The document summarizes key events that will precede the second coming of Christ based on biblical passages like Matthew 24. It outlines 4 periods: 1) A time of preparation after the rapture where the apostate church rises and Israel revives. 2) A period of peace brokered by a political leader. 3) The peace is shattered by an attack on Israel, leading to 4) A period of great persecution under the Antichrist figure when many Jews and Christians will be killed until Christ's return.

1. Events preceding
the second coming
of Christ
Chafer, chapter 44
Monday 3 October 2011

2. A. The importance of the
second coming
The parables of Matt 13 describe the state
of this current age - and the varied
reception to the truth of God. The parable
of the sower is a good example here.
The parable of the weeds shows the
danger of false confession not shown
until the harvest
- mustard seed shows small to large
growth of Christianity
- yeast shows evil mixed in with good
- hidden treasure refers to Israel
- pearl of the church
- the net shows separation of saved/
unsaved at the end of the age
Monday 3 October 2011

3. Matt 13 is in general speaking of
period between 1st and 2nd comings
of Christ with no mention of rapture or
specifically of the church.
It shows faith mixed with good and evil
- climaxing in judgement and
separation of saved/unsaved.
Chafer states there is no basis for
postmillennialism with the idea of the
KOG triumphing through preaching the
Gospel and human effort - though we
should not be pessimistic as we know
God will fulfill his purpose. We need
to look at the two millennia since
Christ to realise the truth of Matt 13.
Monday 3 October 2011

4. Matt 24 gives a similar picture:
- false Christ's v5, - wars, rumors of
wars v6, - famines v7, - earthquakes v7
- martyrs v9-10, - false prophets v11, -
cooling love for Christ v12, - gospel
preached to all the world v14
Apostasy of the professing church is
predicted in 2Peter 2-3:
- deny person / deity of Christ 2:1
- denial work of Christ on the cross 2:1
- moral apostasy, poor standards 2:2-22
- departure from doctrine of 2nd
coming etc. 3:1-13
See also 1 Tim 4:1-3, 2 Tim 3:1-9, Jude
3-19
Monday 3 October 2011

5. The present age when God is
calling out his church will
end suddenly at the Rapture -
not dated in the OT but when
the dead in Christ will rise
along with the living
Christians being caught up to
heaven, 1 Cor 15:51-58, 1
Thess 4:13-18 - the departure
of the church here will set the
scene for the 2nd coming of
Christ where he will establish
his millennial kingdom -
there will be 3 periods
between the rapture and the
2nd coming.
Monday 3 October 2011

6. B. The period of preparation
following the rapture
Removing all believers in the rapture will be
a dramatic event - evil will have free reign,
and satan’s purposes in a way never before
seen.
The first phase after the rapture will be a
time of preparation for events to come:
1. The professing church will remain on
earth after the rapture - these are unsaved
individuals (most expositors think the
church will be taken up during the rapture) -
this is symbolised by the harlot in Rev 17,
dominating the whole world (waters v. 1,15)
- a world religion will be formed devoid of
redemption and true Christian doctrine
Monday 3 October 2011

7. 2. For Israel the period of preparation
will be a time of revival - Rom
11:25-26a,
I do not want you to be ignorant of
this mystery, brothers and sisters, so
that you may not be conceited: Israel
has experienced a hardening in part
until the full number of the Gentiles
has come in, and in this way all Israel
will be saved.
Chafer says immediately after the
rapture many Jews will turn to Christ -
they will then become ambassadors of
the gospel to Jews and Gentiles - Jews
are already spread to all parts of the
world making this a natural process.
Monday 3 October 2011

8. 3. Politically, in relation to Gentiles,
the old Roman Empire will be
restored - Dan 2, 7:7, the 10 horned
beast is still yet to be fulfilled - 10
nations will form a confederacy
(league, alliance of states) - Chafer
suggests the EU might be the
forerunner but it will be focussed
upon the Mediterranean not Europe
(inc. N Africa, W Asia, S Europe states)
- this will then be a “Roman Lake”
A ruler will rise up - Dan 7:8 - initially
of 3 then of all 10 nations - a strong
political man of the Middle East who
will work with the church to gain
power - this will then lead into the
second period.
Monday 3 October 2011

9. C. The period of peace
Dan 9:26-27, Chafer states this leader
will make a covenant (of protection) with
Israel - though the details are not given in
scripture - this establishes a protectorate
for Israel and brings peace to the Middle
East - it is a time of (mainly) peace,
prosperity etc. for Israel and probably
many Jews will return there at that time.
The world church, under the leader, will
grow and become the dominant religion
in the world.
As well as some turning to Christ, many
Jews will return to orthodox Judaism - a
temple will be built in Jerusalem and
Mosaic sacrifices offered.
Monday 3 October 2011

10. Peace will be shattered by an event
described in Ezek 38-39 - an attack on
Israel by Russia and her allies. This is a
point of great disagreement in terms of the
event and timing.
- Ezek 38 says it takes place at a time of
peace, suggesting after the Roman ruler
- it is more than an assault, it challenges the
covenant with the Roman ruler, (Chafer
says it is a Russian bid for control of the
Middle East) and due to its suddenness
cannot properly be marshaled against
God intervenes supernaturally to save his
people and wipes out the invading forces -
Ezek 38: 18-23
This war shatters the peace and prepares for
the next stage:
Monday 3 October 2011

11. D. The period of persecution
The world has suddenly changed, now, with
a balance of power between;
1. The ruler of the Middle East and leaders
aligned with him
2. Russia and nations aligned with her - but
her armies have been destroyed (temporarily)
In this situation the Middle East ruler
declares himself a world dictator - and seizes
political, economic and religious power - he
proclaims he is ruler Rev 13:7 (16-17, Dan
7:32)- It was given power to wage war
against God’s holy people and to conquer
them. And it was given authority over every
tribe, people, language and nation.
Monday 3 October 2011

12. Israel then becomes persecuted as overnight the covenant is
broken with her - introducing the time of Jacob’s trouble, Jer 30:7.
Elsewhere this is called the great tribulation - Dan 12:1, Matt
24:21, Rev 7:14
Israels sacrifices are suddenly stopped - Dan 9:27, 12:11, Matt
24:15 - and is advised by Christ to flee to the mountains, Matt
24:16-20 - thousands of Jews will be massacred, Zech 13:8 - the
world ruler will set them self up in the Temple and be worshipped
there under pain of death for refusing, Rev 13:14, 2 Thess 2:4, Rev
13:8, 15
Monday 3 October 2011

13. The final period will being in the
middle of the 7 years originally
planned of the covenant - and so will
last 42 months, Rev 11:2, 13:5
Because of its blasphemy and
persecution of Jew and Christian the
world ruler of the Mediterranean (also
called the Antichrist, Dan 9:26), will
be the subject of great judgment form
God - see Rev 6-19 - specifically Rev
6:1-8:1, 8:2-21, 11:15-19, 16.
Christ described this time of
unprecedented judgments in Matt
24:21-22, so bad that if not stopped it
would have wiped out all our race.
Monday 3 October 2011

14. As it is many many people will be killed in this time.
The result is growth of opposition to the ruler of the Middle East
who cannot provide peace and plenty. Worldwide revolution
takes place against his authority resulting in the war of Dan
11:40-45, Rev 9:13-21, 16:13-21 - armies form the North,
South and the Orient descend upon the Holy Land to fight. At
the height of this Jesus returns in power and glory - bringing
judgment and his own millennial kingdom!
Monday 3 October 2011