By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. [Luke 21:20]. When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. I have told you everything ahead of time. [Mark 13:14-23]. Buckle Up! It’s About to Get Rough!
As Paul in [2 Timothy 3:1] told Timothy, sit up and pay attention. Dangerous times, very difficult times are coming. John calls it the ?last hour. [1 John 2:18]. If this is what we have to look forward to [and it is], how then should you live? How will you survive the “savage days” that are coming our way? Get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God. That is the ONLY WAY! Period! No If’s, and Buts about it. God is our ONLY REFUGE!
Understand all that Christ and the Apostles meant and the wide-ranging implications, because your survival and salvation depend on that understanding and your action.
In his vision, the Apostle John declared, “The great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” [Revelation 6:17]. What caused him to say this? He saw the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, who represent the coming judgment of the tribulation period.
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Now in Biblical symbolism, a white horse speaks of victory. At Jesus’ return, He will come upon a white horse, with all the saints following Him. [Revelation 19:11-16]. But this white horse in [Revelation 6: 1-2] is a picture of the Antichrist. He is mimicking the Second Coming of Christ. This Antichrist, whom the Bible also calls the Beast, will come as a worldwide leader.
Then I saw another horse, Fiery Red, The Horse of War, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. [Revelation 6:4].
Behold, a Black Horse, the Horse of Famine, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
After dominion comes destruction and then deprivation. [Revelation 6:5b-6]
Then behold, a Pale Horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. [Revelation 6:8].
I tell you, “Buckle Up! It’s About to Get Rough!” The Great Tribulation will be so horrible that men will want to die, calling death a welcome release—but it will not be, because after death comes judgment and Hell.
They despised the longsuffering of God.
Because they have failed to listen, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. [Jeremiah 11:11]. I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations. I will do this because they have not listened to My words, which I sent to them again and again through My servants. [Jeremiah 29:19].
The Lord rebukes his people for their disbelief. [Isaiah 48:1-11].