The Future According to the Bible — A Step-by-Step Overview

1. The Secret Coming of Jesus Christ (The Rapture)

The Bible says that Jesus will first return secretly to take away His Church — those who have put their faith in Him. This event is often called the Rapture.
(Pause & Reflect: If Jesus were to come today, would you be ready?)

2. The 7-Year Great Tribulation

After the Rapture, the world will go through seven years of great tribulation — a time of unprecedented suffering and chaos.
During this period, God’s judgments will be poured out, and the Antichrist will rise to power.
(Scripture: Revelation 6–18)

3. The Millennium Kingdom — 1,000 Years of Christ’s Reign

At the end of the Tribulation:

  • Satan will be bound for 1,000 years and cast into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1–3).

  • Jesus will reign literally on earth in a time of peace and righteousness — this is called the Millennium Kingdom.

4. Satan’s Final Rebellion — The Gog and Magog Battle

When the 1,000 years are complete:

  • Satan will be released briefly.

  • He will deceive the nations and lead them into one final battle against God’s people — known as the Gog and Magog war (Revelation 20:7–9).

  • Fire will come down from heaven and destroy the armies.

5. Final Judgments

After the Gog and Magog battle, several judgments will take place:

a) The Great White Throne Judgment

  • All the unsaved dead from all of history (the “second resurrection”) will stand before God’s throne (Revelation 20:11–15).

  • They will be judged according to their works, and all will be thrown into the lake of fire — with differing degrees of punishment based on their deeds.

b) The Judgment of Angels

  • Angels will also face judgment.

  • These include:

    1. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers

    2. Unclean spirits

    3. Chained angels

After this, Satan will also be cast into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:10).

6. The New Heaven and New Earth

  • God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation 21).

  • The New Jerusalem — a glorious city — will descend from heaven.

7. Eternal Dwelling Places

  • The Bride of Christ (the Church) and the Old Testament saints will live in the New Jerusalem.

  • Other saved people, called the Nations, will live on the New Earth and will come to the city for healing from the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:2).

8. The Fulness of Time — Eternity Begins

Finally, Jesus will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24).
From then on, eternity begins — with no more sin, death, or sorrow.

Who Will Enter the Millennium Kingdom With Jesus?

  1. The Bride of Christ — Believers from the Church Age taken up in the Rapture, along with those who died in Christ. They will return with Jesus at the end of the Tribulation (Revelation 19:14).

  2. Old Testament Saints — Believers like Abraham, justified by faith, who will be resurrected after the Tribulation (Daniel 12:1–2; Ezekiel 37:12–14).

  3. Tribulation Saints — Those who accept Jesus during the Tribulation and are martyred for their faith (Revelation 20:4–6).

  4. Surviving Believers — Jews and Gentiles who survive the Tribulation and Armageddon will enter in natural bodies after being judged by Jesus (Matthew 25).