Dr. Johnson. Org
The
Tribulation
This is the 7yr. Period following
"Rapture" during which the Antichrist rules the world. The first 31/2
yr period is of "lesser tribulation" The latter 31/2 yr period is of
"great tribulation."
The Bible speaks at length about the
"Tribulation" in Revelation, Matthew and other books. It is a period
of great distress. Born again believers escape this holocaust as they would
have been caught up with Christ during Rapture. People can still be saved
during the Tribulation but it will be very difficult because going against the
Antichrist would means death.
Rev. 6 and the chapters after that give a detailed
picture of things occur during the tribulation. In Revelation 5:7 and 6:1 we
read about the Lamb of Jesus Christ taking the book out of the right hand of
God and breaking the seven seals.
When he opens the 1st seal, the tribulation drama
upholds with the rise of the Antichrist, right after the "Rapture".He
is the rider on a white horse (Revelation 6:2)
When He opens the 2nd seal there comes forth another
horse that is red. (Revelation 6:4) This means "wars" Many thousands
will die in these wars.
When he opens the 3rd seal there comes forth a black
horse. Verse 5&6 of Revelation 6 speak really about, "famines"
that will strike the whole world after the wars.
When Christ opens the 4th seal, John sees a pale
horse and its rider is "Death", and "Hell" follows him.
Verse 8 of Revelation 6 again speaks of famines and pestilences, or murders and
killing by beasts.
Revelation 6:9,10,11 say,
"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw
under the altar the sould of them that were slain for the word of God, and for
the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou you not judge and avenge our blood on
them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to them and it was
said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should
be fulfilled."
Here we read of the souls that have been martyred
for Christ in the first 3 1/2 yrs of
the tribulation crying to God for justice to be done to them and they are told
to rest for a while till the martyrs of the great tribulation. i.e. last 3
1/2 yrs. too are gathered.
When the Lamb opens the 6th seal (Revelation
An earthquake, the sun is darkened,the moon is
affected, the stars fall, many people understand that the wrath of the Lord has
come and they try to hide from Him and His wrath.
In Revelation 7 we read of an angel of God having
the seal of the living God, sealing 1,44,000 Jews; 12,000 each from all the
tribes of the children of
Also in Revelation 7: 9-17 we read about all the
tribulation saints (all who have been matryred for Christ during the
tribulation) standing before the throne and before the Lamb. v. 15,16,17 speak
of their future. "Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve
him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwelll
among them. They shall hunger no more,neither thirst any more neither shall the
sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
In Revelation 8:1 we read,
"And when he had opened the seventh seal there
was silence in heaven about the spece of half an hour."
Why there was silence is not said; possibly the
preparation of the 7 trumpets.
In Revelation 8 we read about the 7 angels standing
before God and they are given 7 trumpets (Revelation 8:2)
In Revelation 8:3-5 we read of another angel having
a golden censer and filling it with fire and throwing it on the earth and there
was thunder, lightning and an earthquake. All these also result in death of
many.
When the 7 trumpets are blown, great catastrophies
occur.
When the 1st angel sounded, as is recorded in
Revelation 8:7, hail & fire mingled with blood is cast upon the earth and a
third part of trees and all green grass is burnt up.
When the 2nd trumpet is sounded a great burning
mountain is thrown into the sea and a third part of sea creatures and ships are
destroyed. (Revelation 8:8,9)
When the 3rd trumpet is sounded, a burning star
called wormwood falls on 1/3 rd of the rivers and foundations of water and
poison them and many die because of drinking these waters (Revelation
When the 4th trumpert is sounded, 1/3 rd parts of
the sun, moon and stars are struck so 1/3 of the day and night have no light as
those parts affected are darkened (Revelation
The 5th trumpet also brings judgement on the
remaining inhabitants of the earth for when the 5th angel sounded, an
angel. i. e. the star of Revelation 9:1
opens the bottomless pit from which locusts come upon the earth.
These are not ordinary locusts but creatures that
will look exactly as described in Revelation 9:7-10
-shaped as horses
-crowns of gold on their heads
-face like men
-hair as of women
-teeth as of lions
-breasplates of iron
-with wings
-tails like scorpions
which sting
They are told to torment and hurt but not to kill,
for 5 months.
Also they are commanded not to hurt grass or trees
or any green thing and not to touch any person with the seal of the living God.
These locusts have a King over them called "Apollyon" or
"Abaddon" who is the angel of the bottomless pit.
When the 6th trumpet is sounded, a voice from the
golden altar which is before God tells
the 6th angel to loose 4 fallen angels who are bound
in the river
Revelation 11 speaks of 2 witnesses sent by God to
prophesy to the Jews for 1260 days. If any one tries to hurt them during the
days of their prophesy, fire comes out of their mouths and devours their
enemies. God gives them unique powers during those days.
The identity of one of these witness is revealed
clearly in Malachi 4:5. Here it says "Behold I will send you Elijah the
prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord."
The other one most probably would be Enoch, for he
is the only other human in the Bible to be translated without death before the
Rapture.
After 1260 days these 2 witnesses are killed and all
the unbelievers rejoice for 31/2 days,then the spirit of life from God enters
them wnd they become alive and are taken upto heaven in a cloud.
When the 7th angel sounded, many events occurred.
The 24 elders fell on their faces and worshipped
God;the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of the testament was
seen and lightning, thunder, an earthquake and a hailstorm occurred (Revelation
11:19); there was war in heaven and Michael and his angels fought against satan
and his angels and satan was cast out in to the earth. (Revelation 12:7-9)
Then in Revelation 15, we see the grand finale of
God's fury being readied; the 7 angels having the 7 last pagues. (Revelation
15:1)
In Revelation 16, each of the angels pour out the
vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. When the 1st angel poured out his
vial, all of Antichrist's worshippers were inflicted with grevious sores
(Revelation 16:2)
Then the 2nd angel poured his vial on the rivers and
fountains of water and they became blood. (Revelation 16:4)
The 4th angel poured his vial on the sun and the sun
scorched men with fire (Revelation 16:8)
The 5th angel poured his vial on the Kingdom of the
Antichrist and there was total darkness(Revelation
The 6th angel poured his vial on the
The 7th angel poured his vial into the air and there
were thunders, lightning and the greatest earthquake that has ever occurred;
and there was a great hail from heaven, every stone weighing more than 100
pounds and men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail. (Revelation
16:17-21)
The events of the 7th vial continues with the
destruction of literal Babylon culminating with the 2nd coming of Christ and
the battle at Armageddon; Jesus Christ destroying Antichrist and his armies and
setting up the millennial Kingdom i.e. the 1000 year reign of Christ of earth.
Just think of it dear friend! Would you prefer to
ascend with Christ during Rapture and be in heaven forever or subject yourself
to the trying times during the tribulation. Wars; famines, persecution,
earthquakes, hailstorms, pestiIences and many more catastrophies are soon
coming upon our world.
How often we are troubled by little sicknessess and
we despair. Think of the cruel realities that you have just read. During the
famines for want of food people will eat their own flesh and even kill others
for food and water. If you are wise you would give yourself to Christ and
ascend with Him during Rapture.
Break your rock like heart today. A broken spirit is
what Jesus appreciates. That's why he says "Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for their's is the kingdon of heaven." (Mathew 5:3)
If you are unsaved, consider His call today. You'll
never regret it.
"The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear
him, in those that hope in his mercy. (Psalm 147:11)
"Harden not your heart, as in the provocation,
and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness. (Psalm 95:8)