Lesson 3: The Tribulation

A. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RAPTURE? (29 EVENTS)

In Heaven:

1. Heaven’s doors open. “I looked and behold a door standing open in Heaven” (Rev. 4:1).

2. All believers see the throne and God (Rev. 4:2).

3. All will worship God. “Thou Art worthy” (Rev. 4:11).

4. All believers attend the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. “Blessed are these who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9).

5. All believers receive rewards (I Cor. 3:13).

6. All believers cast their crowns at Jesus’ feet. (Rev. 4:16).

What trends continue on earth?

7. Wars and rumors of wars (Matt. 24:6).

8. Appearance of individuals claiming to be Messiah (Matt. 24:5).

9. Continued tolerance towards all religions (Rev. 13:4-8).

10. All religions drift toward unification.

11. Continual drift toward universal monetary system (Rev. 13:17).

12. Continual drift toward a universal business system (Rev. 13:17).

13. Continual drift toward one-world government.

14. Israel is blamed for world’s economic conditions.

15. Israel is attacked in policy and physical violence (Rev. 12:5-6).

16. Those left will be blinded why believers disappeared (II Thess. 2:11).

17. World ruler arises who is a military – economic – political – religious deliverer, i.e., the antichrist.

18. Offers solution to monetary problems, food shortages, and economic depression.

19. Has signs and miracles to vindicate his actions (Rev. 13:3, 13).

20. Through negotiations and persuasiveness he convinces everyone of his solution (Rev. 13:5, ff).

21. Unifies the religions of the world.

22. Unifies the European nations into a confederation (Dan. 2:40-43).

23. Brings the rest of the nations into an alliance (Rev. 13:12).

24. Makes a personal peace pact with Israel to guarantee them safety and religious freedom in the Promised Land (Dan. 9:27).

25. Arabs pull out of Mount Mariah and abandon the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

26. Everyone is issued an identifying number to buy and sell (a future cashless society) (Rev. 13:16, ff).

What will happen to the Jews?

27. The judicial blinding of Israel will be lifted (Rom. 11:25-27).

28. Jews everywhere will accept Jesus as Messiah.

29. The Jews in Israel will feel secure.

30. Jewish evangelists will preach the gospel worldwide using temples, synagogues, and Jewish infrastructures and networks (Rev. 7:9-18).

B. HOW WILL THE WORLD RULER LAUNCH HIS “SUBSTITUTE CHURCH”?

1. It will be based on signs and wonders.

2. His signs will “mimic” Jesus Christ because the Antichrist is a substitute Christ. “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Rev. 13:13).

3. It will be based on a “resurrection.” “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast” (Rev. 13:3).

4. He will be part of a tri-unity, i.e., Satan, Antichrist and the False Prophet (Rev. 12:3-9; 13:1 and 13:11).

5. He will demand an outward mark of membership. “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads” (Rev. 13:16).

6. He will get followers to worship him. “All that dwell on the earth shall worship him” (Rev. 13:8). “As many as would not worship the image of the beast shall be killed” (Rev. 13:15).

7. He has convincing speech. “And he was given a mouth speaking great things” (Rev. 13:5). “He opened his mouth” (Rev. 13:6). “Shall speak marvelous things” (Dan. 11:36). “He shall speak great words” (Dan. 7:25).

8. He has supernatural power. “The dragon (Satan) gave him power” (Rev. 13:2). “Power was given to him over kindred, and tongues, and nations” (Rev. 13:7).

9. He rallies the world against its common enemy – Israel. “It was granted to him to make war with the saints” (Rev. 13:7).

10. By re-organizing the natural forces of the ancient Roman Empire. “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name” (Rev. 13:1).

11. By the power of demons. “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Rev. 16:13-14).

C. WHY DOES THE ANTICHRIST MAKE A COVENANT WITH ISRAEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RAPTURE?

1. Israel has something the world wants. Money?????

2. Seems to happen immediately when God re-institutes His program with Israel. “Then he (Antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (Dan 9:27).