God’s true saints–His “remnant,” His “peculiar jewels”–have been taken to a place of safety.  For 2000 years the four horsemen have run roughshod over the earth, spreading their curses over those who refused to obey the One Who sent them.  For the past 2 1/2 years, called the Great Tribulation, Satan has tormented those left behind when the Lord took His church to “her place.”  These include the billions who had called themselves “the church” and bragged that they could sin and get away with it.  An overpowering, world ruling government, Biblically known as the “Beast,” now reigns supreme over mankind.  A second “beast,” called the False Prophet, has forced all people into his world-wide church upon the threat of death at the hands of the first Beast.

Six seals have been removed.  The opening of the sixth seal has given the tormented masses a short reprieve following the previous 2 1/2 years which had been filled with terror, destruction and death.  Suddenly God ends the reprieve by displaying His power and wrath which He is about to pour out on the Beast government, its religious system and those who are part of it.  (We will study the two beasts in the next series).  Survivors of the Great Tribulation suddenly realize that what they have recently experienced will pale into nothingness when compared to the next 12 months during which time the Lord will pour out His anger on them for obeying the beasts rather than His Word.  We pick up the narrative with the opening of the seventh seal which will usher in the Day of the Lord, a year-long period described in Joel 2:11 as “great and terrible.”  And the people know what is coming.  In terror they hide in caves and under rocks and pray to them to fall on them so that they will not have to face the Lord and His Christ.  They look to the immediate future in a state of terror, “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who will be able to endure it?” (Rev. 6:16,17).

Revelation 8:1: “And when He (the Lamb) had opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”  Then the Apostle John, in vision, saw seven angels standing before God and being given trumpets which they prepared to sound.  The first trumpet sounded and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood from heaven which fell upon earth’s inhabitants.  This blood, fire and ice storm burned up 1/3 of the trees and all of the grass on earth.  The second trumpet sounded and a great burning mountain was cast into the sea, turning a third of it into blood which killed a third of the fish.  A third part of the ships in the sea were also destroyed.  The third trumpet sounded and a great star called “Wormwood” fell from heaven into a third part of the rivers and fountains on earth and poisoned them.  Many men died from contact with the water.  The fourth angel sounded his trumpet and a third part of the sun, the moon and the stars were darkened, blackening a third part of the day and the night.

Then an angel flew through the air announcing that three “woes” were to follow as the final three angels sounded their trumpets.  The fifth angel sounded and a star, having fallen from heaven, was given the key to the bottomless pit out of which smoke billowed out, darkening even more of the sun and the air.  Along with the smoke came locusts which tormented mankind for five months by stinging them with poison that hurt like the poison of a scorpion strike.  Because of the pain men want to die but death will not come.  One woe has past, two more await to be poured out.

The sixth angel sounded his trumpet and a voice came out of the alter of God, telling the angel to loose four other angels which would kill another third part of mankind with fire, smoke and brimstone.  In spite of all that they had suffered, those who remained alive refused to repent of their sins.  The second “woe” involves the Two Witnesses which were discussed in a previous series titled Revelation: the End of the Age and God’s Two Witnesses.  Use the key word “witnesses” to download the series.  One “woe” remains to be poured out.  It comes quickly.

“And the seventh angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying that the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of the Lord and His Christ Who will reign over them forever.  Christ has returned to earth and has set up the Kingdom of God from which He and His saints will rule–first the earth, then the universe.  See God’s Very Elect: Future Caretakers of the Universe.  Use the key word “caretakers.”

This series has revealed God’s prophetic Word concerning the past 2000 years, the present and the immediate future.  There is more to be learned about what will happen when the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord arrive.  If one is interested in hearing my Scriptural teachings one can go on YouTube and visit my site at proveallthingsofgod.  There are several sites under the heading PROVE ALL THINGS.  My site adds “ofgod” to the title.  My site symbol is a circle with my picture in it.  I hope to see you there.  I offer a listing of my website series titles free of charge.  To request a list one can do so in the “COMMENT” section at the end of each posting, or one can email me directly at lpj4142@gmail.com   I will not contact you following the request unless asked to do so.  I ask of the reader only that he/she study the Scriptures I use in my teachings. L.J.