The Great Tribulation: Revealing the Antichrist Rule

The Great Tribulation, the second half of the 7-year Tribulation, holds a profound significance in religious prophecy. Before delving further, it's crucial to start at the beginning of the series by reading Unveiling the Seven-Year Tribulation: A Deep Dive into the First Half. In this article, we explored the seven seals and the seven trumpets, shedding light on their impact on the earth and its inhabitants. Regrettably, the narrative takes a darker turn in the final years of the 7-year Tribulation.

The Great Tribulation is not just a time of trouble for the whole world – even though the world is impacted. It is a time of profound trouble for Israel and Judah, a time that Jesus described in Luke 21:23-24: “There will be great distress in the land, and wrath on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations.” This is a time that holds immense significance for these nations, a time that will shape their future in ways unimaginable.

Consider Jeremiah 30:7: “Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he will be saved out of it.” The Great Tribulation is distinctively referred to as the time of Jacob’s trouble. Jacob, synonymous with Israel, will be saved from this unique time. This is the only time in history like it (Jeremiah 30:7). Daniel 12:1 states, “There will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” Matthew 24:21 adds, “then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.” These scriptures all point to the same unprecedented time.

The Tribulation is the time when the Lord will accomplish two parts of His plan:

 - He will complete His discipline of the nation Israel (Daniel 9:24)

- He will judge the unbelieving, godless inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 6 – 18)

Israel's role in the Tribulation is pivotal. The 7-year Tribulation was initiated with a peace treaty signed with the Antichrist. However, this treaty, like all other “deals,” is orchestrated by Satan. He eventually breaks the treaty, reneging on any protection he promised Israel, leading to the ultimate betrayal.

During the reign of the “peaceful” Tribulation, a third temple was built in Jerusalem. The Jews have been wanting to build this temple and are awaiting this to happen. However, Satan violates the temple by entering it and declaring himself the god of the universe, known as the Abomination of Desolation, which marks a turning point in the Tribulation, triggering severe persecution against the Jewish people.

The Antichrist takes complete control over the entire world, demanding to be worshipped. Those that do not take the “666” mark of the beast will be hunted and killed. Without the mark of the beast, you cannot sell or buy anything. Satan attacks people where they hurt the most, with total control of money and the basics for survival. The world is setting the stage for the Antichrist rule with the talk of digital money. Every transaction can be tracked and controlled.

The Antichrist begins his main agenda, to wipe out humanity! The sound of the last or seventh trumpet kicks off the last seven plagues, bowls of wrath.

The seven bowls contain “the wrath of God.” That is why many refer to these years as the Great Tribulation. God’s final judgments of wrath punish those who take the mark of the beast and have denied Him. Once someone takes the mark of the beast, that person can no longer get saved. By taking the mark, they are worshipping the devil as a god. The final choice is made, and that person will spend eternity in misery away from God and with the deceiving and lying devil.

First Bowl: Skin Sores
When this first bowl is poured out on the ones worshipping the beast, malignant ulcers or sores appear on their skin. (Revelation 16:2)

Second Bowl: Bloody Ocean
When the second trumpet was blown, one-third of the saltwater turned to blood. This time, the rest of the water turns to blood, killing the surviving living creatures. (Revelation 16:3)

Third Bowl: Bloody Drinking Water
One-third of the streams or fresh drinking water was tainted when the third trumpet sounded, but this wrath turned drinking water into blood, and men were given blood to drink. There won’t be a drop of water left to drink on the earth. (Revelation 16:4-7)

Fourth Bowl: Scorching Sun
The fourth angel pours out the bowl on the sun. The sun becomes extremely hot and scorches men. There isn’t enough sunscreen to keep the skin from the most painful sunburn ever experienced. (Revelation 16:8-9)

Fifth Bowl: Pitch Darkness
The Antichrist’s kingdom is struck with darkness. Darkness isn’t painful, but it can be very inconvenient. In Amir Tsarfati, Revealing Revelation, he describes the darkness as immobilizing. Nothing will stimulate people’s senses other than the pain-filled cries of others in the blackness around them. They won’t be able to see anything going on around them. (Revelation 16:10)

Sixth Bowl: Euphrates River Dries Up
The Euphrates River dries up. We aren’t sure how God does this, but we know why. With no river running through the Middle East, it makes it easier for the armies on all sides of Israel to line up for the final battle, the battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 16:12-16)

Seventh Bowl: It is Done
When the seventh bowl is poured into the air, a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, saying, “It is done!” This phrase has the same meaning as what Jesus declared on the cross before he took his last breath, “It is finished.” When this wrath is poured into a worldwide earthquake, cities collapse, and hailstones about the size of a baby hippo fall from the sky. There will be nowhere to hide this destruction. (Revelation 16:17-21)

These seven last plagues will not affect those having God’s seal, as Daniel 12:1 states. “But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.”

 “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” (Psalm 91:7-8)

The word Armageddon is used generically today when describing a catastrophic conflict, especially if it may result in the obliteration of human life or extensive destruction. In the Bible, Armageddon refers to a future battle between God and the forces of evil.

 
This is the final battle predicted to be fought on Mount Megiddo. The exact location is unclear; however, many battles were fought in this region. Megiddo was the site of battles during World War I and the Arab-Israeli War of 1948.

 
In the battle, a demonic influence will cause the kings of the earth to gather their armies to extinguish Jerusalem. The Antichrist will lead the charge. Jesus Christ won’t allow this battle to take place. If He did, the entire human race would be extinct. Jesus rides in from the heavens on a white horse, called the Second Coming. Everyone on the earth will see Him coming. It will be a battle to never forget, and he will bind Satan and set up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years. Jesus will reign as the plan was from Genesis until Adam and Eve sinned turning the ruling of the world to Satan.

After these final bowls, you might think that people will repent to God, but they don’t. They curse him even more. After the fifth bowl, the world realizes they have been duped and tricked by Satan into thinking Lucifer was Almighty God. The ten kings will consent to work with the devil and his demons to avoid dying. If you find it unbelievable that angels and humanity would fight God, consider the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion and the conflict between Michael and Lucifer in heaven. (Revelation 12:7–9) When the sinful nature is faced with the will of God, these wars demonstrate that it would much sooner murder God (if possible) than submit to and honor Him! This is the fate that every sinner bears because of the curse of sin, which is why there will be a worship war during the Great Tribulation!

 
The conflict between the Creator and those He created—the people He gave life —at Armageddon will be fascinating to see! Armageddon illustrates the reason why God must eliminate sin and those who cherish it from the universe when we consider this conflict to destroy Jesus, the cross, and God's attempts to save sinners. The experience of being "born again" is the only way to overcome the grasping virus known as the curse of sin. Jesus must slay anyone who, in exercising their free will, rejects the Holy Spirit, refuses to be born again, or refuses to adore their Creator to defend the universe. The history of Earth demonstrates that the offspring of the woman and the snake (representing Satan) are hostile to one another. (See Genesis 3:15) When those under the influence of immoral nature are left to survive, they will constantly take advantage of the defenseless or the righteous.

God is a good God, that wants to save us from this final wrath on unbelievers and those that reject Him as their creator. Imagine how horrifying it would be to have your child reject you as their parent. That is what unbelievers do to their heavenly Father.

 
Jesus doesn’t want anyone to perish. He continues to give warnings and has left the Bible, the most-read book, circulating more than any other book for over 2,000 years.

Revelation 22:20 clarifies that He is coming soon for us. All believers can escape the 7-year Tribulation by turning from their sins, which keep them in bondage, and accepting Jesus as their Savior. It is a simple Salvation Prayer that, when prayed genuinely to Jesus, He cleans your spirit and sends the Holy Spirit to guide you and be with you. What an amazing promise!

Meet you in the clouds,

Cheryl (C-Dub)