Okay, this is a summary, so I won't be going into detail. If you want to know in detail, it takes a lot of study. I can help direct you if you like.
Here is what happened:
There was an age before this age. We were in that age, but in spirit bodies. Read Jeremiah, Romans, Daniel, and Revelation.
GOD created billions of souls and they all had free will. GOD'S THRONE is The Mercy Seat. With billions of free will beings, you can understand why there was a need for a mercy seat. Michael the arch angel and satan had the job of guarding the Mercy Seat. The devil, which is satan, was very beautiful and had the privilege of walking in the Garden Of GOD. The devil was at a very elevated level. The devil was so proud that he thought he should be above the stars of GOD. That means he felt he should be our GOD. Read Ezekiel 28 where GOD sentences satan to death.
Jer 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Now, in order for GOD know Jeremiah before he was in his mother's womb, Jeremiah had to be somewhere. That somewhere was the last age. GOD knew Jeremiah and HE also knew HE could count on Jeremiah. Don't pull that 'GOD knows everything' statement. GOD is the GOD of Peace, that means common sense. If GOD meant it that way, HE would have said it. If GOD knew Jeremiah before he was in his mother's womb, HE knew all of us before we were in our mother's wombs. Look for my post on 'Why are we what we are' for a further explanation. Read the book of Job to know that GOD calls his children stars. Those stars (the children) are the ones that the devil wanted to rule over. To make a Very long story short, the age before this one had a similar governmental system as what this world is about to become. It's called The One World System. It will be in this age, very similar to the last age, but not quite exact. I guess the devil is trying a strategy change.
Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
Notice that the crowns are on the heads. That means actual kingdoms. This was the last age.
Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Notice that the crowns are on the horns. That means that the ten kings that come back with satan are given power as kings for one hour with the beast. These horns are fallen angels.
Both of the systems above are governmental systems. We are repeating the last age, but with a veil to allow us to choose innocently who we love, GOD or satan. We don't have memory of the last age. But GOD'S Elect know and will have the knowledge because they fought against satan in the last age. That is why they are predestined. That is why they are chosen. They have already been judged. They were written in The LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE before the foundation of this world.
Rev_17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
'was in the last age'
'is not because he is in prison'
'is because he is coming back'
So, if you were not written in the Book Of Life at the foundation of this world, you will worship satan.
There are two tribulations. The tribulation of anti CHRIST and the tribulation of JESUS CHRIST.
In the tribulation of anti CHRIST (anti in the Greek means 'instead of', not against. satan will pretend to be JESUS. Rapture believers fall for it hook, line, and sinker. But the key is, that satan has the whole world worshiping him except the Elect.
The devil is in a rage because he has but a short time and the Elect are bringing his system down (dilivered up, remember?).
The point is, he has the world, so it's the Elect he is after. But JESUS cuts the tribulation short for the Elect's sake.
The rule satan breaks and causes the tribulation to be cut short is:
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
It's the Elect that have The Seal Of GOD in there foreheads (in their minds, that is what is in your forehead. Same as the mark of the beast. It's in your forehead (brain)).
The devil breaks that rule by killing two of the Elect. The Two Witnesses. Three and a half days after satan kills them, the Seventh Trump sounds and JESUS Returns. That is the beginning of The LORD'S Day! The Millennium!
Now, when JESUS was in the Garden Of Gethsemane, HE asked FATHER if HE could pass the cup. The cup that HE was talking about was not what HE was about to go through, but the Cup Of Wrath that was going to be poured out on the children. That Cup is the Seven Vials. That is the Second Tribulation. The Tribulation of JESUS CHRIST! You don't harvest grapes with a sickle!
And don't forget, satan comes in peacefully and prosperously and brings peace throughout the world. It's not a true peace however. And if you want to know what the first tribulation, the tribulation of anti CHRIST is cut short to, just ask me.
Also, even if you aren't Elect, that doesn't mean you won't come out of worshiping satan when you hear the Elect speak when they are delivered up as written in Mark 13. But can you imagine what it means if you are Elect? GOD says don't give MY Elect and inheritance! GOD says that HE is their inheritance! Do you realize what that means? It's the stuff of the big bang! It means that where you are, you own it! Not that any of that matters. It's being around JESUS that matters. As you know, in the Millennium, the people cannot go around JESUS. Only the Very Elect can. If you have ever felt the SHEKINA GLORY, you know that that means!
Hope this helps you.