Revelation, Stephen Picklesimer [summer reading list .txt] 📗

YEAR of…visitation” (11:23; 23:12—also see Ezek. 4:6 and Num. 14:34).
A Great Earthquake
Notice verse 12 speaks of a “great earthquake.” This earthquake occurs after the fifth seal, upon the opening of the sixth seal. The terrible time of the fifth seal involves the military invasion and the captivity of the peoples of the modern nations (which are just tribes grown larger) of Israel. This includes the two and a half years of unparalleled suffering and tribulation—unrivaled in history. It is coming on this generation—soon!
By its very timing and context, this earthquake proclaims the end of the tribulation and the beginning of signs that appear in the heavens.
Revelation 6:12 states, “And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.”
This event was also covered in Matthew 24:29. Re-read it: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”
Luke 21:25-26 describes this same event: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring [tsunamis]; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
This earthquake will be so terrible that “every mountain” and “every island” will be shaken out of position (Rev. 6:14).
Remember, this is the time of God’s GREAT WRATH! This earthquake will be worldwide in scope. But all the earth’s topography will not necessarily be changed by one final earthquake. This process appears to take place in stages. God will bring it about in such a way as to preserve life on the earth, with each of five final earthquakes contributing to some aspect of the transformation.
If only one cataclysmic earthquake did this, it could threaten all life on earth. Still, only a tenth of humanity will survive into the millennium. Again, this earthquake announces the SIXTH SEAL—the Heavenly Signs.
Notice Isaiah’s description of this time: “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake terribly the earth” (2:20-21). This compares with Revelation 6:15-16.
All of Revelation 6:14-17 shows that this sign is the heavens rolling together like a scroll. This time will be so terrible that John records people, in sheer terror, hiding themselves in caves and rocks and crying out to die. Verse 17 asks, “...and who shall be able to stand?” The masses fear facing the full Wrath of the One they have disobeyed!
Three World Events
Understand! The Tribulation and the Day of the Lord are not synonymous! These are completely separate, different events. The Heavenly Signs come between the Tribulation, which precedes them, and The Day of the Lord, which follows them. (Although only Matthew 24:21, 29 and Revelation 7:14 use the term “Great Tribulation,” at least thirty scriptures speak of it.)
The religious leaders of this world are in almost complete ignorance of how these three great earth-shattering events come—in what order they appear. Most believe them to be synonymous. They are not!

The Tribulation comes first. “Immediately after the tribulation” (Christ recorded) come the Heavenly Signs. These introduce the Day of the Lord (God’s Wrath), which is a separate period of events. We have seen how Joel, Zephaniah and Matthew have explained what Christ revealed in vision to John in the Revelation. By now, these great events should be clear.
Christ also taught His disciples, “...in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men...” (Mark 7:7-8). There are many “traditional,” but incorrect, views of prophecy.
More and more people are writing of prophecies they know nothing about. They ignore what God says, in order to promote time-honored, empty theories—or even newer, more far-fetched ideas. I have just reviewed an article in a national magazine about much of what has been covered so far in this booklet. It demonstrates appalling ignorance of even the most basic facts of scriptures pertaining to end-time prophecies. Yet the article shows that almost three out of five Americans (scores of millions) believe that the mixed-up jumble of ideas it references about Revelation will soon come true, but only in some inexplicable, mysterious way. Millions of other professing Christians, no doubt because they either do not care or are confused, reject anything to do with prophecy! Either way, people remain ignorant.

Most people believe the Tribulation, Heavenly Signs and Day of the Lord are identical—are one and the same. No one who cannot distinguish between these separate events has any hope of understanding what God has prophesied.
Here is an important distinction: The Day of the Lord reflects the Wrath of God. The Tribulation is actually the wrath of Satan the devil. This fallen angel is well aware that he has but a short time to remain the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4), deceiving the nations (Rev. 12:9). His time is almost up.
The Tribulation is also Satan’s final persecution and martyrdom of many of God’s true servants in a lukewarm condition. If they remain close to God, Satan cannot deceive them, and so he is furious.
If you seek God, you need not worry about events soon to strike all nations. Take a moment to read Luke 21:36. It is a reassuring promise from Christ that requires you to “WATCH...and PRAY...that you may be accounted worthy to ESCAPE all these things...and to stand before the Son of man.” Then read Christ’s sobering description in the preceding verses of how these events will strike a completely unsuspecting world “like a snare.”
The goal of a Christian is to stand before Christ at His Return, and rule with Him when the kingdom of God is established!
Chapter 7: Why God’s Wrath Temporarily Held Back

Right before the Day of the Lord, an angel temporarily holds back the four winds, which Revelation 8:7-12 explains are the first four trumpet plagues of the seventh seal. Now notice: “And after these things I saw FOUR ANGELS standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the FOUR WINDS of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and He cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (7:1-4).
This is a dramatic scene. Four winds are about to “hurt the earth”—devastate its landscape! (Though symbolic in language, the plagues they bring will be most real to all who suffer them.) God’s Wrath, which is the beginning of His direct intervention in world affairs, is poised to appear. But it is temporarily restrained. Something must happen first before this can occur.
These winds are held back so that the well-known (but little understood) 144,000 can be sealed—and the great (innumerable) multitude can stand before the throne of Christ wearing white robes.
First, the 144,000 are sealed (7:4-8) with the Father’s Name (14:1)—and represent 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Chapter 14 adds more about this group (vs. 1-5). These are obviously converted people. They are sealed with the Father’s Name (and the Holy Spirit “in their foreheads”) because this is how Christ prayed, in John 17:11, that the Father would “keep” His servants. This world’s churches are named after men, doctrines, locations, etc. God’s Church (in 12 places in the New Testament) is always named after Himself—Church of God!
The innumerable multitude is comprised of those who are drifting along, not heeding God’s instruction now, though they know His commands. These “came out of the great tribulation” (7:14).
John records the following: “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 one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (vs. 9, 13-14).
Many know the truth today but are either not acting on it, or are only responding to it in a limited way. Scores of millions heard the voice of Herbert W. Armstrong during his 52-year ministry. He boldly proclaimed the true gospel of the kingdom of God, and restored many true doctrines to the sixth era (Philadelphia) of God’s Church. Many did not heed. They were “choked by the cares of the world.”
Some will finally wake up during or after the tribulation, after seeing the terror of the Heavenly Signs—and after much suffering. These stupendous events will sober and awaken many before it is too late. In complete submission, they will repent and turn to God. The Restored Church of God is carrying on this ministry—this WARNING to all who will listen!
Why God Sends Plagues
I John 4:8 and 16 state that “God is love.” His love for the world is why Christ died (John 3:16). A fair, just and loving God never punishes people before He warns them. Once again, you are being warned.
When Christ came to earth to announce God’s kingdom, He was tortured and crucified. Every one of the apostles, with the likely exception of John, was put to death, often after imprisonment—sometimes including torture.
Time could be taken to describe the prophets of old who warned nations, kings and peoples to repent and to acknowledge God as sovereign over their lives. These men were placed in dungeons, forced to flee for their lives, stoned, sawn in two, or otherwise killed in most cruel fashion. Invariably, they were rejected and ignored. Noah preached for 120 years and only a few of his family heeded.
This stiff-necked, rebellious, pleasure-seeking world has never heeded the true prophets and servants of God. Except for a tiny few, this will not change because of the words of this booklet.
God is a parent. Like