The Great Tribulation... almost Hell on Earth

This is the second post of the four-part series I started last week. If you haven't read my blog about the rapture, please do so first.

Somewhere in the near future... Jack parks his 15-year-old beat-up Camry and rushes in to beat the line. It's pay day and he overheard the neighbor telling his son to hurry and get to the grocery store since they are finally bringing in the truck after more than a month. Jack ran to the 'limit 1 per customer' section and grabbed one of the last milk cartons and a box of half-dozen eggs. As he waited in the check-out line, he noticed the lady in front had a packet of meat in her cart... she must be rich. Jack's mind travelled back to thanksgiving 5 years ago; that was the last time he could recall eating as much as, of anything, he wanted... the last time he got to celebrate anything with his wife, Jenny... and then, a few days later, she suddenly vanished right in front of his eyes. Jack remembered getting angry at Jenny for suggesting they pray before that meal. She was wasting his time while the football match was on in the background. He hated his wife's constant 'Jesus' chats, requests to go to church with her, and those never-ending 'conversion tactics'... until that one day, Jenny disappeared along with the other 'foolish' Christians. The political entity now in power, the 'Global World Order' had many theories of course... 'mother earth cleansing herself', the human race's progenitors (the aliens) taking the 'bigoted Christians' who were 'holding humanity back' away for re-education etc. Jack knew better. Jenny had always annoyed him with these Christian fantasy stories, including the strangest one of them all, the rapture... until, it really happened. Jack remembered finally believing Jenny after she was gone and getting on his knees and accepting Christ. But, he knew he would have to pay a heavy price now with what comes next..

Jack's thoughts were interrupted by the cashier who told him to put the items on the conveyor belt and not hold up the line. The total came out to $885. Jack knew he could only charge $620 without it going over his current card limit. He stared at all the items on his cart: milk, eggs, a loaf of bread and some canned vegetables. He remembered, not too long ago, these things would barely cost him $20. He remembered mocking Jenny for actually believing the Revelation 6:6 verse warning of a time when bread would cost a day's wages. He decided to let go of the luxury of having eggs and gave the card to the cashier. She handed it back and asked Jack to show her his right hand. He dreaded this moment... he knew this was coming. Two weeks ago, the 'World Chancellor' - head of the 'Global World Order'; had issued an order that no one would be able to buy or sell unless they received the '666' implant on their right hand or forehead that pledged allegiance to him. Jack looked down and quietly informed the cashier he hadn't taken the mark. She glared at him, hatred and disgust brewing in her eyes beneath her proudly 'marked' forehead, and motioned to the security. Two men in uniform escorted Jack away as he overheard the cashier and another customer cursing him and deducing that he was probably 'one of those conspiracy freaks'. As Jack sat handcuffed in the back of the police car, he was resigned to what would happen next at the 're-education' center. He knew he would be asked if he was one of the rebels... or even worse, a Christian. If he answered yes, he would be given the ultimatum to renounce the faith and accept the mark. If he refused, he would be handed back to the authorities and face certain death. He was terrified of what awaited him... but at the same time, was comforted that soon he will be in his heavenly home.

If this sounds like an excerpt from a doomsday novel, let me point out that this is an illustration of the type of reality that awaits a person during the great tribulation that will come upon the earth. The bible talks at length throughout the old and new testament about this terrible time of judgement on the Christ rejecting Jews and gentiles. Jesus stated, “for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matthew 24:21-22). While a whole book can be written detailing what will take place during the 7 years as specified in the bible, I will attempt to be concise and summarize some of the main events.

After the rapture, there will be great confusion and disorder in the whole world as one can imagine after the sudden disappearance of millions and millions globally. Humans who have become so accustomed to the ‘natural and scientific’ throughout the last thousands of years will all of a sudden find themselves thrown into a ‘supernatural’ world. The authorities in power will most likely explain this event away as some strange phenomenon of earth purifying itself, UFO abductions, or some form of human evolution. However, some will immediately realize the truth. Some will recall the conversations they had with their ‘vanished’ loved ones. Some will remember coming across that strange YouTube video about the rapture, which they dismissed then as nonsense. Many will come to Christ after realizing what happened and it will be one of the greatest revivals in history.

Meanwhile, the chaotic events will pave way for a global demand for peace and order and security. A political figure will rise to power in the midst of all this. The bible calls him the antichrist (the beast) who is empowered by satan (2 Thessalonians 2:9, Revelation 13:2). Initially, he will deceive the world by bringing solutions of peace and safety. He will be intelligent, charismatic and physically impressive; he will be a military, political and economic genius. The world will flock to him and will be in awe of him. He will have all the answers. He will solve the ultimate political headache, the middle east crisis... or at least, the Jews and the rest of the world will think that he did. He will broker a deal for Israel where a covenant will be set up with many Arab nations for 7 years. The signing of this 7-year agreement is what officially starts the tribulation per the scriptures. They will live peacefully side by side and be able to practice their religions in peace. The world will marvel at him achieving the impossible as his stature continues to rise. However... in the middle of this treaty (after 3.5 years), the antichrist will show his true colors and will put an end to this covenant and all religious sacrifices/offerings (Daniel 9:27). He will cause the abomination of desolation at the rebuilt Jewish temple (something that would be considered so evil and sacrilegious that would leave the witnesses in shock and speechless) (Matthew 24:15). He will declare himself as god and demand to be worshipped (2 Thessalonians 2.4). Only then will the Jews realize that they have been deceived and will flee. What follows will be the great tribulation (the first 3.5 years is called the tribulation). The antichrist will be supported by the false prophet, a popular religious figure, who will deceive humanity with supernatural signs and wonders to worship the beast. (Revelation 13:11-15). A series of unimaginably terrible events will take place on earth during this time. Multitudes of humanity will be killed from natural and supernatural causes. Intense natural disasters and deadly pestilences will be running rampant. Demons and all sorts of vile creatures will be released to torment the living. During one specific type of judgement, it is written that men will seek death and will not find it! Rather than repenting and turning to the true God, many will curse and blaspheme Him. (Revelation 8, 9, 16, 17).

There will be a forceful religious, economic and political system that will be instituted under the antichrist regime. The world will be at a stage where it's divided under 10 different regions/conglomerate power structure in the future. The antichrist will subdue 3 of those powers (per Daniel 2 & 7), which indicates there will be opposition towards him as he rises to ultimate power and the rest falling in line to obey him. He will be given the ultimate authority to wage war and conquer all the nations (Revelation 13:7-8). Receiving the mark of the beast (which is the number of the beast - 666) on the right hand or forehead will be a requirement for humans to be able to buy or sell (Revelation 13:16-18). Resources will be scarce, and hyperinflation will be at its peak. Whoever refuses the mark of the beast, will be persecuted and killed. A great harvest of souls will happen during this time, and many will come to believe in Christ as their Savior. They will be martyred but they will be saved for eternity with God. Revelation 20:4 mentions the beheaded souls who refused the mark and refused to worship the beast coming to life and being given the privilege to reign with Christ during the millennial reign following the tribulation. Whoever accepts the mark of the beast and follows the antichrist will forever be doomed to suffer eternally in the Lake of Fire. "A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus." (Revelation 14:9-12). Whoever receives the mark, for whatever reason it may be, will never have a second opportunity for salvation as they pledged their allegiance to antichrist and ultimately satan.

While the tribulation is happening on earth, the raptured, resurrected saints will appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ in Heaven. This judgement is not to determine whether they will get into Heaven or not since they are already saved by placing their trust in Christ and will be with Him for eternity. Rather, this judgment is for the rewards a believer will gain/lose based on his/her works while on earth. One would not want to stand there empty handed while giving an account of what he/she did for the kingdom of God. Therefore, all believers must strive to fulfill their God-given gifts/talents to the most of their abilities to advance God's kingdom and live righteously, as this would determine the responsibilities and rewards they get. that will be given to them in the millennial kingdom of Christ followed by eternity. We can infer that the great marriage supper of the Lamb will also happen in Heaven during this time based on Revelation 19:9. Being a food lover, I cannot wait for this. Trust me, this will be the greatest feast beyond your wildest dreams. You will not want to miss out on this event!

After the tribulation, Jesus will return with the saints to judge the wicked. Revelations 19: 11-14 states, "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean." You will not want to be among the ones who will see this awesome and fearful sight and face Christ as He descends down. You will want to be among the armies of heaven following behind Him. The antichrist, and his armies gathered to wage war will be destroyed immediately. He, along with the false prophet, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire (the eternal destiny for satan and every being that follows him and rejects Christ). Satan will be captured and thrown in the bottomless pit for the 1000 years during Christ's millennial reign so that he can no longer deceive the nations. Whoever rejected Christ that survived the tribulation during this time will be destroyed. The believing gentiles and jews who survive the tribulation will be allowed to enter the millennial reign of Christ in their mortal bodies. We will look at the aspects of the millennial kingdom in the next blog.

Does all of this sound like a fantasy to you? All of these judgements, amongst many others, are detailed explicitly throughout the scriptures (especially in the Book of Revelation). Jesus talked about the many signs that prelude the tribulation. We will go over some of those signs and how they are starting to take place in front of our eyes in this present age after the conclusion of this series. Perhaps you are thinking, I will believe in all this if and when the rapture happens first. I will conclude by noting an interesting theory about the frog and boiling water I read somewhere. Frogs are not able to sense slow and gradual change in temperature around them. If you put a frog into a boiling pot, it will immediately sense the change and jump out to save it's life. However, if you place it in room temperature water and gradually raise the heat to the point of boiling, the frog won't notice and will slowly get cooked to death. Jump out of your spiritual slumber while you still have sensitivity towards God's truth. The longer you ignore God's voice and His truth, the more you will become comfortable and desensitized to your sins, which ultimately leads to your destruction.

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