The Bible gives us future prophetic landmarks which will take place before Jesus returns. The Scriptures predict that a false religious authority or beast would arise (Revelation 13:1). This power did once rule the earth and was wounded. However, its “deadly wound was healed” (v. 3) and now “all the world marveled and followed the beast” (NKJV).
This beast power would join hands with a second beast-power and seek to enforce religious laws in order to crush out God’s people. “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:15–17).
Check out the following link for more on the beast, his mark and his image.
Scripture foretold that a faithful remnant of Christ’s followers—those who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12)—would be protected during the final plagues and calamities to fall on the earth (Revelation 16). Then, the false religious system would collapse and Christ would come.
When Jesus comes, the greatest future prophetic landmark in history, would be that every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7). At that time, the righteous will be clothed with immortality. Paul wrote, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:51–54).
But the unrighteous will cry for the rocks to fall upon them (Revelation 6:14–17). God’s people will be taken to heaven to reign for a thousand years. “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4).
Then Satan will be loosed (Revelation 20:7) and lead the resurrected wicked in a futile attempt to attack and overthrow God and His people. After this, they will be judged and completely destroyed. “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (v. 9).
Finally, on the ashes of this purified planet, God will create a new earth. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:1–3).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
