For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Mat 24:21-22
The Tribulation
The world is heading towards a time of great tribulation, an unprecedented time of suffering, death and destruction, which will increase in intensity will as the end draws closer.
God will deliver true, born again, bible believing Christians, by taking them in the rapture.
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.1 Thess 5:9-10
After the rapture, lies will probably be spread about what actually happened to the millions of people who disappeared, and there will be terrible chaos and confusion.
The Antichrist
A world leader, the antichrist, will emerge. He will probably be very charismatic and likeable, and will seemingly have answers for the world’s problems, but will eventually show himself to be a cruel dictator. He will set up a one world government, a one world religion and a one world currency.
The world will become a progressively worse place to live, with an increase of violence, death, destruction and persecution on a very large scale. There will be famines, wars, natural disasters and pestilence on a far greater scale than the world has ever known, increasing in magnitude as the tribulation progresses. Eventually even the water won’t be safe to drink.
The antichrist will be given the ability (by satan) to perform great signs and wonders, and will set himself up as God. He will deceive many people and demand that everyone worships him.
Robots have been invented that look like talking statues, and the technology already exists to produce holographic images in the sky, that project transmissions into people’s brains.
Mark of the Beast
He will require everyone to take a mark, possibly an RFID chip, without which they will be unable to buy or sell anything, including food. This mark is called the “mark of the beast.” To take it means giving allegiance to the antichrist, and will doom a person to everlasting hell when they die, as they will have rejected Christ.
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Rev 14:9-11
Those who accept Christ and remain faithful to God and his Word during the tribulation period, and those who refuse to take the mark or to worship the beast, will be fiercely persecuted, and beheaded.
Worsening Woes
Signs in the Sky
There will be many more terrifying events, including widespread destruction of plant life by hail and fire, the death of every living thing in the sea, the turning of rivers to blood, an intensifying of the sun’s heat, and a plague of “demonic locusts” that cause torturous pain.
The Sun and Moon will turn dark and the stars will fall out of the sky.
Then Jesus come will come in the clouds in power and glory, to reign upon the earth for a thousand years.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Mat 24:29-31
There are many interpretations of the end times and the Tribulation. I’ve done my best to outline the events, as I understand them. The events mentioned may not necessarily appear in the order written.
For your own research, read Rev chapters 6-18,
and see the following articles:
What are the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls in the Book of Revelation?
The Narrow Way 