Tribulation

THE PROPHECY OF PERSECUTION

Daniel 7:21; Revelation 13:7

The Antichrist will persecute the saints during the prophetic Tribulation period.

THE POWER OF THE BEAST

Revelation 13:15–17

The Beast will demand worship and enforce economic control through his mark.

THE PRESSURE TO COMPROMISE

Revelation 14:9–11

Tribulation saints will face tremendous pressure to worship the Beast and receive his mark.

THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Revelation 14:12

The saints will be called to remain faithful despite suffering and persecution.

THE PRICE OF THEIR TESTIMONY

Revelation 20:4

Many will be beheaded because of their witness for Jesus and the Word of God.

THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION

Revelation 20:4–6

The martyred Tribulation saints will live and reign with Christ during His millennial kingdom.

THE PRE-TRIBULATION PROMISE

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 5:9

The Body of Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord before the prophetic Tribulation.

CONCLUSION

We must rightly divide the Word of Truth.

The Body of Christ — Awaiting the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

The Tribulation Saints — Facing persecution under the Beast (Revelation 13:7).

The Martyred Saints — Resurrected to reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4).

Important doctrinal distinction: Revelation 20:4 describes future Tribulation martyrs, not the present Body of Christ. Revelation 2:10, concerning faithfulness unto death, was addressed to the church in Smyrna; it should not be confused with Paul’s instructions concerning the Body of Christ.

The Bible describes beheading in Revelation 20:4, but it does not specifically predict modern guillotines or establish that they are already prepared.

PROPHECY — The Tribulation was foretold.

POWER — The Beast will exercise authority.

PRESSURE — The world will be forced to choose.

PERSEVERANCE — The saints will endure persecution.

PRICE — Many will die for their testimony.

PROMISE — The martyrs will rise and reign.

PRE-TRIBULATION — The Body of Christ awaits the Rapture.

FINAL CHALLENGE

DO NOT CONFUSE ISRAEL’S PROPHETIC TRIBULATION WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST’S BLESSED HOPE!

Our message today is not to prepare believers to receive the mark of the Beast, but to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 — Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.

Titus 2:13 KJV

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE PROPHECY. PREACH THE GOSPEL. PROCLAIM THE BLESSED HOPE!

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE TRIBULATION?

The Faithful Witnesses Under the Reign of the Beast

Text: Revelation 20:4

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

— Revelation 20:4 KJV

There is much confusion in our day concerning the Tribulation, the Body of Christ, and the events surrounding the reign of the Beast. The Word of God teaches that a time of unprecedented trouble is coming upon this earth, a period commonly called the Tribulation. During that time, the Antichrist will rise to power, demand worship, persecute believers, and seek to destroy all who refuse his mark.

Yet, before that day of divine wrath begins, the Body of Christ has a blessed hope.

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV

Tonight, we will examine the future suffering of those who will stand for Christ during the Tribulation and the glorious promise awaiting those who remain faithful unto death.

I. THE PROPHECY OF PERSECUTION

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;”

— Daniel 7:21 KJV

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them…”

— Revelation 13:7 KJV

The persecution of God’s people during the Tribulation is not a new revelation. Centuries before Christ was born, Daniel foresaw a coming world ruler who would make war against the saints.

The Antichrist will not merely oppose religion. He will specifically target those who refuse his authority and remain faithful to God. His government will be marked by violence, intimidation, and relentless oppression.

What Daniel foresaw, John confirmed. The Bible leaves no doubt: persecution is coming during the Tribulation.

God has already declared the outcome before the battle begins.

II. THE POWER OF THE BEAST

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak…”

— Revelation 13:15 KJV

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark…”

— Revelation 13:16 KJV

The Beast will exercise unprecedented authority.

His power will be religious.

He will demand worship.

His power will be political.

He will rule over nations and peoples.

His power will be economic.

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark…”

— Revelation 13:17 KJV

The entire world system will become centered upon allegiance to the Beast. Commerce, employment, and basic necessities will depend upon submission to his rule.

Those who refuse will become outcasts.

The choice will be clear: worship the Beast or suffer the consequences.

III. THE PRESSURE TO COMPROMISE

“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,”

— Revelation 14:9 KJV

The Tribulation will place immense pressure upon believers.

The temptation to compromise will be overwhelming.

Families will be threatened.

Livelihoods will disappear.

The world will demand conformity.

Many will be told that one simple act of worship will solve all their problems.

But God issues a solemn warning.

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God…”

— Revelation 14:10 KJV

No earthly hardship can compare to eternal judgment.

The world may offer temporary relief through compromise, but God calls His people to remain faithful.

IV. THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

— Revelation 14:12 KJV

Patience here means steadfast endurance.

These saints will be hated by the world, hunted by the Beast, and pressured by society.

Yet they will continue believing.

They will continue obeying.

They will continue trusting.

True faith is often revealed in the furnace of affliction.

The Tribulation saints will demonstrate extraordinary perseverance because they will cling to God regardless of the cost.

V. THE PRICE OF THEIR TESTIMONY

Our text tells us exactly what many of these faithful believers will face.

“And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God…”

— Revelation 20:4 KJV

Notice why they died.

Not for politics.

Not for crime.

Not for rebellion.

They died because of their witness for Jesus Christ and their commitment to the Word of God.

The Beast can silence a voice, but he cannot destroy a testimony.

The world may take their lives, but it cannot take their faith.

These believers will choose Christ over comfort, truth over compromise, and eternity over temporary survival.

VI. THE PROMISE OF RESURRECTION

The story does not end with martyrdom.

The grave is never the final chapter for God’s people.

“And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

— Revelation 20:4 KJV

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection…”

— Revelation 20:6 KJV

The Beast kills.

Christ raises.

The Beast reigns briefly.

Christ reigns eternally.

Those whom the world considers defeated will be raised in victory and given positions of honor in Christ’s millennial kingdom.

God always has the last word.

VII. THE PRE-TRIBULATION PROMISE

While Revelation describes the suffering of Tribulation saints, the Body of Christ possesses a blessed hope.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…”

— 1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with t…

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall shal rise first

VII. THE PRE-TRIBULATION PROMISE

While Revelation describes the suffering of Tribulation saints under the reign of the Beast, the Body of Christ possesses a blessed hope. We are not looking for the Antichrist. We are looking for Jesus Christ.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall shall rise first.