Decision Details

Timeline Details

Decision Phase

Decision Phase Overview

Primary References: Revelation 11:18-14:20

The Decision phase is a period where people’s hearts are tested to separate the tares (the wicked) from the wheat (the righteous). This phase starts just after Jesus’ coronation and ends when the wheat (the righteous) is safely in heaven. Key to this separation process are the actions of the unholy trinity (the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet) who implement systems of worship and commerce requiring total obedience to the beast.

This period starts with the saints receiving their riches reward. Afterwards, wise Jews flee to a wilderness place prepared for them. As they flee, Satan and his legions attacked God’s hosts in heaven to prevent Jesus’ assumption of power. Michael and his angels intervene and defeat Satan and exile him and his army to earth where they remain for the remainder of the great tribulation. Satan’s arrival on earth increases the urgency of the Jew’s fleeing who start an emergency airlift. In his anger, Satan attempted to destroy the Jews in the wilderness but God responded by sealing the place and dissipating the floodwaters.

Following this, the beast (the antichrist) ascends to power and introduces the false prophet to the world scene. Now this unholy trinity shares power and acts with one mind to ensnare people’s souls and lead the world in open rebellion against God. To this end, the false prophet call fire down from heaven, erects an image of the beast, gives life to the image, enacts laws requiring its worship, and creates an oppressive monetary system, the mark of the beast to control people’s financial transactions. The image is Daniel’s abomination of desolation and wise Jews living outside the sealed place flee to the mountains.

The image of the beast, its worship, and the beast’s mark form the basis of the decision phase of the timeline. Now, three angels preach to everyone worldwide. Two of three angels (the first and last) declare to everyone on earth their need to decide whether to serve God or Satan. The second angel declares God’s judgment on Babylon and her final fall. While people’s decisions continue throughout the great tribulation, the decision phase of the narrative ends with the wheat and tare harvest followed by an angel tossing the tares into God’s winepress of wrath. People’s moment of truth has come: no longer could they defer their decisions. Rejection of Satan and the beast carries an almost certain death sentence while rejection of God carries the certainty of the lake of fire’s second death.

Milepost 29: The Saint's Rewards

Primary References: Revelation 11:18

Revelation 11:18 suggests the judgment of the righteous between the wrath of God and the destruction of the unrighteous (the judgment of the wicked waits until the great white throne judgments in Revelation 20).

Milepost 30: God's Heavenly Temple Opened

Primary References: Revelation 11:19

Following the reward judgments, John sees God's heavenly temple opened. It contains the Ark of the Testament, which is likely a heavenly companion of the Ark of the Covenant but the Bible only mentions the Ark of the Testament here and provides few details about it.

Milepost 31: Earthquake, Great Hail, etc.

Primary References: Revelation 11:19

Revelation 11 ends as God pours more judgments out on the earth. There is another earthquake, accompanied by great hail and lightning, thundering, and noises. These judgments are only the first of many for humanity's rejection of their new King.

Milepost 32: Jews Start Fleeing (orderly)

Primary References: Revelation 12:1-6

Revelation 12 begins with a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars. As seen in Genesis 37:9-10, the symbolism speaks of Israel.

Milepost 33: The War in Heaven and The Last Woe

Primary References: Revelation 12:7-12

Satan's attack on Jesus starts a war in heaven between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels. Michael and his angels win a decisive victory and permanently cast the dragon and his angels out of heaven, exiling them down to earth.

Milepost 34: Jews Flee (emergency airlift)

Primary References: Revelation 12:13-14

When Satan starts persecuting Israel, both the desire and urgency of the Jews to flee to the place prepared for them reaches a crescendo. Those fleeing use airlifts to reach the place in the wilderness but this only continues for a short time.

Milepost 35: Jews Sealed in Wilderness

Primary References: Revelation 12:14

When Satan attacks the place prepared in the wilderness, God protects those inside by sealing it from outside attack.

Milepost 36: The Dragon Attacks Israel

Primary References: Revelation 12:15-17

Full of wrath and rage, the dragon turns his complete attention to God's people and Israel in particular. If he cannot destroy God, he at least attempts to destroy God's chosen people, Israel.

Milepost 37: The Antichrist takes Power

Primary References: Revelation 13:1-10

After his defeat at Michael's hands, his confinement on earth, and his failure to destroy the Jews in the wilderness, Satan turns his attention to solidifying his control over the earth. He empowers two men to enslave, control, and rule according to his wishes.

Exposition: The False Prophet Revealed

Primary References: Revelation 13:11-14

Now John observes the second beast, the false prophet, arising from the earth. His rising recalls man's creation in Genesis and affirms the false prophet's human nature.

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