IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT
A STUDY OVER THE BOOK OF REVELATION & THE END TIMES: PART I
INTRO: This upcoming study on Revelation, is obviously a lot of guesswork. Although is information is entirely Biblical and comes from theologian type sources, it still cannot be correct 100%. But the following is only the best try considering all the details and facts as we know it in this year at such a time as this.
BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 4:2
After this I look, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
The Overview: The apostle John (1 of the 12 disciples and the last one alive) is given a specific vision from heaven about what is going to happen in the future. This is NOT something that has already happened, there is no 4th dimension where some type of flux capacitor can make time travel possible. And the events are very important. If the ending of the world was not a significant event, than God would not have included an entire chapter of the Bible devoted to such a topic (there is no single Book of the Bible speaking about love, war, repentance, or even the 1st coming of Christ, so this is a priority).
What Comes First? One thing you will notice of all the following problems that hit in this chapter, is that many scenes in heaven always precede the earthly events to which they are attached. Meaning, God in heaven speaks, or opens up a scroll, or something, then there is a reaction on Earth. This shows that ultimately everything decided is not by chance, but by decisions made to carry out the correct amount of judgment on mankind from thousands of years ago.
BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 5:1
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
Seven Seals: A long time ago, God in his infinite wisdom put down the judgment mankind will receive for their sins (notice, that it is much different than flooding the world with water, in a way, there is much more grace given here because the destruction of the world is actually done in parts—as if God is giving people a last chance to repent, whereas no such chance existed in the days of Noah).
Now, hidden inside the Seven Seals are hidden Seven Trumpets. And in the Seven Trumpets are Seven Bowls. It’s like 6 Seals are opened up, but when the 7th Seal opens, to everone’s surprise there are Seven Trumpets inside. And in the 7th Trumpet, there are 7 Bowls. It makes for a perfect 777. Following is a flow chart describing the trials generically, and we will go into specifics with them in the upcoming lessons. But here is the general Table of Contents.
The Table of Contents (this is for teacher use only, use as an outline):
The Opening The Judgment
Seal #1 The Antichrist
Seal #2 War
Seal #3 Famine
Seal #4 Death
Seal #5 Martyr’s Prayers
Seal #6 Great Earthquake
Seal #7 Announcement of 7 Trumpets
Trumpet #1 1/3rd of the Vegetation will be Burned
Trumpet #2 1/3rd of the Sea Judged
Trumpet #3 1/3rd of Fresh Water is Judged
Trumpet #4 1/3rd of the Luminaries Darkened
Trumpet #5 Increased Demonic Activity
Trumpet #6 1/3rd of Mankind Killed
Trumpet #7 Announcements of 7 Bowls
Bowl #1 Malignant Sores
Bowl #2 Sea Turned to Blood
Bowl #3 Fresh Waters Turn to Blood
Bowl #4 Men Scorched with Fire
Bowl #5 Darkness over the Kingdom of the Beast
Bowl #6 Invasion from the East
Bowl #7 Greatest Earthquake & Final Widespread Destruction
1. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:1-2
And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer.
Voice of Thunder: When the voice of thunder is ever spoken in the Bible, it is used as a natural symbol of judgment. Personally, when I grew up in Wisconsin, there seemed to be some storms that brewed off of Lake Michigan that seemed to shake the whole house as I was a small boy. It was loud—sort of like my dad would have to yell “once in a while” in my life to get me to straighten up (a good example of scolding a young boy in a Dad’s voice would be a good example here).
Who is the Rider? The rider is NOT Christ. At this point, Christ is in heaven rewarding His Bride while at the same time pouring out wrath from the throne. This white horse is the Antichrist, he comes supposedly as a “peacemaker,” but is actually going to cause destruction on the Earth (which has always been his master plan).
Daniel 9:26-27: In Daniel, the Antichrist will arise and attempt to bring peace on the world during troubled times (the people will actually view him as a savior in many cases). One of his first plans will be to organize a peace treaty between the nation of Israel and the Arab nations, he will apparently settle this dispute. This will begin what is referred to as “Daniel’s 70th week.” But what that means to the newcomer to Christ is that the world now has 7 years left before the world is over (check out Jeremiah 30:7 for more specifics).
Weapon is the Bow: Notice his weapon is the bow, but why are no arrows mentioned? Well, arrows pierce people and cause them to die. Since there are no arrows mentioned, it seems that he will obtain his power through bloodless means. People are just going to hand power over to him! But it appears since he has a bow…that he is going to make threats! Much like the way USA and USSR fought the Cold War. “Either you do this or else…” Probably only the Christians will say “or else what?” But the Christians in the world will either be politically powerless, gutless, or may even agree with the Antichrist because he sounds so good.
Who? Now, who the Antichrist is to me is a ridiculous argument. We don’t know. There have been some amazing suggestions throughout the years including John F. Kennedy (remember he was shot in the head), Ronald Reagan (his middle name is Wilson, all three names having 6 letters each), or even the Pope. Remember, before Adolf Hitler became fuhrer, he was an insignificant soldier that got gassed out of WWI—nobody would have nor could have guessed he would become the world’s worst dictator.
2. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:3-4
And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Who’s the Red Horse? The rider is unnamed. Well, for centuries Red referred to blood, and it may as well mean that (if you read about this rider he brings death). But take a look at Ezekiel 38:1-2:
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him…
The rest of this chapter and Ezekiel 39 goes on to explain an invasion in the future that is led by these two lands: Gog and Magog, which starts the end of times (the first nations to bring “death”). Now, who is Gog and Magog?
Gog and Magog: Gog and Magog are cities, not some made up place or symbolic location. But where is it? Today those cities are named…Moscow and Leningrad (by location: Lexicographers). The Scofield Reference Bible indicates that the Hebrew word “Meshech” means Moscow, and Tubal represents the Soviet Capitol city of Tobolsk. Specifics aside, doesn’t it make sense that the Red Army will be represented by the Red Horse on their march to their Middle Eastern seaport (something that Russians have dreamed up for centuries). On top of that, Russia has a history of anti-semitism, in the 1910s, thousands were killed! And their were some scourgings previously to their 1917 Bolshevik Revolutions and after.
Their Allies: Look back at Ezekiel 38, it says Persia, Cush, and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.
Who are those nations? Well, you know Persia, what is that (the Persian empire is the Arab empire…such as Iraq and Iran, etc)? Cush and Put are descendents of Ham, which is a son of Noah…they went on to lend their names to modern day Ethiopia. Do you get the picture, the first fighting of the end times will begin with a Russian-Arab alliance making the first move.
The Tribulation: The word “tribulation” means the final countdown to the End of the World, specifically, it will last 7 years. The White Horse Rider (Antichrist) arrives during the first part, then it transitions to the Red Horse Rider (Russia-Arab Alliance).
3. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:5-6
And when He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” And I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarters of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.
Denarius for a Quart of Wheat: A denarius was a Roman coin, typical for a normal day’s wage. In New Testament times, this coin would purchase 8 quarts of wheat, or 24 quarts of barley (wheat is the better grain, barley was used specifically for livestock).
What this means, is that in the End Times, a whole days work (one denarius) will equal one meal. Food will become scarce, which will inflate the price. Families are going to go starving because 2 meals will be missed per day, larger families will be hurt the worse.
Oil and Wine will Be Unharmed: So what? Well, oil and wine are luxury items, and only purchased in abundance by the wealthy. What this is stating is that only the middle and lower classes will suffer by the Rider of the Black Horse, the upper class will be able to keep money and still spend it. This type of economic breakdown is called “scarcity,” food is available, just not to everybody.
Example: Vienna After World War I:
The misery was great in France after WWI. There was a shortage of coal, and police ruled curfews at 9:00pm. Yet, the city was filled with wealthy Russian refugees and from other nations. There were beggars without shoes walking through the snow, people who had income and housing prior to the war having none now. And what did they see? Rich foreigners attending the opera in fancy clothes. Beggars blocked the roadways asking for food, and they were beaten away with canes. Women were selling themselves for pennies. By standards, it was not poverty…it was scarcity…and it was horrible. So will be the 3rd Seal…beginning to see a bit into the future?
4. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:7-8
And when he broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” And I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
What Color is Ashen? Ashen is a pale yellowish-green color. It can also describe a person who is pale and ill, we get our word chlorophyll from it.
Death? Death refers to a physical death, not a complete annihilation…yet. But think about how many deaths 1/4th of the world is going to be. This could be almost 2 Billion people dead! This is going to make the 60 Million who died during World War II look like pocket change. Absolutely unbelievable.
Sword: Death by war, perhaps by the cruelty of the beast or the godless system run by the Red Dragon.
Famine: Anticipate death by even a greater measure: starvation.
Pestilence: This refers to more than an illness. This refers to an epidemic, or a pandemic, like the Bubonic Plague. But this time even greater.
Wild Beasts: Remember, if food is scarce for people, it is also scarce for the animals. And those animals that tend to run from people, are going to finish many of the bodies up who are left out. And even attack those not feeble enough to live in safe areas.
Pandemic Examples:
Peloponnesian War: Typhoid fever 1/4th of the entire Athenian population over 4 years.
Plague of Justinian: It was the 1st run of the Bubonic Plague (541-750 AD), it killed 10,000 people a day at its peak and ended the lives of 50% of Europe. Off course, you also have heard about the Bubonic Plague, which will of course decimate Europe a second time.
Others: The Flu in USA following World War I, the Yellow Fever in Philadelphia after the Revolutionary War, Small Pox to the Indians, and AIDS. All of these will pale in comparison to this plague.
The Irony: As a world, we will have access to all aspect of spirituality, all levels of intelligence, every invention known to mankind, pharmaceutical discoveries that are unprecedented, unbelievable science, and everything else. Heck, we can predict within about 2 degrees the temperature 10 days from now. But the people at this time will be completely incapable of solving anything at all, and will only make matters worse.
5. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:9-11
And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest a little while longer, until the number of their follow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.
Tribulation Martyrs: The voice of these come from tribulation martyrs—or those Christians killed for Christ during the 7 year tribulation. This shift of strategy of the Antichrist, which was a false peace, to a massive genocide against Jews and Christians will be unbelievable. The world will be in complete humanism—worship of self and violence towards God.
Midpoint of The Tribulation: This is most likely the midpoint of the tribulation as well. This is where Matthew 24:14 stating you will be hated…on account of my Name, comes into play. As well as the 144,000 believers are called out in Revelation 7. Moreover, Daniel 9:27 states:
And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put on end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.
What that means is that the Antichrist is going to have a covenant of peace with Israel for the first 3 ½ weeks of the Tribulation. But then, he is going to enter the holy temple, break the covenant, and declare that he is god. Quite honestly, even though there is a substantial death toll in the world and things look bleak, it was only the beginning.
Questioning God? Let’s look again at what the martyrs are asking. They are in heaven, and they say “How long O Lord will you refrain from judging…” Wow, people sinless in heaven pushing God towards killing people…that seems extreme. Well, there are two things going one here:
A. The people aren’t actually ordering God to kill—they’re crying out for justice. In the same way as you and I would like to see that a Drunk Driver who killed a mother of three goes to prison. But,
B. What would make a person in heaven cry out for justice? (give time for some answers here) The way there were killed. These tribulation martyrs must have been killed in such horrific ways that their first element in heaven is to beg for justice rather than find their born again grandmother who died 40 years before. Remember, Peter died upside down on a cross, and we have an infinitely different number of ways to kill now in comparison.
6. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:12-17
And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. And the sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence 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 is able to stand?
The Great Shaking: This aspect is awesome. God is going to literally shake the entire world so that people would rather beg for buildings to fall on them than have to live through it. This is unbelievable! The sixth seal is the direct intervention of the Creator upsetting the normal order of His creation. Until this point, we have seen only the “wrath of man” (the death toll of one man onto another). Now, we will begin to see “the wrath of God,” God purposefully taking steps to put lives in danger (much like the flood).
On a side note, those that believe that the rapture (the taking up of believers in heaven in the twinkling of an eye as spoken in Thessalonians) is mid-tribulation, say that this is where it happens. And their thinking is that God allows believers to go through the wrath of man, but has typically removed people when the elements come from God’s wrath (with the example of the flood or the Lot’s removal from Sodom and Gomorrah).
Importance of the Sun: Throughout the Bible, the sun has had a varied importance:
A. To mark the time of day (Mark 1:32)
B. In Ecclesiastes, it refers to “all things under the sun” when describing seasons of life.
C. It show’s Gods order, consistency, grace, and faithfulness (Psalm 19: 1-6)
D. It shows direction, like east to the west (Revelation 7:2)
E. It rules the day and separates the light from darkness or night (Genesis 1:14-16)
F. It is a sign for the seasons, days, and years (Genesis 1:14).
But now, it is literally a “sackcloth of hair.” This means it will look like a very rough cloth, like from a black goat. It will speak of God’s judgment and people will apparently know that God did this because they decide to hide their faces from the Lamb’s wrath. But still, they will not accept the Lord.
What Causes This Destruction? Many say a nuclear war. Or even the nuclear winter that follows a nuclear war. Though the descriptions make sense, we cannot forget that this specific challenge comes from God not man, thus ruling out the atomic answer. Besides, if this episode is called by Atomic weapons, why would man have cause to fear the Lord? They wouldn’t.
Matthew 24: Cross-referencing these verses with those in Matthew 24, we see that the items of the 6th seal match up directly with Christ’s own words in Matthew 24. Check out the following table (read Matt 24):
Conditions Matthew 24:1-14 Revelation 6
False Christs 24:4-5 6:1-2
Warfare 24:6-8 6:3-4
Famine 24:7 6:5-6
Death 24:7-10 6:7-8
Witnessing 24:14 6:9-11
Cosmic Changes 24:29 6:12-23
Blood Moon: Seeing the parallels (by the way, what are the odds of these prophecies matching up perfectly if there wasn’t a living God writing the scriptures?), we can now see when the moon becomes blood red and when “stars fall from the sky.”
The Meteorite: More than likely, these environmental damages are caused by either the falling of a meteor or the falling of many meteors. In his book, The Earth, The Stars, and The Bible, Paul Steidl states:
In the past the earth has been struck by a number of objects smaller than the Apollo asteroids. The famous Arizona meteorite crater is 4,200 feet across and 600 feet deep, but is estimated to have been caused by a meteorite of only 2 million tons, or about 300 feet across. The meteorite (or comet) which fell in Siberia in 1908 devastated over 1000 square miles. The shock was felt as far away as Europe, while trees up to twenty miles from the site were blown over. Yet his body was estimated to be only 200 feet across.
With objects falling from the sky like unripe figs falling off a tree, we cannot begin to imagine the devastation. The sky will literally look like a scroll being rolled up, unraveled. The effects mentioned here upon the sun, the moon, the stars, the sky, and the earth are apparently not successive occurrences (not something that occurs ongoing), but instead occurs simultaneously (it apparently will last at least one full turn of the earth according to Zephaniah 1:15 because everyone will see it).
Millions Survive: And what does man do who survives this horrible day? Nothing different. They continue going on about their lives: buying, selling, giving in marriage, and worshipping the beast. Sort of like Herod going back his normal day after Egypt survived each plague brought on by God through Moses.
But Then God Opens His Seventh Seal: And that is where we being the next lesson next week.
Sources:
Keathley III, J. Hampton. Studies in Revelation: Christ’s Victory Over the Forces of Darkness. Biblical Studies Press: 1997. bible.org. hamptonk3@bible.org.
NAME: ___________________________
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT
A STUDY OVER THE BOOK OF REVELATION & THE END TIMES: PART I
BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 4:2
Brief Overview:
BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right ______________________ of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with _________________________________ seals.
777: 7 ____________________, 7 _________________, & 7 _____________________
1. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:1-2
The __________________________ Horse. Who is the Rider? __________________________
What is the Weapon? __________________ Who Could He Be? _________________________
2. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:3-4
The __________________________ Horse. Who Might Be the Rider? ____________________
Where is Gog & Magog? _______________ Her Allies? _______________________________
3. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:5-6
The __________________________ Horse.
Denarius for a ____________________________. This Means ______________________________
Oil & Wine will ____________________________. This Means ______________________________
Economic Term: ___________________________
WWI Example:
4. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:7-8
The __________________________ Horse. What Color is That? _________________________
Death by 4 Methods:
A. __________________________ B. ____________________________
C. __________________________ D. ____________________________
Pandemic Examples:
5. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:9-11
Tribulation Martyrs:
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (CONTINUED)
Is This the Midpoint of the Tribulation? YES/NO WHY?
Are the Martyrs ordering God to Act? YES/NO WHAT?
6. BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 6:12-17
Is this seal the Wrath of Man or the Wrath of God? ________________________________
The Great Shaking:
The Importance of the Sun:
What is a Sackcloth of Hair?
MATTHEW 24 IN COMPARISON TO REVELATION 6
Conditions Matthew 24:1-14 Revelation 6
False Christs ________________ 6:1-2
_____________________ 24:6-8 6:3-4
_____________________ 24:7 6:5-6
Death 24:7-10 ________________
Witnessing _________________ 6:9-11
_____________________ 24:29 6:12-23
What Causes the Blood Moon?
The 7th Seal: