End Times Part 4
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Introduction
Introduction
Matthew 24 gives us a snapshot of the Tribulation period
Revelation 6-19 gives more details regarding the tribulation period on earth and in heaven
Revelation can be divided into three sections:
The 7 seals
The 7 seals span the entirety of the Tribulation period
The first 4 seals occurs in the first 3 1/2 years (According to Matthew 24)
The 5th seal bridges the two halves of the Tribulation
The 6th and 7th seal occur during the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation. Probably closer to the end of the last 3 1/2 years.
The 7th seal contains the 7 trumpets
The 7 trumpets
The 7th trumpet contains the 7 vials
The 7 vials
Within each section there is an interlude period
1st Seal - White Horse
1st Seal - White Horse
Revelation 6:1-2
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Some view this as Jesus becasue of Revelation 19:11, 12
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Why it is not referencing Jesus: Comparisons do not match
Revelation 6 Revelation 19
1 Crown Many Crowns
Bow (without arrows) Sword
Beginning of Tribulation End of Tribulation
Possibly the anti-Christ or the force that brings about the anti-Christ
White Horse - Peace
Bow without arrows - he will conquer without weapons or destruction
A crown was given to him - By the world’s empires
Comparable to Matthew 24:4-5
2nd Seal - Red Horse
2nd Seal - Red Horse
Revelation 6:3-4
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Takes peace from the earth
Killing on an unprecedented level
World War 2 - 40-50 million people died - Approximately 2.5 % of world population in 1939.
Unimaginable casualties and destruction
3rd Seal - Black Horse
3rd Seal - Black Horse
Revelation 6:5-6
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Behold - John used this word with seal 1, 3 and 7. A word that denotes shock or surprise.
The significance of the scale and money speaks of inflation and famine.
A measure of wheat and three measures of barley is barely enough for one person’s daily nutritional needs.
A penny was one days worth of wages.
It will take 2 days worth of wages to eat on 1 day worth of food.
The prices are too high
This will result in wide spread famine and malnutrition
Illustration of inflation caused by war
In WW2 their was prices controls in the U. S>
After the war - inflation rose to 20% in 1946-47
Nothing comparable to the inflation rate of the Tribulation period
This will not affect the rich or wealthy as it does the middle class and poor.
4th Seal - Pale Horse
4th Seal - Pale Horse
Revelation 6:7-8
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
This rider is given an name - Death and Hell
There are two words for Hell in the New Testament
One word reflects the description of Hell as a place of torments
The other words reflects the grave - Usually the grave of those who die without Jesus - This is the word used.
This horse will have the power to kill 1/4 of humanity
Current world population 7.99 billion - 1/4 of that number 1.99 billion people
How will the deaths occur?
Sword - war
Hunger - famine
Death - Perhaps by diseases
Beast - Rats, snakes, etc.
Illustration - 1348 the Bubonic plague started in China, arrived into Europe (Italy) through ships. Estimated deaths in Europe 1/3 of population. So devastating that the only time the world population decreased in the A. D era occured during this time.
The death by disease during the Tribulation will be more extreme.
5th Seal - The Prayer for vengeance
5th Seal - The Prayer for vengeance
Revelation 6:9-11
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
This seal gives us insight into a moment in Heaven during the Tribulation period.
These are people killed during the Tribulation period.
At the rapture all the Christians will have glorified bodies.
John saw the souls of those saints who died for the word of God and testimony
They did not have glorified bodies - Therefore, this could not reference people that have been martyred before the Rapture.
The first resurrection has multiple phases
The Rapture
The end of Tribulation - Revelation 20:4-5
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
John initially sees the saints that died during the tribulation period as souls.
Then he mentions they lived and reign with Christ a thousand years.
“they lived” means “came to life” or “lived again.”