Mankind’s Future
Episode 15 An Awful Time
In the last two episodes we saw the Church in heaven having a wonderful time. Whilst on earth people are wishing they weren’t born.
Revelation Ch 4 begins: “After this I looked, and there was an open door in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this’".
What John now records, having been transported to heaven, has to be in symbolic form as it was outside his experience or that of his readers.
The first thing he saw was a throne and worship being given to God Almighty and to the Lord Jesus Christ.
He heard them singing a new song.
“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals;
For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
He sees a sealed scroll containing a synopsis of the events which were to take place in the next 7 years. Only the Lamb was judged worthy enough to open it.
When the seals were opened, the first one who went forth to conquer had a bow, with no mention of arrows. Possibly signifying an attempt to win man by love.
Thereafter, it was to be different. War, famine and pestilence was to be the lot of the earth dwellers.
Some ask, “Will anyone be saved during this time of severe persecution and judgement taking place?”.
In Ch 7 we read of 144,000 Jews who receive a mark on their foreheads providing them with God’s divine protection.
If you take the trouble to read the list of names you will see Gad is not mentioned, and Joseph gets a ‘double’ portion.
Israelites were told the land was very important and its inheritance is to be kept within the tribes.
The Book of Judges records how the tribe of Gad decided the land allotted to them was to difficult to conquer and they moved north.
This chapter also tells us that there was a great multitude, too great to count, from every ethnic group and language before the throne of God.
Ch 6 records that the fourth rider could kill one quarter of the earth’s population.
Such was the devastation that rich and poor, powerful and slave, cried out to the rocks to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb.
You may wonder if unbelievers know that they are opposing God. Ch 6 shows many are aware that they are choosing their own god rather than acknowledge their Creator.
An angel is sent to declare in a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because there is worst to come.”
Chapter 9 describes horrors so terrible that people wish to die but can’t. Those who had the seal of God are spared from this terrible torment.
An angel is released to kill one third of mankind by fire, smoke or brimstone. This reminds us of weaponry available to today’s armies.
Despite all this mankind still did not repent. They continued to worship demons, idols, use magical (or occult) arts, and continue to live immoral lives.
Today many worship ‘science’ or ‘mother nature’. They will not allow alternative views of science to be discussed, let alone explored. Animals and plants are often put ahead of the needs of human beings.
True science, and observations open to anyone, shows that everything deteriorates with time whilst evolution insists that things can, by random chance, improve.
We are taught man can control the world’s temperature to within one and a half degrees of pre-industrialisation, even though man cannot control the rain or wind.
Jesus stilled the storm and the seas, demonstrating God can.
During this time of distress upon earth God is still reaching out to mankind. Ch 11 informs us of two remarkable witnesses.
Nevertheless, when after 31/2 years they are killed the world rejoices - that is until God raises them up.
Ch 12 reminds us how Satan sought to kill Jesus on earth and how he still seeks to destroy the Jews.
In verse 11 we read, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives even unto death.”
This is the same way we overcome Satan’s plots today. And if we try to do it another way it only ends in failure.
In the next chapter we read that mankind’s enemy uses miraculous signs to deceive people and obtain their worship.
This is happening during the final 31/2 years of Great Tribulation. During this time many saints are killed and enter their rest.
It becomes increasingly difficult to live as a Believer, as without taking the ‘mark of the beast’ buying and selling becomes illegal.
Yet again God reaches out to mankind. Another angels flies around the globe preaching the Eternal Good News.
The angel proclaims, “Fear God and give Him the glory, for the hour of judgement has come. Worship Him who made the heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
This angel is followed by another saying, ”Fallen! Fallen is Babylon, that Great City, because she made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of God.”
Another voice declares, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” showing that despite the difficulties there will be witnesses even unto the end.
Many are intrigued by the Great Harlot of Ch 17 who rides a beast.
A common view is that there will be an attempt to set up a One World Government, a Single Currency and a Single Religion.
Some see the seven hills of v9 as referring to the seven hills of Rome. But Rome is not the only city boasting seven hills.
The Harlot is adorned with gold and precious stones, and Rome has long been criticised for the costliness of some of its buildings.
There is also a reference to her sexual immorality. Rome has said that for a priest to marry is a worse sin than committing adultery.
Popes have had illegitimate children who later became popes, and some say refusing to let priests marry encourages immorality.
V6 says, “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the holy people and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”
The secretary of the Spanish Inquisition 1790-92 wrote that 300,000 people had been its victims.
For a thousand years, to be a citizen in Europe, required allegiance to Rome. The popes edict over-ruled that of kings.
Rome has tried to set itself up as the head of the universal Church and some think it is trying to incorporate other religions.
The chapter goes on to say this Harlot (religion), who ever it is, will one day be destroyed by the beast (the secular authorities).
At the end of the seven years of tribulation will come the battle of Armageddon and Jesus will descend to the mount of Olives and deliver Jerusalem from its enemies
There is so much more to say about this time but we’ve run out of time.
Next time we will look at the 1,000 year reign. Will it all be peaceful?