Those are the first 5 seals. Now, after hearing all of that, you may be thinking, “How much of this will Christians endure?”
Well, I noted a moment ago, that much that happens up to this point are the natural results of God removing Himself from the preservation and regulation of our world. So, and this is just my thought, what happens in these 5 seals should not be classified as the “wrath of God.” He is not directly causing them. And really, they are nothing more than a massive multiplication of what we know already happens in the world. Let me ask these questions. Is there war in the world today? Is there famine and disease? Is there death? Do wild animals attack people? Are Christians killed for their faith? Now here’s the important question; Do Christians die today from these things; war, famine, death, disease, animals, martyrdom? Yes.
So, the first 5 seals are not qualitatively different from what already happens to Christians today.
I think that Christians will die from martyrdom, and from all these other evils that come on the world.
So, a second question here would be, “How long will these 5 seal judgments last?” I think they take up the 1st 3 ½ years of the 7 year Tribulation. The 1st 3 ½ years really set the stage for the worst of things; the wrath of God, and the unleashed fury of Satan and his agent, the antichrist.
So, that summarizes the first 3 ½ years of the 7-year Tribulation. I stated that if we wanted to know when that 7- year period begins, we would have to be able to identify who the antichrist is, and the exact date that his campaign of conquest begins. And that may be difficult to pinpoint. But when we come to the beginning of the last 3 ½ years, things get somewhat clearer. The Bible is clear about some things that happen at the beginning of the last 3 ½ years; Jesus calls it “Great Tribulation.” If you think the previous 3 ½ years were bad, the worst is yet to come. By the way, the only Christians who are still alive at this point are in hiding. They have been alienated from society, and have probably destroyed or thrown away all their technology; because technology can be tracked. So, here’s a key point; they may not even be aware of some world events that are happening.
What are the key events that mark the beginning of the last 3 ½ years; the Great Tribulation?
EVENTS JUST PRIOR TO THE GREAT TRIBULATION
Rise of Babylon, Mark the Saints, Abomination of Desolation, Israel’s flight into the wilderness, Satan cast down, 2 witnesses
BABYLON
1. The Rise of Babylon Revelation 17 You might note that this description of the religious system, called “Babylon” comes from chapter 17 of Revelation. So, we’ve jumped from chapter 6, the 5th seal, to chapter 17. Why? Because chapter 17 describes this world religious system that has been working with the antichrist to subjugate the world, and to persecute and martyr Christians. So, we need to be aware of who they are as this story unfolds. I’m just going to show you some key points from Revelation 17 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (verse 15 interprets this for us) 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. (The “whore” is the false church. Satan counterfeits every good thing God made. The antichrist is a false christ, the false prophet is a counterfeit prophet of God, and the whore is the counterfeit Bride of Christ; the Church. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (The whore, the false religious system is carried by the beast, the antichrist and the world government system he engenders. They help each other. The religious system supports the antichrist, and the antichrist uses the religious system to gain control.) 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. (Why Babylon? The kingdom of Babylon in Scripture symbolizes a world kingdom of power and idolatry. The first time we read about them in Scripture they have all the elements that will characterize the antichrists kingdom. They conquered Israel. They are a rich kingdom. They are led by a world dominating dictator; Nebuchadnezar. Nebuchadnezar demands that everyone bow to a golden image, and throws Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego into the fiery furnace when they wouldn’t. Babylon was also involved in all kinds of idolatrous worship, so they are the symbol for this combination of power and religion that will wield power over the nations in the Tribulation.) 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: (This is why I believe this religious system exerts influence early in the Tribulation. The 5th seal is the martyrdom of Christians, and the Babylonian system is said to be drunk with the martyrs blood.) 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. In the end, the antichrist’s kingdom will turn on the false religious system and “burn her with fire.” What does that mean? Well, in chapter 18 we see the city of Babylon destroyed by fire. It is the judgment of God, but it could be at the hands of the antichrist. This is at the very end of everything. It may be that the antichrist, in his last gasps of violence before the return of Christ, now looks on this system as an enemy, and orders their destruction. He may order a military strike, or even a nuclear one on the city that is the seat of the idolatrous religious system. But we will get to that when we come to that time in the order of events. 17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
So, over the 1st 3 ½ years of the Tribulation we have the first 5 seal judgments, which not only describe the horrific conditions of life on this planet, but they also describe for us the movement of the antichrist to position himself as world dictator. He is moving his gathering armies around the world to coalesce his power. He has made a covenant with many nations, likely including Israel, and he has won the compliance of other nations by violence and war.
So, what happens next? At this point we are approaching the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation, called the “Great Tribulation.” It is a time of not only God withdrawing His sustaining hand, and convicting Spirit, but of His actively plaguing the world in judgment for their sin. Like the time of plagues against Egypt, the sins of the world have come to full corruption, and God steps in in direct judgment. But, just like in Egypt, the first thing God does is to seal His people with protection against His direct wrath.
Rise of Babylon, Mark the Saints, Abomination of Desolation, Israel’s flight into the wilderness, Satan cast down, 2 witnesses
2. The Marking the Saints for protection Scripture: Revelation 7 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. Who are these 144,000? We get another clue in chapter 14. Revelation 14:1-5 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. 3 They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.[n] They are with Jesus, on Mount Zion, when He returns after the Tribulation. Who are the 144,000? I’m introducing this question here because the 144,000 are described in chapter 7, before the 7 trumpets are sounded. In summary, the text tells us that these are Jewish men, who are especially protected during the Great Tribulation. And it later tells us that they are righteous followers of Christ. So, who are they, and how do they fit into this story. Well, there are two major interpretations of who these 144,000 are, and I’m not completely satisfied with either of them. The first takes this group very literally and says that they are Jewish men who are set apart for the job of being Christian evangelists to the world during the Great Tribulation. It takes the number 144,000 literally. There are 144,000 Jewish men who come to faith in Christ, and who are divinely protected during the Great Tribulation. They are given the job of preaching the gospel during the Great Tribulation. My big problem with this interpretation is that I don’t find anywhere that says that these Jewish men are evangelists. And my bigger problem with interpreting this group as exclusively Jewish men, is their protection. The book of Revelation is very explicit about the protection given this group. They are the only ones protected from the plagues that are coming. Revelation 9:3-5 King James Version 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. My problem is that these 144,000 are said to be the only protected group on earth during the Tribulation. But, there are still Christians living on the earth. Revelation 12:17 describes Satan, as a dragon, waging war against “those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.” Revelation 13 says that during the Great Tribulation, the antichrist will wage war against God’s holy people, and that all people will worship him, except “those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” That chapter also says that all who refuse to worship the image of the beast will be killed. What the book implies is that there are Christians alive during the Great Tribulation. And if we take the 144,000 as literally being Jewish men, and exactly 144,000, then why are these the only ones who receive God’s protective seal before the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation? The second interpretation would give a spiritual interpretation to this group. They are said to simply represent a group of believers (Christians) who will be under God’s protection during the remaining 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation. 144,000 is said to be a symbolic number; 12x12x1000. My biggest issue with this interpretation is that in John’s vision, these people are very specifically described as Jews. Not only are they described as Jews, but they are numbered from each tribe of the Jews. And you know that I like to take things as literally as I possibly can. So, let me give you my definitive answer. It could be both. If they are Jews, I think they may represent literally, or figuratively, the Jews who have fled to the wilderness during the Great Tribulation. I don’t necessarily believe that they are evangelists. Rather, I think that the fact that they follow Christ means that they will be converted during the Great Tribulation, and therefore be with Him when He comes again to the Mount of Olives. If they represent all Christians, then they are an undetermined number of believers who will remain alive during the Great Tribulation. Or they may be a combination of both. Maybe they represent all believers, Jew and Gentile, who will be alive during the Tribulation and at Christ’s return. Maybe the 144,000 Jewish men have to be marked for special protection, because they can’t be killed. But maybe the Christians are already marked for protection, because they are covered with the blood of the Lamb. They may not be protected from death, like the 144,000, but they will be protected from the plagues which are God’s wrath. And any of them, Jew or Gentile, alive at Christ’s return, will be raptured at His return, take on new bodies, meet Him in the air, and return with Him as He destroys the enemies at the Battle of Armageddon.
So, the seal of the protection of God’s people happens just prior to the last 3 ½ years. Then what happens?
The next major event signals the start of the last 3 ½ years; the Great Tribulation. It is the Abomination of Desolation. The antichrist turns his attention on Israel.
Rise of Babylon, Mark the Saints, Abomination of Desolation, Israel’s flight into the wilderness, Satan cast down, 2 witnesses
3. The Abomination of Desolation
Scripture:
The antichrist invades Israel.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape.
Luke 21:20,24 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled
The antichrist desecrates the holy place.
Matthew 24: 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Daniel 11:31 And [a]forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation
Daniel 12:11 “From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
The antichrist sets up a one-world monetary system.
Revelation 13: 11 I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. 14 He deceives my own[b] people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. 15 It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; 17 and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.
Explanation:
The Antichrist marches on Jerusalem, breaking his peace treaty with Israel, and the Jews escape into the wilderness. Rise of Babylon, Mark the Saints, Abomination of Desolation, Israel’s flight into the wilderness, Satan cast down, 2 witnesses
4. ISRAEL’S FLIGHT INTO WILDERNESS
Israel’s flight into the wilderness
Jeremiah 31: “At the same time,” says the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.” 2 Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when I went to give him rest.”
Daniel 8:24 His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. He will destroy awesomely, and will prosper in what he does. He will destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.
The antichrist marches on Israel, the people of God flee into the wilderness. The false prophet sets up an image of the antichrist in the holy place. And the worldwide monetary system is put in place requiring that everyone receive the mark of the beast in order to buy, or sell. Now, there is another possible event that takes place right here at the start of the Great Tribulation.
Rise of Babylon, Mark the Saints, Abomination of Desolation, Israel’s flight into the wilderness, Satan cast down, 2 witnesses
5. Satan cast down from being prince of the power of the air. Scripture: So, let me explain. This interpretation depends on our understanding of Satan’s domain. We know that Lucifer was cast out of heaven in the initial time that he rebelled against God. Ezekial 28: 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. But, what is his current domain? In the book of Job, Job 1:6 Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh,[a] Satan also came among them. And he is called, Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Then in Revelation 12, Revelation 12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. This is Satan. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: This describes Satan’s initial rebellion. and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Satan tried to destroy Christ. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. This is the Great Tribulation. 3 ½ years in which the Jewish people will hide in the wilderness from the antichrist. Well, then the next scene enfolds. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. So, Satan is cast down. But was this description of his casting down describing the time in the past when he was cast down? Or is this a new casting down? I think the best way to think of it is that Satan is further cast down at this point in history. Since that 1st rebellion, and being cast down to the air, he now is cast down to the earth. He is confined to the earth. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. So, at the start of the Great Tribulation, the greatest evil individual is cast to the earth. And he is angry. So, knowing that he only has 3 ½ years, he seeks to destroy God’s people. He tries to destroy the Jewish people as they flee the antichrist’s invading armies. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. Some interpreters take this “flood” to symbolize the invading armies of the antichrist, others consider it to be a literal flood of water. If it is a flood of water, it is an attempt by Satan to take out the Jewish people. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And as the flood of water follows the Jewish people, the seismic activity that has become commonplace during the Tribulation, opens up a fissure behind the fleeing Jewish people, and ahead of the flood. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Explanation: Now, this interpretation concerning Satan being cast down to earth, is not accepted by everyone. Many view this “casting down” of Satan as a kind of flashback to when he was thrown out of heaven initially. But because it is placed here in Revelation, I think it’s reasonable to believe that Satan is cast down again. Satan uses this last time to take out all his hatred against the Jews, and God’s remaining people.
Rise of Babylon, Mark the Saints, Abomination of Desolation, Israel’s flight into the wilderness, Satan cast down, 2 witnesses
6. TWO WITNESSES
At the start of the Great Tribulation, two of God’s witnesses come forth to proclaim God’s judgment and call the world to repentance. Revelation 11: And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. This was prophesied in the Old Testament. Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Two witnesses from God, protected by God, will enter Jerusalem, and begin prophesying against the antichrist. They will call on the world to repent, and threaten plagues against the world if they don’t. This is very similar to Moses prophesying to Pharaoh. Now, it doesn’t say that these 2 prophets announce each of the plagues. But I just imagine that it will be like the plagues against Egypt. These two prophets will call for repentance, and when there is none, another plague will follow. We can imagine that the antichrist will try to kill these two witnesses. But Revelation 11 says, Just like the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament called for fire to come down and destroy those who were trying to arrest him, these two will be able to call down fire or lightening to strike anyone attempting to destroy them. I have often wondered how everyone in the world will even know these two men exist. How will the world even know that they are calling for repentance? We can’t know for sure, but I’ll bet that they will be on the news 24/7. With the theatrics of the antichrist pulling out all the stops militarily to kill them, and their calling down fire and plagues from heaven. The whole earth will be glued to their T.V.’s and phones, wanting to know what is coming next. And the wicked of the earth will be rooting for their assassination.
Rise of Babylon, Mark the Saints, Abomination of Desolation, Israel’s flight into the wilderness, Satan cast down, 2 witnesses
These are the events that happen just at the start of the Great Tribulation. After the stage is set, God’s judgements unfold. Remember that we left off with the 5th seal being opened. Now we start up again with the sounding of the 7 trumpets. So, what happened to the 6th and 7th seals. This is what they say,
Revelation 6: 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Remember that I suggested that the 6th seal is the return of Christ, and therefore doesn’t happen until the end of the Great Tribulation. Then we have the 7th seal,