April 20, 2020: What in the World is Going On? (Part 3)

A Thorough Study

While I thought this would be a somewhat brief article to write about what is going on in the world and relate it to Bible prophecy, particularly in the books of Matthew and Revelation, as I dug further into it, I realized that an in-depth study is needed. I realize most people don’t read long articles and some likely won’t read this in its entirety. However, I am hoping that there are some who are seeking the Lord and really want to know what the future holds. This article will describe chapters 6 - 11 of the Book of Revelation that tell about the seven seal judgements and the seven trumpet judgements.

Correlation Between the Books of Daniel, Jeremiah, and the Book of Revelation

Before describing the events of the 7-year tribulation period, with the last 3-1/2 years being called the “Great Tribulation,” it is important to note the correlation between the events described in Revelation and:

- Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 9:27): This is the event that starts the Great Tribulation. It is mentioned in Daniel 9:27 and by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:15. Daniel was probably one of the greatest prophets in the Bible.  Have you ever heard of “Daniel in the Lion’s Den?” That is one of the events described in the book of Daniel. Many of his prophecies were so accurate that there are secular scholars who believe the book of Daniel had been written after the events Daniel described had already happened. However, that is not true. Chapter 9 verses 20:27 describe the 70-weeks prophecy. I encourage you to read them. In verse 27, it describes the last time period in history for Israel, which is the last week of the 70 weeks. Many believe each week is referring to a 7-year period and in this case, the 70th week represents the 7-year tribulation period. At or near the start of the tribulation, the antichrist will confirm a covenant or treaty with Israel for 7 years. However, in the middle of the 7 years, or 3-1/2 years into it, the antichrist will force the Jews to stop their sacrifices and offerings in what will be the new Jewish temple since the prior two temples were destroyed and a new one has not been built yet. It says “And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate…” “Abomination” is defined by dictionary.com as “A vile, shameful, or detestable action, condition, habit, etc.” In Matthew 24:15-21, Jesus referred to what Daniel 9:27 says as the start of the Great Tribulation, “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place… For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be…”

- The Time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jeremiah 30:3-7): Jacob is the name of the man who fathered the 12 tribes of Israel, and God gave Jacob the new name of “Israel.” Thus, “Jacob’s Trouble” means “Israel’s Trouble.” The main purpose of the Great Tribulation is to bring Israel to salvation. However, all those living on earth will go through the tribulation period. Because of Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, God blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts (John 12:40 and Isaiah 6:9-10) until the fullness of the Gentiles [non-Jews] has come in (Romans 11:25). We are in a time period now known as the Times of the Gentiles. Israel as a nation has rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah and they are still looking for what they call their Messiah. Many Christians believe the Messiah that the Jews are currently waiting for will be the antichrist, as prophesied in Revelation. During this time period, non-Jews, or Gentiles, all around the world will also have the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, However, this does not mean that no Jews can accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Some have but most reject Him as Messiah. As stated by an article on gotquestions.org titled “What are the Times of the Gentiles”:

“This partial hardening of heart for Israel doesn’t preclude individual Jews from being saved, but it prevents the nation from accepting Christ as Messiah until His plans are finished. When the time is right, God will restore the entire nation, and they will come to faith in Him, once again, ending ‘the times of the Gentiles.’”

Jeremiah 30:3-7 speaks to the time period when God will bring Israel back into their land and they will be saved. On May 14, 1948, Israel became a nation again and Jews started coming back to the land after thousands of years of being scattered across the globe. Verses 5-7 speak to a time like no other, when men will act like women in labor because of pain.  This is similar to the birth pangs described by Jesus in Matthew 24. Verse 7 says “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

The Seven Seal Judgments

As I mentioned in my last article, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the only One who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seven seals, took the scroll from the right hand of God and Jesus opened the first seal. Before we get to them, you may have heard of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. This comes from the first four seal judgments since they all describe riders on horses. As a reminder, this John saw all of these things when he was caught up to heaven and in the Spirit (Holy Spirit). John would write the things down that he saw. Jumping ahead to Revelation 22:10, John was told by an angel, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.” Thus, God wants us to read this book and know what is coming and to turn to Jesus Christ, before it’s too late.

1. First Seal - The Conquerer: A rider on a white horse, who had a bow and a crown was given to him and he went out conquering and to conquer. Some believe this is Jesus Christ but I think most believe this is in fact the antichrist. He comes on a white horse to make people believe he comes in peace and imitating Christ but as one commentary on gotquestions.org states, his true intentions are shown by the fact that he carries a bow (a weapon). Notice also that the crown was given to him. I and many believe that prior to the tribulation, things will become so bad that people will cry out for someone to fix everything. In fact, we are at that point currently in the midst of this coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. On March 26, 2020, former United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown called upon world leaders to consider creating a temporary global government to fight COVID-19 and others have joined with him, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Something like this would be the first step in appointing a single person to lead the global government. This would, in effect, be giving a crown of authority to this person. When he is given that authority, he then conquers. Jesus Christ in contrast, as described in Revelation 19:11, wears many crowns and it does not say they were given to Him; rather, He has them.

2. Second Seal - Conflict on Earth: The second rider was on a fiery red horse and he had the authority to take peace from the earth and that people should kill each other and he was given a great sword.

3. Third Seal - Scarcity of Earth: The third rider was on a black horse and held a pair of scales/balances. It indicates that food would be very expensive and one could only buy a quart of wheat or three quarts of barley, the less desirable grain, for a denarius, which is a full day’s wage. It also says “do not harm [damage] the oil and the wine.” Some have interpreted this to mean the famine won’t affect the wealthy while others say that because food will be so expensive, the poor won’t be able to buy wine and oil. It may also indicate that the foods we enjoy now won’t be available and only the cheapest foods that can keep one alive will be available. As we go through this COVID-19 crisis, we are already seeing food shortages and it is expected to get worse. However, this will pale in comparison to what will happen during the tribulation period.

4. Fourth Seal - Widespread Death on Earth: The fourth rider was on a pale horse. “Pale” is translated from the Greek word chloros and can also mean green or ashen. This is similar to what a very sick or dead person would look like. Power/authority was given to kill over a fourth of the earth by sword, by hunger/famine, by plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. As of March 2020, it is estimated that the world’s population is 7.8 billion. Thus, if 25% of the population was killed, that would be nearly 2 billion - that’s billion with a “b” - people killed. Yes, we are seeing these things happen on earth today but nowhere near the scale that will happen during the tribulation.

5. Fifth Seal - Cry of the Martyrs: All believers who had been martyred/ murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ asked Jesus how long it would be until He judges and avenges their blood on those who dwell on the earth. They were told it would be a while longer until both their fellow servants and their brethren would be killed. When one first hears this, it sounds harsh and uncaring. However, this is Jesus giving everyone the final opportunity to repent and turn to Him before He executes His final wrath on all who hate Him and who hate those who love Him. In our world currently and during the tribulation, Christians will be killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. As my first article mentioned, persecution of Christians is growing at an alarming rate. Christians, including women and young children, have been beheaded, set on fire, kneaded to death by being placed in a bread machine, and have been subjected to other atrocities by ISIS , Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups. Most recently here in the United States, on March 27, 2020, New York Times reporter Katherine Stewart wrote an op-ed that blamed evangelical Christians for crippling the United States’ coronavirus response. And, we see church members being singled out and fined $500 for driving to their churches, and listening to the online services in their cars with their windows rolled up. It is not a stretch to imagine what people who hate God will do to Christians when the world is going through the tribulation and Great tribulation.

6. Sixth Seal - Cosmic Disturbances: There was a great earthquake, the sun became black and the moon became like blood. The stars fell to the earth, the sky receded like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of its place. Everyone on earth - rich and poor, free and slave - hid themselves in caves and in the rocks of mountains, crying out to be saved from Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. They said, “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” How many people have purchased “bug-out homes” and so-called disaster-proof homes and will flee to them during this time on earth?

   Before the seventh seal is opened, two things happen:

   - The Sealed of Israel: Before the four angels who have the power to harm the earth, sea, and the trees could release that power, they were told by another angel not to do so until they sealed the servants of God on their foreheads, 12,000 of each of the 12 tribes of Israel will be sealed: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

   - Tribulation Saints: John then looked forward after the Great Tribulation and saw many, many people who would become believers in Christ during the Great Tribulation and would have to die for their faith in Him. They would be “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” and they are before the throne of God, where they will never hunger or thirst anymore “and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

7. Seventh Seal - Prelude to the Seven Trumpets: When Jesus opened the final seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. John saw seven angels standing before God and they were given seven trumpets. There was smoke from incense with the prayers of the saints (believers), and the smoke ascended before God. An angel took a golden censer, filled it with fire, and threw it to the earth. Then there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake and the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared them to sound.

The Seven Trumpet Judgements

1. First Trumpet - Vegetation Struck: Hail and fire, mingled with blood, were thrown to the earth and a third of the all trees and all green grass was burned up.

2. Second Trumpet - Seas Struck: Something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown to the sea and third of the sea became blood and a third of all sea creatures died and a third of the ships were destroyed.

3. Third Trumpet - Waters Struck: A great star called Wormwood fell from heaven and a third of the rivers and springs became wormwood. Many men died from the water because it was made bitter. Can you imagine how people will react to this, given the current outcry about climate change? As they will see, God controls the climate.

4. Fourth Trumpet - Heavens Struck: A third of the sun, moon, and stars were darkened and a third of the day and night did not shine. Imagine what this will do to the food supply when crops have less daylight in which to grow. An angel cried “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

5. Fifth Trumpet - Locusts from the Bottomless Pit: An angel opened up the bottomless pit and smoke arose out of it like a great furnace. Out of the smoke locusts came up that were shaped like horses ready for battle, with the faces of men, hair like women’s hair, and teeth like lions’. They had on armor and made loud sounds with their wings. They were commanded not to harm the grass or any green thing or tree but only those men not sealed with the seal of God on their foreheads. They could not kill them but only torment them for five months and the torment was like a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days, men shall seek death and not find it; they will desire to die and not be able to. A king led them who is named Abaddon (Destruction) in Hebrew and Apollyon (destroyer) in Greek.

6. Sixth Trumpet - Angels from the Euphrates: The four angels who were bound at the Euphrates River and had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. There is an army of 200 million armored horsemen and they killed a third of mankind by fire, smoke, and brimstone that came out of their mouths. Their power was in their mouths and in their tails, which are like serpents. Those people not killed by them did not repent of worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood which can neither see nor hear nor walk. They did not repent of their murders, drugs, sexual immorality, or thefts. Can you imagine, after having seen all these things happen, that they wouldn’t repent and turn to Jesus but instead, they continue to reject Him and worship false gods instead and continue in their sin?

   - The Mighty Angel with the Little Book: Before the seventh trumpet is sounded, John saw a mighty angel coming down from heaven and was clothed with a cloud. The angel had a little book open in his hand. He had one foot on the sea and one foot on land and when the angel spoke, it was like a lion roaring. When the angel cried out, seven thunders spoke and John was about to write down what they spoke. But a voice from heaven told him to seal up the things that were spoken and do not write them. Then the mighty angel raised his right hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever that there should not be anymore delays and when the seventh angel would sound his trumpet, the mystery of God would be finished.

   - John Eats the Little Book: John was then told to go and take and eat the little book. It would make his stomach bitter but it would be sweet as honey in his mouth. John ate it and it was as the angel said. Then the angel said, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

   - The Two Witnesses: John was then given a measuring rod and was told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and all who worship there but to leave out the outside court as it had been given to the Gentiles (non-Jews). The Gentiles would tread the holy city for 3-1/2 years. The angel said he would give power to his two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 (3-1/2 years) and they would be clothed in sackcloth [defined per dictionary.com: coarse cloth worn as a sign of mourning or penitence]. If anyone sought to harm them, fire would come out of the two witnesses’ mouths and devour them. The witnesses had the power to prevent rain from falling, to turn water to blood, and strike the earth with plagues as often as they desired.

   After they had finished their 3-1/2 years of prophesying, the Bible says the beast, which likely is the antichrist, will come out of the bottomless pit and kill them. Their dead bodies will lie in the street of Jerusalem for 3-1/2 days as no one is allowed to put them into graves. Revelation 11:9 says “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days.” People will celebrate their death and give gifts to one another “because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.” Not until communication satellites could the entire earth watch something live on TV, or more recently on the internet. Thus, this is yet another Biblical event that shows we are closer than ever before to the events happening in Revelation. After 3-1/2 days of lying dead, the breath of life from God will enter the two witnesses and they will stand to their feet. Everyone who sees them will be filled with great fear. A loud voice from heaven will call them up to heaven and they will ascend to heaven in a cloud. In the same hour, there will be great earthquake and 7,000 people will be killed. The rest in the city will be afraid and give glory to God. I find it very interesting that on August 4, 2019, the Israeli navy and 10 foreign navies took part in an exercise that simulated an earthquake that would kill 7,000.

7. Seventh Trumpet - The Kingdom Proclaimed: The seventh angel and loud voices in heaven proclaimed, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” The 24 elders who sat before God and on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

“The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of His covenant was seen in it, and there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

My Next Article

Lord willing, my plans are that the next article will cover Revelation chapters 12 - 16. These chapters talk about the nation and persecution of Israel; Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet; the 144,000 sealed of Israel; the events leading up to the seven bowl judgements; and finally the seven bowl judgements.