Bible Studies

The End of the World

--Intro--

Have you ever heard of the word "Rapture"? It's something that people talk about, but don't really know what it is. Wanna guess? Here's the answer: it's part of the end of the world, or at least it is according to the Left Behind series. (That's a fictional book series that shows what life would be look after the Rapture) Always wanted to know what the end of the world would be like? Well, let's find out!

--Day 1--

Before I forget, this Bible Study will have eight chapters instead of the usual four, since we'll be reading chapters. We're going to go over most of the book of Revelations, except for the first three. You can read them later if you want to. They just talk about letters to different areas where Christians are.

Just to clear up a misunderstanding here from the beginning, the Rapture is NOT the end of the world. It's when believers (Christians) are taken to heaven. No, you don't have to be dead when this happens. According to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, we will disappear in "the blink of an eye". No one knows when this will happen, but we are told to keep watch (Mark 13:32-33). The Left Behind series shows the Rapture as all the Christians disappearing in the middle of the night, leaving their clothes behind. Let's read 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 right quick to get a better understanding of what would happen when the time comes.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ( NLT)

Both the living and the dead will be raised to life when that day comes. We will be sent to heaven to live forever and those left behind will have to go through a period of time where God plagues the Earth, warning people to repent of their sins. The people who become believers after the Rapture will no longer be affected by these plagues as soon as they believe. What a world! For a little background information before we begin, let's see when this stuff will take place.

"Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. (Revelation 1:19 NIV)

Let's read more in Revelation, starting with Chapter 4.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

"'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,'

who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things,