Will We Go Through the Tribulation? (Pt. 8)

What Does It All Mean?

For a number of years I believed that Christians would not have to go through any of the tribulation period described in the book of Revelation.  Like many of my contemporaries, I assumed that everything between chapter 4 and the end of chapter 18 was going to be God’s pouring out of judgments on a rebellious, sinful world.  I believed that we Christians would have been conveniently raptured out of this world before those horrible things began to come upon the earth.  I taught that only after the Christians escaped would the awful tribulations come, followed by the final return of Jesus Christ described in Revelation 19, where we see a picture of Christ as Conquering King.

Then I read chapter 10, verse 1.

And read it.

And read it again.

The more I read it. The more convinced I became that this can only be one person – Jesus Christ.  It is not Gabriel, Michael, or some other special angel, as I had been taught and as I later taught thousands of other people.  The characteristics John describes can only be rightly attributed to God, not any created being.

Keep in mind what we know about the signs of the presence of Almighty God – He appears often in a cloud, the rainbow, bright light, and fire – and look at what I believe is the point in Scripture where Jesus Christ returns:

I saw still another mighty angel (messenger) coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud.  And a rainbow was on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.  He had a little book open in his hand.  And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. (10:1-2 NKJV)

I believe with all of my heart that the Person being described here is Jesus Christ.  He is coming in the clouds.  Only God Almighty has a rainbow on His head.  Only His face is like the sun.  (Moses reflected a bit of that glory when he came down from Mount Sinai, after receiving the Ten Commandments.)  His fiery feet indicate that He is coming to judge the world.  (Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (NKJV).  And he places one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, to show that He has absolute power and authority over the world.

This is the Jesus that every eye shall see – not the Babe of Bethlehem, not even the Lamb for sinners slain.  This Jesus is the regal, awesome Judge of all creation!

For nearly ten years I kept my thoughts on Revelation 10:1 to myself.  Finally, as I continued to study, and as I began to speak about what I believed God had shown me in prison and in the years following my release, I felt that I must go public with the message He had given me.  I knew it would not be a popular message, and I knew that the prevailing opinions in many Christian circles would be adamantly against my views.  Nevertheless, late in 1997 I began to voice my opinion that although the picture of Jesus in Revelation 19 is indeed a portrayal o four King, Revelation 10 is an equally accurate presentation of our victorious Lord.  And if we are to understand these Scriptures in any chronological way, it might well be that Jesus will return some time after the tribulation period begins.

I had just spoken on the subject for the first time when I was riding with my daughter, Tammy Sue, and my assistant, Shirley Fulbright.  We turned on the radio and to our surprise heard Bible teacher David Jeremiah speaking about Revelation 10.  Dr. Jeremiah was one of the Bible teachers I had often listened to on my tiny transistor radio while I had been in prison, and I had greatly benefited from his shound, careful analysis of Scripture.  Now, as we listened in the car, I was intensely interested in hearing what he had to say about Revelation 10.

David Jeremiah presented an exposition of the passage and then said, “people won’t agree with me, but I believe this can be only one Person:  His name is Jesus.”

I was thrilled!  I had thought that perhaps I was a Lone Ranger in my thinking that Revelation 10:1 refers to Jesus.  Not that I minded:  I had long since learned that the majority opinion can often be wrong.  Still, it was a tremendous encouragement simply to hear that a devout student and teacher of the Word had come to a similar conclusion as my own.  In his book Escape the Coming Night, Dr. Jeremiah examined the issue again and stated succinctly, “Although the identity of this messenger from heaven seems clear to me, there has been quite a controversy about who He is.  I believe this angel is the Angel of Jehovah, the Lord Himself.”

The angel, or messenger, as the world can also be translated,

Cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars.  When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.  Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” (10:3-4 NKJV)

This passage is a great enigma to Bible scholars because it is never explained further.  Apparently when the Angel cries out like the roar of a lion (see Rev. 5:5), the message resonates throughout the world and is answered by the seven thunders.  It is the only part of the Apocalypse that John was not permitted to disclose.  The message of the seven thunders remains sealed to this day.

What happens next is one of the true high points of all Scripture.

(To Be Continued)

Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 1
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 2
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 3
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 4
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 5
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 6
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 7
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 9
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 10
Will We Go Through the Tribulation? – Part 11

Excerpt from Prosperity and the Coming Apocalypse

Published in 1998

18 thoughts on “Will We Go Through the Tribulation? (Pt. 8)

  1. John,I live in flyover cotnury, I was raised here, I will die here. I have 3 degrees, BS,MS, and doctorate. I am a physician. Do I love to hunt and fish, yes! Do I love to see the tractors in the fields in the spring and the combines in the fall? Yes! The harvest, the harvest! I wonder how many people, unattached to the land would work 16 hour days to put in a crop, borrow 6-7 figures to plant it, worry about it and then in the fall (as I am watching now) reap the harvest. but yet worry about the price of planting in the spring (do you know that they price the sack of grain by seed count), the price of fuel, fertilizer, herbicide? I wonder how many workers will Chris Matthews get to feed this cotnury, and yes the world. There is a love of the land that you cannot describe. I grew up here, my family has farmed all of their lives. They are America!There is a level of ignorance of my America, in my cotnury that I can not describe.Yes, I will cling to my God and my guns, but always to my God, the King of King’s and the Lord of Lord’s.My God gave this land to me and my forefathers, and no one will take it from me without a fight!Well-loved.

  2. Many people are in the avoidance behaviour mode I cannot believe Yeshua will allow us to suffer that is for the sinners, look do not listen to Jim or any other person thinks the same way as Jim study with an open mine. As you study and ask the Lord to show you with an open mine he will clearly confirm in Jim’s teachings believe this man is correct, this is not a fairy tale catching up planes crashing people disappearing is wrong .

    Jim has been mocked for his teachings I admonish this man for standing up for these views for truly the Lord is with him he has been called for the end times Jim please do not hesitate on what the Lord has given you to share there are few things that have been given to you from the Lord and have hesitate to share they need to be.

    I have been feeling strong in my spirit that something is about to break that is going to cause a shaking around the world I can say this Israel is the main factor in this the president will be meeting with (BB) the problem will escalate. When this happens watch out there shall be sudden destruction like no man has seen before in part Jim you had mentioned about the govt buying out this food part of this about to take fold on what the gov is about to do in the coming days Jim I ask you to blog this am sure you shall bare witness to this.

  3. I would like to know if the rapture has already happend. Im Not familure with the Bible but lately ive been feeling strange about things! Like GOD is telling me to get ready! Then a few days later i turned the tv to the Jin Bakker show, I was shoked that he was saying things that i felt GOD was telling me too!!

  4. Revelations chapter 10:1 is speaking of Jesus Christ but the rapture of the church will be before the tribulation period. God has not appointed us to wrath…it is those who rejected the love of the truth and would not repent who will go through the tribulation. If we reject Jesus Christ and Him crucified, which is the truth, then judgement will ultimately come.

    In Christ Jesus, in love
    momalewis

    • PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT GOD NOT APPOINTING US TO WRATH, HOWEVER THERE IS ALSO THE WRATH OF SATAN, WHICH MOST PASTORS TELL US NOTHING ABOUT.
      YOU SEE THE SEAL AND TRUMPET JUDGEMENTS ARE THE WRATH OF SATAN AND THE BOWL JUDGEMENTS ARE THE WRATH OF GOD! WE ARE NOT APPOINTED TO THE WRATH OF GOD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL SUFFER PART OF THE TRIBULATION WITH THE WRATH OF SATAN. CHRISTIANS HAVE ALWAYS SUFFERED FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME, AND WILL DO SO IN THE FUTURE AS THAT IS GOD’S WAY TO PURGE THE EARTH OF ALL EVIL, ALL THAT DEFILE AND ALL WHO EVEN THINK OF AND COMMIT SIN.
      PREPARE YOURSELF AS PASTOR JIM IS RIGHT WE WILL SUFFER PART OF THE COMING TRIBULATION AND THE CHURCH WILL INDEED SEE THE ANTICHRIST. SORRY TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE BUT FACTS ARE FACTS AND THE FACTS ARE IN THE GOOD BOOK OF GOD’S WORD.

  5. i just happened upon your show and was amazed at your predictions about the earthquake in Japan and others. I’ve seen all kinds of self proclaimed phrophets over the years make predictions that never come to pass. What is your latest word from God about events yet to unfold?

  6. This is chart shows how the 7 Seals in Revelation chapter 6 parallels with what Jesus says about the end times in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

    Mt 24: Mk 13: Lk 21: Seals Rev 6:

    4-5 5-6 8 1. False Messiah/Anti-Christ 1-2

    6-7 7 9-10 2. Wars/Rumors of Wars 3-4

    7 8 11 3. Famine for God’s Word 5-6

    7 8 11 4. Pestilence/Spiritual Locusts 7-8

    8-28 9-23 12-24 5. Martyrdoms/Witnessing/Testimony 9-11

    29-30 24-27 25-26 6. Signs in Heavens 12-17

    31-35 28-31 27-28 7. Jesus Christ Returns/7th Trump (See** and ## below)

    ** The Revelation verses for the 7th seal are chapter 8 verses 1-5.
    ## The verses for the 7th trump/trumpet are Revelation chapter 11 verses 15-19.

  7. I once more am reminded of the seventieth week of Daniel. Seven years.
    None of us know all there is. I certainly don’t. However I am
    convinced we are in the days of sorrows. Look at the sorrows of Japan.
    Look at the sorrows of those who experienced the tornadoes. The sorrows of the flooding. Another word Jim has said. Memphis will be
    under water. I am also reminded how the early Christians were
    martyred. They went through some tough times. Fox Book of Martyrs
    is an excellent book to read on this. God give us strength and
    courage to face the days ahead. There will be some fiery trials,
    however I am once more reminded of the Hebrew children who would not
    bow to old Neb’s statue. Even at the threat of death. Of being thrown
    alive into the midst of the fiery furnace. God very well could have
    delivered them from the furnace. He can do all things. That statement of the 3 Hebrew children, we don’t know if he will, but we know he is
    more than able. Whether he does or not, we still will not bow. God
    allowed them to go into the furnace of fire heated 7 times over. Yet
    there was a 4th one who was there in the fire with them. We have one
    that goes with us through the fire, through the flood. We have his
    promise I will never leave you or forsake you. God never lies. His
    Word stands forever in Truth.

  8. There are some things Jim B. teaches that I too thought i was the only one thinking of, and some things I disagree with. What will bring on the great falling a way, the apostate, false teaching in the last days I wondered. I realized It could be nothing else but the teaching and preaching that “everythings gonna be alright” ‘Gods going to buy me a Mercedes Benz” and when it doesn’t happen “hopes differed make the heart sick” and a falling away,but as always the preacher will be able to get his. On the other hand I do not believe the four horse men have started their ride, this is just the “birth pains” we are experiencing, and we are already running to the mountains, when they do take to the trails, like Jim say’s YOU HAVN’T SEEN NOTHING YET!

  9. I’ll say it again. There is no 7 years Tribulation in the Bible. There is a 7 year “Peace Treaty”, that gets broken. In REV. 7:9, that’s where I’m at. I’m in that great number around the throne, that no man can number. In 1 Thess. 4: 13-18, clearly points out taht not everyone will die. There are other scriptures point out what I believe is the “Rapture” or the “Great Snatching”. I personally believe that we are in about the 4th seal now, maybe 5th, but definately in the 4th.

  10. After receiving a clear call to become a doctor and go to Africa as a Missionary, I delayed for a few years to practice here in the U.S. The Lord opened my eyes to being out of His will, and I sought Him for the fullness of His Holy Spirit for 7 months. This ended with a revelation that we are already in the period which Revelation talks about, and have been since WW 2, at least. I had always believed in the rapture before Rev. 4 onwards came to pass, but found this was not really taught in the scriptures. Christians have always gone through tribulations. I think we make a mistake in thinking Rev. 4 begins the great tribulation. I now believe the 7 bowls of wrath equates with the great tribulation, and the rapture is more likely after the 7th trumpet, as Paul states in 1 Cor. 15 as the last trump. All the unusual things taking place since WW 2 with the great increase in knowledge, and return of Israel, equate to Revelation in progress before our very eyes. After getting back into God’s will, I have spent 35 yrs. as a medical missionary in Africa, which resulted in great blessings, and much fruit. I think Jim is right on in much of his current thinking. The Lord also revealed this to Bob Fraley, and led him to research the scriptures and write about it in detail. His website explains this at http://www.bobfraleychristianlifeoutreach.com God Bless.

  11. This may not have much to do with the timing of the rapture but I’d like to share this word with you.A couple of weeks ago while in prayer I asked the Lord what He wanted to do with my life,it happened to be storming at the time.I heard the Lord ask me “what is that noise ?”,I responded that’s thunder.He then asked me “what is thunder?” Thunder is the sound the lightning makes,it is nothing in and of itself.The Lord revealed to me that He was the lightning (Daniel 10:1)and He needs voices of thunder in the earth at this time.The apostle James and his brother John were known as the sons of thunder.Lightning is electricity that comes from the clouds in a time of instability in the atmosphere.I think you would agree with me that this is a time of instability in the world and we need a Light in the storm and Jesus needs voices of thunder to echo His gospel.

  12. I have studied this off and on the tribulation for years my views are the same we will go through tribulation I have not seen anything that has changed my mine.
    There are so many teaching on the Internet that falsely dispute the teachings and well known teachers on tv for their shall be false prophets in the end times.
    Jim keep up the teachings I pray that there shall be theses teaching on the air nationally as the days draw nearer to Yeshua teachings.
    Former worker on CBN with Jim Wall Bill Freeman WCIE Shalom

  13. The Rapture doctrine is a no-brainer for about 99% of prophecy teachers. It’s just accepted without research or question. Only those who are really studying scripture objectively and without preconceived ideas will ever learn the truth about what’s prophesied for the Last Days.

    Daniel says that only in the latter days will the details of prophecy be exposed to humans. Only on a need-to-know basis, not dozens or hundreds of years in advance. Whatever ideas have been around for forty or 140 years are only the conjectures of men. Most of them won’t hold up when events start unfolding.

    It’s especially difficult for “experts” to admit error. So it’s impressive when a Bible teacher will learn new truth and teach it while having to admit that he was previously in error.

    It’s also an indication that he may be one of those who will be given end time inspiration about what’s ahead. If so, there will be much more to come as the end of the age draws closer over the next few years.

  14. Matthew 24: starting at verse 29, Jesus clearly says when He is coming back and He says “Immediately AFTER the tribulation”.

    I read and believed that since 1978!!

  15. As the Lion roars, while reading this, scriptures came to mind.
    The Lion of the tribe of Judah. Our mighty Lion who puts an end to the roar of the devil. Satan like a roaring lion. A lion paralyzes
    his prey with his roar. So he can devour them. Satan is much the
    same. Roaring with his accusations and lies. Roaring to instill
    fear in the hearts of God’s people. One day we will find his teeth
    pulled. He roars no more. For he will face the mightiest lion of
    all who steps out on land and sea. When the Lion of the tribe of
    Judah lets out his roar, all enemie flee. Who can stand before his
    presence. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fear
    no man, for he is just a man. I keep thinking of Moses standing
    against the enemies of the Lord. They were trying to sow discord
    in the camp. Right there living among them. The enemies of the
    Lord. Moses stands and says, who is on the Lord’s side among you.
    Let it so be today, that we raise the banner of our God high
    declaring who is on the Lord’s side among you, who is on the side
    of the Lord. Let us flee to our God, saying this is our God, we
    have trusted in you. As we pledge our allegiance to our Great and
    Mighty King. I would rather put my trust in the Lion of the tribe
    of Judah, for the Lord of Hosts is a mighty God of war. He fights
    for us. The battle is his, he will not be defeated by his enemy.
    The enemy of the cross, the enemy of the watchman on the wall,
    that enemy will one day fall and bow to the King of Kings and
    Lord of Lords. God bless you Jim. I must say one more thing, God
    has touched my heart to pray for Lori, tell her not to worry,
    everything is going to be alright.

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