Slides: Tribulation

Interpreting

• Scripture interprets Scripture
• Different forms, same truths
• Pictures symbolize realities
• First coming launched last days
• Visions overlap, same story
• Partial fulfillments, then final

Seven seals

1. White horse
2. Red horse
3. Black horse
4. Pale horse
5. Souls calling
6. World’s end
7. Silence

Seven trumpets

1. Hail, fire, blood kill 1/3 of plants
2. Fiery mountain kills 1/3 in sea
3. Wormwood poisons 1/3 of rivers
4. 1/3 of sun, moon, stars go dark
5. Demons torment unbelievers
6. 200 million attackers
7. Christ judges and reigns

Seven bowls

1. Sores on beast worshipers
2. Blood and death to the sea
3. Rivers & springs become blood
4. Sun scorches; people curse God
5. Beast’s realm dark; more cursing
6. Kings & demons gather forces
7. Quake, hail, collapse; curse God

Repent or curse?

They cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him… Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. (16:9-11)

Tribulation

• Lamb on throne unfolds God’s plan
• Heaven summons hellish powers
• Reflects Old Testament plagues
• Drives rebels to rage, fear, perish
• Makes faithful strong, pure, ready
• Intensifies until creation collapses
• Heaven worships and rejoices