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Revelation 7:4-8  4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

One of the biggest topics of disagreement among prophecy commentators is the identity of the 144,000 men mentioned in Rev 7 and Rev 14.  Some say these men are merely symbolic and represent the fact that many Jews will be saved and believe in Jesus during the seven year Tribulation period on earth.  The Jehovah Witnesses think somehow that they are the 144,000 believers which doesn’t make any sense, since they are not Jewish and this event hasn’t even occurred yet.  The explanation that makes the most sense is that these are real men of Jewish decent, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribe mentioned for a total of 144,00.  These are Jewish men that will be physically present on earth at the time they are sealed (Revelation 7:4). 

Revelation 7:1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Note, Revelation 7:1 says “after this” I saw.  What has John just seen?  He has seen the opening of the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12).  Most people think the sixth seal is opened at the start of the Tribulation or at the end but I think it is opened at the mid-way point, when the Abomination of Desolation occurs in the Temple by the Antichrist.  At this point God is ready to release His wrath of Trumpet and Bowl judgments but “first” he must hold back the four winds of His judgement until he “seals” the 144,000.  I also think the 144,000 are probably “called out” at the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation.  I think this is the group that “flees” or is taken somewhere at the same time as the rapture of the Church (Revelation 12:6). I think the 144,000 are in hiding and being trained during the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation.  They are probably very young men, taken before the age of accountability and they grown in wisdom and grace during the first 3 1/2 years before they begin their ministry during the last 3 1/2 years.

They are described as virgin men who have not been with a women and have not lied but these attributes about them are mentioned “after” they have finished their ministry assignment (Revelation 14:4).  It is possible that they are sexually and morally pure “after’ they are sealed and during their ministry, than before they are called.  The 144.000 are chosen for a special task and they are sealed on the forehead for service.  This is so difficult for us to understand.  How can Jewish tribes that were scattered during the Assyrian captivity and then absorbed during the Babylonian captivity be identified today?  Especially, since the Jewish birth records were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD?  And how can young men who live in such a filthy world be undefined by woman and free from lies?  What seems impossible to us is possible with God.

Here is the list of the 12 tribes but the tribe of Dan and the 1/2 tribe of Ephraim (one of the sons of Joseph) are missing.  Also note that both Joseph and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh are mentioned (Joesph’s other son).  Some have said that the tribe of Dan and the 1/2 tribe of Ephraim are omitted because they committed serious sins of Spiritual adultery.  This may be true but as I remember from scripture that “all” the Jewish tribes committed Spiritual adultery at one time or another.  I think that God uses these 12 tribes in this specific order because their names conveys the message of His redemption for all of Israel.

1.	Judah means	“I will praise the Lord”
2.	Ruben means	“He has looked on me”
3.	Gad means	“Given good fortune”
4.	Asher means	“Happy am I”
5.	Naphtali means	“My wrestling”
6.	Manasseh means	“Making me to forget”
7.	Simeon means	“God hears me”
8.	Levi means	“Joined to me”
9.	Issachar means	“Purchased Me”
10.	Zebulun means	“Dwelling”
11.	Joseph means	“Will add to me”
12.	Benjamin means	“Son of His right hand”

“I will praise the Lord for he has looked on me and granted good fortune. I am happy because my wrestling, God is making me to forget. God hears me and is joined to me. He has purchased me a dwelling and will add to me, the Son of His right hand.”

Revelation 7:1-3 “1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

This is where we first hear of the 144,000 and most people think the purpose of sealing the 144,000 Jews is to protect them from harm and death during the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation, the great tribulation period.  I am not sure this is the case, the sealing may be only to Spiritually seal them for eternal life and with the purpose to evangelize the earth or prepare the hearts of their fellow Jewish brothers and sisters.  I think the Angel in Revelation 7:2 is the Angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ and I think “we” who do the sealing in Revelation 7:3 is the God Head trinity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost).  Most think that the sealing of the 144,000 is for physical protection and special powers like the two witness are given during the first 3 1/2 years.  It makes the most sense that the sealing is both for both Spiritual revelation to do God’s work  of evangelism in these last days and for physical protection for a period of time.

Revelation 11:3-8  3 “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

Note, even the two witnesses that have amazing powers on earth are eventually killed and resurrected.  And though many think these two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah, the scripture does not specifically say who they are.  They could be two new prophets that are called out to serve during the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period but I think they will be Moses and Elijah because they were the one transfigured with Jesus (Matthew 17:3).  It is not clear what the message of the two witnesses will be but you can bet it will be a strong rebuke of what is going on in the world as the Antichrist conquers the world through flattery and deceit.  The fact they are in sackcloth indicates they are in morning for the sins of the world and the judgment that has come upon the earth.

Let’s recap history; God chose 12 tribes of men, the 12 sons of Jacob, to evangelize the earth during the days of Israel.  Then God chose 12 disciple when Jesus waked the earth, to begin to evangelize the earth during the Church Age.  So you see God will choose 12 x 12,000 men to evangelize the earth during the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period.  Twelve is a number of completion and the number the witness of God’s glory, like the 12 months of the years, the 12 signs of the Zodiac and the New Jerusalem city which is 12,000 furlongs squared 144,000 (Revelation 21:6) and it has 12 gates with the names of the 12 tribes on each gate and 12 precious foundations stones with the name of the 12 apostles on each one.

Today during the Church age when someone is “born again” they are sealed by the Holy Spirit, as an deposit of assurance that they are citizens of heaven and for the purpose to evangelize others into a  heavenly citizenship.  The seal of the Holy Spirit protects them from a Spiritual death but it does not protect them from a physical death.  During the tribulation period, unbelievers will take the mark of the Beast to seal them unto an identity of Satan, which leads to both physical death and Spiritual death.  I think these 144,000 will have the mark of Jesus on their head to identify them as His servants.  The 144,000 will evangelize the earth during the great tribulation period as we, the church evangelize the earth today.  The Holy Spirit will empower the 144,000 and protect them from a Spiritual death but it not clear from scripture if they are protected from physical death or if they are protected from physical death for a period of time.  It is possible that they are in fact all martyred for their faith since they are later seen celebrating with the heavenly host on Mt Zion (Revelation 14:1).

I can see why people want to identify with these 144,000 and why people think the 144,000 are protected against harm from those who reject the gospel.  Today we are so careful in presenting the gospel so we aren’t disappointed and dejected by those who reject the gospel.  And those who are persecuted for their faith, even though they love their enemy and desire for their enemy to repent and enter the Kingdom, they also long for justice to prevail against their enemy if he doesn’t repent.  So it is very appealing idea (to my pride) that I could come to earth and boast about Jesus and yet be immune from the consequences.  Plus it is easier to believe that God can find 144,000 Jewish believers that are already in heaven to send to earth than to believe He can find them on the earth during the Tribulation period and that they are able to remain virgins and not lie after they are sealed for their ministry.

Revelation 14:1-5 ” Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”

Concerning the resurrection of the dead, Jesus is the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20-24), along with the Old Testament believers that Christ took from the “paradise” section of hell to heaven (Matthew 27:52).  Some people think the OT saints received their resurrected body when Christ arose and took them to Heaven, but I think it’s more likely they are simply resting in their soul body in Heaven, receiving their resurrected at the end of the Tribulation so they can ride with Jesus in victory to reign and rule with Christ (Revelation 19:19).  On the other hand, the rapture of the Church is the “harvest” of Church Age believers prior to the Tribulation, when believers both dead and alive will received their resurrected body and meet Christ in the air at the Last Trump.  The 144,000 are the “first fruits” of the great tribulation period (the last 3 1/2 years) or they are the “first fruits” of Jewish believers to receive their resurrected body.  Most likely they are the first fruits harvest of Jewish believers to receive their resurrected body and sing a new song to Christ on Mt Zion, prior to the end of the Tribulation.  Note, the “gleaning” resurrection will be those believers who come out of the Millennium period.

The first fruits offering was an offering given of the first of the produce, prior to the harvest.  It was offering given in faith that God would bless the abundant harvest.  I think the 144,000 are the first fruits of a great harvest of Jewish believers that come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ during the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period.  Note, just like it was in the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the first believers are Jews but unlike the 12 Jewish disciples who had a difficult time converting their fellow Jews to believe in Jesus, the 144,000 Jewish disciples will have a powerful impact on the Jewish community that is still left on earth, converting all that remain on earth into believers, fulling the prophecy of Zechariah.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. – Zechariah 12:10

The great news is that all believers that are in Heaven (Old Testament saints, Church Age saints and Tribulation saints (both from the first 3 1/2 years and the last 3 1/2 years), will have resurrected bodies and will return with Christ when He comes in triumphant at the end of the Tribulation period.  Plus all of God’s saints will reign and rule with Christ during the Millennium which is even a greater blessing to look forward too.

Revelation 19:11-16 “11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Other provocative thing is that are 144,000 limestone casing slabs that over lay the great pyramids.  Many believe the great pyramid in Egypt is a sign of the Lord that the Angels build … an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land – Isaiah 19:19.  The Great Pyramid is similar and shape to the other pyramids in Egypt but it has geometric proportions that marvel the mathematical mind and the interior passages are like no structure in the world.  The passages inside the Great Pyramid tell the story of creation, the fall of man, the Jewish age of redemption, the Church age of the great harvest, the Jewish Bridal chamber and the Church Bridal chamber.  Click on this article for more information about the special significance of the Great Pyramid.  

http://die2live.worthyofpraise.org/the-new-jerusalem/

Come, Lord Jesus –  Come, Maranatha Come!   – Rogersings

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Here’s a great way to listen to the book of Revelation and visualize in Lego world what it will happen!  Enjoy.

================  Revelation Timeline ! ==================

Revelation 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Many Christian avoid the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ because they think it is too difficult to understand because of the many symbols that are used but usually right after the vision of the symbol, the definition of what the symbol means is given.  Also many are not interested in reading the book of Revelation because they think the events described have already occurred or they will not come to pass in their lifetime.  But one good reason we should make it priority to read this book is because it is the only book in the Bible that offers a blessing to those who read it and I welcome all the blessings I can get from the Lord.  Though Revelation is largely written to warn people of the wrath of God that will come upon the earth for a seven year tribulation period there is also instruction and encouragement for the Church in the letters written to the seven churches also there is information about the wonderful Millennium Kingdom, the New Jerusalem and the Everlasting Kingdom.  Those who think God has gone soft on sin, will not think so after reading about the many terrible judgment events that God has planned for planet earth, the Antichrist and those who take the mark of the Beast.  I am not claiming to have a “perfect” understanding of the end-times prophecy and I welcome comments and corrections to what I write.  I humble submit my thoughts and analysis of what will happen based on my reading and understand of scripture, hoping it will clarify and give glory to God’s perfect word.

Revelation 1:19 “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.”

The beginning of the book of Revelation is similar to the telling of the creation story, in that the vision that John is given is first stated as summary statement in Rev 1:19 then the details are brought into view.  John is first told to write about “things which you have seen”, the first thing that John sees is Jesus among the seven golden lamp stands, holding seven stars in His right hand with a sharp two edged sword coming out of His mouth (Chapter 1); “the things which are”, John is next given the vision of seven existing Churches in Asia minor which also serve as examples of “types” of Churches that will exist during the approximately 2,000 year history of the Church age (Chapters 2 and 3); “things which will take place after these things”, then John is give the vision of what takes place “after” the Church Age, the seven year Tribulation period, (Chapters 4-19), the Millennium age (Chapter 20) and the Everlasting age (Chapters 21-22).  The main focus of Revelation is the seven year tribulation period which is due Israel to complete the 490 years of God’s discipline for not observing the Shemitah, (Daniel 9-12).

Daniel 9:26-27  26“Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

The seven year tribulation period begins when the Antichrist makes a covenant with many nations.  The covenant has something to do with Israel and/or the the Temple mount because we read in Daniel that at the mid-way point of the tribulation, the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices and declare that he is God.  Jesus also warned the Jews about this event and told them that when they see “abomination of desolation” flee to the mountains for protection because during the last 3 1/2 years God unleashes His wrath on the Antichrist and planet Earth.

Matthew  15“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

===========    An overview to Revelation  =============

I have read the book of Revelation and Daniel many time and I have read many commentaries on the end-times.  One thing is for sure, there is a lot of interest in end-times prophecy and a lot of disagreement over the specifics.  Some don’t believe in the “rapture” of the Church and others disagree about the timing of the rapture.  I believe the rapture of the Church will occur prior to the seven year tribulation period, primarily because this seven year period is meant for the Jews, to complete the last week (7 years) of the 70 weeks (490 years) of discipline that God decreed for them in Daniel 9:24 and also because I do not think the Antichrist can function effectively while the restraining influence of the Church (the Holy Spirit) is here on earth.

The Antichrist “Beast” Kingdom which rises from the sea of the world (Rev 13:1) will be given power by Satan to rule and persecute those who will not take the mark of the Beast during the first 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:7).  The Beast Kingdom begins when the first 4 seals on the scroll are opened one right after the other, revealing the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.  After 3 1/2 years of conquering nations and bringing all nations under his authority, the Antichrist enters the temple in Jerusalem and declares he is God, which is known as the “Abomination of Desolation“.  At this point the tables turn on the Antichrist and the judgment of God’s wrath comes down on the Antichrist and those who have taken the mark of the Beast.  When the Abomination of Desolation occurs, the remaining 3 seal judgments, the first 2 woes, and the 6 trumpets judgments which unfold over three days, while the bodies of the two witnesses lie dead in the street.  After 3 days the two witnesses are resurrected and raptured to Heaven.  Then during the last 3 1/2 years, God pours out His seven bowls of wrath while the One World Government, the One World Religion and the One World Commerce system on earth come crashing down.  And those who have taken the mark of the Beast and have prospered during the first 3 1/2 years will curse God as they receive their judgment.  At the end of the seven year period, Christ arrives with His saints at the final battle of Armageddon and removes all unbelievers from the earth and sets up His Millennium Kingdom.

The seven year tribulation period begins when the first seal is opened and it reveals a rider on a white horse.  I think the first rider is the “beast” government of the Antichrist and the first seal is opened when the Antichrist makes a firm covenant with “many” for 7 years.  The covenant is probably made with the 10 nations which represent the ten toes of iron and clay from Daniel’s statue, the 10 horns of the beast and the 10 kings from Revelation 17, the revived Roman empire.  The Beast government army (of iron) which represents the Antichrist and the 10 Kings will allow the One World religious leaders of “Chrislam” (of clay) to run the courts of Shira law but at the 3 1/2 year mark of the tribulation the 10 Kings give their power and authority to the Antichrist in order to overthrow the One World Religion (the woman who rides the Beast) and receive all the power of their Kingdom (Revelation 17:12-13).

*Another interpretation is that the “clay” represents the seed of the Jews, who are given a peace treaty with the Antichrist, the iron and see of the Gentiles.  The Jews are make a peace treaty with the Antichrist for seven years so they don’t have to take the mark of the Beast.  But this union doesn’t mix well or last long because the Antichrist declares himself god in the Jewish temple at the 3 1/2 year mark and then declares war on the Jews.

The Antichrist will come onto the world stage with power and signs and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9), while the world is in a state of confusion and turmoil because all the Christians have been “raptured” to heaven.  The Antichrist will convince the world that Allah took the blasphemous Christian in judgment and that he is the long anticipated Mahdi of Islam.  He will guarantee protection to Israel and allow them to build a temple and he will enter into a covenant of peace for seven years with the 10 nations.  The covenant is probably some agreement to share his power if they recognize him as the leader over the Holy Land, and assist him as he conquers in the name of Allah.  And though Antichrist deceives most people, some will not believe his lie that the rapture was the judgment of Allah but that it was the grace of God that snatched the true believers out of harms way, and many will come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.  These Tribulation Saints will refuse to take the mark of the beast and be killed as the beast makes war with the Saints.

Without the restraining influence of the Church on earth, the Antichrist will be able to deceive most of the world into believing that he is able to bring “peace” on earth at last.  Of course it is the peace of Islam, the peace of surrender to Allah or be killed by the sword.  Perhaps Israel will agree to pay a tribute tax to the Antichrist, the Jizya tax, which gives them protection from the sword of Islam.  But most likely the Antichrist will be of Jewish decent and he will appear to the Jews as the Messiah they have been waiting for to set up His Kingdom on earth.  This is what the Jews expected Jesus to do when He first came to earth but the Jews rejected Jesus because He brought a message of love and forgiveness and a “Kingdom in Heaven”.  The Antichrist is the “Mahdi” leader the Muslim are waiting for rule the world and the Antichrist is the ruler the Illuminate and Mason of the One World Order are waiting for to rule the world.

Most likely the Antichrist will make his appearance as the world leader after the Rapture of the Church and after the Gog war against Israel described in Ezekiel 38 and 39.  God is the one who destroys Gog and those who come with him.  Ezekiel 38: 22“With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. 23“I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD.”’   However, sometime I think this Gog war is part of the final battle of Armageddon because after the war God promises to bless Israel in a way that is more consistent with His treatment as Israel enters the Millennium period.  Ezekiel 39: 29“I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.  It may be that at the same time God destroys Gog, He also raptures His church.  This would leave a giant Spiritual vacuum in the world and the Antichrist could fill that vacuum with lies about how Allah judged the Christians along with those who hated Israel.  The Antichrist will set himself up as a friend to Israel and the world, able to make a seven year peace covenant with the nations (Daniel 9:27).

Now, back to the opening of the first four seals of God’s “Last Will and Testament” for planet earth.  I don’t think the horse and riders are meant to identify a specific person but they “symbolically” indicate the agent of wrath that is working during the first 3 1/2 years.  Horses in Scripture are typically associated with triumph, majesty, power, and conquest.  The horses represent God’s authority and the riders are His agents of wrath, even though the agents think they are fulfilling their agenda.  Just like the Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and the other Gentile Kings fulfilled God’s discipline upon Israel, this is what the Antichrist will do for the first 3 1/2 years.  The first rider represents the One World Government of the Antichrist, the revived Roman empire, the Beast, that is given authority to conquer the world.  The second rider represents the woman who rides the Beast, the One World Religion, (a combination of Catholics and Islam – Chislam) she is the one who does the dirty work (though the Sharia law and courts) of killing those who will not take the mark of the beast and pledge allegiance to the beast government.  The third rider represents the One World Bank and the merchants who enforce the mark of the Beast and get rich by the government of the beast.  The forth rider represents the persecution and death that occurs during the first 3 1/2 years to those who refuse to take the mark of the Beast.  These first four seals are opened one right after another to start the 3 1/2 years and then the fifth seal is opened at the end of the 3 1/2 years to show the martyrs that have been killed for their faith in Christ.

During the first 3 1/2 years the people with the mark of the Beast will love the Antichrist as he conquers, just like the people proudly wore their Swastika in support of Hitler as he rid the world of those he thought where inferior to the Aryan race.  I think the two witnesses will oppose the Antichrist for the first 3 1/2 years in Jerusalem and they will be a pain in his side.  Right around the 3 1/2 year mark I think the two witnesses will give the Antichrist a mortal wound, he will seemingly die and comes back to life as Satan enters him.  At this point the Satan kills the two witness and the people will be going crazy now in their support for the Antichrist, worshiping him with praise.  The Antichrist’s power and pride will reach a climax at the mid-tribulation mark, as the Antichrist commits the Abomination of Desolation in the rebuild temple, declaring he is god.  This will occur at the same time the the six seal is opened and tremendous cosmic disturbances will occur and convince those that have taken the mark of the beast that God has arrived to judge them for their sin.  Then over the next three days the first 6 trumpets, 7 thunders and the the first two woes will occur, followed by the resurrection and rapture of the two witnesses and the sounding of the last trumpet and the last woe.  Shortly thereafter the government of the Antichrist collapses, which throws down the One World Religion and the One World banking system falls too.

The last 3 1/2 years are known as the “great tribulation” where God wrath is poured out in judgment on those that have take the mark of the beast and made war with the saints.  God pours out His wrath on the children of sin with the last trumpet and the last woe which includes the 7 bowls of judgment.  Also during the last 3 1/2 years the Antichrist turns on Israel to persecute them but most of the Jews are protected through this period because they flee Jerusalem and hide in Petra, Jordan where they are miraculously come under the care of God for 3 1/2 years.  The tribulation period comes to a close when Christ returns in the air with His saints for the final battle of Armageddon..

Most of the Chapters of Revelation are a fast paced “timeline” of events that occur in heaven and on earth during the 7 year tribulation period.  But some of the Chapters of Revelation are a “description” of things that are occurring during certain periods of the tribulation such as the ministry of the two witness which occurs during the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation period and the ministry of the 144,000 witness which occurs during the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation.  These “description” Chapters are interspersed within the “timeline”  Chapters and I have labeled them and color coded them to help with the understanding.

==========   Beginning of Timeline  =============

Chapter 1 : “introduction” – the current view of heaven at the beginning of the Church age … glorious!

Chapter 2-3 :  “timeline” – The Church age, the seven types of churches found during the seven Church age periods

Chapter 4-5 :  “timeline”  – The rapture of the church to heaven and the view of heaven after the Church age

Chapter 6:   “timeline”  –  (verses 1-11) The removal of the six seals from the scroll of judgement upon the earth, the four riders of the Apocalypse, 1st seal – the false peace with Israel, 2nd seal – war on everyone but Israel, 3rd seal – famine and 4th seal – death.  At this point there is a pause in the timeline for 3 1/2 years then the 5th seal is opened to reveal the Tribulation saints that were killed during the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation.

——->    3 1/2 years –  mid tribulation and 3 day period (begin) <——

 

Chapter 6:   “timeline”  –  (verses 12-17)  The 6th seal is opened and a great earthquake and other cosmic disturbances occur that coincides with the abomination of desolation, when the Antichrist declares that he is God at  the mid-way point of the tribulation. 

 

Chapter 7: “timeline”  – (verses 1-8) The holding back of the four winds and the sealing of the 144,000.

 

Chapter 7: “description”  – (verses 9-17)  A look ahead to the end of the tribulation period when a great multitude will worship God

 

Chapter 8:  “timeline”  – The 7th seal is opened and there is silence in heaven for about 1/2 hour.   Since there is always praise and worship going on in heaven this is a most unusually occurrence.  The silence is a time of reverence and sorrow for the great wrath of God that will next be poured out upon the earth.  The first trumpet (hail, fire and blood burns up 1/3 of earth), second trumpet (great volcanic mountain throw into sea and 1/3 of sea becomes blood, 1/3 of sea life dies), third trumpet (star of wormwood falls and pollutes 1/3 of rivers), forth trumpet (1/3 of sun, 1/3 of moon and 1/3 of stars are darkened so the sun and moon are do not shine for 1/3 of time).  Note, the 1/3 judgment may be related to the fact that 1/3 of the angles fell with Satan.

 

Chapter 9:  “timeline”  – 1st Woe (5th trumpet – locusts from the bottomless pit released on the earth), 2nd Woe (6th trumpet – four angels release an army of 200 million and a third of mankind is killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths)

 

Chapter 10:  “timeline”  – Seven peals of thunder of which the description of their destruction is not told yet.

 

Chapter 11:  “timeline” –  (verses 1-14) – the ministry of the two witnesses lasts for 3 1/2 years and ends when the beast from the abyss kills them, they lie in the street three days, then they are raptured to heaven.  If you assume that the trumpet and thunder events occur one right after another during the three days following the mid tribulation mark, then it make sense that the ministry of the two witnesses will occur during the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation.

 

Chapter 11:  “timeline” – (verses 15-19) – the 3rd Woe (7th trumpet – thunder, earthquake and great hailstorm)

 

——->    3 1/2 years –  mid tribulation and 3 day period (end) <——

 

Chapter 12:  “description” –  This is one of the hardest chapters to understand because it is description of the entire 7 year Tribulation period.  The Great Sign of Rev 12:1 marks the “beginning” of the birth pains that will result in the rapture of the Church Rev 12:5 and the beginning of the Tribulation period.   This Great Sign occurred on Sept 23, 2017 and many Christians thought the Church would be raptured on that date … but this has not occurred and the birth pains continue to grow in intensity.  I think Rev 12:1-6  describes the first 3 1/2 year reign of the Antichrist, where the fallen Angles are casts down to earth by Satan and then Rev 12:7-17 describes the last 3 1/2 years, where Satan is cast down from Heaven with the fallen angels and they loose their ability to travel in the Spiritual realm.  During the last 3 1/2 years, God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth but Israel is hidden and protected.

Chapter 13:  “description” –  of the Beast from the sea – the Antichrist and his government during the tribulation, the beast of the earth, controls commerce by only allowing those with the mark of the beast to buy and sell..

Chapter 14:  “description” –  of what happens near the end or the tribulation.  The 144,000 are in their resurrected body on Mt Zion with Jesus, the first fruits of the great tribulation.  An angel is sent to preach the gospel to all on earth, an 2nd angel pronounces judgment upon Mystery Babylon (the whore religion) and a third angel pronounces judgement on the city Babylon (the New World Order of Commerce).  The Son of man puts in His sickle of judgment to indicate all unbelievers will die, yet another angel puts in a sickle of judgment and executes the sentence. The blood coming up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles is a reference to the final battle of Armageddon.

Chapter 15: “timeline”  -seven angels with seven plagues (or bowls of wrath)

Chapter 16: “timeline”  – seven bowls of wrath poured out.  The enemy is drawn to Armageddon.

Chapter 17:   “description” – of “Mystery Babylon”, the one One World Religion, Chrislam, the woman which rides the beast, the Antichrist, for the first 3 1/2 years until the Antichrist declares himself god and destroys the woman.

Chapter 18:  “description” – of the “city of Babylon”, the great commerce city, the New World Order is fallen!

Chapter 19: “timeline”  – The triumphant entry of King Jesus on a white horse with his saints at the battle of Armageddon.  All unbelievers are removed from the earth.

Chapter 20:  “timeline”  – Satan thrown into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (the Millennium period where Christ reigns on earth).   At the end of 1,000 years Satan is released and there is one final quick battle of Gog and Magog.  Then Satan, the angels and all unbelievers appear before the White Throne of Judgement where they are  sentenced for their degree of their punishment and then cast into the lake of fire where they are eternally tormented.

Chapter 21 – 22:  “timeline” – of the New Heaven and New Earth

================== End of Timeline  =============================

– Rogersings