The Truth About End of Times Part 3
This article supports the video: What is the Truth About The End of Times - Part 3.
If you have watched the video, here is a copy of the slide deck used.
This is the final of a three-part series on the end of times. In part one, we reviewed Jesus’ own word in Matthew 24 where he provides some color of what will happen. In part 2, we began our review of the 7 Seals as described in Revelations and we covered Seals 1 – 6. In that one, we noted that we are currently in Seal 5, waiting for the harvest to become full. In Seal 6, a lot of horrible natural disasters occur that bring much misery to mankind in a period called the tribulation, but this has yet to come.
In Seal 7, we move into the direct conflict between the forces of light and darkness and the consequences on mankind of its rebellion and idolatry. To facilitate, I have put them in a table format in the order they will occur in the future.
I want to first draw your attention to a change in pattern. Note that in the first 4 seals, the lamb opens the seal and then a spirit being takes action against mankind on earth. In the fifth seal, there is a period of patience and longsuffering and action in Heaven. In the sixth seal, there is great tribulation on earth and again we are told about responses in Heaven.
Starting in the seventh seal, there is a change. Once the seal is opened, we are then lead through a process of seven trumpets, which in turn mimic the seven seals, as each one unleashes a new phase that proceeds from the last one. So, the seventh seal has seven trumpets, or phases (and I won’t even mention the seventh trumpet has seven bowls of punishment 😊). The early trumpets have a limited amount of action of scope, but as they progress, they build up to more and more destruction and conflict until the culminate in the final showdown between Jesus and Satan (Hint: Jesus wins).
Other observations about the seventh seal:
Trumpet 1 – 4
Similar to the seals in progression
Instead of attacks on mankind, there are attacks against nature and the earth
Natural events destroy earth, waters and heavens (things in space)
Trumpet 5
Parallels Seal 5, but instead of patience there is wrath
Evil set free to reign and to harm (but not kill) people
People instead of nature attacked
Trumpet 6
Six step process of attacking people:
Step 1 – two hundred million wiped out by war
Step 2 – Opportunity for repentance, but rejected
Step 3 – God informs what will happen
Step 4 – God sends prophets to warn and call to repentance
Step 5 – prophets killed and the people rejoice
Step 6 – God bears witness to his glory by resurrecting prophets & partially destroying city
Trumpet 7
Final trumpet of final seal
God makes his move and declares unification of Heaven and Earth
Satan responds with beasts and sets up idolatry
Satan controls and is worshipped by mankind
God declares time for judgement and issues sentence
Jesus comes and execute judgement
His followers are reaped into Heaven
Satan’s followers have 7 bowls of judgement poured on them
Damage to nature
Harm to people
War at Megiddo (Armageddon)
Jesus wins, Satan is imprisoned and Jesus reins on Earth 1,00 years
Satan allowed out briefly, gathers followers and wages one last battle
Satan is finally defeated and cast in the lake of fire
Jesus executes final judgement
God establishes New Jerusalem on Earth, and we live in eternity with Him
Whew! That is a lot to get through, don’t you think? So basically, as you can see, all the stuff that happens with Satan and his beasts and false prophet happen in this last seal and they are precipitated by great and horrible natural events.
From this, we can make some definitive statements and observations:
Is Jesus coming?
Sure, one day, but not today. Look at all the things that have to happen before we see him coming out of the clouds.
Is the end near?
Near is a relative term. Is it going to happen today? No. Again, look at the order of events and see that much has to happen first.
Are we in the timeframe mentioned in the seventh seal?
No. Have you ever seen hail and fire mixed with blood cast to earth and a third of the trees burn up along with all the grass? No, so we are not there yet.
When will this stuff happen?
Who knows? Jesus said it will come like a thief in the night when you don’t expect. Therefore, always be ready. Candidly, we need to get through the sixth seal first which is where we have the tribulation (ouch!).
There you go! Now you know! Ignore all the people trying to make money off you by making you fear the coming of the Lord or end of times. I look forward to it and praise God for his just judgment. And to quote the end of the bible, I say “Lord, Come!”. We as believers have nothing to fear, for if He is with us, who can be against us.
Seventh Seal Table of Events
Trumpet 6
Seventh Seal’s Trumpet 7
Trumpet Seven of the The Seventh Seal’s Seven Bowls (3x7)
Completion of the Seventh Seal and Seventh Trumpet
Seven Seals Summary:
The first four seals:
Take place in the distant past (beginning of Genesis)
Consequences are evil on Earth
War, killing, famine, pestilences, death, and beasts
Seal five:
Broken with crucifixion and resurrection
No corresponding action on earth
Saints in Heaven told to wait
Seal six:
Will be broken in the future (judging by signs)
Signs are specific natural disasters
Great earthquake
Sun became black as sackcloth of hair
Moon became like blood
Stars of heaven fell to the earth
Sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up
Seal seven:
Covered in next article in detail
Will be broken in the future
Natural disasters
Natural events destroy earth, waters and heavens (things in space)
Then attack on people that just makes them suffer
God sends prophets to warn and call to repentance
Satanic war against the believers and God, the beasts, idolatry, etc.
God’s wrath exorcised and victory achieved
World made new again
Trumpets Summary
Trumpet 1 – 4
Similar to the seals in progression
Instead of attacks on mankind, there are attacks against nature and the earth
Natural events destroy earth, waters and heavens (things in space)
Trumpet 5
Parallels Seal 5, but instead of patience there is wrath
Evil set free to reign and to harm (but not kill) people
People instead of nature attacked
Trumpet 6
Six step process of attacking people:
Step 1 – two hundred million wiped out by war
Step 2 – Opportunity for repentance, but rejected
Step 3 – God informs what will happen
Step 4 – God sends prophets to warn and call to repentance
Step 5 – prophets killed and the people rejoice
Step 6 – God bears witness to his glory by resurrecting prophets & partially destroying city
Trumpet 7
Final trumpet of final seal
God makes his move and declares unification of Heaven and Earth
Satan responds with beasts and sets up idolatry
Satan controls and is worshipped by mankind
God declares time for judgement and issues sentence
Jesus comes and execute judgement
His followers are reaped into Heaven
Satan’s followers have 7 bowls of judgement poured on them
Damage to nature
Harm to people
War at Megiddo (Armageddon)
Jesus wins, Satan is imprisoned and Jesus reins on Earth 1,00 years
Satan allowed out briefly, gathers followers and wages one last battle
Satan is finally defeated and cast in the lake of fire
Jesus executes final judgement
God establishes New Jerusalem on Earth, and we live in eternity with Him
A lot, I know, but I wanted to be exhaustive so that you don’t have to go looking for more information.
Just to be clear, I leave you with this:
When is Armageddon and Final Judgement? Answer: In the seventh seal after the seventh trumpet and seven bowls.
As you can see, since we are still in the fifth seal, we have a long ways to go, so stop stressing and listening to salesmen that are trying to scare you and find your rest in the Lord.
I leave you with these words from our Lord Jesus Christ:
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:29-30