God has just told John that the effects of the four horsemen was merely the BEGINNING OF SORROWS. Saints no longer have to wonder what will take place following that BEGINNING as God has revealed to us the particulars concerning the world-wide holocaust that is coming. First, we must understand this: The four horsemen began their destructive rides not long after the establishment of the New Covenant Church and have been charging forward ever since, their devastation increasing with the passage of time.

The first horseman–false Christianity–has been growing in power and scope since his first appearing. By the time Paul came on the scene the horseman had done considerable damage to God’s church. Today his efforts are visible throughout the world as Catholicism/Protestantism continues to spread her false religion, false god, false savior and false salvation with increasing efficiency via t.v., easy world travel and the internet. As we prepare to witness the opening of the fifth seal, Jesus warns us about what will happen just prior to its revealing–PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS. In Matthew 24:9 He said: “Then they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.” “They” refers to anyone not affiliated with God’s church. “You” refers to God’s people, His “little flock” (Lk. 12:32)–the “few” who find God’s Way to eternal life (Mat. 7:13,14) and “Walk” it (1 Jn. 2:6). Jesus continues in verses 10-13,21,24: “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 (Gr-lawlessness) shall abound, the love 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 will shew great wonders insomuch that, it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Note that the words “it were” are in italics, meaning that even the very elect can be taken in by Satan.

Secular history reveals the fact that over time ever more devastating famines, diseases and wars have developed globally. Each generation sees the scourge of hunger, plagues and warfare increase exponentially. But remember Jesus’ Words of Matthew 24:8–we’ve only been introduced to trouble. Now God will reveal to us what real troubles look like.

“And when He had opened the fifth seal I saw under the alter 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, dost Thou 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 fellowservants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Rev. 6:9-11). Millions of God’s saints have been martyred over the past 2000 years. Here they are asking Jesus when He would take vengeance on their murderers. He replies that there will be another season of martyrdom for His people that will come about just prior to His return to earth. As we will see, these will die during the Great Tribulation when they will acknowledge the error of their ways, embrace Jesus and pay the ultimate price for doing so. Many, if not most, of these martyrs will be church people who rejected God’s Truth presented to them by His ministers. Their rejection of Him will literally cost them their heads.

Now let us look at another Word Jesus spoke concerning the time just before His return. “And THIS GOSPEL of the kingdom shall go forth for a witness unto all nations, and THEN the end will come” (Mat. 24:14). Here is another sign that His return is near–HIS TRUE GOSPEL would be preached throughout the world just before He returns to set up the Kingdom of God on earth. Satan’s false gospel (Gal. 1:6-9) has been preached throughout the world by Word/God-rejecting Counterfeit Church for the past 1700 years. Jesus said that just before the end of the age God’s True Gospel–the good news of the coming Kingdom of God–would be preached in all nations. That gospel has been preached throughout the world for some 80 years by a minutely small number of ministers. But few have chosen to believe it. Having their itching ears scratched by false prophets who told them what they wanted to hear (see the introduction to this website), church masses have summarily rejected God’s message. As Jesus prophesied, only a few would “find” His strait gate and walk His narrow way leading to salvation. Some of those will be the martyrs mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11 at the opening of the fifth seal. God’s answer to their “how long” question brings the Great Depression to an end. Then what? For the answer turn to Matthew 24:29. To be continued. L.J.