Tribulation Timeline
Return of the King: Week 4
Scripture: Revelation 1-19
Introduction
So the first week of June is a time looked forward to by all school age kids. It's a time of the year in which summer vacation begins.
For me, it was not only the start of my summer vacation, but the time let my parents and grandparents would be arranging for me to spend the summer with my grandparents in Hayward.
This would usually take numerous phone calls, maybe a few arguments about where to meet, but we almost always decided somewhere around Portage for us to meet and hand me off.
My father in particular is a planner. It comes from being a noncommissioned officer in the military, in his case Navy and Coast Guard.
He likes having everything set and ready before we leave home. We will be packed the day before, we will wake up at a certain time, and we will leave at least 10 to 15 minutes before we needed to in order for the itinerary to be met.
In fact, if we said we'd be in Portage by noon, he would be there at 11:30 even if it meant driving straight through and everyone squeezing their legs together because they had to go to the bathroom so bad.
I have a lot of my dad in me, both good and bad, and in this I am my father’s son.
Having the itinerary helps us prepare and makes the trip more relaxed at least for me knowing that we are ready for anything including unexpected delays.
The Bible says that one day soon, we will go through a seven year period called “The Tribulation,” or the time of distress, just before the return of Christ.
God has given us an itinerary for the seven years of Tribulation. He even wrote it down so that this generation that is on the brink of it will know what is coming.
Looking over this timeline will help you anticipate and prepare. In fact, God put this itinerary in scripture so we could do just that.
So during this fourth installment of our Return of the King series, I want to walk you through the timeline of the seven years of Tribulation that are coming.
We’re going to cover 19 of the most fascinating chapters of the Bible, which are Revelation 1 through 19.
So strap in for a ride! I’m going to give you lots of information today.
Prayer
According to many experts in Bible prophecy, the last major prophecy to be fulfilled before the beginning of the Tribulation is Ezekiel’s War – a war described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, between Israel and the nations of Russia, Iran, and Turkey
Interestingly,
Right now those three nations of Russia, Iran, and Turkey all have troops stationed inside the country of Syria. The Syrian government is still very close to collapsing. Should that happen, military forces from Russian, Iran, and Turkey will be on Israel’s northern border.
It’s almost as if God’s word is accurate in its ability to foretell the future.
1st Point-Ezekiel’s war is the kickoff if you will that announces the tribulation is about to begin.
1. Ezekiel’s War is likely the last major prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before the Tribulation begins. Ezekiel 38-39
If you are a believer in Jesus, when that war breaks out, pack your bags for heaven- just kidding, you can’t bring anything with you
But this is the starting block if you will for the Tribulation to begin.
The second point on our itinerary of the Tribulation
According to Daniel 9:27,
2. The first major event of the Tribulation will be a treaty with a world ruler who will later be identified as the Antichrist. Daniel 9:27
Daniel 9:27 says:
He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering.
Daniel 9:27
Remember from last week- the word for week in the Aramaic is literally the word 7, so putting into context of the rest of Daniel 9, it means 7 years. (Go back to last weeks’ message online if you want to hear more about that)
Therefore we know from Daniel and other scriptures that
The 3rd Point in our itinerary is this truth-
3. The Tribulation is a seven-year period that ends with the return of Jesus.
Now, God has provided us with a detailed itinerary of the last 7 years of our world as we know it.
In fact, he dedicated an entire book of the bible toward it-
“The Book of Revelation.”
Let’s do a quick summary of the first few chapters of Revelation-
The book of Revelation begins with a vision of Jesus.
In Revelation 1, the Apostle John,
One of Jesus’ closest friends
who sat next to Jesus at the Last Supper,
witnessed His empty tomb,
spent time with Him after the resurrection…
in Revelation 1, John sees Jesus in the throne room of heaven, as the Alpha and Omega, and John says,
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man.” Revelation 1:17a
Jesus is now so glorious that John fainted.
This is the same Jesus who is revealed in the book of Revelation. Revelation describes the Tribulation, but its major purpose is not to tell us the future
It’s major purpose is to reveal Jesus to us. Something to keep in mind while reading this part of the bible.
Revelation 2 and 3 are letters to 7 churches of John’s day. Revelation 4 and 5 picture the throne room of God, where the multitudes of heaven are worshiping this Jesus.
In Revelation 5, God the Father holds up a scroll with seven seals on it. Seven is the biblical number of perfection. So this is a really important scroll.
An angel asks the question, “Who is worthy to open the scroll?” (no one is). No one is able, because no one is worthy or perfect enough to execute judgement on sin, other than the one who defeated sin and death.
Finally, one of the worshipers’ points to Jesus and says – “The Lion of Judah, the Root of David, He is worthy.” Jesus comes forward, and with perfect power and perfect insight and perfect knowledge, opens it.
From then onward, The book of Revelation is going to tell us some frightening things, before that starts, God reveals the power and majesty of His Son. He does that for the believers still on earth- you and me, so we can be assured we are safe in His hands.
The story of the Tribulation period begins in chapter 6, where the Lamb of God peels open the scroll and breaks each of its seven seals, one at a time. Each seal releases some sort of devastation on the earth.
Point 4 in our itinerary
4. During the Tribulation, God releases judgment through a series of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. Revelation 6; 8-11; 15-16.
The chronology of Revelation is God’s judgment of sin. It unfolds in a series of sevens, because God’s judgment is perfect.
That’s why
4. During the Tribulation, God releases judgment through a series of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. Revelation 6; 8-11; 15-16.
Here’s your fifth point in the itinerary:
5. Revelation introduces seven characters who play a part in the drama. Revelation chapters 12-14
The first of those characters is
(1) The Dragon (Satan). Revelation 12:7-12
The Dragon is Satan. The Dragon makes war in heaven for 3 ½ years, until he is defeated by an angel army and thrown to earth.
The second character is
(2) The Woman (representing the Jewish people). Revelation 12:4-5 and 13-17
I’m going to highlight a few verses-
We see the woman give birth in Revelation John is giving us a spiritual peak into the past regarding Jesus’ birth before he brings us the future-
Rev 12:4- And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.
Remember satan incited Herod to kill every male child in Bethlehem in an effort to kill Jesus?
Rev 12:5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,
Speaking of Jesus’ victory over death, and ascension into heaven.
Listen to this:
The woman (the Jewish People) was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent’s presence to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, times, and half a time. Revelation 12:14
“A time” is a year, “times” is two years, and “half a time,” is half a year. So, at the 3 ½ year mark, the woman begins to experience persecution and is carried on eagle’s wings of divine protection for the rest of the Tribulation.
Many believe this is a reference to Petra and Bozrah in Jordan.
The third character is
(3) The Beast from the Sea (Antichrist). Revelation 13:1-10
The beast has 10 crowns. He’s a ruler of many nations. The beast…
“…was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth.” Revelation 13:2
In Daniel 7, the leopard represented the Greek empire, the bear represented Persia, which is modern day Iran, and the lion represented Babylon, which is modern day Iraq.
It’s therefore likely that the beast will be from the Middle East. We’ll learn more about that in two weeks.
The rest of Revelation 13:2 says,
“The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority.” Revelation 13:2b
In Jewish literature, things that come from the sea are from the Gentile world. The Beast, who is the Antichrist, will be a demon-possessed Gentile.
In Rev 13:3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
Meaning in mockery of and in imitation of Jesus, he’ll die and rise from the dead.
The Bible says, “It was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months (3 ½ years).” Revelation 13:5b
The fourth character is
(4) The Beast from the Earth (the False Prophet). Revelation 13:11-18
In prophetic literature, things that come from the earth typically represent things or people that are Jewish.
During the final 3 ½ years, this Beast, who is also called “The False Prophet,” will be Jewish, possibly even the Muslim version of Jesus called the Mahdi which is prophesied in the Quran.
This person will come and deceive many, convincing them to follow the Antichrist. This False Prophet will control most of the world’s economic system, through the antiChrist’s “mark.”
The Bible says,
“It makes everyone – small and great, rich and poor, free and slave – to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:16-17
The Dragon (Satan), and the two Beasts (antichrist and False Prophet) form the unholy trinity.
Remember, satan mocks everything God is and does.
But God holds true to His promise to a core group of worshipers. In Revelation 7 and 14, they are
(5) The 144,000. Revelation 14:1-5
John says,
“I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1
The sixth group of characters are
(6) The angelic announcers. Revelation 14:6-11
These three angels fly overhead to announce the eternal gospel. One says…
“Fear God and give him glory...” Revelation 14:7b
Another says…
“Babylon the Great has fallen.” Revelation 14:8b
And the third one says…
“If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand… he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath…” Revelation 14:9b-10a
This trio brings the good news, the bad news, and the ugly news.
The seventh characters are…
(7) The people of the harvest. Revelation 14:15b
John says,
“The one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.” Revelation 14:16
Who are harvested? In Matthew 13, Jesus tells us
Listen carefully. Jesus said…
“The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Therefore, just as weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Let anyone who has ears listen.” Matthew 13:39-43
The sole reason Jesus left heaven,
the sole reason He laid aside His glory as the Only Begotten Son of God,
the sole reason Jesus took on flesh and lived a lowly and limited human life,
and the sole reason He went to the Cross was to as much as possible, limit this harvest at the end of the age.
As terrible as Satan the Dragon is, and the Antichrist, and the Beast from earth, this harvest is and ever will be God’s greatest regret. God is not willing that any should perish, but all would come to repentance.
Even today, He is holding out His hand and holding out hope that each and every one of us would turn towards Him and accept His love and forgiveness, so that we can spend eternity with Him, rather than away from Him in the place where there will be perpetual weeping and gnashing of teeth.
While the harvest of the weeds is being burned, the harvest of the righteous will bring rejoicing all over heaven. Because…
“…the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom.”
God will have His kids with Him and we will be happy.
REVIEW
Revelation starts with seven messages to seven churches.
It moves to seven sealed judgments,
and seven trumpet judgments,
and seven characters who all play a part,
and seven bowls of judgment.
The great battle of Armageddon takes place in chapter 16, seven messages of judgment take place in chapters 17 and 18, and the return of the King takes place in chapter 19.
This brings us to 6th point on our itinerary of Tribulation-
6. The Battle of Armageddon
Armageddon is the final battle at the end of time. Here’s the description from chapter 16:
“The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east.”
Revelation 16:12
“They assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”
Revelation 16:16
Once the troops are assembled in this central valley of Israel, the seventh judgments begin, and the king returns.
The 7th and final point of our tribulation itinerary
7. The Return of Christ.
Look at this:
“There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since people have been on the earth, so great was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.” Revelation 16:17-19
Instead of turning to God, they shook their fists at Him.
RESTATE
The Timeline of the Tribulation ends this way. Here comes the moment we’ve all been waiting for-
John says,
Revelation 19:11- “Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. It’s rider was Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with justice.
“His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it.
“And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:11-16
19“Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs.
“Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh.”
Revelation 19:19-21
At the close of the Tribulation, Jesus returns!
That’s His story, and He’s sticking to it.
How do we apply this to our lives today? It’s not just information for information’s sake.
Conclusion/Application
As I’ve been studying these events, and really it’s a question I have every time I prepare a message
I ask myself, “What practical use does this teaching have for me and for God’s people? Is it just information, or does it have meaning for us today??”
The answer-I think there are 3 things we all need to do:
1. Walk closely with Jesus. He’s promised never to leave me or forsake me. He’s promised that if I seek first the kingdom of God, everything I need will be added to me.
2. The second thing I need to do is encourage others. That’s why we’re doing this series: so that I can encourage you to be prepared.
3. And the third thing is, I need to pray for and share the way of salvation with everyone I can.
Summary let your voice express growing speed and intensity throughout this section. Start calm, finish triumphant.
How do we do that?
Remember, it’s all about Jesus
In chapter 1, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. The one who is, and was, and is to come.
In chapter 5, He’s the Almighty, the Only One Worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, and the Lamb who was Slain.
In chapter 6, He’s the One who Issues Us White Robes (6:11).
In chapter 7, He’s The Sealer of His People (7:2).
In chapter 11, He’s The Messiah (11:15).
In chapter 12, The Defender of the Brethren (12:10).
In chapter 13, He’s The One who Writes our Names in the Book of Life (13:9).
In chapter 14, He’s The One whose name is on our Foreheads (14:1); He’s The Son of Man, Seated on Clouds of Glory(14:14); and He’s The Judge of All the Earth (14:16).
In chapter 15, He’s the One We Sing to (15:3); The Lord God Almighty, King of the Nations (15:3); and the One All Nations will Come and Worship (15:4).
In chapter 16, He’s the One Who is Coming Like a Thief, with Lightning and Rumblings and Peals of Thunder (16:17).
(Loudly)
In chapter 19, He is the Lamb, Whose Marriage Feast every believer is invited to partake in.
He’s the Rider on the White Horse (19:11);
He’s Faithful and True (19:11);
He’s the Judge Who Makes War and dispenses Justice (19:11).
He’s The Leader of the Armies of God (19:14),
And He’s the One on Whom is Written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords (19:15-16).
Friends, the days of the Tribulation will be days of great distress, unequaled in all the world until now. But over us all, and in all of us who have received Him, is the Jesus – who is so much more – so much more.
All Rise
Will you walk with Him, and trust Him? Even into Tribulation?
Will you be found faithful when He comes?
Altar Call/PRAYER
