Chapter 1

The End. When will it come? What is going to happen? How can we prepare? The End is the subject of unending curiosity and, for some, a bit of anxiety. If I promised you that this book would reveal some new, never-before-seen detail about the end of the age, you would, no doubt, have a reaction somewhere between intrigue and scepticism. You might be so hungry for understanding that you would read on through many pages of fluff and filler to see if a new gem has indeed been uncovered. Even if you did not believe me for one second, you might still be curious enough to examine my claim and spot the flaw in my argument.

Let me be clear: I am not making that claim. In fact, I sincerely hope that I give you no new data that cannot already be found between "In the beginning" and the final "Amen" of Revelation. But I do hope to offer you something new; not new information, but a new perspective.

The prophets have written the drama of the ages, and perhaps you have seen the play many times. My invitation to you is to watch the play again from a different seat in the theater. From several different seats, in fact. If you are used to sitting in the front row, you will be amazed at how some of the scenes play out when viewed from the balcony!

If you are new to the study of Bible prophecy, you are welcome here, too. The perspectives we examine here are foundational concepts that will benefit your lifelong journey of learning, as they have for me.

In a book that has "Mysteries" in the title, you have a right to expect a mystery to show up in chapter 1, so let us begin! The first mystery is that The End is not a when, a what, or a how. It is a Who.