Complete Control

 Welcome to week 4 of our series, “On the Edge of Eternity.”

So far we’ve examined what the Scriptures teach regarding the Rapture of the Church, the Rise of the Antichrist, The Saints at the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Today let’s examine what Scripture teaches is happening after the Rapture on Earth.

Scripture never teaches believers to look for the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast or any other prophetic end-time occurrence.

Scripture simply teaches us to look for Jesus.

Our focus in this series is NOT to get everyone to agree exactly on “what happens when.”

Our focus, rather, is to remind us as the New Testament Church that… “MARANATHA!” 

(Greek word meaning… “Rejoice!  Jesus Is Coming!)

Revelation 22:7 NLT “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

Last week we examined what is taking place in Heaven after the Rapture of the Church.

Meanwhile… On Earth, the wrath of God is being poured out on all the inhabitants of the earth.

We believe the descriptions found in Bible prophecy are representations of actual future events that a terrible time is ahead for the inhabitants living on earth when it happens.

As we have discussed, the next great event on planet Earth is the Rapture of the Church. After the Rapture, the world will begin to see the unfolding of every end-time prophecy written in Scripture.

The chaos and confusion on earth will be greater than anything the world has ever experienced.

As the Antichrist rises to power, he will think, and he will make the world think he is in control.

In reality, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and King of Kings will be in complete control.

The 7-Year Tribulation Period

(Matthew 24:15-31; Daniel 11:36-12:1; Revelation 6-9, 14:10; 16:17-21; 11:18; 12:12)

The Great Tribulation is a short but intense period of distress and suffering at the end of time.

The Great Tribulation is to be distinguished from the general tribulation a believer faces in the world or the age long difficulties Jesus forecast.

The Great Tribulation refers to God’s specific wrath upon the unbelieving world at the end of the age.

(Matthew 24:29-30; Mark 13:24; Revelation 6:12-17; 16:1-21)

The Great Tribulation fulfills Daniel’s prophecies. (Daniel 7-12)

There are 62 distinct events recorded beginning with Revelation chap. 6 through chap. 20:3. These events all occur in the 7-year period of Tribulation on earth.

Revelation 5:1-5 NLT Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

4 Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

John sees a scroll in the hand of God and begins to weep because there appears to be no one who can open the scroll and the seals.

Then an elder encourages John by describing the One who can open the scroll and the seals. The One being described is Jesus.

We are not told the contents of the scroll, we are only told that Jesus alone can open the scroll.

Remember, the focus of Bible prophecy is Jesus Christ who has won the victory!

Scripture never teaches believers to look for the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast or any other prophetic end-time occurrence.

Scripture simply teaches us to look for Jesus.

7 Seals — 7 Trumpets — 7 Bowls   Revelation 6-9, 11, 15, 16

John’s visions of the seals, trumpets, and bowls are the chief events described in the central part of the Book of Revelation.

These Seal, Trumpet and Bowl judgments are three groupings of seven judgments each.

Please understand, these are Divine Judgments, not from Satan or the result of natural disaster.

The 7th seal introduces and initiates the 7 trumpets. The trumpets introduce partial judgments. Then the bowls pour out more complete judgments. It is more likely that the bowl judgments follow the trumpet judgments and take place in a short period of time near the end of the Tribulation.

Our focus in this series is NOT to get everyone to agree exactly on “what happens when.”

Our focus, rather, is to remind us as the New Testament Church that… “MARANATHA!” 

(Greek word meaning… “Rejoice!  Jesus Is Coming!)

The 7 Seals (Rev. 6:1-17; 8:1-2)

1st Seal – Revelation 6:1-2 NLT As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 

2 I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.

There is a great possibility, though no one knows for sure, that the rider on the white horse is none other than the Antichrist.

This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation on the earth.

2nd Seal – Revelation 6:3-4 NLT  When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.

Though the world has known war for centuries, the intensity of war will be many times worse in the Tribulation.

3rd Seal – Revelation 6:5-6 NLT  When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”

The areas of our current world that are ravaged by famine are nothing compared to the worldwide famine of God’s judgment during the Tribulation.

4th Seal – Revelation 6:7-8 NLT  When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” 8 I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave.

Not just death from old age – this will be increased death over a quarter of the earth by murder, masacre, famine and plagues and even wild beasts.

5th Seal – Revelation 6:9-11 NLT  When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters —their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.

Some who missed the Rapture will turn to Christ during this time and confess Him. 

As a result of their confession, they will give their lives as martyrs. These are not the only Tribulation martyrs, many more will follow them.

6th Seal – Revelation 6:12-17 NLT I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.

15 Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

[The 6th seal is a vision presenting an overview of the whole period of divine judgment that will bring an end to this age and bring in the millennial kingdom.]

God sends a great earthquake that shakes the entire world, it is so great that the power of the quake moves every mountain and ocean from its former location.

Everyone on earth knows the earthquake is evidence of the wrath of the Lamb of God.

Yet there are no reports of anyone repenting on the earth.

7th Seal – Revelation 8:1-2 NLT When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. 2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

[With the breaking of the 7th seal the scroll can be unrolled and its contents put into action.

There is silence in heaven as attention is turned from the throne to what is about to happen on earth.]

30 minutes is not a long time, but in a place of perpetual joy and praise, a moment of silence is staggering.

7 angels with 7 trumpets then announce and pour out plagues as partial judgments on the earth.

The 7 Trumpet Judgments  (Revelation 8-9, 11:15-18)

Revelation 8:6 NLT Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.

Some teach the Trumpet Judgments as symbolic, while some teach them as literal. Either way they show us that God is in Control.

Remember, the focus of Bible prophecy is Jesus Christ who has won the victory!

Scripture never teaches believers to look for the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast or any other prophetic end-time occurrence.

Scripture simply teaches us to look for Jesus.

As each angel blows his trumpet God’s wrath is poured out on the earth.

1st Trumpet – Revelation 8:7 NLT The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. One-third of the earth was set on fire, one-third of the trees were burned, and all the green grass was burned.

2nd Trumpet – Revelation 8:8-9 NLT Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the water in the sea became blood, 9 one-third of all things living in the sea died, and one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.

3rd Trumpet – Revelation 8:10-11 NLT Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star was Bitterness. It made one-third of the water bitter, and many people died from drinking the bitter water.

4th Trumpet – Revelation 8:12 NLT  Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark, and also one-third of the night.

Revelation 8:13 NLT Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, “Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets.”

5th Trumpet – Revelation 9:1-3 NLT Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.

2 When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke.

3 Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. 4 They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. 6 In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them!

6th Trumpet – Revelation 9:13-16 NLT

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice speaking from the four horns of the gold altar that stands in the presence of God. 14 And the voice said to the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River.” 15 Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth. 16 I heard the size of their army, which was 200 million mounted troops.

Revelation 9:20-21 NLT But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood – idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

In spite of all the judgement and death, still no one left alive repents, the defiance of God on earth is now brazen and unashamed.

7th Trumpet – The 7th Trumpet brings praise in Heaven.

Revelation 11:15-19 NLT Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”

16 The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him. 17 And they said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.

18 The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”

19 Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.

This announcement is made here, but the actual fulfillment will not come until later (Rev. 19:11-21). 

Revelation 10:7 NLT When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

The blowing of the 7th Trumpet signals the completion of judgment and concludes the tribulation.

The 7th Trumpet is a complex one. The full meaning and understanding of this Trumpet is not made clear.

But in spite of all this judgment, no one left alive repents.

The 7 Bowl Judgments (Rev. 16:1-21)

These Bowl Judgments are more severe and more complete than the Trumpet Judgments.

Revelation 16:1 NLT Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.

The Bowl Judgments happen in rapid sequence, one after another and set the stage for the Second Coming of Christ and the Battle of Armageddon

1st Bowl – Revelation 6:2 NLT So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.

2nd Bowl – Revelation 6:3 NLT Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.

3rd Bowl – Revelation 6:4 NLT Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood.

4th Bowl – Revelation 6:8 NLT Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire.

Revelation 16:9 NLT  Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.

5th Bowl – Revelation 16:10-11 NLT Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish, 11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.

6th Bowl – Revelation 16:12-16 NLT Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. 13 And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.

15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

16 And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.

7th Bowl – Revelation 16:17-21 NLT Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” 18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. 

19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. 20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. 21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.

Again, no one repents; instead, they blaspheme God. They know the judgments are coming from God, but their hearts remain hard as they obstinately refuse to repent.

The people of the earth are ready for the Antichrist and his false prophet to recruit them to defy Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.

These horrible events are happening on earth while the saints are in heaven standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ and enjoying the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the saints, dressed in heavenly garments will return to earth, led by Jesus, the King of Kings to face the Battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 19:11-16 NLT Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Closing: A few weeks ago we explained that the catching away of the church, The Rapture, is our Blessed Hope.

Scripture teaches us that Jesus is coming to catch away those who belong to Him.

We believe there is adequate Scriptural evidence that this catching away will precede the events of the Great Tribulation.

For those ready to meet the Lord, the Rapture is a time of great rejoicing.

For those not ready for the Lord’s return, the possibility of facing the Tribulation brings great remorse and regret.

Are you ready for Christ to return?

The only way to be ready is to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life.

Simple logic tells us not to go through the Great Tribulation because of its severity and terror.

So today, the logical choice is giving your life to Jesus.

Let Him teach you to become the man or woman He longs for you to become. Live a life of discipleship and faithfulness to Christ and be ready to meet Him when He returns.

Jesus loves you, died for you and is waiting for you to respond to Him today.