CHRONOLOGY OF END TIME HAPPENINGS
REVEALED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
To study the first four chapters of Revelation, go to: Lesson 8A in the book New Testament Bible Studies. This section, Revelation and End Times, focuses on the "judgments" that will be unleashed on Planet Earth during the end times.
Chapter 5 shows a scroll in the hand of the one who sits on the throne; but no man in Heaven or earth is found who is worthy to break the seven seals on the scroll and open it. Then there is one who is worthy to open the scroll and look inside - it is the Lion from Judah's tribe who is worthy: the great descendant of David (Jesus, the Messiah of Israel). Why is he found worthy? [Verse 9.] By His blood He bought men for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
He died to purchase us for God; His blood paid the price!
Chapter 6 describes what happens when the Lamb breaks open the first six of the seven seals. What happens when the first six seals are opened.
*CAUTION! You will need this information in future days for friends and relatives!
NOTE: Seal #1 shows a person who conquers the world without war (he is given a crown). This leader will probably have a lot of military armament (a bow), but does not need to use it (has no arrows). Seal #2 shows a world war; and Seal #3 a famine. Read the details of the the first four seals below.
- Seal #1 - Rider on white horse - a bow and crown are given to him. He conquers. Notice: No arrows are given, showing he conquers with peace! Does not have to fight.
- Seal #2 - Rider on red horse - world war (men kill each other); he has a large sword.
- Seal #3 - Rider on black horse; has a pair of scales in his hand. A quart of wheat being sold for a whole day’s wages shows great famine or inflation ... or both.
- Seal #4 - Rider on a pale horse; his name is “Death” and “Hades” follows him.
One-fourth (25%) of the earth’s population is killed by four judgments during Seal #4 above:
Sword (war, fighting, and terrorism)
Famine (lack of food, along with drought)
Disease (pestilence and pandemics: like Zika, AIDS, eboli, anthrax, smallpox, swine flu)
Wild animals (beasts)
- Seal #5 - Souls of saved people under the altar who had been killed for speaking God’s Word and for witnessing about Christ.
- Seal #6 - Violent earthquakes. The sun is black and the moon is red as blood. Stars fall from the sky and the sky disappears. The mountains and islands move from their place. People hide themselves in caves and rocks. [Next: Seal #7 opens up the 7 Trumpets (in Chapter 8).]
Chapter Seven is a “parenthesis” between Chapter 6 and Chapter 8 and describes two different scenes: one on earth, and the other in Heaven. On earth, 144,000 Jewish servants of God are marked in their foreheads (to protect them from harm). In Heaven, there is a crowd so great no one can number the people; they are from every nation, tribe, people, and language.
Who are the people dressed in white robes in Chapter 7? [See verses 13 and 14.]
Those who have come safely through the great persecution, or those who washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.
Chapter 8 starts where Chapter 6 ended. The 7th seal is opened. The 7th seal contains seven trumpets. [See verse 2.] The first four of the seven trumpets are sounded in Chapter 8.
*CAUTION! You will need this information in future days for friends and relatives!!
NOTE: The first four trumpets were judgments upon natural objects: one-third of the earth burnt (trees and grass), one-third of the sea and sea life (and ships) destroyed; one-third of the rivers and springs poisoned; and one-third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened. You can see how they will hurt man's food supply (the earth); his distribution of products (ships and sea); his water supply (rivers and springs); and his work, or production (loss of light by which to travel or work).
There are three trumpets left to sound which are known as three horrors or "woes". Chapter 9 describes the first horror (Trumpet #5) and the second horror (Trumpet #6).
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THE SEALS - A REVIEW OF THE SEALS DESCRIBED ABOVE
- Seal #1 - Rider on white horse - a bow and crown are given to him. He conquers. Notice: No arrows are given, showing he conquers with peace! Does not have to fight.
- Seal #2 - Rider on red horse - world war (men kill each other); he has a large sword.
- Seal #3 - Rider on black horse; has a pair of scales in his hand. A quart of wheat being sold for a whole day’s wages shows great famine or inflation ... or both.
- Seal #4 - Rider on a pale horse; his name is “Death” and “Hades” follows him
One-fourth (25%) of the earth’s population is killed by the four judgments during seal #4 above:
Sword (war, fighting, and terrorism)
Famine (lack of food, along with drought)
Disease (pestilence: like AIDS, eboli, anthrax, smallpox, swine flu)
Wild animals (beasts)
Only 75% of the world’s population remains.
- Seal #5 - Souls of saved people under the altar who had been killed for speaking God’s Word and for witnessing about Christ.
- Seal #6 - Violent earthquakes. The sun is black and the moon is red as blood. Stars fall from the sky and the sky disappears. The mountains and islands move from their place. People hide themselves in caves and rocks. [Next: Seal #7 opens up the 7 Trumpets.]
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As mentioned previously, Chapter 8 starts where Chapter 6 ended. The 7th seal is opened. The 7th seal contains seven trumpets. [See verse 2.] The first four of the seven trumpets are sounded in Chapter 8.
THE TRUMPETS
- Trumpet #1 - Hail stones and fire mixed with blood poured on earth. One-third of the trees and grass are burned.
- Trumpet #2 - Burning mountain (meteorite?) is thrown into the sea. One-third of the sea is turned into blood. One-third of the creatures on the sea die and one-third of the ships are destroyed.
- Trumpet #3 - Burning star named “Bitterness” (or, “Wormwood”) is thrown into the rivers, streams, and springs. One-third of waters become bitter and many die.
- Trumpet #4 - One-third of the sun, moon, and stars are darkened. There is no light for one-third of on the night and day.
As mentioned previously, there are three trumpets left to sound which are known as three horrors or "woes". Chapter 9 describes the first horror (Trumpet #5) and the second horror (Trumpet #6).
- Trumpet #5 - 1st Horror (or, Woe) - Locusts with the power of scorpions torture those who do not have the mark of God’s seal on their foreheads for five months. The people will want to die, but cannot.
- Trumpet #6 - 2nd Horror (or, Woe) - Army of 200 million kills one-third of mankind with fire, smoke, and sulphur. People still do not repent. Now, only 50 percent (one half) of the world’s population remains (see Seal #4). People still do NOT repent of worshipping demons and idols, nor of murder, drugs, fornication, and theft. This second horror (woe) continues into Chapter 11 until the 7th trumpet is sounded.
Next: Trumpet #7 will open up in Chapter 11 – it opens up (contains) the seven Bowls (or, Vials) of God’s wrath.
NOTE "A": Unlike the first four trumpets, where judgment is directed against natural objects, the 5th and 6th trumpet judgments are against men.
NOTE "B": Only one-half (50%) of the earth's population will be left at this time. One-fourth of the population is destroyed in Revelation 6:8, the 4th seal. This leaves three-fourths, or 75%, one-third of which is destroyed in Revelation 9:18.
NOTE "C": Men still do NOT repent of their murders, magic, immorality, or stealing. (Revelation 9:21.) Magic in this verse includes drugs (or, narcotics), sometimes accompanied by witchcraft. We know this because of the original Greek word used for magic (or,sorcery): pharmakeia.
Chapter 10 tells of an angel, with one foot on the land and one on the sea, who announces there will be no more delay. When the 7th trumpet sounds, God will begin to accomplish his secret plan. Chapter 11 tells of two witnesses who are street preachers. They proclaim God's message for 3½ years. After they finish their message, the beast out of the bottomless pit (Satan) is allowed to kill them.
What will the people of earth do when the two street preachers are killed? [See Revelation 11:10.] Celebrate and send presents to one another. After 3½ days, a life-giving breath from God enters the dead preachers and they stand up. What happens then? [Read about this in Revelation 11:11-12.] People who see them are afraid. [They will probably watch from around the world by satellite broadcast or similar communications.] A voice from heaven says: “Come up here!” The street preachers then go up to heaven in a cloud.
Then there is another earthquake (the third, so far), and a tenth of the city is destroyed (7,000 people are killed).
How do we know that this city where the street preachers are preaching is Jerusalem? [See verse 8.] It is the city where the Lord was nailed to the cross.
This is the end of the second horror, or woe. Then the 7th angel sounds his trumpet (start of the third horror) and announces that the power to rule over the world belongs to our Lord and to his Messiah: the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus the Anointed One). Then, another earthquake!
We will not study what happens as a result of Trumpet #7 being sounded until Chapter 15. The three chapters between [12, 13, and 14] will show us events that will happen meanwhile.
Chapter 12 describes a woman (the nation Israel) who gives birth to a son (Jesus). We know that this woman is Israel by the way she is described in this chapter and also by the description in verse 1. In the Old Testament, Genesis 37:9-11, Joseph had a dream in which his 11 brothers were described as stars. These 12 brothers were the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph's parents were the sun and moon in this dream.
The dragon, who is the Devil (see verse 9), stood in front of the woman to devour (eat up) the child as soon as it was born (verse 4). This is how Satan used King Herod when Jesus was born. Herod had all the young male babies, two years and under killed; but Jesus' parents took him to Egypt until Herod died, and so Jesus was safe.
Verse 5 of Chapter 12 tells how Jesus was born and then taken to God and to his throne. These events (the woman who gave birth to a son, and the son going up to God) are NOT future events; they have already happened, as you know. However, they are important events and the Holy Spirit had them recorded in Scripture because they help us to see why Satan hates the Jewish people. Why does Satan hate the Jews? [See Revelation 12:13.]
1. Because a Jewish woman gave birth to the (male) child Jesus, who defeated the devil.
2. Because he (the devil) was defeated and thrown out of Heaven.
3. Also, because the Word of God, Holy Bible, was written by Jews.
You see, it was the BLOOD of Jesus on the cross that defeated Satan. The devil hates the people of Israel, because it was through Jewish ancestry (or, family lines) that Jesus was born.
There will be a time of great persecution for the Jews in the future. How long will it last? [See verses 6 and 14.] 3 ½ years = 1,260 days = 42 months
Chapter 13 describes a beast coming up out of the sea. Who gives him his power? [Re. 13:2.] The dragon (Satan) gives the beast out of the sea his power. The beast out of the sea is the anti-Christ leader of Islam who will be the leader chosen by the New World Governance.
People will worship the dragon, who is Satan, and the beast. [See verse 4.] This beast out of the sea is the coming world ruler described here in Chapter 13, verses 5-8, and in other places of the Holy Bible. Who will NOT worship the beast?
Everyone whose name has been written before the world began in the Book of Life (the Book of the Living) that belongs to the Lamb who was killed (Yeshua, or Jesus) will NOT worship the beast. [Those who have been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.]
This coming world ruler is also known as the "false-Messiah", or the "anti-Christ". He [seemingly] dies and then [it appears as if] his deadly wound is healed.
Another beast is seen coming up out of the earth. [Look at verse 11.] He is the false prophet. He causes people to worship the first beast (the anti-Christ) and to make an image of him. Then, the false prophet (seemingly) gives life to the image of the first beast.
The false prophet, who will be the religious head of the world, forces ALL people to have a mark placed on their right hands or in their foreheads. No one can buy or sell unless they have his mark: the mark is a name, or the number that represents the beast's name. What is the number of the beast, the mark which people will be forced to take? [Revelation 13:18.]
The number is: “666”
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WARNING!
WHEN THIS HAPPENS, GOD'S WRATH WILL BE POURED OUT UPON ALL WHO TAKE THIS MARK
WARN YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES NOT TO DO IT!
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Chapter 14 tells that the great Babylon has fallen who influenced all nations with immoral lust. All who worship the beast and its image, and receive this mark will be tormented in fire with no relief forever.
Chapter 15 starts where Chapter 11 ends: at the 7th trumpet. Just for review, remember that there are seven seals. Seal #7 contains seven trumpets; and now we will see that Trumpet #7 contains seven bowls of God's wrath (or, the seven last plagues).
Chapter 16 describes the seven last plagues (the seven bowls of God's wrath).
THE BOWLS, OR VIALS
- Bowl #1 - Painful sores on those who have taken the “Mark of the Beast” and who worship his image.
- Bowl #2 - The sea becomes like the blood of a dead person. Every living creature in the sea dies.
- Bowl #3 - Rivers and waters become blood. An angel says, “This is a righteous judgment because people on earth have shed the blood of God’s people and of the prophets who speak to them.”
- Bowl #4 - The sun burns men with fiery heat. They curse God and do not repent.
- Bowl #5 - Darkness over the kingdom of the Beast, the anti-Christ. Men bite their tongues because of their pain and they curse God.
- Bowl #6 - The Euphrates River in Iraq is dried up to make a way for the kings from the East to make war. Three (3) unclean spirits (demons) come out of the false trinity:
A demon comes out of the mouth of the devil (the “dragon");
A demon comes out of the mouth of the beast, the anti-Christ (the false messiah); and,
A demon comes out of the mouth of the false prophet (the global religious leader).
These demons perform miracles and go out to the kings over the whole earth to bring them together for the war on the Great Day of the Almighty God (Armageddon).
- Bowl #7 - worst earthquake of all:
Jerusalem is split into three (3) parts;
Cities and towns of nations are destroyed;
All islands and mountains disappear; and,
Hail stones weighing up to 100 pounds fall on people (the people curse God).
The cities of the nations, and Babylon, represent the centers of the power and influence of Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and all their anti-Christian partners. They all fall!
Remember . . . anti-Christ is also anti-Christian! He loses . . . believers in Messiah Jesus win!
*CAUTION! You will need this information in future days for friends and relatives!
Chapter 17 describes the great city Babylon as a prostitute. This city causes the leaders and people of the nations to be influenced with immoral worship. (Re. 17:2.) This great city will be destroyed by the beast, who is the coming world ruler, and by ten regional kings, or leaders of nations (the 10 horns of Revelation 17:12). These 10 leaders of nations are finally given authority to rule at the same time (one hour, figuratively) with the beast. These same 10 regional leaders at first support New Babylon; however, later turn against her and destroy her (actually, they are carrying out the will of God without knowing so).
What are two ways people will be able to know, or identify, this city in the future? [Verse 6 and verse 18.] 1. Responsible for killing God’s people who had been loyal to Jesus. 2. The city will dominate the kings (or, leaders) of the earth. NOTE: See additional notes below for more ways to identify the city.* *
NOTE: There are seven (7) ways you will be able to identify this city in the future:
1. Babylon is a literal city. (Rev. 17:18 & 18:19)
2. Babylon influences the leaders of the nations. (Rev. 17:2, 18)
3. Babylon is a key distributor of immoral [anti-God] deception (Rev. 17:2) Note: the word “fornication" is the Greek “porneuo" which can mean “illicit sexual intercourse or prostitution," and is used both literally (Mark 10:19, 1 Co. 6:18 & 10:8, Rev. 2:14 & 20) and can also be used metaphorically to describe spiritual fornication, or idolatry ... turning people away from the only true God: the God of Israel.
4. Babylon is a coastal metroplex or geopolitical coastal area. (Rev. 18:17-19)
5. Babylon is responsible for the murder of God’s prophets and all who are slain upon earth. (Rev. 17:6 & 18:24)
6. Babylon is a key distributor of narco-religion: Satanic delusion. (Rev. 18:23)
7. Babylon is THE KEY CENTER of world trade. (Rev. 18:9-19)
NOTE: This seaport city that will be destroyed will likely be a center of Muslim economy and Islamic ideology! Even though Islamic teachings state that they are against sexual immorality (which would include pornography), they teach in their Madrassas their own particular interpretations of Islam: terrorism and fanaticism that can include anything to destroy the morality, economy, or families of Israel and the West. Also, in Islamic countries which practice Sharia law sexual perversion is practiced ... hidden from view.
NOTICE: Isaiah Chapters 13 and 14 – AND – Jeremiah Chapters 50 and 51 state that Babylon will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. This has never happened. This is a FUTURE prophecy. In context it shows that Israel is back in the land redeemed from the nations with, also, the goyim (strangers or gentiles). It withered, but was never the recipient of destruction as prophesied. Even in the late 19th Century there were people living there. Sadam Hussein, over a period of 20 years, spent $60 million in rebuilding Babylon.
THEREFORE: Babylon must be flourishing again as New Babylon, before it can be destroyed as Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. However, does that mean that it will be in Iraq? ... Or, some other geographic location? To discover the identity of New Babylon (the Harlot of Revelation Chapters 17 and 18 - and the focus of Isaiah Chapters 13 and 14 ... PLUS ... Jeremiah Chapters 50 and 51) study >>> WHAT TO WATCH FOR.
DISCUSSION: See if you can find in the Book of Revelation where these are mentioned.
Chapter 18 actually describes the fall announced in Chapter 17. Babylon, the great city, will be hit with plagues in one day and burnt with fire. The businessmen of the earth who trade with her, and who are made rich by that commerce, will be sad because in one hour the city loses everything. Why will the city be punished? [See Revelation 18:23, 24.] Because the blood of prophets and God’s people is found in the city.
NOTE: In verse 23, we see that the city used magic, or sorcery, to deceive the people of the world. Magic in this verse includes drugs (or, narcotics), sometimes accompanied by witchcraft. We know this because of the original Greek word used for magic (or,sorcery): pharmakeia.
Chapter 19 shows the King of Kings and Lord of Lords appearing from Heaven and the armies of Heaven are with him. [Re. 19:14-16.] The kings (or, the leaders) of the earth and their armies gather together to fight against the Lord and his army.
The beast and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur; and the armies of the earth are killed with a sharp sword that comes out of the mouth of the Lord. [Revelation 19:19-20.]
In Chapter 20 we see that Satan is bound for 1,000 years - at the end of the 1,000 years he will be loosed for a little while. Those who were killed for the testimony (or, the truth) of Jesus, and for the Word of God, ... and had not worshiped the beast or his image ... and had NOT taken his mark ... live and rule as kings with Christ for 1,000 years.
After the 1,000 years, Satan is loosed a little while to deceive the nations of the world. The armies of the nations surround the city that God loves (Jerusalem), but fire comes down from Heaven and destroys them.
The devil (Satan) will be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur ... where the beast and false prophet already have been for the 1,000 years during which Satan was bound. How long will they all be tormented? [Read Revelation 20:10.]
Day and night forever and ever without end! [Note: in the original Greek language in which the New Testament was written, it shows the torment will never cease.]
Next, is the Great White Throne judgment. Whoever does not have their name in the Book of Life is thrown into the lake of fire. [Read verses 11 through 15 in Revelation Chapter 20.]
Chapter 21 describes a new Heaven and new earth. The holy city, New Jerusalem, comes down out of Heaven.
In Chapter 22, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah) says, "Listen, I am coming to you soon!"
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