>Page 2

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE LEFT BEHIND AT THE RAPTURE?

THE TRIBULATION

    While the "Tribulation Period" shall last for about seven years, as to its severity it will be divided into two parts of three and a half years each. The second or last part so far exceeding in its severity the first part as to be known as

"The GREAT TRIBULATION"

    If we want to know about what is to happen during the Tribulation, all we have to do is to read and study the Book of Revelation from Rev. 6:1 to 19:21.

    As the Dragon is cast out of the Heavenlies in chapter 12, and he is cast out in the "Middle of the Week," it follows that chapters 6 to 11 inclusive cover the "First Half" of the Week, or 3 1/2 years, and chapters 13 to 19 inclusive the "Second Half."

    The "Week" begins with the breaking of the "Seals."

    First Seal. Rev. 6:1, 2.

    A "White Horse" appears, the Rider of which is uncrowned at first, but is afterward crowned. He has a bow in his hand, and goes forth conquering. This rider is not Christ. Christ as the Lamb, is holding and breaking the "seals" of the Book. He does not appear as a White Horse Rider until chapter 19.

    The "Rider" is the Antichrist, and pictures him before he is crowned and becomes the Chief Ruler of the "Ten Federated Kingdoms" of the revived Roman Empire. He is the "Prince who is to come," and who shall "confirm the Covenant" with the Jews for "one week." Dan.9:26,27.

Second Seal.  Rev. 6:3, 4.

    A "Red Horse" appears, the Rider of which as power to take peace from the earth. The symbolism is clear. Red, the color of the horse, is a symbol of "blood," and the sword of "war." The time is clearly that prophesied by Christ. Matt. 24: 6,7. The outcome of these wars will probably be the "The Kingdom Federation" over which Antichrist shall become the head.

Third Seal.  Rev. 6: 5, 6.

    A "Black Horse" appears, the Rider of which holds a pair of scales in his hand and a  voice cries - "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." The meaning is clear. When all able-bodied men are drafted for war, the fields remain untilled and "famine" follows, just as Christ prophesied. Matt. 24:7. The olive and the grape do not need cultivation, so their ruthless destruction is forbidden.

Fourth Seal.  Rev. 6: 7, 8.

    A "Pale Horse" appears the Rider of which is "Death." It is noteworthy that the Riders of the first three horses are not named. They will be recognized when they appear.

    Hell (Hades) follows in the wake of "Death" ready to swallow up his victims caused by war and famine.

Fifth Seal.  Rev. 6: 9-11.

    When the Fifth Seal was broken John saw the "souls of martyrs" under the Altar. These Martyrs, whose "souls" John saw are not the Martyrs of "past ages;" they were taken up with the Church, but the Martyrs who will be killed for the "Word of their Testimony, and who love not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:11), during the Tribulation. After the Church is caught out the preaching of the "Gospel of the Kingdom" will be resumed. Matt. 24:14. As it is a proclamation that Christ is about to set up an "Earthly Kingdom," it will be exceedingly distasteful to Antichrist and his followers, and a "Great Persecution" will follow. Matt. 24: 9-13. It is the "souls" of the martyrs of this Persecution that John saw under the Altar.

    They asked that their death should be avenged, but were told to rest for a "little season" until they were joined by their fellow servants and brethren who should die as they did. The promise is fulfilled in Rev. 20:4.

Sixth Seal.  Rev. 6: 12-17

    When the Sixth Seal is broken great "physical changes" will occur on the earth. Joel 2:30, 31;  Matt. 24:29; Isa. 13:9-11. So terrible will these changes be that men will call upon the mountains and rocks to fall and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. The 24th chapter of Matthew should be compared with Rev. 6: 1-17.

    Between the breaking of the "Sixth" and "Seventh" Seals there will be a pause or interval, during which 144,000 of the Children of Israel, 12,000 from each of the Twelve Tribes, will be "sealed." As there were 7000 in Ahab's time who would not bow the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18), so in the Tribulation there shall be 144,000 of Israel who will not bow the knee to Antichrist. They are "sealed" by an angel, and the "Seal" is the imprint of the "Father's Name" on their foreheads. Rev. 14:1; 22:4.

    Then John saw a

"Blood Washed Multitude."  Rev. 7: 9-17.

    This introduces us to another class of saved of the "End Time." They are not the Church, for they come out of the "Great Tribulation." They are probably Gentiles who accept Christ as their Saviour after the Church is caught out. They are saved and shall serve God in His Heavenly Temple, and never hunger or thirst any more, but they are not part of the Church and shall not participate in any Millennial blessings on the earth.

Seventh Seal.  Rev. 8:1.

    At the breaking of the "Seventh Seal" there will be silence in Heaven" for a limited period. This will be a period of preparation for the greater conflict to follow.

MUCH MORE TO COME

    The Seventh Seal includes the "Seven Trumpets"

First Trumpet. Rev. 8:7

    When the "First Trumpet" sounds "hail" and "fire mingled with blood" will be cast upon the earth and a "third part of the trees" and "all green grass" will be "burnt up."

Second Trumpet. Rev 8: 8, 9.

    Then the "Second Trumpet" sounds a "burning mountain," probably a Meteor, will fall into the Sea (Mediterranean) and will destroy a "third part of the creatures of the sea" and a "third part of the ships."

Third Trumpet.  Rev, 8: 10, 11.

    When the "Third Trumpet" sounds a "great burning star," called "Wormwood," will fall from the heavens and poison the streams of fresh water.

Fourth Trumpet.  Rev. 8: 12.

    When the "Fourth Trumpet" sounds the "third part" of the sun, moon and stars will be smitten and their light diminished a "third."

Fifth Trumpet. Rev. 9: 1-12.

    The "Fifth Trumpet", which is also the "First Woe" will be "The Plague of Locusts."

Sixth Trumpet.  Rev 9: 13-21.

    The "Sixth Trumpet", which is also the "Second Woe" will be "The Plague of Horsemen," which involves an army of 200,000,000.

Seventh Trumpet.  Rev. 11: 15-19.

    The "Seventh Trumpet", which is also the "Third Woe" includes all that follows down to the end of chapter nineteen. We must not forget in our study of the Book of Revelation that the "Seventh Seal" includes the "Seven Trumpets" and the "Seven Vials," and that the "Seventh Trumpet" includes the "Seven Vials," for the "Seventh Seal," and the "Seventh Trumpet," and the "Seventh Vial" all end alike with "voices," "thunderings," "lightnings" and an "earthquake." Rev. 8:5, 11:19, 16:18.

    The "Seventh Trumpet" includes the "Seven Vials".

First Vial. Rev. 16: 1,2

    When the "First Vial" is poured out a "noisome and grievous sore" will fall upon the men who have the "Mark of the Beast," and who "worship his image."

Second Vial. Rev. 16: 3.

    When the "Second Vial" is poured out, the sea (Mediterranean) will become as the "blood of a dead man."

Third Vial. Rev. 16: 4-7

    When the "Third Vial" is poured out the" rivers" and "fountains of water" will become "blood."

Fourth Vial. Rev 16: 8,9.

    When the "Fourth Vial" is poured out men will be "scorched with great heat."

Fifth Vial.  Rev. 16: 10,11.

    When the "Fifth Vial" is poured out there will be "darkness" over the whole kingdom of the "Beast," and men will gnaw their tongues for pain."

Sixth Vial.  Rev. 16:12.

    When the "Sixth Vial" is poured out the river Euphrates will be dried up so the kings of thee East and their armies may cross over and gather for the great Battle of Armageddon.

Seventh Vial.   Rev. 16: 17-21.

    When the "Seventh Vial" is poured out a "great voice," probably the voice of the One who cried on the Cross - "It is Finished," will cry - "It is Done," and there will be a "Great Earthquake" that will divide into three parts the "Great City" and the cities of the nations (the 10 Federated Nations), and "Great Babylon" that shall be rebuilt by that time, and whose destruction by an earthquake is foretold in chapter eighteen, will fall. This earthquake is foretold by the prophet Zechariah. Zech. 14: 4, 5.

Battle of Armageddon.

Rev. 19: 11-21.

    The "Tribulation period" will close with the great "Battle of Armageddon." As we have seen the armies of the East and the West will be assembled in the Holy Land by the "Demon Spirits" that shall be sent forth from the mouths of the 'Satanic Trinity." The field of battle will be the 'Valley of Megiddo," located in the heart of Palestine, the battlefield of the great battles of the Old Testament. The forces engaged will be the Allied Armies" of Antichrist on the one side, and the "heavenly Army" of Christ on the other.

    The issue of the "Battle of Armageddon" will never be in doubt. Before the destruction of the army of Antichrist, he and the False Prophet will be cast "alive" into the "Lake of Fire." This shows that they are not "Systems" but Persons," and as Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven without dying, so Antichrist and the False prophet will be cast into the "lake of Fire" without dying, and will be still there and alive when Satan is cast in a 1000 years later.

    Before Antichrist is seized and cast into the "Lake of Fire," Satan will make his exit from his person, and after the battle is over, Satan will be bound and cast into the "Bottomless Pit," where he will be "sealed up" for 1000 years. This is the culminating act of the "Tribulation Period."