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The Prophetic Timeline
as recorded in the books
of _____________________________________________________
PERHAPS
WHAT IS MOST CONFUSING when studying prophecy and the last days is
the multitude of timelines and orderings of prophetic events.
There is little consensus on the ordering of events, where we
are on the prophetic timeline, and how close we actually are to
the appearing of Antichrist, the return of Christ, and the
rapture.
This
multitude of contradictory timelines caused me to ask, "Does
Scripture record a timeline of history and prophetic events?"
...the resounding answer was
a clear--yes!
This
timeline was found in the books of Daniel, Matthew, and
Revelation. Once this timeline is understood, all other
prophetic events are able to be placed in their correct order. The timeline in Daniel records those empires that would rise up and lead to Christ's first and second coming. Daniel 2 records the empires leading to the first coming of Jesus and ushers us into the last days. Daniel 7 records those empires that lead to the rise of Antichrist, the return of Jesus, and the rapture.
In Matthew
24, the events of the last days are recorded so we can know
where we are on the prophetic timeline. Jesus divides the events into
three categories: 1) everyday events that take place throughout
all history; 2) the beginning of sorrows that let us know we are
coming to the end of the last days; and 3) the arrival of
the Antichrist and the great tribulation, which lets us know the
final seven years of earth's history has begun.
Daniel 2, 7,
and Matthew 24 all reveal that we are in the final days of the
last days when Antichrist is ready to appear.
The book of
Revelation outlines the earth's last seven years, that time when
the Antichrist has arrived to unleash great tribulation upon the
world and God's people.
As you study
the prophetic timeline,
I am confident you will agree with me that God has recorded a
timeline that we can follow to know where we are on the
prophetic timeline and how close we are to the return of Christ.
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