END TIMES OF THE WORLD

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God reveals through His servants, the prophets, that He has a very special book. This is currently an open book containing a registry of names. God deems very precious the individuals whose names are being recorded in it.
This unique book was not made with human hands. Instead, it exists in the heavenly realm. It belongs to Jesus Christ and is called “the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27). To have one’s name written in this book means that one is considered righteous before God and will inherit eternal life provided he or she remains faithful to the end (Revelation 3:5). To have one’s name blotted out of this book signifies a fate of eternal death (Revelation 3:5; 20:15).
The first mention of this Book of Life is when Moses offered to have his name erased from it. Speaking to God, Moses said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Exodus 32:31-32).
God replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book” (verse 33). As noble as Moses’ intentions may have been to protect his fellow Israelites from God’s wrath, God will not negotiate with people’s salvation in this way.

Who is currently in the Book of Life?

The Book of Life contains the names of those who have been spiritually converted and who have dedicated their lives to the service of God. Like other servants of God, Moses understood that his name was already written in the Book of Life (Exodus 32:31-32).
Jesus said that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets will be in the Kingdom of God, so their names are certainly in the Book of Life (Luke 13:28). Jesus further told His disciples to “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). The apostle Paul wrote a letter citing the names of a few faithful brethren alive at the time “whose names are written in the Book of Life” (Philippians 4:3).
What members of the true Church of God have in common with the patriarchs and prophets of old is that they all share the same gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:21). Having God’s Holy Spirit is the key to being granted eternal life in the Kingdom of God (Romans 8:9, 11). Those who will be in God’s Kingdom will have their names in the Book of Life (Malachi 3:16-17).

Can a name be erased from the Book of Life?

God was very clear that a person’s name can be removed from the Book of Life: “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book” (Exodus 32:33).
At the end of the book of Revelation, a warning stands as a guard defending God’s truth. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life” (Revelation 22:18-19).
In the last days, there will be a global resurgence of a false religious system. God says this system of worship of a man will be synonymous with worshipping Satan the devil (Revelation 13:4). The deception will be so great that “all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (verse 8).
Only those who resist participating in this system of worship will be rewarded for their victory over Satan (Revelation 15:2; 17:8; 20:4). See our article “What Is Babylon?” to better understand this false system.

A promise to the faithful

The prophet Daniel, while being given a vision of “a time of trouble” at the end of the age, was told: “At that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book [of life]” (Daniel 12:1).
The apostle John was given a vision even farther into the future of “the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:10). It was revealed to John that “there shall by no means enter it [the holy city] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (verse 27).
The prophet Malachi was given a message of correction and warning for God’s wayward people, the Israelites. God still loved His people, though they had strayed from His laws; but He now demanded honor, faithfulness and obedience from them.
God then inspired Malachi to share a wonderful promise of hope. God would grant to those who fear Him the reward of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. They would be identified in a registry called a “book of remembrance” (Malachi 3:16).
This “book of remembrance” is a reference to the Book of Life. As Malachi noted: “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him’” (Malachi 3:16-17).
This fear of the Lord that Malachi spoke of is a healthy respect and love for God. To fear God and to keep His commandments is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). To love God is to keep His commandments (1 John 2:5; 5:3).
God remembers the faithful deeds of “those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name” (Malachi 3:16). This means their godly conversations with each other are being listened to intently, and every act of kindness and mercy is being noted (Matthew 10:42; 25:34-40). To those who care for the needs of others, we’re reminded, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name” (Hebrews 6:10).

What else does God keep a record of?

Even the struggles of trying to live a godly life against hardship and temptation appear to be recorded in heaven. David, who was destined to be Israel’s next king, asked God to remember his suffering during a low point in his life when he was surrounded by enemies. He said, “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8).
Nehemiah may have been making reference to a heavenly record as he prayed: “Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its services!” (Nehemiah 13:14).

Is there also a record of men’s sins in heaven?

The simple truth is that we will be judged for what we do (Isaiah 66:15-16; Romans 1:18-32). Solomon said, “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
Jesus Christ, after His return and during His judgment of mankind, “will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5). While here on earth, Jesus also said, “I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
While the scriptures we have just seen do not necessarily imply that there is a written record of men’s sins, the reality is that God knows everything we do. And because God has perfect memory, there is indeed a record.
Thankfully, there is a way to have our sins blotted out and remembered no more by God (Hebrews 8:12). This forgiveness is made possible by Jesus Christ paying our death penalty for us, if we repent and accept it.
Through the prophet Ezekiel, God says, “Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die” (Ezekiel 18:27-28). When a wicked man repents of his sins, “none of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him” (verse 22).
When people repent, God also declares through the prophet Isaiah: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). For more understanding on this subject, see the article “Judgment of God: The Real Story.”

The basis of God’s judgment

The prophet Daniel, describing the vision he was given of God’s throne room where judgment takes place, said: “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated. … The court was seated, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9-10).
The apostle John was also given a vision of God’s future judgment. John recounted: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened” (Revelation 20:11-12).
These books represent the books of the Bible, which contain God’s law—the standard by which everyone’s deeds will be judged. “And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (verse 12).
John, still recounting his vision, then explained that an additional book was opened: “And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life” (verse 12). When the process of judgment is finished, the record of names will be examined and “anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (verse 15).

When is a name entered into the Book of Life?

The apostle Paul explains that the initial step toward salvation is for a person to believe the gospel message of Jesus Christ. “In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14, Revised Standard Version).
Upon receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, at that moment a person is begotten into the spiritual family of God (Romans 8:14, 16). When a believer receives the Holy Spirit, the seal of promise, he or she joins the “general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23). Thus, a person’s name is entered into the Book of Life.

What must I do to have my name in the Book of Life?

For God to record our names in the Book of Life, we must repent of our sins, be baptized and become spiritually converted. Water baptism symbolizes one’s lifelong commitment to follow God’s way of life (Acts 2:38).
Jesus told His followers, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:27). Why is it so important for us to do this?
Jesus Christ declares, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5).

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The wrath is initiated when the 7th seal is opened and the seven trumpets of revelation are sounded. “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.” – Revelation 8:2
The seven trumpets of Revelation are seven horrible judgments that will impact Earth during the great tribulation. These judgments will devastate the ecosystems of this planet so completely that Earth will not be able to recover. The book of Revelation describes these judgments as “seven trumpets” because a trumpet will sound in Heaven’s temple each time a judgment occurs. The first four trumpets will occur in rapid succession. These four judgments will be so catastrophic that they will sever the past from the future. Life for everyone on Earth will dramatically change once these events begin. Thousands of cities will be destroyed by fire and water. Twenty-five percent of the world’s population will die during the first few weeks, and global infrastructures such as communication, travel, banking, manufacturing, and shipping will all but disappear. God’s judgments will impose great tribulation on everyone. The first four trumpets will cause the whole world to relate to God in a way that is presently unimaginable.
The “full cup principle” is a prerequisite to the study of the seven trumpets. The “full cup principle” is a policy that God consistently uses to manage groups of people. A group of people can be cities like Sodom and Gomorrah, a nation like Israel, a world empire like Medo-Persia, or even the whole world, as in Noah’s day. This principle is fairly easy to understand. When the majority of a group becomes so degenerate and defiant that extended mercy has no redeeming effect, God reveals His love for the innocent victims of sin and future generations. He responds to the current generation by sending warnings and redemptive judgments, so that if possible, His wayward subjects will change course. If His warnings are ignored and His redemptive judgments do not produce repentance and reformation, God destroys that group by sending totally destructive judgments. This principle explains the appearance and disappearance of civilizations. The full cup principle is found throughout the Bible. For example, God destroyed the world with a flood in Noah’s day, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham’s day, God collapsed the walls of Jericho for Joshua, God destroyed two-thirds of Israel and sent the remainder into Babylonian captivity (605-536 B.C.), and finally, God sent the Romans to destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. God will soon apply the “full cup principle” again to the whole world as He did in Noah’s day. The seven trumpets will be redemptive judgments (seven first plagues) and then the seven bowls (seven last plagues) will be totally destructive.

TRUMPET 1:

The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:7)
Hail and fire will be thrown to the earth. Fires will be ignited all around the world and 1/3 of the trees and forests will be burned up. All the green fields, crops and grass will be burned up. This devastation may be caused by meteors that rain down on earth. Volcanoes may begin erupting.

TRUMPET 2:

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)
Something like a great mountain burning with fire is thrown into the sea. 1/3 of the sea will become like blood and 1/3 of the creatures in the sea will die. 1/3 of the ships on the sea will be destroyed. This will include cruise ships, freight ships, fishing boats and pleasure boats. This great mountain may be an asteroid that bursts into flame as it plummets through the earth’s atmosphere. It then plunges into the ocean at the speed of 50,000 miles per hour.

TRUMPET 3:

The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water – the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11)
A giant star drops from the sky, blazing like a torch. It falls on 1/3 of the rivers and on the springs of water. 1/3 of the fresh water on earth becomes bitter. Many people drink the poisoned water and die. This giant star may be another asteroid.

TRUMPET 4:

The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.(Revelation 8:12)
1/3 of the sun, moon and stars are darkened. Both the day and the night are affected. The smoke and ejecta from the first three trumpets will darken the air and the sky.
The first four trumpets will destroy buildings, roads, and bridges. Communication and transportation systems will be badly crippled. Our food crops will be destroyed and clean water will be scarce.
People will be terrified and will be asking if God is angry with us. Their minds have been opened to hear the gospel of the kingdom. They will have a desire to know more about God and to be saved from the destruction ravaging the world.
As horrible as the first four trumpets are, they are nothing compared to trumpets 5, 6 and 7. The last three trumpets are called woes because their devastation is so overwhelming.

TRUMPET 5:

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (Revelation 9:1-6)
Next an angel, also referred to as a star, is seen with the key to a bottomless pit inside the earth, called the Abyss. This angel releases demons that were trapped inside the Abyss for thousands of years. This demonic attack warns unrepentant people of what hell will be like. Locus normally attack crops, but these locusts have power to sting like scorpions. These locusts only attack people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. People will suffer so badly they desire to die, but are unable. A foretaste of hell, where people will long to die, but death will elude them.

TRUMPET 6:

The sixth angel sounded his trumpet and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number. (Revelation 9:13-16)
The Euphrates River (modern day Iraq) has significance all through the Bible.The first sin was committed here.The first murder took place here.The first rebellion against God took place here.Nimrod, the father of idolatry built a blasphemous tower in Babylon here.
It is very important to understand that the approaching 6th Trumpet War is NOT the “battle of Armageddon,” even though it is going to be a terrible war. The battle of Armageddon happens at the very end at the time of the 7th Trumpet which is the day of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Many will mistake the 6th Trumpet War for Armageddon and will be deceived into believing that the Antichrist who will appear as the “peacemaker and savior of mankind” after this terrible war is the “second coming of Christ” in a man. Some will even use this misunderstanding of Bible prophecy to convince people and even some Christians that Jesus has come in a man to save us from total annihilation. That is why the true Jesus Christ warned us in the Bible,“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:21-27).
It is interesting to note that this coming 6th Trumpet War (that kills one third of mankind) starts after four fallen angels that have been bound for thousands of years in the Euphrates River are loosed.
Sadly, many people will not be right with God through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ when the sudden destruction of this war begins. And that includes many backslidden and lukewarm Christians who refuse to get out of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness, partying, and loving the world. Many will find themselves in hell because they listened to the lying false teachers who told them they were “eternally secure” no matter how they lived. The day the 6th Trumpet War begins hell will enlarge itself to receive millions of sinners and backslidden Christians who have not turned from sin and developed a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible.
As I stated before, the Bible foretold almost 2,000 years ago that this war would start in the region of the Euphrates River. And it just so happens that the Euphrates River starts in Turkey and then flows all the way through Syria, Iraq, and finally touches Iran for about fifty miles before it empties into the Persian Gulf. The one thing all four of those countries have in common is that they are all over 90% Muslim. So, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that the civil war in Syria, ISIS, Russian troops in Syria, Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon to wipe Israel off the map, and Obama’s bad deal with Iran is about to bring about this devastating war that was foretold in the Word of God.
I say “devastating war” because the Bible also reveals to us that this coming war in the Middle East will include the release of nuclear weapons. We know this because Isaiah 17 tells us that Damascus, Syria will be turned into a heap of ruins in one evening by the children of Israel. The city of Damascus, Syria has never been destroyed so the prophecy of Isaiah 17 has yet to be fulfilled. Another prophesy in Jeremiah 49 speaks about God destroying Elam in the last days. When you lookup where Elam was located, you find that it is a region on the Persian Gulf in the country of Iran. It just happens to be the same location as Iran’s first nuclear power plant, Bushehr I. The reactor was completed with major assistance from the Russian government agency Rosatom and officially opened on September 12, 2011. This reactor will no doubt be one of Israel’s targets when they move to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. So, when you add all of this together with the attack prophesied in Ezekiel 38 by a group of Muslim nations and their subsequent annihilation, there is no doubt Israel will have to use their nuclear missiles to protect themselves.
And just like World War I gave us the League of Nations (that ultimately failed), and World War II gave us the United Nations (another dismal failure), the devastation and death that will be caused by this 6th Trumpet War will pave the way for the United Nations to become the BEAST one-world government. The economic upheaval and massive loss of life will set the stage for the Antichrist to rise to power. He and the empowered UN will promise peace and security. They will move to disarm all nations and Israel will be hated even more than they already are for trying to defend itself against the Muslim nations. This will pave the way for the new economic and tracking system the Bible foretold as “the mark of the Beast.” That mark will be mandatory for all buying and selling. Those who resist will be looked at as a threat to humanity and the New World Order. They will be persecuted and even executed for not pledging allegiance to the new system by taking the chip in their hand or forehead. But the Bible has warned that anyone who takes the mark or submits to the Antichrist and his beast world government will be damned to hell forever. To God, taking the mark of the Beast is a final denial of Jesus Christ and His Word (see Revelation 13-14).

TRUMPET 7

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.”16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.18 The nations were angry,and your wrath has come.The time has come for judging the dead,and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
There is a second worldwide earthquake. It is accompanied by noises, thunder and lightning. There is also a great hailstorm. The kingdom of this world is given to Jesus and He will reign as King of kings forever. The door of mercy in heaven is shut. Human probation ends. People can no longer be converted to Jesus and choose to serve Him. Every person will continue to worship the master he has chosen, either Jesus or Satan.
Just before the first trumpet sounds, 144,000 servants of God will be sealed. During the first six trumpets they will give a clear, powerful presentation of the gospel to the whole world. Jesus will be revealed as a complete Savior. The 144,000 will present the everlasting gospel under the power of the Holy Spirit. During the chaos and destruction of the trumpets the earth will be lightened with the glory of the God of heaven.

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The seven seals, trumpets, and bowls depicted in the book of Revelation represent the final judgments of God that are poured out on an unbelieving world in the end times.The fifth chapter of the book of Revelation shows a scroll being presented to Christ in heaven. This scroll has seven seals, indicating things that will occur before and during Christ’s second coming.
The opening of the first four seals brings four angels riding horses; these are commonly referred to as the “four horsemen of the apocalypse.” People on earth cannot see these angels or their horses.The word apocalypse comes from the Greek word apokalupsis, meaning “disclosure” or “revelation.” So the phrase “the four horsemen of the Apocalypse” means the four horsemen of the book of Revelation.

First seal—a white horse

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (Revelation 6:1-2)
Who is the “Rider” upon this White Horse? He is not Christ, as some claim, for Christ, as the LAMB, is holding the “Seven Sealed Book” and breaking its “Seals.” Christ does not appear as a White Horse Rider until chapter 19:11-16, when He comes with the armies of Heaven to engage in the Battle of Armageddon.
In other words this White Horse Rider is the ANTICHRIST. He is the “PRINCE WHO IS TO COME” of Daniel’s Vision of the “Seventy Weeks,” and who will confirm the Covenant for “ONE WEEK,” the last or “Seventieth Week,” with Daniel’s people the Jews. Dan. 9:27. And Scriptures clearly teach that there is some day to arise a human being who shall be the embodiment of all Satanic power. He will be known as the “WILFUL KING” because he shall do according to his own will. He will be the Czar of Czars. He will have no respect for sacred things or places. He will cause a throne to be erected in the Most Holy Place of a Temple that the Jews will build at Jerusalem, and, seating himself upon it, he will proclaim himself God, and men will be commanded to worship him; and Satan will give unto him his power and his seat (Throne) and great authority.

Second seal—a red horse

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. (Revelation 6:3-4)
The Spirit of WAR is the second angel entering the world scene. War is a common response to the aggression that accompanies a spirit of conquest—as seen coming from the first seal. This angel rides a red horse.The red horse may symbolize the color of blood (red) and it was allowed to send war and take peace away from the earth. Jesus taught concerning this time, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” He then described the starvation that is depicted in the next Seal, “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:6-7)

Third seal—a black horse

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:5-6)
The Spirit of FAMINE causes a catastrophic food shortage. Wheat and barley are basic food requirements; people are paying their entire salary to feed themselves.

Fourth seal—a pale horse

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)
The Spirit of DEATH, with authority to kill … over a fourth of the earth comes forward. This fourth angel is “Death.” This angel rides a pale horse—the color attributed to a person near death. Many people will die because of plague or pestilence, a possible reference to disease-causing microorganisms, which are increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatment. This also could be a reference to biological warfare.

Fifth Seal – The Call for Justice

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. (Revelation 6: 12-17)
Those in heaven see the release of the four horsemen, and know this event signals the start of the end-times. The martyrs ask, “How long … until you judge those who murdered us?” The martyrs are told to wait patiently until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. In other words, there are still more believers to be martyred. Just as Israel poured the blood of sacrificed animal at the base of the altar (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7), in a similar manner, the souls of sacrificed martyrs were under the altar in heaven.

Sixth seal—cosmic disturbances

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17)
The spilling of innocent blood has stained the earth blood red. The people on earth soon see another planet that appears covered with blood, the moon. When the sun is blotted out (turned black) during a lunar eclipse, the moon really does turn a blood red color. The moon turns a metallic red resembling the color of iron in blood. At that time, the entire world, to include every mountain and island, shakes. (Revelation 6:14) This event is punctuated by a worldwide earthquake, likely caused by meteorites slamming into earth, one after another, similar to how figs drop to the ground from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
These events should shake the world to its senses. God wants people to confess sin—repent—and turn to him. Even unbelievers will know that scripture foretold this event. People will also know that this event precedes the outpouring of God’s wrath.

The seventh seal—the wrath and mercy of God

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them” (Rev 8:1-2).
And the seventh seal contained the seven trumpets as we read “Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them” (Rev 8:6) and these are seven judgments for the earth’s inhabitants (Rev 7:13) that are poured out on all who have not yet been sealed (or saved) by God (Rev 7:2-3; 9:4).

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The Tribulation is a future time period when the Lord will accomplish at least two aspects of His plan: 1) He will complete His discipline of the nation Israel (Daniel 9:24), and 2) He will judge the unbelieving, godless inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 6 – 18). The length of the Tribulation is seven years. This is determined by an understanding of the seventy weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27; also see the article on the Tribulation). The Great Tribulation is the last half of the Tribulation period, three and one-half years in length. It is distinguished from the Tribulation period because the Beast, or Antichrist, will be revealed, and the wrath of God will greatly intensify during this time. Thus, it is important at this point to emphasize that the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation are not synonymous terms. Within eschatology (the study of future things), the Tribulation refers to the full seven-year period while the “Great Tribulation” refers to the second half of the Tribulation.
It is Christ Himself who used the phrase “Great Tribulation” with reference to the last half of the Tribulation. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus says, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.” In this verse Jesus is referring to the event of Matthew 24:15, which describes the revealing of the abomination of desolation, the man also known as the Antichrist. Also, Jesus in Matthew 24:29-30 states, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.” In this passage, Jesus defines the Great Tribulation (v.21) as beginning with the revealing of the abomination of desolation (v.15) and ending with Christ’s second coming (v.30).
Other passages that refer to the Great Tribulation are Daniel 12:1b, which says, “And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.” It seems that Jesus was quoting this verse when He spoke the words recorded in Matthew 24:21. Also referring to the Great Tribulation is Jeremiah 30:7, “Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.” The phrase “Jacob’s distress” refers to the nation of Israel, which will experience persecution and natural disasters such as have never before been seen.
Considering the information Christ gave us in Matthew 24:15-30, it is easy to conclude that the beginning of the Great Tribulation has much to do with the abomination of desolation, an action of the Antichrist. In Daniel 9:26-27, we find that this man will make a “covenant” (a peace pact) with the world for seven years (one “week”; again, see the article on the Tribulation). Halfway through the seven-year period—”in the middle of the week”—we are told this man will break the covenant he made, stopping sacrifice and grain offering, which specifically refers to his actions in the rebuilt temple of the future. Revelation 13:1-10 gives even more detail concerning the Beast’s actions, and just as important, it also verifies the length of time he will be in power. Revelation 13:5 says he will be in power for 42 months, which is three and one-half years, the length of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation offers us the most information about the Great Tribulation. From Revelation 13 when the Beast is revealed until Christ returns in Revelation 19, we are given a picture of God’s wrath on the earth because of unbelief and rebellion (Revelation 16-18). It is also a picture of how God disciplines and at the same time protects His people Israel (Revelation 14:1-5) until He keeps His promise to Israel by establishing an earthly kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).

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Much of the popular imagery of heaven actually comes from Revelation 21, where we find the most extensive description of New Jerusalem in the Bible. However, as we will see, what the Bible describes is quite different from the popular view—and is much more exciting!
In addition to the many prophecies in the Old Testament showing that God will transform and elevate the current city of Jerusalem into the capital city of the earth after Christ’s return (see, for instance, Joel chapters 2 and 3 and Zechariah chapters 12 and 14), passages in the New Testament explain that there is another Jerusalem being prepared for God’s people.
Hebrews 12:22 refers to it as “heavenly Jerusalem” and Revelation 3:12 identifies it as “New Jerusalem.” The Old Testament patriarch Abraham anticipated dwelling in this city. As Hebrews 11:10 notes, Abraham “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
It is vitally important to understand that Revelation 21 teaches us that New Jerusalem is a very real city that will actually come down to this earth in the future. It is not simply an imaginary reward for Christians. Furthermore, Revelation 21 is not a description of heaven itself or of anyone going to heaven. In fact, the Bible clearly states that humans do not go to heaven upon their death (John 3:13; 7:34; 8:22; 13:33; Acts 2:34).

Background of New Jerusalem

The time setting for Revelation 21, where we read most extensively about New Jerusalem, is quite different from today’s world. In brief summary, by the time we come to Revelation 21, this present evil world will have come and gone, Jesus Christ will have come down to the earth to set up God’s Kingdom and He will have reigned upon the earth for 1,000 years—a period of time commonly called the “Millennium.”
After the Millennium, the vast majority of all humans who have ever lived and died through human history will be resurrected to live another physical lifetime (still on earth)—except this time without Satan present and with the truth of God and eternal life offered to everyone. Christ will be the King over the whole earth. This time period is known as the “great white throne” judgment period (Revelation 20:11-12).
After this judgment period is concluded, a fire will engulf the entire planet, melting all the elements and works of earth’s history (2 Peter 3:10-13). After this fire—also known as the “lake of fire” (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14)—has finished burning, a pure, transformed new earth will be in place—one which can never grow old or corrupt (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22). It is this new earth upon which the city of New Jerusalem will descend.

New Jerusalem comes to earth

Explaining what he saw in vision, the apostle John wrote: “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). Here we notice that God the Father is still in heaven at this point and that this city is from Him; He had a part in preparing it.
Notice that this city was specially prepared “as a bride adorned for her husband.”
As for the residents of this city, Revelation 3:12 identifies overcomers of this age as the inhabitants of New Jerusalem: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God” (emphasis added throughout). Notice also Hebrews 11:10, 16 showing that this city is prepared for God’s faithful elect.
We now come to one of the most encouraging prophecies in the Bible: “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’” (Revelation 21:3-4).
Here we see that God the Father’s new place of residence will be earth, dwelling with His human-made-immortal family. It is most interesting to realize that while heaven is God’s current dwelling place, earth is destined to become His future home!
Promises in God’s Word, such as in Psalm 37, take on much more meaning in light of this reality. “But those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” (verse 9). “But the meek shall inherit the earth” (verse 11). “For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth” (verse 22).

A description of the city

New Jerusalem is described as an amazing city!

Illumination: In Revelation 21:9-10 we read of an angel showing John “the Lamb’s wife” and “the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” John then says that this is a magnificent city, “having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:11). The luminescence or radiance of the city is described as being like a precious, translucent gem.
We are also told that “the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:23). The shining brilliance of God and Christ will provide light in all directions throughout the city. This doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no sun or moon; rather, that the city doesn’t need their illumination.

A wall and gates: The city is described as having “a great and high wall with twelve gates” (Revelation 21:12-13). The Greek word translated “gate” is pulon, which means a gateway, doorway, vestibule or portal of a building or city. Angels stand at these gates, each named after one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Here we see a continuation of a pattern that was set many years prior, in the city of Jerusalem during the Millennium, when the names of three of the tribes of Israel will be written on each of the four sides of the city (Ezekiel 48:30-34).
Above the foundations, the wall of the city extends upward about 250 feet (verse 17), constructed entirely of jasper and continuous on all four sides. In this wall are the three gateways or vestibules, each made of a single, enormous pearl. If evenly spaced in the wall, these gateways would be some 375 miles apart from each other!

Foundations: Continuing this pattern of naming parts of the city after people through whom God had worked, the city’s 12 foundations carry the names of the apostles (Revelation 21:14). Thousands of years prior, Christ had said that each of His 12 apostles would sit on a throne over a tribe of Israel (Luke 22:28-30). As a spiritual parallel, Christ’s Church today is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).

Size: Revelation 21:16 tells us that “the city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.” According to most sources, the physical dimensions described here are astonishing—some 1,500 miles in each direction! (For comparison, the United States is about 1,300 miles north to south.)
Some of Christ’s final words to His disciples were, “In My Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). The word “mansions” is translated from the Greek word mone, which means dwelling, abode, permanent place of residence or home. Christ was indeed correct in stating that His Father’s house had much space in which to dwell.
An apparent parallel to the shape of New Jerusalem is found in the “Holy of Holies” of the tabernacle and temple that God instructed Israel to build (and which will again be part of the new temple in the Millennium after Christ’s return). This room, which was modeled after God’s dwelling place or throne room in heaven, was a perfect cube (1 Kings 6:20; Hebrews 8:5). It is also interesting to note that New Jerusalem has no separate temple—God the Father and Christ “are its temple” (Revelation 21:22).

Construction materials: “The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. … The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street [plateia, meaning a wide ‘plat’ or ‘place,’ as in an open square] of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:18-21).
Any physical structure this high is impossible by our understanding of physics. But while New Jerusalem is described as constructed of various and distinctive materials familiar to us, it is apparently of a spirit composition that supersedes the laws of physics as we know them.
The city itself is described as being of pure, translucent gold. This is how John sees it, having no other words or frame of reference from his life to describe what he is seeing. While he sees that it is constructed of a variety of distinct materials, it is at the same time dazzling beyond what our human eyes have ever seen.
Somewhere in this great city is an open square or plaza. “Street” in verse 21 is singular and does not mean a street for travel, of which the city likely has many. Where this wide square or plaza will be situated in the city is not stated. Like the city, it, too, is described as being composed of glimmering, translucent gold in appearance. Could this place have something to do with the location of Jesus Christ’s and the Father’s thrones?

A dynamic city: Revelation 21:24-25 explains, “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).” Since it is always daytime in New Jerusalem, the gates are always open. This description implies a regular passage of earth’s spirit citizens into and out of the city. Who are these nations and kings of the earth? The Bible identifies them as “those who are saved,” so they are part of God’s spirit family. Beyond that, we accept the fact that God has not chosen to reveal all details about the earth’s amazing future, and we can merely speculate.
Even though we do not know everything about God’s future holy city, we can confidently believe what God said through King David: “In your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). This is what we look forward to experiencing in New Jerusalem!
In order to dwell in New Jerusalem when it comes to earth, we need to respond to God’s expectations of us. If you wish to further your relationship with God, the section on “Change” on this website can be especially helpful.

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The seven bowls (also called the seven last plagues) are puzzling to many Christians. When do they occur? What is their purpose? Who receives them? Who tortures the wicked? Jesus or the devil? The seven bowls are not discussed very often because people do not think they will be affected by them. Of course, the bowls will occur in the future, but they are important right now because they reveal more information about God’s character.
The seven last plagues are called seven bowls (or vials in the KJV) because God wants us to understand that near the end of the Great Tribulation, He will force the wicked to “drink and swallow” His wrath. The result will be a very painful and eventually, a deadly experience. In Bible times, experiences were sometimes described as drinking from a phiale.* For example, filled with overflowing gratitude for God’s protection, King David wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows [with joy].” (Psalm 23:5, italics and insertion mine) Centuries later, Jesus cried out from the Garden of Gethsemane, ” ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’ “(Mark 14:36, italics mine)
The ancients often used the imagery of a cup to describe a human experience because they observed that once something is swallowed, the results become inescapable. Everything from euphoria and joy to excruciating pain and death came in a cup and being forced to drink a cup of poison was the worst possible experience. (See Jeremiah 25:15-30.)
The seven bowls can be listed in two columns because the first four bowls serve a different purpose than the last three. Everyone who receives the mark of the beast will experience the first four bowls. The last three bowls will impact corporate entities that Jesus intends to destroy.
For example, Jesus will impose the fifth bowl on Lucifer’s theocracy (his officials and employees). Jesus will impose the sixth bowl on the kings of Earth and their armies, and finally, the seventh bowl will affect Earth itself. Fiery hailstones will destroy some of the wicked and the rest will be destroyed by the sword that comes out of Jesus’ mouth. This will occur at the close of the seventh bowl. (Revelation 16:21; 19:19-21)

BOWL 1:

The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. (Revelation 16:2)
The ugly and painful sores will only afflict people having the mark of the beast—so Israel will be spared. This plague could be anthrax, which causes boils on both men and animals. This event matches the plague of boils Moses brought against Egypt. So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on men and animals. (Exodus 9:10)

BOWL 2:

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. (Revelation 16:3)
The oceans and sea turn from water into blood. Note the similarity to another plague that God delivered through Moses. This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.’” (Exodus 7:17-18)

BOWL  3:

The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”(Revelation 16:4-7)
The martyrs under the altar are now satisfied seeing justice. Remember these martyrs had cried out at the fifth seal. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10) At the third bowl, the altar responds with approval concerning God’s judgment.

BOWL 4:

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. (Revelation 16:8-9)
Now the sun will scorch people with intense heat. It is likely that the natural atmospheric protection, such as the ozone layer, will have been destroyed. People responded by cursing God. With hardened hearts, the walking dead (condemned) people are incapable of repenting. This occurred in ancient Egypt—when the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart. (Exodus 10:27)

BOWL 5:

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. (Revelation 16:10-11)
Moses delivered a similar judgment against Egypt. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. (Exodus 10:21-23)

BOWL 6:

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. (Revelation 16:12)
At the time of Armageddon, the flow of the Euphrates River in Iraq will dry to allow armies to invade Israel. This dried riverbed opens the way for the armies of the kings from the East, to travel to the valley of Armageddon in Israel (Revelation 16:16). The Ataturk Dam in Turkey has already stopped the flow of the Euphrates in 1990 while filling a reservoir.
That there are kings from the East (plural, kings, more than one king) could result from China dissolving into smaller countries that are unified in a confederacy. This confederacy could result from the desire of China to bring Taiwan under its control, while also allowing the freedoms that Hong Kong needs to prosper. Such a confederacy might include other economic and population powerhouses to include India, Japan, and South Korea.
A huge army of two hundred million people will travel from the East, across the Euphrates River to the Valley of Armageddon. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number. (Revelation 9:14-16)
Three evil spirits are now speaking through the dragon (Satan), the beast (Antichrist), and the false prophet. Their message is to world leaders—to send armies to Armageddon. Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:13-14)
At Armageddon, these armies will attempt to destroy Jesus as he returns to earth. Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Revelation 16:16) The battle of Armageddon is the final battle of this Age (Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 14:2-9).

BOWL 7:

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, pearls of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. (Revelation 16:17-21)
God reserves the final judgment for those who kept religious traditions from ancient Babylon; it features the destruction of Rome. God gives this city of the false king (Antichrist) and the false high priest (Pope) the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “ ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!’ (Revelation 18:9-10)

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Bible Prophecy

1. Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said. “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

2. Acts 3:19-21 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

3. Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

4. 1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

5. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

6. 1 Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

7. 1 Corinthians15:23-24 But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

8. Philippians 1:10 So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.

9. Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

10. Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

11. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

12. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

13. 1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

14. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:4 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

15. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

16. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

17. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

18. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

19. 1 Timothy 6:13-16 I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

20. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction.

21. 2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

22. Titus 2:12-14 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

23. Hebrews 9:28 Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

24. Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.

25. Hebrews 10:37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.

26. James 5:7-9 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

27. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

28. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

29. 1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

30. 1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

31. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

32. 2 Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

33. 2 Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is the ‘coming’ he promised?

34. 2 Peter 3:8-10 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

35. 1 John 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

36. 1 John 3:2-3 Dear friends, now we are like children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

37. Jude 1:14-15 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

38. Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

39. Revelation 1:4 To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from who is, and who was, and who is to come.

40. Revelation 1:7-8 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

41. Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.

42. Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

43. Revelation 22:12-13 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

44. Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen, Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

With the arrival of the Second Beast, an unholy trinity is completed. Just as the true God exists as a trinity, so does the counterfeit god. The two trinities compare with each other as follows:

The second beast is the False Prophet whose task it is to point people to the Antichrist, just as the Holy Spirit points people toward Jesus Christ. Revelation 19:20 links the False Prophet with the Antichrist; they work together and ultimately will perish together. In Revelation 13:11 we are told he looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. Satan causes his False Prophet to appear like a meek and gentle lamb when in reality he has the heart of a destroyer. Jesus Himself said to beware of false prophets who “come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). This False Prophet is the epitome of every false prophet who has ever lived.

The Antichrist and the False Prophet are paired significantly: The former’s focus is politics while the latter’s emphasis is religion. In the Tribulation, with the absence of true religion, a false religion will be necessary to solidify the political power of the Antichrist. Wherever you have a vacuum of true religion, political power will marry itself to false religion to give itself a mark of acceptability. Even Communism has a religion called atheism or materialism. It grieves me when I hear someone say, “one religion is as good as another,” for I know that all that person has seen is false religion.

So during the Great Tribulation, Satan will use religion to unite the world under the leadership of the Antichrist.

The False Prophet, the second beast of Revelation 13, will be the religious leader who will point people toward the Antichrist. He will be like many false prophets of our own day—dispensing what people want to hear instead of the truth they need to hear. And he will attract large crowds–false prophets usually do. But in a day of trouble like the Great Tribulation, the lamb-like preacher the people listen to will suddenly begin to manifest the deeds of a ravenous wolf.

THE DEEDS OF THE SECOND BEAST (13:13)

The False Prophet will have the power to counterfeit the miracles of God, such as calling down fire from heaven. Calling down fire from heaven was associated with the power of God in the Old Testament (Genesis 19:24; Leviticus 10:1-2; 1 Kings 18:38; and in Revelation 11:3-6). Whatever God does, Satan is the master counterfeiter. Since God often revealed Himself by fire, the False Prophet uses fire to validate his own works.

THE DECEPTION OF THE SECOND BEAST (13:14-15)

The False Prophet deceives the people into building an image which can be used as a focal point for worship of the Antichrist. I believe this image will be set up in the city of Jerusalem as a counterfeit to the temple of God. We aren’t told what the image will be, but I believe it will be a large structure, not just an effigy on a coin or some similar symbol. I believe it will become a gathering place for those coming to worship the Beast.

The False Prophet’s powers are not slight—he actually is able to make the image speak. Satan cannot give life; i.e., the image doesn’t come alive. It only appears to be alive as a result of being able to speak. Some say it is ventriloquism; others say it will be a computer chip which speaks much as our cars and computers talk to us today. However he does it, the False Prophet makes the image seem to be alive. I can imagine people gathering at this location every day to hear what the image has to say. The media will carry the content of the image’s speeches each day in the news; it will become a focal point of every person’s day. I believe this image is that “abomination of desolation” Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:15. When this image is set up in Jerusalem, the disciples of Jesus will know that the Great Tribulation is about to begin. He then goes on to say that the disciples should flee Jerusalem because things are about to get much worse than they ever have before. The image of the Beast is a signal for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

THE DEMAND OF THE SECOND BEAST (13:16-18)

The mark which the Beast causes everyone to receive on their hand or their forehead is yet another attempt at counterfeiting. Remember that in Revelation 7:3 the Lord caused a mark to be put on the foreheads of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists (see also Revelation 14:1). What God does, Satan imitates by way of counterfeiting.

The mark (Greek charagma) refers to the Roman use of a seal or mark connected with the emperor which conveyed official sanction. So the Beast will use a charagma to identify those who are loyal to him. Those without the mark will be deemed traitors and boycotted by the commercial system the Beast controls. Those without the mark will die from exposure or starvation or illness as a result of not being able to purchase what they need. I vaguely remember the days of rationing during World War II when money wasn’t enough to buy certain items. You had to have a government issued ration card because of the scarcity of some items. While that rationing was only temporary to help our country’s war effort, under the Beast’s reign it will be permanent. All the money in the world won’t be enough to buy bread if you don’t have the mark of the Beast.

We tend to think that only those without the mark will suffer—but those with the mark will suffer as well (see Revelation 14:9-11). People will face a choice: Reject the mark and suffer at the hands of the Beast; accept the mark and suffer at the hands of God. The choice will be to decide which is worse—to suffer the temporary wrath of the Beast but receive the eternal favor of God, or receive the temporary favor of the Beast and suffer the eternal wrath of God.

The details given about the False Prophet are few. However, if we understand the patterns and motivations that the Bible reveals about the class of people called “false prophets,” we will be better equipped to recognize the general mold that the end-time False Prophet will fit. Both Testaments describe false prophets, and Peter, John, and Jesus Christ specifically warn of false prophets that affect church members.

Resource :

David Jeremiah

There is much speculation about the identity of the Antichrist. Some of the more popular targets are Vladimir Putin, Prince William, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Pope Francis I. In the United States, former President Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump are the most frequent targets. So, who is the Antichrist, and how will we recognize him?

The Bible speaks of a mysterious character called the antichrist, the false Christ, the man of lawlessness, or the beast. Scripture doesn’t specifically name who the antichrist will be, but does give us several clues as to what he will be like. By looking at the different names for the antichrist in the Bible, we gain a better understanding of the kind of person he will be.

ANTICHRIST

The name “antichrist” is only found in 1 John 2:18, 2:22, 4:3, and 2 John 7.

The Apostle John was the only Bible writer to use the name antichrist. Studying these verses, we learn that many antichrists (false teachers) will appear between the time of Christ’s first and Second Coming, but there will be one great antichrist who will rise to power during the end times, or “last hour,” as 1 John phrases it.

The antichrist will deny that Jesus is the Christ. He will deny both God the Father and God the Son, and will be a liar and a deceiver.
1 John 4:1-3 says:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is now already in the world.” (NKJV)

By the end times, many will easily be deceived and embrace the antichrist because his spirit will already dwell within the world.

MAN OF SIN

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, the antichrist is described as the “man of sin,” or “son of perdition.” Here the Apostle Paul, like John, warned believers about the Antichrist’s ability to deceive:
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (NKJV)

The NIV Bible makes it clearer that a time of rebellion will come before Christ’s return and then the “man of lawlessness, the man doomed to destruction” will be revealed. Eventually, the antichrist will exalt himself above God to be worshiped in the Lord’s Temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Verses 9-10 say that the antichrist will do counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, to gain a following and deceive many.

THE BEAST

In Revelation 13:5-8, the antichrist is referred to as “the beast:”
“Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.” (NLT)

We see “the beast” used for antichrist several times in the book of Revelation.

The antichrist will gain political power and spiritual authority over every nation on earth. He will most likely begin his rise to power as a very influential, charismatic, political or religious diplomat. He will rule the world government for 42 months. According to many eschatologists, this time frame is understood to be during the latter 3.5 years of the tribulation. During this period, the world will endure a time of unprecedented trouble.

A LITTLE HORN

In Daniel’s prophetic vision of end days, we see “a little horn” described in chapters 7, 8 and 11. In the interpretation of the dream, this little horn is a ruler or king, and speaks of the antichrist. Daniel 7:24-25 says:
“The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time.” (NIV)

According to many end times Bible scholars, Daniel’s prophecy interpreted together with verses in Revelation, specifically point to a future world empire coming from a “revived” or “reborn” Roman Empire, much like the one in existence at the time of Christ. These scholars predict the antichrist will emerge from this Roman race.
Joel Rosenberg, author of end times fiction (Dead Heat, The Copper Scroll, Ezekiel Option, The Last Days, The Last Jihad) and non-fiction (Epicenter and Inside the Revolution) books about Bible prophecy, bases his conclusions on extensive Scripture study including Daniel’s prophecy, Ezekiel 38-39, and the book of Revelation. He believes the antichrist won’t appear to be evil at first, but rather a charming diplomat. In an interview on April 25, 2008, he told Glenn Beck of CNN that the antichrist will be “somebody who understands the economy and the global sphere and wins people, a winsome character.”

“No commerce will be done without his approval,” said Rosenberg. “He will be … seen as an economic genius, a foreign policy genius. And he will emerge out of Europe. Because Daniel chapter 9 says, the prince, who is to come, the antichrist, will come from people who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple … Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans. We are looking for someone of a reconstituted Roman Empire …”

FALSE CHRIST

In the Gospels (Mark 13, Matthew 24-25, and Luke 21), Jesus warned his followers of terrible events and persecution that will occur before his Second Coming.

Most likely, this is where the concept of an antichrist was first introduced to the disciples, although Jesus does not refer to him in the singular:
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24, NKJV)

CONCLUSION

Is the Antichrist alive today? He could be. Will we recognize him? Perhaps not at first. However, the best way to avoid being deceived by the spirit of the antichrist is to know Jesus Christ and be ready for his return.

Resource :

Thought Co

Jesus returns, the righteous dead are raised, and along with the righteous living they all are “caught up” to meet the Saviour in the air. This is great news for true believers!

But what about those who are not “caught up,” those who are left behind? Popular teaching says they will have a second chance during a “seven-year Tribulation,” an idea heavily promoted in the wildly popular Left Behind novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. Though those books have sold by the millions, the important question for us should be, Is that theology truly biblical?

Immediately after Paul describes true believers being “caught up,” he then declares, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. For when they shall say Peace and Safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them … and they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Thus, according to Paul, those who are not “caught up” will reap “sudden destruction” and “not escape.”

Does this sound like ‘the second chance’ so graphically depicted in Left Behind novels and films? Hardly.

It gets worse. How widespread is this “sudden destruction”? Jesus Himself explained it: “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17:26 -30, italics added).

In Noah’s day, all who refused to enter the ark were left behind, destroyed in the deluge. In Lot’s day, everyone except Lot and his family were consumed by falling fire. Jesus Christ said, “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

Other texts make it clear that when Jesus returns, those left behind will be destroyed, not given another chance during some hypothetical “seven-year Tribulation” (which, by the way, is nowhere specifically referred to in the Bible). Here are just a few texts describing the global desolation that follows Jesus’ return.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 – When Jesus returns in flaming fire, the lost will be destroyed.
Revelation 16:17-18 – At Armageddon, cities crumble around the world.
Revelation 6:14; 16:20 – Every island sinks, and all the mountains disappear.
Jeremiah 4:23-26 – Planet Earth is totally devastated, with “no man” left alive.
Jeremiah 25:30-33 – Those slain by the Lord lie dead, unburied, all around the world.
Revelation 19:17-18, 21 – The birds eat the flesh of every human being worldwide.

These verses teach that those not “caught up” when Christ returns will be destroyed, and the destruction will encompass all the earth, as it did during Noah’s flood. Jesus Himself taught this. “The flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the son of man be” (Matthew 24:39).