Widespread suffering...

A nightmare come true...

I'm sure most everyone realizes, at this point, the remarks and descriptions above are excerpts I've pulled from recent news articles detailing events currently taking place in the hurricane-ravaged southern United States, particularly in the area of New Orleans. It's simply heart-wrenching to read these descriptions, isn't it? As disturbing as all these descriptions are to read, I want to make a point --- and an emphatic one --- to every single person who will ever read this commentary who has never come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The point? If you think what has taken place in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina is frightening (and it definitely is), you haven't seen suffering and fear yet, at least in comparison to what is going to take place in the aftermath of the Rapture of the Church!

Make no mistake about it, there will be events in the aftermath of the Rapture of the Church which will make Hurricane Katrina, as well as the Asian tsunami of 2004, seem mild in comparison, demonstrating the desperate need for all those who haven't repented of their sins and come to faith in Christ to do so --- and pronto!

1. The rider on the white horse - The first seal is symbolic of the infamous Antichrist, the word's greatest dictator. Amazingly, the most evil man the world has ever known will arrive on-scene as a peacemaker deceiving many. A peace treaty he will confirm between Israel and her enemies lasting seven years in duration will be the event that starts the seven-year tribulation period. The Tribulation Period and the Antichrist's peace plan are intertwined. This rider on the white horse will be instantly recognizable to those left behind because his face will be plastered on the cover of every magazine as a great peacemaker, a man who has succeeded in doing what no one has been able to do thus far - create a "true peace" in the Middle East. Revelation 6:2: And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
2. The rider on the red horse - The second seal reveals the rider on the red horse. This rider is symbolic of war. He will take peace from the earth. I personally believe this horseman is representative of the Gog/Magog invasion of Israel detailed in Ezekiel 38 & 39 which will occur when Israel senses it is dwelling in safety under a peace plan. This attack will come from a coalition of nations consisting of Russia and a federation of Islamic/Arab nations and will end in a horrific defeat of the invading armies. Five out of every six invading troops will die and the weapons left behind by them will be burned for a period of seven years. There is some debate as to whether the Gog/Magog invasion will take place before or after the start of the tribulation period, but I believe it is a post-rapture event. Those present in the world to see it take place will be be able to tell which is true by examining whether or not the Antichrist's peace plan is in place. If the peace plan of Antichrist is in place, as explained earlier, it will have been extremely well-publicized. Revelation 6:4: And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
3. The rider on the black horse - The third seal reveals the rider on the black horse. This rider is symbolic of famine. If we think it's hard watching those in New Orleans struggling to find water and food, the prophetic future will be far worse! Revelation 6:5-6: And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
4. The rider on the pale horse - The fourth seal reveals the rider on the pale horse. This rider is symbolic of widespread death on the earth and tells us how this will happen, as seen in bold type below. One fourth of the world's population will die as a result of this judgment. Revelation 6:8: And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
5. The martyrdom of saints - The fifth seal is symbolic of the murders of believers in Christ that will take place during the time of this judgment. Those who have come to faith in the aftermath of the Rapture will be confronted with the possibility of martyrdom. Those who have realized the accuracy of God's prophetic Word will be faithful unto death. They will not, under any circumstances, renounce Christ! Death, from their perspective, will be a far better alternative than betraying Christ! These will not surrender their testimony! Praise God! Revelation 6:9: 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:
6. A terrible earthquake and a cosmic disturbance - The world will tremble for a time and mankind will fear God's wrath when the sixth seal is opened. Revelation 6:12-17: "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 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?" After the sixth seal is opened, Revelation 7:4-8 tells us 12,000 men from each of Israel's twelve tribes will be sealed as God's servants and will preach the Gospel resulting in a tremendous soul harvest during the tribulation as seen in Revelation 7:9.
7. Silence in heaven - When the seventh seal is opened, Heaven will fall silent for about half an hour. This moment is so frightening it appears the saints in Heaven are going to feel sorry for those left behind for what is coming. Revelation 8:1: And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

The Trumpet Judgments

The seven trumpet judgments will take place in the first half of the Tribulation Period, within the first 3 1/2 years of the Antichrist's peace plan being implemented. Seven angels will sound their trumpets, bringing about global destruction, suffering, and death.

1. Vegetation destroyed - The first trumpet judgment brings about the destruction of a lot of the earth's vegetation. Although we don't know exactly what will cause this, the prophetic description sounds very reminiscent of the use of nuclear weaponry. Revelation 8:7: The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
2. A third of all sea life is killed and a third of shipping is destroyed - Revelation 8:8-9: And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
3. Water supplies are tainted when a "star" named Wormwood hits the earth - Revelation 8:10-11:And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
4. The heavens are darkened - Revelation 8:12: And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
5. The bottomless pit is opened and a plague of locust-like creatures proceeds to torture mankind for five months - This plague doesn't come to those who've accepted Christ, but tortures everyone else. Revelation 9:1-6: "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."
6. The four angels bound at the Euphrates River are released to kill one third of mankind - This trumpet judgment brings about the mention of an army of 200 million soldiers and the death of a third of mankind's remaining population. Revelation 9:13-18: And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
7. The kingdom of the Lord is proclaimed in heaven resulting in events on earth - Revelation 11:15: "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:19 adds: And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."

Mid-point of the Tribulation Period

(3.5 years are finished, 3.5 years remain)

Near the mid-point of the Tribulation Period, the Antichrist will be slain by the sword (assassinated), but will miraculously be resurrected (in some manner) after Satan himself indwells his body, counterfeiting the resurrection of Christ. The world will marvel after him, perhaps thinking he is God.

The Antichrist will subsequently enter a Holy Temple of the Jews that will be in full operation at the mid-point of the Tribulation Period and proclaim himself to be God! This incident is referred to as the abomination of desolation and can be found in Daniel 9:27, Revelation 13:6, and Matthew 24:15. 2nd Thessalonians 2:4 establishes that the Antichrist will make a claim to deity as he will "sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

Jews living in Israel, when they see the abomination of desolation take place, are instructed in Scripture to flee Israel immediately and head into the wilderness (Matthew 24:15-20) where the Lord has a place prepared for them (Revelation 12:6). There won't be time for them to gather or even worry about food, water, or clothing. Much like the Father fed the children of Israel as they journeyed in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, He will provide for their care again! I believe the place the Lord has prepared for them is in Petra, Jordan. When the abomination of desolation takes place, the Antichrist will seek to kill all Jews during the remainder of the Tribulation Period. Those who make it to the place prepared for them in the wilderness will be spared the Antichrist's wrath.

Around the time the abomination of desolation is to occur, a religious leader capable of bringing fire down out of the skies will arise. This man is the cohort of the Antichrist - the False Prophet. He is the final member of the Satanic trinity of Satan (in the role of the Father), the Antichrist (in the role of the Son), and the False Prophet (in the role of the Holy Spirit).

The False Prophet will require an image of the Antichrist be made and placed in the Temple which he will somehow be able to give life to. He will require it to be worshipped. All who refuse to worship the image will be killed.

He will further require everyone, in order to buy or sell, to accept what is known as the mark of the beast, as seen in Revelation 13:16-18: "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."

The mark of the beast will likely be either a tattoo or an implantable chip technology, but exactly what the mark of the beast will be is unsure. Those who take take the mark will do so willingly, although they may be under the threat of death if they don't.

Many presented with the option of taking the mark of the beast will choose to be martyred instead. God will strengthen these individuals to accept the punishment if they choose Him over the Antichrist. All who refuse to accept the mark or worship the image of the beast will beheaded in all likelihood, as seen in Revelation 20:4, but this is far better than the other alternative.

The Antichrist's power will be such that he will control the world's governments politically, militarily, economically, and religiously at this point. God's wrath will then be ready to fall in earnest!

The Bowl Judgments: God's final judgments

The second half of the Tribulation Period will be set to begin. The world will be utter horror from this point forward. Those who're still alive at this point will be able to consider themselves quite lucky! Those who make it the rest of the way will see the return of Christ, but it will be anything but easy, as the final seven judgments reveal:

1. Sores - Everyone who has accepted the mark of the beast will receive a horrible sore. Revelation 16:2: "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."
2. The seas turn to blood and ALL life in the sea dies - The seas will become like the blood of a dead man. Dried up? Congealed? Without oxygen? Revelation 16:3: "And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea."
3. All fresh water turns to blood as God's punishment for the martyrdom of Christ followers - Revelation 16:4-6: "And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy."
4. The sun sears mankind with heat - Revelation 16:8-9: "And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory."
5. Darkness and pain falls on the Antichrist's kingdom - Revelation 16:10-11: "And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds."
6. The Euphrates River is dried up allowing the kings of the east to march to the battle of Armageddon - Revelation 16:12-16: "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
7. An earthquake so powerful it will flatten every mountain and island strikes and hailstones weighing approx. 100 lbs. each rain down on the earth - This event is both a cataclysmic judgment on mankind and a preparation for the coming Millenial Kingdom of Christ as the lands are made flat to create space for the multitudes that will live on the earth after Christ's reign begins. Revelation 16:17-21: "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great."

After this final judgment, Jesus Christ will soon return to the earth, destroy the Antichrist's armies, throw the Antichrist and the False Prophet into the lake of fire, have Satan bound for 1000 years, and set up His kingdom on earth. Do you see now why I state unrepentant mankind hasn't seen suffering and fear yet? To say the Tribulation Period is going to be bad does no justice whatsoever to what it's going to be like! Practically every day of the seven-year Tribulation Period will see scenes like those we're presently seeing in New Orleans in existence! Is that unfathomable to you? I hope not, particularly if you've failed to come to faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to this point in your life, because Jesus Himself personally guaranteed that the second half of the Tribulation Period would be "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matthew 24:21)

In the aftermath of Katrina, we have seen some absolutely frightening behaviors exhibited by mankind. To those who would put off or delay coming to faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, particularly at this juncture when it is overwhelmingly obvious Jesus Christ is coming soon, based on my observations and those of many others who study Bible prophecy, I would urge them to carefully consider what they have seen in the aftermath of Katrina because, in my estimation, what we have seen is a small glimpse into what life in the Tribulation Period is going to be like.

Recently, I was looking through some photos of New Orleans when I came across one that had a description, a portion of which I'd like to share as evidence of what unrepentant mankind can expect to see inside the Tribulation Period if the Lord comes for His own and they find thmselves left behind. The description read, in part:

The Bible tells us far more desperate times lie ahead for unrepentant mankind than those presently existing in New Orleans and other hurricane-impacted areas of the nation, as you've just read. We can be sure the rules of human behavior are, as the experts suggest, going to dissolve very quickly in the troublesome, death-filled Tribulation Period to come - a time I believe is right around the prophetic corner, based on many visible signs of prophetic significance on display in the news of our world today, the roaring seas that brought us Katrina being one such sign.

This is no time for anyone to be on the fence concerning their eternal security! The world we live in is perilous and it's only going to get worse until the moment Christ visibly, physically and bodily returns to the earth to set things right! I promise you this in the matchless name of Jesus Christ!

If you're reading this having never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, why don't you jump down off the fence of indecision you're straddling and open your heart to Jesus Christ today? There is nothing - not one single thing - preventing the Lord from returning for His Church before you can finish reading this commentary and that is a fact! If you're not ready, it's time to get ready! Tomorrow may be too late to avoid being left behind.

Something to think about, isn't it?

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