Class Notes on Events of the First Half of the Tribulation (Part One)

Notes: Some events are chronological. Some events occur throughout the first half at the same time as sequential events. The first half contains seven seal judgments, wit the seventh seal containing seven trumpet judgments. The first half events are found in Revelation 6-9, and 17. ("The Footsteps of the Messiah," Fruchtenbaum, 2003)

First Seal: Rev 6:1-2 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. NIV

Who is the rider?

• Antichrist. Crown is a stephanos crown, the crown of an overcomer or victor, and not the diadem crown, the crown the Messiah wears in chapter 19
• Revelation 13 describes the counterfeit trinity which is important to understand. Satan is the Father, the Antichrist is the son, and the false prophet is the Holy Spirit. The false prophet's role is to call men to worship the Antichrist

Who is the Antichrist?

• Fruchtenbaum argues that the Antichrist is not Jewish. No where does scripture indicate that the Jews will accept him as Messiah. They will enter into a covenant relationship with him, a peace treaty, but that is not the same thing
• There is a typology for the Antichrist. It is Antiochus Ephiphanes, a Greek, and also a Gentile
• Also, this is the time of the Gentiles, which does end until the rule of the Antichrist. Therefore the last world ruler during the time of the Gentiles is a Gentile
• Dan 9:26-27 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." NIV
  • The people of the ruler who destroy the city and the sanctuary (70AD) are Romans
  • Therefore, some believe the ruler will be a Roman. My problem is that the Romans were the last kingdom prophesied by Daniel and represent a type of Government which has continued until now, imperialism (although going through stages, 2 then 10, then 7, then 1). Therefore, the ruler could come from any Gentile government representing imperialism

• Some argument that the Antichrist will also mimic the supernatural origin of the Messiah based on Gen 3:15 prophesy of "your seed and her seed." Since the Messiah's humanity did not come from the father, but from the mother, it is her seed. "Your seed" does not convey the same idea (virgin birth of a woman), but it does suggest that the seed has to come from Satan himself, possibly resembling a "virgin birth"-like event. Some contend Gen 6:4 implies this possibility
  • Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity // between you and the woman, // and between your offspring and hers; // he will crush your head, // and you will strike his heel." NIV
  • Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days — and also afterward — when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. NIV

• Ultimately, the counterfeit son accepts the offer that the Jesus rejected, to rule all the kingdom of the world

Second Seal: Rev 6:3-4 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4 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. NIV

Prior to the start of the tribulation, what are the conditions of the world? Peace and safety

If you take peace from the world, what is left?

• War
• The first half of the tribulation begins fairly quickly with war

Third Seal: Rev 6:5-6 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" NIV

The war results in what happening next?

• There is a famine or a shortage of food stuffs
• There is no shortage of medicine (oil and wine used for medicine in NT times). Another thought is that there is no shortage of things to keep you happy, at least initially, since oil and wine are both associated with gladness in the scriptures

Fourth Seal: Rev 6:7-8 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. NIV

What is the result of the fourth seal? One-fourth of the world's population is destroyed

How are people killed?

1. Sword -- either directly or as a result of the war
2. Famine -- effect of the war and shortage of food caused by famine kills many
3. Pestilence -- disease will also break out, probably in war-torn areas as many basic services do not function after war
4. Wild animals -- animals do not typically attack man unless food is scarce

Fifth Seal: Rev 6:9-11 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. NIV

These are tribulation saints who are killed during the tribulation. How do they come to the Lord? Possibly as a result of recognizing the rapture and the witness of the 144,000 Jewish Christians (explained in Revelation 7). Lastly, who is leading the persecution? In Revelation 17, we will see that Ecclesiastical Babylon persecutes the tribulation saints

Sixth Seal: Rev 6:12-17 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" NIV

What are the events of the sixth seal?

• A great earthquake
• A blackout (this is the second, the first occurring in the end times but prior to the tribulation)
• A meteor shower

What is the result of the sixth seal?

• Even unbelievers can no longer deny the fact that God is behind the events

Next week we will look at events that are ongoing in the first half of the tribulation

APPLICATION:

1. While the tribulation is aimed at the unbelieving world, it is important to look at the events and their implication toward believers. Obviously, God hates sin. The world does not realize, believe, or care what God thinks about sin. And yet, many Christians live their lives as if they had the same attitude
2. We need to share our faith now, because we don't know when the day will come, nor do we know when a person will die. We need to look for and pray for opportunities to share our testimony
3. We need to be very thankful for everything we have and enjoy. We should not fall in love or idolize things -- that is sin, but we must thank God every day for the blessings we experience. Who knows when that day will end?