Can you imagine famine and financial collapse so bad "two pounds of wheat for a day's wages, and six pounds of barley for a day's wages”? Many countries throughout history have experienced famine and financial collapse. The Germany people, for example, were experiencing a severe recession prior to Hitler coming to power. Even though the Reichsmark was temporarily bolstered by Hitler’s need to build his war machine, it was eventually replaced by the Deutsche Mark shortly after the end of World War II once the financial collapse of the Reichsmark was no longer salvageable. But the difference between the German economy at the end of World War II and what is being described in Revelation is the famine and financial collapse does not impact only one country, but the entire world. World markets will collapse, currency will be devaluated, government infrastructure will fail, and the masses will be expected to survive on their own without police, fire, ambulance services or other miscellaneous infrastructure services necessary for running a modern government. All modern conveniences will be stripped away.
As World War III expands crops will be decimated, fields radiated with nuclear waste, supply chains interrupted, or non-existent, throughout the world. This is war! Malnutrition, starvation, and contaminated food supplies do not adequately depict the horrors of what lies ahead. Modern society, and the comforts it encompasses, will break down. Both famine and financial collapse closely follow in the footsteps of any war, but this war is different from any in the past. It is a global war.
The verse above speaks directly to the final collapse of the world economic markets and points toward the downfall of civilization as we know it. But as we know all calamities have a beginning. Nations around the world are or are moving toward a Communist or Socialist political system. These systems, unlike Capitalism, have only two economic classes, the ultra-rich and everyone else living at poverty level. Communism and Socialism are both structured, so the poor rely on government for basic needs. This structure places an enormous strain on the economy. As government spending increases, inflation continues to rise, thus reducing the services offered by the government. This is why Communist and Socialist societies usually do not last very long. They collapse under their own debt! Countries around the world are currently struggling to manage inflation and debt. Expect this trend to continue and ultimately collapse entirely as the world enters World War III.
Russia, though it is quickly returning to its Soviet Union oppressive ways, is not the same country it once was during the Cold War. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with the intent of taking the capital, Kiev, in short order and without expecting much resistance. Apparently, the military planners severely underestimated their enemies’ determination and will power to hold onto their sovereignty. Ukraine, once a satellite country of the Soviet Union, is not willing to give up their freedoms without a fight.
To date, Russian forces have suffered significant losses, both in military equipment and lives. The Ukrainian military has received substantial arms from the international community to bolster their ability to slow the Russian invasion. But Russia has been receiving armaments from North Korea and Iran to replenish their dwindling supply and avoid their invasion does not stall. Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has even resorted to enlisting additional Russian civilians to replace the service men and women who have lost their lives in this endeavor.
Regardless of the outcome of this war, the Russian military machine will be greatly depleted leaving them in no position to attack other nations without assistance from their allies. But the Russian government has been building a strong relationship for decades with not one country, but several countries in the Middle East. This new alliance will combine forces someday to attack their common enemy.
The king of the North, Russia along with their allies, will lead an invasion into Israel with the king of the South, Muslim nations, committing all military forces to the battle.
The battle plan calls for Russian and Muslim land forces to attack Israel's northern border using conventional weapons and advance southward "with chariots and cavalry" killing Israelis and pillaging their treasures, while the Russian navy will have "a great fleet of ships" located in the Mediterranean Sea to the west to provide troop support and naval bombardment just off the Israeli shoreline.
The Russian and Muslim military leaders fully understand the scope of their intentions and will commit the entire forces to this surprise attack which will have initial success because they will come upon Israel and "sweep through them like a flood." The purpose for committing such a large-scale force to this attack is to (1) secure the nation of Israel quickly and (2) ensure other nations, such as the United States, European Union, or China, are deterred from retaliating against them for their actions. But, the decision, to commit all their military forces to a single endeavor, will lead to unexpected consequences.
The Temple Mount in Jerusalem has been a closely guarded religious site for the Muslims ever since they built the Al Aqsa Mosque centuries ago, but the Jews considered this same land to be a holy site prior to Islam becoming a religion in the 7th century. The Al Aqsa Mosque is the golden dome structure located in the Old City of Jerusalem and is positioned on the Temple Mount near the site of the first two temples built by the Jews.
The Temple Mount is not only where Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19), but the exact same spot where the first two temples were built. These temples were specifically built by the Jews so they could interact with, worship, and follow God's traditions. For the Gentiles, these traditions are no longer necessary because they believe Jesus died for their sins and He alone is the only way to God (John 14:6). But the Jews still follow the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and the same traditions their forefathers followed centuries ago.
So, the first two temples played a very important role in Jewish lives, but both were destroyed. Both were built on the exact same location with the exact same dimensions. The first temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC and the second by the Romans in 70 AD. Both incidents led to the capture of the Jewish population and centuries of slavery.
Building the third, and final temple, is just as important to the Jewish people today as it was centuries ago, but they have not been able to gain access to the site to build the temple because the Muslims have control of the Temple Mount and are unwilling to allow the Jews to build or do much else.
This third temple is critical to future prophesy because this is where the Antichrist will walk into a room known as the Holy of Holies and declares himself "God" mid-way through the tribulation period.
The day is coming when the Christians in the world will disappear. It has affectionately come to be known as the rapture and this day is not wishful thinking, but a promise from God. "The dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
Matthew describes the rapture as "two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left."
Now, take these visual descriptions and apply them to today's world. A woman is driving a car, and she is taken. The car veers violently off the road into a crowded sidewalk of pedestrians. Two pilots will be flying a plane, and both are taken when suddenly the aircraft takes a nosedive plummeting toward earth where all passengers perish. Your husband is sitting next to you watching television and he is suddenly gone. Just imagine the shock of being left behind and not only reeling from the loss of friends and loved ones, but also the unexpected death of so many innocent people whose stories appear on 24-hour news stations. The world will be immersed in total pandemonium. How will fake news explain this event away?
When will the rapture take place? Although we do not know the exact date or time Matthew and Luke provide a general idea for when it will occur. Matthew describes how the rapture will take place as "in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.” That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man [rapture]." The time just prior to the "coming of the Son of Man" will mirror how people were living their lives prior to the great flood. Are we living in a time that has similarity “to the day Noah entered the ark”? Hmmm, there seems to be reason to believe we are.
What is the Tribulation Period? It is a seven-year period which includes events such as the Antichrist coming into power and announcing to the world he is “God”, two individuals who are sent by God to perform miracles and incumber the Antichrist, and 144,000 Jews who save lost souls. Not to mention World War III. And let us not forget about the return of Jesus. This seven-year period will be one of the most unusual times in the history of the world!
God has removed His church so He can now turn His attention to address the rebellious nature of mankind by unleashing an avalanche of judgments upon the Christ-rejecting world and Satan himself. Judgments so terrible He will choose to remove His children, believers in Christ, through an event known as the rapture, before a series of terrible trials are unleashed over the next seven years in a time known as the tribulation period.
The first 3 ½ years of this seven-year period will be relatively peaceful because "he [the Antichrist] will confirm a covenant with many [the world] for one 'seven.'" The Antichrist not only takes the lead to protect the nation of Israel from any further attacks, but also brings peace to a world. But "in the middle of the 'seven' he [the Antichrist] will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." So, after 3 ½ years of peace the Antichrist will walk into a room known as the Holy of Holies in the third temple on the Temple Mount and declare himself "God." This event will thrust the world into a 3 ½-year global thermonuclear war that will lead the world's inhabitants to the brink of extinction.
God will send two individuals to earth following the rapture and it will be their responsibility to convert lost souls to Christ, but they will also be a thorn in the side of Satan, the Antichrist, the false prophet and will be hated by the world for 1,260 days.
You may wonder why the two witnesses are even necessary? Remember, God just removed all the Christians from the earth "in a twinkling of an eye" when the rapture occurred. So, by definition, everyone left on the planet is a non-Christian. But God does not want to turn his back on these people. More people will be brought to Christ throughout the tribulation period.
There are many today who do not believe the rapture will take place, but when it finally does occur, they may want to dedicate their lives to Christ, but nobody will be left in the world to guide them into a relationship with Jesus. God will not walk away from a lost world. He will do everything He can to bring as many people as possible into a relationship with Christ throughout the tribulation period. The whole world will need to hear the gospel before Jesus returns and He has no intention to turn His back on the lost souls who are now, for the first time in their lives, passionately seeking Christ.
The Antichrist is a man whose is possessed by Satan. He will quickly rise to power during the Tribulation Period and not only announce he is the supreme leader of the world but will declare himself “God” who should be worshipped. Three and one-half years into the tribulation period, he will walk in to the Holy of Holies in the newly constructed temple on the Temple Mount and declare himself to be "God"!
So, what is the "the abomination that causes desolation"? It is when the Anit-Christ decides to "exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." This single event will not only provoke the Antichrist to destroy the false religion but will also unleash hell on earth in the form of World War III.
The rider on the red horse “was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other.” This rider will set plans in motion for a global thermonuclear world war. A war on a scale unimaginable. A war so intense it will shake the planet and its inhabitants to the core. War so great that mankind would be obliterated if Jesus does not return.
The day we have all feared has arrived. Missile silo doors blow open in the middle of the United States, missiles light up the sky as they slowly climb toward the heavens leaving in their wake a great pillar of smoke. These rockets, as they continue skyward toward their low earth orbit are only minutes away from raining down destruction and devastation on millions of unsuspecting people on the other side of the globe. Nebraskans watch in disbelief knowing they only have minutes to find a place to shelter before missiles from other countries begin detonating over American cities. Yes, not even the United States of America will be immune from this destruction. No one will be invulnerable from the horrors of this war. We do not know who launches the first strike. We only know World War III has begun.
John’s description, as well as the order of the events that occur after a nuclear detonation, are eerie because he not only accurately depicts the results of a nuclear exchange, but also the exact order for how specific events unfolds because of a nuclear explosion. As previously mentioned, John, Zechariah and Joel died over 2,000 years ago, yet their portrayal of a nuclear holocaust is spot on. Do not interpret these visions as literal. Their use of imagery accurately depicts a nuclear war.
Zechariah describes the effects a nuclear explosion will have on the human body. He says, "their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths." Zechariah’s description for how someone will be incinerated standing in the immediate proximity of a nuclear detonation is spot on. It is amazing how a man living 500 years before the birth of Christ detailed how someone living in the 21st century would die from a nuclear detonation, in detail!
This war, the true war to end all wars, will lead the world to the brink of extinction!
Unlike the rapture, where Jesus was not physically seen by those on earth, His return at the climax of the Battle of Armageddon will be completed in dramatic fashion. His return this time will be for all to see as "lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west." "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him."
He will return as a powerful warrior with His forces close behind as they ascend from heaven prepared for battle. "I [John] saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war." "The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command." Jesus is now returning to earth as it was prophesied thousands of years ago, a mighty warrior!
Remember the saints from the tribulation period (Rev. 6:9-11) who stood firm in their beliefs and paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their life for the Lord? John saw them in heaven when the Fifth Seal was opened. They are back.
The saints wanted to know how much longer it would be before God would take revenge for their deaths. Well, God got His revenge on Satan, the Antichrist, the false prophet, and mankind so it is now time for the martyred saints to reap their reward. For being loyal to Christ by choosing not to worship the beast or its image or receive the mark on their foreheads or hands and for standing firm in their beliefs they will be brought back to life to live with Christ on earth during his 1,000-year reign. Wow! This is known as the 'first resurrection'.
Jesus will not only reign on earth for 1,000 years, but Satan will be bound during this period and will not have the ability to influence or deceive those still living.
A single angel comes down from heaven carrying heavy chains with the responsibility of capturing and binding Satan. Think about what just occurred. Satan has been actively engaged in misleading people on earth ever since Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. He is now bound and thrown into the Abyss where he will be locked up for 1,000 years. We cannot imagine living in a world without Satan constantly flooding our every thought and influencing our actions. How different will the world be during the next 1,000-years; the Millennium?
After 1,000 years, Satan will once again be freed for a short time. You may wonder why this will happen? He will be set free to do his bidding once again to expose those who are not loyal to God. Remember, Christians and non-Christians will be alive at the end of World War III when Jesus returns. Even though He knows who they are, God wants to separate believers from non-believers. Why? Because only believers will be able to spend eternity with Jesus.
Now that Jesus has dealt with Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet, he turns his attention to judge all other souls who have died in the history of the world. This is known as the second resurrection or Judgment Day.
This is a simple process. If you have done well in life and your name is in the book of life, then you will spend eternity with Christ. If your name is not in the book of life, then you will be thrown into the lake of fire. And just to be clear, you can live a good life and still not go to heaven. You must accept Christ as your savior to be accepted into heaven. The wicked "will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." The lake of fire is the second death.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away." God just dealt with all the non-Christians; therefore, only Christians remain. And the new heaven and new earth is their reward.
Jesus promised he would go and prepare a place for us (John 14:3) and this is the results of his effort. The new abode has remained empty for centuries waiting for this very moment for all Christians to take residency. Remember the feeling of moving into a new home? Christ's followers will get to embrace this feeling one more time.
The current heaven and earth, the planet we live on today, will pass away. In other words, they will be removed from existence. And "God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain. For the old order of things has passed away." It does not get any better! No more tears! No more crying! No more pain! No more death!
