There are no words to describe how bad the Tribulation period is going to be; one-fourth of earth’s population will die (Rev. 6:7-8); one-third of those who are left will die (Rev. 9:13-21). Satan will be cast down to this earth, having great wrath because his time is short (Rev. 12:12), and more.
It will be a time of trouble such as the world has never seen and there will never be anything like it again (Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21). No one would survive except for the fact that God has limited the Tribulation period to seven years (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:22).
Even though multitudes will die, good comes to those who love God (Rom. 8:28) and a great number, greater than anyone can count will be saved. These new believers will stand before the throne of God in heaven praising Him and His Lamb Jesus (Rev. 7:9-10). Heaven will be filled with rejoicing, shouting and worship (Rev. 7:11-12).
But sin will still be rampaging on earth and despite the fact that God will provide 144,000 Jews to evangelize the world (and despite the fact that billions have died), multitudes will still refuse to repent of their sins (Rev. 7:4-8; 9:20).
And the Holy Spirit identified the main sins that they will commit: devil worship, idolatry, murder, sorcery (the Greek word is pharmakeion or drugs and most can be legally purchased at pharmacies), fornication and theft.
Concerning devil worship, many Christians are shocked because a New York group called the Satanic Temple has been allowed to erect a statue of Satan (Baphomet) in Detroit, MI; they have tried to erect one in Oklahoma City, OK (this may be on hold); they are holding “Friends of Satan” forums, etc.
But an increase in Satan worship is just one more sign of where the world is on God’s prophetic clock. Multitudes are going to make it their religion of choice (Rev. 13:4).
Concerning idolatry, worshipping idols and images has been a great sin throughout history (in Israel during Old Testament Times, in ancient Greece, in the Roman Empire, in the Roman Catholic Church, in other religions, etc.).
But worshipping idols should be expected if humanity is approaching the Tribulation period because all of the lost will worship the image of Antichrist during that awful time (Rev. 13:15-18).
Concerning murders, many Christians are shocked because approximately 25 law enforcement officials have been murdered in the first eight months of 2015, Planned Parenthood has become a slaughterhouse that butchers babies and sells their body parts and children have been shot at schools (Columbine, VA Tech, etc.).
We are shocked because so many people are being killed in Chicago, Baltimore and other cities; shocked because Christians have been shot in church (the South Carolina church, etc), and because of the on-air WDBJ-TV shootings, etc. But this societal degeneration should be recognized as another important indicator of the coming Tribulation period.
And just this past week, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, whom U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning placed in the custody of U.S. Marshals who took her to Carter County jail for contempt of court; for refusing to uphold a court order to issue marriage licenses to gay couples due to her faith as an Apostolic Christian.
Concerning sorcery (drugs), marijuana has been legalized in two states and there is a good chance that it will soon be legalized in several other states. There are federal laws that forbid this. But the U.S. Department of Justice has decided not to enforce those laws.
America is groaning under the curse of sin and big part of the problem is people who ignore sin and refuse to prosecute it (Gen. 3:17; Rom. 8:20-22).
Concerning fornication, many Christians were stunned for days when the U.S. Supreme Court ignored the Word of God and legalized gay marriage. Many marriages broke up when husbands and wives learned that their spouse is on the Ashley Madison cheat list.
Many pastors, Sunday school teachers, deacons and others were forced to resign when their name appeared on the list. These things show that society is rapidly descending toward the fornication of the prophesied Tribulation period society.
Concerning theft, viewers were shocked when the Director of Community Relations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggested that police should stop prosecuting people who shoplift from Wal-Mart and Target.
And as if that isn’t bizarre enough, two professors called for the police to stop patrolling certain areas of the city. Light is being exchanged for darkness.
The bottom line is that there is a strikingly unusual uptick in sin and it has a strange resemblance to Tribulation period events. Surely the Rapture is near and there is no reason for God’s people to despair because Jesus is preparing new homes for His people.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:1-4).
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck