Stunning Catastrophes of the Tribulation / Their Timing & Purpose

04 Saturday Nov 2017

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Playing Games

Have you ever played the game of Twenty-One Questions? If not, you may have said or heard something like, “What is this … twenty-one questions?” Which can be a response to being asked one too many questions, especially those that are personal. Why is twenty-one questions still a catch-phrase, particularly among us Baby Boomers?

Twenty-One was one of the many television game shows which became widely and wildly popular during the 1950s. Two contestants were placed in separate sound-proof booths; the first to get to 21 points by successfully answering the questions was the winner. Hosted by Jack Barry, it aired in 1956; but lasted only three years. Its’ short television shelf-life was not a result of poor ratings; rather, it was the first game show (of a few) discovered to be “rigged” in various ways.

Whether a Baby Boomer or not, many may be familiar with another T.V. game show that aired in 1955. Several years later it, too, was discovered to have been fixed. If you don’t remember that show or are too young to have ever seen it, my guess is that you’ve still said or heard the following phrase: “That’s the $64,000.00 Question!”

The name of the show? What else? The $64,000.00 Question.

Some of the popular television game shows first aired in the 50s that were not tainted: The Price Is Right, This Is Your Life, What’s My Line, and To Tell the Truth.

(The TV Game Show, Twenty-One)

So what is the more modern version of Twenty-One Questions?

From the online source WikiHow, we read (quote in italics):

…The game “21 Questions” is a great game to play if you are trying to get to know someone, have a group of friends who want to know more about each other, or have a romantic partner you want to learn more about…”

In Understanding the Game of today’s Twenty-One Questions, Point 4 subtitled Consider the Setting, the article gives examples of questions to ask:

If meeting with members of a book club or writer’s group, you might want to ask questions like, “What is your favorite book?”… If meeting with a church group, consider questions such as, “What is your favorite Bible verse/story?”

Point #2 (of seven rule points) is subtitled: Identify what you want to know.

Point 5: Show respect.

Point 6: Identify off-limits questions.

Point 7: Set rules for how to pass on a question.

It’s sometimes fun to reminisce, particularly if the nostalgia takes us back to what we think (or maybe really were) the good old days!

For the purpose of this week’s Eye of Prophecy article we need to change a couple of the rules of Twenty-One Questions. For example: there are no-off limits questions when it comes down to our long-term eternal destiny … heaven or hell. There should be no passing on questions that challenge a person’s lack of concern for or interest in the short-term (soon-to-come) consequences of what will be the most terrible time of human history.

Stay tuned and we’ll look at:

Twenty-One Reasons Not To Play Games with the Future

All twenty-one reasons are graphically and powerfully portrayed in the book of Revelation. The apocalyptic last days of the end times including twenty-one colossal catastrophes are summarily lumped together in many Biblical prophecies under the term, Day of the Lord—which entails the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, The Return of Messiah Jesus, and the Millennium. By now you’ve probably realized that the twenty-one events are part and parcel of the Great Tribulation.

“In all history there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for my people Israel. Yet in the end they will be saved!” (Jeremiah 30:7).

From the prophet Daniel: “…Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence…” (Daniel 12:1).

Some 550 years later, Messiah Jesus, himself, affirmed and expanded on Daniel’s prophecy.

“For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones” (Matthew 24:21-22).

There are twenty-one specific calamities that will take place during the Great Tribulation in which billions will die from more war, disease, famine, murder, natural and supernatural disasters than the human race has experienced in all of its history to date. (Please see, Shocking Statistics of the Tribulation posted 6-6-15 in Eye of Prophecy, which details the terrible death toll of the tribulation).

Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls

The twenty-one judgments listed in Revelation are divided into three sets of seven. Three: the divine number that represents and expresses our majestic Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Seven: the finality of God’s purpose, providence, and justice.

Seven Seals: Broken one at a time by Jesus Christ.

Seven Trumpets: Blown/heralded by seven angels.

Seven Bowls: Poured out on the earth. “…Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues which would bring God’s wrath to completion” (Revelation 15:1).

We want to focus primarily on the when, why, and who of these massive judgments. When will (spacing and timing) the twenty-one catastrophes occur … such as first half or second half of the Great Tribulation? Why (what is the overriding purpose) must they take place? Who will be affected the most?

Beginning with a twofold comprehensive premise: (1) God’s wrath poured out on a totally corrupt, evil, and unremorseful world. (2) But for the specific purpose to get the attention of all unbelievers, giving them one final clear-cut (black and white decision … no gray areas) opportunity for salvation by choosing the true Messiah, Jesus. Or, at the peril of eternal death, to follow the false messiah in one last attempt for mankind to (unsuccessfully) prove that the human race can do what only God can do: save us from self-destruction—a direct result of our sinful nature and the consequences thereof. Thereby, establishing a Kingdom of true justice and real peace on the earth.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

It often takes troubled times and extreme events to shake us out of spiritual apathy. To turn us to our Creator, and to remind us that we are desperately in need of Biblical redemption (believing and receiving Messiah Jesus as personal Savior) in order to live forever in heaven and escape eternal separation from God … in hell.

Indeed, it’s not a game. Yet we can draw from the analogy of Twenty-One Questions, especially rules 2 & 5. What is it you want to know? What is it you should know? Because the stakes are so high, wouldn’t it be good to identify the big-picture long-term questions that will determine our eternal destiny. And the short-term (near future) issue of whether we will be taken in the glorious Rapture or left behind to experience the greatest soul-shocking, gut-wrenching, and heart-failing episode of all time—the Great Tribulation. How much respect for Biblical prophecy do you have? Should you have?

Unbelievers often say something to the effect, “Aren’t there enough horrible things happening all over the world. Why bring up predictions of more gloom and doom?” Answer: Because that’s exactly what the Day of the Lord will be to those who have rejected Messiah Jesus, who said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Then he backed up his claim as the Son of God by rising from the dead.

Sadly, the mindset of so many unbelievers is just as it was in Noah’s day … eat, drink, and be merry. Nothing wrong with that, unless it consumes one’s thoughts, actions, and entire purpose in life at the exclusion of what will matter most when God’s Day of Judgment comes.

(Noah & His Family Were In The Ark Seven Day Before The Rain Even Began … Genesis 7:10)

“Come, they say, let’s get some wine and have a party. Let’s all get drunk. Then tomorrow we’ll do it again and have an even bigger party!” (Isaiah 56:12).

Or the persistent pursuit of power, prestige, and pleasure.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul. Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26, words of Jesus).

“Sound the alarm in Jerusalem! Raise the battle cry on my holy mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the Lord is upon us. It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick clouds and deep blackness…” (Joel 2:1-2).

The “everyone” mentioned by the prophet Joel (his prophecy is both near future and distant future—end times) are ultimately unbelievers left behind when believers are taken to heaven by Jesus at the Rapture. Believers need not tremble or be in fear of the Day of the Lord, as we will be spared from the horror of the Great Tribulation. But we are to be alert, ready at all times. We should be keenly interested in what’s happening in the world and see how the ongoing developments of the last seventy years or so fit precisely into the final (Omega) generation spoken of by Jesus.

The Seven Seals

The First Four Seals: Known the world over as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, depicted in Revelation 6:1-8.

First is a white horse whose rider represents the preparation of nations for the “many battles” (Revelation 6:2) that will take place after the chaotic vacuum created by the disappearance of hundreds of millions (believers) from the earth. Several nations and their leaders will seize the opportunity to do battle with enemies they think are ripe for the taking.

The second horse is red. Its rider represents the actual wars that will take place or those already in progress that will intensify exponentially after the Rapture. Such as the battles in the Middle East and conflicts between African nations. Or, an armed confrontation between the United States and Korea. Ethnic and national hostilities will erupt in many regions of the earth.

“…Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere” (Revelation 6:4).

The third horse is black. Its rider depicts global economic collapse and famine.

The fourth horse is pale green. Its rider is death and the grave itself, denoting the composite death and destruction caused by the three horsemen before it. The terrifying result: “…These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals” (Revelation 6:8).

When these seals are broken, the Lord will permit the human race to unleash the horror of aggressive war and terrorism—politically, economically, and militarily—like never before. However, the four horses are not direct judgments from God. They are man-made, but this time without any divine intervention or restrictions. Despite the carnage of wars throughout history (none more so than World War I & II), it could have been worse … were it not for the providential limitation God places on such things. That’s why Jesus said no one would survive the Tribulation if he didn’t stop it in time (Matthew 24:22).

Many have asked down through the years: “Why does God allow evil? And, “Why doesn’t God put an end to violence and wickedness?”

Answer: He did at one time … the Great Flood of Noah’s day. Through Noah’s family (just eight people), he replenished the earth and gave mankind a chance to start over. The long and short of it is that we “blew it” again. We proved to God and ourselves just how selfishly wicked we are.

One day soon, God’s patience will run out. Why that has taken thousands of years is for God alone to know. But Scripture gives us general clues. It has to do with (as alluded to earlier) God allowing the human race to choose to do what is right or wrong; thereby, demonstrating whether we’ve succeeded or failed (through various kinds of government) to achieve peace and stability on planet Earth. The outcome has been all too futilely apparent.

All the while, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise (the 2^nd coming of Christ), as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (II Peter 3:9, parenthesis mine … based on verse 4).

The absolute horror of one-fourth of the world’s population dying in the early part of the Great Tribulation will be a terrible testament to the evil that men do. Moreover, by the time God’s wrath is poured out (beginning with the 6^th Seal), all will see the justified relevance of God’s anger. They will know why God is judging the earth so severely.

Fifth Seal: Describes the tribulation saints pleading with the Lord to avenge their deaths at the hands of “the people who belong to this world” (Revelation 6:10). Throughout Revelation, the term those who belong to the world refers to unbelievers who choose Antichrist over Messiah Jesus and refuse to repent of their sins.

Sixth Seal: This is when God begins to intervene directly in the affairs of mankind on a global scale not seen since the Great Flood. Starting with a massive earthquake and (implied) volcanic eruptions from which: “…The sky was rolled up like a scroll…” (Revelation 6:14).

“Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?’” (Revelation 6:15-17).

At least many people will acknowledge that this sixth seal judgment was directly from God. I believe millions will—up to and including that time—turn to the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, for salvation. But billions more will not. Despite knowing that the Day of the Lord is upon them, they will continue to give allegiance to Antichrist (Nero) as their messiah.

As indicated in a few prior Eye of Prophecy articles, including last week’s, there is a striking similarity between the fifth and sixth seals along with the first trumpet judgment and the specific disasters that the Lord inflicts on the Gog/Magog armies (see Ezekiel 38 & 39). Which is further corroboration that the Gog/Magog invasion will take place within the first 1 ½ years or so of the Tribulation.

Seventh Seal: The last seal also results in a “terrible earthquake” (Revelation 8:5), and is a preparation for the next set of world-wide cataclysmic disasters.

The Seven Trumpets

First Four Trumpets: (1) One-third of the earth on fire burning the trees and green grass. (2) One-third of the oceans turned into blood, with one-third of all sea-life and one-third of the ships destroyed. (3) One-third of the rivers and springs of water polluted, “…and many people died from drinking the bitter water” (Revelation 8:11). (4) One-third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened, with no light at all during one-third of the day and one-third of the night.

Although these four plagues are supernaturally imposed by the Lord, each involves heavenly bodies and earthly elements. It’s divine judgment through enormous natural disasters. What many have labeled for centuries as, “The Wrath of God.”

It’s also apparent that these disasters will include friendly casualties; there’s no indication that tribulation saints will be spared. It’s also deductively evident in Revelation that more saints will be murdered for their faith than those who die in the natural disasters.

Not so, however, when the fifth trumpet is blown; we see an astonishing announcement after the fourth trumpet judgment is finished.

A Spectacular Proclamation Before the Fifth Trumpet

“Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, ‘Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets’” (Revelation 8:13, italics for emphasis).

The italicized portion of the above passage is the second time we see the phrase (or paraphrase), “all who belong to the world.” This descriptive term is also found in Revelation 11:10; 13:8; 13:14; and 17:8. Other designations with the same meaning are used in Revelation 9:4 (those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads), and Revelation 14:9 and 16:2—those who worshipped the beast or his statue, or who took his mark. Each is an unmistakable identification of the unsaved who refused to, “…repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:21). This obstinate defiance of and rebellion against God—despite overwhelming evidence that God, himself, was pouring out his wrath on them—is also mentioned other times in Revelation. Even to the extent that unbelievers begin to curse God.

Thus, there is a demarcation at this juncture of the Tribulation. God’s wrath has now begun specifically against the ungodly, and will continue in the last two trumpets and all seven bowls against Antichrist (Nero), his ten-nation coalition, and all the peoples of the world who have sworn allegiance to Nero by worshipping him, his statue, and/or taking the mark of his name or number.

This leads to the convincing conclusion that the fifth trumpet will be blown at or very shortly after the half-way point of the Tribulation. Which is the point when Antichrist Nero will break his treaty with Israel (see Daniel 9:27). Nero will have captivated the world’s attention by reappearing from the Abyss (Revelation 17:7-8), which the world will see as a return from the dead at the outset of the Tribulation (Revelation 13). However, it’s not until halfway through the Tribulation—to include consolidation of his ten-nation coalition by fully convincing the leaders and governments of those nations that he is, in fact, the Roman Emperor Nero—that God will allow Satan to impart extensive unbridled power to Nero.

“…And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5).

But beware you principalities and powers of darkness and people of the world who, “…loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil” (John 3:19). When Nero is afforded even more natural and unnatural power and authority—straight from the gates of hell—he and his kingdom will experience exponentially the full fury of God’s wrath. It begins with the:

Fifth Trumpet: This is the first truly supernatural expression of God’s supreme power, in contrast to the natural disasters up to this point of the Tribulation. The Lord permits the embodied demonic angels who have been imprisoned in the Abyss since the Great Flood (alongside of Nero for the last two thousand years) to be released. Listen to what they will do and to whom:

“They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!” (Revelation 9:4-6, italics to emphasize that those attacked by the demonic angels were one and the same as those “who belong to the world”).

(Artist Rendition of the Locusts from the Abyss)

Then we read, “The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!” (Verse 12).

Sixth Trumpet: This is another exercise of God’s absolute divine sovereignty by releasing four evil angels who lead a vast army of demonic angels (could be the same angels of the fifth trumpet or other evil angels or a combination of wicked angels and human armies).

“Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth. I heard the size of their army, which was 200 million mounted troops” (Revelation 9:15-16).

We know that the incredible death and destruction unleashed by this vast army will also be directed against unbelievers. Why? Because, “…the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of the evil deeds and turn to God…” (Verse 20).

Seventh Trumpet: “…Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm” (Revelation 11:19). This is the third of four earthquakes during the twenty-one judgments.

However, before the actual execution of the 7^th Trumpet judgment, there is an another awesome announcement that stunningly signals the beginning of the end of the beginning of the Tribulation. It is now time for the Lord to vent the maximum ferocity of his wrath against the remaining depraved, defiant, ungodly, unjust, and unrepentant inhabitants of the earth. With, however, sufficient restraint so as not to wipe out the human race, as the Lord did with Noah’s flood. And with the express purpose of purifying and preparing the earth for the Kingdom of God.

Read with me:

“The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

“…We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power, and have begun to reign. The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come … It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth” (Revelation 11:16-18, italics for emphasis).

Earlier in Revelation (before the judgments began), we read these words: “…Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come” (Revelation 4:8, italics for emphasis).

Do you see the difference in the italicized words of the above two passages? When we get to the 7^th Trumpet, it is no longer a matter of our great and glorious God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who is “still to come.” His magnificent reign has begun. There’s nothing Satan, Antichrist, or the False Prophet can do about it, although they will still arrogantly and vainly try.

Now it’s time for evil (personified) to drink the full cup of God’s wrath to the last drop.

The Seven Bowls

It’s not quite to the point where the Antichrist and his followers haven’t seen anything yet. But it’s close to that, because the final seven catastrophes are unimaginable, especially the last one.

Notice once again against whom the bullseye target of God’s retribution is drawn.

First Bowl: “So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshipped his statue” (Revelation 16:2).

By this time, all or nearly all who have chosen Nero as their (false) messiah will have taken the mark of his name or number in their forehead or right hand (see Revelation 13:16).

Second Bowl: “Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died” (Revelation 16:3).

Incredible! The remaining two-thirds of the seas not contaminated in the 2^nd Trumpet have now been ravaged by death.

*Note: Prior to the bowl judgments we read a second time about the tribulation saints that were first introduced in the fifth seal … those who had been killed earlier in the Tribulation. We now see that more of their brothers and sisters in Christ (Rev. 6:10-11) had also been martyred.

“…And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name…” (Revelation 15:2). Though they had been slain, theirs was the ultimate victory—everlasting life instead of eternal death, which would be the fate of those who belong to the world.

Thus, the strong implication is that by now the vast majority of the remaining people on earth are unbelievers—those that follow Antichrist; also those who don’t, but still have not turned to God and Messiah Jesus.

Third Bowl: Just like the 3^rd Trumpet blast, this bowl judgment was poured out on the inland bodies of fresh water all over the earth. Likewise, the remaining two-thirds will turn to blood. And the angel who poured out this bowl proclaims:

“…You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments. Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward. And I heard a voice from the altar, saying, ‘Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just’” (Revelation 16:5-7).

Fourth Bowl: Another extraordinary event—a solar flare of epic (Biblical!) proportions. Yet with the same obstinate response of unbelievers:

“Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory” (Revelation 16:8-9).

This is also another indication that the main purpose of these awesome events is to give unbelievers one last chance to acknowledge the Lord. Like the Exodus plagues against Pharaoh and Egypt: after each Tribulation judgment, people will be faced yet again with the decision to turn to God for salvation or harden their heart even more.

Fifth Bowl: “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God” (Revelation 16:10-11).

This is eerily similar to the 9^th plague against the Egyptians before the Exodus. “…A deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived” (Exodus 10:22).

Darkness so thick it could be cut with a knife! But only on, over, and around the Antichrist and his followers. And it will last much longer than three days.

Sixth Bowl: “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance” (Revelation 16:12).

By combining the sixth bowl with Daniel 11:36-45, here we see the definitive Biblical passages on the final battle of the ages … what virtually the entire world knows as Armageddon. Not long after the kings of the east (and the south—Daniel 11) march on Antichrist, all of these armies will join together to take on the rider of the true white horse (contrasted to the first seal horse), who is none other than Messiah Jesus, King of all kings and Lord of all lords (See Revelation 19:11-21).

During that epic battle to end all battles, Antichrist and the False Prophet will be seized and thrown alive into the Lake of Fire. Satan will be bound during the 1000-year reign of Messiah and believers on the earth.

Seventh Bowl: Now the end has come with inconceivable devastation that will dwarf all the disasters before it. Here, I would like to defer to an excerpt from the aforementioned Eye of Prophecy article, Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation (in italics):

Although all of the apocalyptic events allowed or caused by God are exceptional, none more so than the final earth-shattering demonstration of God’s power. Every time I read it, I shake my head in disbelief. I repeat the words, but they still do not compute. My imagination lags far behind the stunning reality of it all. A comparative image comes to mind; however, I realize that it is a fully inadequate analogy. I’ll mention it anyway—in order to gain a partial perspective and picture of how the final bowl judgment of God will surpass of all the catastrophes preceding it. The imagery that comes to mind is that of a lengthy fire-works display that culminates in the greatest, most magnificent grand finale ever seen. But the resemblance is similar only in form, certainly not in substance. Here is God’s final Tribulation judgment:

“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple saying, ‘It is finished!’ Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. The great city of Babylon (Rome) split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble … And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm” (Revelation 16:17-21).

Once again, absolutely incredible! Not just cities all over the earth crumbling into rubble, or every single island—think of the Hawaiian Islands—completely disappearing (giant tsunamis that not only inundate but sink the islands), and all of the earth’s mountains flattened into level plains. No, that isn’t what causes the unrepentant who are left on the earth to curse God once again. It was the giant hailstones that obviously were even more devastating than the other colossal calamities. The disaster depicted in the recently released movie, San Andreas, is nothing more than a tiny dot on a Seismograph compared to this unbelievably powerful world-wide earthquake, its aftermath, and the hailstorm to follow in this final and most fearsome judgment of all.

Things to Ponder

Based on persuasive Biblical documentation and associations, I believe we’ve identified which judgments will take place in the first half and the second half of the Great Tribulation. There are eleven events before the half-way mark and ten afterwards. (Actually, ten and ten, as will shortly be explained!) There’s a lot of symmetry just in that apportionment alone. Now let’s see if we can fine tune the sequential timing/spacing of all twenty-one events. Granted, this will involve some speculation, but supposition that is derived from correlating evidence in Revelation that can logically lead to this premise:

Due to the continuous and consecutive nature of the judgements and God’s sovereign sense of order and distribution of the plagues throughout seven years, there’s every reason to believe that each judgment will take place over a fairly equal span of time, from the end of one to the beginning of the next judgment … with brief short-time overlaps.

There’s a specific example on which to base this premise: the five months duration in which the locusts (symbolical representation of demonic angels from the Abyss) torment unbelievers to the extent that they wished they were dead.

We begin with the 84 months of the tribulation (7 years x 12 months). Then we divide this time span by 21 (judgments) resulting in a period of four months (average between events).

However, in referring to Daniel Chapter 12, there is an additional 75 days (2 ½ months) at the end of the Tribulation (time/space doesn’t permit elaboration; however, I’ve explained this in a couple prior articles). Technically, we also need to reduce the judgments to twenty (20) as the 5^th Seal is a depiction of the slain tribulation saints up to that point which takes place mostly during the first four seals. It is not an actual event (judgment) as such.

Thus, to be even more precise we need to use the figure of 86.5 (total) months of the actual tribulation, divided by 20 events with the result of 4.325 months average length of time between plagues. Conclusion: an average time of 4 to 5 months between each judgment. With the understanding that the first four Seal plagues interface and overlap each other; a total of about eighteen months duration for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

One example: The massive solar flare (4^th Bowl) will conceivably take place right around the six-year mark of the Tribulation (with another 14 months or so to go).

In God’s mercy and patience even during the Tribulation, it would be just like him to give those who belong to the world a clearer picture of the approximate length of time between judgments, which they will have realized at least by the mid-point of the tribulation.

Make sense?

I do hope one thing makes sense above all. If you’re reading this article and don’t know Messiah Jesus as your personal Savior, it should be so very evident by now that you don’t want to be left behind at the Rapture to experience any part of the Tribulation.

“That terrible day of the Lord is near. Swiftly it comes—a day of bitter tears, a day when even strong men will cry out. It will be a day when the Lord’s anger is poured out—a day of terrible distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet calls and battle cries. Down go the walled cities and the strongest battlements!” (Zephaniah 1:14-16).

Do you see the stunning similarity between this passage in Zephaniah and the Great Tribulation passages in the book of Revelation, written some 700 years later?!

Please take stock of eternity … it’s such a very long time!

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Prophetic Implications of the Fires in Israel (Part I)

10 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by garybowers in Current Events

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nutural disasters, Wrath of God

An Inferno in Israel

The soaking rain that fell on Israel last week was welcomed by Israelis perhaps like never before. For as long as Israel has been Israel—from her birth as a powerful country under King David over 3,000 years ago to her rebirth as a sovereign nation in 1948—the people depend upon the spring and fall rains to sustain them. This time the rain helped to bring desperate relief from the ferocious fires that engulfed much of northern Israel.

Desolation to the land and discouragement to the psyche of Israel caused by this conflagration was distressing. The statistics are saddening. The scope of damage unprecedented. But the soul of Israel and the spirit of her people is indomitable. They will recover and continue to prosper through the providential power and prevailing protection of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Ashes will one day turn into beauty in this bewildering but wonderful land.

From November 18th through November 27^th, some 2,000 firefighters, 3,500 IDF soldiers, and 20,000 police officers battled 1,773 fires (39 of which were classified as major fires) or contributed to evacuation and rescue operations to remove Israelis from harm’s way.

Over 32,000 acres of urban terrain and rural forest were destroyed, 30% more than the huge 2010 fire that decimated some five million trees in the Carmel Mountains. Fortunately, if not miraculously, there were no fatalities. Still, some 180 people were injured or overcome by smoke inhalation, with the injuries spanning the scale of minor, moderate, and serious. According to some experts, it will take nearly 30 years for the damaged areas to fully recover.

One of the Israelis in charge of rescue operations in the community of Neve Tzuf commented:

“When we entered the town, it looked like a bomb had gone off … A two-story building was burning and the one behind it caught on fire in a domino effect. Gas tanks were blowing up and all you could see everywhere you looked was fire—giant balls of fire skipping from building to building, to the cars, eating up everything and destroying it…”

Large areas of Israel, including communities near Jerusalem were affected. In Haifa, Israel’s third largest city, over 500 homes and apartments were completely destroyed, more than 1,600 people left homeless, and 75,000 residents evacuated. To put the magnitude of this devastation in perspective: If the same proportion of acreage would have burned in the United States as that destroyed in Israel, it would have consumed the combined states of Vermont and New Jersey. The whole of Israel itself is roughly the size of New Jersey.

(The Land and the Sky Ablaze in Israel)

In large part, the fires were natural in origin, fueled by years of below average rainfall in Israel including several consecutive years of drought conditions. Because of Israel’s remarkable irrigation system and desalination of sea water into drinking water, the drought conditions have been moderated enough to alleviate undue hardship on the people. Yet only a sufficient amount of rain can prevent or at least reduce the threat of wildfires.

The unusually dry conditions throughout Israel combined with several days of high winds brought about this “perfect storm” of hundreds of fires, many of them converging with each other. But there was another factor that contributed to the conflagration: the unthinkable “arson intifada” waged by Palestinians and Israeli Arabs. Not unlike the lone-wolf terrorist attacks over the past 15 months, that including knifing, shooting, and car-ramming injuries and deaths of innocent Israelis.

Divine Judgment?

Muslim news sources, Arab social media, and leaders of several Islamic nations have claimed that the fires in Israel were a direct result of Allah’s retribution against pending Israeli legislation called the “muezzin bill.” Muezzin is the repetitive Muslim call to worship funneled through loudspeakers that Israelis consider an irritating and disruptive source of noise pollution all over Israel. I’ve been to Israel and heard these high decibel blasts that can wake you out of a sound sleep early in the morning. It’s pervasively loud enough to sometimes stop you in the middle of a sentence. I fully agree with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who supports the muezzin bill; with his rationale that our modern age of alarm clocks and phone apps preclude any need for a Muslim to be reminded of their worship time of day.

In keeping with the commands of the Koran to help their god Allah force Islam on the unbelieving infidels and enforce the oppressive demands of Muslims, which includes removal of all Jews from Israel, Arab lone-wolf terrorists decided that Israel wasn’t burning fast enough. So they added fire to their list of terrorist tactics against Israelis. Thus far, some 24 Palestinian and Israeli Arabs have been arrested for arson.

Which proves once again that Palestinians couldn’t care less about the so-called “Israeli occupation” of the West Bank (to include what they call East Jerusalem). The existence of allegedly “illegal Jewish settlements” is only a pretense for Palestinian leaders to incite their people to carry out attacks on Jews. The real Palestinian agenda is elimination of all Jews in Israel, not just in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (where Jews were evicted in 2006); and the creation of a Palestinian State to replace the entire nation of Israel, not merely within Israel.

Although there were a few natural fires within the West Bank, all of the arson blazes were set in Israel itself (outside the Palestinian occupied territories). Which also proves the hatred that Palestinians harbor against Jews and the callous disregard they have for the land only because Jews live on that land. Apparently the Palestinians are willing to participate in a “scorched earth” policy, even if it means that part of the West Bank could burn.

Muslims the world over are elated to think that their god would inflict his wrath on the Jews. In fact, the hashtag used by Arab social media to express and spread their delight over the suffering and hardship these horrible fires inflicted on Israelis was under the label of Israel burns.

(One of Hundreds of Israel Homes Destroyed or Heavily Damaged)

Surprisingly, a few Jewish rabbis also believe the fires are a result of God’s judgment of Israel, but for a different reason; the pending eviction of over 40 Jewish families from the Amona district within the West Bank. This is a complicated legal issue and has resulted in a confrontational clash of authority between Israel’s Supreme Court and the Knesset.

Of course, the Jewish God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob of the Old Testament who is also the Christian God of the Old and New Testament combined. But whether the true God or a false god, both Jew and Arab claim a divine connection between the fires and wrongs they perceive as perpetrated by the Israeli Government.

God’s Discipline of Israel

One of the most perplexing dilemmas that people have encountered from time immemorial is whether or not natural disasters are just that, natural. Or are they supernatural in origin, i.e. the wrath of God? An entire article or two could be written on that subject alone (make that three articles, as I would need to throw in the ludicrous theory of evolution!); for sake of time/space, I’ll limit my observations (opinion if you will, but based on Scripture) on that peripheral side note in the context of the main subject of this week’s and next week’s Eye of Prophecy article.

I believe the evidence in Scripture, both stated and implied (as experienced throughout history) is compellingly strong to propose this premise: The vast majority of disasters—hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, plagues of locusts, plagues of disease, floods, droughts, and wildfires—occur “naturally.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines naturally: “by nature; by natural character or ability; according to the usual course of things; as might be expected.”

Here, we’ll look briefly at just one example of natural events. Later in the article, we’ll examine another incident involving the same prophet, Elijah, in which God directly and divinely intervenes with a supernatural (over and above nature) display of his power through the natural element of fire.

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain, the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper” (I Kings 19:11-12).

The Lord did not supernaturally bring the windstorm, earthquake, and fire just to get Elijah’s attention and certainly not to discipline him for running scared. Instead, the Lord spoke to Elijah through a “gentle whisper” then tenderly instructed Elijah to, “…go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram” (Verse 15).

With gentleness, but also in no uncertain terms, God told Elijah to get on with his life. Among other lessons, God was showing Elijah that natural calamities are part of life; after all, it is a fallen world we live in. As we will see shortly, Elijah had already witnessed firsthand a supernatural display of God’s power that the Lord sometimes uses to intervene in human affairs. But the Lord had more work for Elijah to do, despite windstorms, earthquakes, and firestorms, both real and figurative (storms of life).

Here we must characterize what is natural in terms and context of the how devastatingly significant man’s fall has had on nature. Since Adam and Eve’s fateful decision to disobey God followed by their expulsion from the perfect (natural) paradise of the Garden of Eden and especially since the Great Flood of Noah’s time, the earth has never been the same. This violent planet on which we live is under God’s curse, awaiting its final redemption (extreme makeover) along with the culmination of salvation for believers in Messiah Jesus … brand new eternal bodies.

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for the future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us” (Romans 8:18-23).

Do I hear an AMEN!

Although somewhat of an oversimplification, it nonetheless is a Biblically based precept to ultimately equate/define God’s blessings under the umbrella category of God’s protection. Conversely, whatever or whoever is under God’s curse, lacks God’s protection. In that regard and with that understanding, we realize that God allows nature (the natural order of things) to operate on its own most of the time; subject, in part, to man’s authority over and care of the earth. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, they/we lost much of that control which originated as follows:

“Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’ Then, God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food’” (Genesis 1:28-29).

Which is why scientists, geologists, and physicists can with some degree of accuracy explain why there are earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and so forth.

What they can’t explain with any degree of certainty is WHEN catastrophic events of nature will happen, how large they will be, how long they will last, or what extent of damage will ensue. Which begs the question of whether or not God is directly involved in “natural disasters.” Putting it another way: Does he ever use the forces of nature to judge the ungodly and discipline his people? Does he occasionally cause or allow natural disasters to get our attention, to remind us that the Lord IS God. Or does he sometimes prevent natural catastrophes or limit the damage and casualties from them?

According to the Bible, the answer is a resounding, yes to all of these tough questions. But whatever reason applies to whatever calamity that occurs, the all-in-all answer is that God is ultimately sovereign over his creation. Because of the Lord’s grace, patience, and mercy, Scripture and practical experience show us that God only sparingly uses nature to get our attention. There are several examples, but only two will be cited. Both pertain to one of the main elements of God’s providential intrusion into the affairs of the human race. Which is: RAIN. Or the lack thereof.

Rain is Life

No rain; no water or replenishing of water. No water; no crops or fewer crops. No crops; no food for people and animals. No food for animals; no meat for people. Our life and existence on this planet depend on adequate rainfall. Just take a tour of the Sahara Desert or Death Valley, California if you think that planet earth could survive conditions like that on a regular or global basis.

As found especially in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, Israel’s continued possession of and prosperity in the Promised Land were directly related to trust in God (for all things) and obedience to his laws—given for the welfare and security of his people. And, also the companion condition that Israel worship only the true and living God; not false, man-made gods that they or their pagan neighbors had fashioned. This was an overarching principle that applied to everyday life of the Jews.

With the Levitical sacrificial system, God’s forgiveness for sin was unconditionally given through atonement. Of course, there must be genuine remorse for wrong things said and done, but forgiveness was not based on good works or keeping of the Mosaic Law … whether moral, civil, or ceremonial. Redemptive righteousness (right standing with God) was based exclusively on faith in God’s Word (given to Moses and the people) that he would provide a covering for their sin through an outside source—the shedding of innocent animal blood. Then later the Lord gave them/us the New Covenant which was the once for all sacrificial substitutionary death of God’s son, Messiah Yeshua; followed by Messiah’s resurrection from the dead to ratify and seal this marvelous Covenant of Grace. This eternally solved man’s spiritual problem—separation from God because of sin. (See among other passages, the entire book of Hebrews).

Not so with respect to the issue of physical presence and prosperity in and permanent possession of the land. That was strictly conditional. Furthermore, the Lord specifically used rain or lack of it as the acid test repercussion of Israel’s trust and obedience. Read with me the Lord’s instructions as spoken by Moses to the people.

First the promises … the good news:

“Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter. If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey! For the land you are about to enter and take over is not like the land of Egypt from which you came … Rather, the land … is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain—a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!

“If you carefully obey all the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat” (Deuteronomy 11:8-15).

Now for the warnings … the not so good news:

“But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. If you do, the Lord’s anger will turn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the Lord is giving you. So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your foreheads as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors” (Deuteronomy 11:16-21).

Moses goes on to say that God would give his people victory over and protection from their enemies. On somewhat of a side note in this chapter of Deuteronomy, we find the largest boundaries of the Promised Land of Israel—broader than ancient Israel of King David’s time and far broader than the borders of modern Israel, especially to the east of Israel.

“Wherever you set foot, that land will be yours. Your frontiers will stretch from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west” (Verse 24).

Then the Lord through Moses summarizes the details previously given of how continued possession, indeed, their very existence in the Promised Land, was contingent on their obedience to God.

“Look, today I am giving you the choice between blessing and a curse! You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him…” (Verses 26-27).

Toward the end of Deuteronomy—which is a summary of all that God told the people just before they entered the Promised Land, a message from Moses that took only a few days—we read:

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster” (Deuteronomy 30:15).

Then again: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! … And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Verses 19-20).

In today’s vernacular we could summarize by saying:

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” Conversely, “Reach out to the hand that feeds you.”

Two Examples of God Withholding Rain

Elijah:

The first is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible; that of Elijah’s astounding victory over the false prophets of Baal, hundreds of whom had been enlisted to serve the wicked King Ahab and his equally evil wife, Jezebel. Time doesn’t permit in this week’s article to elaborate on this astounding miracle involving natural fire from God’s supernatural source in heaven that humiliated the false prophets and their man-made god Baal. It proved to Israel who the true and living God was and forever will be.

Rather we will focus on the very first introduction to Elijah, beginning with his confrontational prophecy to Ahab, one that applied to the nation of Israel (the ten Northern tribes in particular):

“Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, ‘As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!’” (I Kings 17:1).

Not only no rain; not even any dew!

It wasn’t just Ahab and Jezebel, although they were Israel’s (loathsome) leaders and (bad) examples; all the northern tribes (called Israel, with the two southern tribes known as Judah) had begun to serve and worship Baal. Enough was enough. God would step in and do what was necessary to correct his people, to get them back on the right path, the path of life. This cycle of rebellion against the Lord, followed by God’s judgment through nature or by surrounding gentile nations, then Israel’s return (always temporary) to God is found throughout the Old Testament, beginning with the book of Judges.

Because it fits with today’s theme, I will take the time/space to quote the astonishing results of God “raining” fire down on Elijah’s sacrifice (a good thing). The fire consumed much more than just the sacrificed animal. Read with me:

“Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, ‘The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!’” (I Kings 18:38-39).

Elijah had first instructed the people to pour twelve large jars of water on the twelve-stone altar and in a trench surrounding it. In such a time of drought, using that much water to prove a point was risky business. But Elijah knew that God would listen to him and answer his prayer to validate God’s deity and power. Even the twelve stones and water from twelve large jars burned up!

So, we have no rain (whatsoever) for over three years leading to a second confrontation between Elijah and Ahab that would include one of the most spectacular miracles of the Old Testament (and there were many amazing miracles): fire flashing down from heaven to prove to the people who was God and who was not. Followed by the people’s sincere acknowledgment that the Lord was, indeed, God. With God’s forgiveness and grace subsequently poured out in the form of rain.

“Then Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming! So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees” (I Kings 18:41-42).

We know that Elijah had prayed for rain, because that’s exactly what happened next.

“And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm…” (Verse 45).

And that was the end of the 3 ½ year drought in Israel.

Zechariah:

This is another example of how God uses rain specifically and, by implication, nature in general, in response to the disobedience of people and nations when they blatantly defy and scorn the Lord God. However, this is a future illustration of the age-old Biblical principle and practice of our Great God. The setting here is the Millennial Reign of Messiah Jesus.

“In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters. Any nation in the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will have no rain” (Zechariah 14:16-17).

“No rain,” means exactly that. Not just a reduction of annual rainfall; there will be no rain at all for that nation! Just across the borders of surrounding nations that show their gratitude and love for Christ Jesus, the King of kings, for all that he has done and will continue to do for them and the world, there will be abundant rain, crops, and prosperity.

Summary

Through Biblical and post-Biblical times, God used Gentile nations to discipline his chosen people, the Jews and his special possession Israel even to the point of total conquest and exile, e.g. Assyria and Babylon, then the massive Diaspora at the hands of the Roman Empire after the Jews and Judaism had rejected their Messiah.

No longer will the Lord discipline Israel through domination of Gentile nations. Such discipline has run its prophetic course. It ended with Israel’s phenomenal Six-Day War victory in June, 1967. See Eye of Prophecy articles, Seven Times Seven to the 4^th Power (I, II, & III, posted 1-25, 2-1, & 2-8-14)) which provide stunning details of one of the least known or understood prophecies in Scripture (Leviticus Chapter 26). Followed by the summary article entitled, The Omega Generation, published 2-15-14.

But God still uses nature to capture the attention of both Israel and the nations.

Am I saying that the tragic fires in Israel were directly from the Lord for that reason? No, I am not saying or even implying that. God is now protecting the Jews and Israel as never before, with allowance made that evil still exists and wicked people will do malicious things as graphically seen in the despicable acts of arson to make Israel burn even more.

Whether the Lord was in the fires or “not in the fires” by allowing nature to “run its course” is not necessarily ours to know. However, he certainly was not in or with the Palestinians to cause or condone their atrocious acts of arson.

Yet whenever we hear or read about, are part of by direct experience, or perhaps even narrowly escape with our health and home from a “natural” disaster, we should pause and reflect.

What is of paramount importance is that Israel contemplates a possible correlation between the current drought and ensuing fires to realize that God does care about Israel and wants to, like never before, draw their attention to the coming Messiah. With an open-mind, open-heart realization that Messiah arrived two thousand years ago as the Lamb of God to give them God’s New Covenant of Grace through Jesus’s substitutionary death on the cross for sin. That his Second Coming will be that of the Lion from the Tribe of Judah to reign over and through Israel and the entire world from Jerusalem. That mankind will be judged and the earth will be purified by fire (II Peter 3). We’ll cover that in more detail with next week’s article.

You won’t want to miss Part II of next week’s Eye of Prophecy article that will continue our examination of the fires in Israel in the context of Biblical prophecy. We will take an up close and personal look at the Rest of the Story, something completely unexpected that occurred during these horrific fires in Israel. We will see the remarkable connection of this amazing event to Biblical prophecy that will be fulfilled in the very near future.

Things to Ponder

The United States or any country would do well to take a hard look at natural disasters that strike areas of the country for possible correlation between recent or soon to be decisions of government, especially in the greater context of supporting Israel and the Jews or denigrating and delegitimizing them.

Then take the opportunity to examine our hearts and actions in the light of Biblical prophecy, precepts, and promises pertaining to Israel; and also our individual character and conduct concerning acknowledgment of God (or lack thereof) and at least a measure of respect for and cooperation with our chosen leaders.

“My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels, for disaster will hit them suddenly. Who knows what punishment will come from the Lord and the king?” (Proverbs 24:21-22).

Whether drought, famine, forest fires or other “natural” disasters, they are not necessarily used by the Lord as a means of discipline or judgment. For example, the seven-year famine throughout the Middle East in Joseph’s time was God’s way of reuniting Joseph with his father and brothers, all the while saving Israel, Egypt, and surrounding nations from drought induced starvation. But also to demonstrate to Pharaoh and Egypt that he, and he alone, is the true and living God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And we know now, also the God of all who are redeemed by receiving and believe in God’s Son, Messiah Jesus.

It was a reminder of who is ultimately in control.

Said Joseph to his brothers who had sold him into Egyptian slavery:

“…Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:19-20).

As Messiah Jesus hung on that cross suffering from excruciating pain and terrible thirst, he looked down on his accusers, captors, and executioners and uttered these amazing words:

“…Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20).

A Trilogy of Terror

26 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by garybowers in Prophecy in General

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trumpet judgments, Wrath of God

Christmas … More Than a Baby in a Manger

What a joyous time of the year! Believers in Jesus as Messiah and Savior and unbelievers alike celebrate Christmas, which is more than just a tradition. It is a vital and vibrant fact of life, and has led to a way of life for hundreds of millions from every language, race, and country. World religions are, for the most part, confined to certain races, regions, and nations. The Christian faith is truly universal. Even those from the major religions of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism, to some extent or another, sense something special about this holiday (Holy Day) though it’s been over 2000 years since the birth of Jesus Christ. That’s because his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven is Timeless.

His is truly the Greatest (true) Story ever told, but it only begins with Christmas.

Though it has been increasingly secularized by those who don’t believe in the reason for the season; when they light the lights of Christmas, they representatively point to the Light of the World. When they exchange gifts, they express the greatest gift ever given—the sacrificial death of God’s Son for our sins.

Yet millions upon millions who celebrate Christmas continue to see the Christ-child only as a baby in a manager. As precious and meaningful as the birth of Jesus is to the Christian faith, so many forget or prefer not to remember that his birth was only the beginning of his life, death, and resurrection from the grave to accomplish the magnificent plan of God’s salvation for the human race.

The gospels and epistles are replete with his words of truth, life, and hope; but also words of warning of the great tribulation and coming judgment. As do most of the Old Testament prophets. What many preachers and teachers have said is true: Jesus and Scripture talk more about hell than heaven. More about sin and its awful consequences than the salvation that will forgive those sins and pardon the penalty imposed by God. But for a purpose: To demonstrate that, as awesome as God’s love is for every individual and for the Jewish nation as a whole, God’s justice must be administered or the world as we know it would inevitably self-destruct. Imploding from within by the destructive consequences of sin that produce the evil that results in the explosion of terrorism and war caused by terrorists and tyrants.

Indeed, it is vital to know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of a Virgin, as his birth fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (7:14) and Micah (5:1-2) for the coming Messiah. That he was born a Jew from the lineage of King David (genealogy in Matthew 1), to validate that he was the child of promise descending from Abraham’s son, Isaac.

Yet, the vast majority of dozens of Bible prophecies pertaining to Messiah relate to who he is and what he does as fully man and fully God. None more so than the following:

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

As with all Scripture, there is reason for the syntax (sentence structure, order, and arrangement) of verses and passages, including this Messianic prophecy, written some 2,700 years ago.

A Child Born … A Son Given To Us

This amazing announcement through Isaiah of the coming Messiah begins with, “For a child is born to us…” This is not only a logical place to begin (birth), but even more so an affirmation of what other prophets had said and would say … that the Messiah would be a man. As opposed to an angel or merely some cosmic force that will awaken and assert itself at the end of days, hopefully to triumph over the forces of evil. If you’re wondering, then yes: That was a direct hit on the new Star Wars Movie, The Force Awakens! I’m sure it’s a great movie, but Messiah Jesus is our force. As God the Son, he neither slumbers nor sleeps. And, soon, he will spring into action!

After that little digression, we can get back to wishing everyone a Merry Christmas because this time of the year is, indeed, a wonderful remembrance of the Christ-child born to us so long ago. He was born in Bethlehem, Israel; not in a galaxy far, far away. But Jesus’s birth did originate from a conception never before and never again experienced. This miraculous birth was, indeed, the coming of the Messiah, “…whose origins are from the distant past” (Micah 5:2).

But we must not stop there, as many people do. We should not leave baby Jesus in the manager as though the only reason for celebrating Christmas is to remember his day of birth, glorious as it was. If we stop there, then we might as well not read the rest of Isaiah’s powerful prophecy that comes after, “For a child is born to us….”

Also notice to whom the child is born. He is born, “to us.” Every person on this earth ever born has worth and meaning, but that value as part of humanity is first and foremost to the person’s parents and family; not to or for the entire human race as such. Not so Messiah Yeshua. He was born to “us”; to all peoples of the world—past, present, and future.

Not only was the Christ-child born to and for the whole human race, Isaiah continues by saying, “…a son is given to us.” Throughout Scripture, Messiah is referred to as the Son of God, Son of David, and Son of Man; and, in terms of God’s timeless plan unfolding chronologically, in that order.

King David refers to Messiah as both man and God … the Son of God, David’s Lord. Specifically, see Psalm 2 and 110. For a detailed expansion of this magnificent truth, please see Eye of Prophecy articles entitled, Does God Really Have a Son, Part I & II, posted 10-31 & 11-7-15.

There are other Bible passages, both direct and implied, that Messiah would be divine, including the passage we’re examining in Isaiah. Through his spectacular return from the dead, Jesus proved beyond any doubt that he was the Son of God and God the Son (David’s Lord). Moreover, God’s Son was given to “us,” for a specific reason and purpose. (Such as found in John 3:16).

Scripture is also replete with evidence that the Messiah will be from tribe of Judah, specifically through the lineage of King David, thus the Son of David. Although Messiah, the Son of God, is from the ancient past (Micah), he would arrive on this earth from the Jewish nation—called out and set aside by God as a people through whom the Lord would bring Light into a world full of spiritual darkness.

Jesus the child grew up to be the Son of Man. He often referred to himself by this term, which further affirms that the Son is given to the entire human race. Son of Man is tantamount to Son of Mankind … Savior of the World. The implication is crystal clear: Jesus, the Son of Man is unique, exclusive, one of a kind. No other person has been fully man and fully God. No one else could possibly qualify to become God’s substitutionary sacrifice to satisfy the God imposed penalty and judgment for our sins. Yet this exclusive salvation, the one and only way to God, is inclusively available to all who believe and receive Jesus as their personal Savior.

From a child born to us and a son given to us, Isaiah’s sweeping prophecy that spans the ages of time fast forwards to, “the government will rest on his shoulders.” Scripture tells us (Old Testament looking ahead) that all nations of the earth would be given to Christ as his rightful inheritance. That he will exercise authority over the entire earth, and the world’s government (singular) will “rest on his shoulders.”

Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Isaiah goes on to say that this son given to us, who will bear the welfare of all peoples of the earth on his shoulders, will be called (meaning that is who he is): “…Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

And, “He will rule with fairness and justice … for all eternity.” (Verse 7).

Isn’t that whom people all over the world are longing and hoping for? One man whose reign is supreme, but one who governs in justice, fairness, goodness, kindness, compassion; one whose reign will bring permanent peace to this earth. Not a despot or a group of “religious” anarchists that use terrorism as a means of subjugation and forced loyalty to a religion of death. Or other religions that offer no certainty of life after death or of one’s ultimate destiny.

Unlike Biblical salvation that says we can know beyond any doubt: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” (I John 5:13).

The Son of God, Son of David, and Son of Man will be called Wonderful Counselor. That is exactly who he was and what he did during his brief time on this earth. His words of eternal life and everlasting truth were, indeed, wonderful, as were his many miracles of healing. He gave counsel that astonished even the elite religious leaders of his time; wisdom of which thousands who listened to him were in awe, both those who believed that he was the Messiah and those who did not believe. And he will do so again upon his glorious return; but this time as the Lion from the tribe of Judah, rather than the Lamb of God who willingly gave up his life for our sins.

Messiah Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, but also the Mighty God. That title is what today’s Part III article will focus on because the Mighty or Almighty God is the title used in Scripture, especially the book of Revelation, Such as: “…Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations” (Revelation 15:3).

After Mighty God, comes Everlasting Father which affirms Jesus’s declaration that he and his Father are one … his divinity. Though separate Persons in the magnificent Trinity, they are also One God. As Mighty God and King, Jesus will crush the ten-nation confederation led by the Antichrist and the vast armies of the Kings of the East in the final battle of Armageddon.

The last majestic title ascribed to Messiah (Jesus) is Prince of Peace. For that is exactly who he is and will be and what he will do after he wages a righteous war to rescue Israel from her enemies and the entire world from self-annihilation. As King of all kings, he will, indeed, be the Prince of Peace on earth throughout the Millennium and then all Eternity.

Mighty God

The Lord has many names, but two in particular portray his Omnipotence (all-powerful): El Elyon (Most High God) and El Shaddai (Almighty God). God has displayed his power throughout the ages when and where he chose, mostly through supernatural events that set aside the natural laws of physics. For example, the ten plagues against Egypt and Pharaoh. And the greatest miracle of all: Jesus resurrection from the dead.

As indicated in last week’s article, we need to fully comprehend that Jesus came into this world to declare the truth of God’s salvation (through Jesus, the ultimate Truth) and to destroy Satan’s kingdom of evil manifested through the wickedness present in the four corners of our planet. In its place will be the resplendent Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

That is why the longest message given by Jesus is the Sermon on the Mount which described all of the characteristics of the Kingdom of God (on earth) in great detail. This is the glorious Kingdom Age that will govern the earth during the Millennium. The second longest message given by Jesus comprises two lengthy chapters in Matthew’s Gospel (Chapters 24 & 25) in which he describes the signs and events directly preceding and then including the Tribulation.

For these reasons and because we are living in the last of the last days, this year’s Eye of Prophecy Christmas trilogy is focused on the terrorism so rampant throughout the world, almost exclusively at the hands of Islamic radicals. Yet, tacitly supported and condoned by mainstream Muslims. But also the terror that will terrorize the terrorists as a result of God’s judgment on those who: (1) persecute and kill Jews and Christians; and (2) all those who reject God’s gracious and everlasting life-giving redemption in and through Messiah Jesus.

Let’s examine some of the incredible catastrophes that will instill Holy Terror in the hearts and minds of unbelievers … those “who belong to the world.” Beginning with a verse quoted in the first two articles of this Eye of Prophecy trilogy, Terror, Terror, Terror!

“Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, ‘Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets’” (Revelation 8:13).

This astounding announcement to the entire world was made by an eagle, which takes place after the 4^th trumpet judgment and immediately precedes the 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th angelic trumpets. There’s no indication that the eagle is symbolic, as is the case with other images in the book of Revelation where metaphorical comparisons are made with words such as, (looked) like and as (though). But whether the eagle is real or a symbolic representation of say an airplane is not the issue. The fact remains that the Lord is warning the entire world that what has happened up to this point in the Great Tribulation will pale in comparison to what remains.

The eagle shouts this apocalyptic admonishment almost exactly half-way through the twenty-one catastrophes that the earth will experience from the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgements … of which there are seven each. I’m convinced that this global proclamation will track chronologically with the twenty-one judgments; it will occur approximately half-way through the Tribulation, with the last 3 ½ years experiencing the full wrath of Almighty God.

Let’s first look at the seven seal judgments.

The Seven Seals Are Broken

The seven seals of the heavenly scroll could only be opened by Christ Jesus. Because of who he is and what he has done for the whole world through his redemptive sacrifice on the cross, only he is qualified to break the seals and, by doing so, allow malevolent rulers and their armies to release the full measure of violence on the earth and rebellion against God.

“You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

The first four seals are the most well-known: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As a direct result of treachery (false peace), then war, famine, destruction, and death never before seen on such a scale, approximately one-fourth of the earth’s population will perish. Moreover, this is man-made carnage.

The fifth seal is directly linked to the preceding four seals, in that it depicts Christian tribulation saints (Jew and Gentile), “who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony” (Revelation 6:9).

The sixth seal results in a great earthquake (one of four catastrophic earthquakes during the Tribulation) in which, “…The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood … The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places” (Revelation 6:12-14).

The seventh seal brings another mighty earthquake in which, “thunder crashed, lightning flashed…” (Revelation 8:5); but the seventh seal also signals the appointment of seven angels to blow the seven trumpets which is the next phenomenal phase of the Great Tribulation. By strong implication, this thunder and lightning will be the most dramatic display of lightning and thunder ever seen before. And it very well could be just what the order of the words state, i.e. thunder first, then lightning. To demonstrate that God has complete control over nature, to the extent of reversing the normal physics of: lightning first, then thunder. Every bit as extraordinary as the sun turning black and the moon blood-red.

However, for the most part, the seven seals and the first four trumpet calamities will be a combination of man-made disasters (war, famine, plagues) and natural disasters; albeit with unparalleled scope and severity dramatically and destructively heightened by the beginning of God’s supernatural intervention.

This conclusion is corroborated by the first four trumpets that will destroy and disrupt one-third of:

Grass and trees of the entire earth set on fire (Revelation 8:7).
Salt water in the oceans and seas turning to blood, killing one-third of ocean life and destroying one-third of the ships (Verses 8-9).
Fresh water in rivers and springs supernaturally polluted (inland water), resulting in the death of many people from drinking the water (Verses 10-11).
The light of the sun, moon, and stars darkened resulting in utter darkness for one-third of both day and night (Verse 12).

As terrible as these trumpets are, they are only a partial demonstration of God’s providential power, so identified by the numerical impact that only one-third of the earth, sun, and moon will be affected.

The seven seal and first four trumpet judgments will include all peoples to give them more than enough incentive and opportunity to choose the true Messiah, Jesus, over the false Messiah (Nero), even at the pain of death. Most of the tribulation saints will die in the carnage of the four horsemen and at the hands of Antichrist (Nero), and some in the trumpet (first four) disasters.

However, beginning with the fifth trumpet judgment, it’s clear that the shock and awe of what’s happened to date has worn off of those who, “belong to the world;” a phrase used several times in Revelation of the people who have hardened their hearts much like Pharaoh and most Egyptians prior to the Exodus. Despite the overwhelming evidence that God is directly intervening in the affairs of men, billions will still believe the lie that either Antichrist or their national leaders (kings of the East) will save them and usher in Utopia. Conversely, the vast majority of those who will bravely accept the true Messiah (Jesus) as Lord and Savior, will have already done so by this stage of the Tribulation.

Which is why the fifth trumpet judgment signals a dramatic shift in the nature and extent of what is to come. Which is also why God uses an (talking) eagle to get the attention of the entire globe. The triple Terror that is to come with the last three trumpets, followed by the unbelievable horror and destruction inflicted by the seven bowl judgments is beyond anything the most creative science fiction writer could ever imagine. For those left behind at the Rapture, it will be all too real.

The First Terror Begins

“Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit” (Revelation 9:1). Time/space does not permit quoting the rest of the fifth trumpet passage, but the result was unimaginable pain caused by (what John metaphorically describes as) locusts that are clearly demons released from the Abyss—which is the same place from where the beast-king, the Roman Emperor Nero, will suddenly appear to the amazement of the world (Revelation 17:8).

The agonizing pain caused by the “sting” of these demons will torment for five months, “only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Revelation 9:4). Meaning the 144,000 Jews and the tribulation saints will not be touched by these demonic forces from the Abyss. However, unbelievers will, “…seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!” (Verse 6).

As we will read later, God avenges the blood of his people by spilling the blood of those who kill Jews and Christians, but this tormenting sting of death without dying is also God’s revenge on those who have persecuted and will literally torture God’s people before and during the Tribulation.

Yet, this is just a warm-up to what will happen next when the sixth trumpet is sounded.

The Second Terror Is Unleashed

Another demonic army numbering 200 million will be released to wreak incredible havoc and death on the earth. To the implausible extent that, “One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues—by the fire and smoke and burning sulfur…” (Revelation 9:18). As calculated in the Eye of Prophecy article, Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation, posted 6-6-15, this one-third will result in approximately 1.6 billion deaths. Although this massive catastrophe is permitted by God (to allow evil to run its course), it is not directly at the hand of God; rather it is straight from the gates of hell.

Once again we can reliably conclude that the vast majority of those killed are unbelievers for two reasons: (1) the fifth seal yielding the already stated premise that most tribulation Christians (who chose Messiah Jesus after the Rapture) will have already died or been killed by now.

(2) The fact that: “But the people who did not die in these plagues (meaning the 6^th trumpet) still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God … And they did not repent of their murders of their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Revelation 9:20-21).

To further affirm the premise in last week’s article, the above verse unmistakably demonstrates one of the two reasons for God’s second world-wide judgment of mankind (the Great Flood being the first): Which is to eliminate evil and man-made terrorism, but also to give people the opportunity like never before to turn to God and his Messiah for salvation. Revelation Chapter 9 is the first of three times during the Great Tribulation that people refused to repent (change their minds about and toward God) because they loved the wickedness of their sins and rebellion.

When the seventh trumpet is blown initiating the third Terror, it is again directed toward unbelievers because it is a terror that will usher in and include the final seven bowl judgments that are also, as we will see, designed to punish those who continue their defiance of the true and living God and rejection of his Messiah.

The Third Terror Strikes

“The second terror is past, but look, the third terror is quickly coming. Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: ‘The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever’” (Revelation 11:14-15).

And then, “…It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth” (Verse 18).

For the tribulation saints who have not yet died at the hands of Antichrist, this will be a time of great rejoicing and gratitude. They will shout with the host of heaven: “…We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come…” (Revelation 11:17-18).

In the seventh trumpet judgment which begins the Third Terror, we have the third of four great earthquakes during the Tribulation, along with a “terrible hailstorm” (Revelation 11:19).

We see that the remaining bowl judgments are directed exclusively against the unbelievers, this time to specifically include Antichrist and his ten-nation coalition. Preceded by another trilogy of warnings that involves three mighty angels, with the first angel shouting to, “the people who belong to the world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. ‘Fear God … Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge…’” (Revelation 14:6-7).

The second angel shouting: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality” (Verse 8). Please refer to Eye of Prophecy articles entitled, The Woman and the Beast I through VI, published October and November, 2013, for detailed information as to the identity of Babylon (the seat of Roman Catholicism in the great city of Rome). Refer also to Revelation 17 & 18.

The third angel shouting: “… Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark … must drink the wine of God’s anger…” (Verses 9-10).

Finally the seven bowl judgments that exponentially expand the magnitude of God’s final wrath poured out on those who stubbornly refuse to listen to God’s global warnings, both verbally and by means of catastrophic disasters never before seen by mankind, nor ever will again. Briefly in order, the bowl judgments are:

“…Horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshipped his statue” (Revelation 16:2).
Everything in the sea dying … as opposed to just one-third in the trumpet judgment (Verse 3).
Fresh (inland) waters becoming blood, but not just one-third of them. Once again we see this judgment executed against unbelievers, because an angel proclaims, “…You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments. Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward” (Verses 5-6). Followed by, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just” (Verse 7).
A massive solar flare in which people were, “burned by this blast of heat.” But again, “…they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory” (Verses 8-9).
I’ll quote the fifth bowl judgment: “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God” (Revelation 16:10-11).
The sixth bowl judgment is that which precipitates and includes the final battle of the ages, when the rulers of the world (Kings of the east) join with Antichrist and the False Prophet to, “…battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.” (Revelation 16:14). “And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon” (Verse 16).
The seventh and final of God’s judgments is the most awesome and destructive of all. It is so devastating as to literally boggle the mind, one that is incomprehensibly stunning in scope and severity. No movie ever made or picture painted or story told or song sung could adequately describe what will take place.

We must simply defer to the Bible, and do the best we can to grasp the enormity of it all.

Read with me:

“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, ‘It is finished!’ Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm” (Revelation 16:17-21).

Great cities all over the world reduced to rubble. Unthinkable!

Every island on earth swept under the sea by titanic tsunamis. Unimaginable!

Majestic mountains razed to the ground. Inconceivable!

Yet, what was it that caused the people who remained to once again curse God? None other than the hailstones! Which, by implication, exceeded the unfathomable devastation of this world-wide earthquake itself.

Things to Ponder

When an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to the shepherds, “…the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them, ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!’” (Luke 2:9-11).

Indeed, a child has been born and a son has been given to us. The shepherds were terrified, but only because of the angel’s sudden dramatic appearance and the brilliance of the Lord’s glory that surrounded them. Immediately they were reassured and their terror was gone.

Not so with all those who sadly, ever so tragically, deny that Jesus is Messiah, Son of God, Son of David, Son of Man. Many will experience the terrible terror of the Tribulation, the eternal horror of dying in their sins without Messiah Jesus as their Savior.

Listen to the words of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary:

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:31-33). And, “…he will be called the Son of God” (Verse 35).

Soon, very soon those who know Messiah Jesus as personal Savior will shout with the host of heaven:

“…All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

“Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!” (Revelation 1:5-7).

Baruch haba beshem Adonai. (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord).

“He (Jesus) who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

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eyeofprophecy … watch and wait

~ "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus" (Rev.19:10)

Tag Archives: Wrath of God

Stunning Catastrophes of the Tribulation / Their Timing & Purpose

Prophetic Implications of the Fires in Israel (Part I)

A Trilogy of Terror