The Great Tribulation & the Wrath of God (Jeff Unsworth)
As we are all aware, there are many interpretations of the end times that are revealed in the pages of scripture.
The view that is put forward in this blog is based on the view known as “Pre Wrath” . The belief that the redeemed church will be raptured at some undetermined point, known only to God, during the time called “The Great Tribulation”
It is also based on the scriptures that teach that the Christian church is not appointed to Wrath.
This booklet has been put together taking in to consideration what scripture teaches and the various thoughts of many other writers.
Isaiah 2:12-17: "For the Day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low... And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and THE LORD ALONE SHALL BE EXALTED IN THAT DAY."
2 Thes. 2:1-4: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the COMING of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by OUR GATHERING UNTO HIM (the rapture), that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ (DAY OF THE LORD), is at hand. LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU by any means for THAT DAY (the rapture/Day of the Lord), SHALL NOT COME, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and EXALTETH HIMSELF ABOVE ALL THAT IS WORSHIPPED; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
Rev. 13:3-7: "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed, and ALL THE WORLD WONDERED AFTER THE BEAST. AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE DRAGON which gave power unto the beast, AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE BEAST, saying, 'Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?' And there was given unto him a mouth SPEAKING GREAT THINGS AND BLASPHEMIES; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And HE OPENED HIS MOUTH IN BLASPHEMY AGAINST GOD, TO BLASPHEME HIS NAME, AND HIS TABERNACLE, AND THEM THAT DWELL IN HEAVEN. And it was given unto him TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, AND TO OVERCOME THEM; AND POWER WAS GIVEN HIM OVER ALL KINDREDS, AND TONGUES AND NATIONS, and all that dwell upon the earth SHALL WORSHIP HIM, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
The first two passages reveal to us very clearly that the Day of the Lord (God's wrath in the end times) and the Great Tribulation (Satan's wrath in the end times) are two separate events within Daniel's 70th week.
The prophet Isaiah has just told us that only The Lord will be exalted during the Day of the Lord. But the Apostle Paul told the church of Thessalonica that antichrist will be exalting himself above all that is worshipped, when he enters the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and that he must do this before the Rapture and Day of the Lord.
When the man of sin takes his seat on the throne in the temple to demand the world's worship, this is the beginning of the GREAT TRIBULATION.
These two passages give us a clear understanding that the Day of the Lord is a different time period from the Great Tribulation.
In the first the Lord alone is exalted; in the second the antichrist is exalting himself.
But let's go for further proof. The third scene described by John the Apostle, tells us several things:
1) all the world wonders after the beast.
2) they worship the dragon;
3) they worship the beast;
4) the beast blasphemes God, His Name, His tabernacle and those that dwell in heaven;
5) the beast makes war with the saints and overcomes them;
6) power is given to the beast OVER ALL KINDREDS, AND TONGUES, AND NATIONS
(with the exception of those whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life, i.e. the born again saints, that the beast is making war against).
In the last scene, Rev. 13:3-7, the beast (Antichrist) is being worshipped by almost the whole world, he blasphemes God and all in heaven, makes war with and overcomes the saints and power is given to him over all kindreds, tongues and nations.
This Revelation scene is a look back to the Great Tribulation passage of Rev. 6:9, in which we see martyred souls under the altar crying out to God for His judgement and vengeance to be brought against the beast, who is Satan (he is operating through his surrogate known as the antichrist, aka, 666).
Rev 6:9 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.
Here it is condensed:
a) In Isaiah we learn that during the Day of the Lord the Lord alone is exalted;
b) In 2 Thessalonians we learn that during the Great Tribulation antichrist exalts himself;
c) In Revelation we learn that during the Great Tribulation antichrist is worshipped and exalted by nearly the whole world, plus he has power over all kindreds, tongues and nations.
What else can we conclude, but that the Great Tribulation is a different event of the endtimes from the Day of the Lord?
We must also conclude that Paul did not want the church of Thessalonica to be deceived about which event would occur first. Paul clearly stated that the antichrist's identity will be revealed before the rapture, implying that the temple in Jerusalem would have to be rebuilt in order for the antichrist to enter it!
These are two prophesied events that have to occur BEFORE the rapture and BEFORE the Day of the Lord.
Therefore the rapture cannot possibly be either pretribulational or imminent!
Here is the order of events:
1) the Great Tribulation (Satan's wrath, antichrist is exalted, Christians being martyred during the 5th seal (Rev. 6:9-11);
2) the Sign of the Day of the Lord (cosmic eruptions of the 6th seal, (Rev. 6:12-14);
3) the rapture of both the dead in Christ and the living saints (between the 6th and 7th seals, (Rev. 7:9-14);
4) the Day of the Lord (God's wrath...THE LORD ALONE WILL BE EXALTED, 7th seal of (Rev. 8:1-2),initiating the trumpet and bowl judgments during God's wrath against the wicked).
Another important thing to keep uppermost in mind is that the wicked flee from God's wrath as soon as they see it is about to be poured out.
The FIRST MENTION of God's wrath is in Rev. 6:15-17: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, HID THEMSELVES in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks: 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB: FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; and who shall be able to stand?'"
This first mention of God's wrath is right after the cosmic eruptions of the 6th seal, which the prophets told us was the Sign of the Day of the Lord. This is a time of God's wrath only (not man's or Satan's).
This is made clear when we look at what the prophets had to say about it, i.e. Isaiah 2:19-21 and 13:6, Jeremiah 46:10, Lamentations 2:22, Ezekiel 30:3, Joel 1:15, 2:30,31, Obadiah 1:15, Zephaniah 1:14,15,17, Zechariah 1:1-4 and Malachi 4:5.
By contrast, do we see the wicked fleeing, when antichrist begins the Great Tribulation? The answer is NO. Is antichrist himself fleeing from the wrath of God? THe answer is No. He is sitting in the temple, blaspheming God? Is he showing any fear of God at all? The answer is a definite NO. In fact he is showing himself AS IF HE IS GOD.
2 Thes. 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Antichrist is not fleeing from God's wrath during the Great Tribulation, and neither are those who take his blasphemous 666 mark. These people have sold out to Satan for eternity and can buy and sell with no fear of being hunted down and killed by Satan's forces.
Luke 17:28-30 says "Like also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded . (notice that the wicked here are not fleeing the wrath of God, they are just going about their normal everyday business). But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be when the Son of Man is revealed."
During the Great Tribulation the wicked are not fleeing God's wrath at all; but they will when the Son of Man is revealed with the opening of the 6th seal in (Revelation 6)!
Antichrist is revealed at midpoint of the 70th week.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; .
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:
Only AFTERWARDS is the Son of Man revealed, when His holy anger is about to be poured out on antichrist and his wicked forces (Rev. 6:16-17).
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
It is interesting to note that the wicked in this passage say "who shall be able to stand" against the Lord's wrath, whereas they say something totally different in Rev. 13:4: "...Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
The second scene is a flashback to the Great Tribulation in which they have total confidence that no one will be able to stand up to the beast...but the first scene is a different picture entirely because they know that nobody will be able to stand against God's wrath...NOT EVEN ANTICHRIST!
The Rapture is sometime during the Great tribulation and BEFORE The Wrath of God... It does not precede the Great Tribulation!
When does the Great Tribulation begin and when does it end? And what is Daniel's Strange 1260, 1290 and 1335 Days?
What are the mysterious sequences of days mentioned in Daniel 12? What does the 1260, 1290 and 1335 days have to do with this END TIME generation?
In the book of Daniel we read these mysterious words, significant for the end-time generation living just before the coming of the Messiah: “Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on one bank of the river, the other on the other bank of the river. One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the water of the river, ‘How long until the END of these awful things?’ Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river, swear by the Ever-Living One as he lifted his right hand and his left hand to heaven: ‘For a time, times, and half a time; and when the breaking of the power of the holy people comes to an end, then shall all these things be fulfilled.’”
Daniel continues: “I heard and did not understand, so I said, ‘My Lord, what will be the outcome of these things?’ He said, ‘Go, Daniel, for these words are SECRET AND SEALED to the TIME OF THE END. Many will be purified and purged and refined; the wicked will act wickedly and none of the wicked will understand; but the knowledgeable will understand. From the time the regular offering is abolished, and an appalling abomination is set up -- it will be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Happy the one who waits and reaches one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days’” (Dan.12:5-11).
THose who study Bible prophecy, know that the prophetic year is 360 days in length.
Apparently, the original length of the year was 360 days, as the book of Genesis implies.
The evidence is found in the book of Genesis. The writer notes two specific calendar events: the exact day on which the fountains of the deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened (Gen 7:11), and the exact day on which the waters abated (Gen 8:3-4). The importance of this information is this:
The Flood began on the 17th day of the 2nd month (Gen 7:11), and was over by the 17th day of the 7th month (Gen 8:4). That makes 5 months of 30 days duration each, which Genesis stresses by adding the day-count of 150.
During the time of Noah, 5 months equaled 150 days, (thus 30 days per month; this would work out as 360 days in 12 months – see Gen.7:11; 8:3-4). Also, in Biblical language one “time” equals one year. In Daniel 7:25 we read that an evil end-time king will persecute God’s people “for a time, times, and half a time.” (3 ½ years).
The book of Revelation tells us this king will reign and persecute God’s people for “forty two months”
Rev.13:5-8; 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 11:2).
Thus 3 ½ “times” equals 42 months; Divide 42 months by 12 and you get 3 and one half years!
Now 42 months, with 30 days per month, comes to 1260 literal days in actual fulfillment. (compare Rev.12:6 and 14). Thus one “time,” therefore, equals one year, and three and one half “times” equals 3 1/2 years; and 360 days times 3 1/2 years, equals 1,260 days (compare Rev.12:6,14; also Rev.11:2-3).
When does the period of 1260 days or three and one half years commence? And when does it end?
The Beginning Point
A simple key to the beginning of the 1260 days is that it begins when the appalling abomination -- or “abomination of desolation” -- is set up in the Temple of God.
We read in Daniel 9, the 70 weeks prophecy, that in the time of the end, a great king would “confirm a covenant [treaty] with many for one week [seven years ) but in the middle of the week which is 3 ½ years before of the end of the 7 years, something will happen!
What will antichrist do? -- “he will bring and END to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate” (Dan.9:27).
This signals the event also mentioned in Daniel 11.
Notice again! “So shall he return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces [arms] shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress [that is, the Temple, God’s House, which is a sanctuary of strength], then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation” (Dan.11:30-31).
What great event will END this age – and terminate this 3 1/2 year prophetic period?
This period of conquest and end-time Great Tribulation, during which God’s Temple is defiled, and the saints are persecuted, will last for an undetermined time. For this persecution will be shortened for the elects sake and will only be terminated by the intervention of the Messiah from heaven – the coming of Jesus in clouds of glory! ( The Rapture of the Church ) ( Which will usher in The Wrath of God ) (Rev.19:11-19; 11:15; Matt.24:30-31).
The wicked king who does these things will have “power” for three and one half years at the very end. “He will think of changing times and laws, and they will be delivered into his power for a time, times, and half a time. Then the court will sit and his dominion will be taken away, to be destroyed and abolished for all time” (Dan.7:25-26).
Immediately after this “appalling thing” – the “abomination of desolation” -- is set up in the Temple of God, many of God's people will flee to a place of safety to be spared from the coming invasion, captivity, and tribulation (Matt.24:16-22).
They will be protected during this 1,260 day period of tribulation, distress and captivity on Israel.
We read, “Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Rev.12:6). “But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time from the presence of the serpent” (verse 14).
Thus the saints spoken of here as the “woman” will be protected during the 3 1/2 year reign of the brutal tyrant or end-time king, often called the “Antichrist.” However, others in the body of Messiah will have to undergo severe trial and stress -- Great Tribulation!
We read, “And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev.12:17, NKJV).
Who are these that have the testimony of Jesus Christ?) (Obviously it is The church )
When does this persecution stop?
The persecution will end sometime during the last 3 ½ years, and before the Wrath of God begins.
The redeemed church will be removed from the earth prior to the Wrath of God. (The Rapture – The gathering together unto Christ).
The Rapture = Harpazo. The Gathering together = Episunagage )
1 Thess 5:9 “ For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”. Also, Rev 3:10 “Because thou hast the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
( Greek “ Tereho Ek” Keep From or out of).
Rom 5: 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.
Mathew 24: 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Between the sixth and seventh seal. The Rapture of the church takes place.
Notice: the 6th seal is opened and there is silence for about ½ an hour. Notice: that the 6th seal is opened at the end of Rev Ch 6 and the 7th seal is not opened till Rev Ch 8 v 1.
Rev 6: V 12: “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood”.
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
What happens in between the end of Rev Chapter 6 and the beginning of Rev Chapter 8?
Well!! Chapter 7 happens. The beginning of Ch 7 “And after these things” If you will take a closer look at the verses of scripture that refer to this gap, you will find that the rapture of the church has taken place between the opening of the sixth seal and the opening of the seventh seal.
Take a look at Revelation 7:13,14, which says, "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said unto me, “These are they which CAME OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
So these saints that come out of the Great Tribulation are different to the 24 Elders.The 24 Elders are in heaven before these saints arrive, and these saints arrive in heaven after the 6th Seal and just before the Wrath of God is poured out, the 7th Seal and 1st Trumpet.
BEFORE the wrath of God is poured out, the Rapture of the church must take place, because we ( the church ) are not appointed to the wrath of God.
The first four seals are relating to tribulation (Thilipsis) which is the beginning of birth pangs,
(The 4 horsemen) and (Seals 5 & 6) relate to the Great Tribulation period, during the last 3 ½ years.Keep in mind that the seventh seal has NOT yet been opened.
Before we look at the opening of the seventh seal, look closely at Revelation 6:17, which is at the very end of the opening of the sixth seal. "For the great day of his (God’s) Wrath is come: and who shall be able to stand?"
Notice the phrase "is come". The word "come" here is also translated as "coming". So in other words, God’s wrath is just about to take place at the opening of the seventh seal and the blowing of the 1st Trumpet.
Also notice that the phrase "who shall be able to stand?" is in the future tense. This verse is literally saying that the WRATH of God is about to be poured out upon the ungodly and is asking the question who will be able to endure it?
These are three separate events, 1. Tribulation/Thilipsis - 2. Great Tribulation/ Mega Thilipsis - 3. Wrath/Orge.
1. General tribulation - 2. The wrath of Satan - 3. The Wrath of God.
The outpouring of the Wrath of God (The day of the Lord )(The Wrath of the Lamb).
Let’s quickly summarize what has been said thus far.
First we have the opening of the first SIX seals, which is the beginning of birth pangs and the GREAT TRIBULATION period. Then we have the rapture of the church taking place sometime during this period of great tribulation.
Again notice that the rapture of the church occurs in this gap, after the opening of the first six seals, but BEFORE the opening of the seventh seal, which is the WRATH of God.
Finally we have the opening of the seventh seal, following the silence of about ½ an hour, which is the WRATH of God.
The Great Tribulation is over. The next event is about to begin.
( The Wrath of God )
Rev Ch 8: 1
1. And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
………………………………………………………………………………………
The Silence in Heaven for about the space ½ hour.
What is this ½ hour?
A day in prophetic time stands for a year. (Ezek. 4:6.)
Daniels 70th week ( Prophetic week or 7 days = literal 7 years. Therefore 1 prophetic day = 1 literal year.
One hour is a twenty-fourth part of a prophetic day, Or a twenty forth part of a literal year and figuring thirty days to a month; it would be about two weeks. Half an hour would be half of two weeks; therefore, seven literal days.
A prophetic ½ hour = 7 days.
Why was there a silence for about ½ hour?..Is this impending Wrath / Judgement?.
Mathew 24: 37 - 39
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
The Meaning of The Silence in Heaven.
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. – Revelation 8:1.
The silence in Heaven is a sign of God’s impending devastating judgement.
When a people or nation or even the world is so far gone into rebellion against God with no repentance, The Lord removes His Holy people and allows for a period of “silence”, right before His judgements are unleashed onto the world. How can this be so? Well The Bible instructs on how to interpret and understand Scripture:
So where can examples or types and shadows of this Heavenly silence be found in Scripture?
The first example is in the Days of Noah.
The Silence before The Flood
The Lord’s preacher of the Gospel went silent for seven days before the flood.
The Days of Noah were infamous for being a time of global, rampant rebellion against God. Humanity, plagued by their own sinful lust and the influx of Nephilim giant hybrids, had become so deep in sin that the Bible says, “..God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5).
God then instructed Noah to prepare an ark because in the years to come, The Lord was going to destroy the entire world with a flood. Noah, was a “preacher of righteousness.” He was not just a believer in The Lord, he committed his life to preaching belief in God to those in his society. But once the ark was prepared, God brought the preaching of His faithful servant to a close:
The LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female… For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. And Noah did according unto all that theLORD commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood… There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. (Genesis 7).
So once the ark was complete, God instructed Noah to take all of his family and all of the animals and enter into the ark for seven days.
The passage in Genesis goes back over this detail to emphasize its significance.
"In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. (Genesis 7).
Not only was Noah commanded to enter the ark seven days in advance, on the same day he entered and got every person and creature on board, God shut the door Himself. The chance to hear the preaching of repentance before the worst judgement the world had seen was over. No longer would the preacher of righteousness, who knew the flood was coming, be able to warn anyone. Instead, the completed ark sat in silence for seven days, with no one going in or out.
So the sinful, rebellious world, were left in ignorance.
The Lord Jesus Christ confirms this in Matthew 24:But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. – Matthew 24:37-39.
The devastating flood came which destroyed all people, nephilim and creatures from the Earth, except for those who were safely aboard the divinely-designed ship.
The silence preceded utter judgement and destruction.
This pattern is seen again in an even more powerful way in the book of Joshua.The Battle of Jericho.
"And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the reward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. – Joshua 6:2-15.
Notice: that God instructs His people to circle the city of Jericho, without raising a weapon, for seven days. And Joshua is emphatic that the people remain silent. No one is to speak or utter a sound for the seven days. And then on the seventh day, after the city was circled seven times, the nation would shout, and the walls of Jericho crumbled to dust and the Israelites slaughtered their enemies in the city and burnt it to the ground.
Is The Silence Really For A Half Hour?
Scripture says “about the space of half an hour.”
The Apostle John makes the point that he is not marking an exact duration of time.
Could the sequence of events be the 6th Seal with its Rapture, global earthquake and stellar signs, the opening of the 7th seal and then seven days of silence before The Lord’s wrath begins with the blowing of the trumpets and judgements on Earth?
It seems that there is some consistency with the types quoted previously.
At the flood in Genesis, the silence of God was for seven days.
At Jericho, there were seven days of silence until the city was circles seven times.
In Revelation, the seventh seal is open, which leads to the silence and then seven angels are given seven trumpets to unleash God’s wrath. The types and shadows of Scripture certainly give some credence to the idea.
The Wrath of God,
The Great Tribulation is ended. The Rapture of the church has taken place.
The 7th seal is opened and the 1st Trumpet sounds. Now begins The Wrath of God, The Day of the Lord.
How long is the Wrath of God?
All we know is that the Great Tribulation (the persecution of the believers) ends with the Rapture of the Church (No man knows the time or the hour.)
Mat 24: 36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only”.
It is then the wrath of God begins.From the time of the Rapture, to the end of 1290 days, constitutes the Wrath of God.
All we do know is that the Wrath of God lasts longer than 5 months ( the 5th trumpets shows that the plague of locusts torment men for 5 months. So the Wrath of God must be longer than 5 months.)
Rev 9: I – 5, 1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth,neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
The Seven Trumpets.
Rev Ch 8 v7 - 13.7. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were madebitter.
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Rev Ch 9 v 1 – 211 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth,neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
7And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand
thousand: and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having
breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their
fornication, nor of their thefts.
Rev Ch 10 v 11
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and
nations, and tongues, and kings.
The Rapture took place after the sixth seal, before the Wrath of God) this was the catching away of the church, the dead in Christ and those that are alive, to meet the Lord in the air.
Now we have the Second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth, when Jesus returns to stand on the Mount of Olives.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”.
Zechariah 14: 1 -4
1.Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
The Judgement of God.
(Rev.17:12-14). “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for ONE HOUR AS KINGS WITH THE BEAST.
These are of one mind, and They will give their power and authority to the beast. These will MAKE WAR with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” God’s period of “judgment” will last “one hour.”
These ten kings give their power to the Beast for precisely “ONE HOUR.” How long is “one hour,” speaking prophetically? Jesus Christ said that there are “twelve hours in a day” (John 11:9).
Since a “day” equals a “year” in being fulfilled (Num.14:34; Ezek.4:4-6), and since there are 12 months in a year, this means that “ONE HOUR” equals ONE MONTH in being fulfilled!
One month equals 30 days! Thus this final “alliance” refers to a final union of the nations of the world. The fifth and sixth Trumpet Plagues (Rev.9) depict nations at war with each other.
But when the seventh trumpet sounds, the nations will UNITE one final time to wage war against the New “intruder” or “invader” from “outer space” – ten final “kings,”representing ten regions of the world, will FIGHT AGAINST CHRIST! How long will this “union” last? One “hour” – that is, one month – that is, 30 DAYS! Here is the 30 days which goes beyond the 1260 days and extends to 1290 days (Daniel 12:11)!
During this period of 30 days, Yeshua will begin regathering the scattered people of Israel and Judah from around the world, and will WAGE WARFARE against the wicked nations of the earth, and the seven last plagues will be poured out in His presence!How clear!This war, and the sounding of the seventh trumpet, will last for 30 days. This is represented by extra 30 days tacked on to the end of the 1260 days! Interestingly, another prophecy also mentions this final period of “one hour”prophetically speaking --- or one MONTH – or 30 days! Notice! “Therefore her plagues will come in one day [that is, one “year” – the “day of the Lord,” the final year of this age when God intervenes to punish the wickedness of men] – death, and mourning, and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. The kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in ONE HOUR your judgement has come’”
(Rev.18:8-10). “The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in ONE HOUR such great riches came to nothing. Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance, and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in ONE HOUR she is made desolate” (Rev.18:15-19).
Notice! Here again, the PUNISHMENT of the great end-time BABYLONIAN EMPIRE – the New World Order – the WORLD SYSTEM – will be “ONE HOUR” – that is, one month in duration! During this period of time, she will be utterly destroyed – obliterated – and wiped off the face of the earth!
This is referring to the SAME HOUR – the same MONTH! As we read in Revelation 1,6 at the conclusion of the seven last plagues, “Now the great city was divided up into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (verse 19).
What about the 1335 Days?
But then another wonderful event is prophesied to occur at the end of 1335 days -- or the end of another 45 days! Daniel is told, “Blessed is the one who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty five days” (Dan.12:11).
Those who come to this time, Daniel is told, are indeed, “HAPPY” or “BLESSED”!
What is this event?
Let us notice once again the time sequence of events as they are portrayed in Scripture! During this time leading up to the completion of these extra 45 days, or the fulfillment of the entire 1335 days, Christ will conquer His enemies around the world and bring His people, Israel, back out from captivity. We read in Isaiah's prophecy: “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a SECOND TIME to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and GATHER THE EXILES OF ISRAEL; he will ASSEMBLE THE SCATTERED PEOPLE OF JUDAH from the four quarters of the earth” (Isa.11:10-12, NIV).
Again, this will require some time. But within two months or so, most likely, all Israel will be re-gathered, as God intends. God says, “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labors with child, together; a great throng shall return there. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them” (Jer.31:8-9).
Isaiah further tells us:
“For behold, the LORD will come with fire and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many. . . . It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory. . . Then shall they bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain in Jerusalem”
(Isal.66:15-20). “And it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will thresh, from the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; and you shall be gathered, one by one, O you children of Israel. So shall it be in that day: the GREAT TRUMPET will be blown; they will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem” (Isa.27:12-13).
This great EXODUS back to Israel will occur after the Messiiah returns, after Babylon is conquered, and the nations are subdued, during the time extending from the end of the 1260 days till the 1335 days – a total period of 75 days. All will be brought back to Jerusalem, to worship the LORD of Hosts, and to worship the Messianic King, Yeshua Ha Moshiach!
“And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship Me, says the LORD. And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh” (Isa.66:23-24).
What will occur next, in the unfolding of Biblical prophecy?
What great event is foretold for the time shortly after Israel is regathered – and the END of the 1335 days?
The Tremendous Ceremony
Shortly after Jesus returns to this earth, subdues His enemies, re-gathers His people, and SITS ON HIS THRONE in Jerusalem, He will MARRY HIS BRIDE, the Church of God! The apostle John tells us, “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty REIGNS. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the WEDDING of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear’ (fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints)” (Rev.19:6-8, NIV).
The period of 1335 days, the extra 45 days, following the 30 days of war and the subsequent regathering of Israel, brings us up to the MARRIAGE feast of the Lamb and His bride, the Church of God, the “firstfruits” (Rev.14:1-4; James 1:17).
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The Millennium Reign on the earth. Revelation Ch 20
1. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6.Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
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The New Heaven and New Earth Revelation Ch 21
1.And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
