Part 8 of 12 / The Great Tribulation - God's Judgement & Mercy

The Four Horsemen

Introduction: A Time Of Unprecedented Trials

The Bible speaks of a seven-year period known as the Tribulation, and within it, the last 3.5 years are called the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). This is a time of unparalleled suffering, natural disasters, persecution, and spiritual testing.

While the Great Tribulation is often viewed with fear, Scripture presents it as both God's judgment on a rebellious world and an opportunity for repentance and salvation. Understanding this period strengthens our faith, gives urgency to evangelism, and helps us live ready for Christ's Return.

Scriptural Foundation

"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again." - Matthew 24:21

"Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days." - Revelation 12:6

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." - Revelation 12:11

What Is The Great Tribulation?

1. A Time Of Global Judgment

The Great Tribulation is marked by the Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl Judgments in Revelation 6-16.

The Opening Of The Seals (Revelation 6:1-8:5)

• Seals (Revelation Chapter 6) - War, Famine, Death, & Persecution.

  
  

  • First Seal / The White Horse = Conqueror.

    • Revelation 6:1-2, "Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer."

      
      

  • Second Seal / The Red Horse = No Peace.

    • Revelation 6:3-4, "When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him."

      
      

  • Third Seal / The Black Horse = Famine.

    • Revelation 6:5-6, "When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come !” I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”

      
      

  • Fourth Seal / The Pale Horse = Disaster For 1/4 _ 25% Of The Earth.

    • Revelation 6:7-8, "When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth."

      
      

  • Fifth Seal / The Martyrs = White Robes Given For Those Killed For Christ.

    • Revelation 6:9-11, "When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth?” And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also."

      
      

  • Sixth Seal / The Earthquake = Black Sun, Red Moon, Falling Stars.

    • Revelation 6:12-14, ""And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place."

    
    

  • Seventh Seal / Seven Angels With Trumpets & Angel With Golden Incense Burner

    • Revelation 8:1-5, "When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake."

• The Blowing Of The Trumpets (Revelation 8:6-11:19)

• Trumpets (Revelation Chapters 8 - 11) - War, Famine, Death, & Persecution.

  
  

  • First Trumpet / Hail, Fire, & Blood, 1/3 Of The Earth Burned.

    • Revelation 8:6-7, ""And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. The first sounded, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."

      
      

  • Second Trumpet / Fiery Mountain Into The Sea, 1/3 Of Sea Becomes Blood.

    • Revelation 8:8-9, "The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed."

      
      

  • Third Trumpet / Star Falls On 1/3 Of The Rivers.

    • Revelation 8:10-11, "The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The star is named Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter."

      
      

  • Fourth Trumpet / 1/3 Of The Sun, Moon, & Stars Fall Dark.

    • Revelation 8:12, "The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way."

      
      

  • Fifth Trumpet / Demonic Locusts From The Pit Released.

    • Revelation 9:1-12, "Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him. He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the shaft. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them! The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like human faces. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months. They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things."

      
      

  • Sixth Trumpet / 200 Million Manned Army Marches Destroying Anything In Their Path.

    • Revelation 9:13-21, "Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw in my vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire, of hyacinth, and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths *came fire and smoke and brimstone. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire, the smoke, and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands so as not to worship demons and the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders, nor of their witchcraft, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts."

    
    

  • Seventh Trumpet / Proclamation.

    • Revelation 11:15-19, "Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “ T he kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “ W e give You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm."

• The Bowls Of Wrath Poured Out Upon The Earth (Revelation 8:6-11:19)

• Bowls (Revelation Chapters 15:1-8 - 16:1-21) - The Final Seven Plagues

  
  

  • First Bowl / Painful Sores Upon Human Bodies.

    • Revelation 16:2, "So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image."

      
      

  • Second Bowl / Turns Sea Into Blood.

    • Revelation 16:3, "The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died."

      
      

  • Third Bowl / Turns All Rivers & Springs Into Blood.

    • Revelation 16:4-7, "Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

      
      

  • Fourth Bowl / Sun Burns Population Of The Earth With Vast Fire.

    • Revelation 16:8-9, ""And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given power to scorch people with fire. And the people were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory."

      
      

  • Fifth Bowl / Plunges Kingdom Of The Beast Into Complete Darkness.

    • Revelation 16:10-11, ""And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds."

      
      

  • Sixth Bowl / Euphrates River Is Dried Completely, Final Armageddon Being Prepared.

    • Revelation 16:12-16, "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon."

    
    

  • Seventh Bowl / Judgment Against Babylon: "It Is Done!"

    • Revelation 16:17-21, "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since mankind came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island fled, and no mountains were found. And huge hailstones, weighing about a talent each, came down from heaven upon people; and people blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because the hailstone plague was extremely severe."

This period of time exposes humanity's sinfulness and God's justice while preparing the world for His ultimate Kingdom, the Millennial Kingdom.

2. Persecution Of Believers

The Antichrist and False Prophet target God's people. Revelation 13:7 emphasizes that the saints will face severe persecution, and many will be martyred for their faith. Despite this, believers are given strength through the Holy Spirit:

• Revelation 12:11, ""And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

  
  

• Revelation 12:6, 14, "Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent."

3. The Role Of Israel

The Tribulation is also a period of national testing for Israel:

Daniel describes the Antichrist breaking his covenant with Israel at the 3.5 midpoint.

• Daniel 9:27, ""And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”

Zechariah through prophetic significance of Israel having a strong spiritual awakening and a nation-wide repentance.

• Zechariah Chapters 12-14

God's faithfulness to His covenant ensures Israel will play a central role in the end-time plan.

4. God's Mercy Amid Judgment

Even during the Great Tribulation, God provides opportunity for salvation:

• Many will repent and accept Christ (Revelation 7:9-14)

  
  

• Believers are spiritually strengthened, and the faithful overcome by perseverance.

  
  

  • NOTE - These are individuals who were left behind because either they (1 - did not believe in Jesus Christ) or (2 - were stagnant believers and lacked a relationship with Christ). Many of these individuals who will be saved and then martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ will because of the 144,000 Jews who bring about revival due to be taught by the Two Witnesses God sends to thwart the Antichrists agenda. These are NOT believers currently living on the earth who are Raptured.

  
  

• The Tribulation is both a test of faith and a witness to God's glory.

Timeline Within The Tribulation

1. First 3.5 Years / False 7 Year Peace Established By The Antichrist Global Deception

2. Midpoint / Covenant With Israel Broken, Abomination Of Desolation Fulfilled

3. Great Tribulation Last 3.5 Years / Intensified Persecution, Natural Disasters, Plagues, & God's Wrath Upon The Earth For Sinful Disobedience

4. End Of Tribulation / Second Coming Of Christ At The End Of Armageddon, Defeat Of The Antichrist & False Prophet

Living In The Light Of The Great Tribulation

Even though this period is terrifying, Scriptures calls believers to:

First: Remain Steadfast

• Revelation 2:10, "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “ N ow the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night."

Second: Trust In God's Protection

• Revelation 12:6, "Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days."

Third: Bear Witness Boldly

• Revelation 12:11, ""And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

For Believers Today: Understand The Tribulation Encourages Three Areas

First: Spiritual Vigilance

Second: Commitment To Evangelism

Third: Comfort That God's Justice & Mercy Prevail

Summary

• The Great Tribulation is a 3.5 year period of unprecedented suffering during the 7 year Tribulation.

• It includes global judgments, persecution of believers, and the rise of the Antichrist.

• Israel will be tested but ultimately restored.

• God's mercy ensures a faithful remnant is preserved 144,000 Jews, and salvation is offered even during judgment.

Reflection & Discussion

1. How does understanding the Great Tribulation help you view current world events?

2. What does scripture teach us about preserving under extreme trials?

3. How can we prepare spiritual for Christ's return, knowing difficult times may come?

Prayer For This Week

Father, we Thank You for revelaing the truth about the Great Tribulation. Though it is a time of trial, we trust in Your justice and mercy. Strengthen us to remain faithful, courageous, and watchful, even in the face of persecution. Help us to witness boldly and encourage one another with the hope of Christ's return. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Until Next Week ~ Maranatha ~ Come Lord Jesus!