Bible prophecy: The seals of judgment and antichrist

Bible End Times Prophecy

The seven seals of judgment, Revelation, Chapters 6 and 8 (see video below)

The antichrist appears on the scene

Candlelight image/Unsplash

Chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation takes us to straight to scenes from the Tribulation, the seven-year period of God’s judgment on the earth. 

The Christian church as such is no longer mentioned again in Revelation – not in any form that we can recognize – until the return of Jesus Christ later in Revelation. 

Israel takes center stage as the judgment period unfolds, and which will have its climax in the cosmic battle led by Jesus Christ and His followers against satan and his evil forces. Everything since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden has been leading up to this moment.

The reason for the apparent absence of the Christian church (the gentiles) has only one possible explanation: the church has been raptured before the Tribulation begins. This is known in Christian circles as the pre-tribulation rapture. Others believe that the rapture will take place in the middle of the Tribulation, right after the first 3 ½ years of judgment. Still others believe the rapture will occur at the end of the Tribulation, or that there will not even be a rapture. (We will look at verses that suggest a pre-Tribulation rapture next time so we can focus this time on the seals of judgment.) See a video of what the rapture may look like:

The rapture

Previously, through John’s portrayal of the End Times, we were given a glimpse of the throne room of God and learned that Jesus Christ was the only one considered worthy to open the scroll and break the seals that detailed the divinely ordained judgments. What John the Apostle prophesied is nothing short of absolute horror and devastation.

Revelation 6:I-2 (NLT): “As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” ² I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.”

The rider on the apocalyptic white horse is considered to be the antichrist, the man that satan will empower and instruct to wage war on the followers of Jesus Christ, those who were left behind after the rapture and who came to salvation, including many Jewish people who initially rejected the idea that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah.

We are not given details in Revelation yet about the antichrist, although references to the “son of perdition,” as he is also known, appear in other passages of the Old and New Testaments.

Over the years, Bible scholars have identified several characteristics of the antichrist, the man whose identity has mystified students of the scriptures for ages:

1. He will claim to be god and demand worship.  2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.

2. He will blaspheme God. Rev 13:6

3. He will demonstrate miracles. Rev. 13:13.

4. He will be “resurrected.” Rev. 13:12; 13.14, 17:8.

5. He will receive complete authority to govern the world. Rev. 13:5,7.

6. His mark and the number of his name will be 666. Rev. 13:18.

7. He will control the world economy. Rev. 13:16-17.

8. He is the man of sin. 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

9. He will deceive the people. Matthew 24:24.

10. There is a mysterious reference to his view of women. Daniel 11:37.

11. He will be an ally of satan. Rev.13:4

12. He will be backed by a false prophet. Rev: 13:11-15.

13. He will defile the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. Matthew 24: 15-21.

14. He will threaten a destructive war against Israel. Dan.11:40-41; 9:27.

15. He will lead armies to fight against God. Rev. 19:19.

16. Hell will be his final destiny. Rev. 20:10.

Next: Continue with the seven seals of judgment

Salvation and Victory

You must be born again to be saved

The sinless Jesus Christ took on the sins of the world AND the punishment for those sins so that we could be saved. 

Today, if you do not know Jesus, receive His free offer of salvation and put all your trust in Him.

John 1:29 (NLT) – “The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

2 Corinthians 6:2 – 

“ For God says,

“At just the right time, I heard you.
    On the day of salvation, I helped you.”

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.”

Acts 2:38 (NLT) – “Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

If you know Jesus, then you too can lead a victorious life

John 15:4 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

1 John 2:16 (NIV) – “For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.

1 John 2:16 (NLT) – “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

Background: John the apostle wrote the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) during his exile in Patmos. He received what appears to be a series of visions about far future events. Jesus instructed him to write down what he saw and send the writing to the seven churches in Asia Minor (region of Turkey today). John was the last surviving member of the 12 apostles that the Lord called to lead the church and its mission. Except for John, by now, when he wrote the Apocalypse, the rest of the apostles had died as martyrs for the faith. The church, however, continued to grow and spread. Persecution caused the early believers to scatter from Jerusalem to other parts of the world. According to church tradition, John lived out his remaining life in Ephesus after he was released from Patmos. 

Shalom!

Diana Washington-Valdez

Faith Today Christian Ministries

Exalting the name of Jesus!