An End Times Synopsis

[Moon Watcher]

I would like to present a synopsis of the events of the 70th week. This synopsis is based on the God's Holy Word the Bible. An interpretation is held only if that interpretation agrees with all of scripture. The Bible is taken literally unless a symbolic interpretation is indicated by the text.

The 70th week, the last 7 years on earth before Christ returns, will start with the signing of the peace treaty that will divide the land of Israel. (Dan 9:27)

Seal 1 will be opened, there will may be some type of large explosion and a world conquering political and religious force will go forth to conquer the world, i.e. the New World Order. (Rev 6:1,2)

Seal 2 will be opened and on day 1110 WWIII will break out. (Rev 6: 3,4)

Seal 3 will be opened and worldwide famine and financial collapse will ensue. (Rev 6:5,6)

Seal 4 will opened and 1/4 of the world's population will die.(Rev 6:7,8)

The antichrist will come on the world scene offering the solution to the world's problems.

Ministry of 2 witnesses begins. (Rev 11:1-15)

Antichrist takes over the world, performs abomination of desolation. (Rev 13:5-9, 2 Thes 2:1-4)

Seal 5 will be opened and the antichrist will begin persecuting Jews and Christians.(Rev 6: 9-11)

The temporary peace brought to the world by the antichrist will be short lived and WWIII will start again.

Seal 6 will be opened, there will be a great earthquake, sun darkened, moon to blood, stars fall, Jesus will appear in the sky and the rapture will take place. The wrath of God will begin. (Rev 6:12-17)

America, China, and Russia will be destroyed in WWIII. (Rev 17:16-18:24)

The 144,000 will be sealed. (Rev 7)

Seal 7 will be opened, thunder, earthquake, 7 trumpet judgments will begin. (Rev 8:1-6)

Trumpet 1 will be sounded, hail and fire mingled with blood, 1/3 plants burned up. (Rev 8:7)

Trumpet 2 will be sounded,Meteorite/Volcano explodes in the ocean, 1/3 ships and sea life destroyed. (Rev 8:8,9)

Trumpet 3: Comet explodes on the earth, 1/3 of fresh water poisoned, many men die. (Rev 8:10,11)

Trumpet 4: 1/3 of sunlight removed. (Rev 8:12)

Trumpet 5: First woe—Demon locusts, men tortured. (Rev 8:13-9:12)

Trumpet 6: Second woe—Demon army, 1/3 of men die. (Rev 9:13-21)

Ministry of 2 witnesses ended. (Rev 11:1-13)

Trumpet 7: Third woe—7 Vial Judgments. (Rev 11:14-19)

Vial 1: Boils on men. (Rev 16:1,2)

Vial 2: Sea turned to blood. (Rev 16:3)

Vial 3: Freshwater turned to blood. (Rev 16:4-7)

Vial 4: Great heat. (Rev 16:8,9)

Vial 5: Darkness. (Rev 16:10,11)

Vial 6: Euphrates dries up. (Rev 16:12-16)

Vial 7: The Lord Jesus Christ and His saints return to the earth and defeat the antichrist and his armies at Armageddon with 100-pound hailstones. Great earthquake, every island and mountain destroyed, America the Babylon sinks under the ocean. (Rev 16:17-21, Rev 18:21, Jer 51:42)

Jesus is anointed as King of the World and the Millennium begins! (Rev 19)

[Carl]

Concerning the start of the 70th week. Many people are identifying signs required for the opening of the seals that may not be associated with the last days. For instance Elijah did come a second time as Jesus stated. To build a third return is possible, but causes confusion if someone tries to present a case rather than explore scripture. Note also the Arc of the Covenant isn’t required for sacrifices. The Arc seems to have been gone at the Babylonian invasion and sacrifice was still going at Jesus time. In fact it was still going on through the New Testament time. It’s possible some of the references to stopping daily sacrifice should be understood in that light.

[Moon Watcher]

Carl

Welcome abaord. Thanks for your post, you raise some pertinent and insightful issues. The reason that I believe that Elijah will come again before the sixth seal is opened and the rapture occurs is because of Malachi 4:5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." Plainly this scripture tells us that Elijah must return before the Day of the Lord occurs, which the rapture is the first event of. Some feel that Elijah has already come in John the Baptist. But when John was asked, "are you Elijah?" he said "No." "And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No." (Jn 1;21) So I agree that John came in the spirit of Elijah but was not Elijah as he plainly stated. Thus I feel that this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. Many Bible scholars agree with this interpretation.

Commentary by Fausset, Malachi Chapter 4

“John the Baptist was an Elijah in spirit ( Luk 1:16, 17 ), but not the literal Elijah; whence when asked, "Art thou Elias?" ( Jhn 1:21 ), He answered, "I am not." "Art thou that prophet?" "No." This implies that John, though knowing from the angel's announcement to his father that he was referred to by Mal 4:5 ( Luk 1:17 ), whence he wore the costume of Elijah, yet knew by inspiration that he did not exhaustively fulfil all that is included in this prophecy: that there is a further fulfilment (compare Note, see on JF & B for Mal 3:1)

Commentary by Chuck Smith

“So the promise of the coming again of Elijah before the great and noble day of the Lord. That causes me to be convinced that in Revelation, chapter 11, as God sends His two witnesses to witness for a period of time here upon the earth while the antichrist is in power, that one of the two witnesses will indeed be Elijah. "Behold I will send Elijah."

Now John the Baptist was not Elijah. They came out and said, "Are you Elijah?" "Nope." "Who are you?" "I'm the voice of one in the wilderness crying, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.'" But Jesus said of John the Baptist, "Of all of the women born of men, there's not been a greater prophet arise than John. And yet, he who was least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And this, if you're able to take it, is Elijah, of whom the scripture spake" (Matthew 11:11, 14). A partial fulfillment when Zechariah's father was accosted by Gabriel the angel and told that his wife Elizabeth in her old age was to have a son. He said, "And he shall go forth in the spirit and in the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the children unto their fathers" (Luke 1:17). Coming in the spirit and the power of Elijah, a type of the actual coming of Elijah before the second coming of the Lord.”

Even if one still believes that John the Baptist was Elijah Jesus tells us in Jn 17:11 that Elijah will come before He comes again. "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things." When Jesus made this statement John was already dead and He tells his disciples that Elijah will come again referring to a future event not a past event.

So I fully expect to see Elijah before the Day of the Lord and I think that he may be one of the two witnesses which will start their ministry on day 1230 of the 70th week.

I also agree that the ark of the covenant is not necessary for sacrifices. But they already have a copy made and may use that. Personally I believe that there will be a rebuilt temple or at least a tabernacle by the midpoint of the 70th week for the antichrist to stop the sacrifices and perform the abomination of desolation. The abomination of desolation suggests a desecration of the holy of holies. Here is a comment by Pastor David Guzik touching on that subject.

On the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate: The ending of sacrifice will come with abominations, followed by tremendous desolation.

Abominations translates an ancient Hebrew word (shiqquwts) that is connected to horrific idolatry (Deuteronomy 29:17, 1 Kings 11:5-7, 2 Kings 23:13). The idea is that the coming prince breaks the covenant and brings an end to sacrifice and offering by desecrating the holy place of the temple with a horrific idolatry.

Jesus called this the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15) and indicated that it would be a pivotal sign in the Great Tribulation. Paul referred to the idolatry of the coming prince in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

[Carl]

Good reply, I will think it over

Thanks again for using the King James Bible

Carl

[Carl]

This is not really important except it shows the extent we go to to build on our thoughts, instead of letting the Bible talk. Note the rest of the verse:

From e sword Mat 17:10-12 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? (11) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. (12) But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

The time is now for the tribulation. It is most important, espically now, that we strive for understanding as people alive today may be inclined to listen if we speak as accuratly as possible. If we speak various positions they will ignore us until its to late. I do appreciate your work. This is a minor point, dont think I am against you.

[Moon Watcher]

Carl

You raise a valid point however we must remember that any interpretation that we hold of scripture must agree with all of scripture. Concerning John the Baptist and Elijah and his return we must look at all the scriptures and hold to an interpretation that agrees with all of them. The scriptures concerning John and Elijah are:

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Mal 4:5,6)

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. (Matt 17:10-13)

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:13-17)

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. (Jn 1:21)

These are the pertinent scriptures concerning John, Elijah and the end times. These scriptures give us several facts:

1. Elijah will return before the Day of the Lord/Rapture. (Mal 4:5,6)
2. Jesus said that Elijah already came and will come again, these statements were made after John the baptist was dead. (Matt 17:10-13)
3. John the Baptist will go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah. (Luke 1:13-17)
4.John the Baptist stated that he was not Elijah. (Jn 1:21)

These are the scriptural facts from the verses above. Any interp regarding John and Elijah must agree with all of the scriptural facts. There are basically 2 possible interps of these verses. One would be that John the Baptist was Elijah and that he fulfilled all the prophecies and he will not come again. The other is to believe that John the Baptist was not Elijah but came in the spirit and power of Elijah and that Elijah will come again before the Day of the Lord and the rapture.

If you consider the first interp that John was Elijah and that he will not come again; it contradicts 2 of the scriptural facts. It contradicts fact #4; John clearly stated that he was not Elijah. It also contradicts fact #2; Jesus said that Elijah would come again in the future after John the Baptist was already dead.

If you consider the other interp, that John the Baptist was not Elijah but came in the spirit and power of Elijah and that Elijah will come again before the Day of the Lord and the rapture, it does not contradict any of the scriptural facts. Therefore this must be the correct interpretation.

By the way if you use this same type of logic and examine all the scriptures concerning the rapture there is only one end times rapture theory that agrees with all of scripture and contradicts none and that is the prewrath rapture theory which says that the rapture will occur after the sixth seal is opened.

In regards to the timing of the 70th week, or as many call it the tribulation. I believe that we are very close to its beginning and that it could possibly begin this fall. As far as the rapture, Bible prophecy tells us that it will not occur until after the 3.5 year point, when the antichrist takes over the world, and all the sign are fulfilled, one of which is the return of Elijah.

[Carl]

Look at the verses you quoted again in Matt 17:10-13 when Jesus says “Elias truly shall come first” there is no indication that Jesus is speaking of a future event. So He isn’t necessarily saying he will come again, but could be saying simply Elias will live a second time, which he did’. As for John the Baptist denying he was Elijah, if he declared it he would have detracted from the Christ and brought attention to himself, so what he said is a reasonable reply for the time.

I really don’t see a conflict if one of the witnesses is Elijah, I just feel it is twisting scripture to say it must be. Personally I believe we will all be surprised by some of the end time sequences. I believe there will be twists and turns because this is a major turning point in the war of satan fighting God. God has just given us just enough to be encouraged and enough for the world to know they were wrong.

It is interesting what Elijah was to do. Malachi 4:6 says - - lest I come and smite the earth with a curse, and a curse is the next thing in the end times. But in Jesus time the converted by John the Baptist became the followers of Christ.

I am still working on your logic. been very busy

[Moon Watcher]

Carl

If you look at the Greek of Mt 17:11, apokathistemi (restore) is in the future tense. This has led many to believe that Christ was foretelling of a future event. Here is how the NASB translated the verse "And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things"

Here is another good quote that may shed some light on the subject.

Let David Kimchi first be heard upon those words of Malachi, "Behold, I send you Elias the prophet": "God (saith he) shall restore the soul of Elias, which ascended of old into heaven, into a created body, like to his former body: for his first body returned to earth when he went up to heaven, each element to its own element. But when God shall bring him to life in the body, he shall send him to Israel before the day of judgment, which is 'the great and terrible day of the Lord': and he shall admonish both the fathers and the children together to turn to God; and they that turn shall be delivered from the day of judgment

[Moon Watcher]

Hello all; due to various factors I am going to be putting most of my time and effort into writing articles, which will be uploaded to my website, and posting important prophetic information on the blog entitled: The End Times Forecaster. It is located at http://endtimesforecaster.blogspot.com/ I hope to be posting daily on that site.

Sincerely in Him
William Frederick