To avoid being lost in many details, I’m going to provide you with an overview of the book of Revelation. We will not balk ourselves down with characters and personalities mentioned in the book. We are, however, going to take note that our text verse is Jesus giving instruction to John. He said to write things that have been, the things that are, and the things that shall be. That means the things that have been is their conversation with the instructions from Christ to John. The things that are includes 1: 20 through 3: 22 which is our Lord’s letter to the seven churches located in Asia minor or today Turkey. Then follows the bulk of the book prophesying what will happen on earth and in heaven after the rapture.
There were churches located in such a way that if you took a horseshoe and laid it on its left side, that would be the trail of a mail route that begins with Ephesus and concludes with the church at Laodicea. The expectation was that all of these letters would be shared with all the other churches. The church of Smyrna and the church of Philadelphia received no complaints from Christ but consolation.
It is believed by most conservative scholars that chapter 4 verse 1 is the logical place where the rapture would occur. Then would follow the description of the throne of God and those who will give to him glory and honor and thanks with worship. What follows are events that initiate what happens on earth as a result of man’s rejection and God’s response. There is a seven sealed book taken by Christ. Parenthetically there are Jews and Gentiles who become saved during the tribulation according to chapter 7. Then there are seven trumpets blown that initiate other curses on the earth followed by other identified events on the earth.
Then another parenthetical passage in chapter 12 describes Satan’s fall and his attempted persecution of Christ with Satan persecuting certain Jews. Two beasts appear in chapter 13, the second of which is mentioned with the name 666. Another parenthetical passage in chapter 14 discusses 144,000 who will be redeemed from the earth without harm. At chapter 15 verse 7 judgments are presented with curses on the earth. Chapter 17 mentions a great whore which is the apostate Christendom that is described as Babylon and overthrown by the Lamb followed by rejoicing in heaven over the beasts’ destruction in chapter 19. On to chapter 21 and chapter 22 with a new heaven and earth and new Jerusalem is discovered.
Now to the point I’m trying to make after we noticed all these things. What is happening during the tribulation on earth when they who know Christ as Savior are in heaven? As the Scripture says, peace will be taken from the earth and people will kill one another. Next there will be worldwide famine with people dying and one fourth of the earth suffering. Those that have accepted Christ as Savior during the tribulation will be persecuted. There will be a great earthquake when the sun is blackened and the moon becomes red. Stars of heaven will fall onto the earth, which I think are meteorites. During this time people will try to find shelter even if it means to hide in a cave. Suddenly there will be an eerie silence for 30 minutes. Following that, there will be hail and fire mingled with blood so that one third of trees and grass was burned up. At chapter 8 it appears will be a volcanic eruption affecting the ocean killing the creatures in it causing blood to appear on the waters. Not to make matters worse, another meteorite will fall polluting one third of the water causing people to die. Outerspace is affected with the moon and sun and the stars darkened. A larger meteorite falls blocking out the sun because of the smoke. It will become so desperate that men will desire to die. Death will overcome one third of the population on earth. Even so, unbelievers remain persistent without repentance.
Two men called witnesses will stand forth with prophecy and harm against mankind causing it not to rain and polluting the waters with plagues accompanying their actions. By this time bodies will be laying in the streets. As the book of Revelation proceeds, anger and wrath permeates over the lands while rewards are given to the righteous. Idolatry prevails resulting in war against the saints. By this time a mark of the unrighteous is required for them to be able to buy and sell. It’s not specifically stated, Babylon will fall. However, some scholars believe it is the description of Catholicism or some other form of ritualized Christendom. Babylon could also be the international commerce system.
The battle of Armageddon will follow that is so great that man’s blood will be deep enough to reach the horses’ bridle. God’s wrath against evil intensifies. Those that took the mark of the beast will find noisome and grievous sores upon their bodies. The ocean and the rivers will be polluted. The heat of the sun will intensify scorching humankind perhaps by sunbursts or the earth twirling out of its rotation. Pain and sores will be rampant for the unbelievers who did not repent. Confusion will reign with thunder and lightning and great earthquakes such as never had been experienced. Islands will sink. Mountains will crumble.
All of these are occurring during the seven-year tribulation that will occur while in heaven what is called the marriage supper of the Lamb occurs. This is a celebration for salvation in the work of Jesus Christ. It is also a time of worship with the probability of rewards given to those who are believers. Suddenly, heaven will open and Jesus will come to the earth with those that have been raptured seven years earlier. He will be called the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. As a result of the monumental slaying of those who oppose Christ, their dead bodies will be eaten by the gathering of birds. As the seven-year period closes, the creatures called the beast, the false prophet, and the living image will be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone forever accompanying them will be those still alive, but who oppose Christ. Satan will also be cast into the bottomless pit shut up for a thousand years. After that Satan will be loosed to gather up those nations and peoples who still oppose God. An assault will be waged against Jerusalem, but the enemies of God will be destroyed, and Satan once again will be cast into hell. The resurrection will occur for the purpose of judging that is called the great white throne judgment so that the dead not found in the book of life will be cast into hell facing eternal judgment. The end result will be God’s creation renovated on earth and in heaven so that heaven will take place on earth. Revelation 21: 4 says, “and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” In the last chapter of this book Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly.” The book concludes with a warning that no man should add to the Scriptures or take away from the Scriptures because God will curse him.
So is the overview of the book of Revelation. So is a general observation of what is prophesied to happen on earth and in heaven. So is the invitation open to all who will receive Christ as Savior so they may find their name written in the book of life.
Christian Writer 