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Testaments explain and describe this period. This series of world events will be truly colossal in nature—and thoroughly explaining it involves far more than space available in this booklet.
Of course, the most terrible wars, famines and diseases still lie ahead. These will greatly intensify before the Great Tribulation begins. Even so, remember that, after Christ had described the first four seals, plus earthquakes, He concluded, “All these are the BEGINNING of sorrows [travail or tribulation]” (Matt. 24:8). They are far from the end of matters.
The next thing to follow these beginning events and conditions is the Tribulation. We will shortly prove this.
But first we need to explain another important aspect of what the Tribulation means.
Here is what Christ told His disciples would occur next: “Then shall they deliver YOU up to be afflicted, and shall kill YOU: and YOU shall be hated of all nations for My Name’s sake” (Matt. 24:9).
Now understand something. Two different pronouns appear in this passage—“they” and “you.” Christ did this for a very specific reason. Whenever He was describing true Christians, He spoke of “you.” Those who were deceivers and not of the truth—the many who are falsely converted—are often referred to as “they” or other similar pronouns.
Sometimes the term “you” can also refer to national Israel or Judah, or to them and to true Christians. Whenever the passage is speaking nationally, it is either referring to Israel, or Judah, or both. When coupled with Mark 13 and Luke 21, it is quite obvious that Christ is referring to both.
Final Martyrdom of Saints
Before continuing with more of Christ’s explanation in Matthew 24 about the Tribulation, we need to read John’s description of the fifth seal: “And when He had opened the FIFTH SEAL, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Rev. 6:9-11).
The fifth seal portrays the martyrdom of true saints (along with vast numbers from national Israel and Judah). This occurs during the Tribulation. Verse 11 is a symbolic instruction to the martyrs of the Middle Ages to await this latter martyrdom of the end time.
The context develops with the souls asking God a question.
Some cite these verses to validate both the immortal soul doctrine and that the saved go to heaven—and thereby miss the whole point of what Christ is revealing. They obviously also do not put this verse with Christ’s Matthew 24:9 explanation.
This description is not literal, but rather is symbolic, as is much of Revelation. No one believes that the four horses are literal. It is obvious that they are symbolic and part of a vision. A consistent standard must be used, without randomly picking and choosing which passages are literal and which are part of the vision.
In vision, John was shown a preview of a future event (“hereafter,” 4:1). Since John was “in the spirit” as the seals were opened (vs. 2), the events he witnessed were not actually occurring when he saw them. They were heavenly previews of things that would happen later on earth.
Upon the opening of the fifth seal (Rev. 6:9), John “saw under [at the base of] the altar the souls of them that were slain.”
Remember, in the vision, John was shown the future. A long period of martyrdom had taken place (up to and through the Middle Ages). A later one (the Great Tribulation) is yet to happen in our time. The souls who were already “slain” were martyred Christians throughout the ages. These earlier martyrs were told to “rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (vs. 11).
Many of God’s people in the end time have partially drifted away from being as close to Him, or as on fire for His truth and His Work as they should be. They have not been praying, studying, fasting, meditating and seeking Him on a daily basis as they should. This has allowed many to be deceived, and to fall into various false doctrines. Only the Tribulation will awaken these brethren—and even then only about half (Matt. 25:1-12)!
During the Tribulation, there will be a great religious persecution. Christ was very specific about this in Matthew 24: “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [lawlessness—occurring worldwide] shall abound, the love [Rom. 13:10; I John 5:3] of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved...For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be...For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (vs. 10-13, 21, 24).
The elect must remain on guard!
This is a very specific prophecy about great deception that seduces “many.” The “souls under the altar” await God’s punishment of the great governmental power that persecuted them, when God “avenges [their] blood.”
All true but lukewarm Christians will have to suffer this final martyrdom (Rev. 3:14-22). Those faithful Christians who were previously killed must continue to “rest” (remain “asleep” in their graves—Eph. 5:14; I Cor. 11:30) until others join them in this final martyrdom.
The “souls” (dead saints) crying “avenge our blood” (Rev. 6:10) is akin to Abel’s blood (his life—note Lev. 17:14) crying to God from the earth (Gen. 4:10). Since neither blood nor the dead talk (Psa. 115:17; Ecc. 9:5, 10), the meaning is symbolic, not literal.
In Matthew 24:9-10, Christ was actually describing a final martyrdom yet to occur among His people. Therefore, the “souls under the altar” represent those awaiting a future martyrdom of lukewarm saints. They are those of the seventh and last era (Laodicea) referenced earlier, and described in Revelation 3:14-22.
Invasion and Captivity
The Tribulation will also include the invasion and captivity of the “ten lost tribes” of the modern-day descendants of Israel, and Judah (the modern nation of Israel).
Recognize that God often works prophetically through the principle of DUALITY. Many prophecies work in this way. For instance, I Corinthians 15:21-22 shows that Adam was a type of Christ, and vice-versa.
Most everyone is unaware that some prophecies have first a former, then a typical and, lastly, a final great fulfillment. This causes terrible problems for those trying to understand and explain prophecies. The results are always mixed up and confused.
In Matthew 24:2, Christ prophesied that the temple would be completely destroyed, with not one stone remaining. This occurred in A.D. 69-70 to the nation of Judah, as an early type of a final, great staggering fulfillment at the end of the age.
Here is how Christ described this final fulfillment of national invasion, war and captivity: “But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:23-24).
This describes a time of truly great fear, terror and horror for the modern peoples and nations of Israel. (Read our free book America and Britain in Prophecy to learn more about who and where these peoples are now, and why they are prophesied to go through such great national punishment.)
We must now examine an inset of the prophecy that precedes and leads up to the Great Tribulation. It explains why you are reading this booklet: “And this gospel of the KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the END come” (Matt. 24:14).
The true gospel is about the kingdom of God. Men have devised many false gospels, but Christ preached a message about a soon-coming, world-ruling government to be established at His Return. This Work is preaching this marvelous truth, and about how God’s perfect spiritual Law will soon be established in all nations. This is the wonderful good news referenced earlier—the word “gospel” means good news. When our task is complete, “then shall the end come”! (Read our free booklet Which Is the True Gospel?)
The world now knows nothing of God’s Law because it has rejected the true God. This has left it cut off from Him (Isa. 59:1-2; Jer. 5:25). As a result, terrible punishment must occur before God’s kingdom is established.
Though there is still time for announcing God’s kingdom, it will soon run out. Some few will yet turn to God as a result of this Work, which is a direct fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:14. May you “hear and understand” while there is yet time (Luke 21:36)!
The Sixth Seal—HEAVENLY SIGNS
Next comes the sixth seal—the HEAVENLY, or astronomical, SIGNS: “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; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind” (Rev. 6:12-13).
How do we know that the Heavenly Signs come directly on the heels of the Great Tribulation? Here are Christ’s words: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matt. 24:29).
This is an almost verbatim, phrase-by-phrase description of Revelation 6:12-13. The parallel is unmistakable. Christ has again interpreted the sixth seal, and its timing, for us. The phrase “immediately after the tribulation” removes all doubt about when the Heavenly Signs occur.
The arrival of the Heavenly Signs heralds a great overall change in the direction—and speed—of events. This is understood by continuing in Revelation 6, a few verses later. Notice: “For the GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; and who shall be able to stand?” (vs. 17).
There it is in plain English. The Day of the Lord, or Day of God’s Wrath, follows the sixth seal. Heaven and earth are shaken! This time reveals God’s AWESOME POWER! It is comparable to nothing that has ever happened before, or will ever happen again.
The prophet Joel was speaking of this time when God’s awesome power and great Wrath will be displayed when he said, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the great and dreadful Day of the Lord come” (2:31).
Some have claimed that these signs have already occurred. This is impossible! Matthew 24 makes plain that they all follow—not precede—the Tribulation. In addition, when they occur, they are either immediately followed by or accompany the sign of Christ’s Coming (vs. 29-30).
The terrible period of God’s Wrath is foretold to last an ENTIRE YEAR—after the initial two and a half years of the Tribulation. Here is how Isaiah described it: “For it is the Day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the YEAR of recompenses for the controversy of Zion” (34:8). Jeremiah refers to this period as “the
Of course, the most terrible wars, famines and diseases still lie ahead. These will greatly intensify before the Great Tribulation begins. Even so, remember that, after Christ had described the first four seals, plus earthquakes, He concluded, “All these are the BEGINNING of sorrows [travail or tribulation]” (Matt. 24:8). They are far from the end of matters.
The next thing to follow these beginning events and conditions is the Tribulation. We will shortly prove this.
But first we need to explain another important aspect of what the Tribulation means.
Here is what Christ told His disciples would occur next: “Then shall they deliver YOU up to be afflicted, and shall kill YOU: and YOU shall be hated of all nations for My Name’s sake” (Matt. 24:9).
Now understand something. Two different pronouns appear in this passage—“they” and “you.” Christ did this for a very specific reason. Whenever He was describing true Christians, He spoke of “you.” Those who were deceivers and not of the truth—the many who are falsely converted—are often referred to as “they” or other similar pronouns.
Sometimes the term “you” can also refer to national Israel or Judah, or to them and to true Christians. Whenever the passage is speaking nationally, it is either referring to Israel, or Judah, or both. When coupled with Mark 13 and Luke 21, it is quite obvious that Christ is referring to both.
Final Martyrdom of Saints
Before continuing with more of Christ’s explanation in Matthew 24 about the Tribulation, we need to read John’s description of the fifth seal: “And when He had opened the FIFTH SEAL, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Rev. 6:9-11).
The fifth seal portrays the martyrdom of true saints (along with vast numbers from national Israel and Judah). This occurs during the Tribulation. Verse 11 is a symbolic instruction to the martyrs of the Middle Ages to await this latter martyrdom of the end time.
The context develops with the souls asking God a question.
Some cite these verses to validate both the immortal soul doctrine and that the saved go to heaven—and thereby miss the whole point of what Christ is revealing. They obviously also do not put this verse with Christ’s Matthew 24:9 explanation.
This description is not literal, but rather is symbolic, as is much of Revelation. No one believes that the four horses are literal. It is obvious that they are symbolic and part of a vision. A consistent standard must be used, without randomly picking and choosing which passages are literal and which are part of the vision.
In vision, John was shown a preview of a future event (“hereafter,” 4:1). Since John was “in the spirit” as the seals were opened (vs. 2), the events he witnessed were not actually occurring when he saw them. They were heavenly previews of things that would happen later on earth.
Upon the opening of the fifth seal (Rev. 6:9), John “saw under [at the base of] the altar the souls of them that were slain.”
Remember, in the vision, John was shown the future. A long period of martyrdom had taken place (up to and through the Middle Ages). A later one (the Great Tribulation) is yet to happen in our time. The souls who were already “slain” were martyred Christians throughout the ages. These earlier martyrs were told to “rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (vs. 11).
Many of God’s people in the end time have partially drifted away from being as close to Him, or as on fire for His truth and His Work as they should be. They have not been praying, studying, fasting, meditating and seeking Him on a daily basis as they should. This has allowed many to be deceived, and to fall into various false doctrines. Only the Tribulation will awaken these brethren—and even then only about half (Matt. 25:1-12)!
During the Tribulation, there will be a great religious persecution. Christ was very specific about this in Matthew 24: “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [lawlessness—occurring worldwide] shall abound, the love [Rom. 13:10; I John 5:3] of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved...For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be...For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (vs. 10-13, 21, 24).
The elect must remain on guard!
This is a very specific prophecy about great deception that seduces “many.” The “souls under the altar” await God’s punishment of the great governmental power that persecuted them, when God “avenges [their] blood.”
All true but lukewarm Christians will have to suffer this final martyrdom (Rev. 3:14-22). Those faithful Christians who were previously killed must continue to “rest” (remain “asleep” in their graves—Eph. 5:14; I Cor. 11:30) until others join them in this final martyrdom.
The “souls” (dead saints) crying “avenge our blood” (Rev. 6:10) is akin to Abel’s blood (his life—note Lev. 17:14) crying to God from the earth (Gen. 4:10). Since neither blood nor the dead talk (Psa. 115:17; Ecc. 9:5, 10), the meaning is symbolic, not literal.
In Matthew 24:9-10, Christ was actually describing a final martyrdom yet to occur among His people. Therefore, the “souls under the altar” represent those awaiting a future martyrdom of lukewarm saints. They are those of the seventh and last era (Laodicea) referenced earlier, and described in Revelation 3:14-22.
Invasion and Captivity
The Tribulation will also include the invasion and captivity of the “ten lost tribes” of the modern-day descendants of Israel, and Judah (the modern nation of Israel).
Recognize that God often works prophetically through the principle of DUALITY. Many prophecies work in this way. For instance, I Corinthians 15:21-22 shows that Adam was a type of Christ, and vice-versa.
Most everyone is unaware that some prophecies have first a former, then a typical and, lastly, a final great fulfillment. This causes terrible problems for those trying to understand and explain prophecies. The results are always mixed up and confused.
In Matthew 24:2, Christ prophesied that the temple would be completely destroyed, with not one stone remaining. This occurred in A.D. 69-70 to the nation of Judah, as an early type of a final, great staggering fulfillment at the end of the age.
Here is how Christ described this final fulfillment of national invasion, war and captivity: “But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:23-24).
This describes a time of truly great fear, terror and horror for the modern peoples and nations of Israel. (Read our free book America and Britain in Prophecy to learn more about who and where these peoples are now, and why they are prophesied to go through such great national punishment.)
We must now examine an inset of the prophecy that precedes and leads up to the Great Tribulation. It explains why you are reading this booklet: “And this gospel of the KINGDOM shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the END come” (Matt. 24:14).
The true gospel is about the kingdom of God. Men have devised many false gospels, but Christ preached a message about a soon-coming, world-ruling government to be established at His Return. This Work is preaching this marvelous truth, and about how God’s perfect spiritual Law will soon be established in all nations. This is the wonderful good news referenced earlier—the word “gospel” means good news. When our task is complete, “then shall the end come”! (Read our free booklet Which Is the True Gospel?)
The world now knows nothing of God’s Law because it has rejected the true God. This has left it cut off from Him (Isa. 59:1-2; Jer. 5:25). As a result, terrible punishment must occur before God’s kingdom is established.
Though there is still time for announcing God’s kingdom, it will soon run out. Some few will yet turn to God as a result of this Work, which is a direct fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:14. May you “hear and understand” while there is yet time (Luke 21:36)!
The Sixth Seal—HEAVENLY SIGNS
Next comes the sixth seal—the HEAVENLY, or astronomical, SIGNS: “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; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind” (Rev. 6:12-13).
How do we know that the Heavenly Signs come directly on the heels of the Great Tribulation? Here are Christ’s words: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matt. 24:29).
This is an almost verbatim, phrase-by-phrase description of Revelation 6:12-13. The parallel is unmistakable. Christ has again interpreted the sixth seal, and its timing, for us. The phrase “immediately after the tribulation” removes all doubt about when the Heavenly Signs occur.
The arrival of the Heavenly Signs heralds a great overall change in the direction—and speed—of events. This is understood by continuing in Revelation 6, a few verses later. Notice: “For the GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; and who shall be able to stand?” (vs. 17).
There it is in plain English. The Day of the Lord, or Day of God’s Wrath, follows the sixth seal. Heaven and earth are shaken! This time reveals God’s AWESOME POWER! It is comparable to nothing that has ever happened before, or will ever happen again.
The prophet Joel was speaking of this time when God’s awesome power and great Wrath will be displayed when he said, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the great and dreadful Day of the Lord come” (2:31).
Some have claimed that these signs have already occurred. This is impossible! Matthew 24 makes plain that they all follow—not precede—the Tribulation. In addition, when they occur, they are either immediately followed by or accompany the sign of Christ’s Coming (vs. 29-30).
The terrible period of God’s Wrath is foretold to last an ENTIRE YEAR—after the initial two and a half years of the Tribulation. Here is how Isaiah described it: “For it is the Day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the YEAR of recompenses for the controversy of Zion” (34:8). Jeremiah refers to this period as “the
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