The end times are (probably) not what you think

September 25, 2024

The phrase “last days” isn’t some future-tense, sci-fi scenario. It refers to the here and now, starting from Pentecost and stretching until Christ’s return.

You’re bound to step on someone’s eschatological toes whenever you start talking about the end times. Some folks have meticulously crafted charts with every bowl, trumpet, and seal neatly labeled. Others, like myself, are a bit more averse to color-coded prophecy maps. But let’s walk through the timeline, which, in my view, is less about sensational drama and more about sober reflection on Christ’s ongoing victory.

The already and not yet

Amillennialism is where I hang my eschatological hat. It’s a fancy way of saying we’re living in the last days right now, in the “already and not yet” of Christ’s kingdom. Jesus inaugurated his kingdom at his first coming—think birth, death, resurrection—and he’s reigning now from heaven. Satan’s bound but not mute, and Christ is ruling, though not in a way that makes it on the nightly news. It’s a present, spiritual reign that quietly hums along in the background of the everyday chaos.

The phrase “last days” isn’t some future-tense, sci-fi scenario. It refers to the here and now, starting from Pentecost and stretching until Christ’s return. This is the church age, where the gospel is often quietly advancing in a million ways worldwide.

The tribulation is not a future event

You may have heard of the Great Tribulation. If you’ve watched enough movies, you’re probably picturing a dystopian future where everyone’s got a chip in their hand, and the Antichrist is giving nightly addresses. But Scripture teaches that tribulation is nothing new; it’s a perpetual part of church history. The tribulation isn’t reserved for some future generation; it’s the ongoing reality of a world in rebellion against God. Persecution, wars, famines, pestilences—just your average Tuesday in a fallen world.

Satan, though bound in a limited sense—he can no longer deceive the nations as he once did—is still prowling around like a lion looking to devour. While his leash keeps him from unleashing his full fury, he’s still causing havoc. Our current age is marked by both Christ’s kingdom advancing and Satan’s opposition like weeds among the wheat, growing together until the harvest.

The return of Christ

Forget the Left Behind series with its secret raptures and seven-year schedules. The Bible presents Christ’s return as a grand, one-time event—no secret comings, no hidden years in the sky. When he comes, it’s visible, unmistakable, and final. As Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4, the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God. This is not something you’ll miss while checking your phone.

When Christ returns, the dead are raised—the righteous and the unrighteous. This is the final resurrection, a physical, bodily event. Then comes the final judgment. All are gathered before the throne of Christ, and there’s a separation of the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the chaff. For believers, it’s a day of vindication. For unbelievers, it’s the sobering reality of eternal separation from God.

The final judgment and the eternal state

The judgment isn’t a drawn-out process with appeals and testimonies. Christ, the righteous Judge, perfectly discerns every heart and action. For those in Christ, their sins have already been judged on the cross. It’s the ultimate declaration of “Well done, good and faithful servant,” not because of our stellar performance but because of Christ’s righteousness credited to us (Mt 25:21).

After judgment, eternity begins. The current heavens and earth are renewed, resurrected, and freed from the curse. No more tears, no more death, no more goodbyes. It’s Eden restored but even better because now it’s irrevocable. We will dwell with God for all eternity, and he with us—Immanuel forever.

Keep watch until He comes

The Amillennial timeline isn’t flashy and doesn’t lend itself to best-selling novels with lurid cover art. But it’s a profound picture of Christ’s ongoing reign, the certainty of his return, and the hope of a new world. We live in the tension of the now and not yet, longing for the day when faith becomes sight.

Until then, we keep watch, not with charts and graphs, but with hearts tuned to the promises of God’s word, trusting that, in the end, it’s not about escaping tribulation but enduring it with the hope of Christ’s ultimate victory.

For further study

The last days and Christ’s present reign:

Hebrews 1:1, 2 — Christ’s reign inaugurated in the “last days.”
Ephesians 1:20-22 — Christ seated at the right hand of God, reigning over all things.
1 Corinthians 15:24-26 — Christ reigning until all enemies are defeated.

The nature of tribulation:

John 16:33 — Jesus’ promise of tribulation but also his victory over the world.
1 Peter 4:12, 13 — Christians are not to be surprised by trials as part of their current reality.
Revelation 1:9 — John describes himself as a companion in tribulation, highlighting its ongoing nature.

The binding of Satan:

Revelation 20:1-3 — Satan’s binding during the church age, limiting his ability to deceive the nations.
Matthew 12:28, 29 — Jesus speaks of binding the “strong man,” symbolizing his authority over Satan.

The second coming of Christ:

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 — The visible, unmistakable return of Christ, not secret or hidden.
Matthew 24:29-31 — The Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory.
Acts 1:11 — The promise that Jesus will return in the same way he ascended.

The resurrection and final judgment:

John 5:28, 29 — The resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked at Christ’s return.
2 Corinthians 5:10 — All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
Revelation 20:11-15 — The final judgment and the books being opened.

The new heavens and new earth:

Revelation 21:1-4 — The new creation where God dwells with his people, free from pain and death.
2 Peter 3:10-13 — The current creation’s dissolution and the promise of new heavens and a new earth.

The already and not yet of Christ’s kingdom:

Colossians 1:13, 14 — Believers already transferred into the kingdom of Christ.
Romans 8:18-23 — The creation groaning, awaiting full redemption and restoration.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 — The ultimate victory over death at Christ’s return.