24. The Tribulation Period Begins God's Purpose for Man

Chapter 26
The Tribulation Begins

Beyond Chaos

Remembering that the Tribulation Period is centered around Israel, having nothing to do with the Church, this period of time will last seven years - divided into two parts, each lasting 3 1/2 years.  The first 3 1/2 years is mans' destruction upon himself, and the last 3 1/2 years is God's judgment upon the earth.

Man has been priming himself for his own destruction throughout the ages, and at last destruction can have its full reign.  As the Tribulation Period begins, destruction will take place in two forms:  First, evil will be so rampant that rebellion will have its full reign and power upon the earth.  Secondly, there will be those who desire world peace, and will look for someone - anyone, to come forth to help them out of their destruction.

The rise of the anti-christ

Seal One:  A white horse comes on the scene representing a rider who "appears" to come in peace, who will - at the right time - show himself as the anti-christ.  The world will see this man as a charismatic political leader with visionary insightfulness who will astound the world with his cleverness of solutions to world problems.  This man, who pretends to come in peace, makes a peace covenant with Israel, only to break it 3 1/2 years later.    

Dan 9:276a  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week...

Matt 24:4-5  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.

In his deception, this man coming on the white horse is a pseudo-peace maker.  He pretends to fight for peace for Israel - temporarily, as he shows himself as a man of lawlessness in other parts of the world.  He will soon expose himself as the anti-christ.

The Jewish long-awaited temple

This "so-called" peace maker will make a peace covenant with Israel for their "long awaited peace."  This man will even allow the Jews to rebuild their temple.  All plans have been completely drawn up for this temple for decades that will replace the temple that King Solomon and King Zerubbabel (remodeled by Herod) once built.  Presently, however, there is one huge obstacle.  

  • The site of the Old Testament's Jewish Temple is presently occupied by the Muslims, having on its exact location their mosque called the Dome on the Rock.  What will take place for the Jewish temple to be placed on the same site to replace the Dome on the Rock still remains a mystery.  What would cause the Muslims to give up that most valuable piece of property?  Right now, only God knows, and time will tell the people.

The Jews will once again be able to offer daily sacrifices to God in their newly rebuilt temple.  This hasn't been done since the destruction of the second temple in 70 A.D.  It will appear that this "so-called peace maker" not only supports these sacrifices, but encourages it.  The Jews will put their trust in this leader as the guarantor of peace in the Middle East believing he is their long awaited Messiah.  As a result, Israel will live in peace for a short while.  Because of his many promises, Israel will be primed and ready to follow after this "so called" man of peace.

The Anti-christ

This leader is determined to annihilate Christianity (or what is left of it with religious church goers or those who genuinely come to Christ during the Tribulation Period) and ultimately Judaism.  He will strategically take over Europe through skillful intrigue (Dan 8: 23), establishing his headquarters in Rome (Rev 17:3, 9.13).  He will grow to become a powerful political leader.  As he grows in power, his true nature will be continue to be exposed.  His characer, however, is one of selfish narcissism and consumed with his own power (Dan 7:8). 

  • He will speak opening against God (Dan 11:36). 
  • He is a man of deceit and cannot be trusted (Psm 52:2; Psm 43:1). 
  • His heart is filled with war (Psm 58:21). 
  • He will exploit people for his own purposes, being ruthless and deceptive. 
  • He will become more evil as Satan takes possession over him (Rev 13:2).  Satan will, in turn, give him much power and authority (Rev 13:2). 
  • Because he has set up a peace treaty, the Jews, however, will blindly and faithfully follow after him.

Some of the names Scripture uses for the anti-christ:

  • The Beast (Rev 13:1)
  • The man of lawlessness (2 Thess 2:3)
  • The son of perdition (2 Thess 2:3)
  • The man of sin (2 Thess 2:3)
  • The Abomination (Matt 24:15)

Is the Anti-christ Alive Today?

If the anti-christ is alive today, which is probably the case, he more than likely is not aware that he is the anti-christ.  Why would that be?  First of all, the Scriptures teach that the generation that sees the re-establishment of Israel (May 14, 1948) will live to see all the end time prophecies fulfilled (Matt 24:32-34).  Secondly, the signs of the times clearly indicate that we are standing on the threshold of the Tribulation Period - the most important of those signs being the regathering of the Jews to their land (Is 11:10-13) and their occupation of the city of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24).  More than likely, the anti-christ will not become the anti-christ until Satan takes over possession of him and empowers him to deceive Europe and the Jews.  His full revelation will probably not occur until he enters the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem in the middle of  the the Tribulation Period.  It will be at that when he declares himself god.  Who is he today?  Probably some narcissic self-seeking politician seeking wealth and power.

A world religious system

In the gratitude for what this "so-called" peace maker has done, the Jews make an agreement with him to set up a world religious system that looks compatible with the Jewish religion by putting into power a religious world leader to run this world's religion.  This would then permit the Jews to worship God in their new temple.  They will, however, shortly reveal themselves as the anti-christ and the false prophet.  These two men will deceive the Jews, and the whole world as well.  Who is this "so called" peace maker and religious world leader?  None other than the anti-christ and the false prophet.  

Rev 13:11  Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and spoke like a dragon.

144,000 newly converted Jewish evangelists

There will be a group of Jewish men coming out of the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev 7:4-7), who will, after the Rapture of the Church, come to believe that Jesus is the true Messiah to the Jews.  How that comes about is unknown.  These 144,000 Jewish evangelists will speak out the real truth of the Messiah boldly in their witness for Christ to others.  They will have a seal of God on their forehead for their physical protection.

Rev. 12:1-2  Now a great sign appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.  Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

  • The woman is Israel, and the child is the 144,000 Jewish evangelists, reaffirming these group of men come out of Israel.

Rev 7:3-4  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 144,000 Jewish evangelists are God's special servants at this time.  As such, God will place a seal on their foreheads so they cannot be killed.

Jer 30:6-7  Ask now, and see, whether a man is ever in labor with child?  So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor.  And all faces turned pale?  Alas!  For that day is great.  So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob's trouble (Tribulation Period)But he shall be saved out of it.

Isa 66:7-8  Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child...For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.

The purpose of these 144,000 Jewish evangelists is to warn Israel against the rise of the anti-christ and false prophet, and point them to the real Messiah.  Like John the Baptist, they were forthtelling the coming of Christ to the earth - not for His first coming, but that He has been the Christ all along.  His second coming was imminent.

We see God at work to reach His people during these terrible times.  Since the Church has been raptured from the earth, these 144,000 Jewish evangelists are powerful evangelists in Israel.  A vast amount of Jews will come to accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  There will be many Gentiles who will become believers as well.

Russia marches across to conquers

While the "man of lawlessness" is conquering the nations within the European Union nations (Old Roman Empire) another war will also take place - the worst war in the history of man - World War III.  There will then be wars around the Mediterrean Sea and beyond.

Seal two:  A red horse comes on the scene representing war and bloodshed.  Peace is taken from the earth.  A world war takes place killing many.  Their target - Israel.

Rev 6:2  ...a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Matt 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom....

The leader(s) of Russia will form a military coalition with the nations of Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, and Turkey, which will work their way against the nation of Israel.

Ezek 38:2-17 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, (head leader) the land of Magog (Russia), the chief prince of Meshech (Moscow) and Tubal (Siberia), and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I am against thee...And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen...Persia (Iraq), Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer (modern Germany), and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (Turkey and Syria) of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.  Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.  After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited...Sheba, and Dedan (both Saudi Arabia), and the merchants of Tarshish (Great Britain), with all the young lions (United States and other western nations) thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil? Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? KJV

  • This war will initially result in the death of 1/4 of humanity.

Famine, Pestilence, and Earthquakes

Seal Three:  A black horse enters the scene representing famine, which is the result of the wars that are taking place.  Food will be very expensive and hard to get.

Rev 6:5-6  When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see."  So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living cretures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of brley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine."

Mat 24:7b-8  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginnings or sorrows.

The spoils of war - death

Seal four:  A pale horse comes on the scene representing death and hell, which now becomes a reality.  War and famine, with great pestilence brings death and its victims  destined to hell.

Martyrs of the Tribulation Period

Seal five:  This seal represents the first martyrs of the Tribulation Period.  Satan will be extremely angry at the happenings of the Rapture of the Church.  While he will probably be happy to rid himself of the Christians, it still represents a victory for God.  As such, Satan will use his victims to set out to kill anyone who comes to belief to follow Christ since the rapture.  Christians will be hated throughout the world.  The tribulation's new believers are slain for the Word of God and the testimony of Christ which they hold.  No believer can be quiet - for they know the Word of God is real, and they have seen the reality of what is happening in the world.  Satan will take vengeance on these new believers who have a testimony for Jesus - those who oppose this "man of lawlessness" false claims and those who expose Satan's hideous character and schemes.

Martyred saints in heaven

Shortly thereafter, the curtain is pulled back in heaven and we see the tribulation martyrs receiving their white robes.  These believers, now in heaven will all remain under the altar in their white robes until ALL the tribulation saints are killed and they receive their glorified, resurrected bodies at the end of the Tribulation Period.

Rev 6:9-11  When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under under altar the souls of those who had been 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, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"  Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who would be killed as they were was completed.

Click here to view Chapter #25 - Tribuation Mid-Point

Written by Pastor Joyce A. Erickson

Believers Bible School, Founder https://believersbibleschool.com/