END TIMES SURVEY
Teleios’ most recent survey explored biblical knowledge of the end times. There were 681 responses. Below are explanations of biblical importance. For full results please click here.
#9 The Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58)
Survey Responses |
|
Will occur at a time known only by God |
78% |
Is when Christ raises Christian believers to meet Him |
58% |
Is when Christians are taken out of the earth before the tribulation |
58% |
Is when Christ comes again in the clouds |
38% |
Occurs at the same time as Christ’s second coming |
36% |
Is when Christ removes obedient Christians but leaves disobedient Christians to face the tribulation |
32% |
Is when Christ comes to earth to establish His Kingdom |
22% |
I am unsure |
10% |
This event occurs, at a time known only by God, when Christ returns in the clouds to take believing Christians out of the world to be with Him for eternity. The rapture initiates the tribulation (see below). Although beliefs differ, the church is taken out of the world before the tribulation God promises Christians they will not know His wrath (Revelation 3:10) which is the purpose of the tribulation. The church is not mentioned in tribulation passages.
#10 The tribulation (2 Thessalonians 1:5-2:12; Revelation chapters 4-18: Matthew 24:4-28; Danial 9:27)
Survey Responses |
|
Period of 7 years on earth |
51% |
Of suffering to an extent not known previously in the world |
48% |
Just before the glorious second coming of Christ |
42% |
Of God’s purposeful and directed judgment for unforgiven sin |
38% |
When the church is not present on earth |
35% |
I am unsure |
20% |
When the gospel will be preached throughout the world |
15% |
Of final judgment on the Jews to cause them to turn to Messiah |
14% |
To punish sinful Christians |
12% |
This is a seven-year period of God’s wrath upon the world to bring the final judgement before the second coming of Christ, which occurs at the end of tribulation. Although a time of terrible suffering God will allow the gospel to go forward to the world still giving unbelievers an opportunity believe.
#11 1000-year reign (Revelation 20:1-7; Jeramiah chapters 23,31-33; Ezekiel chapters 36-38; Isaiah chapters 59-66)
Survey Responses |
|
Heaven |
57% |
A time of peace and prosperity on earth |
36% |
Initiated by the Second Coming of Christ |
33% |
A 1000-year reign of Christ as king on the earth |
31% |
A time when Satan and the antichrist are imprisoned |
30% |
A physical kingdom appearing at Christ’s second coming |
23% |
Demonstrated in our times by its spiritual manifestations; the church and the Holy Spirit |
18% |
I am unsure |
16% |
This period is also known as the: kingdom of God, Christ or heaven, eternal Kingdom, or thousand-year reign. This period of a 1000 years is when Christ will rule from Jerusalem over earth as King. The kingdom will include both Jews and Gentiles. It is predicted extensively in the Old Testament as the promised rest for the Jewish nation and will be a time of world peace and prosperity.
#12 End times biblical literature (such as the Book of Revelation, the “Olivet discourse” Matthew 24 and 25; 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5; 2 Thessalonians 2)
Survey Responses |
|
Should be understood literally as prophetic images that represent real future events |
38% |
Should be believed exactly as written |
28% |
I am not sure |
18% |
Should not be taken literally but figuratively as representing Christ’s second return |
14% |
Although opinions vary, proper interpretation of scripture should be a normal literal meaning which includes the style of literature in the original text. For instance, prophecy literature should allow symbols to be symbols, as intended by the original author, to represent actual events, without spiritualizing or discounting the intended symbolism (1). The answers to the remaining questions in the survey below are based on a normal literal interpretation of scripture. Other alternative beliefs about end times scripture exist but are not included here because of the lack of support in scripture.
#13 Eternity (Revelation chapters 21-22)
Survey Responses |
|
Represents all believers’ glorious eternity with God and Christ |
72% |
Is manifested by a new Earth and New Jerusalem |
35% |
Occurs after the unsuccessful rebellion of the Antichrist, Satan and unbelievers at the end of 1000-year reign |
22% |
Occurs after the 1000-year reign of Christ |
22% |
I am unsure |
18% |
Will be preceded by the great white throne of judgment of unbelievers |
18% |
This period, after the 1000 -year reign of Christ, commences when Satan, the Beast and unbelievers will be loosed and rebel again. God will judge them in the second great judgement after which a new and glorious heaven and New Jerusalem will descend from above. Believers will live eternally with God, fulfilling their great hope and God’s promise.
Further reading
- Ryrie CC. Basic theology: A popular systematic guide to understanding biblical truth. Moody Publishers, 1999.
- Chafer LS. Systematic Theology. Abridged Volume II. Kregel Publications, 1947.