Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/20/2010

Question
Please explain the sequence of events from  end of tribulation
to GOG & MAGOG/Armageddon War.  

Answer
Hi Nihal,

Thanks for this interesting question.  I will try to give a brief timeline as I understand it, but I do not have time or space to go into great details.  One could write volumes to answer your question.


1.  Jesus is going to come in the clouds to snatch His people off the planet before the Time of Tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  On earth a great leader will be revealed who will come on the scene promising peace (a false peace) with Israel.  This will mark the 7 year countdown to the return of Christ and the set up of His Kingdom known as "Daniel's 70th week" or the "Tribulation Period"

Daniel 9:27
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.    

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Remember that week here means 7 years not 7 days.

3.  This tribulation is divided into to parts.  The first is called "the Beginning of Sorrows".  This first 3 1/2 years will begin with a broken peace covenant with Israel.  Next will come war, then famine and economic collapse followed by death of every kind.


Revelation 6:1-10


And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.  7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.  

4.  The last 3 1/2 years will be filled with sorrow and death.  There will be many folks who become believers even after Jesus took believers off of the earth.  The Beast or evil world leader will seek to kill all of them.  At this time God's wrath will be poured out on unbelievers as well.

Revelation 6:10,16-17
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The Tribulation will end with a war in the valley of Armageddon.  The armies of the earth will come together to prevent the return of Jesus... but they will lose.  He will return, wipe out the beast and False Prophet as well as all His followers, and set up the Kingdom on Earth for 1000 years.

I did not go into detail, but I believe that the battle of God and Megog may take place before the rapture and Daniel's 70th week.  I believe that is what may be the catalyst for negotiating a false peace treaty in the first place.

I hope that this is enough to help you.

In Christ
Pastor Don