End Times Are Here

Sequence of Events

Here is a rough outline of what will happen in the near future.

Most of these things overlap, and happen simultaneously.

This is a work in progress...

Here's what I've got so far:

Disasters (sudden change, beginning of sorrows)
Sunday law (penalties, no buy or sell)
Latter rain
Loud cry (already sounding but will become very strong)
Judgment of the living (once people understand the Sabbath/Sunday issue)
Persecution/martyrs (ongoing, but more and more severe)
Counterfeit second coming (satan about to lose his case, crowning act, last desperate act)
Close of probation (all cases decided, no more martyrs, no more restraints)
Plagues
Death decree (God's law made fully void)
Armageddon (sixth plague)
Second coming
First resurrection
1,000 years
Second resurrection
Lake of fire (punishment and death of the wicked)
New heaven and new earth
Eternity with God

I think the core events are very similar to what the disciples of Jesus went through.

Event	Disciples	Last Generation
Training	With Jesus	Early Rain
Test	At the cross	At the Sunday law
Outpouring of the Holy Spirit	Pentecost	Latter Rain
Spreading the gospel	Early church	Loud Cry

For more details, please see below.

Again, this is a work in progress.

Disasters

There will soon be a sudden change in God's dealings. The world in its perversity is being visited by casualties,--by floods, storms, fires, earthquakes, famines, wars, and bloodshed. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power; yet He will not at all acquit the wicked. "The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet." O that men might understand the patience and longsuffering of God! He is putting under restraint His own attributes. His omnipotent power is under the control of Omnipotence. O that men would understand that God refuses to be wearied out with the world's perversity, and still holds out the hope of forgiveness even to the most undeserving! But His forbearance will not always continue. Who is prepared for the sudden change that will take place in God's dealing with sinful men? Who will be prepared to escape the punishment that will certainly fall upon transgressors?
- Ellen White, Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 356

On a sidenote, satan can also cause disasters (but maybe through technology?).

Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. When he was suffered to afflict Job, how quickly flocks and herds, servants, houses, children, were swept away, one trouble succeeding another as in a moment. It is God that shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 589

In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 589/590

Sorrows, or birthing pains, get more frequent and more severe towards the end.

All these are the beginning of sorrows.
- Matthew 24:8 (KJV)

To learn more about signs of the end, please click here.

The Sunday Law

This event causes a chain reaction.

It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.
- Psalm 119:126 (KJV)

The Sunday law will first be passed in the USA (National Sunday Law), and will then be enforced in all of the world (Universal Sunday Law).

It may seem silly, but this has actually been tried before (1911). It's all there to be used again.

Here's an excerpt from it:

Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechising, upon pain for the first fault to lose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, to lose the said allowance and also be whipt ; and for the third to suffer death.
- American State Papers

These "Blue Laws" are just waiting to be activated.

The Latter Rain

The latter rain refers to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (rain) in the last days similar to Pentecost.

A bit like this:

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.
- Deuteronomy 32:2 (KJV)

The timing has to be just right.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
- James 5:7-8 (KJV)

God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh during the latter rain.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
- Acts 2:17-21 (KJV)

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not just a one off event, but rather it is a season.

Drops will fall first, and then the showers will fall (just like with Pentecost).

The act of Christ in breathing upon his disciples the Holy Ghost, and in imparting his peace to them, was as a few drops before the plentiful shower to be given on the day of Pentecost.
- Ellen White, Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 3, p. 243.1

The same is true for the Latter Rain, e.g. drops first, then showers.

Proof of this comes from Ellen White:

Let us, with contrite hearts, pray most earnestly that now, in the time of the latter rain, the showers of grace may fall upon us. At every meeting we attend, our prayers should ascend that at this very time, God will impart warmth and moisture to our souls. As we seek God for the Holy Spirit, it will work in us meekness, humbleness of mind, a conscious dependence upon God for the perfecting latter rain.
- Ellen White, Review & Herald, March 2, 1897

That was written in 1897.

The Latter Rain will prepare God's people for the difficult time ahead (the loud cry, and persecution).

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
- Acts 3:19 (KJV)

Empowered by the Holy Spirit the final message (the three angels' messages, come out of the fallen churches) will go out to the world.

I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect.... I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, "It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel."
- Ellen White, Early Writings, p. 271

To receive the Latter Rain you must have first received the early (or former) rain.

We must be ready for the Latter Rain.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
- Matthew 25:1-13 (KJV)

Oil in the Bible sometimes also refers to the Holy Spirit. You need the Holy Spirit now!! When the crisis hits, it's too late.

The Latter Rain and the Loud Cry go almost hand in hand.

The Latter Rain Will Produce the Loud Cry At that time the "latter rain," or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out.
- Ellen White, Early Writings, p. 86

I suspect that the Latter Rain will overlap with the Sunday law, but I do believe that the Latter Rain will be most powerful after the Sunday law.

For more information, please read The Latter Rain.

The Loud Cry

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
- Matthew 24:14 (KJV)

This is the proclamation of the three angels' messages (shortly after the Sunday law has passed).

Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

- Revelation 14:6-11 (KJV)

Once Babylon has fallen (Sunday law), the Loud Cry will go forth with great power.

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
- Revelation 18:1-5 (KJV)

It is the third angel's message (the mark of the beast) that will lead into the loud cry.

The third angel's message is to be sounded by God's people. It is to swell to the loud cry.
- Ellen White, Manuscript Release, vol. 9, p. 212

This is something we can do today.

Judgment of the Living

Somewhere in the middle of all of this you will need to decide who you worship.

You either live with God in obedience, or you die with satan in rebellion.

	Commandments	Worship Day	Judgment
Obedience	Ten Commandments	Sabbath	Seal of God
Rebellion	commandments of men	Sunday	Mark of the beast

It is the great test of the last days.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
- Revelation 3:10 (KJV)

Those who do not worship the beast will not be able to "buy or sell", and will have to rely solely on God to provide for them (and He will).

Eventually the Sunday Law will have a death decree (at some point after the close of probation).

This then is the ultimate choice. Life or death. Life with God, or death.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
- Mark 8:35 (KJV)

Judgment begins with those who already know the Sabbath/Sunday issue, e.g. the Sabbath-keepers.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
- 1 Peter 4:17 (KJV)

Great tribulation indeed. Many martyrs will die, but it is their testimonies that will save lives.

Please understand that the mark of the beast is about who you worship. The "buy or sell" is just a stick to help with that. The mark of the beast is not a chip.

At the heart of it, it comes down to this:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- John 14:15 (KJV)

And that includes the Sabbath Commandment.

The decision process is something like this:

Sunday law
Understand (Sabbath or Sunday)
Decide
Seal or mark

(With thanks to Vance Ferrell for the original sequence)

The mark of the beast = knowingly keeping Sunday instead of Sabbath.

For more information, please read Who do You Worship.

Persecution

Persecution of Christians is already happening today, e.g. in the Middle East, China, etc.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV)

Persecution of Christians in the Western world will increase dramatically towards the end.

God's people will feel the hand of persecution because they keep holy the seventh day.
- Ellen White, Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 975

I suspect that once satan personates Jesus, persecution will be even more severe.

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
- John 16:2 (KJV)

Martyrs receive special honors in heaven.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
- Revelation 14:13 (KJV)

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
- Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV)

As we were traveling along, we met a company who also were gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him.
- Ellen White, Early Writings, p. 18/19

To understand what it means to be a martyr, please read the story of Stephen.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- Acts 7:54-60 (KJV)

Counterfeit Second Coming

We are warned about a false christ by Jesus Himself.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
- Matthew 24:23-27 (KJV)

Satan will impersonate Jesus.

As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: "Christ has come! Christ has come!" The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is "the great power of God." Acts 8:10.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 624/625

I suspect that the counterfeit second coming takes place very close to the end.

Satan sees that he is about to lose his case. He cannot sweep in the whole world. He makes one last desperate effort to overcome the faithful by deception. He does this in personating Christ. He clothes himself with the garments of royalty which have been accurately described in the vision of John. He has power to do this. He will appear to his deluded followers, the Christian world who received not the love of the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (transgression of the law), as Christ coming the second time. He proclaims himself Christ, and he is believed to be Christ, a beautiful, majestic being clothed with majesty and, with soft voice and pleasant words, with glory unsurpassed by anything their mortal eyes had yet beheld. Then his deceived, deluded followers set up a shout of victory, "Christ has come the second time! Christ has come! He has lifted up His hands just as He did when He was upon the earth, and blessed us."... The saints look on with amazement. Will they also be deceived? Will they worship Satan? Angels of God are about them. A clear, firm, musical voice is heard, "Look up."
- Ellen White, Last Day Events, p. 164

"Satan's case" could refer to a number of things:

The case that man can not keep the commandments
The case that Sunday is the "real" sabbath

The phrase "Look up" refers to the actual second coming.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (KJV)

Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ's advent.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 625

I do believe that the counterfeit second coming takes place before the death decree.

Fallen angels upon earth form confederations with evil men. In this age antichrist will appear as the true Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against God's holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God, and deify him. But Omnipotence will interpose, and to the apostate churches that unite in the exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth, "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her."
- Ellen White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 62

Fully made void = Sunday law plus death decree.

There are basically two decrees:

Sunday law decree
Universal death decree

This deception will continue all the way into the time of trouble.

The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction reaches its culmination in the time of trouble.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 389

Personating Jesus is just unbelievably cruel really.

One effort more, and then Satan's last device is employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ, and make them think their prayers are answered.
- Ellen White, Last Day Events, p. 165

To learn more about the counterfeit second coming, please click here.

Close of Probation

Once probation is closed, that's it.

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
- Revelation 22:11 (KJV)

This is also when the servants are sealed, e.g. just before the four winds are loosed.

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
- Revelation 7:1-3 (KJV)

As the winds are loosed, the seven last plagues will begin.

The Holy Spirit of God is withdrawn.

And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
- Genesis 6:3 (KJV)

When Christ shall cease His work as mediator in man's behalf, then this time of trouble will begin. Then the case of every soul will have been decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin. When Jesus leaves His position as man's intercessor before God the solemn announcement is made, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still" (Revelation 22:11). Then the restraining Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth.
- Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 201

The Seven Last Plagues

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
- Revelation 16:1 (KJV)

The seven last plagues are poured out without mercy.

The sixth plague is Armageddon.

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
- Revelation 16:12-16 (KJV)

And that's where Jesus will make war with the kings of the earth.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
- Revelation 19:11-19 (KJV)

After the seventh plague the first resurrection will take place.

The Death Decree

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
- Revelation 13:15 (KJV)

I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus' work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed. A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob's trouble.
- Ellen White, Early Writings, p. 36/37

In the last conflict the Sabbath will be the special point of controversy throughout all Christendom. Secular rulers and religious leaders will unite to enforce the observance of the Sunday; and as milder measures fail, the most oppressive laws will be enacted. It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the church and a law of the land ought not to be tolerated, and a decree will finally be issued denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment, and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World, and apostate Protestantism in the New, will pursue a similar course toward those who honor the divine precepts.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 391/392

Note that there seems to be a time delay between the passing of the decree, and before it is legal to "put them to death".

This principle can also be found in the book of Esther.

The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews.
- Ellen White, Prophets and Kings, p. 605

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
- Esther 3:12-14 (KJV)

After the close of probation, satan gains complete control of the wicked.

When Jesus leaves the most holy, His restraining Spirit is withdrawn from rulers and people. They are left to the control of evil angels. Then such laws will be made by the counsel and direction of Satan, that unless time should be very short, no flesh could be saved.
- Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, p. 203

The whole purpose of the death decree is to annihilate the remaining commandment-keepers.

It is the purpose of Satan to cause them to be blotted from the earth, in order that his supremacy of the world may not be disputed.
- Ellen White, Testimonies to Minsters and Gospel Workers, p. 37

The death decree is the start of Jacob's Trouble.

Second Coming

At last, our Saviour gathers those that are His.

A Small, Black Cloud Is The Sign of Jesus' Coming - Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man's hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror.
- Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 640/641

Note that we will be caught up with Jesus in the air. Jesus will not set foot on this Earth.

- Photo : Thomas Bresson / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

This is the first resurrection (of the righteous).

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
- Revelation 20:6 (KJV)

The Thousand Years

Earth is completely in ruins, and all the wicked are dead.

The thousand years take place in heaven where God will open the books of life, and we will be given the opportunity to question God's judgment. No one will disagree with God however. God has done everything He could to try and save our loved ones (that are missing).

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
- 1 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)

This whole process will take a thousand years.

Lake of Fire

This is the second resurrection (of the wicked).

They will be read their sentence, and even the wicked will agree with the judgment.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 2:10-11 (KJV)

They will spend the last moments of their lives in a lake of fire. This is the second death, from which there is no coming back.

God will repay according to what they've done.

Who will render to every man according to his deeds.
- Romans 2:6 (KJV)

God's Eternal Kingdom

God will dry our tears, and we shall be like children in God's Kingdom.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- Revelation 21:4 (KJV)

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

An eternal weight of glory.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (KJV)

And our sufferings forgotten.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
- Romans 8:18 (KJV)

I can't wait.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)