A study with audio and video assists. This is the kind of study that is meant to be informative and revealing matters of the Revelation in ways that are understandable, useful and applicable, yet adhering to Biblical accuracy.
“Doing our best to present ourselves to God as ones who are approved, workers who have no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.”
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 22 – The River and The Tree of Life, The Final Message
Episode 24
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
How many of us would love to peer into our future heavenly eternal home? John is getting a ‘virtual tour’, of that future home, and he has recorded it here, as an early homecoming gift for us to enjoy. Something to anticipate, and to long for.
This is, in my opinion, one of the most important chapters in all of the Book of the Revelation. As a result, my commentaries will be longer than usual. Please be patient. Meditate on these things. Enjoy!
The River and the Tree of Life
Revelation 22:1, Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ), verse 2, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Verse 3. There will no longer exist anything that is cursed [because sin and illness and death are gone]; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve and worship Him [with great awe and joy and loving devotion]; verse 4, they will [be privileged to] see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Verse 5. And there will no longer be night; they have no need for lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign [as kings] forever and ever.
You Are Invited to be Blessed
Verse 6. Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel [as a representative] to show His bond-servants the things that must soon take place.
Verse 7. “And behold, I am coming quickly.[footnote ‘a’]Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is the one who heeds and takes to heart and remembers the words of the prophecy [that is, the predictions, consolations, and warnings] contained in this book (scroll).”
Verse 8. I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Verse 9. But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets and with those who heed and remember [the truths contained in] the words of this book. Worship God.”
Verse 10. And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time [of their fulfillment] is[footnote ‘b’] near. Verse 11. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy (vile, impure), still be filthy; and the one who is righteous (just, upright), still be righteous; and the one who is holy, still be holy.”
Verse 12. “Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,[footnote ‘c’]to give to each one[footnote ‘d’]according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness). Verse 13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].”
(Commentary Break: Verses 7 and 12, echo the Words, “Behold, I am coming quickly”, and verse 13 announcing “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end”, are some of the most exciting, mysterious and prophetic words of truth spoken. We are reading, and hearing with our spiritual ears and seeing with our spiritual eyes the infinite nature of God, Who exists in, and transcends time and space. This is the Omnipresence of God.
Biblically speaking, there are two perspectives, or more correctly put, two realities of time. Please let me try to explain.
There is the natural reality of time. This is the time in which we exist. It is linear, and we measure it by seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years, etcetera. When an event begins in our timeline, we must experience it by traveling through it, waiting as it unfolds to its conclusion.
Time and space, to us, is like looking down a long tunnel, that has twists and turns, rises and falls. We cannot see the future of it, nor can we see the end. We must live through it, until its conclusion, then we can know.
Then there is God’s reality of time. From God’s viewpoint, time and events in time, occur as the past, the present and the future simultaneously. When God speaks, His creative Words are instantly manifest from eternity past, appear in the present and is simultaneously a future reality. It is as if God is watching His creation of time and space as a created and finished product all at once, seen from above, the entire timeline as a whole.
God does not see time and space through a tunnel. He sees time and space as a whole, from eternity past to eternity future. He simply and magnificently sees all things and He knows all things.
So, as in verses 12 and 13, when Jesus says the words, “Behold, I am coming quickly”, in the linear year A.D 95, it would appear to us that 1,929 years have passed, and to us in our linear timeline, it would appear that he has not come quickly! But to Him, as God, He is speaking from His vantage point and it is completed as He spoke those words! Jesus says “Behold, I am coming quickly”, it happened at once, in His Omnipresent time: He is coming, He has come, it is finished! This is also why He said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Finally, when Jesus announces, “and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves”, we should be aware that our destiny has been sealed. He is presenting us with what we call ‘predestination’. (This is very important for the believer. For a complete explanation and discussion on predestination, please go to ‘GotQuestions.Org’.)
Why is this important to know? Perhaps it will help those who see the finished Works and Words of God as completed, and wonder ‘why should I even bother acting on His Words if there is nothing I can do to affect the outcome?’ Or perhaps circumstances and situations have befallen you, from which you see no escape and no relief. Perhaps you have lost all hope and are in the pit of a fatal despair. The answer to that is, “God is not finished yet, and His will, plan and purpose is to seek and to save’ and that is specifically for you! This was explained in Episode 3, which goes back to God’s Plan of Perfection: Throughout time, with the use of hardships, trials and tribulation, God is redeeming, rescuing, saving, maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.
And, “Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.
Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.
Secondly, as God’s Plan and Purpose unfold over the millennia we can see the purpose of the coming Day of The Lord and the End of the Age as found in Daniel 9 verse 24 through 27. Here, The scriptures give an overview or a panorama of the timing of the events leading to the Last Days.
One last reminder on this matter is when Jesus was on the cross and proclaimed, “It isfinished”, (see John 19:30), He was undoubtedly saying that His mission as the sacrificial Lamb of God was now completed. The old covenant is finished, the New Covenant in His Blood is here. But, He was also saying that by this one act had sealed the fate of Satan, of evil and of sin and death to be overcome and destroyed, for all time. And this is why Jesus says it is now possible to “confess our sins, (past, present and future), and He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, (past, present and future), and purify us from all unrighteousness”. (see 1 John 1:9). This should be a source of great relief, joy and hope!
And, finally, for those of us whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, He is bringing His reward with Him. It is done! Now, we wait in anticipation of that great day! (End Commentary Break).
Verse 14. [footnote ‘e’]Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him–the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Verse 15. Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating).
The Final Invitation
Verse 16. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you and to give you assurance of these things for the churches. I am the Root (the Source, the Life) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and bright Morning Star.”
Verse 17. The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, believers) say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take and drink the water of life without cost.
Verse 18. I testify and warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [its predictions, consolations, and admonitions]: if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book; verse 19, and if anyone takes away from or distorts the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away [from that one] his share from the tree of life and from the holy city (new Jerusalem), which are written in this book.
Verse 20. He who testifies and affirms these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Verse 21. The grace of the Lord Jesus (the Christ, the Messiah) be with all [the saints, that is, all believers, those set apart for God]. Amen.
(Commentary Break: Here, in verse 17 we hear the message of the Gospel, one last time: “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost”. The time to ‘Go and proclaim the Good News’ is past. This is the time to say Come! Come in. You are home!
Finally, in verse 18 God issues a caution and an ominous warning for those who would deliberately stray from the obvious Truth of scriptures, and persist in his or her error; and would add to the words of this Book, or take away from them, and teach others the same, “God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.”
Listen friends, if you have somehow or for some reason bought into The Lies of these Last Days, please reconsider and repent now. Galatians 5 verse 19 through 21 are explicitly clear. Those who continually practice such things as sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. without repentance and remorse, will not inherit the kingdom of God. Again, in Revelation 21, verse 27, God warns that nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices abominations and detestable, morally repugnant things, including lying, will enter the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Heaven.
Please understand that God is not mad at you, nor is he angry with you. But He will not and cannot allow these things in His presence. And if you have surrendered yourself to these passions of the flesh, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven because you cannot bring these ‘detestable things’ with you. God has given you His only Son as the supreme sacrifice so you can relinquish your sins. Call upon Him, repent of your sins, and although the thoughts and urges to do the things you do not want to do,, may persist, believe and know that there is no condemnation for those who repent and abide in Christ while they work out their salvation.
Your fleshly mind and soul may deceive you and have tremendous influence and pull on your thoughts and actions and cause you to do things that can lead to spiritual death. But, it need not be. God is ready, willing and able to rescue and to save you. Yours might seem like a fight to the death, unable to break free from the things that ensnare you. But, God knows your heart. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling and God is faithful to finish His work of salvation which He has started within you. Endure to the end and you will be saved.
If you find yourself caught up in a struggle for your soul and spirit, please read “Separated From God?”. Also, if you will, write me and let me talk and pray with you. (End Commentary Break).
Although I have so much yet to learn, I have learned so much and enjoyed walking through this Book with you. I pray you have benefited, as well.
I close with these final words from the Book of The Revelation:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 21 – Satan Bound, Millennial Reign, The Final Judgement
Episode 23
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
It may be hard to imagine what has occurred, thus far, in our Journey through this, the revelation of Jesus Christ, and His unveiling of the divine mysteries, which God the Father gave to Him to show to all believers of all the ages. These are the things which have taken place, are now taking place, and must soon take place, in their entirety.
These things can seem to be so unfathomable that many trusted theologians, Bible teachers, preachers and pastors, who may have the best of intentions, lead millions astray because of their own disbelief. They will try to use their own logic to explain or to explain away the things they cannot possibly understand.
It is best to put aside the things that confuse you or cause uncertainty, rather than believing or spreading misinformation. Heed the words of Jesus, from Matthew 5:19, “Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven”, or from Revelation 22:18, which says, “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book”.
Wherever possible, take scriptures at their face value, keeping all scripture in the context of the surrounding verses and chapters, and always in the context of the entire Bible. Then, if you think you might err, err on the side of extreme caution – or just say that you do not know.
Everything we have read in this book has brought us thousands of earth years, from the foundations of creation, the destruction of the heavens and the earth, to a new beginning – one without end – God’s Plan of Perfection. He has been Perfecting His creation and His created ones, into His image and likeness, to live eternally in perfect harmony, serving and worshipping the Only True God.
The New Heaven and Earth
Revelation 21:1,Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, (and had vanished), and there is no longer any [footnote ‘a’]sea. Verse 2. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, arrayed like a bride adorned for her husband; verse 3, and then I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “See! The tabernacle of God is among men, and He will live among them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them[footnote ‘b’] [as their God,] Verse 4. and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the[footnote ‘c’]former order of things has passed away.” Verse 5. And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true [they are accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy].”
Verse 6. And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give from the fountain of the water of life without cost. Verse 7. [footnote ‘d’]He who overcomes [the world by adhering faithfully to Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior] will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
(Commentary Break: Verses 1 through 3 should need no comment, as they speak clearly. Verse 4 tells us that we are free from the curse which brought sadness, tears, death, sorrows, anguish and pain. The former order of things, the ‘prótos’ (the prototypes), are finished. This is, confirmed by Jesus.
The phrase, “To the one who thirsts I will givefrom the fountain of the water of life without cost” speaks of an eternal life without the horrible cost of sin. We will have inherited His Kingdom and all that comes with it, including being appointed not just heirs but sons of the Most High. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 8. But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
(Commentary Break: Now is the time to check yourself, and to be brutally honest: are you a coward? Unbelieving? A murderer, not just in fact, but do you harbor such thoughts and emotions towards others? Do you practice or even dabble in sorceries such as Ouija boards, horoscopes, palm readers or fortune tellers or the like? Are you a liar, i.e., do you lie or twist the truth? Those who do such things will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, forever! (End Commentary Break).
The New Jerusalem
Verse 9. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Verse 10. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a vast and lofty mountain, and showed me the holy (sanctified) city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, verse 11, having God’s glory [filled with His radiant light]. The brilliance of it resembled a rare and very precious jewel, like[footnote ‘e’]jasper, shining and clear as crystal. Verse 12. It had a massive and high wall, with twelve [large] gates, and at the gates [were stationed] twelve angels; and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were written. Verse 13. On the east side [there were] three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. Verse 14. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Christ).
Verse 15. The one who was speaking with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. Verse 16. The city is laid out as a square, its length being the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand stadia (about 1,400 miles); its length and width and height are equal. Verse 17. He measured its wall also, a hundred forty four cubits (about 200 feet), according to man’s measurements, which are [also] angelic [measurements]. Verse 18. The wall was built of jasper; and the city was pure gold, transparent like clear crystal. Verse 19. The foundation stones of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third,[footnote ‘f’]chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; verse 20, the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite (yellow topaz); the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. Verse 21. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each separate gate was of one single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent crystal.
Verse 22. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] and the Lamb are its temple. Verse 23. And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory, (splendor, and the radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light. Verse 24. The nations [the redeemed people from the earth] will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring into it their glory. Verse 25. By day (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed [in fear of evil]; verse 26, and they will bring the glory (splendor, majesty) and the honor of the nations into it; verse 27, and nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices abominations [detestable, morally repugnant things] and lying, but only those [will be admitted] whose names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (End of text for Chapter 21).
(Commentary Break: There is a lot of speculation about the construction of the New Jerusalem. There is no doubt that it will be a grand and beautiful city. It will be safe, secure and eternal. Beyond that, I will leave it to the reader to find commentaries for additional comments.
I would suggest, however, considering Luke 17:10 which tell us that, “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (New King James Version). The English Standard Version puts it this way, “nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Both the word “within” from the New King James Version, and the phrase, ‘in the midst of you’, each come from the Greek word, ‘entos’, which translated as ‘within or among’, but is used to express something WITHIN, INSIDE, or ON THE INSIDE.
Therefore, I would suggest that the New Jerusalem is not only a literal place, but is also symbolic and representative of our new nature: Full of the brilliance of God, full of His Light. Measured and plumbed by the Hand of God and found to be made in His perfect image, lacking in nothing. Our appearance will at last mirror the image of Christ in all His beauty and infinite value. The walls of our character and soul will reach skyward, never again to be scaled by sin, lack, want, sickness or evil of any sort. The gates of our lives and our souls will never be closed off from God or from one another, as we live, worship and live together in peace and harmony, eternally.
Does this sound too good to be true? Well, let me tell you. These words simply fall short of describing all that God and His Kingdom has in store for those who love Him and obey Him. (End Commentary Break).
In the end, there are some who would read these things and say, “I just cannot believe all of this. Although it is a nice story, it is just too much like a fairytale.” To you I can say that I am deeply saddened and sorrowful for you. Your human logic must tell you at times, someplace deep within you soul, that there is more than the silent darkness of a grave.
With the greatest love and with great respect, I must remind all, that The Bible tells says that the one who says there is no God, is a fool. Please dear friend, do not be fooled. Call on Him in faith. He will answer.
But to the child of God. Endure, for the best is yet to come!
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 20 – Satan Bound, Millennial Reign, The Final Judgement
Episode 22
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”. Through many trials and the formative pressure of tribulation, He has been shaping, molding, maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.
“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14
Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.
You come to see, with these things in mind, everything in life has a purpose; the good things and the ugly, the sunshine and the rain; times of plenty and times of want. And you will come to know that all things are indeed working together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose.
Chapter 20 is the final scene of the complete and utter destruction of earth and all her inhabitants, to be followed by the final step in God’s Plan and our Journey to Perfection: Living in perfect harmony with God and with one another in a new and perfect heaven and earth!
Satan Bound
Revelation 20:1,[footnote ‘a’], And then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding the key of the abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand. Verse 2. And he overpowered and laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and bound him [securely] for a thousand years, (a millennium); verse 3, and the angel hurled him into the abyss, and closed it and sealed it above him [preventing his escape or rescue], so that he would no longer deceive and seduce the nations, until the thousand years were at an end. After these things he must be liberated for a short time.
(Commentary Break: Verses 1 through 3 describe the fate of Satan and the relief that will come upon the earth for one thousand years! There are those who will say that the thousand years is metaphorical or that we are currently in a metaphorical one thousand years.
The Greek word and meaning of ‘a thousand years’ in verse 2 from Strong’s Bible concordance #5507 is ‘xílioi;, and translates as ‘a thousand’; the product of 10 x 10 x 10 (or, 103 ten cubed); figuratively it can mean emphatic, total inclusiveness, showing no one and nothing is left out.
Furthermore, ‘ten’ in Scripture can already express the symbolic meaning “completely” (or inclusively), so #5507, (xílioi), as the cube of 10 (“a thousand”) powerfully stresses the meaning “full and inclusive” totality.
Additionally, the occurrence and placement of Satan’s confinement for one thousand years, tell us otherwise. Scriptures plainly state that this will occur at a future time, following the final Great Tribulation judgements.
The fact, however, that this passage stands alone in this respect, makes it the more important to endeavor accurately to determine its meaning. There are but three ways in which the phrase “a thousand years” can be understood here: either:
(a) literally; or,
(b) in the prophetic use of the term, where a day would stand for a year, thus making a period of three hundred and sixty thousand years; or,
(c) figuratively, supposing that it refers to a long but indefinite period of time.
It may be impossible to determine which of these periods is intended, though the first has been generally supposed to be the true one, and hence the common notion of the millennium. (End Commentary Break).
The Millennial Reign
Verse 4. And then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom judgment [that is, the authority to act as judges] was given. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had refused to worship the beast or his image, and had not accepted his mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Verse 5. The rest of the dead [the non-believers] did not come to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Verse 6. [footnote ‘b’]Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) and holy is the person who takes part in the first resurrection; over these the second death [which is eternal separation from God, the lake of fire] has no power or authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with Him a thousand years.
(Commentary Break: We are witnessing, in verses 4 and 5, the prelude to the coming great White Throne Judgement. First, we are told that all who have died, (throughout the ages), as Christians, who by God’s grace, through their faith in Jesus, are raised to life and will reign with Christ for a thousand years as priests of God for the thousand years. This is what is known as the 1st resurrection.
All others will not come to life again until the thousand years are completed, and then only to face what is known as the second death, and a sentencing to an eternity in the lake of fire, where there is darkness, wailing and gnashing of teeth, separated forever from God, (End Commentary Break).
The Final Rebellion
Verse 7. And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison (the abyss), verse 8, and will come out to deceive and mislead the[footnote ‘c’]nations which are in the four corners of the earth, [including] Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; their number is like the sand of the seashore. Verse 9. And they swarmed up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints (God’s people) and the beloved city [[footnote ‘d’]Jerusalem]; but fire came down from heaven and consumed them. Verse 10. And the devil who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and burning brimstone (sulfur), where the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.
(Commentary Break: Once the thousand years are complete, Satan is released from the abyss and gathers his armies for war. They are described as ‘numerous as the sands of the seashore’. Once again, these armies, as found in Ezekiel 38, are Russia, with a military force of 3,203,000 as of the year 2024; Turkey, with an army of 894,700; Iran, with an army of 1,000,000, (including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard); Ethiopia’s army of 503,000; Chechnya’s army is approximately 32,300 the army of Georgia is approximately 26,050; We can count 5,691,350 fighting troops.
There is speculation that China may be part of the “armies from the East”, and China’s military as of the year 2024 was 3,045,000, for a total of 8,736,350, still far short of the propesided end times “number of the troops of cavalry twice ten thousand times ten thousand (two hundred million) to invade Israel.
Satan’s armies surround Jerusalem and ‘fire comes down from heaven and consumes them’!
If there were any remaining doubt if Jesus actually comes down to the earth to destroy the armies of Satan, this plainly and absolutely refutes that.
This is important to know, because
(1). It confirms that the 2nd advent, the 2nd coming of Christ begins at the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, and
(2). It confirms that the rapture takes place at the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.
(3). It confirms that some will be saved after the rapture, up and until the 6th Tribulation Trumpet, then no one else will escape God’s final judgements and eternity in hell.
(4). Knowing this gives you a firm warning and incentive to surrender your life to Jesus, now; and if you are already counted as one of His, then you must warn others of the coming dread and its dangers. (End Commentary Break).
The Final Judgment
Verse 11. And I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them [for this heaven and earth are passing away]. Verse 12. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth]. Verse 13. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades (the realm of the dead) surrendered the dead who were in them; and they were judged and sentenced, every one according to their deeds.
Verse 14. Then death and Hades [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire [the eternal separation from God]. Verse 15. And if [footnote ‘e’]anyone’s name was not found[footnote ‘f’]written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.
(Commentary Break: The most dramatic of all the scenes in the Bible. God is seated on His Great White Throne, and the earth and the heavens ‘fled away’; i.e., the heavens and the earth disappear. (1st Peter 3 verse 10 tells us, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a roar, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up.”)
First, books were opened containing the names and deeds of those whose names are not written in the Book of Life. This is a multitude of people that is almost unimaginable. The Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC, by way of a very sophisticated formula, estimates that as of the year mid-2022, 117,020,448,575 people have lived on the earth since creation. By a similar formula, it is estimated that 3,159,552,111 have been Christians. So, 113,860,896,464 would be the number condemned, and hurled into the eternal lake of fire! Dramatic by these very numbers, but even more so, tragic.
Then another book, The Book of Life is opened. Jesus, reminded us in Revelation 3:5 that, “‘The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way (as Jesus), in white garments; and I, (Jesus), will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels”.(End Commentary Break).
God’s Plan of Perfection is completed. We, His created ones, having been redeemed from the curse, and transformed into His children of Light. We will have graduated from sorrow and toil. No longer will we have to deal with the thorns and thistles of the old earth, nor eating the plants of the field. We no longer toil by and eat bread by the sweat of our face, waiting to return to the ground, being known as the dust of the soil, and no longer to dust shall we return.
The end of this present age has come to its end and a new age, the Age of Eternity with God has begun where we, His bond-servants, will serve and worship Him with great awe and joy and loving devotion; We will see His face, and His name will be on our foreheads. There will no longer be any darkness or night and we will have no need for lights at night nor sunlight by day, because our Lord God will illumine us; and we will reign with Him forever and ever.
For it is by grace, that is God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ, that we are saved, actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life through faith. And, even more remarkably, this salvation is not of ourselves, that is, it is not through your own effort, but it is the undeserved, gracious gift of God.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 19 – The Doom of Babylon, The Victory of The Lamb
Episode 21
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
In these chapters, we are witnessing what was, what is and what is to come. We saw the sentencing and the coming fall of Babylon in our previous chapter. We witnessed those who had profited from her, who taken immoral and sinful pleasure in her, lose everything because of God’s destruction of her. They mourned their loss.
We, then, reviewed the scriptural evidence pointing to Mecca as the probable city known as Babylon; her past, her current developments and her future plans.
We will now peer into the future, what is to come, and what will follow the destruction of the Harlot, Babylon.
(To the reader: Please do your best to understand the profundity and the gravity of what you are reading, hearing and witnessing. This is the culmination of God’s Plan for Perfection. These are things that even the angels long to look into! The fact that angels long to look into things pertaining to our salvation, our sanctification and being made into the perfect image of Christ is a poignant reminder of what a precious gift salvation is. May we long for salvation and cherish the wonder of redemption!
The Fourfold Hallelujah
Revelation 19:1, After these[footnote ‘a’]things I heard something like the great and mighty shout of a vast multitude in heaven,[footnote ‘b’]exclaiming, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory (splendor, majesty) and power (dominion, might) belong to our God; Verse 2. BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS. He has judged, [convicted and pronounced sentence on] the great prostitute, (the idolatress), who was corrupting and ruining and poisoning the earth with her adultery (and idolatry), and HE HAS IMPOSED THE PENALTY FOR THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS[footnote ‘c’]ON HER.”
(Commentary Break: All the redeemed of God are, at this point, safely with Him in heaven. The imagery from Revelation 19:1, ‘great and mighty shout of a vast multitude in heaven’ is also seen in Revelation chapter 7, verses 9 through 13, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they *cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”, which is all the raptured and raised saints of God before His Throne! I point this out because it is important to know that God’s Chosen are out of the way of the coming judgments and of the coming complete and utter destruction.
I point this out because it is important to know that God’s Chosen are out of the way of the coming judgments and of the coming complete and utter destruction.
Going forward, there are many false religions in the world. But the antithesis of Christianity can be identified, giving further credence to the idea that the Harlot Babylon, as coming from Islam, (Mecca in Saudi, Arabia).
It is also important to note, when identifying the city of the Great Harlot of Babylon, to look at Israel’s one historical nemesis. The arch enemy of Israel, from her beginnings can be found in the confrontation between Islam and Judaism which can be traced to 20 71 B.C , with the birth of Ishmael, a son of Abraham by his handmaid Hagar.
While pregnant with Ishmael and running away from Abraham’s wife, Hagar, encountered an angel. The angel told her “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.” (see Genesis 16, verses 11 and 12).
15 years later, around 2066 B.C., Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah.
“Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking Isaac. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this slave woman and her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be an heir with my son Isaac!” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son Ishmael. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and your slave woman; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. And of the son of the slave woman I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant.” (see Genesis 21, verses 9 through 13).
The stage was now set for the conflict between Isaac, Ismael and their descendants, between Islam and Judaism and Islam and Christianity; and this conflict has been raging to this day, for over 4,000 years and will culminate as foretold, just as you are now reading in The Book of The Revelation, chapters 18 and 19! (End Commentary Break).
Verse 3. And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! HER SMOKE SHALL ASCEND FOREVER AND EVER.” Verse 4. Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures also fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah (praise the Lord)!”
Verse 5. Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, “Praise our God, all you bond-servants of His, you who fear Him, the small (common) and the great (distinguished).”
Marriage of the Lamb
Verse 6. Then I heard something like the shout of a vast multitude, and like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] reigns. Verse 7. Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us give Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb has come [at last] and His bride (the redeemed) has prepared herself.” Verse 8. She has been permitted to dress in fine linen, dazzling white and clean, for the fine linen signifies the righteous acts of the saints [the ethical conduct, personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character of believers].
Verse 9. Then the angel said to me, “Write, ‘[footnote ‘d’]Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the[footnote ‘e’]Lamb.’” And he said to me [further], “These are the true and exact words of God.” Verse 10. Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he [stopped me and] said to me, “You must not do that; I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who have and hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God [alone]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].”
(Commentary Break: Once again we see that only those who believe in and worship the One True Living God will attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. Those who call themselves as Christian but have not done as Jesus instructed will not be present. The descendants of Ishmael, adherents of Islam and worshippers of Muhammad will not be present. Those who forsake the name of Christ will not be present. All these were invited but chose not to come. They will have perished in the lake of fire, ‘where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth’. (End Commentary Break).
Christ the Conqueror
Verse 11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who was riding it is called Faithful and True, (trustworthy, loyal, incorruptible, steady), and in righteousness He judges and wages war [on the rebellious nations]. Verse 12. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many royal crowns; and He has a name inscribed [on Him] which no one knows or understands except Himself. Verse 13. He is dressed in a robe dipped in[footnote ‘f’]blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Verse 14. And the armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, [dazzling] white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Verse 15. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, (which is His word) with which He may strike down the nations, and He will[footnote ‘g’]rule them with a rod of iron; and He will tread the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty [in judgment of the rebellious world]. Verse 16. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
(Commentary Break: Verses 11 through 16 have been ‘interpreted’ by many to say that this is Jesus’ 2nd coming. They will say that this time He comes to the earth to engage and defeat the forces of the Antichrist, unlike in Matthew 24 verses 30 through 31, where He appears ‘in the sky’.
This view and ‘interpretation’ of these verses is not an interpretation, as some like to say. It is an only their OPINION or mistaken notion. These verses clearly say, “I saw heaven opened”, and behold” and “the armies of heaven followed Him on white horses”, and “From His mouth comes a sharp sword, with which He may strike down the nations”. Jesus intervenes from the heavens, and His intervention is supernatural – FROM THE HEAVENS.
(These verses describe a second scene; it is a continuation of Jesus’ 2nd Advent, where it It began, as seen in Matthew 24 verses 30 through 31, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other”. A continuation of Jesus’ 2nd appearing is recorded here, in Revelation 19 verses 11 through 16.
(For a natural event, which can serve as an example, The 2nd Advent of Christ (the second coming of Jesus) is one event which can be seen from TWO PERSPECTIVES: One perspective as seen from the earth; the other perspective, from John’s prophetic vision, is seen as it unfolds; a Spiritual and Heavenly perspective:
Look at it this way: When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. in the Florida Keys, it was a category 5 storm; As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm; then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm; and finally as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event,
To those in the various states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event. But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion.
SO IT IS WITH THE ‘LAST DAYS’ AND THE 2nd COMING OF JESUS as seen in the breaking of the ‘Seven Seals of the Book’ as recorded in Revelation chapters 5,6,7 and 8; although, the breaking of each Seal may seem like seven different events, if viewed “from above” however, it is seen as ONE CONTINUOUS EVENT, (an eschatological STORM), progressively unfolding to its conclusion.
This is important because it puts a marker on our eschatological timeline, gives us a clearer chronology of these Last Days, and aids us in our understanding and preparation for what is to come! (End Commentary Break).
Doom of the Beast and False Prophet
Verse 17. Then I saw a single angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he shouted to all the birds that fly in midheaven, saying, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, verse 18, so that you may feast on the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of powerful and mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all humanity, both free men and slaves, both small and great [in a complete conquest of evil].”
Verse 19. Then I saw the beast and the kings and political leaders of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who is mounted on the [white] horse and against His army. Verse 20. And the beast, (the Antichrist), was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who, in his presence, had performed [amazing] signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were hurled alive into the lake of fire which blazes with brimstone. Verse 21. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds fed ravenously and gorged themselves with their flesh.
(Commentary Break: Verse 19 can be especially difficult to understand, especially with all the conjecture and opinions given in so many commentaries. So, I will not comment on verses 17 through 18 and verses 20 & 21, which are plain enough to read and understand at face-value. But I will take the necessary space and the time to highlight and explain verse 19 and any other verses that I consider unclear. Please, bear with me. Verse 19 is very technical in the Hebrew language.
Verse 19 says, “Then…: (the word ‘then’ is the Hebrew word, ‘kai’, which means also, likewise having a copulative and sometimes cumulative force, indicating that this is the same or similar to what preceded; and what preceded is a scene in the heavens; See Verses 1, 11 and 14);
…I saw: (is the Hebrew verb, ‘oida’, which means to see or perceived with the eyes. What is important is that this word is spoken in the Aorist Tense which is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard to past, present or future time; it is as if it were continuous, happening in the past, the present and the future, simultaneously.
…the beast and the kings and political leaders of the earth with their
…armies gathered: (The Greek verb ‘sunago’, which is in the Perfect Tense, which describes an event which has been completed in the past.)
…to make war: (is the Greek word, ‘poieo’, meaning to create and in the Aorist Tense; i.e., made war, is making war, will make war).
…against Him who is mounted on the [white] horse and against His army.”
These are events originating is heaven, is the spiritual, and manifesting upon the earth. See:
Revelation 19:1, After these[footnote ‘a’]things I heard something like the great and mighty shout of a vast multitude in heaven,
Verse 11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who was riding it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
Verse 14. And the armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, [dazzling] white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Jesus is the One mounted on the white horse. His army is a heavenly army, and He will supernaturally defeat ‘the kings and political leaders of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who is mounted on the [white] horse and against His army’.
Revelation 16 verse 12 through 16 is the record of what has already happened in the heavens (Aorist Tense), and will happen toward the end of the tribulation, when an angel pours out the sixth bowl judgment on the earth. The word Armageddon makes its only appearance in the Bible in this passage:
“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
Finally, ‘the kings and political leaders of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who is mounted on the [white] horse and against His army’ are none other than the forces of the 10 nation confederation of combined armies described in the Book of Ezekiel, from the East. They are Russia, with an army of one million one-hundred thousand; Turkey, with an army of three hundred fifty-five thousand; Iran, with an army of five hundred twenty-three thousand, (including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard); Ethiopia’s army of one hundred thirty eight thousand; Chechnya’s army is approximately ten thousand; the army of Georgia is approximately twenty-one thousand; Even with this abbreviated list we can count two million, one hundred forty two thousand fighting troops. (End Commentary Break).
This has been a long and arduous journey through chapter 19. I pray that God will enlighten the eyes of our hearts and give us understanding, wisdom and the courage to complete our mission and calling as these days draw nearer.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 18 – The Doom of Babylon, The Victory of The Lamb
Episode 20
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
Before we delve into this chapter, I am reminded and I want to remind the reader, that John of Patmos, (also known as John the Revelator, and John the Apostle), was an untrained and uneducated man, (See Acts 4:13); “Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.” Yet, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John wrote amazing words of prophecy, perfectly in context and synchronized with all scriptures. And remember, he had only been with Jesus for about five or six years. All of this to point out the impossibility that the Book of The Revelation, (or any of scripture, for that matter), could be anything other than the Breath, Words and Mind of God, inspired by, breathed and spoken by God, to and through John, and written in the Holy Scriptures so to be beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, and for our training in righteousness.
The previous chapter 17 told us of the doom of Babylon and the victory of the Lamb of God. This chapter 18 tells us of the effects and the aftermath of the fall of Babylon, and sentencing for her crimes against God and humanity.
Babylon Is Fallen
Revelation 18:1,After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, possessing great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his splendor and radiance. Verse 2. And he shouted with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen [and certainly to be destroyed] is[footnote ‘a’]Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every unclean spirit, and a prison for every unclean and loathsome bird.
(Commentary Break: The Bible doesn’t name the angel who possesses great authority and illuminates the earth with his splendor and radiance, but suggests that the entire world will witness this event and hear his words. Everyone left on the planet is put on notice of what has happened is by the Hand of God, and is warned of what is to come.
Babylon, the entirety of the world’s systems and condition, described by this angel as a dwelling place for demons, a dungeon haunted by every unclean spirit, and a prison for every unclean and loathsome bird. (Just as a point of interest, the ‘unclean and loathsome bird’ is a representation of an ‘evil spirit’ or a demon. An unclean and loathsome bird represents the kind of spirit that dwells alone in desolate places; the habitation of devils; as old Babylon was of satyrs, Isaiah 13:21 demons, which appeared in a hairy form, like goats, and the word is rendered devils in Leviticus 17:7, and the inhabitants of Rome now are no other; (some assume the pope will be so described in these final days, along with his cardinals, priests, Jesuits, monks, and friars, as the spirits of devils, and their doctrines the doctrines of devils; (see Revelation 16:14), and the hold of every foul spirit: devils are frequently called unclean spirits, and these appear in desert and desolate places, (see Matthew 12:43), which become a cage or a prison for every ‘unclean and hateful bird’ such, as vultures, which generally reside in desolate and uninhabited places. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 3. For all the nations have drunk from the wine of the passion of her [sexual] immorality, and the kings and political leaders of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth and economic power of her sensuous luxury.”
(Commentary Break: “All the nations”. Let that sink in! Every nation, every head of every nation, every national leader, and every merchant (and by association, every person who buys or sells), is guilty of committing immorality with the Harlot, Babylon!
It will be ‘just as it was in the days of Noah’, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land”. (see Genesis 6, verses 5 through 7). (End Commentary Break).
Verse 4. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not be a partner in her sins and receive her plagues; verse 5, for her sins (crimes, transgressions) have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness and crimes [for judgment]. Verse 6. Repay to her even as she has repaid others, and pay back [to her] double [her torment] in accordance with what she has done; in the cup [of sin and suffering] which she mixed, mix a double portion [of perfect justice] for her. Verse 7. To the degree that she glorified herself and reveled and gloated in her sensuality [living deliciously and luxuriously], to that same degree impose on her torment and anguish, and mourning and grief; for in her heart she boasts, ‘I SIT AS A QUEEN [on a throne] AND I AM NOT A WIDOW, and will never, ever see mourning or experience grief.’ Verse 8. For this reason in a single day her plagues (afflictions, calamities) will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire and completely consumed; for strong and powerful is the Lord God who judges her.
(Commentary Break: Verse 4 says “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not be a partner in her sins and receive her plagues”. This ‘calling out of Babylon’ could be a reminder of what God has already done through the rapture, or by way of the evangelistic work of the one hundred forty four thousand from the 12 tribes of Israel; but most likely, since all that has already occurred and the only remaining people of God are the one hundred forty four thousand from the 12 tribes of Israel, God is saying to them, your work is finished. Come home.
Verses 5 through 8 tell of God’s recompense for Babylon’s sins and crimes is to be doubled and will come in a single day. His repayment will come as plagues, afflictions, and calamities, pestilence, mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire and completely consumed. (This may be just a foretaste of what is still to come. See 1st Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a roar, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up.”) (End Commentary Break).
Laments for Babylon
Verse 9. “[footnote ‘b’]And the kings and political leaders of the earth, who committed immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and beat their chests [in mourning] over her when they see the smoke of her burning, verse 10, standing a long way off, in fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, the strong city, Babylon! In a single hour your judgment has come.’
Verse 11. “And merchants of the earth will weep and grieve over her, because no one buys their cargo (goods, merchandise) anymore, verse 12, cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet; all kinds of citron (scented) wood and every article of ivory and every article of very costly and lavish wood and bronze and iron and marble; verse 13, and cinnamon and spices and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat; of cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and carriages; and of slaves and human lives. Verse 14. The ripe fruits and delicacies of your soul’s desire have gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and extravagant are lost to you, never again to be found. Verse 15. The merchants who handled these articles, who grew wealthy from [their business with] her, will stand a long way off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, verse 16, saying, ‘Woe, woe, for the great city that was robed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, gilded and adorned with gold, with precious stones, and with pearls; verse 17, because in one hour all the vast wealth has been laid waste.’ And every ship captain or navigator, and every [footnote ‘c’] passenger and sailor, and all who make their living by the sea, stood a long way off, verse 18, and exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What could be compared to the great city?’ Verse 19. And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, for the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich from her great wealth, because in one hour she has been laid waste!’ Verse 20. Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints (God’s people) and apostles and prophets [who were martyred], because God has executed vengeance for you [through righteous judgment] upon her.”
(Commentary Break: The world will not acknowledge this as a judgment executed by God. Instead, ‘the kings and political leaders of the earth, who committed immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and beat their chests in mourning over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing a long way off, in fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, the strong city, Babylon! In a single hour your judgment has come.’
And they will throw dust on their heads in grief, and will cry out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, for the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich from her great wealth, because in one hour she has been laid waste!’
But God says to the heavens, and the saints and apostles and prophets and those who were martyred, because God has executed vengeance for you through righteous judgment upon her, you are to rejoice over her destruction. (End Commentary Break).
The Divine Sentence upon Babylon
Verse 21. Then a single powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone and flung it into the sea, saying, “With such violence will Babylon the great city be hurled down [by the sudden, spectacular judgment of God], and will never again be found. Verse 22. And the sound of harpists and musicians and flutists and trumpeters will never again be heard in you, and no skilled artisan of any craft will ever again be found in you, and the sound of the millstone [grinding grain] will never again be heard in you [for commerce will no longer flourish, and normal life will cease]. Verse 23. And never again will the light of a lamp shine in you, and never again will the voice of the bridegroom and bride be heard in you; for your merchants were the great and prominent men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived and misled by your sorcery [your magic spells and poisonous charm]. Verse 24. And in Babylon was found the blood of prophets and of saints (God’s people) and of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth.” (End of Chapter 18).
SPECIAL NOTES: Because this and the previous chapter focuses on the city of Babylon, I would like to share an educated speculation about the City of Babylon. The question which arises, “Is Babylon a world system? Is it an actual city? Or can it be both?”
In order to provide an amazing commentary, I am using a video by Zion’s Hope and David Rosenthal. And I am providing partial excerpts and my comments. Or, you can watch the entire video at “What is the mystery of Babylon – part 3”).
(Transcript Excertps, in part). “You should know that there are hundreds of thousands of millions of people, 5 times every day, turning and praying to this pagan idolatrous system (known as the Hajj, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia ), and it is absolutely tragic. I want you to see not only is this a religious center but is being turned into an unbelievable economic powerhouse, the likes of which the world may never have seen before. They are completely transforming Mecca which is in the middle of the desert, and in the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca, they are creating platforms, so many millions of people can come and worship at the Kaaba, which is in the center. (And Saudi Arabia is getting even richer from all the pilgrims coming.) The have essentially bulldozed central Mecca to make way for the 4th tallest tower and largest building on earth. This tower contain various luxury hotels and over four thousand shops. The monarchy of Saudi Arabia is completely transforming Mecca and they are using the religious system of Islam to build an economic center such as has never been seen before!
Riyadh is the capital city of Saudi Arabia, where they are building the King Abdulla Financial Center, because the Saudi Arabian government is afraid that petroleum will cease to provide for their trillion dollar economy. If I could tell you about all the excesses, you would be amazed. Things such as gold plated cars, billion dollar mansions and vile excesses also. They are also building a new city, just south of Riyadh, the likes of Las Vegas, to provide entertainment to keep the masses of young Saudis from going elsewhere, including a new 6 Flags amusement park at the cost of about seven hundred fifty million dollars. So, they are transitioning from a petroleum based economy to an economy based on industry, business and shipping.
Now, as you know, Mecca is an inland city about 40 miles from the Red Sea and from Jedda, a large marine port city. Jedda is building a new port and city called the King Abdulla Economic City, based upon shipping, the new means of finance for Saudi Arabia. This city offering golf courses, institutions of all sorts, universities, etc. But the main emphasis is to be shipping. “With its strategic location and state-of-the-art technologies, all managed by national and global experts who strive to offer the best possible services, King Abdullah Port has earned its place at the heart of the world’s major shipping lines, all within a solid plan that will bring to reality its vision of becoming one of the largest ports in the world, (with over eleven thousand vessels passing through the Red Sea in 20 17).” (Quote: King Abdullah Port).
NOW, is this coming into focus now, regarding the ‘city of Babylon’ we find in the book of the Revelation? It is bound to make it the premier gateway for shipping of goods into Saudi Arabia.
Now, recall the merchants of Revelation 17, when they see the smoke of their burning and the ships afar off! Are you beginning to see the parallels? (End excerpts and comments.)
Remember, our focus on these Last Days should be on Israel and the Middle East – where it all began and where it will end.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 17 – The Doom of Babylon, The Victory of The Lamb
Episode 19
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
This may be one of the most difficult chapters of the Book of the Revelation to interpret and to understand. But, it is understandable and profitable for wisdom, if you have the patience. Of course, I have said the same about a previous chapter and we made it through that one, and we can get wisdom and understanding here, also.
Know and understanding Biblical eschatology is important for several reasons, but for the Believer and follower of Jesus, there is nothing more helpful that knowing about the End Times and being able to relate to others, the urgency of the things that are coming upon our world.
The Doom of Babylon
Revelation 17:1,Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment and doom of the great[footnote ‘a’]prostitute who is seated[footnote ‘b’]on many waters [influencing nations], verse 2, she with whom the kings of the earth have[footnote ‘c’]committed acts of immorality, and the inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
(Commentary Break: It is obvious from the first verse what is taking place. We are to see the judgment and doom of the great prostitute, (the Greek word for prostitute is descriptive. It means a woman selling herself for sexual favors, but it also means ‘to export for sale, as an idolatrous community’. It can be difficult to understand the width and breadth of her promiscuous idolatry, except to say that ‘the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and the inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated with the wine of her immorality. This ‘immorality’, from the Greek word, ‘porneúō’, translates as both,committing fornication (sexual immorality); and, figuratively to be unfaithful to Christ, while posing as His true follower.
(Increasingly, people who attend church regularly, and call themselves Christian, are living together, unmarried and are engaging in non-marital or ‘casual’ sex, and the church turns a blind eye – tacitly approving. These verses not only condemn such behavior, but spell out the consequences.)
‘The prostitute who is seated on many waters’ is a reference to the unification of all false, idolatrous religion, with representatives from apostate Catholicism, Protestantism, as well as all the other religions of the world.
The woman personifies the false religion that will dominate the world in the tribulation period. Many people will likely identify this great harlot as the Roman Catholic Church, but this false religion, this apostasy, is not limited to any one church.
We don’t have to wait to see this false religion emerge, since, as previously discussed, the 5th Tribulation Seal (of apostasy and martyrdom) was broken and the scroll was opened as early as the time of the birth of Jesus, and the evidence of world-wide apostacy has become obvious, and is intensifying in our day. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 3. And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was[footnote ‘d’]entirely covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. Verse 4. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a gold cup full of the abominations and the filth of her [sexual] immorality.
Verse 5. And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES, (of false religions, heresies), AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Verse 6. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, (God’s people), and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus [who were martyred]. When I saw her, I wondered in amazement.
(Commentary Break: The harlot rides the same beast (seven heads and ten horns) that was previously seen in Revelation 13:1 – the Antichrist and his dictatorship.
Her position, that of riding the beast, indicates on the one hand that she is supported by the political power of the beast, and on the other that she is in a dominant role and at least outwardly controls and directs the beast.” (Walvoord).
Her association with blasphemy and the dragon’s beast are clearly seen from God’s perspective. But to the people of the earth she will look quite religious, and have the “faith” everybody wants.
Purple and scarlet were colors of splendor and magnificence; the dyes to make fabric these colors were rare and costly. In the course of church history, we find that one of the deadliest marks of ecclesiastical corruption is the lust for temporal power.” (Barnhouse) Purple and scarlet were the colors of rulers, whether economic or political.
This title is not for literal Babylon; but its spiritual representation, (i.e., the mystery), which is the source, (i.e., the mother) of all idolatry, (abominations) and spiritual adultery (hence the name, harlots).
This harlot must be larger than any one branch of a religious institution. She is the embodiment of Satan’s own ecumenical movement, the religion of the world system. (For example, see “The Abrahamic House – The One World Church Emerges”).
Our world is rife with the philosophy that ‘it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you believe’, is prepared for the harlot’s seduction. We see the casual disregard for the truth crippling the church today. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 7. But the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
Verse 8. “The beast that you saw, [once] was, but [now] is not, and he is about to come up out of the abyss (the bottomless pit, the dwelling place of demons) and go to destruction, (or perdition). And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they see the beast, because he was and is not and is yet to come [to earth].
(Commentary Break: Verses 7 and 8 focus on the beast. It appears that the Harlot road, (that is, ruled by way of) the Antichrist’s system. But he, the first Beast, (which comes from the sea, and is the 10 nations confederation), is the dynamic factor. He is using her as a tool to accomplish his purposes.
The references, in verse 8, to the beast that you ‘saw, was, but is not, and he is about to come’ is simply saying that this type of beast has come and gone several time by way of various persons over time, and will finally come again. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 9. Here is the mind which has wisdom [and this is what it knows about the vision]. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits; verse 10, and they are seven kings: five of whom have fallen, one exists and is reigning; the other [the seventh] has not yet come, and when he does come, he must remain a little while. Verse 11. And the beast that [once] was but is not, is himself also an eighth king and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction (perdition). Verse 12. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but [together] they receive authority as kings for a single hour [for a common purpose] along with the beast. Verse 13. These [kings] have one purpose [one mind, one common goal], and they give their power and authority to the beast.
(Commentary BreakVERSE 9. “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.” The seven heads are seven mountains: Many quickly associate the seven mountains with Rome and the Papacy, because Rome is well known as the city on seven hills. Yet literally, the Greek word means mountains, not hills.
Many commentators – especially those who see all of Revelation fulfilled in history – regard the seven mountains as an irrefutable connection with Rome. Clarke is a good example of this when he writes, “This verse has been almost universally considered to allude to the seven hills upon which Rome originally stood.”
But in the Bible, mountains are many times a figure of governments (such as in Daniel 2 verse 35) and the city of Rome is built on hills, not mountains.
The seven heads are seven mountains: It is probably better to see the seven mountains as representing the seven kings and kingdoms described in Revelation 17 verse 10. Many people find the connection between religious Babylon and Roman Catholicism irresistible, yet it is flawed in the sense that there is no doubt that religious Babylon will incorporate a strong Roman Catholic element, but it will be much bigger than Roman Catholicism.
Tendencies for Roman Catholicism’s ultimate partnership with a one-world religion were evident in Pope John Paul the 2nd,s bizarre involvement with and approval of other anti-Christian religions.
In addressing a “prayer gathering” of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and others, Pope John Paul the 2nd told participants that their efforts were “unleashing profound spiritual energies in the world and bringing about a new climate of peace.” The Pope pledged that “the Catholic Church intends to ‘share in and promote’ such ecumenical and inter-religious cooperation.”
The Catholic Review commented on this and said, “The unity of religion promoted by the Holy Father Pope John Paul the 2nd and approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not a goal to be achieved immediately, but a day may come when the love and compassion which both Buddha and Christ preached so eloquently will unite the world in a common effort to save humanity from senseless destruction, and lead toward the light in which we all believe.”
VERSE 10. “There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.”
Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come: This is one of the more difficult passages in the Book of Revelation. Some explain these seven kings, five past, one present, and one to come in the succession of Roman Emperors in John’s era, but there are many historical difficulties with this approach. More likely, it is a reference to:
Five have fallen refers to the five world empires before John’s day: Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece
One refers to the world empire of John’s day: Rome
The other has not yet come refers to the one world empire to come: a revival of the Roman Empire
When he comes, he must continue a short time: This seventh will quickly be taken over by an eighth – and will become the state of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:11).
NOTE: There are problems with this viewpoint as well (so some have taken the seven as symbolic). This plainly is a difficult passage!
VERSE 11. The beast (the Antichrist) is clearly identified as the eighth king. “And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”
Is he, himself, also the eighth: He is of the seven in the sense that he shares characteristics with all previous world empires, but his fate is clear. Perdition means “destruction,” and the beast will be destroyed.
Verses 12 through 15. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
Ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet: This probably alludes to a ten-nation confederation (as in the toes of the image Daniel 2 verse 24 through 45), but some take ten as a symbolic number.
There are many wildly gyrating suppositions about the identity of these 10 kings or this 10 nation confederation, ranging from a revived Roman Empire as the center to the current European Union.
Finally, a view by David Rosenthal, of Zion’s Hope, offers an excellent Biblically aligned explanation of the 10 Nation Confederation, (also known as THE HEADS of the BEAST from Ezekiel 38, of Daniel chapters 7 & 9 and Revelation 17):
Nation 1. Gog: A Reubenite, son of Shemaiah, the prophetic prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and Magog, from the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media, a region of modern day Russia.
Nation 2. Magog: The 2nd son of Japheth, grandson of Noah, and progenitor of several tribes northward from Israel; the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media and habitation of the descendants of Magog, son of Japheth and grandson of Noah. Another region of modern day Russia.
Nation 3. Rosh: “the Prince of Rosh” is Asiatic Russia. Ezekiel’s “episode of Gog’s invasion” points irrefutably and undeniably to the Russians.
Nation 4. Meschack: Was a Chaldean. The Chaldeans inhabited the coastal area near the Persian Gulf. Modern day Turkey.
Nation 5. Tubal: a region in east Asia Minor, a region in modern day Turkey.
Nation 6. Persia: Iran
Nation 7. Cush, is known as modern day Ethiopia: located on either side or both sides of the Red Sea. As such, “Cush” is alternately identified in scripture with the Kingdom of Kush or ancient Ethiopia.
Nation 8. Put, modern day Libya: Ancient Libya. In this sense, Libya was the whole known African continent to the west of the Nile Valley and extended south of Egypt. Herodotus described the inhabitants of Libya as two peoples: The Libyans in northern Africa and the Ethiopians in the south.
Nation 9. Gomer: The Hebrew name Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who dwelt in what is now southern Russia.
Nation 10. Beth-Togarmah: Refers to Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia.
These are the 10 Nation Confederation, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST found in Ezekiel 38, Daniel 7 & 9 and Revelation 17. All are Islamic, the Center of which is MECCA (see the article The Mystery of Babylon and the 7 Hillsfor greater detail, and watch the video below here).
(End Commentary Break).
Victory for the Lamb
Verse 14. They will wage war against the Lamb (Who is the Christ), and the Lamb will triumph and conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him and on His side are the called and chosen (elect) and faithful.”
Verse 15. Then the angel said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
Verse 16. And the ten horns which you saw, and the[footnote ‘e‘]beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked, [stripped of her power and influence], and will eat her flesh and completely consume her with fire. Verse 17. For God has put it in their hearts to carry out His purpose by[footnote ‘f’]agreeing together to surrender their kingdom to the beast, until the [prophetic] words of God will be fulfilled.
Verse 18. The woman whom you saw is the[footnote ‘g’]great city, which reigns over and dominates and controls the kings and the political leaders of the earth.”
(Commentary Break: Verses 15 through 18 give us a recap of key elements of this Chapter 17, and the first sentence of verse 15 tells us all we really need to know: “They will wage war against the Lamb (which is Christ), and the Lamb will triumph and conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him and on His side are the called and chosen and faithful, (His elect).”
The remaining mystery is that ‘the woman whom you saw is thegreat city, which reigns over and dominates and controls the kings and the political leaders of the earth.” The question is which city? It is usually thought to perhaps be Rome, of a revived Roman Empire – which was a personification of Babylon. Perhaps the city is actually a metaphor for wickedness. There are many ideas, or guesses, as to the identity this city.
I prefer is Mecca, the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and the holiest city according to Islam, as being the city. Besides the obvious fact that the 10 Nations are Islamic and the greatest and longest conflict and struggle to eradicate the Jew has been between the Israel and Islam, Isaac and Ishmael, Jesus and Satan. This video will tell you why.(End Commentary Break):
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 16 – 6 Bowls of Wrath, Armageddon & The 7th Bowl of Wrath
Episode 18
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
Chapter 16 brings us God’s final and most severe judgements; the 7 Bowl Judgements, which usher in The End of the Age. There is still much to occur with the completion of the old and the dawning of the coming New Jerusalem, and the creation and establishment of a new heaven and a new earth.
Six Bowls of Wrath
Revelation 16:1,Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath and indignation of God.”
Verse 2. So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and loathsome and malignant sores came on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
Verse 3. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a corpse, [foul and disgusting]; and every living[footnote ‘a’] thing in the sea died.
Verse 4. Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water; and they turned into blood. Verse 5. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous and just are You, Who are and Who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; Verse 6. for they have poured out the blood of the saints (God’s people) and the prophets, and You [in turn] have given them blood to drink. They deserve Your judgement.” Verse 7. And I heard [another from] the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Your judgements are true and fair and righteous.”
Verse 8. Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch humanity with [a raging] fire. Verse 9. People were [severely] burned by the great heat; and they reviled the name of God who has power over these plagues, but they did not repent [of their sin] and glorify Him.
(Commentary Break: Every evil deed, committed throughout all time, is now being recompensed. Every ill-treatment, every hurt, every calamity, every disaster you may have suffered is now finding justice. Evils are repaid, and your future is fixed to suffer no more. (End Commentary Break)
Verse 10. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness; and people gnawed their tongues because of the pain [of their excruciating anguish and severe torment], verse 11, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their anguish and their sores, (abscesses and boils); and they did not repent of what they had done nor hate their wickedness.
(Commentary Break: Notice that the 5th Bowl is poured out on the beast as his kingdom is plunged into darkness. The pain and anguish is most severe. Still, the rebellious blasphemed God, instead of crying for mercy, they would not repent of their sinful deeds, their hate or their wickedness, this Triad has always been the earmark of the unbelieving and lost. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 12. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for [the coming of] the kings from[footnote ‘b’] the east.
(Commentary Break: The kings of the east can be identified in Ezekiel 38, in Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as
1. Gog, which is known as a part of modern day Russia,
2. Rosh,also part of modern day Russia,
3. Magog, again part of Russia,
4. Gomer, also known as Eastern Europe and Southern Russia,
5. Put, known as modern day Libya,
6. Cush, known today as Ethiopia,
7. Persia, known as Iran,
8. Meshech, known as modern day Turkey,
9. Tubal, known today as an area in central Turkey and
10. Beth-Togarmah, also known as(Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia). (End Commentary Break).
Armageddon
Verse 13. And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, leaping from the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and from the mouth of the beast (Antichrist, dictator) and from the mouth of the false prophet; verse 14, for they are [actually] the spirits of demons, performing [miraculous] signs. And they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. Verse 15. “Behold, I am coming like a thief.[footnote ‘c’]Blessed is he who[footnote ‘d’]stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked, spiritually unprepared, and men will not see his shame.” Verse 16. And they, (the demons) gathered the kings and armies of the world together at the place which in Hebrew is called [footnote ‘e’] Har-Magedon (which is Armageddon).
(Commentary Break: The three evil spirits that looked like frogs leaping from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgement day of God the Almighty. This is the counterfeit trinity of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet. Verse 15 reminds us of Jesus Words found in Matthew 24 verses 42 through 44, that we are to stay on alert, for we do not know which day the Lord is coming. But we are to be sure of this, that if we had known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed our house to be broken into. For this reason, we must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Now we are told of the coming battle of Armageddon.The size of the Armies from the East, as of the year 2024, (and as previously described in the Book of Ezekiel), are Russia, with an army of one million one-hundred thousand; Turkey, with an army of three hundred fifty-five thousand; Iran, with an army of five hundred twenty-three thousand, (including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard); Ethiopia’s army of one hundred thirty eight thousand; Chechnya’s army is approximately ten thousand; the army of Georgia is approximately twenty-one thousand; Even with this abbreviated list we can count two million, one hundred forty-two thousand fighting troops. The size of these forces has been foretold in Revelation 9 verses 16 through 18 as two hundred million. (End Commentary Break).
Seventh Bowl of Wrath
Verse 17. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne [of God], saying, “It is done. [It is all over, it is all accomplished, it has come.]” Verse 18. And there were flashes of lightning and loud rumblings and peals of thunder; and there was a massive earthquake, nothing like it has ever occurred since mankind originated on the earth, so severe and far-reaching was that earthquake. Verse 19. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the Nations fell. And God kept in mind Babylon the great, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce and furious wrath. Verse 20. Then every island fled away, and no mountains could be found. Verse 21. And giant hailstones, as heavy as a[footnote ‘f’]talent (which weigh about one hundred pounds each), fell from the sky on the people; and people reviled and spoke abusively of God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so very great. (End of text for Chapter 16).
It is over. No more suffering, no more tears, no more crying, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more death, no more evil. The old order is passed away and your eternity with God is set.
Our days on this old earth, for now, seem to be growing ever more chaotic and dangerous. The current world order is shifting rapidly away from any trace of righteousness. The things that were once called as good are now being called evil, and the things evil are now being called good; bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
The next chapter offers insights that will bolster our confidence as we read of the doom of Babylon and the Victory of the Lamb.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 – A Scene in Heaven
Episode 17
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
Chapter 14 gave us the pronouncement of doom and the sentencing of Babylon and the worshipers of the Beast and the symbolism of the reapers of the earth and the great wine press from which the blood of the rebellious flowedas deep as a horse’s bridle is high,(about 5 or six feet deep), and sixteen hundred stadia (which is about 180 miles in length). A lake of blood six feet deep and 180 miles long.
Now the time has come for the final judgements of God to be poured out. The stage is set, and the scene is as spectacular as it is ominous.
No commentary I could offer would be sufficient to describe or explain this chapter. It is self-explanatory. I stand in awe.
The Scene of Heaven
Revelation 15:1,Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful[a warning of terrifying and horrible events]: seven angels who had seven plagues, (afflictions and calamities), which are the last, because with them the wrath of God is finished, [and is completely expressed and reaches its zenith].
Verse 2. Then I saw something like a sea or large expanse of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and over his image and over the number corresponding to his name were standing on the sea or large expanse of glass, holding harps of God [worshiping Him]. Verse 3. And they[footnote ‘a’]sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and wonderful and awe-inspiring are Your works[in judgement],
O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all];
Verse 4. “Who will not fear[reverently], and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]?
For You alone are holy;
For ALL THE NATIONS SHALL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS [Your just decrees and judgements] HAVE BEEN REVEALED and DISPLAYED.”
Verse 5. After these things I looked, and the temple,(the sanctuary) of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, verse 6, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues,(afflictions and calamities), came out of the temple, arrayed in linen, pure and gleaming, and wrapped around their chests were golden sashes. Verse 7. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath and indignation of God, who lives forever and ever. Verse 8. And the temple was filled with[footnote ‘c’]smoke from the glory and radiance andsplendor 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. (End of text for this chapter).
The next chapter, 16, brings the end of God’s judgements on the earth. The horrors of these final judgements are unimaginable, and the intensity is palpable. We must remember that God has been patient and merciful over the millennia, but that He is also just and His Justice must be served. God, over the centuries, has sent thousands upon thousands of messengers to warn of what was coming to those who reject Him. For all these centuries, God has pled to all humanity to be redeemed by the sacrifice of His only Son. But the rebellious continue to defy Him and curse His Name. Now their end is come.
Author’s Note: Rather than just making a statement about God’s gift of salvation, I would like to ask you a question: How does making a statement or a profession of faith, as found in Romans 10 verses 9 and 10, such as,“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; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation”, save you?
Similarly, how does praying a small prayer of faith and repentance, you hear in many churches, save you? Prayers such as, “Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner, and I am sorry. I turn away from my former life and ask you to come into my heart and save me. I now believe by faith that you have, and I thank you for saving me.”
The best answer I can give is akin to Psalms 23 verse 7, “As a man thinks within himself or herself, so are they.” Then the proof of that salvation is found in a change of heart, mind and behavior or works.
Please, dear friends, let’s be certain. Let’s work out our salvation with fear and trembling, then rest upon His Word and promise.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 14 – The Lamb, The 144,000, Doom & The Harvest
Episode 16
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME?”)
Chapter 13 gave us a look at the two Beasts, one from the sea and one from the earth, making their move to have rule and dominion over the world. Although portrayed as metaphorical beasts, it is an apt description for the real nature and character of these men. And they are real, and horribly authentic. So fantastic, frightening and convincing is their appearance, their powerful acts and behaviors, and their influence that “the saints, God’s people, are overcome, and the Beast will have the authority and power over every tribe and people and language and nation. All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain as a willing sacrifice” (see Revelation 13, verses 7 and 8).
The grip and rule and dominion of this Beast becomes so absolute, that “He compels 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, signifying allegiance and obedience to this beast, so that no one will be able to buy or sell, unless they have the Mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name (which is six hundred, sixty six)”.
Important Note: The Bible gives us two specific verses, spoken by Jesus, which gives us a mystery: “Whatever is be bound on earth, shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever is loosed on earth, shall have been loosed in heaven”. (see Matthew 16 verse 19 and Matthew 18 verse 18). The meaning behind these verses come from a Chaldean and rabbinical idiom, meaning to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit; to be put under obligation; chained; imprisoned.
Secondly, this mystery is best understood, i.e., revealed, when viewed in the context of 2nd Corinthians 4 verse 18, which says, “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”, and again in Hebrews 11 verse 1, “Now faith is the certainty of things confidently expected, (hoped for), the proof (positive, and the absolute conviction) of things not (yet) seen.”
Third, it is of the utmost importance to recognize that this binding and loosing cannot be not random nor serendipitous. In order to understand this mystery, we must first acknowledge that everything that is to take place or that has taken place, is and has been pre-determined by God – even before the foundations of the world. John 1 verse 3 confirms that ”All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.”
THEREFORE, whatever is bound on earth, is an authority given by God to His elect (in these cases, Peter and the Church), to pray, confirm and bind matters on earth, which then become bound by legal spiritual and heavenly edict. As a result, those things which are not yet seen on earth, having been bound in heaven, will now be manifested upon the earth!
This is important to understand and to know because the things revealed in The Book of The Revelation (the apokalupsis), have been bound in Heaven and are to be manifested on earth. All of the Revelation, although spoken and written in images, metaphors, similes, analogies, its manifestation is to be physically literal. Don’t underestimate what is coming. Don’t be led astray by the un-enlightened or false prophets who will say otherwise. BEWARE and BE READY.
Now, on to chapter 14, where we will see God’s heavenly counter-offensive, and in fact, the entire world will see the might, the irresistible power and the Glory of our God. Nothing and no one can stand before Him. Read with me.
The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion
Revelation 14:1, Then I looked, and this is what I saw: the Lamb stood [firmly established] on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had His name and His Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads, [signifying God’s own possession]. Verse 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder; and the voice that I heard [seemed like music and] was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. Verse 3. And they sang a new song before the throne [of God] and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased, (ransomed, redeemed) from the earth. Verse 4. These are the ones who have not been defiled [by relations] with women, for they are celibate. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased and redeemed from among men [of Israel] as the first fruits [sanctified and set apart for special service] for God and the Lamb. Verse 5. No lie was found in their mouth, for they are blameless, (spotless, untainted, beyond reproach).
(Commentary Break: These verses speak for themselves. But I would like to draw our attention to the contrast between the counterfeiting by the Beasts of the One True God. Similar but opposite. One works miracles but is domineering, murderous, evil, dark and frightening. This is the way of Satan and his false prophet. They come to steal, kill and destroy.
The other is miraculous and radiant, filled with light; angelic, harmonious and full of beautiful music; blameless, spotless, untainted and beyond reproach. Jesus came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. (see John 10 verse 10). (End Commentary Break).
The Angel with the Gospel
Verse 6. Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an [footnote ‘a’] eternal gospel to preach to the inhabitants of the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people; verse 7, and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God [with awe and reverence], and give Him glory [and honor and praise in worship], because the hour of His judgment has come; [with all your heart] worship Him who created the heaven and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
(Commentary Break: Here we have an angel preaching the Gospel to all the inhabitants of earth – every nation and tribe and language and people.
Remember that the 6th Tribulation Trumpet has sounded and now the 7th Tribulation Trumpet is being sounded as these events are taking place. The 6th Trumpet sounded the ‘last call’ to the inhabitants of earth for salvation. Now, with the 7th Trumpet sounding, the end of God’s remaining mercies has come. No one else is to be saved from the Wrath of the Lamb. (End Commentary Break).
Doom for Proud Babylon
Verse 8. Then another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality [corrupting them with idolatry].”
Doom for Worshipers of the Beast
Verse 9. Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “Whoever worships the beast and his image and receives the mark [of the beast] on his forehead or on his hand, verse 10, he too will [have to] drink of the wine of the wrath of God, [footnote ‘b’] mixed undiluted into the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone (flaming sulfur) in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb (Christ). Verse 11. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night–those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
Verse 12. Here is [encouragement for] the steadfast endurance of the saints (God’s people), those who habitually keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus. Verse 13. Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘[footnote ‘c’] Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.”
(Commentary Break: The edict is read. The end has come. Those who bear the image of the Beast are sentenced. And to those who habitually keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus may rest and have relief from their labors. They are taken away to abide forever with the Lord. It is over.)
The Reapers
Verse 14. Again I looked, and this is what I saw: a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle [of swift judgment] in His hand. Verse 15. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to Him who was sitting upon the cloud, “Put in Your sickle and reap [at once], for the hour to reap [in judgment] has arrived, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripened.” Verse 16. So He who was sitting on the cloud cast His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped (and judged).
Verse 17. Then another angel came out of the temple (sanctuary) in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Verse 18. And another angel came from the altar, the one who has power over fire; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and reap the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe [for judgment].” Verse 19. So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and harvested the grapevine of the earth, and threw the grapes into the great wine press of the wrath and indignation of God [as judgment of the rebellious world]. Verse 20. And the grapes in the wine press were trampled and crushed outside the city, and blood poured from the wine press, reaching up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of [footnote ‘d’] sixteen hundred stadia.
(Commentary Break: It is important to know that this ‘reaping’ is for both the ‘harvest of souls for righteousness’ of those who were not raptured with the Church at the 6th Seal Judgement (which comes before the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation). This is the Great Winepress of The Wrath and Indignation of God and His judgement on the rebellious world.
The severity of this judgement and of the remaining judgements yet to come, is illustrated by the winepress and the volumes of flowing blood. It is deep as a horse’s bridle is high,(about 5 or six feet deep), and sixteen hundred stadia (which is about 180 miles in length). A lake of blood six feet deep and 180 miles long.
(If one would conjecture the width of an ancient wine press at ten feet, then the volume of blood being squeezed from God’s winepress would be three hundred and fifty five million gallons of blood. The average body contains one point three gallons of blood, so this would be equal to the blood of two hundred seventy four million people – perhaps the number of people to be slaughtered from God’s judgements (as well as from the battle of Armageddon?)
This description, of course, implies the terrific nature of the punishment, probably nothing more. In the same way the distance mentioned is no doubt intended to denote the extensive nature of the punishment. (End Commentary Break).
Next, in chapter 15, the scene is set for the pouring out of The final Seven Bowl judgements. Seven angels who have seven plagues, will be the last of the judgements, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
Dear friends and loved ones, please, let’s think and meditate on these things, and pray that God gives us His Wisdom and the courage to stand ready at all times, staying ready to make a defense to everyone who asks, and to give an account for the Hope which is Christ Jesus, Who is in you.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 13 – The Beast from the Sea, The Beast from the Earth
Episode 15
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
If, as I have said previously, that the Book of The Revelation chapter twelve was difficult, with passages of strange imagery, symbolism, metaphors and similes, then let’s prepare ourselves for chapter thirteen. Chapter 13 is one of the most difficult passages of eschatological scripture to interpret and to understand..
I have previously stated that I would try to avoid lengthy explanations of symbolisms, the historicity or cultural, political, social, economic backgrounds or traditions. Therefore, I am supplying Text Links to serve those purposes. They are important, and I strongly encourage you to use them.
My goal is for us to gain a simple working knowledge, a basic understanding and gain wisdom that comes from God, and from our study of this Book. This is so we can prepare ourselves to be a witness to what we have learned. That said, please watch for and use links to external commentaries. Now to Chapter thirteen.
Then I saw a [vicious] beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten royal [footnote ‘b’] crowns (diadems), and on his heads were blasphemous names. Verse 2. And the beast that I saw resembled a [footnote ‘c’] leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like that of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. Verse 3. Isaw one of his heads which seemed to have a fatal wound, but his fatal wound was healed; and the entire earth followed after the beast in amazement. Verse 4. They fell down and worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like (as great as) the beast, and who is able to wage war against him?” Verse 5. And the beast was given a mouth (the power of speech), uttering great things and arrogant and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom and authority to act and to do as he pleased for [footnote ‘d’] forty-two months (which is equivalent to three and a half years). Verse 6. And he opened his mouth to speak blasphemies (abusive speech, slander) against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those who live in heaven.
(Commentary Break: Please refer to this EXTERNAL LINK: Benson Commentary, Biblehub.com, for the preceding verses.) (End Commentary Break).
Verse 7. He, (the Beast), was also [footnote ‘e’] permitted to wage war against the saints (God’s people) and to overcome them, and authority and power over every tribe and people and language and nation. Verse 8. All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain [as a willing sacrifice]. Verse 9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Verse 10. If anyone is destined for captivity, he will go into captivity; if anyone kills with a sword, he must be killed with a sword. Here is [the call for] the patient endurance and the faithfulness of the saints [which is seen in the response of God’s people to difficult times].
The Beast from the Earth
Verse 11. Then I saw [footnote ‘f’] another beast rising up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke like a dragon. Verse 12. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence [when the two are together]. And he makes the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Verse 13. He performs great signs (awe-inspiring acts), even making fire fall from the sky to the earth, right before peoples’ eyes. Verse 14. And he deceives those [unconverted ones] who inhabit the earth [into believing him] because of the signs which he is given [by Satan] to perform in the presence of the [first] beast, telling those who inhabit the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded [fatally] by the sword and has come back to life. Verse 15. And he is given power to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast will even [appear to] speak, and cause those who do not bow down and worship the image of the beast to be put to death.
THE MARK OF THE BEAST
Verse 16. Also he, (the second Beast), compels all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead [signifying allegiance to the beast], verse 17, and that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Verse 18. Here is wisdom. Let the person who has enough insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the [imperfect] number of a man; [footnote ‘g’] and his number is [footnote ‘h’] six hundred and sixty-six.
(Commentary Break: It is important to place the timing of this event, the giving of the Mark of the Beast.
WHEN WILL THIS BEAST GIVE HIS MARK?
This is frequently speculated and often hotly debated subject. Specualtions can run a wild gamut from spiritualized metaphors to philosophies and imaginary ideologies to literal markings, tattoos, icons to implanted computer chips or other fantastic technological devices. Regardless of the actual method or identity of this Mark, the popular idea in many church denominations is that the Antichrist will give his “Mark of the Beast” before The Tribulation period but that,he will not be revealed until after the rapture of the Church.
Our text from Revelation 13 verse 16 and 17 says, he will“cause all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and 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.”
HOWEVER, the Bible clearly tells us that *The Antichrist will be revealed BEFORE the rapture of the church and
*He will give his Mark of the Beast AFTER the rapture of the Church.
The Anti-Christ is to be revealed before the rapture
The Apostle Paul informs us, in 2 Thessalonians1:4 that, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
The beginning of the great apostasy and an escalation of the persecution of the saints occurs sometime during the 5th Tribulation Seal, or just at the beginning of the 6th Tribulation Seal. (Compare Matthew 24 verses 9 and 10 with Revelation 6 verses 9 through12, and you will see the the great persecution of Believers and accompanied by the Great Apostasy)
We are seeing the 5th Tribulation Seal being opened in our lifetime, the great apostasy or falling away from the faith, false messiahs, great deceptions, a.k.a. the ‘deluding influence’ and alienation from one another, and it is become more pronounced as time passes.
First, in Verse 2. “you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Secondly, in Verse 3. “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and,
Finally, The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, Verse 4. who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
The Mark of the Beast comes AFTER the Rapture
And according to the Bible, the Antichrist gives his ‘Mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just afterthe 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment and at the advent of 7th Trumpet Judgment,which is the Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, which is after three and one half years of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period.
Revelation 13:16-17 tells us when the Antichrist “causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, Verse 17. and 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.”
The placement of Mark of the Beast, as mentioned in the scriptures, also tells us it is immediately following the 6th Judgment Trumpet:
Seven trumpets are sounded (Seen in Revelation Chapters 8, 9, and 12):
(1). First Trumpet: Hail and fire, mingled with blood, are thrown to the earth burning up a third of the trees and green grass. (Revelation 8:6–7)
(2). Second Trumpet: Something that resembles a great mountain, burning with fire, falls from the sky and lands in the ocean. It kills a third of the sea creatures and destroys a third of the ships at sea. (Revelation 8:8–9)
(3). Third Trumpet: A great star, named Wormwood, falls from heaven and poisons a third of the rivers and springs of water. (Revelation 8:10–11)
(4). Fourth Trumpet: A third of the sun, the moon, and the stars are darkened creating complete darkness for a third of the day and the night. (8:12–13)
(5). Fifth Trumpet: The First Woe, (Revelation 9:1–12)
(a). A “star” falls from the sky, (Revelation 9:1).
(b). This “star” is given “the key to the bottomless pit”, (Revelation 9:1).
(c). The “star” then opens the bottomless pit. When this happens, “smoke [rises] from [the Abyss] like smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky [are] darkened by the smoke from the Abyss” (Revelation 9:2).
(d). From out of the smoke, locusts who are “given power like that of scorpions of the earth” (9:3), who are commanded not to harm anyone or anything except for people who were not given the “seal of God” on their foreheads, (from chapter Revelation chapter,7,and Revelation 9:4).
(e). The “locusts” are described as having a human appearance (faces and hair) but with lion’s teeth, and wearing “breastplates of iron”; the sound of their wings resembles “the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle”, (found in Revelation 9:7–9).
(6). Sixth Trumpet: The Second Woe, (found in Revelation 9:13–21)
(a). The four angels bound to the great river Euphrates are released to prepare two hundred million horsemen.
(b). These armies kill a third of mankind by plagues of fire, smoke, and brimstone.
(7). Interlude: The little scroll. (found in Revelation 10:1–11)
(a). An angel appears, with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, having an opened little book in his hand.
(b). Upon the cry of the angel, seven thunders utter mysteries and secrets that are not to be written down by John.
(c). John is instructed to eat the little scroll that happens to be sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach, and to prophesy.
(d). John is given a measuring rod to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
(e). Outside the temple, at the court of the holy city, it is trod by the nations for forty-two months (which is 3 and 1⁄2 years).
(f). Two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:1–14)
(9). This is the point at which the Beast gives his ‘MARK’. so that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the ‘Mark of the Beast’.
(10). The temple of God opens in heaven, where the ark of His covenant can be seen. There are lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail. (End Commentary Break).
What Does This Mean to You?
What this means to you and to me is that people have been suffering and many people are now suffering the effects of the “Birth Pains Period” of the tribulation, which covers the time period from the Birth of Jesus until this day. These are the stresses and trials of the tribulation Seals 1 through 5. (see Matthew 24 verses 5 through 8).
However, let’s be perfectly clear: No Christian will suffer the Wrath of God, following the rapture of the elect at the 6th Tribulation Seal, which is the beginning of the beginning of and the final 7 years the Great Tribulation Period, also known as Daniel’s 70th Week, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, and The Wrath of the Lamb. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1st Thessalonians 5 verse 9.)
Next, in Chapter 14, we will be brought back into a more chronological view of future events as we move ever closer to the End of This Age.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 12 – The Woman Israel, The Dragon, The Male Child, The Angel Michael
Episode 14
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “AND, WHAT? DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)
We will now get a deeper spiritual perspective of the unfolding events of the Last Days. Chapter 12 gives us a review and an overview from above, of what was, what is and what is to come.
Please remember and try to understand that “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” This is the perspective of this Chapter twelve.
(And, because of the extensive use of symbolism, metaphors and similes, I will comment more than usual, hopefully to give useful insights.)
The Woman, Israel
Revelation 12:1 And a great sign [warning of an ominous and frightening future event] appeared in heaven: a[footnote ‘a’]woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Verse 2. She was with child (the Messiah) and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
(Commentary Break: It can be quite obvious that the woman clothed with the sun is Israel. The sun refers to Jacob, (who was also called Israel), and the moon is open to many interpretations, but one is that it possibly refers to Rachel, who is the younger daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who become two of the twelve tribes of Israel. The crown of 12 stars upon the woman’s head refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, originating with the sons of Jacob and Rachel.
Verse 2 is, of course, referring to the birth of Jesus, which is very descriptive as “she, the woman Israel, cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth”. This is but another important time marker of the beginning to the Tribulation Period, known as the BIRTH PAINS, as spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, verse 8.
I am providing a reprint of Matthew 24 verses 3 through 14, below here, to give the full context of (#1), Jesus’ remarks on this matter, and (#2), to show the specific time of the beginning of the BIRTH PAINS segment of The Tribulation, which include the first 5 tribulations, broken at the time of the birth of Christ Jesus! The 6th Tribulation Seal is not mentioned here, as it is the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week, also known as The Great Tribulation and the beginning of the FINAL SEVEN YEARS of the Tribulation!
Matthew 24:3, And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars, (Tribulation Seals 1 through 2 as described by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapter 6). See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,(Tribulation Seals and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.
“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name (Third and fourth Tribulation Seals). And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. (The Fifth Tribulation Seal). But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
To repeat: this is to give the full context of (#1), Jesus’ remarks on this matter, and (#2), to show the specific time of the beginning of the BIRTH PAINS segment of The Tribulation, which include the first 5 tribulations, broken at the time of the birth of Christ Jesus! The 6th Tribulation Seal is not mentioned here, as it is the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week, also known as The Great Tribulation and the beginning of the FINAL SEVEN YEARS of the Tribulation! (End Commentary Break).
The Red Dragon, Satan
Verse 3. Then another sign [of warning] was seen in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon (Satan) with [footnote ‘b’] seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven royal crowns (diadems). Verse 4. And his tail swept [across the sky] and dragged away a third of the stars of heaven and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
(Commentary Break: Theseven heads and ten hornscorrespond to the heads and horns of the beast in Revelation chapter 17, verse 3 through verse 17, and to those of the beast in Daniel chapter 7, verse 7 through verse 8 and following verses as well. Daniel’s description reveals that the ten horns are ten kings who temporarily reign with the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. These ten kings, or nations, as found in Ezekiel 38, in Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon are from the nations of:
Gog, also known as Rosh, (Russia) and,
Rosh, (Russia),
Magog, also known as (Russia),
Gomer, also known as (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
Put, also known as (Libya),
Cush, also known as (Ethiopia),
Persia, also known as (Iran),
Meshech, also known as (Modern Day Turkey),
Tubal, also known as (an area in central Turkey),
Beth-Togarmah, also known as(Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia).
Next, John sees a sign in heaven: “An enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” John then relates that the dragon was hurled down to the earth and positively identifies it as “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12 verse 9). The dragon is not thrown to earth alone, however: “His angels were cast out with him” (verse 9). The angels that are ejected from heaven with Satan we associate with the “third of the stars” that the dragon’s tail swept from heaven to earth in verse 4. If the “stars” of Revelation 12 verse 4 are indeed a symbolic reference to Satan’s “angels” from verse 9, then what we have is a reference to the fall of a portion of the angels, (the heavenly hosts), who followed Satan in his rebellion. Two thirds of the angels remained loyal to God and are called the “holy angels” in Scripture (for example, Mark 8 verse 38); one third of the original angels joined Satan and are called “unclean spirits” or “demons” today (for example, Mark 9:25).
Verse 5. And she gave birth to a Son, a male Child, who is destined to rule (shepherd) all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was[footnote ‘c’]caught up to God and to His throne. Verse 6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that she would be nourished there for a thousand two hundred and sixty days (forty-two months; which is three and one-half years).
(Commentary Break: Jesus is born and “was caught up to God and to His throne” is telling us ofthe ascension of Christ to heaven following His death and resurrection.
Verse 6 continues by telling us that the woman, (which is Israel), flees to the wilderness where she had a place to nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is 42 months or 3 and one half years. This is a difficult passage, but the woman’s flight into the wilderness for one thousand two hundred and sixty days most likely refers to the future time called the Great Tribulation. Twelve hundred, sixty days is 42 months (of 30 days each), which is the same as 3 and one half years. Halfway through the Tribulation period, the Beast (the Antichrist) will set an image of himself up in the temple that will be built in Jerusalem. This is the abomination that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 verse 15 and Mark 13 verse 14. When the Beast does this, he breaks the peace pact he had made with Israel, and the nation has to flee for safety, possibly to Petra (also see Matthew 24 and Daniel 9 verse 27). This escape of the Jews is pictured as the woman fleeing into the wilderness.
More likely however, rather than a literal place, this is ‘a time of relative peace’ for Israel during the first half of the seven year Great Tribulation period, which begins at the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and will last until the Sounding of the 6th Tribulation Trumpet.. This is the time that they make the peace treaty as referred to in Daniel 9 verse 27. (End Commentary Break).
The Angel, Michael
Verse 7. And war broke out in heaven, Michael [the archangel] and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought, verse 8, but they were not strong enough and did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. Verse 9. And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the[footnote ‘d’]devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Verse 10. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the[footnote ‘e’]accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. Verse 11. And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Verse 12. Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them [in the presence of God]. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time [remaining]!”
Verse 13. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male Child. Verse 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 (three and one-half years), away from the presence of the serpent (Satan). Verse 15. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. Verse 16. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. Verse 17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went off to wage war on the rest of her children (seed), those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him].
(Commentary Break: Although knowing these things, changes nothing in your life nor in your existence if you have already been Raptured from earth. Nor is there any way you can respond, or need to. But if you have not been saved by faith in Christ Jesus, and do not bear the protective Seal of the Lord, perhaps this is useful. Either way, for your information, Michael the Archangel is described in the Bible, in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, as a warrior angel who engages in spiritual combat. The word archangel means “angel of the highest rank.” Most angels in the Bible are portrayed as messengers, but Michael is described in all three books as contending, fighting, or standing against evil spirits and principalities (Daniel 10 verses 13 and 21; Jude 1 verses 9; and Revelation 12 verse 7). We do not have a full picture of any angel, and only two are named in the Bible. (Gabriel is the other). Scripture only gives us hints of their movements during human events, but it is safe to say that Michael the archangel is a powerful being (see Got Questions.Org).
We see here that the Dragon and his angels are thrown down but they continue to deceive the whole world for a time. Knowing his time is short he persecutes Israel and the Christ with increasing ferocity, but is overcome and defeated by Christ Jesus and His armies, “by the Blood of the Lamb and because of the Word of their testimony”, and by the fact that they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. This is our example and our response in the days leading up to these events.
Once again we read that the woman (Israel) goes to the wilderness for safety, this time flown away on the two wings of an eagle, These two wings of an eagle are symbolic and used a metaphor of God’s strength and provision to a way of escape. We can see an example of this, which is found in Psalms 34. The Psalmist says, “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are toward their cry for help. The face of the LORD is against evildoers to eliminate the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the LORD rescues him from them all.”
It is also interesting to see that ”the Serpent spews or hurls out water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood”. Three significant floods are mentioned in the Bible.
The first instance of a flood is found in Genesis 6, verse 17, “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish”, in Noah’s day.
The second instance is found in Daniel 9 verse 26, “Verse 26. “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing(see this article on “The Flood in Daniel 9” for details of the 62 weeks), and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood (this flood is a flood of people, of armies); even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
The third instance is found in Matthew 24 verses 38 and 39, “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Each instance refers to a catastrophic judgement instituted by God to bring an end to wickedness and to bring His Chosen Elect to Himself, making and forging us, more into the image of Christ, through tribulation. This changes everything for the earth and the people upon the earth. Take heed. Be prepared.
This section ends with the serpent becoming enraged with the woman, who is Israel, and goes on to make war with her children, (her seed), which are those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him. This is saying not only the Jew, but now includes those who have been grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel – all Christians who carry the Name of Christ. (End Commentary Break).
There we have it. Chapter 12. An abbreviated but a complete overview of God’s Plan for His creation, from beginning to end, run in a ‘fast forward speed’ so to speak.
God placed this in His Word, not just for your reading entertainment nor just for information, but it is important for our preparation for what is coming and for our understanding as ministers and witnesses of His Plan to this lost world.
Next, in Revelation chapter 13, we learn about the Beast from the Sea and the Beast from the Earth.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 11 – The Two Witnesses –
Episode 13
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “SO WHAT?”)
We are between the SIXTH Trumpet Judgement and the coming SEVENTH Trumpet Judgement of God. This is the point where no one will any longer repent of their murders nor of their sorceries, drugs, intoxications, nor of their sexual immorality nor of their thefts. It is now that God’s mercy to salvation is withdrawn, and He orders the release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates which is a great army of two hundred million soldiers who will now kill a third of mankind. We are entering the final three and one half years of the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord and The final judgments, The Wrath of The Lamb are now at hand.
The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:1, Then there was given to me a[footnote ‘a’]measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “[footnote ‘b’]Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar [of incense], and [count] those who worship in it. Verse 2. But leave out the court [of the Gentiles] which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles (the nations); and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months (which is three and one-half years). Verse 3. And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, (which is forty-two months, or, three and one-half years), dressed in [footnote ‘c’]sackcloth.”
(Commentary Break: We are now at the mid-point of the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. There are three and one half years of God’s Judgements, remaining, The Wrath of The Lamb.
John is given a measuring rod like a staff, an implement used to make measurements. In this case, to measure (number 1), the temple of God and (number 2), the altar, and (number 3), to count those who worship in it’. This will inventory, confirm, validate and verify that which has been established by God. The Hebrew language here, tells us that John is, in essence, to lay the facts of this matter to rest; i.e., to bring this message to closure, and to move to a conclusion. A more colloquial way of saying it would be, “we are taking inventory and closing up shop and moving on to bigger and better things”. The end has come and this is the first of the final acts.
The conclusion of ‘these things’ first of all, is that all of the saints of all the ages have now been Raptured, are standing before His Throne, and are eternally with God. (See Revelation chapter 7, Verses 9 and 10,“After these things I looked, and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, [gathered] from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages [of the earth], standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white robes, with, palm branches in their hands; and in a loud voice they cried out, saying, “Salvation [belongs] to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [our salvation is the Trinity’s to give, and to God the Trinity we owe our deliverance].” – These are the Raptured Elect of God.)
Secondly, and conversely, John is told NOT to measure the outer court of the Gentiles because they are the ones bearing The Mark of The Beast and will join the Beast ‘to trample the holy city for forty-two months’, which is the remaining three and one half years of the Great Tribulation. All those who now remain on the earth are doomed to suffer the 7th Trumpet Judgement and the 7 Bowl Judgements of Tribulation, the Wrath of the Lamb and will be sentenced to the eternal lake of fire.
Additionally, God has given authority to His two witnesses to prophesy for three and one-half years. They are dressed in sackcloth which symbolizes a time of mourning. (End Commentary break).
Verse 4. These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth. Verse 5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. Verse 6. These [two witnesses] have the power [from God] to shut up the sky, so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophesying [regarding judgment and salvation]; and they have power over the waters (seas, rivers) to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every [kind of] plague, as often as they wish.
Verse 7. When they have finished their testimony and given their evidence, the beast that comes up out of the abyss, (the bottomless pit), will wage war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
Verse 8. And their dead bodies will lie exposed in the open street of the great city (Jerusalem), which in a spiritual sense is called [by the symbolic and allegorical names of] Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
Verse 9. Those from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations[footnote ‘d’] look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. Verse 10. And those who live on the earth will gloat over them and rejoice; and they will send gifts [in celebration] to one another, because these two prophets tormented and troubled those who live on the earth.
(Commentary Break: Verses four through nine are pretty much self-evident, with the exception of the metaphors of the two olive trees and the two lampstands to describe the two Witnesses. The olive tree as used here, represents the people of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit; The two lampstands represent the eminent prophets who will precede Christ’s appearing with His armies in heaven. His robe has been dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. His armies, which are also in heaven, are clothed in fine linen, following Him on white horses (see Revelation 19, verses 13 through 16).
Please Note: Many theologians and bible teachers say that this appearing of Jesus on a white horse, is His 2nd advent, whereupon He comes to the earth to wage this battle. THIS IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN SCRIPTURES. (Only an Angel descends to the earth.)
It important to note thatthere is a 10 Nation Confederation identified in Ezekiel 38, also in Daniel chapters 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon are from the nations of:
Gog, also known as Rosh, (which is Russia), and Rosh, (also known as Russia),Magog, also known as a region in Russia, Gomer, identified as an Eastern European and Southern area of Russia, Put, now named Libya, Cush, also known as Ethiopia, Persia, also known as Iran, Meshech, also known as Modern Day Turkey, and Tubal, also known as an area in central Turkey.
It is clearly stated in Revelation 19, verses 13 through 21, and Revelation 20 verses 1 through 3, that Jesus and His armies appear in the heavens. He does not come to earth and engage in a physical battle. Jesus supernaturally defeats the forces of the antichrist and of the Beast, then an angel is sent to the earth to complete the work of binding Satan. There are some theologians and bible teachers who suggest the angel may have been Jesus, but if the Bible is nothing else, IT IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE IN ITS WORDING. It was an angel doing the bidding of The Lord.
Next, there is mention of Sodom and Egypt as a symbolism or an allegory for Jerusalem. See this link for a probable explanation.
Finally, the stage is set to lead the people on earth, who bear the Mark of the Beast, to believe they have been triumphant in the defeat of the two Witnesses. But this is merely a method to amplify their dismay, surprise and terror as the Witnesses to come back to life. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 11. But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear and panic fell on those who were watching them. Verse 12. And the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they ascended into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. Verse 13. And in that [very] hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell and was destroyed; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest [who survived] were overcome with terror, and they glorified the God of heaven [as they recognized His awesome power].
Verse 14. The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
The Seventh Trumpet – Christ’s Reign Foreseen
Verse 15. Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Verse 16. And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell face downward and worshiped God, verse 17, saying, “To You we give thanks, O Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Who are and Who were, because You have taken Your great power and the sovereignty [which is rightly Yours] and have [now] begun to reign. Verse 18. And the nations (Gentiles) became enraged, and Your wrath and indignation came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and [the time came] to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints (God’s people) and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and [the time came] to destroy the destroyers of the earth.”
Verse 19. And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (End of chapter 11).
One might wonder, since the elect of God have been removed from earth, and these events will not affect them, why God is revealing these judgements and those yet to come. Perhaps this can be a deterrent for those who read these words and heed them, before this days comes.
Next, we will read in Revelation chapters 12 through 14 a recapitulation of events past and events yet to come, but this is more akin to a ‘backstory’ of sorts, given with great detail and symbolisms explained.
At any rate, those with wisdom and insight should prepare while there is time.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 10 – The Angel & The Little Scroll
Episode 12.
(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “SO WHAT?”)
I said from the outset of this series of episodes on The Book of The Revelation that it is not my intention to go into any great detail of the symbolisms, the historicity or cultural, political, social, economic backgrounds or traditions. There are ample commentaries for such things, and I am providing links to many of those matters.
Chapter ten speaks to the mystery of God and my intention is to address this mystery and to make this Book of The Revelation, understandable; to point out and to lay out God’s full Plan, from Genesis to The Revelation, with an explanation of His purpose and His methods.
The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan, His Mystery, is “Perfection”. He is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.
And, “Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14
Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.
Secondly, as God’s Plan and Purpose unfold over the millennia we can see the purpose of the coming Day of The Lord and the End of the Age as found in Daniel 9 verse 24 through 27. Here, The scriptures give an overview or a panorama of the timing of the events leading to the Last Days.
With this in mind, let’s continue to the text of The Book of The Revelation, chapter 10:
The Angel and the Little Book
Revelation 10:1,Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; and his face was like the sun, and his feet (and legs) were like columns of fire; verse 2, and he had a little book, (a scroll) open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land; verse 3, and he shouted with a loud voice, like the roaring of a lion [compelling attention and inspiring awe]; and when he had shouted out, the seven peals of thunder spoke with their own voices [uttering their message in distinct words]. Verse 4. And when the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them down.”Verse 5. Then the angel whom I had seen standing on the sea and the land raised his right hand [to swear an oath] to heaven, verse 6, and swore [an oath] by [the name of] Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer, verse 7, but when it is time for the trumpet-call of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God [that is, His hidden purpose and plan] is finished, as He announced the gospel to His servants the prophets.
(Commentary Break: The preceding verses are discussed and debated as to their meaning of their imagery in scores of commentaries. I will leave that to you. (See this link to the Bible Hub commentary, as one source).
I do, however, want to draw our attention to, and emphasize, the last few words in verse six and all of verse seven: “there will be delay no longer; but when it is time for the trumpet-call of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished”.
Let me repeat that: then the mystery of God is finished, [that is, His hidden purpose and plan], as He announced the gospel to His servants the prophets. Do you hear that? “As He announced the gospel to His servants, the prophets.”
First, He is saying “the end has come”. God had forbidden the plagues from killing of people, in our previous chapter 9, only allowing them to torment and torture, thereby increasing the pressure on the wicked to repent. Then, in verse 20, God announces that the end has come. It is at this point, Revelation 9 verses 14 and 15, He said to “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates (which is a great army of two hundred million soldiers). So the four angels, who had been prepared for the [appointed] hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind”. The end is now at hand. The final judgments are at hand. (End commentary break).
Verse 8. Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking to me, and saying, “Go, take the book, (the scroll), which is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” Verse 9. So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” Verse 10. So I took the little book from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey; but once I had swallowed it, my stomach was bitter. Verse 11. Then they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
This chapter ends with the command for John to ”prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” We will see and read this continuation of revelation of prophecy, as John, with his “stomach bitter,but (the words in his mouth) as sweet as honey”.
Please, let’s not get lost in the wonders and marvels of God’s Revealing. Let’s use these prophecies to get prepared and stay ready for the return of Jesus and the coming Day of the Lord. Let’s stay focused and be found doing what Jesus has commanded us: To go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Jesus, to believe in Him, and obey His words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that He has commanded.
THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST – 2025 edition
(Commentary Break: The harlot rides the same beast (seven heads and ten horns) that was previously seen in 
(Commentary Break VERSE 9. 
Finally, a view by 
The Red Dragon, Satan
The Angel, Michael
