The Late Great Planet Earth: The Terrestrial/Atmospheric/Cosmic Implications of Divine Judgment
By Pete Garcia
“Researchers at the Naval Postgraduate School have told us that the entire Arctic ice cap may totally disappear in summer in as little as five years if nothing is done to curb emissions of greenhouse gas pollution.” – Al Gore, Academy and Nobel Prize Winner, 2009
For the past 100 years, we have had an endless train of climate prophets promoting their environmental armageddonism and climate alarmism regarding a coming global threat of “______.”
I leave that particular threat blank because frankly, the threat keeps morphing to fit the current political narrative, rather than the facts on the ground. Nevertheless, these purveyors of climate doom and gloom have repeatedly and consistently gotten it wrong almost every time they open their mouths. What is truly amazing is that anyone still listens to them, much less give them both an Academy Award (An Inconvenient Truth) as well as a Nobel Prize.
Just like the failed prophecies of Balaam, when these false climate prophets say it’s going to be global cooling, then the world heats up. If they say it’s going to be global warming, then things begin to cool down. God is purposely making them look foolish to show them the height of their folly. This explains why they have (as of a few years ago) changed the political narrative to the generic catch-all, “climate change.”
As previously mentioned, world leaders are hell-bent on reordering the world system to adjust to the coming global government that they are trying to create. Now, these human political puppets don’t truly understand what is coming per se (because they reject the Biblical worldview), but the demonic forces behind their thrones do. Satan and his forces are the ones actively pulling their strings to prepare for what is coming. They know judgment that is coming, and they also know the ecological, terrestrial, and geological impacts these judgments will bring to the earth. I mean to say, they were there for the Noahic Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the tower of Babel, and the Exodus plagues. They know what God is capable and willing to do. Thus, they are attempting to corral mankind into some kind of preemptive defensive position long before it does.
Below is my theorized summarization of the twenty-one judgments and their environmental impacts on earth. While I acknowledge the other judgments and their horrific impacts upon mankind, the effects of those are currently outside the scope of this brief and will not be addressed.
1. The First Seal- *the White Horse (Antichrist)
Typically speaking, the rise of political power doesn’t necessarily mean ecological catastrophe. However, the coming Ten Nation/Region Confederacy will likely use and strengthen current environmental policies (Paris Climate Accord, Kyoto Protocols, Green New Deal, etc.) as a means to cement their global authority over the nations. (See Agenda 2030, Sustainable Development Goals, etc.)
2. The Second Seal- *the Red Horse (War)
Given the draconian nature of the globalist power grabs, war will be inevitable as rogue nations such as Russia and China revolt. War always introduces tremendous ecological damage to whatever environment it takes place. Whether we are talking about burning ships, cities, bombs (esp. nuclear weapons), biological weapons, and just the overall wear and tear caused by giant mechanical vehicles, the earth takes a beating during times of war. If these coming war(s) are global in nature, you can expect environmental damage to occur at World War II levels.
3. The Third Seal- *the Black Horse (Scarcity)
We know that the rider on the black horse introduces incredible economic calamity to the earth. Presumably, this occurs thru the Ten Nation/Region Confederacy (the Beast) attempt at forcing the whole world into this new economic mark of the beast system, which intentionally causes widespread famine and economic disparity. Famine is usually either caused by governmental malfeasance, or environmental drought or pestilence. We can assume in this particular Seal Judgment, it is the former.
4. The Fourth Seal- *the Pale Horse (death)
The obvious implications of the black horse, lead to the activation of the consequences of the Pale Horse. IF part of the judgment of the Black Horse is the global rise in temperatures, then we should expect to see the Polar Ice caps melting. In so doing, this melting could unleash some potentially very bad viruses and/or bacteria that have laid dormant under the ice for millennia. This could also be a furious unleashing of new variants in present viruses that either make them much more transmissible, or untreatable.
5. The Fifth Seal. Martyrdom of those who refuse to worship the Beast (slaughter of the Tribulation saints)
6. The Sixth Seal- *the Great Earthquake
The Sixth Seal unleashes an earthquake of such magnitude, it causes massive disturbances in both the earth and the atmosphere. The atmospheric disturbances appear to cause the dust and smoke to obscures our neighboring solar objects, as such, causing the sun to appear black, and the moon to appear blood red.
This mega-earthquake seems to occur in conjunction with a major cosmic disturbance (such as an extreme solar storm or Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)). A massive CME has the potential to wipe out all of earth’s satellites thus triggering a global internet and global communications blackout as information platforms collapse around the world. It seems the world leaders appear to know this cosmic storm is coming ahead of time as they hide in DUMBs (Deep Underground Military Bunkers) around the world and try and wait it out.
This may also explain why the earth dwellers hide from the “Wrath of the Lamb” as environmental judgments appear to happen both subterraneanly as well as atmospherically, simultaneously. Another thought is that these earth dwellers are led to believe (potentially as part of the great delusion) that this is Sixth Seal Judgment is “Judgment Day,” and after surviving it (thinking the worst is behind them), set out to rebuild the new world order.
7. Silence in heaven
The Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8–11): One-third of the world’s population dies
1. The First Trumpet Judgment
Hail and fire mixed with blood strike the earth, burning up one-third of the world’s vegetation. It is unknown whether this is hail-fire is a global storm, or if it only strikes a targeted area. My theory on this is it hits and environmentally decimates the Americas. The Western Hemisphere (North, Central, and South America) make up one-third (28.4%) of the earth’s landmass. My reasoning for this is, God begins to channelize the world’s population back to the boundaries of the Old World.
In terms of why blood is mingled in with the hail a) I believe it is real blood (or else it would have been described “like” blood) and b) this blood is part of the judgment for the loss of all the innocent lives on earth and is similar to what we also see in the Gog-Magog destruction (Ezekiel 38:22).
2. The Second Trumpet Judgment
A great mountain cast into the sea kills a third of the ocean life and turns those seas/oceans into blood. The obvious implications would be, this would completely shut down all marine traffic in the affected areas, as well as causing a horrific stench to arise (as all the sea life in those areas die) and float to the surface. My theory is that this judgment takes place in the Atlantic Ocean (which makes up a third of all the bodies of water- 29%) and is one of the most heavily trafficked oceans in the world. This would absolutely shut down trans-oceanic travel between the Old World and the New.
Again, the purpose is to channelize and limit the Antichrist’s ability to maneuver and control all the world. Granted, he probably wouldn’t want the Americas either (if my theory is correct) after these first two Trumpet Judgments occur.
What exactly is this great mountain? First, we should note that the text says “something like a great mountain” was thrown into the sea. It could easily be a great meteor or comet that strikes the Atlantic Ocean causing some form of contamination. A more naturalistic explanation would require something like a volcanic eruption (La Palma Volcano, Canary Island for example) triggering a massive mountain to fall into the ocean. This would presumably cause a massive tsunami that somehow poisons the Atlantic. Arguably, this latter explanation seems more implausible than something striking it from space.
3. Third Trumpet Judgment
As the 2nd Trumpet Judgment struck the salty seas, this cosmic Wormwood (meteor or comet) ends up poisoning (makes bitter) a third of the drinking water. Again, a third part of the worlds’ fresh waters (rivers, lakes, and springs) are found in the Americas. If my theory is correct, God is making the Western Hemisphere completely untenable and inaccessible to the Beast Kingdom.
4. Fourth Trumpet Judgment
A third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened, as well as a third of the day and a third of the night, was darkened. Somehow, a great atmospheric disturbance blots out the light from the solar sources (sun, moon, and stars). Now, one theory is that this would introduce great cold (i.e. a mini-ice age) and plummet temperatures due to the obscuration from the sun. Another thought could be that we get the darkness, but the heat increases. This would obviously defy natural law and seemingly impose some supernatural law as a preview of hell on earth.
5. First Woe (demonic locusts plague those who take the mark)
6. Second Woe (one-third of mankind killed by a demonic army, death of Two Witnesses, earthquake in Jerusalem)
7. Third woe
Essentially, this judgment introduces all of what we see in the cataclysmic seven Bowl Judgments as all being part of and wrapped up in this Third Woe. Here is what some of the most respected Christian Eschatologists have said regarding the Third Woe.
Dwight Pentecost in Things to Come (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958) states:
“The seventh trumpet and the third woe judgment (11:15) brings about the return of Christ to the earth and the subsequent destruction of all hostile powers at the conclusion of the Armageddon program” (362).
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum in The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003) states (emphasis added):
“The seventh trumpet that contains the seven Bowl Judgments is the third woe (239).”
John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985) states:
“The seventh trumpet chronologically reaches to Christ’s return. Therefore the seventh trumpet introduces and includes the seven bowl judgments of the wrath of God revealed in chapter 16 (2:956-957).” (Source)
1. The First Bowl: Grievous sores on those who take the mark of the Beast
2. The Second Bowl
Let’s assume for a second that the 2nd Trumpet Judgment did only affect the Atlantic Ocean. Now, we have the Second Bowl impacting the rest of the world’s oceans. The economic impacts would be massive as global sea trade grinds to a halt. This could also mean, presumably, a limit to the Antichrist’s military forces. If previous judgments impacted air travel (lightning, diminished natural light, atmospheric obscurations, etc.), then the Antichrist and the rest of the world forces are increasingly bound by land travel. Furthermore, this would cripple many nations that have come to depend on desalinization (turning seawater into drinking water) as their primary source of drinking water.
3. The Third Bowl
Great thirst begins to fill the world as the rest of the rivers and freshwater are turned to blood. Presumably, this happens fairly close to the Armageddon Campaign as the human race could not long survive without water. However, there is a passage speaking to men wanting to die, but not being able to which may play into this somehow (Revelation 9:6).
4. The Fourth Bowl
Adding salt to the wound of the increasingly thirsty earth dwellers is the great heat that fills the kingdom of the beast.
5. The Fifth Bowl
A terrifying picture is beginning to develop of hell on earth- great unquenchable thirst, blistering heat, and now, a supernaturally dark, darkness fills the kingdom of the beast. My understanding of this is that these three judgments (3rd, 4th, and 5th) force those who were living here out very quickly as they flee for other areas not as impacted by the judgments.
6. The Sixth Bowl
Euphrates River dries up allowing for the kings of the east to march westward to the land of Israel. We can assume that if the previous three judgments target the kingdom of the beast, and that kingdom now lies somewhere in the vicinity of modern-day Iraq-Saudi Arabia-Syria, the heat could be the primary factor for the Euphrates drying up and why these forces have to travel by land (rather than flying or sailing).
7. The Seventh Bowl
“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” – Revelation 16:17-21
– Noises, thunderings, and lightnings: serves to unnerve mankind and display God’s power. There are appears to be an escalation or intensification of this as we progress through the book of Revelation. G.K. Beale, in his book, The Book of Revelation, notes the intensification:
Rev. 4.5: lightnings, rumblings, thunders
Rev. 8.5: lightnings, rumblings, thunders, earthquake
Rev. 11.19: lightnings, rumblings, thunders, earthquake, hail
Rev. 16.18-21: lightnings, rumblings, thunders, great earthquake, great hail
– Great hailstones: 100 lb. hailstones would absolutely decimate any standing structures they land upon. (see Job 38:22-23, Exodus 9:22-26, Joshua 10:11)
– World’s greatest earthquake (megathrust): levels all the cities of the world, as well as sinking and displacing every island, and levels the world’s mountain ranges.
The greatest earthquake in recorded history was the 9.5 earthquake that struck Valdivia, Chile, in 1960. The magnitude of the earthquake is not just in how strong it shakes, but also in how long it shakes. For this Seventh Bowl earthquake to do what the Bible says it’s going to do, would have to be well north of a magnitude 10.0. According to the USGS website, someone asked a similar question. Note my emphasis:
“Can “MegaQuakes” really happen? Like a magnitude 10 or larger?
No, earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen. The magnitude of an earthquake is related to the length of the fault on which it occurs. That is, the longer the fault, the larger the earthquake. A fault is a break in the rocks that make up the Earth’s crust, along which rocks on either side have moved past each other. No fault long enough to generate a magnitude 10 earthquake is known to exist, and if it did, it would extend around most of the planet.”(Source)
Now, I certainly would not want to test God’s ability to make a 10.0+ earthquake happen, but apparently, everywhere I’ve read said it’s impossible. The experts base their reasoning on the length of fault lines we currently know about, but I have a sneaking feeling that God is going to make it happen with or without fault lines. However, I don’t put too much stock into what the “experts” say, as these are also the same folk who would say that the parting of the Red Sea, or walking on water was impossible as well. All we know is that there is a mega-quake coming, which is so strong, it causes the islands to sink and the mountain ranges to flatten. How strong that earthquake is, or how it happens exactly, is beyond our ability to understand it at the present. We just know it is coming.
If the US collapses after the Rapture (she will) then it only makes sense that God is channelizing people back to the Old World. Perhaps the reason He is doing this is that it will force the Beast Kingdom to align and function according to their ancient boundaries and that being primarily around the Mediterranean and Israel. This channelizing into denser populations also serves to intensify the effects of the judgments upon the remaining populations. The 21+ divine judgments also seem to serve the purpose of both, purging, as well as, terraforming the earth ahead of the impending Kingdom Age.
“And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.” – Revelation 14:18-19
We know creation is presently groaning under the burden of the Adamic sin-curse. We also know the earth is drowning in all the blood that has been shed on her ground since Cain slew Abel (Romans 8:20-22, Genesis 4:10-11). With the fires, the pestilences, the oceans and rivers turning to blood, comets, cosmic storms, the megaquakes, and the massive hailstones pummelling the earth, this purging-terraforming seems to be addressing every spectrum of life from the largest cosmic body to the smallest microscopic particle. In a sense, God is turning creation inside out while He is pouring out the full measure of His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting world (Jer. 30:7-11).
Ultimately, we know that after the Millennial Reign of Christ, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire and then, God creates a “new heaven and a new earth.” (Rev. 21) It is here that we will live our eternal life in a supercharged reality that is superior in every possible way to our world today. Now, if live in a world today that has some breathtakingly beautiful scenery, imagine what this new heaven and new earth will hold. Physically, we will be able to explore and experience this new reality with zero fear or limitations. If we want to fly into space, we can. If we want to explore the deepest portions of this new earth, we can. We won’t be limited by oxygen or altitude pressure, by water or by fire. Even better still, is that we will live harmoniously with all of nature as God always intended it.
Now, with this in mind, if we can just keep our gaze fixed on the world to come, rather than on this fallen planet that is currently collapsing around us, it will preserve our joy and our hope in the reality to come. I know it is difficult to see the world today and think there is any light at the end of that tunnel, and you’re correct. There is no saving this planet (in its current form), and even if you could, would you? So much blood, violence, and wickedness have been committed here that this current form of the earth, must be purged in order for us to move on. And if we are seeing the signs of the end now, and those signs are escalating at a pace and intensity that is scaring you (and me), it is now we lean into Christ and trust in His strength to carry us through. If I can paraphrase C.S. Lewis on this matter, we look ahead because far better days lay ahead than any we leave behind.
“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” – 2 Peter 3:11-13
https://www.raptureforums.com/pete-...heric-cosmic-implications-of-divine-judgment/
By Pete Garcia
“Researchers at the Naval Postgraduate School have told us that the entire Arctic ice cap may totally disappear in summer in as little as five years if nothing is done to curb emissions of greenhouse gas pollution.” – Al Gore, Academy and Nobel Prize Winner, 2009
For the past 100 years, we have had an endless train of climate prophets promoting their environmental armageddonism and climate alarmism regarding a coming global threat of “______.”
I leave that particular threat blank because frankly, the threat keeps morphing to fit the current political narrative, rather than the facts on the ground. Nevertheless, these purveyors of climate doom and gloom have repeatedly and consistently gotten it wrong almost every time they open their mouths. What is truly amazing is that anyone still listens to them, much less give them both an Academy Award (An Inconvenient Truth) as well as a Nobel Prize.
Just like the failed prophecies of Balaam, when these false climate prophets say it’s going to be global cooling, then the world heats up. If they say it’s going to be global warming, then things begin to cool down. God is purposely making them look foolish to show them the height of their folly. This explains why they have (as of a few years ago) changed the political narrative to the generic catch-all, “climate change.”
As previously mentioned, world leaders are hell-bent on reordering the world system to adjust to the coming global government that they are trying to create. Now, these human political puppets don’t truly understand what is coming per se (because they reject the Biblical worldview), but the demonic forces behind their thrones do. Satan and his forces are the ones actively pulling their strings to prepare for what is coming. They know judgment that is coming, and they also know the ecological, terrestrial, and geological impacts these judgments will bring to the earth. I mean to say, they were there for the Noahic Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the tower of Babel, and the Exodus plagues. They know what God is capable and willing to do. Thus, they are attempting to corral mankind into some kind of preemptive defensive position long before it does.
Below is my theorized summarization of the twenty-one judgments and their environmental impacts on earth. While I acknowledge the other judgments and their horrific impacts upon mankind, the effects of those are currently outside the scope of this brief and will not be addressed.
The Seven Seals (Revelation 6): One-fourth of the world’s population will die
1. The First Seal- *the White Horse (Antichrist)
Typically speaking, the rise of political power doesn’t necessarily mean ecological catastrophe. However, the coming Ten Nation/Region Confederacy will likely use and strengthen current environmental policies (Paris Climate Accord, Kyoto Protocols, Green New Deal, etc.) as a means to cement their global authority over the nations. (See Agenda 2030, Sustainable Development Goals, etc.)
2. The Second Seal- *the Red Horse (War)
Given the draconian nature of the globalist power grabs, war will be inevitable as rogue nations such as Russia and China revolt. War always introduces tremendous ecological damage to whatever environment it takes place. Whether we are talking about burning ships, cities, bombs (esp. nuclear weapons), biological weapons, and just the overall wear and tear caused by giant mechanical vehicles, the earth takes a beating during times of war. If these coming war(s) are global in nature, you can expect environmental damage to occur at World War II levels.
3. The Third Seal- *the Black Horse (Scarcity)
We know that the rider on the black horse introduces incredible economic calamity to the earth. Presumably, this occurs thru the Ten Nation/Region Confederacy (the Beast) attempt at forcing the whole world into this new economic mark of the beast system, which intentionally causes widespread famine and economic disparity. Famine is usually either caused by governmental malfeasance, or environmental drought or pestilence. We can assume in this particular Seal Judgment, it is the former.
4. The Fourth Seal- *the Pale Horse (death)
The obvious implications of the black horse, lead to the activation of the consequences of the Pale Horse. IF part of the judgment of the Black Horse is the global rise in temperatures, then we should expect to see the Polar Ice caps melting. In so doing, this melting could unleash some potentially very bad viruses and/or bacteria that have laid dormant under the ice for millennia. This could also be a furious unleashing of new variants in present viruses that either make them much more transmissible, or untreatable.
5. The Fifth Seal. Martyrdom of those who refuse to worship the Beast (slaughter of the Tribulation saints)
6. The Sixth Seal- *the Great Earthquake
The Sixth Seal unleashes an earthquake of such magnitude, it causes massive disturbances in both the earth and the atmosphere. The atmospheric disturbances appear to cause the dust and smoke to obscures our neighboring solar objects, as such, causing the sun to appear black, and the moon to appear blood red.
This mega-earthquake seems to occur in conjunction with a major cosmic disturbance (such as an extreme solar storm or Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)). A massive CME has the potential to wipe out all of earth’s satellites thus triggering a global internet and global communications blackout as information platforms collapse around the world. It seems the world leaders appear to know this cosmic storm is coming ahead of time as they hide in DUMBs (Deep Underground Military Bunkers) around the world and try and wait it out.
This may also explain why the earth dwellers hide from the “Wrath of the Lamb” as environmental judgments appear to happen both subterraneanly as well as atmospherically, simultaneously. Another thought is that these earth dwellers are led to believe (potentially as part of the great delusion) that this is Sixth Seal Judgment is “Judgment Day,” and after surviving it (thinking the worst is behind them), set out to rebuild the new world order.
7. Silence in heaven
The Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8–11): One-third of the world’s population dies
1. The First Trumpet Judgment
Hail and fire mixed with blood strike the earth, burning up one-third of the world’s vegetation. It is unknown whether this is hail-fire is a global storm, or if it only strikes a targeted area. My theory on this is it hits and environmentally decimates the Americas. The Western Hemisphere (North, Central, and South America) make up one-third (28.4%) of the earth’s landmass. My reasoning for this is, God begins to channelize the world’s population back to the boundaries of the Old World.
In terms of why blood is mingled in with the hail a) I believe it is real blood (or else it would have been described “like” blood) and b) this blood is part of the judgment for the loss of all the innocent lives on earth and is similar to what we also see in the Gog-Magog destruction (Ezekiel 38:22).
2. The Second Trumpet Judgment
A great mountain cast into the sea kills a third of the ocean life and turns those seas/oceans into blood. The obvious implications would be, this would completely shut down all marine traffic in the affected areas, as well as causing a horrific stench to arise (as all the sea life in those areas die) and float to the surface. My theory is that this judgment takes place in the Atlantic Ocean (which makes up a third of all the bodies of water- 29%) and is one of the most heavily trafficked oceans in the world. This would absolutely shut down trans-oceanic travel between the Old World and the New.
Again, the purpose is to channelize and limit the Antichrist’s ability to maneuver and control all the world. Granted, he probably wouldn’t want the Americas either (if my theory is correct) after these first two Trumpet Judgments occur.
What exactly is this great mountain? First, we should note that the text says “something like a great mountain” was thrown into the sea. It could easily be a great meteor or comet that strikes the Atlantic Ocean causing some form of contamination. A more naturalistic explanation would require something like a volcanic eruption (La Palma Volcano, Canary Island for example) triggering a massive mountain to fall into the ocean. This would presumably cause a massive tsunami that somehow poisons the Atlantic. Arguably, this latter explanation seems more implausible than something striking it from space.
3. Third Trumpet Judgment
As the 2nd Trumpet Judgment struck the salty seas, this cosmic Wormwood (meteor or comet) ends up poisoning (makes bitter) a third of the drinking water. Again, a third part of the worlds’ fresh waters (rivers, lakes, and springs) are found in the Americas. If my theory is correct, God is making the Western Hemisphere completely untenable and inaccessible to the Beast Kingdom.
4. Fourth Trumpet Judgment
A third of the sun, moon, and stars darkened, as well as a third of the day and a third of the night, was darkened. Somehow, a great atmospheric disturbance blots out the light from the solar sources (sun, moon, and stars). Now, one theory is that this would introduce great cold (i.e. a mini-ice age) and plummet temperatures due to the obscuration from the sun. Another thought could be that we get the darkness, but the heat increases. This would obviously defy natural law and seemingly impose some supernatural law as a preview of hell on earth.
5. First Woe (demonic locusts plague those who take the mark)
6. Second Woe (one-third of mankind killed by a demonic army, death of Two Witnesses, earthquake in Jerusalem)
7. Third woe
Essentially, this judgment introduces all of what we see in the cataclysmic seven Bowl Judgments as all being part of and wrapped up in this Third Woe. Here is what some of the most respected Christian Eschatologists have said regarding the Third Woe.
Dwight Pentecost in Things to Come (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958) states:
“The seventh trumpet and the third woe judgment (11:15) brings about the return of Christ to the earth and the subsequent destruction of all hostile powers at the conclusion of the Armageddon program” (362).
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum in The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2003) states (emphasis added):
“The seventh trumpet that contains the seven Bowl Judgments is the third woe (239).”
John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985) states:
“The seventh trumpet chronologically reaches to Christ’s return. Therefore the seventh trumpet introduces and includes the seven bowl judgments of the wrath of God revealed in chapter 16 (2:956-957).” (Source)
The Seven Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16)
1. The First Bowl: Grievous sores on those who take the mark of the Beast
2. The Second Bowl
Let’s assume for a second that the 2nd Trumpet Judgment did only affect the Atlantic Ocean. Now, we have the Second Bowl impacting the rest of the world’s oceans. The economic impacts would be massive as global sea trade grinds to a halt. This could also mean, presumably, a limit to the Antichrist’s military forces. If previous judgments impacted air travel (lightning, diminished natural light, atmospheric obscurations, etc.), then the Antichrist and the rest of the world forces are increasingly bound by land travel. Furthermore, this would cripple many nations that have come to depend on desalinization (turning seawater into drinking water) as their primary source of drinking water.
3. The Third Bowl
Great thirst begins to fill the world as the rest of the rivers and freshwater are turned to blood. Presumably, this happens fairly close to the Armageddon Campaign as the human race could not long survive without water. However, there is a passage speaking to men wanting to die, but not being able to which may play into this somehow (Revelation 9:6).
4. The Fourth Bowl
Adding salt to the wound of the increasingly thirsty earth dwellers is the great heat that fills the kingdom of the beast.
5. The Fifth Bowl
A terrifying picture is beginning to develop of hell on earth- great unquenchable thirst, blistering heat, and now, a supernaturally dark, darkness fills the kingdom of the beast. My understanding of this is that these three judgments (3rd, 4th, and 5th) force those who were living here out very quickly as they flee for other areas not as impacted by the judgments.
6. The Sixth Bowl
Euphrates River dries up allowing for the kings of the east to march westward to the land of Israel. We can assume that if the previous three judgments target the kingdom of the beast, and that kingdom now lies somewhere in the vicinity of modern-day Iraq-Saudi Arabia-Syria, the heat could be the primary factor for the Euphrates drying up and why these forces have to travel by land (rather than flying or sailing).
7. The Seventh Bowl
“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” – Revelation 16:17-21
– Noises, thunderings, and lightnings: serves to unnerve mankind and display God’s power. There are appears to be an escalation or intensification of this as we progress through the book of Revelation. G.K. Beale, in his book, The Book of Revelation, notes the intensification:
Rev. 4.5: lightnings, rumblings, thunders
Rev. 8.5: lightnings, rumblings, thunders, earthquake
Rev. 11.19: lightnings, rumblings, thunders, earthquake, hail
Rev. 16.18-21: lightnings, rumblings, thunders, great earthquake, great hail
– Great hailstones: 100 lb. hailstones would absolutely decimate any standing structures they land upon. (see Job 38:22-23, Exodus 9:22-26, Joshua 10:11)
– World’s greatest earthquake (megathrust): levels all the cities of the world, as well as sinking and displacing every island, and levels the world’s mountain ranges.
The greatest earthquake in recorded history was the 9.5 earthquake that struck Valdivia, Chile, in 1960. The magnitude of the earthquake is not just in how strong it shakes, but also in how long it shakes. For this Seventh Bowl earthquake to do what the Bible says it’s going to do, would have to be well north of a magnitude 10.0. According to the USGS website, someone asked a similar question. Note my emphasis:
“Can “MegaQuakes” really happen? Like a magnitude 10 or larger?
No, earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen. The magnitude of an earthquake is related to the length of the fault on which it occurs. That is, the longer the fault, the larger the earthquake. A fault is a break in the rocks that make up the Earth’s crust, along which rocks on either side have moved past each other. No fault long enough to generate a magnitude 10 earthquake is known to exist, and if it did, it would extend around most of the planet.”(Source)
Now, I certainly would not want to test God’s ability to make a 10.0+ earthquake happen, but apparently, everywhere I’ve read said it’s impossible. The experts base their reasoning on the length of fault lines we currently know about, but I have a sneaking feeling that God is going to make it happen with or without fault lines. However, I don’t put too much stock into what the “experts” say, as these are also the same folk who would say that the parting of the Red Sea, or walking on water was impossible as well. All we know is that there is a mega-quake coming, which is so strong, it causes the islands to sink and the mountain ranges to flatten. How strong that earthquake is, or how it happens exactly, is beyond our ability to understand it at the present. We just know it is coming.
Conclusion
If the US collapses after the Rapture (she will) then it only makes sense that God is channelizing people back to the Old World. Perhaps the reason He is doing this is that it will force the Beast Kingdom to align and function according to their ancient boundaries and that being primarily around the Mediterranean and Israel. This channelizing into denser populations also serves to intensify the effects of the judgments upon the remaining populations. The 21+ divine judgments also seem to serve the purpose of both, purging, as well as, terraforming the earth ahead of the impending Kingdom Age.
“And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.” – Revelation 14:18-19
We know creation is presently groaning under the burden of the Adamic sin-curse. We also know the earth is drowning in all the blood that has been shed on her ground since Cain slew Abel (Romans 8:20-22, Genesis 4:10-11). With the fires, the pestilences, the oceans and rivers turning to blood, comets, cosmic storms, the megaquakes, and the massive hailstones pummelling the earth, this purging-terraforming seems to be addressing every spectrum of life from the largest cosmic body to the smallest microscopic particle. In a sense, God is turning creation inside out while He is pouring out the full measure of His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting world (Jer. 30:7-11).
Ultimately, we know that after the Millennial Reign of Christ, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire and then, God creates a “new heaven and a new earth.” (Rev. 21) It is here that we will live our eternal life in a supercharged reality that is superior in every possible way to our world today. Now, if live in a world today that has some breathtakingly beautiful scenery, imagine what this new heaven and new earth will hold. Physically, we will be able to explore and experience this new reality with zero fear or limitations. If we want to fly into space, we can. If we want to explore the deepest portions of this new earth, we can. We won’t be limited by oxygen or altitude pressure, by water or by fire. Even better still, is that we will live harmoniously with all of nature as God always intended it.
Now, with this in mind, if we can just keep our gaze fixed on the world to come, rather than on this fallen planet that is currently collapsing around us, it will preserve our joy and our hope in the reality to come. I know it is difficult to see the world today and think there is any light at the end of that tunnel, and you’re correct. There is no saving this planet (in its current form), and even if you could, would you? So much blood, violence, and wickedness have been committed here that this current form of the earth, must be purged in order for us to move on. And if we are seeing the signs of the end now, and those signs are escalating at a pace and intensity that is scaring you (and me), it is now we lean into Christ and trust in His strength to carry us through. If I can paraphrase C.S. Lewis on this matter, we look ahead because far better days lay ahead than any we leave behind.
“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” – 2 Peter 3:11-13
https://www.raptureforums.com/pete-...heric-cosmic-implications-of-divine-judgment/
therefore my favourite. I don't easily curl up with the Anti Nicene gang. Some are tough sledding. Ken Johnson makes life simple for me.
