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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll see that Revelation teaches about a great period of tribulation on earth when God’s judgment will be poured out, while also discovering the hope and victory that belong to Christ’s followers.

Key Verse

Revelation 6:17: For the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand?

Introduction

After John received the seven letters to the churches, he experienced a remarkable vision of heaven itself. This vision marks a dramatic shift in the book of Revelation—from messages to the churches on earth to a glimpse behind the veil of eternity.

Revelation 4:1-2: After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

Many Bible teachers believe that John’s experience of being “caught up in the spirit” provides us with a picture of how the church will be taken up to heaven before the tribulation begins. Others see this simply as John’s prophetic vision. While Christians hold different views about the timing of these events, we can all agree that God’s people will ultimately be delivered from His wrath, just as John was brought safely into God’s presence.

John’s vision of heaven is breathtaking. Christ’s throne is surrounded by heavenly beings—twenty-four elders and four living creatures—all worshiping the Lamb who was slain. This scene reminds us that no matter how dark things become on earth, Christ reigns supreme in heaven, and His ultimate victory is certain.

In chapter 5, John sees a scroll sealed with seven seals. Many Bible teachers believe this scroll represents the deed to the world—the legal document that gives Christ the right to reclaim what rightfully belongs to Him. Only the Lamb is worthy to open this scroll and take possession of the world, which He purchased through His death on the cross.

Revelation 5:9-10: And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

In this lesson, we’ll explore John’s vision of the Great Tribulation found in chapters 6 through 19. While these chapters contain challenging prophecies that Bible scholars interpret in different ways, they all point to the same essential truths: God will judge sin, He will preserve His faithful people, and Christ will ultimately triumph over all evil. Let’s examine six major elements of this vision:

• The seven seals of judgment
• The 144,000 evangelists
• The seven trumpets of judgment
• The two witnesses
• The seven bowls of wrath
• The destruction of Babylon

The Seven Seals of Judgment

The largest portion of Revelation contains prophecies about a period known as the Great Tribulation—a time when God’s judgment will be poured out upon the earth. Jesus Himself spoke of this coming tribulation, and the Old Testament prophets also foretold this period, calling it “the Day of the Lord.”

Matthew 24:21: For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

Joel 2:31: The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

The tribulation begins as Christ opens the seven seals on the scroll. The first seal reveals a rider on a white horse, whom many Bible teachers identify as the Antichrist—the man Satan will use to deceive the nations during his rule on earth.

Revelation 6:2: I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

The remaining seals unleash war, famine, death, and cosmic disasters upon the earth. The judgment becomes so severe that people cry out to the mountains to fall on them and hide them from God’s wrath.

Revelation 6:15-16: Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!”

(Notebook Moment: When you read about people choosing to hide from God rather than turn to Him for mercy, what does this reveal about the human heart’s response to conviction? How might this challenge us to respond differently when God calls us to repentance?)

The 144,000 Evangelists

Even in the midst of judgment, God demonstrates His mercy by preserving witnesses who will testify of His gospel. This is one of the great messages of Revelation—no matter how dark the world becomes, God always has His faithful servants.

Revelation 7:4: Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

These 144,000 servants come from the twelve tribes of Israel and are specially protected by God to carry out His work during the tribulation. Some Bible teachers believe this number should be understood literally, while others see it as symbolic of God’s complete and perfect preservation of His witnesses. Regardless of how we interpret the specific details, the main truth is clear: God will never leave Himself without faithful witnesses, even in the darkest of times.

This reminds us that throughout history, God has preserved a remnant of faithful people who serve Him regardless of the circumstances around them. Whether we face personal trials or live in difficult times, we can take courage knowing that God’s purposes will not be defeated.

The Seven Trumpets of Judgment

When the seventh seal is opened, it reveals seven trumpets that will sound, bringing even more intense judgments upon the earth.

Revelation 8:1: When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

The silence in heaven before these judgments begin is remarkable. It suggests the solemnity of what is about to unfold—even heaven pauses before God’s wrath is fully revealed.

The trumpet judgments echo the plagues that God brought upon Egypt during the exodus. There is hail mixed with fire, the sea turns to blood, and darkness falls upon the earth. These parallels remind us that the same God who delivered His people from Egypt will also deliver them in the last days.

Chapter 9 describes how demonic forces will be unleashed upon the earth, bringing torment to those who have rejected God. Yet even these supernatural plagues will not cause unrepentant humanity to turn to God in faith.

Revelation 9:20-21: The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

This passage reveals the tragic hardness of the human heart when it persistently rejects God’s grace. It also reminds us how precious it is when anyone responds to God’s call with repentance and faith.

The Two Witnesses

During the tribulation period, God will raise up two special witnesses who will prophesy for 1,260 days (three and a half years).

Revelation 11:3: And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.

The Bible doesn’t tell us the names of these two witnesses, though some Bible teachers suggest they might be Elijah and Enoch (who were taken to heaven without dying) or Elijah and Moses (who appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration). What matters most is not their identity but their mission—they represent God’s continued witness to the world even during its darkest hour.

These witnesses will be killed by the forces of evil, but after three and a half days, they will be raised back to life and taken up to heaven in full view of their enemies.

Revelation 11:11-12: But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

Once again, this teaches us that God always preserves His witnesses. Even when it appears that evil has triumphed, God demonstrates His power and vindicates those who serve Him faithfully.

(Notebook Moment: The two witnesses were faithful even unto death, knowing that God would vindicate them. How does their example encourage you to remain faithful in your own circumstances, even when faithfulness seems costly?)

The Seven Bowls of Wrath

The final series of judgments comes through seven bowls of God’s wrath. These judgments are similar to those that fell upon Egypt, including painful sores, waters turning to blood, and scorching heat.

These judgments culminate in the gathering of the world’s armies at a place called Armageddon—a valley in Israel where the final battle against God will take place.

Revelation 16:14-16: They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed. Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

The fact that the world’s armies will literally gather to fight against God shows the ultimate rebellion of the human heart. Yet this gathering also sets the stage for Christ’s final and complete victory over all the forces of evil.

The Destruction of Babylon

All these judgments lead to the destruction of Babylon, which represents the world system that stands in opposition to God. Some Bible teachers believe this refers to a literal city that will arise in the last days, while others see Babylon as symbolic of the fallen world system throughout history.

Babylon’s false religious system will be judged and destroyed (chapter 17), along with its political and economic power (chapter 18). The fall of Babylon represents the complete overthrow of every system that has exalted itself against God.

Revelation 18:2: With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.”

(Notebook Moment: Babylon represents humanity’s attempt to build a kingdom without God. What “Babylons” do you see in our world today—systems or values that promise fulfillment apart from God? How can we avoid being influenced by these false promises?)

Conclusion

The tribulation period reveals three profound truths that speak directly to our lives today.

First, we see the theme of divine judgment against sin. God’s wrath against evil is not arbitrary or cruel—it is the righteous response of a holy God to persistent rebellion. The judgments described in Revelation remind us that sin has consequences and that God will not ignore injustice forever. This truth should lead us to take sin seriously in our own lives and to be grateful for the mercy we have received through Christ.

Second, we discover the theme of God’s faithful preservation of His people. Throughout every period of tribulation described in Revelation, God protects His witnesses and ensures that His purposes are carried out. Whether through the 144,000 evangelists, the two witnesses, or the countless saints who come out of great tribulation, God never abandons those who belong to Him. This truth should give us courage when we face persecution or difficult circumstances for our faith.

Third, and most importantly, we see the theme of Christ’s ultimate victory over all evil. While the tribulation period describes intense suffering and darkness, it culminates in the complete overthrow of Satan’s kingdom and the establishment of Christ’s eternal reign. The Lamb who was slain has conquered, and His victory is certain.

These themes of persecution, deliverance, and Christ’s victory over sin run throughout the book of Revelation and speak powerfully to believers in every generation. When the early Christians faced persecution under Roman emperors, they found hope in these promises. When believers throughout history have suffered for their faith, they have drawn strength from this vision of Christ’s triumph.

The tribulation is ultimately about God’s judgment upon this fallen world, but it ends with Christ’s return and the establishment of His kingdom. For those who belong to Christ, these prophecies are not meant to frighten us but to give us hope. No matter how dark the world becomes, no matter how intense the persecution of God’s people may grow, we know that Christ has already won the victory through His death and resurrection.

As we study these difficult passages in Revelation, let’s remember that the main message is not found in deciphering every detail of future events, but in understanding that our Savior reigns supreme and His victory over sin, Satan, and death is absolutely certain. This is the hope that should sustain us through every trial and the truth that should motivate us to faithful service until He comes again.

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