Revelation
Lesson 24
Scenario of Events - An Overview
***
Outline of Events for the period covered by the Day of the Lord!
A. Events that precede the beginning of
this period.
B. The Major Events associated with the
Tribulation Period.
C. Millennium
D. At the End of the Millennium
E. Eternity
A.
Events that precede the beginning of this period.
1. The Church is Raptured! Caught-up to
meet the Lord in the air.
- Promised in Jn 14:1-3
- 1 Cor
15:51-52 involves a change in the twinkling of an eye; receive our resurrection bodies.
- 1 Ths 4:16-18
describes the event
-
2. The Restrainer is removed. 2 Ths 2:6-7
<2:6-7> "And you know" (goes back
to something already covered with them)
"what restrains him now";
> The "Now"
in vs:6 (first) contrasts with the "then" in verse 8 as Paul
goes back to reiterate more details of the Day of the Lord.
> Since the
"lawless one" is indwelt and empowered by Satan, the
restrainer must be stronger, more powerful then Satan.
** Grammatical
note: The participle "what restrains" in vs:6 is neuter and becomes
he who restrains, masculine in vs:7.
> "And
you know what restrains (neut.) him
(A/JC) now (at this time,
C/A) so that in his own time he may be revealed."
- Several
reasons that he is restrained until "his time."
- God's plan
calls for certain events to occur in C/A prior to "his time."
#1. Canon of Scripture completed. Jn 16:13
#2. Dispersion
of the nation
#3. Jesus told
Peter in Jn 21:18-19 that he would grow old and be martyred. Peter will note this in 2 Pet 1:14-15 2
#4. The
replanting, budding of the fig tree.
Mk. 13:28-33
#5. Desire of
God; "desires all men to be saved" (1 Tim 2:4);
<2:7>
Amplifies what is covered in verse 6.
"For
the mystery of lawlessness is already at work"
- This
lawlessness is that which will reach its maturation, its peak, embodied in the
rule of the A/JC, the man of lawlessness.
"...only
he who now restrains and [will do so] until (e[wj sets the
limits) he is taken out of the way"
* This
restraining work of the Holy Spirit will end with the coming & gathering
together of the C/A saints to Christ at the rapture.
During the Tribulation, His function or
relationship with man is the same as it was during the OT prior to Pentecost.
Back
to the last point of A. Events that
precede the beginning of this period.
3. The
converging conditions necessary for the rise of a world leader within the
western nations, with the influence needed to effect the treaty made with
Israel that marks the beginning of the Tribulation, Daniel's 70th week, the start once again of the prophetic time
clock with Israel.
B.
The Major Events associated with the Tribulation Period.
1. The making
of the covenant with
- marks the start of the prophetic clock
for Trib/Israel
2. The rise of
a federation or coalition of states; Western power block; Revived Roman Empire,
the feet of iron and clay.
Why call it the
Western Power block? West of what?
- Info comes from 2 places Daniel 2;
7.
- Dan 2:31-35 Describes the Image; reflects the Times of the Gentiles
- Dan 2:40-45 Interpretation of the 4th Empire; 2 phases.
Lessons from these kingdoms we should
have learned
1. The
succession of kingdoms taught in both visions (ch 2,7) teach the principle of
declension in human affairs.
- a very subtle refutation of evolution
2. Shows the insecurity, uncertainty and
transitoriness of human government.
3. It also demonstrates who is in charge of
history, this progression of kingdoms is prophesied here, comes to pass just as
stated followed by God's kingdom, the stone, crushing them and blowing them
away.
- Dan 7
Takes this same sequence of Empires and pictures them with different
beasts.
- The greatest focus is on the fourth
beast;
Note:
1. Vision of Dan 7:1-14 covers the
beasts also see them in Rev 13
a. appearance of 4 beasts vs:3
b. lion vs:4;
bear vs:5; leopard vs:6; 4th (vs:7) so terrible, so awesome not
likened to anything we could identify with.
c. In
vs:9-12 there follows the execution of
judgment.
d. In
vs:13-14 climax of the vision - the
establishment of another kingdom; God's