FUTURE SEQUENTIAL PRETRIBULATIONAL EVENTS (2)
Pastor Rick Pickens
THE SEQUENCE OF PRETRIBULATIONAL EVENTS • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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A. The One-World Government
A. The One-World Government
Three events leading up to the Tribulation are all found in Daniel 7:23–24.
23 Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path.
24 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
23 Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path.
In verse 23, the fifth birth pang leading up to the Tribulation is the development of a one world government.
The Fourth Gentile Empire was to continue until it eventually devoured the whole world. But the Roman Empire is hardly a fulfillment of this prophecy as some say. You also can not say that Rome conquered all the then-known world, as will be the case for the One World Government, for this is untrue. There were many countries that Rome never concurred or ever would.
A review of the Times of the Gentiles shows that the from 364 AD until present, we see an east-west balance of power. The eastern balance of power is now centered in Russia and the Moslem block of nations, while the western balance of power is with the democracies.
There are nineteen of these countries in the world. Among these countries, Norway is considered as the most democratic nation in the world. The other full democracies include Iceland, Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Denmark, among many others.
But one day this east-west division will give way to a one world government. Remember, as we saw last week in Ezekiel 38:1–39:16, the eastern balance of power will collapse with the fall of the Russian forces and her Moslem allies in Israel and the destruction of Russia itself. With the eastern power destroyed, the way for a one world government will be opened.
As to the exact nature of this government, nothing is stated. It will be a form of imperialism, of course, but whether this will be in the form of the United Nations or the form of a select leadership is unknown. But that this one world government will occur and devour the whole world is very clear. This will be the fifth birth pang.
B. The Ten Kingdoms
B. The Ten Kingdoms
This one world government will eventually split up into ten kingdoms, according to Daniel 7:24a.
24 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
In recent years, a lot of attention has been on the European Common Market, and more recently, on the European Union, concerning the ten kings or kindoms. According to the usual scenario portrayed, there is to be a revival of the old Roman Empire composed of a confederacy of ten European states.
Eschatology based on “newspaper exegesis” attempts to prove itself from current events. But the Scriptures do not speak of the Ten Kingdoms in this fashion. According to the text, after the world falls under the One World Government, then and only then does the One World Government split up into ten kingdoms. But these ten kingdoms cover the whole world, not just Europe alone. The sixth birth pang will be this division of the One World Empire into ten kingdoms with ten kings who will rule the world. At best, the European Union might become one of the ten, but could hardly become all ten.
Beginning before the Tribulation, this Ten Kingdom Stage will continue into the middle of the Tribulation, and it will be the sixth birth pang.
C. The Rise of the Antichrist
C. The Rise of the Antichrist
Following the division of the world into ten kingdoms, the Antichrist will begin his rise to power in Daniel 7:24b.
24 Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.
The fact that there is to be a revelation of the identity of the Antichrist before the Tribulation is clear from 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3.
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.
2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.
3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.
In this passage, two events are said to occur before the day of the Lord, which always refers to the Tribulation. This will be the seventh birth pang. The first event is the falling away. The Greek word used here is apostosia, which can be translated as “the apostasy.” This apostasy of the Church began in the early 1900s and has been the increasing norm ever since.
The second event is the revelation of the man of sin and the son of perdition in verse 3. There is to be a revelation of the Antichrist that precedes the Tribulation and it is for the believers at that time. The Rapture may or may not have occurred by then, since the Scriptures do not state just how long before the Tribulation the Rapture will occur. Therefore, the revelation to believers before the Tribulation may be to the Church or it may be to a new generation of believers who will have accepted the gospel after the Rapture. This revelation will come at the time after the world has been divided into ten kingdoms. Exactly how the Antichrist will be identified is not stated. Perhaps it will be determined by the numerical value of his name or by some other means. But he will be known. The Antichrist’s rise to power before the Tribulation is a biblical necessity. Since the Tribulation begins with the signing of the seven-year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist, it is necessary for the Antichrist to be in sufficient political power to sign such a covenant.
D. The Period of Peace and False Security
D. The Period of Peace and False Security
Another event leading up to the Tribulation is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:1–3.
1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.
2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
Once again, the term the day of the Lord is found, a reference to the Tribulation. At a time when men are saying Peace and safety, the destruction of the Tribulation suddenly hits with devastating force. This fact will require this period to come just before the act that initiates the Tribulation itself. So while the whole world is under the Ten Kingdoms and the Antichrist is rising to power, there will be a period of peace and false security. But this will be shattered by the Tribulation. Once again, this is found in verse 3. This is the eight birth pang leading up to the Tribulation.
I. The Seven-Year Covenant
I. The Seven-Year Covenant
The ninth event leading up to and beginning the Tribulation is the signing of the seven-year covenant between Israel and the Antichrist. This event is found in Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28:14–22. It should be emphasized that it is not the Rapture that begins the Tribulation, but the signing of the seven-year covenant. It is not the Rapture but the seven-year covenant that will begin the Tribulation.
27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”
The Tribulation cannot begin until he signs that seven-year covenant. As has been shown earlier, believers who are still here on earth will already know who he is before this event takes place. Then in Revelation 6:1-2...
1 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 one sitting on the white horse who rides forth conquering, and to conquer, (NKJV) is the Antichrist. He is the first seal of judgment of the Seven-Sealed Scroll of the Great Tribulation that begins to be poured out on the earth as a result of the signing of the Seven-Year Covenant. The very First Seal Judgment is that the Antichrist will use this covenant-relationship with Israel to begin his movements toward worldwide takeover. But he will not achieve this goal until the middle of the Tribulation.
So, at the start of the Tribulation Antichrist first signs the Seven-Year Covenant that begins the Tribulation and as well begins a program of worldwide conquest.
SUMMARY
Past
A. World Wars I and II
B. The Reestablishment of Israel
C. Jerusalem Under Jewish Control
Future
D. The Invasion by the Northern Alliance
E. The One-World Government
F. The Ten Kingdoms
G. The Rise of the Antichrist
H. The Period of Peace and False Security
I. The Seven-Year Covenant
Ok, these are the nine events leading up to the Tribulation that can be traced in a chronological sequence. There are other events, however, which are also stated to be pretribulational but that cannot at this time in history be placed in any chronological sequence.
FRUCHTENBAUM, ARNOLD G.: The Messianic Bible Study Collection. vol. 38. Tustin, CA : Ariel Ministries, 1983