Where Are We on the Prophetic End-Times Timeline? And Why Do So Many People Not Care to Know About It?

Posted June 2, 2025 End Times Watch

So, let’s take a moment and look at where we are in the end-times prophecies of the Bible. Here is a simplistic snapshot revealing where we are:

End Times Timeline with Prophetic Judgments

Timeline Phase	Description	Key Events	Status
Church Age	The gospel spreads globally (Acts 2–Rev 2-3)	Time of grace and evangelism	Ending
Birth Pains (Matt 24:8)	Increased war, famine, earthquakes, apostasy	Beginning of sorrows	Happening now
Rapture? (1 Thess. 4:16-17)	Believers caught up before wrath	Timing debated (pre-, mid-, post-)	Imminent
7-Year Tribulation Begins (Dan 9:27)	Antichrist confirms covenant with Israel	Start of Daniel’s 70th week	Near
First 3.5 Years (Tribulation)	Deception and false peace	Seals 1–6, First 4 Trumpets, Two Witnesses minister	Still future

THE SEALS (Revelation 6–8:1)

These seals will likely unfold in the first half of the Tribulation.

Seal	Event	Symbol	Interpretation
1st Seal	White Horse	False peace/conqueror (Antichrist)	Rising global leader
2nd Seal	Red Horse	War	Peace taken from the earth
3rd Seal	Black Horse	Famine	Economic collapse
4th Seal	Pale Horse	Death	¼ of earth killed
5th Seal	Martyrs	Souls under the altar	Persecution of believers
6th Seal	Great Earthquake	Cosmic disturbances	Heavenly signs; people hide
7th Seal	Silence in heaven	Leads to trumpets	Divine pause before more wrath

THE TRUMPET JUDGMENTS (Revelation 8–9; 11)

Likely occur in the middle of the Tribulation (wrath begins to intensify).

Trumpet	Judgment	Effect
1st Trumpet	Hail, fire, blood	⅓ of earth’s vegetation burned
2nd Trumpet	Burning mountain	⅓ of sea becomes blood
3rd Trumpet	Wormwood star	⅓ of fresh waters poisoned
4th Trumpet	⅓ of sun, moon, stars darkened	Diminished light
5th Trumpet (1st Woe)	Demonic locusts	Torment unbelievers for 5 months
6th Trumpet (2nd Woe)	200 million horsemen	⅓ of mankind killed
7th Trumpet (3rd Woe)	Kingdom proclaimed	Leads into bowl judgments

 

MIDPOINT EVENTS (3.5 Years)

Key Moments	Scripture
Antichrist breaks covenant, demands worship	Daniel 9:27; 2 Thess 2:4
Image of the Beast, Mark enforced	Revelation 13
Satan cast to earth, great wrath	Revelation 12
Two Witnesses killed, rise again	Revelation 11:3–12

FINAL 3.5 YEARS (Great Tribulation / Wrath of God)

Known as the Great Tribulation, where God’s bowls of wrath are poured out.

THE BOWLS OF WRATH (Revelation 16)

These are rapid, global, devastating—likely near the very end of the 7 years.

Bowl	Judgment	Effect
1st Bowl	Painful sores	On those with the mark
2nd Bowl	Sea to blood	Everything in sea dies
3rd Bowl	Rivers to blood	Freshwater destroyed
4th Bowl	Scorching sun	Great heat on humanity
5th Bowl	Darkness on Beast’s kingdom	Pain and agony
6th Bowl	Euphrates dries up	Armies gather at Armageddon
7th Bowl	Earthquake, hail	Babylon judged; global collapse

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (Revelation 19)

At the very end of the 7-year Tribulation Period.

• Jesus returns in glory
• Antichrist and False Prophet destroyed
• Armageddon ends
• Satan bound for 1,000 years (Revelation 20)

Millennial Kingdom

• Christ reigns from Jerusalem
• Peace and justice
• After 1,000 years, final rebellion, then:

Final Judgment

• Great White Throne
• Unbelievers judged
• New Heaven and Earth (Revelation 21–22)

There you have the end-times summary in a simplistic form.

It will give you some guidance in knowing where we are and what to expect next. Refer to it often so that you remain aware of the prophecies God wants you to understand. Help others grasp the reality of the end times as well… and speaking of this, let me say:

I’m shocked, to say the least, by how many people have no idea about the biblical prophecies concerning the end times. As I spend time with friends and others, I find many are simply in a state of spiritual numbness—good people who have decided to tune out everything related to the last days. Not only do they not know any details, but they are also uninterested in learning what’s about to unfold. Can you relate to observing this in people within your circle?

I was curious why this is happening to so many “good” people, so I decided to do some research. Here are some likely reasons many are tuning out:

1. Fear and Anxiety

Many people feel overwhelmed or frightened when confronted with prophecies of war, judgment, or suffering. They avoid end-time teachings because:

• It stirs up anxiety or hopelessness
• They worry about their loved ones
• They fear facing God or not being “ready”

Response: Scripture encourages us not to fear, but to watch and be ready (Luke 21:36). Understanding God’s plan should strengthen our hope—not our fear.

2. Spiritual Distraction or Complacency

Life is busy. Even good people often:

• Get caught up in careers, family, or service
• Feel they’re “good enough” and don’t need to dig deeper
• Prefer to focus on the here and now—not eternity

Response: Jesus warned that in the last days, many would be like those in Noah’s time—eating, drinking, marrying, and ignoring the warnings until the flood came (Matthew 24:37–39).

3. Trusting Religious Leaders to Handle It

Some feel it’s not their job to study prophecy:

• “My pastor/bishop/leader will guide us if anything serious happens.”
• “The church will issue instructions when it’s time.”

Response: While godly leaders are important, Jesus said each person must watch for themselves (Mark 13:37). We are accountable for knowing the signs and seeking the truth.

Honestly, this is likely the primary reason my friends don’t want to hear about the end times: they rely on religious leaders to tell them what to do. Personally, I find this heartbreaking. Why would you trust anyone other than yourself and God to prepare for such a critical time?

4. Belief That It’s Too Confusing or Unclear

Prophecies can seem symbolic, scattered, or controversial. People may say:

• “Everyone interprets it differently.”
• “It’s not meant to be understood until it happens.”

Response: While some details are mysterious, the major themes are clear—Jesus will return, judgment is coming, and we must be spiritually awake. Revelation promises a blessing to those who read and heed its words (Revelation 1:3).

5. They’ve Been Taught It’s Not Important

Some churches downplay prophecy or label it a distraction:

• “Just focus on love and grace.”
• “No one knows the day or hour, so why speculate?”

Response: Jesus and the apostles spoke frequently about the end times. Nearly one in four Bible verses are prophetic. Ignoring this topic means ignoring a massive portion of God’s Word. I believe the final seven years on earth are the most important in all of human history—aside from the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

6. They Don’t Want to Change

Some avoid studying the end times because deep down, they know it demands:

• Repentance
• A holy, separated life
• A break from comfort, sin, or the world system

Response: Prophecy calls us to urgency and purity (2 Peter 3:11–12). If we truly love Jesus, we’ll long for His return—and prepare our hearts.

What Will Happen to the Unprepared?

Is there a benefit to studying and preparing for the last days? According to Scripture, those who ignore the signs of the times face serious consequences:

1. Sudden Destruction

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:3 (KJV)

Many will be lulled into a false sense of security. Judgment will come suddenly and without warning.

2. Willful Ignorance Leads to Destruction

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now… are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men… But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing…”
—2 Peter 3:7–8 (KJV)

Those who scoff or ignore coming judgment are storing up destruction. Ignorance is not innocence.

3. Strong Delusion for the Willfully Blind

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie… that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
—2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (KJV)

Those who reject truth may be given over to deception as divine judgment.

4. The Foolish Virgins Are Shut Out

“Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”
—Matthew 25:11–12 (KJV)

This parable is taught often, yet many fail to realize—it’s about them.

5. Jesus Warns of Spiritual Sleep

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh… Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.”
—Mark 13:35–36 (KJV)

Spiritual slumber will cause many to be caught off guard—and left behind.

Those who are afraid to think about the end times—and choose not to prepare—are not protected by their fear or ignorance. Scripture says they:

• Risk sudden destruction (1 Thess. 5:3)
• May fall under divine delusion (2 Thess. 2:11)
• Could be shut out from Christ (Matt. 25:11)
• Will be held accountable for not watching (Mark 13:36)

Many of these people are my close friends and even family. I want nothing more than to keep them from these consequences.

What Can We Do to Wake Them Up?

Waking people up to the end times is a heavy burden, but it’s also part of our calling as followers of Jesus Christ. The Bible offers strategies to sound the alarm with love, truth, and boldness.

1. Preach the Word — Whether They Want to Hear It or Not

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
—2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV)

We must proclaim God’s Word faithfully, with patience and truth—even when it’s unpopular.

2. Warn Them in Love — Pull Them from the Fire

“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
—Jude 1:23 (KJV)

Some need gentle encouragement. Others need a wake-up call. Either way, do it in love, not condemnation.

3. Shine Light in the Darkness

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
—Matthew 5:14 (KJV)

Let your life reflect holiness, peace, and urgency. Your testimony may be the loudest sermon they’ll ever hear.

4. Use Prophecy to Prove the Truth

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy… whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place…”
—2 Peter 1:19 (KJV)

When you connect current events to biblical prophecy, people wake up and realize the Bible is true.

5. Pray for Open Eyes and Softened Hearts

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
—James 5:16 (KJV)
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
—Psalm 119:18 (KJV)

Only God can open blind eyes. Prayer tills the spiritual soil so hearts are ready for truth.

6. Be Willing to Be Rejected

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you… for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad…”
—Matthew 5:11–12 (KJV)

Some will mock, reject, or hate you. Keep going. The few who listen are worth it.

Summary: How to Wake People Up

Action	Scripture	Purpose
Preach boldly	2 Tim. 4:2	Share truth with urgency
Warn with love	Jude 1:23	Shake them awake compassionately
Be a light	Matt. 5:14	Let your life be a witness
Use prophecy	2 Peter 1:19	Prove the Bible is true
Pray deeply	James 5:16	Ask God to prepare their hearts
Endure rejection	Matt. 5:11	Keep going, no matter the cost

Final Thought

Many of these reasons come from human frailty—not evil intent. But in these last days, God is calling watchmen (Ezekiel 33) to blow the trumpet and wake others up with love, truth, and clarity.

If you’re one of those watchmen, keep sounding the alarm. Even if most won’t listen—some will. And that one soul is worth everything.

I often think of Jesus sitting on the hill overlooking Jerusalem and saying:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
—Matthew 23:37 (KJV)

This verse reveals Christ’s deep sorrow and love, showing the heartbreak of being rejected by those He came to save. Do you feel like this too, when your warnings fall on deaf ears? I certainly do.

Let us continue to pray for patience and strength as we sound the alarm of His Second Coming. Pray that those you interact with will have softened hearts and receive the truth you share. And then… take a moment to recognize how proud the Savior is of YOU as you study, pray, and prepare for His return.

We are in this together as a team…
So, LET’S GO!!

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May you Trust God to be with you today, and always. Much Love and Prayers headed your way.

River Wilde