ESCHATOLOGY, THE STUDY OF LAST THINGS . . .
Jesus Wins!
2022
If the Second Coming took place right now, just about everyone feels inadequate in some way, shape or form. When Jesus comes in 2022 for the Rapture of the Church, he's looking for the 50% that are ready. As per the bridegroom in the parable of the 10 women. When the groom arrived unexpectedly, Jesus said 5 had oil in their lamps and 5 did not.
What is the oil? Oil represents the works of mercy, love, forgiveness and charity - they are the "fruits" of true faith - true religion, James chapters 1 and 2.
Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits." In the parable of the bridegroom, Jesus is very honest, saying only 50% will be ready with oil in their lamps. What about the other 50%? Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord is my disciple." Then he said, "The ones who were not ready, the bridegroom will say, 'Depart from me, I never knew you."
Currently, all totaled, in the world today there are about 2 billion Christians - Catholics and also Protestants (of many denominations). Some teachers of Eschatology (End-times) believe we should take the words of Jesus exactly as he said them. That would mean at the moment of the Rapture, in the "Twinkling of an Eye," 1 billion Christians who are alive will be taken to heaven along with the Resurrection of the Dead - all the believers who have died since 33 A.D.
2023
About 1 billion Christians (in name only) will remain on the earth after the Rapture. They endure the 7 years of The Great Tribulation, where by the year 2029, 2/3 of the earth's population will have died from the "Wrath that is to Come," This is twenty-one terrible judgment events - 7 Trumpets, 7 Seals and 7 Bowls.
2029
In the fall of 2029 or early in 2030, Jesus will fulfill the Second Coming by standing on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel with all the saints that were Raptured in 2022.
2030 - 3030
Jesus will enter Jerusalem as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for 1,000 years, 2030 to 3030. The saints will rule with him, each according to how they used their talents in this life.
3030
In the year 3030, God the Father will take His Son, all the Body of Christ and all the children of Israel to a New Heaven and a New Earth where Christ will be married to us for all Eternity. No suffering, no sin and no sense of time. "Angelic Time" as St. Thomas Aquinas referred to it.
God creates a new perfect universe in all ways. Finally, God the Father will have the great big family of children he has always wanted. Children whom He loves dearly and they love Him.
Hope this teaching on Eschatology is helpful as we now enter the final age and the culmination of all of human history upon the earth.
Don't be like Lot's wife and look back. There is nothing here that you want. This was always meant to be temporary. Everything is transient. A pilgrim's journey. A dust bowl to walk through, not a place to set down roots. We always gaze forward to our eternal home.