Scriptural synopsis of the order of End Time events

All Scripture presented is from the 1769 Authorized Version unless otherwise noted.

We find our first requirement for understanding the order of End Time events in II Peter 1:20, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

The word “private” is in Greek “idios,” meaning one’s own; we derive idiot from it.

II Peter 1:21 asserts, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Prophecy came from God’s mind, not man’s. None of us should be giving our interpretations. What is said is what is meant. This is not true for men, as many lack integrity and don’t mean what they say. What God says, God means. We need not give our rendition. Our only course of action is ascertaining God’s Word. He doesn’t need our interpretations.

Accordingly, we must understand two things:

1. What is prophecy?

2. How to get God’s Word as given when holy men of God spake?

The how of the latter is given in II Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The words “rightly dividing” are translated from the Greek “orthotomeo,” signifying to cut straight. Since we’re working with translation versions and not the original documents, we must make a single straight cut and remove the translator’s words (personal convictions communed through translation) from God’s. It’s similar to diamond cutting in that only one cut is the right one. Make the wrong cut and mar the diamond’s potential.

We acknowledge all Scripture as prophecy since it came when “holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.” There are two types of prophecy, a telling forth and a foretelling. Much of God’s Word is in the category of declaration regarding events that have already transpired or were transpiring at the time the declaration was issued. Prophesying of events yet to come does not represent the entire Word of God nor define in total the meaning of the word prophecy.

In considering End Time event order we limit our study to Scripture predicting the future. All such biblical records cannot be understood fully until after coming to pass. This concept is clear to us in that the clarity of our understanding crystallizes in retrospect. I believe the idiom is “hindsight is always 20-20.” That may not be biblical, but it does serve to complement understanding.

Bearing these things in mind, we set before you a synopsis of the order of End Time events as found in the Bible. What follows is not every single event, only those whose order can be presented with reasonable certainty.

I Corinthians 15:22-28 proclaims, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then [cometh] the end, when he (Christ) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he (Christ) shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he (Christ) must reign, till he (God) hath put all enemies under his (Christ’s) feet. The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. For he (God) hath put all things under his (Christ’s) feet. But when he (God) saith all things are put under [him (Christ), it is] manifest that he (God) is excepted, which did put all things under him (Christ). And when all things shall be subdued unto him (Christ), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him (God) that put all things under him (Christ), that God may be all in all.”

A cursory listing of events taken from this record are:

1. Christ brings the dead to life at his return.

2. He’s the first raised to life everlasting.

3. Christ delivers up the Kingdom to God. All authority and power are put down. Christ reigns during this time. After all enemies, powers and authorities are made subject to Christ, the Kingdom and Christ are made subject unto God, the power behind the success of all these end time events. Death is an enemy and the last one to be destroyed.

Death will be destroyed so that mortality may be swallowed up of life! Praise God!

Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The Rev. Linus A. Mathis III is the founder and director of Frontier Christian Ministries.