One Day Nearer: 10 Devotions in Anticipation of Jesus’ Glorious ReturnEsimerkki

Day 2: A Complete Panorama of Bible Prophecy

If we were to summarize the big picture of Bible prophecy from Genesis to Revelation, what would it look like? Here’s a brief panoramic outline that takes us from Eden to eternity:

Christ will come to save the lost. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God promised that someday, a Savior would come who would bruise Satan’s head. Satan won in Eden, but He would be defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection, which makes our salvation possible.

The church will spread the gospel. Christ entrusted the disciples to proclaim the gospel and take it far and wide. The church will grow, yet also face persecution.

Israel will be reborn. God promised that before Christ’s second coming, Israel will be reborn. This was necessary because Israel is the stage on which the end times will play out.

The church will be taken up in the rapture. Jesus promised that someday, He will come to take His own to be with Him in the Father’s house (John 14:1-3). We will be delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10) and dwell with our Savior in heaven.

During the tribulation, God will bring judgment upon the world. In the end times, God will pour out His wrath. In mercy, He will also have the gospel proclaimed everywhere.

Christ will come again to establish His kingdom. When Christ returns, He will destroy His enemies and set up His millennial kingdom, in which we will live peacefully.

Christ will defeat Satan one last time before eternity. After 1,000 years, Satan will rebel one last time. Christ will crush Satan, cast him into the lake of fire, and judge all unbelievers.

God will bring forth the new heavens and new earth. This will usher in eternity, and we will dwell with God forever in perfect, peaceful bliss.