Centuries ago, God revealed to Daniel (a Prophet of Israel) things that would happen related to future kingdoms on the earth. This was easy for God. He created space, time, and matter and lives outside its confines. God told Daniel about the rise and fall of four great empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (Daniel 2, 7). He revealed when Christ would come and when the Antichrist would come (Daniel 9). God gave Daniel a timetable measured in weeks of years of Israel’s future and was defined by ‘seventy weeks of years (490 years).’ God told Daniel that at the end of sixty-nine weeks the Messiah would be crucified. That is where we are presently with regard to Israel’s clock.

(See also the 4-Part Study titled “Explaining Daniel’s ‘Seventieth Week’ Prophecy”: http://www.artlicursi.com/series/explaining-daniel%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cseventieth-week%E2%80%9D-prophecy )

God had kept the Church called “the body of Christ” a secret (“the mystery” Rom. 16:25).

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [Grk. musterion, The Secret], which was Kept Secret Since The World Began,” Romans 16:25 (KJV)

This was never revealed in the Old Testament or in the (four) Gospels. Only God can keep a secret and He kept it a secret until He disclosed it to Paul (after ‘the fall of Israel’ – Rom. 11:11-12, 15, 25).

According to Daniel’s timetable, one week (of years, 7 years) remains in Israel’s history before the return of the Messiah. That week is known as the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30.7). Jesus spoke of it as a time of great “TRIBULATION.” The events Daniel foretold were expanded in detail by the revelation John received from Jesus as recorded in ‘the book of Revelation.’ During this period, the Beast, the Antichrist, will arise and deceive the world. He will (initially) be brilliant, charming, and a proponent of peace. He will appear as a friend of Israel. But in the middle of the “week” (or after 3 ^1/2 years) he will reveal his true nature. He (Antichrist) will seat himself in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, in the Holy of Holies, and proclaim that he is God (cf. 2Thes. 2:4).

This will be the moment of revelation and enlightenment for Israel. They will recognize they have been deceived and that this world ruler is not the Messiah but the Antichrist. Jesus foretold these events as seen in Matthew 24. During this period [of Tribulation], the Jews will change their hearts and repent. Jesus gave this as the condition for His return. Thus, we know exactly when Jesus will return for His covenant people: He told us (Matthew 23.37-39).

God will seal and protect 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes for a special ministry (Revelation 7.4-8) during this period of tribulation. They will proclaim the Messiah and many will come to trust Him. The Apostle Paul, echoing Isaiah, wrote that then “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11.25-26; Isaiah 66.8). At the end of seven years of terrible tribulation the armies of the world will surround Israel. When the Antichrist has victory in his grasp and all hope appears lost for Israel and the world, Christ in his role as the Lord of Hosts, of Heaven and Earth, will return from heaven, deliver Israel, and destroy all who oppose Him (Revelation 19).

God’s Kingdom on Earth:

For hundreds of years, God’s prophets proclaimed God’s kingdom (Isaiah 2.1-11, 11.1-10; Zechariah 14.8-9). It will be a (1,000-year) kingdom in which God will restore the Edenic splendor of earth. Its character will be peace and righteousness. Warfare will cease and people will once again enjoy the long lifespans that were in effect before the Flood. All the blessings that God promised Israel in the covenants will be fulfilled. Jesus will reign as King in Jerusalem as David’s greater Son in fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (Zechariah 14.9). Israel will possess “the land” from the Nile, to the Mediterranean, to the Euphrates. God will write His laws onto (their) hearts. The New Covenant will be established fully. During this time, Satan will be incarcerated (chained in a pit) (Revelation 20.1-3). It will be a golden age, a time of unprecedented happiness.

At the end of this thousand-year age, God will free Satan. Even though mankind will have enjoyed perfect environment: no war, disease, poverty, crime, and perfect climate through Christ’s reign for a thousand years, God will release Satan and he will convince some to rebel against God. God will destroy (those involved in) this rebellion in quick order (Revelation 20:9). God will execute His final judgment upon Satan: He will incarcerate Satan in the Lake of Fire which the Antichrist and the False Prophet already occupy.

(Then) those who have rejected Christ will stand before Him in judgment (John 5.22; Revelation 20.11-15). Each person will be judged according to his works. Their own works, as opposed to Christ’s work, will be all they have to commend themselves. It will be a court setting and God will say in effect, “What do have to commend yourself to Me?” No matter how many good works a person has done, they will be insufficient to meet divine holiness and righteousness. The works or good deeds of those being judged will be judged against the standard of the work of Christ. After these works are judged, God will open
the (Lamb’s) Book of Life to see if any basis exists for those being judged. None will be found. The Lord Jesus Christ will exercise his position as Judge (John 5.22) and incarcerate them* in the Lake of Fire where they will join Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet for eternity.

(* See for an alternate view on this last statement concerning the destiny of unbelieving soul’s lost for eternity: http://www.artlicursi.com/articles/real-meaning-%E2%80%98-rich-man-and-lazarus%E2%80%99-0, http://www.artlicursi.com/series/life-death-and-eternal-life )