In a series about the tribulation, I thought considering a futurist view would help facilitate a more precise approximation of the series of events and death toll should the tribulation begin today. What does the bible tell us about the seals of the scroll, the trumpets sounded by the angels and this terrorizing time?
The apostle John shared that worldwide devastation will occur as the lamb opens the seven seals of the scroll which contains the judgments and redemption. Each seal features a specific event or disturbance.
The first seal tells us about the Antichrist riding a white horse out to conquer the world. “I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” (Revelation 6:2)
The second seal warns us of a great conflict on earth, possibly the third world war. “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.” (Revelation 6:4)
The third seal will bring scarcity on earth during which there will be a famine of great proportion. “Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:5)
The fourth seal involves widespread death from war, hunger and death from beasts of the earth. “I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:8)
The fifth seal is the cry of the martyrs slain for standing for the word of God and Christ’s testimony. “They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” (Revelation 6:10-11)
The sixth seal informs us of cosmic disturbances beyond anything ever recorded on earth. “There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Revelation 6:12-16)
The seventh seal tells us of a silence in heaven, a prelude to the seven trumpets sounded by the seven angels. “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.” (Revelation 8:1-2)
As the first angel will sound the first trumpet, the earth’s vegetation will be struck. “The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” (Revelation 8:7)
The second angel sounds his trumpet as the seas are struck. “The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” (Revelation 8:8-9)
The third trumpet sounds during which fresh water is struck by a star named wormwood, possibly an asteroid, a nuclear explosion or a fallen star. “The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.” (Revelation 8:10-11)
The fourth trumpet sounds to the destruction of part of the heavens. “The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night. As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!” (Revelation 8:12-13)
The fifth angel will sound his trumpet and bring much suffering on the people of the earth. “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.” (Revelation 9:1-5)
The sixth angel will sound his trumpet and release four angels that will be sent out to kill one third of mankind. “The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.” (Revelation 9:13-15)
Until this point the seals and trumpets announce war, death, famine and worldwide devastation beyond anything ever recorded on earth. Should this series of event happen today, two thirds of the earth’s population would perish in otherwise horrible death. Then comes the seventh trumpet…
The seventh angel will sounds his trumpet announcing the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
The tribulation will be a time of grave destruction and death. Those left behind not raptured will greatly suffer during a time of ultimate judgment brought on by the condemnation of all the creatures on the earth.
Do not be fooled! The tribulation prophesied in the bible will take place! The only way to avoid it is to accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior and, to seek a relationship with Him. Those already born again are called to walk in Jesus footsteps and perform works based on their faith in Christ and His father in heaven.
Believing in Jesus Christ will not be sufficient. Acknowledging Christ as the son of God is the only way to heaven. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
If you have not already accepted Christ I urge you to do so by praying the sinner’s prayer. The first step is often the hardest one. Humble yourself before God and say out loud “Lord I know I have ignored you and sinned against your commands. I am now ready to seek a relationship with you as I ask you to forgive my sins and strengthen me so that i may be more like you. I ask for your love and your guidance in my life and pray you will work through me until your return. I accept you as Lord and Savior and acknowledge you as the son, the father and the holy spirit. Amen!”
What happens next is up to you. Either walk in Jesus’ footsteps and head straight to heaven or ignore your life’s mission and stray from the righteous path. I pray you will choose to walk in God’s light considering the alternative which includes both the tribulation and the eternal lake of fire… Let’s pray!
Father God;
We thank you for looking after us,
After our families, our friends
And thank you Lord for our homes,
For our lives, and for our relationship with you.
Lord God we pray you will continue to strengthen us
And guide us to shine our light bright as you would
When we are tested, when we are weak
Most of all when we are tempted.
God we pray you will continue to look after us
And provide all we need to serve you in this life
So we can rejoice with you in the next
As you have told us throughout time.
God we love you and thank you for all that surrounds us!
Praise God,
Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
Email: DanielStPierre@ThriveThroughChrist.com
