Tribulation Timeline

THE RAPTURE OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Shortly after the Rapture, a peace agreement is signed between Israel and her enemies. The Antichrist will take the lead in brokering this agreement. It is at this exact moment that the 7-year Tribulation (the 70th week of Daniel and the time of Jacob's Trouble) begins!

During this first three and a half years of this seven year Tribulation, the Third Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt with the resumption of animal sacrifices. Two "Witnesses" will appear in Jerusalem, proclaiming salvation through Yeshua Ha-Mashiach (Jesus the Messiah/Jesus Christ). At the end of this period, the Antichrist will finally be allowed by God to kill the Two Witnesses because their time on earth will be done. These two men, who have never known physical death, will finally experience it. Mankind will celebrate, but three days later, the Two Witnesses are resurrected and raised to heaven by God in full view of the entire world.

SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS

1st Seal: The White Horse

Antichrist - Begins taking control of the earth through deceptively peaceful measures. Rev. 6:1-2

2nd Seal: The Red Horse

War - Rider given power to take peace from the earth and make men slay each other. Rev. 6:3-4

3rd Seal: The Black Horse

Famine - Food basics are scarce and expensive. Luxuries like oil and wine are plentiful (for the wealthy). Rev. 6:5-6

4th Seal: The Pale Horse

Death - Rider given the power to take the lives of one quarter of the earth's population. Rev. 6:7-8

5th Seal: Christians Slain

Many Christians are slain during this time. God gives them white robes and rest. Rev. 6:9-11

6th Seal: Massive Quake

The sun turns black, the moon turns red, along with other signs in the sky. Rev. 6:12-17

Angels stand at the four corners of the earth holding back further destruction until 144,000 Messianic Jews are sealed by God. Rev. 7:1-8

7th Seal: Silence in Heaven

There is a silence in heaven that lasts approximately half an hour. The calm before the storm! Then thunder, lightening and another earthquake. Rev. 8:1-5

SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS

1st Trumpet

Hail & fire mixed with blood are cast upon the earth. One third of the trees and all the green grass is consumed. Rev. 8:7

2nd Trumpet

A great burning mountain (meteor?) strikes the sea. Sea becomes blood. One third of the ships and one third of the sea life destroyed. Rev. 8:8-9

3rd Trumpet

A great burning star from heaven (meteor?) strikes one third of the earth's fresh water sources. Anyone who drinks it, dies. Rev. 8:10-11

4th Trumpet

The light from the sun, moon and stars dims by one third, shortening the daylight hours. (resulting from the meteor strikes?) Rev. 8:12-13

5th Trumpet - 1st Woe

Smoke from the bottomless pit darkens the sun and sky as locust-like creatures are released from deep within the earth to torture everyone with their sting for five months (except those who have the seal of God on their foreheads). No one affected is able to take their own life during this period. Rev. 9:1-12

6th Trumpet - 2nd Woe

Four demonic "angels" are finally released from their bonds and influence an army of 200 million, causing them to make war, killing one third of the remaining inhabitants of the earth. Earthly army? Demonic army? Rev. 9:13-21 (trumpet) Rev. 11:1-14 (2nd Woe)

This next event marks the beginning of the second half of the seven year Tribulation. This period in time is known as, "The Great Tribulation."

WAR IN HEAVEN - SATAN CAST OUT

Then there will be a war in heaven and Michael and his angels will be victorious over Satan and his demons, who are cast out of heaven forever. Satan is furious because he knows his time is short. He now increases his persecution of those who have become Christians during this time of Tribulation. This, along wit what comes next, signals the beginning of the second half of the Tribulation. Rev. 12:7-17

The Antichrist suffers a severe head wound and dies. He is possessed by Satan and is raised to life in an effort by Satan to mimic Jesus' resurrection.

The "resurrected" Antichrist defiles the newly rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and claims that he is god. Dan. 9:27, 11:31 & 12:11

The Antichrist now demands that everyone take his mark as a sign of loyalty and demands that everyone worship his image. Rev. 20:4

7th Trumpet - 3rd Woe

Lightning, thunder, earthquakes and hail. Rev. 1:15-12:12

During this second half of the Tribulation, also known as the Great Tribulation, the world will worship the Antichrist and take his mark. Be warned. All who take this mark suffer every judgment poured out by God. Taking the mark means rejecting God and is an automatic sentence to eternity in Hell.

SEVEN VIAL/BOWL JUDGMENTS

1st Bowl

Ugly and painful sores affect all who have the Mark of the Beast. Rev. 16:2

2nd Bowl

Rest of the sea turns to blood. All remaining sea life dies. Rev. 16:3

3rd Bowl

Remaining rivers and springs of fresh water turn to blood. Rev. 16:4-7

4th Bowl

Sun scorches all those who have the Mark of the Beast. Rev. 16:8

5th Bowl

Beast's kingdom is plunged into darkness. People there gnaw their tongues in agony. Rev. 16:10

6th Bowl

Euphrates River dries up, allowing "the kings of the east" to advance. Rev. 16:12

7th Bowl

Largest earthquake ever! Worldwide event! Every mountain collapses! Every island sinks! Enormous hail weighing 100 pounds fall upon the inhabitants of the earth. It is done! Rev. 16:17-21

THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON

The military might of the world will gather in the valley of Megiddo to do battle. It's the kings of the east verses the military might of the Antichrist. The plan to use chemical and/or nuclear weapons promises to wipe out all remaining human life on the planet. Before this happens...

JESUS RETURNS AS KING AND LORD!

Jesus returns with all those who were raptured seven years prior. By the word of His mouth, Jesus defeats His enemies. He condemns both the Antichrist and the False Prophet to an eternity in the lake of fire, and temporarily imprisons Satan. The only human life remaining on the planet will be those born again believers who still remain on earth at the time of Jesus' second coming.

Jesus will resurrect those born again believers who died during the Tribulation. This is known as the first resurrection. (Rev. 20:4-6). Those who have rejected God's gift of salvation must wait until the 1,000 year reign of Christ is complete before they are resurrected and judged by Jesus as the White Throne Judgment. This is known as the second death. (Rev. 20:11-15)

WHY IS SATAN ONLY "TEMPORARILY" IMPRISONED AND NOT SENT DIRECTLY TO HELL?

There is no scripture to support this reasoning, but I believe it's sound reasoning. 

From the Garden of Eden until now, mankind has had one choice to make... God or Satan... obedience or disobedience. When Jesus returns as King of kings and Lord of lords and finishes defeating His enemies, there will be only one group of humans left on the planet, those born again believers who remain in their mortal flesh which are those who have survived the horrors of the Tribulation.

During the millennial reign of Jesus, generations upon generations of humans will be born and will live the life that God intended for Adam and Eve. After a thousand years, the world will be populated by those who have never had to deal with their fallen nature. That means that they have never had to make the choice between God or Satan... obedience or disobedience. This, I believe, is the very reason Satan was not sent directly to Hell.

The father of lies will be let loose one last time, only briefly, as God tests all those who have never had to make that choice before. Like the generations before them that endured trials and temptations, they, too, will have to decide whether to continue to serve a holy and righteous Master or a deceiving and hellish one. 

Revelation 20:7-10 describes the end of human life as we know it; a life lived in corruptible flesh. This portion of scripture reveals how Satan will be let loose, temporarily, to go forth among the nations. He will deceive them into believing that they can live a better life apart from God. Satan will convince them that there is only one option... kill all true followers of Jesus and defeat Jesus as well. As Satan causes this mass of humanity to begin moving toward the New Jerusalem (the camp of the saints; the beloved city), all true believers will enter the safety of the city. AS the rebellious mass of humanity surrounds the New Jerusalem and makes it's move, God sends fire from Heaven and destroys them all. Satan is finally, once and for all, defeated. He is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone forever. Humanity, in the sinful flesh, is no more.