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10. The Last Half of the Tribulation
27Then
he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But
in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations
shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the
consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the
desolate.”
Daniel 9:27
The lasts half of the tribulation starts
when the “Abomination of Desolation” takes place and
ends with the return of the Messiah. Those who are alive
and remain on the Earth will be in the midst of Satan’s
last stand
Satan cast out of his place in Heaven, has
incarnated the individual known as the “Beast” or
Antichrist. This individual becomes the source of
Satan’s physical presence on the Earth. The
kingdom of Antichrist, New Rome, will be the source of
satanic control over the Earth. The alive on Earth have
an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ and die or accept
the “Beast” and live. Those who accept the “Beast”
will have no chance of salvation.
During this period, eternal decisions are
made the Earth. Wonders will appear in the sky as God
warns man of eternal decisions. Satanic wonders on
Earth will deceive humanity into accepting the “Beast”.
After an initial period of decision, those who reject
the Antichrist, are killed. The final judgments will
fall on the Earth.
These final “Bowl” judgments are the seven
final plagues that will lead to the final battle known
as Armageddon. To the hills of
Megiddo
will the nations of the Earth gather as their final
assault is made on God.
During this time,
Israel will have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus as
Messiah and as a nation, they will begin to call out to
Him to return and save Israel. At that time, surviving
Israel will see the return of the Messiah, the second
coming of Christ.
On
Earth
On earth, the spiritual realms are played
out in the physical. Satan and his fallen angels, cast
to the earth, will play out their last stand in the
physical world of humanity.
They
will operate through:
Ø
Worldwide religion centered on the Antichrist.
Ø
Worldwide economic system
Ø
Satanic signs and wonders
Worldwide Allegiance Demanded
With
the fall of Satan from Heaven and the incarnation of the
Antichrist Satan begins his direct assault on humanity.
The authority over the Earth and its inhabitants are
given to Satan and his forces for 42 months.
5And
he was given a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies, and he was given authority to £continue for
forty-two months. 6Then he opened his mouth in
blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His
tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7It was
granted to him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them. And authority was given him over every
£tribe, tongue, and nation. 8All 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.
Revelation 13:5-8
This
Satanic control will be accomplished by several means.
First the Antichrist will an immense military that will
far surpass any rival kingdom. His military control will
be complete and absolute. For example the US military
currently spends more on its defense budget then the 11
next largest nations combined. In many circles the
US
and its military strength are called a “Hyper-power”.
Currently in no time in history has any nation ever
risen to the level where the US now stands. Even at the
height of its power the Roman empire was still limited
to a certain geographic area. Following the rapture, a
destabilized US might form a union with Europe. Without
the strong evangelical Christian base little will
separate a godless Europe from the US. A combined US &
European military would be an unstoppable force. All
this will be at the discretion of the future Antichrist.
To
further stifle any rebellion and achieve total obedience
all will be forced to submit not only physically but
spiritually to this individual. This Satan possessed
individual will proclaim himself God and demand all
worship him as God. Without total submission people
will not be allowed to buy, sell unless they have the
mark of total allegiance.
16He
causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free
and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on
their foreheads, 17and that no one may buy or sell
except one who has £the mark or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name.18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding
calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number
of a man: His number is 666.
Revelation 13:16-18
Those who refuse the mark will be killed. The choice
will be clear for most. They can worship and accept the
beast and live or reject the beast and die. Those who
choose Christ will be killed and enter into Heaven.
9If
anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10He who leads into
captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the
sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the
patience and the faith of the saints.
Revelation 13:9-10
2And
I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire,
and those who have the victory over the beast, over his
image and £over his mark and over the number of his
name, standing on the sea of glass, having harp s of
God.
Revelation 15:2
The battle will be for the souls of man in
the second half of the tribulation. And mankind will be
given clear choices to make his decision.
Signs by the False Prophet
To
encourage those reluctant to worship the Beast and
submit to his power a “False prophet” rises on the scene
to exult the Antichrist.
11Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth,
and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a
dragon. 12And he exercises all the authority of the
first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed.
Revelation 13:11-12
Fire from Heaven is one of the Satanic miracles used by
the “False prophet” to fool those on the Earth.
Once the world is put in awe of his power he will direct
people to worship the Beast. Following the “Fire
from Heaven” The “False Prophet” will make an “Image of
the Beast” come to life. This image will reveal those
who refuse to submit. These Satanic signs will convince
many to submit to the Beast. Those who refuse will be
killed in the process.
13He
performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come
down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14And
he deceives £those who dwell on the earth by those signs
which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast,
telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to
the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15He
was granted power to give breath to the image of the
beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and
cause as many as would not worship the image of the
beast to be killed.
Revelation 13:13-15
Paul
also warns us in 2nd Thessalonians about this period of
time in man’s future.
9The
coming of the lawless one is according to the working of
Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and
with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,
because they did not receive the love of the truth, that
they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send
them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the
truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.2
Thessalonians 2:9-12
Three Angels Warn Earth.
Jesus in Luke warns mankind of the tribulations and
wonders that will appear on the Earth in the days before
he returns.
25“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and
in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with
perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26men’s
hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of
those things which are coming on the earth, for the
powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke
21:25-26
To
help those on Earth choose death and heaven verses life
and hell God sends 3 angels to warn mankind. These
angels appear in the Heavens as a miraculous sign from
God to warn mankind. They counter the Satanic signs of
the “False Prophet”.
1.
Fear God
The
message of the first angel will be the simple gospel to
fear God alone and not man. To put trust in his Son
Jesus Christ.
6Then
I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who
dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and
people—7saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give
glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and
worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and
springs of water.”
Revelation 14:6-7
2.
Babylon is fallen
The
kingdom of the Antichrist will be destroyed along with
her lies. Put no faith in the works of mankind. The
rebuilt capital city of Babylon will be the glory of
mankind. But this capital city on the Earth will be
destroyed. This will be the essential message of the
second angel.
8And
another angel followed, saying, “Babylon£ is fallen, is
fallen, that great city, because she has made all
nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her
fornication.”
Revelation 14:8
3.
Reject the Mark
The
third angel will clearly tell people to reject the
“Beast” and his kingdom. The cost of the mark will be
eternal punishment.
9Then
a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
“If anyone worships the beast and his image, and
receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he
himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of
His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and
brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb. 11And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or
night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever
receives the mark of his name.”
Revelation 14:9
People will have to choose between death and Life or
life on earth and eternal death. Following this period
of intense persecution and decision God will send his
final judgments upon the Earth.
Seven Bowl Judgments
1Then
I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven
angels, “Go and pour out the £bowls of the wrath of God
on the earth.”Revelation 16:1
1.
Sores on men who receive the “Mark”
2So
the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth,
and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had
the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.Revelation 16:2
2.
Sea Turns to Blood
3Then
the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it
became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature
in the sea died.Revelation 16:3
3.
Rivers turn to Blood
4Then
the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and
springs of water, and they became blood. 5And I heard
the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, £O
Lord, The One who is and who £was and who is to be,Because You have judged these things.6 For they
have shed the blood of saints and prophets,And
You have given them blood to drink. £For it is their
just due.”7And
I heard £another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord
God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
Revelation 16:4-7
4.
Sun Scorches People
8Then
the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and
power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9And men
were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the
name of God who has power over these plagues; and they
did not repent and give Him glory.
Revelation 16:8-9
5.
Beast’s Throne into darkness
10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne
of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness;
and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.
11They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their
pains and their sores, and did not repent of their
deeds.Revelation 16:10-11
6.
Kings of the Earth gather
12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great
river
Euphrates,
and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings
from the east might be prepared. 13And I saw three
unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of
the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of
the mouth of the false prophet. 14For they are spirits
of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings
£of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to
the battle of that great day of God Almighty.15“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who
watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and
they see his shame.”16And
they gathered them together to the place called in
Hebrew, £Armageddon.
Revelation 16:12-16
7.
Great Earthquake Cities collapse
17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the
air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven,
from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18And there were
noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a
great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as
had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19Now the
great city was divided into three parts, and the cities
of the nations fell. And great
Babylon
was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the
wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20Then every island
fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21And great
hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the
weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the
plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly
great.
Revelation 16:17-20
Spiritual Babylon is Destroyed
One
of the ways the Beast deceives the nations at the first
is through the use of peace. Peace is a powerful tool
in the hand of despots. People want peace and it is in
the hope of peace many will overlook potential threats.
With the idea of peace and brotherhood Satan will lull
the world into a “False Peace”.
The idea that all religions are the same as
long as you love your fellow man sounds good but is a
powerful lie used by Satan to deceive.
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me”. Jesus was
exclusive, he meant there is no other way into Heaven
except through him. Today, Jesus would be classified as
an intolerant, religious bigot because he says he is the
only way.
Many
liberal, mainline, non-biblical churches that call
themselves Christian believe there are many ways to
Heaven. Jesus would probably be kicked out of their
church for believing Jesus is the only way.
Following the rapture the “Christian” church left behind
will be Christian in name only. They will put their
name into the peace at all cost camp. They will
prostitute themselves in the interest of world peace or
out of fear of man. They will replace the gospel with a
false gospel.
The
state church during NAZI Germany is a great example how
men who fear men more then God will do anything for
their lives. In many churches in Germany crosses were
taken down and the Nazi crosses were put in their
place. A few people in the German church such as
Dietrich Bonhoeffer were willing to die for their faith
in Christ. Most were willing to accommodate the NAZI
changes and preserve their life. State churches also
operated in Communist Russia, and China. In Europe the
State Churches are the official churches of the states.
In the past under the state churches of Europe those who
held to the confession in Christ alone were killed,
burned at the stake and persecuted in every manner. This
will happen again after the rapture of the “True Church”
(Pre-tribulation view)
During the Tribulation those who turn to “Jesus Alone”
will be rejected by this future church. This “State
Church” will be an instrument of the Antichrist during
the First half of the tribulation. During the Second
half this “State
Church”
will be destroyed by Satan since its usefulness is no
longer necessary. Satan will be himself for the world
to see. He will no longer need to hide behind a facade.
This
false church is pictured as the great whore, who rides
the beast. The whore flesh, will be eaten and burned
with fire. In symbolism this false church is destroyed
and turned to a system of worship for Antichrist who is
Satan incarnate. All who refuse to worship the Beast
will die killed, but those who accept Christ are seen in
Heaven. (Revelation 15:2)
1Then
one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and
talked with me, saying £to me, “Come, I will show you
the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many
waters, 2with whom the kings of the earth committed
fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made
drunk with the wine of her fornication.”3So
he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness.
And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was
full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns. 4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having
in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the
filthiness of £her fornication. 5And on her forehead a
name was written:MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF
THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.6I
saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and
with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw
her, I marveled with great amazement.15Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where
the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and
tongues. 16And the ten horns which you £saw on the
beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and
naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17For God
has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to
be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast,
until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman
whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the
kings of the earth.”
Revelation 17:1-6,15-16
Commercial Babylon is Destroyed
The
Antichrist will establish a world capital city.
This
capital city will probably be located in the area where
Babylon
used to exist. This future city will be the Economic
capital of the world. Several verses lead us to this
understanding Jeremiah 50-51 and Isaiah 13-14. Zechariah
locates the base of wickedness in Iraq, where Shinar is
located.
5Then
the angel who talked with me came out and said to me,
“Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes
forth.”6So I
asked, “What is it?” And he said, “It is a £basket that
is going forth.”He
also said, “This is their resemblance throughout the
earth: 7Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a
woman sitting inside the basket”; 8then he said, “This
is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket,
and threw the lead £cover over its mouth. 9Then I raised
my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming
with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like
the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket
between earth and heaven.10So
I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they
carrying the basket?”11And
he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of
£Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there
on its base.”
Zechariah 5:5-11
The
land of Shinar is known as Summer and is located in
modern day
Iraq.
Babylon was located between the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers. In addition, the destruction
Babylon
is again indicated in a future tense in Jeremiah and
Isaiah.
Some
other commentators feel that this future capital will be
located in Rome or another European city. Regardless of
the location a future capital city of the Antichrist
will rule over the world.
1After these things I saw another angel coming down from
heaven, having great authority, and the earth was
illuminated with his glory. 2And he cried £mightily with
a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is
fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a
prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every
unclean and hated bird! 3For all the nations have drunk
of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings
of the earth have committed fornication with her, and
the merchants of the earth have become rich through the
abundance of her luxury.”4And
I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of
her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you
receive of her plagues. 5For her sins £have reached to
heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6Render
to her just as she rendered £to you, and repay her
double according to her works; in the cup which she has
mixed, mix double for her. 7In the measure that she
glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same
measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her
heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not
see sorrow.’ 8Therefore her plagues will come in one
day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be
utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who
£judges her.9“The
kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived
luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when
they see the smoke of her burning, 10standing at a
distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas,
that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one
hour your judgment has come.’11“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn
over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:
12merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and
pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every
kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory,
every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze,
iron, and marble; 13and cinnamon and incense, fragrant
oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and
wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies
and souls of men. 14The fruit that your soul longed for
has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and
splendid have £gone from you, and you shall find them no
more at all. 15The merchants of these things, who became
rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her
torment, weeping and wailing, 16and saying, ‘Alas, alas,
that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple,
and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones
and pearls! 17For in one hour such great riches came to
nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship,
sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a
distance 18and cried out when they saw the smoke of her
burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?19“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping
and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city,
in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her
wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’20“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you £holy apostles
and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”21Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great
millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with
violence the great city
Babylon
shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.
22The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and
trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No
craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore,
and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you
anymore. 23The light of a lamp shall not shine in you
anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not
be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the
great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the
nations were deceived. 24And in her was found the blood
of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the
earth.”
Revelation 18
Armageddon
The
translated “Hills of Megiddo” this is an area north of
Jerusalem.
On this plain battles have been fought between
Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans, Crusaders and Arab
armies.Napoleon Bonaparte when he saw the plain of Megiddo said
with deep emotion, “This is the ideal battle ground for
all the armies of the world”
16And
they gathered them together to the place called in
Hebrew, £Armageddon.
Revelation 16:16
In
Heaven
The
144,000
The
144,000 Jewish males of Revelation 7 are now seen in
Heaven. The seeds they planted are bearing the fruit of
salvation after the rapture of the Church. Souls are
saved in the first and last half of the tribulation
period from every nation. When they have finished their
work they will also be killed by the Antichrist. But
their work will continue to bear fruit. The will be
called the first fruits of an obedient Jewish generation
that is looking to the return of Messiah.
1Then
I looked, and behold, £a Lamb standing on
Mount
Zion,
and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand,
£having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many
waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard
the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3They sang as
it were a new song before the throne, before the four
living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn
that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who
were redeemed from the earth. 4These are the ones who
were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These
are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These
were £redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God
and to the Lamb. 5And in their mouth was found no
£deceit, for they are without fault £before the throne
of God.
Revelation 14:1-5
Victors over the Beast are in Heaven
Many who fear death or discomfort will sell
their eternity. Those who understand eternity and weigh
the cost of rejecting Christ and make the decision for
Jesus will be considered victors. Here is a prime
example of Grace. Those who survive the first half of
the tribulation but are killed in the second half will
be winners in God’s view. Many who are not saved prior
to the rapture will be saved after the rapture.
2And
I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire,
and those who have the victory over the beast, over his
image and £over his mark and over the number of his
name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
3They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and
the song of the Lamb, saying:
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the £saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your
name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before
You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Revelation 15:2-4
Wedding of the Lamb 
The
Church is described as the bride of Christ in
Revelation.
1After these things I £heard a loud voice of a great
multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and
glory and honor and power belong to £the Lord our God!
2For true and righteous are His judgments, because He
has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with
her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of
His servants shed by her.” 3Again they said, “Alleluia!
Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4And the
twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell
down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying,
“Amen! Alleluia!” 5Then a voice came from the throne,
saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those
who fear Him, both£ small and great!” 6And
I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as
the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty
thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the£ Lord God
Omnipotent reigns! 7Let us be glad and rejoice and give
Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and
His wife has made herself ready.” 8And to her it was
granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright,
for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 19:1-8
Wedding Supper of he Lamb
9Then
he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called
to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me,
“These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:9
Christ returns with Church
11Now
I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He
who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were
like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.
He £had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His
name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in
heaven, clothed in £fine linen, white and clean,
followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth
goes a £sharp sword, that with it He should strike the
nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of
iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness
and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and
on His thigh a name written:
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