FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

A Panorama of Prophecy

Dr. H. L. Willmington - Dean, Liberty Bible Institute

Happenings in Heaven

Phase I- Rapture of all Christians - I Thess. 4:14-18; I Cor. 15:51-53; Heb. 9:24-28; Rev. 4:1

A. Meaning of the word Rapture: to transport from one place to another

B. Various Views of the Rapture:
  1. Partial Rapture that only "Spiritual Christians" will be caught up. Refuted by I Cor. 15:51
  2. Mid-tribulation Rapture--that all believers will have to endure the first half of the tribulation. Refuted by I Thess. 5:9
  3. Pre-Tribulation Rapture--that all believers will be caught up before the tribulation.
C. Mystery of the Rapture: Millions of believers will enter heaven without dying! See I Cor. 15:51

D. Trumpet of the Rapture: May be for a two-fold purpose:
  1. To summon angels to battle
  2. To summon believers to worship--See I Cor. 15:52; I Thess. 4:16; Rev. 4:1
E. Challenges of the Rapture: Because of the Rapture, the believer is to:
  1. Attend the services--Heb. 10:25
  2. Observe the Lord's Supper--I Cor. 11 :26
  3. Love Believers--I Thess. 3:12, 13
  4. Be patient--James 5:8
  5. Live a separated life--I John 3:2, 3; Titus 2:12, 13; I John 2:28
  6. Refrain from judging others--I Cor. 4:5
  7. Preach the Word--2 Tim. 4:1, 2, I Peter 5:2, 4
  8. Comfort the bereaved--I Thess. 4:16, 18
  9. Win souls--Jude 21-23
  10. Be concerned about heaven--Col. 3:1-4
Phase ll - Judgment Seat of Christ-I Cor. 3:9-15; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10

A. Purpose of the Judgment
  1. Negative consideration-not to determine salvation or punishment for sins
  2. Positive consideration-to reward believers for their service for Christ
B. Areas Involved in This Judgment
  1. How we treat other believers--Heb. 6:10; Matt. 10:41, 42
  2. How we exercise our authority over others--Heb. 13:17: James 3:1
  3. How we employ our God-given abilities--2 Tim. 1:6; I Cor. 12:4, 11; I Peter 4:10; Luke 19: 11-26; Matt. 25:14-29
  4. How we use our money--I Tim. 6:17-19; 2 Cor. 9:6, 7; I Cor. 16:2
  5. How much we suffer for Jesus--Matt. 5:11, 12; I Peter 4:12, 13; Mark 10:29, 30; 2 Cor. 4:17; Rom. 8:18
  6. How we spend our time--Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5; I Peter 1:17; Psa. 90:12
  7. How we run that particular race which God has chosen for us--I Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:13, 14; Heb. 12:1; Phil. 2:16
  8. How effectively we control the old nature--I Cor. 9:25-27
  9. How many souls we witness to and win for Christ--Prov. 11:30; I Thess. 2:19, 20; Dan. 12:3
  10. How we react to temptation--James 1:2, 3; Rev. 2:10
  11. How much the doctrine of the Rapture means to us--2 Tim. 4:8
  12. How faithful we are to the Word of God and the flock of God--I Peter 5:2-4; 2 Tim. 4:1, 2; Acts 20:26-28
C. Results of the Judgment
  1. Some will receive rewards--I Cor. 3:14
  2. Some will suffer loss--I Cor. 3: 15
Phase lll - Marriage of the Lamb--2 Cor.11:2; Rev. 19:6-8; Matt. 22:1, 2; Eph. 5:23-27

A. Host of the Marriage--The Father! Lk. 14:16-23

B. Bridegroom of the Marriage--The Son! John 3:27-30; Lk. 5:32-35

C. Bride of the Marriage--The Church! Eph. 5:22-32; 2 Cor. 11:2

D. Guests of the Marriage--Israel! Matt. 25:1-13

E. Service Schedule of the Marriage-three separate stages:
  1. the betrothal stage-now going on-2 Cor.11 :2
  2. the presentation stage-at the Rapture-John 14:2, 3; Rev. 19:7, 8
  3. the celebration stage-the millennium-Rev. 20:1-6
F. Certainty of the Marriage--Acts 1:11; Heb. 10:14; Eph. 5:27; Rom. 8:33-39

Phase IV - The Singing of Two Songs--Rev. 4, 5

A. The Proclamation--Rev. 5:1, 2

B. The Investigation- -Rev. 5:3

C. The Lamentation--Rev. 5:4

D. The Manifestation--Rev. 5:5-7

E . The Adoration--Rev. 5:9-14

Events on Earth

Phase I--Seven Year Tribulation Begins: Dan. 9:24-27; 12:1; Isa. 24; Joel 2; Matt. 24; Rev. 6-20

A. Nature of Tribulation--Isa. 13:6, 7, 10, 11; 2:19; 24:1, 19, 20; 34:2-4; 63:3, 4, 6; Jer. 25:32, 33; Joel 2:1, 2; Zeph. 1:14, 15; Matt. 24:7, 11, 12, 21, 22; Lk. 21:25, 26; I Thess. 5:2, 3; Rev. 6:12-17

B. Length of Tribulation--(7 years) See Dan. 9:24-27

C. Purpose of Tribulation:
  1. to harvest the crop of humanity--Matt. 13
  2. to prove the falseness of Satan's claim that he can bring in world peace--Isa. 14:12-14
  3. to prepare a great martyred multitude for heaven--Rev. 7:9, 14
  4. to prepare a great living multitude for the millennium-- Matt. 25:32-34
  5. to punish the Gentiles--Rom. 1:18; 2 Thess. 2:11, 12; Rev. 19:15
  6. to purge Israel--Ezek. 20:37, 38; Zech. 13:8, 9
  7. to purify all nature--Rom 8:18-23
D. Personalities Appearing in the Tribulation:
  1. the Holy Spirit--Joel 2:28, 30-32
  2. the Devil--Rev. 12:12
  3. two special Old Testament (?) witnesses--Rev. 11 :3
  4. the Antichrist--Dan. 11 :36; 2 Thess. 2:3, 4, 9; I John 2:22; Rev. 6:2; Rev. 13:1. 2, 6
  5. the False Prophet--Rev. 13: 11; Rev. 16: 13; 19:20; 20: 10
  6. a multitude of specialized angels--Rev. 7:2; Rev. 8:3; Rev. 10:1, 2; 11 :1; Rev. 14:6; Rev. 14:19, Rev. 18:1, 21; Rev. 19:17; Rev. 20:1
  7. one-hundred-forty-four thousand Israelite preachers--Rev. 7
  8. an army of locust-like demons from the bottomless pit--Rev. 9:1-12
  9. an army of horse-and-rider demons from the Euphrates River--Rev. 9:13-21
  10. three evil spirits--Rev. 16:13, 14
  11. a cruel, power-mad ruler from the North--Ezek. 38:2
  12. a persecuted woman--Rev. 12: 1
  13. a vile harlot--Rev. 17: 1-6
  14. an arrogant queen--Rev. 18:1-7
  15. a pure Bride--Rev. 19:7, 8
  16. a mighty warrior from heaven--Rev. 19:11-16
E. Chronology of the Tribulation

FIRST THREE AND ONE-HALF YEARS

  1. Formal organization of the super harlot church--Rev.17; I Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5
  2. Appearance of the antichrist and his false prophet--Rev. 13
  3. Revival of the Roman Empire--Dan. 2:41; 7:7, 8; Rev. 13:1; 17:12
  4. The antichrist's seven-year Covenant with Israel--Dan. 9:27; Isa. 28:18
  5. Pouring out of the first six seals-- Matt. 24:4-8; Rev. 6:1-17
  6. Mass return of the Jews to Palestine-- Ezek. 37:1-14; 34:11-13; 36:24; Isa. 43:5, 6
  7. Conversion and call of the 144,000--Rev. 7:1-4; Matt. 24:14
  8. Rebuilding of the Jewish temple--Dan. 9:27; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:14, 15; 11:2
  9. Ministry of the two witnesses--Rev. 11:3-13
  10. Possible rebuilding of Babylon--Isa. 13, 14; Jer. 50, 51

MIDDLE PART (brief undetermined period)

  1. The Gog and Magog invasion into Palestine--Ezek. 38, 39
  2. The martyrdom of the two witnesses--Rev. 11:7
  3. The martyrdom of the 144,000--Rev. 14:1-5
  4. The casting out of Satan from heaven-- Rev. 12:3-15
  5. The destruction of the false church--Rev. 17:16

LAST THREE AND ONE-HALF YEARS

  1. The full manifestation of the antichrist--Rev. 13:16-18
  2. The world wide persecution of Israel--Dan. 12:1; Zech. 11:16; Matt. 24:21; Rev. 12:13
  3. The pouring out of the last seal judgment- -Rev. 8, 9; 11:15-19
  4. The messages of three special angels--Rev. 14:6-12
  5. The pouring out of the seven vials of judgment--Rev. 16
  6. The sudden destruction of economic and political Babylon--Rev. 18
  7. The Battle of Armageddon--Rev. 16:16; Psa. 2:1-5, 9; Isa. 34:1-6; 63:3, 4, 6; Joel 3:2, 9-16; Zech. 12:2; 14:2, 3, 12; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:11-21
Phase ll - The Sounding of the 7th Trumpet and the Second Coming of Christ! Matt. 24:29-30; Rev.11:15; 19:11-16

A. The Chronology of the 2nd Coming
  1. From heaven to the Mt. of Olives--Matt. 24:29; Lk. 21:25, 26; 2 Thess. 1:7; Zech. 14:4, 8; Acts 1 :11
  2. From the Mt. of Olives to (?) Petra--Isa. 34:6; 63:1
  3. From Petra to Armageddon
B. The Purpose of the 2nd Coming
  1. to defeat Satan at Armageddon--Zech. 12:2; 14:13-15; Rev. 14:19, 20; 19:17-21
  2. to regather,regenerate,and restore faithful lsrael--Isa.43:5,6; Jer.24:6; Ezek.36:28; 11:17; Amos 9:14,15; Micah 7:18, 19; Mt. 24:31
  3. to judge and punish faithless Israel--Ezek. 20:38; Matt. 25:1-30
  4. to separate the Gentile sheep from the goats- -Matt. 25:31-46
  5. to bind Satan--Rom. 16:20; Rev. 20:1-3
  6. to resurrect O. T. and tribulational saints--Job 19:25, 26; Psa. 49:15; Isa. 25:8; 26:19; Dan. 12:2; Hosea 13:14; John 5:28, 29; Heb. 11:35; Rev. 20:4, 5
  7. to judge fallen angels--I Cor. 6:3; Mark 1:23, 24; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6
Phase lll - The One Thousand Year Millennium--Isa. 2:2-4; 25:18; 35:1, 8, 10; 65:20, 25

A. The Purpose of the Millennium
  1. to reward the saints of God--Psa. 58:11; Isa. 40:10; Prov. 11 :18; Mt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12
  2. to answer the oft-prayed model prayer-- Matt. 6:9-13
  3. to redeem creation--Rom. 8:19-22
  4. to fulfill the Abrahamic--Gen.12:1-3;13:14-17;15:5,7,18-21;17:7,8;22:17,18; Davidic--2 Chron. 13:15; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; 23:5; and the New Covenant--Jer. 31:31-34; Isa. 42:6; Heb. 8:7-12
B. The Titles of the Millennium
  1. The World to Come--Heb. 2:5
  2. The Kingdom of Heaven--Matt. 5:10
  3. The Kingdom of God--Mark 1:14
  4. The Last Day--John 6:40
  5. The Regeneration--Matt. 19:28
  6. The Times of Refreshing--Acts 3:19
  7. The Restitution of All Things--Acts 3:21
  8. The Day of Christ--I Cor. 1 :8; 5:5; 2 Cor. 1 :14; Phil. 1 :6; 2:16
C. The Nature of the Millennium
  1. Peace--Isa.2:4; 9:4-7; 11:6-9; 32: 17,18; 33:5, 6; 54:13; 55:12; 60:18; 65:25; 66:12; Ezek.28:26; 34:25,28; Hos. 2:18; Mic. 4:2, 3; Zech. 9:10
  2. Joy--Isa. 9:3, 4; 12:3-6; 14:7, 8; 25:8, 9; 30:29; 42:1, 10-12; 52:9; 60:15; 61:7, 10; 65:18, 19; 66:10-14; Jer. 30:18, 19; 31:13, 14; Zeph. 3:14-17; Zech. 8:18, 19; 10:6, 7
  3. Holiness-- Isa.1:26, 27; 4:3, 4; 29:18-23; 31:6, 7; 35:8, 9; 52:1; 60:21; 61:10; Jer. 31:23; Ezek. 36:24-31; 37:23, 24; 43:7-12; 45:1; Joel 3:21; Zeph. 3:11, 13; Zech. 8:3, 13:1, 2; 14:20, 21
  4. Glory--Isa. 24:23; 4:2; 35:2; 40:5; 60:1-9
  5. Comfort--Isa.12:1, 2; 29:22, 23; 30:26; 40:1, 2; 49:13; 51:3; 61:3-7; 66:13, 14; Jer.31:23-25; Zeph. 3:18-20; Zech. 9:11, 12; Rev. 21:4
  6. Justice--Isa. 9:7; 11:5; 32:16; 42:1-4; 65:21- 23; Jer. 23:5; 31:23; 31:29, 30
  7. Full knowledge--Isa. 11:1, 2, 9; 41:19, 20; 54:13; Hab. 2:14
  8. Instruction--Isa. 2:2, 3; 12;3-6; 25:9; 29:17-24; 30:20, 21; 32:3, 4; 49:10; 52:8; Jer. 3:14, 15; 23:1- 4; Mic. 4:2
  9. The removal of the curse--Isa. 11:6-9; 35:9; 65:25
  10. Sickness removed--Isa. 33:24; Jer. 30:17; Ezek. 34:16
  11. Healing of the deformed--Isa. 29:17-19; 35:3-6; 61:1, 2; Jer. 31:8; Mic. 4:6, 7; Zeph. 3:19
  12. Protection--Isa. 41:8-14; 62:8, 9; Jer.32:27; 23:6; Ezek.34:27; Joel 3:16, 17; Amos 9:15; Zech.8:14, 15; 9:8; 14:10, 11
  13. Freedom from oppression--Isa. 14:3-6; 42:6, 7; 49:8, 9; Zech. 9:11, 12
  14. No immaturity--Isa. 65:20
  15. Reproduction by the living peoples--Jer. 30:20; 31:29; Ezek. 47:22; Zech. 10:8
  16. Labor--Isa. 62:8, 9; 65:21-23; Jer. 31:5; Ezek. 48:18, 19
  17. Economic prosperity- -Isa. 4:1,35:1,2,7; 30:23-25; 62:8,9; 65:21 -23; Jer.31 :5, 12; Ezek. 34:26; Mic. 4:1,4; Zech. 8:11, 12; 9:16, 17; Ezek. 36:29, 30; Joel 2:21-27; Amos 9:13, 14
  18. Increase of light--Isa. 4:5; 30:26; 60:19, 20; Zech. 2:5
  19. Unified language--Zeph. 3:9
  20. Unified Worship-- Isa. 45:23; 52:1, 7-10; 66:17-23; Zech. 13:2; 14:16; 18:23; 9:7; Zeph. 3:9; Mal.1:11; Rev. 5:9-14
  21. The manifest presence of God--Ezek. 37:27, 28; Zech. 2:2, 10-13; Rev. 21 :3
  22. The fullness of the Spirit--Isa. 32:13-15; 41:1; 44:3; 59:19, 21; 61:1; Ezek. 36:26, 27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28, 29; Ezek. 11:19, 20
D. The Geography of the Millennium
  1. Palestine--to be greatly enlarged--Isa.26:15; 0bad. 1:17-21; Zech. 14:4, 8,1 0; Joel 3:18; Ezek. 47: 8, 9, 12
  2. Jerusalem--to become the worship center of the world--Micah 4:1; Isa. 2:2, 3; Zech.14:10; Ezek.45:35; 48:35
E. The Temple in the Millennium-The Last of Seven Great Scriptural Temples-These are:
  1. the tabernacle of Moses--Exod. 40 (1500-1000 B.C.)
  2. the temple of Solomon--I Kings 8 (1000-586 B.C.)
  3. the temple of Zerubbabel (rebuilt later by Herod)--Ezra 6; John 2 (516 B.C. to A.D. 70)
  4. the temple of the Body of Jesus--John 2:21 (4 B.C. to A.D. 30)
  5. the spiritual temple, the church--Acts 2; I Thess. 4 (from Pentecost till the Rapture)
  6. the tribulational temple--Rev. 11 (from the Rapture till Armageddon)
  7. the millennial temple--Ezek. 40-48; Joel 3:18; Isa. 2:3; 60:13; Dan. 9:24; Haggai 2:7, 9
Phase IV--The Final Revolt of Satan (Rev. 20:7-10)

Phase V--The Great White Throne Judgment

A. The Fact of This Throne--Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:11-15; Dan. 7:9, 10

B. The Judge of This Throne--Christ, Himself--John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:40, 42; 2 Tim. 4:1

C. The Jury at This Throne-Five Sets of Books
  1. the book of conscience--Rom. 2:15
  2. the book of words-- Matt. 12:36, 37
  3. the book of secret works--Rom. 2:16; Eccles. 12:14
  4. the book of public works--2 Cor. 11 :15; Matt. 16:27
  5. the book of life--Exod. 32:32, 33; Psa. 69:28; Dan. 12:1; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19
D. The Judged at This Throne- -Psa. 9:17

E. The Judgment at This Throne-The Eternal Lake of Fire--Rev. 20:14, 15; Matt. 25:41, 46

Phase VI--The Destruction of This Present Earth and Heaven--Matt. 24:35; Heb. 1:10- 12; 2 Peter 3:3-12

Phase Vll--The Creation of a New Heaven and Earth--Isa. 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13, 14; Rev. 21:1

Phase Vlll--Eternity!--Eph. 2:7

For more information, please email Dr. Willmington,
or by regular mail:

Dr. Harold L. Willmington
P. O. Box 583
Forest, Va 24551