End Time Prophecy
What did Jesus, Daniel, Ezekiel, Paul, and John teach about the end-times?
Harvests
Each person will participate in an end-time harvest. One of these harvests will transport you to heaven or to hell. In the following parable, a person is either wheat bound for heaven, or a weed bound for hell.
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this.’ He replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” (Matthew 13:24-30)
Jesus later interpreted this parable, making its meaning clear.
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. (Matthew 13:36-39)
Most prophecy interpreters maintain that there is just one end-time rapture. However when challenged most agree that the two witnesses, whom God resurrects and then immediately transports to heaven, participate in a rapture that is separate from other believers. In fact, nothing in scripture prevents a third rapture from occurring.
Recognizing that there are multiple end-time raptures also reconciles the two major schools of thought concerning the rapture. Countless scholars believe the rapture occurs at the start of the seven-year end-times. Other scholars, with equal academic credentials, believe the rapture is at the mid-point of the seven years. The fact is that a rapture occurs at both places.
SCRIPTURES DEPICTING TWO RAPTURES
| Rapture |
Corresponding Scripture |
| Worldwide—of the church | Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day our Lord will come. (Matthew 24:40-42) |
| Jerusalem—for two witnesses | Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. (Revelation 11:12) |
There are a total of seven end-time harvests.
SEVEN HARVESTS
| Harvest | Impacts | Time Frame | Scripture | |
| 1 | Rapture | Philadelphia Church | Start of 7 Years | Revelation 7:9; 13-14 |
| 2 | Rapture | Two Witnesses | 3 ½ Years | Revelation 11:7-12 |
| 3 | Resurrection | Asleep in Christ | 3 ½ Years | Revelation 14:14-16 |
| 4 | Rapture | Laodicea Church | 3 ½ Years | Revelation 14:14-16 |
| 5 | On Earth | Martyred Israelis | 3 ½ – 7 Years | Revelation 14:17-20 |
| 6 | Resurrection | Beheaded Israelis | After the 7 Years | Revelation 20:4 |
| 7 | Resurrection | The Damned | After the Millennium | Revelation 20:13-15 |