What Does the Future Hold?
by MW Rivers
Are you looking around at all the events you see today wondering what in the
world is going on? Are you concerned about your future and/or the future of
your loved ones? Do you wonder where all the chaos in the world is
heading? Do you know that just on the horizon looms the worst days this
planet and its inhabitants have ever seen or will ever see again? One lone
book gives us much insight into the future; the very near future and it’s not
pretty; not pretty at all. This one book is “The Bible”. Yes, the Bible. You
have probably heard of it, read some of it or even heard it taught, but do you
really know what it foretells about the future; ...your future and that of your
loved ones?
Let us take a look at the Bible's last book, Revelation, and just see what it
says; for the final days of mans existence on earth as we know it are foretold
there.
Revelation was written by the Apostle John, one of the first disciples that walked with
Jesus. In it, he unfolds the events in somewhat chronological order that will befall this world
after The Church is removed out of it. This book begins with a description of Jesus, man’s
redeemer, in chapter one. In verse 19 of this chapter, John is told to write what he is seeing
(which he does), the things that are, which are the Churches (chapters 2 and 3), and then
the things that will come to pass after these things (after the churches). Those things that
come after the churches begin in chapter 4. Here is where the greatest sorrows ever
known to man
...begin.
From this chapter on (Chapter 4) we will see what will come to pass after Jesus has called
His people out of the earth. And just in case you have never heard of it, the removal of The
Church is commonly known as The Rapture or gathering together+. You may or may not
believe this fact that awaits believers in Jesus Christ, but it is as real as the nose on your
face and if you are alive when it takes place and are not in the number who leave, you will
see or hear of it for yourself although this writer believes it may be explained away as
something other than exactly what it will be. Christ's believers have been promised
salvation and told that they have not been appointed to the wrath of God which is about to
fall on the earth and those who dwell therein. (1Thess. 5:9) So let us take a look at what
awaits the world and its inhabitants after the church as been taken up to be with the Lord.
Here begins 3 sets of 7’s. That being 7 seal judgments, 7 trumpet judgments and 7 bowl
or vial judgments that will be poured out upon the earth by God and His son, Jesus, all
within the space of 7 years.
First, there will arise a man who goes through the earth to conquer all he can. He is called
The Anti-Christ and conquer he will; one nation after another. (Rev.6:2). Strangely though
he will appear as a man of peace deceiving the many. Second, peace is taken from the
earth and men will begin to kill one another. (Rev. 6: 3-4) Maybe that sounds like today to
you, but I believe that it will be much more intense than what the world has known up to this
point. Thirdly, food will become very scarce and very costly. It will take one day’s wage
just to buy a loaf of bread. (Rev. 6: 5-6) Fourthly, death will be everywhere and hell is what
awaits those who die without the Lord. (Rev. 6: 7-8) The Bible also states that men will be
killed with the sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts. (It seems here that the fear
animals now have of man, will no longer apply during this time as recorded in Gen 9:2) The
Bible states, that ¼ of men on the earth will be killed by these events that are soon to
come. The message of the salvation of Jesus Christ will still be being preached during this
time, but those who have waited until this point to receive Him as their Lord and Savior will
be hunted down and killed by the powers that will be. (Rev. 6:9-11) As if this were not
enough, it all goes down-hill from here. A great earthquake will strike the earth and
something will cause the sun to not give its light. (This writer does not believe this will be
entirely, but more of an interruption in the light somehow.) The moon will become like blood
and the stars of the sky will fall to the earth. (Although this writer does not believe that these
will be literal stars, but something far more worse as stars can also represent angels, albeit
not all are good ones either.) The heavens will roll back like a scroll as they are cast to the
earth and every mountain and island will be moved out of their places. Men will hide in the
caves as the wrath of God and Jesus have now come to an unrepentant world. (Rev. 6:15-
17) A world that God so loved, that He sent His only begotten Son into it to redeem man
back to Himself. A world that said, “There is no GOD and if there is, we don’t want Him!”
The word of God then tells us that there will be a time of silence in heaven for about ½ hour
thus concluding the first judgments known as the 7 seal judgments.
Next we see 144,000 Jews who will be chosen to be witnesses on the earth to preach the
gospel. (Rev.7:3-8) A seal will be placed on their foreheads for protection. No one or
nothing will be allowed to hurt them in any way as long as they remain on the earth. Also at
this time, 2 men, known as the 2 witnesses, will be on the earth preaching the gospel of
Jesus Christ who will have power to shut up rain from the heavens and to devour men with a
fire that protrudes out of their mouths if they try to hurt them. (Rev.11:1-12) These too will be
protected by God until they have accomplished His will on the earth which will be 1,260
days or 3 and ½ years. There is also a great multitude seen in heaven in the latter verses
of Rev. 7 who apparently are either killed for their testimony or belief after accepting Christ
as their Savior during this time or this may be another view of those raptured off the earth
before all the destruction began. Either way, they are now safe!
The next events we are told will affect the world in thirds. 1/3 of all trees will be burned, and
1/3 of all green grass by hail and fire, mixed with blood that will be thrown to the earth. (Rev.
8:7) Then something like a great burning mountain will be thrown into the sea and 1/3 of the
sea will become blood, 1/3 of all the creatures in the sea will die and 1/3 of all ships in the
sea will be destroyed. (Rev. 8:8) Next, a great star falls from heaven burning like a torch. It
falls on 1/3 of the rivers and springs of water. (Rev. 8:8-9) This star’s name is Wormwood
and the waters will become so bitter that men will die from drinking them. Then 1/3 of the
sun, moon and stars well be smitten and 1/3 of them will be darkened. (Rev. 8:12) So, let’s
summarize this here. There will be no grass for cattle to eat, practically no water for man or
beast to drink, and no sun to grow food. It sounds as if the earth may well become a place
that man will not even be able to exist on. And then things begin to go downhill even
farther.
In Rev. 9 we are told that one of the stars that fell from heaven will be given a key to a place
called the bottomless pit and when he opens it, out will come locusts which have the power
to torment men for 5 months who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. Notice the
key word here is torment, for they will not be allowed to kill anyone. This star has a name
and it is Apollyn. (see, I told you I didn’t think they were literal stars) You may have heard of
him. I believe that he is mentioned in Greek mythology. (Hmmm,...maybe Greek mythology
is not mythology after all. Only time will tell!) Next, 4 angels (again, not good ones) are
released from The Euphrates River and they kill 1/3 of all mankind. They go forth for 1 year,
1 month, 1 day and 1 hour, and the army of their horsemen are 200,000,000. (Rev. 11:3-
19) The two witnesses mentioned earlier will at this time be allowed by God to be killed.
Men will celebrate their deaths thinking they are finally rid of them and their preaching, but 3
and ½ days later, they will rise from the dead and be caught into heaven and the whole
world will witness this; probably via satellite. Their work on earth will have been finished.
(Rev. 11:7-12) Now here we have the 7th trumpet judgment sounding which is the final
trumpet to sound in the 7 trumpet judgments and several things seem to be happening. The
exact order of them it is at this point hard to tell. In Rev. 10:6, we are told that there will be
no more delay. In other words, the worst is now coming and coming swiftly. In Rev.11:15-19
we are told that the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of
His Christ and that God has begun to reign. Let’s not forget that it is He who is allowing the
things that are going on in the earth. And let's also not forget that He did send his Son into
the world that whosoever would believe in him could escape the coming judgment and be
given eternal life. (See John 3:16 and 1 Thess. 5:9) The old and new testament are full of
the warnings of the coming judgement on an unbelieving world.
In Rev. 12:9-12 we are told, WOE to the inhabitants of the earth for the devil with his angels
come down having great wrath knowing that he and they have but a short time to deceive
man. Sounds like at this point satan may become visible for all the world to finally see
although he will eventually possess the world leader on the scene. Most probably there will
be a massive invasion of planet Earth by what are now known as UFO's and aliens. Only
time will tell. The final governmental rule of man, who or which has a deadly wound to one
of its heads, which is healed (probably a nation long forgotten or that no longer was
believed to have any power), described as a beast in Rev. 13, begins to reign upon the
earth and all who dwell upon the earth will worship it's power. The beast, or government, is
given a mouth, or a leader, who will blaspheme God, slander His name, His dwelling place
and all those who live in Heaven. He is given power to make war against the saints who
have received Christ during all the chaos and to conquer or overcome them. This leader,
known as the Anti-Christ who first appeared on the scene in Rev.6:2 as a man of PEACE,
is now given his authority and will reign for 42 months (most probably with the fallen angels
who have been thrown to the earth.) (Rev. 12:9) The believing Jews (converts of the
144,000) will flee into the wilderness where they will be protected and nourished by God for
3 and ½ years. (Rev. 12:6-14) They will recognize that this man who will claim to be The
Christ is an imposture. Around this time another individual, known as the false prophet,
(Rev. 13:11-18) arises and makes an image of the beast and will cause all peoples of the
earth to worship it and those who will not will be killed. Then he will require that all peoples
of the earth receive a mark in their right hand or their forehead so that without it they will not
be able to buy or sell anything. No food, no drink, nothing, nota…zip. (Rev. 13:16-18) Then
the 144,000 Jews that were sealed earlier to preach the gospel are caught up into Heaven.
(Rev.14:1-5) Their work on earth is now finished.
But God will show mercy to men living on the earth before they will have to choose to
worship the anti-Christ and receive his mark. He will allow men the choice to escape an
eternity separated from Him, His love and His presence. An angel having the eternal
gospel will fly through the air proclaiming in a loud voice to all those who live on the earth,
“Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come; worship Him!”
(Rev. 14:6-7) You may be killed because of believing, but it is better to die a physical death
than to die a physical and a spiritual one.
Then another angel is heard saying, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all
the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” (Rev. 14:8) The city of Babylon will
be rebuilt and become a future major hub of commerce…see Zech. 5:5-11 which by the
way is where all this began in the plains of Shinar at the Tower of Babel…see Gen.10:10.
You may find it interesting to note that the plains of Shinar are located in modern day Iraq.
(Wow, that is where the fight is going on now! ... Interesting) But the city will eventually be
destroyed by God in one hour. (Rev. 17 & 18) (Notice that the woman, the whore or false
religion, riding on the beast in Rev.17 is in the desert. Hmmm! Iraq is mostly desert.) A
voice is heard from heaven which says to God’s people within the city of Babylon, “Come
out of her my people, lest you be partakers of her sins and receive of her judgments, for her
sins have piled up to heaven in Rev. 18:4-5. (The description and the destruction of the city
of Babylon is not told to us until Rev. 17 and 18. It most probably is occurring at the same
time that the anti-Christ is about to take his reign or just before.) And then a third angel
follows the first two proclaiming in a loud voice also, “If anyone worships the beast and his
image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine
of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath. He will be
tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the
smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those
who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.”
(Rev. 14:9-13) (This is probably in the middle of the 7 year period just before it will be
required to worship the beast and accept the mark on the right hand or forehead.)
And now comes the final 7 judgments to be poured out of the wrath of God known as the 7
bowl or vial judgments upon the earth. Here again we seem to pick up following a
chronological order. It is the wrap up of all the judgments; the completion of God’s wrath
(Rev. 15:1) on an unbelieving creation. You may ask, “Can it get any worse?” Well, yes it
can and well, yes...it does! First we see in Rev. 16:2 that the first angel pours out his bowl
on the land and ugly and painful sores break out on the people who have the mark of the
beast and have worshiped his image. The second angel (Rev. 6:3) pours out his bowl on
the sea and it turns into blood like that of a dead man and every living thing in the sea dies.
The third angel (Rev. 6:4) pours out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water and
they become blood. The fourth angel (Rev. 6:8) pours out his bowl on the sun and the sun
is given power to scorch or rather to burn people with fire. People on the earth will be
seared by the intense heat and the Word of God tells us still they will curse the name of
God; the one who has the control of everything that is going on in the earth. It would seem
that those on the earth would want to repent of their unbelief and forsake their sins to maybe
put an end to these judgments, but no, the Bible tells us just the opposite will occur.
Amazing! Then the fifth angel (Rev. 6:10) pours out his bowl on the throne of the beast
and his kingdom is plunged into darkness. Men will gnaw their tongues in agony and again
curse the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but still they will refuse to
repent and believe. The sixth angel (Rev. 6:12) then pours out his bowl on the Euphrates
River and its' water will be dried up. We are told that this will occur to prepare the way for
the kings of the East. Here the Lord is referring to the great battle that is coming at the end
of these judgments. Three evil spirits that resemble frogs come out of the mouth of the
dragon, the mouth of the beast and the mouth of the false prophet which are spirits of
demons that perform miraculous signs. They go out to the kings of the earth to gather them
for the great battle that is soon coming. (Rev. 17:21) In Rev. 19 we then read of The
Marriage Supper of The Lamb and His Bride, but I will skip this part here as it is not
pertaining to those who are dwelling on the earth and what is happening there. This
marriage is for the believers in Christ who were taken to be with Jesus just prior to Rev. 4.
But we do see in Rev. 16:11 heaven standing open and before John, the writer of
Revelation, is a white horse whose rider is called Faithful and True with a description of
Him. The rider is Jesus, the real Messiah, and His armies are with Him which include those
believers raptured just prior to Rev. 4. The wind up of God's judgment is now about to
occur and afterwards Christ will return to make all things new again! (Rev. 22)
...to be continued!
For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. (God's standard of righteousness.)
(Rom. 3:23)
But God SO loved the world (that's you) that he sent His only begotten son, that whosoever
(that's you) would believe in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
It is the gift of God; "yours" for the taking. (Rom. 6:23)
One day man's dominion on earth will be over and all we have known here on earth will be
ended, but God promises us a new heaven and a new earth (or renewed) for those that
have trusted in Him. (Rev. 21:1)
Can you imagine a world without sin and corruption?
GOD did.
What will "your" choice be?
Will you choose life?
There is much to escape and even more to gain by trusting Him.
Won't you ask Him to be your Savior today!
For greater understanding and teaching on the book of Revelation, visit this site and click
on the Audio Archive tab:
www.fromthehidden.com
