SUPERNATURAL THREEFOLD SERIES OF JUDGMENTS DURING THE TRIBULATION

SUPERNATURAL THREEFOLD SERIES OF JUDGMENTS

   The supernatural aspect gathers about the judgments poured out upon the world during this period. This is the day of the Lord, when Christ, with the seven-sealed title deed to the universe, pro­ceeds to expel the usurpers from His domain. This He does by direct­ing a threefold series of judgments.

   Christ from His place in heaven directs the whole course of events during this period (Rev, 4:2; 5:7; 6:1). There are three series of judgments unloosed upon the earth: the seals, the trumpets, and the vials. Each series follows progressively, from the first until the last (Rev. 15:1). Within each series each judgment is successive, and in order from the first to the last. And there is growing intensity from the first to the last. The judgments begin with those that are providential in character, moving to the semi-providential, and from there to the immediate, and at last to the actual presence of Christ Himself.

    The first series of judgments results from the opening of the seals (Rev. 6:1-16; 8:1). They begin with judgments that are providential in character, that is, the outworking of God's plan through the movements of men. The appearance of Antichrist in itself is a judgment upon mankind (Rev. 6:1-2). Men are reaping what they have sown. With him eventually there comes war on a gigantic scale (Rev. 6:3-4). This results in the judgment of deprivation, hunger, and famine (Rev. 6:5-6). It is inevitable that as a result of these things death will be experienced all across the world covering one fourth of the population (Rev. 6:7-8). But in a more active sense, religious persecution is directed by the Antichrist (Rev. 6:9-11). Then comes a physiological disturbance that runs its course through the entire fabric of nature (Rev. 6:12-17). This comes directly from God announcing the approaching day of wrath, which will be unloosed with the opening of the seventh seal. Once this seal is opened it produces consternation to the point of silence even in heaven (Rev. 8:1).

    The second series of judgments results from the blowing of the seven trumpets (Rev. 8:2-9:21; 11:15-19). After the opening of the seventh seal, seven angels step forward and are equipped with trumpets (Rev. 8:2-6). The trumpet-judgments follow the pattern of that under the sixth seal, merging into the immediate action of God. The first four are directed against the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the heavenly bodies, those objects of worship by the people (Rev. 8:7-12). The last three trumpet-judgments are more horrible than the first four (Rev. 8:13). The fifth and the sixth consist of the loosing of demon spirits from the pit. Since the peoples have turned again to idolatrous and demon worship, God permits them to have their gods (Rev. 9). The evil spirits like locusts torture their victims and from them they are not permitted to escape even by death (Rev. 9:5-6). The evil spirits like horsemen bring death to a third of the remain­ing population (Rev. 9:18). The seventh angelic trumpet sounds, and though in heaven the Lord Jesus Christ takes over the kingdom (Rev. 11:15-19), in earth at this middle point of the tribulation Anti­christ becomes the supreme ruler of the world (Chapters 12-13).

    The final series of judgments results from the pouring out of the bowls of wrath (Rev. 15-16). These come out of the seventh trumpet at the middle point of the tribulation and run through the final three and one half years. The first four bowls of wrath are directed against the earth, the sea, the rivers, and the heavenly bodies with increased intensity (Rev. 16:2-9). The fifth is directed against the throne of the beast and his kingdom (Rev. 16:10-11). But in spite of increased intensity of judgment, it is demonstrated that men have become incorrigible. Therefore the sixth bowl of wrath initiates the program leading to the end. God provides for the mobilization of all the armies of the world against Jerusalem where the battle of that great day of God Almighty will be fought (Rev. 16:12-16). This event carries the judgments to the very end of the tribulation period, and is described in some detail in Rev. 19:11-21. At some point prior to the absolute end, the seventh bowl of wrath is poured out upon the city of Babylon, the throne of the Antichrist (Rev. 16:17-21). This is described in detail in Chapter 18.

    Christ's return to the earth is the climax of judgment upon the world, and by means of His presence the tribulation period is brought to an end (Rev. 19:11-21). At that moment when Antichrist is about to overwhelm the Jews gathered in Jerusalem Christ returns to fight for His people (Zech. 12:8; 14:3). With amazing conceit Antichrist and his accomplices have thought to vanquish the Christ (Rev. 17:14; 19:19), but the very brilliance of His coming renders the Antichrist inoperative (2 Thess. 2:8). One glimpse of the Christ is enough to convince the mobilized millions that they have been grossly deceived, and "he shall come to his end, and none shall help him" (Dan. 11:45). "He shall be broken without hand" (Dan. 8:25), without the use of carnal weapons. All that will be necessary to dispatch the Antichrist and his legions will be one stroke of His almighty word (2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:15, 21).

    The providential aspect gathers about the movement of events through the tribulation period in preparation for the consumma­tion. The consummation of the age is marked by an event that is both a war and a battle. It is therefore called "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 14). The word "battle" is in reality the word for war. War is a series of clashes in an extended conflict. But at last military might has reached such dimensions that an entire war is concentrated into one battle. Nevertheless, colossal prepara­tions lead to this event.