The Great Tribulation

Revelation chapters 8-18

As I finished my last letter in this chronicle of events, which will shortly be occurring during the time in which you are living post rapture, I had brought you up to the midpoint of the last 7 years of Earth’s history under the usurper Satan’s rule.

Remember, I have told you that this last 7 years, the Tribulation,  is the culmination of God’s plan to redeem back His creation from Satan, who was given rulership of the world’s kingdoms as a result of Adam’s sin and forfeiture of the “title deed” to Earth. As a result of Adam’s rebellion, he forfeited man’s rightful ownership of Planet Earth and, in essence, lost the “title deed,” if you will, to Satan the Deceiver. God’s overarching Plan for the Ages has been to—through Jesus—God the Son to:

(1) pay the penalty for sin incurred by inheritance to all of the descendants of Adam

(2) bring salvation to a lost, sin-cursed world through Jesus’ sinless life. Our redemption is made possible because Jesus is the God man. He and He alone thus qualified to pay the infinite penalty of sin that no fallen, sin-cursed member of humanity could ever hope to pay.

(3) By Jesus’ substitutionary death in our place, Jesus, being fully God and fully man, thus was able to pay the legal requirement of the payment for sin in full measure (that is the penalty incurred by sin) and thus redeem (buy back) that which was lost in Adam’s rebellion (our righteous standing before a holy God). This was so that, upon each person’s salvation, man’s “filthy rags” self-righteousness could be done away with. The saved sinner thereafter in his belief, then has the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed (transferred) to him.

(4) By the bodily resurrection of the victorious and risen Savior, mankind’s eternal salvation has now and forever been eternally set and secured by Christ’s victory over Sin, Satan, Hell, Death, and the Grave.

The “title deed” of Earth’s kingdom was lost and forfeited to Satan when Adam, by his deliberate disobedience, forfeited the rulership of Earth granted to him by the Creator. From that time until Messiah King returns to Earth, the Destroyer Satan has held legal dominion over every kingdom of the earth. For all of Earth’s history subsequent to the disobedience and fall of Adam, all aspects of creation have been subjugated and enslaved by the Law of Entropy, which is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. In essence this means that everything in the universe is decaying and dying.

From the instant of Adam’s rebellion, God’s perfectly created order is and has been devolving into chaos and disintegration as a direct result of Adam’s fall. Adam and Eve died spiritually the instant that they disobeyed God’s one and only requirement of them, to not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That was their one requirement, and they blew it – as God certainly knew, and Satan rightly suspected they would.

Additionally, the process of physical deterioration, which concluded in the ultimate deaths of their bodies (and as a result, ours as well), began in them the very moment they disobeyed God’s one rule – a rule that was meant for their spiritual and physical protection, by the way. Even animal life was affected by the curse of sin, because all flesh began to die physically from that point onward.

Such is the curse of Sin, and its fruit is death – both the physical death of the body (and far worse) spiritual death (eternal separation from God).

The very earth itself was cursed also as entropy, death, and decay began to eat away at God’s pristine creation. The stars and other celestial bodies too were affected by the curse of sin, for even the very stars in the vast multitude of galaxies within the celestial heavens also began to burn out and die.

The effects of Adam’s sin and rebellion have reverberated throughout the entirety of God’s created cosmos. This is why God hates sin. This is why mankind needed a perfect Redeemer, and this is why God the Son Himself knew even before He created anything that He would have to pay the penalty for sin that He knew would come, or else His fallen creation would have no hope and would be eternally damned.

God the Father knew beforehand that God the Son would have to die to redeem fallen man. Such is the love that God has for His creation that He Himself fashioned in His own image.

As we shall see, God is bringing to a close the millennia-old rebellious reign of the usurper of God’s creation. God is going to use these last 7 years to restore Paradise Lost; to exact final and ultimate justice upon Satan and upon all those who willingly follow him; upon all who have chosen to reject the free pardon of sin that God through Christ Jesus has made available to mankind.

God the Father through Jesus the Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit (the Triune Godhead consisting of 3 distinct Persons yet still ONE God), made eternal salvation possible and freely offers it to “whosoever” is willing to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ for his/her salvation.

Jesus, being the 2nd Person of the Trinity and therefore part of the Triune Godhead, nevertheless chose to clothe Himself in mortal flesh, to come to Earth – the God-man — and die in our place in order that HE might pay the penalty exacted by sin and rebellion, and thus satisfy the infinite justice demanded by a holy God, a penalty that no fallen, sinful human being could ever hope to pay.

Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, died a sinner’s death so that HE could ransom and redeem fallen man. He sealed AND settled mankind’s salvation and eternal redemption when He was bodily resurrected from the dead three days later. Here is the reason you are now in the left-behind situation you have found yourself in. Salvation in Jesus Christ alone is the only remedy to your eternal dilemma.

During these last 7 years, God is wrapping up all of fallen human history. He is preparing to renovate and restore this sin-wrecked world. He is purifying a remnant of His chosen people, Israel, in preparation for fulfilling ALL of the covenant promises that He made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their physical descendants nearly 4,000 years ago.

He, King Jesus, is preparing to judge ALL SIN in order to set up His earthly kingdom which will last for 1,000 years, after which TIME itself, as a created construct, will cease to exist and will merge into eternity in a newly-created, eternal new heavens and new Earth.

This is an explanation of the purpose of these last 7 years. As we prepare to move forward through the last 3 ½ years of what will be even greater horrendous destruction on a level unknown to mankind, you can take great comfort and hope in understanding God’s plan and purpose of the ages that is being fulfilled and finalized in preparation for the earthly reign of the Prince of Peace – the Lord Jesus Christ.

From here on out, the destruction will be staggering. The overwhelming majority of both believers and unbelievers will most likely not survive. Do not fear.

Let us now move, with great solemnity, into the next events you will be facing during these last 3 ½ years.

Remember what has already occurred by this point in time: there will have been a devastating World War that will have resulted in massive death along with ensuing pandemic diseases. The entire globe will have suffered a famine of such devastation that the entire world population (except of course for the uber-rich elites) will have been so affected that it will take a day’s work to be able to buy one meal for one person.

You will have witnessed earthquakes, volcanic activity, and unprecedented weather anomalies that will have further reduced the already decimated crops; and you will have seen every aspect of the natural world turned on its head.

Just after the ecological and astronomical judgments have passed that will have destroyed one third (1/3) of all trees, grass, oceans, fresh water sources, and will have darkened the light of the sun and moon by a third, here is what is coming next:

(1) There will be some type of eruption, quite possibly a volcanic eruption, or perhaps this eruption will occur from a giant ground fissure opening which will come about as the result of a massive earthquake. From this event (whatever form it takes), will spew forth a demonic horde of locust-like creatures that will be released from “the bottomless pit” (the abyss).

These unholy terrors will be released and loosed upon mankind by a powerful fallen angel. Their number will be so vast that their emergence en masse will appear as the “smoke of a great furnace,” – so much so that the “sun and the air were [will be] darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.” (See Revelation 9:1).

Exactly WHAT these creatures are is unknown to us on this side of the rapture. Whether or not these are visible, physical manifestations or metaphysical in nature (unseen in the natural physical world) I cannot say. You will know for sure.

It is highly probable that these things will be visible, since the Word of God specifically states that the sheer number and volume of them appear to blot out the sun. Also, the Bible takes great care to explain, not just their physical appearance, but the sound made by the beating of their wings. So that lends credence to the speculation on our part at least, that these things, whatever they turn out to be, will be both visible and auditory within this earthly dimension.

Either way, what I can only speculate upon, you will know for sure once they are released from their abyssal prison and appear here on Earth in this dimension. Make no mistake; these creatures are UTTERLY DEMONIC in nature, in character, and in appearance. You can read about their physical description in Revelation chapter 9, verses 7-10.

They are supernaturally powerful and completely wicked to the core. They will have a “leader” who is a powerful, demonic entity named ABADDON (his name in Greek is called APOLLYON). This demonic ruler is (will be) in charge of these creatures. I do not know whether he will be visible in this dimension either or only visible in the spiritual realm; you will know.

There is a similarity to natural locusts only in the sheer number of them and in their destructive power, but that is where ANY similarity ends. These are SUPERNATURAL creatures which will be allowed by God to bring excruciating, physical torment upon all those who are followers of the Antichrist – those who have willfully rejected God — all those who “have not the seal of God upon their foreheads.” Here is what they will and will not be allowed to do:

(2) God will NOT allow these things to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, or any tree (as a natural, earthly locust swarm would do).

(3) They will be permitted to torment “only those who have NOT the ‘seal of God’ in their foreheads.”

(4) They are NOT ALLOWED TO KILL any person, but rather to TORMENT the “earth dwellers” (God’s term for those who are willfully lost – the Christ rejecters who will not come to salvation, and who have accepted the “mark of the Antichrist in their right hands or in their foreheads”).

(5) They are allowed to torment the “earth dwellers” for a LIMITED period of time – 5 months.

(6) The physical agonies inflicted by these creatures will be so great that those suffering from their torments will plead for the release of death, but God will refuse to allow the afflicted ones to die.

After this, the next horrendous judgment will begin almost immediately.

Keep reading. Things are only going to get worse as God’s full wrath and fury is (will be) finally poured out upon all who have chosen to reject Christ – all who follow and worship the Antichrist.

The Great Tribulation

Revelation chapters 8-18

As I finished the previous article, I had brought you from the beginning events post rapture to the midpoint of this last 7-year time period under the usurper Satan’s regime. After this point, things will deteriorate rapidly. The judgments that are to come will be far worse than anything that will have happened so far.

You need to prepare yourself to either accept Christ now, if you are still lost (that is if you have still not accepted the fact that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and have not as yet believed in Jesus Christ alone for salvation according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Once you do believe, you must remain faithful EVEN UNTO DEATH. You will not have to rely on your own failing efforts; the Holy Spirit of God will be with you to enable you to withstand whatever comes your way – including your martyrdom if it comes to that.

From here on out, until King Jesus the Messiah returns, the loss of life and complete planetary devastation that has commenced, and will continue to ramp up, will be the outpouring of wrath from a merciful God whose cup of indignation has finally been filled to overflowing, and whose awesome righteous wrath has finally been kindled.

The Ancient of Days is about to fully unleash His wrath, mete out His justice, and avenge the blood of all of His saints from every era and dispensation. He is now going to avenge all those who have endured the hatred of the Great Deceiver – that slandering, murderous, rebellious Dragon – the fallen cherub Satan, along with all those who have willingly chosen to follow this Deceiver in his rebellion in such a vile, sin-saturated world.

The risen Lamb – the Lion of Judah – is about to roar out the terrifying culmination of His vengeance from the throne room of Heaven, and the atmospheric heavens along with the very foundations of Planet Earth are about to be shaken as never before in human history.

But before we proceed any further, let me once again, for just a moment, back up to the instant right after the rapture has occurred, to remind you yet again of some truths of which I’ve already told you but which bear repeating. Never forget that the hallmark of Satan is deception.

Remember that I told you in earlier epistles that there will be many “religious” people who will have been left behind. Religion is always man’s attempt to reconcile himself to God on his (man’s) own terms apart from God’s terms. True Christianity as defined by the Bible is not and never has been a “religion.” In fact, Christianity as defined by the Bible stands diametrically opposed to every “religion” on earth, including all that calls itself “Christian” but which is in reality a false Christianity, bearing NO resemblance to true Biblical Christianity.

There will be religious leaders from every religion, denomination, and cult known to man (including, sad to say, many well-known and big-name evangelical leaders who call themselves “Christians” but who are not true Christians as defined by the Bible).

These apostate religions and religious leaders will still be here post rapture, and they will band together under one ecumenical religious umbrella, overseen by a great and powerful world religious leader (pay particular attention to the Roman Catholic Church).

Religious diversity and tolerance will be the popular rallying cry, at least during the first half of the Tribulation period, just as it is today. Do you recall the oh-so-tolerant sounding cry of COEXIST? Well, that will be the very banner under which all of the left-behind false religions (including a milder form of Islam) will unite.

Do not be at all surprised to find that most, if not all, of the most well-known “prosperity” and/or “social gospel” preachers and teachers – the false “Word of Faith/name-it-and-claim-it teachers and preachers (who are nothing more than slick, religious snake oil salesmen who have spent their lives swelling their obscenely fat bank accounts by fleecing the elderly, the foolish, and the undiscerning of the majority of their money) – the “seeker sensitive,” all-inclusive, let’s-just-all-coexist Christian-in-name-only groups and leaders will also have been left behind.

It will only be those whose Christianity followed the Bible – the Biblical “fundamentalists” as we were derisively called – those of us who believed and took the Bible literally, who followed Christ literally according to the scriptures that will have been taken in the great vanishing that was the rapture of the Church.

These false CINOs (Christians in name only) will be left here after the rapture, because they NEVER believed in Christ alone for their salvation. This is why they are still here post rapture, and why they did not go with the genuine church of Jesus Christ when He came to catch away His body/bride, when the rapture occurred.

These false, left-behind religious ones will join themselves with the Roman Catholic hierarchy, the Hindus, the Buddhists, the New Agers, the Mormons, and ALL of the other myriad of false religions to bring DECEPTION to those of you left behind after the rapture of the true Church has occurred. Do not be deceived by them and do not follow them under any circumstances. They themselves are deceived and will only lead you further into deception and into an eternity in Hell.

The first half of the Tribulation will be filled with this false religious system that has its roots in ancient Babylonian paganism. All of these false religions had their beginnings in ancient Babylon under the first “world ruler” named Nimrod. Nimrod ruled ancient Babylon, located on the Plains of Shinar, thousands and thousands of years ago. However, when the GREAT Tribulation begins (the last 3 ½ years I am about to address further), God is going to bring all of that ancient paganism and perversion in its many and varied forms to its complete and final end.

Keep this in mind, for as you shall soon see, God is going to bring this entire false religious travesty down as well as the kingdom of Satan ruled by the Antichrist and his False Prophet, the religious leader who will head up the false world religion in its myriad of forms.

Prepare now, for this is what is coming during these last 3 ½ years – the time Jesus Himself termed the GREAT Tribulation:

(1) There will be continued ecological events such as unprecedentedly violent earthquakes on a scale never before recorded and in places never before affected by them, as well as in the expected places along known fault lines. There will be volcanic eruptions of unheard of severity, tsunamis, and other geological upheavals on an unprecedented and previously unknown scale. These will be in diverse places and will rise exponentially in both frequency and severity.

This geological devastation will be GLOBAL in scope. Not one place on earth will be immune from it. A THIRD PART OF THE TREES AND GRASS WILL BE BURNED UP. The famine, already global in scope, will worsen dramatically as a result of these things (Revelation 6:12; 8:7).

(2) There will be astronomical events that will occur: asteroids, meteors, comets, and something that the Apostle John recorded as being “something like a great burning mountain” (whatever that will be) that will strike the oceans. As a result, ONE THIRD PART OF THE SEA “BECAME (will become) BLOOD” as ONE THIRD OF ALL SEA LIFE IS KILLED, AND ONE THIRD OF ALL SHIPS ARE DESTROYED (Revelation 8: 8-9).

(3) A “burning star from heaven” will strike the fresh water sources such as lakes, rivers, creeks, and streams, etc. ONE THIRD OF ALL FRESH WATER SOURCES WILL BECOME POISONED AND CONTAMINATED. Think about this! What a calamity it will be for man and animals not to be able to find sufficient, unpolluted and safe drinking water! This catastrophic devastation will result in even more loss of life (Revelation 8:10-11).

(4) As a direct result of the above catastrophic events, THE SUN AND MOON WILL BE DARKENED FOR ONE THIRD PART OF THE DAY AND NIGHT. The atmosphere and the amount of breathable air will be so polluted, the atmosphere so obscured, that the very light of the sun and moon will be diminished by ONE THIRD. One’s ability to breathe will be seriously impaired from the thickly poisoned and polluted air that will pollute ONE THIRD of the Planet. MANY MORE WILL DIE (Revelation 8:12-13).

This is only the beginning. I will pick up in the next entry with the next series of judgments that will swiftly follow these in the 2nd part of The Great Tribulation.

Keep reading.