The Constant Church of God presents clear answers to your questions, directly from the Bible!

In Revelation chapter 6, we saw Jesus Christ opening the first four seals of this scroll symbolically describing the four horsemen of revelation.

He then explains the symbols of these four horsemen in Matthew chapter 24.

First, the white horse describing false teachers. The second the red horse of war. The third is the black horse of famines. And finally — the fourth horse — the pale horse of pestilences or disease epidemics.

The fifth seal is the next major prophetic event: the great tribulation.

What is the great tribulation?

Notice Matthew chapter 24 and verse 21.

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

A time of trouble, calamity, upheaval and chaos mankind has never before experienced in all of human history.

The great tribulation is that time of Satan’s wrath, causing unprecedented havoc directed at God’s Church, modern Israel and on all humanity.

Turn to Revelation chapter 6.

Jesus Christ opens the fifth seal.

Verse 9.

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

There is a duality running throughout Bible prophecy.

During the Middle Ages, that severe, brutal and systematic persecution of God’s Church was but a forerunner of an even greater martyrdom that would happen  to those true Christians in the coming great tribulation.

The European superpower — identified as the Beast — will pursue God’s Church.

But God will protect His faithful people, who have refused to deny His name.

He will take them to a place of safety.

Enraged, Satan then turns on the remnant of God’s Church.

The lukewarm Church who did not stay close and obedient to God.

They were not accounted worthy to escape.

They will be forced to give up the truth of the Bible and accept a counterfeit religion.

Or be tortured and executed as heretics.

And there are those who will compromise their beliefs to save their lives.

However, those who repented of their ways, chose to give up their lives were martyred in Satan’s fiendish persecution.

Having endured all the way to the end, they will then receive eternal life.

The great tribulation is going to directly impact you as well!

Don’t believe me. Open your Bibles and prove it for yourselves.

The prophet Jeremiah calls the great tribulation that time of Jacob’s trouble.

He’s referring to that time of national calamity upon the nations of modern Israel: the United States, Great Britain and the British-descended nations of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Widespread death and destruction is prophesied by God through the prophet Ezekiel.

Many will die from the nuclear attack that will devastate our cities.

Disease epidemics — from nuclear radiation and biological weapons — will decimate our population.

And then, our people will be taken away captive.

Now turn to Matthew chapter 24 and verse 22.

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Except those days of great tribulation be shortened, no flesh would be saved alive!

For the first time ever, mankind faces the threat of human extinction from powerful weapons of mass destruction.

But for the sake of God’s elect He will cut short those days.

Why does a God of mercy and love even allow this great tribulation — Satan’s wrath — to happen?

Jeremiah chapter 30 and verse 14 provides the reason.

14 “. . .I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one [that agent of Satan the devil], for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased.”

Mankind has chosen to go the way of disobedience and rebellion.

Defying God.

Choosing to go his own way instead of God’s way.

And the results have been disastrous.

A God of great love will not stand idly by and permit man to destroy himself!

As a loving parent does His children, He will punish and discipline a defiant mankind to teach him the lesson that only God’s way works.

Only God’s way produces the best and the most beneficial outcome.

The Bible clearly says you don’t have to go through this horrific time.

Repent and change your ways. Diligently be mindful of your spiritual condition.

That’s how you will be accounted worthy to escape this turbulent time of disorder and persecution.

So now, you have seen and heard, directly from the Bible, the first five seals opened: the first, false preachers; second, wars climaxing in world wars; third, famines; fourth, disease epidemics; and, fifth, the great tribulation.

Join us again next time for the conclusion of this series on the timeline of prophecy.

This is Ross Abasolo with the Constant Church of God.

Join us again next time to hear more about what the Bible actually says!