest number of people at the
deepest level of love without violating anyone’s free will. I believe that this is one of the main reasons that the revelation of
Christ the Lamb is center stage in the book of Revelation as He administrates the judgments of God on the earth.
B. Purpose of the Great Tribulation is to bring in the harvest (including the salvation of Israel), vindicate the saints
and righteousness, expose false believers within the Church, to demonstrate God’s power in protecting the saints, punish
sin, purge earth from the defilement of sin
C. The judgment of God released in the Great Tribulation is to purify God's people by removing options –i.e. false
comfort and temptations we refuse to resist.
"And some of those of understanding shall fall (martyrdom), to refine them, purify them, and make them
white, until the time of the end… (Daniel 11:35).
"…shall be purified, made white, and refined…the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10).
D. The Church purified for the wedding day.
that He might present her…a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she
should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)
"Let us be glad…for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready…arrayed in
fine linen, clean and bright…(Revelation 19: 7-8)
E. Israel tested and purified unto salvation (Zechariah 12:1-3; 13:8-9; 14:1-3; Malachi 3:1-5; 4:1-6).
It shall come to pass in all the land," says the LORD, "That 2/3 in it shall be cut off and die, but 1/3 shall be
left in it: 9 I will bring the 1/3 through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is
tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. " (Zechariah 13:8-9).
"But who can endure the day of His coming?...For He is like a refiner's fire…He will sit as a refiner and a
purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to
the LORD An offering in righteousness…(Malachi 3:1-4).
V. TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD.
The seven year Tribulation period consists of two distinct time frames each composed of 3½ years with the Abomination of
Desolation in the middle.
A. Birth Pangs or Beginning of Sorrows – the first 3½ years of the 7 year period.
1. Jesus prophesied the “beginning of sorrows,’ or more literally “the beginning of birth pangs”
All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:8 – NKJ).
All these are the beginning of birth pangs. (Matthew 24:8 – NIV, NAS ).
2. The labor pains a woman endures just before the birth of her child is a prophetic picture of the pain that the
population of the entire earth will endure just before the birthing of the millennial kingdom.
“Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the
morning. (age to come)” Psalm 110:3
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. There for let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on
the armor of light.” Romans 13:12
3. The End of the Age birth pangs are described in the first 3 seals in Revelation 6:1-6 (release of the Antichrist, World
War III, worldwide famine and economic collapse) and Matthew 24:4-8 (false christs, wars, famines pestilence and
earthquakes).
4. Paul spoke of “destruction” coming on the world like birth pangs.
For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a
pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
B. Great Tribulation or Jacob's Trouble – second 3½ years of the 7 year period.
1. Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21, 29; Mark 13:24; Revelation 7:14).
For then there will be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until th
is time, no, nor ever shall be…unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's
sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22).
2. Jacob's Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).
Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor…? Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like
it; It is the time of JACOB'S TROUBLE, But he shall be saved out of it. (Jeremiah 30:6-7)
C. Jacob's Trouble speaks of the last 3½ years of the 7 year period which witnesses an unprecedented period of
distress and persecution against Israel. This period will occur just prior to the Lord restoring Israel spiritually and physically etc.
1. The first 3 ½ years of the 7 year period consists of Israel making a covenant with the Antichrist and then proclaims,
‘peace, peace’.
2. The fourth seal of Revelation 6: 7-8 begins this period. This period will include the 4th -6th seals (Revelation
6:7-17) and the all the trumpets and bowls of wrath (Revelation 8-9; 16).
Why Jacob – type of Genesis 32 – the manipulative, deceiver – wrestled through night season, was wounded and lost all
strength but encountered God and change of name – prince of God. Israel understand implications of this story and it's
speaking of coming crisis to get transformed
VI. SCRIPTURES FOR THE LAST 31/2 YEAR PERIOD OF NATURAL HISTORY
A. 42 months
"But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the
Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11: 2)
And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue
for forty-two months. (Revelation 13: 5)
B. 1260 days
"And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days,
clothed in sackcloth." (Revelation 11: 3)
Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her
there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Revelation 12: 6)
C. Time, times and half a time
But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where
she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12: 14)
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall
intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a
time. (Daniel 7: 25)
Then I heard the man clothed in linen,…swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and
half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be
finished. (Daniel 12: 7)