Eschatology 8 Of 16 The Tribulation Period

Our outline for the tribulation period has been:

I. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD

II. THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD

III. THE PLAGUES OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD

• We have worked our way through the SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS in chapters 6 and chapter 8.

• We are presently working our way through the TRUMPET JUDGMENTS in chapters 8 and 11.

I would like to remind you that the Bible states that this time in the history of mankind will be like no other time in history.

Illus: So much of life for mankind is just history repeating itself. When it comes to this time in the life of man, during the Great tribulation period, it will be like the STARTREK series on television, where man will be entering a time in their life like no one has ever been through before.

Look again at Matthew 24:21-22, we read, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”

These pitiful people who will be living here on earth during this time, will see suffering like no other group of people has ever seen.

WHO WILL BE LIVING HERE ON EARTH AT THIS TIME? These are the ones who will be left here after the Lord Jesus RAPTURES HIS CHURCH.

If you are not saved today, you do not want to leave here lost, because if the Lord raptures the church, you would be here to face these dreadful things.

In the last sermon we talked about-

(1) FIRST TRUMPET JUDGMENT

We saw that the worst hail storm that will ever strike the earth, is yet to take place. Look at Rev. 8:7, we read, “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.”

This was so devastating that A THIRD PART OF THE TREES AND GREEN GRASS WILL BE BURNED.

(2) SECOND TRUMPET JUDGMENT

We saw that the worst tidal wave that will ever be seen, is yet to come.

Look at Rev. 8:8-9, we read, “And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.”

This was so devastating that a THIRD PART OF THE SEA BECOMES BLOOD AND A THIRD PART OF THE SEA CREATURES DIE.

But notice, this object that was as big as a GREAT MOUNTAIN, caused such a tidal wave that a third of the ships on the sea were destroyed.

(3) THIRD TRUMPET JUDGMENT

We saw the worst contamination that will ever exist, is yet to come. Look at Rev. 8:10-11, we read, “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a GREAT STAR from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.”

This GREAT STAR FROM HEAVEN, contaminated a third part of the rivers and fountains of waters, and the Bible said, “…Many men died of the waters…”

But today, we want to continue to deal with the other four TRUMPET JUDGMENTS. Let’s pick up where we left off, and look at the-

(4) FOURTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT

In the FOURTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT, we will see that the worst catastrophe is yet to come.

Look at Revelation 8:12, we read, “And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.”

This is going to be some kind of ASTRONOMICAL ECLIPSE.

This judgment is difficult to understand, because the world in which we live has never experienced a catastrophe similar to this.

The Bible talks about this judgment in other places, such as:

• Joel talks about it in Joel 2:10-11, we read, “The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?”