Great Tribulation

Share

King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Monday, December 28, 2020
Chapters: Revelation 4-7
Message: Great Tribulation

Hello My Friend,

I was listening to the preacher as he was preaching yesterday and something occurred to me, I knew this already, but for some reason it rang a bell in my head, it was something that Jesus said to the man that asked Him to save him when they were being crucified, [Luke 23:42-43  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.] Can you believe that there are actually religions who believe that Jesus spent three days in hell before He resurrected? This is sadly true, but Jesus clearly stated that He would be in paradise those three days, which was where all believers remained until He resurrected. When Jesus ascended up to heaven after being on the earth for forty days, and after He resurrected He took all who were in paradise up to heaven with Him, [Matthew 27:52-53  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.]

Call Him what you will, Messiah, Christ, Immanuel, Shiloh, Son of God, Lamb of God, Holy One, Angel of God, He is still one in the same, the LORD. All who believe on Him before they take their last breath here on earth will resurrect as He did, and live with Him forever on the new earth that is being prepared for us. And what an incredible time that will be. Now, after Jesus tells John of the judgments and warnings given to the seven churches, he gives him a vision like no other, a door opens up in the heavens, and through the Spirit of God, just as He did with Ezekiel (Ezekiel 11), He took John up in His Spirit, but what He showed John was nothing ever seen before, it was a throne, surrounded by other chairs, and in the midst of this throne was a figure.

[Revelation 4:3-6,9-10  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.  4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.  5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.  6  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,  10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,]

[And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:] This is actually not Jesus, this entire picture is the amazing Godhead all three persons of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being revealed in all His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, we will see Jesus appear in the next chapter. [and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting,] These represent Israel as a whole, meaning both the members of the Gospel church state, which are the twelve tribes of Israel and twelve apostles of Jesus, [Matthew 8:10-13]. [which are the seven Spirits of God.] The seven Spirits of God are the various gifts, graces, and operations of the Spirit of God in the seven churches of Christ. [were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.] This is similar to the vision that Ezekiel saw, [Ezekiel 1:5-28]. The four beasts or living creatures, represent the characteristics of the ministers of the Gospel as a whole, which are courage, industry, wisdom, and aspiration, [Isaiah 40:29-31]. [and cast their crowns before the throne,] Each and every saved soul will receive crowns for what they have done through Christ after they were saved, [2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.]

We too will be a part of these elders who take off our crowns and cast them at Jesus’ feet. Why? We are standing at the throne of God, by His mercies and grace, through our faith in His Son alone, no one, but God is to be worshiped and bowed down to. Now, as Jesus continues to give John another vision, he sees God with a book in His right hand, that was sealed with seven seals.

[Revelation 5:6-10  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.  8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.]

[stood a Lamb as it had been slain,] This is none other than Jesus Himself, Jesus is the only one capable of opening the book that would pour out the very wrath of God down upon the earth. [which are the prayers of saints.] This is amazingly the prayers of every person who called on Christ to save them. [and we shall reign on the earth.] And yes, all of Christ’s saints will reign with Him upon the earth when He returns, and after all the tribulation takes place, which is when the seals on this book will be open. Jesus shows John what is in the book.

[Revelation 6:1-5,7-8  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.  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.  3  And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.  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.  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.  7  And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.  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.]

[and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.] Jesus first conquered death on the cross by resurrecting three days later, and all who come to Him will conquer death as well. [and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth,] This is why judgment begins at the house of God first, the reprobates will kill themselves. In case you have not noticed, they are doing a pretty good job of that already. Thank God that no saved soul will be in the midst of this when all this takes place. [had a pair of balances in his hand.] These represent the food of the body and soul, both are needed to survive, Jesus being the bread of life to our soul. [and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him.] All are struck with death and hell follows unless they are fed with the bread of life, [John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.]

Now, when the sixth seal is opened, it reveals something quite catastrophic, [Revelation 6:12-17  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;  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.  14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  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;  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:  17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?]

[hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;] This is exactly what those who reject God do whenever they are judged. They think their money and fame will save them, they think they are above the law, and run like cowards when confronted, but no one can escape judgment unless they are sealed with the blood of the Lamb. [and who shall be able to stand?] Remember Jesus said, [Matthew 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.]

There is another seal within this seal, and this is the seal of the living God, and it is the only way we are able to escape this judgment and be able to reign with Him, [Revelation 7:1-3  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.  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,  3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.]

[till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.] There is one thing that we need to understand and that is that God, the Father has blocked the knowledge of when Christ will return from Jesus, He does not know when the Father will tell Him that it is time to gather His saints, but He will not return until the very last soul to accept Him gets saved, [2 Peter 3:9-10  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.]

Now, after all this, John sees an amazing vision, one hundred forty-four thousand Jews, and a multitude of people from every nation, whom will escape from this great wrath to come. [Revelation 7:9-14  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;  10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.  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,  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.  13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  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.]

[These are they which came out of great tribulation,] Our salvation brings more than a pardon from hell, it brings freedom, reconciliation with God, and our escape from the tribulation. I will never forget the day I said that I believed Jesus is my only way to heaven, dedicated my life to Him, and got baptized. It was the best decision I ever made and while it is not always easy to follow the ways of Christ as it seems we have opposition everywhere we go, I am blessed more than ever. Why? I will be one of those who came out of great tribulation. Praise God! [and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.] In the midst of a wicked and corrupt world, one that gets worse by the day, are the souls made white through the blood of the Lamb, [1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:]

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, The love that You have for us is just astounding, You were born to die for us, but You conquered death in victory and because of that, we will too. When we consider the depth of Your love, let us be more determined to be faithful to You in reaching the lost with the Gospel until You return and bring us to safety. Help us to endure the evil that is taking place before the tribulation comes our way by keeping our eyes on You, knowing that we have eternal life with You and will never have to be in the midst of the great tribulation. In pray this in your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readytofollowJesus/

Copyright © 2020 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.