This tract is written as an encouragement for God's people. Right now in the world there are many threats and scares from disease and pestilence. SARS is the current star grabbing the world news. The world is watching the spread of this disease in Asia, Canada, and the USA. SARS is not the only plague currently spreading on earth. There is also West Nile virus which will be back in the news in late Spring when the bugs multiply. There are also concerns of other massive pestilence outbreaks. People are worried about antibiotic resistant strains of virus as well as the flesh eating virus. Many are concerned that the "big" outbreak will happen anytime. I've heard some speculate that the big outbreak will involve an airborne virus that is easily transmitted and will kill within weeks. Such an outbreak could easily kill millions (or billions) of people. The people of this world are getting scared by hearing of all these very real dangers.
The encouraging news in this tract is to remember that God is still in control. Yes, there is coming a terrible time where many will die from disease and pestilences. However, always remember that such a time is appointed by God. I believe that a time of worldwide massive die-offs will not occur until the time when God pours out His wrath on this godless and wicked world. This means the time for millions to die from pestilence is still future.
In this tract we will be looking at the coming death and devastation that will come upon planet earth during the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. This is the time when God will judge the world. It is also the same time when the antichrist will rule the world for 7 terrible years. After the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy is complete, the Lord Jesus will return at the climax of the battle of Armageddon. He will then purge the earth of the wicked and rule and reign in His 1000 year Kingdom.
All this is very good news for the Christian. The world of lost people may panic and all this panic may very well be part of the process that leads lost people to accept the future antichrist. For Christians, it is very comforting to know that God is in control and that the wicked will be dealt with personally by God when He judges the world.
Lets look at some Scriptures that show the beginning of the wrath of God on planet of earth:
Rev 6
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I
heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four
beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on
him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went
forth conquering, and to conquer.
3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second
beast say, Come and see.
4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power
was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the
earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was
given unto him a great sword.
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third
beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse;
and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say,
A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley
for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice
of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that
sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power
was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill
with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the
beasts of the earth.
In the above verses we read about the time when the Lord Jesus opens the first 4 seals of the wrath of God upon planet earth.
Remember that seal 1-7 are all part of the wrath of God. Seal 1 is just as much of the wrath of God as seal 7.
Also remember that God does not pour out His wrath on earth until after the rapture and after the antichrist signs/confirms the covenant of death with Israel. Once the covenant of death is signed the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy begins. It is during this time period that all the judgments of God are poured out upon planet earth.
Here is a brief overview of the first 4 seal judgments:
- Seal 1 Antichrist conquers by peace (verse 1& 2 above)
- Seal 2 War on earth (verse 3 & 4 above)
- Seal 3 Economic destruction and judgments (verse 5 & 6 above)
- Seal 4 Pale horse of death. Kills by sword, famine, plagues
(verse 7 & 8 above)
Seal 4 is the seal that unleashes non-war related death and destruction upon planet earth. Virus's and other deadly microbes can be considered part of the beasts of the earth that will kill many people. Once this seal opens untold millions will die. At that time all the plagues/virus's/pestilences that we fear today will be unleashed upon planet earth. There will be such widespread death and destruction that 1/4 of the population of the world will die. This means the death of approximately two billion people!
Currently SARS is a worldwide problem. The current death rate is about 3-4%. West Nile virus is also a major problem with the same death rate of 3%.
Some speculate that the evil powers that be wish to cause a massive depopulation on earth of about 50%. Some believe that a deadly airborne virus of some kind that can kill in 3 weeks has been already created. This we do not know for sure as that is just lost mankind fooling around with genes and virus's. However, when the 4th seal of Divine judgment is opened, 1/4 of the population of planet earth will die!
The fact remains there will be no massive death on earth until the wrath of God is poured out with all the 7 seal, 7 trumpet, and 7 bowl judgments. There will not be a massive death of people (say 1 billion or more) until the time of the Seal judgments begin. All the warnings of a coming super-plague are very real. However, the time is decreed by God when such a disaster can happen. That time period will occur during the first and seventh seal judgments. Here is an overview of all the Divine judgments coming upon the world during the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy and the time of the reign of the antichrist:
Seal judgments:
-1st Seal: White horse (Antichrist) to conquer by peace
-2nd Seal: Wars on earth
-3rd Seal: Worldwide economic troubles
-4th Seal: Death released. 1/4 of the worlds population to die by
plagues, disease, beasts of the earth etc.
-5th Seal: Persecution and killing of God's people worldwide
-6th Seal: Massive earthquake
-7th Seal: Silence then the 7 trumpet judgments
Trumpet judgments
-1st Trumpet: Hail, fire, and blood. 1/3 all grass and trees burned up
-2nd Trumpet: Great mountain hits sea. 1/3 all ocean becomes blood.
1/3 all sea life dies and 1/3 all ships destroyed.
-3rd Trumpet: Wormwood star hits earth. 1/3 all freshwater poisoned.
-4th Trumpet: 1/3 of sun and moon darkened
-5th Trumpet: locust beasts that sting and torment men loosed from the pit
-6th Trumpet: demons released and 200 million Eastern army kills 1/3 of
the world's population
-7th Trumpet: Cries from heaven and 7 bowl judgments to be released on earth
Bowl Judgments:
-1st Bowl: Terrible and painful sores break out on all who worship beast
-2nd Bowl: Entire ocean becomes blood. All sea life dies
-3rd Bowl: Fresh water becomes blood. No more fresh drinking water
-4th Bowl: Sun increased in heat and scorches and burns people
-5th Bowl: Supernatural darkness on earth
-6th Bowl: Great Eastern army heads toward Armageddon in the Middle
East for the final battle
-7th Bowl: Babylon destroyed, massive earthquakes, and 100 pound
hailstones devastate earth.
The 1st seal is just as much of God's wrath as the 1st trumpet or the 1st bowl judgment! It is all the wrath of God against a godless, Christ rejecting world. For example look above at the 4th seal judgment. 1/4 of all the worlds population will die. That is the wrath of God! The population is now approximately 6 billion people. The 4th seal judgment alone will kill almost 2 billion people! Next look at the 6th trumpet. 1/3 of the population of the world will be killed! Lets say by then the population is 4 billion people at this time. After the 6th trumpet another 1.3 billion people will die!
There will be massive death during the time that God pours out His wrath on a Christ rejecting world. At the end of that time when the Lord Jesus returns there will only be a few million people or so left on earth.
Act 17
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the
world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he
hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from
the dead.
Today we live under the scare of terrible disease outbreaks that could easily kill billions of people. This is just not going to happen at this time. God has appointed a time for His wrath to be poured out. Thankfully that time will be after the rapture of the Church and during the reign of the antichrist. Keep in mind that for any Christian, death can come before that time. For 2000 years God's saints have been persecuted and killed for their faith in the Lord Jesus. Before the rapture we could see nuclear war, minor but deadly plagues, earthquakes, and other earthly devastations. None of these will be the seal judgments of the book of revelation!
CONCLUSION
God has clearly stated that in the last days there will be terrible plagues and disease on planet earth. Things on this planet will not be getting better as each year passes. Instead the days get more dark, evil, and deadly as we near the return of the Lord Jesus! Finally during the evil reign of the antichrist, God will pour out His wrath upon planet earth. During that time billions will die. At the end of the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy the Lord Jesus will return to earth. This will occur at the climax of the battle of Armageddon.
The world will not end at the battle of Armageddon. Instead the Lord Jesus will return to earth and destroy the armies of the antichrist. All lost people will be destroyed from the planet at this time. Finally the Lord Jesus will setup His 1000 year kingdom and live and rule on planet earth from Jerusalem.
I certainly hope you are saved and are ready to go to heaven because significant prophetic events are one day (soon) coming upon planet earth!
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