The “TIMES OF
JACOB'S TROUBLE”
-- Have They Arrived?
Biblical prophecies
hidden from generations are rapidly coming to pass --
right on target,
right on schedule! World events are
moving rapidly toward
an awesome
grand-smash climax of resounding horror and cataclysm!
World troubles are
crescendoing, the Palestinian intifada escalates – what
is going on? Have the awesome “times of Jacob's troubles”
already begun?
Where are we NOW in
God’s plan?
WILLIAM F. DANKENBRING
In the book of the prophet Jeremiah is
a strange and horrible prophecy for the end-times. We read:
“These are the words the LORD spoke concerning
What are these mysterious “times of
Jacob's trouble”? When do they begin?
The End Time
Prophecies
Daniel speaks of this same time. He writes, quoting the archangel Gabriel, who
says to him: “At that time Michael the
great prince who protects your people will arise. There will be a TIME OF DISTRESS such as has
not happened from the beginning of time until then. But at that time your people -- everyone
whose name is found written in the book -- will be delivered” (Dan.12:1).
The Moffatt Translation renders this
verse, “There shall be a time of TROUBLE such as never has been since there was
a nation.” He describes this awful
period of the future as “the CRISIS at the end” (Dan.12:4), and, “the crisis at
the CLOSE” (v.9).
Jesus Christ also spoke of these final,
frenetic, tormenting, tremulous times.
Looking into the future which will occur just before His Second Coming,
He declared: “So when you see standing
in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through
the prophet Daniel -- let the reader understand -- then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains. . . How dreadful it will be in those days for
pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray
that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
“For then there will be GREAT DISTRESS,
unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- and never to be equaled
again. If those days had not been cut
short [by the intervention and coming of the Messiah!], no one would survive
[or be left alive on the planet earth!], but for the sake of the elect those
days will be shortened” (Matt.24:15-22).
Jeremiah, Daniel and Jesus Christ were
all talking about the SAME FINAL END-TIME DISASTER AND TIME OF TROUBLE which
will ENGULF the entire planet earth.
There could not be three different “times of distress” all of them
“unequaled in the history of the world.”
Since each one of these is the “greatest” time ever of distress, they
must all be referring to the SAME PERIOD OF TIME and the SAME GREAT
DISTRESS!
The
Time of “Jacob's” Trouble
Notice that these prophecies involve
both
Jeremiah's prophetic message is to both
“
History shows that millions of them
dwelt in this region, and became known in history as the Cimmerians, Celts, and
Anglo-Saxons. They migrated westward and
became the nations of
Thus many of the amazing Biblical
end-time prophecies do not just pertain to the “Jews,” the descendants of
Thus the end-time prophecy of a “time
of Jacob's trouble” is a prophecy relating specifically to the LEADING NATIONS
of the Western world, as well as the Jews in what is today called “
But Why Are Hard Times Coming?
Jeremiah warns of our present end-time
predicament. God Almighty says of our
nations, “Why should I forgive you? Your
children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they
committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each
neighing for another man's wife. Should
I not punish them for this?' declares the LORD.
Should I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” (Jer.5:7-9).
Jeremiah continues his prophecy: “They have lied about the LORD; they said, He
will do nothing! No harm will come to
us; we will never see sword or famine.
The prophets are but wind [wind-bags], and the word is not in them; so
let what they say be done to them.
Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: Because the people have spoken these words, I
will make my words in your mouth a FIRE and these people the wood it
consumes. O house of Israel [America and
Britain, etc.], declares the LORD, I am bringing a distant nation against you
-- an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know,
whose speech you do not understand.
Their quivers are like an open grave; all of them are mighty
warriors. They will devour your harvests
and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and
herds, devour your vines and fig trees.
With the sword they will DESTROY the fortified cities in which you
trust” (Jer.5:12-17).
God thunders through His prophet, “From
the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike,
all practice DECEIT. They dress the
wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no
peace. Are they ashamed of their
loathsome conduct? No, they have no
shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will
be brought down when I punish them, says the LORD” (Jer.6:13-15).
Untrammeled GREED and avarice have led
to the world's present economic brinkmanship, with the greatest Depression ever
hovering like a ghost or a Dracula over our shoulder. Unbridled LUST has brought our western
nations to the brink of RUIN!
God commands our nations to REPENT --
but His servants just sound like a bag of wind, an object of ridicule, to the
vast, overwhelming majority. They have
been blinded by the temptations of the present world with all its glitter,
pleasure, and self-indulgence.
The Four Chariots of Zechariah
In the famous
“All these are the beginning of
sorrows” (vs.6-8).
Zechariah the prophet speaks of a mysterious
prophecy of four horse-driven chariots,
identified with the “four winds” of heaven -- that is, the north, south,
east and west winds -- thus giving us a geographic positioning of the four
world powers or end-time kingdoms of the north, south, east and western
hemispheres.
Zechariah is told, “The one with the
black horses is going to the region of the NORTH; the white ones have gone out
to what is to the WEST of them; the spotted (pale] ones have gone out to the
region of the SOUTH; and the dappled [red] ones have gone out . . .” (see
Zech.6:1-7, Tanakh). A footnote says,
“Emendation yields 'the bay ones will go out to the region of the EAST.’” The words “dappled” and “bay” literally means
RED or reddish brown in color.
The Wild Ride of the White
Horse
In his vision of the end of the age, the
apostle John in the book of Revelation sees the end-time prophecies
encapsulated with “seven seals” which are revealed to him by the Lamb of God --
Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah (Rev.5:1-5; 6:1).
The first of these seals is a “white horse,” which has a “bow,” and goes
forth conquering “and to conquer” (Rev.6:2).
The second seal is a “red horse” which takes “peace” from the earth --
instigates wars around the world -- and causes people to kill one another
(vs.3-4). The third seal is a “black
horse,” which rises up, and great famines engulf the world. The fourth seal is a “pale horse,” and its
riders are Death and Hell, and it has power over one quarter of the earth, to
kill by warfare, famine and hunger, pestilence and plague, and wild beasts gone
on a rampage (Rev.6:8).
These
mysterious symbols of the book of Revelation hold chilling, spine-tingling
descriptions of events which will occur in the last days of this present age,
leading up to the second coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The time-sequence of events begins
with the “four horsemen” of the apocalypse.
Notice! We read here of four
horses and their riders. They are, in
order, white, red, black, and “pale.”
This is comparable to the four horse-driven chariots of Zechariah’s
prophecy. John writes:
“And I saw, and behold a WHITE HORSE: and he that sat on him
had
a bow; and a crown was given unto him; and he went forth conquer-
ing,
and to conquer” (Rev.6:2).
“White”
is a symbol of righteousness (Rev.19:8).
The “white” horse is connected with the west (Zech.6:6, Tanakh). It represents a mighty military power in the
“West” which has combatted the forces of fascism, Nazism, and Communism. Which nation or group of nations would that
be? Why, the United States and Great
Britain, and their allies! The United
States, in the western hemisphere, was largely responsible for saving the world
in World War I, World War II, fending off Communism in Korea and Vietnam, and
leading the victory in the Gulf War.
Suffice it to say here, the “white”
horse -- white is a symbol of righteousness -- represents end-time Israel,
primarily the leadership tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh -- the United States of
America and United Kingdom and Canada -- going forth to save the world from
totalitarianism and enslavement during this twentieth century. Our nations saved the world for “democracy”
and freedom from the scourge of World War I, Nazism and World War II, and
Communism since that time!
The United States has been “riding
high” since the end of World War II. It
is currently regarded as the world's only remaining “superpower.” Nevertheless, it is beginning to wear out its
welcome around the world. Its claim to
greatness is beginning to wear a mite “thin.”
Take note that this military world
power has a “bow” and goes forth conquering, “and to conquer.” A “bow” symbolizes AIR POWER – MISSILES! The allied air power was vital to the
conquest of Germany and Japan in World War II, and air power alone devastated
Iraq in the Gulf War of 1991! American
and British air power causes the whole world to stand in awe and wonder. But notice also – this mighty power conquers,
but then it “stops short” of conquering – it holds back, as it were. So often, the United States conquered its
enemies, but then failed to go on to “finish the job.” We let the Nazis off the hook after World War
II, we allowed Emperor Hirohito of Japan to live, and President George Bush
allowed Saddam Hussein to get off the hook, after the Gulf War.
What a striking fulfillment of the
prophecies of the “White Horse”!
Could the year 2001 be the “year of the white horse,” the
final hurrah, the final time when American power will be exerted around the
world?
The Fateful Ride of the Red
Horse
We read in Revelation in the New
International Version: “Then another
horse came out, a fiery red one. Its
rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each
other. To him was given a large
sword” (Rev.6:3-4).
The “Red Horse” of the Apocalypse
follows the “white horse.” It is the
opening of the “second seal.” It refers
to widespread political and social turmoil and chaos in the EAST -- the eastern
hemisphere.
The
“red horse” is in the east. The
Jewish Tanakh in Zechariah 6:7 shows the red horses are connected with the
“east.” Communism rose up in 1917,
overthrew the Czars in Russia, and set about seeking to enslave and conquer the
world. Millions lost their lives in
Stalin's purges. Millions more lost
their lives in the purges of Mao Tse-tung, in Red China. And now, once again, the “red horse” in the
East is threatening to rise up, and bloody revolution may well occur throughout
the former lands of the Soviet Union! The Hebrew word translated “red” in
Zechariah is adom and means “rosy, red, ruddy.”
The “red horse” represents the “red
star” countries of Communism -- Russia, China, and the like, in the
“east.” Russia has its red sickle flag,
“Red Square,” in Moscow, and Communists are commonly known as “the Reds.” How uncanny is Bible prophecy! These nations have indeed taken “peace from
the earth,” with millions being killed in massive purges in the Soviet Union
and in Mao's China, since World War II.
And these nations have instigated and fomented virtually every war since
World War II -- Mao's conquest of China, the Korean War, Vietnam, and even the
Arabic strikes against modern Israel in the Middle East, in 1956, 1967, and
1973 (the Yom Kippur War). Thus this
prophecy has been and is still being fulfilled, dramatically!
The break-up and restructuring of the
Soviet Empire contributed to the war in former Yugoslavia, and war in
Chechnya. The Russian economy is still
in tatters. China also, the red dragon
of the East, has annexed Hong Kong, and now threatens Taiwan with missiles, and
has warned President Bush not to equip Taiwan with new defensive weapons – “or
else.”
Will the year 2002 be the year of the
“Red Horse” – leading to war and chaos and troubles in Russia, China, and the
Far East?
Could North Korea launch an attack to
take over South Korea in that year?
This fiery apocalyptic nightmare does
not describe a conquering army or military power, such as the white horse. But it describes a power that causes
widespread warfare, and it pictures a region in turmoil and chaos, with men
slaying each other, their neighbors, in tribal and ethnic conflicts and CIVIL
war. A new Korean war could fit this
description perfectly or a war between China and Taiwan!
The Black Horse Charges Forth
The apostle John records: “I looked, and there before me was a black
horse! Its rider was holding a pair of
scales in his hand. Then I heard what
sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘A quart of wheat
for a days’ wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not
damage the oil and the wine!’” (Rev.6:5-6).
The “black horse” is identified with the NORTH country, north of Jerusalem -- or the region of ancient Assyria, Syria, and central and Eastern Europe. The ancient Assyrians migrated into central Europe and were the ancestors of some of today's Germans! This “black horse” represents the NORTH country (Zech.6:6) – modern EUROPE, dominated by Germany. The traditional color of Germany and ancient Assyria is BLACK -- the black swastika, the black uniforms of the Waffen SS, the black German eagle!
This world power is associated with the “north country” --
that is, to the NORTH of Jerusalem (see Zechariah 6:6). In ancient times it referred to Assyria --
the very peoples who later migrated into modern Germany and Austria! Therefore, in today's world, the “black
horse” refers to a modern “empire” or “kingdom” to the NORTH of Jerusalem. There is no doubt that this symbol refers to
modern Syria, north of Israel, as well as
Germany and the nations of the European Union. This union, dominated by Germany, will very
likely become the economic and political power-center of the New World Order
and the Western world!
In today's Germany, an onslaught of
new, young, tough neo-Nazis has arisen, singing the old marching songs of the
Third Reich, shouting “Sieg Heil” and “Germany for the Germans.” They are
admirers of Adolf Hitler and are growing rapidly in numbers with their call to
get rid of the immigrants and to save German jobs for Germans. They rattle on about the “German master
race,” and repudiate the genocide of the Second World War, calling the
Holocaust a “Jewish lie” and “hoax.”
Many Germans today are tired of being reminded of the Holocaust.
The
black horse -- Germany -- attacked Poland in 1939 and initiated World War II
with the aggression of Adolf Hitler and the “Third Reich.” Germany is today once again the political and
economic powerhouse of Europe.
Shockingly, a new resurgent neo-Nazism
is making a bold comeback -- and thousands of Germans are participating, and
millions are listening. Many signs have
shown the increasing presence and power of NAZISM behind the scenes in
Germany. The old Frankenstein monster of
a “HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE” centered in Europe, with tentacles in the United States
and western world, is rapidly coalescing together into a gigantic global
Octopus!
The world's prophesied end-time world
empire, foretold in the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, called the
“Beast,” is awakening, beginning to flex and stretch its muscles, and shaking
off the sleep of centuries. It appears
that Europe will play a very significant role in the resurgence of this ancient
“world empire.” In fact, it appears that
the final “Beast” will include – for a time -- the white horse of the west, the
red horse of the east, and the black horse of the north country!
The possibility that Europe may
dominate this final world Union may be underscored by the formation of the new
currency, the “Euro,” which will compete in the world financial markets with
the U.S. dollar. The days of the
dollar's world dominance may soon be over!
The
Socialistic European Union will come together as a powerful political force by
the year 2002-3. It is already beginning
to flex its muscles in trade disputes with the United States! American businesses tremble before the power
of the European trade commission, and bureaucrats in Brussels!
Could
2003 be the “year of the black horse”?
When
this horse rides, especially in the future, it is connected with famine,
scarcity, and hunger. Truly those will
be “lean years”!
The Fourth
Horseman
“And I looked, and behold, a PALE horse:
and his name that sat on him
was
Death, and Hell followed with him. And
power was given unto them
over
the fourth part of the earth, TO KILL WITH SWORD, AND WITH
HUNGER,
AND WITH DEATH, and with the beasts of the earth” (Rev.6:8).
Interestingly, the
“pale horse” of the apocalypse seems to represent two things: First of all, it portrays the growing power
of the ecological movement, and the New World Order! The Greek word translated “pale” in this
verse is chloros which means “greenish, i.e., verdant, dun-colored --
green, pale.” We get our word
“chlorophyll” from this word. The “Green
movement” is part of the ecological movement. Mikhail Gorbachev is prominent in
this area. He is the head of Green
Cross, International.
At
the State of the World Forum, held at the Presidio, in San Francisco, Gorbachev
told the assembled world leaders, “The environmental crisis is the
cornerstone of the New World Order.” In
a speech in Indiana in October, 1996, Gorbachev openly declared, “World
civilization as we know it will soon end.
We have very little time and we must act.” “By the year 2002,” he said, “we will be
presenting the final draft of the Earth Charter” -- a kind of global “bill of
rights” which will be imposed on the world's inhabitants by a system of world
government.
Will
the year 2004 be the real beginning of the END – and the year of the Fourth
Horseman – the New World Order?
Another View of the Pale Horse
This horseman is ALSO connected with
the SOUTH -- south of Jerusalem -- and refers to the rising up of the final
KING OF THE SOUTH mentioned in the book of Daniel. Zechariah shows this horse of “pale” or
“dappled” color goes to the south (Zech.6:6).
It is a reference to the Arab nations, united in a final end-time union,
which could include Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Sudan, Libya, and all the
“terrorist states” which hate the West, especially the Jews of Israel and the
United States, whom they view as “the Great Satan.” Many of these nations have been creating
killer biological agents, such as anthrax and bubonic plague, and it is their
intent to USE these weapons against the West, when the opportunity avails
itself.
The
leader of this group of nations toward the south of Jerusalem would be Egypt,
identified in the book of Daniel as the “king of the south” (Dan.11). Led by Egypt, fueled by the billions of Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf States, with millions of fanatic Muslim followers -- and
probably aid and encouragement from Russia -- this horseman will “push” at the
king of the north, leading to a terrible round of World War. Notice!
“And at the time of the end shall the king
of the SOUTH PUSH AT HIM:
and the king of the north shall come
against him like a WHIRLWIND,
with
chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall
enter
into the countries, and shall overflow, and pass over. He shall enter
into
the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown” (Dan.11:
40-41).
Note
that by the time this happens, the Western and Northern kingdoms have “merged”
and have become part of a New World Government – the New World Order! The “ships” referred to here can only be a
reference to the ships of the world's greatest navies, today, those of the
United States, Britain, and Europe! The
implication is that by this time the New World Order has been established, but
the Moslem world rebels against it -- and war breaks out in the Middle East!
It would seem, then, that the “black
horse” of the Apocalypse refers to a united GERMAN-DOMINATED EUROPE. This kingdom, along with the “white horse”
and “red horse,” would evolve into the final kingdom of the “Beast”—the New
World Order (Rev.13:1-5). It will possess tremendous war-waging ability. People
will exclaim excitedly, “Who is like the beast?
Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev.13:4). This final World Empire will include the
United States, Europe, Russia, China (the dragon power), and the world's
economic and military powers, and will -- with them -- dominate the new
revitalized UNITED NATIONS.
This assemblage of nations will be
dominated by SEVEN HEADS -- apparently
the G-7 industrialized nations (Rev.13:1).
It will also possess TEN HORNS.
These could be an enhanced Security Council of the United Nations, with
TEN nations given “permanent member status” – which would mean five more are to
be added, very likely Germany, Japan, Brazil, Egypt, and a fifth country.
At the same time, there is a powerful
movement afoot to strip the present five permanent members of the Security
Council of their VETO power. By doing
this, ALL nations would become subservient to the new, enhanced UN!
The Final World Dictator
This
final “Babylonian” or “Roman Empire” will become dominated by a “stern-faced
king, a master of intrigue” who will “become very strong, but not by his own
power. He will cause astounding
devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty and the holy
people. He will cause deceit to prosper,
and he will consider himself superior” (Dan.8:23-25).
“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every
god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath
is completed, for what has been determined must take place” (Dan.11:36).
Strange as it may seem, the “image of
the beast” prophesied in Daniel, chapter two, also reveals a final
“resurrection” of this beast-world empire system which will be comprised of TEN
TOES, representing a final union of TEN NATIONS! Daniel wrote,
“Finally, there
will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron -- for iron breaks and smashes
everything
-- and as iron
breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw
that the FEET AND
TOES were partly of BAKED CLAY and PARTLY of IRON, so this will be
a DIVIDED
KINGDOM; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw
iron
mixed with
clay. As the TOES were partly iron and
partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly
strong and partly
brittle. And just as you saw the iron
mixed with baked clay, so the people will
be a MIXTURE and
will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay” (Dan.2:40-43).
Could these “ten toes” of this image
represent the final “resurrection” of this world's great empire, beast
system?
Could it be a UNION of nations which
will control the new, supercharged UNITED NATIONS, led by the TEN permanent
member nations of the SECURITY COUNCIL?
The Fifth Seal and the New World Order
In
order for these things to happen, however, the United States in particular,
must be brought into complete conformity with this new world thinking. America must be an integral part of the New
World Order, if not the actual leader of it.
Massive changes, therefore, are being orchestrated for the United
States, to bring it into alignment with globalism.
During
the years ahead of us, it appears that the United States and other nations of
the “lost ten tribes” of Israel, together with Judah (the land known as
“Israel” in the Middle East), will somehow lose their national sovereignty, and
become absorbed into the “New World Order.”
This has already begun to occur, with the passage of legislation forcing
NAFTA, GATT, and trade agreements upon our nations, leading to loss of jobs,
and suffering. At the present, the
United States is one of the leaders in this movement toward Globalism, but
leadership could transfer to Europe in the years ahead of us, if the
U.S. runs into catastrophic economic trouble, with incredible natural
disasters, riots and revolution in the streets.
The prophet Hosea records:
“The pride of Israel doth testify to his
face: therefore shall Israel and
Ephraim
[the United States] FALL in their iniquity; Judah [the Jews
and
modern “Israel”] also shall FALL with them. . . . They have dealt
treacherously
against the LORD: for they have begotten
strange children
[lawless
and rebellious youth!]: now shall A
MONTH DEVOUR THEM
with
their portions” (Hos.5:5-7).
However
it comes about -- via internal strife and violence, economic collapse, and
foreign troops being sent to America to “restore order” or some other means --
our western nations will end up submerged in and oppressed by this “New World
Order” – the Fourth Beast of Revelation 7!
Our people will be in dire circumstances, with economic slavery and loss
of freedom and sovereignty. Our
enslavement will become complete as our nations become merged with and “one”
with the New World Fascist/Socialist Order.
Our resources and military will then be used on the behalf of that World
Government.
After the four horsemen
of the apocalypse begin to ride, dealing death and destruction, the apostle
John records that there will be great persecution upon Christians and
Jews. In other words, “Jacob’s Troubles”
will continue to escalate! The final three and one half years will be known as
the “Great Tribulation.”
The
book of Revelation continues the story:
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I
saw under the altar the SOULS
OF
THEM THAT WERE SLAIN for the word of God, and for the testimony
which
they held. . . . And
white robes were given unto every one of them; and
it
was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until
their
fellowservants
also and their brethren, that should be KILLED AS THEY WERE,
should
be fulfilled” (Rev.6:9-11).
This
great persecution and martyrdom and oppression will occur at the hands of the
“Beast” power of Revelation -- the “New World Order” -- modern “Babylon the
great” when it has come into existence!
This persecution and oppression will no doubt be carried out by the new
World Court which has been approved by the out-going Clinton
Administration.
So
when will modern BABYLON come to full power, and REPLACE the nation-states of
the world? It is the FOURTH Beast of
Daniel 7. It will very likely begin around
the year 2004-2005 A.D.! It will oppress
and rule for 42 months, or, that is, three and one half years
(Rev.13:1-5). The apostle John writes:
“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 power was given unto him to
continue
FORTY AND TWO MONTHS. And he opened his
mouth in
blasphemy
against God . . . 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.13:4-7).
The Sixth Seal -- Signs in the Heavens
Jesus
Christ foretold that after that great tribulation, great heavenly signs will
occur. “Immediately after the
tribulation of those days,” He declared, “shall the sun be darkened, and the
moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matt.24:29).
These
awesome occurrences in the skies and heavens will stagger mankind, causing
terrible fright and anxiety (Rev.6:9-17).
If, as I suggest, each of these final Seven Seals represents one of the
final SEVEN years of this age – Daniel’s 70th week – and the “seven
times” punishment of Leviticus 26 – then this sixth seal would represent
awesome signs and wonders occurring in the heavens about 2006 A.D.
Then,
after this, comes the Seventh Seal, and the Seventh and Final Year – that is,
the awesome and terrifying final “Day of the Lord” -- the time when God
Almighty Himself intervenes in world affairs, and begins to unleash His
divine fury, and pour out His incredible wrath, to punish the nations, and
mankind, for their gross rebellion and wickedness!
If
these Seven Seals replicate the final Seven Years of this age, then the Seventh
Seal will very possibly be the year 2007 A.D. – during which Messiah will
return! That awesome and dreadful day is
known in Bible prophecy as “The Day of the Lord.” Since a “day” is a year being fulfilled, it will evidently last
one year (Num.14:34; Ezek.4:6).
The
prophet Joel tells us, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon
into blood, BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel
2:31).
The Awesome Trumpet
Plagues
What will happen during this final “year” – the “Day of the
Lord”?
In Revelation, chapter 8, God says He
will then send seven angels with seven trumpet plagues -- terrible ordeals --
which will in succession afflict the earth.
Notice these awesome events. The first
four of these will be incredible natural disasters, including hail and fire
cast to the earth -- meteorite showers causing widespread devastation and
destruction (Rev.8:7).
The second plague will be a “great mountain”
-- probably a space mountain, or asteroid -- falling upon the sea, causing a
third part of the sea to become greatly polluted, destroying ships and killing
one third of sea life (Rev.8:8-9).
The third plague will be “a great star”
or comet which will fall from “heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell
upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; . . . and
many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter” (v.10-11).
The Final Three “Woes”
The last three of these trumpet plagues
-- numbers 5, 6, and 7 -- are also known as the “three woes” (Rev.8:13). These represent the final three rounds of
WORLD WAR, culminating in the return of Christ to settle the issue of who will
rule the earth once and for all!
Notice!
In Revelation 9, the first “woe” is described as “locusts” which utilize
chemical warfare, “tormenting mankind” for five months (Rev.9:1-11). The head of this World Empire is Satan the
devil, working through the “Beast” (v.11).
“Locusts,” in the Bible, are a type of Assyrian and Babylonian soldiers
(see Nahum 3:15). God compares the
soldiers -- the military -- of this final World Government to “locusts,”
therefore. But these are peculiar
locusts -- they use chemical and biological weapons to “torment” mankind. In appearance, these soldiers are described
as “women” suggesting they have long hair (Nahum 3:13; Rev.9:8).
This world power will inflict awesome
calamities everywhere -- it is the “king of the north” (compare Daniel
11:41-45). This “king” is called
“Abaddon,” and “Apollyon” (Rev.9:11), which means “Destroyer.”
What triggers this devastating round of
war? Most likely the lust for OIL! The Middle
East is an “oil swamp,” and contains most of the world’s resources of
this valuable commodity. Apparently the
Arabs will “cut off” the oil spigot and the pipelines and tankers carrying oil
to Europe and the northern kingdoms.
The prophet Daniel tells us,