Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator who believed he was destined to rule Iraq forever. He tortured and killed at will, including inflicting poisonous gases on his own countrymen. Defying warnings from the West, he continued atrocities, including invading neighboring countries. Ultimately, he was deposed by a worldwide coalition. Fleeing these troops and fellow Iraqis, he hid for eight months in tunnels until he was captured and executed by his own people. This once haughty and merciless man was humbled and then brought to justice by hanging.

John saw future martyrs from the Tribulation asking God to judge their persecutors, and “avenge our blood” (Revelation 6:10). As Christ opens the sixth seal of the book by His throne, it reveals divine cosmic judgments that will have a devastating impact on earth during the Tribulation. “A great earthquake” will be so profound, “every mountain and island were [or will be] moved out of their places” (vss. 12,14). The “sun became black as sackcloth” (vs. 12), indicating a darkness so intense day will be as dark as night. “And the moon [will become] as blood” (vs. 12). Beginning October 7-8, 2014, in separate six-month intervals, a phenomena occurred called “a blood moon,” because each full moon appeared very red. In the Tribulation it will be God’s warning to man that great loss of life lies ahead. Stars will fall from the sky and dynamic events occur in the heavens (vs. 14). No one, from kings to slaves will be able to escape (vs. 15). These catastrophes will be designed to draw men to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Stubbornly, rather than call on the Savior in faith, most will run from Him. They will call on the mountains to hide them “from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (vs. 16). The unsaved, some who were previously cruel and violent persecutors, will be humbled in God’s judgments upon the earth. But all will be given the opportunity to escape eternal judgment if they will turn in faith to the Lord Jesus. Many will not, but as we will later see, many will be saved during this time.

We today who know Christ as Savior are not to fear these future troubled times, because we have been “delivered from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10). But we are to warn others so they can escape these future judgments on earth and eternal punishment by trusting now in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Warn someone today.