Part XII: The Lord of the Scroll – Daniel’s 70th Week

Detailed Description

Revelation Chapters 4 thru 18

The Throne Room of God

After receiving the prophetic messages to the seven congregations, the scene moves from Earth to Heaven, where John sees a door open. Speaking in apocalyptic language, this is not a literal door but a prophetic door of revelation. (10)

1. The Open Door to Heaven

After these things I looked, and there was a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said: “Come up here so that I can show you what must happen after these things.” (Revelation 4:1 NET)

John wants us to understand that he will receive a vision of Heaven that can only come by spiritual revelation from God Himself. He will be privileged to see what is happening in Heaven and then record that for the believers confronted with the throne of the imperial cult of Rome. (10)

But the revelation is not only for believers in the seven congregations; it is for believers of all time who struggle with the challenge and heartache of seeing men and governments exalt themselves in place of God. What we see on earth is not reality. The reality is what we see in Heaven. We just need the spiritual revelation to see it, and John gives it to us.

John hears a voice speaking to him and says it is like a trumpet-shofar (1). He uses the same phrase in Revelation 1:10.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10 NET)

John was used to the voice of the Lord sounding like a trumpet-shofar. When the Lord brought the Hebrews out of Egypt, the Lord spoke to them (1) through the sound of the trumpet-shofar (Exodus 19:13-19). The people were so frightened by the experience that they asked Moses for the Lord not to speak to them directly again (Exodus 20:18-19).

So one way the Lord continued to speak to them was through trumpets-shofars (Numbers 10:1-10). When John heard the voice of the Lord, he heard it as the sound of a trumpet-shofar. This was part of the history and heritage of his people in hearing the Word of the Lord. He knew what it meant, and it certainly got his attention. (10)

The voice told John to come to Heaven to receive the spiritual revelation of the next things the Lord wanted to show him. There are two statements here to consider:

1. The statement commanding John to come to Heaven.

Ministers who believe and proclaim a pre-tribulation rapture interpret this verse and command to “Come up here” to mean that John represents believers who are raptured or caught up to Heaven at this time before the beginning of the tribulation. Scholars and serious students of the Book of Revelation certainly have the right to their studied interpretation of the Book. We should bless, love, and respect those who have different views than ours and not be dogmatic where there is a difference of opinions. (10)

Furthermore, believers who have only been taught the pre-tribulation rapture may be surprised to learn that not everyone shares this interpretation of this specific Scripture. We need to be humble and teachable. When we read or hear teaching contrary to what we have always believed, we should be like the Bereans who search the Scriptures daily to discover the truth.

These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11 NET)

It is important to remember that the Book of Revelation is written in an apocalyptic writing style. This means we should not interpret this book too literally. This may shock some, but John was not literally raptured to Heaven. I know this may really sound upsetting if this is the only interpretation you have been taught and accepted. God bless all well-meaning godly ministers who teach this view. (10)

It just didn’t happen. John is using apocalyptic language to say that he is going to receive a prophetic word from God that is supernatural. He is using symbolic language to describe it. There was no literal door and no literal rapture of John’s body to Heaven at this time. (10)

John had a spiritual vision of Heaven, but he was still on the earth at Patmos. Physically, he did not go anywhere. Since he was not literally raptured, this verse cannot possibly suggest a literal rapture of believers to Heaven in God’s great end-time chronology of events. Those who do so are certainly making a good-faith effort to understand and interpret this verse. I applaud them, but this interpretation turns an apocalyptic statement into a literal event that simply cannot be supported by this verse. I pray that you will have “ears to hear.” (10)

2. The statement when the Lord says He will show John “things which must take place after this.”

Scholars who interpret the Book of Revelation literally see chapters 4-22 as the chronological order of the Book of Revelation. There is certainly a chronological order to some events John describes. But when John says, “things which must take place after this” he uses apocalyptic language to refer to the next part of his prophetic vision. He does not necessarily mean the next events but the next part of his vision. The point is not to read in too literal an interpretation of spiritual language. There are successive chronological events in the Book of Revelation. We must be cautious and not dogmatic in interpreting “otherworldly” language and symbols too literally. (10)

The Throne in Heaven

Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it! And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. (Revelation 4:2–3 NET)

To emphasize that he is having a prophetic vision, John once again says that he is “in the Spirit.” John uses this phrase four times (Revelation 1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). The reader would understand John to be saying that the Holy Spirit was giving him an additional spiritual revelation that he could not possibly know by his own human intellect or imagination. These “in the Spirit” statements are the order for understanding the Book of Revelation. (10)

In his spiritual state, John sees the throne room of God in Heaven in all of its glory and beauty. Someone was seated on the throne. This “One” is the Creator of all things. He is not the generic “god of the world,” nor is He the god of any religion outside of the Bible. He is Yahveh, the Judeo-Christian God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; He is the God of Israel. (10)

The Lord Himself makes this claim as we learn in Isaiah:

This is what the Lord, Israel’s king, says, their protector, the Lord who commands armies: “I am the first and I am the last, there is no God but me. (Isaiah 44:6 NET).

Because God is so glorious in His appearance, no one can see Him in the fullness of His blazing glory and dazzling beauty. Surely we can understand that the creature cannot see the Creator in His fullness. If we did, we would all die. (10)

A natural example we can all understand is that no one can look directly into the sun without seeing spots or going blind. We must turn our eyes away from the sun or look at it with special glasses or through dark clouds. This is what the Bible means when it says that God is invisible or cannot be seen (1 Timothy 1:17; John 1:18).

In the Hebrew Bible, we are told that God “spoke to Moses face to face” (Exodus 33:11). This is a Hebraic figure of speech. The writer wants us to understand that when Moses approached God, he was not in a spiritual trance or having a vision like John but was fully conscious and aware that he was in God’s presence. It does not mean that Moses literally saw God’s face.

Later in the same chapter, Moses pleaded with God to show him His glory. The Lord then told Moses that no one could see His face, meaning the fullness of His glory, and live. (Exodus 33:18-23.)

So when the Bible talks about someone seeing the Lord, it does not mean that the person sees Him in bodily form. It means that the person sees a manifestation of God which the person describes in heavenly terms of majestic divine glory and beauty.

For example, Exodus reads:

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up,and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself.(Exodus 24:9-10 NET).

The prophet Micaiah described his vision of the Lord in this way:

Micaiah said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. (1 Kings 22:19 NET).

Isaiah described a vision of the Lord similar to John’s. Isaiah said:

In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe [glory] filled the temple. Seraphs stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and they used the remaining two to fly. They called out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1–4 NET).

The prophet Ezekiel said that the heavens were opened to him and that he “saw visions of God” (Ezekiel 1:1). In the rest of the chapter, Ezekiel describes all he saw using language similar to Moses, Micaiah, Isaiah, and John (see Ezekiel 1). (10)

As with others who have had a true vision of Heaven, John does not describe God in a definable form but in terms, humans can understand. John speaks of God’s blazing glory and dazzling beauty as brilliant gemstones of jasper and (carnelian or sardius). (10)

Jasper was one of the stones in the high priest’s breastplate (1) (Exodus 28:20). Jasper is also mentioned later in Revelation to describe the brilliant, pure light of the glory of God; it is called a “precious stone” that is as “clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:11). From a spiritual standpoint, we can say that jasper symbolizes the pure holiness of God. (10)

While we don’t know the exact color of the jasper that John sees because it is crystal clear, we can think of it today as resembling a brilliant, sparkling diamond. Both the wall and the first foundation of the New Jerusalem are made of jasper (Revelation 21:18-19). Because jasper is said to be crystal clear, the glory of God can be seen emanating everywhere throughout New Jerusalem, the city God has prepared as the eternal home of His people. Praise God! (10)

Carnelian (or Sardius) is a beautiful red like a ruby. Sardius was also one of the stones in the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 28:17). It is listed as the sixth foundation of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:20).. In contrast, the jasper symbolizes the holiness of God, we can understand that the deep blood-red carnelian is a spiritual symbol of the necessity of redemption through the blood of an innocent substitutionary sacrifice for sin. (10)

In addition to these gorgeous stones, John sees an emerald or green-colored rainbow around God’s throne. The way John describes it, the rainbow is a full circle around the throne. The full circle symbolizes eternity, much like the wedding ring symbolizes the sacredness of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. Exodus 28:17 lists emerald as one of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest. It is also the fourth foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19). (10)

From the ground, typically, only the top portion of a rainbow is visible because directions toward the ground have fewer raindrops. From the air, though, the entire 360-degree circle of a rainbow is more commonly visible.

The rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant of life, as we learn in Genesis 9:12-17. Through his vision of God’s throne, John is given an apocalyptic message that a holy God has entered into an everlasting blood covenant with His people through the innocent substitutionary sacrifice of His Son, who gave His life for the sins of mankind. (10)

Furthermore, John’s vision contrasts the heavenly throne of God with the earthly throne of the emperor and imperial cult worship. To the people living under Roman rule, the majesty and splendor of the emperor’s throne represented the most powerful ruler in the world. The emperor was a “god” to be feared and obeyed without question. You proved your loyalty to the emperor by sacrificing to him at his temple or statue and altar. The believers were faced with this challenge and crisis. (10)

The Roman emperor controlled most of the world. His power was absolute, and his riches immeasurable. He could do whatever he wanted. He could kill your body but not your soul. (Matthew 10:28) Yet his power and majesty could not even compare to the sovereign rule of God over all of His creation. Caesar’s power, wealth, and glory, as represented by his throne, were nothing compared to the blazing glory and dazzling beauty of the throne of God.

Furthermore, the emperor would have no power at all unless the Almighty allowed for it. We learn this in the Gospel records in the Bible. When Pilate threatened Jesus with crucifixion (10)

Jesus said to him,

Jesus answered, You would not have any power or authority whatsoever against (over) Me if it were not given you from above. For this reason the sin and guilt of the one who delivered Me over to you is greater. (John 19:11 NET)

The vision of the throne room of God would certainly comfort the believers and assure them that God alone was the sovereign Lord and Master of the universe. He alone was to be feared and obeyed. He alone was to be worshiped. In time, He would judge the arrogance of the imperial cult and set His people in the place of honor. Therefore, the believers to whom John wrote learned not to fear those who ruled over them in this world. John’s message applies to believers today; we should pray for those in authority over us, but ultimately, our lives are in God’s hands, not those of evil rulers. (10)

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. (1 Timothy 2:1–6 NET)

Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the Lord for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.’ (Jeremiah 29:7 NET)

God alone is the supreme sovereign over His creation. And He has promised eternal rewards to His people who overcome the temptations of this world. While evil rulers can kill our bodies, God will raise us with new bodies to live with Him forever. (10)

As Paul writes:

Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:11 NET)

All the Caesars are dead, but Jesus, the Son of Man, lives! Earthly leaders only rule for a short time, but God rules forever. He alone is to be feared, praised, and worshiped. (10)

While God will pour out His wrath on the ungodly, He has an everlasting covenant of life for His people purchased for us through the substitutionary blood sacrifice of Jesus. As Paul wrote to the believers at Thessalonica:

For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 NET). (10) 

The Twenty-Four Elders

In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads. (Revelation 4:4 NET)

Around the throne of God, John sees 24 elders clothed in white. They are also sitting on thrones and have gold crowns on their heads. Who are these 24 elders, and what are they doing around the throne of God? (10)

The word elder (Gk, presbuteros), as used in the book of Revelation, is only used of the twenty-four elders and is used twelve times (Revelation 4:4,10;5:5,6,8,11,14;7:11,13,14;11:16,17,18;14:3;19:4). (18)

The word elder is used in different ways throughout the Bible. it is used for older men who were tribal leaders. Egypt, Moses, and Aaron called the elders to inform them that Yahweh had sent them (Exodus 4:29,30). Later, seventy elders were set up as a special group to assist Moses (Numbers 11:16,17). In the New Covenant, the word elder was used for the rulers of the synagogues (Matthew 21:23;26:57) and for the leaders in the early church (Acts 14:23). It was also used in describing the great Old Covenant men of faith (Hebrews 11:2).

And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5–6 NET)

The significance of the fact that there were twenty-four elders is clarified in the Old Covenant. The priesthood of ancient Israel, made up of the house of Aaron, was divided into twenty-four courses or groups of priests. (1 Chronicles 24). Each group served for two weeks each year on a rotation basis. As the prophet was God’s spokesman to the people, the priest was the people’s representative before God. The number twenty-four in connection with the priesthood would speak of complete representation. Each group of priests had one priest who represented it. When these twenty-four priests met together, they represented the entire priesthood and, simultaneously, the whole nation of Israel.

These elders were specifically said by John to be “sitting” (Revelation 4:4;11:16). To any Jewish contemporary of John, that would have been an amazing statement. They knew that the Levitical priests never sat down because their work was never done. (1) Their work was never done because the sacrifices of animals they offered could never take away sin – they could only cover sin for a year. But Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice, a sacrifice that was infinite and eternal and, therefore, never had to be repeated. The writer of Hebrews reveals that:

The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3 NET)

These twenty-four elders were seated on thrones around the Heavenly Father because Jesus, our Great High Priest (1), had once and for all opened the way into the Most Holy Place (1) in Heaven! These are the same thrones promised to overcomers at Laodicea (1).

I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21 NET)

This background information should give us a good idea of who the twenty-four elders represent. In the Bible, numbers often have symbolic meanings. Scholars understand that the number 12 can symbolize government or leadership and can be a representative number. Furthermore, the Bible refers to Jews and non-Jewish believers as the priests of God (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6;5:10). (10)

When considering everything, the twenty-four elders are seen with Jesus the High Priest (Revelation 5) and represent the following:

The redeemed ones of the twelve tribes of Israel (including proselytes and all that received righteousness through faith since the fall of Adam) who were liberated when Jesus moved Paradise (aka, the Garden of Eden (1)) from Hades back to Heaven (1).

and

The redeemed ones, Jews and Gentiles, who directly or indirectly were born again through the ministry of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (the original eleven plus a replacement).

Together, they represent the company of all believers (i.e., Jews and Gentile believers) that had died and are with the Lord sometime before the Seals on the Scroll were opened.

Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord—for we live by faith, not by sight. Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6–8 NET)

Again, they are seen in Heaven offering constant praise and worship to our God.

Similarly, the twelve gates in the New Jerusalem have the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, while the foundations of the city have the names of the twelve apostles. (10)

The city possesses the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.It has a massive, high wall with twelve gates, with twelve angels at the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel are written on the gates.There are three gates on the east side, three gates on the north side, three gates on the south side and three gates on the west side.The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:11–14 NET)

These elders are clothed in white clothing (Revelation 4:4). Again, a Jewish contemporary of John would have immediately understood the significance of the white robes. When the ancient high priest of Israel on Yom Kippur (i.e., the Day of Atonements) prepared to enter the Holy of Holies and the presence of God, he would change from his magnificent priestly robes;

and put on the holy (white) linen garments (1) (Leviticus 16:4).

When he withdrew from the tabernacle, he again put on the “Golden Garments” (Leviticus 16:23,24). In the presence of the people, the magnificent priestly garments were to be worn. However, in the presence of our Holy God, who is a consuming fire, a linen robe was worn. The “white raiment” in which the elders were clothed speaks elegantly of their entrance “within the veil” in the presence of God. The same significance is seen in the statement that these are the same white garments reserved for overcomers at Sardis (1):

But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. (Revelation 3:4,5 NET)

That is, overcomers will enjoy the divine presence forever!

Note these elders had “golden crowns” on their heads (Revelation 4:4). The Greek word for “crown” used here is stephanos, which means a victory crown more than the crown of a sovereign Lord, which is the Greek word transliterated as diadem. This is the same crown promised to overcomers at Smyrna (1):

‘I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may be tested, and you will experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown [stephanos] that is life itself. (Revelation 2:9–10 NET)

The crowns upon the heads of the twenty-four elders suggest that those they represent are overcomers and victorious. They are seen in their representative priestly ministry – not in sacrifice, but intercession:

and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). (Revelation 5:8 NET)

They are also seen in their priestly ministry of praise:

the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!” (Revelation 4:10–11 NET)

In summary, they are clothed in white, which symbolizes their purity; they are sitting with the Lord on their own thrones, which symbolizes their royal position as Kingdom people; and they are wearing gold crowns, which symbolize they are victors on their heads. They are constantly offering praise and worship to God and singing the new song of the redeemed. (10)

In his apocalyptic vision, John sees the believers in the seven congregations (1) receiving the promises the Son of Man gave to those who overcame (Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21; 21:7). He writes this to them to encourage them, not to “fix their sandals” (1) at the altar and statue to the emperor. If they overcome, they will receive the promised blessings. Hallelujah! (10)

The Caesars organized formal emperor worship festivals with choirs, singing, dancing, and sacrifices. It was quite a spectacle as the community expressed their loyalty and allegiance to the empire. It was a joyous festival of celebration for sure. Yet, it paled compared to the praise and worship of God’s people in Heaven. The believers in the seven congregations to whom John wrote should not feel “left out” of the worldly excitement accompanying emperor worship in their towns. If they overcame, they would have a celebration in Heaven to look forward to; it would be pure and holy and much more exciting. Plus, it would last forever. (10)

This prophetic vision was specifically for the people facing the challenge and crisis of the imperial cult of emperor worship. But his vision is certainly relevant to all of God’s people throughout history who have stood firm and resisted compromising their faith even when it meant persecution and martyrdom. As with God’s people in times past, we too were overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). This is certainly an encouraging word for believers today who live in an increasingly anti-God world. (10)

Seven Flaming Torches

From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne (Revelation 4:5 NET)

John sees the awesome and frightening power of God around His throne, which we would certainly expect from the Creator of the universe. He mentions lightning, thundering, voices (loud rumblings), and seven lamps of fire). Anyone who has ever been in a violent thunderstorm can appreciate the power and force of what John sees. It can be terrifying. In the Bible, these phenomena accompany the presence of God and symbolize His awesome power and majesty. I can guarantee the emperor did not have such an entourage surrounding him. (10)

When God revealed Himself at Mount Sinai (1), His presence was announced with thundering, lightning, a thick cloud, smoke and fire, and a long, loud, frightening blast of the shofar that got louder and louder. The whole mountain shook violently, and the people were terrified. (Exodus 19:16-19.) (10)

Throughout the Book of Revelation, these phenomena are manifested when God concludes His series of judgments. For example, when the seventh seal is opened, God announces the coming judgments with thundering, lightning, noises (rumblings), and an earthquake (Revelation 8:5). This is repeated when the seventh trumpet is sounded (Revelation 11:19). In addition to the thunderings, lightning, rumblings, and the earthquake, there is great hail. John records the same phenomena with the seventh bowl judgment and adds that the earthquake is the largest the earth has ever experienced (Revelation 16:18). (10)

Our God is awesome! No earthly ruler, no matter how much power and control he has, can compare to the greatness of our God. He alone is worthy of our awe and our praise and worship. In their arrogance, ancient emperors and Caesars and modern would-be dictators think they are in control. They laugh at God and His people. Yet they are nothing compared to our God. (10)

He will have the last laugh, as we learn in the Book of Psalms:

Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail? The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king. They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us! Let’s free ourselves from their ropes!” The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them. Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying, “I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.” The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son! This very day I have become your father! Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property. You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’ ” So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! Serve the Lord in fear! Repent in terror! Give sincere homage! Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him! (Psalm 2:1–12 NET)

For those who may be tempted to “fix their sandals” (1) before the altars of the anti-God government and world system, do not do it. The arrogant leaders of the nations of our world who seek to rule without God are neither to be feared nor admired. They are to be pitied. They come and go and only last a short time. But our God is the Ancient of Days. His days are without number, and His Kingdom is everlasting. Our God in Heaven will soon break the power of every puny dictator and foolish council of nations. They will soon bow to Him and acknowledge that our God is God and He alone is sovereign. (10)

As we also learn in Psalms:

Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him! Let all the nations worship you! For the Lord is king and rules over the nations. (Psalm 22:27–28 NET)

In addition to the natural phenomena surrounding the throne of God, John also sees seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God. In this instance, we don’t have to interpret what John means by this symbol because he tells us. He says that the seven lamps of fire are the seven Spirits of God. (10)

We cannot see the Holy Spirit unless the Spirit is embodied in some way, such as in the form of a dove (1) when Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:16) and in the tongues of fire in Acts 2:3. In John’s vision, the Holy Spirit is manifested through the seven lamps of fire. (10)

In Revelation 1:4, the seven Spirits of God send greetings to the seven congregations. In Revelation 3:1, Jesus told the believers at Sardis that He had the seven Spirits of God. In discussing these verses, I mentioned that the number seven, when connected to God, means completeness. The seven Spirits of God connect to Isaiah 11:2 and Zechariah 4:2-6. The phrase refers to the Holy Spirit or, as John would say in Hebrew, Ruach HaKodesh. (10)

The Seven Spirits of God

From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from “he who is,” and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, (Revelation 1:4 NET)(cf. Revelation 5:6)

He refers to the Holy Spirit as the “seven Spirits who are before His [God’s] throne.” Once again, seven is the number of completion or fullness. This instance refers to the perfect Holy Spirit who receives God’s Words and gives them to God’s people.

You might be saying – I thought the Holy Spirit (1) was one Spirit?   This verse in the apocalyptic book of Revelation points out that while there is one Holy Spirit, He has seven facets, characteristic manifestations, or ministries.  These characteristic ministries are stated in the Old Testament prophesy about the then-future time during Jesus’ Earthly ministry when the Holy Spirit would come upon Him in His fullness (Luke 3:21-23. Luke 4:1. John 3:34).

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2 KJV)

In the Bible, a person’s characteristics are revealed through their name.  Therefore, studying these seven names of the Holy Spirit will help us to understand Him and what He desires to accomplish in our lives.

1. Spirit of the Lord

The word Lord here is Yahweh which is often translated as Jehovah.  This name reveals that the Holy Spirit is not just God but the covenant-keeping God.  He will see to it that all the promises in the Bible are fulfilled (Exodus 34:6,7). He watches over the covenant to enforce it, explaining why the warning not to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is given (Luke 12:10). That is, to reject the Holy Spirit’s offer of being born again or saved (1) leaves nothing after death but God’s wrath in Hell (1) (John 16:7-15). Furthermore, He is the One that communicates the will of God from the Lord Jesus, the head of the church in Heaven, to the church on Earth (Acts 1:2. Acts 13:4. Acts 20:28. Romans 8:9. Colossians 1:18-20). 

2. Spirit of Wisdom

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to impart wisdom to those that receive Him.  This is evident in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8. Mark 13:11. Luke 12:11,12). A great definition of wisdom is the ability to use knowledge.

3. Spirit of Understanding

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to impart understanding to those that receive Him (1 John 5:20. Acts 1:16. Acts 4:25. Acts 28:25. 2 Peter 1:21 ). 

4. Spirit of Counsel

The Holy Spirit is the One that gives us God’s counsel in all our plans (Proverbs 3:5,6. John 14:26. Acts 13:2. Acts 15:28. Acts 16:6. Acts 20:23. Acts 21:11. 2 Corinthians 13:13).

5. Spirit of Might, Strength, or Power

The Holy Spirit is the One that gives strength or power to do the work of Jesus (Isaiah 40:31. Acts 1:8. Acts 4:8. Acts 4:31. Acts 10:38. 1 Thessalonians 1:5,6. Hebrews 2:4).

Therefore he told me, “These signify the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord who rules over all.” (Zechariah 4:6 NET)

6. Spirit of Knowledge

It is the work of the Holy Spirit to impart knowledge to those that receive Him.  This is evident in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8. Luke 2:25-30).

7. Spirit of the Fear of the Lord

The Holy Spirit teaches us to fear the Lord (Acts 9:31).  To fear the Lord is not to be afraid of God but rather have infinite respect and reverence for His holiness (Exodus 20:20). This holiness is so powerful that its proclamation shook the temple in Heaven (Isaiah 6:3,4). The love of God draws us to salvation (Romans 2:4); however, the fear of God must be added to this love for holiness to be perfected in our lives (2 Corinthians 7:1).

The Four Living Creatures

and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man’s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying. Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!” (Revelation 4:6–11 NET)

John continues to describe his prophetic vision in apocalyptic language and mentions a sea of glass before the throne of God. He says it is like crystal. He did not mean that he saw a literal sea. He was using figurative language to describe the floor in front of God’s throne. He is trying to explain the limitless splendor and riches of God in contrast to that of the emperors. (10)

When Moses, Aaron, his sons, and the 70 elders of Israel approached God on Mount Sinai, they saw something similar under the feet of God. (10)

Exodus reads:

and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself. (Exodus 24:10).

In Ezekiel’s vision of Heaven, he also mentions an expanse that he describes as:

Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads. (Ezekiel 1:22 NET)

The shape of an expanse, with a gleam like awe-inspiring crystal, was spread out over the heads of the living creatures. (Ezekiel 1:22 HCSB)

In ancient times, including the New Testament era, crystal-clear glass was rare. As a result, crystal was very expensive. The Romans considered crystal a luxury item that only the super-wealthy could afford. Of course, the emperors had crystal, but even to them, it symbolized wealth and extravagance. By saying that God’s throne sits on a sea of crystal-clear glass, John is making a big point for the believers to whom he is writing. He is saying that the throne of God far surpasses that of any earthly ruler, including the emperor. Therefore, do not “fix your sandals” before the altar to Caesar. (10)

This is certainly a word for us today. The glory of God that believers will enjoy in Heaven makes the riches of this world pale in comparison. Whatever the world can offer us in the way of material riches is not worth having if it means we must compromise or bow to the anti-God system to get it or keep it. God’s riches far surpass anything this world can offer us. He has an infinite supply of spectacular splendor waiting for us to enjoy on the other side.

John also sees four “otherworldly” beings around the throne of God. The English language translation refers to them as four living creatures or beings. Who are these strange beings, and what are they doing around the throne of God? (10)

Because John is a Jewish visionary, we find the answer in the Hebrew Bible, where we learn that God created special beings called the “host of heaven” (Neh. 9:6). We know them by their more common name, angels (1). Angels are mentioned throughout the Hebrew Bible as well as the New Testament and in all ancient cultures. (10)

God created angels before He created human beings and endowed them with supernatural abilities far beyond those He gave to humans. Angels are personal beings God created to serve Him and his people. We cannot see angels with our natural eyes unless they reveal themselves to us. Many people claim that they have seen angels. They are very active in our world; we are unaware of their presence and activities. (10)

Because God so transcends humans, it is not feasible for Him to directly reveal Himself to us unless He appears in a veiled way, as He did at Mount Sinai. In our fallen human condition, we simply cannot stand in the direct presence of our Creator. The gap between the infinite Creator and the finite creature is too great. Angels, therefore, assist God in ministering to people. When necessary, they connect Heaven to Earth as God’s messengers communicating His plans and will to mankind, executing His plans and will on the earth, announcing and carrying out His judgments, praising and worshiping God, etc. (10)

Two of the highest orders of angles mentioned in the Bible are called cherubim and seraphim. The etymology of the word cherubim is not clear. Because of their ministry in the presence of God, scholars have understood the word to mean “holiness.” We first learn about cherubim in the Garden of Eden (1), where God placed them at the entrance to prevent Adam and Eve from eating from the tree of life after they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:24). (10)

God instructed Moses to make a sculpture of two cherubim and affix them to the Ark of the Covenant where God would meet with Moses in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. God’s glory appeared between the cherubim above the mercy seat. Cherubim were also embroidered on the curtains of the tabernacle and later in the Temple. In his apocalyptic vision, Ezekiel described four living creatures similar to what John saw in his revelation (Ezekiel 1 and Ezekiel 10). (10)

Considering all the references to cherubim, they are the living “Chariots of God” carrying Him when He appears to humans. They serve as guardians of God’s throne and His presence. Of course, God does not need any special beings to guard His throne or presence, but He has created cherubim for this purpose so He can connect with human beings.

The word seraphim is derived from a Hebrew word, saraph, which means “to burn or burning ones.”

Isaiah said:

In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe [glory] filled the temple. Seraphs [seraphim] stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and they used the remaining two to fly. They called out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1–4 NET).

Isaiah’s description of the seraphim is similar to the four living creatures John describes. John says that each living creature has six wings and is full of eyes. One has the face of a lion, one the face of a calf, one the face of a man, and one the face of a flying eagle. (10)

It would be easy to speculate at length on the meaning of the symbolism of their appearance (their faces and wings), but the important consideration is the function of the seraphim. In Hebraic thinking, function is more important than form. So what is their function? Their sole purpose is to glorify God through continuous praise and worship. They are God’s praise and worship leaders in Heaven. Along with the cherubim, they are God’s highest order of angels who lead all of Heaven in glorifying God for His greatness as expressed in the beauty of His holiness. (10)

While the English translation of words is slightly different, their worship is basically the same as what Isaiah saw and heard in his vision. We are blessed that John records this heavenly worship for us:

Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming. (Revelation 4:8 NET)

In a deeply moving song she copyrighted in 1986, Elisheva Shomron put these powerful words to music. Below are the Hebrew lyrics with the English translation in brackets: (10)

Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh [Holy, holy, holy],
 Adonai Elohim Tz’va’ot [Lord God of Hosts]…
 Asher hayah [who was]
 V’hoveh [and who is]
 V’ yavo [and who is to come]

This awesome worship of God continues with the seraphim giving glory and honor and thanks to the Lord. The 24 elders watching all of this cannot simply be idle observers. They fall on their faces before God, cast their crowns before His throne, and declare: (10)

Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11 NET)

May we do the same as we contemplate the greatness of our Father in Heaven. (10)

Whenever the Roman emperor would begin his procession in a parade of triumph, the crowds would line the streets and greet him, saying, “You are worthy.” The Roman Emperor Domitian added the phrase “our Lord and God” to the greeting.

In our current passage, John encourages the believers faced with emperor worship to recognize that God alone is worthy. He alone is the Lord God. He alone has created everything and sustains everything by the Word of His power. No Roman emperor ever created anything out of nothing. They are born, they live, and they die. But the Lord God Almighty created everything by the power of His spoken Word. He alone transcends time and space. He was, He is, and He is to come (Revelation 4:8). Hallelujah! (10)

The Caesars of Rome and the arrogant leaders of our world today are nothing compared to the Creator of the universe. In light of this glorious heavenly vision, believers should not bow to the anti-God governments and leaders of our world. The One True God will soon pour out His judgments on them until they bow to Him. (10)

When John says that the 24 elders cast their crowns before the throne, he is using symbolic language to say that they are acknowledging that God alone is worthy of their praise and worship. Because of God’s greatness and goodness, His power, His grace, and His mercy, they were able to overcome. May we do the same! (10)

ACT I: The Chronological Revelation of the End Times Commences

Period V: The 70th Week of Daniel

Events during the 70th Week of Daniel Expanded

The Scroll

Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals.And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, (Revelation 5:1–7 NET)

As John looks closer, he sees the Almighty God, Creator of the universe, holding a scroll in His right hand. The scroll is written inside and on the back and is sealed with seven seals. What is this seven-sealed scroll, and why does God have it in His right hand? (10)

In ancient times, people wrote on parchment and scrolls. In our study of God’s prophetic message to the believers at Pergamos (1), we learned that parchment was first developed at Pergamos, from which the word parchment is derived. Parchment was made from animal skins, particularly the skins of sheep and goats. We learn in the apostle Paul’s letter to Timothy that he used parchment (Timothy 4:13). (10)

Scrolls were primarily written on papyrus which was a paper-like material made from reeds from the Nile delta in Egypt. The books Paul mentioned to Timothy were probably papyrus scrolls. We learn in the Hebrew Bible that the prophets often wrote their messages and visions on a scroll (Jeremiah 36; Ezekiel 2; Isaiah 29; Daniel 12). (10)

Because of the way that papyrus material was made, it was easier for people to write only on one side of the scroll. When necessary, they went to the extra trouble to write on both sides. For example, when God gave His words to Ezekiel, He had written on both sides of the scroll. (10)

Ezekiel writes:

Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll. He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front and back; written on it were laments, mourning, and woe. Ezekiel 2:9-10).

From this verse in Ezekiel, we learn that the scroll in Revelation was not the first time that God had written an important message on a scroll. (10)

If the contents of a scroll were to be read only by an authorized person, the writer would seal the scroll to keep its contents private. Only the authorized person could loose the seals and open the scroll. We see an example of this in Isaiah, which reads:

To you this entire prophetic revelation is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read and say, “Read this,” he responds, “I can’t, because it is sealed.” (Isaiah 29:11).

When Daniel struggled to understand his prophetic vision, the Lord sent an angel to explain its meaning. (10)

The angel said to Daniel:

Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to future days.” (Daniel 10:14 NET).

Then the angel said:

But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4 NET).

The angel repeated himself to Daniel:

He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. (Daniel 12:9 NET).

Whenever a scroll was sealed, people knew that the document had not been opened and that the contents written in the document had been kept confidential. Again, only the authorized person could loose the seals, open the document and read the contents. (10)

In the Bible, the right hand symbolizes power and authority. For example, Psalm 98 is a song of victory and praise to God for His salvation and judgment. It begins with this exuberant praise: (10)

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he performs amazing deeds! His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance. (Psalm 98:1 NET).

The Lord gives the following word of assurance to His people:

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you— yes, I help you— yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand! (Isaiah 41:10 NET).

The fact that God has this scroll in His right hand is John’s way of symbolically saying that God Himself wrote the contents of the scroll. As the Creator of the universe, He can give the scroll to whomever He pleases. (10)

The Lamb is Worthy

and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints).They were singing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand—thousands times thousands—all of whom were singing in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!” And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped. (Revelation 5:8–14 NET)

When Jesus took the scroll, Heaven and Earth began a spontaneous chorus of praise and worship to God and the Lamb. The sounds of creation singing a new song of redemption filled Heaven and Earth. Nothing Rome or the Caesars could orchestrate could compare to the exaltation John saw and heard. Caesar is dead; Jesus lives! (10)

It began with those nearest the throne. The four powerful angels and the 24 elders started this heavenly worship by bowing before the Lamb. Each had a harp in one hand and a golden bowl of incense in the other. The harp symbolized their praise and worship, while the bowl of incense symbolized the prayers of God’s people (Psalms. 141:2; 150:3). (10)

John writes:

They were singing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10 NET).

Jesus is worthy because He has redeemed us. In biblical times, God established that a slave could be redeemed or set free by one worthy to purchase his freedom. But one had to qualify to be a redeemer.

In biblical times there were five requirements to be a redeemer. Only when these five requirements were met was one considered a worthy redeemer. (10)

1. The person had to be a near kinsman. In other words, he had to be the nearest kin family member.
2. The person had to be willing to redeem the slave. He could not be made to redeem the one in bondage.
3. The person had to be able to redeem the slave. This means there could be no technicalities that would disqualify the person as a redeemer.
4. The person had to be a freeman. A slave could not redeem a slave.
5. The potential redeemer had to have the money or price required to redeem the slave. (10)

This is the story of Ruth and Boaz, as recorded in the Book of Ruth, particularly in chapter 4.

Jesus is worthy to take the scroll, open the seals, and redeem us because He is the only one that has met all of the requirements to be a redeemer. Even though we do not like to acknowledge it, we are all subject to sin, satanic temptations, and the fear of death. Christians call this a sin nature. In Hebrew, Jews call it the yester hara (evil inclination). Whatever you choose to call it, this is the universal human condition. God’s judgment for this condition is separation from Him, what the Bible calls death. We need to be redeemed or set free. But since we are all sinners, there is none among us who can save us. Even God cannot save us from Heaven. According to His requirements, God would have to become one of us to redeem us. (10)

And this is exactly what God did for us. As God in human flesh, Jesus was one of us, a nearest kin member of the human race. He willingly gave His life for us. He could have called for thousands of angels to come and rescue Him (Matthew 26:53), but He did not. He was born to die in our place. Jesus was able to redeem us because He was without sin. Therefore, He could take our place as the innocent substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Because Jesus was perfectly righteous, neither sin, Satan, nor death had claims on Him. Therefore, He was free to redeem us. And finally, Jesus was able to pay the price for our redemption. That price was His own pure blood which He shed for us. (10)

Peter says it this way:

…You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:18–21).

Whereas most religions have an ethno-centered focus on one particular group of people, Jesus has made redemption available for “whosoever will.” His offer of redemption is not just for a certain people group; it is for everyone who will call upon His name. (10)

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13 NET). 

He has redeemed us out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Hallelujah! This was predicted in the Book of Psalms, which tells us: (10)

Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord! Praise his name! Announce every day how he delivers! Tell the nations about his splendor! Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds! (Psalm 96:1-3 NET).

The glorious Son of Man has not only redeemed His people, but He has also made us His royal priests on the earth. This was God’s promise to the Hebrews when He brought them out of Egypt. (10)

He said:

And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5-6).

While the Jewish people often failed to keep God’s covenant, as do believers today, Jesus was the one Jewish man who perfectly kept the covenant with His Father in Heaven. Jesus is the perfect Jew and the perfect human. Through our identification with Him, believers from all ethnic backgrounds and nations have the promise of ruling with Him both now and at His coming as His priests and a light to all nations. (10)

While Christian believers have not replaced the Jewish people in God’s eternal covenant, Jesus has brought us into that covenant by redeeming us and making us His own people. (10)

As Peter writes:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Rome is no more, and the Caesars are dead. God will judge the nations of our world and all the would-be Caesars of our day. But the people of God will live forever in God’s glorious Kingdom on earth. Therefore, don’t “fix your sandals” before the Emperor or the anti-God governments of our world. They are nothing compared to the exalted Son of Man and the glorious destiny He has for His people. (10)

Now when the angels of Heaven saw and heard the first chorus of worship, they too joined their voices with those nearest the throne. They said with a loud voice, (10)

“…all of whom were singing in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12 NET).

John says the number of the angels shouting their worship to God was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands. Wow! Literally, these phrases could be translated as “myriad upon myriad,” which means a number too great to count. It is John saying that all the angels of Heaven, too many to count, all at the same time, shouted their praise and worship to the Lamb. We can’t imagine such a noise. All of Heaven was filled with angelic shouts to the Lord. It should take our breath away just to contemplate this. (10)

Daniel saw this scene in a vision and said:

“While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His attire was white like snow; the hair of his head was like lamb’s wool. His throne was ablaze with fire and its wheels were all aflame. A river of fire was streaming forth and proceeding from his presence. Many thousands were ministering to him; Many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him. The court convened and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9,10 NET).

In John’s vision, the angels shout a sevenfold honor to the Lamb, similar to the praise and worship David offered to the God of Israel: (10)

…David praised the Lord before the entire assembly: “O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore! O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:10-12).

Because Jesus was faithful to His destiny, God the Father has chosen to share His glory with His Son. We can understand this at the human level. Fathers love to honor their children who uphold the family name, or as we would say, “make him proud.” Jesus made His Father in Heaven proud. As a result, God has honored His Son, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. (10)

Finally, John hears all of the creation join in the glorious praise and worship of God and the Lamb:

…Then I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13 NET).

This is the fulfillment of Paul’s words:

As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NET).

With all of Heaven and Earth giving glory to God, the four special angels and the 24 elders join in the worship:

And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped. (Revelation 5:14 NET).

May we who are called by His name do the same. May we join the heavenly hosts in unfettered praise and worship to our God. May we, the holy, royal priests of God on the earth, continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Amen!

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. (Hebrews 13:15 NET)

What is this Scroll?

The scroll is the “Scroll of Authority,” which is the original title deed to rule planet Earth given to the first Adam by God. This scroll stated that man was to be the ruler over Earth but only for a finite time. God sealed it with seven seals so the scroll contents could not be altered.

The first Adam, the original ruler of Earth, made a legal covenant with Satan (1) by eating from the forbidden Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – the original sin. Consequently, God being JUST, must honor this covenant, thus giving Satan man’s authority to rule (i.e., the right to use his archangel power) in the WORLD system he has built on Earth.

 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (1 John 5:19 NET)

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power55 [authority in the domain] of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:17–18 NET)

And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest … (Ephesians 2:1–3 NET)

I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, (John 14:30 NET)

He has this right for the time specified originally to the first Adam in the Scroll of Authority (1).

When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way. They cried out, “Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29 NET)

Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!” (Revelation 12:12 NET)

Realize covenants contain blessings for those keeping the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:1-14 )and curses for those breaking the covenant (cf. Deuteronomy 15-68). However, Satan’s blessings for those that keep this covenant are various levels of cruelty (Proverbs 12:10).

A righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10 NET)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. (John 10:10 NET)

Furthermore, Satan placed curses on the original seals of the Scroll of Authority so that any attempt to open the scroll to break the covenant with Satan would release the curses. Satan then hid it where he thought no man could retrieve it – in the Abyss of Hades. He did this in an attempt to maintain his rule on planet Earth beyond the terms of the Scroll of Authority (i.e., indefinitely).

However, it seems Satan did not consider that God would become Man (1). (John 1:1,14) Jesus not only took our sin to the Abyss (1) for eternal storage but, upon leaving (1), retrieved the Scroll of Authority and gave it to God His (and our!) Father upon His ascension. By taking the Scroll of Authority, He restored the right to rule planet Earth to a man – the Son of Man, Jesus the Messiah, who is God (Matthew 28:18, Revelation 1:18).

When the Scroll of Authority is revealed to those in Heaven (i.e., to those that had accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior (1) from both the Old and New Covenants (2) and have died), no one in Heaven on Earth or in Hades was found worthy to open its seals (Revelation 5:2-4). Then the Lamb of God who took away the world’s sin appears – the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! (Revelation 5:5-7. John 1:29. 1 John 2:2). Jesus the Messiah alone is the sinless God-Man that has the authority to open the seals – an authority He purchased with His own blood (Revelation 5:9-14. Isaiah 28:15-18). Jesus, who came in the flesh, is Lord! (1 John 4:2,3. 1 Corinthians 8:6. 1 Corinthians 12:3) Now when the lease terms are revealed by opening the scroll – and then satisfied – Satan could be evicted from His position as God of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4). Why not evict Satan sooner? I am glad you asked!

Again, the problem is Satan’s curses on the scroll’s seals. Satan designed the curses such that the opening of each seal would release a destructive curse upon the creature that God loved and wanted to rescue – mankind! This was Satan’s backup plan to keep the terms of the lease from being revealed and fulfilled, thus an attempt to ensure his rule over his world system indefinitely.

Consequently, God made way for those that by faith have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior to escape God’s WRATH even as those in Noah’s ark escaped the flood’s destruction (1 Peter 3:20). That is, the Body of Christ (aka, the Bride of Christ or the Church) is figuratively God’s Ark to preserve mankind living on planet Earth before the time comes to open the last Scroll’s Seal which results in initiating the trumpet and bowl judgments of Gods Wrath. All who accept God’s MERCY by entering the Ark (i.e., accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior) will be saved from the release of God’s WRATH during this time known as the “Day of the Lord.” That is, believers will be translated (1) immediately to Heaven to join the rest of those that have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior (1) before they fell asleep (i.e., died) in both the Old and New Covenant periods (2) (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 1 Thessalonians 5:9. Matthew 24:21. 2 Corinthians 5:8).

Again, believers are taken (raptured) to Heaven during the interval or pause before the Seventh, and the last Seal of the Scroll of Authority is opened (Revelation 7:9-17).

In addition, God will have angels seal and reserve 144,000 “elect of Israel” who will go through the Day of the Lord and not bow their knees to the Antichrist. Antichrist means “against Christ” and “in place of Christ.”

This means that what Satan meant for a curse on all mankind becomes an instrument or tool for divine judgment of WRATH on those that have refused the greater MERCY freely made available to all.

Nevertheless, those who call upon the Lord can still be saved during this period of God’s Wrath (Revelation 7:13,14). Why? Because MERCY triumphs over JUDGMENT, and God’s MERCY is FOREVER! (James 2:13. Psalms 136) Nevertheless, not many will turn to the Lord during this time and be eternally destroyed (Revelation 9:20,21. Revelation 16:9-11. Revelation 20:11-15).

So, how can a good God that is GRACE, MERCY, and COMPASSION pass JUDGMENT for destruction?

Because His Great MERCY is extended to all equally, and He waits patiently for all to accept it (Matthew 5:45. 2 Peter 3:9). However, when the point is reached that a person or persons by an act of their will decide to never change from serving evil (Satan) to serving good (God), then the only thing left is a JUDGMENT of WRATH that will keep them from affecting the MERCY to be received by those that have chosen to serve God. That is, the MERCY for the future of those that have chosen to serve God trumps the present MERCY extended to all resulting in the removal and incarceration of those that have chosen to serve evil.

If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the Lord’s majesty revealed. (Isaiah 26:10 NET)

The wicked have no chance for deliverance, for they do not seek your statutes. (Psalm 119:155 NET)

Remember, refusal of the greater MERCY leaves only the WRATH. (1)

The Beginning of Birth Pains

Introduction from Daniel’s Vision

“Then the king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every deity and he will utter presumptuous things against the God of gods. He will succeed until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must occur. He will not respect the gods of his fathers—not even the god loved by women. He will not respect any god; he will elevate himself above them all. What he will honor is a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not acknowledge he will honor with gold, silver, valuable stones, and treasured commodities. He will attack mighty fortresses, aided by a foreign deity. To those who recognize him he will grant considerable honor. He will place them in authority over many people, and he will parcel out land for a price. “At the time of the end the king of the south will attack him. Then the king of the north will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and a large armada of ships. He will invade lands, passing through them like an overflowing river. Then he will enter the beautiful land. Many will fall, but these will escape: Edom, Moab, and the Ammonite leadership. He will extend his power against other lands; the land of Egypt will not escape. He will have control over the hidden stores of gold and silver, as well as all the treasures of Egypt. Libyans and Ethiopians will submit to him. But reports will trouble him from the east and north, and he will set out in a tremendous rage to destroy and wipe out many. He will pitch his royal tents between the seas toward the beautiful holy mountain. But he will come to his end, with no one to help him. (Daniel 11:36–45 NET)

The Opening of the First Four Scroll Seals

Jesus referred to the opening of Seals 1-4 as the “Beginning of Birth Pains.”

All these things are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:8 NET)

These are but the beginning of birth pains. (Mark 13:8 d NET)

Beginning birth pains come and go to announce that birth is coming soon, but not yet.

The breaking of the first four seals releases what has been referred to as the “Four Horseman of the Apocalypse.” While scholars have speculated on what the first-century believers understood these to be, we don’t know what they believed. What we do know is that each horse is a different color and the color symbolizes the reality of its judgment on the earth.

The First Scroll Seal (The AntiChrist and false Christs)

I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, “Come!” So I looked, and here came a white horse! The one who rode it had a bow, and he was given a crown, and as a conqueror he rode out to conquer. (Revelation 6:1–2 NET)

Jesus’ parallel prophecy of His opening of the First Scroll Seal:

Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many. (Matthew 24:4–5 NET)

Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many. (Mark 13:5–6 NET)

He said, “Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them! (Luke 21:8 NET)

Note in verse one the role of Jesus in opening the seals. While He returns to Earth as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (the King and Ruler over the nations), He opens the seals as the Lamb. It is His role as the Lamb of God that makes Him authorized and worthy to open the seals and reveal Satan’s curses on the earth.

When Jesus was first on the earth, Satan offered Him all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would bypass the cross and worship satan. Jesus rebuked satan and said:

Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs. (Matthew 4:10–11 NET)

Because Jesus was faithful to His mission to give His life for our sins, God gave Him the kingdoms of this world. Jesus didn’t give in to the temptation. Because He was obedient even to the point of dying for us, God has exalted Him to the highest honor. (10)

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow —in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5–11 NET)

It is the same with God’s people today. As the world’s governments become increasingly anti-God, we, too, will be tempted to compromise to avoid suffering. May we, like Jesus, resist this temptation. May we have the conviction and courage to put God first in our lives, knowing He will honor us with victory over the enemy. (10)

Paul encourages us with these words:

For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 NET).

And let the people of God say, “Amen!” and not “Oh, my!”

In the opening verses of Revelation 6, one of the four special angels calls to John. His voice is so powerful that John says it is like thunder. Imagine someone’s voice being so loud it sounds like thunder. (10)

When it was time for the citizens of Roman territories to bow down to their emperor, one of the emperor’s worship leaders would call the people to worship. I can guarantee you that his voice did not sound like thunder. (10)

The glory and the worship of the Almighty, and those speaking for Him, far surpass the puny grandeur of emperors. The self-exalting pomp and ceremony of emperor worship cannot compare to the splendor of Heaven. People who have traveled to Europe can see with their eyes that ancient Rome is in ruins. Yet, we can see in the Book of Revelation that God’s city prepared for His people is eternal. The Roman Empire has been relegated to the dustbins of history, but the Kingdom of God is forever. Modern-day “would-be Caesars” will fail. Whatever glory they may achieve will be short-lived, but Jesus is Lord forever! Hallelujah!

Paul would remind us:

For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NET).

This thundering voice calls to the horseman:

I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, “Come!” (Revelation 6:1 NET)

This invitation command to “Come” is repeated for seals two, three, and four to each of the horsemen. (11)

The breaking of the first four seals releases what has been referred to as the “Four Horseman of the Apocalypse.” While scholars have speculated on what the first-century believers understood these to be, we do not know what they believed. (10)

What we do know is that each horse is a different color and the color symbolizes the reality of its curse released on the earth.

The prophet Zechariah also had a vision in which he saw colored horses in a different setting from what John saw.

I was attentive that night and saw a man seated on a red horse that stood among some myrtle trees in the ravine. Behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. (Zechariah 1:8 NET)

The first rider John sees is on a white horse. A rider on a white horse is the oriental symbol of a conqueror. So the white horse is a symbol of victory. This rider has a bow and a crown but no arrows. The Greek word for “crown” used here is stephanos, which means a victory crown more than the crown of a sovereign Lord, which is the Greek word transliterated as diadem. This is not a king but a political leader. The mention that the bow and the crown are given to him rather than taken by him could suggest that the world powers willingly accept him as their leader. (10)

Our best interpretation of this rider and the white horse is that he is the last of the many false messiahs that Jesus warned about who will deceive the nonbelieving world. He is known as the antichrist or anti-Messiah who will appear on the scene at the end of days and whose appearance begins the time of tribulation Jesus outlined. Jesus said this would be a time of great lawlessness and deception.

The apostle Paul calls this false messiah “the lawless one” who is empowered by satan to deceive the people of the world:

Because our world conditions are so chaotic, it is easy to see nations would be willing to relinquish their national sovereignty to a charismatic world leader who would promise peace and prosperity. The Bible indicates that there will be a false “world peace,” a deception. (10)

This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have seen nothing! Your prophets have become like jackals among the ruins, O Israel. You have not gone up in the breaks in the wall, nor repaired a wall for the house of Israel that it would stand strong in the battle on the day of the Lord. They see delusion and their omens are a lie. They say, “the Lord declares,” though the Lord has not sent them; yet they expect their word to be confirmed. Have you not seen a false vision and announced a lying omen when you say, “the Lord declares,” although I myself never spoke? “ ‘Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Because you have spoken false words and forecast delusion, look, I am against you, declares the sovereign Lord. My hand will be against the prophets who see delusion and announce lying omens. They will not be included in the council of my people, nor be written in the registry of the house of Israel, nor enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the sovereign LORD. “ ‘This is because they have led my people astray saying, “All is well,” when things are not well. When anyone builds a wall without mortar, they coat it with whitewash. (Ezekiel 13:3–8 NET)

“ ‘This is because they have led my people astray saying, “All is well,” when things are not well. When anyone builds a wall without mortar, they coat it with whitewash. (Ezekiel 13:10 NET)

They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, ‘Everything will be all right!’ But everything is not all right! (Jeremiah 6:14 NET)

They offer only superficial help for the hurt my dear people have suffered. They say, “Everything will be all right!” But everything is not all right! (Jeremiah 8:11 NET)

It is a false promise which will only lead to war, famine, disease, and suffering on a scale the world has never known. This is made clear in the opening of the next seals. (10)

The apostle Paul wrote these words:

While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3 NET)

Because world leaders will reject the rule of the One True God, the Lord will allow them to believe and accept the lying deceptions of a false messiah. That is a just judgment. If people do not accept the truth, they will believe a lie. (10)

The Rise of the AntiChrist as the friend of Humanity

The AntiChrist will be a “composite” man. One who embraces in his character the abilities and powers of Nebuchadnezzar, Xerxes, Alexander the Great, and Caesar Augustus. He will have the marvelous gift of attracting unregenerate men and the irresistible fascination of his personality, his versatile attainments, superhuman wisdom, great administrative and executive ability, along with his powers as a consummate flatterer, a brilliant diplomatist, a superb strategist, will make him the most conspicuous and prominent of men. All these gifts will be conferred on him by Satan, whose tool he will be and who will thus make him — Superman. He will pose as a great humanitarian, the friend of men, and the special friend of the Jewish race, whom he will persuade that he has come to usher in the “Golden Age” as pictured by the prophets and who will receive him as their Messiah. He will intoxicate men with a strong delusion and his never varying success. And when he shall be slain and rise again, he will have lost none of these powers but will also be the embodiment of all kinds of wickedness and blasphemy.” (8)

He will likely be the political leader of the New World Order that the globalist organizations of our day want to establish. Since the United States is the last great superpower, the globalist leaders have worked behind the scenes for decades to weaken the sovereignty of America so it will join the New World Order League of Nations. We would have to be blind not to see this happening before our eyes. To dismiss this as the rantings of conspiracy theory kooks is to live in denial. It is certainly possible that America will soon become a third-world country. (10)

The three most powerful globalist organizations are the Bilderbergers, the Trilateral Commission, and the Council on Foreign Relations. Their members make up most of the elite American leaders in politics, the media, education, and banking and finance. With America’s financial institutions failing, they believe they are on the verge of achieving their goal. (10)

The Antichrist will deceive the lost people of the world

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24 NET)

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival. The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned. (2 Thessalonians 2:3–12 NET)

The Antichrist in Prophecy

“After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared—one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns. “As I was contemplating the horns, another horn—a small one—came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things. (Daniel 7:7,8 NET)

“This is what he told me: ‘The fourth beast means that there will be a fourth kingdom on earth that will differ from all the other kingdoms. It will devour all the earth and will trample and crush it. The ten horns mean that ten kings will arise from that kingdom. Another king will arise after them, but he will be different from the earlier ones. He will humiliate three kings. He will speak words against the Most High. He will harass the holy ones of the Most High continually. His intention will be to change times established by law. They will be delivered into his hand For a time, times, and half a time. (Daniel 7:23–25 NET)

The male goat acted even more arrogantly. But no sooner had the large horn become strong than it was broken, and there arose four conspicuous horns in its place, extending toward the four winds of the sky. From one of them came a small horn. But it grew to be very big, toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. It grew so big it reached the army of heaven, and it brought about the fall of some of the army and some of the stars to the ground, where it trampled them. It also acted arrogantly against the Prince of the army, from whom the daily sacrifice was removed and whose sanctuary was thrown down. The army was given over, along with the daily sacrifice, in the course of his sinful rebellion. It hurled truth to the ground and enjoyed success. (Daniel 8:8–12 NET)

Toward the end of their rule, when rebellious acts are complete, a rash and deceitful king will arise. His power will be great, but it will not be by his strength alone. He will cause terrible destruction. He will be successful in what he undertakes. He will destroy powerful people and the people of the holy ones. By his treachery he will succeed through deceit. He will have an arrogant attitude, and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes. He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart—but not by human agency. (Daniel 8:23–25 NET)

The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12–13 NET)

Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour... Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.  (1 John 2:18,22,23 NET)

The rider of this white horse may also be the “Beast From the Sea” described in Revelation 13:1-10.

The Second Scroll Seal (Wars)

And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sits on it, it was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him. (Revelation 6:3–4 NET)

Jesus’ parallel prophecy of His opening of the Second Scroll Seal:

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... (Matthew 24:6–7 a)

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom... (Mark 13:7–8 a NET)

And when you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be afraid. For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (Luke 21:9–10 NET)

When the exalted Lamb of God opens the second seal, the second powerful angel, or living creature, beckons John to “Come and see.” This time, John sees a fiery red horse. John says three things about the rider of this horse: he takes peace from the earth, he causes people to kill one another, and he is given a great sword. From this, we understand that the red horse symbolizes war. (10)

Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars, and nations and kingdoms would fight each other. While His prediction has certainly proven true in history, the rider of this horse will cause wars in the last days that will escalate into a worldwide war and the final Battle of Armageddon. (10)

1. Evil in men’s hearts to want to rule over themselves apart from God.

Why do the nations rage And the peoples meditate on a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against Yahweh and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord mocks them. Then He speaks to them in His anger And terrifies them in His fury, saying, “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”(Psalm 2:1-6 NET).

2. Evil in men’s hearts to want to conquer their neighbors. God has appointed boundaries for the nations, as we learn in Deuteronomy:

“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the sons of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:8 NET).

How interesting that God set the boundaries of the nations in relation to the covenant land He promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When nations seek to expand their borders beyond what God has allotted to them, wars are the result.

3. The nations’ desire to destroy the reborn state of Israel. One of the major themes of the Bible is that God will bring the Jewish people back to their ancient land in the end times in fulfillment of prophecy. Of the many Scriptures that speak of this subject, probably the most famous is the Valley of Dry Bones in the Book of Ezekiel:

“And speak to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; (Ezekiel 37:21).

The anti-Semitic leaders of our world hate God, hate the Jews and Israel. They also hate Bible-believing Christians. They constantly make their anti-Israel resolutions through the hate-filled, Arab-dominated United Nations. I believe this demon-inspired animosity will eventually cause a series of wars culminating in Armageddon. (10)

The next war between the Arabs and Israel may not be contained to the Middle East. It may bring all the nations into war. Ezekiel writes about a confederation of nations coming from the north (north of Jerusalem) in the latter days to attack Israel (Ezekiel 38-39.) The writer of Psalm 83 tells about an Arab confederacy that seeks, in current-day verbiage, to “wipe Israel off the face of the earth.” (10)

While previous Arab dictators care nothing about their people, they have kept radical groups in check. But with the leadership changes taking place in Arab countries, it is most likely that radical Islamic groups (e.g., the Muslim Brotherhood) will come to power. They do not recognize the legitimacy of Israel and will do everything they can to fight Israel. Ironically, the U.S. government naively recognizes the legitimacy of the Muslim Brotherhood. This will further bring God’s judgment on America.

Furthermore, immense gas fields have been discovered in the Mediterranean off the coast of Haifa. It is estimated that there is enough gas for Israel to become completely self-sufficient and a major gas exporter for decades. It is also believed that there are huge oil fields located beneath the gas fields. God is blessing Israel with these natural resources because the time to favor Zion has come (see Psalm 102). However, all these discoveries will certainly tempt Israel’s enemies to attack Israel so they can get their wealth. This is all written in the Bible. (10)

A day of the LORD is about to come when your possessions will be divided as plunder in your midst. Indeed, I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished, and half of the city will go forth in exile, but those left of the people will not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:1,2).

Zechariah further explains Israel’s eventual plight:

“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples all around. Now the one in siege against Jerusalem will also be against Judah. “But it will be in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who heave it up will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:2-3 NET).

The Third Scroll Seal (Famine)

And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” Then I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “One choinix of wheat for one denarius, and three choinix of barley for one denarius, and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5–6 NET)

Jesus’ parallel prophecy of His opening of the Third Scroll Seal:

...And there will be famines...  (Matthew 24:7 b)

 ...and there will be famines...  (Mark 13:8 c NET)

There will be... famines... (Luke 21:11 b NET)

When the exalted Son of Man, the Lamb of God, opens the third seal, the third powerful angel, or living creature, also beckons John to “Come and see.” This time, John sees a black horse. The rider has a pair of scales in his hand with which he measures wheat and barley for payment. The rider is told not to disturb the oil and the wine. From this description, we understand that the black horse probably symbolizes hyperinflation and famine, which are the natural results of war. (10)

In ancient times, when merchants wanted to sell their products, they brought them in bulk to the shuk, the outdoor marketplace. The shuk is much like a farmers’ market today. Instead of nice fancy packaging marked with the price, the merchant offered his grains and herbs and spices and other dry goods such as nuts, dates, figs, etc., loose in bins. If you wanted to know how much the merchant was selling his product for, he would weigh the product on his scale with the produce in one balance and the weight in the other. He would then tell you how much you would have to pay to buy the produce. (10)

Our modern-day shuks (grocery stores) have their own hi-tech version of this ancient form of buying and selling. Stores assign numbers to different produce items. Customers then select these items, place them on the store scale, and punch in the assigned numbers. The computer compares the weight of the produce to the price and prints out a price sticker. The sticker saves time during checkout because the price is already on the bag. (10)

John was writing to people who were used to this marketplace buying and selling. He heard a voice from among the four living creatures calling out the price of the produce. In the vision, the produce items were bread and oil, and wine. These were the staples of people living in Bible times. The vision revealed that they would have to pay more than normal for basic, everyday food items. (10)

Wheat was considered a better grain than barley, so it was more expensive. When John received this revelation, a denarius was a Roman silver coin about the size of a dime equal to a day’s wage. The shopper would have to pay a denarius just to buy one quart of wheat, the amount of bread a person would consume in one meal. He could buy three quarts of barley for a denarius which would enable him to have three meals for the day. (10)

This means the shopper would have to work all day just to buy enough bread for one person. It did not cover the wife and kids. This price was ten to fifteen times the normal price of the produce. That meant working all day just to buy a loaf of bread and nothing else—no oil or wine. The economic condition in which prices exceed the product’s value is hyperinflation. (10)

Simply put, hyperinflation is caused when the government prints an excessive money supply without a comparable increase in goods and services. This results in an imbalance in the supply and demand for money. As the government prints more money, it has less value (purchasing power). It doesn’t take long before other governments, and the citizens lose confidence in the currency. The government panics and prints more money which means it takes even more to purchase the same goods and services. Then at a certain point, the currency becomes worthless. (10)

To give you some examples of how bad this can be, in Germany in 1923, the highest monthly inflation rate was 29,500 percent. This amounted to daily inflation of 20.9 percent. Prices doubled in 3.7 days. In Hungary in 1946, the highest daily inflation rate was 207 percent. Prices doubled every 15 hours. In Zimbabwe in 2008, the highest daily inflation rate was 98 percent. Prices doubled in 24.7 hours. This information is readily available by researching articles on hyperinflation’s impact on nations. (10)

If the United States government continues to print money with no comparable increase in goods and services, this could easily cause a massive devaluation of the U.S. dollar and a further weakening of the U.S. economy. This could cause other governments to lose confidence in the dollar as the currency of choice. If this monetary policy is coupled with war, it could certainly create hyperinflation.

Think about what you would have to pay for basic food items if the price doubled daily. On Monday, the price for a loaf of bread might be $3.00. On Tuesday, it would be $6.00. By Sunday, the price of a loaf of bread would be $192.00. This is more than a day’s wage for most folks. This is a very real possibility for the U.S. (10)

In addition to hyperinflation, the U.S. could easily experience severe economic depression. This is the opposite of hyperinflation. In a time of economic depression, prices go down. While it might seem good to see prices go down, in an economic depression, they go down in an out-of-control spiral as sharp as the upward movement seen in hyperinflation. Since people anticipate that prices will go down, they postpone buying until the prices are lower. The result is that companies cannot sell their products and services at a profit. When companies cannot sell their products and services at a profit, they stop buying from their vendors, curtail their business operations, and terminate employees. Even though prices for goods and services are lower, few people can buy anything because most don’t have jobs. (10)

The worst-case scenario is what economists call stagflation. Stagflation is the perfect economic storm. This situation combines the worse features of inflation and depression. In this situation, prices for goods and services continue to rise even as economic depression causes millions of people to lose their jobs. As God continues to judge American materialism and greed, the U.S. will certainly experience some measure of hyperinflation, depression, and stagflation. The wealth of the middle class will be completely destroyed. Only God’s people who have been obedient to Him and good stewards of His resources will survive the economic catastrophe that I believe is coming to America. Those who have ears, let them hear! (10)

The Fourth Scroll Seal (Disease and Death)

And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” Then I looked, and behold, a pale horse; and he who sits on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7–8 NET)

Jesus’ parallel prophecy of His opening of the Fourth Scroll Seal:

There will be...  plagues in various places... (Luke 21:11 c NET)

When Jesus opened the fourth seal, the fourth living creature called John to “Come and see.” This time John saw a pale horse. The general interpretation is that the color is a ghastly pale green. John learns that the name of the rider of this horse is Death and Hades. Since death represents the physical grave and Hades the abode of dead souls, they are considered one and the same. John hears the unthinkable: that Death and Hades were given power over a fourth of the population of the earth to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. (10)

In the Hebrew Bible, we learn that the Lord pronounced similar judgments when His people continued to reject Him. The Lord spoke through Ezekiel and said that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, He would not spare His judgment on the people. But God also said He would leave a remnant who would survive and turn to Him. (Ezekiel 14:12-22.) (10)

The natural results of war and famine are plagues, disease, and death. Tragically, throughout history, whenever there have been major wars, people suffered in these ways. Many who survived the wars died of building collapses, fires, floods, starvation, crowded living conditions, poor sanitation, contaminated water supplies, exposure to the elements, and the spreading of diseases such as typhoid and cholera. (10)

Now that we have weapons of mass destruction, it is easy to understand how nuclear weapons, along with biological and chemical warfare, could destroy a fourth of the earth’s population. With a world population will reach 8 billion people on November 15, 2022, this would mean more than 2 billion people would die when the fourth seal is opened. With such a monumental tragedy, we can also understand how wild animals would attack weak and sickly human beings. Yet, even with such terrible destruction, God would bring three-fourths of the world’s population through this judgment and give them time to repent. (10)

As we read about these terrible curses coming on the earth, we wonder how a loving God could cause such suffering. The answer is that God does not cause this suffering. Mankind causes this due to the hardness of his heart. It is the result of the evil in people’s hearts to live their lives without God. While God is longsuffering with us, there does come a point when God knows that we will not turn from our sins and seek Him. Since the masses do not want Him, God removes His covering of protection and provision and leaves mankind to himself. While God cares for His people, those who reject Him end up destroying themselves, which we see in the opening of these seals. Let us not blame God for our own failings. (10)

Again, Jesus referred to the opening of Seals 1-4 as the “Beginning of Birth Pains.”

All these things are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24:8 NET)

The Great Tribulation

Introduction from Daniel’s Vision

“At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape. (Daniel 12:1 NET)

Jesus indicated that the opening of the 5th Seal was the start of the “Great Tribulation.”

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. (Matthew 24:21 ESV)

The Fifth Scroll Seal (Martyrdom of those that keep the Word of God and Testify of Jesus)

And when He opened 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 witness which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Master, holy and true? Will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. (Revelation 6:9–11 NET)

Note these Christians were martyred for the same reason John was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos:

I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. (Revelation 1:9 NET)

This also is the reason given for Satan making war with Christians:

So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus. And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
 (Revelation 12:17 NET)

Jesus’ parallel prophecy of His opening of the Fifth Scroll Seal:

“Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. “So when you see the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:9–22 NET)

“You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. First the gospel must be preached to all nations. When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house. The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter. For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen. And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe him. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect. Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time. (Mark 13:9–23 NET)

But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense. For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name.Yet not a hair of your head will perish.By your endurance you will gain your lives. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it, because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:12–24 NET)

When Jesus opens the fifth seal, none of the four living creatures call John to “Come and see.” Whereas the first four seals related to judgments on the earth which needed to be revealed to John, the fifth seal is a heavenly scene. Since John has a prophetic vision of what is happening in Heaven, it is unnecessary to call him forth. He can see this for himself. And what he sees is certainly heartbreaking. (10)

John sees under the altar in Heaven the souls of those who have been martyred for the Word of God and their testimony. Obviously, this is not a time of “easy-believism.” There will not be any casual believers during this time on the earth. There will not be any “Sunday-morning Christians” who live for themselves the rest of the week. There will not be any “mega-churches.” Like the believers in the seven congregations of the first century, the people of God will be persecuted and scattered, and many will be martyred. This situation will certainly distinguish true believers from those who profess faith but don’t really possess faith. (10)

In John’s vision, these martyrs are crying out for justice. They want to know how long they must wait before God avenges those that took their lives. (10)

They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” Each of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been. (Revelation 6:10,11 NET)

The Lord comforts them by clothing them with white robes but tells them they must wait until His mercy for those that will be saved has been satisfied. (10)

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NET)

Unfortunately, more would be martyred for their faith. We must understand that these did not die due to God’s wrath, as it has not been poured out yet. In fact, God’s wrathful judgments described later in the Book of Revelation are His answer to the prayers of these faithful believers. It is during the future Day of the Lord that God will pour out His wrath on the remaining wicked. For there is no mercy for the wicked that have chosen to never change from their evil ways.

If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the Lord’s majesty revealed. (Isaiah 26:10 NET)

It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice. (Proverbs 18:5 NET)

The Lord protects those who love him, but he destroys all the wicked. (Psalm 145:20 NET)

No, it was not God’s wrath that killed these martyrs, but Satan’s wrath released through the curses from the seals!

Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!” (Revelation 12:12 NET)

So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus. And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
 (Revelation 12:17 NET)

Anyone who tries to live a godly life in this world can certainly understand the heart cry of these martyrs. The Lord’s people often groan to themselves and to the Lord for His soon return to end the evil in our world. It is a normal and natural desire for godly people to grow weary of evil and long for righteousness. We, too, ask, “Lord, how much longer are You going to put up with the evil in our world? How much longer will it be before You judge the wicked?” (10)

John says that he sees these souls under the altar. This does not necessarily mean that he saw a literal altar but that he saw the altar in his vision. In ancient times, people built altars of their gods and made sacrifices to them. They did this to appease the anger of their gods. This is because the life of the flesh is in the blood. They hoped their gods would accept the animal’s blood in their place. When making the sacrifices, they would pour out the blood of the animal under the altar. (10)

The Lord also required His people to make sacrifices, but with a major difference. One of the Hebrew words translated as “offering” is korban. The word means to “draw near.” In other words, the people were instructed to offer sacrifices to God to draw near to Him, not to appease His wrath. God provided the system of the blood of the innocent substitutionary sacrifice that stood in place of the people. This was how God could judge sin while showing mercy to the sinner. These souls were described as being under the altar because they chose to draw near to God rather than the anti-God world system. (10)

At the Temple in Jerusalem, the blood of the sacrifices was poured into a basin underneath the altar. Water then carried the blood from the Temple Mount to the Kidron Valley. When the people saw the blood and water, they knew the Lord had accepted their sacrifices. Likewise, the blood of these martyrs was an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. They had not died in vain. (10)

John says that these souls are given white robes. White in the Bible and in pagan religious services, past and present, symbolizes purity.

The psalmist wrote:

Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may go up to his holy dwelling place? The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them. (Psalm 24:3-4 NET).

Jesus said,

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8 NET)

He also promised those who overcame that they would be given white garments:

The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Revelation 3:5–6 NET)

These believers are given white robes and are in the presence of God because they are spiritually and morally pure. These believers are given white robes to clothe their naked souls until they receive new resurrected bodies.

John later speaks of these martyrs and provides additional details on why they were killed:

One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. (Revelation 13:3-8 NET)

Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:11–18 NET)

Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand.  (Revelation 20:4 NET)

While we do not know all the theological answers, we know that these believers overcame the world and entered the presence of God. And that is what is important. (10)

The AntiChrist’s True Nature Revealed

After three and one-half years of Daniel’s 70th week, the Antichrist will reveal his true nature.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of that week he will bring sacrifices and offerings to a halt. On the wing of abominations will come one who destroys, until the decreed end is poured out on the one who destroys.” (Daniel 9:27 NET)

The Abomination that Causes Desolation

The Antichrist will desecrate the Third Temple in Jerusalem and setup up the Abomination that causes desolation in the Most Holy Place.

His forces will rise up and profane the fortified sanctuary, stopping the daily sacrifice. In its place they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. (Daniel 11:31 NET)

“So when you see the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), (Matthew 24:15 NET)

“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. (Mark 13:14 NET)

The Antichrist will declare he is the one true God for three and one-half years.

He will speak words against the Most High. He will harass the holy ones of the Most High continually. His intention will be to change times established by law. They will be delivered into his hand For a time, times, and half a time. (Daniel 7:25 NET)

“Then the king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every deity and he will utter presumptuous things against the God of gods. He will succeed until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must occur. He will not respect the gods of his fathers—not even the god loved by women. He will not respect any god; he will elevate himself above them all. (Daniel 11:36–37 NET)

What he will honor is a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not acknowledge he will honor with gold, silver, valuable stones, and treasured commodities. He will attack mighty fortresses, aided by a foreign deity. To those who recognize him he will grant considerable honor. He will place them in authority over many people, and he will parcel out land for a price. (Daniel 11:38–39 NET)

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 NET)

The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. (Revelation 13:5–8 NET)

The Antichrist’s attempt to be the one true God is similar to what Lucifer (Satan) attempted.

Look how you have fallen from the sky, O shining one, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O conqueror of the nations! You said to yourself, “I will climb up to the sky. Above the stars of El I will set up my throne. I will rule on the mountain of assembly on the remote slopes of Zaphon. I will climb up to the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High!” (Isaiah 14:12–14 NET)

Satan, the dragon, will empower the Antichrist, a human from the sea of people but possessed by a spirit from the abyss of Hades.

So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world... (Revelation 12:9a NET)

When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. (Revelation 11:7 NET)

Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed. If anyone has an ear, he had better listen! If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints. Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of peopleand, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:1–18 NET)

The Antichrist will perform many signs and wonders to deceive the people.

He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:13–15 NET)

The Antichrist will wage war against the saints of God.

“Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others. It was very dreadful, with two rows of iron teeth and bronze claws, and it devoured, crushed, and trampled anything that was left with its feet. I also wanted to know the meaning of the ten horns on its head, and of that other horn which came up and before which three others fell. This was the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things, whose appearance was more formidable than the others. While I was watching, that horn began to wage war against the holy ones and was defeating them, (Daniel 7:19–21 NET)

The Antichrist will Trample Jerusalem for Three and one-half years.

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it, because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:20–24 NET)

But do not measure the outer courtyard of the temple; leave it out, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:2 NET)

The Antichrist will establish his headquarters in Jerusalem, between the Mediterranean and Dead Seas.

He will pitch his royal tents between the seas toward the beautiful holy mountain. But he will come to his end, with no one to help him. (Daniel 11:45 NET)

The Sixth Scroll Seal (Cataclysmic Disaster on Earth)

Then I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon became blood red; and the stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when shaken by a fierce wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the very important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath [i.e., the day of the Lord] has come, and who is able to withstand it?” (Revelation 6:12–17 NET)

Jesus’ parallel prophecy of His opening of the Sixth Scroll Seal:

“Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:29–30 NET)

“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (Mark 13:24–25 NET)

There will be great earthquakes... there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11 a, d)  
“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Luke 21:25–26 NET)

In the sixth seal, John sees cataclysmic disturbances on Earth that affect the atmosphere. Likely the earthquake included super volcanic eruptions with the associated ash and volcanic matter ejected into the atmosphere. Those in daylight would see the ash cloud darkening the sun and causing the preexisting clouds to appear “rolled up” as the heated air expands outward. Those affected during the night hours would see the moon appear red, and the stars sequentially hide as the ash cloud rapidly expands.

Jesus said His hour “has come” before betrayal and crucifixion, meaning it was about to begin.

He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough of that! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark 14:41 NET)

Similarly, John said that the Day of Jesus’ wrath had come during the opening of the Sixth Seal, meaning it was just about to begin after the Seventh Seal was opened.

They said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” (Revelation 6:16–17 NET)

The disturbances caused by the opening of the Sixth Seal are a prelude to the Day of the Lord, which had not yet begun but is just about to begin!

God’s Seal of Protection

Impending Curses

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. (Revelation 7:1 NET)

In the chapter’s opening verse, John sees four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth. They are ready to release these four winds, which will cause terrible devastation. What are these angels and these four winds? They are fallen angels that will release demonic forces.

The prophet Daniel used similar language in his apocalyptic description of the coming days of judgment:

Daniel explained: “I was watching in my vision during the night as the four winds of the sky were stirring up the great sea. Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another. (Daniel 7:2–3 NET)

The prophet Zechariah saw something similar in his apocalyptic vision:

Once more I looked, and this time I saw four chariots emerging from between two mountains of bronze. Harnessed to the first chariot were red horses, to the second black horses, to the third white horses, and to the fourth spotted horses, all of them strong. Then I asked the angelic messenger who was speaking with me, “What are these, sir?” The messenger replied, “These are the four spirits of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The chariot with the black horses is going to the north country and the white ones are going after them, but the spotted ones are going to the south country. All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth.” The Lord had said, “Go! Walk about over the earth!” So they are doing so. Then he cried out to me, “Look! The ones going to the northland have brought me peace about the northland.” (Zechariah 6:1–8 NET)

He described four chariots pulled by different colored horses. When Zechariah inquired into the meaning of his vision, an angel told him that the four chariots symbolized four spirits or winds of Heaven.

Releasing the four winds will bring further destruction to the earth and humanity. Because of this, the Lord will not allow the four winds to be released until His people are sealed and therefore protected from what is to follow. This is an example of God’s mercy during these terrible judgments.

Holding Back Further Curses Temporarily

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea: “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:2–3 NET)

Here we see God’s mercy in action. He sends a holy angel to tell the four fallen angels to hold back the four winds of further judgment until God’s people are protected. When the Lord opened the sixth seal, the unrighteous of the world hid from God and cried out,

because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” (Revelation 6:17 NET)

The answer is that the people of God can stand because the Lord seals them for protection. Hallelujah! The Lord knows those who are His just as parents know their children. The prophet Nahum writes,

The Lord is good— indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7 NET)

The apostle Paul gave the same word of comfort and encouraged God’s people to live holy lives. He even referred to God sealing His own. Paul wrote to Timothy:

However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” (2 Timothy 2:19 NET).

We must distinguish God’s judgments on the wicked from the wicked persecuting the righteous. While God does not promise to spare His people from persecution and tribulation, there are numerous examples in the Hebrew Bible of God protecting His own before releasing His judgments. We learn in Genesis 6-8 that God saved Noah and his family in the ark before He judged the world with the great flood. He delivered Lot before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19). In the Exodus story, God did not rapture His people out of Egypt. He protected them and then delivered them once His judgments were over. (10)

In the Book of Ezekiel, we learn that God purposed to destroy the wicked in Jerusalem. But first, He instructed a holy angel to go through the city of Jerusalem and put His mark on the foreheads of His righteous remnant. They were marked for protection just as these are marked. (Ezekiel 9.)

The sealing of the 144,000 for Protection

Now I heard the number of those who were marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed from all the tribes of the people of Israel: From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed. (Revelation 7:4–8 NET)

Here we have a respite in the breaking of the “Seals” that God’s “elect of Israel” may be “Sealed.” (10) The seal, in the Roman world and in the Bible, indicates possession (ownership) and protection. They are sealed on the forehead to indicate they belong to God (possession) and will experience His security (protection). Their sealing is to exempt them from God’s wrath, which had just been announced and then delayed until they are sealed. Contextually, God’s wrath cannot be understood to include the first six seals.

There is an example in the Book of Ezekiel of God marking His own before administering His judgments. When the Lord called His holy warring angels to judge the wicked, He had one of them put a mark on the forehead of the righteous. Those who had the mark of God would be protected from His wrath.

Ezekiel reads:

Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. The Lord said to him, “Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who moan and groan over all the abominations practiced in it.” While I listened, he said to the others, “Go through the city after him and strike people down; do no let your eye pity nor spare anyone! Old men, young men, young women, little children, and women—wipe them out! But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary!” So they began with the elders who were at the front of the temple. (Ezekiel 9:3–6 NET)

In addition, God reserved 7000 in the days of Ahab, who did not bow the knee to Baal:

I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” (1 Kings 19:18 NET)

Similarly, there will be a “remnant chosen by grace” of 144,000.

But what was the divine response to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal.” So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:4–6)

God will reserve 144,000 of Israel during the Day of the Lord who will not bow their knee to the Antichrist. This is not the sealing of the Holy Spirit, by whom the Believer is sealed. His indwelling presence in the believer is the absolute guarantee that his eternal salvation is secure. That what God has begun in His child He will bring to consumption and that nothing can thwart the divine purpose for His redeemed ones.

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13–14 NET) 

But rather a “sealing” at the hand of holy angels.

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea: “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we [angels] have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:2–3 NET)

Jesus prophesied of this event:

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31 NET)

What this SEALING is, we are told it is “Jesus’ Name” and the “Father’s Name” is to be written on their foreheads.

Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1 NET)

Realize they God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit share a common name – Jesus! (1)

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  of whom the whole family in the heavens and on earth is named, (Ephesians 3:14,15 YLT)

They were “Sealed” on their FOREHEADS where others could see them. Theirs was no secret discipleship.

The 144,000, 12,000 from each Tribe, will be of earthly Israel, the literal seed of Abraham, living at that time, and not of a mystical or spiritual Israel. Though the “Twelve Tribes” were long ago lost among the nations, their whereabouts are not unknown to God. And though they may have lost their genealogical books and records so as not to be able to trace their Tribal descent, God knows where they are and who is who, and on that day, the angels, with omniscient precision, will seal them according to their Tribes, 12,000 from each Tribe. The Angel who has charge of the sealing comes from the East. This is significant. It intimates that the “Sealed Ones” have their gaze directed toward the “Sun-Rising,” as if looking for the fulfillment of the promise. (8)

“For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord who rules over all. “It will not leave even a root or branch. But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall. You will trample on the wicked, for they will be like ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord who rules over all. (Malachi 4:1–3 NET)

The “Elect” then of Israel will be those who “respect Messiah’s name” and, like Simon and Anna, watched for His First Coming. They will be looking for what they believe is the first coming of their Messiah. (8)

The Twelve Tribes of Israel

Note there is a remarkable difference in the names of the Tribes as recorded here and the original Twelve Tribes. Here the names of Dan and Ephraim are omitted, and Joseph and Levi are substituted. Why is this? The reason is plain in the Old Covenant:

Beware that the heart of no man, woman, clan, or tribe among you turns away from the Lord our God today to pursue and serve the gods of those nations; beware that there is among you no root producing poisonous and bitter fruit. When such a person hears the words of this oath he secretly blesses himself and says, “I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit.” This will destroy the watered ground with the parched. The Lord will be unwilling to forgive him, and his intense anger will rage against that man; all the curses written in this scroll will fall upon him and the Lord will obliterate his name from memory. The Lord will single him out for judgment from all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant written in this scroll of the law. (Deuteronomy 29:18–21 NET)

Any man, woman, family, or TRIBE that should introduce idolatry into Israel should have their name (s) “obliterated” or blotted out from under heaven and be separated from the Tribes of Israel. (8)

This is exactly what the Tribes of Dan and Ephraim were guilty of when they permitted Jeroboam to set up “Golden Calves” to be worshipped, one at Dan in the “Tribe of Dan” and the other at Bethel in the “Tribe of Ephraim.” (8)

Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel. Jeroboam then thought to himself: “Now the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom. If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, their loyalty could shift to their former master, King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.” After the king had consulted with his advisers, he made two golden calves. Then he said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan. This caused Israel to sin; the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves. (1 Kings 12:25–30 NET). 

This is why the Tribes of Dan and Ephraim are omitted from this chapter, and the names of Joseph and Levi are substituted. However, the Tribes of Dan and Ephraim are on the list of the Twelve Tribes that shall occupy the Holy Land during the Millennium: (8)

“These are the names of the tribes: From the northern end beside the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan (which is on the border of Damascus, toward the north beside Hamath), extending from the east side to the west, Dan will have one portion. Next to the border of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher will have one portion. Next to the border of Asher from the east side to the west, Naphtali will have one portion. Next to the border of Naphtali from the east side to the west, Manasseh will have one portion. Next to the border of Manasseh from the east side to the west, Ephraim will have one portion. Next to the border of Ephraim from the east side to the west, Reuben will have one portion. Next to the border of Reuben from the east side to the west, Judah will have one portion. (Ezekiel 48:1–7 NET)

“As for the rest of the tribes: From the east side to the west side, Benjamin will have one portion. Next to the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon will have one portion. Next to the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar will have one portion. Next to the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun will have one portion. Next to the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad will have one portion. Next to the border of Gad, at the south side, the border will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the Stream of Egypt and on to the Great Sea. This is the land which you will allot to the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, declares the sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 48:23–29 NET)

That is, the sealing of the Tribes in this chapter is more for Heavenly Preservation than to keep them for an earthly inheritance. This view is confirmed by the fact that they are later seen with the Lamb on the Heavenly Mount Zion. (8)

Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I also heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Now the sound I heard was like that made by harpists playing their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, and no lie was found on their lips; they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1–5 NET)

The omission of their names in this list of these “Sealed Ones” is to show that the Tribes of Dan and Ephraim must pass through the remainder of Daniel’s 70th week unprotected by sealing.  (8)

Again, these are Jews that have not bowed to the Antichrist; they believe in the soon-coming Messiah and zealously keep the commandments. However, they have not yet acknowledged that the Messiah has already come already in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and He is the cloud man of Daniel that is coming again!

I was watching in the night visions, “And with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man was approaching. He went up to the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13–14 NET)

As Western believers, we must understand that Christians are part of the Commonwealth of Israel and have become “one new man” with them.

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh—who are called “uncircumcision” by the so-called “circumcision” that is performed on the body by human hands—that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:11–22 NET)

The Church is not Israel but is joined with Jews as the “one new man,” also known as the new “Israel of God.”

But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation! And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:14–16 NET)

Speaking symbolically, Jewish believers are not grafted into the Christians’ wild olive tree, but Christians are grafted into the cultivated Jewish olive tree.

Now if some of the [Jewish] branches were broken off, and you, a [Gentile] wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the [Jewish] olive root, do not boast over the [Jewish] branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the [Jewish] root, but the [Jewish] root supports you. Then you will say, “The [Jewish] branches were broken off so that I [a Gentile] could be grafted in.” Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! For if God did not spare the natural [Jewish] branches, perhaps he will not spare you [a Gentile branch]. Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And even they [Jewish branches]—if they do not continue in their unbelief—will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a [Gentile] wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated [Jewish] olive tree, how much more will these natural [Jewish] branches be grafted back into their own [cultivated Jewish] olive tree? (Romans 11:17-24 NET)

While Abraham is the natural father of the Jewish people, he is the spiritual father of all true believers.

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26–29 NET)

He is “Our Father Abraham.”

For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants—not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (Romans 4:16 NET)

Zechariah saw this “One New Man” company of people when he wrote: (10)

The Lord who rules over all says, ‘In those days ten people [a representative number] from all languages and nations will grasp hold of—indeed, grab—the robe [tzitzit] of one Jew and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”

Jesus spoke of this company of people in His teaching of the sheep and goats: (10)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31–46 NET)

He explained the judgment of the nations at His coming and used words His listeners could understand. He talked about sheep and goats. Just as a shepherd separates his sheep from his goats, the Lord says He will separate the righteous (the sheep) from the unrighteous (the goats) at His coming. Jesus told us that the basis of this separation is how the Gentiles treated the Jews during the tribulation. Those who help the Jewish people will be considered righteous because their actions are proof of their faith. (10)

Nonbelievers certainly would not help the Jewish people because they hate the Jews and the God of the Jews, which is why they have accepted the Mark of the Beast. (10)

Interestingly, Satan has his own counterfeit seal during this time enacted by the False Prophet. In a similar public manner, the followers of the Antichrist will be “Sealed” in their foreheads or on their right hand, with the “Mark of the Beast,” which is the Number of his Name, or 666.

The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:15–18 NET)

The Rapture of the Believers

Introduction from Daniel’s Vision

Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake… (Daniel 12:2 a NET)

After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. They were shouting out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Then one of the elders asked me, “These dressed in long white robes—who are they and where have they come from?” So I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them.They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat, because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:9–17 NET)

The First Return of Jesus the Messiah

The first time will be to rapture or “take away” (1) the Church, thus rescuing it from the pouring out of God’s wrath during the “Day of the Lord.” (13) During this return, Jesus will come with all the Christians that have died, from Adam to the time of His coming, and will not set foot on Earth but rather descend only into the lower atmosphere (3). Realize, to those that are lost (i.e., have not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord), this return will be as a thief in the night.

Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.(1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 NET)

To those that are not saved, Jesus’ first return will be like a thief in the night. However, to those saved, Jesus’ first return will NOT be as a thief in the night.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:4–6 NET)

Christians can and should recognize the signs that His return is drawing near; however, the exact timing of this first return of Jesus is only known by God the Father.

“But as for that day and hour no one knows it—not even the angels in heaven—except the Father alone. For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man.Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left.There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left. “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:36–44 NET)

“But as for that day or hour no one knows it—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son—except the Father. Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return—whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn—or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly. What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-37 NET)

During this first return, He will:

1. Resurrect and transform the decayed bodies of those that have already died into perfect glorified bodies. Then reunite these glorified bodies with the spirits of the saints that have come with Him from Heaven. Saints are those that have a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son, including:

• all that died in the Lord from the time of the first Adam and went to Paradise in Hades (1) (after the resurrection, Jesus moved Paradise (1) and its occupants to Heaven), and
• all that have died in the Lord after the resurrection of Jesus and went to Paradise in Heaven.

Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NET)

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-16 NET)

2. Transform the bodies (i.e., pass them through death to glorification, thus complying with Hebrews 9:27) of the Christians alive on Earth at His appearing.

And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation. (Hebrews 9:27–28 NET)

That is, those who are alive and have a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 NET)

But our citizenship is in heaven—and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20–21 NET)

3. Draw both groups that now have glorified bodies to Himself and transport them (us) to Heaven.

Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure). (1 John 3:2–3 NET)

We Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, where our works will be judged.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10 NET)

If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12–15 NET)

This is a judgment for what we have done (i.e., our works, including our motive for doing them) for the determination of any reward and NOT a judgment of whether we can be with the Lord forever (the latter has already been decided based on our belief or faith in Jesus’ completed work on the cross (1)).

because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9–13 NET)

The Seventh Scroll Seal (Silence in Heaven)

Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1 NET)

The prophet Zephaniah predicted the time of silence before the Day of the Lord.

Be silent before the Lord God, for the Lord’s day of judgment is almost here... (Zephaniah 1:7 NET)

When the Lord opens the seventh seal, all the glorious worship and praise of Heaven stops. What a contrast: from the loudest and deepest worship and highest praise, the throne room of God is now silent. Can you imagine silence in Heaven for thirty minutes? It is like all heavenly hosts are holding their breath, waiting for the Lord to reveal its contents. We might say that this is the “lull before the storm.”

There are occasions when the manifested presence of God is so holy the only response is silence. In the Hebrew Bible, we learn that there are times when God does something so dramatic, His people need to be silent.

Zechariah writes:

Be silent in the Lord’s presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place. (Zechariah 2:13). 

Habakkuk cautions:

But the Lord is in his majestic palace. The whole earth is speechless in his presence!”  (Habakkuk 2:20).

Jesus, the Son of Man, has opened the Scroll of Authority and has the right to control any further curses from Satan. The Great Tribulation would have lasted for an additional 1.75 years with the added destruction caused by the Seventh Seal (i.e., the four fallen angels). Hence the silence in Heaven as God, in His mercy, stops the Curse from the Seventh Seal from being released upon those remaining on Earth at this time.

For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:21–22 NET)

So that some people (e.g., those not raptured or martyred for their faith in Jesus after the Rapture) that go through the Great Tribulation period on Earth might remain alive, the lease is interrupted before its time is fulfilled. Nevertheless, God being just, will release Satan for the balance of the time of the lease (i.e., a brief period of time), as specified in the Scroll of Authority, after the thousand-year reign of Jesus. 

The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things, he must be released for a brief period of time.) (Revelation 20:3 NET)

The Day of the Lord

“For the day of the Lord is approaching for all the nations! Just as you have done, so it will be done to you. You will get exactly what your deeds deserve. (Obadiah 1:15 NET)

How awful that day will be! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come as destruction from the Divine Destroyer. (Joel 1:15 NET)

Isaiah and Paul refer to the Day of the Lord as a pregnant woman who has progressed from initial spurious birth pains to regular full-on childbirth labor. Unlike the initial birth pains, this kind of labor will not cease until the child is born.

Wail, for the Lord’s day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the sovereign judge. For this reason all hands hang limp, every human heart loses its courage. They panic— cramps and pain seize hold of them like those of a woman who is straining to give birth. They look at one another in astonishment; their faces are flushed red. (Isaiah 13:6–8 NET)

For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2–3 NET)

The Day of the Lord is the phrase used by the prophets to speak of the outpouring of God’s wrath against evil at the end of days. They described the response of the world’s people in terms similar to John’s statement that the haters of God would try to hide from Him.

Isaiah wrote that, on the Day of the Lord, His enemies will crawl with fear into holes in the ground.

Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord, from his royal splendor! Proud men will be brought low, arrogant men will be humiliated; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. Indeed, the Lord who commands armies has planned a day of judgment, for all the high and mighty, for all who are proud—they will be humiliated; for all the cedars of Lebanon, that are so high and mighty, for all the oaks of Bashan; for all the tall mountains, for all the high hills, for every high tower, for every fortified wall, for all the large ships, for all the impressive ships. Proud men will be humiliated, arrogant men will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The worthless idols will be completely eliminated. They will go into caves in the rocky cliffs and into holes in the ground, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth. At that time men will throw their silver and gold idols, which they made for themselves to worship, into the caves where rodents and bats live, so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs and the openings under the rocky overhangs, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the Lord and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth. (Isaiah 2:10–21 NET)

The heavens will turn black, and neither the stars, moon, nor the sun will give their light. (10)

Wail, for the LORD’s day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the sovereign judge. For this reason all hands hang limp, every human heart loses its courage. They panic— cramps and pain seize hold of them like those of a woman who is straining to give birth. They look at one another in astonishment; their faces are flushed red. Look, the Lord’s day of judgment is coming; it is a day of cruelty and savage, raging anger, destroying the earth and annihilating its sinners. Indeed the stars in the sky and their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine. I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their sin. I will put an end to the pride of the insolent, I will bring down the arrogance of tyrants. I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir. So I will shake the heavens, and the earth will shake loose from its foundation, because of the fury of the Lord who commands armies, in the day he vents his raging anger. (Isaiah 13:6–13 NET)

Isaiah also said that the heavens would melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll, and the stars will fall from the sky. (10)

All the stars in the sky will fade away, the sky will roll up like a scroll; all its stars will wither, like a leaf withers and falls from a vine or a fig withers and falls from a tree... For the LORD has planned a day of revenge, a time when he will repay Edom for her hostility toward Zion. (Isaiah 34:4,8 NET)

In their apocalyptic visions, Jeremiah and Ezekiel said the heavens would become dark so that the sun, the moon, and the stars do not give out their light.

“I looked at the land and saw that it was an empty wasteland. I looked up at the sky, and its light had vanished. I looked at the mountains and saw that they were shaking. All the hills were swaying back and forth! ...Because of this the land will mourn and the sky above will grow black. For I have made my purpose known and I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out.” (Jeremiah 4:23–24;4:28 NET)

“Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the sovereign LORD says: “ ‘Wail, “Alas, the day is here!” For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of storm clouds, it will be a time of judgment for the nations. (Ezekiel 30:2,3 NET)

When I extinguish you, I will cover the sky; I will darken its stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not shine. I will darken all the lights in the sky over you, and I will darken your land, declares the sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 32:7–8 NET)

In Hosea’s vision of the Day of the Lord, he said the people would beg the mountains to bury them and the hills to fall on them. (10)

The high places of the “House of Wickedness” will be destroyed; it is the place where Israel sins. Thorns and thistles will grow up over its altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!” (Hosea 10:8 NET)

Joel said this would be such a terrible time of God’s judgment that the cry would be, “Who can survive it?”

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm signal on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land shake with fear, for the day of the Lord is about to come. Indeed, it is near! It will be a day of dreadful darkness, a day of foreboding storm clouds, like blackness spread over the mountains. It is a huge and powerful army— there has never been anything like it ever before, and there will not be anything like it for many generations to come! Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness— for nothing escapes them! They look like horses; they charge ahead like war horses. They sound like chariots rumbling over mountain tops, like the crackling of blazing fire consuming stubble, like the noise of a mighty army being drawn up for battle. People writhe in fear when they see them. All of their faces turn pale with fright. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. Each one proceeds on his course; they do not alter their path. They do not jostle one another; each of them marches straight ahead. They burst through the city defenses and do not break ranks. They rush into the city; they scale its walls. They climb up into the houses; they go in through the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them; the sky reverberates. The sun and the moon grow dark; the stars refuse to shine. The voice of the Lord thunders as he leads his army. Indeed, his warriors are innumerable; Surely his command is carried out! Yes, the day of the Lord is awesome and very terrifying—who can survive it? (Joel 2:1–11 NET)

Joel also wrote that the sun and moon and the stars will be darkened before the Day of the Lord. (10) Recall this occurred after the opening of the Sixth Scroll Seal.

After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have revelatory dreams; your young men will see prophetic visions. Even on male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will produce portents both in the sky and on the earth— blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sunlight will be turned to darkness and the moon to the color of blood, before the day of the Lord comes — that great and terrible day! It will so happen that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who survive, just as the LORD has promised; the remnant will be those whom the LORD will call. (Joel 2:28–32 NET)

Crowds, great crowds are in the valley of decision, for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision! The sun and moon are darkened; the stars withhold their brightness. The LORD roars from Zion; from Jerusalem his voice bellows out. The heavens and the earth shake. But the LORD is a refuge for his people; he is a stronghold for the citizens of Israel.
(Joel 3:14-16 NET)

Peter applied Joel’s prophecy to the day of Pentecost when the Church was born, which is also when the “Last Days” began,

‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. And I will perform wonders in the sky above and miraculous signs on the earth below, blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will be changed to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Acts 2:17–21 NET)

Nahum wrote that the awesome manifestation of the holy wrath of the Lord would cause the mountains to quake and crumble to dust, the hills to melt, and the earth to tremble (earthquakes). He, too, asked who could survive the fierce anger of the Day of the Lord.

The mountains tremble before him, the hills convulse; the earth is laid waste before him, the world and all its inhabitants are laid waste. No one can withstand his indignation! No one can resist his fierce anger! His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire, boulders are broken up as he approaches. (Nahum 1:5–6 NET)

Zephaniah gave one of the most terrifying descriptions of the Day of the Lord. He called it a day of terrible distress and anguish. He said it would be a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, of clouds, blackness, trumpet calls, and battle cries. He added that the Lord would make a terrifying end to all the people on the earth.

The Lord’s great day of judgment is almost here; it is approaching very rapidly! There will be a bitter sound on the Lord’s day of judgment; at that time warriors will cry out in battle. That day will be a day of God’s anger, a day of distress and hardship, a day of devastation and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dark skies, a day of trumpet blasts and battle cries. Judgment will fall on the fortified cities and the high corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will stumble like blind men, for they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dirt; their flesh will be scattered like manure. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the Lords angry judgment. The whole earth will be consumed by his fiery wrath. Indeed, he will bring terrifying destruction on all who live on the earth.” (Zephaniah 1:14–18 NET)

Bunch yourselves together like straw, you undesirable nation, before God’s decree becomes reality and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s raging anger overtakes you— before the day of the Lord’s angry judgment overtakes you! Seek the Lord’s favor, all you humble people of the land who have obeyed his commands! Strive to do what is right! Strive to be humble! Maybe you will be protected on the day of the Lord’s angry judgment. (Zephaniah 2:1–3 NET)

Malachi also asked who would endure the Day of the Lord.

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” Because you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s opinion, and he delights in them,” or “Where is the God of justice?” “I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the Lord who rules over all. Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering. The offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past. “I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who ref use to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear me,” says the Lord who rules over all. (Malachi 2:17–3:5 NET)

In His summary of the end times, Jesus gave a similar description of these cataclysmic changes. He said:

“Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31 NET).

Jesus added:

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. "(Matthew 24:35 NET).

Here is one final word, this time from Peter:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness,while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. (2 Peter 3:10-13).

No wonder the haters of God hide in caves and beg the mountains and rocks to fall on them. They cannot face the judgments of God and of the Lamb on this terrible and great Day of the Lord. We can see that being martyred for the Lord is much better than being the object of His wrath. Let the people of God say, “Amen!” (10)

The Seven Trumpets

Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel holding a golden censer came and was stationed at the altar. A large amount of incense was given to him to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar that is before the throne. The smoke coming from the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, roaring, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. Now the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. (Revelation 8:2–6 NET)

Before the archangels blow the trumpets, John sees another angel standing at the altar with a golden censer. John specifically mentions that this angel has much incense. John explains, using imagery from the tabernacle and later the Temple, that the angel sprinkles the incense over the hot coals of the altar, causing the smoke of the incense to billow up in the presence of God. (10)

We learn in the Book of Exodus that the priests offered incense before the Lord every morning and every evening: (10)

Aaron is to burn sweet incense on it morning by morning; when he attends to the lamps he is to burn incense.When Aaron sets up the lamps around sundown he is to burn incense on it; it is to be a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. (Exodus 30:7-8).

In addition to this action, once a year, the high priest would take blood from the brazen altar in the courtyard and smear it on the horns of the incense altar. He would then sprinkle the incense on the hot coals. As the sweet incense filled the room, the high priest would enter the holy of holies directly into the presence of God. (10)

Leviticus reads:

and take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord and a full double handful of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil-canopy. He [Aaron] must then put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the cloud of incense will cover the atonement plate which is above the ark of the testimony, so that he will not die. (Leviticus 16:12-13).

We learn in the Book of Psalms that incense offered before God is the biblical symbol of the prayers of God’s people.

May you accept my prayer like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering! (Psalm 141:2 NET)

When John says the angel has much incense, his contemporary readers would have understood him to mean that God’s people have offered many prayers for justice against those who have persecuted them.

Recall when the fifth seal was opened:

And when He opened 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 witness which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Master, holy and true? Will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. (Revelation 6:9–11 NET)

The time has come to judge and avenge the blood of the martyrs. When the angel throws the fire incense to the earth, it symbolizes God answering the prayers of His people. God’s response to their prayers results in a great shaking on the earth which John describes as noises, thundering, lightning, and an earthquake. John describes similar “shakings” on the earth at the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:19) and the seventh bowl judgment (Revelation 16:18). It is important to understand that these are also our prayers that God is answering. (10)

Note the Curses from the Seals were implemented by Satan’s fallen angels. However, God’s wrath will be released on all mankind (i.e., Israel and the Gentile nations) by God’s holy angels blowing Trumpets.

In answer to the prayers of His people, God releases seven trumpet judgments on the earth.

We learned that the Lord restrained the four fallen angels from releasing Satan’s curse on the earth’s vegetation and water until He sealed His people for protection against these judgments.

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea: “Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we [angels] have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:2–3 NET)

Now that this has been accomplished, the Lord opens the seventh seal.

The first four trumpet judgments are against the earth’s natural resources. In each judgment, a third of the natural resources are devastated.

The last three trumpets are spiritual judgments through angelic and demonic activities.

Before considering these judgments, it is important to understand their purpose. They are God’s judgments against the gods of the world system that the people worship. They are not against the people themselves, although it is the people who suffer. The reason God sends these judgments is to show the world that He is the One True God and to bring people to repentance. (10)

This is what the Lord did when He sent the plagues to Egypt. The plagues were not against Pharaoh and the Egyptian people but against the gods that Pharaoh and the people worshiped. Yet, it was the people who suffered because they worshiped these false gods. The list below shows the gods that the Egyptians worshiped and the plagues that the One True God sent against each of them to show His sovereignty and superiority and to warn Pharaoh to repent.

The First Trumpet Blast

When John says he sees something thrown from Heaven to Earth, this wording means that the judgments are God’s answer to the prayers of His people. (10)

The first angel blew his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown at the earth so that a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. (Revelation 8:7 NET)

This first judgment of hail and fire mixed with blood is said to be thrown to the earth. This is God’s judgment on the earth’s vegetation. The result is that one-third of the earth, trees, and all green grass is burned up. With the Weather Channels available to us today, we certainly can understand the devastation caused by hail and fire and tornadoes and lightning. (10)

This judgment is similar to the seventh plague in Egypt: (10)

Hail fell and fire mingled with the hail; the hail was so severe that there had not been any like it in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. The hail struck everything in the open fields, both people and animals, throughout all the land of Egypt. The hail struck everything that grows in the field, and it broke all the trees of the field to pieces. (Exodus 9:24-25 NET).

In describing the day of God’s judgments on the earth, Joel laments: (10)

To you, O Lord, I call out for help, for fire has burned up the grassy pastures, flames have razed all the trees in the fields. (Joel 1:19).

God made an interesting statement to Job when He was rebuking him. The Lord asked Job the following questions: (10)

Have you entered the storehouse of the snow, or seen the armory of the hail, which I reserve for the time of trouble, for the day of war and battle? (Job 38:22-23).

The Second Trumpet Blast

Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain of burning fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were completely destroyed. (Revelation 8:8–9 NET)

In this second judgment, John describes a great mountain burning with fire thrown into the sea. The result is that one-third of the sea becomes blood, a third of everything in the sea dies, and a third of ocean-going vessels are destroyed. (10)

All of these judgments may show God doing something supernatural He has never done before or God disrupting the normal order of His creation. We know in the Bible and history that God has worked through nature to accomplish His purposes. In fact, most great battles in history were won due to the weather, not because of superior armaments—and we know who is in charge of the weather. (10)

As this “mountain” is to fall on the sea, and the Judgments poured forth by the “Trumpets” and “Bowls” are to fall mainly on that part of the world bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, the “Sea” here mentioned is probably the Mediterranean Sea. Notice that John does not say that it was a “Mountain” that he saw cast into the sea, but that it appeared like a mountain, not a burning volcano, but an immense meteoric mass ablaze with fire. That was as near as John could describe it. (8)

This judgment reminds us of the first plague God sent in Egypt against Osiris, the god of the Nile. God turned the Nile River into blood, killing the fish in the Nile and making the Nile undrinkable. (10)

Exodus reads:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over Egypt’s waters—over their rivers, over their canals, over their ponds, and over all their reservoirs—so that it becomes blood.’ There will be blood everywhere in the land of Egypt, even in wooden and stone containers.” Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord had commanded. Moses raised the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile right before the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood.When the fish that were in the Nile died, the Nile began to stink, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood everywhere in the land of Egypt! (Exodus 7:19-21).

The Third Trumpet Blast

Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a huge star burning like a torch fell from the sky; it landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. (Now the name of the star is Wormwood.) So a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from these waters because they were poisoned. (Revelation 8:10–11 NET)

Whereas the second trumpet-shofar judgment is on salt water, this third trumpet-shofar devastates one-third of the earth’s fresh water. In John’s vision, he sees a phenomenon that he describes as a great burning star falling from Heaven into the rivers and freshwater sources. He says the name of the star is Wormwood. Whether this is a supernatural phenomenon or a natural disruption from God, the judgment makes the waters bitter and poisonous to drink. (10)

The word translated as “wormwood” actually indicates bitterness. It is a plant that has a very bitter taste. If a person ingested very much of the oil from the plant, they could die from the poison in the plant. Because of its bitter taste and potential as a deadly poison, people in the Bible spoke of wormwood as something bad, a symbol of God’s judgment or their suffering.

For example, in Proverbs, the temptations of an immoral woman are likened to wormwood. On the surface, she is sweet, but if one “drinks” of her cup of sin, the supposed sweetness turns to wormwood:

For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her seductive words are smoother than olive oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. (Proverbs 5:3-4 NET).

Because God’s people turned away from Him, the Lord told Jeremiah that He would give them wormwood as a judgment:

The Lord answered, “This has happened because these people have rejected my laws which I gave them. They have not obeyed me or followed those laws. Instead they have followed the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts. They have paid allegiance to the gods called Baal, as their fathers taught them to do. So then, listen to what I, the Lord God of Israel who rules over all, say. ‘I will make these people eat the bitter food of suffering [wormwood] and drink the poison water of judgment.I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known anything about. I will send people chasing after them with swords until I have destroyed them.’ ” (Jeremiah 9:13–16 NET)

The Lord says, “I saw the prophets of Samaria doing something that was disgusting. They prophesied in the name of the god Baal and led my people Israel astray. But I see the prophets of Jerusalem doing something just as shocking. They are unfaithful to me and continually prophesy lies. So they give encouragement to people who are doing evil, with the result that they do not stop their evildoing. I consider all of them as bad as the people of Sodom, and the citizens of Jerusalem as bad as the people of Gomorrah. So then I, the Lord who rules over all, have something to say concerning the prophets of Jerusalem: ‘I will make these prophets eat the bitter food of suffering [wormwood] and drink the poison water of judgment. For the prophets of Jerusalem are the reason that ungodliness has spread throughout the land.’ ” (Jeremiah 23:13–15 NET).

When Jeremiah complained to the Lord about his ridicule and suffering as God’s prophet, he said:

He shot his arrows into my heart. I have become the laughingstock of all people, their mocking song all day long. He has given me my fill of bitter herbs and made me drunk with bitterness [wormwood]. (Lamentations Lamentations 3:13–15 NET).

The Fourth Trumpet Blast

Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. And there was no light for a third of the day and for a third of the night likewise. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying directly overhead, proclaiming with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the trumpets of the three angels who are about to blow them!” (Revelation 8:12–13 NET)

While the first three trumpet-shofar judgments were directed at the earth, the fourth judgment is seen as God’s sovereignty over the lights He placed in the sky. As a manifestation of His sovereign power over His creation, God darkens the sun, the moon, and the stars for a third of the day and night. This darkness could be the result of the three previous judgments; it could also be the result of a solar or lunar eclipse, or it might indicate that God is orchestrating it supernaturally. It doesn’t matter how God does this; the results are the same. (10)

God darkened the sun in the ninth plague against Egypt. The Egyptians worshiped the sun, and Pharaoh was thought to be the incarnation of Ra, the sun god. The One True God demonstrated His sovereign superiority over the Egyptian deity by darkening the sun. It was so completely dark that the people could not see anything. God’s judgment was not against His people, so they had light. (10)

Exodus reads:

The Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness so thick it can be felt.” So Moses extended his hand toward heaven, and there was absolute darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.No one could see another person, and no one could rise from his place for three days. But the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. (Exodus 10:21–23 NET).

The prophets spoke of the day of the Lord when God would judge the world by darkening the lights in the sky. Isaiah wrote: (10)

Look, the Lord’s day of judgment is coming; it is a day of cruelty and savage, raging anger, destroying the earth and annihilating its sinners. Indeed the stars in the sky and their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine. (Isaiah 13:9–10).

Joel spoke about these judgments in the day of the Lord: (10)

The earth quakes before them; the sky reverberates. The sun and the moon grow dark; the stars refuse to shine. (Joel 2:10 NET).

Amos explained:

Woe to those who wish for the day of the Lord! Why do you want the Lord’s day of judgment to come? It will bring darkness, not light. Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous snake. Don’t you realize the Lord’s day of judgment will bring darkness, not light— gloomy blackness, not bright light? (Amos 5:18–20 NET).

In His summary prophecy of the end times, Jesus spoke of these signs in the heavens happening just before He returns:

“Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:29–30 NET).

Luke recorded similar words from Jesus:

“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25–28).

“Woe, Woe, Woe” (verse 13)

We would think that this clear demonstration of the sovereignty and supremacy of the One True God would cause people to repent of their sins and turn to Him. Unfortunately, it doesn’t. It is truly difficult to understand the hardness of people’s hearts against God. They would rather curse God and die than acknowledge Him and repent. (10)

Once again, we turn to Pharaoh as an example. When God sent the first plague, how did Pharaoh respond? (10)

Instead of repenting, Exodus says,

Each man threw down his staff, and the staffs became snakes. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.(Exodus 7:12–13).

He responded in the same way after the second plague:

The Lord did as Moses asked—the frogs died out of the houses, the villages, and the fields. The Egyptians piled them in countless heaps, and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted. (Exodus 8:13–15 NET).

After the third plague, even Pharaoh’s magicians understood that the One True God was sending the plagues. It did not matter to Pharaoh.

The magicians said to Pharaoh, “It is the finger of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted. (Exodus 8:19).

Nothing changed after the fourth plague:

and the Lord did as Moses asked—he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained! But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not release the people. (Exodus 8:31–32). 

Pharaoh responded the same way after each plague (Exodus 9:7,12,35; 10:20,27; 11:9-10).

We don’t normally think of these plagues as a means of God showing His mercy. However, God could have sent one plague, which would have been enough. He could have judged them immediately. In fact, at Passover, the Jewish people sing a special song entitled, Dayenu, which means “it would have been enough.” But in His mercy, God exposed the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart by sending a succession of plagues until it was clear that Pharaoh would never repent.

As we will see in the following woes, the people experiencing these “Day of the Lord” judgments respond in the same way as Pharaoh. Because God continues to show mercy by allowing people to repent, no one can say His judgments are unjust. He sends more judgments until it is clear the people will not repent.

It is at this time that Jesus returns to bring the final judgment against the ungodly.

The Fifth Trumpet Blast: The First Woe

Given the hardness of the people’s hearts, God announces three additional judgments called “woes.” These three woes are the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpet judgments. Since these woes involve releasing demonic activity, they are directed against those who oppose God. They are not against God’s own people. God has already put the seal of protection on those who are His. Once again, we remind ourselves that these judgments are God’s answer to the prayers of His people for justice. This is the wrath of God against an unrepentant world.

Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss.He opened the shaft of the abyss and smoke rose out of it like smoke from a giant furnace. The sun and the air were darkened with smoke from the shaft. Then out of the smoke came locusts onto the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. They were told not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their forehead. The locusts were not given permission to kill them, but only to torture them for five months, and their torture was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person.In those days people will seek death, but will not be able to find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them. Now the locusts looked like horses equipped for battle. On their heads were something like crowns similar to gold, and their faces looked like men’s faces. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. They had breastplates like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the noise of many horse-drawn chariots charging into battle. They have tails and stingers like scorpions, and their ability to injure people for five months is in their tails. They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. The first woe has passed, but two woes are still coming after these things! (Revelation 9:1–12 NET)

In the first woe, John gives a vivid description of frightening tormenters that inflict terrible suffering on those who have the Mark of the Beast. Using apocalyptic language, he sees a star falling from Heaven to Earth with the key to the bottomless pit. Since this is apocalyptic symbolism, we must do our best to correctly interpret the meaning of John’s words. (10)

First of all, John does not literally mean a star. He is talking about an angel. There are several reasons why we should think this is an angel. In the Book of Job, angels are called stars. God rebuked Job and said that angels sing His praises. God also refers to them as the “sons of God” in that He created them. God speaks of a heavenly praise service,

when the morning stars sang in chorus, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7).  

This is Hebrew parallelism in which both the morning stars and the sons of God are the same company of angels. Also, in Revelation 20, John says that he saw an angel coming down from Heaven with the key to the bottomless pit:

Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain. Revelation 20:1).

When John says that the angel has the key to the bottomless pit, he means God has given the angel the authority and permission to release those in the bottomless pit. So what is the bottomless pit? Who is held in it? And why is God releasing them?

In the Bible, the phrase “bottomless pit” or abyss refers to the abode of the worst of Satan’s angelic and demonic followers. These spirit beings followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God. They are so evil God has bound them or “chained them” in the bottomless pit until this time when He releases them as part of His “Day of the Lord” judgments. (10)

Peter referred to these demons and said:

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell [Tartarus, an abyss or bottomless pit] and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment, (2 Peter 2:4 NET)

Jude adds:

You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day. (Jude 1:6 NET).

When Jesus was ministering in the area of the Gadarenes (the modern-day Golan Heights), He encountered a demon-possessed man. When Jesus confronted the demons,

And they began to beg him not to order them to depart into the abyss [bottomless pit].” (Luke 8:31 NET). 

The Lord honored their request and sent them into a herd of swine (pigs). You recall from the story that when the demons entered the swine, the animals went crazy and ran off the cliff into the Sea of Galilee.

When the angel opens the bottomless pit, a tremendous amount of smoke is released into the air. There is so much smoke that everything turns dark. Then out of the smoke, John sees locusts.

The mention of the word locust was frightening to John’s contemporary readers. An invasion of locusts was a common plague in the world of the Bible. John’s readers knew that a swarm of locusts could consist of millions of hungry, winged creatures that darken the sky due to their great numbers. While their lifespan and the harvest season are only five months, locusts can strip the land of all the grass, trees, and crops, leaving behind them total devastation. With their massive numbers, they can devour the land in a very short time and move on to destroy another location. (10)

We recall that the Lord used locusts in His eighth plague against Pharaoh. Exodus reads:

They covered the surface of all the ground, so that the ground became dark with them, and they ate all the vegetation of the ground and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green remained on the trees or on anything that grew in the fields throughout the whole land of Egypt. (Exodus 10:15 NET).

One of the most devastating locust plagues occurred in the heart of the American breadbasket in 1875. In an article entitled “When the Skies Turned to Black,” Hearthstone Legacy Publications gives the following report. (10)

While the agricultural production of the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas has helped feed the world, a plague of locusts stripped the land leaving it barren. The states of Missouri and Minnesota were also devastated. It was a swarm of Rocky Mountain locusts estimated to number in the trillions. They came out of nowhere and, within hours, devoured every crop in their pathway. Observers estimated that the swarm was 1,800 miles long (yes, that number is correct) and 110 miles wide. Eyewitnesses say that the heavens were darkened. The locusts vanished as quickly as they appeared, leaving the country bare of vegetation. (10)(12)

The locusts in Revelation are not ordinary locusts. John’s description of them is terrifying. The prophet Joel compares an invading army to a swarm of locusts and gives a description similar to John’s: (10)

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm signal on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land shake with fear, for the day of the Lord is about to come. Indeed, it is near! It will be a day of dreadful darkness, a day of foreboding storm clouds, like blackness spread over the mountains. It is a huge and powerful army— there has never been anything like it ever before, and there will not be anything like it for many generations to come! Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness— for nothing escapes them! They look like horses; they charge ahead like war horses. They sound like chariots rumbling over mountain tops, like the crackling of blazing fire consuming stubble, like the noise of a mighty army being drawn up for battle. People writhe in fear when they see them. All of their faces turn pale with fright. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. Each one proceeds on his course; they do not alter their path. They do not jostle one another; each of them marches straight ahead. They burst through the city defenses and do not break ranks. They rush into the city; they scale its walls. They climb up into the houses; they go in through the windows like a thief. The earth quakes before them; the sky reverberates. The sun and the moon grow dark; the stars refuse to shine. The voice of the Lord thunders as he leads his army. Indeed, his warriors are innumerable; Surely his command is carried out! Yes, the day of the Lord is awesome and very terrifying—who can survive it? (Joel 2:1–11). 

The point of John’s description is for his readers to understand that, like locusts, this is a powerful swarm, or army, which cannot be stopped. (10)

While literal locusts eat everything in their way, these locusts do not eat the crops. They torment people, specifically people who have taken the Mark of the Beast. John likens the pain they inflict to the sting of a scorpion. While the sting of a scorpion is extremely painful, it is not normally fatal. (10)

Likewise, those tormented by these locusts suffer great pain for five months. They are in such anguish that they try to kill themselves but are restrained from doing so. John adds that the locusts are ruled over by an angel who is the king of the bottomless pit. (10)

They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. (Revelation 9:11). 

Both of these words have the same meaning of “destroyer.” (10)

We should be able to understand by all that John says about these locusts are they are not literal locusts but a demonic army released by God as a judgment on those who oppose Him. John gives us a big clue when he says they have a king over them because literal locusts do not have a king, according to Proverbs: (10)

locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks (Proverbs 30:27).  

The fallen angel who is the king of the bottomless pit is most likely satan. (10)

John’s readers would have also been familiar with the imagery of smoke coming out of the bottomless pit. Laodicea, Colosse, and Hierapolis were tri-city areas within a few miles of each other. Hierapolis was the city with the hot mineral springs that constantly bubbled at the top, like we see at Yellowstone National Park. These springs gave the appearance of a “lake of fire” that could erupt at any moment, much like Old Faithful, the geyser at Yellowstone that erupts like clockwork to the amazement and amusement of tourists. (10)

The chief deity of Hierapolis was the Greek god Apollo. There was a temple to Apollo and underneath this temple was a deep cave that the people believed to be the home of Hades (Greek) or Pluto (Roman). In Greek mythology, Hades or Pluto was the god of the underworld or the god of the dead. Since the cave was believed to be the home of Pluto, it was called “the Plutonium.” (10)

In his excellent publication, Understanding the Revelation, scholar and archeologist Jim Fleming gives the following fascinating explanation. There was an entrance from the temple into the Plutonium, which emitted a dense fog of poisonous gas from the cave. The priest of Pluto knew how far down into the cave they could go before inhaling the gas. As a way of influencing and controlling the people, the priests would take an animal with them into the cave to sacrifice to Pluto. Of course, the animal did not know how far down to go before inhaling the gas. It would die, but the priests would live. As you can imagine, this was most impressive to superstitious people who had a primitive understanding of the earth’s natural resources. (10)

When John wrote about seeing fiery smoke coming out of the bottomless pit with locusts released to torment the people, they understood what he meant. The people lived in constant fear of the demonic spirits of the underworld. The imagery of steaming hot springs flowing out of caves, lakes of fire, earthquakes, and volcanoes spewing smoke and fire were all around them.

Ironically, the very people these demons are attacking in Revelation 9 are the ones who took the Mark of the Beast. They are the ones who sold their souls to Satan. These demons are tormenting their own followers. And that is the way satan operates. While he appears as an angel of light, his destructive nature and that of his demonic army destroy his own people.

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14 NET) 

Those who take the Mark of the Beast, thinking they will escape persecution, will, in the end, be tormented and killed by the evil ones they thought would later protect them from harm. What a tragic miscalculation!

John notes that this is the first woe, but two more are coming. Yet, no matter how many woes God sends, like Pharaoh, the people still refuse to repent.

The Sixth Trumpet Blast: The Second Woe

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a single voice coming from the horns on the golden altar that is before God, saying to the sixth angel, the one holding the trumpet, “Set free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!” Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour, day, month, and year were set free to kill a third of humanity. The number of soldiers on horseback was two hundred million; I heard their number. Now this is what the horses and their riders looked like in my vision: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue, and sulfurous yellow in color. The heads of the horses looked like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths. A third of humanity was killed by these three plagues, that is, by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths. For the power of the horses resides in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that inflict injuries. The rest of humanity, who had not been killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk about. Furthermore, they did not repent of their murders, of their magic spells, of their sexual immorality, or of their stealing. (Revelation 9:13–21 NET)

Before John can finish contemplating the horrors of the first woe, he hears a voice from the four horns of the altar calling the sixth angel to sound the trumpet for the second woe. In Revelation 6:9-11 we learned that those who gave their lives for their faith were seen under the altar crying out for God to avenge their deaths. They are said to be “under the altar” because when the sacrifices were made at the tabernacle and Temple, the blood of the sacrifices poured out under the altar. The Lord told them to wait a little while, and their prayers would be answered. (10)

In Revelation 8:3-6 an angel presented the prayers of these faithful to the Lord as it was time for God to answer them. As we have been reminded, the judgments are God’s answer to the prayers of His people. All true believers cry to God to vindicate their lives, judge evil, and establish righteousness on earth. While God has answered these prayers in part throughout history, these judgments are the final answer to our prayers. While we are saddened at the suffering brought about by the judgments, we rejoice in the final destruction of evil. (10)

The voice of the angel at the altar now instructs the sixth angel to give the signal for the sixth trumpet judgment. The sixth angel is told to release the four angels bound at the Euphrates River. Who are these four angels, and why the Euphrates River? (10)

John is made to understand that God has bound these angels for a specific time in history until He is ready to release them. In the Bible, the angels who serve God are never bound, only fallen angels who followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God. While God has allowed many of these fallen angels the freedom to be active in our world, He has restrained others.

To our understanding, these four powerful angels that God has kept bound throughout history just as He had bound the angelic and demonic spirits in the bottomless pit. Since it is time for God to use them for His purposes, He releases them to attack those who oppose Him. Again we see the irony: the people the demons attack are those who unwittingly serve them.

John informs us that these powerful demonic spirits are bound at the Euphrates River. Why the Euphrates River? There are several reasons. In the ancient world, the Euphrates River was the natural boundary separating the East from the West. When the invading armies from the East attacked the Western nations, they had to cross the Euphrates River. The Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Medes came from the East. The Euphrates River was also the eastern boundary of the Roman Empire. The powerful Parthian army was on the other side, ready to attack Rome.

There was also a spiritual connection to the Euphrates River as it was the eastern boundary of the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 15:18). In Bible times, God’s people considered the nations to the east of the Euphrates to be pagans who worshiped demons. For example, Babylon was where Nimrod attempted to establish the first organized religion against God (Gen. 11:1-9). The Babylonian religion was spread to future empires, including Rome. It became the “Mother Religion” of all religions, contrary to the worship of the One True God. So the Euphrates was both a natural and spiritual barrier separating God’s people from those opposed to God.

These four fallen angels are so powerful they can send a great army to attack those who have the Mark of the Beast. John says their number is 200 million. This is the ultimate in spiritual warfare. Whether this number is literal or an apocalyptic way of saying “more than we can number,” their evil, destructive nature causes the death of one-third of all human life.

Scholars have different views about the nature of this great army. Some believe it to be a literal army representing the first phase of the last great battle, which is further described in Revelation 16:12-16. Others believe, due to the size and description of this army, that John sees an innumerable company of demonic spirits. Regardless, the devastation is the same—a third of humanity is killed by the fire, smoke, and brimstone coming out of the demon’s mouths. John could be describing modern nuclear warfare as some believe, spiritual manifestations of demonic power or both.

Now any reasonable person would think that people who survived this horror would turn to God. But unfortunately, they do not. There is nothing rational or logical about sin. It is willful rebellion against God. John says they do not repent of their worship of demons and idols, their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts. Like the Pharaoh, they harden their hearts against God.

Interestingly, John mentions “sorceries” (Revelation 9:21). This English word is translated from the Greek word “pharmakeia.” You can probably recognize the English words derived from “pharmakeia.” They are the words pharmacy or pharmaceutical. Now, what do we get at the pharmacy? We get drugs. The occult uses drugs to alter the minds of their followers so they can control them. (10)

What we see here is a description of a world of people who have sold their souls to the devil, cannot make sound decisions due to the influence of drugs and have no moral constraints. They are totally controlled by evil spirits. While God, in His mercy, has made every effort to bring these people to repentance, they continue to refuse to acknowledge and submit to Him. Since they will not accept redemption, what choice does a just God have but to bring further judgment?

The Angel with the Little Scroll

Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire. He held in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices. When the seven thunders spoke, I was preparing to write, but just then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders spoke and do not write it down.” Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, and the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed, just as he has proclaimed to his servants the prophets.” (Revelation 10:1–7 NET)

The angel John sees is not an ordinary angel. It is a powerful angel. John says that it is “another powerful angel,” meaning that he has seen an angel like this one earlier in his vision. He may be referring to the “powerful angel” who asked the question to all of Heaven: (10)

And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” (Revelation 5:2 NET)

The same Greek word, ischuros, is translated as “mighty” and “strong” in English. Both are angels of great rank and power. The Lord sends this second mighty angel with a message for John which he records in Revelation 10. Three times John mentions that the angel has one foot on the sea and the other on the land. The fact that this angel has one foot on the sea and another on the land is John’s way of saying that the angel has a message for the whole world. This description of how the angel is standing is a clear and powerful statement that: (10)

The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1 NET)

The description of the angel is not as important as the function he serves. Yet, the description is breathtaking. I am sure that seeing an ordinary angel is overwhelming. But seeing an angel like this one would certainly be a defining moment in life, one which none of us would ever forget. (10)

This may be the angel Daniel saw when God gave him a vision of the end times. Daniel described that angel with these words:

I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Upaz.His body resembled yellow jasper, and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd. (Daniel 10:5–6 NET)

No wonder the vision of this mighty angel so overwhelmed Daniel that he could not stand in his presence (Daniel 10:8-9). Anyone who has had an overwhelming experience with the manifested presence of the Holy Spirit can understand this. (10)

The angel in John’s vision has a little book in his hand. That the book is open suggests that God will reveal its contents. When the angel gives a mighty shout, John likens his voice to that of a roaring lion. When a lion roars, everyone nearby is alerted. Similarly, the sound of the angel’s awesome voice signals the contents of the seventh trumpet judgment to be revealed to John.

John hears seven thunders uttering their voices. John doesn’t literally mean the physical phenomenon of thunder. It is his apocalyptic way of describing heavenly voices that are as loud as thunder. The voices reveal the contents of the seventh trumpet. As John is about to write down what he hears, another voice from Heaven tells him to seal up, or keep to himself, the words of the seven thunderous voices. Later, John will learn what the seven thunder voices are saying. But for now, God does not want John to reveal their words. (10)

The mighty angel then lifts his hand to Heaven and swears, or makes an oath, in the name of the One True God that the time for His final judgment has come. God will no longer offer His mercy to those who have opposed Him. Their time to repent is over. (10)

This action of swearing an oath is mentioned in the Old Covenant:

“ ‘When a person sins in that he hears a public curse against one who fails to testify and he is a witness (he either saw or knew what had happened) and he does not make it known, then he will bear his punishment for iniquity. (Leviticus 5:1 NET)

The Lord says that if someone is put under oath as a witness, they must speak the truth of what they have heard or seen or know to be true. This is the Scripture that the high priest used to coax Jesus to defend Himself just before His crucifixion: (10)

But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:63–64 NET)

We still follow this custom today when witnesses are sworn in at court. Each witness places his left hand on the Bible and raises his right hand, promising to tell “the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me, God.” (10)

Returning to Daniel, we see a similar exchange between Daniel and the powerful angel talking with him. After the angel gave Daniel prophetic revelation, the angel told Daniel to seal up the vision until the time of the end: (10)

“But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.” (Daniel 12:4 NET)

When asked how long it would be before the prophecies were fulfilled, the angel lifted his hands to Heaven and swore by Him, who lives forever and ever, that the end-time events would occur in God’s time. When Daniel inquired further, the angel said to Daniel: (10)

I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, what will happen after these things?” He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. (Daniel 12:8–10 NET)

It should seem obvious to us that this final revelation to John fulfills the words the angel gave to Daniel. The seven-sealed scroll has been opened. All but the Seventh trumpet has been blown. The contents of the last judgment are sealed for now but will soon be revealed. As Peter wrote: (10)

For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. (1 Peter 4:7 NET)

The angel then confirms that when the seventh trumpet sounds, the mystery of God will be finished. While the angel does not say what he means by “the mystery of God,” he does say God declares it to His servants, the prophets. What is the mystery of God? What did God declare to the prophets? (10)

The mystery of God is His divine plan or secret, which He is either yet to reveal or which He has already revealed to those who did not fully understand it. It is a mystery. But at some point in God’s timing, the mystery will be understood. (10)

The angel says that God has revealed His mystery to His prophets. The angel means the prophets in the Old Covenant. The angel is referencing Amos, who says: (10)

Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7 NET)

Peter explains the mystery that God revealed to the prophets: (10)

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory. They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things angels long to catch a glimpse of. (1 Peter 1:10–12 NET)

God’s mystery is the eternal covenant that He made with Himself by which He would bring salvation to mankind. He would reconcile Jews and Gentiles to Himself and each other through the blood of an everlasting covenant He would make with Himself on our behalf. He would put His own Spirit within us so that we could share His divine nature and live forever with Him in eternity. (10)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3–4 NET)

From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours. May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord! I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. (2 Peter 1:1–4 NET)

The writer of Hebrews explains:

Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20–21 NET)

The prophets in the Hebrew Bible predicted it but did not fully understand everything they were prophesying. This is because its fulfillment would come later when God prepared for Himself a body and became one of us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. (10)

Peter further explains:

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:20–21 NET)

Peter adds:

Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:19–21 NET)

God continues to reveal more of this divine mystery to His prophets, including John, who recorded it in the Book of Revelation. And not only did He reveal the mystery to His prophets, but to all of God’s people who revere Him. King David explains, (10)

The Lord’s loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them. (Psalm 25:14 NET)

A good example of this is recorded in the Book of Second Kings. There we learn that the King of Syria sent his army at night to surround the city where the prophet Elisha was staying. The next morning, Elisha’s servant went outside and saw the Syrian army surrounding the city. In a panic, he ran to Elisha and told him the situation. Elisha told his servant not to worry because they had more fighting for them than did the King of Syria. Of course, the servant was completely confused by this answer. It was only he and Elisha. Then Elisha asked God to open his servant’s spiritual eyes so he could see the angelic army ready to fight on behalf of Elisha: (10)

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he can see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:17 NET)

So it is in the Book of Revelation. While we might not be able to see it with our physical eyes, God has a mighty army of angels fighting on our behalf. Although many are martyred during this time, they overcome death and stand in the presence of God, crying out for justice. The final answer to their prayers will soon manifest in the blowing of the seventh trumpet judgment.

Eating God’s Word

Then the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak to me again, “Go and take the open scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take the scroll and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” So I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it did taste as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. Then they told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” (Revelation 10:8–11 NET)

The same voice that told John to seal the words in the little book now tells John to take the little book from the mighty angel and eat it. I do not know about you, but I would really be frightened to ask the angel to give me the book, much less reach out my hand to such a powerful being. It is good to be reminded that John is not literally doing this. He sees himself doing this in his apocalyptic vision. He is physically on the Isle of Patmos, while spiritually, he has this vision. (10)

The mighty angel gives John the book, tells John to eat the book, and warns him that, although the words will be sweet in his mouth, they will turn bitter in his stomach. Sure enough, this is what John experiences. The words in the little book are sweet to the taste but upset his stomach. Now, what is this about? Is John literally eating a book? I think we know the answer. John does not literally eat the book; he internalizes the words so that they become part of him.

We discover this same idea of eating God’s words in the Hebrew Bible. The prophet Jeremiah used the same phrases, saying:

As your words came to me I drank them in, and they filled my heart with joy and happiness because I belong to you. (Jeremiah 15:16 NET)

When the Lord spoke to Ezekiel, He told him to eat God’s words. He meant that Ezekiel should spiritually digest God’s Word so that it would become part of Ezekiel. The Lord said: (10)

As for you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you: Do not rebel like that rebellious house! Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” (Ezekiel 2:8 NET)

Ezekiel continued:

Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll. He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front and back; written on it were laments, mourning, and woe. He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you see in front of you—eat this scroll—and then go and speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth and he fed me the scroll. He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving to you.” So I ate it, and it was sweet like honey in my mouth. (Ezekiel 2:9–3:3 NET)

King David likened the Word of God to honey, saying it is:

The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just. They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb. (Psalm 19:9–10 NET)

Psalm 119 is a great chapter that explains the many benefits of the Word of God. In this psalm, we read: (10)

Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey! (Psalm 119:103 NET)

There was a Jewish tradition to use honey on the first day of school for children just beginning their studies. The teacher would give the children an object containing the words of God coated with honey. The children were then instructed to lick the honey off the object, thus associating God’s Word with the sweetness of the honey. (10)

We are to digest God’s Word so that it becomes part of us. God’s Word should become the bone of our bones and the flesh of our flesh. God’s Word should be alive in us with His very own life and power working in us, through us, and out of us. (10)

God’s Word is sweet to the soul. It is the real “comfort food” or “soul food.” It gives us love when we feel unloved, peace when we are troubled, joy when we are depressed, hope when we are hopeless, faith when we are doubting, rest when we are stressed, and comfort when we are burdened. (10)

Jesus, Himself said,

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”(Matthew 4:4 NET). 

The living Word of the living God can impart God’s own life into us. This is because God’s spoken Word has His life in it. Just as when we speak, and our life or breath comes out of us to form our spoken words, when God speaks, the breath of His life comes out to form His words. When the Holy Spirit imparts those words, God’s life comes into us through them. (10)

Yet, God’s Word can also be bitter when we have to speak His Word of judgment or correction to others or when He speaks it to us. That is not pleasant. God’s Word of rebuke can cause us great grief and give us a spiritual stomach ache, so much so that we actually lose our physical appetite. We can become so anguished and heartsick about sin and its consequences, or about the fact that the wicked seem to prosper, or about the immorality all around us that a time of prayer and fasting is the only thing that can console us.

This is what is happening to John. He is glad to receive the Word of God. It is sweet to the taste, but it gives him spiritual heartburn when he digests it. The words he will have to prophesy are unpleasant; they are words of more suffering and judgment. (10)

The angel tells John that he will have to speak more prophecy. His audience will be the whole world, or as the Bible states it, (10)

Then they told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” (Revelation 10:11 NET)

The rest of the Book of Revelation contains the further prophecies John is to speak. Much of what John prophesies is bitter because it is about the further judgments of God in an anti-God world. However, the end of the prophecies is sweet, as they tell about the coming of the Lord to establish His Kingdom on the earth. (10)

As today’s believers, we have the prophetic words of John available to us. It is our responsibility to speak these words to our generation, as God commissioned Ezekiel to do. God put His words in Ezekiel and called him to be a watchman:

Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must give them a warning from me. When I say to the wicked, “You will certainly die,” and you do not warn him—you do not speak out to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked deed and wicked lifestyle so that he may live—that wicked person will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death. But as for you, if you warn the wicked and he does not turn from his wicked deed and from his wicked lifestyle, he will die for his iniquity but you will have saved your own life. (Ezekiel 3:17-19).

As watchmen, believers must contemplate God, His plan of redemption, His counsel and decrees, and His prophetic season and words. We are to listen to what God is saying, and we are to say it. We are to watch what God is doing and do it. We are to partner with God to observe, guard, protect, warn, and proclaim who He is in His nature and what He is doing in our world today. We must be alert to the prophetic season in which we are living. We must be single-minded, spiritually sober, and focused on the things of God. We must avoid being foolishly caught up in the things and cares of the world. We must be faithful and vigilant, particularly as we approach the “Day of the Lord.” (10)

Measuring the Temple of God

Then a measuring rod like a staff was given to me, and I was told, “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. But do not measure the outer courtyard of the temple; leave it out, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:1,2 NET)

John will be an actual participant in this part of his vision. The angel gives John a measuring rod and tells him to measure the Temple, the altar, and the worshipers at the Temple. However, he tells John not to measure the outer court because that is the Court of the Gentiles. The angel further informs John that the Gentiles will attack the holy city of Jerusalem for 42 months or three and one-half years. (10)

This is the last three and one-half years of Daniels’ 70th week. It is composed of The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, a period of time Jesus mentioned:

For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. (Matthew 24:21 NET)

This time period is also referred to by the phrase “time, times, and half a time:” (10)

Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky and made an oath by the one who lives forever: “It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.” (Daniel 12:7 NET)

But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time. (Revelation 12:14 NET)

In addition to the number of months (i.e., 42) and years (i.e., 3.5), John also refers to this time in terms of 1,260 days: (10)

And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3 NET)

So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:5–6 NET)

The Old Covenant says the Jews will rebuild the Temple in preparation for the coming of Messiah.

In the future the mountain of the Lord’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it, many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.” For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the Lord will issue edicts from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2–3 NET)

The prophet Daniel discusses an evil person, the Antichrist, who will commit the “abomination of desolation,” which includes the stopping of sacrifices at the third Temple built at the end of times.

...As for the city and the sanctuary, the people of the coming prince [the Antichrist] will destroy them. But his end will come speedily like a flood. Until the end of the war that has been decreed there will be destruction. He will confirm a covenant with many for one week [7 years]. But in the middle of that week [3.5 years] he will bring sacrifices and offerings to a halt. On the wing of abominations will come one who destroys, until the decreed end is poured out on the one who destroys.” (Daniel 9:26 b; Daniel 9:27 NET)

The ships of Kittim will come against him [the Antichrist], leaving him disheartened. He will turn back and direct his indignation against the holy covenant. He will return and honor those who forsake the holy covenant. His forces will rise up and profane the fortified sanctuary, stopping the daily sacrifice. In its place they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. (Daniel 11:30–31).

Jesus referred to Daniel’s prophecy and warned the believers to flee Jerusalem when they saw the Abomination of Desolation standing in the holy place. (10)

“So when you see the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:15–22 NET)

Paul also refers to the Abomination of Desolation and says that he is the one: (10)

Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 NET)

John talks about the Temple of God and clearly puts it in the time of the Great Tribulation at the end of the age before the coming of Messiah. (10)

Then a measuring rod like a staff was given to me, and I was told, “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. But do not measure the outer courtyard of the temple; leave it out, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:1–2 NET)

When we put all the Scriptures together, it is clear there will be a third Temple built before the coming of the Messiah. It is a prophetic sign of the end times. (10)

Why would God want to rebuild a Temple in Jerusalem? As non-Jewish believers, we know that when Jesus said, “It is finished or completed!” (10)

When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30 NET)

He meant He was the once-and-for-all perfect sacrifice for sin. We know that, but Jewish people do not, and this is a Jewish Temple. (10)

As is true of the Christian Church, the Jewish people need a great spiritual awakening and revival. The Temple will be a great catalyst for this spiritual renewal. It will be like a magnet drawing Jews back to Israel and back to their covenant God. The Temple and the sacrifices offered at the Temple will be an important visual aid for the Jewish people to understand the necessity of a blood covenant sacrifice for sin. From a Christian view, this could point the Jewish people to Jesus and His death as the ultimate sacrifice for their sins. (10)

Building a Temple at the end of days is not just a Christian understanding. The core prayer of Judaism for thousands of years is called The Amidah. In this prayer, the Jewish people connect the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple with the coming of Messiah. The 14th blessing says: “And to Jerusalem, Your city, may You return in compassion, and may You rest within it, as You have spoken. May You speedily establish the throne of David within it. Blessed are You, Hashem, the Builder of Jerusalem.” (10)

The seventeenth blessing says: “Be favorable, Hashem, our God, toward Your people Israel and their prayer and restore the service to the Holy of Holies of Your Temple. The fire-offering of Israel and their prayer accept with love and favor, and may the service of Your people Israel always be favorable to You. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who restores His presence to Zion.” (10)

God will restore His presence to Zion, that is, Jerusalem. While most of our Jewish friends do not realize it, and many Christians are ignorant of who Jesus really is, the Jewish Messiah and the Christian Savior and Lord are one and the same person. He is the Jewish Yeshua returning to His people in the land of Israel. The rebuilding of the Temple will hasten this glorious event. (10)

As we observe prophetic events, do we see any sign of this Temple being built? Absolutely, yes! Most of any Christian group who goes to Israel today will visit the Temple Institute under the direction of Rabbi Chaim Richman. Rabbi Richman tells us that 80 percent of all the vessels needed for Temple use have been made. (10)

Furthermore, thousands of young men are being trained in the Yeshivas (Jewish Seminaries) in Israel to serve as priests at the Temple when it is built. All of us who attend the Christian celebration of Succot in Jerusalem see this for ourselves at the Western Wall celebration led by these priests in training. This celebration is attended by many thousands of Israelis as well as hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of Christians. (10)

Why does the angel tell John to measure the Temple, the altar, and the worshipers? There are several instances in the Hebrew Bible when God told His prophets to measure the Temple and Jerusalem; the earlier instructions were similar to what John is told to do by the angel. (10)

For example, an angel told Ezekiel to measure the Temple, that most likely represents the Temple during the Messianic age, which is commonly called the Millennium Temple (see Ezekiel 40). Zechariah saw a man who would measure Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:1-2). In three other references, the Bible mentions stretching out a line for measuring, both in building and destroying (2 Kings 21:12-14; Isaiah 34:11; Lamentations 2:8). (10)

By reading these passages in context, we learn that when God speaks about measuring something, He marks off territory—whether for blessing or judgment, protection or destruction. We do this today when determining the size of a lot for building purposes or when we plan to demolish a structure. We mark off the land or building to separate it from the adjoining area. (10)

Since John is told to measure the Temple, the altar, and the worshipers, we would understand this to mean that God is marking off the Temple and the people for protection. In the Zechariah passage, God says that He will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem. (10)

But I (the Lord says) will be a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem and the source of glory in her midst.’ ” (Zechariah 2:5 NET)

Because John is told not to measure, or mark off, the Court of the Gentiles, we would understand that God will allow this area to be devastated by the Gentiles when they attack Jerusalem for 42 months. This could be the time that Daniel, Jesus, and Paul wrote about in the Scriptures we referenced earlier. (1F0)

To better understand this situation, it helps to know that the Holy Temple courtyard was divided into two different areas. In the outer Court of the Gentiles, both Jews and devout Gentiles could assemble. But in the inner Court of the Jews, only Jews were allowed. To keep this separation, the Jews built a 4.5-foot high wall called the Soreg, which divided the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the Jews. The Jews placed many signs on the wall strategically warning Gentiles in Greek and Latin not to proceed or they would be killed. Several of these “stone billboards” have actually been discovered by archaeologists. (10)

There is a story in the Book of Acts relating to this. The Jews erroneously believed Paul had brought Gentiles into the Temple beyond the Court of the Gentiles. As a result, they sought to kill Paul: (10)

When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from the province of Asia who had seen him in the temple area stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this sanctuary! Furthermore he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple and made this holy place ritually unclean!”(For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.) (Acts 21:27–29 NET)

During the time of Jesus, greedy merchants had set up their shops and booths in the Court of the Gentiles, turning it into a marketplace. They took over the area so that there was no room for the Gentiles to worship God. This was the situation that angered Jesus to the point of overturning their product tables. (10)

John wrote:

Now the Jewish feast of Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple courts those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at tables.So he made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple courts, with the sheep and the oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold the doves he said, “Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father’s house a marketplace!”(John 2:13-16 NET)(cf Matthew 21:12-13.)

Western theologians and ministers tell us that God did away with His holy laws when Jesus died for our sins. Of the many Scriptures they quote to support their belief, one is Paul’s statement in Ephesians which says:

For he [Jesus] is our peace, the one who made both groups [Jews and Gentiles] into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition [the Soreg], the hostility, when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. (Ephesians 2:14–16 NET)

Because the Jews had a covenant relationship with God and the Gentiles did not, the Jews were the chosen ones, and the Gentiles were the pagans. This is what caused the enmity between Jews and Gentiles. God’s covenant and laws were just an outward manifestation of enmity. But because Jesus died for both Jews and Gentiles, His death has made way for Jews and Gentiles to be reconciled to God and to one another. We both have access to God. There is no more wall of separation. Spiritually speaking, the wall of separation has been torn down. Gentiles can now enter into the holy presence of God through the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. (10)

Paul said,

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:17–18 NET)

The Two Witnesses

And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth. (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.)If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and completely consumes their enemies. If anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way. These two have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the time they are prophesying. They have power to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they want. (Revelation 11:3–6 NET)

In the midst of all the fighting, the Lord raises up two witnesses who prophesy for 1,260 days, three and one-half years, or 42 months. John does not give the names of the two witnesses. The only people we know of in the Bible who never died are Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:1;2:9-12). So they could come back and die since everyone must die and afterward be judged.

And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, (Hebrews 9:27 NET)

Nevertheless, because of the similarity of the miracles performed, it is most likely Moses and Elijah. However, Moses died, so how could it be him? What if God raised Moses from the dead and then took him to Heaven like He did Elijah (2 Kings 2:1;2:9-12)? Recall Michael the Archangel argued with Satan over the body of Moses.

But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9 NET)

What if, during the debate over Moses’ body, Enoch was sent back from Heaven to Earth and died? That would balance the ledger for the one who, at that time, had the power of death.

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), (Hebrews 2:14 NET)

Any scriptural evidence that Enoch might have known about the end-time plans of God?

Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 1:14–15 NET)

Also, recall that Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus at His transfiguration.

Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain. And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. (Matthew 17:1–3 NET)(cf. Mark 2:9-4)

If Moses had not been raised from the dead, he would have been held captive in Paradise within Hades (1) (Luke 16:22-26) along with all the other believers that died before Jesus moved Paradise (aka, Abraham’s Bossom or the Garden of Eden) back to Heaven (1).

Furthermore, there is no scriptural ground for declaring that Moses cannot die again. Lazarus was raised from the dead, and he died again, and the “Wicked Dead” shall be raised from the dead, and after Judgment at the “Great White Throne,” they shall be sentenced to die again, which is the “SECOND DEATH.” (Revelation 20:12–15). (8)

These two witnesses can shut heaven so that it does not rain in the DAYS OF THEIR PROPHECY. This can refer to no other than Elijah, who had power in the days of King Ahab to shut up the heavens for the space of three years and six months (1 Kings 17:1. Luke 4:25. James 5:17), and this is the same length of time, 42 months, or 1260 days, or 3.5 years, that these “TWO WITNESSES” are to prophesy. Then we know that Elijah was translated, and did not see death, that he might come back before “THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD” for the purpose of “turning the heart of the children to their fathers,” and this is the purpose of the prophesying of these “TWO WITNESSES.” (Malachi 4:5–6). It is clear from when the Prophet Malachi said that Elijah would come again, JUST BEFORE “The Great And Dreadful Day Of The Lord,” that this prophecy was not fulfilled in John the Baptist. He announced the “First Coming” of Christ, but no “Great And Dreadful Day Of The Lord” followed. That event is yet future and follows the testimony of these “TWO WITNESSES.” (8)

When the Jews sent Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to John to ask him, “Who Art Thou?” he confessed—“I AM NOT THE CHRIST.” And they asked him, “What then? Art thou ELIJAH?” And he said—“I AM NOT.” It is clear from John’s answers to these questions that he was NOT ELIJAH. When Gabriel announced to Zacharias the birth of John the Baptist, he said he shall go before Him (Christ) in the “SPIRIT AND POWER” of Elijah. He will not be Elijah but shall be like him in spirit and power. When John from his prison cell sent messengers to Jesus to ask Him if He were the Christ, after Christ had dismissed those messengers, He said to the multitude of John, “IF YE WILL RECEIVE ‘IT,’ THIS IS ELIJAH WHICH WAS FOR TO COME.” (Matthew 11:1–14). Jesus here simply affirms that John was ELIJAH if men would RECEIVE “IT.” Not receive “HIM” (John), but receive “IT.” What did Jesus mean by “IT”? The context shows that Jesus was talking about the “KINGDOM” (Verses 11 and 12), and if they had received “THE KINGDOM” that John announced was at hand, then John, instead of being John, would have been ELIJAH come back, but because God foresaw that the Jews would not receive the KINGDOM, He could not send ELIJAH at that time, so He had to send a substitute with the “spirit” and “power” of Elijah in his place, so He sent John the Baptist. (8)

Did not Jesus say to the Disciples when they were coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration, where they had seen Elijah—“Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you that ELIAS IS COME ALREADY, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Then the Disciples understood that He spake unto them of JOHN THE BAPTIST”? (Matthew 17:11–13). Now whatever this may mean, it cannot contradict John’s own declaration that he WAS NOT ELIJAH or Christ’s statement that if God had foreseen that the Jews would have received the Kingdom, He would have sent ELIJAH instead of John. And Christ’s statement in the above reference that Elijah’s purpose in coming is to “RESTORE ALL THINGS,” which John did not do, and Malachi’s declaration that Elijah would not come until just before the ‘GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD,’ makes it clear that John the Baptist was not Elijah, and that Elijah is yet to come. (8)

It is said of these “TWO WITNESSES” that they have power—

1. “To SHUT HEAVEN, that it RAIN NOT in the days of their prophecy.”

2. “And have power over WATERS to TURN THEM TO BLOOD, and to smite the earth with ALL PLAGUES, as often as they will.”

Furthermore, we know that Moses had the power to turn water into BLOOD and to smite the earth with PLAGUES, but we are not told that Enoch had such power.

If we study carefully what shall happen during the period the “TWO WITNESSES” shall testify, which, as we have seen, will be the last half of the “Week,” or 3.5 years, we shall see that the “TWO WITNESSES” can be no other than MOSES and ELIJAH. Elijah will probably shut up the heavens so that there shall be no rain during the 3.5 years of their witnessing, for we read that there is to be a “FIRE TEST” such as Elijah appointed on Mount Carmel in the days of King Ahab (1 Kings 18:17–40). The contest will be between Elijah and the “FALSE PROPHET,” and the “FALSE PROPHET” shall have the power to do what the Priests of Baal could not do, bring FIRE FROM HEAVEN. (Revelation 13:13). The crucial question on Mt. Carmel was, who is GOD, YAHWEH, or BAAL? In the days of the Antichrist, it will be, who is GOD, YAHWEH, or ANTICHRIST? The test will be the power to bring down FIRE FROM HEAVEN. As the “False Prophet” will imitate the power of Elijah and bring down FIRE FROM HEAVEN, the test will not be decisive. The true Israel of God; however, will acknowledge the claim of Yahweh, while the followers of “The Beast” will continue to believe in him. But Elijah shall not be as fortunate as he was in the days of Ahab, for then he escaped the vengeance of Jezebel, but he will not be able to escape the vengeance of Antichrist who will see to it that both he and Moses are slain. (8)

As the Plagues that accompany the pouring out of the “Bowls,” four are similar to the “Plagues of Egypt,” so who is more likely to bring them to pass than Moses? The evidence suggests that the “TWO WITNESSES” will be MOSES and ELIJAH. (8)

In passing, it is worth noting the “TITLE” of these two men. The “MIGHTY ANGEL” (Christ) calls them My “TWO WITNESSES.” This implies that “WITNESSING” was their business. And when we recall their witnessing on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3), and that it was TWO MEN that witnessed to the women at the Tomb that Jesus had risen (Luke 24:4–7), and that it was TWO MEN who stood by and witnessed to the Disciples as Jesus ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:10–11), and that in all three incidents, the MEN were clothed in “shining garments,” it seems clear that Moses was resurrected and Elijah translated for the express office of “WITNESSES.” (8)

John does say that the two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. He is referring to a Scripture in Zechariah where we are told that Zechariah had a vision of a lampstand with two olive trees, one on the right and the other on the left of the lampstand. Zechariah did not know what his vision meant, so he asked:

Next I asked the messenger, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the menorah?” Before he could reply I asked again, “What are these two extensions of the olive trees, which are emptying out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?” (Zechariah 4:11,12 NET)

The angel answered

He replied, “Don’t you know what these are?” And I said, “No, sir.” So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:13–14 NET)

For Zechariah, the two anointed ones were Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zerubbabel was the governor of Judah, while Joshua was the high priest. Both were involved in the rebuilding of the second Temple. They both became discouraged in their efforts, which is why the Lord raised Zechariah to encourage them. (10)

The olive trees supply the oil for the lampstand, and in the Bible, oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This is why the angel made the following statement to Zechariah: (10)

Therefore he told me, “These signify the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord who rules over all.” (Zechariah 4:6 NET)

In other words, Zerubbabel and Joshua would successfully complete their task of rebuilding the Temple because God’s Spirit would empower them. God would enable them to do what they could not do in their own strength.

The two witnesses John sees are like Zerubbabel and Joshua in that God will empower them to do miraculous signs and wonders. The “TWO WITNESSES” whose work it will be to proclaim that the time has come to rebuild Jerusalem and re-establish the Temple worship, for the “KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” is at hand. And they will have to do it in the face of the opposition of Satan, who at that time will have incarnated himself in the Antichrist. The miracles testify to the living God judging the people for their sin of rejecting Him. John notes that they are wearing sackcloth, a garment of sadness and mourning. Even though the haters of God and His people seek to kill the two witnesses, God protects them for the three and one-half years of their ministry; they are immune from death. If any man tries to hurt them, then fire comes out of their mouths and completely consumes their enemies (21)(8)

The Two Witnesses Are Killed

When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. Their corpses will lie in the street of the great city that is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified. For three and a half days those from every people, tribe, nation, and language will look at their corpses, because they will not permit them to be placed in a tomb. And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. (Revelation 11:7–10 NET)

When their appointed ministry testimony time is over, God allows the Beast to kill them. John explains that the Beast is the one that ascends out of the bottomless pit. Who is this Beast? Interestingly, the word beast, when referring to evil, is mentioned 37 times in the Book of Revelation. There is the Beast From the Sea, the Beast From the Earth, and in this reference, the beast from the bottomless pit. In the Book of Revelation, the bottomless pit is also referred to as the sea (Revelation 11:7; 13:1; 17:8.) (10)

We discussed previously that the fifth trumpet (Revelation 9:1-12) released tormenting demons from the bottomless pit, which is also called the abyss. The abyss is the biblical name for the abode of demons. The Beast coming out of the bottomless pit is Satan. The Beast From the Sea is a reference to the Antichrist, while the Beast From the Earth is a reference to the False Prophet. With God’s permission, Satan stirs up his followers to kill the two witnesses. (10)

John explains that this is happening in Jerusalem. It is sad to read that John compares the spiritual condition of Jerusalem to Sodom and Egypt. Sodom represents the worse in immorality, while Egypt is the biblical symbol of idolatry. This is not only a battle for physical Jerusalem but also for the heart and soul of Jerusalem. (10)

God made many promises in the Bible that He would return to Jerusalem. At that time, Jerusalem will become the throne of God.

At that time the city of Jerusalem will be called the Lord’s throne. All nations will gather there in Jerusalem to honor the Lord’s name. They will no longer follow the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. (Jeremiah 3:17 NET)

The battle for Jerusalem is Satan’s last desperate effort to rule the city in place of God. If the ministry of the two witnesses is happening during the last three and one-half years of Daniel’s 70th week, they are killed only a few days before the coming of Jesus described in Revelation 19. (10)

Bible-believing people have great respect for the dead. Because of their beliefs about the next world, they must honor the dead by burying them as quickly as possible. In Psalm 79, the writer laments that the dead were not given a proper burial. This was after the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem in 586 b.c. He describes a situation similar to the scene John sees in Jerusalem: (10)

O God, foreigners have invaded your chosen land; they have polluted your holy temple and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins. They have given the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky; the flesh of your loyal followers to the beasts of the earth. They have made their blood flow like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them. (Psalm 79:1–3 NET)

Because of their satanic hatred of the two witnesses, those who killed them refused to bury them. Instead, they left their bodies on display for three and one-half days. This was the greatest show of hatred, insult, and humiliation to the dead. Those who opposed God and His servants celebrated the death of the two witnesses with a party and exchanging gifts. This will most likely be seen around the world via satellite. (10)

The Two Witnesses Resurrected

But after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and tremendous fear seized those who were watching them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them: “Come up here!” So the two prophets went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies stared at them. Just then a major earthquake took place and a tenth of the city collapsed; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:11–13 NET)

The celebration of the death of the two witnesses does not last very long. At the end of the three and one-half days, God breathes His life into the dead bodies of the two witnesses, who are resurrected. Can you imagine the startled look of horror and disbelief on the faces of the people of the world? By killing the two witnesses, they think they have killed God. Yet, God shows the world that they cannot kill Him. (10)

When the two witnesses are resurrected, the world’s people hear a loud voice from Heaven calling God’s servants to ascend to Heaven. The whole world sees this take place. (10)

Similar language is used to describe the ascension of Jesus to Heaven as recorded in the Book of Acts:

After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9–11 NET)

The prophecy about Jesus returning is about to be fulfilled in the Book of Revelation. But first, God calls His two witnesses to Heaven before He sends further judgment on those who oppose Him. John tells us that a great earthquake destroys a tenth of Jerusalem, causing the deaths of 7,000 people. Those who remain alive clearly recognize the hand of God and give Him glory. This does not necessarily mean that they repent, but they simply acknowledge the obvious: the God of Heaven is the One True God who is the supreme sovereign Lord of the universe. (10)

The Second Woe from the Sixth Trumpet blast has Passed

The second woe has come and gone; the third is coming quickly. (Revelation 11:14 NET)

This brings an end to the second of the three woes. John learns that the third woe is at hand. (10)

The Seventh Trumpet Blast – The Third Woe

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NET)

The Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ

What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? What do we mean when we talk about the Kingdom of God? We must understand that the Kingdom of God does not relate to time. It is not a question of when. For example, the question of when Jesus will come and establish His Kingdom is not the issue. People erroneously want to relate the Kingdom of God to time. Therefore, they ask the question, “When?” The result of this thinking is to relegate the Kingdom of God to the future only. In the Bible, the Kingdom of God is not related to time. It is related to space. It is not a question of when but where. What is the Kingdom of God, and where is it? (10)

The Kingdom of God is the rule of God over His creation. His Kingdom is everywhere present. It is expressed through the lives of His people who have chosen to live under His rule and who obey His royal decrees and commandments. By so doing, they manifest His Kingship on the earth. This is called “taking on the Yoke of the Kingdom.”

When Jesus said,

Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” (Matthew 11:29–30 NET), 

He meant we should acknowledge the Kingdom of God in our lives. (10)

God has always had a people living under His rule. In this sense, the Kingdom of God is past, present, and future. But since God is outside of time, His Kingdom is always present. It always was, always is, and always will be. All people can experience God’s Kingdom when they obey God’s commandments and live under His rule. (10)

Since Western Christians often and erroneously believe that grace means “no commandments,” few experience Kingdom life. While all true believers live in God’s Kingdom, they don’t all experience God’s Kingdom blessings because they don’t keep His commandments. (10)

God’s commandments are His instructions for living in His Kingdom. His commandments are not the legalism of man-made rules. When Western preachers and teachers say that God “did away with the law,” they can give Christians the impression that being saved by grace means God places no demands on their lives. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, salvation is by grace alone, but that grace empowers us to be liberated from ourselves, not from the rule of God. (10)

Jesus said:

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. (John 14:15 NET)

The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.” (John 14:21 NET)

Can anything be clearer than this statement by Jesus? (10)

God’s Kingdom Past

Adam and Eve

In the past, God’s Kingdom rule was delegated to Adam, who was given dominion over all of God’s creation. He was only given one commandment, which he did not keep. When Adam and Eve sinned, they no longer enjoyed God’s Kingdom blessings. While God’s Kingdom fills Heaven and Earth, we can only operate in it when we obey Him. Except for Noah, Adam and Eve’s descendants chose not to live in God’s Kingdom. (10)

Abraham

Around 4,000 years ago, God created a new company of people through whom He would express His Kingdom to the world. Jewish tradition teaches that Abraham was the first person to address God as Master or Adonai (Lord), thus declaring His Kingdom over the world. (10)

God declared that the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be a unique people who would be a kingdom of priests to the nations. As they lived under His Kingship and obeyed His commandments, they would manifest His Kingdom to the nations. (10)

And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5,6 NET)

At Sinai

At Sinai, God’s chosen people said,

He took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people, and they said, “We are willing to do and obey all that the Lord has spoken.” (Exodus 24:7 NET). 

History teaches otherwise. As a company of people, the Jewish people have not lived up to their high calling. Even so, they acknowledge God as King, even when not operating in His Kingdom. (10)

Many believers have learned the first part of the Jewish blessing, which says, “Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melech Haolam,” meaning, “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe.” God is King of the universe, even though we may not personally acknowledge Him as King in our lives. (10)

A central theme in Judaism is Tikkun Olam which in the Hebrew language means “repairing the world morally and spiritually.” It is the vision of the prophets in the Bible to make the world a better place where justice and righteousness, and peace—that is, Kingdom conditions—prevail over evil. We are not put on this earth as mere spectators to live a certain number of days on the earth and accumulate things. We are to actively partner with God in establishing His Kingdom on earth, knowing that it will not fully come to Earth until Messiah comes to Earth as King and Lord of the nations. (10)

King David

The Kingdom of God manifested on the earth is the focus and plan of the Bible. When God appointed David as king, David prayed to the Lord: (10)

David praised the Lord before the entire assembly: “O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore! O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. (1 Chronicles 29:10-11).

Psalms

The Kingdom of God was frequently acknowledged in the Book of Psalms.

For example,

“All kings will bow down to him; all nations will serve him., all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him.” (Psalm 72:11 NET)

Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him! Let all the nations worship you! For the Lord is king and rules over the nations. (Psalm 22:27–28 NET)

The Prophets

The prophets also spoke about a golden age when God’s Kingdom would be fully manifested on earth. (10)

Daniel’s words are an example:

In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. (Daniel 2:44 NET).

Then the kingdom, authority, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be delivered to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; all authorities will serve him and obey him.’ (Daniel 7:27 NET)

Zechariah’s words are an example:

The Lord will then be king over all the earth. In that day the Lord will be seen as one with a single name. (Zechariah 14:9 NET)

Intertestamental Period

The Kingdom of God was also a major emphasis between Malachi and Matthew. Somewhere during that time, the Jewish people, out of reverence for God, were afraid they would misuse His name. A simple solution to their concern was simply not to say it. So instead of saying God’s name, the Jews substituted other words which they considered to be synonyms for God’s name. (10)

For example, instead of saying the Kingdom of God, they would say the Kingdom of Heaven. Western scholars not connected to their biblical Hebraic roots have written volumes of pages and books trying to explain the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven, not realizing they are the same thing. This name substitution is similar to the respect children show to their parents; they don’t call their parents by their first names but by titles such as Father and Mother or Dad and Mom. (10)

The following are examples of this practice:

It is for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven, there is no difference between saving by many or by few. It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven (1 Maccabees 3:18–19 (NRSV).

And now, let us cry to Heaven, to see whether he will favor us and remember his covenant with our ancestors and crush this army before us today. (1 Maccabees 4:10 NRSV).

Clearly, God’s people do not cry out to the place called Heaven but to God Himself.

God’s Kingdom Present

John the Baptist and Jesus

While Christianity in America has not emphasized the Gospel of the Kingdom, it is the emphasis in the New Testament, which is a continuation of what was proclaimed in the Hebrew Bible. In between the writings of the two sections of the Bible, people often substituted the word Heaven for the name of God. (10)

The Kingdom of God and the idea of grace and faith are not new to the New Testament. All the writers of the New Testament, with the possible exception of Luke (15), were Jews who received their concepts and understandings of the Kingdom of God and grace and faith from the writers of the Hebrew Bible, beginning with the Book of Genesis. God’s grace and mercy operating through His kingdom are central to the teaching in the Hebrew Bible, what Christians call The Old Testament or Old Covenant. The Kingdom of God is not only a past reality; it is a present reality extended to Gentiles who acknowledge Jesus as their King and live, by God’s mercy and grace, under God’s rule. (10)

The New Testament opens with John the Baptist proclaiming,

In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken: “The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ” (Matthew 3:1–3 NET)

Jesus had the same message,

Now when Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, he went into Galilee. While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach this message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:12–17 NET)

In Hebraic thinking, the phrase “at hand” means “imminent, bursting forth, ready to be revealed.” Whenever Jesus did a miracle, it was a manifestation of the Kingdom of God in their midst. Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, and then He demonstrated it by healing people and delivering them from demons.

Matthew said,

Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:23 NET)

The most famous “Christian prayer” is really a Jewish prayer we have called the Lord’s Prayer (1). In this prayer, Jesus prays to the Father, saying,

“may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 NET). 

God’s Kingdom is manifested on the earth when God’s people do God’s will.

In His greatest recorded teaching in the Bible, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained how to live as Kingdom people.

He said,

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NET)

After this teaching, Jesus sent His talmidim (students/disciples) to preach the same Gospel of the Kingdom.

Matthew says:

As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. (Matthew 10:7–8 NET)

Similarly, Luke says,

Heal the sick in that town and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come upon you!’ (Luke 10:9 NET)

Now at one point the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, so he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20–21 NET)(16) 

In Matthew, Jesus said that the Gentiles would enter His Kingdom and become part of the Commonwealth of Israel.

I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, (Matthew 8:11 NET)

Jesus said,

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 NET)

Paul and the Kingdom of God

Paul also focused his preaching on the Kingdom of God. Because we put so much emphasis on his message of faith and grace, we don’t realize that this message was presented within the context of his central message of the Kingdom of God. Let’s read Paul’s words and those of Luke, James, and Peter.

Paul:

They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.” (Acts 14:22 NET)

Paul gave his farewell to the believers at Ephesus and reminded them that he preached to them the message of the Kingdom of God.

“And now I know that none of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom will see me again. (Acts 20:25 NET)

When the Jews in Rome came to see Paul in prison,

They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. (Acts 28:23 NET)

Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction. (Acts 28:30–31 NET)

In those verses, we discovered an incredible truth: the Gospel of Jesus is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and this message is found in the Law of Moses and from the lips of the prophets.

Philip:

But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12 NET)

James:

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? (James 2:5 NET)

Peter:

For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you. (2 Peter 1:11 NET)

God’s Kingdom Future

God’s Kingdom is not only past and present; it is also future, as the Scriptures declare. In Matthew, Jesus said that those (the sheep) who give social assistance to His brethren (the Jews) will inherit God’s Kingdom.

All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matthew 25:32-34 NET)

The following verse is most interesting:

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NET)

It seems that these loud voices are those of the angels of heaven proclaiming the final message of the Gospel of the Kingdom. (10)

The Revelation gives further clarification:

So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:16 NET) 

This last trumpet judgment will bring the full measure of the Kingdom of God to Earth. As was just shown, it has always been here in part, but with the King coming to Earth in person, the Kingdom of God will be fully manifested on Earth. (10)

The Revelation tells us that God’s covenant Kingdom people will reign with the Lord for 1,000 years on this earth:

Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6 NET)

Finally, we learn in Revelation that God’s Kingdom is everlasting, existing before the beginning of time and continuing after time is no more. The Lord God will reign into eternity over His creation as sovereign King and Master.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life—water as clear as crystal—pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, flowing down the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. And there will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him, and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1–5 NET)

As we awaken to this shift of emphasis from the Gospel of Salvation to the Gospel of the Kingdom, from “Churchianity” to Kingdom life, we will soon see biblical kinds of miracles as being commonplace for ordinary believers who are willing to submit themselves to the Yoke of the Kingdom of God. The greatest outpouring of God’s supernatural manifestations is at hand. While evil will increase, the glory of God’s Spirit will anoint His people with His presence and power as in the days of the first coming Messiah. We see this happening in the ministry of the two witnesses. (10)

We will soon see the time when the Kingdom of God in Heaven will so fill the earth that God’s people will be ready for the coming of the Lord. God’s Kingdom is past, present, and future. It was, it is, and it is to come. May His Kingdom come, and may His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). May we all embrace the Yoke of His Kingdom. (10)

Kingdom Worship

Then the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and worshiped God with these words: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations were enraged, but your wrath has come, and the time has come for the dead to be judged, and the time has come to give to your servants, the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and to those who revere your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. (Revelation 11:16–19 NET)

When the elders hear the long-awaited news that God is about to fully establish His Kingdom on the earth, they fall on their faces and worship God as “the One who is and who was” (Revelation 11:17). He is the Almighty, the Great I AM who transcends time and space. His Kingdom that is forever will now be fully manifested in time on the earth in the person of the King Himself—Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, and King of kings and Lord of lords. The great prayer that Jesus taught us to pray for God’s Kingdom to come to Earth is being fully answered. (10)

As world leaders realize their rule without God is over, they are filled with anger and rage against Him. God will now pour out His final wrath against them, forever destroying their godless “One World System.” This transfer of kingdoms from the rule of man to the rule of God is the final fulfillment of Psalm 2. (10)

The writer of that great psalm looked into the future and proclaimed:

Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail? The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the Lord and his anointed king. They say, “Let’s tear off the shackles they’ve put on us! Let’s free ourselves from their ropes!”(Psalm 2:1-3 NET).

These world leaders are so deceived as to think they can defeat God. The Lord’s response is to laugh at their foolish arrogance:

The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them. Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying, “I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.” [Jerusalem]” (Psalm 2:4-6 NET).

The psalmist then sees God proclaiming His Kingdom:

The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me [the Messiah]: ‘You are my son! This very day I have become your father! Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property. You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’ ” (Psalm 2:7–9 NET)

Writing with clear spiritual eyes, the psalmist sees God giving His final warning to world leaders:

So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! Serve the Lord in fear! Repent in terror! Give sincere homage [bow down in humble submission]! Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him! (Psalm 2:10–12 NET)

When Messiah comes to set up His Kingdom, the righteous dead will be raised and rewarded for their faithfulness to worship and serve the One True God through their faith and trust in His Son. They will rule and reign with Him, as explained throughout the Scriptures. But the unrighteous will be judged and forever banished from the presence of God. (10)

Looking forward to this time, an angel gave the following words of comfort and assurance to Daniel:

Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake— some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence. (Daniel 12:2 NET).

Jesus explained it this way:

“I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming—and is now here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. “Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out—the ones who have done what is good [acceptable to God] to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil [unacceptable to God] to the resurrection resulting in condemnation. (John 5:24–29 NET)

Almost as a footnote to this proclamation and worship, John sees the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies of the Temple in Heaven. Bible students recall that when God delivered the Hebrews from Egypt, He instructed them to build a tabernacle or tent where He would dwell among them. God’s glorious presence resided in the inner room—the Holy of Holies above the Ark of the Covenant. (10)

The Ark of the Covenant was a small chest with statues of cherubim attached to the lid. This represented the throne of God on earth at that time. It was the way God chose to dwell among His people. Later, David brought the Ark of the Covenant to the City of David and placed it in the tent he built to worship the Lord. When Solomon built the Temple, he had a great dedication service when he moved the Ark from the City of David to the Temple. The glory of the Lord so filled the Temple that the priests could no longer minister. All they could do was worship God.

The Second Chronicles reads:

The priests left the holy place. All the priests who participated had consecrated themselves, no matter which division they represented. All the Levites who were musicians, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives, wore linen. They played cymbals and stringed instruments as they stood east of the altar. They were accompanied by 120 priests who blew trumpets. The trumpeters and musicians played together, praising and giving thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they loudly praised the Lord, singing: “Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!” Then a cloud filled the Lord’s temple. The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord’s splendor filled God’s temple. (2 Chronicles 5:11-14 NET).

The connection between the worship when Solomon dedicated the Temple to what John sees in Heaven should be obvious. When John says that he sees the Ark of the Covenant, his readers would understand that he sees the throne room and the presence of God. Like the priests at the dedication of the Temple, the 24 elders (the number of course or groups of priests (1 Chronicle 24:1-19) representing redeemed Israel) fall down and worship God. (10)

As He did with the opening of the seventh seal and later the pouring out of the seventh bowl judgment, God endorses what John has written with lightning, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail (Revelation 8:5; 16:18-21). This is God’s way of saying, “Amen!” (10)

INTERMISSION: The Chronological Revelation of the End Times is temporarily suspended

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Then the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and worshiped God with these words: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations were enraged, but your wrath has come, and the time has come for the dead to be judged, and the time has come to give to your servants, the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and to those who revere your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. (Revelation 11:15-19 NET)

The seventh trumpet judgment in Revelation 11:15-19 proclaims that the kingdoms of this world are judged and replaced with the Kingdom of God, which is coming to the earth.

Before the Lord gives John the vision of what this judgment entails, He gives John “backstory” (23), and “flashback” (22) information about people and events, which is recorded in Revelation chapters 12–14:5. This information does not advance the story in time; it only provides more information. (21)

After telling the “backstory” and “flashback” information about the people and events; John describes the contents of the judgments that occur at the blowing of the seventh trumpet beginning in Revelation 14:6 and continuing through Revelation chapters 15, 16, 17, and 18.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NET)

FLASHBACK (22): The nation of Israel is formed

BACKSTORY (23): THE WOMAN

Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling to give birth. (Revelation 12:1–2 NET)

John informs us that he sees a great sign. The Greek word that John uses for the sign is semeion. It refers to a supernatural signal or indication that something is about to happen on earth. Ancient people believed signs in the heavens were messages to them that changes were coming to the earth. John uses apocalyptic language that people of his time would understand. This would be no ordinary sign but a great sign meaning something extraordinary will happen. (10)

The sign that he sees is a woman. She is clothed with the sun, has the moon under her feet, and wears a garland or crown of 12 stars. The woman is pregnant to the point of having labor pains and is about ready to give birth. What is this all about? (10)

The Book of Genesis provides the answer to its meaning; it is found in the story of Joseph.

You may recall that Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob (Israel). Joseph had a dream in which his brothers bowed down to him.

Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more.He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had:There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the middle of the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose up and stood upright and your sheaves surrounded my sheaf and bowed down to it!” Then his brothers asked him, “Do you really think you will rule over us or have dominion over us?” They hated him even more because of his dream and because of what he said. (Genesis 37:5–8 NET)

Joseph was only 17 years of age when he had this dream, so he didn’t have enough wisdom to keep it to himself. Naturally, his older brothers resented Joseph for his arrogance. (10)

Joseph had a second dream. In this dream, his brothers and parents bowed down to him. Genesis tells what happened next:

Then he had another dream, and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said. “I had another dream. The sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told his father and his brothers, his father rebuked him, saying, “What is this dream that you had? Will I, your mother, and your brothers really come and bow down to you?”His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what Joseph said. (Genesis 37:9–11 NET)

When Joseph told his father and brothers about the second dream, they scorned him even more. Yet, his father put the dream in the back of his mind and thought about it. (10)

Joseph’s dream was fulfilled years later in Egypt when Pharaoh made Joseph his second-in-command. When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt seeking food, they did not recognize Joseph but bowed before him: (10)

When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, and they bowed down to the ground before him. He asked them how they were doing. Then he said, “Is your aging father well, the one you spoke about? Is he still alive?” “Your servant our father is well,” they replied. “He is still alive.” They bowed down in humility. (Genesis 43:26–28 NET)

Considered in light of this story from Genesis, the woman whom John sees is Israel. John does a flashback to the Jewish patriarchs and the promise God gave them to be the bearers of the Redeemer of mankind. The sun represents Jacob, the moon represents Rachel, and the 12 stars represent the 12 children or tribes of Israel. (10)

The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) were the covenant people through whom God would bring the Messiah into the world. The woman crying out in pain symbolizes Israel suffering for centuries at the hands of the Gentiles while waiting for the birth of their Deliverer, the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. This sign reminds us that God also gave a sign in the heavens recorded in the New Testament when the Messiah was born to Mary, a descendant of the tribe of Judah. (10)

When Jesus was to be born, the Jews were suffering greatly under the cruel rule of the Romans. God sent them a sign in the heavens that something remarkable was about to happen. This sign was the star of Bethlehem, which guided the wise men (astronomers) from the East to Jerusalem. When they saw the sign in Heaven, they connected it to a great event that was to happen on the earth, the birth of the King of the Jews.

FLASHBACK: Lucifer is cast out of Heaven along with his angels for the first time

BACKSTORY: The Dragon

Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns. Now the dragon’s tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth... (Revelation 12:3,4 a NET)

The next sign John sees is a great, fiery red dragon. This frightening monster has seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems or crowns on his head. (In Revelation 12:9, we will learn that the dragon symbolizes the devil or Satan). (10)

In apocalyptic language, the seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns represent nations and world leaders over which satan will rule in the end times. Since the number seven often means completion, the idea is that Satan will have complete power and authority over a world united under his control. Only God’s people, and apparently some strong-willed independent holdouts, who refuse the Mark of the Beast, do not submit to him. This is why Satan energizes his puppet world leaders to persecute God’s people. (10)

Many people doubt the reality of a literal, personal devil. They believe the devil is just a character out of the imagination of man’s mind. They think of him as a strange character in a red suit with a long tail, horns, and a pitchfork. This image came about in the Middle Ages when the devil was portrayed this way in plays so the audience could recognize his character when he came onto the stage. (10)

Nothing could be further from the truth about what the devil is like. There is a personal devil and a spirit world that we cannot comprehend with our physical senses. Whether one believes this does not change reality. (10)

There are two passages in the Hebrew Bible that many scholars believe refer to Satan’s origin and fall. These are Isaiah 14:10-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-19. In their immediate historical context, the Isaiah Scripture literally refers to the rise and fall of the king of Babylon. In contrast, the Ezekiel Scripture refers to the king of Tyre similarly. With this in mind, the wording in these verses seems to go far beyond addressing mere human kings; instead, it uses them as examples to aid us in understanding the fall of Satan. (10)

Briefly, the Bible would have us understand that Satan was at one time called Lucifer. This name means “light-bearer.” Lucifer was God’s most perfect, splendid creation. It seems that he was the top-ranking angel and served at God’s throne. His outward appearance was iridescent, like a magnificent rainbow reflecting the glory of God. (10)

When God created Lucifer, He created him perfect in every way. People often ask, “How could a good God create an evil being like the devil?” Because there is such a contradiction of a good God creating an evil being, they conclude there must not really be a devil. Part of this reasoning is correct. God did not create Lucifer as an evil being. He created Lucifer as the most glorious of all of His angelic beings for the purpose of serving Him and reflecting His glory. Some scholars believe that Lucifer was God’s heavenly praise and worship leader. (10)

John reports seeing Satan’s tail pulling one-third of the stars from Heaven to Earth. Once again, we remind ourselves that John is using symbolic language. He does not mean that Satan literally has a tail or that a third of the physical stars in the sky follow Satan. He means that he could see with spiritual eyes the spiritual battles taking place in the spirit world in Heaven. (10)

Because of the sin of pride, Lucifer desired worship for himself. He led a rebellion in Heaven against God. According to John, Lucifer convinced one-third of the stars (angels) to follow him (Revelation 12:4,7,9; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). It was Lucifer who introduced sin and evil into God’s world. However, Lucifer and his fallen unholy angel army were defeated and expelled for the first time from heaven and sent to earth at the speed of light! It was Lucifer who introduced sin and evil into God’s world.

So he [Jesus] said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (Luke 10:18 NET)

While Satan lost his attempt to be worshiped in Heaven, he did not give up. His pride and hatred of God drove him to establish his worship and rule on the earth. He has done this by creating an anti-God world system. This Satan desires to live out his god-image by ruling over this world system. This will find its climax, as described in the following chapters in the Book of Revelation. (10)

Adam and Eve (1) are created; they sin and are expelled from the Garden of Eden, where they once walked with God (Genesis 3:8. Genesis 3:22-24). The sweet fellowship they shared with God is now lost, at least for now. Lucifer now has the authority or right to use the power he retained, having been an archangel of God, and also regains access to Heaven for himself and his fallen unholy angels from man (Job 1:6,7). Lucifer’s name is later changed by God to Satan, which means the accuser or adversary of man (Revelation 12:9,10; 20:2).

With his access to God, Satan constantly slanders and accuses God’s people of being unworthy of God’s grace and mercy. It is as if Satan is taunting God to cast away the believers with the same judgment God gave him. (10)

For example, we learn in the Book of Job that Satan came before God and accused Job of worshiping and serving God only to get God’s blessings (Job 1:6-12). The Lord knew Job’s heart and gave Satan permission to test Job. Bible students know that Job suffered greatly but stayed true to God. God was honored, Job was vindicated, and Satan proved himself to be a liar who falsely accused Job.

On another occasion, we learn in Zechariah that Satan accused Joshua, the high priest, of serving God in stained garments. In other words, Joshua was not holy enough to be the high priest. The Lord rebuked Satan, forgave Joshua of any sin, and clothed him in clean garments. (Zechariah 3:1-5.)

FLASHBACK: Jesus is born a descendent of Israel, and after His death, burial, and resurrection, ascends to the right hand of God our Father.

...Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born.  (Revelation 12:4 b NET)

John sees Satan confronting the woman (Israel) when she is about to give birth to a child. Satan is waiting for the child to be born so he can kill the baby at birth. This is not just any child satan wants to destroy. John is talking about the birth of the Redeemer of mankind—the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Israel is personified as the woman to give birth to the Messiah. (10)

We know from the Bible that Satan attempted to kill Jesus from the moment He was born. When the wise men asked Herod exactly where the King of the Jews was born, he directed them to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-8) according to the prophecy in Micah 5:2. Out of fear, Herod killed all the baby boys two years old and under (Matthew 2:16). It was Satan working through Herod in this demonically-inspired act. Matthew said that this massacre fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah of Rachel weeping for her children. (Matthew 2:1-18.) Jesus was born in these circumstances of intense Jewish suffering. (10)

In addition, Matthew tells us that Satan advised Jesus to tempt God by jumping off the pinnacle of the Temple (Matthew 4:5-6). This was before Jesus even began His ministry. Jesus would have died prematurely and failed to accomplish the purpose for which He was born. Although Satan failed in this attempt, he did not give up on his relentless attacks against Jesus.

Additional Satanic attempts on Jesus’ life:

Matthew 12:14, Mark 3:6 – Pharisees held a council with the Herodians to discuss destroying Jesus because He healed a man on the Sabbath day.

Luke 4:28-30 – Jews attempted to throw Him off the hill because of His very first sermon in His hometown of Nazareth.

John 5:16 – The Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him for healing the impotent man on the Sabbath day.

John 5:18 – Jews sought to kill Jesus because He claimed equality with God.

John 7:30-32 – The Jewish plot to arrest Jesus with intent to kill Him for claiming He was from God.

John 7:25 – It was common knowledge that the Jews sought to kill Jesus.

John 7:40-44 – Some people desired to arrest Jesus with the intent to kill Him.

John 8:59 – Jews attempted to kill Jesus by stoning Him for claiming that He was God.

John 10:31 – The Jews again attempt to kill Jesus by stoning Him for claiming His Deity.

John 10:39 – The Jews sought to take Jesus for proving His Deity.

John 11:47 – The chief priests and Pharisees plot against Jesus.

John 11:53-54 – The Jews make a determined effort to kill Jesus.

John 11:55-57 – The Jews sought Jesus even at the Passover Feast.

John 12:9-11 – The Jews even desire to kill Lazarus because of their hatred for Jesus.

John 18:3,10,12 – Jesus was arrested by Jewish soldiers.

John 18:13-14 – Jesus was tried by Jewish leaders who had already decided on his guilt.

John 18:36 – Jesus acknowledges that it was the Jews who would kill Him.

John 18:38-40;19:1-7;12-15 – The Jews are adamant in their desire to kill Jesus.

John 19:11 – Jesus acknowledges a lesser and a greater sin in those who condemned Him to death.

John 19:16-18 – The Jews led Jesus away to be crucified.

Finally, Satan found a willing vessel in Judas, who betrayed Jesus to the Romans (Matthew 26:47-56). While Pilate had Jesus executed, Jesus made it clear that God allowed Pilate to make this decision (John 19:11).

BACKSTORY: THE MALE CHILD

So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:5–6 NET)

John further comments that God caught up Jesus (the Child) to His throne in Heaven. As the Lamb of God, Jesus bore the sins of mankind for us. He was the innocent once-and-for-all substitutionary sacrifice for sin. (10)

Isaiah prophesied this defining moment in history:

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the Lord caused the sin of all of us to attack him. (Isaiah 53:4–6 NET)

Because Jesus had never sinned, He knew the prophecy in the Book of Psalms stating that God would not allow His soul to stay in the place of the dead or His body to decay:

Therefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely. For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay. (Psalm 16:9–10 HCSB)

The book of Acts records the ascension or “catching up” of Jesus to Heaven:

After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9–11 NET)

John further identifies this male Child by referring to the Psalm 2 prophecies we have already explained. Because Jesus is returning as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, He will rule over Israel as the King of the Jews and the nations as King of kings and Lord of lords. As God in human flesh, Jesus will rule with absolute authority and power, or as John says, “with a rod of iron (1)” (Rev. 19:15).

FLASHBACK: Lucifer is cast out of Heaven along with his angels for the second time

BACKSTORY: The Archangel Michael

Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels. So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down. But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!” (Revelation 12:7–12 NET)

The fourth personality John sees is Michael, along with his angels. Michael is mentioned five times in the Bible (Daniel 10:13,21;12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7). Again, Michael is one of the archangels of God. He is also the guardian angel of Israel (Daniel 10:21;12:1).

John explains to us the spiritual warfare and rebellion that occurred in Heaven. John tells us that Michael and his angels fight a war against the dragon and his angels. John identifies the dragon as the devil and Satan. The word devil means “slanderer” or “false accuser,” while satan means “adversary.”

We learn from John that God finally banishes Satan from His presence. The devil is cast out of Heaven for the second time. Since he no longer has access to God to slander His people, he now vents his wrath against God’s people alive on the earth during this time.

While John sees all this, he hears a loud voice proclaiming the Lord’s final victory and judgment of Satan. The fullness of the Kingdom of God is about to be revealed. Jesus will soon return. The righteous will prevail and rule with the Lord on the earth. Believers in Heaven and believers on earth rejoice. Even though they are persecuted and martyred, God’s people overcome Satan through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11). But those who oppose God also face the fierce wrath of Satan because he knows he only has a short time to deceive them into worshiping him.

Satan deceives the nonbelievers to embrace the “New World Order” of peace and unity while persecuting God’s people who refuse to take his mark. Because they are deceived by Satan, those who take his mark will now accuse the believers of being obstacles to world peace and enemies of the State. Those who take the Mark of the Beast think this will help them overcome their struggles to survive and prosper. But it is a tragic deception. However, the real overcomers are those who are willing to die for their faith. (10)

Jesus said:

I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. (John 12:24–25 NET)

FLASHBACK: Satan declares war on all Christians, both Jew, and Gentile

Now when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time. Then the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to sweep her away by a flood, but the earth came to her rescue; the ground opened up and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus. (Revelation 12:13–17 NET)

Using apocalyptic symbolism, John says that the woman (the Nation of Israel) was given two wings of a great eagle so she could fly into the wilderness (desert) in safety. The Lord has used this wording before as a figure of speech. When the Lord delivered the Hebrews from Egypt, He brought them into the desert and cared for them for 40 years. (10)

Exodus reads:

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. (Exodus 19:4 NET)

Similar wording is found in Deuteronomy 32:11-12.

Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, so the Lord spread out his wings and took him, he lifted him up on his pinions. The Lord alone was guiding him, no foreign god was with him. (Deuteronomy 32:11–12 NET)

THE WAR ON THE SAINTS INTENSIFIES

Satan realized he was the victim of the greatest sting operation of all time! He was defeated by the very crucifixion of Jesus he had instigated (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). Michael the Archangel then drives Satan and his unholy fallen angels back out of Heaven and back to the Earth for the second time (Revelation 12:7-9). No longer can Satan appear before God in Heaven to accuse us (Revelation 12:10). Furthermore, all that had been accused by Satan since the fall of mankind have now overcome him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony for which they were willing to die (Revelation 12:11. Colossians 2:13-15. Hebrews 11:13. Hebrews 11:32-40). 

Satan also realizes his time is short and filled with anger; he intensifies his war (Revelation 12:12) on Israel (Revelation 12:13).

Jesus warned His disciples that Jerusalem would be attacked. This happened in the first Jewish revolt against the Romans. The war lasted for seven years from 66-73 A.D. Titus invaded Jerusalem and burned the city and the Temple in 70 A.D. Jesus had already told His disciples to flee to the mountains.

Some scholars believe that this was the complete fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy. However, despite legends to the contrary, Titus did not go into the Holy of Holies in the Temple. While there are clear parallels, Jesus’ words are in the context of the period of the Great Tribulation, which John is now describing (Matthew 24:15-28). This is similar to what happened when the Romans attacked Jerusalem, except this time, the situation is so bad the Lord will have to intervene through the coming of Jesus.

Jesus explains:

For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:21-22 NET).

Some of the survivors of the Satan-inspired Roman destruction of Jerusalem on September 8, 70 AD (20) went to Masada (which means Citadel), where they were protected from the Romans for three and a half years until it was destroyed by the Romans on March 31, 74 AD (20) (Revelation 12:14).

Again, the woman represents Israel. John explains that the Lord supernaturally protects and cares for (nourishes) Israel during this three and one-half year period. This situation is similar to when God provided manna in the desert for the children of Israel (Exodus 16:4) and nourishment for Elijah when he was in the desert (1 Kings 17:2-4). God can still supernaturally take care of His people, and He will do so during the Great Tribulation.

As King David said:

I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food. (Psalm 37:25 NET).

Satan attempted to annihilate all of the Israelites; however, some hiding under the earth in tunnels (19) around Jerusalem escaped to be dispersed throughout the world while the Romans were focused on annihilating those living in Masada (Revelation 12:15,16).

The devil, or Satan, referred to as “the serpent’’ (Genesis 3:1-15), seeks to drown the woman, but the ground opens up to divert the water. The Bible often uses flood terminology to symbolize great evil and distress. Isaiah described such times:

So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV). 

In this instance, the water symbolizes Satan’s army pursuing the woman. Figuratively speaking, the tunnels divert the water so the Jews can escape.

There are also numerous examples in the Hebrew Bible of God using the natural elements to destroy His enemies and the enemies of His people. God literally drowned Pharaoh’s army when they were pursuing the children of Israel.

What we do know for sure is that they are believers who keep the commandments of God. This certainly refutes Western Christian teaching that salvation by grace through faith means that believers are free from the commandments of God. There will be no casual, cultural, carnal, worldly, half-committed believers at this time.

As Jesus said:

The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.” (John 14:21 NET)

When Satan realizes he cannot destroy Israel, he turned to war on the rest of God’s people, the Church (Revelation 12:17. Revelation 13:1-18. 1 Peter 5:8).

So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus. (Revelation 12:17 NET)

Whether you believe these are the grafted-in Gentiles who are part of the Commonwealth of Israel or those newly saved during the Great Tribulation is a matter of interpretation.

BACKSTORY: The Antichrist – The Beast from the Sea

Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. (Revelation 13:1,2 NET)

Using apocalyptic symbolism, John sees a beast coming out of the sea. Ancient people, including John’s readers, were terribly frightened by the sea. To them, the sea was synonymous with the bottomless pit (Revelation 11:7; 13:1; 17:8). (21)

People living in Bible times did not understand that there was a bottom to the sea. When they dropped an anchor, it never reached the bottom. When a ship sank, people believed it descended forever into a bottomless watery darkness. They were also frightened by the Leviathan, a sea monster or beast that stirred up the ocean, causing chaos and death (Job 41). (21)

In John’s Greco-Roman world, the Greeks worshiped the mythical Poseidon as the god of the sea. He was a fierce god with a violent and vengeful temperament. He is depicted carrying a three-pronged spear called a trident. (21)

It was the practice of the Romans to adopt Greek gods and give them Roman names. The Roman name for Poseidon was Neptune. Before people went to sea, they made sacrifices to Poseidon/Neptune as a means of pacifying him and asking for a safe journey. Similarly, today’s believers ask the One True God for His traveling mercies when making long flights over the ocean. (21)

When John says he saw a beast coming out of the sea, it was, for his first-century readers, the most frightening symbolism he could use. Like Poseidon/Neptune and Leviathan, the first false messiah empowered by Satan will be a frightening figure who will cause great chaos and destruction on the earth. Speaking apocalyptically, the Beast from the Sea (i.e., the Antichrist or Anti-Messiah) and the Beast From the Earth (i.e., the false prophet) will stir up the sea; that is, the masses of people on the earth. (21)

Revelation 17:15 confirms that sea or water represents people is the correct interpretation.

It reads:

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. (Revelation 17:15 NET)

Furthermore, his fierce and violent nature will take vengeance against the believers for not submitting to him. John says this Beast From the Sea has seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns on the ten horns. He also has a blasphemous name on his heads. John observes that the Beast is like a leopard, his feet like a bear, and his mouth like a lion (Revelation 13:2). So that God’s people will not be deceived, John clearly states that Satan, the dragon of Revelation 12:3, is the one empowering this false messiah. (21)

BACKSTORY: Daniel’s dream interpretation as recorded in Daniel Chapter 2

Daniel’s dream interpretation recorded in Daniel 2 is further clarified in Daniel 7, which in turn, is explained in detail in Revelation 12–20. Therefore, we can overlay Daniel 2 and 7 with Revelation 12–20.

“You, O king, were watching as a great statue—one of impressive size and extraordinary brightness—was standing before you. Its appearance caused alarm. As for that statue, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze. Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay.You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces. Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth. This was the dream. Now we will set forth before the king its interpretation. “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. Wherever human beings, wild animals, and birds of the sky live—he has given them into your power. He has given you authority over them all. You are the head of gold. Now after you another kingdom will arise, one inferior to yours. Then a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule in all the earth. Then there will be a fourth kingdom, one strong like iron. Just like iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything, and as iron breaks in pieces all of these metals, so it will break in pieces and crush the others. In that you were seeing feet and toes partly of wet clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay. In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile. And in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed with one another without adhering to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.” (Daniel 2:31–45 NET)

In Daniel 2, the empires of history are seen from man’s view as great and glorious. In Daniel 7, the Lord gives His view of these same empires but calls them “beasts,” just like John does in the Book of Revelation. (21)

Bible students will recall that Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in 606 B.C. when Daniel was deported to Babylon. Shortly after that, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. He would not describe his dream to his advisors because he knew they would fabricate an interpretation. However, the Lord showed Daniel the dream and gave him the interpretation as well. This will be a short summary as we will only review enough to help us overlay Daniel with John. (21)

First, Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that the God of Heaven has revealed the dream to him (Daniel), and then he describes what the king saw. Nebuchadnezzar saw a great and glorious image. (This is how world leaders view themselves, their rule, and their power.) The head of the image was fine gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were partly iron and partly clay. Then, according to Daniel, the king saw a stone strike the image on its feet and destroy it. Daniel says the king saw that the stone was cut out without hands, meaning the image was destroyed by a sovereign act of God, bringing an end to man’s empires and vain attempts to rule without Him. (21)

After that, Daniel provides the interpretation. He explains to Nebuchadnezzar that the image represents four successive kingdoms or empires, with a fifth empire—the Kingdom of God—coming to the earth. (21)

The head of gold represents King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire (606–536 B.C.). Ancient Babylon is modern Iraq. The chest and arms of silver represent the Medo-Persian Empire (536–333 B.C.) which succeeded Babylon.

While Daniel does not specifically mention the Medes and Persians at this time, he does identify them in Daniel 5:22-31; 8:1-7,20; 11:1-2. As a side note, the Persians became more powerful than the Medes and displaced them as the next empire. (Ancient Persia is modern Iran.) (21)

The belly and thighs of bronze represent the third empire of Alexander the Great and Greece (333–323 B.C.), which succeeded the Persians. Daniel identifies this empire in Daniel 8:1-7,21;11:3. The legs of iron represent a fourth kingdom or empire that Daniel does not identify. However, we know from history that this fourth empire was Rome (30 B.C.–A.D. 364).

Daniel explains that Rome, the fourth kingdom represented by legs of iron, will be divided as indicated by the feet of iron and clay. Rome was divided in A.D. 364 into western and eastern divisions. Rome was the capital of the western division, and Constantinople was the capital of the eastern division. The western division fell to the Mongol invaders in the middle of the fifth century. The eastern division lasted another 1,000 years until the Muslim Turks conquered Constantinople in A.D. 1453.

Because the Roman Empire was divided before it fell, a revived Islam led by the Mahdi (i.e., Islamic messiah and Antichrist) will probably be the end-time power because it was the Muslim Turks who conquered Constantinople.

As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation. (Genesis 17:20 NET)

The feet with their ten toes represent a world empire that will rule the nations when God smashes it with the smiting stone, which is His own Kingdom coming to the earth. The ten toes are the same as the ten horns. The destruction of the ten toes/ten horns empire is the prophetic symbolism fulfilled when the seventh trumpet-shofar is blown to announce:

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NET)

BACKSTORY: Daniel’s dream, as recorded in Daniel Chapter 7

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream filled with visions while he was lying on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream in summary fashion.Daniel explained: “I was watching in my vision during the night as the four winds of the sky were stirring up the great sea. Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another. “The first one was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it. “Then a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and devour much flesh!’ “After these things, as I was watching, another beast like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back. This beast had four heads, and ruling authority was given to it. “After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared—one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns. (Daniel 7:1-7 NET)

In Daniel 7, we learn that Belshazzar is the king of Babylon. During his reign, Daniel has an apocalyptic revelation through a dream and vision. He sees the same empires he saw in Daniel Chapter 2, but now he sees them from God’s point of view. To humankind, the empires are glorious, but to God, they are beasts, and their beastly descriptions characterize the empires. (21)

Notice in Daniel 7:2-3 that Daniel, like John, sees a stirring or chaos in the Great Sea with four great beasts coming out of the water. Remember that this is an apocalyptic way of saying that the four empires or kingdoms will be inspired by and controlled by evil spirits coming out of the bottomless pit, which is synonymous with the sea. They are anti-God, world empires, which is why God refers to them as beast empires. While the beasts are said to arise out of the sea, the rulers or empires themselves are said to arise out of the earth (Daniel 7:17). This means they are human agents of the beasts from the sea.

In the next few verses, Daniel and John use the same words to describe these beast empires. John adds that in the end times, these former empires become united as one Beast empire (Revelation 13:2) under the dragon’s control (Satan). (21)

In Daniel 7:4, Babylon, represented by the head of gold, is referred to as a lion with an eagle’s wings, which is the ancient symbol of Babylon. In Daniel 7:5, Medo-Persia, represented by the chest and arms of silver, is likened to a bear. Later, in Daniel 8:3-4, it is likened to a ram with two horns (Medes and Persians). The one higher horn represents the Persians displacing the Medes. (21)

In Daniel 7:6, Alexander and Greece, the belly and thighs of bronze are referred to as a leopard with four wings and four heads. In Daniel 8:5-7 they are seen as a goat with a large horn (Alexander) that destroyed the ram. In Daniel 11:3-4 Alexander is called “a mighty king.” When Alexander died, his kingdom was divided between his four generals. They are represented by the four heads on the leopard and the four horns on the goat (Daniel 8:8). (21)

In Daniel 7:7, Rome (the legs of iron) is represented by the fourth beast that was fiercer than the others and devoured or conquered all the previous empires. This certainly describes the Roman Empire. (21)

In Daniel 7:7-8, Daniel explains further that this fourth beast is different from the other beasts in that it has ten horns (kings, rulers, or governments, (Daniel 7:24)). Daniel then sees a little horn (ruler) coming out of the ten horns. This little horn disposes of three of the ten horns. This may explain why John’s Beast has only seven heads with ten horns. He is more powerful than the other horns and persecutes God’s people for three and one-half years until God Himself destroys him. At this time, God establishes His literal Kingdom on the earth with His people ruling with Him over a restored Israel and the world’s nations. (21)

As I just noted, the ten toes of the image in Daniel 2 correspond to the ten horns in Daniel 7. They represent the end-time world government under the control of the Antichrist (anti-Messiah) (the little horn), who persecutes God’s people as described in Revelation 12–18. The smiting stone from Daniel 2 is clearly the same as the vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man mentioned in Daniel 7:9-14 and 26-28. This connects to John’s vision in Revelation 19–20. (21)

Two years after his dream, recorded in chapter 7, Daniel has a further apocalyptic dream of the same revelation, which is recorded in Daniel 8. In this dream, he is given more details and mentions a little horn that comes out of the four horns of the goat. Remember that the four horns represent the four generals who inherit Alexander’s empire. Historically, this little horn is different from the little horn that comes out of the ten horns. However, prophetically, they seem to merge as the same person—the Antichrist described in the Book of Revelation. (21)

Many scholars understand this little horn to represent Antiochus Epiphanes who came from the Syrian horn (general) of the four. Antiochus represented himself as a manifestation of Zeus. He issued coins with an image of Zeus, but it was his picture on the coins. Antiochus fulfilled much of the prophecy in Daniel 8. He forbade the Jews to practice their ancient faith or in any way worship the One True God. (21)

Antiochus went on a rampage against the Jews. From 167–164 B.C., Antiochus stopped the Temple rituals and ordered the burning of the Torah. In the Temple, he erected a statue of Zeus bearing his own image. He built a new altar dedicated to Zeus, on which he offered a sacrificial pig. He then poured the pig’s blood over the Torah. (21)

Antiochus erected shrines and altars throughout Israel and forced the people to make sacrifices to the Greek gods. Those who disobeyed were tortured, killed, or both. This period of time was one of the most gruesome in the long, sad history of the persecution of the Jewish people. Without God’s intervention, they would have surely perished from the earth. The festival of Hanukkah celebrates the defeat of Antiochus.

These actions of Antiochus Epiphanes certainly are “a fulfillment” of the Abomination of Desolation Daniel writes about in Daniel 9:27. However, in His summary of end-time events, Jesus points to “the fulfillment” of the Abomination of Desolation at the beginning of the Great Tribulation:

“So when you see the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:15–22 NET)

To John’s readers, the Beast, with its many heads and horns and crowns and blasphemous names, clearly symbolized the anti-God Roman Empire and the Roman emperors who were persecuting the believers in the seven congregations (1). They understood what and who John meant by these apocalyptic symbols. This is why some scholars believe the Book of Revelation was written only about Rome and events that took place in the first century. But with the passing of time and history, John’s meaning has become less clear. Over the centuries, Christian leaders have tried to connect these symbols to world leaders who seemed to fulfill these prophetic visions, but they have all been proven wrong. (21)

While we may not clearly understand the historical references of the first century, it is clear that what Daniel and John saw reached far beyond anything that happened in the first century or any other period in world history. They were also looking to the end times of history before the coming of the Son of Man, who will judge those who oppose God, vindicate God’s people who have suffered for their faith, and fully establish God’s Kingdom on the earth. (21)

When we compare what Daniel says about the little horn with what John says about the Antichrist, we certainly get the impression that they are talking about the same person and the same terrible events during the three-and-one-half years of the Great Tribulation. This is humankind’s last desperate attempt to rule the world without God. (21)

Working behind the scenes through his human servants, the Antichrist and False Prophet, Satan will establish the final form of his one-world political-religious-economic-military-social system. We call it “the New World Order.” Nonbelievers will unwittingly worship satan by taking the Mark of the Beast. (10)

While this ruler and his coalition of nations empowered by Satan think they are achieving their goals, their attempts are futile as God destroys them with the coming of His Kingdom on the earth. May His name be praised forever! (21)

BACKSTORY: Satan and the Antichrist – The Dragon and The Beast from the Sea

One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.If anyone has an ear, he had better listen! If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints. (Revelation 13:3–10 NET)

In his attempts to deceive the world, the Beast appears resurrected from a mortal wound to one of his heads. Since Satan cannot resurrect people from the dead, this is clearly a deception. (21)

We do not know if John is referring to the Antichrist himself or the resurrection of the ancient Beast system of Babylon/Rome in the form of an anti-God, one-world system. The Beast system seems to be personified in the Beast person, the Antichrist. As world leaders represent their governments, the Antichrist and the system he leads merge. Satan uses this deception as a counterfeit of the true resurrection of Jesus and the two witnesses. (21)

The way the world responds to this counterfeit miracle is self-condemning. When the Beast kills the two witnesses, those who oppose God celebrate (Revelation 11:10). When they are resurrected, the people are frightened but do not turn to God. However, when the people believe the Beast has been resurrected, they marvel at the supposed miracle and follow him. The people not only follow the Beast, but they also worship him:

they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?” (Revelation 13:4 NET)

This adoration of the Beast is in direct contrast to the worship of the One True God expressed in the Song of Moses: Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you?—majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11 NET)

Instead of glorifying God, the people glorify the Beast. John notes that by worshiping the Beast, the people are actually worshiping the dragon (Satan), who gives power to the Beast. It is at this time that Satan believes he has finally dethroned God. He is killing the believers while at the same time deceiving the world into worshiping him. In his mind, this is his ultimate triumph over God and the Lamb. (21)

This supposed victory by Satan takes us back to when he tempted Jesus in the desert (1). In that story, Satan showed Jesus all the world’s kingdoms and offered them to Him if He would bypass the cross and worship him (Satan) instead. Jesus rebuked Satan by quoting the Scripture that says only the One True God is to be worshiped. (Matthew 4:8-11; Deuteronomy 6:13.)

In the Book of Revelation, Satan believes he has accomplished through the Antichrist what he failed to accomplish with Jesus, the true Messiah. But Satan, the master of deceit, deceived himself as his apparent victory is short-lived. (21)

At this time in history, Satan’s agent, the Antichrist, embodies the ultimate in ego, arrogance, self-deception, and self-exaltation. Inspired by Satan, he believes he is the true messiah who will solve the world’s problems. To further his worship in place of God, Satan fills the Antichrist with hatred for the One True God. With his heart and soul controlled by Satan, the Antichrist speaks blasphemous words against God, God’s name, God’s abode in Heaven, and God’s people in Heaven who worship the One True God. (21)

Paul calls him the lawless man of sin who exalts himself even above God. He is empowered by Satan to perform counterfeit miracles and deceives those who reject the truth of God’s Word.

The apostle Paul speaks of this end-time Antichrist:

Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival. The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned. (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 NET)

Daniel’s visions were probably partially fulfilled in historical personalities such as Antiochus Epiphanes and later in the Roman emperors of John’s time. But this Antichrist is the final prophetic manifestation of Daniel’s little horn who also speaks great words of blasphemy, as we learn in Daniel 7:8,11,20,25). (21)

John adds, for our understanding, that Satan’s efforts to be worshiped and rule over humankind through his Antichrist will last for 42 months, or three-and-one-half years. This is the same time the Gentiles occupy Jerusalem and the two witnesses prophesy (Revelation 11:2-3). (21)

Since Satan works through the Antichrist to kill God’s people on earth, as we learned in Revelation 12. We might say that this is his “jihad” against true believers. While the One True God providentially protects Israel and believers who identify with the Jewish people, the Antichrist attacks any and all believers he can find. (Revelation 12:17; 13:7.) (21)

Although Satan working through the Antichrist can overcome many believers and kill them, the believers are the real overcomers. While Satan can kill their bodies, he cannot kill their souls, which John has already seen in Heaven before the throne of God.

Jesus gave the following words of encouragement to believers being persecuted for their faith:

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 NET)

To further confirm that Daniel’s little horn is ultimately fulfilled in John’s Antichrist, Daniel was told that the little horn he saw would also persecute and overcome God’s people for three-and-one-half years until he is destroyed at the coming of the Son of Man. (Daniel 7:25, where three-and-one-half-years are referred to as “a time and times and half a time.”)

Tragically, satan’s deception is worldwide. Everyone worships the Antichrist except believers (those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life).

and a remnant of independent-minded survivalists. So it seems there are three groups distinguished during this time. Those who have the mark of God, those who have the Mark of the Beast, and a third group who had not worshiped the Beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. Many in this third group will survive the tribulation and be alive when the Lord returns. Jesus will rule over them in His Messianic Kingdom.

God’s Word is clear. Everyone living at this time will have to choose whether to worship Satan through the Antichrist or the One True God through the real Messiah, the exalted Son of Man, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Jesus of Nazareth. (21)

John concludes this part of his vision by exhorting people to hear (which includes to heed) his words. He warns those persecuting God’s people that they will pay the same consequences for their evil actions. God is sovereign. (21)

God will judge Satan, his false messiahs, and those who follow and worship the Beast. Just as God’s judgments are sure and true, so are His promises to His people. Believers can persevere in faith, knowing that they will overcome. (21)

But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. (Revelation 12:11 NET)

BACKSTORY: The False Prophet – The Beast from the Earth

Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. (Revelation 13:11–12 NET)

As if his vision of the Beast From the Sea was not terrifying enough, John now sees another beast. His intention is for us to understand that this other beast, like the first, is empowered by Satan. John sees this beast coming out of the earth, a human counterpart to the Satanic Antichrist. (21)

Whereas the Antichrist is described as one having political power, John describes this beast in religious terms. He says the beast coming out of the earth has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. (21)

We should be able to understand what John means by this description. This person pretends to be a “man of God” but is, in reality, a “man of Satan.” He is a false prophet, or as we say, a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” At this point, John assumes that we understand his meaning but later specifically calls him the “false prophet,” as recorded in Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10. (21)

When Jesus first began His ministry, He warned those listening about false prophets:

“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. (Matthew 7:15 NET)

Jesus goes on to say in the same sermon that we can know whether people are from God by the spiritual fruit in their lives.

You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:16–20 NET)

Paul refers to this inward character as the “fruit of the Spirit.”

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23 NET)

Paul contrasts it with the “works of the flesh.”

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God! (Galatians 5:19–21 NET)

Paul admonishes us to develop the fruit of the Spirit by being led by the Holy Spirit:

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16–18 NET)

The devil can counterfeit charisma, but he cannot counterfeit character manifested as the fruit of the Spirit. Believers must refrain from following charismatic personalities who do not have character. There will be many such people in the end times. (21)

In His prophetic outline of the end times, Jesus warned us against false prophets:

And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, (Matthew 24:11 NET)

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:23–24 NET)

John’s readers understood his warnings in the context of their times. The Roman Empire was vast and powerful, but what united the empire was emperor worship. Realize bowing down to the emperor’s statue was not so much a religious act as it was a political act. (21)

The emperor represented the empire—its policies, its gods and goddesses, its way of life, etc. Bowing down to the statue of the emperor was the way one showed loyalty to the empire. This was not a problem for the pagans as they added the emperor to their list of deities. But, of course, believers in the One True God could not bow down to the emperor’s statue. They could not “fix their sandals (1)” in front of the statue or at the altar dedicated to the emperor. (21)

These believers’ refusal to bow before the emperor was considered disloyal to the empire. Those who refused to do so were persecuted, exiled, or martyred. This is what caused the crisis among the seven congregations. The believers were being persecuted over this issue, which is why Jesus gave this revelation to John, encouraging them to endure to the end. (21)

The situation in Rome is repeated in these last days, anti-God, one-world system. Just as Satan inspired emperor worship to unify the Roman Empire, he uses the same strategy to unite this last representation of all the ancient empires that opposed God. (21)

Thus, the New World Order political system must have a New World Order religious system. The false prophet is the leader of this global religion. He is the counterpart to the priests who served the imperial cult of emperor worship. He is the ultimate embodiment of all previous false prophets in that he is fully and completely anointed by Satan. His demonically inspired “job description” is to get the people to worship the Antichrist. As previously noted, when the people worship the Antichrist, they really worship Satan. Since true believers cannot do this, they are considered enemies of the state.

The apostle Paul looked into the future and saw this time in the latter days when many professing believers would fall away from the One True God, at which time the Antichrist would appear.

Paul writes,

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God’s temple, displaying himself as God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 NET)

Summary of the activities of the false prophet.

He:

• presents himself as a religious figure (Revelation 13:12).
• forces everyone to worship the Beast (Revelation 13:12).
• performs signs and wonders (Revelation 13:13).
• deceives the people (Revelation 13:14).
• can only do what God allows (Revelation 13:14).
• calls for the making of an image of the Beast (Revelation 13:14).
• Seems to make the image come alive (Revelation 13:15).
• attempts to murder those who refuse to worship the Beast (Revelation 13:15).
• forces people to take the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:17).

Deceptive Sign and Wonders

He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of peopleand, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:13–15 NET)

John carefully notes that this false prophet “is granted” the power to perform miraculous signs and wonders. This means that God allows him to have the power to deceive people because they do not want the truth. They prefer to believe lies, so God providentially allows this deception as their judgment. This we must understand—if we reject the truth of God’s Word, He will allow us to be deceived as our judgment. This is just and right. (1)(21)

The apostle Paul explains:

The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 NET)

Since Satan is a very powerful being, he can perform some mighty acts that seem to humans to be miracles. But God has limited what Satan can do. We recall that when Moses performed miracles before Pharaoh, the ruler’s magicians could duplicate some but not all of them (Exodus. 7:10–8:19). This is why believers must not follow signs and wonders. The deceiver, Satan, has the ability to duplicate some of them. (21)

Just because someone can perform miracles does not necessarily mean that person is from God. We must test the spirits and know those who labor among us so we will not be deceived. We must follow those who have demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit and not just the gifts of the Spirit. This is especially important in these end times when many false prophets are among us. (21)

John says that satan empowers the false prophet to do great signs, including making fire come down from Heaven. This miracle reminds us that Elijah brought fire down from Heaven several times. One was when he challenged the prophets of Baal, and on another occasion, when King Ahaziah sent groups of 50 men to seize Elijah (1 Kings 18:36-38; 2 Kings 1:9-12). (21)

For three and one-half years, God’s two witnesses breathe fire out of their mouths to destroy those who seek to kill them. They also do miracles such as preventing rain, turning water into blood, and striking the earth with plagues (Revelation 11). Now Satan works his “fire miracle” and other signs and wonders through the false prophet. (21)

In Bible times, it was important for the pagan priests to strike fear in the hearts of the masses so they would fear and worship the local deity. One of the many ways they did this was to deceive the people into thinking the god or the image of the god was speaking to them. They used demonic utterances, magic, concealed speaking tubes, crude sound machines, gravity, pulleys, levers, and other simple mechanical devices that seemed to cause the god or the image to speak. Of course, it was all a deception. (21)

John records that Satan is going to use this same deception. He puts the idea in the mind of the false prophet to tell the people to make an image of the Beast. Using demonic trickery, Satan makes the image appear to come alive and speak. By now, the people are so completely deceived that they obey the command to worship the image of the Beast. Once again, this is Satan’s way of getting the people to worship him since he is the power behind the image. Those who refuse to worship the Beast are to be killed. (21)

John refers to the image four times in this chapter and six more in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). While those who worship the image may prolong their lives for a season, God will judge them with further devastation and cast them into hell with the Antichrist and the False prophet, where they will be in their own torment forever (Revelation 14:9-11).

John’s first-century readers were used to seeing statues of the emperor and the many Greco-Roman gods throughout the empire. They were used to “the gods” speaking to their worshipers. Because our modern world is so different from the world of the Bible, it is sometimes hard for us to understand that worship practices described in the Bible were the norm. For example, all ancient empires promoted the belief that the emperor was the human incarnation of the high god the people worshiped. How convenient for the emperor. Making statues of the emperor and forcing people to worship the statue was not new to the Romans, although they perfected the practice. (21)

We return to the Book of Daniel for an example. Bible students will recall that King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold about 90 feet high (Daniel 3:1). We don’t know if the image was of Nebuchadnezzar himself or the Babylonian high god commonly called Ba`al. It doesn’t really matter since Nebuchadnezzar was considered the representative of Ba`al. Worshiping the emperor was the same as worshiping the god. (21)

Nebuchadnezzar sent out a decree that, at a certain time, everyone was to bow down and worship the image. The call to worship was announced by the sound of a great symphony of music. Anyone who refused to bow down to the image would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Daniel writes:

Then the herald made a loud proclamation: “To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given:When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must bow down and pay homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has erected. Whoever does not bow down and pay homage will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire!” (Daniel 3:4–6 NET)

In one of the best-known stories of faith and courage in the Bible, three Jewish men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego—refused to bow down to the statue. Some informers told the king about their disobedience. King Nebuchadnezzar went into a rage. He had the three men brought before him and told them they would be thrown into the fiery furnace unless they bowed before the statue. He even bragged that no god could help them if they refused. (21)

This is how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered the king:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.” (Daniel 3:16–18 NET)

Nebuchadnezzar went into another rage. He commanded that the fiery furnace be heated seven times hotter. He then commanded some officers to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and throw them into the furnace. By this time, it was so hot that the flames consumed the officers as they threw the three men into the inferno. (21)

Keeping a safe distance, Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and was astonished by what he saw. He turned to his advisors and said:

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, “Wasn’t it three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied to the king, “For sure, O king.” He answered, “But I see four men, untied and walking around in the midst of the fire! No harm has come to them! And the appearance of the fourth is like that of a god!” (Daniel 3:24–25 NET)

Nebuchadnezzar got closer to the mouth of the furnace and called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He instructed them to come out, and he acknowledged that they were indeed servants of the Most High God. When they left the furnace, the king’s servants saw that the fire had not touched them. (21)

Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically unharmed by the fire. The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged. Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them! (Daniel 3:26–27 NET)

King Nebuchadnezzar praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- Nego, threatened anyone who spoke against their God, and promoted all three men. Hallelujah! (21)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego believed the One True God would deliver them from death in the furnace. But regardless of the outcome, they would continue to worship the One True God and no other. Because of their faith and courage, the One True God was exalted, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were honored. (21)

The lesson for us is clear. In John’s time, as well as in the end times of the Book of Revelation, God will deliver some and not others. This is according to His sovereign plan for our lives. Whether He chooses to deliver us or not, we must have the same faith, courage, and commitment as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. We must not “fix our sandals (1)” before the anti-God, one-world system in an attempt to save our lives. (21)

Whether we live or die, we do so “as unto the Lord.” The way we face this choice will bring glory to God. When people see our faith and courage in times of persecution, this will be our greatest testimony. Furthermore, when Jesus returns, He will destroy all who spoke against His Father, and we will be promoted and honored to serve Him in His Kingdom. That is a far more glorious future than denying our Lord to escape a little persecution. God will be with us as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He will give us the faith and courage to stand strong. We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. (Revelation 12:11 NET)

Paul adds the following word of encouragement:

However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” (2 Timothy 2:19 NET)

The Mark of the Beast

He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:16–18 NET)

As a final act of worship inspired by Satan, the false prophet forces everyone to take a mark, identifying them as followers and worshipers of the Antichrist. As previously noted, God’s people and a remnant of an independent-minded group refuse the mark. This mark will distinguish those who take it from those who have God’s mark, which John explained in Revelation 7. The mark of God protects believers from His judgments on the unbelievers, while the Mark of the Beast protects the unbelievers from being persecuted by the Antichrist. Before this terrible time is over, people will have to choose to either worship God or the devil. (21)

Since the Antichrist will be the head of a brutal totalitarian, anti-God, one-world system, only people who have his mark can buy and sell anything. As mentioned previously, there will be some who do not take the Mark of the Beast, but neither will they have accepted Jesus as their Savior, Lord, and Redeemer. This will be a great opportunity for God to supernaturally provide for His people. What an awesome time it will be for the people of God. It will be as it was when the Lord supernaturally provided for Elijah and when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes (1 Kings 17:1-7; John 6:1-14). (21)

John explains that people will take this mark on their right hand, forehead, or both. This is a further Satanic counterfeit and copy of God’s original command to the Jewish males in Bible times. God instructed the people to “wear” His words: (21)

You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. (Deuteronomy 6:8 NET)

The Mark of the Beast is also a perversion because Jewish men bind God’s Word on the left hands and arms (not the right), symbolically keeping God’s Word near their hearts. As an observant Jew, Jesus would have kept this commandment and worn these symbols of God’s Word and prayer. (21)

John explains that the mark is the name of the Beast or the number of his name. This is another attempt to counterfeit what the Lord has promised His people. (21)

The Lord made the following promise to the overcomers at the Philadelphia congregation:

The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name as well. (Revelation 3:12 NET)

We learned in Revelation 7:3 and 9:4 that God put His seal on the foreheads of the believers. Revelation 22:4 adds that God’s people “shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”

Those who choose the mark and name of the Beast will be judged by God and separated from Him for eternity in their own hell. Those who choose the mark and name of God will be persecuted by the Beast but will overcome in life and in death and live forever in the presence of God. (21)

John expects his first-century readers to know the identity of the Beast. The number of his name is 666. In Hebrew and Greek, the letters of the alphabet have numeric values. For example, in Hebrew, the alef is 1, the bet is 2, the gimel is 3, the dalet is 4, etc. (21)

In the first century, Nero was the only Roman emperor whose name in Greek may have equaled the number 666. Nero certainly persecuted the believers unmercifully. Furthermore, many believed that Nero would come back to life after he died in A.D. 68. However, if John received his Revelation around A.D. 96, this would have been much too late for anyone to believe that Nero would be resurrected. And this one thing we know for sure: Nero did not come back to life. (21)

The significance of the Name of the Beast is that it is “The Name of Blasphemy.”

Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name. (Revelation 13:1 NET)

Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:17–18 NET)

Blasphemy is an anti-Yahweh or anti-Christ word or deed—to claim the attributes of God, claim to be Messiah, deny the Holy Spirit, deny the trinity, the cross, or even denying God’s declarations—are all blasphemy. Satan has always wanted to be like God. He wishes to be considered equal to or even greater than God.

Satan blasphemed when he said,

I will climb up to the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High!” (Isaiah 14:14 NET) 

Allah in Islam is always used in conjunction with the word Ta’ala, meaning “The Most High.”

If we look at the verse, we see that the Name of the Beast is not simply a name of blasphemy, but it is “the” name of blasphemy. It is the highest blasphemy—it claims to possess the attributes or nature of the God of the Bible. The Name of the Beast is a claim to be equal to or greater than God and the Messiah. The Name of the Beast will contain or imply some form of Anti-Christ doctrinal or creedal language that will exalt another above God.

We know that the Antichrist will be the premiere representative of a faith that worships not the God of the Bible but the adversary, Satan disguised as God. The god of the Antichrist will not only be God’s enemy, but he will masquerade as the Most High God.

This masquerading serves two purposes. First,  it fulfills Satan’s desire to be like God. Secondly, it confuses and deceives mankind into offering their worship to him instead of God.

Beyond denying the Father and the Son, Islam totally rejects the Trinity. Islam also denies the Divine Incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as well as his death, burial, and resurrection.

Islam has memorialized its anti-Christ theology specifically in a creedal formula, The Shahadatan, which is the Islamic creed or declaration of faith “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is The One sent by Allah [The Messenger of Allah].”

There is an interesting similarity between the Greek numerals for 666 and the Arabic phrase “In the Name of Allah.”

Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist and now Christian evangelist, said that when he saw the Greek symbol that is translated in the Bible as 666, he immediately read it as the Arabic character “Bismillah” (some spell Bismilla), which means “in the name of Allah.”

Said a Muslim, “The truth is that This Quran is the 666, The Book from The Lord of the Universe.”

What is the single most egregious and only unforgivable sin in Muhammadanism?

Answer: If a Muslim confesses that Jesus is the Son of God or even prays in Jesus’ name. (Juxtaposed to child rape or cold-blooded mass murder, for example, which may be forgiven).

PREVIEW: Things that are soon to occur

The Lamb and the 144,000

Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I also heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Now the sound I heard was like that made by harpists playing their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, and no lie was found on their lips; they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1–5 NET)

In a vision, John sees the Lamb standing on Mount Zion. The Lamb is Jesus, who conquered Satan, sin, and death. Why does John say he sees Jesus standing on Mount Zion? In the Bible, Mount Zion symbolizes the place of God’s dwelling. So when John says he sees Jesus standing on Mount Zion, his readers understand him to mean that Jesus is standing in the place where God rules over the nations from Jerusalem. (21)

There is a literal, earthly Mount Zion in Jerusalem that we call the Temple Mount. Unfortunately, this is where the Dome of the Rock Islamic Shrine (i.e., it is not a temple) is currently located. Its presence is a dramatic symbol of the spiritual battle for Jerusalem and God’s holy mount. (21)

However, long before there was an Islamic structure, Mount Zion was the place God chose to reveal Himself to the Hebrews and the world. This is where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice to God (Genesis 22). In Abraham’s time, Mount Zion was referred to as Mount Moriah. This is the same location David purchased at the cost of 50 shekels of silver and then built an altar to the Lord (2 Samuel 24:24). Mount Zion is where Solomon built the Temple to the God of Israel (1 Kings 6). It is where Jesus taught, as recorded in the Gospels (John 10:22-30). It is the same general area where Jesus had His Passover meal with His disciples, after which He was arrested, tried, and crucified (Matthew 26–28). (21)

Incredibly, since Israel liberated Jerusalem in 1967, Muslim religious leaders claim there never was a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount. However, if there never was a Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount, why do they (and the world) refer to the location as the Temple Mount?

In 1925 the Supreme Moslem Council published an official Muslim guide to the Temple Mount called A Brief Guide to Al-Haram Al-Sharif. Page four of this document asserts: (21)

The site is one of the oldest in the world. Its sanctity dates from the earliest (perhaps from pre-historic) times. Its identity with the site of Solomon’s Temple is beyond dispute. This, too, is the spot, according to universal belief, on which “David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.”

While not specifically named, Mount Zion is also the place where the Holy Spirit came to the disciples on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). This outpouring of the Spirit of God most likely occurred at Solomon’s Porch on the Temple Mount. Jesus will return to this sacred place where He will rule over the nations (Psalms 2). God’s people, those who follow the Lamb, will rule with Him from this holy mount (Revelation 20:1-4). Wow! No wonder John sees Jesus standing on Mount Zion. (21)

In addition to a literal place in Jerusalem, Mount Zion is also a spiritual symbol of God’s presence in Heaven and the New Jerusalem that will one day come to Earth. As God’s people will rule with Jesus from the literal Mount Zion on Earth, John sees them already in place in the heavenly representation of the earthly Mount Zion. (21)

The writer of Hebrews explains:

But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does. (Hebrews 12:22-24).

Psalms 2 speaks about the Son of God ruling over the nations from Mount Zion. The psalmist tells how God is laughing at the puny counsels of world leaders conspiring to overthrow Him. He then explains God’s plan to exalt His Son to rule over the nations from Mount Zion. Meditate on these words that will certainly fill your heart with joy: (21)

The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them. Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying, “I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.” The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son! This very day I have become your father! Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property. You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’ ”(Psalms 2:4-9 NET).

Alongside Jesus, John sees 144,000 Jewish, which he introduced to us in Revelation 7:1-8. (21)

Again, the 144,000, 12,000 from each Tribe, will be of earthly Israel, the literal seed of Abraham, living at that time, and not of a mystical or spiritual Israel. Though the “Twelve Tribes” were long ago lost among the nations, their whereabouts are not unknown to God. (8)

When John says he sees them standing on Mount Zion, he wants his readers to be encouraged that he sees them (and us) standing with the Lord in the place of victory over satan and those who seek to kill them. (21)

We learned in Revelation chapter 7 that the Lord sealed this company of people to protect them from His further judgments. John says they are sealed on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3), but he does not identify the seal. Here, and in other places, we learn that this seal is God’s name (YHVH or Yahweh (1)). (Revelation 14:1.) All of God’s people will have God’s name written on their foreheads (Revelation 9:4).

The Lord promised to write God’s name, the name of God’s city (the New Jerusalem), and a new personal name on each of the believers in the letter to the church of Philadelphia (1).

The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name as well. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Revelation 3:12–13 NET)

Also, the Lord promises His people that we will see His face and His name will be on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4). This is an apocalyptic way of saying that God knows those who belong to Him and that they are citizens of His holy city. (21)

It is a threefold assurance that the Lord will place God’s name on them, the name of His city on them, and His own new name on them. This is the Lord’s way of saying in terms they would understand that the One True God is their God and that they are His people forever. They belong to Him and are citizens of God’s eternal city, the New Jerusalem, and the Lord will give them a new name that reflects their relationship with Him. This is an ancient way of communicating going back to the Book of Numbers when God said He would put His name on the children of Israel and bless them. (24)

The LORD spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is the way you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and protect you; The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” ’ So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:22–27 NET)

Although this “marking of believers” in honor of a deity is foreign to Western people, it was a common practice in Bible times, as we learned from Deuteronomy 6:8. It is still practiced by people in the East. For example, people in India wear a mark on their foreheads as an expression of their devotion to a particular deity.

As John is contemplating this most incredible scene, he hears a heavenly voice so loud he likens it to the sound of many waters and loud thunder (Revelation 14:2). The sound of many waters is deafening. The sound of loud thunder is ear-splitting. Compared to the awesome power of the voices in Heaven, the voices of those calling people to worship the emperor are no more than a whisper. Again, it is better to worship the One True God than to “fix your sandals” (1) before the emperor (the anti-God, one-world system). (21)

Responding to the call to worship, John hears the sound of harps, which was the instrument King David used to praise the Lord. Heaven is getting ready for a great big praise and worship service. When the heavenly call to worship is heard, 144,000 souls sing a new redemption song to the Lord. (21)

John gives further information about this company of the redeemed. He did not mean for us to understand his statements literally. He is describing their moral character and spiritual life. John says four things about them:

1. He says they are virgins who have not defiled themselves with women. By this statement, John does not mean that these men never had sex with a woman. This is not a statement about physical celibacy. He uses spiritual language to tell us they had kept themselves from idolatry, which the Bible calls spiritual adultery and fornication. (21)

In other words, they are spiritually pure. Using the language of the Book of Revelation, they had not defiled their garments. (21)

The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:15 NET)

They did not submit to the spiritual seduction of the Antichrist and his enticements, even under the threat of death.

When God gave the Ten Commandments (1) to the Hebrews, He said,

“You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3 NET)

Worshiping other gods or loving the things of the world more than we love God defiles us morally and spiritually. Whenever the Children of Israel committed this sin of idolatry, God spoke of it in terms of infidelity to Him, as a spouse would be unfaithful in marriage.

For example, when the Lord called backsliding Israel to repentance, He expressed Himself with these words:

She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot…. So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and coWhen Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, you have no doubt seen what wayward Israel has done. You have seen how she went up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a prostitute to other gods. Yet even after she had done all that, I thought that she might come back to me. But she did not. Her sister, unfaithful Judah, saw what she did. She also saw that I gave wayward Israel her divorce papers and sent her away because of her adulterous worship of other gods. Even after her unfaithful sister Judah had seen this, she still was not afraid, and she too went and gave herself like a prostitute to other gods. Because she took her prostitution so lightly, she defiled the land through her adulterous worship of gods made of wood and stone. (Jeremiah 3:6,9 NET)

Another example from the Old Covenant:

But approach, you sons of omen readers, you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes! At whom are you laughing? At whom are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue? You are the children of rebels, the offspring of liars, you who practice ritual sex under the oaks and every green tree, who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs. Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love; they, they are the object of your devotion. You pour out liquid offerings to them, you make an offering. Because of these things I will seek vengeance. On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed; you go up there to offer sacrifices. Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols. Indeed, you depart from me and go up and invite them into bed with you. You purchase favors from them, you love their bed, and gaze longingly on their genitals. (Isaiah 57:3–8 NET)

You can find this terminology throughout the Hebrew Bible—in Hosea and Ezekiel 16 and 23, for example. It can also be found in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 11:2 and James 4:4, for example. It is the common expression in the Bible about worshiping idols or anything in the world that we desire more than God. John uses these phrases repeatedly in the Book of Revelation when he refers to the act of spiritual immorality (Revelations 14:8; 17:2,4; 18:3,9; 19:2).

The apostle Paul had this spiritual purity in mind when he wrote:

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2 NET)

This same John wrote in one of his letters:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. ( 1 John 2:15-17).

2. John says that they follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Once again, John did not mean they were walking behind Jesus. He meant that they were His disciples. (21)

Jesus explained this in the following way:

I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain [fruit]. The one who loves [prefers or puts first] his life [psuche] destroys it, and the one who hates [does not prefer or put first] his life [psuche] in this world guards it for eternal life [zoe]. If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:24–26 NET)

The Greco-Roman (Western) version of Christianity teaches that salvation by grace means believers are free to live their lives apart from the constraints of the Law. This is a perversion of the biblical meaning of grace. God’s grace is His provision that sets us free from ourselves, not from the commandments of God. The Adam-like nature in believers resists such a statement because it wants to live its rebellious, self-centered life. Furthermore, the biblical meaning of Law is not legalism, as it is in the West, but teaching or instruction. Yes, we are saved by grace, but if our salvation is real, it will be evidenced by covenantal works of Spirit-inspired loving-kindness. Although we have been taught and believed differently, Jesus was clear on this matter. (21)

He said:

God manifests Himself to those who obey Him. If we don’t want to obey the commandments of the Lord, why do we say we are His followers? ...The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.” (John 14:15,21 NET)

3. John says that this company of people is the firstfruits of the redeemed. We know what he means by being redeemed. We have been bought out of slavery to Satan, sin, and death by the precious blood of Jesus. But what does he mean by the word firstfruits? In the Bible, God told the Hebrews to bring the firstfruits of their harvest to Him (Exodus 23:19). This was the way God chose for the people to dedicate their harvest to Him.

During the Feast of Unleavened Bread (1), there was a Feast of Firstfruits (1) (Yom HaBikkurim) of the barley harvest to God. The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) (1) was a Feast of the Firstfruits of the wheat harvest. (Leviticus 23.) The people would wave their offerings before the Lord. In this way, they acknowledged that the whole of the harvest belonged to Him. By accepting their firstfruits wave offering (1), the Lord promised that He would bless the rest of their harvest. That is, the idea of firstfruits is dedication. (21)

This company of the redeemed was wholly and completely dedicated to God. May we who claim to follow Jesus be so dedicated to our Lord that we would give ourselves to Him as a human wave offering. (21)

Or, as Jesus said:

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33 NET)

As we give ourselves and all that God has given us to Him first, He promises to bless the rest of our labors with fruitfulness. If we seek God, we don’t have to seek “all these other things.” God automatically provides them for us. (21)

4. John says these redeemed have no deceit or false confession of faith. They are what they say in that they live their faith and convictions in their everyday lives. They do not act worldly sometimes and spiritual at other times. They have not embraced a false religion. They have not compromised by “fixing their sandals” (1), and they have not taken the Mark of the Beast to save their lives. As a result, John says they are without fault before the throne of God. (21)

May the same be said of us today. May it be said that we live out what we believe in our everyday lives: that we do not compromise our convictions to be accepted by the world; that we are not content with a watered-down religious version of our faith that entertains us, tells us what we want to hear, or makes us feel good; that we also will be found faultless when we appear before the throne of God. (21)

As Jude writes:

Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence,to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen. (Jude 1:24–25 NET)

The Three Angels

The First Angel – The Eternal Gospel

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead [mid-heaven], and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” (Revelation 14:6–7 NET)

In his vision of Apocalyptic Judgments, John sees many angels at work. Here he sees one flying in “MID-HEAVEN.” That is, in the heaven or atmosphere that surrounds our earth. The mission of this Angel is to preach the “Eternal Gospel” unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people on the earth. Here is the first and only place in the Bible where an angel is commissioned to preach the Gospel. An angel could not tell Cornelius how to be saved; he could only tell him to send for Peter for that purpose (Acts 10:3–6). In this “Gospel Age,” only redeemed men can preach the Gospel, but at the “End Time,” just before the return of the Lord, an angel will go forth to preach the “ETERNAL GOSPEL.” The word “Gospel” means “Good News.” (8)

Four forms of the Gospel are mentioned in the New Testament, and we must distinguish carefully between them. (8)

1. The Gospel of “The Kingdom”

This is the “Good News” that God purposes to set up a Kingdom on this earth over which David’s Son, JESUS, shall reign, as prophesied. (8)

Luke writes:

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:32–33 NET)

Two preachings of this Gospel are mentioned; one past, beginning with the ministry of John the Baptist and preached by Jesus and His Disciples, but it ended with the rejection of Jesus as King. In the future, this Gospel will be preached again by the Angel after the Church is taken out (raptured). It will be the fulfillment of this prophecy. (8)

Jesus said,

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 NET)

This does not refer to the Gospel of the Grace of God preached to the nations. Although the Gospel of the Kingdom is a Gospel of Salvation, it is NOT for “Salvation” but for a WITNESS. That is, it is the announcement that the time has come to SET UP THE KINGDOM. It will be preached first by Elijah the forerunner and by others who shall be commissioned to bear the news to all nations as a proclamation of the Coming of Christ as King to occupy the Throne of David and to regather Israel to the Promised Land. (8)

Look, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. He will encourage fathers and their children to return to me, so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgment.” (Malachi 4:5–6 NET)

2. The Gospel of the “Grace of God”

But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news [to the gospel] of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24 NET)

This is the “Good News” that Jesus Christ, the rejected King, died on the Cross for our SALVATION. This form of the Gospel is described in many ways. (8)

It is called the “GOSPEL OF GOD” (Romans 1:1) because:

• its source in the LOVE OF GOD (John 3:16),
• its Character is “GRACE” (Acts 20:24),
• its subject is CHRIST (2 Corinthians 10:14), and
• it is the POWER OF GOD UNTIL SALVATION (Romans 1:16).

It is also a “GLORIOUS GOSPEL” because it speaks of Him who is in the GLORY and has been GLORIFIED, and who is bringing many sons to GLORY (1 Timothy 1:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 2:10). (8)

And it is the “GOSPEL OF PEACE” because it makes peace between the sinner and God and brings peace to the soul (Ephesians 6:15). (8)

3. Paul’s “My Gospel”

They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:15–16 NET) 

But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ (Acts 26:16–18)

This is the same as the “Gospel of the Grace of God,” or of Salvation, with the additional revelations made to Paul concerning the Church (Ephesians 3:1–7) and Israel. (Romans 11:1–36). (8)

4. The “Eternal Gospel”

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” (Revelation 14:6 NET)

This is what the Angel preaches in this chapter. It is neither the “Gospel of the Kingdom” nor of “Grace.” Its burden is not Salvation but JUDGMENT. “Fear God, and give glory to Him: for the HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME.” It is “Good News” to Israel and all who are passing through the “fires of Judgment” because it declares that their troubles will soon end in the judgment and destruction of the Antichrist. It calls on men to worship God as “Creator” and not as “Saviour.” It is called the “Eternal Gospel” in that it has been proclaimed from Eden down through time by Patriarchs and Prophets, not because it saves men for all eternity. (8)

There is “ANOTHER GOSPEL” (Galatians 1:6–12, 2 Corinthians 11:4), which is not another, and which Paul repudiated. It is a perversion of the true Gospel and has many seductive forms, and teaches that “faith” is not sufficient to Salvation, nor able to keep and perfect, and so emphasizes “Good Works” (Colossians 2:18–23, Hebrews 6:1;9:14). The Apostle pronounces a fearful “Anathema” upon its preachers and teachers (Galatians 1:8–9). (8)

But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell [anathema]! As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell [anathema]! (Galatians 1:8–9 NET)

Our message is:

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31 NET)

The First Angel’s message is:

“He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” (Revelation 14:7 NET)

Men reject the human messenger, and they will also reject the Angelic messenger; they will not believe even though ONE (Jesus) rose from the dead (Luke 16:27-31). (8)

The Second Angel – The Fall of Babylon Proclaimed

A second angel followed the first, declaring: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.” (Revelation 14:8 NET)

Following the proclamation that God’s final judgment is at hand, John sees and hears a second angel who adds to the first proclamation with a more specific statement about this judgment. He identifies the end-time, anti-God, one-world system with Babylon. John mentions the name Babylon five additional times, all in the context of judgment (Revelation 16:19; 17:5; 18:2,10,21). Then, as recorded in Revelation 17–18, the angel pronounces God’s imminent judgment on Babylon. (21)

Ancient Babylon was established by Nimrod. It was the first empire, and the Satanic religion Nimrod established became the mother of all future pagan religions. (Genesis 11.) (We will study this later in Revelation, chapters 17 and 18). What we need to know now is that the Babylon of Daniel’s time was an evil empire and an evil city with an evil religion. It is the empire we discussed previously when studying Daniel’s prophecies. Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold and set up the image people were forced to worship. (21)

Babylon was the archenemy of Israel and the Jewish people. When Nebuchadnezzar was king, Babylon attacked Judah in 606 B.C. and finally conquered Jerusalem in 586 B.C. To the Hebrews, the Babylonian empire, civilization, and religion represented the epitome of Satan’s world system. Because Babylon was Judah’s worst enemy and the mother of all pagan, anti-God religions, Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied its destruction. Significantly, the angel pronouncing God’s judgment on the Babylon of the Book of Revelation uses the identical words Isaiah and Jeremiah used. (21)

Isaiah’s prophecy is recorded in Isaiah 21. Toward the end of his prophecy, Isaiah wrote:

Look what’s coming! A charioteer, a team of horses.” When questioned, he replies, “Babylon has fallen, fallen! All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”(Isaiah 21:9 NET).

Jeremiah’s prophecies against Babylon are recorded in Jeremiah 50–51. He warns God’s people to flee Babylon before the coming judgment:

Get out of Babylonia quickly, you foreign people. Flee to save your lives. Do not let yourselves be killed because of her sins. For it is time for the Lord to wreak his revenge. He will pay Babylonia back for what she has done. Babylonia had been a gold cup in the Lord’s hand. She had made the whole world drunk. The nations had drunk from the wine of her wrath. So they have all gone mad. But suddenly Babylonia will fall and be destroyed. Cry out in mourning over it! Get medicine for her wounds! Perhaps she can be healed! (Jeremiah 51:6-8 NET).

John says that Babylon is a city, but he does not say which city—and for a good reason. In John’s day, it was not wise to speak against Rome. When someone wanted to write something negative about Rome or the Roman Empire, they used the code word “Babylon.” Believers often do the same today when speaking of the established world system.

In the first century, Jews and early Christians saw the Roman Empire and the city of Rome in the same light as ancient Babylon. The empire and the city were one and the same. It was the most powerful and cruel empire in history. It was a pagan system that promoted emperor worship and persecuted Jews and Christians. Like ancient Babylon, Rome was the archenemy of God and His people. (21)

When the apostle Peter wrote his first letter, he used the code word Babylon to refer to Rome.

The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (1 Peter 5:13–14 NET)

John does the same here as he is talking about the Rome of his day. It was a city that opposed God and God’s people. However, John’s words are clearly more far-reaching than first-century Rome. Because of its satanic nature, power, and persecution of God’s people, the word Babylon became the word of choice to describe anti-God civilizations throughout history. John is not only writing about first-century Rome but also the final anti-God, one-world system that is in place in the end times. (21)

The Third Angel – The Doom of Antichrist’s Followers

A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9–11 NET)

Not only is God now ready to administer the final judgment on this end-time Babylon, but He will also judge those who are part of it. John sees and hears a third angel proclaiming God’s judgment on those who worship the Beast and take his mark. The angel uses graphic language to describe God’s judgment. First, he says they will drink of the cup of the wrath of God “poured out full strength” (Revelation 14:10). What did he mean by the phrase full strength? (21)

Because good drinking water was not always available, people in Bible times drank wine at their meals and festive occasions. However, they didn’t want to get drunk, so they diluted their wine with water. They normally mixed three parts of water with one part of the wine. This is where we get the term watered-down. The people knew that drinking wine not diluted with water could lead to drunkenness, and drunkenness could lead to idolatry and immorality. This behavior could lead to the judgment of God. Because of this natural cause and effect, when people wanted to talk about the judgment of God, they often referred to a cup of undiluted wine. It was a figure of speech that everyone understood. (Jeremiah 51:6-8; Jeremiah 25:15-32.) The angel in the Book of Revelation uses the same expression in his pronouncement of God’s impending judgment. It is repeated in Revelation 16:19;17:2;18:3. (21)

With this knowledge, we can understand what the angel means when he says the people will drink the cup of God’s wrath in full strength. He means God’s judgment will not be diluted or watered down with His mercy. For those who took the Mark of the Beast, the time for God’s mercy is over. There is no point in God continuing to offer it to the people. They have already drunk— full strength—the cup of the Antichrist’s Babylon. Now they will drink, full strength, the cup of God’s wrath! (21)

In language anyone can understand, the angel gives graphic details of the horrible fate of those who drink the undiluted cup of God’s wrath.

The word is tormented (Revelation 14:10). The angel uses biblical imagery to describe this torment as one of fire and brimstone, which is burning sulfur. The universally-known example in the Bible of this fire and brimstone form of God’s judgment is Sodom and Gomorrah. (21)

Genesis reads:

Then the Lord rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was sent down from the sky by the Lord. So he overthrew those cities and all that region, including all the inhabitants of the cities and the vegetation that grew from the ground. (Genesis 19:24–25 NET)

When Abraham saw God’s judgment,

“he He looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of that region. As he did so, he saw the smoke rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace. toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace" (Genesis 19:28 NET). 

Jesus connected God’s holy judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah with God’s final judgment on the wicked during the Day of the Lord. In addition, Jesus revealed that the rapture occurs in conjunction with the Day of the Lord. The very day the Day of the Lord begins!

Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; but on the day Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be the same on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone who is on the roof, with his goods in the house, must not come down to take them away, and likewise the person in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”
 (Luke 17:28–36 NET)

Since Heaven is forever, so is hell. While Heaven is a place of endless joy and rest in the presence of God, hell is a place of endless suffering. There will be no relief—ever. (21)

This is a most awful warning. Again, any man who worships the Beast and receives his ‘Mark’ on his forehead or hand, his doom is fixed FOREVER. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Holy Angels and of the Lamb, and the smoke of his torment shall ascend forever and ever, and they shall have no rest day or night. If “Eternal Punishment” is taught nowhere else in the Bible, it is taught here, and if here, why is it not true as to other classes of sinners? Just think of the horror of remorse in the “Lake of Fire,” as these worshippers of the Beast shall recall the “Mark of the Beast” as it was imprinted on their forehead or right hand with their own consent because of their desire to enrich themselves in the markets of their day. (8)

As Abraham saw God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, so Jesus, the Lamb of God, and His holy angels will see the consequences of this judgment on the wicked. This is a real place of torment and separation from God. (21)

Our time in this life is short, and it passes quickly. Eternity is forever. Using human words, we could say that eternity passes by very slowly. In view of the fact that God’s people will live with God for eternity while the wicked suffer the consequences of their sins forever, surely God’s people can patiently endure short-term hardship and persecution. (1) (21) Say amen, or oh my!

The apostle Paul gives the following words of assurance:

 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35–39 NET)

John further substantiates that salvation by grace does not mean believers are free from the obligation to live holy lives. He specifically says this word of encouragement is for those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Since God’s judgment is imminent, those who die in the Lord are blessed, for they will no longer suffer. While God’s righteousness is a free gift of God to those who accept it, John adds that the works of the believers will follow them to Heaven.

James said:

 “So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. (James 2:17 NET)

Please, let us get beyond the Western Christian teaching of cheap grace and live our lives fully dedicated to the will and the ways of God. (21)

The Blessed Dead

This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: ‘Blessed are the dead, those who die in the Lord from this moment on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they can rest from their hard work, because their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:12–13 NET)

This is blessedly true of all saints but refers to those who die after the False Prophet has commanded that all who will not worship the “Image of the Beast” shall be killed.” (Revelation 13:15). This is settled by the words “from this moment on.” This warning is given for the benefit of those who, on that day, shall be tempted to compromise with evil to preserve their lives. Better to live and reign with Christ a 1000 years than with the Antichrist for about 1.75 years. This special class of dead who “DIE IN THE LORD” will be blessed because they will be delivered from the trials and sufferings of the “Day of the Lord” and will receive the “MARTYR’S CROWN” (Revelation 2:10). They shall rest from their labors of stemming the tide of the iniquity of those days, and their works follow with them. During the “Day of the Lord,” they are loyal to God and have no prospect before them but martyrdom, hence the need at this time for a special message of blessing to those who are faithful until death. What a contrast between the “Blessed Dead” and those with the “Mark of the Beast.” The former will rest from their labors, while the latter shall not rest day or night. (8)

FLASHBACK: The Rapture of the Believers – Reaping the Earth’s Harvest of the Righteous

The difference between the “Harvest and the Vintage” is that the “harvest” in the natural world precedes the “vintage,” but often, as in this case, continues until they become one.

Then I looked, and a white cloud appeared, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man! He had a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple, shouting in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and start to reap, because the time to reap has come, since the earth’s harvest is ripe!” So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. (Revelation 14:14–16 NET)(cf. Revelation 7:9–17)

John sees the exalted Son of Man ready to reap the spiritual harvest of the earth. He was the “Sower” and shall be the “Reaper.” He is sitting on a white cloud and wearing a crown of gold. He has a sharp sickle in His hand with which He will reap the “ripe harvest” of human souls. (21)

An angel comes from the throne of God with the message that it is time for the Son of Man to reap the harvest. (21)

That is, God, our Heavenly Father, is informing the groom, the Lord Jesus Christ, that it is time to get His bride! (Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 25:1-13; John 14:1-3)

John’s vision connects to Daniel’s, which pictured the Son of Man coming with the clouds of Heaven.

I was watching in the night visions, “And with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man was approaching. He went up to the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13–14 NET)

Jesus Himself connected John’s vision with Daniel’s when He said to Caiaphas,

But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:63–64 NET)

This is not the “Harvest of the Church.” That was harvested in chapter seven. This is the “Harvest” of the Gentile Nations. (21)

FLASHBACK: The Seventh Trumpet Blast – The Third Woe – Reaping the Earth’s Harvest of the Unrighteous

The “Harvest of the wheat and grapes (vintage)” is JUDICIAL. That is, they are for the purpose of Judgment. The account here adds detail to the Third Woe describing how the world’s armies are to be gathered for the future Battle that will take place on the Great Day of God, the Almighty, at Armageddon. This Battle occurs after the “Fall of Babylon” described in Revelation 18. (8)

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Another angel, who was in charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes off the vine of the earth, because its grapes are now ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth and tossed them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. Then the winepress was stomped outside the city, and blood poured out of the winepress up to the height of horses’ bridles for a distance of almost two hundred miles. (Revelation 14:17–20 NET)

In Joel, we have a description of this Wheat and Grape Harvest (Vintage):

Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for a holy war! Call out the warriors! Let all these fighting men approach and attack! Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears! Let the weak say, ‘I too am a warrior!’ Lend your aid and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves to that place.” Bring down, O Lord, your warriors! Let the nations be roused and let them go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit in judgment on all the surrounding nations. Rush forth with the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Come, stomp the grapes, for the winepress is full! The vats overflow. Indeed, their evil is great! Crowds, great crowds are in the valley of decision, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision! The sun and moon are darkened; the stars withhold their brightness. The Lord roars from Zion; from Jerusalem his voice bellows out. The heavens and the earth shake. But the Lord is a refuge for his people; he is a stronghold for the citizens of Israel. (Joel 3:9–16 NET)

The second harvest is the reaping of the souls of the unrighteous. John sees another angel coming from the throne of God with a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel comes forth with the message from God for the first angel: It is time to reap the harvest. (21)

The biblical imagery of this harvest relates to the harvest of grapes. The angel says that the clusters of grapes are ready to be harvested. They are fully ripe, meaning their time has come. While literal grapes at the harvest are full of juice, these human grapes are full of evil. (21)

During the grape harvest, the reapers would cut the clusters of grapes and bring them to a winepress, a pit lined with rock and sealed with a hard substance such as plaster. Workers would pile the grapes on the winepress and then stomp on the grapes to press out the juice. The juice would flow through a hole near the bottom into the vat. (21)

At harvest time, this stomping on the grapes to turn out the new wine was a joyous celebration that included singing and literally dancing on the grapes. Wineries still do this today and often invite their patrons to participate in their “wine-stomping festival.” (21)

While God’s harvest of the righteous is a time of great joy, His harvest of the grapes of the unrighteous is not. It is a time of God’s wrath. Joel used similar words when he prophesied about God’s great judgment at the end of the age: (21)

Let the nations be roused and let them go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit in judgment on all the surrounding nations. Rush forth with the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Come, stomp the grapes, for the winepress is full! The vats overflow. Indeed, their evil is great! (Joel 3:12–13 NET)

John learns that this winepress is outside the city. While John identified Rome as the city connected to Babylon, he did not identify this city. However, because Joel tells us that God’s final judgment is in the valley of Jehoshaphat, we believe that John is talking about Jerusalem. The valley of Jehoshaphat is thought to be the Kidron Valley or the valley of Hinnom, both of which are just outside Jerusalem. (21)

This judgment is unimaginably great. John learns that the blood crushed from the human grapes reaches the fallen horses’ bridles and covers about 180 miles. While John describes this carnage in first-century terms, we certainly understand his words to mean a devastating judgment of God at the very end of the Day of the Lord. (21)

Because Jesus suffered God’s winepress of judgment for us, those who oppose Him must suffer in their own winepress. While all good people hate to think of humans suffering in this way, this judgment, detailed in the next chapters of Revelation, is God’s answer to the prayers of His people. God is a God of mercy, but those who will not accept His mercy must experience His just judgments. We must all decide—holy wrath or holy mercy. What will you choose? (21)

The “WINEPRESS” is the winepress of the “FIERCENESS AND WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD.” Revelation 19:15. The Prophet Isaiah describes Christ’s role in it.

Who is this who comes from Edom, dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? Who is this one wearing royal attire, who marches confidently because of his great strength? “It is I, the one who announces vindication, and who is able to deliver!” Why are your clothes red? Why do you look like someone who has stomped on grapes in a vat? “I have stomped grapes in the winepress all by myself; no one from the nations joined me. I stomped on them in my anger; I trampled them down in my rage. Their juice splashed on my garments, and stained all my clothes. For I looked forward to the day of vengeance, and then payback time arrived. I looked, but there was no one to help; I was shocked because there was no one offering support. So my right arm accomplished deliverance; my raging anger drove me on. I trampled nations in my anger, I made them drunk in my rage, I splashed their blood on the ground.” (Isaiah 63:1–6 NET)

It will cover the whole of Israel and extend as far south as Edom and Bozrah. So great shall be the slaughter that the blood shall be up to the horses’ bridles in the valleys over Israel for 1600 furlongs, or 200 miles. It will be the time of which the Prophet Isaiah speaks when the land shall be DRUNK WITH BLOOD.

Wild oxen will be slaughtered along with them, as well as strong bulls. Their land is drenched with blood, their soil is covered with fat. For the Lord has planned a day of revenge, a time when he will repay Edom for her hostility toward Zion. (Isaiah 34:7–8 NET)

We will consider it more in detail when we study the Battle of Armageddon in chapter nineteen. (8)

The “Vintage” is of the “VINE OF THE EARTH.” Israel was a “VINE” brought out of Egypt and planted in Canaan.

You uprooted a vine from Egypt; you drove out nations and transplanted it. (Psalm 80:8 NET)

But when God looked for it to bring forth “edible grapes,” it brought forth “sour grapes” and fruit unto itself. Hosea 10:1.

I will sing to my love— a song to my lover about his vineyard. My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill. He built a hedge around it, removed its stones, and planted a vine. He built a tower in the middle of it, and constructed a winepress. He waited for it to produce edible grapes, but it produced sour ones instead. So now, residents of Jerusalem, people of Judah, you decide between me and my vineyard! What more can I do for my vineyard beyond what I have already done? When I waited for it to produce edible grapes, why did it produce sour ones instead? Now I will inform you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture, I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there. I will make it a wasteland; no one will prune its vines or hoe its ground, and thorns and briers will grow there. I will order the clouds not to drop any rain on it. Indeed Israel is the vineyard of the Lord who commands armies, the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight. He waited for justice, but look what he got—disobedience! He waited for fairness, but look what he got—cries for help! (Isaiah 5:1–7 NET)

Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars. (Hosea 10:1 NET)

When the Lord of the “Vineyard” sent His servants for the “Fruit of the Vineyard,” the husbandmen beat one, killed another, and stoned another. At last, He sent His Son, Him they took and cast out of the Vineyard and slew.

“Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop.But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet. (Matthew 21:33–46 NET)(cf. Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19)

According to this parable, the Jewish and Roman leaders that crucified Jesus knew that He was the Messiah. However, they wanted to maintain their position and power over Israel – His inheritance – and thus had Him killed.

When day came, the council of the elders of the people gathered together, both the chief priests and the experts in the law. Then they led Jesus away to their council and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” He answered them, “You say that I am.” (Luke 22:66–70 NET)(cf. Matthew 26:63-64)

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He replied, “You say so.” (Luke 23:3 NET)(cf. Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2) 

So Pilate said, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know I have the authority to release you, and to crucify you?”Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” (John 19:11 NET)

So Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?” (For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.) (Mark 15:9–10 NET)

Then Jesus Himself became the “TRUE VINE,” of which His disciples are the branches.

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. (John 15:1–5 NET)

The “VINE OF THE EARTH” is Antichrist and all who belong to his pernicious system.

Another angel, who was in charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes off the vine of the earth, because its grapes are now ripe.” (Revelation 14:18 NET)

Righteous and Unrighteous Harvest Timing

Although John records what he sees in Revelatio n 14, these two harvests do not occur until the end of Revelatio n 18, just before and at the coming of the Lord. Jesus explains this for us in one of His teachings about the great end-time judgment when God’s people are separated from the wicked. (21)

In Matthew 13, Jesus told two parables about sowing and reaping. As He always did, Jesus put His teachings in terms of the culture and the everyday life experiences of the people, so they could relate to what he was telling them. Since his listeners were agricultural people, Jesus often used agricultural expressions to teach them spiritual truths. (21)

In the second parable, Jesus likened the righteous to wheat and the unrighteous to tares.

He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ He said, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the slaves replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ” (Matthew 13:24–30 NET)

While growing in the field, tares look so much like wheat that, until the wheat matures, it’s hard to tell one from the other. It is wise to wait until the grain appears on the wheat before trying to separate the two. (21)

Jesus said He and the angels would separate the righteous (human wheat) from the unrighteous (human tares) in the great end-time harvest of souls. The righteous are those who have the Seal (Mark) of God, and the unrighteous are those who have the Mark of the Beast. (21)

Jesus further explained:

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. As the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen! (Matthew 13:36–43 NET)

Jesus repeats His teaching:

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, they pulled it ashore, sat down, and put the good fish into containers and threw the bad away. It will be this way at the end of the age. Angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:47–50 NET)

The Hebrew prophets used similar biblical imagery to speak of God’s judgments. (21)

Jeremiah wrote:

For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, ‘Fair Babylon will be like a threshing floor which has been trampled flat for harvest. The time for her to be cut down and harvested will come very soon.’ (Jeremiah 51:33 NET)

In my opinion, it is at this time that the rapture or “catching up” of the saints takes place. In keeping with Jewish marriage customs, this is when the Father in Heaven will tell His Son to go get His Bride. (See Matthe w 22:1-14; 25:1-13; Joh n 14:1-3.) It seems to me that this is the only interpretation consistent with what the Bible actually says.

So what does the Bible say?

Daniel prophesied about this end-time separation of the righteous from the unrighteous. He says that God’s people will be delivered after Michael fights on their behalf. John sees Michael engaged in this fight at the middle of the tribulation period, which is recorded in Revelatio n 12. This means that God’s people will not be delivered until after that time. Daniel also sees the reaping of the harvest of the righteous in Revelatio n 14:14-16 and the reaping of the harvest of the unrighteous grapes of wrath in Revelatio n 14:17-20. This takes place at the end of the Day of the Lord.

The angel says to Daniel:

“At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape. Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake— some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence. (Danie l 12:1–2 NET)

If this is the correct interpretation of Daniel’s words, it will be confirmed in the New Testament as there are no contradictions in the pages of the Bible.

So what does the New Testament say?

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him about these great end-time events, Jesus said He would send His angels to blow the trumpet and gather His own after the tribulation. Since Jesus said this would happen after or at the end of the tribulation, it was not necessary for Him to tell them this was the last trumpet- shofar. The Jewish sages taught that Messiah would come after much tribulation, and Jesus’ disciples understood what He meant.

Even Islam, borrowing from Judaism and early Christianity, teaches that the Mahdi (Islamic messiah) will appear after a period of tribulation. This is why the leader of Iran wants to cause war and turmoil in the world. In his mind, this is necessary for the Mahdi to appear.

Matthew records these words of Jesus:

“Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthe w 24:29-31).

Paul writes to the believers at Corinth and Thessalonica about the same event. His Corinthian letter says the following:

Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthian s 15:51–52 NET)

Paul writes to the Thessalonians:

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonian s 4:13–18 NET)

It should be clear that all of these Scriptures are talking about the same event. It is also clear that they all say God’s people will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air when He returns at the last trumpet-shofar. The last trumpet- shofar is sounded at Revelatio n 11:15-19 to announce the destruction of the kingdoms of this world and the coming of the Kingdom of God. Since the story of the Book of Revelation actually ends at the close of Revelatio n 11, the last trumpet-shofar is sounded at the end of the tribulation period. John gives more details in Revelatio n 12–13, provides an instant replay in Revelatio n 14, and then gives the final details in Revelatio n 15–19. God’s people are caught up to meet the Lord in the air just before His final judgment on the nations.

Preview: The Seven Angels and their Seven Final Plagues

Then I saw another great and astounding sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven final plagues (they are final because in them God’s anger is completed). (Revelation 15:1 NET)

This is another “SIGN” or “Wonder.” It was great and marvelous because it “FILLED UP THE WRATH OF GOD,” that is, it completed the pouring out of the accumulated “WRATH OF GOD.”

The Overcomers Give Glory to God

Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God. They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and astounding are your deeds, Lord God, the All-Powerful! Just and true are your ways, King over the nations! Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, because you alone are holy? All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:2–4 NET)

In Revelation 12:1-3, John says his vision of the woman with child and the dragon was a sign. Throughout history, and even in modern times, people consider unusual happenings in the sky to be signals from God that something important is about to happen on the earth. In Revelation 12, the important event was the birth of the Messiah on the earth. The Gospels also mention the sign of the Star of Bethlehem pointing to the Messiah’s birth. The sign in Revelation 12:3 was Satan being cast out of Heaven to the earth. Now John says he sees another sign in Heaven that will affect the earth. This sign is preparation for the last seven judgments on the earth. (21)

When John realizes what he sees, he does not call it a sign of doom and gloom, as we are often told. He calls it a great and marvelous sign. Yes, it is certain doom and gloom for the wicked, but for the righteous, it is great and marvelous. And what is this sign? John sees seven angels with the last seven judgments of God. (21)

John explains that when these seven judgments are released on the earth, they will bring to fulfillment or completion the holy wrath of God against evil. Hallelujah! With this proper perspective, we can join John in calling this a great and marvelous sign. (21)

While believers can rejoice, the wicked will weep and mourn. The Bible is clear that throughout history, God has taken the initiative by extending His love and mercy to all. It is not His desire that any should perish but that all would come to Him and receive forgiveness for sin and eternal life with Him. However, we also learn in the Bible that God is just and must judge those who reject His mercy. In our heart of hearts, we know this is true. (21)

God must deal with our sins because He is Holy. However, if He condemned all that sinned, He would be just but not merciful, and if He overlooked all sin, He would be merciful but not just.

As we study the Bible and history, it seems that God has determined a certain period of time in which He would allow humankind the opportunity to respond to Him. Based on the Feasts of the Lord and God’s biblical calendar, conservative Bible scholars believe this time is 6,000 years. (21)

The Jewish sages divide time into three 2,000-year redemptive periods. They refer to the first 2,000 years before the giving of the Torah as the Age of Chaos. The second 2,000 years they call the Age of Torah. The last 2,000 years are called the Age of Messiah. The Age of Messiah is also called the latter days. When Jesus came for the first time, it was the beginning of the latter days. His second coming will be the end of the latter days. That time has now come, and God prepares to release His last judgments against those who have made their final choice to reject Him. (21)

In Revelation 4:6, John saw what looked like a sea of crystal glass before the throne of God. In discussing what John saw, recall he did not see a literal sea. He used figurative language to describe the limitless splendor and riches and pure holiness of God as opposed to the limited and temporal riches of the emperors. (21)

Then it was unoccupied; now, it is occupied. Then its surface was crystal clear and plain; now, its surface is of a “fiery” aspect, symbolizing the “fiery trials” of its occupants. The occupants of this “Sea of Glass” come out of the Great Tribulation, for they have gotten victory over the “Beast,” and over his “Image,” and over his Mark, and over the “Number of His Name,” and they have harps, and they sing the “SONG OF MOSES” and the “SONG OF THE LAMB.” They are the “Harpers” of Revelation 14:2, whose song only the 144,000 “Sealed Ones” could sing. John only heard them then; now he sees them. That they could sing both the “Song of Moses” and the “Song of the Lamb” implies that they were all, or in part, Israelites. (8)

Once again, John’s attention is focused on this sea. Here he adds an incredible observation: fire is now mingled with the sea of crystal glass. What a sight! It would be like watching lighting flashing on a crystal-clear body of water. The fire represents God’s holy fire of judgment to be poured out. Even more remarkable, John sees the overcomers actually standing on the sea. (21)

This scene takes us back to when God delivered His people from Pharaoh. When God parted the Red Sea, the Children of Israel could pass through the sea on dry ground with walls of water to their right and left. Put yourself in that setting and imagine being one of those Hebrews. God held back Pharaoh and his army with a pillar of cloud and fire until the Hebrews had passed through. When they were safely on the other side, Pharaoh and his army followed them. But God allowed the waters to return, and all the Egyptians drowned, including Pharoah. (21)

to the one who divided the Red Sea in two, for his loyal love endures, and led Israel through its midst, for his loyal love endures, and tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for his loyal love endures, (Psalm 136:13–15 NET)

He shouted at the Red Sea and it dried up; he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert. He delivered them from the power of the one who hated them, and rescued them from the power of the enemy. The water covered their enemies; not even one of them survived. (Psalm 106:9–11 NET)

The Children of Israel watched this awesome scene—victorious and in their place of safety—as the blazing glory of God in the pillar of fire mingled with the waters of the Red Sea and brought them crashing down on Pharaoh and his army (Exodus 14). What an incredible sight! (21)

Just as the Lord helped the Children of Israel have a great victory over Pharaoh, He will help the children of God overcome the evil one. He will bring them to the place of safety and victory over the Beast— that is, Satan, the Antichrist, the false prophet, and the anti-God, one-world system. Regardless of the difficulties the believers experience (even martyrdom), victory is certain. (21)

Paul wrote to the believers at Thessalonica:

For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 NET).

As John continues, we see even more clearly the connection of this heavenly scene to the Exodus story. Notice that these overcomers have all learned to play the harp. If you are not musically inclined in this life, you will be when you enter the throne room of God. Everyone will become skilled in King David’s favorite instrument. Can you imagine being on King David’s harp team along with millions of other believers? (21)

John hears this great company of God’s people (Jews and Gentiles) singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. This company is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption to make Jews and Gentiles “one new man” in the Messiah. (21)

For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14–22 NET)

There are two Songs of Moses in the Hebrew Bible. The first one is recorded in Exodus 15:1-18. This is a great song of praise to God for delivering the people from Pharaoh. The second is recorded in Deuteronomy 32:1-43 when Moses was preparing to give his final blessing to the Children of Israel before he died. (21)

The second Song of Moses ends with the following remarkable exhortation:

Cry out, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge his servants’ blood; he will take vengeance against his enemies, and make atonement for his land and people. (Deuteronomy 32:43 NET)

The scene that John sees in Revelation 15 is clearly the ultimate fulfillment of the closing words of this song as both Jews and Gentiles give glory to God, singing of His judgments on their adversaries and the atonement provided by the Lamb—just as they had sung earlier in Revelation 5:8-14. Our God is awesome! (21)

Each line they sing comes from a corresponding passage in the Hebrew Bible. I have quoted just a few below. There are many similar verses. As we read these, let us praise our God for His greatness and goodness and His mighty acts of wonder and awe and redemption on the earth.

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you?—majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11 NET).

For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; you must acknowledge the greatness of our God. As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright. (Deuteronomy 32:3- 4 NET).

Sing to the Lord, you faithful followers of his; give thanks to his holy name. (Psalms 30:4 NET).

Let the whole earth fear the Lord! Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him! (Psalms 33:8 NET).

None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord! Your exploits are incomparable! All the nations, whom you created, will come and worship you, O Lord. They will honor your name. For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God. (Psalms 86:8-10 NET).

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he performs amazing deeds! His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance. Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth! ...Break out in a joyful shout and sing! Sing to the Lord accompanied by a harp, accompanied by a harp and the sound of music! (Psalms 98:1;98:4-5 NET).

Praise the Lord our God! Worship before his footstool! He is holy! (Psalms 99:5 NET).

I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor, and your amazing deeds! They will proclaim the power of your awesome acts! I will declare your great deeds! They will talk about the fame of your great kindness, and sing about your justice. (Psalms 145:5-7 NET).

I said, “There is no one like you, Lord. You are great. And you are renowned for your power. Everyone should revere you, O King of all nations, because you deserve to be revered. For there is no one like you among any of the wise people of the nations nor among any of their kings. (Jeremiah 10:6-7 NET).

The Lord is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King. When he shows his anger the earth shakes. None of the nations can stand up to his fury. (Jeremiah 10:10 NET).

The Tabernacle of the Testimony

After these things I looked, and the temple (the tent of the testimony) was opened in heaven, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, dressed in clean bright linen, wearing wide golden belts around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and from his power. Thus no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues from the seven angels were completed. (Revelation 15:5–8 NET)

As John observes this incredible scene in Heaven, he sees the Temple of God and the Holy of Holies. The English wording in verse 5 could be clearer. The phrase “the temple (the tent of the testimony)” means the inner room of the Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, which housed the Ark of the Covenant. This is the same scene that John saw in Revelation 11:19.

Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm. (Revelation 11:19 NET) 

The wording is clearer in that verse which says: “Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple…” (Revelation 11:19). The significance of the statement is that the Holy of Holies is open when it would normally be closed or concealed by a thick curtain (Exodus 40:21).

This scene takes us back to when God told the Hebrews to make a tabernacle, or tent, where He would dwell among them. (21)

We read in Exodus that God said,

Let them make for me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. (Exodus 25:8).

Bible students will recall that the Tabernacle was divided into three sections:

1) the Outer Courtyard (1),

2) the first room called the Holy Place (1), and

3) the inner room called the Holy of Holies (1).

When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (called the Testimony), He needed a place to preserve them. So He instructed Moses to make a small chest to house them. This chest would be kept in the Holy of Holies. The chest is the Ark of the Covenant. (21)

Exodus reads:

“You are to put into the ark the testimony that I will give to you.” (Exodus 25:16). 

We learn in the New Testament that the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded was also placed in the Ark of the Covenant (Hebrews 9:4).

And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies. It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. (Hebrews 9:3–4 NET)

God gave Moses specific instructions for making the Ark of the Covenant. The lid or top of the Ark was called the Mercy Seat. Statues of two cherubim angels were made and attached to the two ends of the Mercy Seat. God told Moses that He would meet with him in the Holy of Holies above the Mercy Seat. (21)

Exodus reads:

You are to put the atonement lid on top of the ark, and in the ark you are to put the testimony I am giving you. I will meet with you there, and from above the atonement lid, from between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will command you for the Israelites. (Exodus 25:21- 22 NET).

The Tabernacle (1) was a portable structure that the Hebrews could carry with them in their 40 years of wandering through the desert. Later, when they settled in the land, King David wanted to build a permanent Temple as the central place of worship. However, since King David was a man of war, God did not allow him to build the Temple. His son, King Solomon, was given the assignment. (21)

As we see the Temple worship scenes in Heaven, we realize that both the earthly Tabernacle and Temple were copies of the heavenly dwelling of God. They were “made according to the pattern” God gave Moses and later King David. They would be visuals or pictures on the earth of the eternal reality in Heaven.

In Revelation 15, John sees the seven angels coming out of the Holy of Holies. Their garments symbolize their purity and undefiled nature. One of the four special living beings gives them the seven golden bowls that John says are “filled with the wrath of God” (Revelation 15:7). This is John’s way of saying there is no more mercy coming from the Mercy Seat of God. There is only judgment, as those who have opposed God have rejected His mercy. (21)

These bowls, or basins, are the same vessels used in the Tabernacle and Temple for catching the blood of the sacrifices offered to God. They represent both the mercy and the judgment of God. (21)

On Yom Kippur, the Great Day of Atonement, the High Priest would sprinkle the blood on the Mercy Seat at the Tabernacle and Temple (Leviticus 17). God, looking down from His glory cloud, would see the blood covering the Ark of the Covenant. For that day each year, He did not see the evidence of the people’s sins represented by the pot of manna, Aaron’s rod, and the stone tables. The innocent blood sacrifice changed God’s throne from one of judgment to one of mercy. That was the administration of the blood covenant before the time of Jesus. (21)

The blood of Jesus began the administration of the blood covenant that did away with the need for animal sacrifices. Whereas the blood of bulls and goats can only cover sin, the blood of Jesus takes sin away to be remembered no more. This is why the believers are singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. (21)

The slain but resurrected Lamb of God now sits at the right hand of God on the throne of the universe. It is His blood that the earthly sacrifices are pictured as a type. It is His blood that changes God’s heavenly throne from one of judgment to one of mercy. Those who accept the blood of the Lamb of God as their innocent sacrifice for sin receive God’s mercy. Those who reject it receive God’s judgment. (21)

John sees the glory and power of God, like smoke, filling the Holy of Holies and the Temple. This manifestation of God was so awesome and holy that no one could enter the Temple until the judgments were complete. (21)

John’s vision again takes us back to the Tabernacle and Temple when God’s glory appeared to the people. (21)

When the Tabernacle was dedicated:

Then the cloud [the manifested presence of God] covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34–35 NET)

Later, when the Temple was dedicated, the presence of God so filled the place that the priests could not even stand to minister:

The priests brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its assigned place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs... Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord’s temple. The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord’s glory filled his temple. (1 Kings 8:6;8:10–11 NET)

When the Tabernacle was finished by Moses and the Temple by Solomon, there was a “cloud,” the “Shekinah Glory,” but no smoke. The “cloud” means GRACE, and the “smoke” means JUDGMENT. (8)

In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and they used the remaining two to fly. They called out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1–4 NET)

Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking and God was answering him with a voice. (Exodus 19:18–19 NET)

As we contemplate the awesomeness and goodness of our God, may His glorious presence also fill our bodies and souls—each personal house of God. May we experience the cloud of God’s glory so that we cannot stand under the weight of His manifested presence. May the worship of Heaven become our ever-present reality. Let this be our prayer today. (21)

ACT II: The Chronological Revelation of the End Times Resumes

Mourning

Introduction from Daniel’s Vision

I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, what will happen after these things?” He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, there are 1,290 days. (Daniel 12:8–11 NET)

Together the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord will last 3.5 years, which is 1,260 days.

But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of—away from the presence of the serpent—for a time, times, and half a time [3.5 years]. (Revelation 12:14 NET)

So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:5,6 NET)

However, in Daniel, the time from the beginning of the Great Tribulation until the “many are purified, made clean, and refined…” and God’s Wrath is poured out on “the wicked will go on being wicked,” is 1,290 days. (Daniel 12:10)

Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, there are 1,290 days. (Daniel 12:10–11 NET)

These additional 30 (1,290 – 1,260) days are when the Seven Bowls are poured out. They are days of mourning for the Jews as they recognize that Yeshua is HaMashia (Jesus is the Messiah), and they rejected Him when He first came to Earth. Those thirty days may also serve as a time of cleansing and preparation for the people. Moses was commanded to provide an alternative time for sacrificing the Passover lamb. This provision was for those who were defiled under Jewish law or were away on a journey. The alternative date was to occur thirty days aft the normal slaying of the Passover Lamb. Instead of on the fourteenth day of the first month, it was to be offered on the fourteenth date of the second month – exactly thirty days later (Numbers 9:10,11). (18)

Concerning the cleansing, the prophet Zechariah wrote:

“In that day there will be a fountain opened up for the dynasty of David and the people of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity. (Zechariah 13:1 NET)

The Seven Bowl Judgments

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.” (Revelation 16:1 NET)

John hears a loud voice from the Temple. Although he does not identify the voice, it is most likely the Lord’s voice. Isaiah said that he heard a voice from the Temple, which he identified as the voice of the Lord who fully repays His enemies.

The sound of battle comes from the city; the sound comes from the temple! It is the sound of the Lord paying back his enemies. (Isaiah 66:6 NET)

The voice commands the seven angels to pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. (21)

Believers can take comfort in knowing that these judgments are not for them but are intended for those who took the Mark of the Beast. (21)

These terrible judgments are poured out at the end of the Day of the Lord leading up to the second coming of the Lord. They occur over thirty days, during which God completely destroys the anti-God, one-world system, which John sees happening in Revelation 17–18. (21)

With this Satanic kingdom destroyed, Jesus will come and establish the full measure of the Kingdom of God on the earth. Hallelujah! Our God reigns. (21)

The First Bowl – Devasting Sores

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then ugly and painful sores appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. (Revelation 16:2 NET)

The first bowl judgment is described as “ugly and painful sores.” While the exact nature of this sore is not clear, it is extremely painful and repulsive in appearance. It obviously causes great physical suffering. (21)

Because this judgment parallels the sixth plague in Egypt, it may be that the sore is a boil. The Lord instructed Moses and Aaron to take some ashes from a furnace and toss them toward Heaven while Pharaoh watched. The Lord then scattered the ashes throughout Egypt, and they caused boils in the Egyptians. (21)

Exodus reads:

So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh, Moses threw it into the air, and it caused festering boils to break out on both people and animals. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted to Moses. (Exodus 9:10–12 NET)

The English text that says “the LORD hardened Pharoah’s heart” can be misleading. It means that God created a circumstance to test Pharaoh. However, Pharaoh would not repent but hardened his own heart against God because of the plague. (21)

It is interesting to note the parallels between this plague in Egypt and the Book of Revelation. Both are described as sore. Both are done in the presence of the anti-God leaders (Pharaoh and the anti-Messiah). Both afflict only those who reject God. And in both instances, those judged had hardened their hearts against God instead of repenting. (21)

The Second Bowl – The Sea Turns to Blood

Next, the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died. (Revelation 16:3 NET)

John explains that the sea became like the blood of a dead man, and everything in the sea died. Of course, this made the water unfit to drink and killed all the fish.

Again, there are parallels between God’s judgments against Pharaoh and His judgments against the anti-Messiah. God poured out His judgment in the sight of Pharaoh. The judgment was only against Pharaoh and the Egyptians, not the people of God. Likewise, the bowl judgments in the Book of Revelation are poured out in the sight of the anti-Messiah, the false prophet, and the entire world, which, like Egypt, is the anti-God empire. The judgment is only against those who have the Mark of the Beast. Like Pharaoh, the people harden their hearts against God. (21)

This second bowl judgment is similar to the first plague in Egypt and the second trumpet judgment.

God’s first plague against Pharaoh turned the Nile River and all the fresh water in Egypt into blood (Exodus 7:14-25).

However, It did not include the sea (i.e., the Mediterranean Sea) as in this Second Bowl.

In the second trumpet judgment, only a third of the sea became blood, so only a third of the creatures living there died (Revelation 8:8-9). Since that was only a partial judgment, people had the opportunity to repent. (21)

However, the bowl judgment is total devastation of the sea. This is God’s way of telling us that because the people will not repent, His mercy is no longer possible. (21)

The Third Bowl – The Fresh Waters Turn to Blood

Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. (Revelation 16:4 NET)

John explains that (in the third bowl judgment) all the fresh water turns to blood.

Again, God’s first plague against Pharaoh turned the Nile River and all the fresh water in Egypt into blood. However, It did not include the sea (i.e., the Mediterranean Sea), unlike the Second Bowl.

The third bowl judgment is nearly identical to the first plague in Egypt and similar to the third trumpet judgment.

Exodus reads:

Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord had commanded. Moses raised the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile right before the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood. When the fish that were in the Nile died, the Nile began to stink, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood everywhere in the land of Egypt! But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts, and so Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron—just as the Lord had predicted. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. He did not pay any attention to this. All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the Nile. (Exodus 7:20–24 NET)

Because God was judging Pharaoh and the gods the Egyptians worshiped, only the fresh water in Egypt turned to blood. The Scripture says that Pharaoh hardened his heart against God (Exodus 7:22-23). (21)

In the third trumpet, only a third of the freshwater became bitter (Revelation 8:10-11). God was giving the people an opportunity to repent. (21)

With the Seven Bowls, God judges the whole world that has refused to turn to Him. He now pours out the fullness or completeness of His just judgment (His holy wrath). Consequently, all the fresh water on the whole earth turns to blood. (21)

The Angel of the Waters’ Worship

Now I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are just—the one who is and who was, the Holy One—because you have passed these judgments, because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!” (Revelation 16:7 NET)

As John beholds this terrible judgment, he hears the angel who poured out this bowl worshiping God. Contrary to worldly people who refuse to accept or be accountable to a moral Creator, the angel proclaims God’s righteousness in this judgment. The angel acknowledges the “rightness” of God’s judgment. Because the wicked have shed the blood of God’s people, God will judge them with blood.

In the Bible, this is known as the Law of Reciprocity or the Law of Sowing and Reaping. As Paul explains in Galatians: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). The angel notes that this judgment is the just due of the wicked. Where there is no more mercy, the wicked get just what they deserve.

The Altar’s Agreement

Then I heard the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!” (Revelation 16:7 NET)

As if to say, “Amen,” John hears a voice from the altar declaring God’s judgments to be true and righteous. Whose voice did John hear?

Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” Each of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been. (Revelation 6:9–11 NET)

He heard the voice of the martyrs from the altar in Heaven. The Lord told them to wait until the time was right, and He would vindicate them. The pouring out of the seven bowl judgments is the time God had in mind. He is fully vindicating His people who were faithful even unto death. As they see these final judgments, they acknowledge God’s faithfulness to them. He is the Lord God Almighty, and His judgments are true and righteous. Amen (21)

The Fourth Bowl – The Scorching Sun

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people with fire. Thus people were scorched by the terrible heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory. (Revelation 16:8–9 NET)

In the fourth bowl judgment, God continues to demonstrate His sovereignty over His creation. In this instance, it is the sun. In the fourth trumpet judgment, God darkened the sun, the moon, and the stars for a third of the day and night. This judgment is just the opposite. He heats up the sun so hot that it scorches those who have the Mark of the Beast. (21)

This is the fulfillment of what was spoken by Malachi: (8)

“For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord who rules over all. “It will not leave even a root or branch. (Malachi 4:1 NET)

You prevail over all your enemies; your power is too great for those who hate you. You burn them up like a fiery furnace when you appear; the Lord angrily devours them; the fire consumes them. You destroy their offspring from the earth, their descendants from among the human race. Yes, they intend to do you harm; they dream up a scheme, but they do not succeed. For you make them retreat when you shoot your arrows at them. Rise up, O Lord, in strength! We will sing and praise your power! (Psalm 21:8–13 NET)

The effect of this plague will be not to make men repent but to cause them to blaspheme the name of God. (8)

God has used the sun in times past to accomplish His purposes. Joshua and his army were fighting and winning. But Joshua became concerned that the sun would go down before they could completely destroy their enemy. According to the Bible, Joshua commanded the sun to stand still. God honored his faith by stopping the sun until the enemy was fully defeated. (21)

Joshua reads:

The day the Lord delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the Lord before Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon! O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon!” The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day. There has not been a day like it before or since. The Lord obeyed a man, for the Lord fought for Israel! Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal. (Joshua 10:12–15 NET)

Tragically, instead of repenting, the people reveal what is in their hearts by cursing God. They demonstrate the same character and hatred of God as the anti-Messiah they are following. (21)

They are one in that they both blaspheme God, as we learned earlier:

Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule. One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God—to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:2–6 NET)

Many people think that if God would reveal Himself clearly to people, they would believe in Him. Oh, how I wish this were true. Instead, it is a very naïve understanding of the human heart. Do not be deceived; we can harden our hearts to the point that we become completely irrational in our thinking regarding God. We can go so far as to lose any ability to repent and seek Him. (21)

The Bible warns us about this spiritual condition:

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! “Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness. “There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years. “Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, ‘Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.’ “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’ ” See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God. But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end. As it says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses’ leadership? And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient? So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:7–19 NET)

The Hebrews saw God perform mighty signs and wonders on their behalf for 40 years. Yet, most still did not worship Him. So they perished in the desert. There are millions of people like this today. Because they are amoral and secular, they cannot see the connection between national and personal tragedies and their sinful behavior. When their situations go from bad to worse, they curse God rather than repent. When godly leaders point out this connection, they also curse them and marginalize them as being religious fanatics. (21)

The Fifth Bowl – Darkness

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that darkness covered his kingdom, and people began to bite their tongues because of their pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings and because of their sores, but nevertheless they still refused to repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10–11 NET)

The fifth bowl judgment is similar to the fourth trumpet judgment, except, with this judgment, there is total darkness. John mentions that the darkness is directed toward the throne of the Beast and it extends over the whole Kingdom of the Beast. To John’s first-century readers, this would be Rome. For those of us living in the end times, the throne of the Beast is the center of the anti-Messiah’s one-world political and religious system. (21)

This will be a fulfillment of what was spoken by Joel: (8)

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm signal on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land shake with fear, for the day of the Lord is about to come. Indeed, it is near! It will be a day of dreadful darkness, a day of foreboding storm clouds, like blackness spread over the mountains. It is a huge and powerful army— there has never been anything like it ever before, and there will not be anything like it for many generations to come! (Joel 2:1–2 NET)

Notice that this plague immediately follows the plague of “Scorching Heat,” as if God in mercy would hide the Sun whose rays had been so hard to bear. The effect of the darkness was to make men gnaw their tongues for PAIN and for their SORES, showing that these Plagues overlapped each other or followed in such rapid order that they were not over the sufferings of one before they were suffering from another and that they were limited to a short period. (8)

This judgment is similar to God’s ninth plague against Pharaoh and Egypt. (21)

The Lord said to Moses, “Extend your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness so thick it can be felt.” So Moses extended his hand toward heaven, and there was absolute darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. No one could see another person, and no one could rise from his place for three days. But the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. (Exodus 10:21–23 NET)

The darkness in Egypt lasted three days. It was so dark that people could not see anything. But the Children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Can you imagine being in such total darkness that you cannot see your hand in front of your face? As in Egypt, this is a selective judgment of those who oppose God. It is not a judgment against God’s people. As pointed out, God raptured the believers and sealed the 144,000 to protect them from His wrath. (21)

This total natural darkness corresponds to the total spiritual darkness of those who oppose God. They cannot see physically or spiritually. John notes that the people are already suffering greatly due to the previous judgments. Yet, like Pharaoh, they do not repent. They continue to blaspheme God. There are no human words to describe the depths of the horror of rejecting God. It is too painful to contemplate. (21)

Some talk of conversion in Hell, and of the ultimate restoration of the wicked, but it is not revealed here. If Hell’s torments will cause men to repent, why do not the torments of those under these plagues lead to repentance? No, it only causes them to blaspheme more, and while sin and impenitence last, Hell lasts. (8)

The Sixth Bowl – Euphrates River Dries Up

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water to prepare the way for the kings from the east. (Revelation 16:12 NET)

In this next-to-last bowl judgment, John sees the Euphrates River dried up. Why the Euphrates River? And why is it dried up? (21)

This will be a fulfillment of what was spoken by Isaiah: (8)

The Lord will divide the gulf of the Egyptian Sea; he will wave his hand over the Euphrates River and send a strong wind, he will turn it into seven dried-up streams, and enable them to walk across in their sandals. There will be a highway leading out of Assyria for the remnant of his people, just as there was for Israel, when they went up from the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:15–16 NET)

The drying up of the Euphrates will permit the remnant of Israel from Assyria to return. (8)

In the sixth trumpet judgment, we learned that the Euphrates River was the most important river in Bible times. In Hebrew, its name means to “break forth.” Beginning in the mountains of Turkey, the Euphrates River, along with the Tigris, broke forth from the mountains and provided the necessary water for the whole region to prosper. These rivers were important in the development and prosperity of Ur, the biblical city where Abraham lived (Genesis 11:31). (21)

With its life-giving waters traversing 1,780 miles from Turkey to the Persian Gulf, the flow of the Euphrates River enabled the forming of ancient civilizations such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Sumerians, and others. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers run parallel to each other before coming together to empty into the Persian Gulf. In fact, the word Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning “the land between the rivers.” (Euphrates and Tigris). (21)

The Garden of Eden was located near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Genesis 2:14). It was also the boundary of the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants (Genesis 15:18). Because of its prominence, the Bible sometimes refers to the Euphrates simply as “the river” or “the great river” (Deuteronomy 11:24; Genesis 15:18). Everyone in Bible times knew which river was being referred to. (21)

Because of its greatness, no one in John’s time would ever have imagined the Euphrates River drying up. What a crazy idea! What was John thinking when he wrote this? His first-century readers must have shaken their heads in disbelief. They would not shake their heads if they were living in our times because the great river is indeed drying up. (21)

The Euphrates flows through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. (Iraq is geographically located in the area of ancient Babylon.) These three countries compete with each other for the river’s precious water. Because the Euphrates originates in Turkey, it has the upstream advantage over Syria and Iraq when it comes to using the waters for its own needs. Syria has an upstream advantage over Iraq. (21)

Turkey and Syria have built numerous dams to harness the waters of the Euphrates for irrigation and hydroelectric power. By the time the Euphrates reaches Iraq, much of its waters have already been diverted. Furthermore, the Iraqi government and Iraqi farmers along the Euphrates have greatly mismanaged the use and conservation of the river. To make matters worse, there has been a severe drought in the region for several years. Where there was once an abundance of water, some areas are now mud and hard clay. This situation is having a devastating effect on the farmers who depend on the Euphrates for their livelihood. Concerned officials are fearful that the great river will soon be half what it is today. (21)

Yes, the great Euphrates River is clearly drying up. The only possible way John could see this prophetically is if God showed it to him in his apocalyptic vision. (21)

The fulfillment of this vision is one of the most important signs that we are living in the end days of history before the coming of the Lord. (21)

John explains that the drying up of the Euphrates River enables the kings from the east to “break forth” across it, bringing their armies to gather with the world’s armies in the battle of the great day of God Almighty. When discussing the sixth trumpet-shofar judgment, I noted that the Euphrates River formed the boundary between East and West and was the Eastern limit of the Roman Empire. In the first century, Rome’s most feared enemy east of the Euphrates was the Parthians. John, however, sees a worldwide battle when God gathers the armies of all the nations in a central place to destroy them. This is why the battle is called the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (21)

FLASHBACK: The Seventh Trumpet Blast – The Third Woe – Reaping the Earth’s Harvest of the Unrighteous – The Battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful

The interval between the Sixth and Seventh Bowls – Three Unclean Spirits

Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful. (Look! I will come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition be seen.) Now the spirits gathered the kings and their armies to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew. (Revelation 16:13–16 NET)

Here we are told how the “Kings of the Earth” and their armies are to be gathered for the “Battle of Armageddon.” “THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS” like frogs, John does not say they were frogs, will come one out of the mouth of the “Dragon,” one out of the mouth of the “Beast,” and one out of the mouth of the “False Prophet.” That they are not real frogs is clear from their miracle-working power. They are the “SPIRITS OF DEMONS,” working miracles, which go forth unto the “Kings of the Earth” and of the whole world to gather them to the “Battle of that Great Day of God Almighty.” They are the “Seducing Spirits” who go forth preaching the “DOCTRINE OF DEVILS” in the “latter times” of whom Paul warns Timothy. (8)

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, (1 Timothy 4:1 NET)

They are sent out by the “SATANIC TRINITY,” the “Dragon,” the “Beast,” and the “False Prophet,” on a miracle-working ministry. (8)

They are “frog-like” in that they come forth out of the pestiferous quagmires of darkness, do their devilish work in the evening shadows of “Man’s Day,” and creep, and croak, and defile, and fill the ears of the nations with their noisy demonstrations, until they set the kings and armies of the nations in the enthusiastic commotion and movement toward the Holy Land to crush out the effort to establish the Kingdom of Christ on earth. (8)

The power of a delusive and enthusiastic sentiment, however, engendered to lead to the destruction of great hosts of men is seen in the Crusades to recover the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. Suppose religious fanaticism could, at nine different times, cause hundreds of thousands of religious devotees to undergo unspeakable hardships for a religious purpose. What will not the miracle-working wonders of the “FROG-LIKE DEMONS” of the last days of this Dispensation not be able to do in arousing whole nations and creating vast armies to march in all directions from all countries, headed by their Kings, for the purpose of preventing the establishment of the Kingdom of the King of Kings in His own Land of Israel? (8)

God allows these demonic spirits from the mouth of the dragon, the anti-Messiah, and the false prophet to persuade world leaders to gather for this last great battle, ending in their own destruction. Much like the demonically empowered magicians in Egypt (Exodus 8:7-19), the demonic spirits work through Satan, the anti-Messiah, and the false prophet to entice and deceive the leaders, convincing them to bring their armies into the “great winepress of the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:19). (21)

There is a story in the Hebrew Bible that serves as a precedent for these lying spirits deceiving world leaders. It also involves an apocalyptic vision like John’s. (21)

Here’s what happened in First Kings 22:

King Ahab was the King of Israel (the northern kingdom). He asked King Jehoshaphat (king of the southern kingdom) to join him to attack Syria. God was going to convince King Ahab to attack Syria because He planned to use the Syrians to kill Ahab because he was so wicked. God put a lying spirit in the mouths of 400 false prophets to tell King Ahab that he would defeat the Syrians. King Jehoshaphat knew these were false prophets, so he asked for a true prophet of God to prophesy. (21)

King Ahab reluctantly sent for the prophet Micaiah, who first mocked the king by telling him what he wanted to hear. When the king told Micaiah to tell him the truth, Micaiah said, (21)

Micaiah said, “That being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. The Lord said, ‘Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?’ One said this and another that. Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, ‘I will deceive him.’ The Lord asked him, ‘How?’ He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ The Lord said, ‘Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.’ So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” (1 Kings 22:19–23 NET)

Because of the wickedness of world leaders, God has declared disaster against them. He will destroy them all in the last great battle at the coming of Jesus. Because of the hardness of their hearts and their rejection of truth, God allows them to be deceived by the lying spirits calling them to come to this battle.

The apostle Paul wrote of this end-time deception:

The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 NET)

John informs us that the world’s armies will come together at Armageddon. In Hebrew, this word is Har Megiddo or Har Megiddon, which essentially means “the Mount or Hill (Giva) of Megiddo.” The Hill of Megiddo overlooks the town of Megiddo and the vast Jezreel Valley, where many scholars believe the armies will assemble for this battle. Furthermore, the Hill of Megiddo is located strategically at the junction where the ancient main road from Egypt (Via Maris or Way of the Sea) makes a northeast turn toward Syria. Ancient trade caravans, as well as armies, traveled this route. Whoever controlled the Hill of Megiddo controlled the entire region. (21)

Historically, many battles have taken place in this area. The Hebrew Bible tells us that Deborah and Barak defeated the Canaanites in the Jezreel Valley. Gideon defeated the Midianites here as well. (Judges 4–8.) Due to its strategic location, King Solomon made the Hill of Megiddo a fortress for defending the pass and the valley (1 Kings 9:15-19). Pharaoh Necho defeated King Josiah at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29). In more modern times, both Napoleon and General Allenby defeated the Turks near Megiddo. In fact, General Allenby was given the title “Earl of Megiddo.” Today, the Hill of Megiddo is a major archeological dig and a tourist must-stop. (21)

It seems that Megiddo is the staging area for these armies as they make their way toward Jerusalem, where the climax of the battle against God will occur. Zechariah prophesied about this battle when Messiah comes. (21)

“I will pour out on the kingship of David and the population of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication so that they will look to me, the one they have pierced. They will lament for him as one laments for an only son, and there will be a bitter cry for him like the bitter cry for a firstborn. On that day the lamentation in Jerusalem will be as great as the lamentation at Hadad-Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. (Zechariah 12:10–11 NET)

He says that the inhabitants of Jerusalem will mourn when they realize that it is Jesus, the “pierced One” they had rejected (Zecharia. 12:10). He compares their mourning to the time when Pharaoh Necho defeated King Josiah. (21)

Zechariah further says:

“I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that brings dizziness to all the surrounding nations; indeed, Judah will also be included when Jerusalem is besieged. Moreover, on that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy burden for all the nations, and all who try to carry it will be seriously injured; yet all the peoples of the earth will be assembled against it. In that day,” says the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with madness. I will pay close attention to the house of Judah, but will strike all the horses of the nations with blindness. Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a means of strength to us through their God, the Lord who rules over all.’ On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like an igniter among sticks and a burning torch among sheaves, and they will burn up all the surrounding nations right and left. Then the people of Jerusalem will settle once more in their place, the city of Jerusalem. The Lord also will deliver the homes of Judah first, so that the splendor of the kingship of David and of the people of Jerusalem may not exceed that of Judah. On that day the Lord himself will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like mighty David, and the dynasty of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:2–9 NET)

Before pouring out the last bowl judgment, Jesus warns the people one last time to be watching for His return. He compares His coming to a thief who comes when no one expects it. He reminds them to be awake and sober as watchmen and keep their garments handy. By this, He means they should be dressed spiritually in pure garments. The Lord had already warned the congregations at Sardis (1) and Laodicea (1).

In His teaching recorded in Matthew 24, Jesus said:

“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew 24:42–44 NET)

The apostle Paul gave the same instructions with these words:

Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night. Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 NET)

(Notice God’s people were not raptured; they were protected. God’s people are delivered only at the end of the judgments.)

FLASHBACK: The Seventh Trumpet Blast – The Third Woe – Reaping the Earth’s Harvest of the Unrighteous – The Battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful – The Seventh Bowl

The Seventh Bowl – The Earth is Shaken

Finally the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: “It is done!” Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake—an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. So Babylon the great was remembered before God, and was given the cup filled with the wine made of God’s furious wrath. Every island fled away and no mountains could be found. And gigantic hailstones, weighing about a hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people, but they blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since it was so horrendous. (Revelation 16:17–21 NET)

The seventh bowl is the last judgment against the anti-God, one-world system. In Revelation 16:1, John heard a loud voice from the Temple telling the seven angels to pour out the bowl judgments. Now, John again hears a loud voice from the Temple and the throne. No doubt, this is again the voice of God Himself announcing the end. (21)

When the voice declares, “It is done!” (Revelation 16:17), this clearly connects to when Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). Both refer to the final act of divine judgment against sin. Jesus took the judgment for us on the cross. Now, those who reject Him must bear the judgment themselves. (21)

When God opened the seventh seal, He announced it with “noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:5). Now for the pouring out of the seventh bowl judgment, the Creator of the universe once again announces His final judgment with noises, thunderings, lightnings, a great earthquake, and this time, hailstones. These are God’s weapons of mass destruction.

Since the physical earth is cursed because of sin, it has experienced many natural upheavals in its long history. The earth itself suffers due to humankind’s rebellion against God. This is why there are earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and many other natural disasters on the earth. Jesus prophesied this in His teaching about future events on the earth (Matthew 24). The apostle Paul wrote that all creation groans and labors with birth pangs waiting to be delivered from the curse of sin it has endured (Romans 8:20-22). Now that time of waiting is coming to an end. (21)

But first, there will be one last earthquake. This will be the “mother of all earthquakes” as it will destroy Babylon and all its cities, as well as sink every island and level every mountain. This is beyond our ability to comprehend! (21)

This will be a fulfillment of what was spoken by Zechariah: (8)

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which lies to the east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, leaving a great valley. Half the mountain will move northward and the other half southward. Then you will escape through my mountain valley, for the mountains will extend to Azal. Indeed, you will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come with all his holy ones with him. (Zechariah 14:4–5 NET)

John says that the earthquake will split Babylon into three parts. As I have noted, to John’s first-century readers, Babylon meant Rome. To his last-century readers (us), it means the revived Babylonian-Roman, anti-God, world system. We are not sure what city John is specifically referring to, but he is clear that the capital city of the anti-Messiah and all the cities of the nations aligned with him will be destroyed.

In Revelation 11:15-19, the seventh angel announced that the seventh trumpet was about to be blown. This was the proclamation that the Kingdom of God was coming to destroy the kingdoms of this world. In Revelation 14:6-10, an angel repeated the proclamation and added some details regarding the fall of Babylon.

The seventh bowl judgment is the fulfillment of those proclamations. It is the “flashback” with more details. Revelation 17–18 provides the final details. All of these pronouncements and proclamations are telling about the same event —the final judgment of God’s undiluted, “full-strength” wrath (righteous anger) against Satan and his human followers. (21)

God finishes off whatever is left standing from the earthquake with a rain of 100-pound hailstones. The Lord used this same weapon in His seventh judgment against Pharaoh and to aid Joshua when He also made the sun stand still (Exodus 9:13-35; Joshuas 10:11-13).

How did the people respond? Did they repent and cry out to God for mercy? They continued to blaspheme God just as Pharaoh hardened his heart (Exodus 9:34-35). How ironic that God decreed that the judgment for blaspheming His name was stoning (Leviticus 24:16). Here, God stones them from Heaven. (See Joel 3 for a prophetic description of God’s final judgment of the nations.) (21)

Realize the “Seventh Bowl” covers the whole period from when the “Seventh Angel” pours out its contents until Christ returns to the Mount of Olives. The earthquake that splits the Mount of Olives, upheaves the land of Israel, levels mountains, submerges islands, and destroys the cities of the Nations, along with the City of Babylon, is caused by the touch of Christ’s feet on the Mount of Olives at the Revelation stage of His Second Coming, and the “Great Hail” in all probability will not fall until the time comes in the crisis of the Battle of Armageddon for the destruction of the Allied armies of Antichrist. Hailstones will be the missiles used by the Armies of Heaven. (8)

INTERMISSION: The Chronological Revelation of the End Times is temporarily suspended

BACKSTORY: The Vision of the Great Harlot and the Beast

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth’s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality.”So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.” I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her. (Revelation 17:1–6 NET)

One of the angels who had the seven bowls shows John the great harlot and the Beast in their evil splendor, drunk with the blood of God’s people. The great harlot is the religious counterpart of the anti-Messiah’s political system. Working in alliance with the Antichrist, it is the religious world power ruling over the souls of humankind. Filled with riches and arrogance, it has martyred many of God’s people and appears victorious. To the natural eye, it seems the wicked have prevailed over the righteous. Where is God in all of this? Where is there hope for His people? (21)

The angel provides the answer that cannot be seen with the natural eye. He shows John God’s final judgment on the harlot that results from the outpouring of the seven bowl judgments. The angel mentions that the harlot sits on many waters. In Revelation 17:15, the angel explains that the many waters symbolize the nations and people of the world. The clear idea the angel is communicating is that the religious system is ruling over and influencing the souls of the people of the world—those who have taken the Mark of the Beast. (21)

The angel further explains that the world leaders and the people have committed fornication with this religious system. We have previously explained that the Bible calls idolatry a type of spiritual adultery. We recall that this was the problem with the congregation at Thyatira (1). They were allowing a woman referred to as Jezebel to seduce believers into worshiping idols and committing immorality. The Lord severely rebuked the congregation for accepting this unholy teaching and practice. (21)

The religious system is called the great whore because it is serving as a spiritual prostitute to the wicked. They have not just taken a sip of the wine of her fornication; the angel says they are drunk with it. They continued to drink from this cup with the prostitute. Like alcoholics, they want more and more until they have lost all control of their spiritual senses. In their spiritually drunken state, they have taken the Mark of the Beast, cursed God, and persecuted the believers. They have sold their souls to Satan. They are beyond redemption and the mercy of God. (21)

The angel wants John to have another view of the harlot to help him better understand what he is seeing. Using apocalyptic language, John says that the angel carries him away in the Spirit into the wilderness (desert). John uses the phrase “in the Spirit” four times in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:10;4:2;17:3;21:10). As I have previously shared about John’s “in the Spirit” statements, he does not mean that he literally went into the desert. He means that the Holy Spirit opened his spiritual eyes to see what he could not know in the natural. (21)

From this “in the Spirit-desert view,” John sees the harlot sitting on a scarlet Beast. The fact that the harlot is sitting on the Beast implies that the harlot is strongly influencing, or perhaps, even dominating, the Beast, but with its willing support. This simply means that at this point, the harlot and the Beast need. They are using each other for their own purposes, but that will soon change. (21)

The Beast was full of names of blasphemy and had seven heads and ten horns. A few verses later, the angel explains the seven heads and ten horns to John. We will seek to understand his meaning when we discuss those verses. (21)

We were first introduced to this scarlet Beast in Daniel 7. We can also clearly connect the scarlet Beast to Revelation 12:3, where we see a similar description of the fiery red dragon (Satan). The description is repeated in Revelation 13:1, where we learned about the Beast From the Sea (the Antichrist) and the anti-God Beast system). Since these descriptions are all similar, we can understand that they are talking about the same Satanically inspired and empowered anti-God one-world system through different world leaders in different time periods of history. The most prominent are Babylon, Rome, and the end-of-days anti-God, one-world system. (21)

As John mentioned previously in Revelation 13:1, the Beast has blasphemous names written on him. In ancient times, emperors were considered the human embodiment of the nation’s gods. Therefore, they had the names of the gods inscribed on their crowns, garments, staffs, statues, etc. In addition, as we have learned, they often deified themselves and were referred to as gods, saviors, lords, masters, rulers of the universe, etc. (21)

Historically, John would be writing about Rome, the Roman Empire, and the Roman emperors. To readers, at the end of the age, he is referring to Satan, the Antichrist, and the anti-God, one-world system. Both the personal Beast and the Beast system would have the Mark of the Beast and other blasphemous names written on them and on everything representing them. (21)

The harlot is dressed as a prostitute dressed in Bible times. For example, when God rebuked Israel for giving herself to the gods of the pagans, He said the following:

And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life. (Jeremiah 4:30 ESV) 

As we will soon discover, this is exactly what the Beast does to the harlot in the Book of Revelation. (21)

The dress of the harlot symbolizes her wealth and position. The word purple (Revelation 17:3) should probably be translated as blue or reddish blue. Blue dye was an extremely expensive color to produce in Bible times. The dye came from the blood of a hillazon snail. It took 12,000 of these snails to fill a thimble. In 200 B.C., one pound of blue cloth cost the equivalent of $36,000. By the year A.D. 300, a pound of blue cloth cost about $96,000. It is the same blue dye that God commanded the Hebrews to wear in one of the tassels (tzitzit) of their four-cornered garments. (21)

Numbers describe the tassels:

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels for themselves on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and put a blue thread on the tassel of the corners. You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. Thus you will remember and obey all my commandments and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.” (Numbers 15:37–41 NET)

Because a garment with this blue dye was so expensive, it was only worn by royalty and priests. Aaron’s garment of glory and beauty (1) was made of blue, purple, and scarlet (Exodus 39:1). The expense is why the Hebrew males only had one thread dyed blue. The significance of God giving this instruction is that the blue dye was a constant reminder to the people that they were all the royal priests of God. (21)

The garment the harlot is wearing also has scarlet. This color is obtained from the eggs of a certain insect. In Bible times, scarlet was a vibrant crimson color. It was also too costly to be purchased by the average person. Scarlet not only denoted wealth and royalty; it was also a symbol of sin and harlotry. (21)

For example, the Lord says:

Come, let’s consider your options,” says the Lord. “Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool. If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Know for certain that the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19–20 NET)

Even in our modern world, we apply the scarlet color to an immoral woman. (21)

To further clothe herself with majesty and splendor, the harlot wore gold, precious stones, and pearls. Wow! This is a beautiful and expensive garment, one any woman would be thrilled to wear. It should be clear to us by John’s description of her clothing that the harlot is in a position of wealth, power, and prestige. She is wearing Satan’s counterfeit royal-priestly garment of glory and beauty. In her outward appearance, she is beautiful and alluring, and seductive. It is easy to see why the world would follow her. (21)

While John further observes this harlot, he notices that she has a golden cup in her hand. As with her garment, this cup symbolizes her wealth and prominence. She only has the best, and she has it on display for everyone to see. Her followers would certainly be impressed and enticed. (21)

However, as John describes her outward beauty, he sees what she really is on the inside. The golden cup is filled wit detestable and unclean things from her sexual immorality.

Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality. (Revelation 17:4 NET)

To first-century readers, this is the most graphic description of evil that John could give. This is what the angel wanted John to see. (21)

The abomination refers to the ultimate act of sacrilege or desecration of that which is holy. When Antiochus Epiphanes set up an altar to Zeus in the Temple of God in 167 B.C., that was an abomination to the One True God. Jesus spoke of

“So when you see the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), (Matt. 24:15 NET). 

The imperial cult worship was an abomination of desolation. The Antichrist and the false prophet taking the place of God is an abomination of desolation. (21)

Anytime religion tries to take the place of God, it is an abomination of desolation.

John relates this act of abomination to spiritual fornication. Using highly descriptive language, John says that this harlot, who is so attractive on the outside, is inward as unclean spiritually and morally as a prostitute. Yet, because the people have rejected truth, God has given them over to the allure and deception of this deadly harlot. She is a gold cup in God’s hand from which the people drink the wine of their destruction. (21)

John’s words echo those of Jeremiah when he spoke of ancient Babylon:

Babylonia had been a gold cup in the Lord’s hand. She had made the whole world drunk. The nations had drunk from the wine of her wrath. So they have all gone mad. (Jeremiah 51:7 NET)

John revisits this verse in the next chapter of Revelation when he speaks of political Babylon. (21)

John sees that the harlot has words written on her forehead. As pagan priests and priestesses had marks on their bodies and clothing identifying them with their gods and goddesses, so this harlot is finally identified. Whereas her identity has been a mystery, she is now revealed as the source of all pagan religions originating in ancient Babylon. (21)

A brief review is helpful as a reminder of the connection between the ancient Babylonian religion, Rome, and the harlot of the book of Revelation.

We go back to Genesis, where we learn about the infamous Nimrod in Genesis 10:8-11 and Genesis 11. Nimrod was the first person we know of in the Bible who started a war. He wanted to conquer his neighbors for the purpose of establishing an empire with himself as the ruler. His first conquest was Babel, which later became Babylon and the great Babylonian Empire of the days of Nebuchadnezzar. Babylon was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. He also built Nineveh, another great city, which became the capital of the Assyrian Empire. (21)

Now here is where this history really gets interesting. Historians and scholars tell us that Nimrod built what we call the Tower of Babel. It was a ziggurat or temple built as a pyramid to worship the sun and exalt Nimrod as the high priest of the sun. This temple was to be the center of his empire. Nimrod was a great promoter who presented himself as the human incarnation of the sun god. This was the beginning of sun worship and emperor worship, and all pagan religions. (21)

When Nimrod died, his wife, Semiramis, claimed she was impregnated by the sun god and miraculously gave birth to a son named Tammuz. She also was a great promoter. She told the people that Tammuz was the reincarnation of Nimrod. Since she was perceived as the “Mother of God,” she and Tammuz were worshiped as the Mother-Son cult. She was the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven, and her son was the reincarnation of the Father. (21)

At this time, all the people spoke the same language. God saw that this powerful idolatry would seduce all the inhabitants, so He confused their languages and scattered them. When the people scattered, they took their sun worship and worship of the Queen of Heaven with them. As they formed new empires and civilizations, this became their form of worship. The names were changed to the new languages the people spoke, and there were local adaptations of the worship, but it was basically the same sun worship that began with Nimrod. Similarly, Mother-Child worship was also an integral part of sun worship and passed from one empire to the next, with only the names and local practices differing. (21)

The Chaldean/Assyrians called the sun god by the name of Bel or Ba`al. The Egyptians called him Osiris. Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians worshiped the sun god as Bel-Merodach. The Persians called him Mithra. The Greeks called him Zeus (Adonis). The Romans called him Jupiter. This was the religion of Constantine when he established Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire. (21)

We learn in the Bible that even God’s people were influenced by this all-pervasive religion. Ezekiel tells us that the women were at the Temple in Jerusalem “weeping for Tammuz” (Ezekiel 8:14). Jeremiah says the women were making cakes for the Queen of Heaven (Jeremiah 7:18). (21)

Scholars believe that Nimrod’s sun worship religion was the origin of all pagan religions that were passed down to succeeding empires. Let’s review how this happened. When Persia defeated Babylon, the Persians adopted and adapted Babylonian sun worship into their religion. Persia became the new world power with a mix of Babylonian and Persian sun worship. Fearing for their lives, many of the Babylonian priests fled to Asia Minor, where they established their spiritual center at Pergamos. Later, local Pergamos kings became the spiritual heirs of Nimrod’s Babylonian sun worship. (21)

While Alexander established Greek mythology throughout the Mediterranean, it did not replace Babylonian-Persian sun worship as it flourished alongside it. Therefore, when Rome became the new power in the Mediterranean world, the center of Nimrod’s religion passed from Pergamos to Rome. The Caesars embraced and incorporated the Babylonian form of sun worship into their blend of paganism, which they assimilated from the cultures they conquered. The Caesars accepted the title and position as the King-Priest of the Roman government and the Roman version of the old Babylonian religion. Thus, the Roman political order and Roman religious order, while separate entities, were one and the same. (21)

The Roman Emperor Constantine was a sun worshipper. To unite the religion of his empire, he made cosmetic changes to Babylonian sun worship and blended it with the emerging Christian faith. Constantine redefined Christianity into a Greco-Roman religion so it would be accepted by his pagan subjects, who also worshiped the sun. While it is certainly good that Constantine stopped the persecution of believers, his actions had tragic consequences for the purity of Christianity and Judeo-Christian relationships. (21)

Constantine and his successors spread his new form of Romanized Christianity throughout Europe—with the sword. It is still with us today in various forms and will reestablish itself in some final redefined expression as part of the worldwide, end-time harlot mentioned in the Book of Revelation. (21)

What Revelation 17–18 seems to be describing is the all-embracing, last-days religion that will continue to seduce the world until God finally judges it at the coming of the Lord. It will contain all the elements of ancient and modern religions synergized into a one-world political-economic-religious system. This will certainly include apostate Christianity and secular Judaism. (21)

Throughout history, Constantine’s form of Christianity has not only persecuted Jews but also the remnant of true Bible believers. As the politically-correct religious establishment of “Christian” Europe, it has martyred millions of people who did not accept its perversion of biblical Christianity. John sees the end-time harlot still drunk with the blood of the followers of Jesus. John is amazed at the revelation of the true nature of the harlot. (21)

In the next two chapters, John is shown the details of God’s judgment on the anti-God, one-world system. It is the last “Flashback” of the fall of those who oppose God. Their fall ushers in the coming of Jesus and the establishment of the literal Kingdom of God on earth. May His name be praised forever.

BACKSTORY: The Explanation of the Vision of the Great Harlot and the Beast

But the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come. (This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.” Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. The ten horns that you saw, and the beast—these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire. For God has put into their minds to carry out his purpose by making a decision to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:7–18 NET)

The angel seems surprised that John was astonished about the nature of the harlot. He explains the mystery of the harlot and the Beast to John. As we learn what the angel has to say, keep in mind that Babylon was the code word for Rome. To John’s immediate audience (the seven congregations (1) of Asia Minor or modern-day Turkey), Babylon meant Rome, the Roman Empire, and the Roman emperors. (21)

Since the Roman religion and the Roman government were united under the emperors, the Babylon of Revelation 17 and the Babylon of Revelation 18 are basically two sides of the same coin. One is “religious Babylon,” while the other is “political and economic Babylon.” (21)

It is hard to separate the two since what is said about one equally applies to the other. This is why the wording in these two chapters is so similar. John is writing about the same Beast system, just different administrations. Furthermore, as I have noted, the beast of Rome is seen by scholars and theologians as the model of the final Beast person and system in the latter days of world history. (21)

The angel explains that the seven heads of the Beast are seven mountains upon which the harlot sits. In the Bible, mountains are sometimes used as a figure of speech to mean kingdoms. For example, do you remember when Daniel saw the stone cut out of the mountain in Daniel 2? He explained that the stone became a great mountain (kingdom). (Daniel 2:34-35;44-45.) That mountain referred to the Kingdom of God coming to the earth.

The angel further confirms that the seven mountains are seven kings. He explains that five of these kings have fallen, one is, and the other is yet to come. The one yet to come will only rule for a short time. The angel also says that the Beast is the eighth ruler or system that will emerge from the seventh. He reminds John that the Beast comes out of the bottomless pit and will “go to destruction” (Revelation 17:8; 11:7). (21)

Prophetically, the eighth beast is the Antichrist. The people of the world are mesmerized by the presence and power of the Beast. We remember that the Beast person (the Antichrist) and the Beast system are empowered by Satan. (Revelation 13.) (21)

The angel also explains the meaning of the ten horns. He says they are ten kings waiting for their time to rule. Until then, Satan working through the Antichrist allows them to rule for one hour with the Beast person and system. One hour is also mentioned in Revelation 18:10,17,19. The mention of one hour may be literal or symbolic of a short period of time. Either way, they are only in power for a short time. They recognize the superiority of the Beast person and system and submit themselves to him (it). These ten horns are the ten toes from Daniel 2. This was discussed previously in Revelation 13 and clearly connects to Revelation 17–18. (21)

The angel states what seems to be the real message of the Book of Revelation. He says of these anti-God rulers: (21)

They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14 NET)

The angel clarifies for John that the many waters over which the harlot sits are the people of the world who have been deceived by the false prophet and have taken the Mark of the Beast. (21)

ACT III: The Chronological Revelation of the End Times Resumes

The First Doom – Destruction of Religious Babylon

Yet, all along, the Antichrist and his Beast system have hated the harlot. When he and his political leaders no longer need the harlot to seduce the people, they turn on her. John describes their Satanic hatred in the most graphic terms.

John writes:

The ten horns that you saw, and the beast—these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire. (Revelation 17:16 NET)

Leviticus state that the judgment for the daughter of a priest who becomes a prostitute is to be burned with fire. (21)

If a daughter of a priest profanes herself by engaging in prostitution, she is profaning her father. She must be burned to death. (Leviticus 21:9 NET)

Even this turn of events is orchestrated by God, so there will be no competition between the false prophet and the Antichrist. All will submit to the rule of this evil incarnation of Satan, who will be worshiped as God. (21)

Finally, the angel explains that the woman is the great city that reigns over the kings of the earth. Babylon, the code word for Rome, is also called the “great city” in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18. The understanding John wants us to have is that the Beast person and system, both political and religious, have their roots in ancient Rome. It will reemerge in the latter days in a one-world system with the same anti-God culture and character as Rome. (21)

FLASHBACK: Announcement of Political and Economic Babylon’s Imminent Destruction

After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance. He shouted with a powerful voice: “Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detested beast. For all the nations have fallen from the wine of her immoral passion, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have gotten rich from the power of her sensual behavior.” Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues, because her sins have piled up all the way to heaven and God has remembered her crimes. Repay her the same way she repaid others; pay her back double corresponding to her deeds. In the cup she mixed, mix double the amount for her. As much as she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself, ‘I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’ For this reason, she will experience her plagues in a single day: disease, mourning, and famine, and she will be burned down with fire, because the Lord God who judges her is powerful!” (Revelation 18:1–8 NET)

Throughout the Book of Revelation, the Lord has used angels to communicate His messages to John and administer His judgments on the earth. After seeing the fall of religious Babylon, John sees another angel proclaiming the fall of political and economic Babylon. This angel is so powerful that John says his presence illuminates the whole earth. This is beyond our natural ability to grasp. (21)

We do not know if John means this literally or if he is using apocalyptic language to describe the brilliant appearance of this angel. Either way, we should be encouraged that God has a spectacular future for us on the other side of this life. (21)

As Paul wrote:

For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 NET)

The angel loudly proclaims that Babylon the great is fallen. He repeats the phrase “is fallen” to punctuate his proclamation and infer Babylon’s complete and utter destruction.

A second angel followed the first, declaring: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.” (Revelation 14:8 NET)

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15 NET)

Before continuing with this part of our study, it would be very helpful to flashback. Pause and read Revelation 11:15-19 and 14:6-20 again. Then read again the comments I made when discussing those Scriptures. I explained Babylon and the prophecies about its destruction when commenting on the verses in Revelation 14:6-13. Also, for the full background of the fall of Babylon, read Isaiah 13, Isaiah 21:1-10, and Jeremiah 50–51. These prophecies had an immediate reference to the fall of ancient Babylon, but they also predict the fall of the end-time Babylon of the Book of Revelation.

The angel explains that, despite its appearance to the contrary, Babylon is the abode of demons and everything unclean. What an accurate commentary on how the world system perceives itself. The world glories in its riches, its power, its great structures and cities, its music and arts, its knowledge and technology, its beauty and lusts. But to God, it is the abode of demons and unclean spirits. May we also see the world system as God sees it and refuse to live for its pleasures! (21)

Repeating what John was told in Revelation 14:8, the angel informs John that Babylon is now being judged because it has become drunk with the wine of its spiritual idolatry and immorality. It has blasphemed God and persecuted His people. It accepted Satan’s offer of the world’s riches—the same offer that Jesus rejected (Matthew 4:8-11). It has sold its soul for wealth and power. It is the final and ultimate embodiment of greed. It is surely Rome of the first century but much more than Rome. It is the final anti-God, one-world system ruled over by Satan and his representatives, the Antichrist and the false prophet. (21)

Paul warned against the entrapment of materialism with these words:

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1 Timothy 6:9–10 ESV)

How sad that many believers today have not heeded Paul’s words.

I was startled when John heard another voice (in Revelation 18), probably God’s voice, saying,

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues, because her sins have piled up all the way to heaven and God has remembered her crimes. (Revelation 18:4–5 NET)

Because of all that John has seen and written to God’s people, the Lord Himself gives the warning, telling His people to come out of Babylon or suffer His just judgments along with those who have rejected Him. He who has an ear, let him hear.

The Lord issued the same warning to His people when they were captives in Babylon:

Get out of Babylonia quickly, you foreign people. Flee to save your lives. Do not let yourselves be killed because of her sins. For it is time for the Lord to wreak his revenge. He will pay Babylonia back for what she has done. (Jeremiah 51:6 NET)

Surely believers today must take seriously John’s warning in one of the letters he wrote:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:15–17 NET)

The sins of first-century Rome and this latter-day Babylon have reached to Heaven like Nimrod’s Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:4). God can no longer withhold His judgment against her. The angel cried out to God to judge Babylon with a double portion of calamity because of the magnitude of her sins. As she has terrorized the believers, may God give her a double portion of terror. As she has lived in prideful arrogance and self-indulgent luxury and pleasure, may God give her a double portion of sorrow. There is no plea here for mercy. It is too late for mercy; it is time for the full, undiluted judgment of God. (21)

If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the Lord’s majesty revealed. (Isaiah 26:10 NET)

The wicked have no chance for deliverance, for they do not seek your statutes. (Psalm 119:155 NET)

Daniel 5 records the judgment of ancient Babylon because of their pride and blasphemies against God. In this chapter describing the handwriting on the wall, God tells King Belshazzar that his kingdom is finished. That same night Belshazzar was killed, and the Medes replaced Babylon, establishing themselves as the new empire. (Daniel 5:22-31.) In like manner, John learns that God will destroy this end-time Babylon by fire in one day. (21)

This scene reminds us of the time when God warned Lot to leave Sodom before He destroyed it. When Lot was reluctant, the angels forced him to take his family and leave. God then destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone in one day. (Genesis 19.) Here the Lord is again warning His people to leave this wicked anti-God, one-world system before He completely destroys it. (21)

FLASHBACK: Announcement that the World will Mourn the Fall of Political and Economic Babylon

Then the kings of the earth who committed immoral acts with her and lived in sensual luxury with her will weep and wail for her when they see the smoke from the fire that burns her up. They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment, and will say, “Woe, woe, O great city, Babylon the powerful city! For in a single hour your doom has come!” Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer—cargo such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all sorts of things made of citron wood, all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives. (The ripe fruit you greatly desired has gone from you, and all your luxury and splendor have gone from you— they will never ever be found again!) The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn, saying, “Woe, woe, O great city— dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls— because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” And every ship’s captain, and all who sail along the coast—seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off and began to shout when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, “Who is like the great city?” And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning, “Woe, Woe, O great city— in which all those who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth— because in a single hour she has been destroyed!” (Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has pronounced judgment against her on your behalf!) (Revelation 18:9–20 NET)

Four times John calls this Beast system the “great city” or the “great city Babylon” (Revelation 18:10,16,19,21). He had already identified the harlot as “that great city” (Revelation 17:18). Our best understanding is that this is John’s way of naming Rome, but with a prophetic look to the end-time world system that is the ultimate expression of Rome. The harlot and the political-economic world power are seen as one with the Beast system and the great city. They are one and the same. (2)

John mentions three different groups of people and explains how they react to the fall of Babylon. These are the kings of the earth, the merchants of the earth, the merchants of the sea, and the people of God. (2)

The Kings of the Earth

In modern times, the kings of the earth would be the political leaders of the anti-God, one-world system. John uses the same words in Revelation 17:2 when he mentions that the kings of the earth committed fornication with the harlot. The idea is that both the political leaders and the religious leaders are spiritual adulterers. They worship Satan and have sold their souls to him to maintain their power, position, and rule over the people. We might say they are greedy, corrupt politicians who will say and do anything to stay in power. (21)

When these godless political leaders see their governmental world capital burning, they distance themselves lest they, too, be consumed by the judgment fire of Almighty God. However, this action will not save them as the King Messiah will soon destroy them. Their response is to wail and mourn as God brings to an end the system they worshiped and thought was “too big to fail.” These world leaders have given their lives to promote and protect their anti-God, one-world system. Now they see it burning to the ground. Everything they have loved, worshiped, and worked for is destroyed in one hour. (21)

The Merchants of the Earth

The merchants of the earth respond in the same way the political leaders do. These are the people who took the Mark of the Beast, so they could prosper. With the Beast system destroyed, there is no way for them to sell their goods. The economies and financial markets of the nations have collapsed. All the manufacturers, Wall Street, financial markets, service organizations, stores, and shopping malls have been destroyed. The merchants wail and mourn as they realize there is no one to buy their goods.

The products John describes are luxury items, not basic goods people need, such as food, clothing, and shelter. The idea John is presenting is a materialistic world of luxury and self-indulgence. Their most important priority is to make money. Now their wealth and prosperity are gone. Their gold and silver could not save them. Like politicians, they stand at a distance in deep anguish and despair. Their world has come to an end. All they loved, trusted in, and valued— were gone in one hour. (21)

John summarizes their loss with these words:

(The ripe fruit you greatly desired has gone from you, and all your luxury and splendor have gone from you— they will never ever be found again!) (Revelation 18:14 NET)

The Merchants of the Sea

John further notes that the merchants of the sea who made their fortunes trading with the Beast system wail and mourn when they see the great city on fire. The world system has ended, and all who have prospered from it are left as desolate as the system itself. Everything they gave their lives for has gone up in smoke in one hour. (21)

This scene is similar to what Ezekiel wrote about when he pronounced God’s judgment on the city of Tyre, a wealthy seaport city located in present-day Lebanon. It was a renowned city, but it was also an anti-God pagan city that persecuted God’s people. Furthermore, like Babylon and Rome, Tyre was a city that embodied the evil of Satan himself. When Ezekiel pronounced God’s judgment on Tyre, those who profited from its commerce wailed and mourned like the others. (Ezekiel 26–28.)

Whether it is Tyre, Babylon, Rome, modern nations, or the Beast of the Book of Revelation, the warning is the same. God will eventually judge those who oppose Him and persecute His people. The words of Jesus are certainly appropriate: (21)

For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? (Mark 8:36 NET)

When the city of Rome was the world’s capital, it was the center of an incredible amount of economic activity and prosperity. There was full employment and work for everyone. Not only did the local businesses prosper, but merchants throughout the Mediterranean brought their goods to Rome. They became rich doing business with Rome. Not only did they trade goods, but they also bought and sold slaves who did the work that ordinary Romans thought beneath them. It was a Roman world, and everyone who traded with Rome prospered. (21)

When Nero was emperor, he wanted to build a monument to himself in Rome. However, the area where he wanted to build was already overbuilt. What did Nero do? In A.D. 64, he burned the buildings to make room for his monument. Historians tell us that the fire lasted for days and burned much of the city. Merchant ships ready to unload their goods and ships at sea waiting their turn saw the smoke as Rome burned and wailed in anguish at the loss of their income. John sees a repeat of this situation with the latter-day Babylon-Rome. (21)

The People of God

The martyrs in Heaven and the apostles and prophets of God make up the third group John mentions. Their response is certainly different from the others. Instead of weeping and wailing, a voice tells them to rejoice, for God has finally avenged them. Their wait for justice is over. The wicked anti-God, one-world system that has persecuted them for so long has ended. The kingdoms of this world have been destroyed, making way for God’s Kingdom to come to the earth. (21)

The Second Doom – Destruction of Political and Economic Babylon

Then one powerful angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone, threw it into the sea, and said, “With this kind of sudden violent force Babylon the great city will be thrown down and it will never be found again! And the sound of the harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again. No craftsman who practices any trade will ever be found in you again; the noise of a mill will never be heard in you again. Even the light from a lamp will never shine in you again! The voices of the bridegroom and his bride will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the tycoons of the world, because all the nations were deceived by your magic spells! The blood of the saints and prophets was found in her, along with the blood of all those who had been killed on the earth.” (Revelation 18:21–24 NET)

As a final statement emphasizing God’s judgment against the Beast, John sees a mighty angel picked up a stone that he compares to a great millstone. Millstones were used to grind grain and olives to produce flour and oil. A millstone was a basic tool everyone needed. Symbolically, it represented economic activity and the ability of the people to produce their food. (21)

A large millstone would be so heavy no one could even move it, much less pick it up. When John says that an angel picks up a stone that is like a great millstone, he is giving a vivid word picture of the power of this angel. With great force, the angel throws the huge stone (e.g., a boulder) into the sea, and it sinks to the bottom. Likewise, God will violently throw down the great city with its anti-God, one-world system. Figuratively speaking, like the unsinkable Titanic, it will sink to the bottom of the ocean. Unlike the Titanic, there will be no survivors. All will sink with Babylon. The great city, which represents the end-time Beast system, will be silent. (21)

God has used this same prophetic act in the past as a picture of His judgment on Babylon. We earlier noted Jeremiah’s prophecy against ancient Babylon recorded in Jeremiah 50–51. Jeremiah wrote God’s judgment against Babylon on a scroll and gave it to Seraiah, who went into captivity with King Zedekiah. Jeremiah told Seraiah that when he got to Babylon, he was to read the judgments, tie a stone around the scroll, and throw it into the Euphrates River. As the scroll sank to the bottom of the Euphrates, so Babylon would sink, never to rise again. (21)

Jeremiah reads:

When you finish reading this scroll aloud, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River. Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again because of the judgments I am ready to bring upon her; they will grow faint.’ ” The prophecies of Jeremiah end here. (Jeremiah 51:63–64 NET)

John clarifies again that God has judged ancient Babylon, Rome, and this end-time embodiment of those pagan empires because they killed His people.

Detailed Description

Revelation Chapters 19 thru 20

Please see the following link for a detailed description of Revelation Chapters 19 thru 20:

Part XIII: The Lord of the Scroll – The Return of the King of Kings to Earth!

His-Story (History) Series:

• Part I: The Lord of the Scroll – Fellowship Lost!
• Part II: The Lord of the Scroll – The Two Kingdoms
• Part III: The Lord of the Scroll – The Revelation of the King!
• Part IV: The Lord of the Scroll – The Death of the King
• Part V: The Lord of the Scroll – The Re-Birth of the King!
• Part VI: The Lord of the Scroll – Salvation
• Part VII: The Lord of the Scroll – Revelation of the King’s Bride!
• Part VIII: The Lord of the Scroll – Revelation of the King of Kings!
• Part IX: The Lord of the Scroll – The Lord of Hosts
• Part X: The Lord of the Scroll – The Scroll of Authority Revealed!
• Part XI: The Lord of the Scroll – When will the King of Kings Return?
• Part XII: The Lord of the Scroll – Daniel’s 70th Week
• Part XIII: The Lord of the Scroll – The Return of the King of Kings to Earth!
• Part XIV The Lord of the Scroll – God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time

Shalom
(Security, Wholeness, Success)
Peace

Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 
(3 John 1:2 NET)

(1) Select the link to open another article in a new tab with additional information.

(2) Note: Those not able to choose for themselves (1) (e.g., aborted babies, mentally challenged, etc.) are also in Heaven.

(3) The Greek word used here for air is “aer,” which refers to the lower denser atmosphere. This contrasts with the Greek word “aither,” speaking of the upper thinner atmosphere. For example, a Greek would stand on Mount Olympus (6,403 feet high) and point up to “aither” and down to “aer.”

(4) Realize God does, at times, approximate by rounding off numbers. For example, Exodus 12:40,42 states that Israelites were in Egypt for 430 years, but Genesis 15:13 and Acts 7:6 approximate this by rounding it down to 400 years. Based on this, the Church Age could last until 2300 AD or whatever the highest number is that rounds down in God’s math (e.g., 2400 A.D.).

(5) Maranatha is the transliteration of the Koine Greek word that means “Our Lord Come!” (KJV 1 Corinthians 16:22). This word captures what our attitude should be concerning our Lord’s return. That is, while we are not to be complacent or anxious about His return, we should live such that if Jesus were to return at any moment, we would not be ashamed but rather prepared, excited, and filled with joy to see Him! (1 John 2:28. Ephesians 5:15,16).

(6) Rogers, A. (2017). Mustard Seeds and Mountains. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Mt 16:27–17:21). Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust.

(7) https://beforethewrath.com/

(8) Larkin, C. (1919). The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture (p. 124). Philadelphia, PA: Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate.

(9) Got Questions Ministries. (2002–2013). Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Logos Bible Software.

(10) Booker, R. (2012). The lamb and the seven-sealed scroll. Destiny Image.

(11) The addition of “and see” (καὶ ἴδε or καὶ βλέπε [kai ide or kai blepe]) to “come” (ἔρχου, erchou) in 6:1, 3–5, 7 is a gloss directed to John, i.e., “come and look at the seals and the horsemen!” But the command ἔρχου is better interpreted as directed to each of the horsemen. The shorter reading also has the support of the better witnesses

 Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Re 6:1). Biblical Studies Press.

(12) (www.hearthstonelegacy.com/ when the skies turned to black the locust plague of 1875.)

(13) Traditionally, we have called this event “The Rapture,” although this word does not appear in most Bible translations.  The word rapture comes from the Latin, Rapare, which means to “take away” or “snatch out.” The word with the meaning of rapture in the Bible is the Greek word harpozo.  This Greek word harpozo is literally translated as “caught up” and has the following meanings: to carry off by force or rescue from the danger of destruction. 

The catching away or rapture of the Church will occur during the Great Tribulation before God’s wrath is poured out during the Day of the Lord.

Jesus will carry us off by force when He removes us through the territory of the Prince of the Power of the Air (lower denser atmosphere (3)) who will apparently attempt to interfere with our leaving Earth (Ephesians 2:2). Jesus will rescue us from the danger of destruction by taking us to Heaven before the outpouring of God’s wrath during the Day of the Lord.

(14) Matthew, a Jew, wrote primarily to the Jews, presenting Jesus Christ as King of the Jews. Mark, a Jew, presented Jesus as a Servant and wrote to the Romans. John, a Jew, presents Jesus as the Son of God and writes to all men. Luke, a Greek, writes primarily to the Greeks. And because the Greeks were fascinated with Aristotle’s ideal republic and Plato’s ideal man, Luke writes of Jesus as the Son of Man, the perfect Man.

 Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 295). Thomas Nelson.

(15) Luke’s Ethnic Background. Scholarly opinion has been divided on the question of Luke’s ethnic background. In general, two views are proposed:

(1) Luke was a Gentile Christian: This view is based mainly on the internal evidence of the Gospel and Acts: the superior quality of the Greek language, the avoidance of Semitic words (except Amen), the omission of gospel traditions about Jesus’ controversies with the Pharisaic understanding of the Law and about what is clean or unclean, the transformation of Palestinian local color and details into Hellenistic counterparts. These and similar factors have been cited to identify the author as a Gentile Christian, i.e. one converted to Christianity from paganism.

The argument is sometimes pushed still further to maintain that the author was actually a Gentile Christian of Greek origin or an Antiochene Greek. This is based on Paul’s statement in Col 4:11–14, where three persons are listed as his Jewish-Christian co-workers, but Luke seems to be listed among other, presumably, Gentile-Christian collaborators. For instance, K. Lake years ago claimed that the early tradition identified Luke as “an Antiochene Greek” (“Luke,” in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church [New York: Scribner, 1922] 1. 719); and more recently, K. H. Rengstorf (Evangelium nach Lukas, 11) has called him a Gentile Christian, indeed of Greek origin. Many others have followed this view (e.g., W. K. Hobart, A. von Harnack, P. Vielhauer, G. B. Caird, W. G. Kümmel, A. Plummer, W. Manson, J. Schmid).

(2) Luke was a Jewish Christian. The view that the author was a Jewish Christian, i.e. a convert from Judaism, is based mainly on the interest displayed in Luke-Acts in the OT and its phraseology, the author’s alleged Palestinian language, and the Epiphanian tradition (Panarion 51.11) that he was one of the seventy-two disciples; sometimes the mention of Lucius as among Paul’s “kinsmen” (Rom 16:21) is also invoked. Among supporters of this view, one may cite A. Schlatter, B. S. Easton, E. E. Ellis, W. F. Albright, N. Q. King, B. Reicke.

For reasons that I shall try to set forth below, I regard Luke as a Gentile Christian, not, however, as a Greek, but as a non-Jewish Semite, a native of Antioch, where he was well educated in a Hellenistic atmosphere and culture.

Fitzmyer, J. A. (2008). The Gospel according to Luke I–IX: introduction, translation, and notes (Vol. 28, pp. 41–42). Yale University Press.

(16) …The emphasis here would be that the Pharisees confront the kingdom in Jesus. They do not need to look all around for it because its central figure is in front of their eyes…

 Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke: 9:51–24:53 (Vol. 2, p. 1416). Baker Academic.

(17) A Full Circle Rainbow over Australia, Image Credit & Copyright: Colin Leonhardt (Birdseye View Photography)

(18) Anon

(19) “Warren’s findings, together with the discovery of Reich and Shukron described in the recent news reports, fully support Josephus’s statements relating to the tunnels beneath Jerusalem and the use to which they were put during the Roman siege of 70 A.D. These underground passages enabled many inhabitants of Jerusalem to exit the city and flee both south to Masada and, via Nahal Qidron and other wadis heading from Jerusalem eastward toward the Dead Sea, to the Machaerus fort lying just east of that sea, which was actually closer to Jerusalem than was Masada. (Josephus describes the large number of refugees who gathered at Machaerus.). The circumstances as now known leave little doubt that quite likely beginning even before the siege had begun, groups engaged in hiding the Temple treasures, the books, and other items listed in the Copper Scroll — as well as those ancient writings of the Palestinian Jews known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were found centuries later in caves near the wadis leading out of Jerusalem. Norman Golb is the Ludwig Rosenberger Professor of Jewish History and Civilization at the University of Chicago and the author of “Who Wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls?” (Simon & Schuster, 1995).” Read more here: https://forward.com/opinion/11873/newly-discovered-tunnel-may-once-have-carried-dead-00675/

(20) http://www.livius.org/articles/concept/roman-jewish-wars/roman-jewish-wars-5/

(21) Booker, R. (2013). the Victorious Kingdom. Destiny Image.

(22) interruption of chronological sequence (as in a film or literary work) by interjection of events of earlier occurrence…

 Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Merriam-Webster, Inc.

(23) 1984: a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot (as of a film)

 Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Merriam-Webster, Inc.

(24) Booker, R. (2011). The overcomers: series- understanding the book of Revelation. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image.

⁵⁵ tn BDAG 352–53 s.v. ἐξουσία 2 [potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power] states, “Also of Satan’s power Ac 26:18.” It is also possible to translate this “the domain of Satan” (cf. BDAG 353 s.v. 6 [the sphere in which power is exercised, domain]) Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Ac 26:18). Biblical Studies Press.

(##) For a higher number reference, see: The Feasts of Israel – Passover (1) references