Over the last several months, Christians, and Non-Christians alike have been speculating whether the seven seals have indeed been broken as reported by John the Apostle in his book of Revelation in the Holy Bible.
Historians and most Christian Theologians believe that the seven vials of the plagues have been opened and are being released upon earth even now. There seems to be some lack of understanding concerning Jesus return and the battle that will be played out between Jesus and Lucifer aka satan.
This will not be some duel where the two face off with swords. It will not be two super spiritual powers facing off one trying to destroy the other trying to prevent, at least not as we understand warfare. And there will be little to nothing that man can do of a physical nature to protect himself. This will be "Spiritual Warfare".
Man’s only form of escape and protection is belief and acceptance through faith in Christ Jesus and His power to sanctify us and purify us so that we may stand pure in the eyes of The Father.
This will be a sprititual battle with satan trying to enlist those weak in spirit to follow him as he has done since the beginning of time itself.
There also seems to be some confusion as to the unfolding lineage of the events and whether the Great Rapture comes before or after the seven years of the Great Tribulation. It is clear to me, and I hope it will become clear to you the reader, of the direct lineage of these events, Rapture,Tribulation and lastly, Armegeddon.
The revelation given to John was given to him by Jesus himself, given as a warning for mankind of a future time whereby Jesus would return to earth, to be amongst man again and to have a final spiritual battle between Himself and satan and all of his followers.
The Great Rapture: John the Apostle reports in REVELATION: 7: 9-10; "After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."
The Apostle John also relates to us the following: JOHN: 5: 28-29; "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
This is the first leg of this spiritual warfare to take place. The Prophet Isaiah reports of this long before Jesus is even born; reported in ISAIAH: 42: 1-7 Isaiah also prophesies that there will come a day when the Lord is ready to return, that the Lord will send down his angels and they will in one day, gather up all who believe, 1/3 of the earth’s present population will be gathered up to join Jesus and the faithful of the twelve tribes of Israel.
A person could be in a taxi and the driver will suddenly disappear. A person could be flying on a commercial jet and suddenly the pilot or an attendant or the person sitting next to you, or a handful of passengers could suddenly just disappear. You and a friend could be out walking and suddenly you disappear. It will be a catastrophic day to remember when suddenly 1/3 of the world population will just up and disappear.
The Great Tribulation: The great tribulation is reported to be a (7) Seven year testing and tempting by satan against the remaining 2/3 of earth’s population to see whether they will turn to Jesus as redeemer and spiritually resist and fight against satan, The Anti-christ and the false prophets. During this time of tribulation satan will employ every means possible to try and seduce man to follow him.
Armegeddon: This is the final spiritual battle to take place whereby Jesus meets Lucifer, The Anti-Christ and the False Prophets face to face and at the end of it all, satan and his followers are cast into the "Lake of fire" about 1/2 of the remaining 2/3 of the earth’s population or 1/3 in total will wrongly choose to follow satan and lose their opportunity of eternal life with Jesus because they refuse to accept Jesus as the Son of God, The Christ, The Messiah, and accept His offer of redemption. They will perish with satan in the "Lake of Fire", for eternity.
What we all have to keep in mind is that this all has to do with our spirit and whether or not spiritually we accept God into our life or satan.
REVELATION: 20: 7-15; "And when the thousand years were expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to do battle: the number of whom is of the sands of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw the great white throne and him that sat upon it from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away; and there was no place found for them. And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God and the book was opened: and another book was opened which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the "Second death". And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Many wonder about their friends or relatives who are not saved, and died without the opportunity of being saved. So as we can plainly see here in these scriptures another question is answered. Those who are dead in the grave or in the sea or cremated, and died "Non-Christian, Non-Converted" will receive a judgement according to their works, and will be offered the opportunity of redemption.