A hard day in a broken world
Today is October 29th, 2025. It has been a rough day for the world. Several very terrible events of mass bloodshed have occurred or are currently occurring in the world. The Ukraine war. Ethnic cleansing in Sudan. Killing of Christians wholesale in both Nigeria and Syria. Murder of 132 in Rio by organized crime. Flooding and landslides killing 132 in Spain. People are being killed in hurricanes and earthquakes occurring around the world today. Christians are being imprisoned or killed for voicing their beliefs in Iran, China, North Korea, and even some places in Europe.
It seems like the world is going to hell in a hand basket. But we know it is not. These are what Jesus called birth pains; signs that greater tribulation is coming, and after that the return of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:8, 30).
Just How Bad Could It Get?
Every day we inch closer to the final judgement of God on the world. These are recorded in the Bible in very descriptive and horrific detail. These things written are not figurative as some think but are real future events that will occur. We have God’s word on that.
So just how bad could things get? I mean in real terms; things I can relate to, not just the imagery of Revelation and Daniel, but real life trauma we can picture. Things will get really, really bad.
Putting some of the imagery into perspective, consider the impact of the first four seals unveiled early in the Tribulation. Each releases a horseman who brings devastation to the earth. The first conquers; forming alliances and forcing others through threat and violence as he consolidates power and builds a global empire.
the fourth horseman rides; and following on his heels is Death, as he proceeds to kill one fourth of the world’s population
Carnage begins almost immediately as war is released and people begin to kill one another. Likely regional conflicts that erupt almost everywhere at once; any disagreement becomes a pretense for war. Many will perish.
The result is turmoil all over the world, causing fragile supply chains to collapse as the third horseman is released. He brings great financial ruin, economic hardship, and famine; even to well developed first world countries.
Finally the fourth horseman rides; and following on his heels is Death, as he proceeds to kill one fourth of the world’s population. Imagine two billion people dead over a matter of days. For context, the worst war in recent memory, World War II, killed 70 to 85 million over six years. This is orders of magnitude larger, and far faster.
COVID’s estimated global death toll ranges between 7.1 and 18.2 million, with a financial impact from at least $8.5 trillion up to $16 trillion globally. Just the first four seals unveiled will make COVID look like a summer day’s stroll in the park.
Year Two of the Tribulation
The tribulation period is seven long, hard years in length. Each year will bring greater and more torturous living conditions to the earth. Conditions so bad that we are told those living through it will desire death but be unable to die. So far, we have looked at the first year or so of the program of Judgement. As the second year unfolds, we see in Heaven the sounding of trumpets, each announcing another judgement against the earth.
- First trumpet; a third of vegetation: “a third of the earth was burned up” (Revelation 8:7). That is farms, forests, grazing land; food supply and climate hammered at once.
- Second trumpet; a third of sea life and ships destroyed (Revelation 8:8–9). Global trade crippled. Imagine tens of thousands of ships lost; supply chains shattered.
- Third trumpet; a third of freshwater made bitter; many die from the waters (Revelation 8:10–11). You turn on a tap; you cannot drink. City after city.
- Fifth trumpet; five months of demonic torment where people “will seek death and will not find it” (Revelation 9:5–6). No morphine is strong enough to dull the edge. There is no relief.
- Sixth trumpet; another third of humanity die: “by these three plagues a third of mankind was killed” (Revelation 9:18).
The sixth trumpet is recognized as the approximate middle point in the seven-year tribulation. By this time the seal judgements and trumpet judgements have resulted in the elimination of well over half the human race. Today there are about 8.25 billion humans on the face of the earth. Image over four to five billion dead in three and a half years. They might be the lucky ones. The chaos left by the devastation of the earth will make life almost unlivable for those clinging to a shattered existence.
More Carnage to Come
There is still more. The trumpet judgments lead into the bowl judgements. The sea “became like the blood of a corpse” and “every living thing died that was in the sea” (Revelation 16:3). This is followed by scorching heat, darkness that is so dense can be felt, and finally “a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth” so that “every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found,”. Still disaster after disaster comes – including hailstones that weigh about an astounding 75 pounds (Revelation 16:18–21).
John does not go into detail as to the numbers of those who perish in these last judgements. What is clear is that those who die are the lucky ones. The effects of these great calamities will be so totally awful that there really are not good words to describe the pain, fear. terror and complete despondency that people will be left feeling.
when it looks darkest, the sky opens up to reveal hope. The King appears. Christ rides out.
Even after all the destruction and death the leaders of the world will all come together to fight the bloodiest, most intense, most carnage rendering climatic war that has even been waged. We recognize this war by the name Armageddon. This war is not a free‑for‑all where everyone fights everyone as often depicted in popular media. It is a concerted, demon‑driven gathering of the nations to fight against the Lord and His Anointed, which means they come against Israel and Jerusalem. Jesus said of this time that the days would be shortened – since if they were not no human being would be left alive (Matthew 24:22).
How it Ends – Why there is Real Hope
This looks pretty bad. The whole world on the cusp of obliteration and still bent on its own self destruction. Yet when it looks darkest, the sky opens up to reveal hope. The King appears. Christ rides out. He is called Faithful and True, judging and making war in perfect righteousness. He will take back the earth from the powers of Satan and He will abolish the unrighteous nations and dispenses judgement and wrath.
Evil finally loses. The Beast and the False Prophet are seized alive and thrown into the lake of fire. The armies that dared gather against the Lord are fallen by the word of His mouth. A single command and it is over (Revelation 19:19–21).
Satan is captured, bound and cast into a pit where he cannot deceive the nations during the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1–3). The great promise God made to Israel is fulfilled. They look on Him whom they pierced and mourn, and a fountain is opened to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness (Zechariah 12:10; 13:1). Paul’s words stand vindicated in history; all Israel will be saved according to God’s promise and mercy (Romans 11:26–27).
During this period the saints of Christ will reign with Jesus. Justice will not just be a slogan; it will be a reality. During this period God will heal the earth and as the most promising golden age that can ever be imagined will commence.
There is even more beauty, joy and wonder yet to come. Beyond that golden age comes something greater still. God purges the earth with fire and makes all things new. No more death. No mourning. No crying. No pain. The New Jerusalem descends like a bride adorned for her husband, and God dwells with His people there forever (Revelation 21–22).
“Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation”. Come to salvation by the trusting in the redeeming work of Christ on the Cross.
This is where the line of history runs. Not into chaos without end, but through judgment to the triumph of the Lamb and the restoration He promised. The road is a very difficult one for those who stay on the path. It runs directly through the greatest calamities to befall our world – worse than anything we can imagine. But we do not have to go through the Great Tribulation, the judgement of the earth.
You do not want to be there. Come to Christ now.
Scripture is blunt and yet merciful at the same time. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that “Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation”. Come to salvation by the trusting in the redeeming work of Christ on the Cross. We are no longer destined for wrath as Paul says: “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9; see also 1:10; Revelation 3:10). The caveat is that we must choose to embrace the mercy and grace He offers. Do not wait for a better season; it will not come. Honestly – you do not want to be here when chaos and judgement descend onto the earth.
- Turn to Christ. Repent and believe the gospel. Jesus died for our sins and rose again; He saves all who come to Him in faith (1 Corinthians 15:3–4; John 3:16; John 6:37).
- Confess Him as Lord. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:9–13).
If you have committed your life to him and believe and trust in Him then live ready. Pursue holiness; love your God; serve the family of the church; pray; watch; keep your lamp trimmed. Make disciples; tell others while the door of mercy is open (Matthew 24:42–44; 25:1–13; 28:18–20; Titus 2:11–14).
The Tribulation will be severe beyond anything the world has known. But the story does not end in ash. It ends with a Rider on a white horse, a repentant nation, a redeemed people from every tribe and tongue, and a kingdom that will never fade. Choose Him now. Live for Him now. And tell others while there is still time.
