Study – Grow – Know

What is the Coming Tribulation All About? Part 2

July 11, 2014 at 2:49 PM 9 comments

In this second part of this short series, we want to move along further with our discussion of the Tribulation. In our first part, we introduced the subject and discussed differences between the word “tribulation” as used in a general sense and “tribulation” as used specifically, referring to the final seven-years of human history on this planet prior to the return of Jesus.

We also referenced the ninth chapter of Daniel, in verse 27, which informs us that the Antichrist is somehow going to broker some type of covenant between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. In essence then, this covenant will be the catalyst that kicks off the Tribulation period. Yet, there are many individuals in life today who believe that we are already in the Tribulation! I’ve read articles (and you have to) where false teachers break things down for us and tell us that this seal or this trumpet just occurred. Too many people gobble up whatever they say because they themselves have no critical thinking skills when it comes to Scripture. This is tragic, yet it continues.

If Daniel tells us that this final “week” (which turns out to be a period of seven years) starts with one particular incident, then we had best pay attention to that. Instead, we’ve got people who “feel” that the Tribulation already began because they see what’s happening in the world and they interpret those things to be things that happen inside the Tribulation period. It’s nuts but this is what we are seeing in society.

God has not made it so difficult that we need to do tons of math and look deeply beyond the actual intended meaning of Scripture in order to “realize” what God is saying. Yes, we have to study, but I’m appalled at how convoluted people become when it concerns His Word. They find things that aren’t there and they create doctrines out of them and others follow them because it’s so convoluted that it sounds reasonable to them.

Daniel 9:27 tells us that the Antichrist will broker an agreement for peace with Israel and surrounding Arab nations for seven years. I don’t believe it can be any clearer than it is in Scripture, so this is where we are starting in this series. When a guy walks onto the world’s stage and manages to bring peace to an area of the world that has not been at peace for generations, the world will take notice and so will God.

The First Seal is the release of the Antichrist.

That appears to be the starting point and unless I’m mistaken, that has not yet occurred. I realize there are those who believe that the Antichrist is a spirit of deception and will not essentially rest on one particular human being during the last seven years of human history. I would disagree with that assessment. Paul makes it very clear that one particular man – the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2) – who will essentially be Satan’s spiritual son. Once he is empowered with practically all of Satan’s supernatural power, he will be able to carry out his spiritual father’s goals. Those goals include ruling the world, gathering all people to himself, and doing everything he can to keep Jesus from physically returning to this earth at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period.

Needless to say, he will accomplish the first two, but not the third.

If the brokering of a covenant between Israel and the surrounding Arab nations is the event that starts the Tribulation, we need to discuss what happens during the Tribulation and fortunately for us, the Bible has it outlined for us neatly. Though we cannot determine exactly how much time transpires between each seal, trumpet, and bowl during the Tribulation, we can generally determine the order of events.

The Tribulation begins with the covenant and that is the same event that reveals him to the world, according to Revelation 6:1-2. The First Seal revealed to us is the Rider on the White Horse. This Rider is believed by many to be the Antichrist though some believe it to be Jesus Himself. The problem with interpreting the First Seal as Jesus is that the question must be asked, why would He come at the beginning of the Tribulation when He obviously comes at the end? Are the seals out of order? No, as you’ll note from the chart I’ve created, this particular rider is on a white horse, which signifies peace.

But notice this rider is wearing a “stephanos” crown, not a diadem. True kings would wear a diadem, not a stephanos. He is an imposter. The diadem crown is specifically associated with Jesus who is seen in Revelation 19 as He returns. I’ve also listed in the top row, farthest to the right the various names for Antichrist as found throughout Scripture. In each case, the Bible refers to this individual in the singular.

The Antichrist will be understood as Antichrist when he brokers peace in the Middle East. Many have tried and all have failed. Imagine the day when someone appears to succeed? Do you think the world will celebrate? Do you think this miracle worker will be noticed for what he will have accomplished? Absolutely and he will be seen as a true miracle worker. He will do the impossible by somehow bringing hated factions together in peace. No one else has been successful in that realm. No one and I believe God has purposefully not allowed anyone to bring peace to that region of the world because that will be the job of the Antichrist. It is the very thing that will begin his very public career.

Next time, we will talk about more of the seven seals so join me then.

Entry filed under: Demonic, Dr. Fred, Religious - Christian - End Times, Religious - Christian - Prophecy, Religious - Christian - Theology, Shadow Government. Tags: antichrist, daniel 9:27.