After the 144,000 are called up to God and His throne, the world is filled with darkness as Satan inhabits the body of the assassinated Man of Sin and resurrects him. This is referred to as the Great Tribulation.
This will be when the Mark of the Beast is forced upon mankind under the threat of death or starvation.
Revelation 13:15-18- And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Can you imagine the turmoil? After millions of Christians disappeared three and half a years ago and the world has gone through devastation, another batch of people disappear! Then a man who was supposed to be their uniting savior has now issued martial law and the death penalty for any who oppose his dictatorial statutes.
Revelation 6:9-11- And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
What's worse than being killed for non-compliance? How about losing your soul? The antichrist will be able to capture the souls of those who are killed for refusing to accept the Mark of the Beast. He will keep them captive under the altar until the end of his reign.
Who are their brethren that will be killed as they were? Other believers, yet, but this is referring to two men in particular. God is merciful. He won't leave those who still want the truth without His guidance.
Revelation 11:3-6- And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
These two men are Moses and Elijah who visited Jesus on the mount of transfiguration and were also prophesied by Malachi.
Mark 9:2-4- And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
Moses first plague was turning water to blood. This, along with him appearing with Jesus, is why the believe this second man is Moses. But the verse in the Old Testament references Moses, too.
Malachi 4:4-6- Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
It is important to note that the Law of Moses is told be kept in remembrance during this time. It's a faith and works set up!
Moses and Elijah preach outside Jerusalem for the last three and a half years, sending plagues and killing those who attack them, until God says their witness is complete and allows the Antichrist the power to destroy them.
Revelation 11:7-12- And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
This has been prophesied by God as the way these two witnesses will be killed, just like all those who refused the Mark of the Beast! But it won't be the end of them.
Revelation 11:11-13- And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
After three and a half days, they raise from the dead and lead the souls who were trapped under the altar to heaven. This is the beginning of the end for the Antichrist. Those who have seen this will have no choice but to acknowledge that there is a God in heaven, and the realization that He and His armies are coming is terrifying!
