Circumstances and Consequences

Seminar 216-04
June 3-6, 2009
Seminar Topic:

The Two Witnesses – Part IV

 
Larry Wilson

Circumstances:   Ironic: The world is full of knowledge and darkness

Consequences:   The world is self-destructing.

But, rejoice! The darkness will soon be over!

The world consists of two groups of people:

Day people

Night people

They are as different as night and day.

Night people are inspired by darkness.

Day people are inspired by the light of truth. “Just the facts, mam.”

Night people favor night vision. Their light of truth hurts their eyes.

Night people prefer darkness because darkness enables a person to ignore what he doesn’t want to see.

Night people prefer darkness because wrongdoing doesn’t appear “all that bad” in the dark.

Why are bars, taverns, and strip clubs inherently dark?

Night people are most comfortable and happiest in the dark.

John 3:19   This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil.

John 3:20   Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

John 3:21   But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

Translation:  “Those who are sincere about Truth and are honest in heart – they will surrender to advancing light and their actions will be plainly seen as God’s Spirit works through them.

Truth is fact.

Those who love the light want the facts.

Facts constantly unfold because the light of truth constantly moves forward. Light perpetually displaces darkness.

For 2,000 years, Christians have been looking for the return of Christ (some more and some less).

What factual evidence do we have that the return of Jesus is near?

1.   Daniel 12:4   “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end…”

This is huge. The unsealing of Daniel produces the key to understanding our chronological position within God’s plans.

The unsealing of Daniel is the discovery of the four rules that govern the interpretation of apocalyptic prophecy.

The unsealing of Daniel enables us to determine the intended meaning of Revelation.

First fact: The book of Daniel was sealed up until the time of the end. The book of Daniel has been unsealed because the rules that govern apocalyptic interpretation have been discovered.

The intended meaning of Daniel and Revelation cannot be determined without valid rules of interpretation.

2.   The Bible only speaks of about 7,000 years.

3.   The wounding and the healing of papal power.

4.   Earth’s resources versus Earth’s population.

5.   Hardness of heart.

2 Timothy 3:1   But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

2 Timothy 3:2   People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

2 Timothy 3:3   without love unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

2 Timothy 3:4   treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

2 Timothy 3:5   having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

We’re very near the end.

1 Thessalonians 5:1   Now, brothers, about the times and dates we do not need to write to you,

1 Thessalonians 5:2   for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 

1 Thessalonians 5:3   While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:4   But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

1 Thessalonians 5:5   You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

1 Thessalonians 5:6   So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

1 Thessalonians 5:7   For those who sleep [spiritually dead], sleep [live for the] at night, and those who get drunk [intoxicated with the cares of life], get drunk at night.

1 Thessalonians 5:8   But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

V2:   “… the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

V3   While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

I believe a horrible war will soon appear. This war will involve a nuclear exchange. Millions of people will be killed in this war and the world will enter into a crisis that has no equal in times past.

During this war, people will cry out for “peace and safety.” But, men will not be able to stop the carnage. In fact, the war will only escalate in ferocity until Jesus steps in with a divine show of power that will engulf the whole world.

Before we examine this war and the seven trumpets in detail, please consider the following:

1.   The seven trumpets of Revelation are the seven horrible judgments that will befall Earth during the Great Tribulation.

These judgments will ruin this planet to the point that Earth will not be able to physically recover.

These judgments are described as “seven trumpets” in the book of Revelation because a trumpet will sound in Heaven’s temple each time a judgment occurs.

The first four trumpets will occur in rapid succession. These four judgments will be so potent that they will sever the past from the future. Life for everyone on Earth will dramatically change once they begin.

The first four trumpets will be catastrophic. Thousands of cites will be destroyed by fire and water. Twenty-five percent of the world’s population will die during the first few weeks, and global infrastructures such as communication, travel, banking, manufacturing and shipping will all but disappear.

Gods’ judgments will impose great tribulation on everyone. The first four trumpets will cause the whole world to relate to God in a way that is presently unimaginable.  

2.   The “Full Cup Principle” is a prerequisite for understanding the seven trumpets. The full cup principle is a policy that God consistently uses to manage groups of people.

A group of people can be cities like Sodom and Gomorrah, a nation like Israel, a world empire like Medo-Persia, or even the whole world as in Noah’s day. 

This principle is fairly easy to understand. When the majority of a group become s so degenerate and defiant that extended mercy has no redeeming effect, God’s love for innocent victims of sin and future generations cause Him to respond to the current generation by sending warnings and redemptive judgments, so that if possible, His wayward subjects will change course. 

If His warnings are ignored and His redemptive judgments do not produce repentance and reformation, God destroys that group by sending totally destructive judgments.

This principle explains the appearance and disappearance of civilizations.

The full cup principle is found throughout the Bible. For example, God destroyed the world with a flood in Noah’s day, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham’s day, God collapsed the walls of Jericho for Joshua, God destroyed two-thirds of Israel and the remainder was sent into Babylon captivity (605-536 B.C.), and finally God sent the Romans against Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

The point here is that God will soon apply the full cup principle to the whole world as He did in Noah’s day.

The seven trumpets will serve as seven redemptive judgments (seven first plagues) and seven bowls (seven last plagues) will be totally destructive.

3.   God thoughtfully designed the seven trumpets to accomplish many objectives.

On objective is confrontation. God wants to confront the false religions of the world with “gospel truth.”

The destruction caused by the first four trumpets will set the stage for this confrontation.

When billions of people behold the sudden destruction of notably wicked places all over the Earth and the obliteration of 25 percent of the world’s population, most everyone will be found in a state of genuine anguish, fearing the wrath of Almighty God.

The scope of destruction caused by the first four trumpets and the chaos that follows will be so great within every nation that each government will question whether it will be able to continue functioning as a government. 

After the first four trumpets occur, the nations of Earth will realize that mankind is dealing with one angry God.

The political leaders of Earth will humbly unite with the religious leaders of Earth in an all-out effort to appease God so that His wrath will immediately cease.

Driven by fear and humbled by overwhelming destruction, the religious and political leaders of the world will implement a terribly misguided solution to appease God’s wrath and this solution will stand in direct opposition to what God actually wants. This is how God will confront man.

Another objective embedded in the seven trumpets is redemption. The “shock and awe” caused by the first four trumpets will shatter religious paradigms.

Everyone, regardless of his religious background, will listen and intelligently consider a gospel that is different than anything he has ever heard. 

This, in itself, will be miraculous. Given the religious antagonism that has existed for centuries between Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Atheists, Catholics, Protestants, and Pagans, how can one religious body claim that it knows more about Almighty God without being condemned by the other six?

God will displace man’s arrogance by uniting mankind through fear of God.

Over whelming destruction will produce unimaginable suffering and hardship.

God will level the playing field through humiliation so that the gospel might be heard.

This will provide an opening wedge for God’s servants, the 144,000, to speak and more importantly, be heard.

The 144,000 will boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Thus, every religious and nonreligious nation will hear and thoughtfully consider a gospel that they would have refused to hear at any other time. (Matthew 24:14)

There are other important objectives to the seven trumpets, but these two examples should demonstrate the point that God has put a lot of thought into His forthcoming actions.

God is love. He is deliberate and purposeful in all of His actions. It is a shame that God has to implement His full cup principle and destroy a large portion of Earth in order to get mankind to listen to Him.

The good news is that millions of people from every nation will listen. The Great tribulation will ultimately produce two distinct groups of people.

One group, the day people, will consist of honest-hearted people who exalt righteousness and love truth.

The other group, the night people, will consist of people who reject the gospel. They will do “whatever it takes” to save themselves from suffering and death.

Because God is deliberate in everything He does, the seven trumpets and seven bowls can be called designer judgments.

God’s plan for Earth and its inhabitants predates Creation and this plan will soon consummated.

The Bible teaches, “Intelligent Design,” that Jesus created this world in six literal days and He rested from His creative works on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:1-3)

The Bible also teaches “Intelligent Demise.” Jesus will also destroy this creation over a course of 1,335 days. Nothing can stop the process once He starts. 

There is an unusual service that occurs in Heaven just before the seven trumpets begin. Once we understand the significance of this special service, the judgments that follow will make a great deal of sense.

As I talk about this topic, remember, God is love. This means that God’s actions are eternally consistent with principles of love.

God’s wrath is based on a policy that I call the “Full Cup Principle.” The full cup principle is based on the perfect balance of justice and mercy.

God hates to see individuals and nations self-destruct through degeneracy, rebellion, and sexual immorality. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah?

God is patient and longsuffering, not willing that anyone should perish. (2 Peter 3:9)

But, God sees the past, present and future with the same clarity, God loves oncoming generations just as much as He loves the present generation. Therefore, down through history His love for oncoming generations has moved Him to destroy the current generation so that the oncoming generation can be relatively free of the degenerate and destructive behaviors that were passed to the children.

Remember, the sins of the fathers are passed down to the third and fourth generations!

(Exodus 20:5)

Over time, sin multiplies – both in width and depth and finally, on day it metastasizes like cancer and chaos erupts.

Sin penetrates every aspect of society. Sin is like gravity; it creates a steady downward tug that eventually pulls everyone (especially the innocent and uninformed) into its deadly vortex.

A new generation only gets a chance of having a better life when the old order is destroyed. Thus, a God of love has destroyed degenerate groups of people through the ages when they passed the point of no return.

God destroyed the whole world in Noah’s day. Why?

Sin metastasized. God knew that recovery was impossible.

Now hear this:

Any efforts to save this planet from certain destruction is futile. It is doomed because of sin.

Any efforts to reform this nation or any other nation is futile and a waste of time and resources. It is like arranging chairs on the Titanic.

This nation and all nations are beyond redemption. This world is doomed. The date for destruction has been set. 

Acts 1:7   He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.”

It wasn’t for them to know, but it is our privilege to know! 

Daniel 12:4   “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the timer of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

Daniel 8:19   He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.

The end date has been set. The hour has been appointed. God has set, by sovereign authority the end of the world. We cannot speed it up or slow it down. The end is approaching with each approaching hour.

Revelation 9:15   “And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

The clock is ticking. There is no stopping the oncoming future because God has a plan and His plan is “right on time.”

Noah’s flood came on time:

Genesis 6:3   Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his [remaining] days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

The birth of Jesus came on time:

Galatians 4:4   “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Galatians 4:5   to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

Just as He promised Abraham, God delivered Israel from Egypt right on time:

Exodus 12:41   At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.

Jesus sent Israel into Babylonian captivity right on time and He set them free right on time….

So, what time is it?

Matthew 24:37   As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:38   Foe in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

Matthew 24:39   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.”

Matthew 24:36   “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels, nor the Son, but only the Father.

OK:

1.   God set the date.

2.   The Full Cup Principle explains God’s actions.

Now consider this: Innocent people sometimes perish along with degenerate people because God’s wrath against a group of wicked people is not necessarily discriminating.

For example, many children were drowned in Noah’s flood.

Many good people were killed during King Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem.

The point here is that when God’s wrath breaks out against a majority that has gone beyond redemption, it is like the indiscriminate destruction caused by an atomic bomb. The loss of innocent life does not prohibit God from doing what needs to be done because (a) Gods knows that everyone on Earth dies sooner or later anyway and (b) He has the power to resurrect every dead person.

Moreover, Jesus will judge each person individually. Jesus will decide each person’s eternal case accordingly.

So, whether a child died in Noah’s flood or a child dies of illness, a crime, a tragic accident, or during some expression of God’s wrath, the cause of death has nothing to do with one’s eternal destiny.

The point here is that a God of love is fully justified when He extends mercy because He knows that some people will benefit from His mercy.

God is also justified when He executes justice because redeeming the situation is hopeless.

Revelation 8:2   And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

Revelation 8:3   Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.

Revelation 8:4  The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

[Then, Jesus favorably responds to the prayers of the saints…]

Revelation 8:5   Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, hurled it to the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightening and an earthquake.

Revelation 8:6   Then to the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

Revelation 8:7   The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”   

There is something that could cause all of God’s saints to pray for the same thing at the same time.

Answer: Nuclear war.

Here is a possible scenario.

One day, simmering hostilities between certain nations could erupt and quickly escalate into a nuclear exchange.

Tens of millions could die in a single hour. This exchange would demolish the global economy and immediately affect the distribution of oil, food, clothing, building materials, technology, communication and commerce of all kinds.

If other nations joined in this war because of economic or military allegiance, this war could quickly become a fearful event for everyone on Earth.

The consequences of nuclear war will be far reachi8ng – the whole world would cry out (demand) “peace and safety.”

In other words, a nuclear exchange could bring all of the saints to the point of praying for God’s intervention.

Paul wrote: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction [from God] will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape,

But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:3,4)

There is no reason to be surprised about sudden destruction coming from God if we allow Revelation 8 to speak. We can be sure of two things:

First, it’s only a matter of time until there is a nuclear exchange.

Second, when a nuclear exchange occurs, human efforts will be made to stop the war for the sake of global “peace and safety.”

The problem is that the speed of intercontinental missiles is measured in seconds, but getting nations to negotiate peace can take years.

Besides, once a nation’s sovereignty and survival is threatened by nuclear bombs, what would be the point of any nation using restraint? 

The maxim for nuclear was is simple: “Annihilate or be annihilated.”

Suppose, that when this war breaks out, an angel rushes to the Altar of Incense and together with the petitions of all the saints, he puts much incense on the coals of the altar and a sweet fragrance ascends before the throne. 

As Almighty God, Jesus favorably responds to the prayers of His saints by stepping into the din of war with overwhelming power and authority. Jesus sends a series of five physical manifestations that are so magnificent and awesome that the war actually stops!

“Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came (1) peals of thunder [heavy darkness and violent winds], (2) rumblings [supernatural voices speaking], (3) flashes of lightening [crackling as it lights up the sky with great glory] and (4) an earthquake [that breaks the world into 144 thousand geographic cells].

He who clamed the storm on Galilee can calm a war. I believe these four phenomenons will get everyone’s attention, but the fifth phenomenon will stop the war.

Shortly after the first four signs, the first trumpet sounds and the fifth phenomenon occurs: A hailstorm of burning meteors burns up a third of Earth.

When the wrath of God begins, the nations of Earth will suddenly discover that man’s nuclear bombs are no match for the “wrath of the Lion from the tribe of Judah.”

Sudden destruction from God will miniaturize man’s nuclear exchanges.

The destructive powers of Jesus will dwarf anything that mankind has to offer.

Suddenly, man’s biggest problem is not one nation against nation it is a whole world facing the wrath of Almighty God! 

Matthew 24:44   So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Many people read this verse and they conclude that Jesus is talking about the day of the Second Coming.

Actually, the Second Coming of Jesus lasts 1,335 days.

“The Great Day of the Lord” is not 24 hours in length.

The Great Day of the Lord contains a parade of events and Jesus Himself appears at the end of the parade.

The commencement of the Great Tribulation will come as a surprise – even among the “watchers.”

Matthew 24:38   For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marring and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

Matthew 24:39   and they knew nothing about [the timing of] 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.

The antediluvians heard a flood was coming. They didn’t believe it. 

The antediluvians knew that Noah was building an ark. They could see it.

The antediluvians knew that Noah had been working on the ark for a long time, but where the 120 years of probationary time began and ended was no big deal.

The antediluvians were night people. Their interests and concerns were focused on “night life.”

They were in the dark when the rain began….

Speaking about being in the dark….

For the past eighty years, the religious and political influence of the Catholic Church has been steadily growing throughout the world.

In recent years (largely due to the extraordinary popularity of John Pope Paul II, 1920-2005), the Roman Catholic Church has become a significant political force in the world. Pope Benedict’s reception and extravagant birthday party at the White House (hosted by President George Bush on April 16, 2008) is a recent event demonstrating the Church has regained a position of international respect and power. Many nations (170 at this writing) have ambassadors assigned to the Vatican.

However, the deadly wound is not healed until the Roman Catholic Church once again exercises authority over sovereign governments. How and when will this happen?

When world leaders convene during the fourth trumpet to create Babylon, I believe three amazing decisions will come out of this emergency meeting. Please consider the following.

1.   Recognizing the religious diversity of mankind and given the obvious fact that one God has destroyed a third of the world, this emergency council will agree that all nations must unite as a family to appease God so that His wrath will cease.

This council will agree that a number of “sin-less” laws must be enacted and enforced or God’s anger will continue to burn against mankind.

This council will also agree that God must be respected and worshiped. This council will conclude that anyone defying laws that honor God should be punished because it is better for one person to suffer for wrong doing than for the whole world to receive more of God’s wrath.

Enforcing high standards of conduct, they will conclude, is the only way God’s wrath against decadence will stop.

2.   Because everyone at the council knows that God’s anger was directed at notably wicked places all over the world, political leaders will acquiesce to the suggestions of religious experts.

Political leaders will have no choice but to accept the responsibility of enacting and enforcing laws to reduce sinful behavior. All nations will have to participate in this endeavor because God’s wrath could possibly break out against the whole world if any part of the world family fails to participate. 

Political leaders will be put into the position of having no choice but to go along with Babylon’s mandates in hopes that Babylon’s directions will quickly resolve the awful crisis that exists between God and man.

3.   Leaders of the world understand that every governing body requires qualified leadership. A supreme council, something like the Security Council of the United Nations will be created. Given the dire circumstances caused by the first four trumpets, Babylon will be far more effective than the Security Council.

I believe the pope will be selected as the leader of Babylon for four reasons.

First, the healing of the deadly wound has been study, ongoing since 1929. 

Second, the Catholic Church is uniquely prepared to serve the world through its diplomatic relations with 179 nations.

Third, the Roman Catholic Church believes a church-led state is the best form of government.

Finally, the Bible predicts the deadly wound will be healed (Revelation 13:3) and the little horn of Daniel 7 (the papacy) will speak boastfully after 1844 (Daniel 7:11).

Therefore, I conclude the pope will be chosen to lead Babylon.

The reader must understand that the pope will not be put in a position to impose Catholic doctrines on Atheists, Jews, Eastern Mystics, Muslims, Heathens, or Protestants.

The diversity of the world’s religions will not permit this. Rather, the authority of the pope will be that of the Secretary General of the United Nations.

He will serve as Babylon’s “chief facilitator.” He and the supreme council of Babylon will direct the governments of the world in a global effort to appease God.

Babylon will not displace the civil governments of the nations. Rather, the demands of Babylon will be imposed on all nations and they will be applied according to the prevailing customs and religions of each nation. The basic idea is that civil government will be used by Babylon’s leadership to enforce laws on people so that they will commit fewer sins.

Keep in mind that certain laws that are important to Muslims will not be applicable in Catholic or Hindu countries and vice versa.

The leaders of Babylon (and the rest of the world) will soon discover that it is impossible for the human race to worship the same God as one family.

Our diverse religious views and our cultural paradigms will not allow it.

Martial Law

During the first four trumpets, each nation will be forced to suspend its constitution so that martial law can be enacted.

Given the size and the scope of God’s wrath, world leaders will do whatever it takes to maintain control.  Food and water supplies will be rationed.

Medical care and energy reserves will be scarce. Hunger and thirst will drive millions of dazed and bewildered people crazy.

Extreme situations require desperate solutions. Earth’s population has never seen a global crisis like the first four trumpets.

 The crisis will be so huge that political leaders in every nation will be set free of their constitutional obligations almost immediately.

This freedom will permit them to enact and enforce laws that they would have been strongly opposed during ordinary times. The declaration of martial law will make it very easy for lawmakers to comply with the demands of Babylon’s clergy – and given the fact that something must be done to appease God, very few citizens will complain – at first. 

After Babylon begins to function as a religious authority over the nations of the world, Babylon’s laws will become increasingly oppressive and restrictive. It was said earlier that laws will be enacted demanding that everyone set aside one day for God and worship.

Later on, these laws will be amended and mandatory worship on specific days will be required. Man’s efforts to appease God’s wrath explains how worship will be the focal point for persecution.

The Bible predicts, “All inhabitants of the earth will worship [obey] the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8, italics mine)

The tem commandments, especially the fourth commandment, will be constantly debated because Babylon will energize the topic by making the issue of worship highly important.

The 144,000 will present the holiness of God’s seventh day Sabbath with clarity and compelling power.

There is one reason for rebelling against the fourth commandment. It is man’s natural hostility toward God’s authority.

When the carnal nature is confronted with the demands of God’s law, hostility is the result. Paul wrote, “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

(Romans 8:7,8) 

Cain foolishly rationalized and assured himself that God would be pleased with the choices of fruit and vegetables (Genesis 4:3), but the Bible is clear, God was not pleased at all.

God did not accept Cain’s worship (Genesis 4:5) because He saw Cain’s rebellion for what it was.

Think about this: Why would anyone refuse to rest on God’s holy Sabbath after being informed by one of God’s prophets that God’s demands that we rest from our labors on His holy day?

The Ten Commandments were written in stone. They are inseparable and unchangeable.

The Bible is not in conflict with itself. Paul wrote, “For somewhere [in the Scriptures, God] he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: ‘And on the seventh day God rested from all his work’….

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:4, 9,10)

During the Great Tribulation, God will test the inhabitants of Earth with His Sabbath rest test.

Observing God’s seventh-day Sabbath will become a global test of faith when Babylon legislates other days for worship.

Consider this parallel: God required ancient Israel to rest on His Sabbath before He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Similarly, God will require mankind to rest on His Sabbath before He sets us free from the slavery of sin.

There was persecution in ancient Egypt for resting on Sabbath and there will be persecution for everyone who defies Babylon’s authority.

Incredible as it may seem, many people will fear Babylon’s persecution more than God’s seven bowls.

However, the honest in heart will receive the gospel of Jesus and embrace the Creator’s Sabbath.

A large number of Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics, Protestants, Heathen, and Atheists will receive the gospel of Jesus Christ and rest on His Sabbath day once they understand who Jesus really is and what He wants!