The Entire Endtime Sequence: As Foretold by Jesus Christ

© 2012 Robert L. Carlton. All rights reserved

Published by AuthorHouse 07/19/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7595-8 (soft cover)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7596-5 (ebook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012906430

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only. Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Both this Handbook and the companion Seminar are presented in the hope that in these last days all peoples can easily understand GOD’S prophecies about the Endtime. Upon written request and approval, permission will be given other publishing companies to reproduce, sell, or otherwise distribute this book without payment of royalties to the author. This permission is contingent upon the following conditions: Publications and presentations (paper, electronic, etc.) must precisely and completely record the total message of this book; additions, deletions, or any other modification to its content without written consent of the author is prohibited. Upon request, permission may also be given to translate this book into other languages without royalty payments to the author. Also, permission is given to other authors and teachers, to utilize, or quote and publish portions of this book (up to ten percent), or to utilize the figures, graphs, charts, and ideas presented herein without contacting the author, or fear of copyright infringements or payments of any kind.

In the near future a Seminar, presenting a Summary of the Entire Endtime Sequence Overview may be viewed at the Internet Webb site entireendtimesequence.com Copies of this book, (The Entire Endtime Sequence-As Foretold by JESUS CHRIST) are helpful for use with the seminar. They may be obtained from Barnes and Noble, Amazon.Com, or directly from the publisher, Authorhouse, at www.authorhouse.com, or 1-888-280-7715. Live seminars by the author are available on a limited basis to religious organizations. To arrange a live Seminar contact the author by mail.

Robert L. Carlton.

2 Bay Harbor Dr,

La Porte, Texas 77571

Contents

Foreword

Preface

SECTION I INTRODUCTION / OVERVIEW

Section I-Topics

Sec I.1. IS THE END OF THE WORLD UPON US?

Sec I.2. JESUS’ AUTHORITY TO FORETELL THE FUTURE

Sec I.3. JESUS SAID THE OLD TESTAMENT IS OF GOD

Sec I.4. THE BIBLE: BEDROCK OF GOD’S WORD

Sec I.5 (Fig 2) GOD’S ULTIMATE GOAL-THE ETERNAL KINGDOM

Sec 1.6. GOD’S PLAN: RETURN TO THE BEGINNING

Sec 1.7. GOD’S LABORS, COVENANTS, AND KINGDOMS

Sec I.8.DAY OF GOD’S REST-PAST and FUTURE

Sec 1.9. (Fig 5) GOD’S MASTER ENDTIME PLAN

Sec I.10. (Fig 6) THE ENDTIME DEFINED

SecI.11. (Fig 7) MAJOR ELEMENTS vs. DETAIL EVENTS

Sec I.12. THE ELEVEN MAJOR ELEMENTS

Sec I.13. (Fig 8) THE ENDTIME SEQUENCE OVERVIEW

Sec I.14. (Fig 8a) SEQUENCE OVERVIEW VS. MASTER TIMELINE

Sec I.15 FOUR WAYS TO DETERMINE THE SEQUENCE

Sec I.16. 

SPECIFIC SCRIPTURES THAT DEFINE THE SEQUENCE

Sec I.17. (Fig 16) ENDTIME PROPHECIES-THREE FOCUSES

Sec I.18 CALENDAR TIMELINES

Sec I.19 KEY TERMS USED IN THIS HANDBOOK

SECTION II. MAJOR ENDTIME ELEMENTS

SECTION II--TOPICSpage

SECTION II.1 THE ENDSIGNS FIRST MAJOR ENDTIME ELEMENT

ENDSIGNS (Fig 17) THIRTEEN SIGNS OF CHRIST’S RETURN

Sec II.1.A (Fig 18) JESUS’ TWO ENDTIME DISCOURSES

Sec II.1.B. THE FIRST TEN ENDSIGNS

Sec II.1.C THE FINAL THREE ENDSIGNS

Sec II.1.D. THE ENDSIGNS ERA-A NARRATIVE SUMMARY

SECTION II.2 DARKNESS AND COSMIC SIGNS

SECTION II.3 CHRIST’S SECOND COMING

SECTION II.4a THE PRESENT HEAVENLY KINGDOM

SECTION II.4b THE COMING HEAVENLY KINGDOM

SECTION II.5 THE JEWISH RESURRECTION

SECTION II.6 GOD’S WRATH

SECTION II.7 THE FIRST JUDGMENT

SECTION II.8 THE MILLENNIUM KINGDOM

SECTION II.9 SATAN’S GRAND FINALE

SECTION II.10 THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

SECTION II.11 THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD

SECTION III ENDTIMES SEQUENCE KEYS

SECTION IV EPILOGUE GOD’S SPECIAL MESSAGES

APPENDIX NO 1

APPENDIX NO 2 HOW TO ENTER THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM

APPENDIX NO 3 THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE THEORY

APPENDIX NO 4. CHRISTIANS IN THE ENDTIMES ERA

CONTENTS-A DETAILED LIST

Agenda-the Entire Endtime Scenario

As Foretold By JESUS CHRIST

Slide 2

Four thousand years ago GOD foretold the coming of His Son as a prophet.

(Deu 18:17-19) "The LORD said to me ... {18} I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. {19} If anyone does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name, I Myself will call him to account."

Two thousand years later GOD spoke from the heavens to say Here is my Son.

(Matt 17:5) "While He was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him! "

Then JESUS CHRIST acknowledged He was sent by GOD.

(John 8:42) Jesus said to them, ... I came from God and now am here. I have not come on My own; but He sent Me."

Dear reader.

As we start our search to understand what is going to happen as this world comes to its end, let us never forget that only GOD knows these things. If we are to learn them, we must look to Him, not to our own wisdom, or the speculations of other people. We must look exclusively to GOD’S Word to learn what He has revealed. As will be seen, GOD knows, He is in control, He has a plan. Moreover, GOD’S Word explains His Endtime plans in great detail. What we must do is concentrate upon GOD’S Word and not get sidetracked chasing human inventions, theories and speculations. GOD promises that if we search for discernment, understanding, and wisdom, we will be rewarded.

(Isa 46:9-13) "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. {10} I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

(Isa 55:11) " My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

(Prov 2:1-11) "My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, {2} turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, {3} and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, {4} and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, {5} then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. {6} For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth [His Word] come knowledge and understanding."

(Eph 1:9-10) "And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, {10} to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in and on earth together under one head, even Christ."

Thus we see GOD’S promises to those who come to Him for understanding; as we begin this study of the Endtime prophecies keep in mind that only GOD can tell us these things.

Dear reader, as we begin this study of the Endtime happenings, I pledge to you to stay concentrated upon GOD’S Word for our understanding and conclusions. But even so, it behooves you to also personally verify that each and ever one of our conclusions stay true to what the scriptures teach. We want to learn exclusively from GOD, not from the ideas, theories, and speculations of other people.

(Acts 17:11) "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

Bob Carlton

Foreword

Dear reader, as you have watched all the problems developing in the world today—the massacre of peoples in many nations, the economic crisis that seems to be spreading all over the world, the decline of personal moral values, etc, etc, etc.—have you developed a deep feeling of despair, a feeling that GOD is not in control, or that He does not seem to care? If so this book is going to delight you, for you are going to find that GOD is in control, that He foretold all of the things we see happening today. Moreover, you are going to find that that in the midst of the turmoil, GOD has been doing much more than just sitting on the sidelines; He has been seeking seekers, confronting each generation of people with His message of salvation and searching for those who would love, honor, and obey Him. And why is GOD so patient? He loves sinners, wants them to repent and come to Him for eternal life in paradise.

Yes, GOD loves sinners. In spite of the rebellion, all down through the ages He has sent forth servants with His message of salvation, wooing sinners to come to Him for salvation and eternal life. At the same time, GOD has given each person of every generation freedom to choose, and multiple opportunities to determine their own eternal destiny. However, at the same time GOD has repeatedly warned us that there will come an end to the time of rebellion. He is in control, and He has a goal. In the Endtime GOD will take control and punish those who disobeyed and rejected Him, and will gather those who accepted Him into His Kingdoms (plural). That is GOD’S plan for the Endtime. So, in spite of how it may appear, GOD is in control. In the Endtime, everything will take place in accordance with His Master Endtime Plan.

Today, there are some who are impatient with GOD; in fact there have always been those who wanted GOD to immediately take charge of this world. From earliest times GOD’S people have been impatient and frustrated that He would not immediately step in and punish sinners and reward the righteous. They could not understand why He would allow proud, arrogant, greedy sinners to prosper while His righteous followers suffered. The problem was (and is) that they did not understand that GOD loves sinners, He is patient with them. His purpose is to give them every opportunity to repent and turn to Him for salvation. However, GOD’S patience has a limit; in the end, those who reject Him will face His judgment.

In Old Testament times there was a righteous man who voiced his frustration; he could not understand why GOD would not immediately punish sinners and reward the righteous. GOD lead him to understand that His plan would be consummated in the Endtimes instead of the present, and in the process GOD left a message for all of us. Let us review the scriptures that record that message.

(Psa 73) "I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. {4} They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. ... pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. {7} From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. {8} They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. ... {11}

They say, How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge? {12} This is what the wicked are like--always carefree, they increase in wealth. {13} Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands ininnocence {15} If I had said, I will speak thus, I would have betrayedyour children.

{16} When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me {17} till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. ... {21} When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, {22} I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. {23} Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. {24} You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. {25} Whom have I in Heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. {26} My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. {27} Those who are far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. {28} But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds."

Thus we see GOD’S message via that impatient servant; He said to relax, to patiently wait for the Endtime, that then He will punish sinners and reward His followers. In spite of what some people think, GOD is not setting on the sidelines, He is in control. The problem is that we have the wrong perspective of things. Like that servant of old, we want GOD to act in the here and now; we do not appreciate that the reason for GOD’S delay is that in spite of their rebellion, GOD loves sinners. He is giving each generation of people every chance to repent and turn to Him for salvation. We fail to appreciate that GOD’S plan awaits the Endtime, that then He will gather all of His faithful followers to spend eternity with Him in paradise. Pending that time, in dealing with sinners, GOD is gentle, loving and patient, He wants everyone to repent. That is why He carefully remains on the sidelines; He wants to give sinners every possible chance to change their lives.

(2 Pet 3:3-12) "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. {4} They will say, ‘Where is this coming He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’ {5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. {6} By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. {7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

{8} But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. {9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. {11} Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives {12} as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the s by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat."

Dear reader, there you see GOD’S purpose and how it will be consummated in the Endtime. Likely your desire to know GOD’S plans for the Endtimes is what led to your reading of this book, which prompts a question. What do you expect to find herein? It may be that you expect to find just another review of the things that will lead to the second coming of JESUS CHRIST; if so, you are right, and wrong, there is much more than that. Herein the bigger picture is presented that shows how all of the Endtime happenings are just the climax to six thousand years of GOD’S labors, seeking seekers. You are going to realize that behind it all is the bigger picture of GOD’S love for humankind, that it is His love that drives His Endtime plans.

As will be seen; GOD started preparation for the Endtimes 4000 years prior to JESUS’ First Advent and during the past 2000 years His efforts have intensified. From the first, GOD has had a plan. Very soon, CHRIST will return to initiate the final part of that Plan. Herein we will review the scriptures that describe GOD’S plan and see that from the beginning, He has been in control. From the first, GOD’S plan has been right on schedule, and during the Endtime He will complete every detail of it.

The First Part of GOD’S Endtime plan

The first part of GOD’S plan has been to seek out seekers who would love and obey Him. They are the ones He will gather into his Eternal Kingdom. From the beginning, GOD has been searching out those seekers; in the end, He will punish those who rejected Him and gather all of those happy souls who accepted Him into His Kingdom to spend eternity with Him in paradise. To say it in a different way, the Endtime happenings will just be the climax to GOD’S labors that have been underway for the past six thousand years, labors searching out seekers who would become faithful obedient followers. The final goal of GOD’S Endtime plan is to gather those followers into His Eternal Kingdom. That is the bottom line of GOD’S prophecies about the Endtime.

The purpose of this book is to review the Endtime prophecies that describe the happenings that will lead to GOD’S final goal for the peoples of this earth. GOD described those happenings in His Endtime Plan (recorded in His Word, the Bible) it will begin with a supernatural darkness and end with the Eternal Kingdom. Herein that final series of happenings is called GOD’S Master Endtime Plan; GOD described it in such a way that anyone can easily understand it, even those without any knowledge of the Bible. Dear reader, when you have finished this book you are not only going to understand what is going to happen in the Endtimes, you are going to see that GOD is in control and that everything that happens will be under His control. More than that, you are going to find out what is going to happen to all of the peoples in this world, and more than that, you are also going to find out how you can control your own personal eternal destiny.

Dedication of this book

This book is dedicated to Seekers of GOD, to all of those peoples whom love and seek to please Him, be they Christians, Jews, Muslims, or others who not knowing His Word, still seek to please Him. For all of those seekers, there is good news, GOD loves and seeks seekers; He loves sinners and wants everyone to come to Him for forgiveness of their sins and eternal life in His Kingdom; toward that end GOD has labored for the past 6000 years. GOD has a purpose and a plan for those seekers; His plan provides for an Eternal Kingdom where beyond this life they will be with Him forever. Today, the time draws near when GOD’S labors will end and His Endtime plan initiated. Listen to the Words of GOD:

(Lam 3:25) The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him;

(John 4:23) Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

(John 14:1-3) Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in Me. {2} In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.

(1 Cor 2:9) However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

Footnotes and Acknowledgment

Herein, all of our conclusions concerning the Endtime Scenario must derive exclusively from the scriptures. Unless indicated otherwise, the scriptures quoted are from the New International Version of the Holy Bible (NIV). Usually the scriptures are interpreted to mean what they say in the normal sense of meaning. Of course, there are times where it is obvious that GOD’S prophecies use symbolism and other ways to convey His message; in those cases, we will look to other scriptures to help understand their meaning.

Note that throughout this book some of the words and phrases in the quoted scriptures have been underlined and/or made bold to emphasize various thoughts without adding the customary note Emphasis added. Also note that in respect, reverence, and awe, the names of GOD and JESUS are always capitalized.

The author is indebted to Steve Lestarjette and Jeffery Womack for their editorial assistance, and to Elmyra Lewiski (www.myralewiski.com) for the beautiful cover that adorns this book. The assistance of Professor Pamela J. Womack with her suggestions to improve the presentation, format and grammar is also greatly appreciated.

This Handbook is intended to be self sufficient in describing GOD’S Endtime Plan, but even so, a better picture is presented when it is used with a companion Seminar entitled THE ENTIRE ENDTIME SEQUENCE, AS FORETOLD BY JESUS CHRIST. In the near future the Seminar and this book may be viewed at the Webpage: entireendtimesequence.com

Robert L. Carlton

Preface

Dear reader, you may study this book expecting to only learn what GOD’S Word foretells about the Endtime happenings; but there is much more to understanding the Endtimes than that. All of the Endtime happenings will simply be the climax to GOD’S labors and covenants that have been accumulating for the past 6000 years. The Endtime scenario is best understood against the background of those labors and covenants.

If we look back to the beginning, there have been three separate 2000-year spiritual eras in the history of humankind. The first era started at the creation. At the start of that first era, GOD interacted personally with people; then as the population increased, He began using servants to interact with them.

The second 2000-year era started 1948 years after the creation when GOD called a man named Abram (GOD renamed Him Abraham) to be the father of a new nation of peoples (the Hebrews) who would carry GOD’S Old Covenant message to humankind. Herein, we call that second 2000-year timeframe the Old Covenant era.

The third 2000-year era began when GOD sent His Son, JESUS CHRIST down to earth to inaugurate a New Covenant era with humankind. GOD’S New Covenant offered forgiveness of sins as a gift of grace, attained by faith. It was different from the Old Covenant in that it did not require repeated animal sacrifices for forgiveness of one’s sins. Instead, GOD sent His Son, JESUS, to be slain on the cross as a one-time-forever sacrifice for sin, a sacrifice available for all seekers who would repent of their sinful lifestyle, who had faith in GOD’S promise that JESUS could be the sacrifice for their sins.

JESUS’ sacrifice could be viewed as a ransom for seeker’s sins. Once forgiven of their sins, seeker sinners could then be spiritually reborn as children of GOD who would one day be received into His Heavenly Kingdom. The way seekers attain that rebirth is simply to commit to follow JESUS CHRIST as Lord of their lives. GOD promised that all who would do so would be indwelled by His Holy Spirit and spiritually reborn as His children. GOD also promised that those reborn Christians will be received into His Heavenly Kingdom and eternal life. This good news of GOD’S New Covenant, with its provisions of salvation by grace, is called the Gospel.

JESUS not only became the sacrifice to atone for sin, He made provisions for the Gospel to be carried to the world. On the third day after dying on the cross, GOD resurrected JESUS from the grave. Then JESUS appeared to His followers and commissioned them to be His agents to carry the Gospel to the world. Thus began the final 2000-year era sometimes called the Church Age, also called the New Covenant era. The New Covenant era was initiated 33 A.D. and it is still ongoing.

One thing that has been common to all three Biblical eras is that humankind ignored GOD and His Covenants and rebelled against Him. The rebellion started with Adam and Eve and continued as GOD sent His servants into the world with pleas to come to Him for salvation. It finally reached the point where only one man (Noah) followed

GOD ... at that point GOD’S patience ended; He flooded the world, purging rebellious sinners from the earth.

After the flood, GOD repopulated the earth and gave the new generation of peoples a new chance for eternal life; but like before, they also rebelled. The time came when most of the world once again worshiped all manner of self-invented Gods; they worshiped the sun, moon, and other things; they worshiped the created, instead of GOD, the creator.

As the Old Testament era began, GOD undertook to lead humankind back to Himself and righteousness, GOD presented them with a series of Covenants (herein called the Old Covenant) with a system of laws and sacrifices. The purpose of GOD’S Old Covenant was to bring people into a love relationship with Himself. In conjunction with that covenant, GOD established a new nation of people (the Hebrews) to be His servants, messengers, and priests to interact with humankind. However, just as before, that new generation of peoples also rebelled and rejected GOD to follow all kinds of self-invented gods and religious rites. In fact, even the Hebrews joined in the rebellion. By the time of JESUS’ birth, almost the entire world followed self-invented gods. As GOD disgustedly said, they abandoned their creator to worship objects made by men, man-made gods of stone and wood, embossed with metal.

One would think that GOD would have given up on humankind, but He did not. GOD is a God of love, and of second and third chances. At the end of the second 2000-year era, when humankind was once again worshipping all kinds of self-invented gods, GOD tried yet again; He replaced the Old Covenant with its laws and animal sacrifices with a New Covenant of salvation by grace. This would be humankind’s final opportunity to get right with GOD. To implement this final era; GOD sent His Son, JESUS CHRIST, into the world to proclaim the year of His favor. It was the third and final chance for humankind. JESUS was the mediator of GOD’S New Covenant of salvation as a gift of grace, attained through faith.

The New Covenant was very simple; GOD provided His Son to be an atonement sacrifice for the sins of humankind, a sacrifice claimed by faith. Under the New Covenant, those who would repent and in faith commit to follow JESUS as their Lord were promised eternal life in GOD’S Kingdom. On GOD’S part, was the sacrifice of His Son to atone for people’s sins and promises of eternal life for those who would follow and obey Him. On man’s part, the only thing that was required was faith in GOD and His promises, and commitment to follow His Son, JESUS CHRIST, as Lord.

After JESUS proclaimed the message of GOD’S New Covenant, He presented Himself to be crucified upon the cross as a sacrifice for sin. On the third day after His crucifixion GOD resurrected JESUS. After His resurrection JESUS established a new family of peoples (Christians) to carry GOD’S New Covenant message (the Gospel) to the world. A new and final 2000-year era was thus initiated, a final chance for humankind. The New Covenant era will continue until GOD terminates this present age with a supernatural darkness and initiates His Master Endtime Plan.

Thus we see that for 6000 years (three 2000-year eras) GOD has labored, seeking seekers to spend eternity with Him in the Eternal Kingdom. The scriptures say that very soon, GOD’S labors will end, and He will bring this present age to a halt with a pitch-black darkness. Then, He will initiate all of the actions that constitute His Master Endtime plan. Those actions will start with the darkness, continue with His Wrath, four resurrections, and finally culminate with the establishment of the Eternal Kingdom. GOD’S ultimatepurpose will be fulfilled when He finally resurrects all of the generations of followers to share eternity with Him in paradise. At that time those who rebelled against GOD will be also be resurrected to be judged and cast into Hell (the second death).

It is only against this background of GOD’S love and patience and His labors and promises that the Endtime happenings make sense. For 6000 years GOD has patiently labored, seeking seekers who will share in His Eternal Kingdom. In the Endtime, there will be a series of resurrections of those peoples of past generations to face their eternal future. Those who rebelled will be punished, those who followed GOD will be gathered into His Eternal Kingdom. Long ago GOD planned these things; they will all take place at the appointed time.

(Isa 46:9-13) ... I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. {10} I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. {11} .... What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. 12 Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness. 13 I am bringing My righteousness near, it is not far away; and My salvation will not be delayed..

When one appreciates that back through three 2000-year eras of history GOD has confronted generation after generation of peoples with His covenants and promises, then GOD’S Endtime plan makes perfect sense. The marvelous thing about it all is GOD’S patience and love for humankind in the face of 6000 years of rebellion.

(John 3:16-19) For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. {17} For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. {18} Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because He has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. {19} This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

As we review what JESUS taught about GOD’S plan we will see that there will be four separate resurrections of peoples, some will be rewarded for their faith and others will face His judgment. The group of servants who served last (Christians) will be resurrected first, the Hebrews will be resurrected next and finally (at the Great White Throne judgment) the remainder of peoples from past ages will be resurrected.

As will be seen, GOD is in control; He has a Master Endtime plan that will be completed in the Endtimes. When we have completed this Seminar we will not only understand GOD’S plan, we will understand the bigger picture of how it relates to His labors tracing back 6000 years, all the way back to the creation of this earth.

GOD Allows Each Person to Control Their Own Eternal Destiny

Yes, we are going to learn all about GOD’S Master Endtime plan; but that is not all we will learn. Those who ponder the messages of GOD’S Holy Word will also see that He allows every person to control his or her own eternal destiny. GOD’S purpose for Hisprophecies was much more than just explaining what is going to happen in the Endtime; it was to show seekers there are only two potential endings for their lives, Heaven or Hell. GOD has arranged things such that each person can control his or her own personal eternal destiny. GOD’S message confronts each person, saying:

You who are far astray, here is My New Covenant, here is the way unto salvation and eternal life. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Those seekers who respond to GOD’S plea to partake of His New Covenant will inherit eternal life; those who reject Him will face His Judgment. That is the bottom line of GOD’S Endtime Plan; it is the goal of His Plan. For those seekers of GOD who choose the path of righteousness, rest assured, herein you will find the goldmine of GOD’S promises collected and presented especially for you. This servant’s prayer is that you will open your heart to His Word, that you will choose the narrow road that leads to eternal life.

Preconceptions Stumbling Block to Understanding

As will be seen, JESUS very clearly described all of the things that are going to happen during the Endtimes; but, sad to say, not everyone will grasp His message; many will be so blinded by their preconceptions that they will not even understand it. In fact, the extent to which various people will accept JESUS’ teaching and prophecies will very likely hinge upon the extent of their preconceptions about who JESUS was and what He taught. Those who have not formed preconceptions will have no problem understanding His message; they will be delighted to see how clearly JESUS described what is going to happen as this present age ends and the New Age begins. For those with preconceptions, it will not be so simple. Preconceptions can be the biggest obstacle to understanding and accepting any of the truths of the Bible, most especially, what JESUS taught.

The extent to which preconceptions can blind people is amazing. For example, consider how preconceptions caused the Jewish leaders to reject JESUS. The Jews were anxiously awaiting a Messiah from GOD, but they were expecting that he would be a great leader like King David of old and that He would immediately implement a new kingdom like that of King David’s time. They could not grasp how JESUS could also be the suffering servant, a sacrifice for sins, who was described in the book of Isaiah (Chapter 53). This servant thinks it was because of those preconceptions that the Jewish leaders of old were unable to grasp who JESUS was and why they refused to accept what He taught.

That the Jews would reject JESUS is ironic, for they were the ones whom GOD designated to be the recorders and custodians of His Holy Word (Psalms 147:19-20). They recorded a long string of GOD’S prophecies about JESUS, prophecies that began in the time of Moses and accumulated all of the way to the First Coming of JESUS.

The Jews not only had GOD’S messages that foretold the coming of JESUS, they were witnesses to the mighty miracles that He performed by the power of GOD. They saw Him heal the sick, make the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to live again. To cap it all, GOD spoke publicly from Heaven in a way that was heard by those Jews; He said, This is My Son, in Him I am well pleased . Even so, in the face of all those things the Jews still closed their minds to JESUS. Their preconceptions so blinded them to who JESUS was and the source of His power to perform miracles that theyrefused to accept the truths He taught; so too, will everyone else who cannot lay aside their preconceptions, be they Gentiles, Muslims, Jews, or even Christians.

Some might think that since Christians follow JESUS CHRIST as their Lord and master they will automatically accept that His prophecies will all happen exactly as He foretold. Strange to say, but this is not always the case. Some Christians believe erroneous theories about the Endtimes that directly conflict with what JESUS taught; like the Jews, they too will have a hard time laying their preconceptions aside so that they can see and understand what He said.

Make no mistake; preconceptions can be the greatest barrier to understanding the Endtime prophecies. Having a close relationship with GOD, or even with JESUS, does not make one immune to being blinded by their preconceptions. The only way one can clearly understand the Biblical truths is to exercise great mental discipline to lay his/her preconceptions aside, and to absorb the Biblical teachings as upon a clean sheet of paper in the center of his/her mind.

We Will Depend Upon JESUS CHRIST’S Teaching About the Endtimes

Well, enough about the roadblock of preconceptions; before proceeding into the details, let us consider a few things that will help us understand GOD’S Endtime prophecies. The first thing to understand is that within this book, we will primarily depend upon the teachings of JESUS CHRIST to define the chronological sequence for the Endtime events. Of course, in times of old, GOD spoke via Moses and the Prophets about the Endtime happenings; we will consult those scriptures to better understand the Endtime happenings, but we will not depend upon them to establish the Endtime sequence. Their picture of the Endtime was presented in bits and pieces over a long period; it provided many details that greatly enhance our understanding of the various Endtime happenings, but even so, it was a fragmented picture that did not clearly reveal the sequence for those Endtime events.

Herein, our major goal is to identify the scriptures that describe the sequence so clearly that no one will have trouble understanding it. JESUS did that, so we will depend upon His teachings to establish the sequence (at the overview level). We call this description of the sequence, The Entire Endtime Scenario. That we call it a Scenario is a clue that the sequence is in view.

Time Gaps Within the Prophecies

As we delve deeper and deeper into the Endtime prophecies, many readers will refer to the numerous scripture references and notes. To help in understanding those scriptures one thing that is important to realize is that GOD frequently inserted Time Gaps within His descriptions of the sequences. For example, there might be an ongoing description of a sequential string of connected events, and in the midst of that description, an invisible time gap inserted that effectively separates the events with a long time delay between them. The problem is that the scriptures do not reveal the existence of those time gaps. If one is not aware of this practice within the prophecies, confusion can result. For example, sometimes people confuse the prophecies foretelling CHRIST’S Second Coming with His First

Advent. One thing that has led to this confusion is that descriptions of the two separate advents sometimes contain Time Gaps that are not apparent. Because of these innocuous Time Gaps it is not always obvious that two separate advents of JESUS are being described. For example, Isaiah 61:1-4, foretold both advents of JESUS in the same sentence but did not indicate that a time gap separated them.

(Isa 61:1-3) The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God ...

Note how this prophecy foretold both advents of JESUS many centuries prior to His birth. Verse 1 starts, saying, the spirit of the Lord is upon Me ... In this verse, Me refers to JESUS; He is the speaker of these words; the Prophet Isaiah, who relayed His words, was just His mouthpiece. Verse 2 speaks of the day of the Lord’s favor, which was a reference to the time of JESUS’ First Advent; it foretold the time when GOD would proclaim a New Covenant of salvation by grace. Then, the remainder of that same sentence said: ... and the day of vengeance of our God. This was a reference to CHRIST’S Second Advent, when He will return to execute GOD’S Wrath upon the earth. Today we see that JESUS’ First Advent took place some 2000 years ago; but the Wrath is still future. It awaits CHRIST’S Second Coming. Therefore, there is a 2000 year Time Gap between the two parts of Verse 2.

Thus, in those days of old, in one sentence, the prophet Isaiah foretold both future advents of JESUS CHRIST, the first part proclaimed the year of the Lord’s favor and the second foretold the day of vengeance of God (GOD’S Wrath). That Scripture did not reveal that there would be a 2000 year time gap between those two advents. This only became apparent after the fact. Today, in retrospect, we can understand it because 2000 years have transpired since JESUS’ First Advent. In days of old, it was not evident that there would be a time gap between the two advents; so a casual reading of those words would assume that a single advent was being described.

Some might question if we have properly interpreted this Scripture. If one looks forward many centuries from the time of Isaiah, to when JESUS first started His ministry upon the earth, we find Him reading Isa 61:2 to a group of people in a Jewish Synagogue. As JESUS read those scriptures He only read the first part of Isaiah 62:2 (the part that dealt with His First Advent), but not the second part that pertained to His Second Advent. Luke 4:17-21 records what JESUS said:

(Luke 4:17-21) The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him [to JESUS]. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: {18} ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because he has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ {20} Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him, {21} and He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’

Notice that JESUS quit reading when He came to the part that pertained to His Second Advent. The reason He did so was because the remainder of the verse did not pertain to His First Advent, it would not take place until 2000 years later (in fact, we still await its fulfillment).

This example shows how sometimes Time Gaps in the scriptures make it very difficult to understand the Endtime prophecies. It may be there were two reasons why GOD used time gaps in the prophecies; first, it presents a challenge to serious Bible scholars to search harder to understand GOD’S message. Also, it may be that GOD did not want certain Endtime prophecies to be understood until after some point in time. One could not discern the time gap in Isaiah’s original prophecy until after JESUS’ First Advent was completed. Then it became obvious that GOD’S wrath had not been accomplished, that it still awaited His return.

So we see that sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the prophecies that foretold JESUS’ First Advent from other timeframes, but fortunately most of the Endtime prophecies are very explicit and easy to understand. Moreover, today we have the advantage of hindsight; we can see that all of the prophecies describing JESUS’ First Advent were fulfilled exactly as foretold. This gives confidence that most of the other prophecies describing JESUS’ Second Coming and Second Advent should be taken literally.

This Handbook-A Supplement to a Seminar Slideshow

This Handbook was originally prepared to be a commentary to help understand each slide used in a Seminar about the Endtimes. That is why it includes a copy of each Seminar slide followed by a commentary to explain the main points of the slide. But, even so, it has also been modified and expanded to be a stand alone description of the Entire Endtime Scenario and to describe it in such a way that it can be easily understood without viewing the Seminar. In other words, this book is designed to be a stand-alone document that clearly explains the Entire Endtime Scenario. At the same time it includes many additional details and insights that should enlighten and delight the most learned scholar. The goal has been to make it an accurate description of the Endtime happenings that is easy to understand. Dear reader, you can be the judge of how well this goal was met.

How to view the scriptures presented within this book

Dear reader, as we examine the various Endtime topics herein, many, many, scriptures will be presented to show what GOD said about those topics. Please do not view these scriptures as collected to prove the thoughts being discussed; but rather view them as the personal words of GOD, His Words gathered together to help us understand the topics under review. Think of them as GOD personally speaking to us to help us understand those topics. In fact, that is the proper way to think of all of the Holy Scriptures.

SECTION I INTRODUCTION / OVERVIEW

Section I-Topics

Slide 4

Slide 4 presents the topics we will review in this introduction. As we begin, keep in mind that our overall goal is to understand GOD’S Master Endtime Plan for this earth and its peoples. Most important, we want to establish the chronological sequence for the major happenings that will comprise His plan. To say it in a different way, our goal is to present a very clear and simple picture of the entire Endtime Scenario (at the overview level). That is our goal, but we will still delve deeply into the details and the overview will help keep us oriented.

4

In this introduction, we will review considerable background information that will help us understand that GOD’S Endtime plan is not something unique to the Endtime, but rather the climax, or completion of labors that have been underway from the time of the creation. Also, in this introduction we will review the approach used to establish the chronological Sequence for the Endtime events and show how those detailed events can be divided into eleven separate groups that we call Major Endtime Elements. When those eleven Major Elements are arranged into their proper chronological sequence, the result becomes The Endtime Sequence Overview. With those thoughts in mind, let us begin.

Sec I.1. 

IS THE END OF THE WORLD UPON US?

Slide 5

The Secular World is proclaiming the end is near

In recent times there has been a constant stream of warnings from many sectors of the secular world that the end of this world is approaching. Some see the exploding population as fast approaching the point where there will no longer be sufficient land for food production. Others think that it will end in a nuclear holocaust that will destroy all humankind. Yet others fear that some new plague will cause the final downfall, and so on. In short, there is a wide variation of opinion about what will cause the downfall, but more and more agreement that the end is approaching.

Bible Scholars are also proclaiming the end is near.

Bible scholars are also proclaiming that the end is near; and for good reason, many events happening in the world today are precisely following the sequence foretold in GOD’S prophecies. GOD has said that He is in control, that He has a purpose for this earth, and that He will accomplish all that He has planned. GOD has very clearly described His Endtime Plan. He started via the prophecies of His servant Moses, and continued via a long string of prophecies leading up to the First Advent of His Son, JESUS CHRIST. Then JESUS appeared to complete the picture; He foretold many of the things we see happening in the world today and the other things that remain to be accomplished. In fact, very little remains to be accomplished before the End of this present age arrives. Dear reader, review Matthew 24 and see if you think those scriptures indicate the end is near. Some of the things foretold there are:

Matt 24:6-7. War, earthquakes ... Do you think the worldwide wars andearthquakes of recent times could fit the situation that JESUS said will be signs that the end draws near?

Matt 24:14 . The Gospel carried to the whole world (already accomplished). What did JESUS say will happen after that?

Sec I.2. 

JESUS’ AUTHORITY TO FORETELL THE FUTURE

Since we will be depending upon the teachings of JESUS CHRIST to define the Endtime sequence let us start by assuring ourselves that He came authorized of GOD to foretell the future. We are going to see that GOD very powerfully authenticated JESUS to be His Son sent to Earth to represent Him. Knowing this we can have great faith and confidence in what JESUS proclaimed.

Sub-Topics (Slides 6-7)

Sec I.2.A By the Prophecies that foretold JESUS’ First Advent

Many centuries before JESUS came upon the Earth the scriptures foretold His coming and described many details about Him. Gen 18:22 foretold He would be a descendent of Abraham and a blessing for all peoples. Isa 53:4-6, 10 foretold that by His death upon the cross JESUS would become a sacrifice to atone for the sins of humankind (for all who had faith in Him). Other scriptures foretold many other details about Him, for example, that He would rein over all peoples (Gen 49:1-10). It would take a separate book to review all of those prophecies, but their central theme was to prepare the world for the coming of GOD’S Son, JESUS CHRIST. Never in the history of humankind has there been a person who was foretold by GOD in such a powerful way as was JESUS CHRIST.

Sec I.2.B Prophets and Angels announced JESUS’ birth and purpose

Prior to JESUS’ birth an Angel appeared to the Jewish Priest Zechariah, telling him that he would have a son who would be a forerunner of JESUS (Luke 1:17). When that son (John the Baptist) grew up he became a mighty prophet who went forth proclaiming that JESUS was GOD’S Messiah.

Later, the Angel appeared to a Jewish virgin named Mary, telling her that the Holy Spirit of GOD would overshadow her and that she would bear a child, the Son of GOD, who would be king over Israel forever (a reference to His Second Advent), (Luke 1:26-38).

On the night JESUS was born, Angels appeared to a group of shepherds, telling them that a great joy was coming to the people, that a deliverer had been born and that they would find Him in a manger in Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-20).

After JESUS’ birth, His parents carried Him to the Temple to be circumcised; they were met by a man named Simeon who told them that the child JESUS was the Lord’s Messiah (Luke 2:25-32).

Sec I.2.C Supernatural signs during JESUS’ First Advent

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) record many, many miracles that JESUS performed during His First Advent. He calmed the wind, walked on water, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf. He even raised the dead to life again. JESUS did many such things as these that had never before happened in the history of humankind; all of these things showed that JESUS came supernaturally empowered of GOD.

Sec I.2.D GOD publicly proclaimed JESUS to be His Son.

(Mark 1:9-11) At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. {10} As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. {11} And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.’

Sec I.2.E JESUS testified that He came from GOD

JESUS said that He came from GOD, spoke what GOD had told Him, and that after His death He would return to GOD, and that still later He would return for His followers.

(John 16:28) I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.

(John 15:15) ... everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.

(John 14:2-3) In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.

Sec I.2.F JESUS’ prophecies came to pass

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record many instances where JESUS foretold future events that happened exactly as He had said. Read Matthew 24 and see how many of the events that He said would be signs of His return and the End of the Age have already taken place.

Sec I.2.G JESUS’ Apostles, testified that He was GOD’S Son

Read the New Testament letters written to the various Christian churches by JESUS’ Apostles to see the many, many times they acknowledged that JESUS was GOD’S Son who was sent into the world to be a sacrifice for sin and the savior of all who would come to Him in faith.

Sec 1.2.H Evil spirits acknowledged JESUS to be of GOD.

Read through the four New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to see how many times Satan, Demons, and Evil spirits acknowledged JESUS to be of GOD. One example is found in the Book of Mark.

(Mark 1:23-26) Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, {24} ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!’ {25} ‘Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ {26} The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Sec I.2.I The Transfiguration of JESUS

One time as JESUS and His Apostles Peter, James and John were on a mountain top, JESUS was transfigured; His appearance suddenly became dazzling white. At the same time two people of Old Testament times suddenly appeared with Him, talking to Him (Matt 17:1-3).

Sec I.2.J JESUS’ obedience to GOD as He died upon the cross

One of the most powerful indications that JESUS came to do the will of GOD was that He went willingly to die on the cross for the sins of humankind. The Gospels record how at the end of His ministry JESUS resolutely turned His path toward Jerusalem and His death. As He journeyed toward Jerusalem He began to explain to His disciples that he must go there to be crucified. They protested, and He rebuked them for refusing to accept GOD’S plan for His life.

The Apostles should have realized that JESUS would have to die on the cross, for the Old Testament scriptures foretold it (Isa 53 foretold how He would die as a sacrifice for the sins of humankind, and Psalms 22:1-18 described His crucifixion and how His hands would be pierced and they would cast lots for His cloths). Those prophecies took place many centuries prior to JESUS’ death.

(Isa 53:5-6) {5} But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. {6} We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. ... {10-11}Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD makes His life a guilt offering, ... {11} After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge My righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Sec 1.2.K By demonstration of His love for humankind

John 3:16 says that GOD loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die for their sins. As JESUS was dying upon the cross, He prayed to GOD to forgive those who had put Him there. In that prayer, one sees that JESUS had the same love for humankind that GOD did.

Sec I.2.L By His Resurrection from the grave

The Old Testament prophecies foretold that JESUS would not see decay in the grave (Psa 16:10); JESUS foretold that He would be in the ground and on the third day be raised to life again (Matt 17:22). By the resurrection of JESUS, GOD not only provided yet another proof that JESUS was His Son, He gave assurance to seekers and believers that they will also be resurrected into the Heavenly Kingdom and eternal life.

Sec I.2.M By the presence of Angels At His ascension

Acts 1:9-11 records how JESUS’ disciples were watching Him ascending into the heavens when suddenly two angels appeared to explain what was happening:

(Acts 1:9-11) After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. {10} They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. {11} ‘Men of Galilee, they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into , will come back in the same way you