Many of my posts and articles primarily discuss the future of the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. So I’d like to spend a few posts talking about the effects of the tribulation in other nations of the world. This post will focus on my predictions for the future of the nation of India. For an overview of the tribulation as it affects the U.S., see my previous article: The Tribulation and the future of the United States.

The first events of the tribulation, commonly called the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, are these:

1) World War 3
2) severe civil disorder and violence
3) famine
4) death from a variety of causes

[Revelation 6]
{6:1} And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals. And I heard one of the four living creatures saying, in a voice like thunder: “Draw near and see.”
{6:2} And I saw, and behold, a white horse. And he who was sitting upon it was holding a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering, so that he might prevail.
{6:3} And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying: “Draw near and see.”
{6:4} And another horse went forth, which was red. And it was granted to him who was sitting upon it that he would take peace from the earth, and that they would kill one another. And a great sword was given to him.
{6:5} And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying: “Draw near and see.” And behold, a black horse. And he who was sitting upon it was holding a balance in his hand.
{6:6} And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A double measure of wheat for a denarius, and three double measures of barley for a denarius, but do no harm to wine and oil.”
{6:7} And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying: “Draw near and see.”
{6:8} And behold, a pale horse. And he who was sitting upon it, his name was Death, and Hell was following him. And authority was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to destroy by the sword, by famine, and by death, and by the creatures of the earth.

These four sets of afflictions are most severe in Europe and wherever the War occurs. But in this article, I will focus on how these sufferings will affect the great nation of India.

The book of Daniel describes the first event of the tribulation, World War 3, in these words:

[Daniel 8]
{8:1} In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me. After that which I had seen in the beginning, I, Daniel,
{8:2} saw in my vision, that I was in the capital city of Susa, which is in the region of Elam, yet I saw in the vision that I was over the gate of Ulai.
{8:3} And I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a single ram stood before the marsh, having two high horns, and one was higher than the other and growing higher still.
{8:4} After this, I saw the ram brandishing his horns against the West, and against the North, and against the Meridian, and all the beasts could not withstand him, nor be freed from his hand, and he did according to his own will, and he became great.
…
{8:19} And he said to me, “I will reveal to you what the future things are in the earlier tribulation, for the time has its end.
{8:20} The ram, which you saw to have horns, is the king of the Medes and Persians.

The ancient city of Susa was located in what is today the nation of Iran. The Elamites occupied a region that included the southern portion of Iran and a portion of Iraq. There is an extensive marsh in that region also, along the border between Iraq and Iran. The Medes were an ancient people whose kingdom extended from Iraq to other parts of the Middle East and northern Africa. The Persians had a kingdom based in Iran. So this vision given to Daniel is about Iran and Iraq and the other Arab/Muslim nations, during the first part of the tribulation (i.e. “the earlier tribulation”).

Iran and Iraq wage war against the West (striking NYC in the U.S.), against the North (invading and conquering Europe), and against the Meridian (Africa toward the equator). But it is remarkable that Sacred Scripture does not indicate any attacks to the East of Iran, which would include Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Afghanistan and Pakistan, because of their high percentage of Muslim populations, are likely to join the group of nations that attack, invade, and conquer Europe. However, this group of nations, whose powerbase is in Iran, do not attack to the East. Therefore, they do not attack India.

One reason for this decision not to expand their territory, by warfare, to the East, is that India has nuclear weapons and the will to use them. The U.S. and some European nations have nuclear weapons, but not the will to use them. India would not permit Pakistan and the other Muslim nations to the West to attack or invade its lands. Another reason, though, is that the Providence of God has ordained that India will not be afflicted by this great War. The nation of India has been given enough sufferings to bear already. God will not give India the burden of World War 3 in addition.

The second event of the tribulation is severe civil disorder. This affliction does affect India, for it is a worldwide affliction. People will be afraid, because of the war and because the end times have begun. The war will harm the world economy. The war will bring great uncertainty. As a result, many people will resort to violence. There will be a great increase in violent crimes. Protesting will become much more common and more violent than it is today. Many people will die as a result of this severe civil disorder. India will be no exception.

The third event of the tribulation is a worldwide famine. However, this famine will be most severe in Europe, and then secondarily in the wealthy developed nations. The developing nations will be least affected by the famine.

India will be affected by this worldwide famine, but less so than Europe, the U.S., and other many other nations. In order to survive the famine, with the least harm, India will need to increase the amount of land used in agriculture substantially, and focus on the crops needed to feed its own population. Cash crops for export are of some use, but staple foods will be the priority.

The fourth event of the tribulation is death from a variety of causes. This affliction is worldwide, and will affect India, though less so than the nations of Europe.

{6:7} And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying: “Draw near and see.”
{6:8} And behold, a pale horse. And he who was sitting upon it, his name was Death, and Hell was following him. And authority was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to destroy by the sword, by famine, and by death, and by the creatures of the earth.

The causes of death include “the sword”, referring to war and civil violence. The famine will kill many persons, usually by weakening them, making them more susceptible to disease. The “creatures of the earth” is a reference to bacteria and viruses; disease will kill very many persons during this time period. There will be multiple serious epidemics, especially in crowded cities. India will be very susceptible to this affliction.

The reference to destroying “by death” might seem strange, until you consider that one of the severe sufferings of this time period will be the fear of death. It is this fear that causes much harm to minds and hearts, and which indirectly results in additional deaths. Many persons will be so filled with fear that they will act with desperation, to the harm or death of themselves or other persons.

During the rest of the first part of the tribulation, India suffers just as the rest of the world suffers. India will not be involved, in any substantial way, in World War 4. But the afflictions that follow the War are for the whole world, including India.

Now here is an important point about India. By the end of the first part of the tribulation, in early 2040, there will be only three major religions in the world: Judaism, Catholic Christianity, and Islam. Therefore, between now and 2040 A.D., the majority of the citizens of India will convert to one of those three Faiths. Many will convert to Islam. Many more will convert to Catholic Christianity. There will no longer be any substantial number of persons in the world who practice Hinduism or Buddhism — nor any other religion, except one of the three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. India will no longer be a Hindu nation; most citizens will become either Muslim or Christian.

The inter-tribulation period is the time from the end of the first part of the tribulation (ending in early 2040) until the start of the second part of the tribulation (early 25th century). Rather than describe the entire time period, what I will describe next is the particular place that India has during that time.

Certain kingdoms rise to world domination during that time, just as the Prophet Daniel predicted.

{7:2} I saw in my vision at night, and behold, the four winds of the heavens fought upon the great sea.
{7:3} And four great beasts, different from one another, ascended from the sea.
{7:4} The first was like a lioness and had the wings of an eagle. I watched as its wings were plucked off, and it was raised from the earth and stood on its feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
{7:5} And behold, another beast, like a bear, stood to one side, and there were three rows in its mouth and in its teeth, and they spoke to it in this way: “Arise, devour much flesh.”
{7:6} After this, I watched, and behold, another like a leopard, and it had wings like a bird, four upon it, and four heads were on the beast, and power was given to it.
{7:7} After this, I watched in the vision of the night, and behold, a fourth beast, terrible yet wondrous, and exceedingly strong; it had great iron teeth, eating yet crushing, and trampling down the remainder with his feet, but it was unlike the other beasts, which I had seen before it, and it had ten horns.

These four beasts represent four kingdoms, each dominating the world during a different time period.

As I said in my previous post, after World War 4, the United States will never again be a world power. The U.S. will never again be one of the most dominant nations in the world. Never again. Instead, a number of different nations and areas of the world rise to power, successively.

In the latter part of the 21st century, the kingdom of the great Catholic monarch is the dominant power in the world. That kingdom includes Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa. His kingdom does not conquer or control other nations. But it will have the most power and influence in the world. After about 25 years, in the mid to late 2060’s, that kingdom is divided into four parts, diminishing its power.

For most of the 22nd century, Russia is the dominant world power. That nation will conquer other nations in war, enlarging its kingdom and increasing its power. Russia is the bear in Daniel’s vision of four beasts. The nations that Russia does not control will at least be influenced by its threats and actions.

Something interesting happens next, in the 23rd century. By this time, India will be a developed nation, a wealthy nation, just as the U.S. and Europe are today. India will have overcome poverty and hunger by this time (perhaps much sooner). The nation will be technologically advanced, as much or more so than other nations. The nation will be strong in agriculture and in manufacturing and in innovation. India will also have a strong military.

Then India will partner with Africa, China, and one other area of the world (probably Southeastern Asia) so that these four areas of the world cooperate and rise to world power. Neither Europe nor Russia will be dominant over this cooperative of nations. Russia will lose its dominance of the world, to be replaced by India, Africa, China, and Southeast Asia working together. However, these four areas will not have a single leader over all four areas; they will not become one nation or a single unified kingdom. Instead, each area will have its own leaders, so that four leaders work together to rise to world power. (This is the meaning of the vision of a leopard with four heads.) They will dominate the world economically and militarily. But they will not conquer the world. They simply attain to greater influence than other nations and areas of the world.

In the 24th century, the world becomes divided into ten kingdoms, each with its own leader. The alliance between India, Africa, China, and Southeast Asia will be broken; these four areas will separate. India will stand on its own as one of the ten kingdoms. In this last period before the second part of the tribulation, ten kingdoms only will have power over the whole world. Subsequently, in the early 25th century, the second part of the tribulation occurs, which ends about the time of the Return of Jesus Christ in 2437 A.D.

For more on this topic, see my books of Roman Catholic eschatology.

by
Ronald L. Conte Jr.
Roman Catholic theologian and
translator of the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible.