We here present the following diagram, merely as
an outline of the order of events, in connection, with our Lord's return. We
exhort (1st Thessalonians 4:18, margin) a faithful study of it, together with
the references and explanations appended, believing that, as an object lesson,
it will be a great help to the reader to understand these mighty questions.
EXPLANATION
*-The birth of Christ, the King of the Jews. Mat. 2 :2.
T-The death and resurrection of Christ.
A-Ascension of Christ. Acts 1 :9.
D-Descent of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2.
Church- Mystical body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23; 3 :3-6; Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 1:24-27; 1st Corinthians 12:12-27; and the Bride of Christ, Ephesians 5:21-23.
De-Descent of the Lord (1st Thessalonians 4:16) to receive His Bride. John 14:3.
R-Resurrection of the just. Luke 14:14; Acts 24:15;1st Thessalonians 4:15-16; and change of living' believers. 1stCorinthians 15:23,51,52
Rapture-Translation of the saints who (like Enoch) are caught up to meet Christ in the air. 1st Thessalonians 4:17.
M-The meeting of Christ and His Bride. 1st Thessalonians 4:17; Ephesians 5 :21-32; 2nd Corinthians 11:2. This is our gathering together unto Him. 2nd Thessalonians 2:1. And the marriage of the Lamb. Matthew 22:2-10; 25:10; Luke 14:15-24; Revelation 19:7-8. So shall we ever be with the Lord. John 12 :26; 14:3; 17:24; 1st Thessalonians 4:17. It is the Hope of the Church. Philippians 3:20-21; Titus 2:13; 1st John 3:2-3. And the redemption mentioned in Luke 21:28; Romans 8:23; Ephesians 4:30. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. 1st Thessalonians 4:18; Thus the Church escapes the tribulation. (Luke 21 :36; 2nd Peter 2:9; Revelation 3:10).
T.-Period of unequaled tribulation to the world (Dan. 12:1; Mat.24:21; Lu. 21:25-26), during which-the Church having been taken out-God begins to deal with Israel again (Acts 15:13-17; Psalm 51:18; 102:16), and will restore them to their own land. Isaiah 11:11; 60; Jeremiah 30:3; Jeremiah 31; 32:36-44; Amos 9:15; Zechariah. 8:10; Rom. 11.
Antichrist will be revealed. 2 Thessalonians 2 :8. The vials of God's wrath poured out. Psalm 2 :1-5; Rev. 6:16-17; Rev. 14:10; 16. But men only blaspheme God. Rev. 16:11-21. Israel accepts Christ (Zech. 12:10-14; 13:6), and are brought through the fire. Zech. 13 :9. They pass not away. Mat. 24 :34; Psalm I 22 :30.
Rev.-The revelation of Christ and His saints (Col. 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:13), in flaming fire (2 Thessalonians 1:7-]0) to execute judgment on the earth. 'Jude 14-15. This is Christ's second coming to the earth. Acts 1 :11 ; Deut. 33:2; Zech. 14 :4-5; Mat. 16 :27; 24 :29-30.
J-Judgment of .the nations, or the quick. Mat. 25 :31- 46; 19 :28; Acts 10 :42; 1 Pet. 4 :5. . Antichrist is destroyed. 2 Thessalonians 2 :8. The Beast and the False Prophet are taken. Rev. 19 :20. Gog and his allies are smitten. Ezek. chapters 38 and 39. Satan is bound. Rev. 20 :1-3; Rom. 16 :20.
R. T.-Resurrection of the Tribulation Saints, which completes the First Resurrection. Rev. 20 :4-6.
Mill'm.-The Millennium. Christ's glorious reign on the earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20 :4) with His Bride, 2nd Timothy 2:12; Rev. 5:10; 1saiah 2:2-5; 4; 11:1-12; 25:6-9; 1sa. 65:18-25; Micah 4:1-4; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Zechariah 8:3-8; Zech. 8 :20-23; 14 :16-21.
S-Satan loosed for! a little season, and destroyed with Gog and Magog. Revelation 20:7-10; Hebrews 2:14.
Res.-The Resurrection of Judgment. Revelation 20:12-15; John 5:29; Daniel 12:2.
J. W. T.-Judgment at the Great White Throne of all the remaining dead. Revelation 20:11-15. Death and Hell destroyed. Revelation 20:14; 1 Corinthians 15:26. E. E. -Eternity, or rather, The eons to come. Ephesians 2:7.
But we trust it will enable the reader to apprehend, in some degree, the extent to which the future has been revealed, unto us, by the Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21; John 16:13; 1st Corinthians 2:10) and to realize that ETERNITY ITSELF will not be a blank, or statue like condition. but a continually unfolding manifestation of God to us throughout the "ages to come" (Ephesians 2:7) even the "AGES OF AGES." See Greek Galatians 1:5; Ephesians 3:21; Philippians 4:21: 1 Tim. 1:17; 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet 4:11; Rev. 1:6, 18;4:9, 10; 5:13; 7:12; 10:6; 11:15; 14:11; 15:7; 19:3; 20:10; 22:5. See page 218.
