John AC Forster
It is well understood by the elect, that the tribulation, which is pictured in the seals of the Book of Revelation, is not the wrath of God. The wrath of God occurs during the Day of the Lord and is totally separate from the Great Tribulation, which clearly precedes it. The blowing of seven trumpets represents this wrath. We are told that the Great Tribulation is unprecedented in all history.
“Alas! for
that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's
trouble; but he
shall be saved out of it” (Jer.30:7).
The tribulation is also against the entire world, not just individual Christians, for Christ said that unless those days were shorten, no flesh would be saved [alive].
“For then shall be great
tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor
ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there
should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be
shortened” (Mt.24:21).
Because the subject of the Great Tribulation I a massive subject in its own right, a future article devoted entirely to it is needed in order to do it justice. This coming article will surprise many of you for there are several things that ‘we’ have overlooked. However, since this current article is accompanied with a chart, I will make mention of a point or two that applies to the Great Tribulation towards the end of the article.
Now, what about God's wrath as spoken of by the prophets: that time which is called the Day of the Lord in some 30 prophecies?
For example: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come”
(Joel
The Day of the Lord is that period of time when God personally intervenes by pouring out His punishments upon those that stubbornly refuse to repent and submit to His will.
This wrath
consists of the blowing of seven trumpets, each signifying a punishment or set
of punishments, from Almighty God. It was believed by the WCG that when the
seventh trumpet was blown, that the seven plagues, called the last plagues,
would be poured out in one day. Since that time, it has been proven that the
seven plagues cannot be poured out in one day, and remain scripturally correct
when one considers the events and also the examples of the Exodus. Therefore,
this one-day belief has been rejected. However, it is also believed by some
these same proponents, that since the seven last plagues
cannot be poured out in one day, then they must be, just another
rendering of the seven trumpets.
This author begs to differ.
Revelation plainly shows that the wrath of God
follows the sixth seal: “. . . the great day of His wrath has come, and who is
able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17). This is said after a
great earthquake and various signs in the heavens, that instill so much fear,
that men take cover in the rocks and mountains (underground bunkers),
especially when they see heaven departing as a scroll, revealing the return of
Christ.
During this period, just prior to the Day of
the Lord, the servants of God have to be sealed in their foreheads for their
own protection.
“And after these things I saw
four angels standing on the four comers 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. 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, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we
have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Rev.7:1-3).
We must first realize that the entire panorama
of end-time events in the Book of Revelation occurs over a seven-year period.
Seven is God's number of completeness. The Book of Revelation, it could be
said, is a book of sevens. It consists of seven churches, seven eras, seven
seals, seven spirits, seven thunders, seven trumpets and seven plagues. Each
seal corresponds to one year in length. The seventh seal, which consists of the
seven trumpets, are broken down into actual months. The seventh trumpet
consisting of the seven last plagues, which I will prove, are further broken
down into seven periods of seven days each.
The seventh seal consists of seven trumpet blasts, one at a time. Each blast brings forth great disasters and events that take place on the earth. But notice, that before any of these trumpets are even given to the angels, there is a period of silence in heaven for 1/2 an hour (Rev .8: 1-2). Since there are 12 hours in a day, and each prophetic day pictures 1 year in fulfillment; then each prophetic hour must equal 30 days. Therefore, it follows that a prophetic 1/2hour must represent 15 actual days. Though the importance of this is not yet transparent, it will become significant later when all the time periods are tabulated on the time chart.
Revelation chapters 8 and 9 describe what happens when the first six trumpets are blown. The wrath of God, at this stage, is limited, in that; total destruction is not yet permitted. Just as God allowed the Egyptians time to repent before intensifying His judgments, He shows the same mercy in these early stages of punishment.
He shows the same mercy (God changes not), to present day man as He did the Egyptians. This mercy is clearly demonstrated in the blowing of the first four trumpets:
“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. 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; 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. 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; 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. 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.8:7-12).
It is clearly seen that the first four trumpets affect in thirds, which is obviously allowing room for repentance. It is also quite possible that each of these trumpets will be blown on the new moon, being separated by each other, by approximately 30 days.
The fifth trumpet we are told, when blown, is the beginning of the first woe, which lasts for 5 months, or 150 days.
“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.9:5).
The sixth trumpet, when
blown, is the beginning of the second woe, with one final woe to follow. At
this point (the time of the second woe), the four angels are released from the
“One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more
hereafter. And the sixth angel
sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is
before God,
Saying to the
sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound
in
the great river
“And when he had opened the
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And
I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven
trumpets” (Rev .8: 1-2).
When these four angels are loosen, they will slay a third part of men:
“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: 15.
Even at this point, God is still allowing for repentance, for God allows only a third more of men to perish. Thus is completed the blowing of the first six trumpets and their resulting, limited, punishments upon this earth. But this is about to change. The final punishments reveal an intensity in scope and undulation of GOD'S WRA TH!
In Revelation
“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. 11:15).
Referring to Christ, it is also stated:
“The 24
elders sitting on their thrones in God's presence [the Father], fell on their
faces and worshipped God [Christ/Yeshua], saying, 'We
thank you, Adonai, God of heaven's armies, the
One who is
and was, that you have taken your power and have begun
to rule” (Rev.11:16,
David H.
Stern, Jewish Complete Bible)
Referring also to Christ, it is further stated:
“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. 1
Therefore; it can be seen that this is Christ's wrath: the last seven plagues. The last seven plagues constitute the seventh trumpet, which constitutes the seventh seal. It is called the final woe. There are several important points to consider concerning this time frame. The first is, if the last plagues were part of, or ran parallel to the trumpets, then this statement would be incorrect, for how can Christ now destroy them that destroy the earth, if everything was already accomplished by the first six trumpets? Another important point is that the first four angels that blow the first four trumpets, are the very same angels that hold back the four winds of the earth while God's servants are being sealed. Their instructions were to affect the environment: no authority was given to affect men with boils or anything else.
“. . . and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it
was given to hurt the land
and the sea, saying” (Rev.7:2).
“And I saw another
sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last
plagues; for in them is filled up the
wrath of God” (Rev.15:1).
Notice, first of all, that John said that he saw another sign that was
marvelous. He clearly stated that the seven angels were marvelous. These
obviously had to be different angels than the ones that he previously saw. John
was impressed with the way they looked and how they were dressed.
“And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues,
clothed in pure and white
linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four
beasts gave
unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever” (Rev.
15:6-7)
Secondly, he does refer to these plagues as being the “last.” Thirdly,
he described these plagues as being “filled up” of the wrath of God. The KJV
does not give a clear picture of the expression of this term, “filled up” as
used in Revelation 15: 1
Other translations state:
“And I saw another
sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues,
which are the last,
for in them is finished the wrath of God” (ASV).
“And I saw another
sign in heaven, great and strange; seven angels having the seven last
punishments, for in them the wrath of God is complete” (BBE).
“And I saw another
sign in the heaven, great and wonderful, seven messengers having the seven last plagues, because in
these was completed the wrath of God” (YLT).
The word “filled up” is as follows: Strong’s #5055 telew teleo tel-eh'-o
from 5056 and means, “finish,
fulfil, accomplish, pay, perform, expire . . . 1) to bring to a close, to
finish, to end la) passed, finished; 2) to perform, execute, complete, fulfil,
(so that the thing done corresponds to what has been said, the order, command
etc.) 2a) with special reference to the subject matter, to carry out the
contents of a command; 2b) with reference also to the form, to do just as
commanded, and generally involving the notion of time, to perform the last act
which completes a process, to accomplish, fulfill; 3) to pay, 3a) of tribute.”
It is obviously a word that means: “to bring to completion.” To bring to a close. To complete a process. Therefore, John is correct in stating that the seven “last” plagues are indeed, the last plagues.
The first plagues, are the beginning of God's wrath; but these last plagues are an addition to the plagues already poured out. They are far more reaching and are not subdued, lessen, or diluted.
The number seven is God's number for completeness. Thus, it is not difficult to see why there are still seven more plagues that constitute the completion of God's wrath. There is also a major difference in magnitude between the trumpets and the last plagues. For example, during the second trumpet, John clearly states that 1/3 of the sea becomes blood. But during the pouring out of the second vial, ALL the sea creatures die and ALL of the sea becomes blood. The differences are also shown in the third and fourth trumpets and the third and fourth vials. One is at 33 and 1/3%, the other is 100%. These plagues are also referred to as the 'last' plagues, which logically means that there had to be 'first' plagues. A Time When God the Father is Not Available
It is
also not until the time of the completion of God's wrath, through Christ, that
the Father becomes unavailable. Remember, that the Father is to hand over all
things to Christ. This coming period of wrath, is the wrath of the Lamb of God,
who is no longer to act the part of a Iamb, but carry out judgment upon the
nations and reprobate sinners, as the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
“And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from
his power; and no man was
able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled”
(Rev.15:8).
Notice
also, that this is the first time in the Book of Revelation when God the
Father, is not available, thus; it has to be a separate period of time compared
to the time of the seals and trumpets.
Further Proof
Thus far, the scriptures have
clearly revealed a difference in the level/intensity of punishment between the
trumpet plagues and the last plagues. Though some of the trumpet plagues and
vial plagues are similar, they are different. For example, during the sixth
trumpet and the sixth vial, the great river
Exactly
364 Days Plus One
When one views the accompanying
chart, one can see that the entire Day of the Lord does, indeed, take place
over a period of 364 days, Roman time.
It also shows that the last seven plagues, take place over a period of
49 of these 364 days. Since God measures His days from evening to evening, then
adding one more day to allow for the difference gives us a total of 365 days,
or one full year.
As man's misrule draws to a close in
this end-time, and God prepares His church for its departure to the place of
safety, it is evident that He is opening our minds more and more to clearly see
through that prophetic glass. He has
already begun to reveal more doctrinal truth, such as the New Moons,
postponements, etc., and will continue revealing to us as we submit to, and
seek His Holy Will.
Tribulation
Insights Revealed -- The True Focus of the Fifth Seal
As
is the usual case, when one studies into the word of God, additional nuggets
come forth. As you examine the
accompanying chart, you will come to realize that what we have been previously
taught concerning the fifth seal: That it was the Great Tribulation - meaning
that the Great Tribulation started at this time, is incorrect.
The true focus of the fifth seal is
the question: "How much longer?"
This clearly shows that the tribulation has been in effect for some
time. It is most definitely not the
start of the tribulation as we were previously lead to
believe. These saints know, by the word
of God, how long the tribulation is stated to last. Therefore, this question indicates that it
was asked close to the end of the tribulation, considering that God did promise
to shorten the time, though He did not reveal at what point.
In addition to this fact, we must
remember that the sixth seal, ends the
tribulation. Therefore, the tribulation
cannot logically start at the fifth seal.
This makes complete sense, when one understands what occurs during the
first four seals. Since over a billion
human beings are going to perish, one would be considered a complete idiot if
he didn't think that this was Great Tribulation.
God's answer, (a little while
longer), is easily understood considering what we now know about the sixth
seal. With the heavens rolling back as a scroll, the return of Christ will be
seen from a distance. Men at this time will think that an alien invasion is
taking place. Some,
will acknowledge that it is Christ, and will fear for their lives because of
the wickedness they have committed. Their slaves and their security behind
bars, would be the last thought, if ever, on their minds.
In conclusion, while this article
and chart does not pin point the year when all these things will begin to
occur, it does lay out the prophetic pattern and time table of God's plan. It also makes more sense and is more
compliant with scripture, than what we previously believed. No doubt, many will be able to add
additional insights, and all this is to our benefit. We can only thank our Father for continuing
to reveal more and more to us as time draws nearer.