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 A Ministry dedicated to preserving the truth and accuracy of the infallible Word of God. |
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| Eschatology The Study of Last Things | |
"...and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him." |
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Daniel's Seventieth Week Phases of the Tribulation Beginning with Revelation 6 there is a detailed description of what will actually take place during this Tribulation. It is divided into two periods of three and one-half years each. The last half is characterized by such great furor, chaos, and anger of God that it is known as the Great Tribulation. Such a time has never been seen upon the earth before. During this period of seven years the seals, the trumpets, and the vials will be fulfilled. In the opening of the seals God reveals how He will permit man to see his own destruction. In trying to save himself, man destroys himself. Then the trumpets are blown; here God permits Satan to come in great wrath, bringing more destruction upon the world. In the pouring out of the vials God's wrath is revealed. The Seven Seals During the Tribulation period God will permit man to come to the end of himself. But man will make an attempt to bring himself out of this particular chaotic condition, and God will permit him to try. Of course, man will turn to his only course of action--war. We have seen awful wars, but during this time wars such as the world has never yet seen will be fought. When the first seal is broken, the white horse will appear upon which the Antichrist will ride forth to conquer. Even now we see that the spirit of the Antichrist is in the communistic advances. However, the Antichrist will not be a Communist; he will be against them. In the second seal we see the red horse, which speaks of war. "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" (Rev. 6:4). That is followed by the third seal. Here we see that the black horse, which speaks of famine, will come immediately after this great war, or he may come during it. Then comes the fourth seal. The pale horse speaks of death which follows famine, war, and pestilences. In the fifth seal we see the martyred souls of those who were beneath the throne, the many who will trust Jesus Christ during the first part of the Tribulation and who will be martyred for their faith and brought into the presence of God. They will accept Him too late to be included in the Bride of Christ. In the fifth seal, as recorded in Revelation 6, God answers. Whether this answer comes immediately after the first five seals or whether it continues to the end of the time of the Great Tribulation, I am not certain. But during that time some terrible things will happen. A severe earthquake will occur; the sun will be darkened; the moon will become as blood; the stars will fall from heaven; and the sky will be swept away like a scroll that is rolled up. Every mountain and island will be removed from its place. This is God's answer to man. "The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:15-17). Between the sixth and seventh seal there is an interval of silence in heaven. "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" (Rev. 8:1). No doubt this silence came because everyone saw what was yet to come upon the earth. Possibly even the angels were frightened or awe-stricken because of the awfulness of the wrath to come upon men, the men who had defied and hated God, the men who had left Him out of their program and out of their plans, attempting to carry on in their own strength.
The Seven Trumpets
When the seventh seal is opened, the seven trumpets are blown. These trumpets reveal the judgments of which God allows Satan to bring upon man.
When the first trumpet is blown, hail and fire mingled with blood will fall upon the earth, burning one-third of the trees and the grass. In Job 2 we see how Satan operates.
When the second trumpet is blown, a burning mountain, probably a meteor, will fall into the sea and fill one-third of the sea life, wreck one-third of the ships, and cover one-third of the sea with the blood of those who are killed.
Then the third trumpet will blow, and a great star will fall, poisoning the streams and fresh water and causing death to all who drink thereof.
When the fourth trumpet blows, a third part of the sun, moon and stars will be smitten and will thus lose one-third of their light. Futher explanation of this trumpet is given in Luke 21:25,26).
When the fifth trumpet blows, the angel will announce the first woe. The bottomless pit will be opened, and locusts will appear with the sting of a scorpion to torment ungodly men. This may be some form of demon possession.
"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the
scorpions of the earth have power. 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. And to them it was given that 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 striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee
from them" (Rev. 9:3-6).
With the sixth trumpet comes the second woe. Four great angels appear at the head of a supernatural army of horsemen. The description of this is given in Revelation 9:13-21. They will slay one-third of the population of the earth with three plagues--the fire, the smoke, and the sulphur that will stream from their mouths. This is not the Battle of Armageddon, if I understand the Scriptures correctly; rather, it is a terrible war which takes place after the great plague of demon possession. What an awful, awful time this will be!
The seventh trumpet announces the wrath of God, which will come when He pours out the seven vials of His wrath (Rev. 11:18,19). More Conclusion >> |
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