The Tribulation is called by the prophets as “The Time of Jacobs Trouble”. The seven years is the final week of seven years of prophecy regarding Israel prior to the millennium. It will be a period of God’s wrath on the wicked of the earth.
It will begin after the Rapture and last for seven years until Jesus comes at his “Glorious Appearing”. Jesus returns during the Battle of Armageddon. He destroys the armies at Armageddon, bind Satan for 1000 years, and reigns as Lord and King of the earth during the millennium. It will be a time of peace as Jesus rules from his throne in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
The “Lawless One” is revealed after the Rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Once the Church is raptured, resistance to antichrist is removed. The Antichrist will step forward, probably claim he was responsible for eliminating the haters, and take over control of the one-world government. He will become popular with the wicked of the world, especially if he claims to have rid the world of Christians.
The following are some prophetic Old Testament scriptures describing the Tribulation.
Jeremiah 30:7 Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance and recompense belongs to me; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Obadiah 1:13 Thou should not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou should not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity.
Isaiah 61:2 The spirit of the Lord has anointed me to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God.
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
The wrath of God on the wicked is so dreadful, it takes chapters 6-18 of Revelation to describe these events. It is called by Jesus as “the great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).
Why the Tribulation?
God set up a perfect creation for mankind to live eternally and have communion with God. Man was given free will to love or reject God. The first experiment proved mankind brings chaos when left to his imagination. Man cannot be his own master, but must trust God with his life to sustain order and righteousness in God’s creation.
Through Adam, man failed. God made a way for man to escape the damnation brought on all mankind by Adam. God has provided a free gift of atonement and resurrection through his only begotten Son, Jesus. This free gift of atonement and salvation from Christ gives man a second chance to choose eternal life in Christ or to choose his own way which leads to eternal separation from God and endless destruction.
Matthew 16:25 Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
God came into the world incarnate in Jesus to provide a second chance and atonement for man to escape the damnation brought on by Adam. Jesus gave his physical life to pay the ransom for man’s sins, so he could escape damnation and regain eternal life in Christ. In this period of grace, Jesus instituted the church as his Bride and help-meet to take the gospel to all men of this way of escape. When the “church” completes its task, Jesus will remove it at the Rapture.
The past two millenniums (2000 years) have been the dispensation of faith and grace. After the Rapture, the dispensation of grace and faith ends. Jesus then ushers in the dispensation of the Tribulation and to fulfill the remaining prophecy of Israel.
God is merciful and not willing that any should perish. The wicked of the world often makes the statement, “God should reveal himself and state emphatically that he is real and give a choice of heaven or hell?” The Tribulation accomplishes this request of mankind. When the Tribulation begins, there will only be the lost and wicked upon the earth. Christians will be in heaven with Jesus at the marriage of the Church and the Lamb.
God provides two prophets from the OT to preach the gospel and warn of the impending wrath of God on the wicked. These two prophets (Moses and Elijah) cannot be harmed by the Antichrist, or his allies. They have supernatural powers to prove they are from God. Millions will believe and be saved by faith. Of the Jews who will be saved, 144000 will be anointed by God as evangelists to preach his gospel to the world, much like having 144000 Billy Grahams preaching to the world’s population.
After the two prophets and 144000 witnesses have preached the gospel, an angel of God will preach to the remaining population just before the end of the seven years. God makes it clear the angel is his last act of compassion, and the last chance for the lost and wicked to be saved from eternal damnation. God’s message will be perfectly clear, if anyone accepts Jesus as Savior and God; they can escape the Lake of Fire prepared for Satan and his angels. Satan will also make it clear, anyone accepting Christ and denying the antichrist as God will lose their heads by the sword.
Man wanted a clear-cut choice, and receives it during the Tribulation. Those who accept Christ and do not bow down to the antichrist will lose their heads (literally). Those who choose to bow down to antichrist will save their heads from the antichrist, but will lose their souls to Satan and the Lake of Fire.
God pours out his wrath on the wicked of the world, which have set their hatred against him and continue to defy him. The wicked, slain by the plagues from hell, plus believers slain by the antichrist during the Tribulation reduces the world’s population by approximately 75 percent. While the wicked are rounding up and slaying the new believers of the Tribulation, God’s wrath against the wicked is reducing their population at a much greater rate, approximately 2/1.
God protects the believers during the Tribulation from his wrath, but not from the sword of the wicked. In many cases, believers are founds and beheaded by antichrist, and must remain true to their faith. Their choice is salvation or the sword. This may not sound fair, but most of these people could have accepted Christ and been raptured and spared from this drastic choice.
The Tribulation period will bring to an end the 6000 years on earth, and usher in a 1000 year reign of peace with Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. The 1000-year reign of peace may be God’s method of showing mankind the difference of a world under his rule as opposed to a world ruled by mankind.
The Tribulation will shake mankind from his false sense of security. Due to earthquakes, plagues, and catastrophic events, the self confidence of mankind will be shaken, and man will more readily look to God instead of themselves.
The Tribulation will force man to make the choice of Christ or antichrist. There will be millions saved during that time, but many beheaded for their choice.
Many of the plagues of wrath upon the wicked appear to be similar to terrors of hell. It is possible, God is using a taste of tortures from hell to show the wicked its terrors in an effort urging them to repent and avoid hell.
Jesus Offers Descriptions to the Apostles of the Tribulation
In Matthew 24, Jesus describes the end time to the disciples. The Tribulation lasts for seven years. Sorrows and afflictions begin slowly and become progressively worse as antichrist begins his massacre of believers during the Tribulation. God’s wrath on the wicked becomes progressively worse as a warning of their fate in hell. As the wicked becomes more incorrigible and unyielding, God progressively allows the plagues to take their lives.
Matthew 24:6-8 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diver’s places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Matthew 24:9-14 9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
In the above passage, those accepting Christ as Savior during this time will have to prove it with endurance to the end of the seven years or their beheading whichever comes first. Since antichrist has believers beheaded, a person must have unshakeable faith in Jesus to endure to the death for his belief.
Matthew 24:15-22 15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:
21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
The antichrist signs a truce with Israel allowing rebuilding of the Temple; this begins the seven years of Tribulation. After the Temple is rebuilt (3 ½ years), Satan (antichrist) enters the Temple, sits on the throne, and proclaims he is God. God then unleashes the remainder of the judgments against Satan and the wicked of the earth.
Matthew 24: 29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, all tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Jesus returns to earth, and every eye will see him. God will be fulfilling prophecy with his elect (Israel). Approximately 25 percent of the earth’s population is alive when Jesus comes to set up the 1000 year reign. Due to the battle of Armageddon and the destruction of God’s enemies at his appearing, the percentage left alive could be smaller.
Angels gather together the elect (Probably Jewish population) to reign with Christ for 1000 years in and around Jerusalem. Since this gathering is not detailed in scripture, we leave some items open for enlightenment during the end time interval. John had to seal up some of the prophecies until the end time. Other prophecies may appear directly from God during the Tribulation. An angel will preach to the world just before the very end; this may be another period of enlightenment.
Probably, all of the incorrigibles or wicked of the earth have been destroyed during the Tribulation, leaving only the believers and lost for the millennial reign in the nations outside of Jerusalem. If there are small children, babies, etc., it appears these are among the 25 percent or less people remaining on the earth after the Tribulation.
The gathering together of the elect (Jews) does not discount other peoples from being alive around the earth. All believers enter and live the full 1000 years. All resurrected come with Christ and reign with him. The lost, left alive from the Tribulation has a choice to accept or reject Jesus as Savior during the 1000 years. The world will be at peace as Jesus rules with an iron hand.
If a person does not accept Jesus after 100 years, he will be accursed. Both lost and saved are present in the world at the end of the millennium. Satan is then loosed, gathers all who have rejected Christ, and tries to attack Jerusalem and Jesus.
The following is a chronology of events as proposed in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:
Events of the Tribulation according to Revelation
Revelation 4:1-2 The church is mentioned 17 times in chapters 1-3, but after John (Church) is taken into heaven, the Church is not mentioned again in the rest of Revelation (Tribulation).
Daniel 9:27. The event inaugurating the Tribulation is the signing of a document by antichrist with Israel giving them permission to rebuild the Temple. From that day forward, there will be seven years of the Tribulation until Jesus returns.
Revelation 6:1-2 1I saw the Lamb open one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, come and see. 2I saw a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; a crown was given unto him: he went forth conquering, and to conquer (antichrist).
The rider of the white horse uses false peace and diplomacy to assume the role of ruler of the earth. Since the Rapture has just taken place, the antichrist deceives most on the earth. It is possible he takes credit for ridding the world of Christians (haters) and announces he is the long awaited Messiah.
Antichrist may use Islam for his purpose. Many Christians are beheaded for not bowing down to antichrist. The sword is the weapon of Islam. The pact allowing Israel to rebuild the Temple starts the Tribulation.
The Dome of the Rock sits on the site where the new Temple must be rebuilt. Islam must be part of this pact for the dome to be removed. The 7 year peace pact between antichrist and Israel is broken after the Temple is built (3 ½ years). The goal of Islam and Satan is to annihilate all Jews, Christians, and rule the world.
The antichrist enters the Temple after it is rebuilt, breaks the peace pact with Israel, sits on the High Priests seat and declares he is God (probably “Allah”). God then increases his wrath against antichrist during the last 3 ½ years. The only reason antichrist agreed to remove the Dome of the Rock was to cease control of the Temple and claim he is God.
Revelation 6:3-4 3When he opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4There went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
The second seal introduces a great world war. The presence of the Holy Ghost kept antichrist from revealing himself earlier. Ten rulers will be appointed to rule 10 territories under a one-world government. The Antichrist removes three of the leaders and takes over their power. The United States is probably not a factor anymore.
Revelation 6:5-6 5When he opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Famine and inflation follows war. This is the third seal.
Revelation 6:7-8 7When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, come and see. 8I looked, and a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
The fourth seal results in death of 25 percent of the world’s population. The 25% is about 1 1/2 billion people. With Christians raptured, this total may be less.
Revelation 6:9-11 9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10They cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11White robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants and brethren martyrs would join them.
These verses and chapter 7 highlight the 144000 Jewish witnesses and believers losing their life in martyrdom. They are believers but lose their life because of antichrist.
Revelation 6:12-17 12When he opened the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13The stars of heaven fell unto the earth…..when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
An earthquake appears of a magnitude never experienced in earth’s history. Those affected call on the rocks to fall on them.
15The kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the chief captains, the mighty men, every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17The great day of his wrath is come….
Revelation 8:1-6 1When He opened the seventh seal, there was a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. 2I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. 3Another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense to offer with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4The smoke of incense, coming from prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5The angel took the censer, filled it with fire of the altar, cast it into the earth: and there were voices, thundering, lightning, and an earthquake. 6The seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
This ends the first quarter of Tribulation and begins the “Day of His wrath” which is worse than previous judgments. There was silence in heaven, the coming wraths would be terrible, and it was a time of reflection of great magnitude. An enormous amount of mankind had not repented. God is merciful and compassionate as well as judgmental of wickedness.
Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood cast upon the earth; the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Maybe God is showing a glimpse of hell with its fire, heat, and lack of vegetation or meaningful life. God is trying to warn the wicked with these examples. God is using the most drastic measures to warn man of the terrors of hell.
Revelation 8:8-9 8The second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; the third part of the sea became blood; 9the third part of the creatures in the sea with life, died; and the third part of ships were destroyed.
We have great heat, loss of food and necessities of life. Is God pleading with the wicked to consider eternity in hell without pleasures of an abundant life? God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but his holy righteousness must deal with unrighteousness.
Revelation 8:10-11 10The third angel sounded, there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11The name of the star is Wormwood: the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
There is extreme heat and now no water to drink. Thirsty men drink the poisoned water and die. God is describes the terrors of hell and uses harsh methods to get the wicked to avoid hell. The Rich man in hell wanted someone to touch his tongue with a drop of water.
Revelation 8:12 The fourth angel sounded, the third part of the sun was smitten, the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
Hell is depicted as a lake of fire, but in total darkness. Is God continuing his warnings by giving the wicked a “little” taste of darkness? Later darkness will overtake them in another plague which will show them total darkness.
Revelation 8:13 I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhibiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
God sends an angel to the inhabitants of the earth warning that following judgments will be worse and the time for repentance will soon cease. God is providing every warning and chance to turn from their wicked ways and rejection of Christ. During this time, the two supernatural prophets and the 144000 are preaching the gospel of Christ and warning all on earth to repent and come to Christ.
Revelation 9:1-12 1The fifth angel sounded; I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth, and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2He opened the bottomless pit; there arose a smoke, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3There came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth. 4It was commanded they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5It was given they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man. 6In those days shall men seek death, shall not find it; shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7The shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared to battle; on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, their faces were as the faces of men. 8they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9They had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10They had tails like unto scorpions; there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11They had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. 12One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
Hideous demon like creatures from the abyss of hell is released on the earth. God may be showing them, face to face, the same satanic spirits they have allowed to take over their minds and bodies. The sting of sin and guilt, warfare against God’s people, lure of the lust of the flesh, etc. are similar to the traits these creatures portray.
There is darkness and the smoke of hell. There is perpetual torment in hell, but men cannot die. It still appears, God is progressively showing the wicked the torments of hell so they may avoid it.
These demon-like creatures cannot harm the righteous. Presently, fallen angels affect the wicked and lost, but the born again are sealed against their destructive power.
Revelation 9:13-21 13The sixth angel sounded, and a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14”Said to the sixth angel with a trumpet, loose the four angels bound in the river Euphrates. 15The four angels loosed were prepared for a year, month, day, and an hour to slay the third part of men. 16John saw two million horsemen,17and the horses in the vision, and the horsemen, had breastplates of fire, jacinth, and brimstone: The heads of the horses were of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire, smoke and brimstone.
18A third part of men was killed, by fire, smoke, and brimstone, issuing out of their mouths. 19Their power is in their mouth and tails; their tails were like serpents, had heads, and with them they do hurt. 20The rest of mankind not killed, did not repented that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; 21Neither repented they of murders, sorceries, fornication, nor of their thefts.
The sixth trumpet sounds the charge of the next wrath of God shown. The sixth trumpet brings 200 million demon spirits killing one-third of the remaining wicked of the earth. They had just been warned by the previous wrath. It has been estimated that 75 percent of humanity will be destroyed by the midpoint of the Tribulation (25 percent martyrs at the hand of the antichrist).
Revelation 11:3-14 3I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5If any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: If any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, shall overcome them, and kill them. 8Their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9They of the people, kindred’s, tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10They that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11After three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12They heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. They ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13The same hour was there a great earthquake, the tenth part of the city fell and in the earthquake was slain of men seven thousand, the remnant was affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14The second woe is past and the third woe cometh quickly.
We have progressed to the 3 1/2 year point of the Tribulation. The martyred saints during this time are defined in Revelation 7:14. These are the saved during the Tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white (pure) in the blood of the Lamb.
The two supernatural witnesses have now preached for 1,260 days (midpoint of the Tribulation). Moses and Elijah have completed their preaching and God allows them to be killed. After 3 days, Jesus resurrects them and they ascend into heaven. If it is Moses, he represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets. Both were with Christ at the mount of transfiguration.
Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
The most severe wrath on the earth comes next from vial judgments. These events are set in motion by the sound of the seventh trumpet. The vial judgments are recorded in chapters 12-18. Also, other prophecies are explained during the vial judgments.
Revelation 17:1-18 describes the destruction of Babylon’s false religious system; it is the great harlot. During the Tribulation, it merges all remaining religions (Christians are in heaven) into the one-world religion. This is being formulated today and only a few denominations refuse to be part of this action. Southern Baptists and Congregational Methodists reject this false one-world-religion. There may be a few others who have refused.
Many proclaim the Catholic Church as the harlot in chapter 17, but Islam has to figure in the plan somewhere. The reason I place Islam in this category, Islam’s aim is identical with Satan’s. Islam’s and Satan’s common goal is to kill all Christians, Jews, and rule the world. Once Satan uses the harlot (one-world religion), he will turn on the leaders, kill them, and dissolve the church system. Read the scripture of chapter 17, it is very interesting.
Revelation 13:1-3 1I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2The beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, his feet were as the feet of a bear, his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and seat, and great authority. 3I saw one of his heads as it was wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
The antichrist receives a deadly wound to the head. Whether it is in a battle with the false religious system or another conflict is unknown. Satan is ousted from heaven at this time and enters the body of the antichrist, resurrects him back to life, and takes over his body. The antichrist, Satan, is now more vicious than ever. Satan had been allowed the privilege to go before God and accuse the brethren up until now. He is now permanently banished from the presence of God for any purpose and, of course, is in a rage.
The new antichrist, Satan incarnate, will demand all must bow down and worship him as God. It will continue to mean death by the sword if a believer comes in contact with any of the authorities.
Revelation 13:4-10 4They worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? 5There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7It was given unto him to make war with the saints, to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindred, tongues, and nations. 8All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Revelation 16:1-2 1I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 2The first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast and upon them which worshipped his image.
Revelation 13:11-18 It is interesting reading regarding the mark of the beast and the ability to buy or sell. We buy and sell with credit cards. Technology and computers are presently in place to handle a cashless society. Implant chips are readily available. Are we near the Rapture?
Revelation 16:3 The second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. Revelation 16:4 The third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
Revelation 16:8-9 8The fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9Men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Revelation 16:10-11 10The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Hell is a place of outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.)
Revelation 16:13-16 13I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14They are spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Christ is ready to make his Glorious Appearing with all of the saints and the church. Satan gathers his forces to attack Israel.)
Revelation 16:17-21 17The seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, it is done. 18There were voices, thunders, lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. 19The great city was divided into three parts, the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20Every Island fled away and the mountains were not found. 21There fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
The seventh vial judgment destroys the entire world system and judges. The unregenerate still refuse to repent. This devastation precedes the coming of Christ to set up His earthly kingdom.
The great commercial city of Babylon is destroyed in one hour just before Jesus’ Glorious Appearing. This is ends the antichrist system and his reign on earth. The historical Babylon sits next to Baghdad and is the city of Satan. I believe Jesus has this city destroyed because he is about to set up his kingdom in Jerusalem. Babylon was the city of Nebuchadnezzar, and Sadam has inscribed on many of the buildings, Nebuchadnezzar II: Sadam.
Finally, the Tribulation is over and Jesus comes as King of kings and Lord of lords and the church comes with him. He is coming in glory and power to put a finish to Satan’s reign on earth. He will then set up the 1000-year reign on earth.
Revelation 19:11-21 11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but him. 13And he was clothed with vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
We finally come to the climax of the 6000 years time enters the 7000 year or millennium. This is not covered in normal studies of the Tribulation, but I like to touch on it a little.
We may all receive the chip implants prior to the Rapture and Tribulation, but there is no cause for alarm at this time. We are already having our checks form employers and social security electronically transferred to our accounts. We also use credit and debit cards to electronically move money out of our accounts when we buy. To sell, others would use their credit or debit cards to transfer money into our accounts.
If we are implanted with chips, we have our account information stored in a bank. We only have ID in the chip. The ID # in the chip allows us valid electronic transactions at the bank. This causes no problems with our buying and selling at present. Once the antichrist steps forward and declares he is the long awaited Messiah and God, he will demand that all bow down to him as God.
If you have declared loyalty to the antichrist, it will be noted at the bank and your transaction will be processed. If you have declared your loyalty to Christ, your account will be frozen and no transactions can take place. If you are undeclared, or denied a transaction, an officer will be at the check out immediately to arrest you.
Some of the information in this series has been paraphrased from “The Rapture” by “Tim LaHaye”. I highly recommend this book for those who would like more detailed information on “The Rapture” and “The Tribulation”.
Father Time
