Back from the Abyss

Chapter Ten - The Future

God's Word tells us what we can expect to take place at the end of the age in which we live - the church age, which is also known as the age of grace. Jesus said, "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now - and never to be equaled again" (Matthew 24:21). Jesus referred to what we call the tribulation, or great tribulation. The time of great distress (or great tribulation) will last for seven years. Actually, to be precise, I believe the tribulation will last for three and a half years, immediately followed by the great tribulation lasting another three and a half years.
Perhaps you've heard of the rapture, the future event in which numerous born-again believers will be taken up to heaven. Beliefs differ as to when the rapture will occur in relation to the tribulation. The three main beliefs as to when the rapture will take place are
(1) prior to the tribulation - the pretribulation rapture.
(2) halfway through the tribulation - the midtribulation rapture.
(3) after the tribulation - the posttribulation rapture.
I personally believe in the pretribulation rapture. Although the reasons to believe in a pretribulation are many, there are those (even among Christians) who believe a pretribulation rapture is escapism - wishful thinking on the part of Christians who want to escape the coming tribulation. To me, a pretribulation rapture just makes sense. Why would God punish obedient children who've already learned their lesson? Why test those who've already passed the test?
- What To Expect -
I've prepared a brief summary (from the pretribulation rapture perspective) containing some of what scripture tells us to expect. First the rapture, when born-again believers will be caught up to heaven. No human being knows when this phenomenal event will occur. The Bible tells us we can't know the exact timing of this event, which is why those who try to predict a date for the rapture are always wrong and wasting their time. The rapture could take place at any moment since there's no prophetic event that must happen before the rapture can occur.
After the rapture, an unspecified period of time will pass before the start of the seven-year tribulation. During that unspecified period of time, the anti-Christ will increase in power and begin establishing his control over a multinational government. In the aftermath of the rapture, this could take only months or it could take years. My feeling is it won't take long. Once the church has been raptured, there may be little reason for God to postpone the beginning of the tribulation.
Once the anti-Christ has established governmental control, the tribulation will begin. It will begin with the brokering of a peace treaty by the anti-Christ, between Israel and its enemies. God will then begin pouring out the judgments revealed in the book of Revelation. During that time, some (if not all) of the demons currently being held in the abyss will be released upon the earth, greatly increasing the suffering of those left behind at the rapture. It's a safe bet that many of the demons being held in the abyss (and possibly also in Hades) are among the worst in existence.
At the midpoint of the tribulation, the anti-Christ will stand in Jerusalem and declare that he is God. The anti-Christ and his false prophet will set up an image of the anti-Christ (possibly a statue, video screen, or hologram of some kind) and force everyone to take a mark on their right hand or forehead. Anyone without the mark will not be allowed to buy or sell anything.
Intense persecution of Jews and Christians will begin to take place. Yes, there will be people who become Christians during the tribulation. The people who become Christians during the tribulation will face starvation, imprisonment, and martyrdom for refusing to take the mark of the anti-Christ. However, if they remain steadfast unto death, they will be given eternal life. As for those who take the mark of the anti-Christ, the Bible tells us this:
If anyone worships the beast [anti-Christ] and his image and
receives his mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will
drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full
strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with
burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There
will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his
image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his
name" (Revelation 14:9-11).
At the end of the seven-year tribulation, Jesus Christ will return to earth with the armies of heaven. He will destroy the anti-Christ's regime, throwing the anti-Christ and his false prophet into the lake of burning sulfur. Satan (and probably every demon on earth) will be bound and cast into the abyss for a thousand years. Christians martyred during the tribulation will be brought back to life, to reign over the earth with Jesus Christ during that same thousand-year period of time.
At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released for a short time. He will again deceive many humans, gathering them into an army that will surround Jerusalem. Fire from heaven will destroy Satan's army. Satan, along with every demon in existence, will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where they will be tormented forever.