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When the Antichrist places an image of himself in the temple, God will tell the Jews to immediately flee. Two-thirds will not obey and they will die. The one-third who do obey will take shelter and live in Petra where God will provide for their needs just as He has throughout history.
Times will not be easy during the Great Tribulation. (Matthew 24:21) The elect in this verse refers to the Jews.
21 Judgments will come upon the earth:
7 seal judgments (Rev. 6)
7 trumpet judgments (Rev. 7)
7 vial (bowl) judgments (Rev. 8)
The vial judgments will be the worst. Rev. 16:2 tells of sores or boils on the body. Salt water will turn to blood and the sun will burn everyone’s skin.
People will only blaspheme God in reaction to these judgments (Rev. 16:9). They will have reached a point of no return when they accept the mark of the Antichrist.
Jesus gave a warning to His disciples about false prophets (Matt. 24:23-24). Jesus will not set foot on the earth until He comes to set up His earthly kingdom. What will be the trigger on earth that will cause Him to leave Heaven?
*Satan, Antichrist, False Prophet will come up with a plan to kill all Jews and take their land.
*Demon angels will be sent all over the earth.
*Armies will be compelled to come to Jerusalem to take it down.
*Then stillness and darkness will fall on the earth (Rev. 24:29).
*Then earthquakes, thunder and lightning followed by darkness again.
Jesus will appear in His Shekinah glory (Matt. 24:30) The rest of the world will still be in darkness but everyone will see Jesus (Rev. 1:7).
What will everyone see? Rev. 19:11 tells us that they will see a white horse and one that is called faithful and true. Jesus is:
*Faithful because He will come to execute the plan of God.
*True because He is truth.
Jesus will not be alone. Rev. 19:13 says the armies in heaven (the church) will follow him around the earth then he will plant His feet on the Mount of Olives producing an earthquake that will split the mountain and create a valley called the valley of decision which means Yahweh judges.