of Ezekiel's Temple. Many believe that it's a peace treaty that begins
the seven-year Tribulation period before Jesus returns, see Gog from Magog.
"Week" (or "seven" in some translations) in Dan 9:27a stands for seven
Prophetic Years. In the middle of the Tribulation period (after 3.5 Prophetic Years), Antichrist becomes world leader, and then the Great Tribulation begins,
which continues for the remaining 3.5 Prophetic Years.
Paul speaks of Antichrist (2 Thess 2:1–4). So does John (Rev 13:1, 5–8). The 42 months represent 3.5 Prophetic Years, that is, the second half of the seven-year Tribulation period, the so-called Great Tribulation. Then Antichrist will reign
as a world ruler over the whole world, see Who is the End Time Antichrist?
as a world ruler over the whole world, see Who is the End Time Antichrist?
- Chapter 4–5 describe what happens in God’s Heaven.
- Chapter 6–19 describe what happens on Earth
during the Tribulation period. Seven seals are broken during this time,
see What are the seven seals of Revelation?
Chapter 6 speaks of four horses, a white, red, black, and yellow horse, and describes the breaking of the first six seals:
- First Seal (white horse) (Rev 6:1–2):
Antichrist becomes active to conquer the Earth. - Second Seal (red horse) (Rev 6:3–4):
Peace on Earth is removed and there will be war. - Third Seal (black horse) (Rev 6:5–6):
There is a lack of the most necessary, famine occurs.
We get a time with limited food supply. - Fourth Seal (yellow horse) (Rev 6:7–8):
Antichrist gains power over a quarter of the world's population,
to kill people there by sword, starvation, plague, and wild animals.
It doesn't necessarily mean that a quarter of the world's population is killed. - Fifth Seal (Rev 6:9–11):
The martyrs who have given their lives for God were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of those who were to be killed was complete, just as they themselves had been killed. - Sixth Seal (Rev 6:12–17):
A great earthquake occurs, and there are great signs in the sky
(Acts 2:19–20, Joel 2:30–31), see The Day of the Lord.
The people will hide in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
see The 144 000 in the Book of Revelation and The Two Witnesses.
Mat 24:4–5 (deception), 6–7a (war), 7b (NKJV) famine and pestilence).
Mark 13:5–6 (deception), 7–8a (war), 8b (famine).
Luke 21:8 (deception), 9–10 (war), 11 (famine and pestilence).
This is just the beginning of of the birth pains (Mat 24:8, Mark 13:8b). As labor pains
before the arrival of a child, Jesus' return to Earth is preceded by a time of distress.
The seven bowls of wrath (described in Rev 16) are still to be emptied.
Jesus tells us what we are to do as believers during this time:
"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation
and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly
like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole Earth.
But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape
all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
(Luk 21:34–36). See The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
This is just the beginning of of the birth pains (Mat 24:8, Mark 13:8b). As labor pains
before the arrival of a child, Jesus' return to Earth is preceded by a time of distress.
The seven bowls of wrath (described in Rev 16) are still to be emptied.
Jesus tells us what we are to do as believers during this time:
"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation
and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly
like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole Earth.
But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape
all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
(Luk 21:34–36). See The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.
Rev 19:11–14 describes Jesus' return with the heavenly armies, all on
white horses. It's the same color that Antichrist has on his horse in Rev 6:1–2.
Both will come as world rulers, but as different types of world rulers.
Antichrist comes to deceive, see Who is the End Time Antichrist?
Rev 8–10 describes what happens when the seventh seal is broken.
Seven angels will then blow a "trumpet" (can be something else),
one after the other. After each one of the first six trumpets, the Earth is punished. The first four trumpets are described in chapter 8. The fifth and sixth trumpets
are described in chapter 9. In Rev 9:4, it says about locusts that were told
to harm humans, but not those with God's seal on their forehead.
Presumably The Rapture hasn't yet occurred.
When the seventh trumpet sounds in Rev 10:7, 11:15–19, God's mystery
is fulfilled. In connection with the seventh trumpet, I believe The Rapture occurs
(1 Thess 4:16–17) when Jesus comes to take the believers to meet Lord Jesus
in the sky. It's at the sound of the last trumpet call that The Rapture then occurs
(1 Cor 15:51–52). The last trumpet call probably refers to the seventh and final trumpet call at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Rev 15:1–16:21),
see The Seventh Seal and the Seven Trumpets in the Book of Revelation.
is fulfilled. In connection with the seventh trumpet, I believe The Rapture occurs
(1 Thess 4:16–17) when Jesus comes to take the believers to meet Lord Jesus
in the sky. It's at the sound of the last trumpet call that The Rapture then occurs
(1 Cor 15:51–52). The last trumpet call probably refers to the seventh and final trumpet call at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (Rev 15:1–16:21),
see The Seventh Seal and the Seven Trumpets in the Book of Revelation.
There will also be a trumpet call when Jesus returns to Earth, and probably during
the millennial kingdom and throughout the eternity. There is a trumpet call
when Jesus returns to Earth and gathers the believers (Mat 24:31). They are those
the millennial kingdom and throughout the eternity. There is a trumpet call
when Jesus returns to Earth and gathers the believers (Mat 24:31). They are those
who have come to believe in Jesus after The Rapture, see The Sheep and the Goats.
I believe that the seven bowls of wrath, described in Rev 16, are emptied
after The Rapture and before Jesus returns to Earth. This means that these believers will avoid the seven bowls of wrath. Not all events in The Book of Revelation
are described in chronological order. But if the events of chapters 10, 16 and 19
are in chronological order, then chapter 16 (describing the seven bowls of wrath) occurs after chapter 10 (describes the seventh trumpet when The Rapture occurs), but before chapter 19 (describes when Jesus returns to Earth).
This means that The Rapture takes place at the beginning of the Great Tribulation,
before the seven wrath bowls are emptied during the Great Tribulation.
See also The Book of Revelation.
