But today we are going to be talking about something that is horrifying to even think about.
We are going to be talking about TRIBULATION PERIOD in the book of Revelation.
Most of the Book of Revelation deals with the subject of that period of time that is known as the “Tribulation Period”.
The Bible refers to the tribulation period in many ways, such as:
• Day of the Lord - Isa. 2:12, Isa. 13:6, Isa. 13:9, Eph. 3:15, Joel 1:15
• Day of God’s Vengeance - Isa. 34:8, Isa. 63:1-6
• Time of Jacob’s trouble - Jer. 30:7
• Daniel’s seventieth week - Daniel 9:24-27
• Time of the End - Daniel 12:9
• Great Day of His Wrath - Rev. 6:17
• The Hour of His Judgment - Rev. 14:7
• The End of the World - Matthew 13:40 and 49
• The Indignation - Isa. 26:20, Isa. 34:2
• The Over Spread of Abominations - Daniel 9:27
• The Day of trouble - Daniel 12:1
We also are going to be talking about that individual known as the anti-Christ.
Just as there are many names given to describe the Tribulation period, there are also twenty five names given to the antichrist. Such as:
1. The Bloody and Deceitful man in Ps. 5:6
2. The Wicked One in Psalm 102:2-4
3. The Man of the Earth in Psalm 10:18
4. The Mighty Man in Psalm 52:1
5. The Enemy in Psalm 55:3
6. The Adversary in Psalm 74:8-10
7. The Head of many countries in Psalm 11:6
8. The Violent Man in Psalm 140:1
9. The Assyrian in Isa. 10:5-12
10. The King of Babylon in Isa. 14:2
11. The Sun of the Morning in Isa. 14:12
12. The Spoiler in Isa. 16:4-5
13. The Nail in Isa. 22:25
14. The Branch of the Terrible Ones in Isa. 25:5
15. The Profane Wicked Prince of Israel in Ezekiel 21:25-27
16. The Little Horn in Dan. 7:9
17. The Prince that shall come in Dan. 9:26
18. The Vile person in Dan. 11:21
19. The Willful King in Dan. 11:36
20. The Idol Shepherd in Zech. 11:16-17
21. The Man of Sin in 2 Thess. 2:3
22. The Son of Perdition in 2 Thess. 2:3
23. The Lawless one in 2 Thess. 2:8
24. The Antichrist in 1 John 2:22
25. The Beast in Rev. 11:7
This age in which is called the tribulation period is when the anti-christ will rule and reign for seven years on earth.
This is an age in which no one should desire to live….especially the last three and a half years which is known as the GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD.
Matthew 24:21-22 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.
During this time on earth God is going to pound the earth with His wrath.
When God pours His wrath out on the earth He will pour out the…
• SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS.
• SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS.
• SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGMENTS
God has poured His love out on mankind during the church age but now God’s love has turned to wrath and now He pounds the earth with His anger.
Bible tells us it is a FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF ANGRY GOD! (Hebrews 10:31)
Illus: Remember the boxer called “Boom Boom Mancini”, he was considered to be one of the greatest boxers in his weight division.
He could take a punch from the best of them, and he could throw a punch as hard as any of them, if not harder than most.
• In fact, he was fighting a boxer in one of bouts and he hit him so hard that it knocked him out, and the powerful blow from Mancinni led to his death.
• The experts said that he threw an average of 150 punches per round. He literally beat his opponent into submission.
• Those who boxed him said that weeks after they boxed him they were still sore from all the punches he hit them with.
The reason I mention this fighter is because he reminds us of what God does during the Great Tribulation period.
For three-and-a-half years he pounds the earth with some of the most devastating blows that the world has ever received.
• Men will run and try to find a place to hide from God. But how can you hide from a God who is OMNISCIENT and OMNIPRESENT?
But nevertheless, the Bible says this is exactly what they will do. Look at Rev. 6:16-17, we read, “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
• The Bible tells us that men’s hearts will fail them because of the fearful things that will take place during this three-and-a-half years.
All those who miss out on the rapture are going to be facing the most difficult time that any mortal has ever had on this earth.
Listen, evil is so prevalent today that our law enforcement will tell you they are helpless, and they cannot stop it.
Illus: For example, sometimes motorcycle riders will go into a city like Myrtle Beach, or Daytona Beach, and for a week they do as they please because there are so many of them that they know that no one can stop them.
Illus: We see another example of this evil in these “Woodstock” gatherings.
Since the 60’s, this country has had three “Woodstocks”, where between 2 and 3 hundred thousand people gather together and do as much evil as they can do in three days.
• They smoke marijuana, take dope openly
• They curse and lie
• They fight
• They burn down buildings
• They steal
• They walk around in the nude
For three days, they do every evil thing that can be imagined, and the police will tell you, there are so many of them that NO ONE CAN STOP THEM!
But listen, one day the Lord is going to stop them in their tracks.
• God is going to send the SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS ((Revelation 6:1–17; 8:1–5)
• God is going to send the TRUMPET JUDGMENTS ((Revelation 8:6–9:21; 11:15–19)
• God is going to send the VIAL JUDGMENTS (Revelation 16:1–21)
These are three series of end-times judgments from God. The judgments get increasingly worse and more devastating as the end times progress.
NOTE:
• The seven seals, trumpets, and bowls are connected to one another.
• The seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets (Revelation 8:1–5),
• The seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls (Revelation 11:15–19; 15:1–8).
Every lost person that is living when the rapture of the church takes place will live in these seven horrible years.
This is an age in that no one should desire to live in.
We have heard some say:
• If they had their choice of times to live they would love to have lived during the Old Testament times.
• If they had their choice of times in which to live they would love to have lived during the New Testament times.
• Others would say that if they had their choice of times to live they would choose to live during the days of the west, the industrial age, the middle ages, the renaissance, or the enlightenment age.
All of these ages had their appeal but something you will never hear anyone say that knows the scriptures say; “If they had their choice of time to live they would choose to live during The Tribulation Age”.
No one in their right mind would want to live here on earth during this time!!!
But those who are lost when the rapture of the church takes place they will be living here during this time if they do not accept the Lord Jesus before He returns or before they die.
Paul could see the beginning of this dreadful time in his age, and he referred to it as the “Mystery of Iniquity” in 2 Thess. 2:7.
Beloved, the “Mystery of Iniquity” is preparing to be revealed.
WHAT IS KEEPING THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY FROM BEING REVEALED?
The HOLY SPIRIT and the CHURCH are still here.
The Holy Spirit and the church must be removed from the earth before the tribulation period starts.
Look at verse 7 again, we read, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY.”
One day very soon now, the Holy Spirit and the church will be removed from the earth, and this period in history called the tribulation period will start.
When this happens, the most dreadful time on the face of the earth will take place. There will be virtually no one here to stop Satan from doing what he wants to do.
Illus: Remember how the old west was when people began to move west? There were no cities, no counties and no laws, and evil men and women could do anything they wanted to do until someone stopped them by killing them.
When the Holy Spirit and the church are removed from the earth, the anti-Christ will be able to do:
• What he pleases,
• Whenever he pleases,
• To whomever he pleases.
The only opposition that he will have to contend with during the tribulation age is:
• The two extraordinary witnesses (I will be talking about later in this sermon).
• The 144,000 Jewish missionaries spreading the gospel of the kingdom (I will be talking about later).
THEY WILL BE A THORN IN THE SIDE OF THE ANTICHRIST.
This sinful world has seen all kinds of rulers but once this time in history starts the world will be introduced to one of the most BRILLIANT, CHARISMATIC, BRUTAL and DECEPTIVE rulers that has ever existed. (He will make Hitler look like a Sunday School boy)
Notice, the Bible says in verse 9, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”
DID YOU GET THAT?
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”
• He is going to be the Politician of all Politicians
• He is going to be the most successful Leader of Leaders
WHY WILL HE BE SUCCESSFUL?
He will be successful because those who have been left behind after the rapture have rejected God’s Son.
The last three and a half years of the tribulation period he will DEMAND ALL THE WORLD TO WORSHIP HIM by making it that no one can BUY OR SELL UNLESS THEY HAVE HIS MARK IN THEIR FORHEAD OR RIGHT HAND!!!
• There will be some who will not worship him but will pay the ultimate price of having their heads cut off for not taking the mark of the beast.
The tribulation saints will serve their Lord Jesus Christ under horrible conditions. Many of these believers will die for their faith. Look at Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
• Their might be some who will say, If I am living during that time of the great tribulation period I will not worship the anti-christ.
Because they have rejected God’s Son, God’s love is going to turn to God’s anger, and God is going to see to it that this evil crowd that REJECTED HIS SON will RECEIVE THE ANTICHRIST.
Look at verses 11-12, we read, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (This will probably be the Americans who have heard the gospel over and over and rejected it over and over!!!)
• Notice this, the Bible teaches that they had a choice when it came to receiving Christ, but they will not have a choice in receiving the antichrist.
• Notice, they won’t believe the TRUTH (Jesus) but they will BELIEVE A LIE (anti-christ)!
Because they will not believe the TRUTH, the Bible says He is going to send STRONG DELUSION, and they will believe a LIE.
God is angry at the sinful inhabitants that are left behind after the rapture, for rejecting His only beloved Son.
Listen; if you are here today and you are lost, you need to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
WHY?
Because if you have heard the gospel and rejected the gospel, and the rapture takes place, you will be among that crowd that will believe a lie and be damned for eternity.
We want to look at TWO THINGS in this sermon.
First, we want to look at-
I. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
There are several reasons for God allowing the TRIBUBLATION PERIOD to exist, such as:
A. TO PREPARE ISRAEL FOR THE MESSIAH
Any time we deal with prophecy in the scripture, we have to consider Israel.
The Gentile age is soon coming to an end.
• Paul tells us, in Romans 9, 10, and 11, that God has not forgotten the Jews. He is going to return to the Jews.
• The Jews have REJECTED the Lord, and even today they still REJECT the Lord Jesus as their Messiah. They have forgotten HIM, but He has not forgotten THEM!
One of the reasons that the tribulation period will exist, will be for the Jewish people to come to know, HE IS WHO HE SAID HE WAS --THEIR MESSIAH!
Look at Ezekiel 20:37-38, we read, “And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.”
The Jews are still looking for the Lord to come, because they think He has not yet come.
But during the Tribulation period, the Jews are going to realize that He has come, and that they crucified the beloved Son of God.
Notice, Ezekiel 20:38, we read, “…And ye shall know that I am the Lord.”
The tribulation period will exist so the Jews might come to know Him as the Savior of the world.
But He is allowing the tribulation period to also come for another reason-
B. TO POUR OUT JUDGMENT ON THE UNRIGHTEOUS
Look at Isa. 26:21, we read, “For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
As we look at this verse of scripture, we have to consider the fact that today; the ungodly have rejected the Son of God and do not consider it to be a serious offence.
But I am here to tell you that the ungodly might not see it as a serious offence, but the God of heaven who loved the lost world so much that He gave His only begotten Son sees it as a serious offence. His love will turn into wrath during the tribulation age, and this world is going to see SORROW like they have never seen sorrow before.
If you are not saved today, and the Lord Jesus Christ comes back, you are going to be among this crowd that the wrath of almighty God will be poured out on.
Again the Bible declares IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD!!! (Hebrews 10:31)
We have looked at THE TWO PURPOSES OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, but also let’s look at-
II. THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
There are going to be many PARTICIPANTS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
A. THE FALSE PROPHET AND THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL PARTICIPATE DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
Look at Rev. 13:16-18, we read, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (666)
• WHAT WILL THE FALSE PROPHET BE DOING?
He will be doing basically the same thing that John the Baptist did as the forerunner of Jesus. Remember John is the one who stood on the seashore one day and saw Christ coming, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God”.
The false prophet will be doing the same thing, but he will be pointing the inhabitants of the world to look to the antichrist.
• WHAT WILL THE ANTICHRIST BE DOING?
He will be exercising his power as he has never been able to exercise it before.
The Bible says in verse 16, “He causeth”, he caused what? “That no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Today the foundation is being laid for him to exercise his power.
The devil is flexing his muscles like he has never flexed them before.
• Remember that lovely lady Anita Bryant years ago the very popular Christian singer? When she began to oppose homosexuals in this country, the devil and his crowd put so much pressure on those that sponsored her program through television commercials, that she lost her job.
• Remember Dr. Laura Schlesinger, who also told the truth about the homosexuals, and they opposed her so severely that they took her off her television program.
• Preachers, who at one time could preach about the sins of abortion and homosexuality, are being told to tone it down or they will not be allowed to stay on the air.
We are beginning to see the devil flex his muscles like we have never seen before.
Ladies and gentlemen, all this is leading up to the fact that one day, evil forces of the antichrist will say that if you do not take the mark of the beast you can not buy or sell.
Illus: Can you imagine a house wife going to the grocery store and loading her grocery cart down with groceries for her family and she get ready to check out and the cashier ask to see her MARK and she does not have one so she cannot buy groceries for her family.
WHO IS THIS MAN?
Look at verse 18, “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
The number of God is seven the number of perfection, but the number of man is six.
WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST?
Some say we should not bother to consider WHO HE IS?
The Bible does not say that!
In fact, the Bible tells us just the opposite!
God’s Word tells us “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”(666)
Through the years there has been a lot of speculation WHO HE IS!!!. Some said it was
• John F. Kennedy,
• Henry Kissinger,
• The Pope,
And the list goes on and on.
But there are some scriptures that might give us a clue as to who this antichrist might be.
For example, the scriptures indicate it could possibly be Judas Iscariot.
• You remember Judas Iscariot, don’t you? He was one of the Lord’s twelve disciples.
• Some say it could not be Judas HE WAS A CHRISTIAN?
• The Word of God makes it crystal clear that he was not a child of God.
• You can belong to a church, but that does not mean that you are saved.
• Look what the Bible said about him. One day the Lord looked at these twelve disciples and said, in John 6:70, “… Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
WHY DID THE LORD SAY THIS?
He wanted the devil to know that he knew that he was among them.
But notice something else.
JUDAS and the ANTICHRIST are both referred to as the Son of Perdition.
• Look at John 17:12, we read, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, BUT THE SON OF PERDITION; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”
God’s Word refers to Judas as, “The son of perdition”.
IS THAT SIGNIFICANT?
I believe it is!!!
• The Thessalonian Christians were being told that the rapture of the church had taken place. But Paul wrote to them and told them this was not possible since Christ has not yet come.
Look at 2 Thess. 2:3 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, THE SON OF PERDITION.”
It is believed by some that Judas will be reincarnated on the earth. THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES JUDAS IS THE SON OF PERDITION.
• Judas and the REAL CHRIST were on the earth at the same time!
• Judas and the ANTI-CHRIST will be on the earth again at the same time!
Now that is my belief and you do not have to believe what I believe, but until someone can show me different from the scriptures I believe that Judas will be re-incarnated again and will come back as the ANTI-CHRIST.
Now we Christians really do not care who is going to be the antichrist because we are not going to be here.
But whoever it might be, he will be so powerful that the Bible says unless you have his mark in your right hand or forehead you will not be able to BUY or SELL.
This is going to put a lot of pressure on the inhabitants of the earth. Once a person takes the mark of the beast, they are DOOMED FOREVER!!!
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?
Look at Revelation 14:9-10, we read, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”
When a person takes the mark of the beast, they invoke the wrath of almighty God, and the mark seals the future of those who receive it.
Look at Revelation 16:2, we read, “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”
We see that THE FALSE PROPHET AND THE ANTICHRIST WILL PARTICIPATE DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
But notice that while there are going to be some of the most wicked people who ever walked on this earth during the tribulation period, there are also going to be some of the most godly, courageous men of God who ever walked on this earth.
WHO ARE THESE?
B. THE TWO WITNESSES WILL PARTICIPATE DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
There has been a lot of speculation as to who these two witnesses might be. Generally, most agree they are going to be:
• Moses and Elijah
or..
• Elijah and Enoch
Why do men believe these could be the witnesses?
• Some think it will be Elijah and Enoch, because it is reported that both of these men escaped death, and the Bible teaches it is appointed unto men to die and it is important that they come back and die, because it is appointed unto man once to die.
• Some think it will be Moses and Elijah, because of the things the Bible talks about that surrounded their lives, like the plagues and the fire, seem to fit the scriptures that apply to the two witnesses.
Look at Rev. 11:3-4, we read, “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”
THESE TWO WITNESSES HAVE SPECIAL POWER. Notice some of the special powers these two witnesses will have.
Look at Rev. 11:5, we read, “And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.”
Notice, five things about them.
(1) THEY HAVE POWER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
Notice, if any man hurt them, “Fire proceedeth out of their mouth.”
(2) THEY HAVE POWER TO STOP THE RAIN
Rev. 11:6 is one verse that indicates that one of the two witnesses might be Elijah. (See Ex. 25-35) We read, “THESE HAVE POWER TO SHUT HEAVEN, THAT IT RAIN NOT IN THE DAYS OF THEIR PROPHECY: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”
Also notice, “…have POWER OVER WATERS TO TURN THEM TO BLOOD, and TO SMITE THE EARTH WITH ALL PLAGUES…”
This is why some believe that one of the two witnesses will be Moses.
(3) THEY HAVE A LIMITED TIME TO MINISTER
Look at verse 3, we read, “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”
In other words, they have around three-an-a-half-years to get the job done.
(4) THEY WILL BE KILLED
Look at verse 7, we read, “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”
Notice, the Beast comes out of the Bottomless pit, makes war against them, overcomes them and kills them. But they can not be killed until they have “Finished their testimony.”
The antichrist and the evil forces will be rejoicing now that these two trouble makers have been killed. The antichrist wants it to be known they are dead.
Look at verse 8, we read, “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
These men were a “thorn” in the side of the antichrist.
The entire world wondered who could make war against the antichrist. They did, and were very successful until their work was finished.
The antichrist has no respect for them. Their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three days for everyone to see.
Illus: This means that on NEWMAX, FOXNEWS, CNN, NBC, ABC, and CBS, people will be seeing:
• These two men who could breathe out fire to protect themselves are dead
• These two men who could stop the rain and bring a famine on the land are dead
This is going to be a HORRIBLE time for the ungodly.
Look at verse 10, we read, “And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.”
Notice, the Bible says these two preachers, “Tormented them that dwelt upon the earth.”
HOW DID THEY TORMENT THEM?
Through the preaching of God’s Word, and the special gift of spewing out fire from their mouths to protect themselves.
They are all screaming---WE GOT RID OF THEM!
They killed them ---Oops, look at this-
(5) THEIR BODIES ARE RESURRECTED
They just thought they got rid of them.
Look at verse 11, we read, “And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”
• The Spirit of life entered them
• They stood upon their feet
And the Bible says, “Great fear fell upon them which saw them.”
But notice, while they are watching them, the Bible says in verse 12, “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”
These two witnesses will participate during the tribulation period.
ALSO, THE 144,000 JEWISH MISSIONARIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
• THESE TWO WITNESSES WILL HAVE SPECIAL POWERS.
• The HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR THOUSAND JEWISH
MISSIONARIES WILL HAVE A SPECIAL MESSAGE
THE 144,000 WILL PARTICIPATE DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
Look at Rev. 7:2-4 “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
These are the 144,000 Jewish Missionaries that will minister upon the earth during the tribulation period.
• There have been some great Missionaries who have done a great job, but these 144,000 Jewish Missionaries will probably be the greatest missionaries that have ever walked on this earth.
• They are similar to the Two Witnesses, in that God seals them and no one can hurt them until God has finished his work through them.
But notice, the Bible says these 144,000 were Jewish Missionaries.
IS THAT SIGNIFICANT?
Yes, these verses of scripture are important for this reason.
There is a group that goes from door to door today who call themselves Jehovah Witnesses, and they claim they are the 144,000.
But I submit to you, based on the Word of God, that every time they make that claim they do it out of ignorance, because there is not one ounce of truth to their claim.
Let me give you some scriptural reasons why their claim is not correct. (Six of them)
(1) The first reason their claim is not true is because this is something that is yet to happen, it has not happened yet, so how can they be this group?
(2) They cannot be this group because the Bible says the 144,000 are Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel.
Look at Rev. 7:4 “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
(3) Also, the Jewish Witnesses have a mark in their forehead.
Look at Rev. 14:1, we read, “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, HAVING HIS FATHER'S NAME WRITTEN IN THEIR FOREHEADS.”
The next time a Jehovah Witness knocks on your door and tells you that they are part of the 144,000, ask them to show you the proof they are from the twelve tribes of Israel, and ask to see the “Father’s name written in their foreheads.”
(4) Also, look at verse 3, we read, “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”
The next time they come to your door, tell them you want to hear them sing that song that nobody but the 144,000 could learn.
(5) Look at verse 4, we read, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins….”
As you know, when many Jehovah Witnesses go from door to door, they take their children with them, to train them to go from door to door spreading their teachings.
When they stand at your door with all those children, ask them if they are virgins. If they are, then whose children are these?
(6) These were men. Look at 4 again, we read, “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. THESE WERE REDEEMED FROM AMONG MEN, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
The 144,000 Jewish Missionaries will be men. The Bible says, “…These were redeemed from among men…”
The Bible says:
• This is yet to happen, so these today cannot be the 144,000
• They are all Jews
• They are all Virgins
• They all have the name of the Father in their forehead
• They all have learned that new song
• They are all men
If they cannot meet the criteria the Bible lays out for the 144,000 witnesses, they cannot possibly be the 144,000.
The TWO WITNESSES had a SPECIAL POWER, but the 144,000 will have a SPECIAL MESSAGE.
• They are not in existence today, because there is no need for the SPECIAL MESSAGE they will be preaching.
• The message during the church age is WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE. There is not one thing a person can do to acquire salvation. NOT ONE THING!
• The gospel that the 144,000 will preach is called the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and it will require something of them to do.
WHAT WILL THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM REQUIRE OF THEM?
Look at Matthew 24:13-14, we read, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
Notice, when this verse of scripture takes place, verse 14 says it will be during the “…gospel of the kingdom…”
The “Kingdom age” is when the Lord Jesus is going to come to the earth and set up His Kingdom for a thousand years.
The church has been raptured from the earth, and now these 144,000 Jewish missionaries are preaching the KINGDOM GOSPEL that is to come.
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM?
It is this: the antichrist has declared no one can BUY or SELL unless they have the mark of the beast in their right hand or forehead.
This is going to make life very difficult for the inhabitants of the earth. But when he “causeth” all to take the mark to BUY or SELL,
• The Two Witnesses are no longer here to oppose him,
• But the 144,000 Jewish Missionaries will be here opposing him with the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM.
They are going to be canvassing the nations saying:
• No matter how hungry you get, do not take the mark
• No matter if they put you in prison, do not take the mark
• No matter if they tie you to a post and have you beaten, does not take the mark
• No matter if they cut your head off; do not take the mark of the beast
• No matter if your family members take the mark, do not take the mark of the beast
• No matter if your friends take the mark, do not take the mark of the beast
The Gospel of the Kingdom that the 144,000 Jewish missionaries will be preaching is, “Do not take the mark of the beast! He that endures unto the end shall be saved!”
They are going to be preaching:
• The Jews thought when Christ came the first time it was to set up his kingdom, they were wrong
• He came the first time to die for our sins, but He is going to be coming at the end of the Tribulation Period - DO NOT TAKE THE MARK!
Many will not take the mark of the beast; they will endure hunger and death itself.
Look at Rev. 6:9-11, we read, “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
Look at Rev. 7:14, we read, “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Notice, they are saved because of the blood of the Lamb, and it cost them their lives. They had to endure as the 144,000 told them they had to do.
Listen, they will be saved by the blood of the Lamb like everyone else, but the message of the 144,000 will be, “Do not take the mark of the beast, because if you do, you are doomed.”
Conclusion:
I. THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
II. THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
