But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days: 2 Timothy 3:1.
Revelation: Greek ἀποκάλυψις - Apokalypsis - to uncover or unveil.
Revelation presents a series of events which occur before the second coming of Christ Jesus. This time period is most often referred to as: the 7-year tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble, the 70th week, the last days, the latter days, the end of days or the end times.
The end of days will be a time of great tribulation, unlike anything the world has ever seen: a conversion of war, famine, pestilence, natural catastrophes, cosmic disturbances, plagues and divine judgements. The end of days also includes the construction of the third temple, making Jerusalem a cup of drunken trembling for the nations: Zechariah 12:2-3, and, two witnesses will rise to prophesize for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. But, these are only a few of the things, that mark the time of the end.
Knowledge of these future events, help to identify these end time markers as they become visible. The most compelling future event is the prophecy found in Revelation 13 - the rise of the beast out of the sea - the tribulation kingdom of antichrist. The beast out of the sea is a vicious and brutal kingdom which has seven heads (seven kingdoms) and ten horns (ten kings): R 13:1-4. There is also a second beast which rises from the earth: R 13:11, which has two horns 'like a lamb' and speaks the words of the red dragon. This Beast out of the earth (clay) is the religious system of the first beast - the beast out of the sea (iron).
