Wow, what a journey!
Here we are on chapter 31 of The Story and on our final message of this series. Today Pastor Don will walk us through God's time line for the end of time that is explained in the book of Revelation.

God's timeline for humanity can be divided into 7 major segments of time. These can be followed on the chart above.

1. The Old Testament Period

This begins with creation in the book of Genesis and goes until the ministry of John the Baptist at the beginning of the New Testament.

Matthew 11:13

The Old Testament introduces Abraham and the formation of the Jewish people and nation. It records their interaction with other people groups and Israel's highlights and failures as a people. And it gives us glimpses into God's plan for humanity.
There are 4 key words under this place on the timeline:
A. They were God's CHILDREN Deuteronomy 14:1-2
B. They had God's COMMANDMENTS Exodus 20
C. They are under God's CONDEMNATION Matthew 27:25
D. They will experience God's CELEBRATION Pslam 72; Isaiah 11

2. The Place of the Dead

In the Old Testament the world of the dead is called "sheol" which can be translated as the grave, hell or death.
In the New Testament the word "hades" is used to express the same thought.

It is a temporary place for the souls of those who have died but must not be confused with the permanent place where souls and resurrected bodies will spend eternity.

Jesus describes sheol or hades in Luke 16:19-31.

We learn there are 2 main compartments in this place:

A. PARADISE or ABRAHAM'S BOSOM

B. PLACE OF TORMENTS

Between these two compartments is a GREAT GULF which is often called TARTARUS or ABYSS.

3. The Church Age

After Jesus was raised from the grave He revealed the Church.
The 3 important keys to understanding this age are:
A. The Great Commandment - OUR PASSION Mark 12:28-34
B. The Great Commission - OUR PURPOSE Matthew 28:16-20
C. The Ascension of Christ - OUR POWER Acts 1:1-11

4. Christ in Heaven

Following the establishment of the Church, the Lord re-took residence in heaven at the right hand of God.
Some important keys to understanding what the Lord is doing while he is there:
A. The Lord is PRAYING Romans 8:34
B. The Lord is PREPARING John 14:1-2
C. The Lord is PLANNING (Rapture) 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4
D. The Lord is PROVIDING (Bema Seat) Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

5. The Tribulation Period
Revelation 6-19

Matthew 24:21
Following the rapture of the Church will come the most known aspect of God's timeline.
A. It is a 7 year period of time referred to as the TRIBULATION which is made up of two 3 1/2 year segments.
B. The second half is specifically called the GREAT TRIBULATION.
During this time we are introduced to a pair of evil characters:
C. The ANTI-CHRIST
D. The FALSE PROPHET
Two major events will take place towards the end of the tribulation:
E. The ARMAGEDDON CONFLICT (gathering of world's armies against Israel)
F. The APPEARANCE OF CHRIST (He and His armies defend Israel)

6. Millennium/Kingdom Age

Revelation 20

The second coming of Christ will usher in a period of time referred to as the Millennial kingdom or the 1,000 year reign of Jesus on earth.

Three noticeable highlights are:
A. BANISHMENT of Satan
B. BLESSINGS of God
C. BOOKS of man (Book of Man's Words and Lamb's Book of Life)

7. New Heaven and Earth

Revelation 21-22

The last 2 chapters of John's Revelation conclude with the destiny that awaits all those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus.
Three distinct differences from our present world stand out:
A. The REMOVAL of sin and all that it has affected.
B. The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God will be our new life normal.
C. The REALITY of Heaven will be experienced forever.

God's timeline is a reality and we are in the midst of a countdown.
We should see the need to prepare ourselves and those around us.
Peter wrote about this in 2 Peter 3:10-18.