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Scripture Reading: Rev. 12:14; Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6; Matt. 28:20; 13:39-40, 49; 24:3; Dan. 12:13; Rev. 20:11-15; Dan. 9:24; Rev. 3:10; 6:12-17; 7:1-17; 8:7-13; 9:1-21; 12:9, 11-17; 10:1-7; 11:1-15; 20:4-6; 14:14-20; 1 Cor. 15:22; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 11:18c; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 19:5-21; 15:1-4, 7-8; 16:1-21; 17:12-14; 20:1-3; 14:6-7, 9-11; Matt. 25:31-33, 41-46; Rev. 13:1-18; 14:8, 12; Dan. 12:11-12; Joel 2:14
Thus far in our fellowship, we have seen the prophecy of the four “sevens” in the Bible—the last seven years of the present age (the last week of the seventy weeks), the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls. The last week of the seventy weeks, the final seven years of this present age, are very crucial, but actually nearly all the crucial matters will be crowded into the last three and a half years. This is why we need to see the events in the last three and a half years of this present age and the great tribulation of the three and a half years.
The three and a half years, called “a time and times and half a time” in Revelation 12:14 as a quotation from Daniel 7:25 and 12:7, equals forty-two months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5) or a thousand two hundred and sixty days (11:3; 12:6).
These three and a half years mentioned in Daniel and Revelation will be the consummation (end) of the present age (Matt. 28:20; 13:39-40, 49; 24:3; Dan. 12:13). The word consummation means that there is a process that will be brought to completion or fulfillment.
The last three and a half years are for the Lord, on the negative side, to clear away all the negative persons and things, leaving only the dead unbelievers and the demons to be cleared away through the judgment at the great white throne after the millennial kingdom (Rev. 20:11-15). The world is becoming more evil as time goes on. It is full of evil persons and evil things. In the last three and a half years the Lord will use a “universal broom” to sweep away all the negative things on the earth. Only the dead unbelievers and the demons will be left to be judged after the millennium at the great white throne and to be cast into the lake of fire.
The last three and a half years will be for the Lord, on the positive side, to bring in His eternal kingdom and the eternal righteousness (11:15; Dan. 9:24). When the Lord returns and the age is consummated, there will be no more unrighteousness. The earth today has really been corrupted. There is no present remedy to its unrighteous and evil situation. Eventually, however, the Lord will sweep away all the evil persons and things into the lake of fire. Then there will be the eternal kingdom of Christ with His righteousness, which is the righteousness of the ages, the eternal righteousness.
According to the Lord’s promise to the overcomers in Revelation 3:10—that the overcomers will be kept out of the hour of trial, which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth—the rapture of the overcomers, both the man-child in Revelation 12 and the firstfruits in Revelation 14, must be before the sixth seal, the supernatural calamities on the earth and on the heavens (6:12-17). After further study I believe that it is not reasonable to believe that the Lord would leave His overcomers to pass through the supernatural calamities of the sixth seal. Furthermore, according to Joel 2:30-31, there will not be much difference in time between the sixth seal and the first five trumpets (Rev. 9:1-11). Joel 2:30-31 first has the “blood” of the first and second trumpets, the “fire” of the first, second, and third trumpets (Rev. 8:7-10), the “smoke” of the fifth trumpet (9:1-3), and then the “sun” and “moon” of the sixth seal (6:12). Revelation 9:4 compared with 7:3 indicates that the fifth trumpet is very close to the sixth seal. The first five trumpets are a direct continuation of the sixth seal. Therefore, the sixth seal is the initiation of the great tribulation and should be considered as a part of “the hour of trial.” The overcomers will be raptured before the sixth seal.
The initiation of the great tribulation, as the supernatural calamities that take place in the sixth seal, may occur immediately before the three and a half years or just at the beginning of the three and a half years.
One hundred forty-four thousand of God’s chosen Israelites will be sealed before the opening of the seventh seal, to preserve them from the plagues of the seven trumpets (7:1-8; 9:4b). God is continually taking care of Israel in spite of their present unbelief. In the restoration of the nation of Israel, which began in 1948, the Jews returned to their fathers’ land in unbelief. They will become as sinful as Sodom (cf. Isa. 1:9-10; 3:9; Jer. 23:14) and as worldly as Egypt (Rev. 11:8; cf. Ezek. 23:3, 8, 19, 27) until the return of Christ, their Messiah, when “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26). Before the opening of the seventh seal, God will seal all the Israelites whom He intends to preserve.
The record of a great multitude standing before God’s throne and before the Lamb in Revelation 7:9-17, given immediately after the sixth seal, implies that the rapture of the believers should begin before the opening of the sixth seal. This record presents a picture in a general way of all of God’s people raptured to heaven from the time before the sixth seal to their enjoyment in eternity. This is a vision inserted between the sixth and seventh seals.
The first four trumpets, consisting of the four aspects of the intensified supernatural calamities on the earth and on the heavens (8:7-12), will take place at the very beginning of the three and a half years, as a direct continuation of the sixth seal, the initiation of the supernatural calamities, and will probably all be trumpeted on the same day.
The last three trumpets will be the three woes (v. 13). The calamities of the first four trumpets will touch only the earth and heaven, whereas the woes of the last three trumpets will hurt man’s body.
The fifth trumpet, as the first woe, will be brought in by Satan, who as a star will fall out of heaven to the earth at the beginning of the three and a half years and will collaborate with Antichrist, the angel of the abyss, to torment men by the demon-possessed locusts for five months (9:1-11; 12:9, 11-12).
The sixth trumpet, as the second woe, will be the plague of the four angels who are released from their bonds at the great river Euphrates to kill the third part of men for thirteen months, one day, and one hour, by two hundred million horsemen (9:12-21). These thirteen months plus the five months of the fifth trumpet will be one and a half years of the three and a half years of the great tribulation. The locusts of the fifth trumpet only torment men for five months, whereas the two hundred million horsemen kill the third part of men. This means that the woe of the sixth trumpet is more severe than that of the fifth.
Christ will come to the air probably before the trumpeting of the seventh trumpet (10:7a), for the purpose of taking full possession of the earth (vv. 1-7). He will come down to the air and get everything ready so that He can come to the earth directly to take full possession of it.
The city of Jerusalem will be trampled by Antichrist for forty-two months, that is, a thousand two hundred sixty days, during the great tribulation, and the two witnesses of the Lord will prophesy during that time and will be killed by Antichrist and resurrected to be raptured into Christ’s parousia (presence) in the air (11:1-12).
There will be a great earthquake, the tenth part of the city of Jerusalem will fall because of the earthquake, and seven thousand will be killed in the earthquake (v. 13).
Now we need to see the contents of the seventh trumpet, which will probably be trumpeted on the last day of the three and a half years.
The first item on the positive side is the finishing of God’s mystery. This is declared in Revelation 10:7. Daniel 9:24 says that the seventy weeks were apportioned to seal up vision and prophet. To seal up vision and prophet is to finish the mystery of God. In the church age, the age of grace, everything concerning Christ and the church is a mystery (Eph. 5:32), but when the seventh trumpet is sounded, the age of mystery will be over.
The seventh trumpet includes the rapture of the majority of the believers—the resurrected ones and the remaining ones—into Christ’s parousia (presence) in the air (Rev. 20:4-6; 14:14-16; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes. 4:16-17).
Included in the seventh trumpet is the rapture of the two witnesses into Christ’s parousia (presence) in the air (Rev. 11:12). The two witnesses will probably be raptured on the same day as the majority of the saints. Revelation 12:6 says that the woman, symbolizing the majority of the saints, will be nourished in a place prepared by God for a thousand two hundred sixty days, or three and a half years. Therefore, their rapture must be on the last day of those three and a half years. The two witnesses prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days (11:3), so they must also be raptured on the last day of the three and a half years. Thus, both the majority of the saints and the two witnesses will be raptured on the last day of the great tribulation.
Then there will be the giving of reward to the saints at the judgment seat of Christ in the air (v. 18c; 2 Cor. 5:10). Christ will judge His believers, not concerning their eternal salvation but concerning their dispensational reward.
After the rewarding of the saints, there will be the marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:5-10). Christ will marry the overcomers as His bride.
The above items are the positive side of the seventh trumpet. Now we need to see the negative side.
The seven bowls are the third woe (11:14), the last seven plagues to finish the fury of God (15:1), as God’s most severe judgment on men, the main part of the plagues of the seventh trumpet (15:7—16:1). After the seven bowls God’s fury will be finished.
The first four bowls consist of the four aspects of the most severe supernatural calamities on the earth and on the heavens (vv. 2-9). Thus, supernatural calamities will occur three times: in the sixth seal, the first four trumpets, and the first four bowls. The sixth seal is the initiation of supernatural calamities, the first four trumpets are the intensified supernatural calamities, and the first four bowls are the most severe supernatural calamities. These calamities will damage the earth and the heavens, making the earth an unsuitable place in which to live.
When the fifth bowl is poured out, the kingdom of Antichrist will become darkened (vv. 10-11).
When the sixth bowl is poured out, the great river Euphrates will be dried up, and the way of the kings from the rising of the sun will be prepared (v. 12). In Revelation 9:14-16 we read that the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates will be released to stir up the kings to send their armies, the two hundred million horsemen, and in Revelation 16:12 we are told that at the outpouring of the sixth bowl, the water of the Euphrates will be dried up so that these kings and their armies may pass over it. Hence, the sixth trumpet and the sixth bowl are related to each other.
Then there will be the gathering for the war at Armageddon. This war will be waged by Antichrist, his false prophet, the ten kings, and their armies (vv. 13-16), who will be defeated by Christ and His overcomers (17:12-14; 19:11-21), in the treading of the great winepress of the fury of God (14:17-20; Isa. 63:2-3).
The seventh bowl will be the greatest earthquake and the great hail of the exceedingly great plague (Rev. 16:17-21).
The city of Jerusalem will be divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations will fall (v. 19a).
The physical Babylon the Great, the city of Rome, will be destroyed (v. 19b).
Every island will flee, and the mountains will not be found (v. 20).
The weight of every hailstone will be a talent (v. 21). A talent equals about one hundred pounds.
(All the above positive and negative items of the seventh trumpet should take place on the same day, that is, the last day of the great tribulation.)
The negative side of the seventh trumpet also includes the binding and imprisoning of Satan in the abyss for one thousand years (20:1-3). Following the defeat of Antichrist, Satan will be bound and imprisoned to clear up the rebellious earth so that the kingdom of Christ may come (vv. 4-6).
Another item on the negative side of the seventh trumpet is the casting of the “goats,” those who worship Antichrist and do not receive the eternal gospel, into the lake of fire (14:6-7, 9-11; Matt. 25:31-33, 41-46a). This will occur after the nations are gathered and judged at Christ’s throne of glory.
At the very beginning of the three and a half years of the great tribulation, Satan and his angels will be cast to the earth and will persecute “the woman,” consisting of the majority of the believers (those who remain and have the testimony of Jesus and the Jews who keep the commandments of God), until the end of the great tribulation (Rev. 12:9, 12-13, 15-17).
The remaining believers, “the woman,” will be kept and nourished for a thousand two hundred and sixty days, that is, the three and a half years of the great tribulation, in a place prepared by God, where they will bear the testimony of Jesus (vv. 6, 14, 17). The overcomers will be raptured, and the majority of the living saints will be left to pass through the great tribulation. But God in His mercy will bring them to a place prepared by Him, the “wilderness,” where they will be nourished until the last day of the great tribulation when they will be raptured to Christ’s parousia (presence) in the air. I believe that due to their testimony, some will believe in the Lord Jesus. Their testimony will not be totally in vain. The word nourished means that they will be fed and taken care of by the Lord and somewhat preserved from the plagues of the great tribulation.
Antichrist, as the beast coming out of the sea, will revolt against God and persecute the saints for forty-two months, the entire time of the great tribulation (13:1-10). The sea is the Mediterranean Sea, out of which Antichrist will come. In Revelation 9:11; 11:7; and 17:8 we are told that Antichrist will come up out of the abyss. This indicates that the sea is the mouth of the abyss, because the abyss is in the heart of the earth (Rom. 10:7; Matt. 12:40), and the sea is above the earth. Antichrist will be a very demonic, devilish, and extraordinary person. His spirit, which has been existing in the abyss before he is born, will come up out of the abyss (see footnotes 81, 101, and 111 in Revelation 17, Recovery Version). His body will come from one of the Gentile nations around the Mediterranean Sea. In biblical figure the land signifies the nation of Israel, and the sea signifies the Gentile nations (v. 15).
The false prophet, as another beast coming up out of the earth, will work with Antichrist and seduce the people on the earth to worship Antichrist and his image, and whoever will not worship will be killed (13:11-18). This beast will come “up out of the earth.” Since the earth, the land, signifies the nation of Israel, this “another beast,” the false prophet, will come out of the Jews. He may be Judas Iscariot (John 6:70-71), because after he died, he went to “his own place” (Acts 1:25), not to “his people” as others did (Gen. 25:17; 35:29).
Another angel will fly in mid-heaven and announce to the peoples on the earth the eternal gospel: that they should fear God, give Him glory, and worship Him as the Creator of the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters. At the judgment of Christ at His throne of glory, the peoples who receive this eternal gospel will be considered as “sheep” and will enter into the millennial kingdom to be the citizens, and those who do not receive this gospel will be considered as “goats” and will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 14:6-7; Matt. 25:31-46).
Another angel will follow and announce the fall of the religious Babylon the Great in the early part of the three and a half years of the great tribulation (Rev. 14:8).
Another, a third angel, will follow the first two and warn people during the great tribulation not to worship Antichrist and his image, that they may not be tormented in the lake of fire. This will test the endurance of the saints: the Jews, who keep the commandments of God, and the believers, who keep the faith of Jesus (vv. 9-12).
The believers, the late overcomers, who will overcome the worship of Antichrist and his image and will be resurrected and raptured to the air over the lake of fire, signified by the glassy sea, will sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb to praise God and glorify His name (15:2-4).
In Daniel 12:11-12 one thousand two hundred ninety days and one thousand three hundred thirty-five days are mentioned. One thousand two hundred ninety days refers to the time from Antichrist’s stopping of the offering and sacrifice and his replacing of them with idols to the end of his desolating and defiling of the temple, which will be a thousand two hundred and sixty days (v. 11; Rev. 11:2-3), plus thirty days for the cleansing of the defiled temple. The children of Israel need thirty days to cleanse the devastated and defiled temple. One thousand three hundred thirty-five days will be forty-five days more than one thousand two hundred ninety days, which forty-five days will be for the preparation of the priestly service for the offering and sacrifice, that the blessing of the offering and sacrifice may be recovered for the people of Israel. Daniel 12:12 says, “Blessed is he who waits and reaches the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days!” Joel 2:14 says, “Who knows whether He will turn and repent / And leave a blessing behind Him, / A meal offering and a drink offering / To Jehovah your God?” According to this verse, the blessing is the offerings. Based upon this verse we can say that the forty-five days will be for the preparation of the priestly service to resume the offering of the sacrifices, which has always been a great blessing to the people of Israel.
