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A STARTING POINT TROUBLED BELIEVERS IN THESSALONICA The apostle Paul was the man God called to convert and minister to the gentiles. Paul started many churches on four missionary journeys. Among those churches was Thessalonica. Paul wrote two letters to the beleivers in that city. One of the main purposes of these two letters was to clarify those new converts on the teachings on the end days, which he had revealed to them at an earlier time. The stongest evidence of the pre-trib rapture is explained in the first letter. And the timimg of the rapture and the end times is taught in the second. These new converts were being told by false teachers that the "catching away" or the rapture, had already occured and they missed it. And yet some of them quit working and became moochers and busybodies because they were beleived the rapture was fast approaching. The later were rebuked for not working."For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat [no socialist 'welfare' here folks!] ( 2 Thess. 3:10) Paul explained to both groups what had to happen before Jesus returns in the second chapter of 2 Thessalonians: 2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, 2Th 2:2 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 is at hand. 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; 2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2Th 2:9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Th 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 2Th 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 2Th 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. In verse 3 we find the term "falling away" which was translated from the greek APOSTASIA, from where the English word APOSTASY is derived. That sums up the "christian churches" common today. (See A MESSAGE FROM JESUS CHRIST TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES) The "son of perdition" is the antichrist. In verse 7, the presence of the Holy Spirit to an extent, restrains evil through born again Christian who are indwelled by Him. At the rapture,when the Christians are "taken out of the way", there will be nothing to stand in Satan`s way in bringing into power his man of the hour, the antichrist. BroJoe |
THE SEVEN
SEALS
THE FIRST SEAL
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the
seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts
saying, Come and see.
Rev 6:2 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
conquering, and to conquer.
THE ANTICHRIST COMES TO POWER. NOTICE HE HAS A
BOW BUT NO ARROWS! HE WILL COME TO POWER ON A PEACE PLATFORM BACKED UP BY
MILITARY STRENGTH. THE WHITE HORSE IS SATAN`S COUNTERFEIT OF JESUS` RETURN IN
REVELATION 19.
THE SECOND SEAL
Rev 6:3 And when he had opened
the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:4 And
there went out another horse [that was] red: and [power] was given to him that
sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another:
and there was given unto him a great sword.
THE SECOND SEAL BRINGS WAR
(POSSIBLY WWIII) AND LACK OF PEACE. THE SWORD REPRESENTS ARMED CONFLICT. SEE
EZEKIEL 38 & 39.
THE THIRD SEAL
Rev 6:5 And when he had
opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld,
and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A
measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and
[see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
THE THIRD SEAL REPRESENTS
INFLATION AND FAMINE. A PENNY WAS A DAYS WAGES IN JOHN`S (author of Revelation)
DAY. PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO WORK A FULL DAY JUST TO FEED THEMSELVES, FAMILY NOT
INCLUDED!
THE FOURTH SEAL
Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the
fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:8 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.
THE FOURTH SEAL REPRESENTS DEATH,
WHICH WOULD NATURALLY
OCCUR AFTER WAR AND FAMINE. A FOURTH OF THE EARTH`S
POPULATION DIES, DEATH TAKES THE LIFE, HELL HOLDS THEM FOR JUDGMENT.
THE
FIFTH SEAL
Rev 6:9 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:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice,
saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our
blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 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.
THE FIFTH SEAL
INTRODUCES MARTYRDOM OF THE TRIBULATION SAINTS. THEY WILL BE KILLED FOR THEIR
FAITH IN CHRIST, SOMETHING THAT THE ANTICHRIST WILL ABHOR. THEY WANT REVENGE ON
THE ANTICHRIST BUT ARE TOLD THAT MORE SAINTS WILL (MUST) DIE FIRST.
THE
SIXTH SEAL
Rev 6:12 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;
Rev 6:13 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.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is
rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15 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;
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?
THE SIXTH SEAL SIGNIFIES NATURAL DISASTERS DISCRIBED IN JOEL
2:30-31:
Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the
earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible
day of the LORD come.
(PARENTHESIS - THE REDEEMED AND THE 144,000
WITNESSES)
Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on
the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the
wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev
7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the
living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was
given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth,
neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in
their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were
sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of
all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 7:5 Of the tribe of Juda
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben [were] sealed twelve
thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:6 Of
the tribe of Aser [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim
[were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [were] sealed twelve
thousand.
Rev 7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon [were] sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar
[were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:8 Of the tribe of Zabulon [were]
sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of
the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.
Rev 7:9 After this
I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And
cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11 And all the angels stood round about
the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the
throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen:
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and
might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:13 And one of
the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white
robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou
knowest. And he said to 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.
Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day
and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among
them.
Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more;
neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17 For the Lamb
which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto
living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
THE LORD WILL NOT LEAVE THE EARTH WITHOUT WITNESSES OR THE TRUTH. IT WILL BE
THE JOB OF THE 144,000 TO DO THE SOUL WINNING DURING THE TRIBULATION. THERE WILL
BE MANY PEOPLE DURING THIS TIME WHO WILL ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR. IT
IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE TRIBE OF DAN IS MISSING FROM THE ABOVE LIST.
THAT IS THE TRIBE WHO MADE THE GOLDEN CALF DURING MOSES` DAYS. IT IS QUITE
POSSIBLE THAT THE ANTICHRIST OR THE FALSE PROPHET MAY ARISE OUT OF THE TRIBE OF
DAN.
THE SEVENTH SEAL
Rev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh
seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
THE
SEVENTH SEAL CONTAINS THE NEXT PORTION OF GOD`S JUDGMENT, THE SEVEN TRUMPETS.
BroJoe
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THE SEVEN
TRUMPETS
Rev
8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given
seven trumpets.
Rev 8:3 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.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came]
with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Rev 8:5 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.
Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had
the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
THE FIRST TRUMPET
Rev
8:7 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.
THE FIRST TRUMPET BRINGS LITERAL FIRE
AND HAIL AND CAUSE THE DESTRUCTION OF MOST OF THE VEGETAION ON EARTH.
THE SECOND TRUMPET
Rev 8:8 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;
Rev 8:9 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.
THE SECOND TRUMPET TURNS 1/3 OF THE SEA INTO BLOOD AND
DESTORY 1/3 OF THE CREATURES AND SHIPS IN IT. THIS CUTS EVAPORATION, THUS A
SHORTAGE OF RAIN. COMMERCE AND FOOD DISTRIBUTION BY SEA WILL BE ALL BUT
SUSPENDED!
THE THIRD TRUMPET
Rev 8:10 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;
Rev
8:11 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 made
bitter.
THE THIRD TRUMPET STRIKES FRESH WATER AND MAKES 1/3 OF IT
UNDRINKABLE!
THE FOURTH TRUMPET
Rev 8:12 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.
Rev 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of
heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth
by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet
to sound!
ALL LIGHT FROM ABOVE THE EARTH IS CUT BY A THIRD, CROPS WILL DO
POORLY, ADDED TO PREVIOUS TRUMPETS, FOOD WILL BE HARD TO COME BY AND EXPENSIVE.
IT GETS WORSE AS THE ANGEL PROCLAIMS 3 WOES TOWARD THE UNBELIEVERS STILL ALIVE
ON EARTH.
THE FIFTH TRUMPET
Rev 9:1 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.
Rev 9:2 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.
Rev 9:3 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.
Rev 9:4 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.
Rev 9:5 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.
Rev 9:6 And
in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to
die, and death shall flee from them.
Rev 9:7 And 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.
Rev 9:8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as
[the teeth] of lions.
Rev 9:9 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.
Rev 9:10 And they had tails
like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power [was]
to hurt men five months.
Rev 9:11 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.
Rev 9:12 One
woe is past; [and], behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
THE FIFTH
TRUMPET BRINGS A FIVE MONTH PERIOD OF TORMENT ON THE UNBELIEVERS, FROM LOCUST
LIKE CREATURES RELEASED FROM HELL BY AN ANGEL OF GOD. PEOPLE WILL WANT TO DIE
BECAUSE OF THE INTENSE PAIN PRODUCED BY THEIR STINGS BUT PART OF THIS TRUMPET
JUDGMENT PROHIBITS DEATH. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE LOCUST IS A SYMBOL OF
DESTRUCTION. ABADDON IN HEBREW MEANS "DESTRUCTION" AND APOLLYON IN GREEK MEANS
"DESTROYER".
THE SIXTH TRUMPET
Rev 9:13 And the sixth angel
sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is
before God,
Rev 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet,
Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Rev
9:15 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.
Rev
9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen [were] two hundred thousand
thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Rev 9:17 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.
Rev 9:18 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.
Rev 9:19 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.
Rev 9:20 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:
Rev 9:21 Neither
repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their
fornication, nor of their thefts.
THE SIXTH TRUMPET RESULTS IN THE DEATH OF
1/3 OF THOSE LEFT TO THIS POINT. THIS ARMY IS LED BY FOUR FALLEN ANGELS AND THE
ARMIES THEMSELVES ARE MOST LIKELY DEMONS! TOGETHER WITH THE FOURTH SEAL, THIS
TRUMPET WILL REDUCE THE PRE-TRIBULATION POPULATION BY FIFTY PERCENT. BETWEEN THE
SIXTH AND SEVENTH TRUMPET IS A PARENTHESIS IN THE PROPHECY, WHICH WILL BE
DISCUSSED IN THE NEXT ARTICLE.
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET
Rev 11:14 The
second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Rev
11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of
his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:16 And the four
and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces,
and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God
Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee
thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry,
and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and
that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the
saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them
which destroy the earth.
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in
heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there
were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
THIS MARKS THE END OF THE AGE BEFORE THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST.
IT IS BELEIVED THAT THE 7 BOWL JUDGMENTS WILL BE PART OF THE SEVENTH TRUMPET,
WHICH WILL SPAN THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION, KNOWN AS THE GREAT
TRIBULATION. THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER IN "THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES-THE BOWL
JUDGMENTS." BroJoe