What Happens after the Tribulation?

The Battle of Armageddon marks the triumphant ending of the Tribulation period. It is the final battle between the forces of evil and good, with Jesus as the victor.

Six major powers are involved in the final campaign: the revived Roman Empire, the northern confederation (Russia and her allies), the kings of the East (Asia), the kings of the South (Africa), the Lord and His armies, and the nation of Israel.

Israel will be at the center of the conflict. The Bible tells us that when the nations that are gathered together against Jerusalem see the Lord’s armies coming (the angels and believers who were raptured into heaven), they will forget about each other and band together to fight against the Lord.

They will, of course, be of no opposition. The Lord Jesus comes to battle in all His power and majesty as the King of the universe. Revelation 19 describes His appearance when He returns to earth: “His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns…. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations…. He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:12-16).

He slays the nation with the sword as His armies stand together watching. In one dramatic moment, He throws the Antichrist and the False Prophet into the lake of fire and the Battle of Armageddon is complete.

The final resulting bloodshed, according to Revelation 14:20, will spread over a 200-mile area (approximately the size of Israel) and reach a depth of four feet (the height of a horse’s bridle). “All the birds” will be “filled” with the flesh of the battlefield (Revelation 19:21) and it will take seven months to bury the dead and seven years to rid the earth of all the weapons which gathered by the nations (Ezekiel 39:8-16).

The Battle of Armageddon is really not much of a battle but a last stand against evil. Good will win. Jesus will conquer without sustaining any losses. The nations and all powers of evil will be no opposition for His strength. The bloody battlefields will be the remains of all those who rejected Him.

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Not only will believers today be on earth for the Millennial Kingdom—they will rule with Jesus!

After the Tribulation, believers who were raptured will join the angels as the armies of Jesus and return with Him to earth: “The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:14, NIV). Jesus will gain victory at Armageddon and believers will be given authority to reign with Him for 1,000 years.

There are several passages throughout Scripture that point to the believer’s role in the kingdom, including 1 Corinthians 6:2: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?”

Believers today are rulers in the making. God is preparing them not only for heaven but for administrating a thousand years of peace on this earth. During this time, God will establish the first truly righteous leadership we can trust. He will never make one mistake. He will always make the right decision. He will be the righteous King.

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The Great White Throne Judgment happens 1000 years after the Battle of Armageddon. It is the final judgment of all those who have rejected Christ.

Jesus will sit on His great white throne and every unsaved person—the spiritually “dead” who have rejected Him—will stand before Him. Their bodies will be summoned from the grave and from the sea to accept their final judgment.

Jesus will read from the “books” of judgment which hold record of each one’s life. Scripture tells us that every person’s words, actions, and thoughts, no matter how secret or insignificant they appear in the moment, will be exposed and brought to account. Those who placed their trust in Jesus and accepted Him as Savior will not be present. The righteousness of Jesus has cleansed them and justified them before God.

People “small and great” will be represented (Revelation 20:11-15). Many people who did seemingly good things on earth and were admired by their peers will be there—even many who held offices in the church and were thought to be Christians.

The Bible says that “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” and the Great White Throne Judgment is the final assurance of that. Matthew 7:22-23 says, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

After each one stands trial, and their name is not found in the Book of Life, they will be cast into the lake of fire, the final and forever hell.

Is your name written in the Book of Life? Have you placed your trust in Jesus and accepted the eternal salvation He openly offers to you? If you haven’t, I urge you to make the decision today!

Read more about Bible prophecy in David Jeremiah’s Eleven Questions You’ve Always Wondered About the End Times.

Dr. David Jeremiah is one of America’s most trusted Bible teachers. For more than 36 years he has helped millions deepen their understanding of the Bible through 8,761 daily Turning Point Radio releases and a weekly Turning Point Television program that reaches millions of people weekly. 

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