Sequence of Events
Advanced Timeline

Introduction

Our last lesson was on the basic timeline sequence for the close of the age. It was based on I Cor. 15:22-24. That lesson dealt with the three primary events of the close of the age as described by Paul:

1. Christ the first fruits—the wave offering that occurred at His resurrection;

2. Those who are Christ’s at His coming, the parousia;

3. Then, comes the end—the Kingdom is given to the Father when all enemies are defeated.

Based on this, we saw that the end times began with the resurrection of Jesus and ends with the Kingdom being given to the Father. This lesson will look at an advanced timeline but one that is still based on sequence of events rather than dates. In other words, what happens first, then second, then third and so on without any effort to put an exact date on any event. If we can understand an order of events it will help us avoid misleading scenarios that are espoused by some. We will build this advanced timeline based on the Scriptures rather than tradition or sectarian doctrine.

Just Prior to the Parousia of Jesus

To our basic timeline that we built during the last lesson, we need to add events that surround the parousia of Jesus and continue until the end. We know from previous lessons that before the appearing of Jesus wickedness will increase and people will become fully self-centered.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 NASB

(1) But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

(2) For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

(3) unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

(4) treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

(5) holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Self-centeredness has been growing within man ever since the Garden when the Enemy convinced Eve that the Forbidden Tree was something that she needed for herself—it was beautiful, pleasing to the eye; it was good food; and it would make her wise. It is the Enemy’s goal to enhance our self, to build it up, promote it and exalt it. Jesus told us just the opposite—that we are to deny self; die to self; put off the old man, etc. In the world system, the exaltation of self will reach its highest level at the end of the age. It finds its full expression in the one that the scriptures call the Man of Lawlessness, which we call the Antichrist.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB

(3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

(4) who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

There is an apostasy, a great falling away from the faith, that comes before the parousia of Jesus of those who have not continued in His Word but have become deceived. They have not denied self and have become open to the doctrine of the man of lawlessness—to be as god.

The promise of the Enemy in the Garden of Eden was that we would be as gods. The man of lawlessness is the one who believes that he has achieved that goal. He is man as his own “little god”. He finds full expression at the end in the beast kingdom described in Revelation and he is in full power along with his false prophet at the time of the coming, the parousia, of Jesus. As a matter of fact, he is making war against the saints when Jesus returns.

The Parousia of Jesus

The description in Revelation of Jesus as He begins his parousia, his coming again to the earth on His white horse is absolutely majestic and awesome.

Revelation 19:11-21 NASB

(11) And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

(12) His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.

(13) He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

(14) And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

(15) From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

(16) And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

(17) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God,

(18) so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

(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.

There are a number of things in this set of scriptures that we need to make sure that we understand.

1. Jesus is returning as a Warrior-King not a sneak thief.

2. He comes in battle array with Sword ready.

3. He is leading the armies of Heaven.

4. He is coming in righteousness and judgment to wage war.

5. He treads the winepress of the wrath of God.

6. The beast (the Antichrist) and the kings of the earth and their armies are assembled to fight Jesus and the armies of Heaven.

7. The beast (the Antichrist) and the false prophet are seized by Jesus and thrown alive into the Lake of Fire.

8. The assembled armies of the earth were killed by the Sword from the mouth of Jesus and their bodies left for the vultures.

When Jesus comes the things listed above are what He does. He makes a final resolution of everything relating to the beast, the false prophet and those who have followed the beast by receiving his mark. He also deals with the Devil.

Just After the Parousia of Jesus

Most of the teaching that I have heard about Jesus coming is that He comes and snatches us away to Heaven. However, that is not the way that the scriptures present things. There are a lot of things that occur just after Jesus’ return besides just the destruction of the beast’s armies.

Revelation 20:1-3 NASB

(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.

So, the Devil is bound and thrown in the abyss where he is sealed in for a 1000 years. Then, he will be released for a little while after the 1000 years.

After this is done then thrones are set up and judgment is given. This is the beginning of the 1000 years of the physical reign of Jesus on the earth—what we call the Millennial Reign. Those who were martyred for Jesus and the word of God and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image are part of the resurrected ones and will reign with Christ for the 1000 years.

Revelation 20:4-6 NASB

(4) Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

(5) The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

(6) Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

So, we already know from Paul that Jesus will bring with Him those who are dead in Christ, and the dead will rise and those who are alive will be changed into resurrection bodies when the Lord descends from Heaven (I Thess. 4:13-18). Now we see from this resurrection, the first resurrection, some will sit on thrones and rule with Jesus.

At one point Peter told Jesus that they had left all and followed Him. He then asked Him what would they receive.

Matthew 19:28 NASB

(28) And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

So, some of those on the thrones will be the twelve disciples although the wording of Jesus leaves it open for others who have followed Him.

Jesus in the letters to the Churches in Revelation also made the promise or ruling with Him to all who would overcome.

Revelation 2:26-27 NASB

(26) ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;

(27) AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;

Revelation 3:21 NASB

(21) ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

This also fits with the parables that Jesus told of servants who would receive a reward of ruling over five cities or ten cities.

Apparently, those who rule with Jesus after His return will rule for the 1000 years as part of the physical Kingdom of God.

The Advanced Timeline Sequence of Events

Now that we have discussed these things from the scriptures, it is time to add them to our basic timeline from the previous lesson. This will give us a good picture of the sequence of events.

 

 

As you have seen we have followed the plain, straightforward wording of the scriptures to add to our timeline sequence of events. To me, this order of events is very clear from the Word. This makes it easy to eliminate end time scenarios that violate this order of events. To me, this dramatically simplifies study of the events of the end.