I. The Tribulation is a Distress
Matthew 24:15 “… when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel — let the reader understand … 21 For then there will be great distress [tribulation] unequaled from the beginning of the world until now — and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
II. The Tribulation Follows Our
1 Thessalonians 4:17 … we who are still alive and are left will be caught up [raptured] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
III. The Tribulation is an Outpouring of God’s
A. Seven
Judgments (Rev. 6:1 – 8:5)
Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals … 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
1. Antichrist on a white horse
2. War
3. Famine
4. Death
5. Martyred souls
6. Earthquake, then 144,000 Jewish evangelists marked
7. 30 Minutes of silence
B. Seven
Judgments (Rev. 8:6 – 11:19)
Revelation 8:6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. 7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
1. Hail & fire mixed with blood = 1/3 of the earth is burned up
2. Mountain into the sea = 1/3 of ocean life & ships destroyed
3. Great star “Wormwood” = poisons water
4. 1/3 Of stars, sun & moon turn dark
5. Demonic locusts sting like scorpions for 5 months but not kill
6. 4 Angels released, leading 2 hundred million & 1/3 of the earth die
Revelation 9:15 the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million … 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths … 20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols … 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
7. Heaven proclaims Christ’s reign
C. Seven
Judgments (Rev. 15 – 16)
Revelation 16:1 I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” 2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.
1. Painful sores
2. Seas turn to blood
3. Rivers turn to blood
4. Sun scorches people
5. Darkness
6. Euphrates River dries up
7. Earthquake & Armageddon
IV. The Tribulation Ends with
Revelation 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Revelation 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
Application: Be ready and warn others