How many will die in the Tribulation?

If you watched Monty Python's Holy Grail movie then you'll remember the scenes of the plague where the corpse gatherer shouts "Bring out your dead!" (I watched Monty Python in the 70s way before I was saved, don't judge me).

The London plague of 1665 is synopsized in the UK National Archives this way:
This was the worst outbreak of plague in England since the black death of 1348. London lost roughly 15% of its population. While 68,596 deaths were recorded in the city, the true number was probably over 100,000. Other parts of the country also suffered.

The earliest cases of disease occurred in the spring of 1665 in a parish outside the city walls called St Giles-in-the-Fields. The death rate began to rise during the hot summer months and peaked in September when 7,165 Londoners died in one week.
This artwork depicts the general attitude during the height of the plague.

The plague was nothing, nothing, compared to the upcoming Tribulation. Let's look at what God promises for unbelievers left behind

Current world population (estimate) - 7,321,593,981. That's 7 billion with a b.

Revelation 6:7-8 says,
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

So in rapid order, 25% of the earth's people will die. A quarter of 7.3 billion people is 1,830,398,495 dead. That's 1.8 Billion dead. Remember the 2004 Banda Aceh Christmas day tsunami that killed 250,000 people? Bodies washing up everywhere? Multiply that by tens of thousands and millions and you have some idea of the deaths that will take place when the fourth seal is opened. It will happen fast, too. The entire Tribulation will only be as long as 7 years, and the Seal judgments are opened at the outset, so pretty quickly bodies will pile up in the streets.

So after a fourth of the population dies, we have 5,491,195,486 remaining on earth. That's 5.4 Billion people.

Revelation 9:18 says that another third will die quickly also, this time in the Trumpet Judgment. "By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths."

This means that a third of 5.4 billion people will die. That's another 1,812,094,510 billion dead. Billion with a B.

By now there are 3,679,100,976 people left. Of course there area great many fewer because countless numbers die in the wars, die or are killed due to violence because of no restraint on sin, and secondary causes like fires from unattended gas lines or cholera or starvation. So let's estimate another billion have died from all those causes. That leaves 2.6 billion people and that is only halfway through the Tribulation. We have gone from 7.3 billion people down to 2 billion- or less.

I suspect the death from sin will be much higher than we even can comprehend. The Holy Spirit will not be restraining sin at all. All men will be able to be as bad as they can be, moral depravity will be at highest levels ever. People will kill with impunity, for no reason, just to see you die. They will die from drugs and alcohol other bodily excesses, illness, starvation, and likely suicides. We know that the world will be used to looking at death with no problem, because by the time the Two Witnesses are killed their bodies are allowed to putrefy in the street for three and a half days while the entire world looks at them and dances in joy over their death. (Revelation 11:9-10)

3,642,493,005 or half the current population will for a fact die. All those bodies laying around is unimaginable. Here is one graphic that shows 1 Billion pennies. This is only 1 billion, remember, and they are pennies, very small, not human bodies.

Source

Jesus said that if he did not come back, ALL FLESH would die. (Matthew 24:22). When you try to imagine the numbers of corpses it become a horror, unimaginable and hopeless. Burials will not keep up. Every zombie/apocalypse/plague/outbreak/dystopian movie you ever watched won't even come close. The Left Behind movies were sanitized like meat under cellophane compared to the slaughterhouse the meat came from. The overriding feature of the Tribulation will be...blood.

The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:7)

And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia. (Revelation 14:20)

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:9-10)

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. (Revelation 16:3)

And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly. (Revelation 17:6)

I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. (Revelation 20:4)

People say that the Bible is a tale of two cities, Jerusalem and Babylon. We could say without stretching it that the Age of Grace is about the blood of Jesus- Holy blood. And the Tribulation is about the blood of sinners- Judgment blood.

So when I hear someone say "I'm a pantheist, it'll all pan out in the end," I know that person has no conception of the prophetic plan of God. They have no care for the billions of people who will die like animals under God's judgment. The deaths, the stench of death, the desensitization regarding death, it all will be on a scale the mind will not be able to comprehend.

Yet each one of those deaths represent a soul, made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27)

Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
that he should live on forever
and never see the pit. (Psalm 49:7-9)

No person, regardless of his means, is able to escape death; it is inevitable. (Hebrews 9:27) This passage anticipates the second death of hell, (cf. Rev. 20-11:15), except those who by faith have repented of their sin and embraced the only adequate ransom, the one paid by the Lord Jesus Christ by His death on the cross. (cf. Matthew 20:28, 1 Peter 1:18-19). ~John MacArthur

Knowing we live in the Age of Grace and were saved in it should give us knee-weakening, heart stopping gratitude to Jesus. And knowing what is ahead for the world and its people should give us knee-weakening, heart stopping fear of God and His mighty power and Holy wrath. He is coming soon.

Be ready.
Live like you're ready.
Witness like it's your last day on earth, because it's could be- for you or for that person.



Comments

  1. What a haunting picture of the plague! I stared at it for some time.
    I find the use of blood throughout Scripture to be very intriguing. Currently reading Leviticus and it's like I've been given new eyes for words that a few years ago would have seemed mundane and confusing and pointless.
    I tried to watch the 9-minute video about Pre-Trib in your sidebar but it said that it is private and wouldn't come up. Just fyi.
    Melissa

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    Replies
    1. Hi Melissa,

      I'm so happy you like going to the references! What a blessing you are.

      Thanks for letting me know about the video. I should really go thru and check more often. Youtube videos come and go as the people who publish them come and go. I corrected the link by swapping it with one that is the same but works. It is to a 9-minute clip from John MacaArthur explaining the pre-trib rapture from one of many standpoints.

      Delete
  2. Hi,
    I am Roman Catholic, I have rosary beads & I pray to the Holy Mother. It comes with the territory.
    I don't want you to think that I am one of those, know all heathens.

    YOU:
    "the up coming Tribulation. Let's look at what God promised for unbelievers left behind."
    ME:
    Epheseians 6 : 2
    1. Children obey your parents in the Lord for it is right.
    2. Honor thy father & thy mother - ( which is the first commandment with a promise ) so that it may be well for you & that you may live long on the Earth.

    Deuteronomy 27 : 16
    'Cursed is anyone who dishonors their father or mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

    QUESTION:
    Who is our father & our mother ?

    * The couple that biologically created you.
    That's it ?
    * Everything that has allowed you to be & exist on this planet so far. Since the begining of time.
    atoms
    particles
    nutrons
    let's cut to the chase
    air / water / food from nature / the sun light / the night that give you rest = the solar system / electromagnetic forces from the sun - it just goes on & on.........

    We have drilled for oil & gas & water all around the planet. The oil in the Middle East - we have been pumping it up for the last 100 years - full throttel.
    From how far away has the oil come to last 100 years & even as far as under the whole of East & West Europe & even as far as Asia.
    There are sink holes all over the place.
    The Daily Mail ran a story last year of sinkholes in the back yard of homes & roadways in England. Where else that we have not been told ?
    There are deep cracks over a mile long on the surface of the earth.
    Quicksand pits have appeared from nowhere.
    We tip our rubbish into the ocean.
    ( Trashed 2012 The Movie - Jeremy Irons youtube ) watch this & see how we have dishonored our father & mother in the Lord that generously gave it all to us in all its magnificence.
    The Dust Bowl: Black Blizzards - look it up.
    Black Blizzards are due to excessive land clearing which causes erosion.
    In 1935 the number of black blizzards doubled.
    There were those that said it was GOD, a punishment - but it wasn't - it was stupid, greedy old us humans that caused it, both believers & non believers.
    We blame God for everything, God the scapegoat.
    Where are our learned priests & preachers to preach to us of our duty of care & responsibility on planet earth ?

    The tsunami could have been due to the earths paltede moving, HAARP, oh gosh we could have done any number of things to cause it.
    We deserve everything that we get for letting this happen.
    Cheers
    Mira



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    Replies
    1. Hi Mira,

      If you were to die in the next few moments of time, do you know FOR SURE you will go to heaven?

      Delete
    2. Hi Mira,
      Did you know that praying through Mary and with beads - repetitive prayers is an abominal sin? Please come out of her! Refering to the Catholic church, go search the scriptures and become a renewed Christian with the truth that will set you free.

      Delete
  3. I was actually pondering the second half of the trib earlier today, about the 100lb hailstones, and how instead of repenting, people curse God. And to think that comes after the judgments you mentioned where Billions (with a B) already have died.

    Other than the multitudes mentioned in Rev 7:9, the outlook at the end is very grim for those who do not know Christ.

    70 weeks have been decreed for Israel. 69 weeks are completed. 7 are yet to come. The time of Jacob's trouble is a sobering thought.

    -Carolyn

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  4. Don't forget 2 thirds of JerUSAlem.

    The Shepherd Struck, Sheep Scattered
    7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

    8And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.

    9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

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  5. As I hope and pray there is a Pre-Trib, as I study Revelation, I lean towards there may not be. Not knowing the "day or the hour" is vague enough for it to happen even mid-Trib...as in one day during a 7 day period and still be an unknown event, as in the day or hour unkown.
    That being said, it is also clear that ONLY the people who are beheaded during the Tribulation will serve the Lord on earth during His 1000 year reign.
    People say, well there will be millions upon millions if His Church is still here. I wonder, looking how we are living today, when all of our stuff, TV, cell phones, houses, condos, apartments, cars, coffee, everything in one full swoop is taken away from us, how many will BUCKLE under that pressure?
    There is going to be some real sifting...we will be fully filtered to see where we STAND.

    Of course this is MY opinion...I pray there is a Pre-Trib Rapture...I pray we are taken away before the ABOVE happens...looking at the 12 Disciples, who were covered by Grace, if they had to suffer, not sure why WE, living in such amazingly soft times (not all of us, I speak for mainly Western Civilization...I lived in Saudi Arabia for half a year...I have seen a demonically possessed government at close range...the Coptic Christians are being beheaded as we speak...it has started), would think we wouldn't have to walk the disciple path?

    Being a neglected and abused child, I have seen enough garbage...much of which was self created I pray for mercy, but I also know that whatever The Lord wants of me, as scary as it may be, I want to be able to be strong enough to do it...I pray that I may be able to STAND...to do what He wants of me.

    We will see...and I feel that it is around the corner...at the door.

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    1. Hello - Im a pre-trib believer. These are the verses that I believe support the Pre-trib rapture

      1 Thessalonians 5:9 New International Version (NIV)
      9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

      Revelation 3:10 New International Version (NIV)
      10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

      In Rev 5 - please look into the 24 elders...They represent the saints of God (the church). Please check their song.

      Revelation 5:8-10 New International Version (NIV)
      8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

      “You are worthy to take the scroll
      and to open its seals,
      because you were slain,
      and with your blood you purchased for God
      persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
      10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
      and they will reign[a] on the earth.”

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  6. Your article is really good. John MacArthur is one of my favorite authorities on scripture, too. There are others that hold the same views on the end times, which gives end times interested believers a lot of credibility. I have subscribed to your emails. You may find the things that I write on the end times to be of interest. Please check out my link. From this Equipping blog, there are others that I also write. Please keep up your good work. https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/

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  7. Personally, I think MacArthur is stretching it to take the one verse from Hebrews (9:27) in context with a few verses in other books. When reading verse 27 in context with the surrounding verses in Hebrews the meaning, while related, is not what MacArthur is trying to make it say. Not saying he's got it all wrong, and I do also believe we need to take every word in the Word in context with the whole of the Word, we also need to look at the more immediate context. IMO this verse, at the very least ought to be taken in context with verse 28, which I see as clearly pointing to our earthly death, as Jesus also experienced on the cross. He then, in verse 28 speaks of the second time, when Jesus returns for us.

    While I do agree, we are not appointed to wrath, I wonder if there may be more than one way to ponder that as well. As there are many False prophets and antichrists about now, but only 1 "the antichrist" to look for. Can we not surmise the same for times of wrath? All we need do is look around the world and ponder a moment to realize many, including our brothers and sisters around the globe are experiencing tribulation. Perhaps not "the tribulation", but extreme tribulation just the same. I am leaning more towards we are not meant for God's wrath, though at that it is possible we would see it, but be set apart from suffering it first hand. I pray not, but cannot discount the possibility and so deem it necessary to prepare myself, spiritually for that, and all other possibilities. Only God knows for sure, but we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to help us properly divide His Words of truth. Though it is helpful to actually believe He exists, as Jesus stated He does.

    So far as how many will die in the tribulation, if He gathers us up to Himself pre-trib , then I would hope the beginning numbers would be smaller. Still a very large number, and unspeakably horrendous to witness, but smaller just the same. Honestly, not sure it matters, as either way, it would be every bit as terrifying as he presents it here, and then some. Much as 20 years ago I would not have been able to conceive of life in this time and place we now find ourselves, I doubt we can even begin to comprehend what those very last times we warned in Revelations will come will truly be like to live through.

    ReplyDelete

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