Revelation 8 Lesson

WHAT IS THE GREAT TRIBULATION?

In Revelation Chapter 8, we get a sneak peek into what the final days on Earth will look like leading up to the second coming of Jesus.

The word tribulation is defined as, “A state of great trouble or suffering.” (Source: Google Dictionary)

This is a fitting definition of what those days on Earth will be like.

During the Great Tribulation, those on Earth will experience catastrophic events, the likes of which the Earth has never seen!    According to Revelation 8:5, these events will include:

• A huge fireball hurled to the earth,
• Thunder,
• Lightning,
• Earthquakes.

The Bible tells us that there will be seven angels standing before God who will sound their trumpets one at a time. As each one sounds off, those on Earth will be subjected to tremendous suffering!

After all seven trumpets have sounded, there will be loud voices coming from Heaven proclaiming:

• “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” – Revelation 11:15.

There will be a prolonged battle between good and evil where good prevails. In Revelation Chapter 21, we read the following words of encouragement:

• Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:1-4.

WHEN WILL THE GREAT TRIBULATION OCCUR?

The Great Tribulation will occur just before the return of Jesus and His Second Coming.

The Bible is clear that only God knows when this will be, as we see in the following four scriptures:

1. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” -Mathew 24:36 ,
2. “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.” -Mathew 25:13,
3. “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” -1 Thessalonians 5:2,
4. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” -Luke 12:39-40.

And because we do not know when He is coming back, we need to prepare ourselves and make sure that we have done everything we need to do relative to our salvation.

PREPARING FOR THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

Different denominations have differing opinions about what is necessary to go to Heaven. In the end, what matters is what God says is important through His inspired Word.

Listed below are five things that the Bible teaches are necessary for salvation along with the corresponding scriptures:

1. Believe in Jesus. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” – Acts 16:31, 
2. Confess our belief in Him. “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” – Romans 10:10, 
3. Repent (turn away from) of our sins. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:3, 
4. Be baptized. “Baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ .” – 1 Peter 3:21 and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:16, 
5. Obey God’s commandments. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” – Mathew 7:21. 

CONCLUSION

As we read about the events leading up to the great tribulation, we should be filled with a sense of urgency to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord.

According to the Bible, there are five matters of salvation needed to go to Heaven:

1. Believe in Jesus.– Acts 16:31, 
2. Confess our belief in Him. - Romans 10:10, 
3. Repent (turn away from) of our sins. – Luke 13:3, 
4. Be baptized.–1 Peter 3:21, and Mark 16:16, 
5. Obey God’s commandments.–Mathew 7:21. 

If we are lacking in any of these five areas, the time for us to get right with God is now!

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture taken from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. It reminds us of the glory of Heaven that awaits those who are faithful until the end:

• “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man , all that God has prepared for those who love Him .” - 1 Corinthians 2:9.