End Times
End Times (Eschatology) explained with the various views held by theologians
On this End Times BIBLE SURF page below
End Times (Eschatology) — four views explained on BIBLE SURF
Four Views of End Times
The Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming, Millennium and Last Judgment
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Terms to understand
Rapture — Christians are either "snatched away" to heaven before the Tribulation (Pre-trib), in the middle of the Tribulation (Mid-trib) or after the Tribulation (Post-trib). In a Post-trib view, the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ are the same event, or are very close together.
Tribulation — A seven year, or longer period of time where the Antichrist and False Prophet deceive the nations and persecute believers.
Second Coming — Christ physically returns to earth with armies from heaven (his church and holy angels) to reign at the start of the Millennium (Premil view). Or, Christ returns at the end of the Millennium (Postmil and Amil view).
Millennium — Either a literal 1,000 years or a symbolic time period. In both Premil views, Christ literally reigns physically on earth during the Millennium. In the Postmil view, the Millennium is on earth with Christ reigning in the hearts of believers. In the Amil view, the Millennium is in heaven where Christ is reigning with the saints.
Last Judgment — At the Last Judgment, all believers will spend eternity in the new heavens and new earth, while non-believers and Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire and punished for eternity.
Millennium views
John MacArthur
GTY.org
56 min • Video • Audio • Text
719K views on YouTube • 2011
3 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
15K views on YouTube • 2021
4 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
72K views on YouTube • 2021
Questions about the Millennium are answered on GotQuestions.org from a premillennial view.
The Rapture
Questions about the Rapture are answered on GotQuestions.org from a premillennial pretribulation view.
• The Premil Dispensational view has the Rapture of believers occurring right before the start of the 7-year Tribulation (Pre-trib) or at the middle of the Tribulation (Mid-trib).
• The Premil Historical view has the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ occurring at the end of the Tribulation (Post-trib).
• The Amil and Postmil views both have the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ occurring at the end of the Millennium.
3 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
48M views on YouTube • 2018
John MacArthur
GTY.org
57 min • Video • Audio • Text
844K views on YouTube • 2016
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier.org (on YouTube)
25 min • Video
1.2M views on YouTube • 2019
Tom Pennington
CountrysideBible.org
43 min • Video • Audio • Text Slides • 2023
Tom Pennington
CountrysideBible.org
45 min • Video • Audio • Slides • 2023
John MacArthur
GTY.org
56 min • Video • Audio • Text
440K views on YouTube • 2011
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier.org (on YouTube)
27 min • Video
268K views on YouTube • 2019
6 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
72K views on YouTube • 2019
Questions about the Tribulation are answered on GotQuestions.org from a premillennial pretribulation view.
The Tribulation
• The Premil (Dispensational) views the sequence of events as the Rapture, then the 7-year Tribulation, then Jesus' Second Coming.
• The Premil (Historic) view has no Rapture before the Tribulation, but views the Tribulation as a 7-year period right before Jesus' Second Coming.
• The Postmil view is that most of the Tribulation occurred in the 40 years between Jesus' First Coming (30 AD) and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
• The Amil view sees the Tribulation more symbolically than literally. The Tribulation started at Jesus' First Coming and will continue until his Second Coming.
Antichrist / False Prophet / Beast
In the book of Revelation the beast from the sea is generally called the "Antichrist" or "Man of Lawlessness" and the beast from the earth is called the "False Prophet."
• Both Premil views have the beasts arising in the future during the Tribulation.
• The Postmil view has the beasts as past rulers, individuals or kingdoms around 60-70 AD, or some Postmils see some of the beasts arising in the future.
• The Amil view interprets the beasts more symbolically as past and future rulers or kingdoms.
John MacArthur
GTY.org
51min • Video • Audio • Text
926K views on YouTube • 2019
3 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
11K views on YouTube • 2021
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier.org (on YouTube)
25 min • Video
322K views on YouTube • 2019
4 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
35k views on YouTube • 2019
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier.org (on YouTube)
23 min • Video
340K views on YouTube • 2019
Tom Pennington
CountrySideBible.org
60 min • Video • Audio • Text • Slides • 2022
Tom Pennington
CountrySideBible.org
57 min • Video • Audio • Text • Slides • 2023
4 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
29k views on YouTube • 2021
Antichrist — The Beast Out of the Sea and The Final False Prophet (Premil view)
John MacArthur elaborates on the two beasts (Antichrist and False Prophet) described in Revelation 13 that deceive the world during the 7-year tribulation according to a Premillennial view of end times.
49-58 min • Audio • Text • 1993
GTY.org
Questions about the Antichrist and the Beast are answered on GotQuestions.org from a premillennial pretribulation view.
What's unique? Who believes each view?
Second Coming / Millennial Kingdom
• Both Premil views have the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. Then, Jesus physically reigns on earth for 1,000 years (referred to as the Millennial Kingdom).
• The Postmil view has the church, over time, successfully evangelizing society which will transition into a 1,000-year (or undefined number of years) Millennial kingdom of God with Christ reigning from heaven in the hearts of believers on earth. At the end of the Millennium is the Second Coming of Christ.
• The Amil view is that we are in the Millennium now (from the First Coming of Christ to the future Second Coming). The 1,000 years is symbolic and Christ is reigning from heaven now with the saints. A final escalation of persecution and tribulation will usher in the Second Coming of Christ.
The Glorious Return of Christ and The Coming Earthly Kingdom (Premil view)
In this audio series, WHEN JESUS COMES, John MacArthur takes you through a study of the return of Christ (second coming) at the end of the tribulation in Revelation 19. He then unravels what happens during the coming earthly kingdom of Christ on earth (1,000 year millennial reign), all from a Premillennial view of end times.
40-67 min • Audio • Text • John MacArthur
GTY.org
4 min • Video • Text
GotQuestions.org
39k views on YouTube • 2019
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier.org (on Youtube)
24 min • Video
225K views on YouTube • 2019
Tom Pennington
CountrysideBible.org
46 min • Video • Audio • Text • Slides • 2023
Tom Pennington
CountrysideBible.org
44 min • Video • Audio • Text • Slides • 2024
Dispensational Premillennialism (Pre-tribulation) — or Futuristic
What's Unique: Christians are Raptured up to heaven at the start of a 7-year Tribulation period (pre-trib). At the end of the Tribulation Jesus comes back to earth (Second Coming) and binds Satan and then physically rules on earth during a 1,000-year Millennium of peace. After the 1,000 years, Satan is released for one last battle where he is defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire (hell) with unbelievers at the Last Judgment for Eternity. Dispensationalists take a more literal approach to interpretation where the New Testament shines light on the Old Testament, but does not override the original intent of the Old Testament writers.
Israel: The church and Israel are distinct in prophecy as God's promises to Abraham and his offspring were unconditional. The nation Israel will be saved and restored with a unique identity and role in the future Millennial kingdom on earth.
Proponents: D.L. Moody, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, J. Dwight Pentecost, Paul Benware, John MacArthur, Hal Lindsey, Tim Lahaye, Norman Geisler, Charles Feinberg, Charles Swindoll, Dave Hunt, Jack Van Impe, Chuck Smith and Charles Stanley. Scofield Reference Bible, Ryrie Study Bible, Dallas Theological Seminary, Talbot Theological Seminary, The Master's Seminary, Grace Theological Seminary.
Church Denominations: Some Baptists, some Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel, some Reformed, many evangelicals, charismatic and non-denominational churches.
Popularity: Most popular. About half of Christians share one of the two Premillennial views (Dispensational or Historic).
Questions about the Second Coming and the Millennium are answered on GotQuestions.org from a premillennial pretribulation view.
What we all agree about End Times
1. Why study end times? The Bible says you will be blessed! Rev 1:3 says, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." In order to "heed it" we need to understand it first. So yes, we should study it. Prophecy makes up about 25% of all scripture and about 50% of it is yet to be fulfilled. Adding to our knowledge of end times is critical to a full understanding of the gospel. An understanding of Jesus' saving grace at his First Coming and Jesus' impending wrath on non-believers at his Second Coming should motivate us to live obediently now.
2. Taking one particular view of End Times or another is not an "essential" for salvation. Many pastors have modified their End Times views since getting saved, but they did not lose their salvation each time they did so. Your view of whether the mark of the beast is a tattoo or a microchip or is simply symbolic is not a salvific issue. The "essentials" for salvation are what is important such as believing in Christ's diety, atonement for sins, death, burial and resurrection just to name a few.
3. You need to be ready! No one knows the hour of Christ's return. Nor can we predict when we may die suddenly in an accident. So don't live like you can get right with God at a later date. Repent and trust in Jesus. Do it now!
4. You will live forever, somewhere in eternity. The big question is where? After your death, you will be judged by God. Believers will be rewarded and enter into the new heavens and new earth. Non-believers will receive the wrath of God and be cast into the Lake of Fire (hell) and punished for eternity. Where will you spend eternity?
To learn more about trusting and believing in Jesus, visit our Salvation page and read the section on "How can I be saved?" by clicking HERE.
Historic Premillennialism (Post-tribulation)
What's Unique: This view is also sometimes referred to as "Covenant" Premillennialism. It's called Historic since it was the dominant view of the early church, while others say it's because some Revelation prophesies were fulfilled in past history. The Tribulation period is either 7 years or is not a defined period of time during which there is great apostasy and tribulation. Christians will go through the Tribulation. Then, the Rapture of Christians and Second Coming of Christ occurs, which are either the same event, or are separated by a short period of time. Then, a literal 1,000-year Millennial reign of Jesus on earth occurs similar to Dispensational Premillennialism. Satan is bound at the beginning of the Millennium and released at the end of it for one final battle before being cast into the Lake of Fire at the Last Judgment for Eternity.
Israel: The church is the new/true Israel.
Proponents: Charles Spurgeon, George Ladd, Walter Martin, John Warwick Montgomery, J. Barton Payne, Henry Alford, James Montgomery Boice, Francis Schaeffer, Albert Mohler, Wayne Grudem, John Piper, Fuller Theological Seminary.
Church Denominations: Some Southern Baptists, some Presbyterians, some Reformed, some evangelical groups.
Popularity: About half of Christians share one of the two Premillennial views (Dispensational or Historic).
John MacArthur on our hope for eternity
Postmillennial view
What's Unique: There's no future 7-year Tribulation as most of the prophecies in the Olivet Discourse and Revelation already happened on or before 70 AD with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, while others believe we are still in the Tribulation now. Jesus bound Satan from deceiving the nations at his First Coming. The Postmil view places an emphasis on successfully evangelizing the world and transforming societies (a "golden age") through the preaching and the work of the Holy Spirit through the church. This gradual transition will usher in either a 1,000 year or symbolic Millennial time period with Christ reigning from heaven in the hearts of believers on earth. Or, many believe we are now in the Millennium that occurs in the church age between Jesus' First and Second Coming. The Rapture and Second Coming of Christ happen at the same time when the "golden age" reaches it fullness at the end of the Millennium. It's presumed that the Book of Revelation was written before 70 AD in order for it to predict the destruction of Jerusalem.
Proponents: John Owen, Jonathan Edwards, B.B. Warfield, Charles Hodge, Loraine Boettner, Kenneth Gentry, Douglas Wilson, James White, John Hagee and R.C. Sproul. Its popularity diminished after World War I and II as society worsened, but three new variations have emerged: Theonomy, Reconstructionism and Dominion theology.
Popularity: A small percentage of Christians.
Israel: The church is the new/true Israel.
Church Denominations: The Puritans, some Methodists, some Presbyterians, some Pentecostals, some Baptists, many Reformed.
Amillennial view
What's Unique: There is no literal 1,000-year Millennium since the number is symbolic. Instead, it is a period representing the church age from Jesus' First Coming until his future Second Coming. Christ is currently reigning with the saints from heaven. They consider Revelation to be broken up into seven separate sections that are not chronological events like some other views interpret it. Instead, the sections are seven parallel events in the church age described in different ways with each one progressively revealing more and more End Time details. For example, the seventh section in Revelation 20-22 is interpreted such that Jesus bound Satan from deceiving the nations at his First Coming (a past event), but Satan will be released just before Jesus' Second Coming. The end of the Millennium ushers in the Rapture and Second Coming which are either the same event, or are separated by a short period of time. Then, there is the Last Judgment and Eternity.
Israel: The church is the new/true Israel.
Proponents: J. I. Packer, John Stott, Jay Adams, Michael Horton, Anthony Hoekema.
Church Denominations: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, many Presbyterians, many Reformed, Anglican, some Methodists, Church of Christ, Eastern Orthodox.
Popularity: About one third of Christians.
GTY.org (Grace To You)
John MacArthur sermons on evangelism
54 min • Audio • Text • 2 Cor 5:21 • 1995
51 min • Video • Audio • Text • Acts 5:11-42 • 2014
60 min • Video • Audio • Text • Acts 5:11-42 • 2014
52 min • Audio • Text • Luke 10:25 • 2003
53 min • Audio • Text • Luke 10:25-28 • 2003
52 min • Audio • Text • Luke 10:25-29 • 2003
Was the Abrahamic covenant, Davidic covenant and New covenant replaced by the church or does Israel still have a future in end times? John MacArthur challenges "Replacement Theology" (the church is now Israel) while also explaining the various premil, postmil and amil positions on the rapture, tribulation, second coming, literal or figurative millennial reign, the final judgement, new heaven and new earth, and much more.
61-70 min • Audio • Text • 2007
GTY.org
Premil and the Future of Israel
Dr. Sproul teaches a 12-part series on Eschatology. He mentions that his thoughts are not the traditional premillennial view, but would be considered postmillennial, but not as optimistic.
23-28 min • Video • 2M+ views on YouTube • 2019
Ligonier.org
Philip De Courcy discusses how Jerusalem has been attacked 52 times (including the recent Hamas attack), ransacked 39 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, yet it still survives. What does the Bible say about Israel?
58 min • Audio • 2023
KTT.org
Not everyone fits rigidly into each of these four views
Please take each view only as a guideline knowing there is a wide variability of beliefs even within each view. Most of the pastors featured here all get along with each other despite holding different views on eschatology.
And then there's the fifth view. What? Is there a fifth view? Well, it started as a joke, but many fall into this camp out of frustration. It's called Panmillennialism. "It's all going to "pan" out in the end." It's a subtle jab to not become so dogmatic about a view when End Time verses can be interpreted various ways.
How literal and how symbolic should we take prophecies? Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies about Jesus' first coming were fulfilled literally. So it does matter how symbolic or literal our interpretation is? Yes! It needs to be interpreted in context. For example, in Genesis, if you go too far toward the side of symbolic language, then you might end up leaning towards evolution with God creating the world in six long ages instead of six literal days.
Ligonier Ministries hosted its 1999 National Conference with speakers who have amillennial views (Ferguson, Hoornbeeck), postmillennial views (Sproul, Gentry, Alexander), and historic premillennialism views (Stortz). They help sort through the millennial maze. Listen to both Q&A sessions for nuances in their beliefs.
21-63 min • Audio • 1999
Ligonier.org
Postmillennial view by R.C. Sproul
Amil, Postmil, Historic Premil views
R.C. Sproul
Ligonier.org (on YouTube)
24 min • Video
562K views on YouTube • 2019
Douglas Wilson
Christ Church
18 min • Video
120K views on YouTube • 2020
John Piper moderates — Hamilton, Storms, Wilson
Desiring God (on YouTube)