This is my personal interpretation of Scripture concerning the last days and the Day of the Lord. I share it prayerfully, as one still learning, and I hold it with an open hand — it is offered for reflection and honest, gracious debate, not as settled doctrine. Test everything; hold fast to what is good.
The foundation
The Lord is patient, not willing that any should perish. With Him a day is like a thousand years. From Adam to Jesus was four “days” — and it was on the fourth day that God made the great light. So on the fourth day the Light came into the world to separate the children of light from the darkness (John 1). Now it has been two thousand years, bringing us to the close of the sixth day. We are due for the seventh day of rest — the millennial reign of Christ.
“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:3-9
“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Exodus 20:11
“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
John 1:6-9
What must happen before the rest
Before the seventh-day rest begins, I believe these things must come to pass.
- 1
The coming of the last Elijah
Before the end, Elijah must come for the final show of God’s power and to take the gospel to the whole world, including the Jews. I personally believe this will happen in the last seven years before Jesus comes — a prophetic voice and movement in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers (Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 17:11), preparing a people for the Lord. This is the rider on the white horse of Revelation 6 — not the Antichrist, but the herald who goes ahead of the King.
- 2
The rapture
Then there will be the rapture. Jesus will appear in the clouds — He will not land — and the dead in Christ will rise first, and the living in Christ will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.
- 3
The marriage supper of the Lamb
Those who are taken will go to what is called the marriage supper of the Lamb, celebrating with the Bridegroom for seven years while the earth below enters its appointed hour of testing.
- 4
The seven-year tribulation
Those who remain on earth during those seven years will pass through the tribulation. In the first three and a half years there will be a false peace brought through the Antichrist and the false prophet. In the second three and a half years the real tribulation will come, when the Antichrist rules openly with an iron rod.
- 5
The two witnesses
It is also during that time that the two witnesses will preach to those who remain, but they will be rejected because of the Antichrist. They will prophesy in the last three and a half years, tormenting those who reject God; and fire will come from their mouths to destroy those who seek to destroy them.
- 6
Great harvest, then great famine of the Word
The reason I believe in a seven-year period of great harvest followed by a great famine of the Word of God is the story of Joseph, who was a pre-Jesus figure — seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41). So too, I believe, will be the pattern before the end.
- 7
The return of Christ and the thousand-year reign
Then, after the wedding supper in heaven, Jesus will come back with all the saints, and the seventh-day rest will begin — the thousand-year reign where children will play with lions, and the devil, the false prophet, and the dragon are thrown into the bottomless pit for a thousand years.
- 8
The little season
After the thousand years, the deceiver will be released for a little while to deceive the nations once more, and the final rebellion will rise and be put down.
- 9
The final judgment
Then judgment will come — the great white throne — and every heart will stand before the One who is Faithful and True. Even here, remember: the Father’s first move has always been mercy, and the door home stood open until the very last “Come.”
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
Revelation 22:12Whatever the exact shape of the days ahead, the heart of it is this: the Father is patient, longing for none to perish, sending the light ahead of the judgment, calling every wandering child home before the great and glorious day. Are we living lives of repentance and restoration? Are we turning our hearts — fathers to children, children to fathers — and helping to prepare the way for the Lord?