Chapter 8
Diagram of Events
We here present the following diagram, merely as an outline of the order of events, in connection, with our Lord’s return. We exhort (1 Thes. 4:18, margin) a faithful study of it, together with the references and explanations appended, believing that, as an object lesson, it will be a great help to the reader to understand these mighty questions.
EXPLANATION.
*-The birth of Christ, the King of the Jews. Mat. 2 :2.
T-The death and resurrection of Christ.
A-Ascension of Christ. Acts 1 :9.
D-Descent of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2.
Church- Mystical body of Christ. Eph. 1 :22-23; 3 :3-6; Rom. 12:4-5; Col. 1 :24-27; 1 Cor. 12 :12-27; and the Bride of Christ, Eph. 5 :21-23.
De-Descent of the Lord (1 Thes. 4:16) to receive His Bride. John 14 :3.
R-Resurrection of the just. Lu. 14:14; Acts 24:15; 1 , Thes. 4 :15-16; and change of living’ believers. 1 Cor. 15 :23, 51, 52
Rapture-Translation of the saints who (like Enoch) are caught up to meet Christ in the air. 1 Thes. 4:17.
M-The meeting of Christ and His Bride. 1 Thes. 4:17; Eph. 5 :21-32; 2 Cor. 11 :2. This is our gathering together unto Him. 2 Thes. 2 :1. And the marriage of the Lamb. Mat. 22:2-10; 25:10; Lu. 14:15-24; Rev. 19:7-8. So shall we ever be with the Lord. John 12 :26; 14:3; 17:24; 1 Thes. 4:17. It is the Hope of the Church. Phil. 3 :20-21; Tit. 2 :13; 1 John 3:2-3. And the redemption mentioned in Lu. 21 :28; Rom. 8 :23; Eph. 4:30. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. 1 Thes. 4 :18. ; Thus the Church escapes the tribulation. Lu. 21 :36; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 3:10.
T.-Period of unequaled tribulation to the world (Dan. 12:1; Mat.24:21; Lu. 21:25-26), during which-the Church having been taken out-God begins to deal with Israel again (Acts 15:13-17; Psa. 51:18; 102:16), and will restore them to their own land. Isa. 11:11; 60; Jer. 30:3; Jer. 31; 32:36-44; Amos 9:15; Zeeh. 8:10; Rom. 11.
Antichrist will be revealed. 2 Thes. 2 :8. The vials of God’s wrath poured out. Psa. 2 :1-5; Rev. 6:16-17; Rev. 14:10; 16. But men only blaspheme God. Rev. 16:11-21. Israel accepts Christ (Zech. 12:10-14; 13:6), and are brought through the fire. Zech. 13 :9. They pass not away. Mat. 24 :34; Psa. I 22 :30.
Rev.-The revelation of Christ and His saints (Col. 3:4; 1 Thes. 3:13), in flaming fire (2 Thes. 1:7-]0) to execute judgment on the earth. ‘Jude 14-15. This is Christ’s second coming to the earth. Acts 1 :11 ; Deut. 33:2; Zech. 14 :4-5; Mat. 16 :27; 24 :29-30.
J-Judgment of .the nations, or the quick. Mat. 25 :31- 46; 19 :28; Acts 10 :42; 1 Pet. 4 :5. . Antichrist is destroyed. 2 Thes. 2 :8. Tha Beast and the False Prophet are taken. Rev. 19 :20. Gog and his allies are smitten. Ezek. chapters 38 and 39. Satan is bound. Rev. 20 :1-3; Rom. 16 :20.
R. T.-Resurrection of the Tribulation Saints, which completes the First Resurrection. Rev. 20 :4-6.
Mill’m.-The Millennium. Christ’s glorious reign on the earth for 1,000 years (Rev. 20 :4) with His Bride, 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10; 1sa. 2:2-5; 4; 11:1-12; 25:6-9; 1sa. 65:18-25; Mic. 4:1-4; Zeph. 3:14-20; Zech. 8:3-8; Zech. 8 :20-23; 14 :16-21.
S-Satan loosed for! a little season, and destroyed with Gog and Magog. Rev. 20:7-10; Heb. 2:14. Res.-The Resurrection of Judgment. Rev. 20:12-15; John 5:29; Dan. 12:2.
J. W. T.-Judgment at the Great White Throne of all the remaining dead. Rev. 20:11-15. Death and Hell destroyed. Rev. 20:14; 1 Cor. 15:26. E. E.-Eternity, or rather, The aions to come. Eph.2:7.
But we trust it will enable the reader to apprehend, in some degree, the extent to which the future has been revealed, unto us, by the Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21; John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:10) and to realize that ETERNITY ITSELF will not be a blank, or statue like condition. but a continually unfolding manifestation of God to us throughout the “ages to come” (Eph, 2:7) even the “AGES’OF AGES.” See Greek Gal. 1:5; Eph, 3:21; Phi!. 4:21: 1 Tim. 1:17; 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet 4:11; Rev. 1:6, 18;4:9, 10; 5:13; 7:12; 10:6; 11:15; 14:11; 15:7; 19:3; 20:10; 22:5. See page 218.