This is Part 3 of Laurie’s notes from her recent Sagemont Church Ladies Night Out message.
Meet Juliette, my beautiful, sweet, soon-to-be six-year-old granddaughter.
Juliette’s birthday is the next big event on our family’s calendar. And the celebration will be held in fine Juliette form: at the local skating rink with pizza, cake, the hokey-pokey, and lots of family and friends. She cannot wait (and neither can I)!
What’s happening on your calendar these days? Got big plans for Spring Break (and yes, planning to sleep in counts)? Looking forward to any special dates or events like a high-school or college graduation, a June wedding, or maybe even a glorious summer getaway?
When it comes to God, His calendar, and the events He’s planning for our future, you know what I think? I think God wants us to be just like my soon-to-be, six-year-old Juliette who cannot WAIT for the Big Day to arrive.
So, what’s next on God’s calendar? Let’s take a look, let’s get excited and, above all, let’s get ready.
7 Upcoming Events on God’s Prophetic Calendar
#1: The Rapture of the Church & Judgment Seat of Christ (for those who are saved)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NLT)
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
#2: The 7-Year Tribulation (for those who are left behind)
A detailed account of the Tribulation can be found in Revelation 6-18, but here is a sample:
Revelation 6:12-17 (NLT)
I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood.Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”
#3: The Second Coming of Christ
Revelation 19:11-16 (NLT)
Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
#4: The Battle of Armageddon & Satan Bound for 1000 Years
Revelation 19:17-21 (NLT)
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.” Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.Revelation 20:1-3 (NLT)
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.
#5: The Millennium — 1000-Year Reign of Christ on Earth
A brief account is found in Rev. 20:4-6, but take a look at two amazing accounts of the millennium from the Old Testament:
Micah 4:1-7 (NLT)
1 In the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
2 People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the LORD’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.
3 The LORD will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.
4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!
5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.
6 “In that coming day,” says the LORD, “I will gather together those who are lame, those who have been exiles, and those whom I have filled with grief.
7 Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation. Then I, the LORD, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.”Zechariah 14:9 (NLT)
And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD—his name alone will be worshiped.
#6: Satan Released, Final War, Great White Throne Judgment (unsaved)
Revelation 20:7-15 (NLT)
7When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison.
8 He will go out to deceive the nations—called Gog and Magog—in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle—a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore.
9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.
10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
#7: The New Heaven, New Earth, & New Jerusalem — The Eternal Reign of Christ
Revelation 21:1-5 (NLT)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
As much as Juliette is looking forward to her 6th birthday . . .
As much as many of you moms are looking forward to Spring Break . . .
And as much as some of you are looking forward to graduation, a June wedding, or both . . .
Let’s look forward even more to God’s plans for our future.
The last recorded words of Christ are, “Yes, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:20 NLT).
The very next words are the Apostle John’s: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20 NLT).
Don’t you just love John’s response? Maybe it’s just me, but I think he kinda sounds like a soon-to-be six-year-old.
Maranatha, glo girl! Jesus is coming!
Your sister,
