The disciples came to Jesus privately and asked: What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? Jesus responded by quoting the prophets, saying, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29). Notice, He said these signs in the heavens would occur after the tribulation, not before it. The word “tribulation” is used in scripture to describe the trials and persecution of believers in this world. But it also pertains to a seven-year period of God’s final dealing with Israel’s rebellion and His judgment against the nations, culminating with the destruction of the Antichrist and the armies who follow him. God will also judge the prince of this world, Satan, and all the wicked principalities of this evil age.
The Resurrection and Rapture
The Apostle Paul said, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52); “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The Doctrine of The Last Days
The term “eschatology” comes from the Greek eschatos, meaning “last,” and logos, meaning “subject matter.”[i] Therefore, eschatology is the doctrinal study of prophetic events in this present age that will be fulfilled in the last days leading up to the return of Christ. It also includes events that will occur in the age to come after Christ’s return, including the Millennium, the final “great white throne of judgment,” the New Jerusalem, and the new heaven and earth. Prophecy in this study deals with predicted future events given to Israel, many of which were fulfilled at Christ’s First Advent, and all remaining predictions that will be fulfilled at His Second Advent. We read in Daniel, “Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city… To seal up vision and prophecy…” (Daniel 9:24). When the One who was predicted to come, Jesus, has returned to dwell with His people, there is no longer a need for predictions. All predictions will have been fulfilled, and all visions and prophecies will be sealed forever.