End-Times Prophecy and “The Last Days”: A Guide to End-Time Events

By Kendall Brashears

End-Times Prophecy and “The Last Days” invites people to explore end-times biblical prophecy and to open Revelation, the last book of the Bible. These sources reveal God’s will for individuals and his whole world. Kendall Brashears distills over three decades of dedicated study and presents it with the skill of a seasoned educator. His hard work has yielded an approachable guide to ancient and sometimes difficult texts, featuring verse-by-verse explanations of key passages.

Through his prophetic research and years of teaching, Brashears will explore the following:

– Are we living in the last days as described by the Bible?

– What end-time events are we seeing in the world today?

– Will the Rapture of believers precede the Tribulation, and if so, how will it occur and what will it look like?

– Will we know who the Antichrist is before the Rapture and how will we recognize him?

– If there is a seven-year Tribulation on earth, what will it be like and who will go through it?

The answers to these questions and many more are discussed thoroughly in this study.

If you have wondered what God has planned for his world, if you ask yourself whether distressing events signal the coming end of human history, or if you want to grow in your knowledge of the details contained in the Bible’s prophetic and apocalyptic passages, then End-Times Prophecy and “The Last Days” will serve you well as a tool for deepening your understanding. You will emerge from your experience with a breadth of knowledge that provides guidance both for recognizing the changes that are occurring in the world today and for clinging to the assurance of God’s plan for care and comfort in uncertain times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385024766

Kendall Brashears

Kendall Brashears brings a long history of teaching to his exploration of prophecy and Revelation. His approach finds the point of balance between guiding the beginner and challenging the seasoned student. He earned his master’s degree in education from Oklahoma State University and before his retirement served as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma FFA Foundation.

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 Kendall Brashears.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-2475-9 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-2476-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024909693

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/8/2024

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1Are We Getting Close?

Chapter 2God’s Timetable

Chapter 3Church Letters and Final World Conditions

Chapter 4Rapture and Reward

Chapter 5The Tribulation Begins

Chapter 6Mid-Tribulation

Chapter 7The Campaign of Armageddon

Chapter 8The Millennial Kingdom and the New Jerusalem

Bibliography

Illustrations

Dedicated

to

Roland and Ramona Brashears

my parents, for their never-ending love, guidance, and patience

as they provided a Christian home and atmosphere, for not only

three sons, but for a multitude of relatives and friends as well.

and

Paula Brashears

my wife, for her unwavering support and encouragement as

we embark on this end-times ministry for the Lord.

PREFACE

End-times prophecy is one of the most interesting and exciting subject areas in the Bible and is considered by many to be the most fascinating genre of study in the book. Historically, interest in the study of end-time events has usually intensified as calamity and upheaval appear to increase. This is the situation today.

There has been a renewed interest in end-times prophecy studies of late because of its relevance in today’s uncertain times. With this renewed interest comes a growing urgency among Christians and non-Christians alike to understand the implications of the Lord’s words regarding the future of humanity. Making sense of what God the Father and Jesus Christ has to say about the future are more important now than at any previous time.

End-times prophecy, however, has always been one of the least taught subject areas of the Bible. This is especially true regarding the book of Revelation. For the average Bible student, Revelation’s symbolism and random order of events have made it difficult to understand. In addition, people have been curious as to exactly how it applies to their daily lives. After reading this book, I believe you will have a better understanding and appreciation for end-times prophecy, the book of Revelation, and end-time events.

End-Times Prophecy and The Last Days is the result of thirty-two years of personal study and teaching in the area of prophecy and in particular the book of Revelation. The book is unique in one respect because it was developed from a classroom teacher’s perspective. I taught high school level students for several years of my life and with that background in mind, I have tried to keep the information as user friendly and to the point as possible. We will treat each subject area with enough information and scripture to substantiate the opinions presented without confusing the key points with the many varying interpretations of different writers.

Gratitude is expressly offered to Johnny Tims, former pastor, First Baptist Church, Chickasha, Oklahoma, and Charles Utsler, former Director of Missions, Grady Baptist Association for their original theological review of the manuscript. Appreciation is also expressed to Michael Butler, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church for his input and recommendations for the book as well. A deep sense of gratitude is also expressed to Darleen Harrison who gave invaluable assistance to this study. Her careful review of the manuscript and suggestions for its improvement have immeasurably enhanced the work as a whole. Deep appreciation is also expressed to Paula Brashears, Stewart and Beth Ann Meyer, Les and Kandi Bayless, and Teresa Green for their assistance in proofing the final work. Acknowledgement and appreciation are also extended to the many authors and publishers whose works have contributed to the theme and thought of this book.

After reading End-Times Prophecy and The Last Days, you will be part of a very select group of people. You will have knowledge of end-time events that will be extremely beneficial in your daily life. You will recognize how everyday events occurring in the world are relevant to God’s plan and how these events affect you, your family, and people around the world. My prayer is that you enjoy the book and may God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit enrich and bless you for your efforts in studying their Word. Amen!

Kendall Brashears

Educator/Author

INTRODUCTION

I taught my first class on end-times prophecy and the book of Revelation back in the mid 1990’s. Since the beginning of those studies, people have asked me, Are we living in the ‘Last Days’ as described by the Bible? My answer to that question has always been yes. When God created the heavens and the earth at the beginning of time, he also set up a series of events that would lead us up to the end of time and the reign of mankind on earth will be over.

The term, Last Days refers to a time period that started the day Jesus died on the cross and then rose from the dead and will end the day Jesus returns and sets foot back on earth at the battle of Armageddon. Old Testament prophets, the apostles and other writers in the New Testament, as well as Jesus himself lead us to believe that we truly are living in the Last Days.

Regarding these prophesied events of the Last Days, people of the twenty-first century from cultures around the world, whether familiar with Biblical teachings or not, are concerned with the future of the earth and humanity as a whole. Philosophers, theologians, scholars, and many others throughout history have pondered basic questions tied to end-time events like the following:

1. Will humanity continue to exist on the earth forever?

2. Will there be a sequence of events that will end time as we know it?

3. Will a cataclysmic war finally destroy the human race?

For those people who believe the Holy Bible is the inerrant word of God, there are answers to such questions. Through the course of this text, we will examine some of the same questions that even Adam pondered as he found himself evicted from the Garden of Eden after losing favor and direct fellowship with God. What would happen to him and his family? Indeed, what will happen to us? God, in his Holy Word, has given us an outline or roadmap that reveals exactly the events that are to come and how the world as we know it will end. That is the focus of this work.

The following course of study on end-times prophecy is presented in a different sequence than what is usually encountered. A basic, but thorough outline of the events in God’s plan will be studied in a chronological order, rather than starting with the first chapter of Revelation, verse one, and proceeding through the book as is customary. Both the books of Daniel and Revelation are not written in a sequential or chronological order; therefore, the beginning student who tries to make sense of the order of events within the books often has difficulty in determining the true sequence and how one segment ties to another.

In this study, we will be looking at prophecy relevant to the events that have occurred in the past and will examine how those events, combined with information contained in the book of Revelation, help us to comprehend God’s plan for the future. This study and all references will be reconciled to God’s Word.

Biblical scholars for centuries have poured over manuscripts of both Daniel and Revelation and have determined that even though the chapters within the books are not written in sequence, there is an overall prophetic theme or plan which reveals to us the intent of God and his son Jesus Christ. Additional scriptures and prophecies from the books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, Zechariah, and others lend credence to our study. World history also helps justify major time periods, events, and event sequences.

Much study and many authors’ works have been reviewed to arrive at the overall theme and sequence of events for this study (see Bibliography). Most authors of books on prophecy will confess, as do I, that prophetic interpretation is not an exact science, and there are varying opinions on many segments of its literalness. Hopefully, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can at least come close to what the Father and the Son intended for their servants to know. In those areas of interpretation where we inadvertently stray from the Father’s, the Lord Jesus,’ and the Holy Spirit’s intent, we ask their forgiveness and indulgence as we try the best we can to study Biblical truth the way they intended.

As we move forward in our study, may we keep the following scripture in mind:

2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

TERMS AND AREAS OF IMPORTANCE:

Prophecy – (Noun) a prediction uttered under divine inspiration, knowledge of the future.

Prophesy – (Verb) to predict, speak, or write by divine inspiration.

Eschatology

The Bible has many different areas of study. The area we will be studying is called Eschatology. Eschatology is the area of theology concerned with death, judgment, and destiny. All three areas are major components of the prophecy picture. Jesus Christ becomes central to this discussion as the atonement for sin and personally deals with death, judgment, and destiny.

Futuristic Approach

We will be using the Futuristic Approach in our study. The Futuristic Approach is a more conservative viewpoint that allows for a more literal interpretation of specific prophecies and scripture. It emphasizes a Pretribulation and Premillennial point of view. We will discuss some varying points of view in these areas, but the Futuristic Approach will be the basis for our interpretation and study.

Revelation

Much of our study will be encompassed in the Book of Revelation. The English word Revelation is a translation of the Greek word apokalupsis or Latin word apokalypsis which means an uncovering or unveiling. It means to show or expose to view like the unveiling of a painting. Something that is hidden is brought to light. Thus, Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ. This concept of the unveiling of Jesus Christ will become more apparent as we go along.

WHERE ARE THE PROPHETS TODAY?

1 Corinthians 12:7-10. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

When we think of Biblical prophets, we typically think of Old Testament prophets such as Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Zechariah, and many others who foretold the future. However, according to New Testament scripture, there are people in our world today who have been given the gift of prophecy. In this passage, Paul says that each of us as believers has been given a manifestation or gift, if you will, by the Holy Spirit to use for the common good. The Holy Spirit determines what gift we receive. Paul tells us here in first Corinthians as well as in Ephesians 4:11 and Romans 12:6 that some people are given the gift of prophecy. Many times, we overlook this spiritual gift because as modern-day Christians we do not consider ourselves in the same category as the Old Testament prophets. Why, however would Paul in three separate instances reveal that Christians are given the gift of prophecy unless it had some value, relevance, or use in all times, even today?

Christians who have been given the gift of prophecy do not predict or foretell the future as did the Old Testament prophets. They are not prophets in the same way. That is not their purpose. I believe the gift of prophecy and its purpose for those who have been given the gift today is to communicate to Christians and a sinful world concerning the prophetic events of the future as revealed by God in his Holy Word, not to predict what will happen, but to reveal what God says, will happen. The gift is to be used to help people understand God’s plan for the future. As Scofield so aptly writes, The New Testament prophet is not primarily a foreteller but, rather, a forth-teller, one whose gift enables him to speak to others for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. Those who have been blessed with the gift of prophecy are to calm the fears of believers in an uncertain world and deliver a message of hope through Jesus Christ to unsaved men and women in a dying world.

HOW DO WE KNOW PROPHECY IS TRUE?

2 Peter 1:20-21. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Peter wants us to understand that even though men penned the scripture, they were inspired and guided as they did so by the Holy Spirit. Consequently, we believe that all of prophecy as well as the entire Bible are the inerrant Word of God.

FOR WHOM WAS PROPHECY WRITTEN?

Revelation 1:1. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

John shares with us that the book of Revelation was given by God to his servants or believers so they might know what will take place in the future. It is a message of hope and reassurance. He is telling us through the word of an angel that we will know the future and how it will unfold. We know that life’s journey is like a winding path full of pitfalls and danger, but at the end of that journey, Christ is there waiting for us. Jesus is waiting, and as his chosen people we can have faith and hope in his return and know that he is always there for us. It is difficult to fathom the grace of our God, who loved us so much that he would tell us about the future and then describe our part as believers in that future. Amen!

WHY DO WE STUDY PROPHECY AND REVELATION?

1. It reaffirms our faith.

2. It encourages us to share our testimony.

3. It focuses our attention on the true urgency to bring a lost world to Christ.

4. Revelation is also the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing if we read it and take it to heart.

WHY IS THE STUDY OF END-TIMES PROPHECY GAINING SO MUCH INTEREST AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

2 Peter 1:19. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Peter encourages us to pay attention to what the prophets have said about the future. He says prophecy is like a light of hope in a dark and sinful world. In regard to this idea (or admonition), C.I. Scofield believes as the last days evolve, we need to be even more attentive. In his forward to the book of Revelation in the Scofield Study Bible, he writes, Much that is now obscure will become clear to those for whom it was written as the time approaches. He was telling us that as history progresses and current world conditions change at an ever-increasing rate, we will understand more and more about end-time events. For this reason, our generation, better than any before, understands how Biblical prophecy and world events are connected. This coming together of apparent end-time events and signs has sparked a renewed interest in Biblical prophecy.

CHAPTER ONE

ARE WE GETTING CLOSE?

Matthew 24:36. (ESV) But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

One only has to read the news of today to realize the world within which we live is changing at a pace never seen in previous history. Human conflict around the globe, internal division and mistrust in our own country, and the disintegration of moral values and character are all signs that something unusual is taking place in the world. Because of these current circumstances, people frequently ask me, Are we getting close to the end? My answer has always been the same, We are one day closer than we were yesterday. I am not trying to be evasive, just honest. The people who study eschatology, like you and I may have a rough idea of how God’s plan unfolds, but we do not know the exact timing as to when some of the major events of the end-times will begin. Jesus is saying that neither he nor the angels know when some of the end-times will start. Only God the Father knows for sure.

In Acts 1:1-7, Luke tells how when Christ appeared to the disciples in the forty-day period prior to the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they asked him again about his return, and he says in verse seven, "It is not for you to know the times or the dates the Father has set by his own authority." So according to scripture, God the Father is the one who knows when the final sequence of events will begin. We do know, however, that Old Testament prophets, the apostles, additional Old and New Testament writers, and Jesus himself left us valuable insight regarding events to look for that would lead up to the start of the seven-year Tribulation that we will study later and the second advent of Christ which follows. This insight and other pertinent information give us understanding into end-time events and will lead us into the next area of our discussion.

The disciples themselves posed the question of when the end will come to Jesus during his ministry on earth. His first response is recorded in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. We will be reading the Matthew account. The verses we are about to read have a Double Reference. They apply to the disciples and their generation of Christians as well as all generations after them. The verses are also mirrored in Revelation Chapter 6:1-8. These verses reference the four horsemen of the apocalypse and have a double meaning which refers back to Matthew 24:

Matthew 24:1-2. (ESV) Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

In this passage, Jesus and the disciples were leaving the temple; the disciples were admiring the temple and remarking about its buildings. As they were walking away, Jesus told the disciples that in the future the temple would be destroyed. We know from world history the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Matthew 24:3. (ESV) As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple sparks the curiosity of the disciples and they then ask the key question that all Christians have asked for centuries, What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? Jesus then answers their question.

Matthew 24:4-8. (ESV) And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains."

Jesus tells them to look for four signs or four occurrences in the future:

1. Deception, False Christs, and False Prophets

2. Wars and Rumors of Wars

3. Famine

4. Earthquakes

1. SIGNS OF DECEPTION, FALSE CHRISTS, AND FALSE PROPHETS

Matthew 24:10-11. (ESV) And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

The end-times will be filled with deception. At least six times in the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warns against false teachers and deceivers. Jesus says directly, there will be many false prophets in the last days.

With this, it is natural to wonder who the false prophets are and where they come from. We automatically think of the Jim Jones followers in Guyana in 1978, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians in Texas in 1993, and the Heaven’s Gate group in southern California in 1997. Many of their followers died, nine hundred in Guyana alone. In all three cases the followers believed that their earthly leader was Christ.

Concerning such deceivers, it is important to remember the words of Christ, in Matthew 10:28 when he says Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Christ is saying that we have more to fear from people who are claiming to be Jesus because they deceive you just enough for you to lose your soul. They are being led by Satan. There are many false religions and beliefs that would fit into this category today. With this in mind, does scripture tell us how to identify deceivers, false prophets, and antichrists?

1 John 2:22-23. (ESV) Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

Jesus is telling us that any religion or ism which does not teach the deity of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation through him is a deceitful liar and is unknown in the eyes of God. There is no room for argument with this fact.

With this passage, we need to examine the difference between a False Christ or False Prophet and an antichrist. John is saying that the person who denies the deity of Jesus as the Christ or Messiah is a liar and an antichrist, antichrist here meaning against Christ. Not only is he or she a liar, but John adds that by denying Jesus Christ, such a person also denies God the Father. The Bible lists six ways to identify false prophets:

1. They lead people to follow false gods through signs and wonders – Deuteronomy 13:1-4

2. Their prophecies do not come to pass – Deuteronomy 18:20-22

3. They contradict God’s Word – Isaiah 8:19-20

4. They bear bad fruit – Matthew 7:15-20

5. Men speak well of them – Luke 6:26

6. They deny that Jesus, the one and only Christ, has come once and for all in the flesh, thereby denying his sufficiency in all matters of life and godliness – 1 John 4:23 & 2 Peter 2:1-3

Also, in regard to deceivers and false Christs:

2 John 7. (ESV) For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

1 John 4:2-3. (ESV) By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Once again, John is warning us to beware of people, groups, or religions