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The History of the Ages – Lesson 24

The last lesson was a broad overview of the tribulation period. But first, I’m going to give you an idea of what future lessons will cover. This is a list of future events described in Scripture. However, I will not insist that the order in which I list them is entirely accurate (but I think it’s pretty close).

1. The Rapture (which includes the resurrection of the dead in Christ) takes place first (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). There are actually 5 resurrections that make up the completion of what is called the first resurrection just before the Millennium. These 5 resurrections will be explained later before our detailed look at the Millennium.
2. The rise of antichrist is the first seal judgment, the white horse (Revelation 6:1). Here, we must look to the Book of Daniel to see the extent of his kingdom, his power, and his activities during the tribulation period and then his destruction.
3. The second seal judgment (the red horse) is widespread war (Revelation 6:3-4).
4. The third seal judgment (the black horse) is famine caused by the previous wars (Revelation 6:5-6).
5. The fourth seal judgment (the pale horse) is unparalleled death caused by the famine (Revelation 6:7-8).
6. The fifth seal judgment is the martyrdom of believers during this time as it becomes obvious that the death and destruction that has taken place is a result of the judgment of God on the earth. This angers the enemies of God to the point that they begin killing those loyal to God (Revelation 6:9-11).
7. Then the sixth seal judgment comes as a result of this slaughter of believers. It includes great earthquakes, darkness, meteor showers and more resulting in even greater destruction (Revelation 6:12-17).
8. The seventh seal is described in Revelation 8:1 as silence in heaven for a half an hour. This is a mystery, as no reason or explanation is given for this silence.
9. Then the judgments continue with seven trumpets. The first trumpet judgment is a firestorm that burns up a third of the trees and all the grass on the earth (Revelation 8:7). The “earth” here is the area of the world that is directly affected by these judgments during the tribulation period. This is Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa. This will be explained in our examination of the rise of the antichrist.
10. The second trumpet judgment turns a third of the sea to blood, killing everything in that part of the sea and destroying the ships that are there (Revelation 8:8-9). Again, the “sea” here is the Mediterranean Sea, the center of the area described above.
11. The third trumpet judgment poisons a third of the fresh water in the area described above and many people die because they use the water (Revelation 8:10-11).
12. The fourth trumpet judgment results in a third of the light being withdrawn from this area (Revelation 8:12). Some time between the fourth and fifth trumpet an angel warns that the next three judgments are going to be even more terrible.
13. Then the fifth trumpet judgment comes when demons are loosed from the Abyss to torment men for five months. This torment is described as the sting of a scorpion and will be so painful that people will want to die and will even try to kill themselves, but will not be able to (Revelation 9:1-12).
14. The sixth trumpet is the loosing of 200,000,000 demons that have the power to kill one third of men (Revelation 9:13-21). Current population figures of the area described could mean that over 500,000,000 men could die as a result of this judgment.
15. It is at this point that the first three and one half years of the 7-year tribulation period is past. There are several events that take place now, before the seventh trumpet judgment. The antichrist will break his agreement to protect Israel (which he has been doing through the first three and one half years), will defile the temple (Matthew 24:15) and make Jerusalem his center of operations, as he now sets out to destroy the Jews.
16. The two witnesses appear (Revelation 11:3-12). We will look at who they are, what they do and how long they do it. This is one of the most interesting aspects of this time period.
17. The seventh trumpet is the announcement that God is about to take back possession of the earth (Revelation 11:15-18).
18. At this point we’ll look at the 144,000. Though first mentioned in Revelation 7 between the sixth and seventh seal judgment, more information is found about them in Revelation 12 and 14. I’ll try to explain who they are and what their purpose is.
19. Then there’s war in heaven (Revelation 12:7-12), Satan is defeated and from that point is denied access to heaven.
20. Satan then pursues Israel to destroy the Jews once and for all, but they have the protection of God (Revelation 12:6, 13-16).
21. The antichrist (here he’s called the beast, I’ll explain why in the lesson) will extend his power and authority (Revelation 13:1-10).
22. The false prophet will begin worship of antichrist and require people to receive a mark (666) to engage in government-controlled commerce (Revelation 13:16-18).
23. Then in Revelation 14:6-11 there are three announcements from three angels. The first is for men to not worship the antichrist or accept his mark. The second is the prediction of the fall of Babylon (Revelation 17 is a parenthetical describing Babylon as religion (I’ll have a lot to say about this). Then the third announcement is a warning of the destruction of all who worship the antichrist.
24. Then begins the last set of judgments, the vials. In the first vial judgment is painful sores that come upon all who have the mark of antichrist (Revelation 16:2).
25. The second vial judgment turns the Mediterranean into blood and every living thing in it dies (Revelation 16:3).
26. The third vial judgment turns all the fresh water above and below the ground into blood (Revelation 16:4-7).
27. The fourth vial judgment increases the power of the sun and people are unable to escape the intense heat (Revelation 16:8-9).
28. The fifth vial judgment brings darkness to the kingdom of the antichrist adding to the sores and absence of fresh water (Revelation 16:10-11).
29. The sixth vial judgment dries up the Euphrates (remember, it was already turned to blood) to prepare a way for the kings of the east to bring their armies into Palestine to join the antichrist at Armageddon (Revelation 16:12).
30. The seventh vial judgment is a series of great earthquakes that destroy the major cities of the area described in point 9 (Revelation 16:17-21).
31. At some point the marriage of the Lamb takes place as described in Revelation 19:1-10).
32. Then the second coming of Christ with His saints (Revelation 19:11-16).
33. The battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:19-21).
34. Satan bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-3).
35. The first resurrection completed (the tribulation saints join all those previously resurrected – Revelation 20:4-6).
36. The Millennial reign of Christ on the earth (Revelation 20:6). Though there is much information in Scripture about the Millennium, most of it is found in the Old Testament.
37. Satan released to deceive the nations one more time at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:7).
38. The last rebellion on the earth (Revelation 20:8-9).
39. Satan sent to hell (Revelation 20:10).
40. The second resurrection, the judgment of the wicked dead (Revelation 20:11-15).
41. The renovation of the heavens and the earth by fire (II Peter 3:7-13).
42. A new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1).
43. The New Jerusalem descends to the earth, God’s capital city of the eternal state (Revelation 21:2-22:5).

As you can see, we have work to do.