The Tribulation Described in the Book of Revelation Part 4

Woman Travailing In Birth (Re 12:1-6) is not referring to the Virgin Mary.

This is a continuation of a series. Click Here for previous articles.

Introduction

There are seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials in the Book of Revelation. Of those, only the seven trumpets represent the Great Tribulation that Jesus described in Matthew 24. Also, throughout the book, there are 15 interludes, or pauses in the narrative. None of them appear in the first five trumpets, only two appear in the sixth trumpet, but the seventh trumpet is unique because almost half of all interludes, in the Book of Revelation, appear with this trumpet. In coming posts, we will look at all the trumpets but, because it is so unusual, we will begin with this one. And we will only have time to cover the first interlude that appears with it - A Woman Travailing in Birth. Before doing that however, we need to first look at some background.

Jesus Himself included the interludes in His revelation to John for a reason. Understanding what they represent is determined by what is happening at the time they appear in the narrative. In the case of the seventh trumpet, we can see that two of them appear during the rise of two beasts. This is significant because these interludes reveal new information about these beasts that the Church would need to know, when they appear on earth.

Satan wants to replace God’s kingdom with one of his own making. But in the 5th interlude, under this trumpet, God reveals a scene described as Jesus standing on Mount Zion (Rev 14:1). This appearance occurs before the Second Coming of Christ, during the Great Tribulation. Whatever this scene means, it is clear that satan is very threatened by it, because he has used all of his craft and sorcery to obscure it.

Today, he does not want anyone getting anywhere near understanding what the prophets of the Bible have to say about this scene. He has made enormous efforts to create a predisposition against the entire Book of Revelation because of it. He wanted to make certain that, if the Church ever studied it, they would never recognize that Jesus comes to His Church before He comes for His Church.

He feared that if they did understand it, they would realize that God is going to interrupt his plans for a one-world government and cripple his trajectory of world events. And that would give them hope. It would become completely unmanageable for him unless he did something to prevent this:

1 Corinthians 14:8 (CHV) For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself to the battle?

So, to mute this seventh trumpet, he is sending a great storm upon the earth today, to cause untold panic and fear. He is creating enormous noise and massive distraction, in a last-ditch effort, to crush this hope.

But, when Jesus stands on Mount Zion, the Church will stand there with Him, and God will cast this paralyzing fear out of them, and replace it with the truth that sets men free:

Isaiah 60:1-3 (CHV) Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.  And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

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Please note

I usually quote the King James Version of the Bible but I often change the verses to one degree or another. Some examples are, taking out the thees and thous or changing, for instance, the phrase them which to those who. In some instances, I also paraphrase the KJV wording to make it more understandable.

I have done it so often that I decided to warn my readers by identifying that it is my own paraphrase by including CHV(Christ Harbor Version) instead of KJV (King James Version) after the Bible reference. That way, if you want to, you can check to see what I have changed.

As always, my goal in all my articles is not just to tell you what I think, but to give you enough information so that you can make up your own mind.

The Number Seven

The number seven is a prophetic symbol, rather than a number. In its various forms, it appears over 700 times in both the Old and New Testaments. Most scholars agree that the number symbolizes completeness or perfection. For instance, on the seventh day God rested from his labors and creation is finished. Israel was exiled to Babylon for 70 years (Jer 25:12) to complete its punishment. In the seventh year, the Hebrew slave was to be freed (Ex 21:2), having completed his time of captivity and service. Every seventh year was a sabbatical year (Lev 25:4). Seven times seven reiterates the sense of completeness. In the 50th year of Jubilee (at the completion of 7 x 7 years, all land is freed and returns to the original owners (Lv 25:10). Seven devils left Mary of Magdala, signifying the totality of her previous possession by Satan (Lk 8:2); "seven other devils" will enter the purified but vacant life of a person (Mt 12:45).

In the Book of revelation, the number seven is used 16 times:

There are seven churches, seven spirits, seven golden candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven thousand slain in a great earthquake, seven heads, seven crowns, seven last plagues, seven golden vials, seven mountains, and seven kings.

Instead of a literal number, these sevens symbolize completeness. In the case of the seven trumpets, they mean a final or complete revelation about the Tribulation.

The Beast

By now, most people are being forced to walk in lockstep with subversion, even when it is against their own self interest, because they believe that there is a beast in our world that they dare not oppose:

Revelation 13:4 (CHV) And they worshipped the dragon who gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast?  Who is able to make war with him?

Most authorities dominating our world today, are willingly cooperating with corrupt government legislation, a corrupt economic system, and a woke disinformation that has taken root in the minds of humanity. Aside from the enormous temptation to acquire personal wealth, many of them don’t believe that they have a choice. One article about why they do it, put it this way:

Are these leaders afraid to confront multi-billionaires and banksters, or do they fear the ‘hidden hand' above them, who will expose secret sins, call in their nation's credit, cut access to the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank, or arrange a 'heart attack' for them. Many are fearful to avoid these inconvenient probabilities that the media would never breathe in a whisper. (Bible Believer’s News Letter 8/20/2020)

Those behind the “hidden hand” believe that they now rule the world through this temptation and fear, and that nothing can be done to stop them. But their doom will begin in the seventh trumpet. They have believed their own lies and they are deceived.

The Seventh Trumpet

Right now, the world is like a ship adrift upon the ocean in a storm, without power or compass, and the passengers have lost confidence in what the captain and crew are telling them. They are desperate to know what is going to happen to them. Jesus was aware of the disorientation that would happen during this storm, and He knew that we would need further revelation about it. The seven interludes that appear with the seventh trumpet, contain that revelation.

They reveal that this storm is not about us, but about the final destruction of satan’s kingdom. Even though it is affecting the whole world, they reveal that He will safely escort us through it. And, when it is over, we will have a new captain and crew and the world we will be safe.

Most of the disorientation today is coming from media propaganda, but Jesus said that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free (Jn 8:32) and Daniel said that we will understand the truth of the last days:

Daniel 12:9-10 (CHV) And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many will be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked will do wickedly: and none of them will understand; but the wise will understand.

I believe the wise of Daniel’s prophecy, are those who understand this seventh trumpet.

The Seven Interludes of the Seventh Trumpet

Once I looked at the 3rd and 4th interludes of the chart above (the two beasts), representing world government control and secret world government deception, I realized that, even though no time period is defined for them, they describe perfectly what is happening today. Through these two beasts, the “hidden hand” plans to control the human race. But even more significantly, Jesus included the 5th interlude of the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, in this same vision, to show that He will interrupt their plans and it will not end well for them:

Haggai 2:21-22 (CHV) I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

Jude 1:14-15 (CHV) And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon those with hard speeches that they have spoken against Jesus and about all the ungodly deeds that they have committed.

Some may ask, “If God’s judgement falls on those kingdoms, how will life continue on earth after that? If He destroys the world economic system, won’t that bring everything on earth to a grinding halt?” The Haggai prophecy does not say that the kingdoms will be overthrown, but the throne of kingdoms, the control of those who rule over them, will be overthrown. The kingdoms themselves will continue, but without them.

Though it is may not look like it, God is intervening on earth right now and it is causing the allies of nations to turn on each other. And those ruling the world are losing control, everyone by the sword of his brother.

What it looks like begins with the first interlude:

A Great Wonder in Heaven

Revelation 12:1-6 (CHV) And a great wonder appeared in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.  And she being with child cried, laboring in birth, and pained to be delivered.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth.

And the dragon stood before the woman, who was ready to be delivered, to devour her child as soon as it was born.  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days (1,260 days, 42 months, or 3 ½ years are prophetic symbols, not numeric measurements of time).

Most believe that this is referring to Mary, the mother of Jesus and, on the surface, it looks like it. But, upon taking a closer look, we will see that the woman is not Mary but the Church, who is laboring to deliver the child who will overcome the beast:

Daniel 7:21-22 (CHV) I saw the same horn make war with the saints, and prevail against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Mal 4:2-3 (CHV) But you, who fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and you shall go forth, leaping like calves from the stall.  And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of hosts

This interlude is figurative because it begins with a great wonder in heaven (not the earth). It is not describing the ancient battle that began when Jesus was born, but it is describing the Church who is laboring to give birth to the child who will fight the battle for harvest of the last days.

The time is near for her to be delivered. She is in the birthing room. She is fully dilated and her contractions are very close together. The consummation of the Kingdom of God is upon us. But, the dragon stands before the woman to devour this child as soon as it is born. He wants to abort this baby.

But, he will not be successful. Her child is described as being caught up to God and to His throne (v5). Isaiah tell us what will happen instead:

Isaiah 42:13-15 (CHV) The Lord will go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy (between the allies of nations) like a man of war: he shall cry, with a loud roar; he will prevail against his enemies.  I have held my peace for a long time; I have been still, and restrained myself: now I will cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.  I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

Other Old Testament Prophecies

• Delivered from captivity

Micah 4:9-10 (CHV) Now why do you cry out aloud?  Is there no king?  Is your counsellor perished?  For pains have taken you as a woman in travail.  Be in pain like a woman in travail, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion.  For now you will go forth out of the city, and you will dwell in the field, and you will go even to Babylon (captivity).  There you will be delivered.  There the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

• Wearied because of murders

Jeremiah 4:31 (CHV) For I have heard a voice of a woman in travail, and her anguish that brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that cries loudly to  herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now!  For my soul is wearied because of murderers.

• We have given birth to wind

Isa 26:17-21 (CHV) O Lord, they look for you in distress; they poured out a whispered prayer when your discipline was upon them.  Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pains when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O Lord.  We were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind.  We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.  Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.  You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!  For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

George Warnoch made these remarks about this last scripture:

“With all our efforts, coupled with all the resources of our modern technology, we have failed to make any real impact upon the forces of evil that rule the world…satan fears nothing when we seek to tear down his kingdom with our own human zeal, our eloquent sermons, our church activities and programs and entertainments, nice musical presentations, and dramatic renditions...that are formulated today for the propagation of the gospel.". (Who Are You?, George Warnoch, p30-32, 1985)

Conclusion

Years ago, after leaving my job as a marketing director for a national Christian book company, I found a job working for the Fisher Body plant in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They manufactured various parts that were then sent to other plants, to be assembled into a finished car for General Motors. I worked eight hours a day loading car doors, as they came off the assembly line, onto a freight racks. This plant ran three shifts and operated 24 hours a day. But once a year, everything completely shut down, in order to retool for the next model year.

Right now, the Church is laboring to deliver the child who will overcome the beast. She is shut down and retooling for the change that must take place. She has been many years in preparation for this coming harvest and the end of the age.

It all began with silence from heaven:

• They will dwell without king or prince in the latter days

Hosea 3:3-5 (CHV) And I said to her, You will abide for me many days; you will not play the harlot, and you will not be for another man: so I will also be for you.  For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without household gods.  Afterward, the children of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.  They will fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

• A famine in the land

Amos 8:11-12 (CHV) Behold, the days come, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.  They will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they will run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and will not find it.

• Sun will go down over the prophets

Micah 3:6-7 (CHV) Therefore it will be night to you, that you will have no vision.  It will be dark to you, that you will not divine; and the sun will go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then the seers will be ashamed, and the diviners confounded.  They will all cover their lips because there is no answer from God.

The silence will end

Many voices have described this travailing silence as a personal journey that some go through on their way to maturity in Christ. But very few have seen it as a retooling process that God will use to prepare the Church of the last days. Once this retooling is complete, the silence will end:

• The Lord will rise up out of His holy habitation (the Church)

Zechariah 2:13 (CHV)  All flesh will be silent before the Lord, for he is raised up out of his holy habitation (Father’s House)

• He will come suddenly to His temple

Malachi 3:1 (CHV) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple (Father’s House), even the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, he shall come, says the Lord of hosts.

The future

It is difficult to picture what happens when the famine ends, because there is nothing from the past that can describe this future:

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (CHV) But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love him.  But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

• All the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Numbers 14:20-21 (CHV) And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to your word: But as truly as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.  

Habakkuk 2:14 (CHV) For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

• All nations will come and worship

Psalms 86:9-10 (CHV) All nations whom you have made, O Lord, shall come and worship before you, and shall glorify your name.  For you are great, and do wondrous things: you are God alone.

Psalms 22:27 (CHV) All the ends of the world will remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations will worship before you.

• Righteous dominion will return over the earth

Psalms 72:7-9 (CHV) In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures.  He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.  Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before him; and his enemies will lick the dust.

Rejoice

The big lie is that evil and the beast is here to stay, but the truth about this child tells a different story:

Zephaniah 3:14-15 (CHV) Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.  The Lord has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in your midst: you shall not see evil any more.

Before continuing with the next interlude, the dragon cast out of heaven, we will look at the message of the first six trumpets, in part 5.