Sunday, October 30, 2011

End Time Thoughts and Theories - Summary of My Current Understanding

You can also watch the 35 minute video.

End Time Thoughts and Theories : Summary of My Current Understanding


Since I first started to read and study the Bible around age 11, I have been drawn to the end time prophecies. My early years of reading Revelation, Daniel, Ezekial, and the words of Jesus Christ showed me many astounding things were going to happen in the future. However, understanding how it all fit together, or when these things were going to occur was impossible for me to comprehend.
 
At age 16 I learned an important key to understanding the Bible and prophecy was to have the Holy Spirit as your teacher.
 

And this is the promise that He has promised us: everlasting life. These

things
I have written to you concerning those leading you astray. But the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true and no lie, and as He has taught you, abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He is revealed, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him in His coming.

(1 John 2:25-28 MKJV)

We also have a more sure Word of prophecy, to which you do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Daystar arises in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture came into being of

its
own private interpretation. For prophecy was not borne at any time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit.

(2 Peter 1:19-21 MKJV)

And that when the end time prophecies are being fulfilled the unbelieving will be "blind" to what is really happening.
 

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of

the
Spirit and belief of the truth,

(2 Thessalonians 2:11-13 MKJV)

But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of

the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we watch or sleep we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort one another, and edify one another, even as you also do.

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 MKJV)

 
* You must be born again to even begin to understand the "mysteries" of God.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,

it is
the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9 MKJV)

And a few other clear verses that explain that our eternal life and forgiveness is free and based on what Jesus Christ has done for us, and not anything we have done, nor what we will do are:
 

But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, who were born, not of bloods, nor of

the
will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.

(John 1:12-13 MKJV)

But now a righteousness of God has been revealed apart from Law, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ, toward all and upon all those who believe. For there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
(Romans 3:21-24 MKJV)

For the wages of sin

is
death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Romans 6:23 MKJV)

And one of my favorites,

I have written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.

(1 John 5:13 MKJV)

 
Plus many many more, John 3:36, 5:24, Eph. 1:7-14, Titus 3:3-7, Acts 16:30,31, Acts 13:38,39, Acts 10:43, Acts 15:7-9
 
* Is the subject "Important" for us to study?
 
I believe we are instructed to learn and understand as much as we can about all things God has in His Word.
And while the "exact timing" may not be knowable, I believe more attention needs to be given to the subject of Eschatology.
 
I Thess: 5:19-22 "...But examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good;..."
 
II Tim. 2:14-26 "Be diligent...accurately handling the word of truth...correct those who are in opposition..."
 
I Peter 2:2 "...milk of the word..."
 
I Peter 3:15 "...ready to make a defense to everyone...for the hope that is in you..."
and
Hebrews 5:11- 6:1 Going beyond milk and the elementary teaching.
 
 
* When is the Rapture?
 
Rapture ( Meeting the Lord in the Air ).
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The doctrine of the "post-tribulation rapture" was taught by Christianity starting in the first century CE and was popular until the 19th century. It is still held by some Christians. It teaches that when Jesus Christ returns to earth after the tribulation, believers who are alive at the time will be changed into immortal glorified bodies.

bullet

A relatively new competing belief promoting a "pre-tribulation rapture" was developed during the 19th century ( John Nelsen Darby was one of the first to teach it, and has become a near universal belief among fundamentalist and other evangelical Christians. This belief has Jesus returning towards the Earth before the tribulation. Christian believers -- both dead and alive -- will rise in the air to meet him in the sky. It will occur without warning. Believers in the pre-tribulation rapture have eagerly anticipated the event since the 1840s and have never given up the hope that it will occur in their very near future.

*** The "Post-Tribulation Rapture" fits the scriptures clearly, and the idea of a "pre-tribulation rapture" requires "reading into" the verses something that is just not there.
Let's take a look at what the scriptures say:
*****************************************************

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by the Word of

the
Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 MKJV)

But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of

the
Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we watch or sleep we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort one another, and edify one another, even as you also do.

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 MKJV)

Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you should not be soon shaken

in
mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand. Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-5 MKJV)

Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.

(1 Corinthians 15:51-52 MKJV)

And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of

the heavens to the other.

(Matthew 24:29-31 MKJV)

And Jehovah shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth like the lightning; and the Lord Jehovah shall blow the ram's horn, and shall go out with the windstorms of the south.

(Zechariah 9:14 MKJV)

And the seventh angel sounded. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become

the kingdoms
of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.

(Revelation 11:15 MKJV)

 

Return of Jesus Christ and Believers meeting Him in the Air, according to the Bible

After much Bible study, and reading what the bible "scholars" have to say on the subject, I've narrowed down the main verses that speak of the return of Jesus Christ, and the "translation" of living believers who will be changed in a "twinkle of an eye". Read them carefully. Feel free to read in context before and after each passage. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom to understand them clearly. And it should be noted you will not find the word "rapture" in any of these verses, because the word is not used in the Bible anywhere. And while the following verses are not ALL that touch on the subject, they are the clearest and most widely quoted to teach about the return of Jesus Christ, and what the believer should expect to happen at that time ( or shortly before that time ). There are many whole chapters of the Bible that reveal details about the "time of trouble", the "beast", and the "wrath of God", and therefore I have not attempted to include them.

And at that time Michael shall stand up, the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation; until that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame

and
everlasting contempt.

(Daniel 12:1-2 MKJV)



And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what

shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for all these things must occur; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another. And many false prophets will rise and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will become cold. But he who endures to the end, the same shall be kept safe. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come. Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand). Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains. Let him on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house; nor let him in the field turn back to take his clothes. And woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck in those days! But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day; for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.

(Matthew 24:3-22 MKJV)

For as the lightning comes out of

the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered. And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the heavens. And then all the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

(Matthew 24:27-31 MKJV)

Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Therefore watch; for you do not know what hour your Lord comes.

(Matthew 24:40-42 MKJV)

And saying these things,

as they watched, He was taken up. And a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they were looking intently into the heaven, He having gone, even behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into the heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the way you have seen Him going into Heaven. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount Of Olive Grove, which is a sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem.

(Acts 1:9-12 MKJV)


And His feet shall stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which

is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall divide from its middle, from the east and to the west, a very great valley. And half of the mountain shall move toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

(Zechariah 14:4 MKJV)

And it shall be in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour on the house of David, and on the people of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of prayers. And they shall look on Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only

son, and shall be bitter over Him, as the bitterness over the first-born.

(Zechariah 12:9-10 MKJV)

Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and those who pierced Him will see Him, and all the kindreds of the earth will wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.

(Revelation 1:7 MKJV)

looking for the blessed hope, and the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

(Titus 2:13 MKJV)

But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by the Word of

the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 MKJV)

Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal

must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and when this mortal shall put on immortality, then will take place the word that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.

(1 Corinthians 15:51-54 MKJV)

For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior,

the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself.

(Philippians 3:20-21 MKJV)

But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of

the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we watch or sleep we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort one another, and edify one another, even as you also do.

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 MKJV)

Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you should not be soon shaken

in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand. Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? And now you know what holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-14 MKJV)

And I saw Heaven opened. And behold, a white horse! And He sitting on him

was called Faithful and True. And in righteousness He judges and makes war. And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head many crowns. And He had a name written, one that no one knew except Himself. And He had been clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in Heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, so that with it He should strike the nations. And He will shepherd them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His garment, and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw one angel standing in the sun. And he cried with a great voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come and gather together to the supper of the great God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of strong ones, and the flesh of horses, and those sitting on them, and the flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies, being gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet doing signs before it, (by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast), and those who had worshiped his image. The two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were slain by the sword of Him who sat on the horse, it proceeding out of His mouth. And all the birds were filled from their flesh.

(Revelation 19:11-21 MKJV)

*** Theories about When the End will Come.
 
** 6000 years for the "rule" of Man, and 1,000 years for the Kingdom of God on Earth, or 1 week, with the 7th day ( 1,000 years ) being the Sabaath, or Jubilee ( both setting a part the 7th part as holy and special in the Law, see Lev. chapter 23, Deut. 16, Ex. 23:10-17 ).
 
** Also, some of the pieces of the puzzle point towards the return at the end of the "Sixth" Day ( 6,000 years ) from the Creation of the world.
With the 7th Day ( 1,000 years ) being the "Sabbath" or millenium kingdom when Jesus Christ rules and reigns on the earth. 
 
Hosea 6:2 "After two days He will bring us to life: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight."
 
Exodus 19:10,11 "...the third day the Lord will come down"
 
II Peter 3:7,8 "...with the Lord one day is like a thousand years..."
 
Psalm 90:4 "For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by, or a watch in the night."
Luke 10:35  Good Samaritan left for 2 days worth of money and then he will RETURN
 
Job 5:19 "From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you."
* Yeah, I know I may be stretching this verse too far, but many are just examples of the pattern of 6 and then 7th, or 2 then the 3rd.
 
Exodus 24:15,16 "... six days, and the seventh day..."
 
Matthew 16:28-17:2 "...six days later...He was transfigured before them..."
Revelation 20:6 ...reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
 
Also, suggesting the Return of Christ as 2,000 years after He left is,
2 days ( 2,000 years ) , and return the 3rd day ( begin the 1,000 kingdom ).
When the Lord God appeared to the Israelites at Mount Sinai they were told,
Ex: 19:15 ( be ready for the 3rd day ),16 ( voice of trumpet ), 17 ( meet with God )... referenced Heb.12:18-29
 
Most Bible scholars agree the Earth was created around 4004 B.C. ( plus or minus a few years ).
 
And the "theory" that the "Rule of Man" did not start until Adam and Eve sinned, and were put of the Garden of Eden, is one explaination why the 6,000 years has not yet expired ( since it's currently late 2011, and we are still watching and waiting ).
 
If the return is to follow a "time line" or "an appointed time" as has been suggested, then I would purpose ( remember this is just a theory, and subject to change if new and better information becomes available ), we can count forward from both the "fall of man"  30 - 35 years after creation. This is only a number I picked to fit with Christ's ministy some time around 25 - 31 A.D. or 4,000 years later.  It could be much less, or several decades longer, but it had to be well before Seth was born when Adam was 130 years old and out of the Garden for some time. And this would put date of the Cruxification of Christ ( Passover, 30 A.D. on a Thursday afternoon, 31 A.D. on Wednesday afternoon....  exactly when is a whole other topic to dig into ), to be used determine the "end of the 6th day" and the beginning of the "7th day" ( 1,000 year Kingdom ). And the after the 7,000 years, we are told that current heavens and earth will be destroyed, and replaced by a new heaven and a new earth ( II Peter 3:10 -13, Rev. chapter 21 ).
 
Also, there is strong support that the Return of Christ will be in the Fall.
One reason being, that Christ fullfilled 2 of the 3 major Feast of the Lord at His first coming.

You shall keep a feast to Me three times in the year. You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened

Bread
. You shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, in the time appointed of the month Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And no one shall appear before Me empty. Also the Feast of Harvest, the first-fruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field. Also the Feast of Ingathering, in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field. Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.

(Exodus 23:14-17 MKJV)

( Also see Deut. chapter 16, Lev. chapter 23 ) .
 
He became our sacrifical "Lamb of God" who took away the sins of the world at Passover.
And after His resurrection, He was taken up into Heaven, and the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost ( Feast of Harvest, first fruits ).
Those were the first 2 of 3 major Feast that were "appointed" to be "a statue forever in your generations".
The 3rd is the Feast of Ingathing ( or Booths or Tents ).
Details about the Feasts and how they are prophetic in design is something I will try to cover in depth at a later time.
 
 
This 3rd Feast is 6 months ( or 1/2 year ) after Passover.
And time of Tribulation is 3 1/2 years long ( Dan. 12:7,11,12, Rev. 12:6,14,, , and should therefore "begin" at Passover, and end 3 1/2 years later at the Feast the In Gathering ( possibly the "end of the year" - see: Ex. 23:16 )
 
This would put the "end" or "return" of Christ around late Sept - early Oct. 2030 or 2031.
The time of Tribulation ( and rule of the anti-christ and the beast ) begin 3 1/2 years earlier in Spring ( at Passover time ).
And if we have 3 1/2 years of "Beginning of Sorrows" ( Matt. 24:1-14 ), then the "Abomination of Desolation" standing in the holy place ( Matt. 24:15-22, Dan. 11:31,12:11 ), signals the beginning of the Great Tribulation lasting another 3 1/2 years. The 7 years would begin in the Fall of 2023 or 2024.
 
NOTE: As there are several "variables" and some lack of certainty in exact dates, this "date" approximation could vary by several years more or less.
Please don't hold me to it. Like many before me, I may be forcing the "facts" to have Christ's return appear to be something I could live to see.
 
 
I am confident that there will be no "secret" rapture of the church. And that our meeting the Lord in the air will not occur until He returns to set up His Kingdom.
So, should the events in Daniel and Revelation begin to come to pass, then you should know that our Lord's return is very near.
 
If you are living through these times, and are a true believer, you should be able to recognize the "signs of the times" ( Matt: 16:2,3   ) and the "parable of the fig tree" ( Matt.24:32,33 ).
And even though we can not know the "day or hour", we should be able to know / recognize when we are in the midst of this prophetic time ( I Thess. 5:1 - 11 ).
 

But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of

the
Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be calm, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation for a helmet. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we watch or sleep we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort one another, and edify one another, even as you also do.

(1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 MKJV)

and
 
*** Can we know the end is near or how it will unfold? I believe there are a lot of scriptures on the matter, and it is worthy of study.
 
Hebrews 10:25, "...assemble...exhorting...AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING."
 
Matt. 25:4 - 9 "wise" virgins were ready and not surprised
 
I Thess. 5:4 we "are not in darkness that the day should overtake you like a thief"
 
Dan. 12:10 " the wise shall understand"
 
Matt: 24:32-34 Parable of the Fig Tree
 
Luke 12:54 - 57   when you see a cloud you know it's going to rain, or when the wind blows..... "do you not analyze this present time?"
 
I John 2:27 "...His anointing teaches you about all things..."
 
** And closing ( for now ),

What to do when the end is upon us.

I hope to be with other believers studying, praying, singing songs, and rejoicing that our Lord, our Savior, and our King is soon to arrive, and set all things "straight".
As He is the only Hope ( our Blessed Hope ) for the people of all the nations and the planet it's self.
  
Isaiah 26:20, 21
 
"Come, my people, enter into your rooms,
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while.
Until indignation runs it's course.
For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain."
 
* Some will speak out, take action, and may be martyred.
 
Daniel 11:31-35
 
Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up  the abomination of desolation.
By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.
Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.
Now when they fall they will be granted a little help and may will join with them in hypocrisy.
Some of those who have insight will fall in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.
 
NASB translation