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While the Rapture signals the beginning of God's program known as the Last Days it is not the final event in his program.
There is still the time of 'Jacob's Distress' (Jer 30: 7, Daniel 12: 1) or 'The Great Tribulation' (Matt 24: 21, 29). This is the time when God finalises the program he foretold in Deuteronomy 28: 1-30: 10). After this, the Lord will return to the earth personally and fulfil all the Old Testament prophecies about the restoration of the Kingdom (see Acts 1: 6). The Temple will be cleansed and rededicated before the sacrifices are reinstituted (Dan 12). These sacrifices will have no atoning value but will be a memorial to the unique atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross. After this the Lord will rule on earth 'with a rod of iron' for a thousand years (Rev 19: 15, 20: 1-3). After this there will be final rebellion and then the judgment program will be finalised. |
