091320AM ODF Sermon Notes Tribulation Trouble

Tribulation Trouble

Matthew 24:1-14 + Revelation 6

Today’s Theme: Today we will begin to study the seven year Tribulation. We will look at tribulation preachers, the worst day on earth, and a terrible time of trembling. 

A Real Reality: 

The world is not getting better.  Quite the opposite is true: The world is more scary, more dangerous,  and more hopeless.

Question: Why Study The Second Coming?

      God has recorded it for us in his eternal perfect word and we have a responsibility to study it.

• It should make us Grateful 

• It should make us Prayerful

• It should make us Careful

Jacob’s Trouble:

Under the inspiration of God, the ancient prophet Jeremiah spoke of “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

Note:  Even though Jacob’s descendants will face severe punishment in “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will eventually repent and be restored.  Still, during the tribulation the Antichrist will be the one to bring the greatest amount of pain, to the Jewish nation.  He will slaughter more than Hitler ever thought about.  

Dive Deeper:   {For Personal Study}

The Olivet Discourse is one of the most complete outlines of prophecy in all of Scripture.   Jesus put all this information together so that we could see and understand the times.  With that in mind, compare His words with the vision John had in Revelation chapter 6.  I encourage you to lay the signs that Jesus gave over the seals that John describes, there is in my opinion a great harmony that exist here.   

Jesus said very clearly,  be careful that no one deceives you. {Matthew 24:4}. As John sees the scroll being opened and the seal broken he begins to see a white horse, whose rider carries a bow {without arrows} symbolizing someone bringing a false peace to the world. He is a deceiver, the one claiming, “I am the Messiah.”

In Matthew 24 verse 6 Jesus talked about wars and rumors of wars.   As you read the second seal in Revelation chapter 6 you see a red horse, symbolizing war.  The false peace will be broken by a time of bloodshed and war, just as Jesus predicted.

In Matthew 24 verse 7, Jesus talked about famines, pestilences and earthquakes.  As John is shown the third seal,  he sees a man on a black horse holding balances in his hand.  He symbolizes famine, weighing money for grain.

There is no doubt the earthquakes, famines, and pestilences that Jesus spoke about in Matthew will bring about death upon the earth.  As John sees the fourth seal he sees a pale horse whose name is death.  During the tribulation people will die in vast numbers due to the wars, the famine, the disease, and the natural disasters.  All the things Jesus prophesied are all the things confirmed in John’s vision.  Spend some time this week comparing Matthew 24 and Revelation chapter 6;  it really is worth your personal study.