Revelation by Lorri Frandsen - HTML preview

Lorri Frandsen

Revelation

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Scripture passages taken from The World English Bible.

Informational Resources :

The Days of Vengeance - An Exposition of the Book of Revelation by David Chilton The Parousia - 3rd Edition - A General Inquiry Into the Doctrine of Our Lord's Second Coming by James Stuart Russell

Josephus - Thrones of Blood - A History of The Times of Jesus 37 B.C to A.D. 70 - by Josephus The Antichrist and the Second Coming - Duncan W. McKenzie, PhD.

The Last Days According To Jesus - R.C. Sproul

Copyright 2024 by Lorri Frandsen

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without prier permission from the author, except in the case of brief notations in articles and reviews.

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CHAPTER 1 (Revelation 1-4)

CHAPTER 3 (Chapter 6-8)

Vision —————————————-P 8-12

Horsemen of the Apocalypse ——————P 26-27

Background ———————————-P 13

Martyrs——————————————— —P 28

The Churches of Revelation ———— P 14

Praying for God's Vengeance ———————P 29

Personal Words for the Churches ——P 15

Hiding in Caves —————————————P 30

Warnings to the Churches —————P 16

Apocalyptic Language ——————————P 31

Rewards ————————————P 17-18

Angels and God's Servants ————————P 32

The Bride of Christ ————————P 19

The 144,000 ——————————————P 33

Divine Perspective ———————— P 20

The Tabernacle (Cloud) —————————P 34

CHAPTER 2 (Revelation 5)

The Great Shepherd —————————— P 35

Heavenly Symbols ———————P 22 -23

The Treaty Covenant ——————————P 36

Covenant Scroll ———————— P 24

The Seventh Seal ————————————P 37

Lamb of God ——————————-P 25

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CHAPTER 4 (Revelation 8-11)

The Christians ——————- —————P 50

The Seven Trumpets ————————P 38

Aquila ———————————————-P 51

The First Trumpet —————————-P 39

Zealots Run to Jerusalem — ——————P 52

The Second Trumpet ——— —————P 40

Sicarii ———— ————————————P 53

The Third Trumpet —————————-P 41

Idumeans—————— ————————-P 53

The Fourth Trumpet——— ——————P 42

Vespasian Appoints Titus ———————P 54

The Fifth Trumpet —————————-P 43

Angel Witness ————————————-P 55

Demon Locusts—— —————————P 44

Bittersweet Book—— —————————P 56

The Sixth Trumpet—————————-P 45

Two Angels Against Jerusalem —————P 57

Josephus as Witness ————————-P46

The Beast from the Sea ————————P 58

Cestius —————-—————————P 47

The Seventh Trumpet —————————P 59

Earthquakes and Famines ——————P 48

Jerusalem Falls ————————————P 60

Warning Signs———————————-P 49

Inside Jerusalem ————————————P61

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The Temple ——————————P 62

The Beast ——————- ——————-P 74

One Covenant Ended & the Other Did Not -P63

The Great Beast of Rome———————P 75

True Israel————— ——— ————P 64

Nero ———— ————————————P 76

CHAPTER 5 (Revelation 12-15)

Map of 3 Beasts—————— —————P 77

The Sign of the Woman———————P 65

The False Prophet —————————-P 78

Satan the Dragon Beast——— ——— P 66

The Lamb of Mt Zion—— ———————P 79

Fleeing into the Desert —————P 67

The Saints———————- —————— P 80

War in Heaven—— ————————-P 68

Three Proclamations —————————P 81

Satan Thrown Down to Earth————P 69

First Proclamation ——————————P 82

The Dragon's Rage —————————P 70

Second Proclamation —————————P 83

Pursuit of the Woman —————-——P71

Third Proclamation ——————————P 84

Covenants, Israel, & the Church———-P 72

The Perseverance of the Saints ———P 85 - 86

The Rest of the Woman's Seed———-P 73

Harvest and Vintage —————————P 87

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CHAPTER 6 (Revelation 16-18)

The Seven Last Plagues ——————————-P 88

Great 'Hail' Stones ————-——————— P 99

Smoke from the Sanctuary —————————P 89

Mother of Harlots — ——————————-P 100

The Wrath of God —————————————P 90

Mystery Revealed ———— ———————-P 101

First Chalice -Plague of Boils ————————P 91

The Man Of Sin ———————— —————P 102

Second & Third Chalices - -Sea & Rivers of Blood—P92

Voice From Heaven ———————————-P 103

Fourth Chalice - Scorching Sun ————————P 93

Come Out Of Her————————————P 104

Fifth Chalice - Blackened Sun ————————P 94

Destruction and Plagues —————————P 105

Sixth Chalice - Euphrates River ———————P 95

Lament For Babylon ———— ———————P 106

Spirits of Demons —————————————P 96

Babylon Thrown Down———————- ——- P 107

Surrounded By The Demonic ————————P 97

Marriage Supper of the Lamb ———————P 108

The Seventh Chalice - ——————- ————P 98

CHAPTER 7

Second Coming —————————————-P 109

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Winepress of Wrath ——-————————— P 110

River & Tree of Life —————- ———-P 123

This Generation Will See It —————————P111

I AM Coming Quickly ————-————P 124

Expectation of the Church ———————P 112 - 113

Christ's Army of Saints ———————- ———P 114

Satan Bound ———-————————————P 115

Transitional 40 Years ———————————-P 116

Satan Released For A Short Time ——————P 117

Fire From Heaven ———— ————————P 118

Great White Throne Judgement ——————P 119

No More Tears —————————————-P 120

The Bride of Christ ———————————-P 121

Precious Stones ————————————-P 122

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Chapter 1 - Vision

Revelation is a prophecy written for the Christian

Church. John, the apostle, also wrote the Gospel of

John and other epistles named after him. Revelation's

outline is very similar to that of the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. It also links to the vision in the book

of Daniel where he writes about a vision he received

from the angel Gabriel describing God's victorious

kingdom over the forces of evil. John's prophecy is

described as the 'Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God

gave Him to show His servants what will happen soon'.

(Revelation 1:1)

There is some conflict concerning the date of the book's

authorship, some asserting that it was written in 95 AD.

However since Revelation mentions the Temple still

existing at the time of writing, the date must have been

before 70 AD, since that was when the Temple was

destroyed by the Romans. One date given is AD 60-65.

The letter was intended for the generation in which it

was written because it mentions the holy city where

Jesus was crucified and the temple therein being

measured. There was only one city where Jesus was

crucified, being Jerusalem, and there was only one

temple that stood in Jerusalem in the first century. This

is proof conclusive that Revelation's fulfillment was for

the current Church at the time of writing, not

thousands of years in the future as some contend.

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At the time when Revelation was written, Roman rule

extended over almost all of the known world. The

Roman emperors, or Caesars, thought of themselves as

deities with the right to rule over the masses in every

area of life. The state was the god of the Romans and all

were expected to submit to it. Christians soon found

themselves in trouble with the authorities because they

refused to worship any king but Jesus. This infuriated

the Roman government. Soon Christians found

themselves targeted as insurrectionists and rebels.

They were widely persecuted throughout the empire

with many being killed or exiled.

John was exiled to the volcanic Greek Isle of Patmos just

off the coast of Turkey. It was remote, surrounded by

high, precipitous cliffs. It was where the Romans put

criminals so they couldn't escape. Roman authorities

probably hoped John would die there of loneliness.

However John was one of the few apostles who died of

natural causes at a great age. He lived in a cave, which

has since been turned into a place of worship, and it is

still open to travellers, who are often Christians going

on pilgrimage. It is considered to be one of the most

important religious destinations due to its association

with the Book of Revelation, which forms the closing

pages of the New Testament and gives the Bible some of

its most portentous descriptions of Christ's rule over

all the nations of the earth. This prophecy was sent as a

circular letter to real people that John knew, specifically

to seven churches in the province of Asia.

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John was in the Spirit when he heard a loud voice, like a trumpet, telling him to write what he saw in a book that was to be given to 7 churches. John turned to see who spoke and saw Jesus standing in the midst of 7 golden lamp stands, indicating that he was seeing into the Holy of Holies of the heavenly Tabernacle. Jesus was dressed in a long robe with a golden sash around His chest. His hair was white as snow, His eyes were like flames of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, and His voice was like the roar of a waterfall. His face shone like the sun in full strength and in His right hand He held 7 stars. A sharp two-edged sword proceeded from His mouth. John was so overcome that he fell to the ground at His feet, as though dead, but the Lord touched him and told him not to fear.

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John is using symbols to convey various truths and

ideas in Revelation. In fact, the letter cannot be

deciphered apart from knowledge of the Old

Testament's use of the symbolic and metaphorical. The

believers in the early Church, many of whom were

Jewish, were well versed in the Old Testament, often

meeting in the Temple and in synagogues. Even the

Gentile Christians had exposure to Old Testament

thought and ideas through their Jewish brethren. So

Revelation would not have been the mystery that it so

often is to modern readers who are not aware of Biblical

Jewish thought and history.

Jews find special meaning in certain numbers through

the practice of Gematria, which gives numerical values

to letters and words that are said to reveal mystical

connections. The number 7 is probably the most

significant number in Judaism. God created the world in

6 days and rested on the 7th. Noah was to bring into the

ark 7 pairs of clean animals. Jacob worked 7 years each

for Rachel and Leah. Some Jewish festivals occur after 7

days or 7 weeks. Every 7 years debts are cancelled, and

the menorah (lamp stand) in the Temple has 7 branches.

The golden menorah is a stylized tree representing the

Tree of Life. Before Christ came, there was only one

lamp stand in the Tabernacle of Israel, but now Jesus, as

the Tree of Life, is seen standing in a multiplicity of

menorah (symbolizing His Church). Unlike Israel, which

was tied to one place, the Church of Jesus Christ is sent

out into the world to bring the Light of Life to multiple

nations in the world.

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John saw Jesus with a sharp, two-edged sword

proceeding out of His mouth. Hebrews 4:12 of the Bible

states, “For God's word is alive and effective, sharper

than any two-edged sword, so penetrating it separates

life and breath, bone joints and their marrow, judging

the thoughts and intentions of the mind.” The Romans

used a two-edged sword as an army weapon, and in both

Hebrews and in Revelation it is used metaphorically to

describe Christ’s authority and judgment. Most in the

Church do not think of Jesus as a warrior wielding a

two-edged sword, portraying Him instead as a

nonjudgmental being who affirms all our actions.

However, although Jesus has the attributes of

goodness, holiness, kindness and love, He is also a God

of justice, holding us accountable for our actions, and

even our thoughts.

Jesus is further described as wearing a long robe with a

golden sash, reminiscent of the vestments of a High

Priest or King. The Bible says that Jesus is of the high

priestly order of Melchizedek who was a king of Salem

and a priest of God in the Old Testament. This picture

of Jesus is remarkably similar to the vision Daniel saw of

the Ancient of Days seated on a throne of fire and One

like a Son of Man approaching Him (who) "was given an

eternal dominion to rule all peoples … a man clothed in

linen, with a belt of fine gold around His waist. His body

was like beryl, His face like the appearance of lightning,

His eyes like flaming torches, His arms and legs like the

gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of His words

like the sound of a multitude."(Daniel 7:9,14) The images

are remarkably similar.

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Background

When Jesus came to the earth as Israel's Messiah, He was not recognized by His own people. He was born a Jew and looked too ordinary, like any other Jew. He was also from a poor family and there was nothing to indicate He was actually God in human flesh. At first Jesus focused His message on the Jews in Israel. He exhorted them to turn back to God. However most rejected His message, even though He stressed many times, through parables and prophecy, that Israel would be judged for her unfaithfulness and that Jerusalem would fall, - something the Jews had a hard time believing. He reminded the Jews how God, in the past, had withdrawn from Israel whenever they rejected Him. Now they were again rejecting God in their repudiation of their Messiah. He told the Jews they were in grave danger and He wept when He looked into their future. He foresaw the siege of Jerusalem that would occur within their own generation. He warned: " For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—

and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened." Then Jesus used the same type of apocalyptic language that John employed in writing Revelation . “Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken…when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door." (Matthew 24). Seeing that the Jews were unresponsive to His warnings, Jesus then turned to the Gentiles, inviting them into HIs Kingdom. Many became Christians and Revelation was written for their comfort as they faced persecution for their faith. The coming judgement would not be directed at them but they would nevertheless live through the tumultuous times ahead and they needed to be forewarned.

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The Churches of Revelation

The Christians were persecuted for their faith because they would not worship the idols of Rome or make Caesar their God. At first their church meetings were held in synagogues or in private homes, but when the persecution became increasingly severe, they were scattered to many other places throughout Asia. The emperor Nero blamed the Christians for the great fire that destroyed large parts of Rome in 64 A.D. (a fire that Nero apparently had ordered himself) and he had the believers torn by dogs, nailed to crosses and even used as human torches to light up his gardens at night. However Christians were not always under persecution in every place. Some enjoyed more peaceful lives than others. Most persecutions varied in their intensity and were largely local. Over time the Christians began to distance themselves from the Jews and they did not side with the Jews in their revolt against Rome beginning in 66 A.D. Nevertheless, there were many Christians living among the Jews in Jerusalem and surrounding countryside, and Revelation was written as God's warning to them to avoid turning away from Him, and to flee the judgement that was coming upon apostate Israel.

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The church of PERGAMUM was situated "where Satan's throne is." It was a centre for Caesar worship and

apostate Judaism. The Pergamum church had false

teachers who taught licentiousness and idolatry. Jesus

warned the church to repent or He would bring

judgement (make war against them with the sword of

His mouth'). He also said that He would do it in the very

near future. To the angel (bishop) of THYATIRA, Jesus gave ominous words of judgement because a false

prophetess called Jezebel was leading the church astray

into rebellion and sin. Jesus said if she didn't repent, He

would bring tribulation that would "kill" her followers. He told the ones who hadn't followed her to "keep hold" of

the faith they had until He came. The SARDIS church was spiritually mediocre, with no depth of conviction. It

likely had many "professing" believers who were not truly born-again new creations in Christ. Jesus said He

Personal Words for the Churches

would only confess the names of the "over-comers"

before His Father, and their names would not be erased

Jesus gave personal words to the 7 churches in Asia. The church

from the Book of Life. The church of PHILADELPHIA

of EPHESUS was praised for being orthodox in doctrine, but was small, having only a little power, but it was faithful

rebuked for having lost her first love. She was headed in the to Christ. Jesus promised that He would keep them

direction of dead orthodoxy. SMYRNA was being persecuted by from the great trial about to come on the land. He told

false Jews. Jesus told this church that the true Jew was the one

them to hang on to their faith and not fear because He

who believed in Him and the words Moses had spoken of Him.

was coming quickly. Jesus was disgusted with the

Anyone calling himself a Jew who did not accept Jesus as their

LAODICIAN church because it was lukewarm

Messiah was actually a non-Jew who did not believe in the (ineffectual and good for nothing). It was not

testimony of the Old Testament. The apostle Paul had said "For transforming its society, but rather conforming to it.

he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision Jesus said He would spit it out of His mouth, unless it which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, repented and sought His righteousness and truth,

and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the becoming obedient to His precepts and open to His

letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans influence and presence.

2:28,29) Jesus promised this church that they would suffer persecution, but only for a short time.

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Warnings to the Churches

There were warnings to the churches if they disregarded

the Lord and His admonitions. Jesus said He would make

war against those in the church who taught false doctrine.

He used strong language for the false prophets and

prophetesses who brought heresy into the churches, and

who led Christ's followers astray. Some of them would

suffer tribulation such as illness and some would even be killed. Those who merely professed to know Christ but

were not true Christians would not have their names in the

Book of Life. At the Judgement, He would tell them: "I never

knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."

He added that if a church was unfaithful to Him, making

them unfit to spread the light of His truth and grace, He would come and remove their lamp stand from them. In

other words, He would remove His Holy Spirit from their

midst. He particularly referred to the Judaizers, whom He

called the 'Synagogue of Satan'. They, along with the Roman

government, were the chief persecutors of the Church.

They had rejected Jesus as their Messiah and were

therefore not part of God's Covenant, or His people, unless

they repented. The true Church of believers in Christ had

come to Mount Zion and the City of the Living God. Anyone

who was not a follower of Jesus was outside the City, along

with the rest of the pagans. In the meantime Jesus

described Himself as knocking for admittance on the door

of the Church so that He could fellowship with the

believers. He sought to have communion and fellowship with

those He loved. He continually reminded them to be 'over-

comers' so as to rule and reign with Him. Having made

them kings, priests, and prophets, Jesus fully expected His

Bride to sit with Him, in a figurative sense, on His throne,

exercising dominion over the earth in His name.

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Rewards

Jesus also gave promises of reward to the 7 churches. These were couched in symbolic language and referred to different aspects of His nature and being. The Tree of Life refers to the eternal life that is in Christ. Adam and Eve were given a choice in the Garden of Eden between two trees - the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. After being tempted by Satan in the form of a serpent, they chose the latter and brought sin and death to humanity. Jesus has reversed that, bringing Life to all who make Him their Saviour. The white stone has reference to the righteous saints who are called the Temple of God (Paul said: "… you are God’s temple and God’s Spirit lives in you..). Peter had stated "You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. " The colour white stands for purity and righteousness. All who belong to Christ have been purified from sin and made righteous with His righteousness. They are new creations who have been born again with the divine nature of the Lord. Together they comprise the Bride of Christ and the New Jerusalem. Jesus also called Himself the Alpha and Omega (Greek for the beginning and the end). This refers to Christ as the Son of God, having existed before all things. It was He who created the earth and all upon it.

He is also timeless, having no end and being the Fulfillment of all things. Jesus was saying to the churches that He is their eternal reward which can never be lost. This would have been especially encouraging to the persecuted believers who were facing the possible end of their physical lives in martyrdom.

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Rewards (continued)

Hidden manna refers to the manna that was hidden in

the Ark of God. This angel's food was sent by God each

day to sustain the Hebrews in the desert as they

travelled to Canaan. It also has reference to Jesus Christ

being the Bread of Life who satisfies the soul and brings

spiritual sustenance. When Jesus walked the earth, He

made reference to Himself in this way. (" As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he

who feeds on me will also live because of me. This is the

bread which came down out of heaven—not as our

fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread

will live forever. ” (John 6:57,58) Another reward Jesus promised was the Morning Star. This is the brightest star in the heavens that outshines all others. This star

alludes to Jesus as the Light of the World who forces

spiritual darkness to flee. Some of the churches were

situated in spiritually dark places, but Jesus would give

these over-comers His Light to bring wisdom and

enlightenment. Their relationship with God was so

intimate that they would be made a Pillar in the Temple

of God with His name written on them, claiming them as

His own. They would remain in the dwelling place of God

(Temple) forever. In fact, they would be lifted so high that

they would be granted the right to sit down with Jesus

on His Throne and rule with Him over the nations, even

judging angels. Jesus was already on His throne and His

Kingdom would soon be inaugurated. He had already

conquered Satan and He would systematically defeat

every foe and enemy. The Church was to be His Royal

Consort, extending His rule over all the world. She was

the Bride He loved and had given His life for. He wanted

Her to be righteous, holy, brave, and victorious.

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The Bride is identified with Spiritual Israel: "… You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed 'Forsaken',

and your land shall no more be termed 'Desolate', but you shall be called 'My Delight Is in Her', and your land 'Married'; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry

you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:1-5).

She is holy and very precious in God's sight. " I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me

with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself

like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)

The Bride of Christ

After the Ascension of Christ, He visited His disciples and commissioned them (His Bride) to go into the world to bring His

elect into His Kingdom. “All authority in heaven and on earth The Bible describes the Church in metaphorical

has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all language as the Bride of Christ. She is His Consort,

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the

having been taken out of Him spiritually, as Eve was

Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey taken out of Adam at the beginning of creation. " So

everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you God created man in His own image, in the image of

always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20) The God He created him; male and female He created

Bible says that the gospel went everywhere. "… the hope of the them." (Genesis 1:27) God had planned the Bride's gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation from the very beginning, just as He had

creation under heaven…” [Col. 1:23]. " Their voice has gone planned the creation of Messiah Christ, the Son of

out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

God, joining with humanity. God's plan was that His

[Romans 10:16-18]

Son and His Bride should live together eternally.

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Divine Perspective

The Lord's admonitions to the churches in Revelation indicate that His Bride, the Church universal, was in need of divine perspective. Jesus had told His followers: " In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world. ” (John 16:33) The churches were exhorted to follow His example. They were called to be over-comers in the strength of His might. This was essential if they were to rule and reign with Him in His Kingdom. He had given them powerful spiritual gifts - salvation, faith, righteousness, His Word, and the gospel - and they were to use this weaponry, as the kings and priests they were, to defeat the principalities and powers in the spiritual realm and thereby extend God's kingdom over all the earth. The revelation Jesus was about to give would tear aside the veil concealing the forces lying behind the physical realm and the momentous events that were to come - events that would bring persecutions, tribulations, and trials that would tax faith and courage. Jesus wanted His beloved ones to be prepared. The words of rebuke were His means of disciplining those He loved. It was for their spiritual growth, their benefit, that He spoke so bluntly and gave such dire warnings. The things that were to transpire on the earth would be shattering and mind-blowing. Great faith in God's sovereign power, His protective love, and His perfect plan would be required to resist giving in to fear. So momentous were the coming cataclysmic events that many peoples of the earth would despair in abject terror. But not so with God's people. They would be aware that their Messiah was watching over them and turning every evil to their good.

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Chapter 2 - Seven Seals

John was in the Spirit and heard a trumpet sounding. He saw an open door into heaven and One sitting on a throne surrounded by a rainbow. Flashes of lightening and thunder proceeded from it. John recognized it as the Holy of Holies, the inner Sanctuary of the cosmic Temple in the Cloud of Glory, a heavenly archetype of the tabernacle constructed by Moses.

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Heavenly Symbols

The One sitting on the Throne (representing the Mercy

Seat in the Temple) shone like glowing metal that

looked like fire. He shone with the radiance of His glory.

There were also four living creatures surrounding the

Throne - one like a Lion, another like a Bull, another like a flying Eagle, and one creature had a face like a Man. These resemble the creatures the prophet

Ezekiel saw in a vision. They are thought to be

Cherubim. Each had six wings and was singing praise

to God, saying " Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come". It is likely that they represent God's majesty (Lion),

strength (Bull), loftiness (Eagle), and Wisdom (Man).

There were also 24 thrones with twenty-four Elders

seated upon them. They appear to represent God's

people sitting in Council with the Lord. They were all

wearing crowns. Earlier John had declared: "To Him

who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His

blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and

Father." The apostle Peter had also stated the same

thing: " But you are a Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood,

a People for God's own Possession, so that you may

proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you

out of darkness into His marvellous Light." (1Peter 2:9) The crowns represent kingly authority over the

nations. The number twenty-four could signify the

complete Bride of Christ, the Spiritual New Israel,

comprised of the Old Testament saints under the

patriarchs, and the New Testament saints of the

Church. There were also seven lamps burning before

the Throne representing the seven Spirits of God, the

Holy Spirit in His seven-fold ministry.

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In the Throne Room John saw a Lamb standing as if slain, having seven eyes and seven horns (which are the Spirits of God). The One sitting on the Throne had a Book in His right hand, but John wept because no one could open it.

The elders who had fallen down before the Lamb told John not to weep, because the Lamb from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, had conquered and so was able to open the Book. Then an angel took the scroll from the Lord and myraids of angels began to sing praises to Him. Every created thing in heaven and earth joined in.

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Covenant Scrol

Israel had a covenant with God based on the Ten Commandments. It included blessings and curses that were dependent on Israel's response to the Law. Disobedience brought serious curses and the Jews had been disobedient to God throughout history. No one had ever been able to keep the Law, and even the animal sacrifices could not permanently do away with sin and death. The document in God's hand was a covenant scroll, like a will - a New Testament that would nullify the Old. The reason John wept when no one could open the seals was due to the fact that without a New Covenant, Israel (and the world) would remain under the curse of death forever. Without a Mediator between man and God, the human race was doomed, including the Patriarchs waiting in Sheol. However John was told by the elders that the righteous Lamb of God had purchased, with His blood, people out of every tribe and nation, making them priests and kings who would rule with Him on the earth. When the scroll was opened by the Lamb, all the elders bowed down to worship Him and myriads of angels sang in exultant praise of the Saviour. The New Covenant was far different from the Old, being based on God's grace and not dependent on human effort. There were no conditions, no curses, and no threats, and it had been completely ratified by Jesus Christ, the Lamb, the Son of God.

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Lamb of God

The Lamb of God was unusual. He had seven eyes and seven horns. In the Bible horns represent power and strength. When the Israelites were attacking Jericho, seven rams' horns were blown heralding the judgement of God upon His enemies. In Revelation, the Lamb's horns signified Christ's power, strength, and victory for His people as they ruled and reigned with Him over the earth. The seven eyes represented the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the world, as well as Christ's all-seeing and all-knowing nature. John saw each of the four living creatures playing a harp and singing a new Song celebrating the New Covenant as golden bowls of incense (representing the prayers of the saints) wafted sweet-smelling fragrance over the scene. Some of the Song's lyrics were: " O sing to the Lord a new Song for He has done wonderful things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained victory for Him. The Lord has made known His salvation. He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of (spiritual) Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." (Psalm 98:1-3) 25

Chapter 3

Horsemen Of The Apocalypse

The imagery of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse is taken from Zechariah 6:1-7.

The Horsemen represent God's forces which He uses to break disobedient nations.

As John writes, they are now turned against God's own covenant people. God's armies are amassing to bring about His judgements.

The first seal is opened to reveal a rider riding a white horse, having a crown on his head and carrying a bow. The crown and white horse signify a conquering king going out to destroy, or returning as a victor. The riders who follow are His army. Some think this picture could easily be of Jesus who rides a white horse as a symbol of righteousness. He goes forth to take down His enemies, i.e. all who reject Him as Saviour. Others think it is a picture of Antichrist since pagan rulers sometimes rode on a white horse after a great victory in battle. Either way, the focus is on Israel, which is doomed. If Jesus is pictured here, He is the One who opened the New Covenant, guaranteeing the fall of Israel. He rides out to apply His victory. If Antichrist is intended to represent the rider, then he is the one who will attack and despoil Apostate Israel, conquering Jerusalem and destroying the Temple.

The second seal is broken, and John sees a rider on a red horse who is granted by God to take peace from the land so that men begin to slay one another. A great sword is given to the rider. The holy restraints that God has put over nations and cultures are removed. The heart of man sinks into deep degeneracy and everywhere there are murders, terrorism, revolutions, and every kind of barbarism imaginable. The whole land is filled with the shedding of blood, dead bodies not yet buried, old men and children's remains scattered about, and naked women lying in their midst. A great dread over these inexpressible calamities and practices sweeps over men's hearts. The inner depravity that lives inside all who are not followers of Jesus Christ is exposed to all.

26

The third seal is broken and a rider on a black horse comes forth. This figure harkens back to the symbol for famine in Ezekiel 4:10 in which the inhabitants of Jerusalem were forced to weigh their food carefully. This horseman signifies economic hardship due to a shortage of necessary staples. This was a curse pronounced under the Law if God's people rebelled against Him. It is His way of controlling the wicked, who must spend so much time hunting for food, that they have no time to exercise their ungodly dominion on the earth. The horseman is forbidden to touch the oil and wine however, perhaps speaking of God's protection over the righteous since Psalms 104:15 says He gives oil and wine to the faithful.

" You make the grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to eat—crops produced by the earth for food, and wine to make them happy, olive oil to make their faces shine."

When the fourth seal is opened, a rider comes forth who is seated astride a horse of pallor. It has a sickly colour and the rider's name is Death. He is followed by Hades (the grave) and has been set loose by the Son of Man. This rider is given authority to bring four plagues - to kill with the sword, to bring famine, to loose wild beasts, and to cause death. These are summed up in Ezekiel 5 and 14 where there is mention of " four severe judgements against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague to cut off man and beast from it." Death and the grave are given authority to destroy one fourth of the land. It is important to remember that it is GOD who is bringing forth these judgements. They are called forth from His Throne and His angels are the ones releasing them. Jesus, the King of kings, is the One riding in conquest, leading the angelic armies against the nations to destroy those who rebel against Him. Jesus wanted the Christians to understand this so that they could face their world with courage and confidence, assured that He was in control and all of this was part of His plan.

27

The Martyrs

The Lord broke the fifth seal and John saw martyred souls beneath an altar. They had been killed because of their testimony of Christ. They cried out: " How long oh Lord, holy and true, before You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell in the land?" They were pleading for God to send His judgement and wrath on the ungodly. Each of the martyrs were given a white robe and told to rest awhile longer until the number of their brethren, who were to be killed as they were, was completed.

Their robes signified their righteousness and purity before the Lord.

28

Praying for God's Vengeance

The martyrs were praying for God to avenge their blood. Many of the Psalms have God's people calling on God to rain down curses on their enemies, such as Psalm 3:7 "Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked." or Psalm 104:35 "Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul." Psalm 139:19-22 "If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men! For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain. Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? " This kind of prayer is often not approved of by the Church, yet these martyrs were doing so with God's approval. Both the Old and New Testaments express prayers for God's justice against the wicked. God's nature is both merciful and just, with neither one being dominant over the other.

Mercy without justice would be cruel and unloving, while justice without mercy would be the same. If God did not avenge His martyred saints, it would be accurate to say He did not care about them or their pain. If He showed no mercy to the wicked, no one could expect Him to forgive sin and save anyone from eternal death.

The martyrs were given white robes to symbolize their purity and righteous nature. They were clothed with Christ's righteousness and had been given a new divine nature which is eternal and without condemnation. Jesus had once told a parable of a king who invited guests to a wedding. "… when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:1-14 These martyrs had been chosen by God to attend the wedding feast and each wore a robe of righteousness.

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Hiding in Caves

When the sixth seal was broken, a giant

earthquake occurred. The sun became black and

the moon was as red as blood. Stars from heaven

fell and the heavens disappeared while mountains

and islands were shaken out of their places. The

kings of the earth and all the rich, strong, weak

and poor hid themselves in caves crying out to

the rocks: " Fall on us and hide us from the

presence of Him who sits on the Throne, from the

wrath of the Lamb!" None were able to escape and the whole land was in chaos. These very

words were recorded in Hosea 10:6-8: "… the sin of Israel will be destroyed..then shall they say to

the mountains: "Cover us!" And to the hills: "Fall on us!"

When Jesus was on His way to His crucifixion, He

warned Israel about the judgement that was

about to come upon them. "Daughters of

Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for

yourselves and for your children. For the days

are coming when they will say: Blessed are the

barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the

breasts that never nursed. They will begin to say

to the mountains: "Fall on us!" and to the hills:

"Cover us!" (Luke 23:27-30) Now the crucified resurrected Lord was coming to destroy the

apostates. The Day of His Wrath had come.

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Apocalyptic Language

The Bible often uses apocalyptic language when describing significant events like cataclysmic wars, or prophetic revelations, such as John is using in this vision. This style of writing is dramatic, and uses imagery that is intense, shocking, and attention-grabbing. The description of the sixth seal's earth-shattering events is an example of this, but it mirrors other very similar language in the Old Testament.

One passage that uses this type of terminology is Isaiah 13:10 when describing the fall of Babylon. "The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give light." Babylon was a famous city in what is today called Iraq. It was one of the most glorious cities in the world and the prophet Isaiah foretold that Babylon would be destroyed completely and permanently. Nearly 200 years later the Medes captured Babylon, just as Isaiah predicted. He had described this event as being so great that it would be as if the stars and planets were wrapped in darkness. Isaiah’s words were not to be interpreted literally. The sun, moon, and stars never stopped giving light when Babylon was captured. But the defeat of such a great city was so dramatic that it was as if the light of the universe had been snuffed out. Babylon, once so glorious, became dark and empty.

John is doing something similar with the vision in Revelation. Some of his phrasing is metaphorical and he employs symbolism everywhere. The Jews would have been very familiar with this style of writing and they would have known the Old Testament from where much of this imagery is derived. The Gentile believers would not have had the same advantage and would have had to depend on their Jewish brethren to explain this book. Revelation was meant to grab the attention of the early Christians in order to warn them of coming devastation and to comfort and reassure them at the same time. It was an exceedingly important book for the early Church, and also for the Church throughout history, as there are many parallels that are timeless and applicable even today.

31

Angels and God's Servants

After this John saw four angels standing on the

four 'Corners' of the earth, holding back four

Winds. Another angel rose out of the sun

(representing Christ), crying out with a loud voice

not to harm the land, sea, or trees, until all the

bondservants of God had been sealed on their

foreheads. Their number was 144,000 from every

tribe of Israel. Judgement was coming to physical

Israel, but Spiritual Israel would receive God's

protection. This included both Jewish and Gentile

Christians - all those who were followers of Jesus

Christ and therefore part of Spiritual Israel. The

seals were symbolic and signified that whoever had

this mark would be preserved in their faith

throughout the great tribulation that was to come.

Their destiny was great honour and glorification in

Christ.

The martyrs mentioned earlier had been a holy sacrifice to fill up the Lord's cup of wrath against Old Covenant Israel. Many Christians had suffered and died, yet each one would be preserved. None would be lost. The Holy Spirit would keep them from denying their faith.

Jesus told His followers that " Not one hair of your head will perish.

Stand firm, and you will win life. " He was referring to their souls, not necessarily physical bodies, but He did give practical instructions on how to escape the wicked. “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out…For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. (Luke 21:18-22).

32

The 144,000

Numbers are very significant in Scripture,

especially in apocalyptic typology that links Old

Testament truths to the New Testament.

Ancient Israel was comprised of 12 tribes. Jesus

sent out 12 disciples representing the Church.

The number 1000 stands for completion.

Therefore 12 times 12 equaling 144, multiplied by

1000, represents the believers from Jewish

tribes combined with Gentile believers. These

144,000 are symbolic of the entirety of God's

redeemed people who are sealed and protected

by Him throughout history - in other words, this

is Spiritual Israel, the true Israel of God. The apostle Paul wrote: "For they are not all Israel

who are descended from Israel; neither are they

all children because they are Abraham’s

descendants, but 'Through Isaac shall your

descendants be named'. That is, it is not the

children of the flesh who are children of God,

but the children of the promise are regarded as

descendants." (Romans 9:6-8) Similar to the

Lord's marking His people for protection here in

Revelation, there is the Old Testament story in

Exodus where the Jews' homes were protected

from the angel of death through the application

of lamb's blood on their doorposts. Now, in

John's vision, Spiritual Israel was being marked

with the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, for

their protection. The Jewish Christians reading

Revelation would clearly recognize John's

wording and thus be able to decipher the

meaning of his book.

33

The Tabernacle (Cloud)

John said that God would spread His Tabernacle

over the saints. This is an allusion to the Glory

Cloud that hovered over the earth at its

creation, and also to the words of Isaiah 4:4-5

" When the Lord shall have washed away the filth

of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged

the blood of Jerusalem from within it, by the

spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning.

Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of

Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud

and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming

fire by night, for over all the glory will be a

canopy. There will be a pavilion for a shade in

the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and

for a shelter from storm and from rain." Such a

Cloud led the Israelites in the desert for 40

years as they traveled on their way to Canaan. It

is also a reference to the Feast of Tabernacles in

Leviticus where God commands Israel to erect

booths or tabernacles. This feast was an

enactment of the conversion of the nations,

fulfilling the prophecy of God's people spreading

over the earth to all nations. On the day of this

Feast, Jesus announced that His Spirit would

lead the Church, the New Israel, to be the means

of restoration of the entire world. Jesus then

invited the people to come to Him for the rivers

of living Water.

34

The Great Shepherd

John saw a multitude standing before the Throne of God, waving palm branches. They were God's people clothed in white. They served the Lamb of God day and night and Jesus spread His Tabernacle over them. It was explained to John that the Lamb of God would be their Shepherd and His people would never hunger, thirst, or suffer the heat of day. In other words, they would never experience any kind of privation ever again. Jesus would guide them to the springs of the Water of Life and God would wipe away every tear from their eyes. The prophet Isaiah had written:

"Yahweh says, “I have answered you in an acceptable time. I have helped you in a day of salvation. I will preserve you and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage, saying to those who are bound, ‘Come out!’; to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’ “They shall feed along the paths, and their pasture shall be on all treeless heights. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them, for He who has mercy on them will lead them. He will guide them by springs of water. I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be exalted. Behold, these shall come from afar…Sing, heavens, and be joyful, earth! Break out into singing, mountains! For Yahweh has comforted His people, and will have compassion on His afflicted. He who has mercy on them will lead them.." (Isaiah 49:8-13) 35

The Treaty Covenant

In Deuteronomy 28 of the Old Testament, the Covenant between God and physical Israel is described. God promised blessing to the Jews if they were obedient, and curses if they rebelled against Him by going after other gods. The blessings extended to every area of their lives - physical health, peace in the land, abundant food from good harvests, protection from their enemies, secure homes, and a heritage of strong children. If the Jews did not obey God, and broke the Covenant, they would experience oppression and violence from their enemies. They would suffer plagues and all sorts of illnesses. They would lose their children. Their women would be taken from them and defiled.

Economic hardships would come upon them due to poor harvests. They would be scattered throughout the nations and enslaved. There would be starvation, even driving some to the point of cannibalism. Fear and despair would haunt them day and night. The Jews ratified this Covenant at that time, and again later when many of the Jews were calling for the crucifixion of their Messiah, they invoked an oath, saying "His blood be upon us and our children!'

(Matthew 27:25). That was exactly what was about to happen next.

36

The Seventh Seal

After the seventh seal was broken, there was silence in heaven for half an hour. Seven angels (or messengers) of the churches, stood before God and they were given seven trumpets. Another angel approached the altar, holding a golden censer. He was given incense to which he added the prayers of the saints, and then placed the censer on the golden altar. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it onto the land of Israel. Peals of thunder, voices, and flashes of lightening followed, along with a great earthquake. In the Old Testament, when God's people were commanded to destroy an apostate city, the priest would take fire from the altar and heap it on some of the booty from the city, using it as kindling. In that way the entire city was offered up as a sacrifice so that nothing could survive the conflagration. Revelation is using this symbolic language to describe the devastation that was about to come on the city of Jerusalem.

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Chapter 4

The Seven Trumpets

The Seven Seals gave a general warning

to the Church of the Last Days. Now

come the Seven Trumpets which

warned of the coming Tribulation

preceding the siege of Jerusalem. In

the Old Testament trumpets were

blown for ceremonial processions,

especially when escorting the Ark of

the Covenant from place to place.

When Moses summoned the people to

worship, two silver trumpets were

blown. Trumpets were blown at

Jericho, culminating in its downfall.

Trumpets were also blown when a new

king was proclaimed, and these seven

trumpets of Revelation declare that

the army of the King of kings is

preparing a holy war of conquest.

However, they are blown against Israel

herself, who has now become the

enemy of God. They signalled a time of

great distress on the land.

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The First Trumpet

In 66 AD, the Jews of Judea rose in revolt against Rome, sparking the First Jewish–Roman War. The events were

described by the Jewish historian Josephus, including the

siege of Jerusalem (69–70 AD), the heroic last stand at

Gamla where 9,000 died, and Masada (72–73 CE) where the

Jewish defenders killed themselves rather than fall into the

hand of their Roman enemy. In Revelation such events are

depicted in symbolic and metaphorical style to indicate the

cataclysmic nature of what occurred.

In his vision of Revelation, John saw the angels getting

ready to blow their trumpets. Then he heard the first

trumpet being sounded and saw hail and fire mixed

together with blood raining down on the land. A third of the trees and a third of the land was burned up. All the green grass was also burned up. It was reported that the

Romans who invaded the countryside of Israel used

scorched earth methods to strip the earth of trees and

vegetation to use in their attacks against the towns and

cities. Wooden towers were built from which to throw down

stones and darts over the defence walls. Battering rams

were constructed. Ramparts were built up that led up to

the walls. All these required wood and lots of it.

Deforestation also ensured that the forests could not

provide cover and camouflage for Rome's enemies.

39

The Second Trumpet

The second trumpet sounded and what looked like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into a sea of blood.

A third of the sea creatures died and a third of the ships were destroyed. In the scriptures, Israel was called God's Holy Mountain, the Mountain of God's inheritance. Mount Zion was the symbol of the nation. But Israel was now apostate and likened to Babylon. In Jeremiah 51:25,42 God declares: " Behold I am against you, O destroying mountain.

…I will stretch out My hand against you..and I will make you a burnt out mountain." Revelation was saying that this would happen now as God brought forth His judgement on the nation.

40

The Third Trumpet

The third angel sounded and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It's name was Wormwood and it fell into the waters, poisoning them so that many men died from drinking the bitter water. 'Wormwood' is a term used in the Old Testament to warn Israel of coming destruction for apostasy. In Jeremiah God warned Israel: "Because they have forsaken my Law that I set before them, and not obeyed My voice or walked in accord with it, …I will feed this people with bitter food and give them poisonous water to drink. I will scatter them among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them. " (Jeremiah 9:15).

Here in Revelation God was again giving a similar warning.

41

The Fourth Trumpet

The fourth angel sounded and a third of the sun, moon, and stars were darkened so that day and night were only partial. The Old Testament prophets used such imagery to depict the fall of nations and rulers of nations. The prophet wrote this concerning Babylon: " Behold the Day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give light and the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light." (Isaiah 13:9-11) This was God's pronouncement of doom upon Babylon, but He was now issuing the same doom upon apostate Israel. The flying eagle cried out: " Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the Land because of the remaining blasts of the Trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"

42

The Fifth Trumpet

When the fifth angel sounded, the key to the Abyss was given to a falling star (Satan). His name was Abaddon (or Apollyon in the Greek) and he opened the Abyss and smoke poured out as locust-type creatures emerged. They were given power over the earth, but not over the humans, or the vegetation, or over the saints (sealed by God). They were given 5 months to torment the wicked, to sting them like scorpions. The locust creatures sat on horses prepared for battle. They had gold crowns on their heads and their faces were human-like. They had long hair like women, and teeth like lions. They wore breastplates of iron. Their scorpion tails stung humans for 5 months, inflicting such pain and torment that men sought death, longing to die and being unable to find any relief. Only the Christians were exempt from misery. These creatures could be referring to the demon-locusts mentioned in the prophets, like in Jeremiah 51:27-29: " Set up a standard on the earth; blow the trumpet among the nations;…bring up horses like bristling locusts…the land trembles and writhes in pain." This prophecy concerned Babylon, but now a similar curse was being directed against Jerusalem.

43

Demon Locusts

Because of Israel's rejection of

the King of kings, Jerusalem

became the haunt of demons

and every kind of unclean spirit.

Historians reported that a

large part of that generation

became demon-possessed.

Many of the Jews lost all ability

to reason. Maniacal mobs

attacked one another in a

frenzied lust for murder,

executions, suicides, and rapes.

Familie s killed their own

children. Satan's host of

destroyers were let loose on

the Jewish nation and this

demon host of hell swarmed

o v e r t h e l a n d o f I s r a e l ,

consuming the apostates. It was

literally a hell on earth. Yet this

was not to be the worst that

would come upon the land. The

eagle of the fourth trumpet had

proclaimed 3 woes to come, and

this was but the first. There

were 2 more trumpets and 2

more woes still waiting.

44

The Sixth Trumpet

The second woe came as the sixth trumpet sounded. A voice proceeding from the golden horns of the heavenly altar commanded the sixth angel to release the four angels on the earth so that they might kill a third of mankind. A vast multitude of horsemen appeared, wearing breastplates of fire and brimstone. The horses' heads were like lions, and fire proceeded out of their mouths, and their serpentine tails caused great harm. The rest of humanity, who weren't killed by these plagues, did not repent. They continued to worship their idols of gold and silver and continued with their murders, sorcery, thefts, and fornication.

45

Josephus as Witness

While the apostle John wrote what he saw in the

Spirit concerning the future judgement of the Jews

(Revelation is thought to have been written

between A.D. 43-47), another man named Flavius

Josephus would write about apostate Israel,

inadvertently affirming everything written in

Revelation. Josephus was a Jewish priest, governor,

and historian who wrote 'The Jewish War' (around

AD 75–79). In this work, he described the conflict

between the Jewish rebels who took on the power

of Rome in a bid for freedom, with the resultant fall

of Jerusalem in AD 70. According to Josephus, the

Roman governors of the province were the main

cause of Jewish anger. They were indifferent and

malicious towards the Jews, and so were the

emperors in Rome. In 64 AD, Gessius Florus

presided over Judea and his disdain for the Jewish

people brought about a riot in Caesarea, during

which the Zealots wiped out the Roman-backed

Greeks that inhabited the area. Florus was enraged

and plundered the Jewish Temple, erecting statues

of Emperor Nero and himself with the money he

took. The Jewish people were horrified. The temple

was the centre of religious and social life for the

Jewish people and a sign of God's presence in the

Holy City. When Florus raided the temple, it was the

biggest insult to the Jewish religion. The Jewish

people rebelled and attacks were made on Roman

citizens throughout Judaea.

46

Cestius

Then in AD66 the priests of the Temple at

Jerusalem suddenly refused to offer the daily

sacrifice for the wellbeing of the Emperor and

people of Rome. These sacrifices had become the

accepted token of Israel’s loyalty to Rome. The

Jews had been excused, because of their religious

convictions, from sacrificing to the Roman gods, but

refusal to offer this form of ‘loyal’ sacrifice was

tantamount to an act of rebellion on the part of the

Jews. Cestius was the Roman governor of Syria,

appointed by Nero in 63 AD. He was sent out from

Antioch in 66 AD with the Twelfth Legion and other

troops to quell the uprising in Judea. During their

advance on Jerusalem, the Roman forces burned

down villages, defeating rebels along the way.

Cestius' policy of burning villages and killing the

inhabitants led even Jewish moderates to join the

rebel ranks. About 20,000 dissenting Jews were

slaughtered by the Syrians in the city of Cesarea.

The Jews retaliated by burning many Syrian cities

and villages to the ground. It was common to see

entire cities filled with unburied dead bodies of old

men, women, and children. The rebellion spread

throughout the land and a rebel government was

set up and generals were appointed in command of

various districts. The remaining Jewish rioters

from Caesarea fled to Jerusalem. There the Jewish

people stopped paying taxes in the Temple and

overran the Roman military garrison stationed

there, indiscriminately murdering them.

47

Earthquakes and Famines

Cestius had conquered the Judean countryside but now his army marched to Jerusalem and prepared to take it. At one point, for unknown reasons, Cestius withdrew from the fighting and the Jews saw this as a sign that God was giving them the victory. Even moderates, such as the more peaceful priests, joined the rebels. False prophets and charlatans encouraged the people to ignore the warnings God had given them. Jesus had predicted that there would be miraculous signs and wonders preceding the fall of Jerusalem. “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.." (Luke 21:11,25,26) 48

Warning Signs

True to these words, several signs had been reported and chronicled by both Josephus and the Roman historian Tacticus. In 66 AD, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a bright light shone around the altar in the Temple, as bright as daylight, that lasted for half an hour. Later during the feast, the massive gate that 20 men could scarcely move, opened of its own accord and could only be closed again with great difficulty. A similar event had happened in 30 AD at Jesus’ crucifixion when the outer veil (24 feet wide and 80 feet high) of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, was torn top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-54). In the same year of 66AD, before sunset, an armed battalion of chariots had been seen in the sky over the whole country. (This was similar to the chariots seen by Elisha and his servant (2 Kings 6:16-17) when the army of the king of Aram surrounded them). Another sign appeared on the next feast day of Pentecost. Twenty-four priests officiating in the Temple heard a loud superhuman voice declaring: “We are departing hence!” That same year a star, in the shape of a sword, had shone in the sky over Jerusalem and remained hovering overhead like a comet for an entire year. Yet despite all these signs and warnings, the Jews did not repent of their apostasy. Josephus commented: “These men, therefore, trampled upon the laws of man, and laughed at the laws of God..yet did these prophets foretell many things concerning the rewards of virtue, and the punishments of vice, which when these zealots violated, they occasioned the fulfilling of those very prophecies belonging to their own country. …Neither did any other city ever suffer such miseries, nor did any age ever breed a generation more fruitful in wickedness than this was, from the beginning of the world”. (Josephus, The Jewish War )

49

The Christians

In Rome, Emperor Nero, enraged at the rebellion of the Jewish rebels, sent the Roman army under General Vespasian to replace Cestius in order to destroy the rebel armies and punish the citizens in Judea. In the short window of time between Cestius' withdrawal and Vespasian taking his place, the Christians in the city saw the Roman soldiers approaching. They were apparently able to escape the horrors that followed by rushing out of Jerusalem as soon as they saw the Roman "eagle-bearers" carrying their standards. Jesus had warned:" Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." (vultures being the Roman Aquila eagle and the 'corpse' being Jerusalem). It is not known conclusively whether all the Christians escaped the terrible destruction, but tradition states that many Christians fled to Pella, in the region of the Decapolis across the Jordan River. Josephus, who recorded the fall of Jerusalem, does not mention any Christians being slain in the massacre, and the fourth-century Church Fathers Eusebius of Caesarea and Epiphanius of Salamis cite a tradition that before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the early Christians had been warned to flee to Pella. They had remembered Jesus' words:

“When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house. Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! Pray that your flight will not be in the winter nor on a Sabbath, for then there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved, but for the sake of the chosen ones, they were shortened." (Matthew 24:15) 50

The Aquila

In the decades after Caligula's death, Jews suffered

other gross indignities against their religion. Roman

soldiers exposed themselves in the Temple on one

occasion and burned a Torah scroll on another. In the

year AD 66, Florus, the Roman procurator, stole

great quantities of silver from the Temple. All of

these were considered great sacrileges. Then when

Vespasian advanced on Jerusalem, his soldiers

carried flags emblazoned with the Aquila, the Roman

Eagle, symbolizing the power and glory of Rome. It

was a patriotic symbol and all Roman soldiers had to

swear an oath of allegiance to the Aquila, which held

a sacred meaning representing divine protection and

favour, strength, courage, and honour of the legion.

The Romans revered the Aquila to the point of

The "abomination of desolation" Jesus had referred to worshipping it as a god. No battle or campaign was

was something that would greatly offend and dishonour

engaged in without proudly displaying it. To the Jews,

the Jewish religion. The Jews had often suffered

however, it represented an unspeakable affront to

effrontery from the Romans. The emperor Caligula in AD

Yahweh. To see the Aquila on Jewish soil was

39 declared himself to be a deity and ordered his statue

insufferable. This was most likely the 'abomination of

to be set up at every temple in the Roman Empire. The

desolation' referred to by Jesus. When the Christians

Jews refused the command. Then Caligula threatened to

saw the Roman army advancing towards the city in

destroy the Temple. He railed at them, " So you are the the name of their god, they took immediate heed to

enemies of the gods, the only people who refuse to

the words of Jesus and fled the city.

recognize my divinity." Only the emperor's sudden death saved the Jews from massacre.

51

Zealots Run To Jerusalem

By the year 67 AD, Vespasian and his son Titus had taken back all of Judea and killed the Jewish rebels that were left. The Jewish strongholds were now under Roman control. Only the city of Jerusalem was left. The Zealots and Sicarii now had no place to go in the country so they gathered together and went to Jerusalem. The city had no governor at this time and the Jews welcomed the robbers. The people thought the rebels had come to help them defend the city and their support for the Zealots grew. But the robbers began plundering the people and openly murdering some of the city’s prominent citizens. The people became greatly fearful of the rebels, especially the Sicarii, a splinter group of the Zealots who were known to be paid-to-kill assassins.

52

Sicari

The Sicarii carried 'sicae', or small daggers,

concealed in their cloaks and they would attack

their victims and then escape by blending into the

crowd to escape detection. They committed a

series of atrocities in an attempt to incite the

population into war against Rome. In one account,

Josephus mentions that they had raided nearby

Hebrew villages including Ein Gedi, where they

massacred 700 women and children. The populace

was so in fear of them that they allowed them to

appoint high priests themselves, which annulled

the ancient line of succession.

Idumeans

The zealots entered the Temple and made it their

own personal refuge. The populace saw this as a

sacrilege and tried to remove the rebel factions.

They managed to push them back into the Temple.

The Zealots called on the neighbouring Idumeans

to enter the city and join their side. A great

slaughter followed, killing the priests and casting

them out naked to be eaten by dogs and wild

animals. Then the Idumeans turned on the

populace, murdering, pillaging, and raping. Twelve

thousand Jews were massacred. Eventually the

Zealots, who were finding that the Idumeans were

becoming a burden, persuaded them to return

home. The Romans were not yet expected but no

one felt safe from the Zealots within the city who

killed indiscriminately for no reason.

53

Vespasian Appoints Titus

Then the Romans under Vespasian and Titus

approached Jerusalem. This caused the Jewish

leaders in Jerusalem to turn to panic. They begged

the Zealots to surrender peacefully in order to save

Jewish lives, but the Zealots refused. To force

compliance, the Zealots and the fanatical Sicarii

publicly executed all dissenters and hung their dead

bodies so as to intimidate everyone to follow their

demands and to participate in the revolution. They

were demoniacal in their ravages, even burning the

crops and dried foods that the Sadducees and the

Pharisees had stored in expectation of the Roman

siege. It had disastrous consequences. Many of the

city dwellers and soldiers starved to death. Thus was

fulfilled Revelation's 6th trumpet's warning of famine.

Hearing of the infighting among the Jews, Vespasian

waited for the Jews to decimate their own numbers.

However, before the siege could really take off, news

came to General Vespasian that Nero had died on

June 9th, 68 AD, by his own hand after being

declared an enemy of the state by the Roman Senate.

Three other emperors arose in quick succession,

(Galba, Otho, Vitellius), each reigning for only a few

months. Rome was very unstable at this time.

Vespasian was acclaimed the new emperor by his own

military and many in Rome were in agreement. He

became the new emperor in 69 AD, and left his son

Titus as second in command in the war against

Jerusalem. By 70AD the Romans were at the gates of

Jerusalem, besieging the walls.

54

Angel Witness

John saw a strong angel coming down out of heaven,

clothed in a cloud with a rainbow surrounding him.

His face was like the sun and his legs like pillars of

fire. He had one foot on the sea and the other on

land. His voice was like the roar of a lion. Seven peals

of thunder uttered their voices, but John was not

permitted to write what they said. Then the angel

lifted his right hand to heaven and swore an oath to

the Creator of all things existing, proclaiming that

there should no more delay, but that when the

seventh angel sounded his trumpet, the Mystery of

God would be accomplished as the Gospel was

preached to His servants. The "Mystery of God" is the revelation of His bringing the Gentiles into

Spiritual Israel - the Bride of Christ. (Colossians

1:26-27.) The Angel swore by heaven because he was

a witness to the New Creation, proclaiming the New

Covenant which would unite all peoples into one new

nation under Christ. " If anyone is in Christ, the new

creation has come. The old has gone, the new is

here!…He made known to us the mystery of His will

according to His good pleasure, which He purposed

in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach

their fulfillment - to bring unity to all things in

heaven and on earth under Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:9-10)

55

Bittersweet Book

The Angel held a book and he spoke to John telling him to take it and eat it. He was told that he would find it as sweet as honey to his taste, but when it settled in his stomach, it would be bitter. John was told that he must prophecy again to many nations and peoples, sharing this book of Revelation with them, even though it was filled with so many lamentations, woes, and judgements (bitter to the taste). Revelation reveals the truth about God's judgement being necessary to save the righteous and destroy His enemies. There can be no mercy without justice. These are two sides to God's nature and they cannot be separated, for they operate together as one whole. Old Israel was about to experience God's full judgement for her apostasy, but while it was greatly to be desired that all wickedness would receive its recompense, (and the saints were praying for this to happen) it would also be a bitter experience to see Israel, the Covenant nation, disinherited and punished. Sorrow would follow close on the heels to Exultation.

56

Two Witnesses Against Jerusalem

John was told to measure the Temple of God and the altar,

and to cast out the outer court which would be trampled

by the nations for 42 months. God's Two Witnesses,

clothed in sackcloth (dressed in mourning for the apostasy

of Israel) would prophecy during that time. They were also

represented as 2 olive trees and 2 lamp-stands

(symbolizing the Holy Spirit's filling and empowering work).

If anyone tried to harm them, fire would proceed from their

mouths and devour their enemies. They had the power to

shut up the sky and turn waters to blood. These Witnesses

could perhaps represent Elijah (the Prophets) who shut up

the sky so that rain could not fall, and Moses (the Law) who

turned the Nile River to blood during the plagues of Egypt.

There are other ideas who these witnesses could

represent. One commentator felt they represented Old

and New Covenant believers. In any case, the Biblical Law required two witnesses, and they now testified against the

apostasy and wickedness of Israel. In Malachi 4:1-5 God

warned of this day: " For behold the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, that will leave them neither root nor branch…Behold I

will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the coming of the

great and dreadful Day of the Lord." Jesus explained to His disciples that this Elijah was actually a metaphor for John the Baptist. This reveals the timing of the Day of the

Lord (within that generation) and its nature. It would be a

great day for Israel because it would usher in salvation, but

it would also be a dreadful day, because judgement would

fall on the nation.

57

The Beast from the Sea

The dead bodies of the Witnesses lay in the streets

for three and half days in Jerusalem (also referred

to as the Great City, Sodom, and Egypt). The three

and a half days refer to years. (Interestingly, the

siege of Jerusalem under the Romans lasted

exactly three and a half years). All the nations

were rejoicing and sent gifts to one another in

celebration that the two Prophets were dead. This

was because the Law and Prophets had pronounced

condemnation on the people for their sin, but now

they were silenced. This could also be said of the

witnessing Church which had been actively bringing

the message of the gospel to the nations. Through

persecution, Rome and Israel had suppressed the

voice of God, killing God's messengers so that they

could not bring the conviction by the Spirit through

their testimony. However after the three and a half

days (years) were over, God filled His Witnesses with

life, much to the fear and consternation of those

who saw it. A loud voice from the Cloud of heaven

said: " Come up here" and they went up to heaven as their enemies looked on. This symbolized Christ's

ascension and included the Redeemed Church which

When the two Witnesses had finished their testimony

has been placed in Christ. An earthquake followed

against Israel, a Beast rose up out of the sea and killed and one tenth of the city fell and seven thousand

them. The Beast is Leviathan, the Dragon, the Serpent of

people died. The rest of the people were terrified

old. He was released from the Abyss.

and glorified God. This ended the Second Woe. A

Third was yet to come.

58

The Seventh Trumpet

The Seventh angel sounded and loud voices arose

in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has

become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ,

and He will reign forever and ever." The 24 elders

fell down in worship, saying: " We give thanks, O

Lord God, the Almighty, Who was, and is, because

You have taken Your great power and begun to

reign. And the nations were enraged and Your

rage came, and the time came for the dead to be

vindicated, to give their reward to Your servants,

the prophets, and the saints, to those who fear

Your name, small and great, and to destroy the

Land." Under the Old Covenant the 'seventh

trumpet' was blown on the first day of the seventh

month, Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Trumpets. It

was the exact day that many of the ancient kings

of Judah had their coronation ceremony. Now the

Seventh Angel was proclaiming the rule of Jesus

Christ over the nations. The Temple of God in

Jesus had prophesied that there would be a sign of the heaven was opened and the Ark of the Covenant

Son of Man in heaven - not a sign in heaven (as a locality), appeared in His Temple, amid flashes of lightening,

but an indicator that Jesus was in heaven, ruling in His and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a great

Kingdom. His Kingdom would envelop the earth and extend

hailstorm. Unlike the earthly sanctuary which

over the nations. The fall of Jerusalem, and the pouring

could only be entered by the high priest, the saints

out of His wrath on His enemies, would be the sign that of the New Covenant have complete access to the

Christ had indeed ascended to His heavenly Throne as

Sanctuary and the Throne.

King of a New World, an eternal New Creation.

59

Jerusalem Falls

On the earth, the heavenly prophesies of Revelation were played out in dramatic form. Titus surrounded Jerusalem and saw that the only way to conquer the city was to set up a camp outside the walls. Anyone that tried to escape the city was crucified in view of the city. The Jewish population was terrified. Everyone inside the walls knew that they had to fight or run a high risk of dying in the most horrible way imaginable. After seven months, the Romans had damaged the city walls enough to be able to breach them. The Zealots and the Sicarii retreated to the Temple. The Roman legion, after several attempts at breaching the walls, finally entered the city and headed for the Temple, the site that once gave thousands of Jewish people hope. God, it seemed, was no longer in the city. This was the most devastating Roman blow to Judaea.

60

Inside Jerusalem

There were too many bodies to bury and

the stench was overpowering so the rebels

threw them into valleys below the city. Still

the city showed no signs of surrender.

Some managed to desert the city but were

caught and killed by the Arabians and

Syrians who were looking for the gold that

many deserters had swallowed. Josephus

wrote: “If the Romans had delayed any

longer in attacking these villains, the city

would certainly have been swallowed up by

the earth or flooded or destroyed by

lightening, as Sodom was, for it had

brought forth a generation more atheistic

than those who had previously suffered

such punishments from God.” (Josephus

the Jewish War). Josephus gives one

account of a woman who took her infant

son and killed him, eating his body for food.

When the Zealots smelled cooking, they

Inside the city there was great famine. Upper rooms were

came to her home to demand food, only to

filled with dying women and children. City lanes were piled

back away in horror at this sight of grisly

with dead bodies. Young men were swelled with starvation

cannibalism. Many of the Jews wished they

and the city became deathly quiet. The Zealots, who were

were already dead so they wouldn’t know of

holed up within the Temple grounds, went from house to

these horrendous deeds.

house plundering them in their search for food and killing

those who lay dying.

61

The Temple

Meanwhile Titus had ordered the city gates set on fire and he and his army marched into Jerusalem. The Roman troops burned the Temple on August 10, the same day it had been burned by the Babylonians over a thousand years earlier. Titus had hoped to spare the Temple in order to loot it, but his soldiers were in a frenzy and ignored his orders. Thousands of Jews were slain and there were so many bodies around the Temple that it was impossible to see the ground itself. The roar of the fires and loud lamentation by the Jews could be heard to the mountains. The zealots and robbers fled the Temple area and hid in underground caves. The rest of the people were killed and 97,000 went into captivity. The city was burned down, the walls demolished, and the Temple utterly destroyed, never to be rebuilt again. Over one million Jewish people were killed or sold into slavery. Seventy thousand Jewish slaves were taken back to Rome to build the Roman Coliseum. Josephus sums up by saying: ” Neither it’s great antiquity, it’s vast riches, the spread of its people all over the earth, nor the veneration paid to it could preserve Jerusalem from destruction. And thus ended the siege of Jerusalem. ” (Josephus The Jewish War) 62

One Covenant Ended And The Other Did Not

The Sacrificial System under the Old Law Covenant was meant to lead the nation of Israel to faith in God.

God's people have always been saved by faith. In antediluvian times, the Bible reveals that Adam and his son Abel were already offering animal sacrifices as an offering for sin. They were doing this out of faith in God's promise to send a Seed (Deliverer) who would crush the head of the Serpent (Satan). This promise was made to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It meant a divine Saviour would come one day to rescue humanity from sin and death.

After the flood, God renewed this same promise to Abraham, giving him a Covenant based on faith in the coming Messiah (Deliverer). After the birth of Abraham's grandson, Jacob, the people of God were called 'Israel"

referring to God's spiritual offspring. Later, after the exodus of Abraham's descendants from Egypt, God made another Covenant with His people in addition to the one He gave Abraham. This Covenant was not based on faith (or trust) in God, but on the Law, a conditional agreement dependent on human effort to gain acceptance with God. This Law Covenant did not negate or replace the earlier Faith Covenant made with Abraham. It merely added the Law to keep the people separate from the pagan nations, and to show them their sin. They were also given the Tabernacle with its animal sacrifices as a continual reminder of their need for the promised Deliverer.

In this way, Spiritual Israel existed within the physical nation of Israel, but they were not the same.

63

True Israel

The Faith Covenant was only applicable to those within the nation of Israel who placed their trust in God as their Saviour.

When Messiah came to redeem Israel, as promised, the Jewish nation did not receive Him. Instead it rejected Him to the point of having Him crucified. It was the last straw. After a long line of rebellions and continued apostasy, God rejected the nation of Israel and ended the Old Covenant. The countless warnings throughout history, and those given by Jesus, did not result in the Jewish nation's repentance. In fact, most of the nation remained hardened. Finally God allowed the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and burn down the Temple in 70 AD. This is what the first half of John's Revelation was addressing. It predicted the terrible downfall of the physical nation of Israel.

However Spiritual Israel - the True Israel - was not affected by God's judgement. She was still greatly loved by God, and all the promises made to Abraham and the other prophets and patriarchs, still belonged to her.

64

Chapter 5

The Sign of a Woman

John saw a great sign in heaven of a Woman

clothed in the sun, wearing a crown of 12 stars,

and having the moon at her feet. She was in

labor and about to give birth. This was a picture

of Spiritual Israel, the Virgin about to give

birth to the Warrior-King, the Messiah. Within

her are represented all the saints, before and

after the Messiah's arrival. The mention of the

sun, moon, and stars is astronomical symbolism

commonly used in Jewish prophecy. Astronomy

and astrology in ancient times revealed

messages from the Creator to His people.

Pagan religions perverted these sciences for

purposes of fortune-tel ing, but the Jewish

prophets employed them legitimately. For

instance, the Magi from the east looked to the

heavens to interpret the timing of Messiah's

birth, probably through the information handed

down hundreds of years earlier from the

prophet Daniel, the foremost counsellor to the

Babylonian kings. By studying the Zodiac and

lining up the sun, moon, planets and

constellations, they were able to pinpoint the

date of Jesus' birth to September 11, 3BC on

the Day of Trumpets. Their arrival at the home

of Jesus and his parents was on December 25,

2BC. (information from The Days of Vengeance

by David Chilton, pp 296 - 303).

65

Satan the Dragon Beast

Then John saw a great red dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns appear. It wore 10 crowns and its tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven. The Dragon symbolizes Satan. The stars swept away by the Dragon's tail represent the angels who followed Satan and were expelled from heaven along with him. The ten horns of the Dragon are mentioned in Daniel 7:24-27 " The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom…After them another king will arise,..and the holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. He will speak against the Most High and oppress His holy people … but the wicked king's power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him. ’" Bible scholars agree that this passage refers to the Roman Empire.

66

Fleeing Into the Desert

The Dragon stood before the Woman, waiting for her to give birth, and when she had birthed a Son, he tried to devour the Child. However the Child ascended to heaven, referring to Christ's ascension to His Father after the crucifixion. The Woman fled from the Dragon into the desert where God protected and sustained her for three and one half years. The Bible outlines the continuous battle between the Seed of God (the promised Deliverer) and the Serpent. Down through the ages, Satan tried to murder the Seed through various means. The symbols used by John in Revelation speak of that. However God would not allow His plan to fail or harm to come to Spiritual Israel or His Son. In Psalm 2:7-9, He says to His Son, " You are My Son. Ask of Me and I will surely give you the nations for your inheritance. ..You shall rule them with a rod of iron, and shatter them like earthenware."

67

War in Heaven

A war transpired in heaven between Michael and his angels, and the Dragon and his minions. The Dragon was also called the Serpent of old, the devil, and Satan. Jesus called him the Father of Lies, who deceives the whole world. He is also the Accuser of God's people who accuses them before God day and night.

68

Satan Thrown Down To Earth

The Dragon's army was not strong enough to prevail against the angel army and he and his followers were thrown down to the Land (symbolizing the nation of Israel). Then a loud voice in heaven proclaimed that the Kingdom of God had now come, with salvation, power, and the authority of Jesus Christ. The Devil had been vanquished by the blood of the Lamb, and also by the spoken testimony of the gospel by Christ's followers.

They were even willing to be martyred for their faith as they persevered in proclaiming the Kingdom of Christ. Jesus had prophesied all this before He made atonement for sin on the cross. He said: "Now judgement is upon this world. Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out." (John 12:31) He had also announced: " If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom has come upon you." (Matthew 12:28)

69

The Dragon's Rage

Having stripped the principalities and the powers, Christ openly made a triumphant display of them. (Colossians 2:15) The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, assuring them that God would soon crush Satan beneath their feet. He also told them that God had raised them up with Christ to the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6) and their citizenship was now in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Yet though the Dragon had been defeated, humiliated, and thrown down to earth, he refused to give up. He would go on a mad rampage to do all he could to ruin the people of God. Both Apostate Israel and the Roman Empire would become demonized in their rage against Spiritual Israel, who was still connected to the Old Israel because the Temple was still standing.

70

Pursuit Of The Woman

When the Dragon was thrown to the earth, he went after the Woman and her Child (Messiah Jesus), but the wings of a great Eagle (God's Holy Spirit) were given to her so that she might fly into the wilderness where she was protected and nourished for three and half times (years). The Serpent Dragon spewed water after her in order to drown her in a flood but the Land helped the Woman and drank up the water. The enraged Dragon then went off to make war against the rest of her seed. The 'rest of her seed' were the Christians of the early Church. This battle between Satan and God's people has been ongoing for millennia, but God has always rescued His Beloved Bride (Spiritual Israel) and kept her safe from evil.

71

Covenants, Israel, And The Church

God is Spirit, and to fully relate to Him, it is necessary to have a spirit that is capable of communing with Him. God's primary way of communicating is spiritual, although His creation also 'speaks' of many aspects of His nature. However there has been a problem with communication with the human race ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. It was there that humanity died spiritually and was no longer able to make direct contact with the Creator. In the Old Era before Christ, God got around this problem by enlivening certain humans (prophets and patriarchs) by indwelling them temporarily. But even they could never enjoy such close association for long. On the human side, there was no way to bridge the gap of separation between the Creator and His fallen creatures. Nevertheless God's Holy Spirit fell upon certain men and women and He was able to transmit messages to them. This was His method before the flood, and after as well, but it wasn't enough. God's eternal plan was to create a New People who would have new spirits and new hearts that would be able to commune with Him directly in a manner which even Adam had never experienced. They would be able to do this permanently, making it possible to live with God forever. The plan of God began with a Faith Covenant made with Abraham, wherein God promised to send His Seed so that this New Creation could come into being. Abraham's descendants multiplied, some becoming God's chosen people by entering into the Faith Covenant through trusting in the Promise, and others falling by the wayside. (Romans 9). Eventually the Hebrew people (Abraham's descendants) wound up in Egypt and God arranged their escape from there and rounded them up in the Sinai Desert. There He made a different Covenant with the Hebrews called the Law Covenant. This was a conditional covenant that depended on the Hebrews' actions, and kept them separate from their pagan neighbours. The Faith Covenant was based on God's action alone (sending a Deliverer to save them). To enter into the Faith Covenant it was only necessary to trust in that Promise. Essentially the nation of Israel was formed at that time as a mix of Spiritual Israel (Faith Covenant people) and of those not trusting in a coming Deliverer. The nation as a whole held to the Law Covenant, but only an elect remnant held to the Faith Covenant. Later, when God divorced the nation of Israel, ending the Law Covenant, Spiritual Israel and the Faith Covenant still remained. Spiritual Israel was then associated with the Church, an organization that was to draw believers from around the world to Jesus Christ. However, like Old Israel, the Church was comprised of a mix of both true believers and those not having God's life within.

72

The Rest Of The Woman's Seed

Rome did not understand the difference between

Israel as a nation and the Christian Church. At

first Rome thought the Christians were a splinter

group off the Jewish religion and the Emperors

were not unduly concerned about them. Rome had

previously given concessions to the Jews

regarding their faith, and as Christians were

identified with that group, Rome exercised

tolerance. In fact, the Gospel spread quickly

everywhere and some of Caesar's own household

became Christians. The apostle Paul wrote: " All

God’s people here send you greetings, especially

those who belong to Caesar’s household. "

(Philippians 4:22) Even Emperor Tiberius was said

to have been sympathetic to Christ's claims to

divinity. However Rome soon discovered that the

followers of Jesus Christ were even more

resistant to Caesar worship than the Jews ever

had been. Rome (energized by the Dragon, or

Satan) then went after the Christians, heavily

persecuting them. Many were martyred, especially

under Nero, the demonized Emperor of Rome.

They were arrested as enemies of the State and

imprisoned, some were sent to the games at the

Colosseum where they were torn apart by beasts.

Many fled to other towns and cities and managed

"!e enraged Dragon then went off to make war against the rest of her seed."

to escape.

73

The Beast

John saw a Beast rise up out of the sea. (In the scriptures the sea represented the Gentile nations, while the land represented Israel). It had ten horns and seven crowned heads (again speaking of Rome which was situated on seven hills and had ten emperors). The Beast appeared very similar to the Dragon, but its skin was like a leopard, its mouth like a lion, and its feet were like those of a bear. Its heads were marked with blasphemous names. One head looked like it had been smitten by a fatal wound, but it was healed. The whole Land worshipped the Dragon and, because the Dragon had given its power to the Beast, they worshipped and extolled the Beast as well. The Beast spoke great blasphemies against God, the Tabernacle, and the saints, whom he warred against and overcame. His authority extended over all the peoples and nations. Everyone not written in the Book of Life of the slain Lamb worshipped the Beast. Those who were destined for captivity went into captivity. Those who killed with the sword, were themselves killed with the sword.

74

The Great Beast Of Rome

Apostate Israel was under Satan's power and influence, and so too was the Beast who appeared similar to the Dragon. In fact, the Dragon (Satan) had given its power to the Beast (Rome), meaning Satan had empowered the Roman Empire to rule over the nations. At the time Revelation was written, Nero was the Roman Caesar. He was the first Caesar to persecute the Christians because they would not worship him as their God. He had a 98 foot statue created of himself and inscriptions have been found in Ephesus proclaiming him "Almighty God" and

"Saviour". His megalomania demanded that he be worshipped, although the entire Roman Empire demanded state worship throughout its dominion. Most vassal states under Roman rule went along with this edict, but the ones written in the Book of Life - the Christians - would not do this, so the Roman Empire persecuted them. Apostate Israel joined together with Rome in this attack against God's people. In John's vision, the saints were to wait with expectation for God's coming judgement on their persecutors. Their patience would reveal the perseverance and faith of the saints.

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Nero

Emperor Nero is sometimes mistakenly believed to be the Man of Sin Paul described in Thessalonians. The Man of Sin was an individual entity, while the Beast, as described by John, was simply the power behind the Roman Empire. Nero was an especially fierce persecutor of the early Church. He was the reigning Emperor when Revelation was written. He became emperor in 54 AD and reigned until 68 AD. The first five years of Nero’s reign were relatively benign, but he began removing anyone whom he perceived to be in opposition to him. He murdered his adopted brother, his mother, his first wife Octavia and her elder sister. He also kicked his pregnant wife, Poppaea, to death. In 64 AD, the Great Fire of

Rome broke out. It lasted for nine days and wiped out much of the city. Nero had appropriated great swathes of public land for a lavish palace and gardens, which led to rumours that the Emperor had been the arsonist all along. Nero, in order to deflect exposure, shifted blame for the fire on Rome’s Christian population whom he cruelly persecuted. He loved watching people suffer horrifying tortures, and he would dress up as a wild beast and rape male and female prisoners. The bodies of Christians were burned at the stake to light up his debauched garden parties. Nero’s reputation began to plummet with Rome’s elite, and a plot to replace him arose in 65 AD, which he learned of and thwarted.

However, the foiled coup only made Nero more murderous. A famine in the city caused by Nero cutting grain supplies lost him the support of the populace. He soon lost the support of the army as well. By June 68 AD, the Senate declared Nero a public enemy and decreed he should be captured and brought to Rome for execution. The news sent Nero into a frenzied panic. As a troop of cavalry approached the villa to arrest him, Nero chose to end his own life. After Nero’s death, the citizens of Rome reputedly celebrated in the street, but some still revered Nero and circulated rumours that he was not dead. The fact no one had seen Nero’s corpse caused the rumours to persist. In a way, Nero (as a prototype) does live on in history as the quintessential symbol of a wicked world power against God and His people.

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Map of Three Beasts

Another beast rose up from the Land, meaning a

power rose up out of Israel. It spoke like the Dragon

(Satan) indicating that apostate Israel was

demonized and was now in collusion with the Roman

Empire under Nero. Apostate Judaism had rejected

Biblical faith and become Pharisaical heresy. It had

joined forces with Rome in an attempt to destroy

the Church and had made Israel worship Rome

using great signs to deceive the people. John

described this Beast as a False Prophet having two

horns like a Lamb, indicating it was disguised as

being aligned with God's flock, but was actually a

wolf that spoke with the lying deception of the

Dragon (Satan). Jesus had warned that many false

prophets would arrive and mislead many before His

return. He had called apostate Judaism the

'Synagogue of Satan' and had issued many warnings

against it. John said the False Prophet influenced

Israel to make an Image of the Beast (Nero or

Rome) and gave it authority 'to speak' so that

anyone who did not worship the Image was killed. All

the people were given a mark on their right hand or

forehead, and anyone not having the mark could not

buy or sell. The mark was the name of the Beast , or

the number of his name - 666.

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The False Prophet

The False Prophet is described as performing signs to

deceive the people, such as making fire come down out

of heaven. Acts 8:9-24 and 13:6-11 describe two

deceivers named Simon and Bar-Jesus who were

sorcerers or magicians. Many such charlatans were

wandering throughout Israel, some even calling

themselves 'Jesus'. Some of them manifested significant

demonic powers. The particular False Prophet

mentioned by John represented Apostate Israel which

joined with the Roman Empire to make the people

worship it, even creating an Image in its honour. John

stated that the False Prophet gave breath to the Image,

even causing it to speak. This may have been a literal

happening, but is more likely symbolic. Perhaps

Apostate Judaism gave Rome support that leant

credence and legitimacy to Roman authority over the

populace, thereby making it easier for Rome to make

Israel subservient to its rule. Whatever the form of this

giving of 'breath' to the image, the result was that the Israelites were 'branded' with a sign or mark of

subjugation that put them entirely under the economic

control of Rome, making any kind of commerce

impossible unless this mark was in evidence. The mark is

described as 666 according to Hebraic numerology and

is clearly symbolic. It is doubtful that any physical

branding was in John's mind. There have been numerous

surmises as to whom this number could have alluded to,

but nothing is conclusive. Nero is a favourite guess, but

many others have been suggested.

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The Lamb On Mount Zion

John saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 of His beloved ones, all having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. They uttered a thundering, musical voice before the Throne in heaven and they were the only ones who knew the New Song they were singing. These ones had been purchased from Israel, and from among men, as the first fruits to God and the Lamb. They were pure and undefiled, blameless, and no lie was found in their mouths. They are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

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The Saints

The Lamb on Mount Zion is Jesus Christ, King of

kings and Ruler of all nations. He is standing in

victory over all His enemies. Standing with Him,

and sharing in His victory are the 144,000

representing the saints, particularly those who

were among the Jews. They are the first fruits -

the Remnant of Israel from the first generation.

These were a choice selection of saints who were

martyrs of the apocalyptic Church. They are

'chaste' meaning they are spiritually faithful to

the Lamb, following Him wherever He goes. They

are also said to be undefiled by women, meaning

they have kept themselves from harlotry and

fornication. Neither was any lie found in their

mouths. Satan is called the Father of Lies, but

these are truthful as they follow the One Who is

called TRUTH. This view of heaven is a

metaphorical picture of the Church in heaven,

although the saints on earth are one in spirit

with them and rule and reign alongside them

with Christ. Hebrews 12:22-23 is based on this

passage in Revelation. "But you have come to

Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the

heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to

thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful

assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose

names are written in heaven. You have come to

God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the

righteous made perfect." Hebrews indicates that

ALL believers are firstborn and righteous.

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Three Proclamations

Three angels flew in midheaven, having an eternal Gospel to preach to the Land (Israel) and to every nation of the earth. Each angel had a message which he proclaimed in a loud voice.

81

First Proclamation

The First angel declared in a loud voice:

" Fear God, and give Him glory, because

the hour of His judgement has come;

and worship Him Who made the heaven

and the earth and the sea and the

springs of water. " In Matthew 10:26:64 it

was affirmed that " This Gospel of the

Kingdom shall be preached in the

whole world for a witness to all the

nations, and then the end shall

come. " First the Gospel went to the

Jews, and then to the Gentiles. Before

the end came in 70 AD the apostle Paul

said: " Did they not hear? Of course they

did: Their voice has gone out into all the

earth, their words to the ends of the

world…" This is the gospel that you

heard and that has been proclaimed to

every creature under heaven, and of

which I, Paul, have become a servant."

(Romans 10:18, Colossians 1:23) Paul was

referring to the Gospel having reached

the known earth at the time of his

writing. The mission of the apostles and

evangelists had been successful, in spite

of the opposition of the Dragon (Satan),

and the two Beasts (Rome and Apostate

Judaism). The world was evangelized.

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Second Proclamation

The second angel followed, saying:

" Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! She

has made all the nations drink of the

wine of her fornication!" The apostle

Peter had mentioned preaching from a

city called Babylon (a symbolic allusion

to Jerusalem). Later in Revelation

Jerusalem is called 'Sodom' and 'Egypt'

because she had become as wicked as

they were - idolatrous, proud, and an

oppressor of God's people. Like ancient

Babylon, Jerusalem was economically

wealthy, politically influential, and

militarily powerful, having enjoyed God's

favour, protection, and blessing for

many generations. However she was

now as immoral and sinful as the most

notorious of pagan cities. The angel

said she made the nations drink of her

lustful passions, leading to wickedness

a n d b l a s p h e my o f G o d ' s n a m e.

Therefore God was now proclaiming her

coming judgement. He would no longer

p r o t e c t h e r . H e r d o o m w a s

approaching.

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Third Proclamation

A third angel followed the other two,

warning against State-worship: " If

anyone worships the Beast and his

image, and receives a mark on his

forehead or upon his hand, he also will

drink the wine of God's wrath, and he will

be tormented with fire and brimstone in

the presence of the holy angels and

Lamb. The smoke of their torment will go

up forever and ever, and they have no

rest day and night. " The saints were

encouraged to persevere in their faith in

G o d ' s d i v i n e j u s t i c e a n d G o d ' s

approaching judgement against evil. The

apostle James had told them to be

patient regarding the Lord's Coming. It

was ' at hand' and " the Judge was

standing right at the door. " (James 5:7-9)

Then a loud voice from heaven told them

that everyone who died in the Lord from

that time onward would be blessed, for

they would rest from their labours and

their deeds would follow them. This was

actually a comfort to them, for they had

been delivered from the fear of death

through Christ.

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The Perseverance of the Saints

Early Christians understood that their faith might cost them their lives. However they knew that Christ had conquered death through His resurrection. St. Athanasius wrote: " All the disciples of Christ despise death. They take the offensive against it, and instead of fearing it, by the sign of the cross and by faith in Christ trample it as on something dead. Before the divine sojourn of the Saviour even the holiest of men were afraid of death, and mourned the dead as those who perish. But now that the Saviour has raised His body, death is no longer terrible, but all those who believe in Christ tread it underfoot as nothing, and prefer to die rather than to deny their faith in Christ, knowing full well that when they die, they do not perish, but live indeed, and become incorruptible through their resurrection. "

85

Bishop Eusebius, a Church historian, wrote: " We were witnesses to…the truly divine energy of those that believed in the Christ of God. For as soon as the sentence was pronounced against the first, others rushed forward from other parts of the tribunal before the judge, confessing they were Christians, most indifferent to the dreadful and multiform tortures that awaited them, but declaring themselves fully and in the most undaunted manner on the religion which acknowledges only the one Supreme God. They received, indeed, the final sentence of death with gladness and exultation, so far as to even sing and send up hymns of praise and thanksgiving, until they breathed their last." St. Ignatius, an early martyr who was torn apart by wild beasts, declared: " Come fire and cross and grapplings with wild beasts, cuttings and manglings, wrenching bones, hacking of limbs, crushings of my whole body, come cruel tortures of the devil to assail me. Only be it mine to attain unto Jesus Christ. " (St. Atanasius, On the Incarnation; Eusebius Ecclesiastical History; St Ignatius Epistle to the Romans.)

86

Harvest and Vintage

John looked and saw a white Glory Cloud and One

sitting on it who looked like the Son of Man (the

Lord) wearing a golden crown with a sickle in His

hand. Another angel came out of the Temple, also

holding a sickle, crying out the One on the cloud:

" Put in Your sickle and reap because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the Land is

ripe." The Son of Man did so and the Land was reaped as He gathered in the elect of Israel

through His gospel. A second angel came out of the

Temple, also with a sickle. Then a third angel, who

had power over the fire that came out of the altar,

instructed the angel with the sickle to gather the

clusters of the vine of the Land because they were

ripe. The angel threw his sickle into the winepress

of God's wrath which was situated outside

Jerusalem where Christ had been crucified. As the

winepress was trodden, blood flowed over the

Land, right up to the horses' bridles, for 1600

stadia, which are the dimensions of the entirety of

Israel. The historical fulfillment occurred when

Vespasian and Titus overran the country just

before 70 AD, conquering the rebellious Jews in the

towns and smaller cities. Death and desolation

covered the whole land, until only the city of

Jerusalem remained to be judged. National Israel

was being disinherited, while Spiritual Israel was

now the New Jerusalem, identified with the elect

Church of Christ.

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Chapter 6

The Seven Last Plagues

A sign appeared in heaven of seven

angels with seven plagues. These were

the last ones because in them the wrath

of God was finished. John saw a sea of

glass mixed with fire, and standing on it

were all those who were victorious over

the Beast. They held harps and sang the

Song of Moses and the Song of the

Lamb: " Great and marvellous are Your

works, O Lord God the Almighty;

Righteous and true are Your ways, King

of the nations! Who will not fear You, O

Lord, and glorify Your name? For You

alone are holy; For all the nations will

come and worship before You, For Your

righteous acts have been revealed."

These saints were over-comers through

Jesus Christ, and they celebrated the

salvation the Lord had wrought. They

are redeemed forever and have crown

rights, their Father being God, and their

King their Deliverer and Protector.

Hence they are able to approach the

Mighty God of the universe and share in

His exultation over all He has done.

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Smoke from the Sanctuary

The Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony in heaven was opened. The seven angels with the seen plagues came out of the Temple. They wore white linen and golden sashes. One of the Living Creatures gave each angel a golden chalice full of the wrath of God. Smoke filled the Temple from the power of the Glory of God, and no one could enter until the seven plagues were finished.

89

The Wrath of God

The seven angels with the plagues bore in their hands

the curses of the Old Covenant against those who

had rejected the Testimony of Jesus. In the Old

Testament the Tabernacle was filled with smoke

when the heavenly fire consumed the sacrifice. It was

a sign of God's presence and of His wrath against sin.

The Sacrifice of Jesus for sin had already been

offered, but Apostate Israel rejected both their

Messiah and His blood sacrifice. The smoke pluming

from the heavenly Tabernacle symbolized God's

wrath against those who rejected His offer of

deliverance from sin. As shown in this vision, apostate

Israel had been cut off from God's mercy and had only

His wrath awaiting them. The apostle Paul gave this

warning to the Hebrews: " If we deliberately keep on

sinning after we have received the knowledge of the

truth (of Christ's salvation), no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without

mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

How much more severely do you think someone

deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son

of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy

thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them,

and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we

know Him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”

and again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living

God." ( Hebrews 10:26-31)

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First Chalice - Plague of Boils

The Seven Chalices of

God's wrath are very

s i m i l a r t o t h e S eve n

Trumpets, but whereas

the Trumpets referred to

judgement on the Judean

countryside, the Chalices

deal with God's wrath

a g a i n s t t h e c i t y o f

Jerusalem itself. A loud

voice went out from the

Temple, telling the angel to

pour out his cup. When he

did so, malignant sores

broke out on all those who

had the mark of the Beast

and who worshipped its

image. Boils are one of the

listed curses of the Mosaic

Covenant for idolatry and

a p o s t a s y. E g y p t h a d

suffered boils as well for

the persecution of God's

people. Apostate Israel

was guilty of all three.

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Second and Third Chalices - Sea and Rivers of Blood

Josephus wrote: "On one occasion thousands

The second angel poured out his chalice into the sea, and it

of Jewish rebels fled to the Sea of Galilee

became like the coagulated blood of a dead man. Every living

from the Roman massacre at Tarichaeae..in

thing in the sea died. And the third angel poured out his small flimsy boats…pursued by the sturdy

chalice into the rivers and springs of water, and it became

crafts of Vespasian's superior forces…

blood. and the Angel of the Waters said: " You are Righteous, Disaster overtook them and they were sent

Who is and Who was, O Holy One, because You did judge to the bottom, boats and all. Many were

these things, for they poured out the blood of saints and speared while still in the water…One could

prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They are

see the whole lake stained with blood and

worthy!" And a voice from the altar said: "Yes, O Lord God, crammed with corpses, for not a man

the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgements."

escaped."

The Angel of the Waters declared God righteous for

bringing judgement against the murders of God's people.

God's vengeance was well justified and the saints were

worthy of God's retribution against their enemies.

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Fourth Chalice - Scorching Sun

The fourth angel poured out his chalice and

men were scorched with great heat from the

sun. They blasphemed God who has the

power over these plagues, and they did not

repent so as to give Him glory. Like the

Pharaoh of Egypt, their hearts were

hardened by the punishments of God and

their hatred for Him only intensified.

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Fifth Chalice - Blackened Sun

The fifth angel's chalice was poured out upon

the throne of the Beast (Rome) and his

kingdom became darkened. Men gnawed their

tongues in pain and blasphemed God because

of their sores, refusing to repent of their sins.

Rome is highlighted here and the dark sun

symbolizes political turmoil and the fall of

rulers. After Nero died, three kings (Galba,

Otho, and Vitellius) took the throne in quick

succession. There was great upheaval which

spawned many revolutions, civil wars, and riots.

It was a virtual bloodbath with dead bodies

littering the streets.

T h e C h a l i c e s w e r e

poured out so quickly

that there was little

b r e a t h i n g s p a c e

between them. Yet the

people's character was

u n c h a n g e d a n d n o

repentance followed.

Israel had resisted God

and now it's destruction

was assured.

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Sixth Chalice - Euphrates River

The sixth angel poured out his chalice on the Euphrates River and the water was dried up so that the way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun. Long ago the Persian King Cyrus had used this same stratagem to sneak up on the city of Babylon. Titus would do likewise, taking this route along the dry riverbed to besiege Jerusalem with his reinforcement troops, many of whom came from the Euphrates.

95

Spirits of Demons

John saw three unclean spirits that looked frog-like, coming out of the mouths of the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Dragon. These spirits performed signs and went out to the kings of the whole world, gathering them together to a place called Armageddon (in the Hebrew), for the War of the great Day of God, the Almighty. Jesus then spoke: " Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his garments, lest he walk about naked and they see his shame." These demon spirits were from the Devil, the Roman government, and leaders of apostate Israel. They used signs to incite the armies of the world to war against God. But it was actually God Who was drawing them into battle, even drying up the Euphrates River for the armies of Titus to pass through. The armies coming to bring destruction were from the Lord and would be the agents of His wrath against those who betrayed Him and murdered His witnesses. The kings were gathered to a place called Har-Magedon, or Megiddo, where several important battles were fought by Israel in the past. John was not referring to Armageddon in a geographical sense, but rather as a symbol of desolation. This is where the kings and their armies would suffer defeat. Jesus then gave a warning to stay spiritually alert for there was no time to waste.

96

Surrounded by the Demonic

Demonic forces were everywhere present at the

time John wrote Revelation to the Christian

churches. It would get much worse when the things

John foresaw were actually fulfilled. This was why

God had the apostle write this book. God wished to

comfort and encourage His people. Because

demonic elements were behind the government,

religion and society, and because Satan was stirring

all manner of horrendous persecution against

them, they could easily have been assailed by

doubts of God's love for them. Jesus had warned

His disciples that members of one's own family

would betray one another, that lies and deception

would confuse and mislead, and that the hearts of

people would grow cold. It was all happening just as

He said it would. However He had also assured

them that because He had overcome the world,

they would too. Satan and the world were not

greater than God and He would give them great joy

in the midst of tribulation, comforting them in all

their trials. He would also rain down His great

wrath, not only on those who had rejected Him, but

also on those who had harmed His beloved ones. He

used powerful language and symbolism to express

the fierce anger He felt over the murder of His

prophets and saints. He had great empathy for the

pain and terrors they were going through. He made

it very clear that His burning rage and fearsome

wrath were for their enemies and He was

vindicating them. They were to take comfort is this,

and not be afraid.

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The Seventh Chalice

The seventh angel poured out his chalice upon the air and a loud voice from the Temple of heaven declared: "It is done." There was loud thunder and flashes of lightening, followed by a great terrifying earthquake that was more devastating than ever seen before. Jerusalem was split into three parts and Gentile cities also fell. Every island fled away and the mountains were not found. Then a great hail of stones, each weighing 75 pounds, fell from heaven on to the people and they cursed God for this plague of hail. God had given Babylon the Great her cup of wine of His fierce wrath.

98

Great 'Hailstones'

What was happening was a cosmic cataclysm,

which is why John used such forceful symbolic

language. Jesus was bringing in a New Covenant,

but for that to happen, the Old Covenant had to

be completely obliterated, along with the Temple.

The Great City, Jerusalem would undergo a

complete destruction, and because she was

closely intertwined with many Gentile cities, they

would fall as well. John alluded to imagery from

Ezekiel's prophecy of judgement to explain what

Jerusalem's fate would be: "Because you have

defiled My sanctuary…I will withdraw and have no

pity..One third of you will die by plague or famine,

one third will fall by the sword, and one third I will

scatter to the wind." (Ezekiel 5: 1-12) Just as the idolatrous world of old was shaken and removed,

so now all that was against Christ and His

kingdom would be removed. Interestingly,

Josephus wrote that while Titus was besieging

the city, three rival factions arose among the

Jews. The citizens and priests of the city fought

against the Zealots, and both factions fought

against the rebels. The chaos was so great that

The allusion to giant hailstones has an interesting

Titus was able to take the city much sooner than

historical reference. Josephus wrote that the Roman

if there had been no commotion. The imagery of

catapults used against the city hurled great stones over

islands and mountains fleeing away was common

the walls, some weighing as much as one talent (75

apocalyptic language in the Old Testament to

pounds), which is exactly what John foresaw.

describe great upheavals and judgements from

God against His enemies.

99

Mother Of Harlots

One of the seven angels who had the

seven Chalices came to John and said he

would show him the judgement of the

Great Harlot (apostate Israel) who sits on

many waters, and with whom the kings of

the earth committed fornication. Those

on the Land (national Israel) were made

drunk with her wine of fornication. John

was carried away in the Spirit into a

wilderness and he saw a Woman sitting on

a seven-headed, ten-horned scarlet Beast

(Roman Empire) which was full of

blasphemous names. The Woman was

arrayed with scarlet and purple cloth and

adorned with gold and precious stones.

She held a cup full of abominations and

unclean things. On her forehead a name

was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE

GREAT, MOTHER OF HARLOTS, AND OF

THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE LAND. She

was drunk with the blood of the saints

and witnesses of Jesus. John was amazed,

but the angel asked: " Why do you wonder?

I will tell you the mystery of the Woman

and of the Beast that carries her. "

100

Mystery Revealed

The angel told John about the Beast ' who was, and is

not, and is about to come'. This is a reference to both

Satan and the Roman Empire. Everyone who was not

written in the Book of Life would wonder about this

Beast. John said it would require wisdom to gain

understanding. The 7 heads of the Beast were 7

mountains (Rome was situated on 7 hills). The Harlot

(Jerusalem) sat on the Beast, referring to her

dependency on Rome, both politically and economically.

She also had a kingdom (great political influence) over

many of the neighbouring cities and states. The 7 kings

were the Roman emperors - 5 of whom had fallen (were

in the past), one was ruling currently, and one was yet

to come. The 8th king is described as the

personification of the Beast (Rome) and he was

counted along with the other 7 kings. There were also

10 horns representing kings that were allies of the

Beast (Rome). They may have been vassal states

subject to Rome. They give their power and authority

to Rome and joined in the battle against the Lamb.

However the Lamb overcame them because He is Lord

of lords and King of kings. His followers are the called,

chosen, and faithful. The waters, where the Harlot sat,

represented the allied nations of the Beast. These

would all come to hate the Harlot and would strip her

naked, eat her flesh, and burn her up in a fire

(reminiscent of Queen Jezebel's fate in the Old

Testament). It was God who put it into the hearts of

these 10 allies to execute His purpose and give their

kingdoms to the Beast, until God's words against the

Harlot were fulfilled.

101

The Man Of Sin

In Daniel 7:20-24 it is stated that "another horn, a little one, came up among them, before whom three of the first horns

were plucked out by the roots.” These 3 horns would be

Galba (AD 68-69), Otho (AD 69), and Vitellius (AD 69) whose

rules were so short that they didn't even signify. John said

the 7th ruler 'had not yet come', meaning Vespasian. After

the 3 short-lived rulers were out of the way, Rome would sink into a terrible state of chaos. It would look as if the Empire would collapse from civil war. Then Vespasian (AD

69-79) became the next Emperor (7th king) and managed to

stabilize the Empire and bring it back to health. This was thought to be the healing of the wound to the Beast's head.

Titus, son of Vespasian (AD 79-81), was the 8th horn (11th if

you count the 3 short term rulers). Titus was the one who

conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple. He was

not an emperor when he did this although he was also given

In 2Thessalonians 2 the apostle Paul told the

the name 'Caesar'. His father had briefly laid siege to

Christians that the Second Coming of the Lord

Jerusalem but was called away to Rome to stabilize the

hadn't yet occurred. (This would have been obvious

Empire, leaving Titus to finish the siege of Jerusalem. In AD

if His Coming was expected to be visible. The early

70 Titus took Jerusalem and the Temple was burned to the

Church was expecting Christ's return to be

ground. Emperor Vespasian and Titus decided to celebrate

invisible). Paul added that Christ's Coming would

the conquering of Jerusalem as joint victors. Vespasian

not arrive until a Man of Sin was revealed. God

gave Titus a 'triumph', a civil ceremony and religious rite would send them a powerful delusion so that they

held to publicly celebrate the success of a military

would believe Satan's lies and be condemned for

commander who had led Roman forces to victory in the

delighting in wickedness. John wrote in Revelation

service of the state. Those honoured would often be given

that 5 kings had already fallen - Julius Caesar

the status of a god. This joint honour may have been why (49-44 BC), Augustus (31 BC-AD14), Tiberius (AD

Titus, (who later became the 8th Emperor), was designated

14-37), Gaius a.k.a. Caligula (AD 34-41), and Claudius

as the 8th horn, but said to be of the seven. Though only a

(AD 41-54). He said that "one is" which would have general at the time, Titus was given the same honours and

been Nero (AD 54-68), making him the 6th.

god-like status as Vespasian, thereby all but sharing the

position of Emperor with the other 7th king.

102

Voice From Heaven

The angel declared that all the kings

o f t h e e a r t h h a d c o m m i t t e d

fornication with Jerusalem, and the

merchants of the earth had become

rich by the wealth of her sensuality.

Another Voice from heaven said:

" Come out of her My people so that

you may not participate in her sins

and that you may not receive her

plagues, for her sins have piled up to

heaven, and God has remembered

her iniquities." The Voice decreed that

the Harlot be paid back double

according to her deeds, and that the

cup that she mixed for others would

be mixed twice as much for her. To

the degree that she had glorified

herself and lived sensuously, to the

same degree it was to be given back

to her - torment and mourning -

because she said in her heart that she

was a queen and not a widow, and

would never see mourning. For this

reason in one day, the Voice decreed,

her plagues will come, pestilence and

After these things, a great Angel came out of heaven and the earth was mourning and famine, and she would

illumined with his glory. God's messenger cried out: "Fallen! Fallen is be burned up with fire; for strong is

Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a the Lord God who judges her.

prison to every unclean spirit!..for all the nations have drunk of her wine of the wrath of her fornication."

103

Come Out Of Her!

Religious separation was demanded by the Angel, not only spiritually, but also physically as well. New Covenant people were to separate themselves from Apostate Israel and remain true to the Lord. The redemption of the saints was drawing near but Apostate Israel was about to suffer destruction at God's hands. She would receive double retribution for the persecutions she had inflicted on God's people. The apostle Paul wrote to some of the Jews who had professed faith in Christ but who were being persecuted by religious Jews because of it. They were drawing back to the Jewish religion and Paul gave them strong warning: " For concerning those who were once enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put Him to open shame. For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned…For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know H im who said, “Vengeance belongs to Me. I will repay," says the Lord.

Again, “The Lord will judge H is people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 6:4-8, 10:31-26)

104

Destruction and Plagues

The Harlot Queen said in her heart that she was not a widow, and would never see mourning. In the Old Testament a metaphor for God was a husband to Israel. When Jesus came in the flesh, He was therefore Israel's husband, but by having Him killed, the Queen had become a widow. A harlot in the Old Testament was a symbol of a violated Covenant, so because Apostate Israel had violated her Covenant with God, she had become both a harlot and a widow. She denied this, claiming she was still married (in Covenant with God) and would never see sorrow. But the Lord said death, mourning, and famine would all come to her in one day, and she would be utterly burned with fire.

The historian Josephus wrote that when Titus besieged Jerusalem, most of the Jews in the city were pilgrims from all over the land. They had gone up to Jerusalem for the Passover and were trapped inside by the Roman army.

Throughout the entire war 97,000 of these would be taken captive, while 1,100,000 would perish. The Romans raided the city, burning houses, and indiscriminately killing anyone they found. In many of the houses they discovered whole families who had died from starvation. The alleys were choked with dead bodies. Pestilence was everywhere. The Temple was on fire yet blood was more abundant than the flames, and the ground was strewn with so many corpses that the soldiers had to climb over heaps of bodies as they chased the fugitives. The Harlot had indeed become a widow who saw mourning and torment.

105

Lament For Babylon

The kings of the earth who committed fornication with the Harlot wept and lamented for her when they saw the smoke rise

from her burning (a symbol borrowed from Sodom). They cried:

" Alas for the great city of Babylon! For in an hour your judgement has come!" The merchants also mourned because the city could no longer buy their luxury wares of gold, silver, jewels, fine linen, spices, chariots, cattle, sheep, wood, bronze, slaves, etc. Jerusalem was a commercial centre and a powerful trading

partner in the Roman Empire. Her destruction negatively

affected much of the trade that went on in that area. Every shipmaster looked on at a distance and cried out when they saw

the smoke from her burning: " What is like this great city?" They threw dust on their heads as a sign of mourning and continued to

weep and wail because they had become rich through the Harlot's

wealth. But the angel from heaven declared: " Rejoice over her, O

heaven, and you holy prophets and apostles, for God has avenged you on her!" The martyrs had prayed (Revelation 6:9-11) that God would bring judgement on the rebellious and demonized

City because she had persecuted God's people throughout

history, culminating in the murder of the Messiah. They were uttering spiritual prayers of warfare and earthly vindication on Apostate Israel, pleading for their enemies' defeat, either through conversion or destruction. Now the angel's voice

encouraged them to rejoice because their prayers had been

answered. This is not to say that God took delight in bringing this judgement on Jerusalem. Jesus, leaving the Temple for the last time had told the Jews in the city: " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!

How often have I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

See! Your house is left to you desolate!" (Matthew 23:37-38) 106

Babylon Thrown Down

A powerful angel took a great millstone and tossed it

into the sea, saying that this would be Babylon's fate.

She would be thrown down violently, never to be found

again. No more music would be heard in her halls and no

craftsman of any craft would be found within her. The

sound of a mill would never be heard anymore and the

light of a lamp would not shine. There would be no

weddings, and the merchants deceived by her sorcery

would be gone. This would be just recompense because

she was guilty of the blood of the prophets and saints

and all who had been slain on the earth (meaning

Apostate Israel).

Jesus warned in regard to harming little children,

saying: ".. whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. But if anyone causes one of

these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it

would be better for him to have a large millstone

hung around neck and to be drowned in the depths

of the sea." (Matthew 18:6)

Jesus likened little children to His own followers and His

warning applied to both children and Christians.

Apostate Israel, the Harlot, had stumbled many

Christians in the churches, luring them back into

Judaism. Her doom for doing this was assured. She

would be utterly annihilated.

107

Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Jesus had once told His disciples a parable about a

wedding feast given by a king. He had sent out

invitations to friends to come to a wedding feast

for his son, but they all made excuses not to come.

The angry king then told his servants to go into the

streets and invite anyone they saw, good or bad,

and soon the wedding hall was filled. Then the king

saw a man at the feast who was not wearing

wedding clothes and he asked him why he was not

properly attired. (All the guests had donned special

outfits provided for them). The man was

speechless and he was expelled from the feast.

(Matthew 22:1-22). The parable foretells the

A loud, exultant voice from a great multitude in heaven

judgement that would come on those who reject

praised God for His salvation saying that all glory

Christ. The wedding clothes represent the

belonged to Him for avenging the blood of His servants,

righteousness of those who "… have washed their

and for His judgements against the Great Harlot

robes and made them white in the blood of the

because she had corrupted the earth. The 24 Elders

Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14). The parable emphasized and 4 living creatures also worshipped God. They

that without the righteousness of Jesus Christ

shouted: " Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the

imparted to us, we cannot see God. The Old

Almighty, reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give Covenant Wife (Old Jerusalem) had looked to her

glory to Him, for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb has

own works of merit (which were as filthy rags

come, and His Bride has made herself ready." The (Isaiah 64:6) for acceptance with God. She had a

Bride was given fine white linen, which represented the

Law-based relationship with her Husband (not

righteous acts of the saints. John was told to write:

based on love or trust) and she became unfaithful

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage

and adulterous. The New Covenant Bride (New

supper of the Lamb. John fell at the angel's feet to Jerusalem) was garbed in the righteousness of her

worship, but the angel told him not to do that. He said

Husband, Jesus Christ, which made her pure and

he was a fellow servant of John and his brethren who

and completely acceptable to Him. Her relationship

held the Testimony of Jesus. He said: " Worship God! For

was based on love and faith. She also was one with

the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy."

Him in Spirit so her faithfulness was assured.

108

Chapter 7

Second Coming

Heaven opened and John saw Jesus, Faithful and

True, sitting on a white horse. In righteousness

He was coming to judge and make war. His eyes

were like flames of fire and He was wearing many

crowns with a name written that He alone knew.

His clothing was dipped in blood and He was

called The Word of God. His armies were clothed

in fine white linen, also riding on white horses.

Out of the Lord's mouth went a sharp sword to

strike the nations. He would rule them with a rod

of iron and tread the winepress of Almighty God's

fierceness and wrath. On His robe and thigh the

name KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS was

written. An angel stood in the sun, crying out to

the birds in the midst of heaven to gather for the

supper of the great God, that they might eat the

flesh of mighty men, captains, horses, and the

flesh of all people free and slave, small and great.

Then the Beast, the kings of the earth, and their

armies all gathered to make war against the

Lord. However Jesus' power utterly crushed

them. The Beast was captured and also the False

Prophet. They were thrown into the lake of fire

burning with brimstone. The rest were killed with

the sword proceeding out of the Lord's mouth

and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

109

Winepress of Wrath

John was looking into the spiritual realm, so

what he saw was not an actual physical

display. The vision is similar to the vision of

the battle seen by Elisha's servant who had

his eyes opened so he could see the battle

going on in heaven. Jesus had said that the

coming of the Kingdom of God would not be

an observable event. “The coming of the

kingdom of God is not something that can

be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it

is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of

God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21) Here

in Revelation, Jesus was coming in His

Kingdom and fighting the demonic ruler from

the Abyss who was behind Titus and the

Romans. Unlike His first coming which was for

deliverance and peace, Jesus was now coming

for vengeance against His enemies. He had

judged the Harlot Israel and was now treading

the winepress of God's fury and wrath against

the demonic powers of Rome. His clothing

was dipped in blood (probably His own)

because it is the blood of the Lamb that

brings victory. The armies following Him were

either angels or saints, or both. They were

dressed in white and riding white horses to

symbolize their righteousness. " His enemies

will wage war against the Lamb, but the

Lamb will triumph over them because He is

Lord of lords and King of kings—and with Him

The Beast (Rome) and the False Prophet (Apostate

will be His called, chosen and faithful

Israel) thrown into the Lake of Fire.

followers.”

110

This Generation Will See It

The disciples of Jesus had once asked Him privately: “T ell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of

Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus had told them that there would be wars and rumours of wars, false prophets, earthquakes, false Christs, persecutions of believers, and increasing wickedness, but this would not signal the end. First the Gospel of the Kingdom would be preached to the then-known world and then the end would come. The abomination of desolation, Titus, would show up in the Holy of Holies in the Temple (Daniel 9:27), and that would be a sign for them to flee as fast as possible. Christ's coming would be sudden, with great spiritual power and with His angels blowing trumpets as the Lord's followers were gathered from one end of the sky to another. Although Jesus was speaking in figurative language, He was referring to events that would occur when Titus laid siege to Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, thereby ending the Old Covenant with Apostate Israel and ushering in the Kingdom. Jesus added: " Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that He is near, even at the doors. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all

these things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."

111

Expectation of the Church

Christians have often wondered how Jesus could have told His disciples that His Second Coming would occur within their lifetime, when there had been no visible signs of His appearing. Was He mistaken in what He said? If so, He could not have been a true prophet, or even the promised Messiah, since a prophet of God had to be 100% correct in order to be considered genuine. If Jesus was in error concerning His coming, then all His other teachings would be unreliable as well. Since every true believer cannot accept such a suggestion, how are Christians to understand His words? The first requirement would be the realization that His speech was often figurative. Jesus often spoke in parables and metaphors, as did the Hebrew prophets of the Old Testament. This is is not always understood by Christians today, who often use a literalist approach in deciphering Christ's words. However the early Church seemed to recognize what He meant easily enough. There are many allusions to Christ's coming in the epistles that clearly indicate the early Church expected Jesus to come in their lifetime.

(Matthew 10:23) "But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will

not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come."

(Romans 13:11,12) "Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation

is now nearer to us than when we first believed."

112

Expectation of the Church (Continued)

(Philippians 4:5) "Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. "

(1Thessalonians 4:15) "For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep."

(Hebrews 10:37; 9:26 ) "In a very little while, He who comes will come, and will not wait… Now once at the

end of the ages, He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

(1Peter 4:7) "But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer."

(James 5:8-9) "Don’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the Judge

stands at the door."

(1John 2:18) "Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour."

(Revelation 1:1,3) "This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to His servants the

things which must happen soon, which He sent and made known by His angel to His servant, John."

(Revelation 2:25) "Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come."

(Revelation (3:10-11) ' Because you kept My command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown."

(Matthew 24:33) "Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that He is near, even at the doors."

113

Christ's Army of Saints (The Rapture)

In John's vision he saw Jesus coming with an army riding

The Christians who were still living are described

on white horses and dressed in fine, white linen. Earlier

as being caught up together with the departed

John had described the Bride of Christ as being

saints and ' meeting the Lord in the air". Paul

" arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen alludes to this in 1Corinthians 15:51-54. " Behold, I is the righteous acts of the saints." This army of saints tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we

who follow Christ into battle will rule and reign with Him.

will all be changed, in a moment, in the

They are the saints who were in the Paradise part of

twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the

Sheol, waiting for Christ's return. They would be

trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised

comprised of Old Testament believers and those who

incorruptible, and we will be changed." This was died after Christ's ascension. "For as in Adam all die, so

not seen in the physical realm and some believe

in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, that Jesus could not have come in the generation of

the first fruits; then, when He comes, those who

those He was speaking to. It is thought that He is

belong to Him." ( 1Corinthians 15:22-23) "Brothers and yet to come in the future. As stated earlier, this

sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about

would make the testimony of Jesus doubtful

those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like

because He was very definite in what He said when

the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe He announced He was coming shortly. It would also

that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that

mean that the patriarchs of old and the Christians

God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen

who have died heretofore are not in heaven, but

asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you still await the Second Coming of Jesus and their

that we who are still alive, who are left until the

resurrection bodies. The apostle Paul stated: "I

coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those

declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh

who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come

and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,

down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice

n o r d o e s t h e p e r i s h a b l e i n h e r i t t h e

of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and

imperishable… For the perishable must clothe

the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are

itself with the imperishable, and the mortal

still alive and are left will be caught up together with

with immortality." (1Corinthians 15:50, 53).

them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so

However, if one takes His words as indicative of an

we will be with the Lord forever. " (1Thessalonians invisible, spiritual reality that took place in 70 AD,

4:13-18)

then departed saints are now with Jesus in heaven.

114

Satan Bound

An Angel came down from heaven, holding a key to the Abyss and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the Dragon, (Satan, the serpent of old) and cast him into a bottomless pit and shut him in, setting a seal on him so that he could no longer deceive the nations for 1000 years. After the millennium is over, Satan must be set free for a short time. The martyrs and the ones who had not received the mark of the Beast on their foreheads or hands, sat on thrones and lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years as priests of God. The rest of the dead (the unbelieving souls in Sheol) did not live again until the 1000 years were over. The saints of the Old Testament and those from the early Church who had died, were already with God. Since AD 70 believers have received their resurrection bodies at death. This is the First Resurrection, over which the second death has no power. Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the First Resurrection. The Second Death cannot touch them and they shall reign as kings and priests with Christ forever.

115

Transitional 40 years

The Dragon is symbolic of Satan. In AD 30 he was defeated at the cross and cast down from heaven, unbound.

Jesus told His disciples that He had seen him fall in the spirit realm. Satan was loose on the earth from AD 30

to the destruction of the Jewish nation in AD 70. These 40 years are reminiscent of Israel wandering in the desert for that same length of time, before being able to enter the land of Canaan. In the same way, Christ's followers went through 40 years of struggle before the New Covenant was fully ratified and they received their full inheritance. (It was imperative that the the Old Covenant be fully ended before the New could come into effect). Satan hounded them throughout the 40 years. He no longer had access to heaven where God's Council sat, and Christ had made His followers righteous with His righteousness, so Satan could no longer accuse believers as before. Unsurprisingly he responded to this with violent rage and went on a rampage to persecute God's people. However in the vision, the Lord had an angel seize Satan and cast him into the Abyss for an indeterminate time period (1000 years is a symbolic number indicating completion of time.

116

Satan Released For A Short Time

Although Satan was to be bound for 1000 years, this did did not mean he would be inactive or that there would no longer be any wickedness on the earth. Rather it meant he was unable to deceive the Gentile nations of the world concerning the Gospel. This is where humanity is right now. We are in the millennium, or close to the end of it perhaps. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been spreading throughout the world and there have been many positive results as a consequence. Wickedness has been restrained and limited, even though it is not eradicated. The world has been evangelized. However Revelation reveals that when the millennium is over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth to gather them for battle. They will be countless in number, like the sand on the seashore, and they will march across the breadth of the earth so as to surround 'the camp of God’s people and the city He loves.' This is a symbolic reference to God's Kingdom people, the New Creation, who will experience aggression from the hosts of hell, including Satan, the Watchers over the nations (i.e.

principalities), demons, and wicked humanity.

117

Fire From Heaven

Judgement is to descend upon the earth after the

millennium and after Satan has had his short run of

evil. Revelation reveals that fire (judgement) will

come down from heaven and it will devour the

wicked, along with the devil who deceived them.

This could be a physical happening, such as a

nuclear holocaust or asteroid from outer space, or

it might be a symbolic reference to some other

type of cataclysm. Either way it is God who brings

judgement because of the menace closing in on His

people. Satan is singled out as being thrown into

the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and

the false prophet have already been during the

lengthy millennium (1000 years plus). They will be

tormented day and night for ever.

118

Great White Throne Judgement

John saw a Great White Throne, and God was

sitting on it. Daniel 7 mentioned this. ".. the

Ancient of Days came, and He gave judgement

to the saints of the Most High; and the time

came on, and the saints possessed the

Kingdom. " The earth and heavens fled from His

Presence. There were also thrones set up for

the saints who had been promised by the Lord

that they would rule and judge with Him. “Or do

you not know that the saints will judge the

world ... Do you not know that we are to judge

angels? (1Corinthians 6:2) John saw the dead,

great and small, standing before the throne,

and books were opened detailing everything

each one had done in his life. Another book was

opened, which was the Book of Life. Ultimately

it was this last Book that decided their eternal

destiny. If their names were not found in the

Book of Life (which contained the names of all

who had put their faith in Jesus for salvation)

they would be accountable for every sin

committed and would be condemned to eternal

damnation. The sea gave up the dead who were

in it. Death and Hades also gave up the dead

who were in them, and then they were thrown

together into the lake of fire. This is the second

death, and if anyone was not found written in

the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of

Fire. (The saints do not appear at the White

Throne Judgement because they face no

condemnation. Their works in Christ's name are

evaluated at the end of their physical lives.)

119

No More Tears

John next saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ''Heaven and Earth' is metaphorical language referring to an age, or eon. The Old Covenant was the 'heaven and earth' that passed away with the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. The 'new heaven and earth' is the New Covenant age with God's people now called the New Jerusalem or Bride of Christ. " I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first

things have passed away. ” (Revelation 22:1-5). John was describing the New Creation realm, a spiritual realm wherein the heart and soul of every believer in Christ resides.

120

" One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls that were loaded with the seven last plagues came,

and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will

show you the wife, the Lamb’s bride.” He carried me

away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain,

The Bride of Christ

and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming

down out of heaven from God, having the glory of

God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if

it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal; having a

great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the

gates twelve angels; and names written on them,

which are the names of the twelve tribes of the

children of Israel. On the east were three gates;

and on the north three gates; and on the south

three gates; and on the west three gates. The wall

of the city had twelve foundations, and on them

twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden

reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls.

The city is square, and its length is as great as its

width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve

thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height

are equal. Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits,

by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The

construction of its wall was jasper. The city was

pure gold, like pure glass." (Revelation 21:9-18)

The number 12 is associated with God's Covenant

people. The 144 cubits symbolize the fullness of

God's faithful Old and New Covenant people. These

numbers are not describing the blueprint of an

actual city, but rather the spiritual realities behind

the New Jerusalem, God's redeemed people.

121

Precious Stones

"The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), and they shall bring the glory and the honour of the nations into it so that they may enter. There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. "

(Revelation 21: 19-27) The New Jerusalem is comprised of believers in Christ only. " You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1Peter 2:4-5) " So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. " (Ephesians 2:19-22). However John mentions earthly kings and nations bringing their glory into the New Jerusalem. This is referring to the Kingdom's presence while Christians are living physically on the earth. Believers carry the Kingdom inside their spirits, so wherever they are, the Kingdom is manifested.

122

River and Tree of Life

" He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever. " (Revelation 22:1-5) The living waters are not literal water, but rather a symbol of Life of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told HIs disciples:

" Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38) 123

I Am Coming Quickly

John wrote that Jesus said to him: “These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon. Behold, I come

quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Now I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. He said to me, “See you don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers, the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” He said to me,

“Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand (very soon). He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still. Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with Me, to repay to each man according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in by the gates into the City. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the Tree of Life, and out of the Holy City, which are written in this book. He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly. ” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen." ( Revelation 22:1-21)

The Lord repeatedly stated that His coming would be soon. Added to this are all the scripture passages in the gospels and epistles. This is what the early Christians were eagerly anticipating. They longed for the resurrection so they would not 'sleep' (a metaphor for the believer's soul in Sheol). Now, a believer goes to be in God's presence with a resurrection body the moment he leaves this world. (1Corinthians 15:50-52, 1

Thessalonians 4:13-17) The gates of the New Jerusalem are still open today. " The Spirit and the Bride say,

“Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

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Afterlife

Revelation describes the afterlife and its spiritual characteristics through the use of symbolism. Jesus used parables and symbols as well. The Bible uses this type of language because there is such a great difference between the physical realm and the spiritual one. Some, like the Jewish Sadducees, do not believe in an afterlife, thinking that annihilation of the soul follows physical death. However the greatest Authority on this matter told the Sadducees: “No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven—the Son of Man”

(John 3:13). “About the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ ? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” (Mark 12:26-27) According to Jesus, the patriarchs, who had died centuries before, were very much alive with God at that moment. He also told His despondent disciples:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3)

Jesus overcame death and promised eternal life to all who put their trust in Him for salvation. We may not know exactly what our eternal home will look like, but we can be certain that it will be a wonderful place of great beauty and peace. Revelation underlines this fact. God's loved ones will see Him face to face and enjoy His close Presence forever. We will never suffer pain or privation of any kind. Past sorrows will be dissolved by the Lord's sweet comfort, and we will see our loved ones again. Sin will not exist there, so we will be safe from harm, violence, or anything that might hurt us. Revelation is Jesus' message that something wonderful is awaiting His people. It is also His personal message of love and comfort to us.

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