Hi, John -
I spent some time reading Ray's "My Summary of Future Events - Part I and II" and had a few take-aways I'd like to share.
First, it appears that the pieces to this end-times puzzle can be assembled in a number of different ways. There is some ambiguity in the language that allows for various interpretations. While I don't agree with some of Ray's conclusions, I can't really prove that he's wrong. For example, he believes that "According to Revelation 9:15, this sixth trumpet judgment and world war three shall last a year, a month, and a day." I see the year/month/day statement to simply point to a pre-ordained beginning of the event, not the duration of the event. But I can't "prove" that I'm right or that Ray is wrong. I think that with modern technology it would be hard to stretch a global war over that period, but maybe after the preceding judgments, technology won't be so modern.
Along with that is my observation that a lot of knowledgeable people who love God, are honestly seeking the truth, and have no agendas or ulterior motives are studying the same data and coming to different conclusions. Why God set it up this way is a mystery to me, and I thank Him that we don't have this sort of confusion regarding the plan of salvation. And probably "confusion" is the wrong word, since God is not the author of confusion. Suffice to say, the details of the end remain cloaked in obscurity, most apparently by design. So we can't be dogmatic or hostile in our beliefs regarding the end, regardless of how well-supported those beliefs may be.
Third, with many events, it seems we can't tell if they are types for ultimate fulfillment, or one-and-done events. I don't know anyone who thinks Gideon's army of 300 was a prophetic pattern that will be ultimately fulfilled at the end; that is, that God is going to raise another army of 300 to defeat His enemies. But we can't rule it out. So there may be many other details in the end that we don't see or even suspect. Again, this is a call to grace and graciousness toward our fellow-speculators.
A final take-away is that, for most of us, it's probably academic. That is, we won't be on the receiving end of God's judgments and may not be involved in their administration. Much of Revelation may be for those left behind. So while we should be crystal clear on the part of the message that directly pertains to us, the details of the prophetic events following the rapture should not consume us, and certainly not to the point that we argue about them. Read the text, reach your conclusions, share as appropriate, and allow others the same freedom. Example: we have a DIRECT COMMAND (Luke 21:36) to pray to be found worthy to escape. We have an UNAMBIGUOUS PROMISE (Rev.3:10) that if we keep His command to persevere, He will keep us from the hour of trial. These are plain, simple, straightforward - they can be ignored or disobeyed, but no one can honestly say it's ambiguous or unclear. On the other hand, we don't really KNOW who the rider on the white horse (Rev. 6:2) is and, as you know, there are LOTS of speculations on the question.
That all being said, I offer my own Summary of Future Events - considerably less detailed than Ray's effort:
1. The Rapture - Pastor Bob Reid and a few others believe we leave on September 8th. Fine by me, of course, but I expect Tuesday, September 21st. It will be a "partial" rapture. I don't like this conclusion but I can't avoid it. Jesus said, "pray that you may be found worthy to escape" and this suggests conditions: some won't pray, and some won't be found worthy. One model is in Genesis where the bride of Adam was a sub-set of the body of Adam. Similarly, the Bride of Christ will be taken from the Body of Christ. Another example is the story of Lot where some believed and obeyed ... and survived. The sons-in-law laughed it off. Lot's wife looked back. Oops. "As it was in the days of Lot ..." (Luke 17:28)
2. The Left-Behind believers - A Jezebel spirit has infected much of the visible church. I can't be too illuminating on what beliefs and activities fall under the umbrella of "commit sexual immorality and ... eat things sacrificed to idols." But we see in Revelation 12:5 that the Child who will rule is caught up to safety. Twelve verses later we see "the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" being attacked on earth by The Dragon. The only model I see that reconciles this is partial rapture. In the preceding verse, they "did not love their lives to the death." Raptured saints don't die. In Rev. 13:7 the Dragon and the Beast make war with the saints and overcome them. This can't be an elect, preserved Jewish group because they're kept safe in the wilderness. It's not those already raptured, so it appears that there are still some folks on the earth whose names are written in the Lamb's book of Life (verse 8). I think they must be Thyatira-type Christians who were warned, did NOT repent, and as a result are cast into "great tribulation."
3. The Dry Bones Resurrection - Ezekiel 37 has not been fulfilled. It has nothing to do with the "rebirth of Israel" (so-called) in May of 1948. Rather, this is a major Resurrection event, a foretaste of which may have occurred when Jesus was raised (Matthew 27:52-53). It is these and the true Jews still living who will be preserved in the wilderness. Some think Petra; that's probably as good a guess as any. Bozrah has also been suggested. David will be raised up to reign as king (Jeremiah 30:9, Ezekiel 37:24, Hosea 3:5). They will be dwelling in safety, without gates or bars. This is connected to the Sealing of the 144,000 which is the "confirmation of the covenant" and is the initiating event of Daniel's Seventieth Week. I expect the resurrection to occur in late September or early October. There will be a global "calm before the storm" (Rev. 7:1) between the time they are raised and the time they are sealed. Note: the scripture does not say or even suggest that these men are "witnesses" or "global evangelists" as suggested by Lindsey. They are identified as "servants of our God" (Rev. 7:3) and they "follow the Lamb wherever He goes" (Rev. 14:4).
4. Daniel's final week will begin on or about October 18, 2021. There will be a 75-day period during which those "gleanings" left after the harvest will be rounded up and given their final ultimatum: pledge allegiance to the New World Order and take the mark ... or die. Once this is completed, the 42-month global reign of terror will begin. When everyone who will be saved has been either raptured or killed, THEN "The Dragon" can be given authority over everyone left. That will be on January 1, 2022. Happy New Year!!
5. Two Witnesses - Just as John the Baptist was raised up "in the spirit and power of Elijah", God will raise up two end-time witnesses to stand before "the god of the whole earth" in the spirit and power of Moses and Aaron. I don't know who these two will be, but because they both die, I doubt that they are resurrected Old Testament saints. These two men apparently orchestrate the trumpet and bowl judgments, and all kinds of other catastrophes that aren't recorded but are suggested in Revelation 11:6. Their 1,260-day ministry largely overlaps the 42-month time of authority granted to the Beast (Rev. 13:5). Their calling-down of judgments will no doubt be carried on all the major media, so when they say, for instance, "you have poured out innocent blood, so God will give you blood to drink" (or something similar) and the oceans turn to blood, everyone will know who to blame. "You have blasphemed. The penalty for blasphemy is stoning," and then 100-lb hailstones begin to fall (Job 38:22-23, Rev. 16:21). No wonder they will celebrate when these two are killed. That will be in the spring of 2025.
6. There will be a "Temple" in Jerusalem - a multi-religious sort of structure, probably on the Temple Mount, with customized wings for the major world religions and a central focal point with the Image of the Beast. This is not related to the confirmation of the covenant. I believe the "abomination of desolation" is human sacrifice. It's already going on; this will just bring it out into the open.
7. Rev. 11:2, Rev. 11:3 and Rev. 13:5 all end at about the same time. The true Jews have been kept safe in the wilderness and The Beast and his crowd (faux-Jews and other Gentiles) have been in control of Jerusalem. At this point, that control ends. The epic battle takes place: the Battle of Gog and Magog. While I used to think this battle began the final seven years, I changed my view when I compared Rev. 19:17-21 and Ezekiel 39:17-20. I now think the battle (usually called the battle of Armageddon) ends the wrath of God. This will be at about the time of Pentecost in 2025 and it maps to Joel 2, which Peter preached at Pentecost (Acts 2). The war will be over on about June 15th, which is the 1,335th day (Daniel 12:12).
8. Please notice that the Seventy Weeks are for "thy people and thy holy city" and are about restoration, completion, healing, and preparation for the Millennial Reign. Read Daniel 9:24 - it's really not about war, tribulation or wrath. Time will be needed to complete the Millennial Temple described in Ezekiel 40-41 (Note: it will be AWESOME!! Maybe we'll get to help build it!). So the idea that there are seven years of war, wrath, chaos, killing, plagues, tribulation, etc. etc. simply does not work. Satan has had 6,000 years to mess up the earth as much as he could. The damage needs to be repaired before the Millennium can begin.
9. The seven years end and the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ will begin on Shemini Atzeret, October 12, 2028. Immediately preceding will be the fulfillment of the Fall feasts: Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles.
--
Evil appears as good in the minds of those whom God leads to destruction. - Sophocles