The Tribulation: The First Half

Israel & the Tribulation

The Bible, from Genesis 1 through 11, deals with the whole Adamic race. Through that time there is neither Jew nor Gentile. From Genesis 12 through Malachi, the Bible primarily deals with Israel, God’s chosen people.

In Genesis 12, God calls Abraham and makes a uni-lateral, unconditional covenant with him of which, perhaps, the most impor-tant feature is, "in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed," referring to the coming of Christ, the Messiah.

The Prophet Daniel

Seventy sevens [490 years] are decreed for your people [the Jews–Israel]¼ Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One comes [The Messiah], there will be seven sevens, and sixty-two sevens [total of 69]. After the sixty-two sevens the Anointed One will be cut off [crucified]. –Daniel 9:24-26 NIV

Daniel’s 490 year countdown

· Daniel’s 490 year clock starts to tick from the decree to re-build the temple at Jerusa-lem and it stops for a "time out" at the Cru-cifixion of Christ 483 years later, 69x7=483.

· During this "time out" God deals with the Gentiles, through the "church age." After the "church" is gathered up to Heaven [the Rapture], God resumes His your people program with Israel.

· Daniel’s 490 year clock is ticking again. It only has 7 more years to go to reach the 490 years. THIS IS THE TRIBULATION. During the 7 year Tribulation Israel is men-tioned 26 times in Revelation. The "church" is not mentioned. With whom is God now dealing? And, where is the "church"?

Old Testament Jewish Feasts

EVENT FEAST

Christ’s 1^st Coming None

Crucifixion Passover

Holy Spirit Comes Pentecost

Christ’s 2^nd Coming ? Tabernacles* ?

* The Jewish Harvest Home, sometimes called Feast of Ingathering, held at end of the Jewish year.

Seven Seals Broken

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

1st Seal A white horse Anti-Christ

Then I heard one of the four living beings say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I look-ed and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out¼ bent on conquest. Revelation 6:1-2

2nd Seal A red horse War

I heard the second living being say,"Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one! Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men

slay each other. Revelation 6:3-4

3rd Seal A black horse Famine

I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living beings, saying, A quart of wheat¼ and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages. Revelation 6:5-6

4th Seal A pale horse Death

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hell was following close behind him. They, [the

four horsemen] were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:7-8

5th Seal First group of Tribulation martyrs

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

Revelation 6:9-10

6th Seal Cosmic disturbances

There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth¼ the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth¼ the sky receded like a scroll¼ and every mountain and island was removed from its place¼ They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Revelation 6:12-16

Note: See page 14, for the 7^th Seal which announces the 7 Trumpets.

Tribulation Saints

Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from the tribes of Israel...After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb...These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb... –Revelation 7:4, 14

You do the math

Half of the world’s population killed?

· 4^th Seal: ¼ of population killed, 75% left.

· 6^thTrumpet: _ of 75% killed, 50% left.

Mark of the Beast

He forced everyone to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead. 13:16

Get the mark, get punished

1^st Vial: ...painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. 16:2

If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead, or on the hand...he will be tormented with burning sulphur... 14:9

Don’t get the mark, get rewarded

And I saw...those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb. 15:2

And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. 20:4

Anti-Christ Antics

He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven [a period of 7 years], in the middle of the seven years he will put an end to sacrifice and offerings. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation. Daniel 9:27