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I am presenting a Play, a Drama, I will call “The Great Tribulation”.  Imagine with me that you are seated in a grand theater.  Your seat is front row, center, on the edge of  the universe, in heaven, looking down at the stage, planet earth.

The following is an actual detailed description and a panorama of coming events taken directly from the New Testament Book of The Revelation, using New American Standard Bible version. 

When I make comments, they will be in green italics, to explain the symbolism and other relevant information.  My remarks will be brief.  For fuller commentary I recommend ENDURING WORD COMMENTARY.

NOTE:  This presentation is actual BIBLE PROPHECY taken directly from the Bible.  The scriptures quoted are indisputable.  I will not add to nor will I take away from the words found in Scriptures, the N.A.S.B. version. 

I will make references to historical events, current events and future events and I will code them in purple italics – whether you agree with my references are up to you, the reader.

INTRODUCTION TO “THE PLAYERS”

The Woman, Israel

2and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The “woman” represents Israel.  According to Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:9-11), the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph’s mother Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel which bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel.

The Child is Jesus.  The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth (under Roman occupation and oppression).

The Red Dragon, Satan

 
      3Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

 

A red dragon “symbolically suggests” an actual person will come to power on earth, with fierce power and a murderous nature.  This is a picture of the complete evil with hideous strength.”

The revived Roman Empire is in view, here.  The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.”

Seven diadems on his heads: This dragon (person and political power) had great power (seven heads and ten horns) and claimed royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King.

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven: Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits. 

Matthew 18:18  says, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Remembering that “what is seen comes from what is unseen”, this represents a dramatic shift, a diminishing of Godly influences “in the heavens” by one third in the heavens and this shift is manifest on earth.  Evil is to be increased exponentially, on earth. 

To devour her Child as soon as it was born: The attempt to devour her Child was initially fulfilled by Herod’s attempts to kill Jesus as a child (Matthew 2:16-18). It was also fulfilled throughout Jesus’ life as Satan attacked Him (John 8:58-59 and Mark 4:35-41).

The Male Child, Christ

   Revelation 12:5  And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

 

 

A male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He rules the world with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 19:15) refers to the triumphant return of Jesus.  By stating the starting point and ending point of Jesus’ earthly work, John alluded to all that stood in between.

After a conflict with the Prince of this world (Satan and his evil accomplices), who came and tried Him, but found nothing in Him, the Son of the woman (Jesus the Christ) was taken up to heaven and sat on the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20).  Words can hardly be plainer than these.

“She would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days” is a reference to a three and one-half year period connects these events with the final seven years of the Daniel 9 prophecy.  Since Revelation 12:5 describes the ascension of Jesus, and Revelation 12:6 describes yet-to-occur events in the 70^th week of Daniel, between these two verses lies hundreds of years sometimes known as the “Age of Grace” (our current period).

 

The Angel, Michael

 

     Revelation12:7  And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the mid-point of the great tribulation, God will turn the tide against Satan – first in heaven, then on earth.  A battle is taking place that will deny Satan access to heaven.

ACT –  I

   Revelation12:7  And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon The dragon and his angels waged war, 8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
      “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Satan’s angels were cast out with him: This indicates that demonic spirits are indeed fallen angels, those who joined with Satan in His rebellion against God. These are “his angels.”  These angels are also the same as the “third of the stars of heaven his tail swept away and threw them to the earth”, described in Revelation 12:4. 

This even is occurring at just before the sounding of the 7th Trumpet Judgment which marks the end of the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period, also known as Mid-Tribulation.  

11“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12“For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

They overcame him because of the Blood of the Lamb represents Jesus’ Blood shed at His crucifixion.  Jesus died and was raised again to life, defeating the cruse of sin and the devil for all times and for all who believe in and follow Him.

They overcame him because of the Word of their testimony represents our confession as explained by the Apostle Paul in  Romans 8:8  “But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

God had allowed one-third of the Angels to rebel and now Satan and these rebellious demon-angels are cast down from heaven.  The have lost their authority and have seen their power and influence subdued.  Their time is short before God casts them to their destruction in the bottomless pit and the lake of eternal fire.

      13And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The dragon (Satan), having been thrown down to earth, knowing his defeat is at hand, in a rage persecutes the woman, which is Israel. (This period of persecution has lasted for 2 centuries).  But, the woman will fly to “the wilderness” where she will be nourished for “a time and times and a half a time” which is a reference to the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 Year Period of the Tribulation known as Daniel’s seventieth week.  This first 3 1/2 years begins with the Breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and will last until the Blowing of the 6th Tribulation Trumpet.

“The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood“. 

The word “flood” is used 28 times in the Bible.  It is used eleven times in the Book of Genesis and refers to God’s Judgment on the world for sin by the Great Flood. 

*God is using Satan’s “flood” as a means to cleanse, purify and restore His Church in preparation for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and the Rapture of His Church.  (see Daniel 12)

The Flood is used in reference to God’s Judgments, once in Daniel, twice in Matthew, once in Luke and once in Revelation.  These references are related to the End of Days in some way. 

*These references link Past Events of God’s Judgments with the Present Day and the Present Day with Future Judgments.

AN EARTHLY HISTORICAL TIMELINE (click here for a detailed explanation from 445 BC through AD 70)

ACT –  II

 Revelation 13:1  And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 5There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

      7It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 9If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

ACT –  III

The Beast from the Earth

      Revelation 13:11  Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

ACT –  IV

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion  (see Revelation 7:4 )

      Revelation 14:1  Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

ACT –  V

Vision of the Angel with the Gospel

      Revelation 14:6  And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

      8And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

ACT –  VI

Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

      Revelation 14:9  Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

      13And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

ACT –  VII

The Reapers

      Revelation 14:14  Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

      17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.”

   Revelation14:19  So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.

ACT VIII

A Scene of Heaven

      1Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

      2And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.

3And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
            
      “Great and marvelous are Your works,
            O Lord God, the Almighty;
            Righteous and true are Your ways,
            King of the nations!

      4“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
            For You alone are holy;
            For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
            FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”

      5After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. 7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

INTERMISSION

PLEASE, BE AWARE

The Mark of the Beast is given just before the Sealing of the 144,000 saints of God from Israel. 

This most likely will occur during the “interlude” between the 6th & 7th Seals and the Rapture.

We are very near the 6th seal, now, 7/30/2020.

During this time chaos will reign in the world and the need for a savior will be great.  The antichrist will make a peace treaty the world seeks after.  But, assuming the anti-Christ and the Beast are the same, he will suffer and mortal wound to his head, then he will recover.  Then, people will turn to this Beast and worship and will receive his mark on their forehead or on their hand will be doomed to suffer in hell forever.

WE MUST BE PREPARED

Now is the time to prepare, if you have not already.  Preparation begins in your heart and in your mind.  No matter if you call yourself a Christian or not, call on the Name of the Lord and you will be SAVED:  Made safe, made healthy, made whole, given your purpose in life, saved from the coming wrath, made a child or God and a freind and brother of Jesus, given an eternal home with God.

(Stay Tuned for the Rest of the Play)