THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
Revelations is the last book of the Holy Spirit and the most mysterious. The Apostle John wrote it on the island of Patmos between 90 to 96 AD, which was around the end of the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian who persecuted Christians. Revelation is basically apocalyptic literature. The Greek word apocalypse means uncovering, unveiling or revelation. This book uses much of figurative language and symbolism to show that evil will be replaced by the goodness and peace of God's kingdom.
This article will seek to be an exposition to the book of Revelation and will seek to mostly be biblically based. This article will also put the entire book in perspective and in an easy and concise format so that the reader can understand. There will be no wild nor strange interpretations nor any doctrinal twists in this article. However, some contents in the book of Revelation have more than one interpretation so if mine is different, don't despair. Despite any differences, we all agree that the book of Revelation is about the Second coming of Christ and that Satan will be ultimately defeated.
The two angels said to the disciples, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) Jesus is coming again and this time he is going to come for his bride - the Church.
Paul said, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thes 4:16,17) This event is called the RAPTURE or the BLESSED HOPE. Evidence of this HOPE comes in the next verse. "Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thes 4:18) Christians, through times of persecution and peace, have been waiting for this event to happen and it WILL happen.
WARNING: Before you read further, remember this. If you are a Christian, it is useless to spend your life speculating on end-times prophecy while neglecting the state of your heart. You can't keep speculating on what's going to happen while at the same time you are losing the daily battle with sin. Many like myself are deeply interested in the subject but don't let that get in the way of your walk with God. In conclusion, many people wonder what's the end of the world going to be like instead of focusing on getting our hearts right with God and looking for the Lord's coming - the Rapture. If you are a Christian and you know you'll be raptured then you don't need to worry about what comes after because you'll be with the Lord and nothing else will matter.
Revelation 1:1-20
The first part of Revelations is the PAST or THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN. Here we see that John has seen a vision of the Son of Man, which is Jesus Christ. A voice commanded him to "write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches." (v. 10,11) The Jesus Christ who appeared to John was different from the one he saw during when he was a disciple. Both of them are the same but with different appearances. He first appearance, he was lowly with humility riding on the colt of a donkey. But this time, he is with power and sitting on the right hand of the Father. He is the "glorified" Son of Man. He is dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet with a golden sash around his chest (v. 13); his head and hair as white as wool and snow and his eyes as blazing fire (v. 14); his feet as bronze burning in a furnace and his voice as the sound of rushing waters (v. 15); his right hand holding seven stars and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword and his face was like the sun (v. 16). Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega." (v. 8) Here we see that Jesus is Lord over everything from beginning to end and that he is indeed God Almighty. He wants John to write seven letters to the seven churches of Asia.
Revelation 2:1 - 3:21
The seven churches of Asia are: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. There have been many interpretations of the meaning of the seven churches. I think there are four views that suffice. The seven churches were actual churches in the time of John who were either good or backslidden (turned away from God). Another interpretation is that these seven churches symbolize seven periods of the church in it's history. The final interpretation is that these seven churches symbolize the condition of churches today meaning that there are seven kinds of churches. Finally, the seven churches can represent seven different kinds of churches throughout the church age. Here is a chart of the seven churches:
Church | Commendation | Criticism | Instruction | Promise |
Ephesus | Rejects evil, perseveres, has patience | Love for Christ no longer fervent | Do the works you did at first | The tree of life |
Smyrna | Gracefully bears suffering | None | Be faithful until death | The crown of life |
Pergamum | Keeps the faith of Christ | Tolerates immorality, idolatry, and heresies | Repent | Hidden manna and a white stone with a new name |
Thyatira | Love, service, faith, patience is greater than at first | Tolerates cult of idolatry and immorality | Judgment coming; keep the faith | Rule over nations and receive morning star |
Sardis | Some have kept the faith | A dead church | Repent; strengthen what remains | Faithful honored and clothed in white |
Philadelphia | Perseveres in the faith | None | Keep the faith | A place in God's presence, a new name, and the New Jerusalem |
Laodicea | None | Indifferent and lukewarm | Be zealous and repent | Share Christ's throne |
Here is a another chart of the seven churches compared with church history:
Church | Characteristic | Time Period (AD) |
Ephesus | The Backslidden Church | 70 - 170 |
Smyrna | The Persecuted Church | 170 - 312 |
Pergamum | The Compromising Church | 312 - 606 |
Thyatira | The Corrupt Church | 606-1520 |
Sardis | The Dead Church | 1520 -1750 |
Philadelphia | The Faithful Church | 1750 - 1900 |
Laodicea | The Lukewarm Church | 1900 - ? |
A more comprehensive study of the seven churches compared to the church age will be provided later as this page is updated in the future (not soon however). However, personal study of the subject in your spare time is more than welcome and if you find information then e-mail me at STAT23MJ@aol.com and I'll welcome your interpretations and findings so that it will benefit the page.
Revelation 4:1 - 5:14
Human language cannot describe the splendor of God so the Bible uses a variety of words to describe him. God is to glorious to be seen directly so here he is described as light shining indirectly through precious jewels. These jewels are jasper, carnelian, and emerald (v. 3). These jewels are used as word pictures to hint at God's brilliant beauty. The rainbow in verse 3 may hint at God's covenant with Noah symbolizing God's grace and mercy which is unsurpassed and is evident by Christ's death for us. Since there is no one like God it is fitting for his creation to worship him saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." (v. 8) These are the exact words that the four living creatures . They kind of initiate worship because after they say those words, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship God saying, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (v. 11) In chapter 5, God has a scroll with writing on both sides and has seven seals. No one in Heaven was worthy enough to open the scroll except for the lamb of God, Jesus Christ who triumphed on the cross. The four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, all of creation, and all the angels join and sing in harmony and they worship the lamb. This is further proof that Jesus is worthy of worship and praise.
Revelation 6:1 - 7:17
The SEVEN SEALS is the first of three judgments to befall those who are LEFT BEHIND. The three judgments are:
THE SEVEN SEALS
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
THE SEVEN BOWLS
Lets have a summary. First the church which is the Bride is raptured in the "twinkling of an eye." Then the earth goes into chaos until a world leader comes and supposedly calms everything down. These three judgments comprise the SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION. In Daniel 9:27 it says that the SEVENTIETH WEEK (1 week = 7 years) will start when Israel enters in a covenant with the world leader. The SEVENTIETH WEEK is the SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION period. So as soon as he signs the document, God will start unleashing his first in a series of 21 judgments in 3 categories which are mentioned as THE THREE JUDGMENTS.
The first seal or judgment is a rider on a white horse. This is the Antichrist. The Antichrist will be peaceful and subtle but will the most evil man ever. He will be charming, diplomatic, and a great orator. Daniel 9:26 identifies the Antichrist as being Roman descent (I'm not being prejudiced toward Italians or another "Roman" ethnic group). It says, "And the people of the PRINCE who is to COME shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The people who will destroy the city and the temple after the Messiah (Jesus Christ) is cut off are the Romans. Jesus died in AD 33 and the Romans destroyed the temple and the city in AD 70 under Titus. The PRINCE is still to COME meaning it's in the future. He will probably be the ruler of a small country and rise to power at a rapid rate. He will obtain his position peacefully and by flatteries. He will probably be affiliated with the United Nations and will try to unite the world into a "utopian age." He will probably succeed in uniting the currency and the nations of Europe forming a ten nation alliance with the Antichrist at the top.
The second seal is a rider on a red horse. This rider symbolizes WAR. God's second judgment is war and there will be a lot of wars in this chaotic period. The supposedly "peaceful" Antichrist will not have everything entirely his way and will lead to insubordination and civil war. Jesus himself said that we will hear war and rumors of war and that nation will rise against nation (Matt 24:6,7).
The third seal is a rider on a black horse. This rider represents FAMINE. The consequences of war are famine so the wars that take place will eventually lead to famine. The demand for food will rise and many will suffer and even die because of lack of food and water.
The fourth seal is a rider on a pale horse and his name is DEATH and HADES was following him. With the opening of the fourth seal, one-fourth of the world's population will die because of war, famine, pestilence, and the wild beasts of the earth. Today the world's population is a little over 6 billion. So 25% of 6 billion is 1.5 billion people. But you have to factor in the raptured church and the number drops to 1 billion people but the devastation would be equally as great. Note: This is to give you an idea because we don't know when Jesus is coming back and what would be the population when he does come for his Bride. But I should imagine that the casualties would be in the billions, which would be ASTRONOMICAL by today's standards.
The fifth seal are the martyred souls of the persecuted saints under the alter. These saints are believers in Christ during the TRIBULATION. These are those who put their faith in Christ after the Rapture. These people are called "tribulation saints." They will be killed and persecuted probably as scapegoats for the judgments that God inflicted on the world. They will probably also be persecuted for their belief in the Rapture of the saints and not the common theory conjured up by unbelievers to calm the masses (probably aliens or that those who disappeared weren't good enough for the utopian age). Note: Christians who are still alive during the TRIBULATION are also called "tribulation saints."
The sixth seal describes catastrophic changes that will happen on the earth. There will be a great earthquake, the sun will turn black, the moon will turn red, and the stars will fall to the earth (probably big shooting stars or meteors). The sky will recede like a scroll and every mountain and island will be removed from it's place. During this frightening period, the every person, great and small, rich and poor will cry to the mountains to fall on them so that they can hide from God and from his wrath. This is probably referring to the unbelievers because why would believer do that when all they got to do is trust in God.
There is an "intermission" between the sixth and seventh seal judgments. During this time the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel are sealed. These people are most likely Jewish converts from they are going to be used by God to witness and share the gospel ("GOOD NEWS") of Jesus Christ to their fellow Jews as well as others. These people are special for they will be sealed by God and protected from harm.
Another scene is in heaven where a innumerable multitude of every nation, tribe, people and language are together and UNITED with a common theme of worshipping God and singing "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." These people are the ones who gave their life to Christ and died and suffered during the tribulation. They aren't the elders nor the angels because they say the word SALVATION because they don't know what it means. They haven't experienced it. Only humans have a free will and thus sin but because of Christ's death on the cross, we have an opportunity for SALVATION. They will never hunger, nor thirst, nor sweat, or cry for God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Revelation 8:1 - 11:19
The seventh seal was opened and there was silence in heaven for about thirty minutes. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of all the saints go up to God. The prayers of the saints are probably linked to the martyred saints of the fifth seal who cried to God to avenge their blood. Or it could be the prayers of the tribulation saints who pray for deliverance from their enemies. The seventh seal includes all of the seven trumpets. The silence in heaven was preparatory to what awful events were going to take place in the form of the seven trumpets. The angel took the golden censor, filled it with fire from the alter, and hurled it to the earth. After there were voices, thunder, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
The seven trumpets are now beginning to be blown. After each trumpet call there will be a new and a worse judgment released from God upon those left behind.
The first trumpet is hail and fire mixed with blood being hurled down to the earth. One-third of the earth, trees, and all of the green grass was burned up. This trumpet judgment is similar to the seventh plague on the Egyptians in the book of Exodus. This is probably an electrical storm with lightning and thunder.
The second trumpet judgment is something like an fiery huge mountain being thrown into the sea. One-third of the sea turned to blood. One-third of all the sea creatures and ships were destroyed. It was something like a fiery mountain so this description could be a meteorite. This trumpet judgment was like the first plague on the Egyptians where the Nile was turned into blood.
The third trumpet judgment is the Star Wormwood (meaning bitterness) and a third of the waters (rivers) turned bitter and those who drank of the water died. The star called Wormwood is meteorite again. When the meteor is burning through the atmosphere, it will probably release gaseous vapors as it scatters and explodes. When it explodes, it's remains will descend and poison 33% of the rivers. People will be poisoned by its noxious gases and die. This time was prophesied in Jeremiah 9:13-15.
The fourth trumpet judgment is the one-third of the sun, moon, and stars are darkened. Whether it's caused by the impact of the two great meteorites or by God himself (nothing is impossible with God), this judgment is going to have catastrophic effects on the earth. A third of the day, we won't have the power of the sun and a third of the night, the moon will not shine her light. This can cause weather and tidal changes causing possible floods, high tides, and cold weather.
The next three trumpets sounded are the "three woes." The next three trumpets will be terrible.
The fifth trumpet judgment is the plague of locusts shaped like horses, wearing crowns of gold, human faces (man) with long hair (woman). They have the teeth of lions, breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings were like chariots with horses. Finally their tails were of scorpions. Their job were to torment those without the seal of God for five months. They will sting them like scorpions and will pain people so much that people will try to commit suicide but they will be unsuccessful. Maybe this suggests that even though they stab themselves with a knife, death will elude them but since they did that they will be in more pain. These locusts are obviously be demons being used by God to inflict judgment on those who do not have the mark of God on their foreheads. The star that fell out of heaven is an angel descending to the bottomless pit (the abyss). Some people think that this is Satan but I don't think God would entrust the keys to the Bottomless pit to Satan or to any fallen angel. The king of the Abyss is Abaddon (Hebrew) or Apollyon (Greek). Again Apollyon is not Satan for Satan is not referred anywhere in the scriptures by that name and Apollyon is confined to the Abyss (until he is released by the star angel) while Satan and his angels are roaming free in the heavenlies.
The sixth trumpet judgment or the second woe is the plague of the horsemen. The 200 million horsemen is a supernatural army composed of angels and they were released to kill a third of the population. They will kill for 391 days. A third of mankind is 2,000,000,000 people if that event happened today. If we took my earlier figure of 1 billion people then a third of that is 333,333,333 people killed which is still an astronomical number by today's standards. What did they look like? They had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur. Their tails were off snakes which had heads which inflict injury on people. The funny thing was that even though this horrible plague happened, the sinners without the mark of God who survived went on sinning. They didn't repent of their worshipping idols, murders, magic arts, sexual immorality or their thefts. Just like Pharaoh, they hardened their hearts. Suffering usually leads an evil and sinful person to increase their qualities. This is in contrast to believers who like Job and the early church as they suffered they persevered and made them more God-fearing and faithful.
There is an interval between the sixth and the seventh trumpet judgments. The mighty angel coming down from heaven is probably Jesus Christ. John describes him the same way he did in the first chapter. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke but a voice from heaven said to seal up what the voice of the seven thunders said and don't write them down. The mystery of God is probably God's plan for history. Why did God allow Satan to bring about the fall of man and bring forth pain and suffering? That is the mystery of God. The mystery of the church (the Rapture) was finished in chapter 4. The mystery of God will likewise be finished after the seventh trumpet. Finally the mystery of Iniquity (2 Thess 2:6-10) will be revealed when Satan indwells the Antichrist and the Antichrist will be Satan Incarnate. John also eats a little book which it's taste was sweet as honey but made his stomach sour.
The Two Witnesses are going to prophesy for 1,260 days or 3 and a half years. They will be clothed in sackcloth and ashes. They are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands. If anyone tries to harm them, fire will come from their mouth and devour their enemies. They have the power to shut up heaven so that it won't rain during the time they are prophesying. They have the power to turn the waters into blood and strike the earth with any plague as often as they want. They will be overcome by the Antichrist and will be slain. In three days, they will rise again and ascend to heaven much to the dismay of those who laughed and taunted them as they laid on the ground dead. The Two Witnesses will be Moses and Elijah (Look for an extensive article on the TWO WITNESSES) for Elijah has the power to shut up the sky and call fire to come down from heaven and Moses has the power to turn water into blood and inflict other plagues. They will start witnessing at the last half of the seven year tribulation.
The seventh trumpet judgment or the third woe covers the rest of the seven-year tribulation meaning that the seventh trumpet includes the seven vials or bowls of wrath. So to sum it up, the seventh seal includes the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet includes the seven vials or bowls of wrath. Again, as we saw before, there are voices, lightning, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail.
Revelation 12:1 - 15:8
A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven. There is a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet an there was a crown of 12 stars on her head. This woman is Israel. She was pregnant and she cried out in pain as she was about to give birth.
Another sign in heaven was an enormous red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on his head. There is no speculation to his identity for in verse 9 he is identified as the devil, ancient serpent, and Satan. The dragon's tail, which swept a third of the stars out of the sky is a reference to when Satan was an anointed cherub who had pride and wanted to be like God so he started rebellion in heaven and a third of the angels followed him as they were thrown out of heaven. The dragon standing in front of the woman about to devour her child as soon as it was born is a reference to Satan's attempt to destroy the kingly line of Judah in order to prevent the Messiah's birth (Jesus Christ). Here are some examples of Satan's attempts: Cain killing Abel, Sons of God (angels) having sex with beautiful woman and having giant offspring leading God to send a flood to destroy the world (but He saved Noah and his family), Tower of Babel, False Babylon Religion, Sarah being bare (without child), Abraham's attempted sacrifice of Isaac, Rebecca being bare, Esau seeking to kill Jacob, Pharaoh's decree to kill all firstborn males of Israel, King Jehoram killed all his brothers leaving only him, the Arabians killed all of Jehoram's children except Ahaziah (the youngest). Ahaziah had children but his mother Athaliah killed all his children but God hid Joash for six years until he became king as a child, and Haman tried to destroy the whole Hebrew nation but Esther was there to intervene with her husband, King Xerxes. Jesus was born so Satan tried to kill him through Herod the Great, tempting Jesus in the wilderness to throw himself down from the temple, stirring up the people in Nazareth to throw him off a cliff after his reading of Isaiah 61, the two Galilee storms which Jesus rebuked and made calm the storms, debates between Jesus and the Pharisees and the Priests, getting Judas to sell his Master for 30 pieces of silver, and finally guarding the tomb. ALL THIS FAILED BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS AND SHED HIS BLOOD FOR OUR SINS AND IN THREE DAYS HE ROSE AGAIN AND ASCENDED TO HEAVEN TO BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.
The woman (Israel) gave birth to the child (Jesus) who will rule all nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2). After Jesus finished his work, he ascended up to God and to his throne. Then the woman fled to the wilderness prepared by God where she will be taken care of for 1,260 days or 3 and 1/2 years. This wilderness is probably going to be Petra which is in Moab (Jordan) (Daniel 11:41) and the woman is fleeing for her own protection. God is going to prepare a place where Israel will be protected until their Messiah whom they pierced comes back. They will be fleeing from the Antichrist who will act as an avenger of blood. The Jewish race is guilty of manslaughter (Pharisees putting Jesus on the cross). According to Matthew 27:25, Jewish people were afraid of the crucifixion for they cried HIS BLOOD BE ON US AND OUR CHILDREN. Petra will be the city of refuge and they will stay there not until the death of the high priest BUT THE RETURN OF THE TRUE HIGH PRIEST, JESUS CHRIST. Glory to God in the Highest!
There would be war in heaven. It's going to be MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS VERSUS THE DRAGON AND HIS ANGELS. The dragon would not be strong enough and his place in heaven would be lost so he would be hurled down to the earth. Satan is going to be filled with fury for he knows his time is short (3½ years). When Satan is thrown down, he will resurrect the Antichrist and indwell in him. The Antichrist will be SATAN INCARNATE. Once again the Antichrist will go after the woman fleeing to the place God prepared for her and will not be successful. The Antichrist will divert his attention to the rest of her offspring which are Jews (Orthodox Jews and Jews who believe in Christ). The Antichrist will also go after non-Jewish Christians who will refuse his mark (666). Thousands will die a martyr's death.
The Beast coming out of the sea is the Antichrist. He will be indwelled by Satan. He will have ten horns (10 kings of 10 nations of the Revived Roman Empire), seven heads, and 10 crowns on his horns (the 10 kings received their dominion already but the Antichrist is the top guy, the boss). On each head is a blasphemous name. The beast resembled a leopard, feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion. Satan would give the Antichrist his power, throne, and his great authority. It is clear that the Antichrist in exchange worships Satan. Satan tried to give Jesus all these things if he only worshipped Satan but Jesus passed the test and refused. The Antichrist will be killed by an assassin (fatal head wound) but it will be healed and the world will be astonished and worship the Antichrist. The Antichrist will say proud words and utter blasphemes against God, heaven, and it's inhabitants. He will exercise his authority (his dark authority) for 42 months (3½ years). He will make war with the saints and conquer them. He will have dominion over the whole earth and everyone not in the Lamb's Book of Life will worship him.
There is another beast coming out of the earth. This is the False Prophet or Anti-Spirit. Just like the Antichrist will try to imitate Christ, the False Prophet will try to imitate the Holy Spirit even though he is against him. He is described as having two horns like a lamb but he spoke like a dragon. This can suggest the deceptive power of the False Prophet. He will exercise all authority of the Antichrist on his behalf. He will make the earth and its inhabitants worship the Antichrist after his fatal wound had been healed (Antichrist will be resurrected and indwelled by Satan). He will perform great and miraculous signs and can even call down fire from heaven. He will probably be a Fire-Test between the False Prophet and Elijah and the test of who is God will be repeated just like the one at Mount Carmel. By these signs and wonders, he will deceive many. He will command them to set up an image (idol, statue) of the Antichrist in honor of him because he was wounded but was healed. He was given power to give breath to the image of the Antichrist and as a result it would speak and cause (or demand) all who refused to worship the image will be killed. This will not be enough for the False Prophet for in addition to worshipping the idol, he will force everyone to receive the Mark of the Beast (Antichrist). There will be choices where to put the Mark of the Beast. People will choose to put it either on their forehead or on their right hand. The name of the beast or the number of his name which is 666. If you are Left Behind, DON'T TAKE THAT MARK. Yes, I know that you don't get then you can't buy or sell but ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IN HELL IS MUCH WORSE THAN GOING WITHOUT A LOT OF FOOD OR MAKING MONEY FOR A TIME. God will provide for those left behind who put their trust in him and not the Antichrist. It is better to die at the hands of the Antichrist than take the mark and suffer God's punishment which is ETERNAL DAMNATION.
The 144,000. The scene is in heaven with the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and the 144,000. They had the Lamb's name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. John heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound that he heard were like harpists playing their harps. Note: This is straying from the topic at hand but I think this is where people get the concept of angels in heaven playing harps. Funny. The 144,000 sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures (the cherubs) and the elders. No one knows or can learn the song except the 144,000 because they had been redeemed from the earth. The 144,000 are a distinct people made of 12,000 people from each tribe of Israel who are missionaries for God to preach to all people to cause them to turn from their sin and turn to Christ. They will preach to all people but their focus will be on their Jewish brothers and sisters who still don't acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Messiah and God. The 144,000 will not defile themselves with woman for they kept themselves pure. I highly doubt the 144,000 will be all men but it is a fact that the 144,000 will be virgins in the sense that they will keep themselves clean of the most popular sins of that day - FORNICATION (sex before marriage) & ADULTERY (sex with another person other than your spouse during marriage). These SEALED ONES will follow the Lamb wherever he goes and they are without fault before the Throne of God. This whole scene from 14:1-5 isn't during the tribulation but during the millennial reign of Christ because the 144,000 cannot be in heaven during the tribulation because God will preserve the 144,000. The Antichrist will try to kill them but will be unsuccessful.
Back to the Tribulation Period. Revelation 14:6-13 describes 3 angels. THESE 3 ANGELS ARE HERALD ANGELS. The first angel proclaims the everlasting gospel. The second angel proclaims the fall of Babylon. The third angel proclaims the warning against worshipping the beast and the doom of the Antichrist's followers. A voice from heaven then says BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD FROM NOW ON. The Spirit says THEY WILL REST FROM THEIR LABOR, FOR THEIR DEEDS WILL FOLLOW THEM.
Next is the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. He is followed by 3 angels. THESE 3 ANGELS ARE HARVESTERS. The fourth angel (continued from the first three) announces and mentions the harvest of the earth. The fifth angel has a sickle but doesn't say anything. The sixth angel comes from the alter. He mentions the vintage and gathers the vine from the earth. This is the vintage to be gathered and cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God which is Armageddon. This is a premature announcement of the Battle of Armageddon where the land will be drunk with blood (Isaiah 34:7-8). The slaughter will be so great that the blood will be up to the horses bridles in the valleys of Israel for about 180 miles.
Revelation 15:1-8 announces the seven bowls or vials of God's wrath. After these final judgments, God's wrath will be completed. The sign that John saw in heaven were the seven angels with the seven last plagues. Next was the sea of glass. It was mixed with fire and standing beside the sea are those who are victorious over the Antichrist, his image, and his mark. They held harps given to them by God and sang the Song of Moses the servant of God and the Song of the Lamb. These people have to be God's sealed Israelite missionaries or otherwise known as the 144,000. Next John sees a temple in heaven called the TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY which was opened. The seven angels came out of the temple with the seven plagues. One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God. Then the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. No one can enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels are finished.
Revelation 16:1 - 19:21
The third and last set of seven plague judgments are the SEVEN BOWLS OF GOD'S WRATH. The first bowl judgment are ugly and painful sores on those who had the mark and worshipped the Antichrist. The second bowl judgment was poured on the sea and it turned into blood like that of a dead man and every living thing died in the sea. Maybe this sea will be the Mediterranean Sea or the oceans. The third bowl judgment was poured on the rivers and springs of water and they became blood. Rivers and springs of water are sources of fresh water which we can drink. This judgment is appropriate for they sinned against God and shed the blood of the saints and prophets so they are given them blood to drink because they deserve it. Only blood will quench their thirst. The fourth bowl judgment is poured on the sun and the sun was given the power to scorch people with fire. So the sun's heat is intensified to the point that they will curse God. These judgments will harden their hearts against God for they will not repent and glorify God. The fifth bowl judgment was poured out on the throne of the Beast that is the Antichrist. His whole kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men will gnaw their tongues in agony and curse God and not repent of their sins. The sixth bowl judgment was poured on the river Euphrates and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East. There is a lot of speculation to what are the kings of the East. Could they be Iraq, Iran, India, China, Japan? I don't know. They obviously have to be a country east of the Euphrates river in the Middle East and in Asia (China and India have large populations - 2.3 billion combined).
There is an interval between the sixth and the seventh bowl judgments. Three evil spirits that look like frogs. They came out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. They are the spirits of demons. They have miracle-working power and will go out to the kings of the Earth to gather them for the battle of Armageddon.
The seventh bowl judgment was poured in the air. There were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. This earthquake will be so powerful and destructive that no earthquake like it has ever occurred on this Earth. The great city which is the rebuilt Babylon will be split into three parts. Also the cities of the nations will collapse. Islands will be moved and mountains will not be found (they will be leveled). From heaven, great hailstones about 100 pounds each will fall upon man and they will curse God.
THE WOMAN ON THE BEAST. The great prostitute. The great whore. She will be punished. This is the One-World Religion that will be in place during the first 3½ years of the tribulation. The woman's name is MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES, AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. The Antichrist allows this one-world faith to develop during the first 3½ years of the tribulation. This is when the Antichrist is peaceful yet deceptive. The Antichrist is both the seventh and the eighth king. The seventh king is peaceful but the eighth king is indwelled by Satan and performs the Abomination of Desolation. So these are the same person. The one-world religion will become very powerful and this will irritate the Antichrist for he is jealous. The ten horns are the ten kings which are controlled by the Antichrist since he is the boss. They are promised a kingdom but in the end their purpose is to give their power and authority to the Antichrist. So the Antichrist and the 10 kings will destroy the WHORE and BRING HER TO RUIN AND LEAVE HER NAKED AND THEY WILL EAT HER FLESH AND BURN HER WITH FIRE. Then the False Prophet will be the religious leader and direct all worship to the Antichrist.
This super church is not the Roman Catholic Church. Babylon is the mother of all false religions. From the time of Nimrod and the tower of Babel, Satan tried to destroy the purpose of God by presenting a fake counterfeit. Enter Nimrod's wife Semiramis who presented herself as the Queen of Heaven. She presented her son Tammuz as born of a woman (herself) and of the great spirit. In other words Tammuz had no earthly father. This was the central mystery. Its purpose was to counterfeit the true birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Tammuz was believed to have been killed by a boar but was resurrected. Along with this central mystery were hundreds of lesser mysteries like purgatory, the use of holy water, the eating of the wafer which was presented to the Queen of Heaven, confessionals, mass, and other practices. This religion was found in similar forms in Egypt, India, Greece, and ancient Phoenicia. The center of this mystery religion was in Babylon but when it was conquered by Persia the religion didn't die but only its center was changed. Then it changed to Greece then Rome. This Mystery Babylon Religion will be intensified when all the religions of the world will unite after the church is raptured. Why? Because they all have common ground because of the Mystery Babylon Religion which spread from Babylon to other centers of civilization.
THE FALL OF BABYLON. There will be two Babylons - a one world faith and a rebuilt city of Babylon. The second Babylon that will be destroyed will be a rebuilt city of Babylon. This rebuilt city of Babylon will be around the first 3½ years of the tribulation. It will be a commercial center. Merchants will get rich off of her. She will have excessive luxuries. She will be the fashion center of the world. She will be a city of music. She will be the center of trade. She will also be the center of sin. Men will go there for sexual pleasures while women will sell their bodies. There will be mediums and occultism will flourish. Businesses will be open all day and night because of the mad rush for pleasure and desire for riches. Money will be their god. Pleasure their high priest. Passion will be the ritual of their worship. But she will have a destructive end. This city will be destroyed by a millstone (an asteroid) and by fire. So possibly a flaming asteroid will destroy the city of Babylon. It will be destroyed in one hour. People will weep and mourn her destruction. Her riches will be no more. People will mourn her destruction because they only care for earthly things. In heaven there will be rejoicing. The great multitude, the 24 elders, and the four living creatures all worshipped God for he is in control of everything and does things according to his will. He is the only one worthy of receiving glory as John found out when he fell down and worshipped the angel. WORSHIP GOD! FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY! Before the Battle of Armageddon is the Wedding of the Lamb. The Bridegroom is Jesus Christ. The Bride is the Raptured Church (Saved Souls from Pentecost and the Rapture). The guests are the Old Testament Saints - Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, the Prophets, and John the Baptist who claimed to be only the friend of the bridegroom. Tribulation Saints will be guests also. The righteous of all the past Ages and Dispensations, and all the saints of God who shall be worthy and who aren't included in the Bride will be the guests. The angels will be spectators.
The beast and the kings of the earth and their armies will be gathered together for the Battle of Armageddon. The kings of the east will seek to take away the power of the Antichrist and set themselves up as the dominant force. The Antichrist brings his powerful armies to meet them. Then something happens about the time they are about to fight. The heavens are opened and they see Jesus Christ riding on a white horse. Following him are the armies of heaven riding on white horses. The Antichrist and the kings of the earth and their armies combine their forces and devote their energies into fighting the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. They will be unsuccessful. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be captured and were thrown into the Lake of Fire. All of the kings and their armies were killed.
Revelation 20:1 - 22:21
The star angel with the keys to the Abyss in Chapter 9 is in action again. He has a chain in his hand and he seized Satan and bound him for a thousand years in the Abyss. Then he will be released after the 1000 years for a short time to deceive people again before the Great White Throne Judgment. Who are allowed to enter the millennial reign of Jesus Christ? There are certain judgments after the Battle of Armageddon. There is the Judgment of Individual Gentiles. Gentiles who gave their life to Christ during the Tribulation will be ushered into the kingdom and eternal life. The unbelievers will be cast into the everlasting fire for their sins. Another judgment will be the Judgment of Israel. Jews who put their faith in Christ will be allowed into the kingdom and eternal life. Here are the groups of people in the Millennial reign of Christ on Earth. First are the Raptured Church. Second are the Resurrected Tribulation Saints. Third are the living Gentiles who are Christians. Last are the living Jewish Christians. There will be procreation and the children born during the 1000 years will be born with sin so it is necessary for them to give their life to Christ. The form of Government will be a Theocracy. Jesus Christ will rule supreme. Hosea 3:5, Jeremiah 30:9, Ezekiel 34:24, 37:24-25 all suggest that David will be a regent or a prince. The seat of government will be Jerusalem. The earth will be restored and there will be a vast abundance of food.
Everything will be perfect but Satan will be released at the end of the 1000 years and try and attempt to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth. He would deceive many for they re as the number of sand on the seashore and they will surround the city of Jerusalem. Inhabitants of Jerusalem will be terrified but fire will come down from heaven and devoured them. The devil will be thrown into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and the False Prophet was thrown. They will be tormented forever and ever.
The Great White Judgment will occur after. All the unsaved people from the beginning of history to the millennial period will be resurrected and will be judged according to their works. Since all of them didn't receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they will all be thrown into the Lake of Fire and suffer the second death.
The first earth will be renovated by fire and become the new earth. The atmosphere (new heaven) will be purified. There will be no more crying for God will wipe every tear from their eyes. God will live and socialize with man the way it was meant to be when he created Adam before sin caused that separation. There will be no more sin. There is also a New City - a New Jerusalem. There will be no temple for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. Its gates will never be shut and there will be daylight and no night. The outlying parts of the New Earth where the light doesn't reach, there will be day and night. There will be the river of life. Finally the only ones who can partake of this are those whose name is written in the Lamb's book of life.
BEHOLD JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON. Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? Are you sure? The only way you can be sure is if you give your life to Jesus Christ. If you are really sorry about your sinful life and want to repent and turn to Jesus Christ, pray this prayer NOW!
Dear Jesus,
I'm a sinner. I need you Lord. I want you to save me for I know I can't save myself. I believe that you died for me and that you shed your blood for my sins. I believe that you rose again from the dead. I believe that you, Jesus is my only hope of salvation. I know that I deserve to go to hell but Jesus be merciful and save me according to the promise of your word. I ask you to come into my life and be the Lord of my Life and to be my Lord and Savior.
Thank You Lord. I Love You. In Your Mighty Name, Jesus, Amen!
You are a new creation in Christ. The old things have passed away. All things are new. God Bless You and Godspeed!
Copyright © 2001 by STAT