The Catholic Bible Has The Answer!

Are we in the “end of days?” Is this the tribulation, and do we even know what the tribulation is all about? Are the horrible things that the Bible associates with the end of days coming upon us? Is there any hope of escape?

While there are many opinions on the topic of the apocalypse, this book doesn’t merely give an opinion. The Bible is the greatest source of information on the end times, which many people call "the apocalypse." The subtitle on this book, "The Catholic Bible Has the Answer” is intentional, as the Bible does in fact have the answer!

The Catholic Church is the largest Christian demographic in the United States. While Protestants presently outnumber Catholics in America, nearly 25% of the population still identifies as Catholic. Here is the bottom line: Most Catholics have never heard a sermon at Mass, attended a lecture, or picked up a book on what the Catholic Bible has to say about the end times. This is unfortunate, and as a result, many are relying on information from other sources.

The return of Jesus is the greatest promise yet to be fulfilled in the Bible. This book uncovers what many have only understood to be hidden mysteries of end-time biblical prophecies. It is a definitive and prophetic look at the coming kingdom of Christ, and the fate of all humanity. 

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Transcript © Faith Dialogue, Inc 2020 

The Rider on the Black Horse,  Pastor Ken Behr

Revelation 6:3

Welcome today to our Wednesday message.  We are in our new series called “Pondering Prophecy”

These past two Wednesdays, we introduced the first two of seven seals from the 6th Revelation of Revelation.     This is the beginning of what is known as the Tribulation.  It begins here in Chapter six and continues through Chapter nineteen.     It is the time spoken by the prophet Daniel as the 70th week, and as the time of Jacob’s trouble.  It’s called the Great Indignation by Isaiah, and the Day of the Lord by Joel and the Apostle Paul.   In the Book of Revelation it is first introduced in the letter to the church of Philadelphia as the hour of testing that is to come upon the whole world.   Jesus refers to it as the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation.

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John is shown the judgements of God that come upon the entire earth and he sees a series of seven seals followed by a series of seven trumpets and then a series of seven vials or bowls.   The first four of the seven seals are symbolized by a rider on a different color horse:  The colors are identified with these four horsemen in the first four seals are WHITE, RED, BLACK and PALE GREEN.

 

We’ve seen so far the first seal and the rider on the white horse who we have identified as the antichrist.   Then we read about the second seal and the rider on the red horse and we spoke of the wars, the riots, the violence.   The scripture regarding this rider on the fiery red horse said that it takes peace from the earth and makes people kill each other.   

 

We’ll continue today and we’ll see the opening of the third seal and the rider on the Black Horse.    Before we read the passage however, I want to back up a little and talk about how all of these seals, and particularly these riders on horses that we see in the first four seals are all interconnected. 

 

These first four riders are also called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and people that have never even read the Bible, never heard a sermon on the Book of Revelation, they know that these Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are connected in someway to a horrible time, the time of judgement, the time of the end.

 

And that thinking is not incorrect.   Let’s put these initial seals that we see in the 6^th chapter of the book of Revelation in context. 

 

Jesus was in Jerusalem in the week of his triumphal entry into the city on Palm Sunday, where he rode through the gate of the city on the back of a donkey and the people greeting him with palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna, Hosanna to the King, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”    

 

By the end of the week, Jesus would be crucified and in the tomb.   Jesus took time that same week talk with his disciples and he told them to their surprise that the magnificent temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed.  That not one stone would be left on top of another.   The Disciples were amazed.  The Temple was truly one of the wonders of the world.   Herod had begun work 46 years prior and was determined to be remembered forever as the builder of the greatest temple of the Jews.   Over 10,000 skilled laborers had been hired according to the historian Josephus along with 1,000 Levites that were specially skilled as builders and masons.    The beautiful gates, the tall white stones rose above the city on mount Moriah and the glorious temple could be seen from miles away.  

 

What Jesus said came true just as he foretold.   In 70 AD, the Roman General Titus that would someday become Emperor of Rome, sacked the city, killed hundreds of thousands of Jews and destroyed the temple.  Not one stone was left on top of another.

 

The Apostles didn’t know when this would all happened.  The thought that the destruction of the temple was likely associated with the end of time.   They asked

 

“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

 

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Matthew 24:4-8)

 

Many have noticed the correlation in Matthew 24 of these events and the sequence of the seal:

 

1)  The first is many that will come saying “I am the Christ and will deceive many”    We saw that with the rider on the white horse….the man of deception called the antichrist

.

2)  Secondly, are the wars and rumors of wars represented by the second seal and the red horse

3)  Third, Jesus speaks of Famines in various places and we will see today it is represented by the third seal and the Black horse, and then we’ll see finally Jesus refers to #4

4)  Fourth, earthquakes and we will see when we get to the fourth seal, there will be earthquakes and all kinds of cosmic disturbances.

Just to provide further support to this correlation Jesus continues in verse 9 of Chapter 24,  Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

 

This correlates with the fifth seal in Chapter 6 of revelation which reads: When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

 

So let’s read now the two verses in the sixth chapter of Revelation that reveals the opening of the third seal

The Third Seal: The Black Horse (6:5-6)

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

In verses 5 and 6 we see the aftermath of wars and lawlessness; this is what happens when peace is taken from the earth.   The scripture says the rider on the black horse had a pair of balances, or scales in his hand.   

Today, we don’t often see these types of scales or balances.   However, for thousands of years they were used in commerce, it was the way that things were weighed.   The scriptures use this language of scales and balances often.  It speaks of justice, fairness, and impartiality.  Proverbs 11: 1 says Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, And dishonest scales are not good.

If you recall the account recorded in the book of Daniel where King Belshazzar is having a feast and decides to use the articles from the temple in Jerusalem.   A hand suddenly appears and begins to write the words.   Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.   The prophet Daniel interpreted this word from the lord as God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;  you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting;  (there is that picture of a scale that doesn’t ‘measure up’ as we commonly say)

In more contemporary language and culture, Lady Justice is a common sight on courthouses and legal institutions. This woman garbed in a tunic, has a pair of scales in her hand and typically wears a blindfold.    She represents fairness, justice and is blinded as there is to be no partiality, the poor and lowly are to be provided the same justice as the rich and powerful.

Now we look again at the scripture for today and what do we see?   The pair of scales and we now understand the symbol and the scripture continues:  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius…

In the wage scale of the time that John hears this voice, it was common for a person to receive one denarius for an entire day’s work.  And the scripture says that this denarius would be the value of a measure of wheat and three measures of barley

The literal explanation would mean that at this time, it would take an entire day’s wages to buy a measure of wheat.  A measure of wheat is one ‘dry quart’ according to my conversion chart and makes 1 ½ to  2 loafs of bread, enough for one good meal.   Barley is not as nutritious nor desired and you could buy three meals of barley.

You can see why people often call this third seal, this rider on the Black Horse as bringing FAMINE.    And I agree with that as well…the question that remains, is why famine and how widespread?

At any given time, there is a balance between supply and demand.  Food is produced…not only wheat and barley but milk, bread, eggs, cheese, flour, chicken, beef, pork, can goods, paper products, gasoline, building materials, medicines and durable goods.

War and Civil unrest disrupts that balance.   Actually, we don’t even need to have the real thing, just the rumors of war, the rumors of a coming disruption.  Here in Florida we know that during hurricane season, at any time we can find the shelves of our stores empty….all the water, bread, batteries, rope….all kinds of things surprisingly gone.  And often, the hurricane doesn’t even get that close.   Who would have thought that this COVID-19 crisis would have immediately emptied the store shelves of toilet paper?

And this is the picture that the scripture is painting. It is also painting a picture of inflation…raising prices.  You see it isn’t that there is no wheat, no barley, no food and necessary supplies.  If you want to buy it….it will be scarce enough at least in various places, that the price will be sky high.

We have seen that recently.   When there was no toilet paper on the shelves of the local grocery store, you could go online at Amazon and buy it from third-party sources for 10, 20 and 100 times the normal price.   Gasoline when it is in short supply doubles and triples in price overnight.  

This happens for two main reasons.  The first is actual shortages of supply.  An early frost up north will send prices on fruits and vegetables sky high.   The Russia was the world’s second largest producer of wheat (second only to the United States) but poor management combined with uncooperative weather created such shortages that people stood in line for hours to buy a loaf of bread.

Let’s stick with Russia for a minute…in particular communist Russia, the Soviet Socialist Republic and talk about fairness and food distribution.

Even when people had to stand in line for hours, there was a black market that had the same things, the same products, but at a high price….as much as an average workers daily wage to buy food on the black market for himself and his family.

At the same time, those in power, the rich, the political leaders always had plenty.

Notice the scripture also has these words,  “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

For some reason, the voice says that the oil and the wine would be left alone.   I’ve read some commentaries and one explanation is that there would be no money left to buy the oil and wine, considered essentials at the time of the Apostle John.

While that is a possible and a simple explanation, I return back to the words of Jesus in the 24^th chapter of Matthew.   He said that just before his coming in various places there will be famines.

 

The various places that Jesus refers to may indicate that while the famines, these disruptions in the supply of goods and services, will be widespread, they will not be universal.   I keep going back to what we see in communist countries, these Marxists don’t believe in free enterprise, they don’t believe in allowing people to choose to invest in the means of production and supply.   They don’t believe in capitalism; they believe that the government owns the means of production and the government can do a better job managing the whole thing centrally.

Well, what we have found in places like Russia and Cuba and North Korea and Venezuela and Bolivia and Sri Lanka  In these places, the common people are faced with poverty, hunger, starvation and many other inequities where the people in power have everything they need and more.

It’s interesting, in the 80’s and 90’s it looked for a while if Marxism–Leninism–Maoism, this political and economic ideology that has failed literally in every place it has been tried was going-going-gone.   The Soviet Union broke up, East Germany was absorbed into the West and even African tribalism was turning more and more towards free markets, democracy and capitalism.

But how things have changed.  Here in the United States students coming out of college are told and believe that Capitalism is the root of all evil.  Politicians are openly calling themselves socialists and calling for the end of some of the long-held values of our republic.

And yet, everywhere Marxism is embraced, violence, riots, food shortages, economic collapse and totalitarian regimes impose their will on the common people.  

The scripture today speaks of the third seal, the third rider on the black horse and this third seal, the third rider follows the second who follows the first.    This is a progressive unveiling of what happens when the antichrist is revealed.

Jesus said that in the last days, beware you are not deceived for many will come and deceive the nations.   In 1^st timothy, the Apostle Paul speaks about the same topic, the end times and the rise of the antichrist and he says, But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.

This is deception that is coming directly from hell.   Paul says they are doctrines of demons.  Seducing spirits that are allowed to bring about what ultimately brings forth this Horsemen of the Apocalypse.  These riders on different colored horses: White, Fiery Red, Black and Pale Green.

For centuries, well intentioned teachers, Bible scholars and pastors have looked at these words of Jesus and the prophecy connected with the end-times and found it too fantastic, too horrible, too dreadful to embrace.

First of all, the center of all of these end-times prophecy was Israel and Jersualem.  Israel was no longer in the land.  It was a wasteland, mostly arid and desert-like.  The Jewish people had been scattered after 70 AD in what was called the Great Diapsora and quite frankly were not welcomed anywhere.  The Jews were persecuted by the Romans, by the French, the Greeks and primarily by the Christians.   The Papal Inquisitions that began in the 12^th centuries were infamous for the torture and persecution of Jews and Muslims.  While the worst was in Spain where for more than 200 years Jews were routinely tortured and killed.  For centuries,  throughout much of Europe, Jews were discriminated against and hated.

It was because of this that it became impossible for most Christian scholars to overcome their bias and look at the Bible and see that God still loved the Jewish people, that there would still be a time of restoration, that when we read the word ISRAEL in the Bible it means ISRAEL, when we read about armies surrounding Jerusalem, it means Jerusalem, not Rome or London or some European capital.

Of course, the only reason that many if not most of the scholars today see that these prophetic scriptures refer to Israel and Jerusalem and the Jewish people is because we see Israel back in the land, a nation restored in a day, May 14, 1948.

Jesus said, do not be deceived, do not depart from sound doctrine.    When we see these signs, any of these signs that remind us of the end times, we need to be careful, prayerful and always allow scripture to interpret scripture.

I’ve heard some say that Covid-19 is the black horse, causing economic disruption, a hording of food, scarcity, and inflation.  While Covid-19 certainly caused shortages of toilet paper and certainly is a deadly virus, it is still not ‘tribulation worthy’    I used that term last week in speaking of the wars spoken of in the 2^nd seal and the rider on the fiery red horse.  

Tribulation worthy means that is has to be on the scale of what is spoken of in the Bible.   Jesus spoke of these end times in Matthew 24verse 21 & 22:  “For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.…”

My friends, Jesus said he is coming back.  The Bible makes that clear and we believe it will be fulfilled. 

Jesus also said in Luke 21:36 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

To be counted worthy simply means to know, t believe and to trust that it is Jesus that is worthy.  It is Jesus that paid the penalty for the sin of the world.  You sin, my sin.

The Bible makes it clear that if we believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord and confess with our lips that God has raised him from the dead, we will be saved.  For it is with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.…

Saved in this world, saved in the next and saved from the coming tribulation, the coming judgement on the earth.

Let’s pray!

Transcript © Faith Dialogue, Inc 2020

Pastor Ken Behr

Welcome today to our Wednesday message.  We are in our new series called “Pondering Prophecy”

At Faith Dialogue, we have two messages each week.  In our services on Sunday we are presently going through the Acts of the Apostles in a series called “unstoppable”    We are going through this book, verse by verse, word for word.   It’s our preferred method of teaching and understanding the Bible.

On Wednesdays, we have just finished up on a two-year overview of the parables of Jesus.   And today we are only in week 2 of this series so there is much for us that we could discuss.

Last week, I mentioned three principles that will guide our look at prophecy and these are bedrock principles.   We may not always mention them but we will always maintain them.  The three principles are:

• Thy Kingdom Come: these three words are from The Lord’s prayer and they remind us that actually, looking to prophecy, looking to the second coming of Jesus is something that actually we pray for always, every time we pray they Lord’s prayer: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done” and these words of Jesus tell us that there is a Kingdom that is coming and it is something that we actually pray for daily.
  
  
• Prophecy is profitable: The Bible tells us that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: We need to be reading prophecy in order to be complete…to be ready .  As Prophecy constitutes between 25% to 33% of the Bible or one out of every three to four verses.  If we Ignore prophecy or avoid it, we miss a huge part of the words in the Bible that were given for our benefit.  
  
  
• The Second Coming of Jesus is the “Blessed Hope” The Apostle Paul spoke often of the second coming and he called it the “Blessed Hope” We’ll talk today a little more about why the  “Blessed Hope” and His “glorious appearing” it is something we embrace, not something that we fear. 

So, as we study prophecy not only today but on our future Wednesday teaching sessions, we’ll always remember these three bedrock principles.  You’ll likely hear me mention them again.

 

Today, I thought I’d spend some time talking about what many people refer to often and that is the Tribulation, also known as the seven year Tribulation or sometimes the Great Tribulation.

 

 

As I was preparing this message, I was listening to Pastor Greg at Celebration Community Church who is presently teaching on the Book of Revelation and he mentioned something that I took note of, it is worthy of repeating. 

 

And that is when we look at prophecy, when we look at the book of Revelation for example or the Book of Daniel that we’ll be spending some time in today, he said that when we look at prophecy, we don’t want to interpret prophecy based on today’s newspapers, or what the media, or someone is saying today but we always want to interpret prophecy on what the Bible says.

 

The Bible interprets the Bible and when we talk about the prophecies in the Bible that point to the second coming of Jesus, of the establishment of the Millennial Reign of Christ, we will be looking at the Old Testament.  A person that really want to understand ‘Last Day’s prophecy’ what is called “ESCHATOLOGY”  which is Latin for the Study of the last things” that person would be wise,  WE WOULD BE WISE to study the old testament prophets and carefully do some research before we jump to any conclusions.

 

So today….as we begin to explore what is referred to as the Tribulation.  Let me first define the term as it’s typically described and then we’ll be looking at the Old Testament prophet Daniel, often thought of in connection with his three friends: Shadrack Meshack and Abednego.

 

So before we get into the text and dig into some of the scripture in the Bible that refers to this time of the end that we call the tribulation, let me tell you a story.

 

I’ve had the privilege of serving in pastoral ministry for almost 20 years.  This is my second career so during these 20 years I went back to school, attended a conservative Biblically centered seminary and have the opportunity now to pastor and share the gospel.

 

As a pastor, one of the questions that comes up from time to time, is Do you take the Bible literally?”

I don’t particularly like the question however it deserves a response.  The reason I don’t like it isn’t because I don’t like talking about my approach to the Bible in general and prophecy specifically, but this question does not have an easy “yes” or “no” answer.

I let them know I personally teach that the Bible is literally the word of God.  The Bible tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (that’s 2 Tim 3:16). 

So yes, we read the prophet Isaiah that a Virgin would conceive and give birth to a son whose name would be Immanuel, meaning God with us and we find that fulfilled literally with Jesus being born of a virgin named Mary.   We read in Micah that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and when the wise men arrived in Jerusalem and inquired where the King of the Jews would be born, the religious leaders were able to tell them “Bethlehem” because they took the prophecy literally.

However, we often see metaphors and symbolism in the Bible and Jesus says he is the “Good Shepherd”  That’s a metaphor, Jesus says he is the door – that is symbolic language.

The mistake many people make the mistake of reading something that is controversial or spectacular and determining that because these are things they either don’t want to believe or find it hard to believe, they determine that these scriptures are not to be taken literally.

So, when the Bible says that Jesus took a few loaves and fishes and fed 3,000 or 5,000 many say well that is not to be taken literally - - as if the creator of the universe would find it too difficult to stretch a meal.

Unfortunately, prophecy (and that is where we are spending our time now on Wednesdays) is that which is often controversial or spectacular.  Because it is often controversial and spectacular many have decided that it is too difficult to understand literally so it has to be taken allegorically or symbolic and as a result, it is then rarely read or taught.  

However, over 25% of the Bible is prophecy and to date all of the prophecies that have been fulfilled have been fulfilled exactly as described.  

Sometimes we’ll read a passage that is clearly symbolic in fact, often these passages include the words, “and then I saw something that was LIKE….it was LIKE something, It was like a leopard, like a bear, like a dragon.   This is an indication that the prophecy is using symbolic language.  There is a literal fulfillment for sure but he language is symbolic.

For centuries, many of the greatest theologians in the church found it almost impossible to believe in what the Bible said that in the end times God would again regather the people of Israel that had been scattered to Europe, Asia and Africa and later to North and South America.   That God would again turn his attention to the people of Israel and bring them back to the land that he had promised to Abraham and to Jerusalem, the City of David.

But that is exactly what Isaiah had prophesized nearly 2700 years before it happened.  Isaiah 66:8 says,

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948 after nearly 1900 years after the Roman armies had completely destroyed Jerusalem and the remaining Jewish people were scattered in what is known as the great diaspora.

It was this event that should have convinced many previous skeptics that perhaps all of the prophecies regarding Israel that were yet unfilled including these prophecies we are going to read today in the Book of Daniel, were all God breathed and would be fulfilled literally.   However, to this day, there are many that continue to not understand end-times prophecy because they refuse to take it literally.

Most of these end-times prophecies deal with the seven years of tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ.

One of the keys to understanding when we read what is known as Apocalyptic literature is embracing the obvious focus of these prophecies on the people and the land of ISRAEL.  The word  Apocalypse is a Greek word meaning " revelation ", The Book of Revelation is often called the book of the Apocalypse and the scripture is then "an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known”. 

Israel is the key and without the key, you will not understand.  When we read the scriptures in the book of Revelation, of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel, we see often the prophecies speak of ‘my people Israel, ‘the law’, Jerusalem, the temple, the city, the sanctuary’ and all of these are direct references to places in Israel.  While the judgements of God that we read of impact the entire earth, we should not substitute the nations of the West or the Church when re read of Israel and Jerusalem.   This is the key to understanding and the true meaning of these prophetic events.

So remember these two keys…..as we begin to look at these scriptures the two keys are that first, we are going to take these prophecies LITERALLY.  We will take it literally even when it may be spectacular or even when it is something that may controversial.

And the second key to understanding is that the focus of the Tribulation is Israel….not that all of the judgements are upon Israel but these are the seven years of Jacobs trials, this the final week that ISRAEL will experience prior to Jesus coming in the air with the saints.     

It is in this way that when we read about the temple, Jerusalem or the nations of the Middle East, we should not be tempted to think that these are metaphors for the Church or the Western Nations.

So let’s begin by a quick summary of what we typically understand to be the literal Biblical teaching of the Tribulation.

In Matthew chapters 24 & 25, Jesus is answering the questions put to him by his disciples about the signs of the time of the end and his second coming.   In one passage, Jesus references the Tribulation and says

For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.  (Matthe 24:21

As this word ‘tribulation’ is actually the same word as ‘trial’ Jesus uses the adjective GREAT to differentiate this time of severe trial.   In fact, the very next verses, Jesus continues and says, 

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

So this word “Tribulation” is the more popular term that  describes a 7-year period that begins when a peace treaty is confirmed among ‘many’ (that’s the word that the scriptures say”) that provides peace and safety to the nation of Israel.   The Bible says that this peace treaty will be for seven years however it is broken half way through or after 3 ½ years.    So in this way, often the Seven years of the tribulation is broken up into two 3 ½ year segments and the Bible gets very specific uses both days and months even in the same passage.  For example.  Revelation 11 verses 2 & 3 says

And they will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”(Rev 11:2-3).  

1260 days divided by 30 days in a month is exactly 42 months which is 3 and ½ years

The Tribulation begins with the signing of this peace treaty and the revealing of the individual we know as the antichrist.  The Apostle John, who is on the island of Patmos is given this prophecy.  The book of Revelation is actually one complete prophecy from beginning of the prophecy to end.

The Tribulation is the last days before the physical return of Jesus to the earth during and at the end of the climactic battle of Armageddon.

The tribulation gets underway in chapter 6 of Revelation with the opening of seven seals….the beginning of a series of sevens….seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials.

These initial four seals are known as the ‘four horsemen of the apocalypse’ and features four horsemen on different colored horses: White, Fiery Red, Black and Pale Green representing Conquest, War, Famine, and Death.   That first horseman by the way happens to be the antichrist that brokered the peace treaty.

During these three series of judgments there are many events as well as individuals that are spoken of.   For example, there are 144,000 sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel.  These 144,000 have an important task, we don’t know exactly the details, but they are on a mission from God.  Many believe they are preachers, evangelists that are an important part of a huge revival and many people on the earth will come to salvation during the tribulation.

However, the tribulation is a violet and dreadful time and many of these that come to salvation will be martyred.  They will lose their life and John the apostle writes that he saw in heaven an altar under which were the souls of people who had been slain . They cried to God, asking God for His righteous judgement, His response.

During the tribulation there are also two witnesses that appear on the streets of Jerusalem, likely during the first half of the tribulation that perform miracles, preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, teach prophecy and condemn the antichrist.  These two witnesses are men, great and faithful prophets, some speculate they are like Moses and Elijah representing the law and the prophets.  The Bible says that no one can come against them for 1260 days (3 ½ years or 42 months) but then God allows the antichrist to kill them and the world will rejoice…..they send presents to each other.

The trials that come upon the earth during the tribulation represented primarily by the seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials are judgements by God on a world that has embraced evil.  The Bible says that those who were not killed by these plagues, these judgments would still not repent of their murder, sorcery (and that word is pharmakia, likely referring to pharmasutical drugs), their sexual immorality, and thefts.

Also, during the tribulation There are three characters that form an evil trinity: Satan himself, the antichrist and the false prophet.   It will be a time of great deception and while the antichrist leads a one-world government the false prophet leads a one-world religion.  During that time,  Satan gives them both power to deceive the world through signs and wonders.

During or before the tribulation the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and we know this because half-way through the tribulation, the antichrist defiles the temple declaring that he is a god and is to be worshipped.

We are also told that the Antichrist requires that everyone takes a mark that identifies them as a follower of the antichrist and without the mark, no one could buy or sell.

Occasionally, in the book of Revelation, during the Tribulation, we seen events also going on in heaven.  One of the events is what is called the Marriage feast or supper of the Lamb and this is recorded in chapter 19 of the book of revelation after the Church has been taken to Heaven and before the return of Christ to earth at His glorious appearing.

One of the final events of the tribulation is what is known as the Battle of Armageddon and that is actually a series of battles that involves all of the nations and literally millions of troops that gather to ultimately fight against Christ.

The tribulation ends with this second coming of Jesus Christ  and the scriptures tell us that The armies of heaven follow him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Many Bible scholars understand that these individuals riding on white horses and dressed in white linen are the saints of God that return with Jesus to be on the earth then for the next 1,000 years which is the millennial reign of Christ.

  In the time that is remaining, let me introduce you briefly to the secondary source of much of these prophecies referring to the tribulation and that is the prophet Daniel.

The prophet Daniel was a very young and very bright man living in Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came and conquered Jerusalem.   Daniel as well as some others that were selected to be brought to Babylon.  These were to be ‘Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace” and that is Daniel chapter 1 verse 4.

Along with Daniel, three others were Shadrach, Meshach; and Abednego, and these were their Babylonian names just as Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar.

Daniel quickly proves himself to be a great service to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and in chapter 2 interprets a dream that the King  “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.

Daniel then reveals the dream about four world empires beginning with Babylon. 

Briefly, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he dreamt of a statue made of four different materials, identified as four kingdoms

There was a Head of gold that Daniel said represented King Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of Babylon).[v.37–38]

The statue had a Chest and arms of silver. Identified as an "inferior" kingdom to follow Nebuchadnezzar that scholars identify as the combined kingdoms of Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Great

Then the statue has a Belly and thighs of bronze. Representing a third kingdom which shall rule over all the earth, believed to symbolize the kingdom of Greece.

And finally, the two Legs of iron with feet of mingled iron and clay. Interpreted to be ROME and the two legs identify it as a divided Kingdom of Western and Eastern with headquarters in Rome and Constantinople.

Daniel lives to see Darius the Mede conquer Babylon just as the dream foretold and Daniel was ultimately promoted after a brief encounter in the Lions Den

Then in chapter nine and yet another vision of Four Beasts that provides more specificity into the four world kingdoms.  Daniel is an old man, likely in his 80’s and reads the writings, the prophecies of Jeremiah and understands that the exile of the Jews to Israel was prophesized to last 70 years.

As Daniel begins to pray and fast, the angel Gabriel comes to him and tells him something amazing.  He tells them that while 70 years was the time of the exile, there would actually be 70 weeks or 70 SEVENS the word for week are given to the people of Israel and the city of Jerusalem to bring about several things:

Chapter 9 beginning in verse 24

“(24) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:24-26)

So, while this prophecy of the 70 weeks can be a little difficult at first, it starts to come together when you break it down with a little help from others that have studied it and written about it.

In verse 24, Gabriel says, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city.” Almost all commentators agree that the seventy “sevens” should be understood as seventy “weeks” of years, in other words, a period of 490 years.

The object of this prophecy is the timing coming of the messiah not the timing of the final seven years.

VERSE 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:

These verses, while somewhat obscure provide the countdown clock for when Jesus the Messiah would come.

The angel Gabriel said it would be seven and threescore and two weeks.  Threescore is 60 as a score is 20 so after the first seven weeks there will be another 62 weeks.   

As we already said that the week represent seven years SO the prophecy would read that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be 49 years followed by 434 years (62X7).

49 years + 434 years = 483 years and there are two things that we need to add to make this prophecy even more spectacular.   Scholars have determined that it was exactly 483 years after the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8) to the time of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.

The Angel Gabriel’s prophecy also specified two time periods….the first being 49 years and that took us to the rebuilding of Jerusalem with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.

So….how does this fit in with the 7 years of tribulation?

I’m glad you asked.

Daniel was told there were 70 7s or weeks. to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (verse 24)

We won’t go into all of these specific completion but let’s just say it is complete….finished up….ended, all done.

However, 70X7 is 490 years, and so far the JEWS have completed 49 years + 434 years = 483 on God’s stop watch.  483 years and messiah was cut off…died on the cross, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and then the Holy Spirit descends on Pentecost and the church is born.

However, seven years remain.  490-483 is SEVEN years.  God has one last seven year period when everything that is yet to be accomplished will be accomplished.  When God turns his FULL attention back to the people of Israel.   God turns his full attention back to the people of Israel as the Bride of Christ, the Church is taken first to heaven, before the tribulation….and that will be a discussion for a future Wednesday.

We’ll conclude this brief look a the tribulation period with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 verse 29-31

29Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.…

Let’s pray….

Thank you for joining us today!

We have two new messages each week. 

Out website is at www.faithdialogue.org and you’ll find information about our ministry, all of our video teachings as well as audio podcasts.

God Bless!

 

Revelation 6:2

Transcript © Faith Dialogue, Inc 2020

Pastor Ken Behr

Welcome today to our Wednesday message.  We are in our new series called “Pondering Prophecy”

Thank you for tuning in today.   In our services on Sunday we are presently going through the Acts of the Apostles, verse by verse in a series called “unstoppable”   Be sure to tune in on Sunday’s to hear that complete worship service.

Last Wednesday, we dove in with both feet and did an overview of the entire Tribulation period, a seven-year period of trials and judgment and the bible is very exact about the time period.  It will be seven years and that period of time is  given to us in days, in months and in years and always adds up to seven years. 

While I hope you enjoyed the teaching on the tribulation as much as I enjoyed preparing and delivering the message, it was a massive amount of material. 

 

So today our message is the “Rise of the Antichrist” and it’s taken from the first of the Seven Seals spoken of in the 6^th chapter of the book of Revelation.  And this first seal speaks specifically of a rider, or a horseman on a White Horse.  Our focus today will be on this first seal as we’ll focus on ONE VERSE.  Revelation 6:2

 

The verse reads: 

 

2 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.

 

Likely you have heard of The four horsemen of the Apocalypse, there have been many references to the four horsemen over the years, even from people with little or no knowledge of the Bible or Bible Prophecy.   There was a coach at Notre Dame named Knute Rockne whose Football team in 1924 went  10-0 and brought Notre Dame their first National Championship.   Earlier that year, a  Sports writer in New York covering this team gave the name “The Four Horsemen” to the starting offense backfield of this team from Notre Dame.   I don’t know what he knew about bible prophecy but the name stuck.

 

Sticking with sports and more recently in 1986, the WWF (a professional wrestling television program) named their top wrestlers the “four horsemen.” The people at the WWF didn’t understand prophecy but knew that somehow these four-horsemen were bad dudes.  Interestingly there were fifteen wrestlers that were part of the ‘four-horsemen’ but if the Big Ten can have 14 teams, it shouldn’t be surprising.

 

So let’s depart from professional and college sports and begin to dig into what the Bible has to say about these four horsemen.    To begin with, they are not four men at all but are represented in the first four of seven seals in the sixth chapter of the book of Revelation.    These first four seals are symbolized by a rider on a different color horse:  The colors are identified with these four horsemen in the first four seals are WHITE, RED, BLACK and PALE GREEN.

 

As we will see today, as we look at the first seal with the rider on a white horse, this first rider is the only identifiable individual.  The other seals revealing the three successive riders represent judgements that we would expect during the tribulation but not idealized by an individual.

 

This first seal, this first sign is by far the most significant and warning sign of the end of days and the beginning of the Tribulation—this initial sign of the antichrist seems relatively innocuous at first reading.  It is a rider on a white horse however the Bible devotes many chapters to this individual both in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament—Here in Revelation 6:2 we see our first glimpse of the antichrist who is the featured character and world ruler during the time of the tribulation.   The book of revelation as well as Old Testament prophets show him to be a devil-possessed tyrant also known as the little horn of Daniel 7, usually called "the Beast” in the book of Revelation.   This rider on the white horse will set up a world government and rule "over every tribe, tongue, and nation"  (rev 7:9)

 

We have already seen many indications that the world is heading toward the global government that the antichrist will ultimately head up. Along with the United Nations and the European Union, we have multiple trade associations and there has been talk for years of a coming new world order and quite frankly there are many people today that would openly welcome its establishment.

 

This rider on the white horse, this antichrist is revealed in the first of  SEVEN seals that are on a scroll that is handed to Jesus and are then opened one at a time.   These Seven Seals are then followed in the Book of Revelation by Seven Trumpets and finally Seven Bowls or Vials.  During the seven years of the Tribulation, these Seals, Trumpets and Bowls that are written on this scroll represent the final judgments of God that are poured out on an unbelieving world.  These ancient scrolls are similar to our modern books except that our books have a front and back cover.  These scrolls were rolled up and then sealed with wax seals. 

 

Many scholars are confident that this individual described in Revelation 6:2 is the antichrist.   Jesus spoke clearly of the time preceding his second coming and we’ll see that there is a strong correlation in these six seals in the book of Revelation, and what Jesus refers to in Matthew 24 as the “Birth Pangs”  at the beginning of the Tribulation.

 Just prior to his death on Calvary, Jesus points to the Temple and says, “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Then a little later, Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Matthew 24:4-8)

Many have noticed the correlation in Matthew 24 of these events and the sequence of events:

 

1) The first is many that will come saying “I am the Christ and will deceive many”    We’ll see in a moment how that relates to the first seal, the rider on the white horse.  Just remember the word ‘Deception”

2) Secondly, are the wars and rumors of wars represented by the second seal and the red horse

3) Third, Jesus speaks of Famines and that is represented by the third seal and the Black horse, and then we’ll see finally Jesus refers to #4

4) Fourth, earthquakes and we will see when we get to the fourth seal, there are earthquakes and all kinds of cosmic disturbances.

Just to provide further support to this correlation Jesus continues in verse 9 of Chapter 24,  Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

This correlates with the fifth seal in Chapter 6 of revelation which reads: When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

So, now that we’ve put this first seal into context and illustrated how these seals fit into what we would call the beginning of the Tribulation, let’s remember the verse, Revelation 6:2

2 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.

 

As we said, this first seal and the first rider on a white horse is the only seal and horse and rider associated with a man. And this man is the antichrist.

Because he is on a white horse, many mistake him for Jesus Christ after all, he has a crown on his head and he is a conqueror. However, the key thing to remember about the antichrist and actually the coming of the antichrist is deception.  He is riding a white horse but unlike all of the westerns we see with the good guys riding white horses, this is not a good guy.

The key to understanding this time of the tribulation and the antichrist is Deception deception, deception, deception.  I said it four time because Jesus also said it four times.

Matthew 24:4-5 (NIV)

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.

5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

And then in verse 11  and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

And then in verses 23-25 of the same chapter:

23       At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

24       For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.

25       See, I have told you ahead of time.

This is a masquerade.  The antichrist masquerading as the true Messiah, he wears a crown, just as Jesus wears a crown.   We mentioned before that he has in his hand a bow but there are no arrows likely signifying that he does not use weapons to acquire power but he is more likely a brilliant politician, able to strategize and make dazzling political moves along with an incredible charisma.  

In the Rise of the antichrist…he will be especially well liked, he will fool the people, fool that leaders of the nations and the Jews as well.  If there is an election, people will vote for him.  If there is an opportunity to give him power and rule, it will be given to him, it won’t be seized.

By the time the Jews realize who he really is, it will be too late.   It is however, not too late for us.    We likely will never know who the antichrist is even through I believe he is most assuredly already alive, already in some position of governance, waiting for the opportunity for his plan to unfold.    

In the second letter to the Thessalonians chapter 2 the Apostle Paul teaches that the Antichrist is not revealed until after the rapture of the church, our departure.  

Paul writes,  in verse 3 of chapter 2 “That day will not come until a falling away or departure occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

Paul goes on to say that this man, we call the antichrist will ultimately oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God” (verses 3–4).

Also, The Apostle Paul continues and says that the Antichrist will not come until that which is restraining him is taken away and many scholars identify that which is restraining him to be the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church, the Body of Christ.

The Old Testament prophet Daniel has much to say about the Antichrist, who Daniel refers to as the “little horn’ and the ‘prince who is to come’ and speaks of him in the 9^th chapter of the book of Daniel.  It’s in this 9^th chapter of Daniel that we read about the prophecy of the 70 weeks and in my teaching on the Tribulation, we identified that the 70 weeks are actually seventy weeks of years or seventy times seven or 490 years and that the final week or the final seven years is yet unfulfilled.   This is the time of the tribulation and much of the tribulation is ruled by an earthy ruler, the man called the antichrist

So in verse 26 chapter 9 we read that after these 69 weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;

And the people of the prince who is to come

Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

Verse 27 continues:

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

Notice in verse 26, it says that messiah is cut off – that is the death of Jesus…yet not for himself….signifying that Jesus actually died for the world….it wasn’t about him.

And the people of the prince who is to come

Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

This prince who is to come is the antichrist.  He has many names.  Prince who is to come, the man of sin, the man of perdition, the lawless one, the beast (that is the name used most often in the book of Revelation), the little horn, and of course, the antichrist

Notice that this prince is associated with the people that destroyed the city and sanctuary.

It was TITUS, a Roman General that destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70.   This is one of the reasons why scholars say that the antichrist will come from the territory held by the Roman Empire.

Verse 27 then continues….

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

This rider on the white horse, the first seal has a bow, but no arrows and we said that the key here is that he ‘conquered’ through deception.   He comes to power by confirming a covenant with many for one week.  We already have determined that the one week refers to one week of years or SEVEN YEARS

So the antichrist comes to power, after the restrainer, the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ is removed and this tribulation actually starts with a peace treaty, a covenant with many.  That refers to many nations.

Notice that he CONFIRMS the peace treat, he doesn’t propose it, or create it, or initiate it but he somehow is put into the position where he pulls it all together.   He takes credit for it.

Let’s go back and take a look at this verse because even though it is short it is packed full of clues on how we will see the Rise of the Antichrist

Revelation 6:2 begins. I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals: WE can understand this scroll to be the title deed to the earth.  It includes the history and destiny of mankind and creation, we find out in the previous chapter that only Jesus – the Lamb – has the right to loose the seals on this scroll.

The verse continues: And I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” Each one of these seals is associated with one of the four living creatures referenced in a previous chapter, Revelation 4: 6–8. These appear as a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle, and are similar to what Ezekiel saw 600 years earlier.  They call out “COME” (and that can be translated as “go forth”)

And the verse continues: Behold, a white horse: This white horse can easily confuse the reader as many understand the rider on the white horse is Jesus. Jesus does return on a white horse in Revelation 19:11-16; but at this point, it is Jesus who is removing the seals.

The verse continues and says He that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him:. meaning that this is a ruler and he exercises dominion over the earth

The verse says, “He went out conquering and to conquer” Taking this to be the final satanic dictator over men, we see that he will be more terrible than all previous dictators.   As terrible as Hitler was, and I believe Hitler was in many ways a type of the antichrist, the antichrist is worse.    For example: Adolf Hitler desired to rule the world, he had global designs. Part of his global plan was that he would destroy the Jews.   This makes him anti-god as well as antichrist.  Adolf Hitler embraced the occult, he was fascinated with magic and psychic powers and was most likely demon-possessed and controlled by demonic forces.   According to John Macarthur of Grace Community Church, Those close to him said that when Hitler spoke in public, he had a completely different voice than his normal voice, because demons were speaking through him.

This coming antichrist will be crueler than Hitler, more violet than Stalin, as evil as Genghis Kahn and as volatile as Ivan the Terrible.   

All of these rulers were types of the antichrist but this rider on the white horse with a bow signifies that the final satanic superman is being unleashed.

In our remaining time, let’s talk a little about how this antichrist comes to power as most understand that his rise on the political stage is based on a platform of peace and security.

The Apostle Paul speaks of this even in connection with the labor pains for in 1 Thes 5:3 Paul says, For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and security, destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Like Satan himself, who can appear as an angel of light, this evil world leader will deceive the world into thinking that he is a great man of peace, a hero.

If you have been paying attention to the news (and I don’t necessarily recommend that you do) you may have read the headlines back on August 13.

Trump announces 'Historic Peace Agreement' between Israel, UAE

This peace treaty interestingly is referred to as the Abraham Accords.  Referencing the fact that Christianity, Judaism and Islam all revere Abraham as the founder of their faiths.  This peace treaty is truly remarkable as the UAE, Egypt and Jordan, all of them Arab and Muslim countries have agreed to formally normalize their relationships with Israel.  What is even more fascinating is that Saudi Arabia, is supposedly ready to sign the same peace treaty.

While this peace treaty is NOT the ‘Covenant made with many’ that the Antichrist brokers, it does give us a glimpse of what is coming regarding the alignment of nations that is very close to what Ezekiel speaks of in the War of Gog and Magog.

The Scriptures clearly state that this ultimate peace treaty will have a planned duration of seven years, and that it will catapult the Antichrist to a position of world leadership. This pact will also accomplish the seemingly impossible task of bringing peace to the middle east, however it is short-lived,  only for a period of 3 and ½ years…..half way through the planed duration of seven years.

One of the scenarios that could easily fit into Bible prophecy is that this present Abraham accord brokered by President Trump that supposedly provides access to the Temple mount runs into trouble, and becomes difficult to maintain.  However, a world leader comes on the scene, confirms the peace treaty, provides the opportunity for the Jews to not only have access to the temple mount but then build a temple, and this rider on the white horse that we see in Revelation 6:2  is heralded as the greatest peacemaker of all time.   

As the time get’s closer and closer to the end, we will see more and more indications of the coming tribulation, including the one-world government, the one-world religion, a cashless society, and a mark that the Bible says no one could buy or sell without this mark, this mark of the beast.

Calvary Chapel pastor JD Farag says that we are so close to the end times including the coming rapture of the church and the Rise of the Antichrist that we are within a ‘gnats eyebrow’ away.  I didn’t know that gnats have eyebrows but I can affirm that we are closer today than ever before.   God’s timeclock, the countdown to the tribulation began when Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948.   We are in the period that immediately precedes as well as commences the tribulation called the time of birth pains.

I’m not a date-setter, however the Bible clearly gives us signs.  Jesus answered the apostles questions when they asked him what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

If you find yourself fearful when you begin to think of these end times or read prophecy, let not your heart be troubled.   Jesus said, you believe in God, believe also in me.  Jesus is coming back for his church just as a bridegroom comes back for his bride.

Jesus said, As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.    Until the rapture occurs, until the antichrist arrives, we have time to be able to share the gospel with those we know and love.  Our family, our friends and our neighbors.   God is not willing that any should be lost and has given us the green light to share the gospel, to tell the good news, to announce his coming Kingdom.

Today we touched briefly on the antichrist, this rider on the white horse from Revelation 6:2   This is just the beginning,  we’ll see the antichrist again often as we travel through end-time prophecy.   

Let us pray

Thank you for joining us today!

We have two new messages each week. 

Out website is at www.faithdialogue.org and you’ll find information about our ministry, all of our video teachings as well as audio podcasts.

God Bless!

 

 

Transcript © Faith Dialogue, Inc 2020

The Rider on the Red Horse, Pastor Ken Behr

Revelation 6:3

Welcome today to our Wednesday message.  We are in our new series called “Pondering Prophecy”

Thank you for tuning in today.   In our services on Sunday we are presently going through the Acts of the Apostles, verse by verse in a series called “unstoppable”   Be sure to tune in on Sunday’s to hear that complete worship service.

Last Wednesday, we introduced the first of the seven seals and spoke about the “Rise of the Antichrist” which is from Revelation 6:2 that says,  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.

 

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John is shown the judgements of God that come upon the entire earth and he sees a series of seven seals followed by a series of seven trumpets and then a series of seven vials or bowls.   The first four of the seven seals are symbolized by a rider on a different color horse:  The colors are identified with these four horsemen in the first four seals are WHITE, RED, BLACK and PALE GREEN.

 

Last week, we said that the rider on the white horse was the antichrist and the horse was white for two reasons:  one, he is a conqueror, he will ultimately rule over 10 Kings and control all of the nations.   Secondly, the horse is white because the rider is the antichrist who deceives the whole world.  Good guys ride on white horses and Jesus returns at the end of the book of Revelation on a white horse and the antichrist is masquerading as a good guy.  People will be drawn to him, he’ll be a master politician and very popular but ultimately will reveal his true colors, his hatred for the Jews and Jesus Christ.

 

Today, we are going to be looking at the second seal in the 6^th chapter of Revelation.  While the first seal was the actual beginning of the tribulation, now as the second seal is opened, we have the beginning of the end.   Jesus describes these events particularly in the first six seals as ‘birth pangs’    Just like a woman in labor, they start off relatively mild but then get progressively worse and progressively closer together.    

 

This passage today from the sixth chapter of Revelation is relatively short.  I’d recommend that you read the entire sixth chapter of Revelation as these seals that are opened are all related and we’ll see that as we continue through the first of these four seals.  

 

Revelation chapter 6 verses 3-5

 

When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.”  Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

 

Let’s unpack these verses and as we do, we’ll fill in what other scripture also says about this event, this seal that is opened at the beginning of the tribulation, the beginning of the end.   In this way, we will use scripture to interpret scripture.  

 

First, the one that is opening the seal is the LAMB, the Lord Jesus that was said to be worthy to open the seals in the previous chapter.   Jesus is the one that is opening these seals that are sequential, these birth pangs.

 

This rider on the red horse was granted the authority to take peace from the earth.  

 

Notice that with this second seal, peace is taken from the earth, it isn’t as much that war comes initially.   The second seal follows the first. This rider on the red horse follows the first rider and the first seal which is initially characterized by a short time, a brief period  of peace….if it’s a world peace that is promised by the antichrist, it won’t last long.  If it’s peace in the middle east…..the peace treaty with Israel we know from scripture that it will only last 3 ½ years according to Daniel 9:27.  And in any case, the world will fall for this promise of peace.   The antichrist becomes famous for it; he is thought of as a natural leader, the one that can actually be trusted to rule and to reign.  Ultimately, he rules over 10 kings but at the beginning of the tribulation, people will not recognize who he truly is.   He will wait his time, he’ll be patient as he is a master deceiver.    What we do know for sure is that when this second seal is opened the peace and safety that the world is experiencing is cut short.  It could be that the peace that is ‘taken’ actually propels the antichrist to a position of authority….people often turn to the government and leaders when their safety is threatened.    

 

The Apostle Paul reminds his readers regarding this time of the end “While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape”  That is from 1 Thes 5:3.

 

Also, notice when peace is taken away, and this verse in Revelation 6:5 says that people should kill one another.   We know that during or just preceding the tribulation the Bible says there will be two specific military engagements, the War of Gog and Magog and also Battle(s) that is plural (s)…the battles of Armageddon that specifically will occur during the Tribulation. 

 

However, as the scripture says here regarding this second seals that with this second seal, peace is taken it could be that specifically at the beginning, the peace is taken through violence, mob riots, brutality and chaos. We have a clue that this will be true as Jesus said that the end times would be like the days of Noah.  Genesis 6:10 & 11 says  in speaking of Noah  “And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence.”

 

I think all of us can agree that we have already seen the ugly head of violence on the earth. Not that this is an indication that the tribulation has begun.  The tribulation will not begin, the Apostle Paul made this clear, until AFTER that which is restraining is taken out…or departs. That departure to be with Christ is described in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 and will include every born-again believer, every true disciple of Jesus Christ whose sins have been blotted out…removed as far as the east is from the west.  

 

What we are seeing today in places like Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, New York, Louisville….in numerous cities and likely to a neighborhood near you is what happens when hatred rules in the hearts of men and women.  When people are easily deceived and believe that there is a huge conspiracy a systemic bias against minorities, against women, against people that look or live or believe differently than you do.   

 

This deception is called ‘identity politics’ and it is interesting that the slogans that we see increasingly painted on signs in the United States….have been also printed on signs, become the graffiti on the buildings all around the world.   The slogans, the riots, the blood shed, and violence doesn’t speak as much of solidarity with the Americans as the major news media want you to believe but speak instead to a powder keg of people that are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power…..a fulfillment of the prophecy about the last days made by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy. 

 

The color red of this horse in the second seal, actually ‘firely red’ is also symbolic as red is one of those colors we see often in the Bible.   Red is the color of blood, it is the color of wine.  It is also the color of the Dragon that we’ll see in Revelation 12.  I believe it is especially relevant that Red is said to be the color of sin.  Isaiah 1:18 says,

 

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.

 

The people on the earth that go through these terrible seven years, the seven years of tribulation including what Jesus refers to as the ‘Great Tribulation’ during the final 42 months have not dealt with their sin problem.  There is a remedy and that remedy is Jesus but for the unbelieving world, the tribulation is when God’s judgement is being poured out, always with the promise that people can repent, and believe.

 

Isaiah 24 is considered a ‘tribulation’ prophecy and reads in verse 5

 

5 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. 

 

6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

 

God has ruled, he has judged the earth and it is been found wanting, the earth itself has been condemned. 

 

Believers living today will not be present during the tribulation.  They will be with Christ in the heavens and we actually see them represented in Revelation 4:4 as John writes: “Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

 

There is so much speculation about who these 24 elders are that John sees before the throne of God.  Are they angels are they the Old Testament saints?   Again, we let the Bible interpret the Bible and we see that they are, or represent the CHURCH.

 

The word “elders”, “priests” and “crowns” are words associated with the New Testament believer, the church.   The number 24 is likely not as much a symbolic number but a representative number as King David established 24 priestly divisions and 24 Levitical divisions to serve in the temple.  All of the priests and Levites belonged to one of the 24 divisions and each had a turn, an opportunity to serve in the official capacity.  

 

It is for this reason that many scholars say that these 24 elders before the throne of God represent the church in it’s entirety.   

 

Going back to our scripture verse for today..

 

Note that this rider on the red horse was given a mighty sword .   As I mentioned before the rider is not personified….there is no specific person, the only identifiable person riding any of these horses is the rider on the white horse that we have already spoken of at length and that rider is the antichrist. 

 

The mighty sword mentioned here in connection with the second seal is interesting.  In paintings and drawings dating back to the early middle ages, this sword is often represented by the artist as being very large and upright like a warrior riding into battle.  

 

What I find interesting is the Greek words that are used and translated here as mighty sword  are “machaira megas. (Mach-Hara-Megas)   Sometimes these words are translated as a mighy sword, a large sword, or a great sword and while this machaira is often the word that is used for the soldier’s sword, the Greek lexicon says it literally can be translated as a slaughter-knife; a short sword or dagger mainly used for stabbing;   It was the short dagger that the romans carried when they got in close.  According to my lexicon, it’s (figuratively) an instrument for exacting retribution and depicts war and assassination and rebellion and revolt and massacre.

 

This kind of dagger combined with the fact the scripture says that people should kill one another, reminds me of more than one incident in the Old Testament when the enemies of Israel suddenly began to kill each other.   In 1^st Samuel we are told of a war with the philistines and the scriptures say, “Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor”

 

In the book of Judges we read of Gideon and While Gideon's men were blowing their trumpets, the LORD made the enemy troops attack each other with their swords. 

 

This tells me that when peace is taken from the earth, people will slay one another. Whether that is by kings and governors and armies or mobs with firebombs and guns and knives.  Peace is taken from the earth and this happens at the beginning of the tribulation.   This rider on the red horse however, doesn’t go away…..The Anti Christ, War, Famine and Death, the first four seals, the first four horsemen will continue through and into the great tribulation and we’ll see them all again in the seven trumpets and seven seals.

 

As we are talking about these seals, don’t fall for the common explanation of this seal that the rider on the fiery red horse is already loose and it is Russia, or Communism or Islam or Marxism.   We heard the same when this COVID-19 pandemic began and people were equating the COVID-19 pandemic with the famine that is represented by the 4th seal with the rider on the pale-green Horse that brings death and pestilence or epidemic and disease. 

 

But here is the thing….None of the previous wars, plagues and famines, including the present have done sufficient damage to make them ‘tribulation worthy.’    Jesus describes the time of the great tribulation a time that is unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again  Jesus says in Matthew 24 verse 22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would survive. 

 

In our remaining time, I do want to relate to you what the Bible tells us about one of these wars that are coming and I mentioned it earlier.  While we have already described that this second seal represents a ‘taking of the peace’ and that it can be through civil unrest, mobs, riots and violence, it is also typically understood to be through war.   In fact, in order to be ‘tribulation worthy’ it needs to include a world war, a massive outbreak of nations aligning themselves together against a common foe.   Interestingly, the Bible speaks of a specific war a specific gathering of nations that happens in the end time.

 

I’m referring to what is spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel and is commonly known as the ‘the war of Gog and Magog’ from Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. 

 

Let me read from the beginning of chapter 38 and then we’ll take some time and talk about typically who scholars believe are the nations involved in this war

 

38 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, ^[a]the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, ³ and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

 

Let’s pause there….this wording is unclear at our first reading because Ezekiel is using apocalyptic language and is also using names for nations or people groups that we don’t presently use.    We do know however that whatever these nations are planning…God is against it.   

 

Scholars have been able to identify these uncommon names:   First, the word ‘GOG’ doesn’t refer to a nation it refers to the king, the prince, the ruler.   However, the other nations in this alliance, including the others that come with them have been identified and include  Russia (Magog), Iran (Persia), Sudan (Cush), Libya (Put); and Turkey (Gomer).

 

Scholars are able to track down these nations by looking into where each tribe had settled during the time of Ezekiel. Also, Ezekiel 38:15 says that Gog would come out of the “far north’ and if you take a look at a map  of the world and draw a line directly north, the far north from Israel is Russia.

 

We don’t know exactly when this war that is described by Ezekiel will take place but we do know that it has not yet happened and my guess…and it’s just an educated guess, that it will happen towards the beginning of the tribulation and we’ll see why that is in a moment.

 

Let’s read a little more of this prophecy….verse 4

 

I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

 

After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

 

So, let me summarize, let me give you the ‘cliff notes version’ of this war…..this alliance of nations: Russia, Turkey, Iran, the Sudan…decides to come against Israel. The prophecy says this is the latter years when Israel has been gathered, when the land is no longer desolate and where they dwell in safety.    These nations all come against Israel.

 

While there are nations today that have pledged to defend Israel, they have signed ‘mutual defense pacts’ Israel is on their own. Notice in the next verse that there are some nations that object…but it’s words, not might…  Verse 13

 

³ Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’

 

These nations Sheba and Dedan are referenced in the Bible.  These were the names of the great grandsons of Noah and for centuries, people known as Sheba and Dedan were a wandering people, migrating back and forth through the desert wastes of Arabia.  Scholars identify Sheba and Dedan as the area of Saudia Arabia likely including other countries on the Arabian Pennisula like the UAE that in September of 2020 has signed a peace treaty with Israel.

 

People that read bible prophecy have asked often if the United States is in the book of Revelation.   The United States today is not only a world power but the pre-eminent world power however, most conservative Bible scholars, (meaning they take the word of God for what it says, not what they want it to say)  Most of these scholars agree that we don’t see a major role for the United States in the Bible.  From my perspective it is likely a result of millions of patriotic, flag waiving Christians being taken up into heaven in the rapture just prior to the tribulation.    Think what that would do regarding our relationship with the world and with Israel!

 

However, we may see a possible reference the United States.   Verse 3 said:  

 

The merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions

 

The Apostle Paul was from Tarsus, not Tarsish.  This Tarshsis is associated in Scripture with the far West and a verse in Psalms even mentions Tarshish with Sheba.

 

The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts. ”(Psalm 72:10, NLT). 

 

For years, we’ve had Bible scholars tell us that Tarshish could likely represent England.  The reason for tht is that in Ezekiel we find that Tarshish traded tin with Tyre (Ezek 27:12) so Tarshish must have been a tin producer and the English isles were known to be tin producers by the Romans.

 

The verse says, and “all the young lions”  England has been represented by a lion for centuries, and many speculate that the young lions spoken of by Ezekiel are the English speaking offspring of England: Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.  Interestingly, all of these countries are presently ‘friends of Israel’  However in this prophecy, they object but don’t lift a finger.

 

Now I said that I believe it is likely that this war of Gog and Magog happens at the beginning of the tribulation and the reason I believe that is because of the outcome:

 

Chapter 39 verse 1 : Behold, I am against you, O Gog, ^[a]the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; ² and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. ³ Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. ⁴ You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. ⁵ You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord God. ⁶ “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. 

 

God does it, God fights the Battle for Israel…God does it by himself.  Verse 3 ³ Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.  

 

This could refer to a massive failure to be able to launch their weapons and all of these armies perish on the hills of Israel.

 

At the end of this prophecy, Ezekiel makes reference that the people recover the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires (Israel recover the implements of war turn them into energy) for seven years. 

 

If Israel is using these recovered implements of war for fire or energy for seven years…there to be seven years between the beginning and just happens the end of the tribulation, the days of Jacobs Trial.

 

Also, notice the very last verse I quoted said Then they shall know that I am the Lord.    The nation of Israel needs to know the Lord.   This deliverance in the last days opens the eyes of the people of Israel and their hearts become tender.  During the tribulation, many in Israel will die but at the end, all that remain will be saved. (that’s Romans 11:27)

 

My friends, we are close…very close to the beginning of the end.   I’m not setting a date, not being an alarmist, I’m just telling you that we are seeing nations, technology, all of the signs that speak to the end-of-days coming into place.  Like one huge jigsaw puzzle that is missing only a few pieces before it is complete.

 

Don’t let your ears not hear what the scriptures are clearly saying.   Today is the day of salvation, open your heart to what God is saying to you.   The Book of Hebrews says in chapter 3 verse 7&8  “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

 

Let’s pray…

 

 

 

 

Transcript © Faith Dialogue, Inc 2020

The Rider on the Red Horse, Pastor Ken Behr

Revelation 6:3

Welcome today to our Wednesday message.  We are in our new series called “Pondering Prophecy”

Thank you for tuning in today.   In our services on Sunday we are presently going through the Acts of the Apostles, verse by verse in a series called “unstoppable”   Be sure to tune in on Sunday’s to hear that complete worship service.

Last Wednesday, we introduced the first of the seven seals and spoke about the “Rise of the Antichrist” which is from Revelation 6:2 that says,  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.

 

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John is shown the judgements of God that come upon the entire earth and he sees a series of seven seals followed by a series of seven trumpets and then a series of seven vials or bowls.   The first four of the seven seals are symbolized by a rider on a different color horse:  The colors are identified with these four horsemen in the first four seals are WHITE, RED, BLACK and PALE GREEN.

 

Last week, we said that the rider on the white horse was the antichrist and the horse was white for two reasons:  one, he is a conqueror, he will ultimately rule over 10 Kings and control all of the nations.   Secondly, the horse is white because the rider is the antichrist who deceives the whole world.  Good guys ride on white horses and Jesus returns at the end of the book of Revelation on a white horse and the antichrist is masquerading as a good guy.  People will be drawn to him, he’ll be a master politician and very popular but ultimately will reveal his true colors, his hatred for the Jews and Jesus Christ.

 

Today, we are going to be looking at the second seal in the 6^th chapter of Revelation.  While the first seal was the actual beginning of the tribulation, now as the second seal is opened, we have the beginning of the end.   Jesus describes these events particularly in the first six seals as ‘birth pangs’    Just like a woman in labor, they start off relatively mild but then get progressively worse and progressively closer together.    

 

This passage today from the sixth chapter of Revelation is relatively short.  I’d recommend that you read the entire sixth chapter of Revelation as these seals that are opened are all related and we’ll see that as we continue through the first of these four seals.  

 

Revelation chapter 6 verses 3-5

 

When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.”  Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

 

Let’s unpack these verses and as we do, we’ll fill in what other scripture also says about this event, this seal that is opened at the beginning of the tribulation, the beginning of the end.   In this way, we will use scripture to interpret scripture.  

 

First, the one that is opening the seal is the LAMB, the Lord Jesus that was said to be worthy to open the seals in the previous chapter.   Jesus is the one that is opening these seals that are sequential, these birth pangs.

 

This rider on the red horse was granted the authority to take peace from the earth.  

 

Notice that with this second seal, peace is taken from the earth, it isn’t as much that war comes initially.   The second seal follows the first. This rider on the red horse follows the first rider and the first seal which is initially characterized by a short time, a brief period  of peace….if it’s a world peace that is promised by the antichrist, it won’t last long.  If it’s peace in the middle east…..the peace treaty with Israel we know from scripture that it will only last 3 ½ years according to Daniel 9:27.  And in any case, the world will fall for this promise of peace.   The antichrist becomes famous for it; he is thought of as a natural leader, the one that can actually be trusted to rule and to reign.  Ultimately, he rules over 10 kings but at the beginning of the tribulation, people will not recognize who he truly is.   He will wait his time, he’ll be patient as he is a master deceiver.    What we do know for sure is that when this second seal is opened the peace and safety that the world is experiencing is cut short.  It could be that the peace that is ‘taken’ actually propels the antichrist to a position of authority….people often turn to the government and leaders when their safety is threatened.    

 

The Apostle Paul reminds his readers regarding this time of the end “While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape”  That is from 1 Thes 5:3.

 

Also, notice when peace is taken away, and this verse in Revelation 6:5 says that people should kill one another.   We know that during or just preceding the tribulation the Bible says there will be two specific military engagements, the War of Gog and Magog and also Battle(s) that is plural (s)…the battles of Armageddon that specifically will occur during the Tribulation. 

 

However, as the scripture says here regarding this second seals that with this second seal, peace is taken it could be that specifically at the beginning, the peace is taken through violence, mob riots, brutality and chaos. We have a clue that this will be true as Jesus said that the end times would be like the days of Noah.  Genesis 6:10 & 11 says  in speaking of Noah  “And Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence.”

 

I think all of us can agree that we have already seen the ugly head of violence on the earth. Not that this is an indication that the tribulation has begun.  The tribulation will not begin, the Apostle Paul made this clear, until AFTER that which is restraining is taken out…or departs. That departure to be with Christ is described in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 and will include every born-again believer, every true disciple of Jesus Christ whose sins have been blotted out…removed as far as the east is from the west.  

 

What we are seeing today in places like Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, New York, Louisville….in numerous cities and likely to a neighborhood near you is what happens when hatred rules in the hearts of men and women.  When people are easily deceived and believe that there is a huge conspiracy a systemic bias against minorities, against women, against people that look or live or believe differently than you do.   

 

This deception is called ‘identity politics’ and it is interesting that the slogans that we see increasingly painted on signs in the United States….have been also printed on signs, become the graffiti on the buildings all around the world.   The slogans, the riots, the blood shed, and violence doesn’t speak as much of solidarity with the Americans as the major news media want you to believe but speak instead to a powder keg of people that are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power…..a fulfillment of the prophecy about the last days made by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy. 

 

The color red of this horse in the second seal, actually ‘firely red’ is also symbolic as red is one of those colors we see often in the Bible.   Red is the color of blood, it is the color of wine.  It is also the color of the Dragon that we’ll see in Revelation 12.  I believe it is especially relevant that Red is said to be the color of sin.  Isaiah 1:18 says,

 

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.

 

The people on the earth that go through these terrible seven years, the seven years of tribulation including what Jesus refers to as the ‘Great Tribulation’ during the final 42 months have not dealt with their sin problem.  There is a remedy and that remedy is Jesus but for the unbelieving world, the tribulation is when God’s judgement is being poured out, always with the promise that people can repent, and believe.

 

Isaiah 24 is considered a ‘tribulation’ prophecy and reads in verse 5

 

5 The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. 

 

6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

 

God has ruled, he has judged the earth and it is been found wanting, the earth itself has been condemned. 

 

Believers living today will not be present during the tribulation.  They will be with Christ in the heavens and we actually see them represented in Revelation 4:4 as John writes: “Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

 

There is so much speculation about who these 24 elders are that John sees before the throne of God.  Are they angels are they the Old Testament saints?   Again, we let the Bible interpret the Bible and we see that they are, or represent the CHURCH.

 

The word “elders”, “priests” and “crowns” are words associated with the New Testament believer, the church.   The number 24 is likely not as much a symbolic number but a representative number as King David established 24 priestly divisions and 24 Levitical divisions to serve in the temple.  All of the priests and Levites belonged to one of the 24 divisions and each had a turn, an opportunity to serve in the official capacity.  

 

It is for this reason that many scholars say that these 24 elders before the throne of God represent the church in it’s entirety.   

 

Going back to our scripture verse for today..

 

Note that this rider on the red horse was given a mighty sword .   As I mentioned before the rider is not personified….there is no specific person, the only identifiable person riding any of these horses is the rider on the white horse that we have already spoken of at length and that rider is the antichrist. 

 

The mighty sword mentioned here in connection with the second seal is interesting.  In paintings and drawings dating back to the early middle ages, this sword is often represented by the artist as being very large and upright like a warrior riding into battle.  

 

What I find interesting is the Greek words that are used and translated here as mighty sword  are “machaira megas. (Mach-Hara-Megas)   Sometimes these words are translated as a mighy sword, a large sword, or a great sword and while this machaira is often the word that is used for the soldier’s sword, the Greek lexicon says it literally can be translated as a slaughter-knife; a short sword or dagger mainly used for stabbing;   It was the short dagger that the romans carried when they got in close.  According to my lexicon, it’s (figuratively) an instrument for exacting retribution and depicts war and assassination and rebellion and revolt and massacre.

 

This kind of dagger combined with the fact the scripture says that people should kill one another, reminds me of more than one incident in the Old Testament when the enemies of Israel suddenly began to kill each other.   In 1^st Samuel we are told of a war with the philistines and the scriptures say, “Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor”

 

In the book of Judges we read of Gideon and While Gideon's men were blowing their trumpets, the LORD made the enemy troops attack each other with their swords. 

 

This tells me that when peace is taken from the earth, people will slay one another. Whether that is by kings and governors and armies or mobs with firebombs and guns and knives.  Peace is taken from the earth and this happens at the beginning of the tribulation.   This rider on the red horse however, doesn’t go away…..The Anti Christ, War, Famine and Death, the first four seals, the first four horsemen will continue through and into the great tribulation and we’ll see them all again in the seven trumpets and seven seals.

 

As we are talking about these seals, don’t fall for the common explanation of this seal that the rider on the fiery red horse is already loose and it is Russia, or Communism or Islam or Marxism.   We heard the same when this COVID-19 pandemic began and people were equating the COVID-19 pandemic with the famine that is represented by the 4th seal with the rider on the pale-green Horse that brings death and pestilence or epidemic and disease. 

 

But here is the thing….None of the previous wars, plagues and famines, including the present have done sufficient damage to make them ‘tribulation worthy.’    Jesus describes the time of the great tribulation a time that is unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again  Jesus says in Matthew 24 verse 22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would survive. 

 

In our remaining time, I do want to relate to you what the Bible tells us about one of these wars that are coming and I mentioned it earlier.  While we have already described that this second seal represents a ‘taking of the peace’ and that it can be through civil unrest, mobs, riots and violence, it is also typically understood to be through war.   In fact, in order to be ‘tribulation worthy’ it needs to include a world war, a massive outbreak of nations aligning themselves together against a common foe.   Interestingly, the Bible speaks of a specific war a specific gathering of nations that happens in the end time.

 

I’m referring to what is spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel and is commonly known as the ‘the war of Gog and Magog’ from Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39. 

 

Let me read from the beginning of chapter 38 and then we’ll take some time and talk about typically who scholars believe are the nations involved in this war

 

38 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, ^[a]the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, ³ and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

 

Let’s pause there….this wording is unclear at our first reading because Ezekiel is using apocalyptic language and is also using names for nations or people groups that we don’t presently use.    We do know however that whatever these nations are planning…God is against it.   

 

Scholars have been able to identify these uncommon names:   First, the word ‘GOG’ doesn’t refer to a nation it refers to the king, the prince, the ruler.   However, the other nations in this alliance, including the others that come with them have been identified and include  Russia (Magog), Iran (Persia), Sudan (Cush), Libya (Put); and Turkey (Gomer).

 

Scholars are able to track down these nations by looking into where each tribe had settled during the time of Ezekiel. Also, Ezekiel 38:15 says that Gog would come out of the “far north’ and if you take a look at a map  of the world and draw a line directly north, the far north from Israel is Russia.

 

We don’t know exactly when this war that is described by Ezekiel will take place but we do know that it has not yet happened and my guess…and it’s just an educated guess, that it will happen towards the beginning of the tribulation and we’ll see why that is in a moment.

 

Let’s read a little more of this prophecy….verse 4

 

I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you. “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

 

After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

 

So, let me summarize, let me give you the ‘cliff notes version’ of this war…..this alliance of nations: Russia, Turkey, Iran, the Sudan…decides to come against Israel. The prophecy says this is the latter years when Israel has been gathered, when the land is no longer desolate and where they dwell in safety.    These nations all come against Israel.

 

While there are nations today that have pledged to defend Israel, they have signed ‘mutual defense pacts’ Israel is on their own. Notice in the next verse that there are some nations that object…but it’s words, not might…  Verse 13

 

³ Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’

 

These nations Sheba and Dedan are referenced in the Bible.  These were the names of the great grandsons of Noah and for centuries, people known as Sheba and Dedan were a wandering people, migrating back and forth through the desert wastes of Arabia.  Scholars identify Sheba and Dedan as the area of Saudia Arabia likely including other countries on the Arabian Pennisula like the UAE that in September of 2020 has signed a peace treaty with Israel.

 

People that read bible prophecy have asked often if the United States is in the book of Revelation.   The United States today is not only a world power but the pre-eminent world power however, most conservative Bible scholars, (meaning they take the word of God for what it says, not what they want it to say)  Most of these scholars agree that we don’t see a major role for the United States in the Bible.  From my perspective it is likely a result of millions of patriotic, flag waiving Christians being taken up into heaven in the rapture just prior to the tribulation.    Think what that would do regarding our relationship with the world and with Israel!

 

However, we may see a possible reference the United States.   Verse 3 said:  

 

The merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions

 

The Apostle Paul was from Tarsus, not Tarsish.  This Tarshsis is associated in Scripture with the far West and a verse in Psalms even mentions Tarshish with Sheba.

 

The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts. ”(Psalm 72:10, NLT). 

 

For years, we’ve had Bible scholars tell us that Tarshish could likely represent England.  The reason for tht is that in Ezekiel we find that Tarshish traded tin with Tyre (Ezek 27:12) so Tarshish must have been a tin producer and the English isles were known to be tin producers by the Romans.

 

The verse says, and “all the young lions”  England has been represented by a lion for centuries, and many speculate that the young lions spoken of by Ezekiel are the English speaking offspring of England: Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.  Interestingly, all of these countries are presently ‘friends of Israel’  However in this prophecy, they object but don’t lift a finger.

 

Now I said that I believe it is likely that this war of Gog and Magog happens at the beginning of the tribulation and the reason I believe that is because of the outcome:

 

Chapter 39 verse 1 : Behold, I am against you, O Gog, ^[a]the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; ² and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. ³ Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand. ⁴ You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. ⁵ You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord God. ⁶ “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. 

 

God does it, God fights the Battle for Israel…God does it by himself.  Verse 3 ³ Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.  

 

This could refer to a massive failure to be able to launch their weapons and all of these armies perish on the hills of Israel.

 

At the end of this prophecy, Ezekiel makes reference that the people recover the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires (Israel recover the implements of war turn them into energy) for seven years. 

 

If Israel is using these recovered implements of war for fire or energy for seven years…there to be seven years between the beginning and just happens the end of the tribulation, the days of Jacobs Trial.

 

Also, notice the very last verse I quoted said Then they shall know that I am the Lord.    The nation of Israel needs to know the Lord.   This deliverance in the last days opens the eyes of the people of Israel and their hearts become tender.  During the tribulation, many in Israel will die but at the end, all that remain will be saved. (that’s Romans 11:27)

 

My friends, we are close…very close to the beginning of the end.   I’m not setting a date, not being an alarmist, I’m just telling you that we are seeing nations, technology, all of the signs that speak to the end-of-days coming into place.  Like one huge jigsaw puzzle that is missing only a few pieces before it is complete.

 

Don’t let your ears not hear what the scriptures are clearly saying.   Today is the day of salvation, open your heart to what God is saying to you.   The Book of Hebrews says in chapter 3 verse 7&8  “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

 

Let’s pray…

 

 

 

 

Transcript © Faith Dialogue, Inc 2020

Pastor Ken Behr

Welcome today to our Wednesday message.  We are in our new series called “Pondering Prophecy”

At Faith Dialogue, we have two messages each week.  In our services on Sunday we are presently going through the Acts of the Apostles in a series called “unstoppable”    We are going through this book, verse by verse, word for word.   It’s our preferred method of teaching and understanding the Bible.

On Wednesdays, we have just finished up on a two-year overview of the parables of Jesus.   And today we are only in week 2 of this series so there is much for us that we could discuss.

Last week, I mentioned three principles that will guide our look at prophecy and these are bedrock principles.   We may not always mention them but we will always maintain them.  The three principles are:

• Thy Kingdom Come: these three words are from The Lord’s prayer and they remind us that actually, looking to prophecy, looking to the second coming of Jesus is something that actually we pray for always, every time we pray they Lord’s prayer: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done” and these words of Jesus tell us that there is a Kingdom that is coming and it is something that we actually pray for daily.
  
  
• Prophecy is profitable: The Bible tells us that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: We need to be reading prophecy in order to be complete…to be ready .  As Prophecy constitutes between 25% to 33% of the Bible or one out of every three to four verses.  If we Ignore prophecy or avoid it, we miss a huge part of the words in the Bible that were given for our benefit.  
  
  
• The Second Coming of Jesus is the “Blessed Hope” The Apostle Paul spoke often of the second coming and he called it the “Blessed Hope” We’ll talk today a little more about why the  “Blessed Hope” and His “glorious appearing” it is something we embrace, not something that we fear. 

So, as we study prophecy not only today but on our future Wednesday teaching sessions, we’ll always remember these three bedrock principles.  You’ll likely hear me mention them again.

 

Today, I thought I’d spend some time talking about what many people refer to often and that is the Tribulation, also known as the seven year Tribulation or sometimes the Great Tribulation.

 

 

As I was preparing this message, I was listening to Pastor Greg at Celebration Community Church who is presently teaching on the Book of Revelation and he mentioned something that I took note of, it is worthy of repeating. 

 

And that is when we look at prophecy, when we look at the book of Revelation for example or the Book of Daniel that we’ll be spending some time in today, he said that when we look at prophecy, we don’t want to interpret prophecy based on today’s newspapers, or what the media, or someone is saying today but we always want to interpret prophecy on what the Bible says.

 

The Bible interprets the Bible and when we talk about the prophecies in the Bible that point to the second coming of Jesus, of the establishment of the Millennial Reign of Christ, we will be looking at the Old Testament.  A person that really want to understand ‘Last Day’s prophecy’ what is called “ESCHATOLOGY”  which is Latin for the Study of the last things” that person would be wise,  WE WOULD BE WISE to study the old testament prophets and carefully do some research before we jump to any conclusions.

 

So today….as we begin to explore what is referred to as the Tribulation.  Let me first define the term as it’s typically described and then we’ll be looking at the Old Testament prophet Daniel, often thought of in connection with his three friends: Shadrack Meshack and Abednego.

 

So before we get into the text and dig into some of the scripture in the Bible that refers to this time of the end that we call the tribulation, let me tell you a story.

 

I’ve had the privilege of serving in pastoral ministry for almost 20 years.  This is my second career so during these 20 years I went back to school, attended a conservative Biblically centered seminary and have the opportunity now to pastor and share the gospel.

 

As a pastor, one of the questions that comes up from time to time, is Do you take the Bible literally?”

I don’t particularly like the question however it deserves a response.  The reason I don’t like it isn’t because I don’t like talking about my approach to the Bible in general and prophecy specifically, but this question does not have an easy “yes” or “no” answer.

I let them know I personally teach that the Bible is literally the word of God.  The Bible tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (that’s 2 Tim 3:16). 

So yes, we read the prophet Isaiah that a Virgin would conceive and give birth to a son whose name would be Immanuel, meaning God with us and we find that fulfilled literally with Jesus being born of a virgin named Mary.   We read in Micah that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and when the wise men arrived in Jerusalem and inquired where the King of the Jews would be born, the religious leaders were able to tell them “Bethlehem” because they took the prophecy literally.

However, we often see metaphors and symbolism in the Bible and Jesus says he is the “Good Shepherd”  That’s a metaphor, Jesus says he is the door – that is symbolic language.

The mistake many people make the mistake of reading something that is controversial or spectacular and determining that because these are things they either don’t want to believe or find it hard to believe, they determine that these scriptures are not to be taken literally.

So, when the Bible says that Jesus took a few loaves and fishes and fed 3,000 or 5,000 many say well that is not to be taken literally - - as if the creator of the universe would find it too difficult to stretch a meal.

Unfortunately, prophecy (and that is where we are spending our time now on Wednesdays) is that which is often controversial or spectacular.  Because it is often controversial and spectacular many have decided that it is too difficult to understand literally so it has to be taken allegorically or symbolic and as a result, it is then rarely read or taught.  

However, over 25% of the Bible is prophecy and to date all of the prophecies that have been fulfilled have been fulfilled exactly as described.  

Sometimes we’ll read a passage that is clearly symbolic in fact, often these passages include the words, “and then I saw something that was LIKE….it was LIKE something, It was like a leopard, like a bear, like a dragon.   This is an indication that the prophecy is using symbolic language.  There is a literal fulfillment for sure but he language is symbolic.

For centuries, many of the greatest theologians in the church found it almost impossible to believe in what the Bible said that in the end times God would again regather the people of Israel that had been scattered to Europe, Asia and Africa and later to North and South America.   That God would again turn his attention to the people of Israel and bring them back to the land that he had promised to Abraham and to Jerusalem, the City of David.

But that is exactly what Isaiah had prophesized nearly 2700 years before it happened.  Isaiah 66:8 says,

Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948 after nearly 1900 years after the Roman armies had completely destroyed Jerusalem and the remaining Jewish people were scattered in what is known as the great diaspora.

It was this event that should have convinced many previous skeptics that perhaps all of the prophecies regarding Israel that were yet unfilled including these prophecies we are going to read today in the Book of Daniel, were all God breathed and would be fulfilled literally.   However, to this day, there are many that continue to not understand end-times prophecy because they refuse to take it literally.

Most of these end-times prophecies deal with the seven years of tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ.

One of the keys to understanding when we read what is known as Apocalyptic literature is embracing the obvious focus of these prophecies on the people and the land of ISRAEL.  The word  Apocalypse is a Greek word meaning " revelation ", The Book of Revelation is often called the book of the Apocalypse and the scripture is then "an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known”. 

Israel is the key and without the key, you will not understand.  When we read the scriptures in the book of Revelation, of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Joel, we see often the prophecies speak of ‘my people Israel, ‘the law’, Jerusalem, the temple, the city, the sanctuary’ and all of these are direct references to places in Israel.  While the judgements of God that we read of impact the entire earth, we should not substitute the nations of the West or the Church when re read of Israel and Jerusalem.   This is the key to understanding and the true meaning of these prophetic events.

So remember these two keys…..as we begin to look at these scriptures the two keys are that first, we are going to take these prophecies LITERALLY.  We will take it literally even when it may be spectacular or even when it is something that may controversial.

And the second key to understanding is that the focus of the Tribulation is Israel….not that all of the judgements are upon Israel but these are the seven years of Jacobs trials, this the final week that ISRAEL will experience prior to Jesus coming in the air with the saints.     

It is in this way that when we read about the temple, Jerusalem or the nations of the Middle East, we should not be tempted to think that these are metaphors for the Church or the Western Nations.

So let’s begin by a quick summary of what we typically understand to be the literal Biblical teaching of the Tribulation.

In Matthew chapters 24 & 25, Jesus is answering the questions put to him by his disciples about the signs of the time of the end and his second coming.   In one passage, Jesus references the Tribulation and says

For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.  (Matthe 24:21

As this word ‘tribulation’ is actually the same word as ‘trial’ Jesus uses the adjective GREAT to differentiate this time of severe trial.   In fact, the very next verses, Jesus continues and says, 

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

So this word “Tribulation” is the more popular term that  describes a 7-year period that begins when a peace treaty is confirmed among ‘many’ (that’s the word that the scriptures say”) that provides peace and safety to the nation of Israel.   The Bible says that this peace treaty will be for seven years however it is broken half way through or after 3 ½ years.    So in this way, often the Seven years of the tribulation is broken up into two 3 ½ year segments and the Bible gets very specific uses both days and months even in the same passage.  For example.  Revelation 11 verses 2 & 3 says

And they will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”(Rev 11:2-3).  

1260 days divided by 30 days in a month is exactly 42 months which is 3 and ½ years

The Tribulation begins with the signing of this peace treaty and the revealing of the individual we know as the antichrist.  The Apostle John, who is on the island of Patmos is given this prophecy.  The book of Revelation is actually one complete prophecy from beginning of the prophecy to end.

The Tribulation is the last days before the physical return of Jesus to the earth during and at the end of the climactic battle of Armageddon.

The tribulation gets underway in chapter 6 of Revelation with the opening of seven seals….the beginning of a series of sevens….seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials.

These initial four seals are known as the ‘four horsemen of the apocalypse’ and features four horsemen on different colored horses: White, Fiery Red, Black and Pale Green representing Conquest, War, Famine, and Death.   That first horseman by the way happens to be the antichrist that brokered the peace treaty.

During these three series of judgments there are many events as well as individuals that are spoken of.   For example, there are 144,000 sealed from the 12 tribes of Israel.  These 144,000 have an important task, we don’t know exactly the details, but they are on a mission from God.  Many believe they are preachers, evangelists that are an important part of a huge revival and many people on the earth will come to salvation during the tribulation.

However, the tribulation is a violet and dreadful time and many of these that come to salvation will be martyred.  They will lose their life and John the apostle writes that he saw in heaven an altar under which were the souls of people who had been slain . They cried to God, asking God for His righteous judgement, His response.

During the tribulation there are also two witnesses that appear on the streets of Jerusalem, likely during the first half of the tribulation that perform miracles, preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, teach prophecy and condemn the antichrist.  These two witnesses are men, great and faithful prophets, some speculate they are like Moses and Elijah representing the law and the prophets.  The Bible says that no one can come against them for 1260 days (3 ½ years or 42 months) but then God allows the antichrist to kill them and the world will rejoice…..they send presents to each other.

The trials that come upon the earth during the tribulation represented primarily by the seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials are judgements by God on a world that has embraced evil.  The Bible says that those who were not killed by these plagues, these judgments would still not repent of their murder, sorcery (and that word is pharmakia, likely referring to pharmasutical drugs), their sexual immorality, and thefts.

Also, during the tribulation There are three characters that form an evil trinity: Satan himself, the antichrist and the false prophet.   It will be a time of great deception and while the antichrist leads a one-world government the false prophet leads a one-world religion.  During that time,  Satan gives them both power to deceive the world through signs and wonders.

During or before the tribulation the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and we know this because half-way through the tribulation, the antichrist defiles the temple declaring that he is a god and is to be worshipped.

We are also told that the Antichrist requires that everyone takes a mark that identifies them as a follower of the antichrist and without the mark, no one could buy or sell.

Occasionally, in the book of Revelation, during the Tribulation, we seen events also going on in heaven.  One of the events is what is called the Marriage feast or supper of the Lamb and this is recorded in chapter 19 of the book of revelation after the Church has been taken to Heaven and before the return of Christ to earth at His glorious appearing.

One of the final events of the tribulation is what is known as the Battle of Armageddon and that is actually a series of battles that involves all of the nations and literally millions of troops that gather to ultimately fight against Christ.

The tribulation ends with this second coming of Jesus Christ  and the scriptures tell us that The armies of heaven follow him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.  Many Bible scholars understand that these individuals riding on white horses and dressed in white linen are the saints of God that return with Jesus to be on the earth then for the next 1,000 years which is the millennial reign of Christ.

  In the time that is remaining, let me introduce you briefly to the secondary source of much of these prophecies referring to the tribulation and that is the prophet Daniel.

The prophet Daniel was a very young and very bright man living in Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came and conquered Jerusalem.   Daniel as well as some others that were selected to be brought to Babylon.  These were to be ‘Young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace” and that is Daniel chapter 1 verse 4.

Along with Daniel, three others were Shadrach, Meshach; and Abednego, and these were their Babylonian names just as Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar.

Daniel quickly proves himself to be a great service to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and in chapter 2 interprets a dream that the King  “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.

Daniel then reveals the dream about four world empires beginning with Babylon. 

Briefly, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he dreamt of a statue made of four different materials, identified as four kingdoms

There was a Head of gold that Daniel said represented King Nebuchadnezzar and the kingdom of Babylon).[v.37–38]

The statue had a Chest and arms of silver. Identified as an "inferior" kingdom to follow Nebuchadnezzar that scholars identify as the combined kingdoms of Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Great

Then the statue has a Belly and thighs of bronze. Representing a third kingdom which shall rule over all the earth, believed to symbolize the kingdom of Greece.

And finally, the two Legs of iron with feet of mingled iron and clay. Interpreted to be ROME and the two legs identify it as a divided Kingdom of Western and Eastern with headquarters in Rome and Constantinople.

Daniel lives to see Darius the Mede conquer Babylon just as the dream foretold and Daniel was ultimately promoted after a brief encounter in the Lions Den

Then in chapter nine and yet another vision of Four Beasts that provides more specificity into the four world kingdoms.  Daniel is an old man, likely in his 80’s and reads the writings, the prophecies of Jeremiah and understands that the exile of the Jews to Israel was prophesized to last 70 years.

As Daniel begins to pray and fast, the angel Gabriel comes to him and tells him something amazing.  He tells them that while 70 years was the time of the exile, there would actually be 70 weeks or 70 SEVENS the word for week are given to the people of Israel and the city of Jerusalem to bring about several things:

Chapter 9 beginning in verse 24

“(24) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (25) Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:24-26)

So, while this prophecy of the 70 weeks can be a little difficult at first, it starts to come together when you break it down with a little help from others that have studied it and written about it.

In verse 24, Gabriel says, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city.” Almost all commentators agree that the seventy “sevens” should be understood as seventy “weeks” of years, in other words, a period of 490 years.

The object of this prophecy is the timing coming of the messiah not the timing of the final seven years.

VERSE 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:

These verses, while somewhat obscure provide the countdown clock for when Jesus the Messiah would come.

The angel Gabriel said it would be seven and threescore and two weeks.  Threescore is 60 as a score is 20 so after the first seven weeks there will be another 62 weeks.   

As we already said that the week represent seven years SO the prophecy would read that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be 49 years followed by 434 years (62X7).

49 years + 434 years = 483 years and there are two things that we need to add to make this prophecy even more spectacular.   Scholars have determined that it was exactly 483 years after the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8) to the time of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.

The Angel Gabriel’s prophecy also specified two time periods….the first being 49 years and that took us to the rebuilding of Jerusalem with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.

So….how does this fit in with the 7 years of tribulation?

I’m glad you asked.

Daniel was told there were 70 7s or weeks. to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (verse 24)

We won’t go into all of these specific completion but let’s just say it is complete….finished up….ended, all done.

However, 70X7 is 490 years, and so far the JEWS have completed 49 years + 434 years = 483 on God’s stop watch.  483 years and messiah was cut off…died on the cross, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and then the Holy Spirit descends on Pentecost and the church is born.

However, seven years remain.  490-483 is SEVEN years.  God has one last seven year period when everything that is yet to be accomplished will be accomplished.  When God turns his FULL attention back to the people of Israel.   God turns his full attention back to the people of Israel as the Bride of Christ, the Church is taken first to heaven, before the tribulation….and that will be a discussion for a future Wednesday.

We’ll conclude this brief look a the tribulation period with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 verse 29-31

29Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.…

Let’s pray….

Thank you for joining us today!

We have two new messages each week. 

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God Bless!