What are the strengths and weaknesses of the posttribulational view of the rapture (posttribulationism)?
When considering any question involving eschatology (the study of end times), it is important to remember that almost all Christians agree on these three things: 1) There is coming a time of great tribulation such as the world has never seen, 2) After the Tribulation, Christ will return to establish His kingdom on earth, 3)…
What signs indicate that the end times are approaching?
In Matthew 24:5–8 Jesus gives us some important clues for discerning the approach of the end times: “Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but…
Does the Bible say anything about Russia in relation to the end times?
With Russia back in the news in a big way, many people are wondering if recent events in eastern Europe have anything to do with end-times prophecy—and, if so, how? Much of the discussion has to do with an ancient prophecy from Ezekiel: “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, set…
What is the concept of “already but not yet”?
The theological concept of “already but not yet” holds that believers are actively taking part in the kingdom of God, although the kingdom will not reach its full expression until sometime in the future. We are “already” in the kingdom, but we do “not yet” see it in its glory. The “already but not yet”…
How can I be sure I won’t be left behind in the rapture?
The series of Left Behind novels and movies has prompted a lot of questions from a lot of people: is the rapture for real? (Answer: yes.) Will the rapture be followed by a time of divine judgment on earth? (Answer: yes.) Will I be left behind in the rapture? (Answer: that depends.) The rapture is…
Could an EMP attack be a part of the end times?
Without delving too deeply into the actual science, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack would essentially fry electric circuits and knock out electricity in the affected area. Depending on how wide and for how long an area loses electricity, the effects of an EMP attack could be devastating. So much of the world relies upon electricity.…
Was Nero the Antichrist?
Nero, the fifth emperor of Rome, who ruled from AD 54 until AD 68, is a common target in attempts to identify the Antichrist or the beast of Revelation. Identifying Nero as the Antichrist is common among those who take the preterist position of biblical prophecy. There are at least two reasons some label Nero…
What is realized eschatology?
Realized eschatology is a theory holding that the prophetic passages in the New Testament do not refer to the future; rather, they refer to the ministry of Jesus and His lasting “legacy” in the church. According to realized eschatology, all the Bible’s prophecies about the kingdom were fulfilled during Jesus’ lifetime. When Jesus said, “The…
Does Bible prophecy predict that there will be a World War 3 before the end times?
There is no doubt that world war will be a part of the future. Christ plainly taught that there would be war prior to His return (Matthew 24:4-31). Some hold that He spoke generally of the Church age in verses 4-14 and spoke of the tribulation period starting at its mid-point in verses 15-31. Others…
Why didn’t Jesus return during the blood-red moon of 2015?
A popular teaching in the past couple years was that a series of blood-red moons in 2014 and 2015 would be a portent of Jesus’ second coming and a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. A lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a “blood moon” or “blood-red moon” because of the red or orange color of…