Only one fourth?

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That means ¾ are NOT harmed.

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Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

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For those that believe that this is the wrath of God, it seem like 100% of the earth should be affected, not just a minority of ¼.

I believe that only ¼ is affected because the saints are still on the earth.

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Saints still on earth

This point of view is still under debate, since many believe the 7 seals are part of YHVH’s wrath, and the rapture occurs before this.

I also point out here that saints are martyred in the 5th seal (Revelation 6), and the tribulation appears to be announced as “over” in Revelation 7).

Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.

I also discuss in this other post Don’t Hurt the Oil and Wine ! that there is evidence that both Christians and Jews are protected at this time from famine.

https://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/dont-hurt-the-oil-and-wine/

This does not answer the question of the timing of the rapture, only the fact that believers are still on the earth at this time.

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Pale Horse of Death – where is it going?

If God were to target His enemies, or those in sin, he uses “the sword, famine and pestilence.”

So who are the ¼? Are they spread out across the globe, with just random deaths, or are they geographically concentrated in one area of famine?

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It seems logical that if famine were to occur, it would be more regional than global.

It is illogical that my next door neighbor, or those on my street, starve to death, while there are food stores for me, to go to buy whatever I need to live.

We are not that different economically.

If the food is available to me, it is available to my neighbors as well.

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So, who are the ¼?

I would look to a certain area of the world, and find famine localized there, and it is an area that has had this problem before.

This is just a guess, but it does fit. God has a purpose in reducing the enemies of Christ and Israel.

I would guess that the areas in black below, surrounding Israel, would be the worst hit by a famine. It is also the region most hostile towards Israel.

And during stressful times, it would cause this region to eventually attack Israel, who would have food and other resources at this time. This region is currently violent with protests as well.

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Islamic nations – ¼ the earth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Muslim_population

Islam is the world’s second largest religion after Christianity. According to a 2011 demographic study, Islam has 1.6 billion adherents, making up 23% of the world population.[1][2]

Approximately 50 countries are Muslim-majority.[2] Around 62% of the world’s Muslims live in Asia, with over 683 million adherents in such countries as Indonesia(the largest Muslim country by population, home to 12.9% of the world’s Muslims[8]),  Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.[2][9]

About 20% of Muslims live in Arab countries.[10] In the Middle East, the non-Arab countries of Turkey and Iran are the largest Muslim-majority countries; in Africa, Egypt and Nigeria have the most populous Muslim communities.[9]

A demographic study conducted by the Pew Research Center in October 2009[1][2]found that there are 1.57 billion Muslims around the world, accounting for roughly 1 in 4 people. The study found more Muslims in Germany than in Lebanon and more in China than in Syria.[11]

Also relevant to this population is Rev 16:

Rev 16:12

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

Notice it is the river Euphrates, not the Danube in Europe, or the Mississippi in America, or the Amazon in Africa, or the Yangtze river in China.

This part of the world is especially targeted for the wrath of God.

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Are there other explanations and possibilities? Yes, of course.

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China or India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population

China and India together have about 37 percent of the world’s population.

Here, I do not see China nor India as especially hostile toward Israel, even though there is anti-Semitism everywhere.

Neither have a history of attacking Israel, or starting conflicts.

They may be influence by the hostility of others, but have not generated the hostility themselves.

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Generalized death across the globe

This is always possible, as the red horse of war, as well as the white and black horse, can go anywhere else at this time.

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Other Selective Destruction by God

In the 7 trumpets, 1/3 of nature is destroyed.

The same question arises.

Why only 1/3? Why not all of it?

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We are given a hint in Rev 9:4

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

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This means there are still saints around at this time! But they are protected by YHVH.

By Revelation 9:18, after the release of demonic spirits, 1/3 of mankind is killed.

Rev 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

The reason for the destruction is that they were given a chance to repent, but they refused to repent:

Rev 9:20

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Rev 9:21

Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

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Those who escape the wrath

Where are those who are not being destroyed by the wrath?

The “woman” representing natural Israel has escaped to the wilderness, in a place prepared by God.

Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.

Are all righteous people in the wilderness?

It does not seem so, because there are those still on the earth who are not in hiding, and they reach out to help the woman:

Rev 12:16

And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

The dragon, Satan, naturally becomes enraged and wages war on those in the earth who help Israel.

Rev 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

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This righteous group of people are most likely Christians who have escaped the ¼ elimination by the pale horse, and the 1/3 elimination by the demon locusts.

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There is also the 144,000 who are specially sealed, and cannot be touched by the dragon.

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Death Count

So, ¼ + 1/3 = 7/12 of the world is dead. This is 58% dead, and 42% remaining.

The last group to die are those who are drawn to the Battle of Armageddon.

They will die there. This is an unknown number, but the entire valley will be filled with blood:

Rev 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Rev 14:20

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs

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7000 also die in an earthquake in Jerusalem.

Rev 11:13

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.

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If anyone dies while 1/3 nature is being destroyed during the first trumpets, and during the vials, this would raise the death toll as well, but the number is not given.

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Part of those spared elimination are righteous believers who are spared to help the woman Israel and protect her from her enemy, the dragon.

So they are now at war with Satan. And they are in every nation around the world:

Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him [the beast] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

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Selective Judgment

In His wrath, YHVH God shows mercy to his own.

He either provides a place of escape, or he provides protection to those who seek Him.

There will be martyrs during this terrible time, but there is also hope of making it to the end:

Mat 24:13

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Mar 13:13

And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The days are shortened just so God’s elect can survive the wrath:

Mat 24:22

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Mar 13:20

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

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Final Questions

To those reading this, you may either be saved, or not saved.

Jesus is the only way to salvation.

Only through accepting his atonement on the cross, can you merit a way to the Father in heaven.

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Sin is real, and so is the punishment for sin.

This is a serious topic, and the way the world is going, we need to think seriously about our lives, and whether we are right before God, or evil, or just a fake person who is lost.

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Are you going to be part of the ¼ that is destroyed by the sword, famine or pestilence?

Are you going to be part of the 1/3 that is destroyed by demonic locusts sent from hell?

Or will you be part of the righteous that God will preserve and protect from Satan and his legions?

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The choice is yours.

There really is no time left to fool around and wait for another day to decide.

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Time has run out.

What is your decision?