Some interest was indicated in another thread about how Christians see how the end of times will unfold. If ever there is something Christians can argue at length among themselves, then it is all the details as to how the world will come to an end. I will only attemp to do an elementary overview of the discussions.
In Christian theology there exist two major thoughts as to the End Times. In the Bible (Revelation 20) we read about a 1000 year of peace while Jesus Christ rule on Earth. The thought that we now are living during this period, are called “amillennialism” and that it still is to come, “premillennialism”.
Amillennianists hold that the 1000 years is a symbolic number indicating that the believers and Jesus Christ presently rule on Earth and Satan’s power is limited.
Premillenianists hold to the literal value of the 1000 years and say it will only start with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Earth.
It basically boil down to some having difficulty in believing prophecy that sound impossible and others believing prophesy should be taken on face value.
In general the End Time prophecies indicate
- A return of Jesus Christ to Earth (Second Coming)
- An Anti-Christ and corrupt Prophet ruling at the very End-time
- A 1000 year reign where Satan’s powers are limited
- A final confrontation between Jesus + followers and Satan + his followers
- The Final Judgement of all living and dead people
- Believers (saved souls) living with Jesus Christ (as King) forever
Rev.20v1-2,4-5,7-9 (The vision that the Apostle John saw)
And I saw an angle coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection…When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth - Gog and Magog - to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
