Events Of The Tribulation

EVENTS OF THE TRIBULATION

Rev. 8-9;11:15

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Bart's father called home during a business trip to see how his son's basketball game had gone. Bart came to the phone and told his dad, "I finally made a basket today." His father was excited. "Did it help the team, Bart?"

2. "Well," Bart answered, "it was the winning point." Now Bart's dad was ecstatic. "Son, that's wonderful. You are a hero with your very first basket!"

3. "Not exactly, Dad," Bart explained. "I made the basket for the other team."

B. TEXT

“The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and...a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. 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” Rev. 8:7-8,10.

“The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun... moon, and...stars [was struck] so that a third of them turned dark.” “The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and.... he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened” Rev. 8:12; 91-2.

“The sixth angel sounded his trumpet...river Euphrates....And the four angels...released to kill a third of mankind. The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and ...voices...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.”

Rev. 9:13-15;11:15.

C. THESIS

1. There will be a 7-Year period known as the 70th week of Daniel (9:27) or more popularly, as The Tribulation Period. It has at least two purposes.

2. First, it’s God’s last time to deal with the nation of Israel to bring them to Christ, Dan. 9:24-27. Secondly, God will pour out His wrath on the world for sin, still hoping they will turn and repent (Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9,11).

3. The title of this message is, “Events of the Tribulation.”

I. KEY EVENTS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD

A. 13 KEY EVENTS OF THIS 7-YEAR PERIOD

1. The ANTICHRIST gains European control (Rv. 17:12; Dan. 2:40,44)

2. The RAPTURE of the CHURCH will occur – it will be Pre-Wrath. Here are 6 reasons this will be a pre-wrath event:

a. Paul described a “catching away” of God’s people, an “instantaneous transformation” 1 Cor. 15:51-52. Timing?

b. God will not cause Christians to suffer HIS wrath, 1 Th. 5:9. We won’t be in the sphere of the worldwide trouble. The whole 7 years is described as a time of wrath Joel 2, Isa. 34:2.

c. Jesus’ coming is described as imminent – that is, without precursors or signs. That would not be possible if His coming were at the end of the seven years.

d. The Lord Jesus told us 2 times that it was possible we could escape the coming tribulation (Luke 21:34-36; Rev. 3:10.) Only a pretribulation rapture could do that.

e. The Antichrist can’t be revealed until the restrainer/H.S. in the church, is removed (2 Thess. 2:7-8).

f. The Rapture = hope (Tit. 2:13). How is facing the wrath of God hopeful? Unless we miss it!

3. AntiChrist’s 7-YEAR PACT WITH ISRAEL (Dan. 9:27); the Jews rebuild the Temple & reinstitute the sacrifices (2 Th. 2:4; Dan. 8:11).

4. The TWO WITNESSES begin prophesying; the 1st plagues begin (Rv. 11:3-6; 6:1-8). Later the last 7 plagues begin (Rv. 8:7-9:20; 16:all).

5. BATTLE OF GOG & MAGOG (Ezek. 38 & 39). Russia & allies invade Israel but are destroyed by “rain, hail, & burning sulfur” (38:22).

6. TOTAL WORLD DOMINION OF THE ANTICHRIST FOR 3½ YEARS (Rev. 13:3-4). The Antichrist is fatally wounded. He is healed (Rev. 13:3) and rises possessed by the Devil (Rev. 12:13).

7. The FALSE PROPHET comes alongside the Antichrist & mimics the miracles done by the two witnesses (Rev. 13:11-13). He causes the world to worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13:12).

8. The Antichrist breaks his 7-year pact with Israel (Dan. 9:27) & causes the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (Mt. 24:15). He begins a wholesale slaughter of the Jews (Dan. 7:21, 12:7; Rev. 12:13, 13:7).

9. The TWO WITNESSES are KILLED BUT after 3½ days they RISE from the dead and ascend to heaven (Rev. 11:7-12). Spiritual darkness and demonic power sweep the world, causing widespread possession (Rev. 9:1-12).

10. The armies of all nations are gathered to the BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON (Rev. 16:12-16). “Battle” means “campaign.”

11. SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. He & His armies, begin their approach to Earth from the far side of the Universe. The heavenly bodies are shaken. The universe rolls up as a scroll before Him (Rev. 19:11-18). The stars explode out of their orbits (Rev. 6:12-14).