How does John describe the new Jerusalem?
From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. John Ankerberg Show. Nov 30, 2018. Credentials for each of the speakers can be found in my Page that discusses my sources of information.”
When commenting on this article, please relate such comments to the contents of the posted information. For other related concerns, please send a private message to me.
I. Introduction. Consider what life will be like in The Heavenly City, The New Jerusalem (“Things To Come, J. Dwight Pentecost, pp 581-583).
A. A life of fellowship with God (1 Cor 13:12; 1 John 3:2; John 14:3; Rev 22:4).
B. A life of rest (Rev 14:13).
C. A life of full knowledge (1 Cor 13:12).
D. A life of holiness (Rev 21:27).
E. A life of joy (Rev 21:4).
F. A life of service (Rev 22:3).
G. A life of abundance (Rev 21:6).
H. A life of Glory (2 Cor 4:17; Col 3:4).
I. A life of worship (Rev 19:1; 7:9-12; 1 John 3:2; Rev 1:5-6; Rev 5:13; Rev 7:12).
II. Consider Heaven (Rev 4:1). Consider the New Heaven (Rev 21:1). As wonderful as the eternal state of the New Heaven, New Earth, New Jerusalem will be (Rev 21:1-2), not everyone will be granted entry into that Godly paradise. This article will discuss those whom will, and those whom will not, spend eternity with God; the blessings of the eternal state will also be discussed.
III. Many of you have had many pets, of many types and breeds. The last video will discuss the eternal state, as it relates to pets; I trust that you will receive a blessing from Dr. Randy Alcorn’s discussion.
IV. Scripture Study Details. Revelation 22. New American Standard Bible 2020 Update.
A. Introduction. Revelation 22 Text and Comments. Scripture notes come from the Ryrie Study Bible, due to the demonstrated knowledge of scripture of Dr. Ryrie, and because of the concise way that he makes his thoughts known. The credentials of Dr. Charles Ryrie (deceased) can be found on the Page that discusses my sources of information. Everybody should have a Ryrie Study Bible.
B. Text. The River and the Tree of Life. vs 1-9.
1 And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.
6 And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.
7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 And he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
C. Comments. The River and the Tree of Life. vs 1-9.
1. vs 1-2. These descriptive phrases indicate fullness of life and continuous blessing in the New Jerusalem.
2. vs 3-5. The “curse” and all darkness will be excluded, and service, communion, and reigning will be the believers’ privileges.
3. vs 8-9. Again, John is commanded not to worship angels (see 19:10).
D. Text. The Final Message. vs 10-21.
10 And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost.
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
C. Comments. The Final Message. vs 10-21.
1. vs 11. When Christ comes there will be no more opportunity for a man to change his destiny. What he is then, he will be forever.
2. vs 12. Salvation is not of works but rewards are.
3. vs 14. “Blessed are those who wash their robes.” I.e., believers.
4. vs 15. “dogs.” Not animals, but people of low character (cf. Phil 3:2).
5. vs 16-17. Jesus is gracious because (1) He gave the book of Revelation to the churches, (2) as the son of “David” He will fulfill Israel’s promises, (3) He is the “morning star,” the precursor of the new day, and (4) He offers the “water of life” freely.
6. vs 18. For similar OT warnings against additions or omissions, see Deu 4:2; 12:32; Prov 30:6.
7. vs 20. “Yes, I am coming quickly.” The third occurrence of this promise (see vv 7, 12). The believer’s reaction is, “Do come quickly, Lord Jesus.”
V. Verses of significance.
A. Rev 22:15. Walvoord Revelation Commentary. Dr. Walvoord makes it clear that the unsaved are not permitted into the eternal state. Rev 21:8, 27 show people who, by evidence of their sinful lifestyles, remained unsaved and were cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15). In essence, these people were never born again (John 3:3, 2 Cor 5:17).
1. Vs 15: a… the reference is to those who qualify for entrance; believers have access to the tree of life and the right to enter through the gates of the city. The right to the tree of life and the right to enter through the gates of the city are one and the same as the right to eternal salvation.
2. Vs 15: b… unbelievers are characterized as being excluded and are described as “dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” This is the third description of unsaved people in this general passage (cf. 21:8, 27). The main emphasis in each of them is on the deceitfulness and lying of those who are unsaved. The reference to dogs refers not to the animal but to men of low character (cf. Phil. 3:2). As in the former description of the unsaved, the issue is not that they have at some time committed sins of this character, but rather that these are the settled characteristics of their lives from which they were never delivered although the grace of God made possible that deliverance.
B. Rev 22:21. NKJV Study Bible Note.
1. 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ begins and concludes the Book of Revelation (1:4), implying that the message of grace and the free gift of eternal life in Christ (see Eph. 2:8, 9)—not merely the message of judgment upon unbelievers—can be found in this book.
2. In this study of revelation, we are seeing that “the best is left for last,” which is “life with God, forever!”
VI. Conclusion.
A. When Christ was discussing the coming earthly kingdom with the Jews in first century Israel, he used the words, “I never knew you” (Matt 7:21-23). Christ was discussing those whom would not be allowed to enter the Kingdom, which will take place, on earth, at the end of the tribulation. Israel will be coming under the attack of the Battle of Armageddon, and will call upon Christ to save them from total annihilation (Zech 12:10). Only those Jews whom have come to saving faith in Christ will be saved by Christ and allowed to enter the Kingdom age of the Millennium. The Jews whom are not born again will call on Christ to save them, but their response will be, “I never, never, never, ever, had a relationship of saving faith with you; “I NEVER KNEW YOU!” Matt 24:40-41, “40 At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.” The Jew, that is taken, is taken in death to the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:15). The Jews that are left, are left to enter the Kingdom Age. The same thing relates to unbelieving Gentiles who survive the tribulation. Matt 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Gentiles who come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation will be allowed to enter the Kingdom. Matt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
B. Only born again people will enter the Kingdom Age. Only born again people will enter the eternal state. Let’s also consider the closing video.
VII. Closing Video.
A. Snooky was my family’s first pet, a blonde colored cat. One day Snooky was crossing a nearby street and was run over and killed by a passing car. My mother heard the commotion, and went to where Snooky was lying lifeless in the street. She picked up Snooky and carried him into our back yard, where she buried him. My younger brother and sister and I were devastated by the loss of Snooky. I am sure that many of you have experienced similar losses of your pets (really family members). So, save you ever wondered if you will ever see your deceased pets again? Listen to the discussion of Randy Alcorn; you may receive comfort, and a blessing (The video may not be reset to 0:00).
B. The New Heaven and New Earth
C. Closing Video Details. John Ankerberg Show. March 3, 2014.
D. In the third program of this series, we’ll look at what the Bible teaches about the New Heavens and Earth.The Bible discusses a time in the future when a new heaven and earth will be recreated from the ones that exist today. Dr. Ankerberg and Randy Alcorn discuss what will take place along with applications for how we live today.
Randy Alcorn (Th.B., M.A., D.D.).
When commenting on this article, please relate such comments to the contents of the posted information.
I. Introduction. Most people use the terms, “Heaven and Hell,” to relate to the eternal destinations for all of humanity, as to whether they have been said to be “good or bad.” In this study of the twenty-first chapter of Revelation we will discuss the subjects of heaven and hell, in their correct translations. We will also discuss the qualification for anyone to have a joyful eternal presence with God, and the life conditions that will cause anyone to have an eternal existence of torments.
II. Consider heaven and hell.
A. The present world in which we reside will be destroyed at the end of the millennium (2 Peter 3:10-12). We are promised to have new heavens, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-2).
B. The eternal state of torment is described in Revelation 20:10-15. Verse 10 states, “lake of fire,” which is correct. Verse 13, uses the words “death and hell.” The word, “death,” relates to the state of death, in relation to dead bodies (Luke 16:22). “Hell,” which is incorrectly translated in some bibles, should be translated “hades.”
2. Rev 20:13, hadés: 86. Hades, the abode of departed spirits (Strong’s Concordance).
a. As is seen in Luke 16:22, death relates to the physical death of a body.
b. As is seen in Luke 16:22, death relates to the physical death of a body.
C. As is seen in Luke 16:23, Hades refers to the conditions of the conscious state of torment of the soul, for those whom have died not having a saving relationship with God, and which will remain until they stand at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:13-15).
1. Rev 20:13, dead: 3498. nekros. Usage: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse (Strong’s Concordance).
2. Rev 20:13. “death and hades gave up the dead.” The physical bodies of the unsaved will be joined with their spirits which have been in hades, regardless of how far a body has disintegrated. (Bible Knowledge Commentary, John F. Walvoord, B.A., M.A., Th. M., Th. D., D.D., Litt. D.)
3. As is seen in Luke 16:22a, we see righteous Lazarus in death, whose soul is in the bosom of Abraham. In Luke 16:23, while in torment, the unrighteous man’s soul is conscious of his torment. In Luke 16:25, we see that righteous Lazarus is in a state of comfort, while in death, while the agony of the unrighteous dead man is being restated.
D. Consider the Apostle Paul’s understanding of death and the eternal conscious state of deceased believers in Christ.
1. 2 Cor 5:8, “but we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”
2. Comment. 5:8. After the parenthetical thought of v. 7, Paul resumes where he left off in v. 6. He was not only confident (v. 6) that he was going to be with the Lord, he was pleased that he would be with the Lord after his death. This is one of the passages in the NT that indicates where believers will go immediately after their death; they will be with Jesus in heaven (see also Phil. 1:23). Jesus’ promise to the repentant criminal on the cross next to Him indicates this: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43) (NKJV Study Bible). The thief would soon experience the same eternal blessings as did righteous Lazarus (mine).
E. Consider the following description of conscious states of death. Abraham’s Bosom, Hades, Sheol.
1. “Abraham’s bosom.” This same expression (found only here in Scripture) was used in the Talmud as a figure for heaven. The idea was that Lazarus was given a place of high honor, reclining next to Abraham at the heavenly banquet. “Hades” was the Gr. term for the abode of the dead. In the LXX, it was used to translate the Heb. “Sheol,” which referred to the realm of the dead in general, without necessarily distinguishing between righteous or unrighteous souls. However, in NT usage, “Hades” always refers to the place of the wicked prior to final judgment in hell. The imagery Jesus used paralleled the common rabbinical idea that “Sheol” had two parts, one for the souls of the righteous and the other for the souls of the wicked—separated by an impassable gulf. “I am tormented.” Christ pictured Hades as a place where the unspeakable torment of hell had already begun. Among the miseries featured here are unquenchable flame (see note on Matt. 25:46); an accusing conscience fed by undying memories of lost opportunity (v. 25); and permanent, irreversible separation from God and everything good (v. 26). (MacArthur Study Bible, Luke 16:22-24.).
2. Consider body, soul and spirit (1 Thes 5:23). Body: eyes, nose, toes. Soul: consciousness, emotions, mind. Spirit: that part of us which either has the Spirit of Christ, dwelling within it, or does not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within it. If the Spirit of Christ does not dwell within our spirit, we have not been born again; we do not have an eternal presence with Christ (John 3:3; 2 Cor 5:17).
III. Who will be in the eternal state?
A. Whether a believer is resurrected, or raptured, their mortal body must undergo a total change. Consider 1 Corinthians 15:50-54.
50 Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.
B. In our present mortal bodily state, we will either die, or be raptured. Whether dead, or alive, our body must be changed from one that is susceptible to sickness and death, to one that will never succumb to sickness or death. At the time of resurrection, and immediate-following rapture, the body of every believer in Christ will be given a resurrection body that will never be sick or will die.
C. In order for us to enter the eternal state, we must be given an imperishable, immortal, eternal, resurrection body, which will be provided by God; this will happen at the time of the rapture of the church (John 14:2-6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18).
D. Consider the words of the Apostle John, as he describes what we will be like at the time of the rapture:
1. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
2. My note: “We will be like Him.” Notice that, at the time of the rapture, and forever more, we will be incapable of thinking, saying, or doing, anything that is sinful.
IV. Scripture Study Details.
A. Introduction. Revelation 21 Text and Comments. Scripture notes come from the Ryrie Study Bible, due to the demonstrated knowledge of scripture of Dr. Ryrie, and because of the concise way that he makes his thoughts known. The credentials of Dr. Charles Ryrie (deceased) can be found in the About Sources Page of this site. Everybody should have a Ryrie Study Bible.
B. Text. Revelation 21.
The New Heaven and Earth
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
The New Jerusalem
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city, and its gates and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, seventy-two yards, according to human measurements, which are also angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
C. Comments. Revelation 21. Ryrie Study Bible.
1. 21:1. “a new heaven and a new earth.” The present creation will be destroyed so that it may be cleansed from all the effects of sin (2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12). “No more sea” because climatic and human conditions will be completely different.
2. 21:2. “new Jerusalem.” This heavenly city will be the abode of all the saints (Heb 12:22-24), the bride of Christ (vv 9-10), and the place Christ prepared for His people (John 14:2). During the Millennium, the Jew Jerusalem (described in Rev 21:9-22:5) apparently will be suspended over the earth, and it will be the dwelling place of all believers during eternity (as is emphasized in 21:1-8).
3. 21:3-4 People will enjoy a new intimacy with God and the elimination of those sorrows that sin brings.
4. 21:8. Those whose lives can be characterized in these ways will be cast into the lake of fire, because they have shown themselves to be unbelievers. “brimstone = sulphur.
5. 21:11. The city will shine with the “glory of God,” like “crystal-clear Jasper,” which will allow that glory to shine brilliantly.
6. 21:12-14. Though both Jewish saints and Christian saints will inhabit the city, the names of the “twelve tribes” and the “twelve apostles” are a witness to their continued distinction.
7. 21:16-17. Shaped foursquare like a cube, the city is 1380 mi (2,220 km) on each face, including height, with a wall 72 yd (66 m) thick. It has been calculated that even if only 25 percent of this space were used for dwellings, 20 billion people could be accommodated spaciously.
8. 21:19-20. “chalcedony.” Probably a greenish blue agate stone. (The exact composition and color of all these precious stones is unknown.) “sardonyx.” Bright red. “chrysolite.” Golden in color. “beryl.” Sea green. “topaz.” Yellow-green. “chrysoprase.” Apple green. “jacincth.” Blue. “amethyst.” Purple.
9. 21:24-27. The inhabitants will be only those which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
V. Verses of judgment and condemnation. In the verses that follow, are the lifestyles of people whom have not been born again, “those whom are not Christ’s.” Those whom are alive during the time prior to the tribulation had been exposed to Christ by eyewitnesses of our Lord, and by those whom had been won to Christ by those whom had been won to Christ by converts of eyewitnesses (from the first century until now). Because only eyewitnesses of Christ had actually seen the Truth of Christ, “those whom had not/have not/ seen our Lord,” based their decisions to accept Christ as Lord and Savior on faith, which will be the case of those whom will be tribulation saints. Those whom will live during the Kingdom Age as unbelievers will have the physical Presence of Christ in their lives, and will come under His teaching. In Rev 21:8 such words as “cowardly, fearful, liars,” along with the other verse qualifiers, show a lifestyle of unbelief in Christ, of not having been born again. All whom have direct access to the Person of Christ and to His teachings, should have no reason to be cowardly, fearful, or liars. But, because of their not having been born again, such Kingdom Age unbelievers will find their eternal destination to be in the Lake Of Fire (Rev 20:15), because they did not receive the Person and teaching of Christ; they will have been born in the Kingdom Age as unbelievers, and will exit the Kingdom Age as unbelievers. In essence, those of Rev 21:8, have not been born again (John 3:3). It is important to know that “Kingdom of God” can relate to the Millennium or to the Eternal State, depending on context. John 3:3 and 1 Cor 6:9-10 directly relate to people who be allowed to enter the Millennium/Kingdom Age (Rev 20). Those whom have been born again will also enter the eternal state of the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem (Rev 21-22).
A. Pre-Tribulation Warning. This message is being taught now, and relates to those whom have not been born again, but may be born again.
1. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Text.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
2. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Comment.
a. Vs 9-10. These sins, if of lifestyle, show that such a person has not been born again, not having the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, which prompts believers to righteousness.
b. Vs 11. Any unbeliever can come to saving faith in Christ, which will cause such a person to live a righteous way of life.
B. Post Tribulation Judgment. This message is written to relate to those who will be living in the Kingdom Age of the Millennium. The particulars also relate to this age in which we live.
1. Revelation 21:8.Text.
8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
2. Revelation 21:8. Comment.
a. A solemn, serious warning about the kinds of people who will be outcasts from the new heaven and the new earth in the lake of fire. The NT often goes beyond just citing unbelief in listing character and lifestyle traits of the outcast, so that believers can identify such people (1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:19; cf. John 8:31). sorcerers. See note on 9:21. lake which burns with fire. See note on 19:20. brimstone. See note on 9:17. second death. See note on 20:6. (MacArthur Study Bibe.).
b. For the people who are identified in this verse, there is no recompense. Their eternity in the lake of fire was affirmed when they denied Christ as their Lord and Savior, and died, while living in the Kingdom Age. For those, who either remained alive throughout the Millennium (not having accepted Christ as Lord and Savior), or were killed as they joined forces with Satan and came against Christ and His people at the Battle of God and Magog (Rev 20:7-9), their eternity in the lake of fire was also sealed.
c. The dead of all time (those not born again, John 3:3), as opposed to “the dead in Christ” (those born again) (1 Thes 4:16), will stand before God, be judged according to their works, which are written “in the books,” and be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15).
d. The “book of life” (Rev 20:12) contains the names of all of those, of all time, whom will have been born again. Their offenses had been “nailed to the cross” (Col 2:13-14), whereby Christ had paid their sin debt.
C. Sin Applications.
1. In today’s world, we have a close resemblance to the events of the Battle of Gog and Magog (Rev 20:7-9). Those whom reside on earth during the Kingdom Age will be taught the truth of Christ (Isa 2:1-3; Zech 8:3). But, in spite of the truth of the words of Christ, many people will not accept His teachings. They will become pawns of Satan in his attack on God’s people at the end of the Millennium, and will show by their works that they have not accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Consider the words of Rev 21:8, which identify the people directly, whom will be living during the millennium, but have shown by their lifestyles that they have not come to saving faith in Christ. Anyone can have a day where they may commit any of the sins of 21:8, but only if those sins are lifestyle patterns, do they show that they have rejected Christ.
2. In the Apostle Paul’s personal world, he had a daily battle with sin. Consider Romans 7:14-21.
a. The Conflict of Serving Two Masters. The Truth Of Indwelling Sin.
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 However, if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, that the Law is good. 17 But now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I do the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
b. To paraphrase the words of Paul, he said: “The things that I know I should do, I don’t do. The things that I shouldn’t do, I do. It is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
3. When we have been born again, our spirit, is dwelled within by the Spirit of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17, 20). Our old spirit has passed away, and replaced by a new spirit (2 Cor 5:17). We have a spirit as righteous as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:21). But, we still have the problem that was present in the life of Paul, which is indwelling sin. When we are born again, our spirit has been born again, but our soul (our mind, our emotions, our consciousness) has not been born again; and “sin which dwells within me,” will stay within us until we die, or are caught up from this earth in the Rapture.
4. The dwelling of God’s Spirit, within our spirit, prompts us to righteousness, per the following scriptures: John 14:26; 16:5-11). When indwelling sin tells us to commit sin, the indwelling Holy Spirit tells us to live as Christ would live. Concerning Rev 21:8, a person having such deadly sins controlling their life, is providing evidence that they do not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within their spirit, prompting them to righteous living. For example, in the Millennium, nobody having accepted Christ as Lord and savior, should have any fear in their lives, because Christ’s influence, Presence, and protection will be everywhere.
5. Consider the following scriptures and associated details that tell of the influence of Christ over everyone who will be living in the Millennium.
a. Isa 2:3. And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(1) “law.” 8451. torah.
(2) When these events take place many nations will be attracted to Jerusalem (cf. 14:1; 27:13; 66:23; Zech 8:23; 14:16) and to God’s house (the temple, Isa 2:2a). The attraction will be the Lord’s ways, paths, Law, and Word, which will be made known from that place. In fact, the Lord Himself will give forth the Law (51:4). (Zion, referred to dozens of times by Isiah, more than any other author of Scripture, is here a synonym of Jerusalem; cf. 4:3; 40:9; 52:1; 62:1. See comments on Zech 8:3). In the Millennium, people everywhere will realize that God’s revelation is foundational to their lives. They will want to know it (He will teach us) and to live according to it (walk in it). (Bible Knowledge Commentary, John A. Martin, B.A., Th. M., Th. D.).
b. Zech 8:3. “Thus says the LORD, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’
(1) 571. emeth. firmness, faithfulness, truth.
(2) At this time, His (Christ’s) truth and holiness (Joel 3:17; Obad 17) will be imparted in the city (Jerusalem) and throughout the the earth (Bible Knowledge Commentary, F. Duane Lindsey, B.A., B.D., Th. M., Th. D.).
VI. Conclusion. Everyone who will be alive during the Kingdom Age of the Millennnium will have the truth of God made known to them (Isa 2:3/Zech 8:3). Everyone who resides on this earth, prior to the Millennium, is currently receiving the message of Christ through God’s Holy Spirit (John 1:9). To reject Christ is to have a destiny in the lake of fire (Rev 20:15.
A. John 1:9. “This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person.”
B. Ryrie Study Bible. John 1:9. “enlightens everyman.” Not that every man is redeemed automatically, for redemption comes through faith in the Savior.
C. John 1:12. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
D. Ryrie Study Bible note. John 1:12. “even to those who believe in His name.” An explanation of what it means to “receive” Him.
VII. Video Details.
A. What will the new heaven and the new earth be like?
B. John Ankerberg Show. Nov 28, 2018.
C. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock.(Credentials for each of the men in this video can be found on my “About Sources” Page.
I. Introduction. Revelation Chapter 20 discusses the Kingdom Age of the Millennium. The Kingdom is an earthly existence. The Millennium is the length of time that the Kingdom, or Kingdom Age, will exist. In order for anyone to understand Revelation Chapter 20, there must be an understanding of what the Kingdom is, and what the Kingdom is not. This article will first explain the things that relate to the Kingdom, in its prophesied earthly existence. Following, will be a discussion on the events that must occur between the time that we now occupy in history, to the time of the Kingdom Age. Then, each verse of Revelation Chapter 20 will be discussed, as to the things that will occur during its duration.
A. Series Title. Israel In Revelation.
B. Opening Video Title. Marking the Times Episode 29: Millennial Kingdom.
C. Article Title. End Times 33, Revelation 20:1-15, The Millennium.
D. Article Focus. End Times and Present Time.
II. Key Focus. Understanding The Kingdom Age.
A. In Revelation 20:4, we see the words, “a thousand years.” A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloyear. … Millennia sometimes have religious or theological implications (see millenarianism). The word millennium derives from the Latin mille, thousand, and annus, year. Also check: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/millennium#other-words
B. The millennium (thousand years), as shown in Rev 20, is the length of time of the fulfillment of:
1. The Abrahamic Covenant: Gen 12:1-3; 15:18-21, 17:1-8.
2. The Davidic Covenant:2 Sam 7:8-16.
3. Pre-Christ Prophecy: Isa 2:1-4. Mic 4:1-4.
4. Time Of Christ’s Teaching. Matt 3:1-3; 4:17; 10:5-7. Luke 10:9.
C. The term, “millennium,” is not shown in Scripture. The “thousand years” of Revelation 20:4, is the length of time that will cover the Kingdom Age.
D. A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God. Seven such dispensations are distinguished in Scripture. (Scofield’s Reference Notes).
E. The Kingdom Age (1,000 years) is the final dispensation of seven dispensations. 1. Innocence (Gen 1:3-3:6). 2. Conscience (Gen 3:7-8:14). 3. Human Government (Gen 8:15-11:9). 4. Patriarchal Rule (Gen 11:10-Ex 18:27). 5. Mosaic Law (Ex 19:1-Acts 1:26). 6. Grace (Acts 2:1-Rev 19:21). Kingdom. (Rev 20:1-15). (Scofield’s Reference Notes; Ryrie, “Dispensationalism).
F. The Kingdom Age will have the “very good” conditions of the Garden of Eden that existed through Gen Chap 2 (Gen 1:31, 2:25). Such Edenic conditions in the Kingdom will exist until the Battle of Gog and Magog (Rev 20:7-10) takes place, which is a result of the attack on God’s people by the many children (Rev 20:8) of Jews and Gentiles who enter the Kingdom, having been born again, but entering the Kingdom in mortal bodies. These Kingdom-born children will have to accept Christ, and be given resurrection bodies by God, to enter the eternal state (Rev 21:1-2); but, many will not come to such saving faith in Christ. Such unbelievers will be like unbelievers in our present age; they will be taught the truth of Christ (Isa 2:2-3), but many will reject Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16), and will be the deceived members of the army that will attack Jerusalem at the end of the 1,000 years (Rev 20:8-9). [(1) Anyone living in the Kingdom, having a natural body (flesh and blood, perishable) will not be able to enter the eternal state (1 Cor 15:50). (2) In the Rapture, “the dead in Christ” will rise first, and then “the living” will be instantaneously transformed (1 Cor 15:51-52). (3) The dead and the living will exchange the temporal and imperfect for the eternal and perfect (1 Cor 15:53-54).] {David K. Lowery, Th.M., Ph.D. Bible Knowledge Commentary, all three examples}. (Consider: “the dead in Christ,” 1 Thes 4:16, vs ” the dead,” Rev 20:12, 13).
G. The Jews of the Tribulation who come to saving faith in Christ (Mt 24:31, 40-41), will be left behind on earth to enter the Kingdom in mortal bodies. Gentiles of the Tribulation who come to saving faith in Christ, will also be left behind on earth to enter the Kingdom in mortal bodies (Mt 25:31-34).
H. Raptured and Resurrected saints of the church age will return from Heaven (Jn 14:2-6) with Christ for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:14), and will enter the Kingdom in resurrection bodies. Old Testament saints will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation to enter the Kingdom in resurrection bodies (Dan 12:1-3). Saints who die during the Tribulation will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation to enter the Kingdom in resurrection bodies (Rev 20:4).
I. Old Testament saints will rule and reign with Christ (Dan 12:1-3; Matt 19:28) in their promised Kingdom area (Israel, Gen 15:18-21). Church age saints will rule and reign with Christ outside of Israel (1 Cor 6:2). In these two examples of ruling and reigning, those whom have resurrection bodies will rule and reign over those whom have mortal bodies. During the Kingdom Age, people from all over the world will go to Jerusalem to keep Jewish feasts, and to worship Christ (Zech 14:16-19; Mt 26:29); those not having resurrection bodies will come under the rule and reign of those whom have resurrection bodies (1 Cor 6:2).
J. See the following MacArthur Study Bible note: 14:16–19 This very important passage reveals that some Gentiles will go into the millennial kingdom alive along with the redeemed Jews. A converted remnant from those heathen nations will make annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem to worship the LORD and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles during the Millennium. Commemorating the time when God “tabernacled” with Israel in the wilderness, the feast represented the last of the 3 major pilgrimage festivals (Lev. 23:34–36), marked the final harvest of the year’s crops, and provided a time of rejoicing. In the Millennium, it will celebrate Messiah’s presence, again dwelling among His people, and the joyful restoration of Israel, including the ingathering of the nations. Those who refuse to go will experience drought and plague. Tragically, as the thousand years go on, there will be many people from all over the world who will reject Christ as Savior and King, joining in a final war against Him, only to be destroyed and cast into hell forever (cf. Rev. 20:7–15). [my note: Mt 26:29, which was not Christian communion but was an observance of Passover (there was no church then), will also be observed in the Kingdom.] (My note: the correct wording of Rev 20:10, is “the lake of fire and brimstone, and Rev 20:14,15 is “the lake of fire,” as opposed to “hell.” The correct wording of “hell” in Rev 20:13, 14 is “hades.”)
K. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, which was followed by the curse (Gen 3), the Kingdom was removed from the Earth, and will not return until Christ reigns on the throne in Jerusalem (Rev 19:11-21; Isa 2:1-4). The Kingdom was restored in a limited form during the time of Moses, and continued until the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.; the “times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24, Gentile domination of Jerusalem) followed and will last until Christ takes His place on the throne in Jerusalem. The lack of a Jewish King over Israel began when King Zedekiah was dethroned by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The next Jewish King that will reign over Israel will be Christ, when He returns from Heaven at the end of the Tribulation (Mt 24:29-30). Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, and the following curse, the total perfection of the Garden of Eden, will not be present again until the time of the eternal state (Rev 21-22). During the time of the the Kingdom (Rev 20), the Garden perfection will be limited on earth. There will be death in the Kingdom Age (Isaiah 65:20); Satan will be released from the abyss to deceive unsaved mankind at the end of the Kingdom Age (Rev 20:7), and will launch an attack against Christ and His people (Rev 20:8-9); Satan loses (Rev 20:9). In the eternal state, Satan will not be present (Rev 20:10); there will be no death, or any kind of sin, or anything that is sin-related (21:8).
L. At our present time, God is keeping Jupiter from bumping into Mars, but Satan is “the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2), and is the ruler of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4.).
M. God has chosen the covenant seed of Abraham to be the people through whom He will provide a Savior for a fallen world (Gen 3:15), and through whom He will reestablish His Kingdom on earth (Gen 12:1-3; 18:6-8; 26:1-4; 35:9-12; Isa 9:6-7). It is very clear in Deu 14:2 of God’s choice for Israel to be, “… a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His personal possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
N. There are Bible translations that translate Luke 17:21 as, “the kingdom of God is within you”. So, we will address such a wording.
1. The Kingdom is described in Gen 15:18-21 as being a parcel of land that extends from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates river in Iraq.
2. The Kingdom is described in 2 Sam 7:8-16 as being a place for Israel, where a seed of David will establish His Kingdom.
3. The Kingdom is described in Isa 2:1-4 as being a place of ideal living conditions, being taught and ruled by our Lord, Messiah, Christ.
4. The Kingdom is described by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), and other teachings of Christ (Lk 6:27-38), as being a place of Godly ethics and morality.
5. Considering the fact that the Kingdom will be a place with people, a place of Godly rulership, a place having
the mountain of the house of the Lord, with teaching and judging by Yahweh, where such as Mt 5:41-42 will exist: “41 Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” We must conclude that the translation of Lk 17:21 must be reconsidered. We will add 17:20 for proper context.
a. 20 Now He was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
b. Notice that Pharisees, whom had not accepted Christ as Messiah, were questioning Him. Those people had not been born again. They were hostile to Christ, so nothing Godly could be “within them.” Per Ryrie Study Bible, “the Kingdom was completely unconnected with the Pharisees.” Per Scofield Study Bible, “the kingdom was actually ‘in the midst’ of the Pharisees in the persons of Christ and His disciples. Ultimately, the kingdom of heaven will come visibly to earth at our Lord’s second coming. See, 17:24, “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.” The phrase, “Son of Man,” was known to Jews from Daniel 7:13.
P. The correct translation of Lk 17:21 is: “the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Q. By believing that “the Kingdom of God is within you,” there is a common misunderstanding that the born again process puts the Kingdom “within us,” but the born again experience allows us to be present in the Kingdom, as is described in Rev 20:1-6, and other scriptures, per Ezek 36:24-28, John 3:3, 2 Cor 5:17. In other words, the kingdom doesn’t go into people; people go into the kingdom.
R. The words, “Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven” have the same meaning. The Kingdom on earth will be under the power of God in Heaven. The new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem of Rev 21:1-2 will appear after the present heaven, earth, and Jerusalem are destroyed at the end of the Kingdom Age of the Millennium, per 2 Pet 3:10. Consider heaven and heavens. https://biblehub.com/greek/3772.htm
S. An often overlooked teaching of the Kingdom Age is that saved Gentiles will share in the blessings that God has promised saved Israel. The subject of being “grated in,” (Rom 11:17-24), has an important not in the Ryrie Study Bible, “The root of the tree is the Abrahamic Covenant that promised blessing to both Jew and Gentile through Christ. See Gen 12:3. Saved Gentiles will not become Jews during the Kingdom Age, but will share in the Covenant blessings that God has promised for the Saved Jews to inherit.
III. Key Events Leading To Kingdom Age.
A. From where we are now in present day history, there are two key events that remain to be fulfilled in God’s calendar that will precede the Kingdom Age.
1. 1 Thes 4:16-17; which is the Rapture of the church age saints. The purpose of the rapture is to remove church age saints from earth, where they will be taken to Heaven (John 14:2-6; 1 Cor 15:50-54).
a. Rapture is a state or experience of being carried away. The English word comes from a Latin word, rapio, which means to seize or snatch in relation to an ecstasy of spirit or the actual removal from one place to another. In other words, it means to be carried away in spirit or in body. The Rapture of the church means the carrying away of the church from earth to heaven.
b. The Greek word from which this term “rapture” is derived, appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, is translated “caught up.” The Latin translation of this verse used the word rapturo. The Greek word it translates is harpazo, which means to snatch or take away. Elsewhere it is used to describe how the Spirit caught up Philip near Gaza and brought him to Caesarea (Acts 8:39) and to describe Paul’s experience of being caught up into the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Thus, there can be no doubt that the word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to indicate the actual removal of people from earth to heaven.
3. Jer 30:7, which tells of Israel’s place in the Tribulation, will follow the Rapture, and is designed for God to draw unsaved Jews to saving faith in Christ. With the church having been removed from the earth, God’s sole focus is unsaved Israel. Unsaved Gentiles, whom are also left behind, will be blessed by the Jews, even during the time of Tribulation.
4. Dan 9:27, which tells of the Tribulation, will not occur until the Anti-Christ affirms a covenant with the Jews, which will begin the seven years of Jacob’s distress (Tribulation).
B. God has promised the Church deliverance from divine wrath (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9; Rev. 3:10) God made a special promise to the church that it will be delivered from the future, tribulational wrath of God. It is best to take this deliverance as a physical removal (Rapture)from this time of divine wrath. https://www.biblebb.com/files/rapture.htm
C. At the time that anyone comes to saving faith in Christ, and is born again, such a person’s spirit has the Spirit of Christ dwelling within their spirit, and is therefore as righteous as is the Spirit of Christ, (2 Cor 5:17,21). No Godly judgment of the Tribulation can make a born again believer in Christ, any more righteous, or any more worthy, of dwelling with Christ throughout eternity. All judgments of the Tribulation are poured out on earth by Christ or angels (Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 8:1, 2, 5, etc.)
D. The Tribulation must precede the Millennium (Ryrie Study Bible, note on Joel 3:9-17). We will now discuss things of the Kingdom Age of the Millennium.
IV. Kingdom Age. Rev 20.
A. Preview.
1. Rev 20 is a view of the Kingdom Age in a nutshell. The duration of the Kingdom Age is 1,000 years, and is also known as the Millennial reign of Christ.
2. MacArthur Study Bible Note. Rev 20:1—22:21. Chapter 19 ends with the Battle of Armageddon and Christ’s second coming—events that mark the close of the Tribulation. The events of chap. 20—the binding of Satan, Christ’s 1,000 year earthly kingdom, Satan’s final rebellion, and the Great White Throne Judgment—fit chronologically between the close of the Tribulation and the creation of the new heaven and the new earth described in chaps. 21, 22.
B. Rev 19 NASB 1995 Text and Comments (MacArthur Study Bible notes, unless otherwise noted). .
1. Satan Bound-Text-vs 1-6.
a. 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.
b. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
2. Comments vs 1-6.
a. 1-3. KJV Study Bible. 20:1–3. The bottomless pit is simply the Abyss (Gr. abussos), the abode of evil spirits (cf. 9:1–11; Luke 8:31). The key shows authority, and the chain depicts imprisonment and binding. Before the millennial kingdom begins, Satan (cf. 12:9) is bound in the Abyss. The seal indicates God’s authority and guarantee that Satan will not be released until a thousand years have passed. During the Millennium (Latin for “one thousand years”) Satan will not be able to tempt or deceive the nations. Any temptation to sin during the Millennium must come from within those people who are born after the kingdom begins. It must be assumed that all of Satan’s demons or fallen angels are also imprisoned at this time (cf. Is. 24:21–23). Christ will reign on earth without opposition, and His kingdom will be characterized by righteousness, peace, and love (cf. Is. 2:3, 4; 11:3–5; 35:1, 2; Dan. 7:14; Zech. 14:9). However, after the thousand years Satan will be released for a short while (vv. 7–9).
b. 4. the souls of those who had been beheaded. These are tribulation martyrs (cf. 6:9; 18:24; 19:2). The Gr. word translated “beheaded” became a general term for execution, not necessarily a particular method. his mark. Tribulation martyrs will be executed for refusing the mark of the beast. reigned. Tribulation believers, along with the redeemed from both the OT and NT eras, will reign with Christ (1 Cor. 6:2; 2 Tim. 2:12) during the 1,000 year kingdom.
c. 5. the rest of the dead. The bodies of unbelievers of all ages will not be resurrected until the Great White Throne Judgment (vv. 12, 13). first resurrection. Scripture teaches two kinds of resurrections: the “resurrection of life” and “the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:29; cf. Dan. 12:2; Acts 24:15). The first kind of resurrection is described as “the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:14), the resurrection of “those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Cor. 15:23), and the “better resurrection” (Heb. 11:35). It includes only the redeemed of the church age (1 Thess. 4:13–18), the OT (Dan. 12:2), and the Tribulation (v. 4). They will enter the kingdom in resurrection bodies, along with believers who survived the Tribulation. The second kind of resurrection, then, will be the resurrection of the unconverted who will receive their final bodies suited for torment in the lake of tire.
d. 6. Blessed. Those who die in the Lord (14:13) are blessed with the privilege of entering His kingdom. second death. The first death is only physical, the second is spiritual and eternal in the lake of fire, the final, eternal lake of fire (v. 14). It could exist outside the created universe as we know it, outside of space and time, and be presently unoccupied.
3. Satan Freed, Doomed. Text. vs 7-10.
a. 7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
4. Comments. vs 7-10.
a. 7. Satan…released. He is loosed to bring cohesive leadership to the world of rebels born to the believers who entered the kingdom at the beginning. He is loosed to reveal the character of Christ-rejecting sinners who are brought into judgment for the last time ever.
b. 8. Gog and Magog. The name given to the army of rebels and its leader at the end of the Millennium. They were names of ancient enemies of the Lord. Magog was the grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:2) and founder of a kingdom located N of the Black and Caspian Seas. Gog is apparently the leader of a rebel army known collectively as Magog. The battle depicted in vv. 8, 9 is like the one in Ezek. 38, 39; it is best to see this one as taking place at the end of the Millennium.
c. 9. beloved city. Jerusalem (cf. Pss. 78:68; 87:2), the capital city during Christ’s millennial reign (Jer. 3:17). The saints will be living around the city where Christ reigns (cf. Is. 24:23; Jer. 3:17; Zech. 14:9–11). fire. Frequently associated in Scripture with divine judgment of wicked men (Gen. 19:24; 2 Kin. 1:10, 12, 14; Luke 9:54; 17:29).
d. 10. deceived. Just as his demons will entice the world’s armies into the Battle of Armageddon, Satan will draw them into a suicidal assault against Christ and His people (16:13, 14). lake of fire and brimstone. tormented day and night. Continuous, unrelieved torment will be the final state of Satan, fallen angels, and unredeemed men.
5. Judgment at the Throne of God. Text. vs 11-15.
a. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
6. Comments. vs 11-15.
a. 11. great white throne. Nearly 50 times in Revelation there is the mention of a throne. This is a judgment throne, elevated, pure, and holy. God sits on it as judge (cf. 4:2, 3, 9; 5:1, 7, 13; 6:16; 7:10, 15) in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. See 21:5, 6; John 5:22–29; Acts 17:31. earth and the heaven fled away. John saw the contaminated universe go out of existence. Peter described this moment in 2 Pet. 3:10–13. The universe is “uncreated,” going into non-existence (cf. Matt. 24:35).
b. 12. standing before God. In a judicial sense, as guilty, condemned prisoners before the bar of divine justice. There are no living sinners left in the destroyed universe since all sinners were killed and all believers glorified. books. These books record every thought, word, and deed of sinful men—all recorded by divine omniscience (Dan. 7:9, 10, the passage that is the source of this text). They will provide the evidence for eternal condemnation. Cf. 18:6, 7. Book of Life. It contains the names of all the redeemed (Dan. 12:1). judged according to their works. Their thoughts (Luke 8:17; Rom. 2:16), words (Matt. 12:37), and actions (Matt. 16:27) will be compared to God’s perfect, holy standard (Matt. 5:48; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16), and will be found wanting (Rom. 3:23). This also implies that there are degrees of punishment in the final judgment (cf. Matt. 10:14, 15; 11:22; Mark 12:38–40; Luke 12:47, 48; Heb. 10:29).
c. 13. Death and Hades. Both terms describe the state of death. All unrighteous dead will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment; none will escape. All the places that have held the bodies of the unrighteous dead will yield up new bodies suited for hell. [death represents the deceased body…see Lk 16:22b. hades represents the condition of torment…see Lk 16:23].
d. My Comment. 20:13. Luke 16:19-31. The rich man was dead, with his body in the grave; this man was dead, with his soul experiencing torment in Hades. Once a believer dies, the body is in the grave (so to speak) and the soul is in the Presence of God, in a state of comfort (as was Lazarus). At the time of the rapture and resurrection, the church age bodies of the “dead in Christ” will be raised to be physically in the Presence of Christ, forever (1 Thes 4:16-18). The righteous whom die prior to the church age, and in the tribulation, will have their deceased bodies raised at the end of the tribulation (Dan 12:2, Rev 20:4). As in the case of Lazarus, all deceased righteous saints, of all times, will have their souls (consciousness) in the Presence of God, from the time of their death until the time of their bodily resurrection, at which time their “bodies, souls and spirits” (1 Thes 5:23) will be reunited. There is no such thing as soul sleep.
e. 14. second death. See note on v. 6.
f. 15. lake of fire. See note on Rev 19:20. 19:20 beast was captured, and…the false prophet. In an instant, the world’s armies are without their leaders. The beast is Antichrist (Rev 13:1–8); the false prophet is his religious cohort (Rev 13:11–17). cast alive. The bodies of the beast and the false prophet will be transformed, and they will be banished directly to the lake of fire (Dan. 7:11)—the first of countless millions of unregenerate men (20:15) and fallen angels (cf. Matt. 25:41) to arrive in that dreadful place. That these two still appear there 1,000 years later (20:10) refutes the false doctrine of annihilationism (cf. 14:11; Is. 66:24; Matt. 25:41; Mark 9:48; Luke 3:17; 2 Thess. 1:9). lake of fire. The final judgment, the place of eternal punishment, for all unrepentant rebels, angelic or human (cf. 20:10, 15). The NT says much of eternal punishment (cf. 14:10, 11; Matt. 13:40–42; 25:41; Mark 9:43–48; Luke 3:17; 12:47, 48). fire…brimstone. These two are frequently associated with divine judgment (14:10; 20:10; 21:8; Gen. 19:24; Ps. 11:6; Is. 30:33; Ezek. 38:22; Luke 17:29).
V. Summary.
A. The Kingdom of God is that of which Isaiah prophesied, as a physical Kingdom which will be present on earth, with Christ ruling from Jerusalem (Isa 2:3, 9:6-7, etc.).
B. There is discussion today of “Kingdom Now Theology.” However, there can be no Kingdom without a King present and ruling. The King, Christ, is not presently ruling on earth, and will not be present on earth until the events of prophecy are fulfilled, such as those stated in Zech 12:9-10 and 14:1-4, at the end of the Tribulation and in the Battle of Armageddon:
1. “And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zech 12:9).
2. “Behold, a day is coming for the Lord…. (He) will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle…Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle….His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east;” (Zech 14:1-4).
C. Peace will not come upon the Earth until Christ returns from Heaven to Earth, and physically rules and reigns from Jerusalem.
1. “And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.” (Zech 14:9)
2. There will be only one religion in the entire world during the millennial reign of Christ. Ruling with a rod of iron (cf. Rev. 19:15), Christ will have done away with all false religions spawned by Satan. This will be the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant providing a Jewish people, the nation of Israel, and the land given to Abraham; the Davidic Covenant which promised a king from the tribe of Judah and the line of David; and the New Covenant which held out the hope of spiritual redemption for Jew and Gentile. All of this will be fulfilled in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. (MacArthur Study Bible note). [The new covenant is an example of Gentile believers being blessed by God’s blessings on Jews. Jer 31:31. “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” The new covenant is made between God and Israel, and will be fulfilled when Christ returns to earth with His born again believers (Ryrie Study Bible). Although certain features of the New Covenant have been fulfilled for believers in the current Church Age, e.g., knowledge of God and forgiveness of sin, the covenant remains to be realized for Israel according to the explicit statement of v 31, “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” (Scofield Study Bible).
D. If we were to think that we are in the Kingdom Age now, we would have to conclude that Christ is not doing a good job of ruling and reigning. Worldly peace is not present. The conditions of Isaiah 2 are nowhere to be found.
VI. Closing Video.
A. Marking the Times Episode 29: Millennial Kingdom
B. Join Dr. Hitchcock as he answers your questions relating to the role of believers after the Millennial Kingdom and Christ sitting on King David’s throne.
3. Mark Hitchcock is a leading Bible prophecy expert, prolific author who has penned over 20 books on the end times, senior pastor, and adjunct faculty member of the Dallas Theological Seminary.
Mark Hitchcock (J.D.,Th.M., Ph.D.)
THESE THINGS WILL HAPPEN! The scenes in this opening video show a world of people, which have turned their backs on Christ as their Lord and Savior, and have found themselves in the Tribulation. Those whom have accepted Christ have been removed from the world and taken to Heaven by Christ. Tribulation judgments on the world, by Christ and His angels, are shown in this opening video. God has chosen the Tribulation judgments to draw those, whom had previously rejected Christ, to saving faith in our Lord (Note. Young children may be seen in the video, but will not be left behind to undergo the judgments of the Tribulation.)
I. Introduction. It is at the end of the Great Tribulation that Israel is being attacked by all of the nations of the world at the Battle of Armageddon; the USA is one of those worldly attackers. The Jews see no way out of their impending destruction. Israel, and Jews everywhere, have denied Christ for centuries, but now they call on Him, in faith, to save them, which our Lord does. Christ descends from heaven with angels, and born again believers in Christ whom were resurrected or raptured prior to the beginning of the tribulation; they were then taken to Heaven where they have been waiting for this prophetic event for the salvation of God’s chosen people (Deu 14:2). This article will discuss the second coming of Christ, when He will stand on planet earth.
A. Series Title. Israel In Revelation.
B. Opening Video Title. REVELATION.
C. Article Title. End Times 32, Revelation 19:1-21, Christ Returns, The Tribulation Ends, Judgment Follows.
D. Article Focus. End Times and Present Time.
II. Key Verse. Revelation 19: 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
III. Preview of Revelation Chapter 19.
A. The events of Rev 19 are identified in verse order, as follow: The Marriage of the Lamb; The Marriage Supper of the Lamb; The descent of Christ from Heaven with the raptured and resurrected believers of the church age, and angels, for the Battle of Armageddon.
B. With some repetition, at the second coming of Christ from heaven to stand on planet earth, the Tribulation comes to a close. In Rev 19 Christ returns to Earth to judge sin and to set up the prophesied Kingdom Age, also known as the thousand year millennial reign. Accompanying Christ, will be the born again believers in Christ, whom were alive and caught up to heaven in the rapture of the church prior to the tribulation (John 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). Also, with the returning Christ, will be the born again believers which died during the church age (prior to the tribulation), and were resurrected from death immediately prior to the living believers being raptured. At the time of the rapture, Christ will come in the air, but will not stand on planet Earth. These returning saints will rule and reign with Christ for the duration of the Kingdom age (1 Cor 6:2, Rev 20:4). In a future article, we will discuss the details of the ruling and reigning of saved Jews, pre and post Christ, in conjunction with the ruling and reigning of the the returning, resurrected and raptured, saints (1 Cor 6:2, Rev 20:4).
IV. Rev 19. Text And Comments. Unless otherwise noted, comments come from the MacArthur Study Bible.
A. Rev 19:1-6. The Fourfold Hallelujah. Text.
1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 2 because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her.” 3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
B. Rev 19:1-6. Comments.
1. 19:1-6. 19:1–6 Alleluia. The transliteration of this Heb. word appears 4 times in the NT, all in this chapter (vv. 1, 3, 4, 6). This exclamation, meaning “Praise the Lord,” occurs frequently in the OT (cf. Pss. 104:35; 105:45; 106:1; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1; 117:1; 135:1; 146:1). Five reasons for their praise emerge: 1) God’s deliverance of His people from their enemies (v. 1); 2) God’s meting out of justice (v. 2); 3) God’s permanent crushing of man’s rebellion (v. 3); 4) God’s sovereignty (v. 6); and 5) God’s communion with His people (v. 7).
2. 19:1 “After these things.” This is a time key. After the destruction of Babylon at the end of the Great Tribulation, just before the kingdom is established (chap. 20). This section bridges the Tribulation and the millennial kingdom. “great multitude.” Probably angels, since the saints join in later (vv. 5ff.; cf. 5:11, 12; 7:11, 12). The imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ prompts this outburst of praise.
3. 19:2. judgments. Saints long for the day of judgment (cf. 6:10; 16:7; Is. 9:7; Jer. 23:5). Godly people love righteousness and hate sin, for righteousness honors God and sin mocks Him. Believers long for a world of justice and it will come (v. 15; 2:27; 12:5).
4. 19:3. smoke rises. This is because of the fire (cf. 17:16, 18; 18:8, 9, 18; 14:8–11).
5. 19:4. twenty-four elders. Best understood as representatives of the church (see note on 4:4). four living creatures. A special order of angelic beings. These compose the same group as in 7:11 and are associated with worship frequently (4:8, 11; 5:9–12, 14; 11:16–18).
6. 19:5. small and great. All distinctions and ranks are to be transcended.
7. 19:6 Omnipotent. Or “Almighty.” Used 9 times in Revelation as a title for God (cf. v. 15; 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 21:22). The great praise of the multitude sounds like a massive crashing of waves.
C. Rev 19:7-10. Marriage of the Lamb. Text.
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he *said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “These are true words of God.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
D. Rev 19:7-10. Comments.
1. 19:7. The marriage of the Lamb. His bride. It is the rapture of the church that takes the bride (the born again believers in Christ) to the altar of the wedding, and is the only way that the bride finds her way to the wedding (John 14:2-6. vs 6 is key: “Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”). It is through a belief in Christ (John 3:16) that precedes Christ personally taking His bride (the church) to Heaven in the rapture (John 14:6); the rapture precedes the bride (Eph 5:25-32) being taken to the marriage of the Lamb Rev 19:7). If there is no rapture of the church, there will be no marriage of the Lamb.
2. 19:8. righteous acts of the saints. Not Christ’s imputed righteousness granted to believers at salvation, but the practical results of that righteousness in believers’ lives, i.e., the outward manifestation of inward virtue.
2. 19:9. In as much as the Greek text does not distinguish between marriage supper and and marriage feast, but uses the same word for both, and since the marriage supper consistently is used in reference to Israel on earth, it may be best to view the marriage of the Lamb as that event in the heavens in which the church is eternally united to Christ and the marriage feast or supper as the millennium, to which Jews and Gentiles will be invited, which takes place on the earth, during which time the bridegroom is honored through the display of the bride to all His friends who are assembled there. (Things To Come, J. Dwight Pentecost, pp 228).
3. 19:9. “those who are called.” This is not the bride (the church) but the guests. The bride doesn’t get invited, she invites. These are those saved before Pentecost, all the faithful believers saved by grace through faith up to the birth of the church (Acts 2:1ff.). Though they are not the bride, they still are glorified and reign with Christ in the millennial kingdom. The guests also will include tribulation saints and believers alive in earthly bodies in the kingdom. The church is the bride, pure and faithful—never a harlot, like Israel was (see Hos. 2).
4. 19:10. Men are not to worship angels, only God. Prophecy is designed to reveal the Lord Jesus (Ryrie Study Bible).
E. Rev 19:11-19. The Coming of Christ. Text.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
F. Rev 19:11-19. Comments.
1. 19:11–13.KJV Study Bible. This white horse is not that of 6:2. Here the True Messiah returns in victorious conquest. He is Faithful to His Word and promises. He will fulfill the twofold role of judge and warrior. His judgment of the earth will be totally righteous (cf. 16:5–7; 19:2; Ps. 96:13). The fire depicts glory and judgment. The crowns indicate total sovereignty and authority (contrast 12:3; 13:1). The secret name expresses the mystery and greatness of the person of Christ (cf. 2:17; 3:12; 19:13, 16; Phil. 2:9–11). The blood represents the judgment of Christ’s enemies (cf. 14:14–20; Is. 63:1–6). The name “Word of God” presents Christ as the revelation of God Himself (cf. John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1). In His first advent, Jesus especially revealed the love and grace of God (cf. John 1:17; Rom. 5:8). But in His second advent, He will reveal the holiness, justice, and judgment of God (cf. Heb. 4:12).
2. 19:14. John F. Walvoord Revelation Commentary. Accompanying Christ on His second coming are those described as “the armies which were in heaven.” Some, such as J. B. Smith, have limited this army to the church, the Bride of Christ, on the basis that it is described as clothed in fine linen, white and clean. There is, however, no reason to limit this to the church, though the church is arrayed in fine linen. The church is not alone in having righteousness in the form of righteous deeds, and it is more probable that here not only the saints but also the holy angels are meant.
3. 19:15. NKJV Study Bible. The sword from His mouth depicts judgment through His spoken Word (cf. 1:16; 2:12, 16; Is. 11:4; 2 Thess. 2:8). Smite the nations: Christ will destroy all unbelievers (cf. 19:21; Matt. 25:41, 46; 2 Thess. 1:8, 9). Rod of iron: Christ will subject all nations to Himself, and destroy all His enemies (cf. Ps. 2:8, 9; 1 Cor. 15:24, 25). Winepress: See 14:17–20. Words relating to wrath and anger are found 15 times in Revelation. KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS: Christ has universal sovereignty. He is King over all who call themselves kings, and Lord over all who call themselves lords (cf. 17:14; Deut. 10:17; Dan. 2:47; 1 Tim. 6:15).
4. 19:16.NKJV Study Bible. KING OF KINGS means the One who is supreme over all earthly rulers. The phrase “Lord of lords and King of kings” is found in 17:14, anticipating the Second Coming.
a. Christ, as the King, will judge between the righteous and unrighteous Jews who are alive at the end of the Tribulation (Matt 24:27-31; 24:38-42), as to who will be allowed to enter into the Kingdom Age, or who will be taken in death to the Great White Throng Judgment (Rev 20:15).
a. Christ, as the King, will judge between the righteous and unrighteous Gentiles who are alive at the end of the Tribulation (Matt 25:31-46; Matt 25:31-33; Matt 25:34-40; Matt 25:41-45; Matt 25:46), as to who will be allowed to to enter into the Kingdom Age, or who will be taken in death to the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:15).
c. Christ is known as the “King Of The Jews.” (Matt 2:2; 27:11; 27:29; 27:37) (Mark 15:2; 15:9; 15:12; 15:18; 15:26) (Luke 23:3; 23:37; 23:38; 23:51) (John 18:33; 18:39; 19:3).
d. Christ is known as the “head of the church.” (Ephesians 5:23) (Colossians 1:18).
e. In the rapture, believers are taken by Christ to Heaven. Unbelievers are left behind to face judgment.
f. In the second coming of Christ, believers are left behind to enter the Kingdom age, to be blessed by all of the Kingdom’s blessings. Unbelievers are taken, in death, to the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:15).
5. 19:17, 18. NKJV Study Bible. The birds are told to gather to feast on the carcasses of the fallen armies gathered in opposition against Christ (Matt 24:28).
5. 19:19. kings of the earth. See 17:12–17. their armies. See 16:13, 14. His army. Zechariah describes this army of the Lord as “all the saints” (14:5).
G. Revelation 19:20-21. Doom of the Beast and False Prophet. Text.
20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire, which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
H. Rev 19:20-21. Comments.
1. 19:20. Ryrie Study Bible. The beast and his false prophet will be the first occupants of the lake of fire; other unbelievers, now in hades, will join them at the end of the Millennium (Rev 20:14).
2. 19:21 sword. See v. 15; cf. Zech. 14:1–13. birds were filled with their flesh. All remaining sinners in the world will have been executed, and the birds will gorge themselves on their corpses (Luke 17:37).
V. Consider.
A. Two leaders are prominent in the Tribulation period: one is political, and the other is religious. World government is represented by the “beast” (anti-Christ) and the religious system of the end times is controlled by the “false prophet” (the second beast). World government will have control over world religion. The dragon (Satan) will give the first beast his authority; such authority will also be given to the second beast. The religious leader does nothing without the approval from the political leader. He exercises his authority “before him,” meaning “in his presence,” the presence of the first beast, the political leader. The religious leader will promote the worship of world government. His purpose is to get people to support and follow world government and its special leader, the anti-Christ. We should be hesitant about all attempts to promote a global government, either through economics, politics, or religion. According to Bible prophecy, it is satanic. Without the rule of the Messiah, world government is doomed to failure. It is Satan’s plan, and will result in the persecution and death of believers (The Book Of Revelation, David Hocking, pp 422-424.)
B. A time is coming (“the fullness of the Gentiles,” Rom 11:25) when the last Gentile will come to saving faith in Christ. At that point in time, Jews will be able to see Christ as Messiah, although not all Jews will accept Him; the rapture of the church will then take place (John 14:2-6, 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). If the Rapture were to take place now, the governments of the world, most of whom are un-Godly, will be in a position to impose on the world’s nations the Draconian harshness that will come through a satanic leader, whom will be the anti-Christ. We are now seeing such preparations being made through the Democrat party in the United States, which is supported by the anti-Christ forces of mainstream media and religious left denominations, academia and entertainment, and new world order and globalism types. Member countries of the United Nation, which are largely anti-Christ, will add to the lockdown measures and civil rights infringements, that will be used to control the masses of our world. Approximately 24-30 percent of the Bible relates to prophecy; it should be studied, and not ignored (Rev 1:3).
C. Don’t miss the Rapture. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
VI. Video Details.
A. REVELATION. Aug 6, 2019. REVELATION STATION.
B. ‘REVELATION’ is a compilation of movie clips edited into a high intensity visual aid BASED off events prophesied in the book of Revelation and elsewhere in the Bible. Viewers take note the video is NOT meant to be a DEFINED GUIDE to the Book of Revelation. The video is perhaps over embellished AND/OR highly underrated at certain points. I personally make no extremist claims as to the accuracy, interpretations and timeline displayed in this work. This project is my personal attempt to capture the attention of believers and unbelievers alike and to enlighten them visually to future prophetic possibilities and to point all to the Salvation found in Jesus Christ. God Bless, Joseph (Rev Station).
VII. Please follow this site. Sources of information for my articles can be found on my Page, “About Sources.”
I. Introduction. This article is a very important “look ahead” view of what our world will be like after Christ removes His born again believers, and only those remaining will be people who do not have a personal, and saving, relationship with Christ. Consider a world where governments and citizenry have no understanding of God, “Father, Son, Holy Spirit.” Revelation Chapters 17 and 18 have a number of references to a woman. The identity of that woman is clearly stated in Rev 17:18, “The woman whom you saw is the great “city,” which reigns over the kings of the earth.” Babylon is the city of Rev 17:18. Babylon, which is called Babylon, will be a literal city, and will be the headquarters of the Anti-Christ during the tribulation. Rev Chap 17 and 18 are not in chronological order. The events of Chap 17 will occur during the first half of the tribulation; the events of Chap 18 will occur during the last half. Babylon will be the headquarters of a worldwide religion and political system during the tribulation, as seen in Chap 17, and will be the headquarters of a one-world commercial system as seen in Chap 18. The seventh bowl of God’s wrath will bring about the destruction of Babylon. When Babylon is destroyed, the judgments of God are complete. It must be noted that the Judgments begin in Rev 6:1 (Seal, Trumpet, Bowl). Each judgment comes against an unbelieving world. God does not have an agenda against born again believers in Christ, whom will be taken out of the world prior to the tribulation, and will be taken to heaven by Christ (John 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). It will be Israel, and not Gentiles, who will call on Christ to save them from total destruction at the end of the tribulation (Deu 14:2; Jer 30:7; Mt 23:37-40; Mt 24:22; Zech 12:10).
A. Series Title. Israel In Revelation.
B. Opening Video Title. Apocalypse: Chapter 18 – The Fall of Babylon.
C. Article Title. End Times 31, Rev 18:1-24, The Destruction Of Commercial Babylon.
D. Article Focus. Rev 18 shows the condition of the world, not having the presence and influence of born again believers in Christ. The view of the “ten nation” Anti-Christ tribulation confederation, that was shown in the Tim LaHaye “Left Behind” series of books and videos, will be shown to be, as fact. As you read the verses and comments of this article, you will recognize a world that is much of which our unbelieving world leaders would like to have as controlling factors today. Most of the United Nations member nations would like to see the Nation of Israel dissolved, destroyed and removed from the face of the earth; they would also like to negate the influence of believers in Christ. Not only has the United Nations proven to be a threat to Israel, the liberal forces of America’s Democrat Party have also shown a total lack of proper respect for “God’s Chosen People,” Israel (Deu 14:2), and an increasing hostility toward Israel. Those, of whom, having a strong witness for Christ, are berated by members of the Democrat Party, mainstream media, academia, new world order and globalism types. After the rapture of the church takes place, the democrats will control all three houses of U.S. government, as the U.S.A. and all other nations, come under greater control of the Anti-Christ and the United Nations. The truth of Matt 24:12 will be realized, “lawlessness is increased.”
II. Key Verse. Jeremiah 51:8.
“Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; Wail over her! Bring balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed.
The focus was first on Babylon’s sudden fall on one night in 539 B.C. (Dan. 5:30). The far view looks at the destruction of the final Babylon near the Second Advent when it will be absolutely sudden (Rev. 18). (MacArthur note).
The destruction of Babylon according to Jeremiah 51:8 was to be sudden. This is confirmed by Revelation 18:17-19. As far as the physical city of Babylon was concerned, this was not true of ancient Babylon as it continued for many years after its political downfall. Further, it is pointed out that the prophecy of Isaiah 13:6, 11, which formed the context of Isaiah 13:19-22, indicates that the destruction of Babylon would be in the day of the Lord. Hence, it is held that Babylon will be rebuilt and then destroyed by Christ at His second coming (Walvoord note).
Isa 13:6. From the near future, Isaiah returned to the distant future. The ultimate fulfillment of these prophecies of Babylon’s desolation will come in conjunction with Babylon’s rebuilding and utter destruction when Christ returns (Rev. 14:8; 18:2). Obviously, Isaiah was unable to see the many centuries that separated Babylon’s fall to the Medes from the destruction of the final Babylon by God (see Rev. 17, 18) (MacArthur note).
Isa 13:11 arrogance. The same sin of pride that led to Israel’s judgment (5:21; 9:9) will cause Babylon’s downfall (47:5, 7, 8; Rev. 18:7) (MacArthur note).
Isa 13:19-22. From the near future, Isaiah returned to the distant future. The ultimate fulfillment of these prophecies of Babylon’s desolation will come in conjunction with Babylon’s rebuilding and utter destruction when Christ returns (Rev. 14:8; 18:2). Obviously, Isaiah was unable to see the many centuries that separated Babylon’s fall to the Medes from the destruction of the final Babylon by God ((MacArthur note).
III. Consider. The “religious body,” which will be called “the church” during the Tribulation, will be that which today’s mainstream media calls, “the religious left.” This false church will be highly organized, and accepted by the anti-christ. Such an ecclesiastical system will mirror the liberal, highly organized, “so called” church of today. The religious left supports homosexuality, and ordains homosexuals to lead denominations and lower ranking “churches.” The religious left also supports same sex marriage, and abortion on demand. A great lack of respect and support for God’s chosen people (Israel, Deu 14:2), as well as its open hostility toward Israel through the BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) movement will keep this apostate ecumenical “church” in good standing with the United Nations and the anti-christ, until the anti-christ turns on that apostate church midway during the Tribulation. The Biblical indictment on this “religious left” group of “so-called” churches is that its members will not be “born again”(John 3:3, John 3:18, Rev 20:15). Tribulation saints, which were unbelievers who were left behind from the rapture, but come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, will oppose the anti-christ empowered ecclesiastical church. The closing video, which comes from the Left Behind series of videos of Dr. Tim LaHaye, shows Tribulation saints who are being encouraged by the testimony of a highly respected Jewish leader, when he acknowledges Christ as Messiah. You will also see the anti-christ, false prophet, and a woman who was a close confidant of the anti-christ. Of key significance to me is a scene of two women (one saved and the other unsaved), when the unsaved woman accepts Christ as her Lord and Savior (it is truly soul-stirring).
IV. Revelation 18. Text and Comments.
A. Babylon Is Fallen.
1. Verses 1-3 (Text). 1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. 2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.”
2. Comments: vs 1-3.
18:1 “earth was illuminated with his glory.” The fifth bowl (16:10) will have plunged the world into darkness. Against that backdrop, the sudden, blazing appearance of another angel (not the same as in 17:1, 7, 15) will certainly rivet the world’s attention on him and his message of judgment on Babylon (cf. 14:8).
18:2 “Babylon the great is fallen.” Rev 14:8, (see Isa. 21:9), the verse from which these words come. The Gr. text views the results of this as if it had already taken place. But the seventh bowl is being referred to here and it is yet to come at this point (16:17–21). When it comes, devastation and annihilation will take place, leaving the place to demons.
18:3 “wine of her fornication.” Religious Babylon (chap. 17) lures the nations into spiritual drunkenness and fornication with false gods (17:2, 4); commercial Babylon (chap. 18) seduces the unbelieving world into a materialistic stupor, so that the people of the world will become drunk with passion because of their relationship with Babylon. “kings…merchants.” Political rulers and corporate leaders alike are swept up in this worldwide system of commerce (14:8; 17:2).
3. Verses 4-8 (Text). 4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6 Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7 To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’ 8 For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong.
4. Comments: vs 4-8.
18:4 “Come out of her, my people.” God will call His own to disentangle themselves from this evil system. This may also be God’s calling the elect to abandon the world system and come to faith in the Savior. In either case, the message is to abandon the system before it is destroyed (cf. 2 Cor. 6:17; 1 John 2:15). The judgment of God on that society living in sinful, arrogant self-indulgence can be avoided. Cf. Isaiah’s and Jeremiah’s message to their people to leave Babylon (Is. 48:20; Jer. 50:8; 51:6–9, 45).
18:5 “remembered.” See 16:19. God does not remember the iniquities of His people (Jer. 31:34), but does remember to protect them (Mal. 3:16—4:2). For unrepentant Babylon, there will be no such forgiveness, only judgment.
18:6, 7a “repay.” The angel calls for God to recompense wrath to Babylon in her own cup to repay her according to her deeds. This is an echo of the OT law of retaliation (Ex. 21:24) which will be implemented by God (Rom. 12:17–21).
18:6 “double.” Has the sense of “full,” or “overflowing.” The punishment will fit the crime (cf. Jer. 16:18). “cup.” The cup of wickedness from which so many have drunk (14:8; 17:2, 4, 6) will call for the cup of wrath (14:10; 16:19).
18:7b “am no widow.” A proud, but empty, boast of self-sufficiency, also made by historical Babylon (Is. 47:8). Cf. 1 Cor. 10:12.
18:8 “her plagues.” These could include those of 16:1ff., but must be the special destruction of the city as well, described as “death, mourning and famine.” “in one day.” See vv. 10, 17, 19. The special judgments on Babylon take place in a brief period of time. Daniel 5:30 records that Babylon of old fell in one day.
B. Lament for Babylon
1. Verses 9-10 (Text). 9 “And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
2. Comments. vs 9-10.
18:9–20 (Note). This section records the lament over Babylon’s destruction, not her sin, by those who were part of her system.
18:9 “kings.” The political leaders of the world will weep because the loss of his capital city will signal the doom of Antichrist’s empire, and with it, the source of their power. Cf. v. 3; 17:2. “weep and lament for her.” “Weep” means “to sob openly.” “Lament” translates the same Gr. word used to express the despair of the unbelieving world at the return of Christ (1:7).
18:10 one hour. Cf. vv. 8, 17, 19.
3. Verses 11-20 (Text). 11 “And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more— 12 cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, 13 and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. 14 The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; 17 for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’ And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, 18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’ 19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’ 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”
4. Comments. vs 11-20.
18:12, 13 Over half of their commodities appear in the list of Ezek. 27:12–22.
18:13 “bodies and souls of men.” The slave trade, long banned by the civilized nations of the world, will reappear in Antichrist’s debauched commercial system.
18:17 “shipmaster.” Ship captains will mourn the loss of Babylon and the lucrative transport business that went with it.
18:19 “threw dust on their heads.” An ancient expression of grief (cf. Josh. 7:6; 1 Sam. 4:12; 2 Sam. 1:2; 15:32; Job 2:12; Lam. 2:10; Ezek. 27:30). “in one hour.” Not just 60 minutes, but one brief period of swift judgment.
18:20 “God has avenged you on her.” The angel will exhort the tribulation martyrs (6:9–11) to rejoice, not over the deaths of those doomed to eternal hell, but, because God’s righteousness and justice will have prevailed (Babylon had slain the saints; now, God slays Babylon).
5. Verses 21-24 (Text). 21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. 22 And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; 23 and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
6. Comments. vs 21-24.
18:21 “great millstone.” Millstones were large, heavy stones used to grind grain. This metaphor portrays the violence of Babylon’s overthrow. Cf. Jer. 51:61–64; Matt. 18:6.
18:22, 23 The fall of Babylon ends whatever semblance of normalcy will still exist in the world after all the seals, trumpets, and bowls. Life will be totally disrupted and the end near. No more music, no industry, no preparing of food (“millstone”), no more power for light, and no more weddings because God will destroy the deceivers and deceived (Babylon deceived the nations).
18:24 “blood of prophets and saints.” The religious and commercial/political systems embodied in Babylon will commit unspeakable atrocities against God’s people (cf. 6:10; 11:7; 13:7, 15; 17:6; 19:2). God will avenge that slaughter of His people (19:2) (Babylon killed the saints).
V. The identity of the anti-christ and the false prophet (Re: Walvoord Commentary). It would seem quite unlikely that either of the two beasts of Revelation 13 will be a Jew inasmuch as they both persecute the Jewish people and are the final Roman rulers of the times of the Gentiles. The general character of the great tribulation, however, is graphically portrayed in this chapter. It will be a time of absolute rule, and Satan will have his way. The ultimate in false religion will sweep the entire world in a manifestation of evil never before seen on the earth. The fact will be demonstrated beyond question that man is not able to solve his own problems and only God can bring righteousness and peace to the earth. The present attempts at unification of ecclesiastical and political power seem to be the forerunner and preparation for this end-time situation. https://bible.org/seriespage/13-beasts-and-false-prophet
VI. Video Data.
A. Opening Video Title. Apocalypse: Chapter 18 – The Fall of Babylon. I AM SESTAK. Jun 2, 2012.
B. Closing Video Title. Testimony of Ben-Judah. gregorija1.Jan 4, 2009. From “Left Behind – Tribulation Force.”
I. Introduction. The opening video has a very realistic view of what life will look like when God unleashes His Bowl judgments of His anger on a sinful and unrepentant world during the, “yet to come,” great tribulation. As we look into the sixteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation, there are key factors that must be considered. The seven bowl judgments, that are discussed in this chapter, have often been compared to the seven seal and trumpet judgments, especially to the trumpet judgments. There is similarity between the trumpet and bowl judgments. In both the trumpet and bowl judgments, the first in the series deals with the earth, the second with the sea, the third with rivers and fountains of water, the fourth with the sun, the fifth with darkness, the sixth with the Euphrates River, and the seventh with lightnings, thunders, and a great earthquake. The principle is often overlooked, however, that similarities do not prove identity. A careful study of the seven bowl judgments, as compared to the seven trumpet judgments, will expose significant differences. The first four trumpet judgments deal only with one-third of the earth, while the bowl judgments seem to be worldwide in application and much greater in intensity. Therefore, the bowl judgments follow the trumpet judgments and come out of, and make up, the seventh trumpet. The judgments that are described in the trumpet and bowl announcements follow in rapid order; they all will be completed within a short timeframe, toward the end of the great tribulation. The bowl judgments, which are the peak of God’s Holy dealings with an unholy earth, lead to the second coming of Christ, who is our Lord and Savior.
A. Series Title. Israel In Revelation.
B. Video Title: The Seven Bowls.
C. Article Title: End Times 29, Revelation 16:1-21, The Bowl Judgments.
D. Article Focus: Matthew 24:21, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.”
II. Text. Revelation 16:1-21.
A. The Bowls of Wrath
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
8 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 And the people were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
B. Har-Magedon (Armageddon)
13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
C. The Seventh Bowl of Wrath
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” 18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since mankind came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 20 And every island fled, and no mountains were found. 21 And huge hailstones, weighing about a talent each, *came down from heaven upon people; and people blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because the hailstone plague *was extremely severe.
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Sources of Information can be found in my Page, “About Sources.”
V. Comments. Revelation 16:1-21.
A. 16:1. The loud voice from the temple is likely the voice of God, since no other heavenly being could enter the heavenly temple “till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed” (15:8).
B. 16:2. The effect of the first bowl being poured out is a terrible sore upon all who had the mark of the beast (13:16, 17).
C. 16:3. The second bowl turns the sea into blood, as did the second trumpet (8:8). However, only a third of the sea was affected by the trumpet (8:8, 9). This bowl brings about the death of every living creature in the sea.
D. 16:4. The third bowl, like the third trumpet (8:10), targets the rivers and springs of water. This time, however, the impact is worldwide (compare 8:10, 11), and the water sources turn to blood instead of just becoming “bitter” (see 8:11).
E. 16.5. The angel of the waters is probably the same angel who poured out the third bowl (v. 4), and not a separate figure. Because God is eternally righteous, His judgment of the inhabitants of the earth (v. 10) and their violent, unrighteous works is completely just.
F. 16:6. God forces the unrepentant (v. 9) unbelievers who have shed the blood of God’s people to drink blood in order to avenge the deaths of the martyrs, as some of them requested in 6:10.
G. 16:7.” altar.” The personified altar echoes the words of the angel, reinforcing the truth that God is just in all judgment (Rev 19:1-2. Gen 18:25. Ps 51:4. Rom. 3:4).
H. 16:8. The fourth bowl is reminiscent of the fourth trumpet in its effect on the sun (8:12). But in this plague, the sun’s heat is intensified instead of diminished.
I. 16:9. “they did not repent.” Amazingly, sinners (see vs 11 and 21) will still refuse to repent and instead blaspheme God, Who is the One that they know has caused their afflictions.
J. 16:10. “throne of the beast.” This refers to either Antichrist’s actual throne, or his capital city, but extends to all his dominion. Regardless of where the darkness begins, it eventually covers Antichrist’s entire kingdom. “full of darkness.” Worldwide darkness is elsewhere associated with the judgment of God (Isa 60:2. Joel 2:2. Mark 13:24-25). “gnawed their tongues.” A futile attempt to alleviate the pain from their sores, the drought, and the fierce heat.
K. 16:11. “blasphemed the God of heaven.” A sign of their continued loyalty to Antichrist and their anger at God for the cumulative miseries brought about by the first 5 bowls. “God of heaven,” a frequent OT title for God, appears in the NT only here and in 11:13. “their sores.” The lingering effects of the first bowl are the chief cause of their blasphemy.
L. 16:12. With the water of the river Euphrates completely dried up, invasion from the east would be much easier. The kings from the east have been understood as the Parthian armies that menaced the eastern half of the Roman Empire, though any powerful force from Asia would fit the wording of this verse.
M. 16:13. “the dragon.” Satan. “the beast.” Antichrist (Rev 13:1-10). “the false prophet.” The lieutenant (Rev 13:11-18). The dragon; the beast; the false prophet. The “unholy trinity,” composed of Satan (the dragon, 12:3); the Antichrist (the beast, 11:7), and Antichrist’s associate (the false prophet; 13:11). The antichrist, a political leader; the false prophet, a religious leader.
N. 16:14. “the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.” The war will consist of several battles, beginning with antichrist’s campaign into Egypt (Dan 11:40-45) and including a siege of Jerusalem (Zech 14:2), as well as the final battle at Armageddon (vs 16).
O. 16:15. A call to surviving believers to watch and be alert. The clothes of a guard caught asleep on duty were taken from him, leaving him naked and disgraced.
P. 16:16. “Armageddon.” The Hebrew name for Mt. Megiddo, 60 miles north of Jerusalem. The battle will rage on the nearby plains, site of Barak’s victory over the Canaanites (Judg 4), and Gideon’s victory over the Midianites (Judg 7). Napoleon called this valley the greatest battlefield he had ever seen. But the Battle of Armageddon will not be limited to the Megiddo plains; it will encompass the length of Israel.
Q. 16:17 The seventh bowl is the climax of all of Revelation’s judgments. It is done: This is God’s final act of judgment before Christ comes.
R. 16:18. As in the case of the final seal and the seventh trumpet (8:5; 11:19) the final bowl judgment is introduced by the sound of voices, thunderings, lightnings, and a great earthquake. The earthquake is declared to be greater than any previous earthquake. The earth literally convulses as the times of the Gentiles come to an end. The voices, thunders, and lightnings are the prelude to the earthquake which is the express judgment from God.
S. 16:19. There does not seem to be any clear evidence that Jerusalem is destroyed with the judgments which overtake the earth at the end of the great tribulation. Babylon, however, according to Scripture, is destined to be completely destroyed. It is clear in that Babylon is the special object of the judgment of God, expressed graphically in the statement “to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” Here the word for “wrath” is orge„, a strong word often related to thymos which refers to divine anger. This is the final judgment of this wicked city. The fact that the judgment is an earthquake seems to indicate that a literal city is in view, and that the judgment results in its physical destruction. The time is just prior to the second coming of Christ.
T. 16:20. This powerful earthquake will radically alter all the earth’s topography, preparing it for the coming kingdom age, of the millennial reign of Christ (See Rev 6:12–14; Isa 40:4-5; Jer 4:23–27).
U. 16:21. Hail falling from heaven, with each stone weighing about 75 pounds (a talent), would be unparalleled in destruction (see Mt 24:21).
VI. Summary.
A. A time is coming when all born again believers in Christ will be caught up in the air from the earth, and will be taken to Heaven by Christ (John 14:2-6). At that point in time, the earth will be inhabited only by people who have no intimate relationship with Christ; they will very soon come under the persecution of the antichrist and the judgments of God in the time of tribulation. The tribulation will consist of Seal Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:6), Trumpet Judgments (Rev 8:7-9:21), and Bowl Judgments (Rev 15:5-16:21). All judgments will be poured out on the earth, through Christ and angels, 6:1, 8:1-6). The judgments will become more severe as they are poured out on the earth, “to test those who dwell on the earth (Rev 3:10)”. As Christ’s caught up believers are in Heaven with God, those unbelievers who will be left behind on earth will experience pain and death, with only the last bowl judgment to end their torment. Those left behind earth dwellers will become increasingly more hostile to God’s calling on them to come to saving faith in Christ (Rev 16:11), with their eternal destination yet ahead of them at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:15), where they, and all unbelievers of all times, will be cast alive into the lake of fire where they will be tormented forever and ever (Rev 20:10).
B. The preceding scenario paints a very grim eternity for anyone who does not know Christ as their Lord and Savior. The truth of the lake of fire awaits anyone who does not know Christ as Lord and Savior. The way out of the lake of fire is to never be put in it. The formula for such avoidance is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” Romans 8:1 adds comforting words, “Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.” To believe in Christ is not to merely acknowledge Him, or to have church membership, but to have an intimate relationship with Christ as Lord and Savior, per John 17;3,” And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Belief in Christ is an individual responsibility, one that will lead to eternal life with Christ. Unbelief in Christ is also an individual responsibility, one which will result in eternal suffering. For anyone who doesn’t know Christ as Lord and Savior, “It’s your choice.” It’s as serious as a heart attack!
VII. Video details. The Seven Bowls. REVELATION STATION. This video is a segment from ‘THE GREAT TRIBULATION SERIES’. The series is a FICTIONAL montage comprised from movie clips in which is edited into a high intensity storyline. The series is entirely BASED off events prophesied in ‘THE BOOK OF REVELATION’ and elsewhere in the Bible.
VIII. God’s love for Israel can not be denied. Isaiah 14:1. When the Lord has compassion on Jacob and again chooses Israel, and settles them on their own land, then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob.
I. Introduction. In the opening video, Dr. Jimmy DeYoung provides a brief overview of the remaining Tribulation Judgments; in Chapter 16, greater detail of the bowl judgments will be provided. Dr. DeYoung also explains the purpose of God for the Tribulation. Chapters 15 and 16 of Revelation bring to consummation the chronologically ordered events leading up to the second coming of Christ described in chapter 19. These are introduced in this chapter as “the seven last plagues” which are the divine judgments preceding the second coming of Christ. The chronological order of events in Revelation is presented basically in the seven seals (6:1-17; 8:1). The seventh seal includes all of the seven trumpets (8:1-9:21; 11:15-19). The seven vials or bowls of divine judgment are included in the seventh trumpet. From this it can be seen that the order of events is one of dramatic increase, the seventh seal being all-inclusive of the end-time events including the seven trumpets, and the seventh trumpet including the events described in the seven vials. The second coming of Christ follows this order of events immediately after the seventh vial. The intervening sections such as 10:1-11:14; 13-14; 17-19 do not advance the narrative chronologically. Chapter 19 of Revelation follows immediately after chapter 16 in the chronological development.
A. Series Title. Israel In Revelation.
B. Video Title: What happens to the earth as a result of the vial judgments?
C. Article Title: End Times 28, Revelation 15:1-8, Prelude To The Bowl Judgments.
D. Article Focus: As we consider all of the actions of God that will occur during the, “yet future,” bowl judgments, we must also consider the holiness and Glory of God. In this article, we will go back to the times when God’s Glory and Holiness were made to be so very visible, and powerful, to His chosen people, the Jews (Deu 14:2); we will cite examples of 1491 B.C. and 1012 B.C. In 626 B.C., we will see all of those on earth who were to be in awestruck reverence before God, Who is in Heaven. In the future millennial reign of Christ, this prophecy will be fulfilled in Messiah’s Presence, on earth. Consider how it will be to kneel before Christ.
1. 1491 B.C.
Exodus 40:34-38
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; 37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. 38 For throughout their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
2. 1012 B.C.
2 Chronicles 5:11-14
11 When the priests came out from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions), 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them 120 priests blowing trumpets 13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they raised their voices accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other musical instruments, and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His kindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not rise to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
3. 626 B.C.
Habakkuk 2:20
But the Lord is in His holy temple.
Let all the earth be silent before Him.”
4. 64 A.D.
Philippians 2:9-11
9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
E. Key Thought. The Holiness Of God.
II. Text. Revelation 15:1-8.
A. The Vision Of The Seven Last Plagues.
1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 3 And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
4 Who will not fear You, 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.”
B. A Scene Of Heaven.
5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and their chests wrapped with golden sashes. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Sources of Information can be found in my Page, “About Sources.”
V. Comments. Revelation 15:1-8.
A. 15:1. Another sign looks back to 12:1,3, where the symbolism of the woman and the dragon also appeared in heaven. This sign is great and marvelous, apparently because it deals with the seven last plagues sent by the Lord. The plagues, “the bowls of the wrath of God” (16:1), are much stronger and more widespread than the trumpet judgments in 8:2-11:19. The wrath of God is complete with the seven last plagues (see 15:1-19:5). They are immediately followed by the Second Coming and the marriage supper of the Lamb (19:6–21).
B. 15:2-3. The martyrs sing “the song of Moses,” praising God for His faithfulness and deliverance (Ex 15; Deu 32) and magnifying God’s Righteousness and His Holiness.
C. 15:4. God’s holy and perfect character inevitably demands that He judge. After God’s righteous judgment is complete; He will set up Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth, and the elect from every nation will come and worship Him.
D. 15:5. The temple of the tabernacle links the powerful imagery of the heavenly temple in 11:19 with the strong parallels in chap 15 to the Exodus period, when the majestic presence of God was clearly seen in the tabernacle. The tabernacle of the testimony calls attention to the Law or the tablets of testimony given to Moses (see Ex. 31:18; 32:15). In the new heaven and new earth the tabernacle of God will be with believers because He will dwell eternally with them (21:3).
E. 15:6. “seven plagues.” The final, most severe judgments from God, described in chap 16. linen . . . golden bands. The fabric represents holiness and purity (19:14). These are belts or girdles, running from the shoulder to the waist, that each of the 7 angels wear over his garments. The bands demonstrate riches, royalty, and untarnished glory.
F. 15:7. The seven angels described as already having the seven plagues in verse 6 are given seven golden vials or bowls described as full of the wrath of God in verse 7. The reference to plagues in verse 6 may be prophetic, or the bestowal of the vials may be the authorization to use them. The extent of the divine judgment is indicated by the word “full,” indicating the devastating character of this divine judgment. The word for “wrath” here is “thymos,” which relates to anger. The solemn reminder that God lives forever and ever gives a solemn cast to the wrath that is to be poured out to be inflicted forever and ever upon those who perish.
1. Consider thymos. 2372 thymós (from thyō, “rush along, getting heated up, breathing violently,” cf. J. Thayer) properly, passion-driven behavior, i.e. actions emerging out of strong impulses (intense emotion).
2. When 2372 /thymós (“expressed passion”) is used of people it indicates rage (personal venting of anger, worth). This flaw is completely absent of the Lord expressing (inspiring) intense anger. Accordingly, 2372 (thymós) is used of God’s perfect, holy wrath in Revelation (Rev 14:10,19,15:1, etc.). This anger is directed against sin with intense opposition and without sin.
G. 15:8. As the angels emerge from the sanctuary, it is filled with smoke proceeding from the glory of God and His power, a pointed reminder of the ineffable holiness of God. The scene can be compared to that when the cloud filled the Tabernacle in Exodus 40:34-35. Access into the sanctuary is made impossible by the smoke until the judgments contained in the seven plagues are fulfilled. It is an ominous sign of impending doom for those who persist in their blasphemous disregard of the sovereignty and holiness of God.
VI. Summary. The seal, trumpet and bowl judgments are poured out on earth by Christ and angels (Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 8:1, 5, 6, etc.). Their targets are not born again believers in Christ, but have a purpose for drawing unsaved Jews (Jer 30:7) to saving faith in Christ; unsaved Gentiles will also be able to come to saving faith in Christ. Born again believers in Christ will be caught up to heaven prior to the Tribulation (John 14:2-6, 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). The Tribulation will not begin until after Israel makes a peace treaty with the antichrist (Dan 9:27).
VII. Video details. What happens to the earth as a result of the vial judgments? This clip is from our series entitled, “Step by Step through the Book of Revelation.” John Ankerberg Show. Dec 29, 2011. Credentials for the speaker, Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, can be found in my Page, “About My Sources.”
VIII. God’s love for Israel can not be denied. Deuteronomy 14:2. “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
I. Introduction. In this article, we will consider the events of today’s world, and historical events, as they relate to the suggested outcomes of personal opinion and Bible prophecy. The USA is dealing with the effects of a virus that began in China. Rioting has been taking place throughout the USA, with the city of Portland, Oregon experiencing 100 days of violent riots, as of September 20, 2020. The many voting irregularities of the November 3, 2020 Presidential election have many Christians and Jews wondering if the USA will survive as a nation that God has used to support His Chosen People of Israel (Deuteronomy 14:2).
A. Video Title. Revelation.
B. Article Title. Bible? Virus? Riots? Rigged Elections? Which will cause, “End Of The World, 2nd Coming Of Christ, Tribulation, Rapture?
C. Article Focus. God’s Plan, or God’s Reaction.
1. Many among Christian and Jewish groups are attributing the current day events to God’s response to today’s lawlessness and turmoil. But, there has been a great lack of misunderstanding of events that have happened in world history that have resulted in far greater deaths than those that are being experienced today. Before anybody assumes that today’s world events will cause God to do anything to His creation, we must consider the great numbers of deaths that have resulted from past wars, disasters, pandemics, natural disasters, and other catastrophies.
d. Conclusion. In spite of previous atrocities, pandemics and wars, with deaths that greatly surpass those of today, God has not responded with the end of the world, the second coming of Christ, the Tribulation, or the rapture of the believers in Christ. God has a plan for His creation that will not be thwarted by events that come as a result of His creation’s bad behavior, or by the effects of nature or anything else that may happen in this world (there is no mother nature!).
II. Today’s World. God’s Plan. The Times Of The Gentiles; The Fullness Of The Gentiles.
A. The Times Of The Gentiles…The Fulness Of The Gentiles. In the Book, “Things To Come,” written by J. Dwight Pentecost, there is a good study on this subject on pages 303-304 (re Romans 11:25-27). Pg 303, in Lk 21:24, Christ referred to the “times of Gentiles” as continuing as long as Jerusalem is “trodden down of the Gentiles.” The reference in Luke is to the political domination of Jerusalem by Gentiles which began with the fall of Jerusalem at the time of the captivity and has continued to the present day. While the terminology is not significant in itself from the context of the two passages involved, it seems clear that the expression “times of the Gentiles” has reference to political domination of Gentiles, while the expression “fullness of the Gentiles” has reference to Gentile blessing and opportunity in this present age. If this analysis is correct, the times of the Gentiles and the fullness of the Gentiles are two entirely different ideas. The times of the Gentiles began long before Christ, and will continue until Christ returns to establish His kingdom. The fullness of the Gentiles began at Pentecost and will continue only as long as the present age of grace. From the standpoint of eschatology, the important point is that the fullness of the Gentiles will come to its close before the times of the Gentiles are run out …{“it seems clear that the fulness of the Gentiles will come abruptly to its close when the church is caught up to heaven” (John Walvoord, “Israel’s Blindness, July, 1945}.
B. The MacArthur Study Bible adds the following note on Romans 11:25 (Times Of The Gentiles): “Until” refers to a specific point in time; “fullness” refers to completion; “has come in” translates a Gr. verb often used to speak of coming salvation (Mt 5:20, Mk 9:43, 45, 47; Jn 3:5, Ac 14:22). Israel’s spiritual hardening (which began with rejecting Jesus as Messiah) will last until the complete number of elect Gentiles has come to salvation.)
C. The Ryrie Study Bible explains the time of Tribulation and Second Coming of Christ in Mt 24:3 note: Christ speaks of the end of the age in vs 4-28. Vs 4-14 lists the characteristics of the first half of the Tribulation period, whereas vs 15-28, deal with the second half. In vs 29-31 Christ speaks of his second coming. Zech 12:10, At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize Jesus as her Messiah, acknowledging with deep emotion that He was the One whom their fathers pierced …(Jn 19:37)]
D. Mt 24:31 is not the rapture; neither is Mt 24:40-41. Zech 14:1-5 and Rev 19:11-21 tell of Christ returning “to earth” with his saints and angels (as opposed to the rapture in the air, Jn 14:2-6, 1 Cor 15:50-54, 1 Thes 4:13-18). Zech 14:9,11, tells of Christ taking His throne, with peace finally coming to earth. The 1000 year millennial reign of Christ (Kingdom age, Rev 20:4) will follow the tribulation (Rev 6:1-19:21) and the 2nd coming of Christ (Mt 24:29-31). The rapture of the church will occur prior to the Tribulation, when the predetermined number of Gentiles has come to saving faith in Christ, which will occur during the Church age of grace. The tribulation will follow the rapture (Rev 6:1-19:21), being followed by the Kingdom Age (Rev 20:1-10), and the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15, where unbelievers of all ages are cast into the lake of fire). The destruction of the world in which we live will follow the Great White Throne Judgment (2 Pet 3:7-12, Rev 21:1). The eternal state of new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem, will follow the destruction of the former (Rev 21:1-1).
E. Re: Rom 11:25. God has determined “a fullness” of Gentiles (the number of saved Gentiles). Then, the rapture of the church (born again believers in Christ) will take place. The fullness of the Gentiles is based on God’s measure, and doesn’t happen in, and of, itself.
F. Credentials.
1. Charles C. Ryrie (Th.D, Ph.D.) (Deceased).
2. J. Dwight Pentecost (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
3. John F. Walvoord (Th.M., Th.D.) (Deceased).
4. John MacArthur (M.Div., Litt.D., D.D.). Walvoord has made reference to McArthur’s writings.
III. The Cause Of Today’s World’s Problems.
A. Upon the completion of God’s creation of our world, and all that is contained, the words “very good,” are found in Genesis 1:31 to assess the condition of the newly created world. Everything that is found in Chapters one and two of Genesis show perfection; without error, without sin (1 Tim 4:4).
B. Sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden (Gen 3:1-13).
C. A curse on all of God’s creation followed the fall (Gen 3:14-19), which included death (Gen 2:17; Rom 5:12). There were no human or animal life before the creation in the Garden. There was no death of pre-Adamic cavemen, or dinosaurs of billions of years ago. The perfection of Genesis chapters 1 and 2, is no longer present in our world, and will not return until the time of the eternal state (Rev 21:3-4).
D. The world in which we now reside is affected by the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the resulting curse, and is shown in the words of Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Such sin from the fall and the curse, causes pandemics, riots, and election rigging. Such persistent sin is evidence of people not having been born again, not having the righteous influence of the indwelling Spirit of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3; 14:20; 16:7-14), NOT HAVING BEEN SAVED!
IV. Considering References. Everybody reads something that someone else has written. It has been my goal to study the works of pastors, seminary instructors, and authors of books, who have a history of being respected for their works by others of their peer groups. No conclusion that I draw comes without having also been such a conclusion coming from one of my sources of information. A list of my sources of information can be found on my website Page, “About Sources.” https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/about-sources/
V. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
VI. Video Details. REVELATION. REVELATION STATION. Aug 6, 2019.
I. Introduction. The opening video clip is from the series “35 most asked questions concerning Bible Prophecy”. This clip answers the question: “What happens during the seven year tribulation period, or the seventieth week of Daniel 9?” What happens when Jesus breaks the seven seals of the sealed scroll? It is important to understand that each of the judgments of the tribulation are caused by God, either through Christ or angels. See Rev 6:1 for seal judgments, Rev 8:1-2 for trumpet judgments, and Rev 16:1-2 for bowl judgments. A description of the 70 weeks of Daniel can be found in Daniel 9:20-30 (538 B.C.). Notice that the 70 weeks of Daniel relates to Israel (vs 20,24). Notice in Jeremiah 30:7 that the Tribulation relates to Israel. The King of the Jews is Jesus (Matthew 25:34; Rev 19:16). “The head of the Church” is Jesus (Col 1:8). In Rev 19:11-21, Christ is descending from heaven with His raptured saints to take His rightful place on His throne in Jerusalem, for the Kingdom Age of the Millennium. The Kingdom is not established until Christ takes His place on the throne, which has not yet happened. Video details are found at the bottom of this page.
A. Series Title. Israel In Revelation.
B. Video Title: The tribulation period or 70 week of Daniel 9.
C. Article Title: End Times 27, Revelation 14:14-20, The Reapers.
D. Article Focus. In this article we will consider “reaping, the reapers, and the final judgment.”
a. Reap Definition: Taken from Mirriam-Webster Dictionary. (1) To cut with a sickle, scythe, or reaping machine. (2) To clear of a crop by reaping. (3) To gather by reaping : HARVEST.
b. Reaping Definition: Taken from Unger’s Bible Dictionary. (1) The reward of wickedness. (2) The reward of righteousness. (3) The final judgment.
E. Key Thought. The Kingdoms.
1. In this article we will consider an area of Scripture that will add great understanding. Matthew Chapter 13 is discussed by Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost (JDP), Th.D, in his book, “Things To Come,” pages 142-147, Copyright 1958. Credentials for Dr. Pentecost are shown in my Page, “About My Sources.”
2. “The time element in Matthew 13.” Ryrie writes to show that these parables are limited to the inter-advent period. He says: “The kingdom of the heavens has become like unto.”… The end of the time period covered by these parables is indicated by the phrase “end of the world,” or more literally “the consummation of the age.” (vs 39-40). This is the time of the Second Advent of Christ, when He shall come in power and great glory. Therefore, it is clear that these parables are concerned only with that time between the days when Christ spoke on earth, and the end of the age. This gives a clue to the meaning of the phrase “the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven.”
a. “The mystery form of the kingdom.” That God was going to establish a kingdom on the earth was no mystery. The mystery form of the kingdom has reference to the age between the two advents of Christ. The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven describe the conditions that prevail on the earth in that interim while the King is absent. These mysteries thus relate this present age to the eternal promises of God in regard to His kingdom.
b. Concerning this mystery form of the kingdom, it is observed in “the first place,” that it can not be equated with the millennial kingdom, for that kingdom was no mystery but was clearly predicted in the Old Testament. In “the second place,” it can not refer to the spiritual kingdom, for that kingdom consists only of saved people, who enter it by new birth, but this mystery form of the kingdom is composed of saved and unsaved alike (wheat and tares). It can not refer, “thirdly,” to the eternal kingdom for these mysteries are limited in time to the interadvent period. It can not be limited, “fourthly,” to the church, for this mystery form of the kingdom includes more than the church. “On the other hand,” it must be observed, this mystery form of the kingdom is limited as to time, and represents the entire sphere of profession in the present age. It is most important, eschatalogically, to keep these three usages of the term “kingdom” separate and distinct (spiritual, millennial, mystery).
c. “The Wheat And The Tares.” (Mt 13:24-30; 36-43). There will be a judgment at the end of the age to separate the good from the evil. The good will be received into “the millennial kingdom” and the evil excluded… Many feel that this parable relates to the “tribulation period.”…(1) The term “children of the kingdom” is used in Matthew to refer to Israel (Mt 8:11-12); (2) the judgment outlined relates to the time when God will again be dealing with Israel as a nation, that is at the end of the age; (3) the wheat and tares grow together until the judgment, but the church will be raptured before the Tribulation begins; (4) the judgment that falls upon the wicked comes through angels before the righteous are rewarded, so that the chronology here depicts the removal of the wicked so that only the righteous are left; (6) the church is never judged to determine who will enter into glory, and who will be excluded. This seems to indicate that this parable has primary reference to Israel during the Tribulation period. Yet, it is true that the entire age is to be characterized by a false sowing in competition with the true.
II. Text. Revelation 14:14-20.
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
V. Dates of scriptures come from the Scofield Study Bible, copyright 1909.
VI. Comments. Revelation 14:14-20.
A. Rev 14:14-15. The reference to the Son of Man with a golden crown on His head indicates that the figure is Jesus Christ (see Rev 1:13, and Dan 7). The Son will judge humankind. A sharp flint or iron sickle was the primary tool for an ancient grain harvest. Since the 144,000 have been received by God as the firstfruits (vs 4) of His harvest, the rest of the harvest of the earth is surely ripe for salvation (see Mt 13:37–43), as well as judgment. This judgment relates to those ungodly people which were left behind from the rapture, and are still alive at the end of the Tribulation.
1. Mt 24:29-31, at the return of Christ to Earth at the end of the Tribulation, angels will be sent forth to gather “the elect” of God (Deu 14:2, the Jews).
a. Mt 24:31 does not relate to the Rapture of the Church. “The elect of God,” relates to Jews (Deu 14:2).
b. Titus 2:13 relates to the Rapture, “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” The context of this verse does not match the judgment which follows Mt 24:31.
c. Mt 24:29 begins a discussion on the judgment that will come on the earth at the time that Christ returns from Heaven (with His previously raptured saints) for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21). There will be great destruction of unsaved mankind (Rev 19:18-20). There will be great fear for those, who are unsaved on earth, who see the Lord’s appearing (Zech 12-10-12; Mk 13:24-26; Lk 21:27), and there will be widespread earthly destruction (Rev 16:17-21).
d. The rapture (harpazo) of the Church will be a time of joy, and will remove born again believers in Christ from earth to Heaven (Jn 14:2-6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18; 1 Thes 1:10; 1 Thes 5:9). The Noahic flood (Gen 7:23-24) was God’s wrath. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was God’s wrath (Gen 19:28-29). The seal, trumpet and bowl judgments of the Tribulation are all God’ wrath (Rev 6:1-16:21). The return of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon, with His saints and angels (Zech 14:1-5), is God’s wrath. God’s people have always faced the effects of perilous times, that are described in 2 Tim 3:1-13, which come as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the resulting curse (Gen 3:15-19). However, Christ, who is the Bridegroom of all bridegrooms, will not subject His Bride (the born again believers; the Church; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:22-32; Rev 19:7-8) to any of “His” judgments that will come upon “all that dwell on the earth” (Rev 3:10). God’s wrath is shown throughout Revelation, from 6:1 through 19:15. Additionally, the Bride of Christ will not be present on earth when any of the judgments of God’s wrath are poured out on the earth. There is no purpose for the Church being in the Tribulation. Here is a hint. The Tribulation was designed by God for the purpose of drawing unsaved Jews to saving faith in Christ. I included a discussion on Tribulation inhabitants in my previous End Times article; click onto the following link:
2. Rev 14:15. “The harvest of the earth” (in this case relates to the ungodly people of the world) “is ready” to be gathered up and judged (Jews, Mt 24:40-41, “taken to death and judgment”); (Gentiles, Mt 25:41, “taken to death and judgment”). The deaths will be immediate. The judgment will be 1,000 years later, when “the unsaved dead” are resurrected to stand at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15, for unbelievers), where they will be cast into the lake of fire.
B. Rev 14:16. The power of the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) is shown in that, with one thrust of His sickle, the harvest of the earth is reaped. This pictures the events of Rev 16-19 as parts of one rapid succession of judgment. Thus this judgment is experienced by the inhabitants of the entire world.
C. Rev 14:17 “temple.” This refers to the heavenly dwelling place of God, not the Tribulation temple in Jerusalem, (Rev 11:1).
1. Rev 11:19 “temple of God was opened in heaven.” The heavenly Holy of Holies, where God dwells in His glory, already is identified as His throne. John had seen the throne (Rev 4:5), the altar (Rev 6:9; 8:3–5), and here the Holy of Holies.
2. Rev 11:1. Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. [(A rebuilt temple will exist during the time of the Tribulation (See Dan 9:27; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:4)]. {The Tribulation temple will not be a dwelling place for God, as were the Tabernacle in the Desert (Ex 40:34-35); Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:11; 2 Chron 5:13-14); the Heavenly Temple during the Tribulation (Rev 15:8); the Millennial Temple (Ez 43:1-3)}. In the Eternal State there was “no Temple, for the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple (Rev 21:22).
D. Rev 14:18. This angel is coming from the heavenly altar to ensure that all the prayers of all the saints for judgment, and the coming of the kingdom, are answered. He calls for judgment to start. “sickle.” See the note on Rev 14:14.
E. Rev 14:19. This verse relates to the slaughter of all the enemies of God who are still alive, who are facing destruction at Armageddon, which will be the final battle against God’s enemies. The image is that of the fresh juice of stomped grapes splattering and running down a trough from the upper vat to the lower vat of a stone winepress.
F. Rev 14:20. This is apparently a reference to Armageddon (Rev 16:16; 19:17-19), when the blood from the slaughter will flow 180 miles (290 kilometers) to the depth of about 4 1/2 feet (1.3 meters). The blood of horses, added to that of the large armies of human soldiers, could easily cause such an enormous river of blood.
VII. Summary. As we conclude Revelation Chapter 14, we can see that it refers to the preservation of the 144,000 through the Great Tribulation (the church is saved, “from the Tribulation,” by the Rapture). Additionally, it shows some of the terrible judgments that will be poured out on the world which will reject Christ, and will follow the substitute of Satan for our Lord.
VIII. Video details. John Ankerberg Show. May 29, 2009. Credentials for the speaker, Dr. Renald Showers (deceased), can be found in the Page, About My Sources.
IX. God’s love for Israel can not be denied. Deuteronomy 14:2. “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
Video Title: Why has God revealed information about the end time events?
Article Title: End Times 26, Revelation 14:9-13, Doom For Worshipers Of The Beast.
I. Introduction. In the opening video discussion of Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, we are briefly told about the events that will take place during the Tribulation, in the form of the judgments of God.
A. The Tribulation Judgments will be, Per Ryrie Study Bible:
1. Seal Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:6).
2. Trumpet Judgments (Rev 8:7-9:21).
3. Bowl Judgments (Rev 15:1-16:21).
B. Each Tribulation Judgment will as a direct result of God:
1. Seal Judgments come as a direct result of the actions of Christ: Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1.
2. Trumpet Judgments come as a direct result of the actions of Angels: Rev 8:2-6, 7, 10, 12; 9:1, 13; 11:15.
3. Bowl Judgments come as a direct result of the actions of Angels: Rev 16:1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 12, 17.
C. In each of the Judgments, the seventh of those judgments opens up the following series of seven judgments:
1. Rev 8:1, the seventh seal opens up the seven trumpet judgments.
2. Rev 11:15-19, the seventh trumpet opens up the seven bowl judgments (Prelude: Rev 15:1-8; bowl judgments described: 16:1-21).
D. Tribulation Particulars:
1. Is designed for Israel, and not for the Church (Jer 30:7).
2. Will happen after a peace treaty is confirmed between the anti-Christ and Israel (Dan 9:27).
3. Has a purpose of drawing unbelieving Jews to saving faith in Christ (Mt 23:37-39).
4. Will last until Jews recognize Christ as Messiah (Zech 12:10), which will occur at the end of the Tribulation.
5. Nothing in the Tribulation is designed to draw any Christian to saving faith in Christ, because they will have already come to saving faith in Christ; will have spiritually been “born again” (2 Cor 5:17); will have a spirit as righteous as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:21); will have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within their spirit (Col 1:27); will have their spirit dwelling within the Spirit of Christ (Col 1:28); will be spiritual light, dwelling within the Spirit of God, “who has no darkness dwelling within Him (1 John 5:5); will forever be light due to the cleansing power of Christ (1 John 5:7).
6. Nothing in the Tribulation will make a born again believer in Christ any more righteous than the day of such a person’s being born again.
7. Nothing in the Tribulation will make a pre-rapture born again believer in Christ any more deserving of spending eternity with Christ; because such a person will already be spiritually “in Christ,” whether dead or alive, at the time of the catching up of the saints (1 Thes 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:52); because born again believers in Christ will be taken by Christ to Heaven (John 14:6); because the born again believers in Christ, who are the bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:32..vs 22-33), will be wed to Christ at the marriage of the Lamb in Heaven (Rev 19:7-8); because such born again believers in Christ will return to earth from heaven, with Christ, for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21); because such born again believers in Christ will rule and reign with Christ (1 Cor 6:2) for the 1,000 years of the Millennial reign of Christ (Rev 20:4).
8. Because Christ is “the Bridegroom of all bridegrooms,” He will not subject His Bride to any of the Judgments that He will cause to come on “all those who dwell on the earth” (Rev 3:10). The Bride of Christ will already have “passed the test,” at the time of coming to saving faith in Christ.
II. Text. Revelation 14:9-13.
9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Comment Providers. Unless otherwise indicated, AMW=The Coming Kingdom; BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. DHC=David Hocking Commentary; HC=Holman Commentary; JDP=Things To Come; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; MBC=Moody Bible Commentary; NAC=New American Commentary; NIV=NIV Study Bible; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RLT=Robert L. Thomas Commentary; RC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WC= Walvoord Commentary. Credentials for individual commentators can be found on my “About Sources” page. Note: AMW=Andrew M. Woods; JDP=J. Dwight Pentecost.
V. Dates of scriptures come from the Scofield Study Bible, copyright 1909.
VI. Comments. (MSB, unless otherwise indicated).
A. 14:9 worships the beast. See notes on 13:14, 15; cf. 13:8.
1. 13:14 make an image. This refers to replication of Antichrist that is related to the throne he will erect during the abomination of desolation, halfway into the Tribulation period. This will happen in the Jerusalem temple when Antichrist abolishes the former false world religion and seeks to have people worship him alone as God (cf. Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4). The false prophet and Antichrist will later return and reign from the true throne in Jerusalem.
2. 13:15 speak. The false prophet will give the image of Antichrist the appearance of life, and the image will seem to utter words—contrary to what is normally true of idols (cf. Ps. 135:15, 16; Hab. 2:19). cause . . . to be killed. His gentleness is a lie, since he is a killer (7:9–17). Some Gentiles will be spared to populate the kingdom (Matt. 25:31–40), and Jews will be protected (12:17).
3. 13:8 Book of Life. Antichrist’s rule will extend to all except believers whose names have been written in “the book of life.” The phrase “from the foundation of the world” relates to the writing of the names (RSB).
4. 3:5. “I will not erase his name.” Not a threat but an assurance that saved peoples’ names will always be in the “book of life” (RSB).
B. 14:10 cup of His indignation. Anyone loyal to the Antichrist and his kingdom will suffer the outpouring of God’s collected wrath, done with the full force of His divine anger and unmitigated vengeance (cf. Ps. 75:8; Is. 51:17; Jer. 25:15, 16). Divine wrath is not an impulsive outburst of anger aimed capriciously at people God does not like. It is the settled, steady, merciless, graceless, and compassionless response of a righteous God against sin. fire and brimstone. These are two elements that are often associated in Scripture with the torment of divine punishment (Gen. 19:24, 25; Is. 34:8–10). Here the reference is to hell, the lake of fire (cf. 19:20; 20:10; 21:8). Brimstone is a fiery sulfur (see note on 9:17).
C. 14:11 torment ascends forever and ever. A reference to the eternality of hell (cf. Matt. 3:12; 13:41, 42; 25:41; Mark 9:48). Torment is the ceaseless infliction of unbearable pain (cf. Luke 16:23, 24), here prescribed for all who are loyal to Satan’s leader.
D. 14:12 This is excellent scriptural support for the doctrine of perseverance, which assures all true believers in Christ that they will never lose their faith. The regenerate will continually endure, right to the end, in obedience to the truth, no matter what may come against them (see notes on Rom. 8:31–39; Phil. 1:6; cf. Jer. 32:40; Matt. 24:13; John 6:35–40; 10:27–30; 1 John 5:4, 11–13, 20).
E. 14:13 Blessed. See note on 1:3. 1:3 Blessed. This is the only biblical book that comes with a blessing for the one who listens to it being read and explained and then responds in obedience. This is the first of 7 beatitudes in the book (v. 3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). time is near. “Time” refers to epochs, eras, or seasons. The next great epoch of God’s redemptive history is imminent. But although Christ’s coming is the next event, it may be delayed so long that people begin to question whether He will ever come (cf. Matt. 24:36–39; 2 Pet. 3:3, 4).
VII. Video details.
John Ankerberg Show. Why has God revealed information about the end time events?
From our series “Through the Book of Revelation with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung”.
See my Page, About Sources, for credentials of Drs. Ankerberg and Young.
Video Title: What are the three main events in the book of Revelation?
Article Title: End Times 25, Revelation 14:6-8, The Vision of the Angel with the Gospel.
I. Introduction. In the opening video discussion of Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, we are told about three key events that are yet to happen in the future. We are told about the Rapture of the Church (1 Thes 4:16-17); the Tribulation (Rev 6:1-19:10); and the Second Coming of Christ with His raptured saints (Rev 19:11-21).
II. Text.
Revelation 14:6-8. The Vision of the Angel with the Gospel.
6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”
8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Comment Providers. Unless otherwise indicated, BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. DHC=David Hocking Commentary; HC=Holman Commentary; JDP=Things To Come; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; MBC=Moody Bible Commentary; NAC=New American Commentary; NIV=NIV Study Bible; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RLT=Robert L. Thomas Commentary; RC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary. Credentials for individual commentators can be found on my “About Sources” page.
V. Dates of scriptures come from the Scofield Study Bible, copyright 1909.
VI. Comments. (MSB, unless otherwise indicated).
A. 14:6. “midst of heaven.” From a Gr. term (“mid-heaven”) denoting the point in the noonday sky where the sun reaches its zenith. This is the highest and brightest point, where all can see and hear. “the everlasting gospel.” The angel is preaching the good news concerning everlasting life and entrance into the kingdom of God (cf. Matt. 24:14; 1 Cor. 15:1–10). He is urging the people of the world to change their allegiance from the beast to the Lamb. The whole world will hear this preaching by the angel as God graciously calls all to salvation.
B. My notes on 14:6.
1. MSB note, “entrance into the kingdom of God.” It is important to remember the “Tribulation context” of this verse. The people that are hearing this message from the angel, in vs 6, have been left behind from the rapture of the church (1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18; John 14:2-6). The invitation to OT Jews was the Kingdom (Matt 3:2, 4:17). The invitation to everyone during the church age is heaven (John 14:2-5,6; Rev 19:11-14). The Kingdom Age will be an earthly reality, and is not, “of the mind, or in the spirit.” The Kingdom Age will consist of a literal “land, people, and blessing” that was promised to Jews, and will be present “on earth” after Christ returns to earth after the Tribulation, for 1,000 years. Resurrected (OT and NT) saints, and raptured NT saints will rule and reign during the Kingdom Age of the Millennium
2. Those saints that will be caught up in the rapture, prior to the Tribulation, will be taken to Heaven by Christ, and will return with Christ for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21), and are not the audience of the message of the angel.
3. The listeners of the angel’s message, whom are left behind from the rapture, are present during the Tribulation, and are being subjected to Godly Tribulation judgments; their eternity will depend on whether they come to saving faith in Christ, or not.
4. “Left behind Jews” that are alive at the end of the Tribulation are discussed in Matt 24:40-41. Those “taken” did not come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation; they will be taken in death to the end of the Millennium, to the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15), where they (the unbelieving dead, vs 13) will stand before Christ and be cast into the lake of fire. (In 1 Thes 4:16, the “dead in Christ” are “believing” resurrected saints, and are taken to heaven by Christ). In Matt 24:40-41. those who are left came to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation; they are left to enter the Kingdom Age of the Millennium. (In the rapture, those who are left, are left behind to be present during the Tribulation and will come under its Godly judgments; those that are taken, are taken to heaven by Christ (John 14:2-4, 6) to remain there with Christ until the end of the Tribulation, when they return with Christ for the Battle of Armageddon).
5. “Left behind Gentiles” that are alive at the end of the Tribulation are discussed in Matt 25. In vs 34, those left behind Gentiles that came to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, will enter the Kingdom Age of the Millennium. In vs 41, those left behind Gentiles, that did not come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, are taken in death to the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15). In vs 46, the fate of both groups are repeated.
6. Old Testament born again saints will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation to enter the Kingdom Age of the Millennium (Dan 12:2a). Old Testament “unborn again” people will be resurrected at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment (Dan 12:2b).
7. Left behind Jews and Gentiles, who come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, and die during the Tribulation, will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation to enter the Kingdom Age of the Millennium (Rev 20:4). In Rev 20:5, the phrase, “first resurrection” refers back to vs 4 (RSB). In vs 5-6, we see the blessings of the Millennium that await the righteous dead after being resurrected at the end of the Tribulation.” These vs 5-6 blessings also apply to all saints in the Millennium who are there in resurrection bodies.
8. Deceased unbelievers of the church age, and of all times, will be raised at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15). They will be cast into the lake of fire. They are, “the rest of the dead” (20:5a), and “the dead” (Rev 20:13), as opposed to “the dead in Christ”, (1 Thes 4:16).
9. Matt 24:14 relates to the gospel of the Kingdom (Matt 3:2. 4:17, 10:17), which was preached to Jews.
10. 1 Cor 15:1-10 relates to the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which has been, and still is, being preached to all people in the church age.
C. 14:7. “Fear God.” Not Satan, or Antichrist. This is the theme of Scripture, calling people to give honor, glory, worship, and reverence to God (cf. Prov. 23:17; 1 Pet. 2:17). See notes on Rom. 1:18–21. “hour of His judgment has come.” The last moment arrives to repent and believe before God’s wrath is poured out. This is the book’s first use of the word judgment, a term that has the same meaning as wrath (see 6:17; 12:12). “Him who made heaven and earth.” Creation is the great proof of God, which preachers will appeal to as the ground for all people to believe in Him and worship Him (cf. 4:11; 10:6; John 1:9; Acts 14:15–17; 17:23–28).
D. My note on 14:7. MSB note, “repent.” metanoeó: to change one’s mind or purpose (concerning Christ).
E. 14:8. “Babylon is fallen.” Lack of response to the first angel’s message causes a second angel to pronounce this judgment. Babylon refers to the entire worldwide political, economic, and religious kingdom of Antichrist. (cf. 16:17–19 for details of this fall.) The original city of Babylon was the birthplace of idolatry where the residents built the Tower of Babel, a monument to rebelliousness and false religion. Such idolatry was subsequently spread when God confounded man’s language and scattered them around the world (cf. Gen. 11:1–9). “wine of the wrath of her fornication.” This pictures Babylon causing the world to become intoxicated with her pleasures and enter an orgy of rebellion, hatred, and idolatry toward God. Fornication is spiritual prostitution to Antichrist’s false system, which will fall for such iniquity.
F. Note on 14:8. (WRC)
1. Revelation 17 discusses Religious Babylon.
a. Focus: Babylon as a System.
b. Timing: Falls at the Beginning of the Great Tribulation.
c. Destroyer: The Beast and the Ten Kings.
d. Result: No Mourning.
a. Focus: Babylon as a City.
b. Timing: Falls at the End of the Great Tribulation.
c. Destroyer: Jesus Christ at His Second Coming.
d. Result: Great Mourning.
G. We have said that born again believers in Christ will be caught up to Heaven, prior to the Tribulation, at the time of the Rapture. We have also said that Christ, and those same raptured saints will return to earth with Christ for the Battle of Armageddon. On earth, the Kingdom will cover an area of land, that will be known as Israel, and that will be about ten times the size of current day Israel. There will be a Godly government that rules over Israel, with Jewish King David having a key role of leadership. Outside of Israel, other nations will reside, and will come under the rule of Christ. At the end of the Kingdom Age, amazing thing will happen. Let’s read the account of what the Apostle John saw, and what he recorded in Revelation 21:1-5, as follows:
1.The New Heaven and Earth described.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
2. The New Heavens, New Earth, and New Jerusalem explained.
There will be new heavens, a new earth, (Isa 65:17, 66:22) and new Jerusalem (Isa 65:18…”I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people or gladness”). The former heavens and earth will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10). Consider the “new Jerusalem.” This heavenly city will be the abode of all the saints (Heb 12:22-24), the bride of Christ (vv 9-10), and the place that Christ is preparing for His people (John 14:2). During the Millennium the new Jerusalem (described in detail in Rev 21:0-22:5), apparently will be suspended over the earth, and will be the dwelling place of all believers during eternity (as is emphasized in 21:1-8). With the new Jerusalem hovering above the earth, and with the earthly Jerusalem existing on earth, it will be the earthly Jerusalem that will be destroyed, along with “the heavens and the earth.” The new Jerusalem will apparently be withdrawn from its proximity to the earth when the earth will be destroyed at the end of the Millennium, and then will come back after the new earth is created. People will enjoy a new intimacy with God, and the elimination of those sorrows that sin brings. The city will come down out of heaven. Both Jewish and and Christian saints will inhabit the city. The names of the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles will be a witness to their continued distinction (Rev 21:12-14). The names of the 12 sons of Israel will be on the 12 gates (vs 12). The names of the 12 apostles will be on the 12 foundation stones (vs 14)). Shaped “four square” like a cube, the city is 1380 miles (2,220 km) on each face, including height, with a wall of 72 yd (66 m) thick. It has been calculated that even if only 25 % of this space were used for dwellings, 20 billion people could be accommodated spaciously (BKC; JDP; MSB; RSB; WRC; MBC).
VII. Video details.
John Ankerberg Show. What are the three main events in the book of Revelation?
This clip is from our series entitled, “Step by Step through the Book of Revelations.” For speaker credentials, see my “About Sources” page. The speaker is Dr. Jimmy DeYoung.
Video Title: Does God specifically protect the 144,000, and if so, why?
Article Title: End Times 24, Revelation 14:1-5, The 144,000 On Mount Zion.
I. Introduction:
A. In any, and every, setting in the Bible, there is a specific scripture that must be considered. As we consider the verses of this article, we must consider the words of that verse, Romans 8:28, as follows:
1. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
2. Let’s consider God’s purpose for the Jewish prophet, Jeremiah:
a. Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
b. The calling on the life of Jeremiah took place before he was conceived. There was nothing that could have prevented the purpose that God for Jeremiah from being fulfilled.
3. Let’s consider God’s purpose for another Jew, the Apostle Paul:
a. Galatians 1:15-16
“15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,..”
b. The calling on the life of the Apostle Paul took place from the time of his birth. There was no force that could have undone God’s calling and purpose for the life of Paul.
4. We have discussed the individual lives of Jeremiah and Paul. Now, let’s consider the purpose that God has planned for millions of born again believers in Christ:
a. Revelation 3:10
“Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
b. In this verse, the “hour of testing” relates to the Tribulation, which will come upon those “who dwell upon the earth;” these are people whom had not accepted Christ as Lord and Savior prior to the Rapture of the church (1 Thes 4:16-17). Other verses that relate to “earth dwellers are:” Rev 6:10, 8:13, 11:10; 13:8, 13:14 and 17:8. As the chapters increase in number, the tribulation increases in severity for those “who dwell on the earth.” Believers in Christ have the promise of God that they will be saved from the hour of testing, which is more correct in saying, “out of the hour of testing.” Christ said that “he will keep” those who have kept the word of “His” perseverance. It is not of the believer’s perseverance that brings about eternal life; Jude 24 says that Christ keeps us from stumbling. Also, once we have been born again, we can not be unborn. Each believer is a part of the body of Christ, which is the Bride of Christ (Eph 5:22-32). Christ is the Bridegroom of all bridegrooms; He is not going to leave His prized possession on this earth (His bride) with the knowledge that He will be submitting her to the tribulation judgments that He and angels will be pouring out on those “who dwell on the earth.” See Rev 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1, etc. (Ref: Walvoord, Ryrie, MacArthur, Hocking, Patterson). The key teaching of Rev 3:10 is that born again believers in Christ will be “saved out of the tribulation.” The object of the Tribulation is Israel (Jer 30:7). The purpose of the Tribulation is to draw unbelieving Jews to saving faith in Christ (Mt 23:37-39; Zech 12:10). There is no mention of the church being in the Tribulation anywhere in Scripture; neither is there any purpose. Consider that which happens when we are born again: (1) Our spirit dwells within the Spirit of “Father, Son, Holy Spirit” (John 14:20). (2) Our spirit is as righteous as the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21). The righteousness that we attain when we are born again does not increase or decrease; we are the “righteousness of Christ;” period! (3) Once the Spirit of Christ “dwells within” our spirit (Col 1:27), nothing that we may do can force the Spirit of Christ out of our Spirit (John 10:28-31). (4) God has given us eternal life (1 John 5:11). (5) Nothing about the Tribulation can make us (The Bride of Christ), more righteous. (6) Nothing about the Tribulation can make us (the Bride of Christ) more holy, or more worthy, for spending eternity with God.
5. We will now consider God’s purpose for “the 144,000 Jews” in Revelation Chapter 7.
a. Revelation 7:3-4
3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
b. In these verses (7:3-4) we see that the 144,000 Jews are sealed. The seal on their foreheads symbolizes protection and ownership and God’s intention to protect the 12 tribes of vs 4 during the Tribulation (Walvoord). Will the seal be spiritual, or a physical mark? Your guess is as good as those of the many theologians that I checked; they have differing ideas.
6. We will now consider God’s purpose for “the 144,000 Jews” in Revelation Chapter 14.
a. Revelation 14:1
“Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”
b. In this verse (14:1) we see that all of the 144,000 Jews, having been sealed (7:3-4), are still alive. The purpose of these Jews is to witness to others who were left behind from the Rapture. The church has been raptured, and is no longer present on earth; so, the role of witnessing goes to these 144,000 Jews (J. Dwight Pentecost). By divine sovereignty, the 144,000 are chosen by God for His purposes. We see that the 144,000 have survived the tribulation (with all of its Godly judgments), and have gone directly to the millennium (kingdom age), where they (all 144,000 Jews of Rev 7:3-4) are alive at the second coming of Christ (Matt 24:29-31). Mt. Zion is on earth, and not in heaven (Walvoord).
7. The conclusion of the salvation of the church and the 144,000 Jews is that the church is saved from (saved out of) the time of the Tribulation, whereas, the 144,000 Jews are saved “through the Tribulation.”
II. Text. Revelation 14:1-5.
The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion
1 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.
III. Translation Considerations. . “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. DHC=David Hocking Commentary; HC=Holman Commentary; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; MBC=Moody Bible Commentary; NAC=New American Commentary; NIV=NIV Study Bible; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RLT=Robert L. Thomas Commentary; RC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary. Credentials for individual commentators can be found on my “About Sources” page.
V. Dates of scriptures come from the Scofield Study Bible, copyright 1909.
VI. Comments. Revelation 14:1-5 (MSB).
A. 14:1 “Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads.”
1. “a Lamb.” See note on Rev 5:6, as follows:
a. “Lamb.” Hearing of a lion, John turns to see a lamb (lit. “a little, pet lamb”). God required the Jews to bring the Passover lamb into their houses for 4 days, essentially making it a pet, before it was to be violently slain (Ex. 12:3, 6). This is the true Passover Lamb, God’s Son (cf. Is. 53:7; Jer. 11:19; John 1:29).
b. “as though it had been slain.” The scars from its slaughter are still clearly visible, but it is standing—it is alive. seven horns. In Scripture, horns always symbolize power, because in the animal kingdom they are used to exert power and inflict wounds in combat.
c. “Seven horns” signify complete or perfect power. Unlike other defenseless lambs, this One has complete, sovereign power.
d. “seven eyes . . . seven Spirits.” Cf. 4:5; see note on Rev 1:4, as follows:
(1) “seven churches which are in Asia.” Asia Minor, equivalent to modern Turkey, was composed of 7 postal districts. At the center of those districts were 7 key cities which served as central points for the dissemination of information. It is to the churches in those cities that John writes.
(2) “who is and who was and who is to come.” God’s eternal presence is not limited by time. He has always been present and will come in the future.
(3) “the seven Spirits.” There are two possible meanings: 1) a reference to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the 7-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit (Is. 11:2); or 2) more likely, it is a reference to the lampstand with 7 lamps (a menorah) in Zechariah—also a description of the Holy Spirit (see notes on 4:5; 5:6; Zech. 4:1–10). In either case, 7 is the number of completeness, so John is identifying the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
2. “Mount Zion.” The city of Jerusalem, where Messiah will return and plant His feet (cf. Pss. 2; 48:1, 2; Is. 24:23).
3. “one hundred and forty-four thousand.” See note on Rev 7:4, as follows:
a. “One hundred and forty-four thousand.” A missionary corps of redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (vv. 9–17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (v. 4; Zech. 12:10). Finally, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the OT (see notes on Rom. 11:25–27).
b. “all the tribes of the children of Israel.” By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.
4. “name.” The counterpart to the mark of the beast. It is the stamp that will identify the 144,000 as belonging to God (See note on Rev 13:6).
B. 14:2. “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.”
1. “harps.” See note on Rev 5:8, as follows.
a. “harp.” These ancient stringed instruments not only accompanied the songs of God’s people (1 Chr. 25:6; Ps. 33:2), but also accompanied prophecy (cf. 1 Sam. 10:5). The 24 elders, representative of the redeemed church, played their harps in praise and in a symbolic indication that all the prophets had said was about to be fulfilled.
b. “bowls full of incense.” These golden, wide-mouth saucers were common in the tabernacle and temple. Incense was a normal part of the OT ritual. Priests stood twice daily before the inner veil of the temple and burned incense so that the smoke would carry into the Holy of Holies and be swept into the nostrils of God. That symbolized the people’s prayers rising to Him.
c. “prayers of the saints.” Specifically, these prayers represent all that the redeemed have ever prayed concerning ultimate and final redemption.
C. 14:3. “And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.”
1. “new song.” The song of redemption, which is being sung by all the redeemed saints in one gigantic choir. They are rejoicing over the accomplishment of God’s entire redemptive work before Christ’s return (cf. Pss. 33:1–3; 40:3; 96:1; 144:9, 10; 149; Luke 15:10; see note on Rev 5:9).
2. “the four living creatures, and the elders.” See notes on Rev 4:4, 6.
a. Rev 4:4 “twenty-four elders.” Their joint rule with Christ, their white garments (19:7, 8), and their golden crowns (2:10) all seem to indicate that these 24 represent the redeemed (vv. 9–11; 5:5–14; 7:11–17; 11:16–18; 14:3; 19:4). The question is which redeemed? Not Israel, since the nation is not yet saved, glorified, and coronated. That is still to come at this point in the events of the end. Their resurrection and glory will come at the end of the 7-year tribulation time (cf. Dan. 12:1–3). Tribulation saints aren’t yet saved (7:9, 10). Only one group will be complete and glorified at that point—the church. Here elders represent the church, which sings the song of redemption (5:8–10). They are the overcomers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared for them, where they have gone with Jesus (cf. John 14:1–4).
b. Rev 4:6 “sea of glass.” There is no sea in heaven (21:1), but the crystal pavement that serves as the floor of God’s throne stretches out like a great, glistening sea (cf. Ex. 24:10; Ezek. 1:22). four living creatures. Lit. “four living ones or beings.” These are the cherubim (sing., cherub), those angels frequently referred to in the OT in connection with God’s presence, power, and holiness. Although John’s description is not identical to Ezekiel’s, they are obviously both referring to the same supernatural and indescribable beings (Pss. 80:1; 99:1; see notes on Ezek. 1:4–25; 10:15). full of eyes. Although not omniscient—an attribute reserved for God alone—these angels have a comprehensive knowledge and perception. Nothing escapes their scrutiny (cf. v. 8).
D. 14:4. “These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.”
1. “not defiled with women.” An illustration of God’s ability to keep believers remarkably pure in the midst of great difficulty. This phrase indicates that the 144,000 Jewish evangelists will have not only resisted the perverse system of Antichrist, but they will have also resisted all temptations to illicit sex. Cf. 2 Cor. 11:2.
2. “follow the Lamb.” This indicates partisanship for Jesus Christ. The victorious 144,000 are unwaveringly loyal to Him, whatever the cost (cf. Matt. 16:24; Mark 10:21; Luke 9:23; John 10:27; 12:26; 14:15).
3. “firstfruits.” Like the OT firstfruits offerings, these men will be set apart for special service to God (cf. Deut. 26:1–11). Some see firstfruits as the first large group of redeemed Israel (see note on 11:13), saved much earlier, and representative of more converts to follow (cf. Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15), the first fruits of a redeemed Israel (Rom. 11:1–5, 11–15, 25–27).
E. 14:5. “And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”
1. “no deceit.” The 144,000 speak God’s truth accurately and precisely, with no exaggeration or understatement (cf. Zeph. 3:13).
2. “without fault.” Not sinless, but sanctified (see Eph. 1:4; 5:27; Col. 1:22).
VII. Video details. Does God specifically protect the 144,000, and if so, why?
John Ankerberg Show. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. For speaker credentials, see my “About Sources” page.
II. Text. Revelation 13:11-18. The Beast From The Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
III. Translation Considerations. . “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. DHC=David Hocking Commentary; HC=Holman Commentary; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; MBC=Moody Bible Commentary; NAC=New American Commentary; NIV=NIV Study Bible; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RLT=Robert L. Thomas Commentary; RC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary. Credentials for individual commentators can be found on my “About Sources” page.
V. Dates of scriptures come from the Scofield Study Bible, copyright 1909.
VI. Comments. Revelation 13:11-18.
A. 13:11. (MSB)
1. “another beast.” This is the final false prophet (called such in 16:13; 19:20; 20:10) who promotes Antichrist’s power and convinces the world to worship him as God. This companion beast will be the chief, most persuasive proponent of satanic religion (cf. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). Antichrist will be primarily a political and military leader, but the false prophet will be a religious leader. Politics and religion will unite in a worldwide religion of worshiping the Antichrist (see 17:1–9, 15–17).
2. “out of the earth.” Likely another reference to the abyss that lies below the earth. The false prophet will be sent forth and controlled by a powerful demon from below. The earth imagery, in contrast to that of the foreboding, mysterious sea in v. 1, may imply that the false prophet is subtler and more winsome than Antichrist.
3. “two horns like a lamb.” This describes the relative weakness of the false prophet compared to Antichrist, who has 10 horns. A lamb has only two small bumps on its head, very inferior to the 10-horned beast.
4. “like a lamb.” The lamb imagery may also imply that the false prophet will be also a false Christ masquerading as the true Lamb. Unlike Antichrist, the false prophet will come not as a killing, destroying animal, but as one who appears gentle and deceptively attractive.
5. spoke like a dragon. The false prophet will be Satan’s mouthpiece, and thus his message will be like the dragon, Satan—the source of all false religion (cf. 2 Cor. 11:14).
B. 13:12. (See individual comments)
1. “exercises all the authority of the first beast.” The false prophet exercises the same kind of satanic power as Antichrist because he is empowered by the same source. He, too, will have worldwide influence and a reputation as a miracle worker and speaker. (MSB)
2. “causes . . . to worship.” “He causes” is used 8 times of him. He wields influence to establish a false world religion headed by Antichrist and to entice people to accept that system. (MSB)
a. “fatal.” 2288. thanatos: death. 2288 thánatos (derived from 2348 /thnḗskō, “to die”) – physical or spiritual death; (figuratively) separation from the life (salvation) of God forever by dying without first experiencing death to self to receive His gift of salvation.
b. “healed.” 2323. therapeuó: to serve, cure. 2323 therapeúō – properly, heal, reversing a physical condition to restore a person having an illness (disease, infirmity). [2323 (therapeúō), the root of “therapy” and “therapeutic,” usually involves natural elements in the process of healing.]
c. From Rev 13:3. “his fatal wound was healed.” Apparently Satan will miraculously restore Antichrist to life in imitation of the resurrection of Christ. No wonder the world will acclaim Antichrist (RSB). As in 13:12, “fatal: 2288, and healed: 2323,” are consistent in both verses (13:3, 13:12). (Mine)
C. 13:13. (MSB)
1. “great signs.” The same phrase is used of Jesus’ miracles (John 2:11, 23; 6:2), which indicates the false prophet performs signs that counterfeit Christ’s. Satan, who has done supernatural works in the past (e.g., Ex. 7:11; 2 Tim. 3:8), must use his strategy of false miracles to convince the world that Antichrist is more powerful than God’s true witnesses (chap. 11), including Jesus Christ.
2. fire come down from heaven. The context indicates that the false prophet does counterfeit pyrotechnic signs continually to convince men of his power, and also in imitation of the two witnesses (11:5).
D. 13:14. “make an image.” This refers to replication of Antichrist that is related to the throne he will erect during the abomination of desolation, halfway into the Tribulation period. This will happen in the Jerusalem temple when Antichrist abolishes the former false world religion and seeks to have people worship him alone as God (cf. Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4). The false prophet and Antichrist again will deceive the world with a clever imitation of Christ, who will later return and reign from the true throne in Jerusalem. (MSB)
E. 13:15. (MSB)
1. “speak.” The false prophet will give the image of Antichrist the appearance of life, and the image will seem to utter words—contrary to what is normally true of idols (cf. Ps. 135:15, 16; Hab. 2:19).
2. “cause . . . to be killed.” His gentleness is a lie, since he is a killer (7:9–17). Some Gentiles will be spared to populate the kingdom (Matt. 25:31–40), and Jews will be protected (12:17).
F. 13:16. “a mark.” In the Roman Empire, this was a normal identifying symbol, or brand, that slaves and soldiers bore on their bodies. Some of the ancient mystical cults delighted in such tattoos, which identified members with a form of worship. Antichrist will have a similar requirement, one that will need to be visible on the hand or forehead. (MSB)
G. 13:17. (MSB)
1. “buy or sell.” Antichrist’s mark will allow people to engage in daily commerce, including the purchase of food and other necessities. Without the identifying mark, individuals will be cut off from the necessities of life.
2. “number of his name.” The beast (Antichrist) will have a name inherent in a numbering system. It is not clear from the text exactly what this name and number system will be or what its significance will be.
H. 13:18. “His number is 666.” This is the essential number of a man. The number 6 falls one short of God’s perfect number, 7, and thus represents human imperfection. Antichrist, the most powerful human the world will ever know, will still be a man, i.e., a 6. The ultimate in human and demonic power is a 6, not perfect, as God is. The 3-fold repetition of the number is intended to reiterate and underscore man’s identity. When Antichrist is finally revealed, there will be some way to identify him with this basic number of a man, or his name may have the numerical equivalent of 666. (In many languages, including Heb., Gr., and Lat., letters have numerical equivalents.) Because this text reveals very little about the meaning of 666, it is unwise to speculate beyond what is said. (MSB)
VII. Video details.
What does the false prophet do to honor the Antichrist?
John Ankerberg Show.
From our series “Through the Book of Revelation with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung”.
For more information on this series, please visit: https://jashow.org/through-the-book-of-revelation/
Paul Wilbur – For Your Name is Holy. Video details are at the foot of this page.
The Book of Isiah is about a prophecy that was given by God to Isaiah, who was a Jewish prophet who, in turn, spoke God’s prophecy to Jewish people about Jewish circumstances and situations.
Isaiah 1:1, “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”
The Book Of Isaiah.
Purpose of Writing: The Prophet Isaiah was primarily called to prophesy to the Kingdom of Judah. Judah was going through times of revival and times of rebellion. Judah was threatened with destruction by Assyria and Egypt, but was spared because of God’s mercy. Isaiah proclaimed a message of repentance from sin and hopeful expectation of God’s deliverance in the future. (gotquestions.org)
Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. DHC=David Hocking Commentary; HC=Holman Commentary; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; MBC=Moody Bible Commentary; NAC=New American Commentary; NIV=NIV Study Bible; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RLT=Robert L. Thomas Commentary; RC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary. Credentials for individual commentators can be found on my “About Sources” page.
Dates of scriptures come from The Scofield Study Bible, copyright 1909.
Isaiah 3:1
For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah
Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread
And the whole supply of water;
Note. 3:1. “remove.” Through Nebuchadnezzar (see 2 Kings 24:15-16). “supply and support.” Both words indicate something one leans on. (RSB)
Isaiah 3:2-3.
2 The mighty man and the warrior,
The judge and the prophet,
The diviner and the elder,
3 The captain of fifty and the honorable man,
The counselor and the expert artisan,
And the skillful enchanter.
Note. 3:1–3 “Takes away . . . expert enchanter.” God’s judgment was to include a removal of the people’s leadership. (MSB)
Isaiah 3:4-5
4 And I will make mere lads their princes,
And capricious children will rule over them,
5 And the people will be oppressed,
Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor;
The youth will storm against the elder
And the inferior against the honorable.
Note. 3:4-5. (children . . . honorable.) Inexperience in government was to lead to degeneration and irresponsibility at every level of national life. (MSB)
Isaiah 3:6-7
6 When a man lays hold of his brother in his father’s house, saying,
“You have a cloak, you shall be our ruler,
And these ruins will be under your charge,”
7 He will protest on that day, saying,
“I will not be your healer,
For in my house there is neither bread nor cloak;
You should not appoint me ruler of the people.”
Note. 3:6-7. “let these ruins . . . ruler of the people.” Conditions of anarchy were to be so bad that no one would accept a position of authority over the people. (MSB)
Isaiah 3:8
“For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,
Because their speech and their actions are against the Lord,
To rebel against His glorious presence.”
Note. 3:8 Jerusalem . . . Judah. The fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. was only a partial fulfillment of this prophecy. The final fulfillment awaits the times just prior to Christ’s second coming. against the LORD. The root of Zion’s problem surfaces: overt rebellion against the Lord. The people sinned shamelessly; they made no effort to conceal it (3:9).(MSB)
Forward Note: 3:10–15 This oracle against Judah’s leaders is in three parts: (1) an affirmation that God repays good and evil (vv. 10, 11); (2) an accusation that Israel’s leaders were leading people astray (v. 12); (3) a divine lawsuit against the leaders for exploiting their subjects (vv. 13–15; see 1:23). (NKJV)
Isaiah 3:9-11
9 The expression of their faces bears witness against them,
And they display their sin like Sodom;
They do not even conceal it.
Woe to them!
For they have brought evil on themselves.
10 Say to the righteous that it will go well with them,
For they will eat the fruit of their actions.
11 Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him,
For what he deserves will be done to him.
Note. 3:9. Considered a horribly sinful city (1:9), Sodom had been destroyed by God (Gen. 19). Yet Judeans were parading their defiance against God just like the Sodomites. (NKJV)
Note. 3:10. “eat the fruit.” Compare this idea with 1:19. (NKJV)
Note. 3:11. paid back for what their hands have done. Cf. Pr 26:27 and note; Gal 6:7–9 and note on 6:7.(NIV)
Isaiah 3:12
“O My people! Their oppressors are children,
And women rule over them.
O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray
And confuse the direction of your paths.
Note. 3:12. “children . . . women.” Children and women were considered ill-suited for governmental leadership, so they figuratively depicted the incompetent rulers. (MSB)
Isaiah 3:13-15
13 The Lord arises to contend,
And stands to judge the people.
14 The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of His people,
“It is you who have devoured the vineyard;
The plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 “What do you mean by crushing My people
And grinding the face of the poor?”
Declares the Lord God of hosts.
Note. vs 14. “vineyard.” The spoiling of the vineyard by the leaders amounts to their inequities in ruling the nation. Isaiah gave a more detailed comparison of God’s people to a vineyard in 5:1–7. (MSB)
Isaiah 3:16-17
16 Moreover, the Lord said, “Because the daughters of Zion are proud
And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes,
And go along with mincing steps
And tinkle the bangles on their feet,
17 Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs,
And the Lord will make their foreheads bare.”
Note. “daughters of Zion.” When women cultivate beauty for beauty’s sake, they thereby reflect the moral decay of the nations and detract from the glory of God. Rather than emphasizing outward apparel and activities (vv. 16–24), ladies should cultivate the beauty of the inner person (1 Tim. 2:9, 10; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4). mincing as they go. Ornamental chains about the ankles necessitated shorter steps and produced tinkling sounds to attract attention. (MSB)
Isaiah 3:18-23, “18 In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, 19 dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, 20 headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, 21 finger rings, nose rings, 22 festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, money purses, 23 hand mirrors, undergarments, turbans and veils.
Note. vs 18, “in that day.” The Day of the Lord. (See note on Isaiah 2:12). (RSB)
Isaiah 3:24-26
24 Now it will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be putrefaction;
Instead of a belt, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp;
Instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.
25 Your men will fall by the sword
And your mighty ones in battle.
26 And her gates will lament and mourn,
And deserted she will sit on the ground.
Note. 16-26. The fashionable women, seeking to lure other women’s husbands with their imported luxurious dress, would soon be destitute (cf. 1 Peter 3:3-4). (RSB)
Isaiah 4:1, For seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach!”
Note. 4:1. “seven women . . . one man.” In the day of the Lord (see note on 2:12), He will judge wicked women indirectly by allowing a slaughtering of males, thereby producing a shortage of husbands. (MSB)
Video details.
Paul Wilbur – For Your Name is Holy. inaba12
Music in this video
Learn more
Listen ad-free with YouTube Premium
Song
For Your Name Is Holy / Let the Weight of Your Glory Fall (Reprise) (Live)
Artist
Paul Wilbur, Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
Album
Jerusalem Arise (Live)
Writers
Reuben Morgan
Licensed to YouTube by
[Merlin] Absolute Label Services; LatinAutor – UMPG, LatinAutor, ASCAP, Capitol CMG Publishing, UMPI, BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., Adorando Brazil, and 14 Music Rights Societies
Article Title. End Times 22, Revelation 13:1-10, The Antichrist
I. In the above video we see people who have been left behind from the Rapture. The key figure is the Antichrist, as he is taking control of the world by creating ten global regions of nations that will come under his heavy-handed control (Revelation 13:1). This Left Behind movie, and others, came as a result of the Left Behind series of books that were written under the leadership of Dr. Tim LaHaye, whose credentials can be found in my “About Sources” page. The Left Behind books and movies tell of the upcoming time in our world when those whom are left behind from the rapture of the church have to deal with the persecution of the Antichrist, even more so if they come to saving faith in Christ. The Left Behind movies and books are very much in sync with the scriptures of the Bible that tell of the end of times event that we are studying, and relate heavily to the time of the Tribulation. Video details can be seen at the bottom of this page.
II. Text. Revelation 13:1-10. The Beast From The Sea.
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. DHC=David Hocking Commentary; HC=Holman Commentary; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; MBC=Moody Bible Commentary; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RLT=Robert L. Thomas Commentary; RC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary. Credentials for individual commentators can be found on my “About Sources” page.
V. Comments. Revelation Chapter 13:1-10.
A. 13:1. “a beast.” The Antichrist. Many emperors of Rome defiled themselves, but Antichrist will far outstrip all of his predecessors in his blasphemous ways. “ten horns.” The 10 kings that gave their power and authority to the Antichrist (17:12-13) (RSB). The fact that the beast rises out of the sea is taken by many to indicate that he comes from the great mass of humanity, namely the Gentile powers of the world. Others take it as a reference to the Mediterranean, namely, that the beast will arise from the Mediterranean area. Probably both are true in that the beast is a Gentile and does come from the Mediterranean scene (WRC). Since Daniel identified this beast as arising from the world’s fourth great empire (Rome), this is understood by many to refer to a revived Roman empire (MBC). Daniel 7:7-8, “a fourth beast.” Rome. The 10 horns are explained in vs 24, and the little horn (Antichrist) in vs 24-25 (RSB).
B. 13:2. “the dragon gives him power.” Satan gives his power. (RSB)
C. 13:3-4. “One of his heads” may stand for a specific ruler, but more likely it stands for an empire. The unbelieving “world” is enticed (12:9) by Satan to follow and worship the beast. Those who “worshiped” the beast also unwittingly worshiped the devil, “who gave authority to the beast.” Any false worship or idolatry is ultimately demonic and satanic (see 1 Cor. 10:20–22). The beast is worshiped because the world is convinced that no one is “like” him and that no one can successfully “make war” against him. (MSB)
D. 13:5. “was given.” The sovereign God will establish the limits within which Antichrist will be allowed to speak and operate. God will allow him to utter his blasphemies, to bring the rage of Satan to its culmination on earth for 3 1/2 years (v. 5; 11:2, 3; 12:6, 13, 14). “forty-two months.” The final 3 1/2 years—1,260 days—of the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7) and Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:24–27), known as the Great Tribulation (see notes on 11:2; 12:6; cf. Dan. 7:25). This last half is launched by the abomination of desolations (see note on Matt. 24:15). (MSB)
E. 13:6. “His name.” This identifies God and summarizes all His attributes (cf. Ex. 3:13, 14). “His tabernacle.” This is symbolic of heaven (cf. Heb. 9:23, 24). “those who dwell in heaven.” The angels and glorified saints who are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night. (MSB)
F. 13:6. “His tabernacle.” God’s dwelling place in Heaven. (RSB)
H. 13:7. “make war with the saints.” The Antichrist will be allowed to massacre those who are God’s children (cf. 6:9–11; 11:7; 12:17; 17:6; Dan. 7:23–25; 8:25; 9:27; 11:38; 12:10; Matt. 24:16–22). See note on 17:6. (MSB)
I. 13:8. Just as the entire world is under the political domination of the beast, so all the world except the saints will worship him. All who are not saved will worship the beast; those who are saved will not worship him. These who worship the beast are described as not having their names written in the book of life, a book frequently mentioned in the Revelation (3:5; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19; cf. Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3). Those worshiping the beast are the unsaved of both Jews and Gentiles in contrast to saved Jews and Gentiles whose names are written in the book of life. (WRC). The book of life is a book of the names of those whom are saved (RSB. Rev 3:5).
J. 13:9. Cf. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22. This phrase omits “what the Spirit says to the churches” as in the 7 letters to the churches, perhaps because they have been raptured. (MSB)
K. 13:10. Assurance that God will punish evidoers sustains the faith of those who are persecuted during these days. (RSB)
VI. The Antichrist is described in Revelation 6:1-2, where he is given authority by the Lamb, “the resurrected Christ,” to deceive and conquer the nations. These two verses constitute the first of seven seal judgments of the Tribulation. Following the Seal judgments will be seven trumpet judgments, which will be followed by seven bowl judgments.
VII. Video details. Nicolae Carpathia. Carpathia establishes the 10 kingdoms on earth after the rapture. jscottonphillips.
VIII. Our next End Times article will discuss the False Prophet. Revelation 13:11-18.
Video Title. What will be the outcome of the “battle in the heavenlies”?
Article Title. End Times 21, Revelation 12:7-17, War In Heaven-War On Earth.
See video details at the bottom of this page.
I. The Ryrie Study Bible (Daniel 9:27 note) describes the time period which is known as the seventieth week of Daniel, as lasting for seven years, and being known as the Tribulation; Jeremiah 30:7 calls this time of Tribulation “Jacob’s distress.” The Ryrie Study Bible note on Jeremiah 30:7 discusses “the time of Jacob’s distress” in the following words: “The coming days of tribulation that will come upon all Israel.” In this article we begin a study of the time of the Great Tribulation, which will be the last half of the seven years of Tribulation. The Walvoord Commentary states the time which follows Revelation 12:6 as being the beginning point of the Great Tribulation. The Bible Knowledge Commentary describes the period of time which covers the Great Tribulation as being: “1,260 days; three and a half years; forty-two months of thirty days each; “a time, times, and half a time.” The characteristics of the Tribulation and Great Tribulation are identified in the Ryrie Study Bible, as follows.
A. Matthew 24:4-14 lists characteristics of the first half of the Tribulation period.
B. Matthew 24:15-18 deals with the second half of the Tribulation period.
II. Text. Revelation 12:7-17.
A. War In Heaven. Revelation 12:7-12.
7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
B. War On Earth. Revelation 12:13-17.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. DHC=David Hocking Commentary; HC=Holman Commentary; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RLT=Robert L. Thomas Commentary; RC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary. Credentials for individual commentators can be found on my “About Sources” page.
IV. Comments. Revelation Chapter 12.
A. War In Heaven. Revelation 12:7-12.
1. 12:7. “war broke out in heaven.” The tumultuous events on earth during the Tribulation find their counterpart in heaven. A state of war has existed since the fall of Satan (cf. v. 4; cf. Dan. 10:13; Jude 9). Something will intensify that warfare—possibly the raptured saints passing through the realm of the prince of the power of the air (cf. Eph. 2:2). (MSB)
2. 12:8. The defeat of the dragon in this war results in his losing his access to Heaven. (RLT)
3. 12:9. “dragon was cast . . . to the earth.” Satan and his demons were cast out of heaven at the time of their original rebellion, but still have access to it (cf. Job 1:6; 2:1). That access will then be denied, and they will be forever barred from heaven. “Devil and Satan.” Cf. 20:2. “Devil” comes from a Gr. verb meaning “to slander” or “to falsely accuse.” He is a malignant liar (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8). His accusations against believers (v. 10) are unsuccessful because of Christ our Advocate (1 John 2:1). Satan, meaning “adversary,” or “enemy,” appears especially in Job and the gospels. “deceives the whole world.” As he has throughout human history, Satan will deceive people during the Tribulation (cf. 13:14; 20:3; John 8:44). After his temporary release from the bottomless pit at the end of the Millennium, he will briefly resume his deceitful ways (20:8, 10). (MSB)
4. 12:10. “accuser.” See note on v. 9. Satan will no longer accuse believers before the throne of God because he will no longer have access to heaven. (MSB)
5. 12:10. The Dispensation of the Kingdom (2 Samuel 7:16 refs.) begins with the return of Christ to the earth, runs through the “thousand years” of His earth-rule, and ends when He has delivered up the kingdom to the Father. (See Scofield “1 Corinthians 15:24”). (SRN). Consider the question of the apostles (Jews) to Christ, immediately prior to His ascension to Heaven: Acts 1:6, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Notice that it was the subject of “the Kingdom and Israel” that was pressing in the minds of the apostles (Jews). From Matthew 4:17, forward, Christ began to teach on the subject of the Kingdom; such teachings were addressed to Jews, whom were His audiences. Up until the time of Christ’s ascension, the apostles (Jews) were seeking the answer as to when the “Kingdom would come.” This Acts 1:6 question also relates to the words of Matthew 6:10, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” The conditions of the Kingdom will be those of Isaiah 2:1-4. The Kingdom is a promise to saved Jews. Saved gentiles will benefit from the blessings of the Jews (Gen 12:1-3). The Kingdom will be a physical place, which will be about ten times the size of current day Israel; and will extend from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Iraq (Gen 15:18-21). The Kingdom will have a government (2 Sam 7:8-16). The Kingdom will have human and animal occupants (Isaiah 2:1-4; 11:6-9). The Kingdom will have a physical ruler, whom will be Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7). Saved Old Testament Jews will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation, and will rule along with Christ in the Kingdom (Dan 12:1-3; Matthew 19:28). The Kingdom will last for one thousand years (Rev 20:6). We are not in the Kingdom now. The Church can not bring in the Kingdom. Only Christ can bring in the Kingdom, and not until He returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation (Zech 14:1-5, 9). The Kingdom is not “within us,” (a KJV incorrect translation of Luke 17:20-21); the NASB provides the correct translation of that passage. A discussion on the situation of saved Gentiles, during the time of the Kingdom age, will be provided at an appropriate time in the future. It is important to remember that the teaching of the Kingdom is about “a people, a place, and things,” which can not enter into anyone’s body, soul or spirit. (Mine)
6. 12:11. “blood of the Lamb.” No accusation can stand against those whose sins have been forgiven because of Christ’s sacrificial death (see Rom. 8:33–39) (MSB)
7. 12:12. “he has a short time.” Knowing that his time is limited, Satan will intensify his efforts against God and mankind, and specifically target Israel (v. 13, 17). (MSB)
B. War On Earth. Revelation 12:13-17.
1. 12:13. The account resumes by repeating the substance of 12:6. The reason for the woman’s flight is in 12:6. She is fleeing the pursuit of the dragon. When the dragon saw that he could not reach the woman’s Son, he turned to the mother to try to hurt the Son through her. (RLT)
2. 12:14. “wings of a great eagle.” Not actual birds’ wings, but a graphic depiction of God’s providential protection of Israel (cf. Ex. 19:4). Wings often speak of protection (cf. Deut. 32:9–12; Ps. 91:4; Is. 40:31). “a time and times and half a time.” Three and one-half years; the second half of the Tribulation (cf. v. 6; 11:2, 3; 13:5). (MSB)
3. For verses 15-16, will the flood be water, or a large army? HC, DHC, RLT are in agreement with RSB.
a. 12:15-16. In an attempt to dislodge the Jews, Satan will bring a flood. God then will cause the earth to open and swallow the water. (RSB). [Can Satan cause a literal flood? Under God’s permission and plan the answer is “yes” as it was in the days of Job. Some see a literal flood, and others view this as a symbolic act. But, there is no symbolic language here, using words like “as” or “like.” This is apparently a literal attempt by Satan to destroy the children of Israel. DHC]
b. 12:17. Satan will then attack those who did not flee to the place of asylum. (RSB).
c. 12:17. “rest of her offspring.” Satan will turn his frustrated rage against every follower of the Lamb he can find—Jew or Gentile. “commandments of God . . . testimony of Jesus.” The revealed truth from God and Christ contained in Scripture. Obedience to God’s Word always marks a genuine believer. Cf. John 8:32. (MSB)
V. Video Data.
A. What will be the outcome of the “battle in the heavenlies”?
B. John Ankerberg Show; with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung”.
1. From Our Series “Through the Book of Revelation with Dr. Jimmy DeYoung”.
Video Title. The Mother and Child of Revelation 12.
Article Title. End Times 20, Revelation 12:1-6, Satan’s War Against Israel
I. In this article, as we read of the battle in the heavens between the “good” angels and the “evil” angels, we will read of a prophecy of what will happen at the midway point of the seven-year Tribulation Period (Jimmy DeYoung’s video commentary). In chapter 12:1-6, we will discuss (1) the woman, representing Israel, (2) the dragon, representing Satan, (3) the man-child, referring to Christ (Walvoord Commentary). It is important to remember that the woman of Revelation Chapter 12 is Israel. Chapter 12 is broken down into three sections, as is shown immediately below. In this article, we will be discussing “War on earth, phase I.”
A. War on earth, phase I: Revelation 12:1-6.
B. War in heaven: Revelation 12:7-12.
C. War on earth:phase II. Revelation 12:13-17.
II. Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary).
1 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.
B. The Red Dragon, Satan
3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
C. The Male Child, Christ
5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
IV. Comments. Revelation Chapter 12. MacArthur Study Bible notes.
A. 12:1. “sign.” A symbol pointing to something else. This is the first of 7 signs in the last half of Revelation. Cf. v. 3; 13:13, 14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20. “a woman.” Not an actual woman, but a symbolic representation of Israel, pictured in the OT as the wife of God (Is. 54:5, 6; Jer. 3:6–8; 31:32; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 2:16). Three other symbolic women appear in Revelation: 1) Jezebel, who represents paganism (2:20); 2) the scarlet woman (17:3–6), symbolizing the apostate church; and 3) the wife of the Lamb (19:7), symbolizing the true church.” That this woman does not represent the church is clear from the context. “clothed with the sun . . . moon under her feet . . . twelve stars.” Cf. Gen. 37:9–11. Being clothed with the sun speaks of the glory, dignity, and exalted status of Israel, the people of promise who will be saved and given a kingdom. The picture of the moon under her feet possibly describes God’s covenant relationship with Israel, since new moons were associated with worship (1 Chr. 23:31; 2 Chr. 2:4; 8:13; Ezra 3:5; Ps. 81:3). The 12 stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
B 12:2. “cried out . . . in pain.” Israel, often pictured as a mother giving birth (cf. Is. 26:17, 18; 54:1; 66:7–12; Hos. 13:13; Mic. 4:10; 5:2, 3; Matt. 24:8), had agonized and suffered for centuries, longing for the Messiah to come and destroy Satan, sin, and death, and usher in the kingdom.
C. 12:3. “great, fiery red dragon.” The woman’s mortal enemy is Satan, who appears as a dragon 13 times in this book (cf. v. 9; 20:2). Red speaks of bloodshed (cf. John 8:44). “seven heads . . . ten horns . . . seven diadems.” Figurative language depicting Satan’s domination of 7 past worldly kingdoms and 10 future kingdoms (cf. Dan. 7:7, 20, 24). See notes on 13:1; 17:9, 10. Satan has and will rule the world until the seventh trumpet blows (11:15). He has inflicted relentless pain on Israel (Dan. 8:24), desiring to kill the woman before she could bring forth the child that would destroy him (see notes on Esth. 3:6–15).
D. 12:4. “a third of the stars of heaven.” Satan’s original rebellion (cf. Is. 14:12ff.; Ezek. 28:11ff.) resulted in one-third of the angelic host joining his insurrection and becoming demons. “to devour her Child.” Unable to prevent the virgin birth of Christ, Satan tried to kill the child in a general massacre of male children commanded by Herod (Matt. 2:13–18; cf. Luke 4:28, 29).
E. 12:5. “a male Child.” Jesus Christ in His incarnation was of Jewish descent (Matt. 1:1; 2 Tim. 2:8). Despite Satan’s efforts to destroy Israel and the messianic line, Jesus’ birth took place as predicted by the prophets (cf. Is. 7:14; 9:6; Mic. 5:2). “rod of iron.” Describes Jesus’ coronation as King over the nations of the world (cf. 11:15; 19:15; Ps. 2:6–9). “her Child was caught up to God.” Christ’s ascension is in view (Acts 1:9; 2:33; Heb. 1:1–3; 12:2). (
F. 12:6. “wilderness.” God will protect Israel from Satan by hiding her in the wilderness, perhaps in the region of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, east of Israel. Interestingly, those countries will be specifically spared from the Antichrist’s attack against the Holy Land (cf. Dan. 11:41). “one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” At the midpoint of the Tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, puts a stop to temple worship, sets up the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15), and devastates Jerusalem (11:2). At that time, many Jews flee for their lives (Matt. 24:16ff.). God will preserve them during the last 1,260 days (42 months; 3 1/2 years) constituting the Great Tribulation. See notes on 3:10; 6:1, 9.
V. Quick Review of End Times 19. The Glory of the Lord was present in the Tabernacle in the Desert and in Solomon’s Temple. The Glory of the Lord will be present in the Millennial Temple and in the Temple of God in Heaven. There will be no Temple in the eternal state:
A. Revelation 21:1-2. 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
B. Revelation 21:22. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
VI. God’s Promises To Israel For The Kingdom Age Of The Millennium.
A. Date 587 B.C., Scofield Study Bible, 1909.
B. Ezekiel’s Prophecy. 37:21-22. 21 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms.
VII. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
VIII. Video Data. Dr. Jimmy DeYoung, The Mother and Child of Revelation 12, Prophecy Moment. Jimmy DeYoung. You can read the credentials of Dr. DeYoung in my page, “About Sources.”
IX. As I end this article, my friends in New Zealand are entering the Sabbath, so please let me wish those special friends, and all of you, who are also special friends, “Shabbat Shalom,” which means in Hebrew, “Sabbath of peace.”
Video Title. A discussion of The Temple of God in Heaven.
Article Title. End Times 19, Revelation 11:19, The Temple In Heaven.
I. In this article we will discuss the Temple of God in Heaven. We will refer to the Tabernacle in the desert and Solomon’s Temple. We will consider that which the Apostle John was privileged to view of the Temple in Heaven. Notice in the video that, in the Tabernacle, the mercy seat is “above the law” (Ex 25:16, 17, 21). In this article, we will also show the illegitimacy of the Tribulation temple.
A. Study Text. Revelation 11:19, “And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.”
B. Note. Dr. John F. Walvoord’s commentary thought on the the Temple of God in heaven, in the following paragraph.
1. Though the earthly temple may have been desecrated by the beast, its counterpart in heaven reflects the righteousness and majesty of God. The heavenly ark of the covenant, which in its earthly equivalent originally contained the law, speaks of God’s righteousness. Aaron’s rod that budded typifies resurrection, and the golden pot that had manna represents Christ as the basis of the shed blood of the sacrifice.
2. My Thought. It is the tribulation temple, that is mentioned in Rev 11:1-2, which was desecrated by the antichrist. It is important to remember that the Tribulation temple was constructed under the approval and support of the antichrist, but was never a place of the Presence of God. My article, “End Times 16,” goes into great detail to show that the Tribulation temple will be a counterfeit temple.
II. Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary).
III. Let us consider the chronology of the tabernacle, and following temples, whether inhabited by God, or not.
A. The following is a chronology of Jewish places of worship that precede the Tribulation temple.
1. God commissioned the construction of the tabernacle/sanctuary (Exodus 25:8-9, 1491 B.C.).
2. The tabernacle in the desert was completed (Exodus 40:33, 1490 B.C.).
3. God commissioned King Solomon to build a temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 28:6, 1015 B.C.).
4. Solomon finished the construction of the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 5:1, 1004 B.C.)
5. The forces of Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:19, 586 B.C.)
6. The Temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem, being known as Zerubbabel’s Temple (Haggai 1:1-15, 2:1-23; Ezra 6:15, 515 B.C.)
7. Herod’s temple, which was a remodeling of Zerubbabel’s temple, was completed in 4 B.C., but was not totally completed until 63 A.D.
8. The glory of the LORD (Yahweh) was present in the Tabernacle in the desert (Ex 40:34-38), as was the case in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11).
9. As will be shown below, the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh) departed Solomon’s Temple prior to its looting and destruction in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians, and will not return until the “Lord GOD” (Adonai Yahweh) places the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem (B.3. below).
10. Of the above temples, only the Tabernacle (1) and Solomon’s Temple (3-5) were legitimate temples, having been inhabited by the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh). The Tribulation temple will not be inhabited by the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh), therefore, will not be a legitimate temple
11. Consider: LORD, Lord, God, “the glory of the Lord,” theophany, and Shekinah glory. In the Tribulation temple, none of these names, words, or terms have a place in that illegitimate temple.
a. LORD (Yah·weh) (notice capitalized letters LORD). Strong’s 3068, is the proper name of the God of Israel. Genesis 2:4, LORD (YHWH, pronounced “Yahweh).
b. Lord (Adonai). In Psalm 110:1, we see LORD and Lord. Strong’s “136, Lord” is “Messiah” (notice only “L” is capitalized).(Ryrie note).
c. Lord (Adonai). In Genesis 15:2, we see “Lord God,” (“Adonai Yahweh”) (Ryrie note). Strongs 136 Lord. Adonai means “master, lord, sovereign, and is equivalent to the Greek “kurios.” Matthew 1:20, Strongs 2962, properly, a person exercising absolute ownership rights; lord (Lord). Consider Messiah/Christ in this definition.
d. God. Genesis 1:1, “God,” Strong’s 430 Elohim.” Ryrie note, “a generic term for deity, as well as a proper name for the true God; strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.
e. The glory of the Lord. Ezekiel saw the appearance of the likeness of the LORD. The LORD’s glory is referred to 15 times in Ezekiel. Ezekiel had seen a theophany, as God had appeared to him in a visionary form. By using the terms “appearance” and “likeness” Ezekiel was pointing out that he had not seen God directly. That would have caused immediate death (cf. Ex 33:18-23; John 1:18). (BKC)
f. Theophany. A theophany is a visible manifestation of God, usually restricted to the Old Testament. God has appeared in dreams (Gen. 20:3-7; 28:12-17), visions (Gen. 15:1-21; Is. 6:1-13), as an angel (Gen. 16:7-13; 18:1-33). https://bible.org/illustration/ot-theophanies
g. Shekinah glory. “The visible manifestation of God’s presence.” The word shekinah does not appear in the Bible, but the concept clearly does. The Jewish rabbis coined this extra-biblical expression, a form of a Hebrew word that literally means “he caused to dwell,” signifying that it was a divine visitation of the presence or dwelling of the Lord God on this earth. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the dwelling place of God’s glory. Colossians 2:9 tells us that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Although His glory was also veiled, Jesus is nonetheless the presence of God on earth. When we get to heaven, we will see both the Son and the Father in all their glory, and the Shekinah will no longer be veiled (1 John 3:2). https://www.gotquestions.org/shekinah-glory.html
B. The Departure Of God’s glory from Solomon’s Temple. The Return of God’s glory to the millennial Temple. The eternal Temple.
1. Ezekiel’s prophecy of 594 B.C. (Ezek 10:14, 18, 22) tells of the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh) departing from Solomon’s Temple. Ezekiel had a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem (Ezek 10:1-22, 594 B.C.). Ezekiel prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Ezek 24:1-2, 593 B.C.) (Jer 39:1-10, 589 B.C.).
2. Ezekiel’s prophecy of 587 B.C., (Ezek 37:15-28), tells of God putting the Temple in the Millennium. Ezekiel 37:15 and 28, (Yahweh). Ezekiel 37:19, 21 (Adonai Yahweh). Ezekiel 37:27 (Elohim).
3. Ezekiel’s prophecy of 574 B.C. (Ezekiel 43:5), tells of the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh) returning, and entering the Temple, which will be the Millennial Temple; this will take place when Christ returns from Heaven at the Battle of Armageddon (Zech 14:9).
C. The earthly Godly inhabited places of God’s Presence were The Tabernacle in the desert, and Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. The future Millennial Temple will also be a place of God’s Presence.
D. The Eternal Temple. In Rev 21:22, we read, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (This verse refers to the Eternal State.) (“Lord God”….”kurios theos”)
IV. We will consider the ark of the covenant, which was present in the Tabernacle in the Desert and in Solomon’s Temple.
A. The Tabernacle In The Desert.
1. God ordered the construction of the Tabernacle in the desert. Exodus 25:8.
2. God’s Presence was observed in the Tabernacle in the desert. Exodus 40:34-38.
3. Ark details:
a. “Have them make an ark of acacia wood. Ex 25:10-11.
b. Tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments were placed inside the ark. Ex 25:20.
c. Aaron’s rod that budded. Numbers 17:8.
d. Hebrews 9:3-4, 3 Behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant.
(1) Hebrews 9:4 states that the Ark contained “the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.” Revelation 11:19 says the prophet saw God’s Temple in heaven opened, “and the ark of his covenant was seen within His Temple.”
(2) The above picture shows a model of the Ark, where the lid has been removed so you can see the contents that fit inside the Ark:
(a) The two stone tablets of the Law; Aaron’s rod that budded; and the golden pot of ‘hidden’ manna.
(b) Together these three items form the Testimony, Exodus 16:34. “As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the Testimony, to be kept.”
1a. Ryrie note, “Testimony.” “the Testimony” refers to the two tablets of the law, which, along with manna and Aaron’s rod that budded, were deposited in the ark of the covenant (Heb 9:4).
1b. Tabernacle in the desert. Exodus 25:21 ‘Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you.’ “hence the Ark is called the Ark of the Testimony.”
B. Solomon’s Temple
1. God ordered the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which is known as Solomon’s Temple (2 Samuel 7:12-13; 1 Kings 5:1-5).
2. God’s Presence was observed in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:9-11; 2 Chronicles 7:1-3).
3. Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 8:9, “There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
4. As previously mentioned, “Hebrews 9:4 states that the Ark contained “the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.” How do we account for the missing items of 1 Kings 8:9, (“the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded.”)? Consider the comments of Charles Ryrie, 1 Kings 8:9. “Heb 9:4 refers to the contents of the ark when it stood in the Tabernacle and contained the law. “Aaron’s rod, and manna.” Apparently the latter two items had been lost by this time.”
V. We will now consider the Temple of God in Heaven.
A. Text. Revelation 11:19: “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”
B. MacArthur Comment
1. 11:19 temple of God . . . heaven. See 3:12; 7:15; 14:15, 17; 15:5–8; 16:1, 17.
2. The heavenly Holy of Holies (see notes on Ex. 26:31–36), where God dwells in transcendent glory, already is identified as His throne (chaps. 4, 5). (Cf. Heb. 9:24. John had seen the throne (4:5), the altar (6:9; 8:3–5), and here the Holy of Holies.)
3. Ark of His covenant. This piece of furniture in the OT tabernacle and temple (see notes on Ex. 25:11–18) symbolized God’s presence, atonement, and covenant with His people. That earthly ark was only a picture of this heavenly one (see Heb. 9:23; 10:20). It was there God provided mercy and atonement for sin. As the earthly Holy of Holies was open when the price of sin was paid (Matt. 27:51; Heb. 10:19, 20), so the Holy of Holies in heaven is opened to speak of God’s saving New Covenant and redeeming purpose in the midst of judgment. Judgment comes out of God’s Holy of Holies (14:15, 17; 15:5–8; 16:1, 7, 17). See note on 6:1. (MSB)
VI. The Temple in the Eternal State.
A. Text. Revelation 21:22, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
B. Comment. “no temple.” Several passages affirm that there is a temple in heaven (3:12; 7:15; 11:19; 15:5). Here, it is clear there is none in eternity. How can this be? The temple is not a building; it is the Lord God Himself. Revelation 7:15 implies this when it says, “He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.” Verse 23 continues the thought of no temple, except God and the Lamb. The glory of God which illuminates all heaven defines it as His temple. There is no need for a temple in the eternal state since God Himself will be the temple in which everything exists. The presence of God literally fills the entire new heaven and new earth (cf. v. 3). Going to heaven will be entering the limitless presence of the Lord (cf. John 14:3; 1 Thes. 4:17). (MSB)
VII. God’s heavenly dwelling place. The heavenly dwelling place of Christians. Christ is the transporter of Christians.
A. John 14:2-3: 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
B. John 14:6: Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
C. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
D. The transporting of Christians, by Christ, to God’s dwelling place in heaven is equally stated in John 14:6 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, as well as in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. Whether deceased, or living, born again believers in Christ of the church age, will be caught up in the air by Christ, with their bodies, souls and spirits being reunited (1 Thes 5:23). In Revelation 4:1-4, the Apostle John sees the result of this “catching up” of Christians. (4:2, “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne;” 4:4, “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.”). It is important to understand that John 14:6 explains more than a belief; it tells of an event, whereby Christ will take His believers to Heaven, where “they shall always be with the Lord.”
VII. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
Video Title. “The Seven Trumpets of Revelation 8-11.”
Article Title. End Times 18, Revelation 11:14, “Trumpets, Woes, Judgments, Rewards”
Introduction
The opening video has been shown in a prior article in this study of the End Times. While viewing this opening video, it is important to understand that God revealed key prophecy to the Jewish Prophet Jeremiah of information that tells of the “yet to happen time” of “Jacob’s distress,” which is known as the Tribulation. The prophecies that God revealed to Jeremiah were then spoken to the Jews in Israel (Jeremiah 2:1,4, 629 B.C.- 588 B.C.). Jeremiah 30:7 (606 B.C.) tells of the specific event of the Tribulation on Israel, “‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.” Consider the Ryrie note: “the time of Jacob’s distress.” The coming days of tribulation that will come upon all Israel (Jacob).
The prophet Daniel prophesied of the time of the occurrence of the Tribulation after he had been taken captive to Babylon from Jerusalem. Daniel was taken to Babylon in 605 B.C. (Ryrie note, 2 Kings 24:1.) A second deportation of Jews occurred in 597 B.C. (Ryrie note, 2 Kings 24:10). The final deportation took place in 586 B.C. (Ryrie note, 2 Kings 25:1-16). In the third deportation the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s Temple and the city of Jerusalem.
While in exile, Daniel prayed to God about “Israel’s sin against God” (Daniel 9:3-19, 538 B.C.). While Daniel was “praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel” (Daniel 9:20), the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel (Daniel 9:21) and told Daniel of God’s plan for Israel (Daniel 9:22-27). In Daniel 9:1-2, the seventy years of captivity that Jeremiah had prophesied of Israel (Jeremiah 25:11-12, 607 B.C.), had been made known to Daniel from reading the prophesies of Jeremiah. Gabriel’s answer to Daniel’s prayer involved “seventy weeks of years,” or 490 years. In Daniel 9:27, Gabriel told of the time that “Jacob’s distress” (Jer 30:7) would take place:
Daniel 9:27, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (My note. The antichrist will make a covenant (peace treaty) with Israel, which will be in the last of the 70th week (of weeks). The antichirst will break the covenant midway through the 70th week, which is when “Jacob’s distress,” the Tribulation, will begin.” Click onto the following link for MacArthur’s note on this verse: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+9%3A27&version=NASB
The importance of understanding God’s timing of the Tribulation is to know that it will be God’s decision as to when the Tribulation will begin, and that the Tribulation is based on a relationship problem that exists between God and Israel, “God’s chosen people,” Deuteronomy 14:2. Prior to the Tribulation, the born again believers in Christ will be taken to heaven in the Rapture (John 14:2,3,6). After the catching up of the Church, God will deal unbelieving Jews through the judgments of the Tribulation to draw them to saving faith in Christ as Messiah (Psalm 118:26; Matthew 23:39; Zechariah 12:10).
Trumpets And Woes
Revelation 11:14: “Announcement of the Third Woe.”
14 “The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”
The second woe is brought to its completion and is evidently regarded as the final phase of the sixth trumpet. The third woe, contained in the seventh trumpet, is announced as coming quickly. The end of the age is rapidly approaching. The woes relate to the trumpets. The fifth trumpet (9:1-12) is the first woe. The sixth trumpet (9:13-21) is the second woe. The seventh trumpet (9:15-19) is the third woe. Each woe brings about increasingly more severe Godly judgments on those whom will be left behind from the Rapture. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The seventh seal (Revelation 8:1) opens the seven trumpet judgments (Rev 8:1-9:21). The seventh trumpet (Rev 11:15) opens the seven bowl judgments (Rev 16:1-21). The seventh bowl judgment (Rev 16:17-21) brings about widespread destruction. Rev 15:1-8 shows a prelude to the bowl judgments. Rev 16:1-21 explains the bowl judgments.
Between the sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17) and the seventh seal (Rev 8:1) there is a pause (Rev Chap 7, the 144,000 sealed Jews). Between the the sixth trumpet (9:13) and the seventh trumpet (11:15-21), there is a pause (Rev 12-14, Israel’s flight to safety…Rev 12:6; Matt 24:16). Between the sixth bowl (16:12-16) and the seventh bowl (16:17-21) there is a pause (Rev 17-18, Babylon falls).
Consider the severity of the third woe, which is the seventh trumpet judgment. The seventh trumpet judgment is the worst of all of God’s judgments, in that all of the bowl judgments are contained within the seventh trumpet judgment, “the third woe.”
Revelation 11:15 is key to our study of the end times. “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
Consider the words, “The Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.” This verse explains that the Kingdom “is not now.” It was after the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 that the ruler of the world, from that point in time until the day that Christ returns to earth from Heaven, is Satan. We are not in the Kingdom, “now.” The church can not “usher in the Kingdom.” God keeps Jupiter from bumping into Mars, but the following verses show that Satan is the ruler of this world, and is running this current world system, due to God’s permission (Psalm 103:19).
Job 1:7, 2:2; Luke 4:5-7; John 12:31, 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-2; 1 John 5:19; 1 Peter 5:8.
In this seventh trumpet, we are seeing the kingdom of this world becoming the Kingdom of Christ “which will last forever and ever” (Daniel 7:14, 27; Matthew 6:10).
Rev 11:16 shows the raptured church (24 elders) in heaven, while the tribulation judgments are taking place on earth.
“And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God.”
Rev 11:17 shows the 24 worshipers praising Christ even before He began taking power and reign of the world.
“We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.”
Judgments And Rewards
Rev 11:18 tells of judgment and rewards for those who were left behind from the rapture. Judgment will come upon those “whom will not” come to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation. Rewards will come to those “whom will come to saving faith in Christ” during the Tribulation. [Re: Walvoord Commentary: The return to the divine judgment upon those on the earth in the latter part of verse 18 seems to destroy a strict antithesis of the wicked versus the righteous. Rather, the verse teaches that in general it is a time of divine wrath, a time of resurrection of the dead and their reward, and a time of special dealing with those living on the earth. All of these aspects of the second coming of Christ are borne out in later prophecies in the book of Revelation.]
“And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants, the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth” (Rev 11:18).
Let’s consider the two groups of people whom will be left behind from the rapture, and are being addressed in this passage. One group is that of those whom do not come to saving faith in Christ, through belief, during the Tribulation. The other groups is that of those whom do come to saving faith in Christ, through belief, in the Tribulation. We must consider those whom will die during the Tribulation, and those whom will survive the Tribulation.
The deceased Tribulation unbelievers will remain in a state of death, from the time of their death, until the end of the millennium when they will be raised to stand at the Great White Throne Judgment. It is at this time that they will be raised from death (body, soul, and spirit being reunited) and will be judged to be thrown into the lake of fire. Concerning Hades, see Luke 16:23 of Luke 16:19-26: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A19-26&version=NASB
During their death, the body of each unbeliever will stay in the grave; there will be no soul sleep. As seen by the rich man, he is under constant torment in Hades (the place of the wicked dead), and is conscious of his surroundings and state of death.
The judgment of unbelievers, whom will survive the Tribulation, is the same as that of those whom will die during the tribulation. However, each living unbeliever will be taken in death from the end of the Tribulation to the Great White Throne Judgment. Matthew 24:40-41 tells of Jews whom are alive at the end of the Tribulation. Those Jews that are taken, are taken in death to the Great White Throne Judgment. The Jews that are left, are allowed to enter the Kingdom Age of the millennium. Please remember that these are Jews that will be left behind from the Rapture. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24%3A40-41&version=NASB
The surviving Tribulation believers will enter the Kingdom Age, having born again spirits, but not having redeemed bodies and souls. The Apostle Paul explains in 1 Cor 15:50-54 that nothing mortal can enter the Kingdom of God, that “we must be changed,” vs 51 (body, soul and spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:23). In 1 Cor 15:50-54, Paul is addressing people during the church age, who will be “raptured or resurrected,” and taken to heaven (1 Thes 4:16-17, John 14:2,3,6, 1 Cor 15:50-54), and will go into the eternal state (new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem, Rev 21:1-2), after having ruled and reigned with Christ during the millennium (1 Cor 6:2). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A50-54&version=NASB
Jews and Gentiles, “whom are born again” during the Tribulation (through belief in Christ), will have born again spirits; they will enter the Kingdom Age and will be given redeemed bodies and souls prior to their entry into the eternal state, per 1 Cor 15:50, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
Surviving Tribulation Gentiles will be found to have been born again, due to their compassionate treatment of Jews during the Tribulation (Mt 25:31-40). Surviving Gentiles will be found “not to have been born again,” due to their lack of compassionate treatment of Jews during the Tribulation (Mt 25:41-46). Born again Gentiles will enter the Kingdom Age, “having born again spirits.” Gentiles, “whom will not have been born again,” will be taken in death to the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the millennium; they will suffer the same Hades torment and the same Rev 20:15 Judgment, as any other person whom has not been born again.
Kingdom Promises
God’s Promises To Israel For The Kingdom Age Of The Millennium. Ezekiel 38:25-26, 587 B.C.
25 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26 They will live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”’”
MacArthur note.
28:25, 26 When I have gathered. In this brief excursus of hope, God promised to restore Israel to their land (cf. chaps. 34, 36–39; Is. 65:21; Jer. 30–33; Amos 9:14, 15). This looks to Messiah’s earthly kingdom.
Dates in this article come from the Scofield Study Bible, 1909.
Video Title. What events will have to happen before the temple can be rebuilt in Jerusalem?
Article Title. End Times 17, Revelation 11:1-2, The Temple And Its Destruction
In the opening video, host John Ankerberg and guest Jimmy DeYoung discuss the building of the Tribulation Temple. Credentials of each speaker can be found in my Page, About Sources. In this article we will discuss the timing of the construction of the Tribulation Temple, the time in the Tribulation when the Temple will be built, and the destruction of the Temple, which will not be a place of God’s Presence. A comment was made during the video discussion about “The Abomination of Desolation;” we will also discuss that subject.
Text
Revelation 11:1-2 The Measuring Rod of God (11:1-2)
1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Walvoord Revelation Commentary Excerpts.
These first two verses help us to understand the things that will happen in Jerusalem during the first and second halves of the seven years of the Tribulation.
In the first verse, although John is commanded to measure the Temple and the altar and them that worship therein, he is instructed not to measure the court without the Temple. The explanation given is that this is given to the Gentiles and that the outer court, as well as the entire holy city, will be under Gentile dominion for forty-two months.
The second verse adds further light to the situation in that, “instruction is given not to measure the outer court because it is given to the Gentiles along with the holy city for a period of forty-two months.” Here again is the familiar three-and-one-half-year period or half of the seven-year period predicted by Daniel the prophet (Dan. 9:27) in which Israel’s history will be consummated with Christ’s returning at its close.
It is in the latter half of the week, or the last three and one-half years, prior to the second coming, that the Gentiles have control of the outer court and the city.
It would seem that under the covenant relationship between the beast and the children of Israel, they are given considerable freedom in their worship for the first three and one-half years, and this would probably preclude the Gentiles trampling on the outer court, even though the holy city as such is under Gentile dominion.
Since the Gentiles are said to tread the holy city underfoot only forty-two months, this ill treatment better fits the latter half of the week. If the former half were mentioned, Jerusalem would be trodden underfoot for the entire seven-year period rather than for only forty-two months. The passage seems to anticipate freedom from Gentile dominion after the three and one-half years have run their course, which would mean that the second half of the seven-year period is in view.
The statement that the holy city is under Gentile control is borne out by the prophecy of Christ in Luke 21:24 where He predicted of the people of Israel, “They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” The times of the Gentiles end at the second coming of Christ when Gentile dominion is destroyed and Christ establishes His kingdom. This is predicted in the seventh trumpet revealed later in this chapter. The first two verses then signify that while God is permitting Gentile dominion and persecution of Israel, God Himself will be the judge of her persecutors.
The Temple here is apparently that which will be in existence during the great tribulation. Originally constructed for the worship of the Jews and the renewal of their ancient sacrifices, during the great tribulation, it is desecrated and becomes the home of an idol of the world ruler (cf. 2 Thes. 2:4; Rev. 13:14-15; Dan. 9:27; 12:11).
Several passages of Scripture indicate that the activities of the Antichrist involve a future Jewish Temple, as folllows:
Daniel Dan. 9:27 – The prince who is to come confirms a covenant for the duration of The 70th Week of Daniel. In the middle of the week, “he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” This implies an preexisting Temple within which sacrifice and offering had been taking place. (The prince to come is the antichrist)
Daniel Dan. 12:11 – The daily sacrifice will be taken away and the Abomination of Desolation is set up. The context indicates that this occurs during “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a [Jewish] nation” (Dan. Dan. 12:1). A Temple must have been standing in which the daily sacrifices were being offered.(The time of trouble will be the Great Tribulation, Mt 24:11)
Matthew Matt. 24:15 – Jesus predicted that the Abomination of Desolation would stand “in the holy place.” This refers to a location within the Temple.
2 Thessalonians 2Th. 2:4 – Paul indicated that one of the acts of the man of sin would be to exalt himself “above all that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” [emphasis added]
Revelation Rev. 11:1+ – John is told to measure “the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.” The context is during the Tribulation, prior to the return of Christ.
Matthew 24:16, “then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.”
Vs 15 tells of the abomination of desolation. Verse 16 tells of the flight of Jews from Jerusalem to the mountains for safety. Within this verse is the truth that we, whom are believers in Christ, will not be fleeing Jerusalem. Vs 20 says to pray that such a flight is not on a Sabbath. In today’s dispensation of grace, Christians are not bound by the Sabbath. Gentiles whom are left left behind from the Rapture, will have no knowledge of the Sabbath. Jews will flee Jerusalem for personal safety, but will have to deal with legalist Jews in Jerusalem, who will condemn such “Sabbath breaking.” Per Acts 1:12, “a Sabbath day’s journey.” i.e., One-half of a mi. (about 2,000 cubits), the farthest distance a faithful Jew could travel on the Sabbath to accommodate the prohibition of Ex. 16:29. (MacArthur note).
Matthew 24:15, “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),”
Following commentary by Dr. Thomas Ice (Check his credentials in my Page, “About Sources.”)
We have now reached the midpoint of the tribulation in the chronological progress of this passage. Christ mentions the key event upon which the entire passage turns when He speaks of the abomination of desolation. What is He speaking about?
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
The key passages in Daniel that mention the term “abomination of desolation” are Daniel 9:27; 11:31 and Daniel 12:11. This is a technical term, which means that it has a precise and consistent meaning in all three passages. The phrase refers to an act of abomination that renders, in this case, the Temple, something unclean. Daniel 11:31 speaks of an act that was fulfilled in history before the first coming of Christ. Dr. John Walvoord explains:
In Daniel 11:31, a prophecy was written by Daniel in the sixth century B. C. about a future Syrian ruler by name of Antiochus Epiphanes who reigned over Syria 175-164 B. C., about 400 years after Daniel. History, of course, has recorded the reign of this man. In verse 31, Daniel prophesied about his activity: “…they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” This would be very difficult to understand if it were not for the fact that it has already been fulfilled. Anyone can go back to the history of Antiochus Epiphanes and discover what he did as recorded in the apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees. He was a great persecutor of the children of Israel and did his best to stamp out the Jewish religion and wanted to place in its stead a worship of Greek pagan gods.…
One of the things he did was to stop animal sacrifices in the temple. He offered a sow, an unclean animal, on the altar in a deliberate attempt to desecrate and render it unholy for Jewish worship (cf. 1 Macc. 1:48). First Maccabees 1:54 specifically records that the abomination of desolation was set up, fulfilling Daniel 11:31. In the holy of holies, Antiochus set up a statue of a Greek god.…In keeping with the prophecy the daily sacrifices were stopped, the sanctuary was polluted, desolated and made an abomination.
Dr. Thomas Ice continues.
Dr. Randall Price agrees: “In my own study of the phrase in the context of Temple desecration I discovered the phrase served as a technical reference to the introduction of an idolatrous image or an act of pagan sacrilege within the Sanctuary that produces the highest level a of ceremonial impurity, Temple profanation.”
This passage sets the pattern and provides details about what the abomination of desolation consists of. The Daniel 9:27 passage says that this abomination is to take place in the middle of a seven year period. The passage says, “in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate.” “In other words, the future prince will do at that time exactly what Antiochus did in the second century B.C.” But Daniel goes on to say that the one who commits this act will be destroyed three and a half years later. Daniel 12:11 provides “the precise chronology.” The text says, “And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.”
In addition to the three passages in Daniel, the two references by our Lord in Matthew and Luke, 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 13:14-15 also have this event in view. Therefore, the abomination of desolation, which the reader is to understand, includes the following elements:
It occurs in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:31; 2 Thes 2:4).
It involves a person setting up a statue in place of the regular sacrifice in the holy of holies (Dan 11:31; 12:11; Rev 13:14-14).
This results in the cessation of the regular sacrifice (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11).
There will be a time of about three-and-a-half years between this event and another event and the end of the time period (Dan 9:27; 12:11).
It involves an individual setting up a statue or image of himself so that he may be worshiped in place of God (Dan 11:31; 2 Thes 2:4; Rev 13:14-15).
The image is made to come to life (Rev 13:14).
A worship system of this false god is thus inaugurated (2 Thes 2:4; Rev 13:14-15).
At the end of this time period the individual who commits the act will himself be cut off (Dan 9:27).
The Destruction Of The Tribulation Temple.
It is important to know that the Tribulation Temple was never a Temple that God had as a place of habitation (See my article, “End Times 16”). However, there are key verses of scripture that tell of the conditions that can cause the destruction of the Tribulation Temple.
Let’s consider Isaiah’s prophecy of the end of the Tribulation. Isaiah 24:18-19. 712 B.C.
Isaiah 24:18-19. “18 ….the foundations of the earth shake. 19 The earth is broken asunder, The earth is split through, The earth is shaken violently.” [See the MacArthur commentary note: Unparalleled earthquakes will mark the future visitation during and after the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70-week prophecy (see note on 13:13; cf. Matt. 24:7; Rev. 6:12, 14; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18).]
Let’s consider Zechariah’s prophecy of the end of the Tribulation. Zechariah 14:1-5. 487 B.C.
1 Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. 4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. 5 You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him! (vs 5, Re Isa 66:15-16, 18)
Consider the severity of the earthquake (vs 4). Consider the city of Jerusalem (vs 2).
Let’s consider the seventh bowl judgment. Revelation 16:17-21. 96 A.D.
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” 18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, *came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague *was extremely severe.
Consider the severity of the earthquake (vs 18). Consider the great city, which is Jerusalem (vs 19). The earth will quake, not only in Jerusalem, but also in cities all around the world. It is easy to understand how the Tribulation Temple, which was built under the authority of the antichrist, will be destroyed by the earthquake of God’s seventh bowl judgment. “This seventh bowl judgment will be the completion of God’s plan, preceding the establishment of the Kingdom Age” (Dr. David Hocking sermon, Armaggedon, Rev 16:12-21). https://hftmedia.org/archive/revelation/nt27-message-36-40/
Video title. Left Behind II. Ben-Judah, who is a Jew, and rabbinical scholar, confronts the two witnesses, who testify to him that Christ is Messiah.
Article title. End Times 16, Revelation 11:1-14, Jewish Temples And Witnesses.
I. Preface.
A. Let us remember the purpose for all Scripture, in that all Scripture is based on “The Purpose Of God, (Isaiah 46:10).”
1. In our study of the End Times, we consider God’s purposes for Israel: Nehemiah 1:8-9:
8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’
2. God has given severe warnings for those who would harm His chosen people: Numbers 24:9:
“He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.”
B. We will begin this article, and each following article, with a Scripture that relates to God’s plans for Israel.
1. Jeremiah 2:1-2:” Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem…;” 2:4. “Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.” (Notice that the book of Jeremiah was written to Jews, by a Jew (Jeremiah), about Jewish things.)
2. Jeremiah 3:17: “At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the Lord,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart.”
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Comment Providers. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary);
IV. Introduction.
A. Consider the chronology of Jewish places of worship that precede the Tribulation Temple.
1. God commissioned the construction of the tabernacle/sanctuary (Exodus 25:8-9, 1491 B.C.).
2. The tabernacle in the desert was completed (Exodus 40:33, 1490 B.C.).
3. God commissioned King Solomon to build the first temple in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 28:6, 1015 B.C.).
4. Solomon finished the construction of the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 5:1, 1004 B.C.)
5. The forces of Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36:19, 586 B.C.)
6. The Temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem, being known as Zerubbabel’s Temple (Haggai 1:1-15, 2:1-23; Ezra 6:15, 515 B.C.)
7. Herod’s Temple, which was a remodeling of Zerubbabel’s temple, was completed in 4 B.C., but was not totally completed until 63 A.D.
8. The glory of the LORD (Yahweh) was present in the Tabernacle in the desert (Ex 40:34-38), as was the case in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11).
9. As will be shown below, the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh) departed from Solomon’s Temple prior to its looting and destruction by the Babylonians, and will not return until the “Lord GOD” (Adonai Yahweh) places the Millennial Temple in Jerusalem.
B. As this chapter opens (v 1), we see “the Temple of God,” which is a fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy, Daniel 9:27, “…And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering…” A temple was required for such Jewish practices. This “Tribulation Temple,” will be built under the graces of the antichrist. However, the words, “Temple of God,” show that God is in control of everything about the temple. The phrase, “in the middle of the week,” means “halfway through the Tribulation.” A discussion of the Millennial Temple will show that God does not reside in the Tribulation Temple. Also, when Christ was on earth, He never went into the Holy of Holies of the remodeled Herod’s Temple of Zerubbabel’s reconstruction of the destroyed Solomon’s Temple. Christ was/is the Holy of Holies. Had Christ been accepted as Messiah, at His first coming, He presumably would have entered the Temple (RSB Ezekiel 10:18-19 note). Preceding the time of the treaty between the antichrist and the Jews, the rapture of the church will take place (1 Thes 4:16-17), leaving behind on earth only those whom will not have been born again. The purpose for the tribulation (Jer 30:7) is for God to deal with unbelieving Jews, to draw them to saving faith in Christ as Messiah (Matt 23:39).
1. Ezekiel’s prophecy of 594 B.C.,(Ezek 10:18) tells of the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh) departing from Solomon’s Temple. Ezekiel had a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem (Ezek 10:1-22, 594 B.C.). Ezekiel prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Ezek 24:1-2, 593 B.C.) (Jer 39:1-10, 589 B.C.).
2. Ezekiel’s prophecy of 587 B.C., (Ezek 37:26-28), tells of the “Lord GOD” (Adonai Yahweh) putting the Temple in the Millennium.
2. Ezekiel’s prophecy of 574 B.C., (Ezekiel 43:5), tells of the Glory of the LORD (Yahweh) returning, and entering the Temple, which will be the Millennial Temple; this will take place when Christ returns from Heaven at the Battle of Armageddon (Zech 14:9).
3. In Rev 21:22, we read, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (This verse refers to the Eternal State.) (“Lord God”….”kurios theos”)
C. Consider The Two Witnesses.
1. From the time of the antichrist breaking the covenant with Israel, 3 1/2 years remain until the end of the Tribulation, during which time Jerusalem will be under Gentile control (Rev 11:2). The period of time from the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, until the time that Christ reigns on the Throne in the Kingdom, is known as the “Times Of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). The expression, “Times of the Gentiles,” identifies the era from Israel’s captivity (ca. 586 B.C. to Babylon; cf. 2 Kin. 25) to her restoration in the kingdom (Rev. 20:1–6). It has been a time during which, in accord with God’s purpose, Gentiles have dominated or threatened Jerusalem (MAC).
2. The two witnesses, “olive trees,” will prophecy during the first half of the Tribulation (RSB), and will be protected from harm. They will also exhibit miraculous powers (Rev 11:3-6).
4. After the two witnesses have finished their mission (God is in control), the anticrist (beast) comes on the scene, and kills the two witnesses. The bodies lie in the city of sodomite Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days, as an element of dishonor for the witnesses. The world sees the dead bodies of the witnesses (satellite video); great rejoicing goes on by those “earth dwellers” (Rev 3:10), due to their deaths (Rev 11:7-10).
5. The martyred two witnesses come back to life; great fear comes upon those who see this miracle. The witnesses are caught up (Raptured) to heaven, in clear view of the “earth dwellers.” A great earthquake causes a tenth of Jerusalem to collapse; seven thousand people die; the survivors give glory to God, but not for long. Soon, they will again curse God (Rev 16:11) (Rev 11:11-13).
V. Consider Israel: Past, Present, Future.
A. At this time in the history of Israel, God’s chosen people (Deu 14:2) are returning to Israel in a state of unbelief. When the Rapture occurs (1 Thes 4:16-17), all unbelieving Jews, and Gentiles, will be left behind on earth to undergo the persecution of the antichrist (under God’s control) and the judgments of God. There will be millions of people, “Jew and Gentile,” that will be left behind from the Rapture. God chose Israel to be His chosen people; Israel did not choose God.
B. In today’s world, many Jews are atheistic, and many are in a total state of dishonoring Christ; the same situation applies to Gentiles. But, it is God’s purpose for His chosen people to come to saving faith in Christ, and to be saved from the eternal damnation that will come from such of a lack of belief in Christ as Messiah, as will be the case of unbelieving Gentiles. Anti-Jew verbal attacks are numerous today from such organizations as: news and media, entertainment and globalists, academia and new world order types, and unbelieving members of government, large corporations, and the world community. Unbelieving Jews are found in all of those groups of other unbelievers. Jews do things that are wrong. However, God’s Word will not be changed or negated, in regard to His plan for His chosen people in the Tribulation and Kingdom Age, which are based on His unconditional covenants with Israel (Abrahamic and Davidic).
C. God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) guarantees the covenant seed of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, “a people and a land and a blessing”, which will be fulfilled in an expanded Israel in the Kingdom Age. God’s Davidic covenant with Israel (2 Samuel 7:8-16) guarantees that an heir of David, who will be Christ, will rule and reign over the expanded Israel during the Kingdom Age. God has guaranteed that Jews of the Old Testament age, including the time of the Gospels, will rule and reign with Christ during the Kingdom Age (Matt 19:28; Dan 12:1-3). God has also specified that for individual Jews to be included in those of national Israel to enter the Kingdom of God, they must believe in Christ as Lord and Savior (John 3:16).
D. John 3:16 is quoted by many Christians as being the key to their eternal life, but the words of that verse were spoken to Jews by Christ. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The necessity for such belief in Christ is echoed in New Testament scriptures.
E. Concerning national Israel, “they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (Romans 9:6). Not all Jews will have been born again (John 3:3); not all will have believed in Christ as Messiah (John 3:16-18; Romans 8:1). Christ is God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
F. Concerning the believing Jews who will survive the Tribulation, per Romans 11:26: “all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” (Per Zechariah 12:8-10, believing Jews will call on Christ to save them at the end of the Tribulation, as they are being attacked by all of the nations of the world.)
VI. Video Discussions.
A. Opening Video. In the Left Behind movie, Ben-Judah was commissioned by the Israel I government three years before the Rapture to undertake a study as to how the Jews would recognize the Messiah when he comes. Ben-Judah was beginning to conclude that Jesus of Nazareth met the descriptions of prophecy, but had not committed himself when Christ raptured His church. Video info. Dr. Tsion Ben-Judah is a character in the Left Behind series, is a Jew, a rabbinical scholar. ararat4life. a clip from left behind 2. This video is not my own, it belongs to Cloud Ten pictures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Left_Behind_characters
B. Second Video, seen by clicking on the following link.
The Two Witnesses – Jon Ankerberg
1. Jon Ankerberg Show. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock.
2. Speaker credentials, including those of the moderator, Jon Ankerberg, can be seen on my site Page, “About Sources.”
VII. Two Witness Discussions.
A. MacArthur Study Bible note, from Rev 11:5-6. The Two Witnesses Identity. 11:5, 6 While it is impossible to be dogmatic about the identity of these two witnesses, several observations suggest they might be Moses and Elijah: 1) like Moses, they strike the earth with plagues, and like Elijah, they have the power to keep it from raining; 2) Jewish tradition expected both Moses (cf. Deut. 18:15–18) and Elijah (cf. Mal. 4:5, 6) to return in the future (cf. John 1:21); 3) both Moses and Elijah were present at the Transfiguration, the preview of Christ’s second coming; 4) both Moses and Elijah used supernatural means to provoke repentance; 5) Elijah was taken up alive into heaven, and God buried Moses’ body where it would never be found; and 6) the length of the drought the two witnesses bring (3 1/2 years; cf. v. 3) is the same as that brought by Elijah (James 5:17).
B. My note. There is a lot of discussion about the identity of the witnesses. Such discussion relates to two key Old Testament characters “who did not die”, and were “caught up” to Heaven (Rapture). In Genesis 5:24, we read: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.: In Second Kings 2:11, we read: “Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.” The accounts of Enoch and Elijah tell of their being “caught up” to Heaven without having suffered death. But, at the time of the Rapture, millions of born again believers in Christ, all around the world, will also be “caught up” and be taken to Heaven without suffering death. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be “caught up” together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” [“caught up,” Italics mine]
VIII. Text: Revelation 11:1-14
The Two Witnesses
1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
IX. Comments.
A. MAC
1. 11:1. “the temple of God.” Refers to the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, not the entire temple complex (cf. v. 2). A rebuilt temple will exist during the time of the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4). “altar.” The reference to worshipers suggests this is the bronze altar in the courtyard, not the incense altar in the Holy Place, since only the priests were permitted inside the Holy Place (cf. Luke 1:8–10).
2: 11:2. “court which is outside.” The court of the Gentiles, separated from the inner court in the Herodian temple by a low wall. Gentiles were forbidden to enter the inner court on penalty of death. That John is instructed not to measure the outer court symbolizes God’s rejection of the unbelieving Gentiles who have oppressed His covenant people. “tread the holy city underfoot.” Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome all oppressed Jerusalem in ancient times (cf. 2 Kin. 25:8–10; Ps. 79:1; Is. 63:18; Lam. 1:10). This verse refers to the future devastating destruction and oppression of Jerusalem by the forces of the Antichrist. “forty-two months.” This 3 1/2 year period covers the second half of the Tribulation and coincides with the visibly evil career of the Antichrist (v. 3; 12:6; 13:5). During this same time, the Jews will be sheltered by God in the wilderness (12:6, 14).
3. 11:3. “two witnesses.” Individuals granted special power and authority by God to preach a message of judgment and salvation during the second half of the Tribulation. The OT required two or more witnesses to confirm testimony (cf. Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16; John 8:17; Heb. 10:28), and these two prophets will be the culmination of God’s testimony to Israel: a message of judgment from God and of His gracious offer of the gospel to all who will repent and believe. “sackcloth.” Coarse, rough cloth made from goat or camel hair. Wearing garments made from it expressed penitence, humility, and mourning (cf. Gen. 37:34; 2 Sam. 3:31; 2 Kin. 6:30; 19:1; Esth. 4:1; Is. 22:12; Jer. 6:26; Matt. 11:21). The witnesses are mourning because of the wretched wickedness of the world, God’s judgment on it, and the desecration of the temple and the holy city by the Antichrist.
4. 11:4. This imagery is drawn from Zech. 3, 4 (see notes there). Zechariah’s vision had both a near fulfillment (the rebuilding of the temple by Joshua and Zerubbabel) and a far future fulfillment (the two witnesses, whose ministry points toward Israel’s final restoration in the Millennium). “two olive trees and the two lamp stands.” Olive oil was commonly used in lamps; together the olive trees and lamp stands symbolize the light of spiritual revival. The two witnesses’ preaching will spark a revival, just as Joshua’s and Zerubbabel’s did in Israel after the Babylonian captivity.
5. 11:5. “fire proceeds . . . and devours.” Probably this refers to literal fire. These two will be invincible during their ministry, protected by supernatural power. The false prophet will counterfeit this sign (13:3).
6. 11:6. “power to shut heaven.” Miracles have often authenticated God’s messengers. Here, bringing a ‘3 1/2 year’ drought (as did Elijah before them) will add immeasurable torment to those experiencing the worldwide disasters of the Tribulation—and exacerbate their hatred of the two witnesses. “waters to turn them to blood.” The earth’s water, already devastated by the effects of the second and third trumpets, will become undrinkable, adding immensely to the suffering caused by the drought.
7. 11:7. “the beast.” The first of 36 references to this person in Revelation, who is none other than the Antichrist (see chap. 13). That he will ascend out of the bottomless pit indicates that his power is satanic. “kill them.” Their ministry completed, God will withdraw the two witnesses’ supernatural protection. The beast will then be able to accomplish what many had died trying to do.
8. 11:8. “bodies will lie in the street.” Refusing to bury one’s enemies was a way to dishonor and show contempt for them (cf. Acts 14:19). The OT expressly forbids this practice (Deut. 21:22, 23). “the great city.” Identifying Jerusalem as a city like Sodom and Egypt stresses the city’s wickedness. Its Jewish population will apparently be the focus of the witnesses’ ministry, leading to the conversions of v. 13.
9. 11:9. “three-and-a-half days.” The entire world will watch (undoubtedly on the latest form of visual media) and glorify the Antichrist as the bodies of the dead prophets who have been killed begin to decay.
10. 11:10. “rejoice . . . make merry . . . send gifts.” Wild with joy over the death of their tormentors, those who dwell on the earth (a phrase used 11 times in Revelation to speak of unbelievers) will celebrate the two witnesses’ deaths as a holiday.
11. 11:11. “breath of life from God entered them.” The festivities, however, are short-lived as God vindicates His faithful witnesses by resurrecting them.
12. 11:12. “ascended to heaven in a cloud.” Some may wonder why God will not allow them to preach, assuming their message would have more force following their resurrection. But that ignores Christ’s clear statement to the contrary (Luke 16:31). “enemies saw them.” Those who hated and dishonored the two witnesses will watch their vindication.
13. 11:13. “earthquake.” God punctuates the ascension of His prophets with a shattering earthquake. The destruction and loss of life may be primarily among the leaders of the Antichrist’s forces. “the rest.” This refers to the Jews still living, who will not yet have come to faith in Christ. “gave glory to the God of heaven.” A genuine experience of the salvation of Jews (cf. Luke 17:18, 19), in contrast to those who blaspheme and refuse to glorify God (16:9). This makes a key fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy (12:10; 13:1) and Paul’s (Rom. 11:25–27).
14. 11:14. “second woe.” The sixth trumpet (see note on 9:12). The interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets ends (see note on 10:1). Israel’s repentance will shortly usher in the millennial kingdom (Acts 3:19–21; Rom. 11:25, 26). But first will come the final, climactic judgments.
B. NKJV
a. 11:14. The second woe includes the sixth trumpet (9:12–21) and a second interlude (10:1–11:13).
b. 11:14. The third woe is apparently the seventh trumpet (vv. 15–19), since it is said to be coming quickly, and since 8:13 relates the woes to the last three blasts of the trumpet. The final woe may extend further since the word woe recurs in 12:12.
X. Closing.
A. After the second woe has ended (Rev 11:14), only the seventh trumpet, which is the third and final woe, is left to come. Even more severe Godly judgments are waiting to be released by God on the earth, and on “the earth dwellers.”
B. It has been said that, “an earth dweller,” is an “earth dweller,” is an “earth dweller.” From the scriptures that tell about the earth dwellers, it is easy to see that those defiant people who have been left behind from the rapture will not come to repentance and change their minds about the deity of Christ, the Messiah. The earth dwellers show a hardening of their hearts, even in the presence of the increasing severity of God’s judgments on the earth, and on everyone that will be present on earth.
C. The following verses refer to earth dwellers of the Tribulation. Rev 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 14; 17:8.
A. In the Scofield Bible seven dispensations are addressed: (1) The Dispensation of Innocency: before the Fall; (2) The Dispensation of Conscience: before the Flood; (3) The Dispensation of Human Government; (4) The Dispensation of Promise: from the calling of Abraham until Mt. Sinai; (5) The Dispensation of the Law: from Mt. Sinai to the cross of Christ; (6) The Dispensation of Grace: from the cross of Christ to the Second Advent; (7) The Dispensation of the Kingdom: the Millennium.
III. The Dispensation of the Kingdom: the Millennium (7).
A. Revelation 20:4. Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
B. The seventh and final dispensation brings about the culmination of life on Earth and the closest thing yet to how God really wanted to live with us on this planet. As its name suggests, the Millennial Kingdom of Christ will last for 1,000 years. The Millennial Kingdom is the seventh dispensation (Revelation 20:1-10). https://www.gotquestions.org/dispensation-of-Millennial-Kingdom.html
C. The Kingdom Age (The thousand year Millennium) begins at the end of the Tribulation, when the surviving Jews who were left behind from the rapture of the church, call on Christ in faith to save them from total annihilation from the forces of the world which are attacking Jerusalem (Zech 12:8-11; Matt 24:29-31). Accompanying Christ, as He descends from Heaven to save Israel, will be angels and the resurrected and raptured believers in Christ (Zech 14:1-5, 9; Rev 19:11-21).
D. The Gospel of the Kingdom (Matt 24:14) is not the same as, or identical to, the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:1-8). The Gospel of the Kingdom, relates to life in the Kingdom and, will be preached unto the whole world during the Tribulation, and then Christ will return for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:13-16). Just as John the Baptist told the Jews in Matt 3:2, ““Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Christ began to teach about the Kingdom, as was written in Matt 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In the Tribulation, Jews that accept Christ as Messiah, will do as Christ instructed His disciples in Matt 10:7, “And as you go, preach, saying,‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It is reasonable to think that Tribulation born again Gentiles will also tell others about the Gospel of the Kingdom, which will include a teaching about Christ as being Messiah. Such teaching may come from articles such as this one, from teachings on video tapes, and from Bibles and Christian books that may survive the persecution of the forces of the antichrist, and the judgments of the Tribulation. A prophecy to Jews from the Prophet Joel in 800 B.C. will also enter the arena of thought. The work of the Holy Spirit in 30 A.D. reaffirmed Joel’s prophecy to Jews who were in Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Pentecost. Both of those passages tell of the work of the Holy Spirit that will take place in the Tribulation.
1. Joel 2:28-32.
The Promise of the Spirit
28 “It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29 “Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
The Day of the Lord
30 “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
31 “The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood
Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
32 “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Will be delivered;
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape,
As the Lord has said,
Even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
2. Acts 2:16-21
16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘And I will grant wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 ‘The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
21 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
3. Note. Joel 2:28-32. See Introduction: Interpretive Challenges; see notes on Acts 2:16–21. (MacArthur Study Bible note.)
Some have viewed the phenomena of Acts 2 and the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as the fulfillment of the Joel passage, while others have reserved its fulfillment to the final Day of the LORD only—but clearly Joel is referring to the final terrible Day of the LORD. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was not a fulfillment, but a preview and sample of the Spirit’s power and work to be released fully and finally in the Messiah’s kingdom after the Day of the LORD. See note on Acts 2:16–21. (MacArthur Study Bible note.)
4. Note. Acts 2:16–21 See Introduction to Joel: Interpretive Challenges; see notes on Joel 2:28–32. Joel’s prophecy will not be completely fulfilled until the millennial kingdom. But Peter, by using it, shows that Pentecost was a pre-fulfillment, a taste of what will happen in the millennial kingdom when the Spirit is poured out on all flesh (cf. 10:45). (MacArthur Study Bible note.)
5. Note. “Day of the Lord.” The future “Day of the Lord,” which unleashes God’s wrath, falls into two parts: 1) the end of the 7-year tribulation period (cf. Rev. 19:11–21), and 2) the end of the Millennium. These two are actually 1,000 years apart, and Peter refers to the end of the 1,000-year period in connection with the final “Day of the Lord” (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:7–15). Here, Paul refers to that aspect of the “Day of the Lord,” which concludes the tribulation period. “a thief in the night.” This phrase is never used to refer to the rapture of the church. It is used of Christ’s coming in judgment on the day of the Lord at the end of the 7 year tribulation which is distinct from the rapture of the church (see note on 4:15) and it is used of the judgment that concludes the Millennium (2 Pet. 3:10). (MacArthur Study Bible note)
E. “Of that day and hour, no one knows” (Matt 24:36), is a verse that relates to the second coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. The context of Matt 24:36 does not allow it to refer to the rapture of the church (1 Cor 15:50-54) but, it is true that no one knows the day or hour that Christ will return in the air to catch up His born again believers (1 Thes 4:16-17), and take them to Heaven with Him (John 14:2,3,6).
F. Key to a proper understanding of the Kingdom Age is that, “not until Christ takes His rightful position on His rightful throne in Jerusalem,” will the Kingdom Age be established (Rev 19:16; Zech 14:9). “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in Heaven” (Matt 6:9-10) refers to the Kingdom Age.
G. The Kingdom is a promise from God to Jews, as it is written in the (1) Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:1-3, 13:15, 15:18-21, 17:5); in the (2) Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7:8-16; 1 Chron 17:11-14; 2 Chron 6:16); and in the words of the (3) Jewish prophets (Isa 9:7; Jer 33:14; Ezek 37:24; Dan 2:44, 4:3, 4:34, 6:26, 7:14, 7:18; Oba 1:21; Mic 4:8). The Gospels, which are also Old Testament books, continue with teachings on the Kingdom; i.e.; Matt 3:2, “the Kingdom of God is at hand;” 4:23, “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom;” 10:7, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand;” 13:11, “Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” (Christ allowed His disciples to know things that other Jews were not able to discern.)
H. The “mysteries of the Kingdom,” as stated in Matt 13:11, is key to an understanding of the Kingdom Age; many facts were written by the Old Testament writers. But, Christ taught things about the Kingdom that were not taught until He came into the world as, “Immanuel, God with us;” (Matt 1:23). A key example of a “mystery” is found in 1 Cor 2:7, “but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.” Consider the Ryrie Study Bible note. “mystery.” The gospel Paul proclaimed, which is understood only by divine revelation.”
I. Consider a major reason that we are not in the Kingdom now. The Jewish prophet Isaiah stated why we are not in the Kingdom, now?
1. Consider Isaiah 2:3-4. Can we read those verses and conclude that we are in the Kingdom, now?
3 And many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For the law will go forth from Zion
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 And He will judge between the nations,
And will render decisions for many peoples;
And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.
2. Consider Isaiah 11:6-7. Can we read those verses and conclude that we are in the Kingdom, now?
6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,
And the leopard will lie down with the young goat,
And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little boy will lead them.
7 Also the cow and the bear will graze,
Their young will lie down together,
And the lion will eat straw like the ox.
J. Christ explained to His disciples in His Mount of Olivet discourse in Matt 24-25, of the time that He will sit on His earthly throne. Matt 25:31. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory” (Consider also: Zech 14:1-5, 9; Matt 19:28; Acts 2:30; Rev 19:14, 20:4).
K. We are not in the Kingdom. The church will not usher in the Kingdom. Only the return of Christ, at the end of the Tribulation, will bring about the Kingdom (Matt 24:29-31).
L. At the end of the Kingdom, Christ will turn over the Kingdom to “God the Father.”
a. 1 Cor 15:24, “then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.”
b. Consider the comment of the MacArthur Study note: “He delivers the kingdom to God.” In the culmination of the world’s history, after Christ has taken over the restored world for His Father and reigned for 1,000 years, all things will be returned to the way they were designed by God to be in the sinless glory of the new heavens and new earth (see Rev. 21, 22).
IV. Dispensation Of Study.
A. The direction of Biblical study in my articles leads to the seventh dispensation, the Kingdom dispensation, Revelation 20:4.
B. Equipping Blog has been, and will continue to be, the platform that I use for publishing articles that relate to the Kingdom, and maters that relate to the Kingdom.
V. Video Information
A. What is the good news of the millennial kingdom?
B. John Ankerberg Show
C. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock.
D. Credentials of the guest, and speakers, of the video can be seen on my Page, About Sources.
2. God has given severe warnings for those who would harm His chosen people: “And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
B. We will begin this article, and each following article, with a Scripture that relates to God’s plans for Israel.
1. Isaiah 1:1 “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” (Notice that the book of Isaiah was written to Jews, by a Jew (Isaiah), about Jewish things of Israel.)
2. Isaiah 65:17 ““For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” RSB note. This verse is part of the characteristics of the Kingdom which are written from vs 17-25. Note. A description of the Millennial Kingdom, which is preliminary to the “new heavens and a new earth” (v 17). Characteristics include Jerusalem’s being a joy instead of a burden (v 18, cf, Zech 12:2-3), “longevity (v 20; notice that sin will be punished in the Millennium); peace and security (vv 21-23), and removing of the animosity in nature (v 25; cf. 11:7-9). Read the following link. You will see that we are not in the Kingdom now. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+65%3A17-25&version=NASB
II. Introduction.
A. The opening video has a discussion on this chapter that relates to things that will happen in the future; these are things that are bad (sour), and things that are good (sweet). The bad things are not stated, but may refer to upcoming judgments, such as the trumpet judgments (Rev 15:1-16:21), and the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15). The sweet things are the yet future “millennial kingdom,” (See I.B.2., above, Isaiah 65:17 and note, for a description of the millennial kingdom.), and the “eternal state” of the new heavens, new earth and new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-2). Those whom will be left behind from the Rapture will face the upcoming Trumpet Judgments; if any of these “left behind” types come to saving faith in Christ, even during the Tribulation, they will be saved from the Great White Throne Judgment. Those whom will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment will be those whom will never have been born again. Those whom will enter the Eternal State of the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem, will be those whom will have been born again (John 3:3). Needless to say, any of whom are left behind from the Rapture will come under the judgments of God until they die, or are killed, or may survive the Tribulation. Anyone who comes to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation will enter into the Kingdom Age; they also will enter into the Eternal State. Anyone, not coming to saving faith in Christ during the Tribulation, yet being a survivor, will suffer immediate death. Such Tribulation “unbelievers” will be raised from death at the end of the Kingdom Age to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment, and will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:11-15). We will go deeper into this study of end times occupants in upcoming articles.
B. The following video shows a very special time in the lives of Jews. The Jewish family and friends in the video are seen in their weekly Sabbath observance. The warmth and love of this group of Jews is undeniable.
1. As with the prior article, you will notice that the Shabbat candles are lit by a woman. Consider this info that comes from a Jewish website: “The mitzvah of lighting candles has been given especially to women, the mainstays of the Jewish home, but it is an obligation for every home, and if no woman over bat mitzvah is present to light, the candles are lit by the man of the home.”
2. The scriptural significance of a woman lighting the Shabbat candles is amazing. Consider that is was a woman, Mary, who brought “the Light of the world,” into the world (John 1:4-9).” Also, as in the Shabbat observance, once the light is lit, “it can not be put out,” just as the Light of Christ is forever lighting the world of darkness, enlightening everyone (John 1:9) . There is also a specific time for lighting the Shabbat candles; consider Galatians 4:4, ” But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.”
3. Video details are shown below.
a. Leviticus 23:1-8. In this passage, God speaks to the Israelites about the feasts of God.
1 The Lord spoke again to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these:
3 ‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings.
4 ‘These are the appointed times of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. 6 Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work. 8 But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.’”
b. The Book of Leviticus opens with the following words that identify Israel as being being the recipient of the Law.
Leviticus 1:1, “Then the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them…”
C. The Book of Leviticus closes with the following words that identify Israel as being the recipient of the Law.
Leviticus 27:34, “These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the sons of Israel at Mount Sinai.”
D. The Book of Leviticus contains much more than the Ten Commandments. The Law consists of the 613 Torah Laws, or commandments: http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm
E. Even though the Law was given by God to Jews (Psalm 147:19), I choose to honor the Sabbath Day. I will explain some of my thoughts about honoring the Sabbath Day in a future article.
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Text: Revelation 10:1-11
The Angel and the Little Book
1 I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. 4 When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.” 5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
V. Comments of Theologians. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary);
A. RSB
1. 10:6 “there will be delay no longer.” I.e., when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet (11:15), the bowl judgments will be poured out (16:1-21) and the Tribulation will come to an end with the return of Christ. This will be good news to the martyrs awaiting their vindication (6:10-11).
2. 10:7 “the mystery of God.” Truth concerning God Himself, which will not be revealed until His Kingdom is established on earth.
3. 10:9-10. The eating of the little book (scroll) was to remind John that, although these truths from God may be pleasant for his taste, they were bitter when digested because they spoke of judgment. The revelation of God’s judgment, on careful reflection, should always bring heaviness of heart to the child of God. Compare Ezek 2:8-3:3. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+2%3A8-3%3A3&version=NASB
B. MAC
1. 10:1–11:14 These verses serve as an interlude between the sixth trumpet and the seventh trumpet (11:15). The seals and the bowls also have a brief interlude between their sixth and seventh judgments (7:1–17; 16:15). God’s intention is to encourage and comfort His people in the midst of the fury and to remind them that He is still sovereign, that He remembers His people, and that they will ultimately be victorious.
2. 10:2 little book. The 7-sealed scroll that is the title deed to the earth (see note on 5:1) will be fully opened and all the final judgments made visible. right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. Although Satan has temporarily usurped the sea and the earth, this symbolic act demonstrates that all creation belongs to the Lord and He rules it with sovereign authority.
3. 10:4 “a voice from heaven.” The identity of this voice is not stated.
3. 10:5 raised up his hand. This Gr. verb appears often in the technical sense of raising the hand to take an oath or a solemn vow (cf. Dan. 12:7; see notes on Matt. 5:33, 34). The hand is raised toward heaven because that is where God dwells. The angel is taking an oath.
4. 10:8 “the voice which I heard from heaven.” The identity of this voice is not stated.
C. NKJV
1. 10:1 This mighty angel could be the “strong angel” of 5:2 or the angel “having great authority” of 18:1. It is unlikely that this is Michael, who is referred to by name elsewhere (see 12:7; Dan. 12:1), or Christ, since He is never called an angel in the NT. Furthermore, unlike Christ, this angel comes to earth before the time of tribulation is over.
2. 10:3-4 The devil and his hordes present themselves as fierce lions (see 9:8, 17; 1 Pet. 5:8). The victorious lion of Judah (5:5) also has an angelic servant who roars like a lion. It cannot be known what the seven thunders uttered because a heavenly voice, perhaps Christ’s, commanded John to seal up what he had heard (see Dan. 12:4, 9).
3. 10:8–11 As words of judgment, the book would make John’s stomach bitter, in the same way that Ezekiel’s spirit had become bitter (see Ezek. 3:14). The events of Ezek. 2; 3 occurred soon before God’s judgment on Judah and Jerusalem and were in effect the prophet’s commission. John may have sensed a similar commission here to prophesy his message of judgment to the world. John’s prophecy about peoples, nations, tongues, and kings may refer specifically to the remainder of the second woe (11:1–14), since there is a focus on the testimony of the two witnesses. However, the use of similar expressions in 13:7; 14:6; and 17:15 implies that John’s commission was to prophesy most or all of the Book of Revelation, a prophecy which speaks of all the events leading up to Christ’s second coming (19:11–21).
VI. Consider factors that may, or may not, be relative to the Tribulation.
A. Military Strength. As we consider the last battle of the Tribulation period (Rev 16:13-16, Campaign of Armageddon/Battle of Armageddon), let’s also consider the size of the military strength of the United States of America. Based on scripture, the United States will be one of the nations that will be involved in the attack on Israel that will occur at the end of the Tribulation (Zech 12:8-9; Zech 14:1-3). These will be armed forces personnel which will be left behind from the rapture of the Church (1 Thes 4:16-17). Only unsaved people of the armed forces of the world will be left behind, after the rapture, and will fight against Israel during the Campaign of Armageddon (Battle of Armageddon). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+12%3A8-9&version=NASB https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+14%3A1-3&version=NASB https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A16-17&version=NASB
1. The strength of the U.S. military forces is: 2,260,000
2. A breakdown of the strength is: 1,400,000 active duty, and 860,000 reserve personnel.
B. World Conditions. Many people are being taught that the world is in the Tribulation.
1. Based on prophetic scripture, we are not in the Tribulation. Even though there has not been a peace treaty to be made between the antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27), there are many Bible teachers who persist in teaching that we are in the Tribulation. Such bad teachings are made based on our current world conditions.
2. The 1931 China floods, or the 1931 Yangtze–Huai River floods, were a series of floods occurred from June to August 1931 in the Republic of China, hitting major cities Wuhan, Nanjing and beyond, eventually culminated into a dyke breach along Lake Gaoyou on 26 August. Due to the enormity of the floods of China, many people may have thought that our world was entering into the Tribulation.
a. Fatality estimates vary wildly. A field survey by University of Nanking led by John Lossing Buck immediately after the flood found “150,000 people had drowned, and that this number represented less than a quarter of all fatalities during the first 100 days of the flood.” The official report found 140,000 drowned and claims that “2 million people died during the flood, having drowned or died from lack of food”. A cholera epidemic in the subsequent year, from May 1932, was officially reported to have 31,974 deaths and 100,666 cases. A popular high-end estimate of 3.7 to 4.0 million fatalities “enjoys great currency online, helping the 1931 flood to secure its position on sensationalist lists of the world’s deadliest disasters.”
b. Consider the following link that tells of the 1931 China floods. linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1931_China_floods
VII. Additional information on Rev 9:13-21 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Episode 30. A Bitter-Sweet Experience. Rev. 10:1-11
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
VIII. Video Details Of This Article.
A. First video.
1. What is the “little book” that John was told to eat?
2. John Ankerberg Show.
3. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock.
Article Title: End Times 14, Revelation 9:13-21, 1/3 Of World’s Population Killed
Video details are shown below, to include credentials of the speakers.
I. Preface.
A. Let us remember the purpose for all Scripture, in that all Scriptures are based on “The Purpose Of God, (Isaiah 46:10).”
1. In our study of the End Times, we consider God’s purposes for Israel, “His Chosen People:” “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2).
2. God has given severe warnings for those who would harm His chosen people: For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye” (Zech 2:8).
B. We will begin this article, and each following article, with a Scripture that relates to God’s plans for Israel.
1. Isaiah 1:1 “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” (Notice that the book of Isaiah was written to Jews, by a Jew (Isaiah), about Jewish things of Israel.)
2. Isaiah 53:4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (Notice that it is a spiritual healing of Israel that is written in vs 5.)
II. Introduction.
A. The opening video has a discussion on the sixth trumpet judgment of the Tribulation. The opening video must be considered with the understanding that the purpose of the Tribulation is to draw unsaved Jews to saving faith in Christ (Matt 23:38-39, Zech 12:10).
1. In this description of the sixth trumpet judgment, we see something that was not present in the fifth trumpet judgment. In 9:1, we see these words: “Then the fifth angel sounded.” Then, the judgment was poured out on the earth. In 9:13, we see these words: “The the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice.” The “voice” was that of “the Lamb, the Messiah, the risen Christ.” In Rev 9:14, the judgment of the trumpet is described. In the fifth trumpet judgment, death came to no one (9:5). In this sixth trumpet judgment, one third of the world’s population will be killed (9:15). In this sixth trumpet judgment, two hundred million military attackers are seen, who kill “one-third” of the world’s population [of those who missed rapture] (9:16). Death will be the result of fire and smoke and brimstone. The number of deaths of 1/3 of mankind is stated twice (9:15, 18). The lion-like heads of the horses (9:17) imply something other than natural horses. Some have taken this as a picture of modern warfare including the use of armed vehicles such as tanks. The passage implies terrible destruction and an awesome invading force (BKC, 9:17-19). In spite of all that is happening in the world, those “left behind earth dwellers” (Rev 3:10), persist in their sinful ways and opposition to God (9:19-20).
2. This study of the end times will continue through the Tribulation, spend time in the Kingdom Age (Millennium), and find its way to the Eternal State of the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem. We will focus on Scriptures that should be of extreme importance to Jews. We will show how “left behind Gentiles” and “left behind Jews” come to know Christ as Lord and Savior during the Tribulation, and enter in the Kingdom Age. The Jews were dispersed from their homeland of Israel in A.D. 70, when the city and Temple were destroyed by the attacking Romans, under the command of General Titus Vespasianus Augustus. Josephus claims that 1.1 million people were killed during the siege, of which a majority were Jewish [Siege of Jerusalem (70 BC)- Wikipedia]. The Jewish prophet, Jeremiah, prophesied in the year 606 B.C., that God said that He would gather all scattered Jews to Jerusalem (Jer 31:10). In 1881 A.D., Jews in Russia began returning to the promised land of Israel, totaling 24,000. In 1948, Israel was declared to be a state by the United Nations; in that year 120,000 Jews returned to Israel. At the end of the year 2015, the Jewish population of Israel had swollen to 6,251,000. In 1948 the State of Israel was proclaimed by David Ben Gurion on 14 May. The next day Israel was invaded by five Arab armies. The first Arab-Israeli war began. https://www.differentspirit.org/evidence/israel.php. Jews have been returning to Israel in a state of unbelief (in Christ). At the end of the Tribulation, when Israel is at the brink of being annihilated by the forces of the unbelieving world (Rev 16:12-16), “believing Jews” will call on Christ, “in belief,” to save them (Zech 12:9-10). A blessing for each Gentile believer in Christ is found in Ephesians 3:6 and Romans 11:11-24. The promised blessing is that Gentile believers will be grafted into the blessings that have been promised to Jewish believers. Isaiah (698 B.C.) prophesied that Israel would become a nation in one day (Isaiah 66:7-8). U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation on the same day that Israel was proclaimed to be a state. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/creation-israel#:~:text=On%20May%2014%2C%201948%2C%20David,nation%20on%20the%20same%20day.
B. The following video shows a very special time in the lives of Jews, which is the Sabbath. The Jewish family in the video are seen as they prepare themselves for their weekly Sabbath observance. A spirit of humility toward each other, and toward God, is easily detected in the expressions of each family member.
Video details are shown below.
1. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week: 1 “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done” 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Genesis 2:1-3).
2. The Sabbath is Holy To The Lord; it is God’s Gift To The Jews. “Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the Lord. 29 See, the Lord has given you the sabbath (Exodus 16:23).
3. The Sabbath is a sign between God and the Jews. “12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you….16 So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17 It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:12-17).
4. Consider the Jewish greeting “Shabbat Shalom,” which mean “Sabbath Of Peace.” Shabbat/Sabbath begins on Friday of each week at sunset, and ends on Saturday at sunset.
5. The Sabbath, can be no time of week, other than from Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening at sunset. The seventh day is the seventh day. No one can use an excavator to dig up the seventh day of the week and plant it within the boundaries of any other day. I have heard some people say, “some other day of the week is my Sabbath.” Please understand that the Sabbath is a day that is a sign between God and the Jews, and that the Sabbath is confined to the borders of “sunset on Friday and sunset on Saturday.”
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Text: Revelation 9:13-21
The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East
13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.
20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.
V. Comments of Theologians. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary);
A. RSB
1. 14-15 These “four angels” (demons) are released in order to kill one-third of the remaining population of earth. Added to the one-fourth who were killed under the fourth seal judgment (6:4) these two judgments alone destroy one-half of the population, not including those who are killed by wars, famines, and diseases. “the hour” (v 15). Lit, this particular hour.
2. 18 “by these three plagues.” I.e., by the fire, smoke and brimstone.
3. 20 The religion of many will involve demon and idol worship.
4. 21 “sorceries.” I.e., magical arts, potions, and poisons (see Gal 5:20; Rev 18:23, 21:8, 22:15). From the Greek word, we derive the English word “pharmacies..” This chapter shows (1) the reality of some of the activity of the unseen world of Satan and demons and (2) the hardness of human hearts.
B. NKJV
1. 13 The fact that John heard a voice instead of a symphony of the voices of all the martyrs (6:9, 10), and a voice of authority instead of an angel’s voice (8:3–5), indicates that the speaker is the Lamb who was slain and has redeemed His people (5:9).
2. 14-16 The great river Euphrates is the eastern boundary of the land promised to Abraham and his descendants in Gen. 15:18, as well as the geographic area from which powerful enemies like Assyria and Babylon came to invade Israel (see Is. 8:5–8). It may represent the seat of Satan’s former victory (in the Garden of Eden). The release of the four angels at the exact hour and day is in keeping with apocalyptic literature’s portrayal of God’s sovereign control of the timing of His plan (see Dan. 9:24–27). The army of … two hundred million will kill a third of mankind, under the command or influence of the four angels who were released. A third of humankind could number in the billions. Coupled with the former destruction of one-fourth of humanity, over one-half of the world’s population will have been killed
3. 17-19 Although it is the horsemen for whom the number of two hundred million is given (v. 16), the horses they ride and their killing power are primarily described. There are similarities between the horses of the sixth trumpet judgment and the locusts shaped “like horses” (v. 7) of the fifth trumpet. The mention of breastplates (vv. 9), the comparison with lions (vv. 8), and the power in their tails (vv. 5, 10) could suggest that these two passages offer different perspectives on the same demonically inspired force. This is unlikely, however, because the locusts are not given authority to kill (v. 5), but only to torment, while the horses kill a third of mankind.
4. 20-21 The rest of mankind who do not repent does not include those who “have the seal of God on their foreheads” (v. 4; 7:2–4). The unwillingness to repent despite the incredible devastation of the plagues is reminiscent of Pharaoh’s attitude toward most of the plagues that came upon Egypt (see Ex. 7:22; 9:7). Repent here means to change one’s mind about ungodly works, to stop trusting demons and idols and to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith (see Luke 24:47; Acts 26:20).
VI. Consider.
A. As we consider the last battle of the Tribulation period (Rev 16:13-16), let’s consider the nation of India. The Indian Armed Forces are under the management of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Government of India. With strength of over 1.4 million active personnel, it is the world’s second-largest military force and has the world’s largest volunteer army. It also has the third-largest defence budget in the world. India may also be a main player in the attack on Israel in the Battle of Armageddon, which may also be the ending of the campaign of Armageddon, which begins in Rev 16:12, and continues through 19:21. See the immediately following link in reference to the Indian armed forces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Armed_Forces#:~:text=The%20Indian%20Armed%20Forces%20are%20under%20the%20management%20of%20the,defence%20budget%20in%20the%20world.{[18] above, adds 800,000 reserve personnel to the 1.4 million active duty personnel.]}
B. Let’s consider with the premise that many are making about our world being in the Tribulation. Based on prophetic scripture, we are not in the Tribulation. Even though there has not been a peace treaty to be made between the antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27), there are many Bible teachers who persist in teaching that we are in the Tribulation. Such false teachings are made based on our current world conditions. But, let’s consider another horrible time in world history, which is the genocide of Central Africa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocides_in_central_Africa
1. In the 20th century, ten million people were murdered in various remote parts of Central Africa. It was not a single genocide but a collection of ethnic wars which raged from Sudan, the Congo, through to Uganda and Rwanda.
2. Details of Central African Genocide.
a. In the southern region of the Sudan, two million people belonging to various Nilotic peoples including Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk were killed by Sudanese Arabs from the North.
b. Roughly five and a half million died in the Congo, mainly during the Second Congo War but also in relatively smaller holocausts such as the Ituri conflict and the mass murder of Pygmies known as “Effacer le tableau”.
c. In Uganda, 300 thousand people were murdered during the regime of Idi Amin and 500 thousand during the rule of his successor, Milton Obote. Amin’s genocides targeted the Acholi and Lango peoples; these two groups went on to kill other groups (mainly the Baganda) under Obote’s regime.
d. In the early 1970s, over 150 thousand Hutu people were killed by Tutsi people in Burundi by order of General Michel Micombero. Twenty years later, one million Tutsi people were killed by Hutu people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
e. In the Rwandan genocide, the people who had been the victims in Burundi (the Hutu) killed the ethnic group that had killed them (the Tutsi), and these new victims later played a role in the Congo genocide.
f. In all of these deaths, the victims were killed by people from a different ethnic group. Ten million deaths occurred in close proximity.
3. As we consider the current conditions in the world today, it is easy to see that the past and current conditions of African genocide are far greater in severity than those that are being experienced in the USA today, and in any other part of the world. https://www.businessinsider.com/genocides-still-going-on-today-bosnia-2017-11
VII. Additional information on Rev 9:13-21 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Episode 29. The Sin God Hates Rev. 9:13-21
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
VIII. Video Details Of This Article.
A. First video.
1. What happens during the sixth trumpet judgment?
2. John Ankerberg Show.
3. From the series “Revelation: The Last Words of Jesus” featuring very special guests Dr. Ron Rhodes, Dr. Ed Hindson, and, Dr. Mark Hitchcock. To obtain this entire series, please visit https://www.jashow.org/resources/the-…
Article Title: End Times 13, Revelation 9:1-12, Demonic Attacks
I. Preface.
A. Let us remember the purpose for all Scripture, in that all Scriptures, are based on “The Purpose Of God, (Isaiah 46:10).” In our study of the End Times, we consider God’s purposes for Israel, “His Chosen People” (Deuteronomy 14:2). We will begin this article, and each following article, with a Scripture that relates to God’s plans for Israel.
B. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. (The Lord’s promise is not only to deal with the stain of sin, but with the nature from which it springs, per “The Prophecy of Isaiah, J. Alec Motyer.”)
II. Introduction.
A. The opening video tells about the trumpet judgments that accompany the sounding of the fifth and sixth angels. But, in this article, we will consider only the trumpet judgment that comes from the sounding of the fifth angel. We will consider those who will be left behind from the rapture, that will be hurt by demons that appear as locusts. But, the previously sealed 144,000 Jews of Rev 7:3-4, will not be hurt. No one will be killed, but their pain will be so severe that they will attempt suicide, with death not being successful. The locusts are those demons of Noah’s time, Gen 6:1-4 (Nephilim, partly fallen angel, partly human, due to the genetic tampering of the human race by the fall and resulting curse.) Gen 6:8-9, “Noah was blameless.” “Noah’s genetics had not been tampered with.” Neither had the genetics of Noah’s sons and daughters in law been tampered with, in order for the Messiah to be born, which took place through the blood line of Noah’s son, Shem.)
B. The locusts that are seen in Rev 9:3 “come out of the earth” to torment those whom will be left behind during the Tribulation (other than the 144,000 sealed Jews). These fallen angels are being held in the bottomless pit (Rev 9:1-3), since the days of Noah, for the purposes of God, when He releases them through the sound of the fifth trumpet (Rev 9:1). Consider the following scriptures. Paste the following video title in your youtube search window: “Revelation Episode 28. The Reality of Demons. Revelation 9:1-12,” and listen to a video discussion of this subject. The specific teaching on the topic of fallen angels begins at 16:00 and runs through 39:00.
III. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
IV. Text: Revelation 9:1-12.
The Fifth Trumpet—the Bottomless Pit
1 Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. 6 And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.
7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. 10 They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. 11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.
12 The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
V. Comments of Theologians. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary);
A. RSB
1. 9:1 “a star” represents an intelligent creature, apparently “the angel of the abyss” (v 11). Notice the “he” in verse 2. “the bottomless pit.” Lit., the shaft of the abyss. For other uses of this phrase, see Luke 8:31; Rom 10:7; Rev 9:11, 11:7, 17:8, 20:1,3. Luke 8:31 indicates that this is the abode of the demons.
2. 9:3 “locusts.” That these creatures come from the abyss and are described in unusual terms in verses 7-11 indicate that they are demonic.
3. 9:4-5 The limitations that God places upon the activities of these creatures show that He is still in full control of these events. Only the 144,000 will escape the torment on people.
4. 9:6 “Suicide,; though desired, will be impossible.
5. 9:7-10 In describing these creatures John often has to use the word “like.” (my note: “similie”…[“like” and “as”] as opposed to “metaphor.”)
6. 9:10 Two glands in the tail of a scorpion emit a poison that produces a painful, but usually not a lethal wound.
7. 9:11 “Abaddon…Apollyon.” Both words mean “destruction.”
B. MAC
1. 9:1 “a star fallen from heaven.” Unlike the other stars that will have fallen (6:13; 8:8), this one will be an angelic being (cf. v. 2)—probably Satan himself (v. 4; 12:7; see notes on Is. 14:12–14; Luke 10:18). “bottomless pit.” Lit. “pit of the abyss.” Mentioned 7 times in Revelation, it always refers to the prison where some of the demonic hordes are incarcerated, the place of severest torment and isolation (vv. 1, 2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3; see notes on 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6, 7).
2. 9:3 “locusts.” A grasshopper-like insect that descends in swarms so thick they can obscure the sun and strip bare all vegetation. In the 1950s a locust swarm devoured every growing thing for several hundred thousand square miles in the Middle East. These are not normal locusts, however, but specially prepared ones that are merely the outward form of demons, who, like locusts, will bring swarming desolation (see notes on Joel 2:2, 4). “Like” appears 9 times in John’s description; he finds it difficult to describe what he sees in a way the reader can understand. “scorpions.” An arachnid that inhabits warm, dry regions and has an erect tail tipped with a venomous stinger. A scorpion’s victim often rolls on the ground in agony, foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth in pain. The demons in locust form are able to inflict the physical—and perhaps, spiritual—pain like the scorpion (v. 5).
3. 9:4 “men who do not have the seal of God.” Everyone on earth except the two groups mentioned in chap. 7—the 144,000 Jewish evangelists and their converts (see note on 7:4).
4. 9:5 “five months.” The normal life cycle of locusts is 5 months, usually from May to Sep.
5. 9:6 “seek death and will not find it.” The tormented will find no relief. Even their unimaginable attempts to end their misery in suicide will be unsuccessful.
6. 9:7 “faces of men.” Probably a reference to these demonic creatures as rational, intelligent beings.
7. 9:8 “women’s hair.” Jeremiah 51:27 refers to locusts having bristles like hair. “lions’ teeth.” They are fierce, powerful, and deadly (cf. Jer. 51:27).
8. 9:9 “breastplates of iron.” Breastplates were designed to protect the vital organs and sustain the life of the warrior. These creatures are invulnerable.
9. 9:10 “five months.” See note on v. 5.
10. 9:11 Abaddon . . . Apollyon. Although locusts normally have no king (Prov. 30:27), these demonic creatures do. His name in both Heb. and Gr. means “destroyer.” There is a hierarchy of power among the demons, just as among the holy angels. Apparently, “the angel of the bottomless pit” is one of Satan’s most trusted leaders or possibly Satan himself.
11. 9:12 “One woe.” The first of the final 3 trumpets (see note on 8:13).
VI. Consider.
A. As we consider the last battle of the Tribulation period (Rev 16:13-16), let’s consider the nation of India. The Indian Armed Forces are under the management of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Government of India. With strength of over 1.4 million active personnel,[16][17] it is the world’s second-largest military force and has the world’s largest volunteer army.[18] It also has the third-largest defence budget in the world. India may also be a main player in the attack on Israel in the Battle of Armageddon. Consider the paragraphs below that were a part of the previous article. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Armed_Forces#:~:text=The%20Indian%20Armed%20Forces%20are%20under%20the%20management%20of%20the,defence%20budget%20in%20the%20world.{[18] above, adds 800,000 reserve personnel to the 1.4 million active duty personnel.]}
B. There is a teaching that concludes that the events of the Book of Revelation took place at the time of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But, no such records show that one-fourth of the world’s population have been killed, as is stated in Rev 7:8. Neither has there been another world killing of one-third of the world’s population, as is stated in Rev 9:18. The events of the Book of Revelation’s judgments, and the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:17-21), have not yet happened. The events of Revelation, Chapters 6-22, are yet to happen. All of the nations of the world have not been gathered against Jerusalem (Zech 12:3;14:2-3). All of the nations of the world have not been destroyed by Christ (Zech 12:9). Christ has not yet ascended from Heaven and stood on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4), with the result of Him being King over all the earth (Zech 14:9). All of the nations of the Earth have not gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech 14:16). No great armies from the orient have attacked Israel while crossing over a dried up Euphrates River. But, consider China of today, who has a military of 2,035,000 active duty personnel and 510,000 reserve personnel.
C. Based on prophetic scripture, we are not in the Tribulation. Even though there has not been a peace treaty to be made between the antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27), there are many Bible teachers who persist in teaching that we are in the Tribulation. Such false teachings are made based on our current world conditions. But, let’s consider another horrible time in world history, which is the genocide of Central Africa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocides_in_central_Africa
1. In the 20th century, ten million people were murdered in various remote parts of Central Africa. It was not a single genocide but a collection of ethnic wars which raged from Sudan, the Congo, through to Uganda and Rwanda.
2. Details of Central African Genocide.
a. In the southern region of the Sudan, two million people belonging to various Nilotic peoples including Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk were killed by Sudanese Arabs from the North.[1]
b. Roughly five and a half million died in the Congo, mainly during the Second Congo War [2] but also in relatively smaller holocausts such as the Ituri conflict and the mass murder of Pygmies known as “Effacer le tableau”.
c. In Uganda, 300 thousand people were murdered during the regime of Idi Amin[3] and 500 thousand during the rule of his successor, Milton Obote.[4] Amin’s genocides targeted the Acholi and Lango peoples; these two groups went on to kill other groups (mainly the Baganda) under Obote’s regime.[5]
d. In the early 1970s, over 150 thousand Hutu people were killed by Tutsi people in Burundi by order of General Michel Micombero.[6] Twenty years later, one million Tutsi people were killed by Hutu people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.[7]
e. In the Rwandan genocide, the people who had been the victims in Burundi (the Hutu) killed the ethnic group that had killed them (the Tutsi), and these new victims later played a role in the Congo genocide.[8]
f. In all of these deaths, the victims were killed by people from a different ethnic group. Ten million deaths occurred in close proximity.
3. As we consider the current conditions in the world today, it is easy to see that the past and current conditions of African genocide are far greater in severity than those that are being experienced in the USA today, and in any other part of the world. https://www.businessinsider.com/genocides-still-going-on-today-bosnia-2017-11
VII. Additional information on Rev 9:1-12 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Episode 28. The Reality of Demons. Revelation 9:1-12.
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
VIII. Video Details Of This Article.
A. Revelation Chapter 9/Demons/Hell/Woe/Angels/Trumpet.
B. fxswan Last 996 subscribers.
C. Fifth and sixth angels sound their trumpets which are the first and second woes releasing the demons currently held in hell and the four mighty demons bound at the Euphrates all of which torment humans who worship the antichrist and his image, all as described by the apostle John in the Bible at Revelation chapter 9.
Click on the image and see the text. Click on the arrow and see the video; details follow.
I. Introduction.
A. The opening video tells about the seven trumpets, which are judgments that commence after the casting of the censer in Revelation 8:5. Video information relates to all seven of the trumpet judgments, but in this article we will discuss only the first four trumpet judgments. It will be when Christ opens the seventh seal in Rev 8:1, that all seven trumpet judgments are opened by seven angels. Likewise, it will be when the seventh trumpet angel is sounded in Rev 11:15, that the seven bowl judgments are poured out by seven angels, which is described in Rev 15:1-21. In this study, we find three woes (Rev 8:13, 9:12, 11:14, 12:12). Each woe warns of coming judgment (BKC, [8:13] see below, IV). It is important to know that the events that are shown in this video do not relate to born again believers in Christ, whom will not be on earth at the time of the Tribulation, but will be present in Heaven with God.
B. Just as the flood of Noah’s time was not identified as being the wrath of God, it is clear that God’s wrath was upon those who dwelt upon the earth [Gen 6:13; 7:17-23), “Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth]. It is also clear that God’s judgment on “those who dwell on the earth,” (Rev 3:10), will also be “God’s wrath,” (Rev 6:1-19-21). Through the flood, God’s covenant with Abraham was made, who was the descendant of Noah’s son, Shem. (Gen 12:1-3). The covenant blood line of Abraham flows through the blood line of the Jews, through “Israel’s/Jacob’s” son, Judah [Gen 29:35]. It was through Judah’s bloodline that Christ came to be Israel’s Messiah, and the Savior of the World (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 3:30). Through the judgments of the Tribulation, God will draw Israel (Jews) to faith in Christ for salvation (Matthew 23:39; Zechariah 12:9-10) but, they must believe in Christ as Messiah (John 3:16), or face the consequences of their unbelief (John 3:3; John 3:18; Rev 20:15).
C. The severity of God’s judgments is shown in the Seal Judgments where one-fourth of mankind will be killed (Rev 7:8). One-third more of remaining mankind will be killed in the Trumpet Judgments (Rev 9:18). It is important to know that only those who do not know Christ as Lord and Savior will be left behind from the rapture of the church (John 14:2,3,6), and will come under God’s Tribulation judgments . The church is the bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2), whose spirit is as righteous as the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:21), and dwells within the Spirit of Christ (2 Cor 5:17). The Spirit of Christ dwells within the spirit of each born again believer in Christ (Col 1:27); and will be given eternal rewards by Christ (2 Cor 5:10). The risen Christ will escort His raptured bride to the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-8), and to the Presence of God in Heaven where the bride will remain until Christ and His bride return to earth at the end of the Tribulation for the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:14; 19:11-21). No groom, especially Christ, will beat up His bride on the way to the wedding altar. The born again believers in Christ will be removed from the earth at the time of the rapture, so that God can deal with unbelieving Jews, to draw them to saving faith in Christ. There is nothing about the Judgments of the Tribulation than can make any believer of the bride of Christ more holy. But, Jews who call on Christ in belief during the Tribulation will be as spiritually righteous as are the raptured believers in Christ.
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Text: Revelation 8:1-13.
The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets
1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
IV. Comments of Theologians. BKC=The Bible Knowledge Commentary. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RRC=Ryrie Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; SRN=Scofield Reference Notes; WRC= Walvoord Commentary);
A. RSB
1. 8:1 “broke the seventh seal.” With the breaking of the 7th seal comes the 2nd series of judgments-the 7 trumpets. Apparently the judgments announced by the trumpets follow chronologically those of the other seals.
2. 8:4 The “prayers” likely petition God to judge evil and to inaugurate His kingdom quickly. A token judgment follows (v 5).
3. 8:7 Though the implications are staggering, there is no reason not to understand this and the other judgments plainly.
4. 8:8-9 The impact of this judgment on the world economy is beyond imagination.
5. 8:11 “Wormwood.” Many species of wormwood (a woody herb) grow in Palestine, and all have a strong, bitter (but not poisonous) taste, which causes the plant to be used as a symbol of bitterness, sorrow, and calamity. This plague will make a third part of the fresh water supply of the earth unfit for human consumption.
6. 8:12 This could mean that the 24-hour cycle of day and night will be shortened to 16 hours or that the power of the sun, moon, and stars will be reduced by one third.
B. NKJV
1. 8:1 The seventh seal on the scroll (5:1) is opened, finally allowing it to be unrolled. Silence in heaven for about half an hour seems to mark a brief but significant break between the unsealing of the scroll (6:1–8:1) and the trumpet judgments (8:6–11:19). This silence is broken only by a heavenly offering and “the prayers of all the saints” (vv. 3, 4). It is, however, the eerie silence before the storm as all of heaven awaits the coming judgment.
2. 8:2 The judgments of the seven trumpets unfold in a pattern parallel to the unsealing of the seven-sealed scroll (6:1-8:1). This has led some to conclude that both describe the same time period from different angles, but greatly increased severity of the trumpet judgments makes this unlikely. The sounding of a trumpet had more than one significance in the OT. It was used to gather the Lord’s people (see Num. 10:7, 8), to assemble the Lord’s army (see Num. 10:9), to announce a new king (see 1 Kin. 1:34–39), and to proclaim the Year of Jubilee (see Lev. 25:9). In this context, the sounding of trumpets indicates a declaration of war.
3. 8:7 When the first angel sounds the trumpet, a storm of hail, fire, and blood breaks forth. This incredible blend of destruction and horror sounds like a combination of the imagery of the first (see Ex. 7:19, 20) and seventh (see Ex. 9:22–25) plagues of God upon Egypt. A third here could be figurative for widespread, but not yet complete, destruction.
4. 8:8, 9 A great mountain burning suggests a massive island volcano erupting explosively over a far-flung section of ocean waters. The description of the effects on the sea, however, indicates that this is much more than windblown pollution from volcanic ash. The sea becoming blood and the creatures in the sea dying are like an extension of the first plague on the Egyptians, the turning of the waters of the Nile River into blood (see Ex. 7:17–21).
5. 8:10 “Star” here translates the same term used for the angelic star in 9:1 and for Christ as “the Bright and Morning Star” in 22:16. But the precise meaning of each word must be carefully interpreted in its context. Here the star seems to be a huge asteroid that falls from heaven to earth, burning like a torch as it enters the atmosphere. The star could fall on a third of the rivers and … springs by disintegrating as it passes through the earth’s atmosphere. It is also possible that the pollution of the headwaters of a number of the world’s major rivers and underground water sources could rapidly spread to a third of the planet’s waters.
6. 8:11 Wormwood is a plant found in the Middle East, known for its bitter taste. Here and elsewhere (see Lam. 3:19) the term is figurative for bitterness. Normally wormwood is not poisonous, but the plague of the third trumpet involves effects far more potent than the taste of this bitter plant: many men die from the water. Rapid pollution of a third of the world’s drinking water would set off a chaotic crisis.
7. 8:12 Reference to darkening the sun, moon, and stars is reminiscent of the ninth plague upon Egypt (see Ex. 10:21, 22), and of the heavenly disturbances involved in Christ’s description of His second coming (see Matt. 24:29, 30). It is also similar to the phenomena of the sixth seal (6:12). A third of the day did not shine could mean that the sun, moon, and stars will not be seen for several hours of the normal cycle of day and night. But probably what is meant is that the intensity of light during the day and night is reduced by a third because of cosmic and atmospheric disturbances (vv. 7, 8, 10).
8. 8:13 Woe, woe, woe refers to the impact of the three remaining … trumpet judgments on the unbelieving inhabitants of the earth. The first woe is the fifth trumpet (9:12); the second woe is the sixth trumpet (11:14). The third woe is said to be “coming quickly” and may be the same as the seventh trumpet (11:15–19), although that is not stated. If not, the final woe may be focused on Babylon, the great harlot, because of the climactic use of “woe” (translated alas in 18:10, 16, 19).
V. Consider.
A. There is a teaching that concludes that the events of the Book of Revelation took place at the time of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But, no such records show that one-fourth of the world’s population have been killed, as is stated in Rev 7:8. Neither has there been another world killing of one-third of the world’s population, as is stated in Rev 9:18. The events of the Book of Revelation’s judgments, and the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:17-21), have not yet happened. The events of Revelation, Chapters 6-22, are yet to happen. All of the nations of the world have not been gathered against Jerusalem (Zech 12:3;14:2-3). All of the nations of the world have not been destroyed by Christ (Zech 12:9). Christ has not yet ascended from Heaven and stood on the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:4), with the result of Him being King over all the earth (Zech 14:9). All of the nations of the Earth have not gone to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech 14:16). No great armies from the orient have attacked Israel while crossing over a dried up Euphrates River. But, consider China of today, who has a military of 2,035,000 active duty personnel and 510,000 reserve personnel.
B. The events of the judgments of God in the Tribulation show that God will be in control of every seal, trumpet and bowl judgment. It is not by happenstance, or by Satan’s actions, that any judgment will take place. In this 8th chapter of Revelation, we see the preciseness of God’s hand in the judgments. There are four angels sounding four trumpets, which release four trumpet judgments. 8:7: 1/3 of the earth will be burned up, and 1/3 of the trees burned, and all of the green grass burned up. 8:8: 1/3 of the sea will become blood. 8:19: 1/3 of the creatures in the sea will die; and 1/3 of the ships will be destroyed. 8:10: a great star from heaven will fall on 1/3 of the rivers and on the springs and waters. 8:11: 1/3 of the waters will become bitter, and many will die. 8:12: 1/3 of the sun and moon and stars will become darkened (This could mean that the 24-hour cycle of day and night will be shortened to 16 or that the power of the sun, moon, and stars will be reduced by 1/3…RSB).
C. At this time in world history, there are many people who teach that we (the world) are in the Tribulation, due to current world conditions. But, as we can see from the statistics of the Russian Revolution, of a hundred years ago, our present world conditions are minuscule in relation to those which were present in Russia. Undoubtedly, there were those in the Russian Orthodox Church who may have thought that they were in the Tribulation. In today’s world, the difficulties that we are facing are nowhere near the level of atrocities that the Russian people had during their five years of revolution.
1. The Russian Civil War was a multi-party civil war in the former Russian Empire immediately after the two Russian Revolutions of 1917. There were an estimated 7,000,000–12,000,000 casualties during the war, mostly civilians (November 7, 1917 – June 16, 1923). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Civil_War
2. The Russian Orthodox Church (Russian: Русская Православная Церковь) is traditionally said to have been founded by Andrew the Apostle, who is thought to have visited Scythia and Greek colonies along the northern coast of the Black Sea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Russian_Orthodox_Church
D. It is because of such lack of proper Biblical teaching that believers in Christ must study eschatology, in context, and realize that the tribulation relates to unbelieving Israel and has no bearing on born again believers in Christ. A study of Matthew 24, out of context, will not provide an understanding of the “yet to come” judgments of God on “those who dwell on the earth” (Rev 3:10). The Old Testament scriptures can not be omitted from a teaching of the end times, which is yet to come. Consider Joel 2:2.
1. “A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it, To the years of many generations” (Joel 2:2).
2. RSB note: Re: Joel 2:1-11. The locust army is regarded as a foretaste of an invading army in the “day of the Lord,” i.e., in the tribulation period.
3. The invading army of Joel 2:1-11 relates to an attack on Israel, as we have discussed in V.A., above. The books of Old Testament prophecy relate to God’s Word that was given to Jewish prophets, which were given to Jews, about Jewish things. Gentiles will be blessed through Jews (Gen 12:1-3).
4. Based on prophetic scripture, we are not in the Tribulation. Those in the Tribulation will have a fearful view of Christ, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn,” (Matt 24:29). Believers in Christ are not told to look for, or prepare for the antichrist, or anything of the Tribulation. Believers in Christ are told to be “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Titus 2:13), “who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thes 1:10).
VI. Additional information on Rev 8:1-13 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Episode 27. Creator and Judge. Revelation 8:1-13
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
Click on the image and see the text. Click on the arrow and see the video; details follow.
I. Introduction.
A. The opening video is about the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. The importance of things of “Jewishness” will be discussed in this article, as they relate to the time period that immediately follows the Tribulation. The information that is provided in this article is very important to an understanding of the “end times study.” Credentials of the video speakers can be found in I.M. The conclusion to this article has good scriptural information on the current situation of our country, and of the world.
B. In this article there we are still in the pause between the sixth and seventh seal judgments of the Tribulation. In End Times 10, we saw the sealing of 144,000 Jews, who were left behind from the rapture of the church (1 Cor 15:50-54); God will seal these chosen Jews for salvation, service, and personal protection. These Jews will serve as missionaries to the whole world during the tribulation until Christ comes from Heaven with His raptured saints and angels at the Battle of Armageddon (Matt 24:14; 29-31; Zech 14:5; Rev 19:11-21). In this article we will see “a Great multitude,” which will include mainly Gentiles. Because there will be more than 144,000 Jews that will be left behind from the Rapture, and will not be of those that were sealed in Rev 7:4, the Great Multitude will also include Jews. At this time in history, Jews are returning to Israel from all over the world, but in a state of unbelief (in Christ). It will not be until the Battle of Armageddon that these unbelieving Jews (whom will be left behind from the rapture) will call on the Name of Christ “to save them (from annihilation;” Matt 24:22-23; Zech 12:10). (The elect of Matt 24 are Jews, Deu 14:2).
C. It is common-place among non-Jewish teachers to remove the “Jewishness” from the period of time that immediately follows the Tribulation; all too often, the word that is used to identify that time period is “the millennium.” However, the correct name is not “millennium,” but “Kingdom,” or Kingdom Age. Millennium relates to the length of time of the Kingdom age, which will be one thousand years (Rev 20:1-7).
D. In Exodus 19:5-6, God promised the Jews that they would be a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation. It will be at the event of Zech 14:10, that the Jews will accept the offer of being a Kingdom “to God.” In 2 Sam 7:8-16, God describes the government of the Kingdom, which is called the Davidic Kingdom. In Isaiah 2:1-4, God describes the conditions of the Kingdom.
E. The gospel (good news) of the Kingdom (Matt 24:14) is that of, the Abrahamic Covenant (Rev 12:1-3) and of the Davdic Covenant (2 Sam 7:8-16). It was the gospel of the Kingdom that was the subject of the preaching of John the Baptist (Matt 3:2), of Christ (Matt 4:17), of the disciples (Matt 10:7), and of the seventy (Luke 10:1,11). The gospel of the “death, burial and resurrection of Christ” (1 Cor 15:1-8) will also be included in the preaching of the 144,000 Jews; this is because our Lord will be “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev 19:16), and will teach and rule and reign from Jerusalem (Isa 2:1-4) for one thousand years (Rev 20:4), which will be for the duration of the Kingdom Age.
F. In Matt 3:2, John the Baptist tells the Jews that “the Kingdom of Heaven” is at hand, which meant that Israel was being offered the Kingdom at that time; but the Jews would have to accept Christ as Messiah in order for them to receive the Kingdom. In Matt 4:17, Christ repeated the challenge of Matt 3:2, and He went on teach about the Kingdom (expounding on Isa 2:1-4). The prophecy of Isa 7:14, with its fulfillment in Matt 1:23, that Christ is “God with you,” was the factor of acceptance for Israel to enter the Kingdom (“the Kingdom of heaven is at hand”). “Repent” has a lexicon meaning of: 3340. metanoeó. Transliteration: metanoeó. Definition: to change one’s mind or purpose. Usage: I repent, change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent.
G. Because national Israel did not accept Christ as Messiah, Christ removed the promise of the Kingdom from them, ” Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it” (Matt 21:43). If he kingdom of God has been taken from them….the kingdom of God is the sphere of true faith in God …The Lord is saying to these Jews that, because they had rejected Him, they could not enter the kingdom of God, for “except a man be born again, he can not see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). From whom was the kingdom of God taken? It seems clear the “you” refers to the generation to whom the Lord was speaking. To whom would the kingdom be given? By application, “the nation bringing forth the fruits thereof,” may mean any generation which will turn to Christ; but in its strict interpretation it refers to the nation Israel when she shall turn to the Lord and be saved before entering the millennial kingdom. (Things To Come, pp 90-91, J. Dwight Pentecost).
H. The Shepherd in 7:16-17 tells the truth of the Shepherd in the twenty-third Psalm, where He will be the Shepherd. The 23rd Psalm is often used for hospital visits and graveside sermons. But, as we see in today’s life, there are many problems of life that will not go away. However, in the Kingdom Age, every verse of the 23rd Psalm will be fulfilled through the Messiah, Christ. The Jews are the direct object of the psalm, but the peacefulness of the Kingdom age will affect saved Gentiles too.
I. The temple in 7:15 will be the millennial Temple that is promised in Ezekiel 37:26-28, and seen in Ezekiel 40-48. In Ezekiel 10:1, the Glory of God is seen by Ezekiel departing the Temple. In Ezekiel 43:4, the Glory of the Lord is seen entering back into the Temple. It was prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the Temple, in 586 B.C., that Ezekiel had the prophetic vision of the Glory of God departing the Temple. There has been a lot of discussion about a temple being built in Jerusalem, but this “news headline temple” will only be a structure; it will not have the Glory of God dwelling within the temple. The tribulation temple is written in Rev 11:1-2, 13:14-15, and will be built under the authority of the antichrist (Daniel 9:27; 12:11-12), prior to the beginning of the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. The white horse of Rev 6:2 represents the antichrist and is shown in the opening of the tribulation; he goes about deceiving those of whom will be left behind from the rapture, “in a stealth manner” (1 Thes 5:3). The antichrist will enter the tribulation temple and present himself as God (2 Thes 2:4) during the first half of the Tribulation.
J. The tabernacle in 7:15 relates to the Feast of Tabernacles, where God “tabernacled” with the Jews during the forty-years of their wilderness experience. During the wandering of the Jews, God provided all of their needs. During the upcoming Kingdom Age, God will also tabernacle with saved Jews through Messiah/Christ.
K. Prophecy tells of the blessings that God has made for the Jews, and will provide for all of their needs during the Kingdom age. Isaiah 2:1-4 provides a quick look at the peaceful conditions of the Kingdom age. Zech 8:12-13 tells of the blessings that God will provide for the Jews. Zech 10:1-2 and Ezek 34:26 are often sung from Christian songbooks, “Showers of Blessing,” but the verses relate to the blessings that God will provide for saved Jews during the Kingdom age.
L. Jewish festivals will also be observed during the Kingdom age, by Jew and Gentile saved people.
a. Feast of Tabernacles/Booths. Zech 14:16 “Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them.” Feast of Tabernacles historical background can be found in Lev. 23:33–36; Num. 29:12–38; Deut. 16:13–17. “The nations that went against Jerusalem” (Zech 14:16) relates to Gentiles who came to saving faith in Christ before Christ ended the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21).
b. In addition to the Feast of Tabernacles, two other feasts will be celebrated in the Millennium, i.e., 1) Feast of the New Year (Ezek. 45:18–20) and 2) Passover (Ezek. 45:21–25) (MAC).
M. The opening video shows a discussion on the Feast Of Tabernacles. An article that I wrote on this particular feast can provide important information on the subject of this article. The key speakers of the opening video of this article,, and of the first and second videos in the article are Avner Boskey, Michael Brown, and Michael Rydelnik. The credentials of Brown and Rydelnik can be found in my Equipping Site Page, About Sources: https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/about-sources/
The article that I wrote on the Feast of Tabernacles can be seen by clicking on the following link: https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/2019/10/11/israel-feast-of-tabernacles-god-tabernacles-with-his-people/
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Text: Revelation 7:9-17.
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
IV. Comments of Theologians. MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; WRC= Walvoord Commentary); SRN=Scofield Reference Notes.
A. RSB
1. 7.9 “a great multitude.” This multitude is composed of many racial and geographic groups who will be redeemed during the Tribulation (v 14). In these difficult days, many will find Christ as Savior.
B. NKJV
1. 7.9-10 “The great multitude,” in addition to praising God and the Lamb for providing salvation. Palm branches were typically waved by crowds at victory celebrations (see John 12:13).
2. 7.14 This vast multitude has come out of the great tribulation, referring to “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” (3:10). In view of the great loss of life during this time period, martyrdom is most likely the means of their escape. Tribulation was already being experienced by the church in John’s day (see 2:10; Acts 14:22). However, the great tribulation, predicted in Dan. 12:1, will be of an intensity “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21).
3. 7.15 Temple actually refers to the inner sanctuary of the temple rather than the outer courts (11:19).
4. 7.17 (This) recalls Ps. 23. The Lord who is the Shepherd in Ps. 23:1 is equated here with the Lamb. Both King David and the great multitude (v. 9) will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6), with Christ as their shepherd. (my note: The 23rd Psalm is a picture of the kingdom age of the millennium.)
C. MAC
1. 7.1-7.17. 144,000 Jewish evangelists on earth (vv. 1–8) and 2) their converts in heaven (vv. 9–17).
2. 7:9 “a great multitude.” While the tribulation period will be a time of judgment, it will also be a time of unprecedented redemption (cf. v. 14; 6:9–11; 20:4; Is. 11:10; Matt. 24:14). all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. All the earth’s people groups. white robes. See note on 3:4. palm branches. In ancient times, they were associated with celebrations, including the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40; Neh. 8:17; John 12:13).
3. 7:10 “Salvation belongs to our God.” Salvation is the theme of their worship, and they recognize that it comes solely from Him.
4. 7:13 white robes. See note on 3:4. The white garments of all the redeemed (cf. 6:11; 7:9, 13; 19:8, 14) speak of holiness and purity. Such white robes are reserved for Christ (Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:3), holy angels (Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5), and the glorified church (19:8, 14). In the ancient world, white robes were commonly worn at festivals and celebrations.
5. 7:14 the great tribulation. See notes on 3:10; 6:1, 9, 12. These people didn’t go with the raptured church, since they were not yet saved. During the 7-year period they will be saved, martyred. Though it is a time of unparalleled judgment, it is also a time of unparalleled grace in salvation (cf. Matt. 24:12–14). washed their robes. Cf. 19:8. Salvation’s cleansing is in view (see Titus 2:11–14). blood of the Lamb. This refers to the atoning sacrifice of Christ (cf. 1:5; 5:9; Rom. 3:24, 25; 5:9).
6. 7.15 “His temple.” This refers to the heavenly throne of God (see note on 11:19). During the Millennium there will also be a temple on earth—a special holy place where God dwells in a partially restored, but still fallen, universe (see Ezek. 40–48). In the final, eternal state with its new heavens and earth, there is no temple; God Himself, who will fill all, will be its temple (21:22).
7. 7:17 “shepherd.” In a beautiful mix of images, the Lamb has always been the Shepherd (Ps. 23; John 10:14ff.; Heb. 13:20).
D. SRN
1. 7.14a The great tribulation is the period of unexampled trouble predicted in the passages cited under that head from Psalms 2:5 to Revelation 7:14 and described in Revelation 11-18. Involving in a measure the whole earth Revelation 3:10 it is yet distinctly “the time of Jacob’s trouble” Jeremiah 30:7 and its vortex Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It involves the people of God who will have returned to Palestine in unbelief. Its duration is three and a half years, or the last half of the seventieth week of Daniel. (See Scofield “Daniel 9:24”). Revelation 11:2; Revelation 11:3.
2. 7.14b The great tribulation will be, however, a period of salvation. An election out of Israel is seen as sealed for God Revelation 7:4-8 and, with an innumerable multitude of Gentiles Revelation 7:9 are said to have come “out of the great tribulation” Revelation 7:14. The great tribulation is immediately followed by the return of Christ in glory, and the events associated therewith Matthew 24:29; Matthew 24:30.
E. NAC
1. 7.9 Verses 1-8 show the sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel; the remainder of the chapter focuses on those who come from beyond the Jewish community and are yet included as the beneficiaries of the grace of God. In vv 9-12, the focus is on those who come from beyond the Jewish community and are yet included as the beneficiaries. John sees this multitude standing before the throne, in front of the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches. The white robes are understood to be imputed righteousness or holiness. Some have suggested that those white robes represent glorified bodies. The palm branches indicate a festive season of joy and victory, and were often a part of the Feast of Tabernacles. When the Lord made His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem, palm leaves were strewn in the way before Him, as well as waved over Him as He rode into the city.
2. 7.10 The text proceeds to describe God in two ways; first, God is the one who sits on the throne; and second, as the Lamb.
3. 7.11-12. “all the angels that surround the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Here, the angels who are standing around the throne are clearly distinguished from the elders, and perhaps even from the four living creatures. The elders are not angels. The four living creatures quality as angels, though distinct from those standing around the throne. All of these are moved to the worship of God.
4. 7.13-14. The verse does not say how “the great company of Gentiles” exactly have made their exit from the great tribulation. The assumption of martyrdom might be appropriate but is not necessary in every case. The robes represent the spiritual attire of these tribulation saints, but they have been made white through washing in the blood of the lamb. (Mine: some will be martyred, and some will die from other causes.)
5. 7.15-17. Those who have come out of the tribulation find themselves before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in the temple.
V. Conclusion.
A. The Tribulation is shown in Chapters six through nineteen in the Book of Revelation. There are many people who are teaching that, either, the Tribulation is an allegory, or is with us now. I have shown in many scriptures that neither of those considerations are true. More common now is the teaching that we are in the Tribulation now. Such teachers take Matthew 24 out of context, by not connecting it to the Old Testament prophecies that show that the Tribulation relates to Israel, and that the signing of a peace treaty between the antichrist and the Jews will bring in the Tribulation.
B. In view of the current lawlessness that is spreading out through much of the USA and the world, what can we say about its Biblical application? First of all, there is no Biblical prophecy that puts us in the Tribulation. There is, however, a verse of scripture that has applied to many times in world history, and was spoken to Christians by the Apostle Paul, and has no bearing on the Tribulation: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come” (2 Tim 3:1). Concerning the fall, and the resulting curse, Gen 19:1-25 tells of the sin that gripped the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah being “exceedingly grave” (Gen 18:20). The Civil War of the USA had 618,222 deaths. The Spanish Flu of 1918 affected 500 million people, and killed 100 million of them. In World War I there were 20 million deaths and 21 million wounded. World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. An estimated total of 70–85 million people perished, which was about 3% of the 1940 world population. During the Korean War, nearly 5 million people died. In 1978 an estimated 1,353,000 total deaths in North and South Vietnam occurred during the period 1965–1974. The situation that we are experiencing now, as severe as it is, is another product of the fall of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:14-19). It is not sin or catastrophy that will cause God to rapture His people out of this world. But, it will be when a predetermined number of people come to saving faith in Christ, which is called “the fullness of the Gentiles” (Rom 11:25, “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”) As I have written on the timing of the Tribulation, it will follow the rapture of the church, after Israel and the antichrist enter into a peace treaty; such an event has not yet happened; but, it will happen. The “difficult times” that we are experiencing in the world now are miniscule, in relation to the seven years of God’s Tribulation judgments, which will escalate in severity until the Battle of Armageddon occurs; this spiritual battle is won by Christ, being followed by His raptured saints, all whom are coming to earth from Heaven (Rev 19:11-21, Zech 14:1-5).
VI. Additional information on Rev 7:9-17 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Ep. 26 So Great a Salvation. Rev.7:9-17
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
VII. Video Details Of This Article.
A. Messianic Jewish Reflections on the Feast of Tabernacles
Click on the image and see the text. Click on the arrow and see the video; details follow.
I. Introduction.
A. In this article we see a pause between the sixth and seventh seal judgments of the Tribulation. Looking back, we saw the following preceding seal judgments, in order: 1 Antichrist. 2 War. 3 Famine. 4 Death 5. Martyrs’ prayers. 6 Great Earthquakes. We also saw that each seal judgment was released by Christ, the Lamb, on the earth: See Rev 6:1, 6:3, 6:5, 6:7, 6:9, 6:12. Great severity was seen in the fourth seal judgment where one-fourth of the earth’s population died. In the fifth seal judgment we saw the martyrdom of those which were left behind from the rapture, and whom had come to saving faith in Christ. In the sixth seal judgment, we saw great cosmic disturbances.
B. In the opening of this seventh chapter of Revelation we see these words, “after this.” It is at this point in John’s vision, that there is a pause that takes place before the opening of the seventh seal judgment in Rev 8:1. During this pause, John sees the sealing of 144,000 Jews in Rev 7:4-8. The significance of the sealing is that in Rev 14:1 all of the 144,000 Jews that are sealed in Rev 7:1 are still alive; their lives will be sealed from death. These 144,000 Jews are also being sealed for Salvation. In Rev 3:10, we see that the raptured born again believers in Christ will be saved from “the tribulation.” In Rev 14:1, we see that the Jews that were sealed in 7:1 will be sealed and saved “through the tribulation.” The sealing of those that will be raptured (1 Cor 15:50-54) prior to the Tribulation, will take place when they believe in Christ (Eph 1:13); at that time believers are sealed for salvation. Those whom believe in Christ prior to the rapture will be kept “from the hour of testing which will come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on earth,” (Rev 3:10).
C. The opening video shows a discussion of highly acclaimed theologians, Drs. John Ankerberg, Ron Rhodes, Ed Hindson, and Mark Hitchcock. The gentlemen make the point that the 144,000 people that are being sealed are Jews, and that these Jews will preach “the gospel of the Kingdom” (Matt 24:14), throughout the world, at which time the end of the Tribulation will come. Credentials for each of these men are shown in the following link: https://equippingblog.wordpress.com/about-sources/
D. The gospel (good news) of the Kingdom is that of, the Abrahamic Covenant (Rev 12:1-3) and of the Davdic Covenant (2 Sam 7:8-16); it is also of the preaching of John the Baptist (Matt 3:2), of Christ (Matt 4:17), of the disciples (Matt 10:7), and of the seventy (Luke 10:1,11). The gospel of the “death, burial and resurrection of Christ” (1 Cor 15:1-8) will also be included in the preaching of the 144,000 Jews, as our Lord will be “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev 19:16), and will teach and rule and reign from Jerusalem (Isa 2:1-4) for one thousand years (Rev 20:4), which will be for the duration of the Kingdom Age.
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Text: Revelation 7:1-8.
An Interlude
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”
The 144,000
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6 from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7 from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
IV. Comments. (MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; NKJV= New King James Study Bible; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; WRC= Walvoord Commentary).
A. (WRC)
The question has often been asked, “Will anyone be saved after the rapture?” The Scriptures clearly indicate that a great multitude of both Jews and Gentiles will trust in the Lord after the church is caught up to glory. Though the children of God living on earth at the time will be translated when Christ comes for His church, immediately a testimony will be raised up to the name of Christ through new converts among Jews and Gentiles. Though these are never described by the term “church,” they are constantly called saints, that is, those set apart as holy to God and saved through the sacrifice of Christ. https://bible.org/seriespage/7-saints-great-tribulation
B. (NAC)
1. 7:1 The interlude of chap 7 begins with the apocalypticist observing the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth engaged in physically restraining four winds, preventing the wind from blowing on the land, sea, or trees.
C. (MSB)
1. 7.2 “seal of the living God.” “Seal” often refers to a signet ring used to press its image into wax melted on a document. The resulting imprint implied authenticity and ownership, and protected the contents (cf. 9:4; Ezek. 9:3, 4). In this case, the mark is the name of God (14:1).
2. 7:4 “One hundred and forty-four thousand.” A missionary corps of redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during the Tribulation (vv. 9–17). They will be the firstfruits of a new redeemed Israel (v. 4; Zech. 12:10). Finally, Israel will be the witness nation she refused to be in the OT (see notes on Rom. 11:25–27). “all the tribes of the children of Israel.” By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.
D. (RSB)
1. 7:3 These judgments are delayed until these 144,000 Jewish people can be “sealed;” i.e., protected supernaturally.
2. 7:4 “one hundred and forty-four thousand.” These are Jews from the 12 tribes (12,000 each) who are protected in order to perform some service for God during these days. Perhaps they are evangelists. The omission of the tribe of Dan may be because Dan was guilty of idolatry on many occasions (Lev 24:11; Judg 18:1; 1 Kings 12:28, 29).
V. Conclusion.
1. God has given us a timeline of events that will occur based on His sovereign purposes. The Tribulation is one of those sovereign events that will occur within God’s plan for the ages. God does not wait for anyone’s thoughts, decisions, or actions to affirm, or negate, His sovereign will. God’s calling, for God’s purpose, is clearly seen throughout God’s Holy Word.
a. Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
b. Daniel 9:27, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
(1) (Mine) This week is a period of seven years, as opposed to a week of seven days. God’s details can not be overlooked, as they relate to God’s purpose. The seven years of Tribulation can not be lessened, or lengthened; neither can the Tribulation be spiritualized., nor negated.
(2) (MSB) These 7 years constitute the 70th week of Daniel. “middle of the week.” This is the halfway point of the 70th week of years, i.e., 7 years leading to Christ’s second coming. The Antichrist will break his covenant with Israel (v. 27a), which has resumed its ancient sacrificial system. Three and a half years of tribulation remain, agreeing with the time in other Scriptures (7:25; Rev. 11:2, 3; 12:14; 13:5, called “Great Tribulation,” cf. Matt. 24:21) as God’s wrath intensifies.
2. Consider the following examples of God’s sovereign will for individuals that He has chosen to be instruments of fulfilling His will.
a. Gen 12;1-3. God chose Abraham for salvation and service. Abraham was not seeking God. Abraham was an idol worshiper (Josh 24:2).
b. Jer 1:5. God chose Jeremiah for salvation and service before he was born.
c. Matt 10:1-4. God chose 12 disciples for service; he chose 11 for salvation. (Judas betrayed Christ 10:4).
d. Rom 1:15. God chose Saul (Paul) for salvation and service before he was born.
e. Deu 14:2. God chose national Israel, above all other nations, to be His own possession (God’s chosen people).
f. God will choose 144,000 Jews, whom will be left behind from the rapture, to be sealed for salvation and service.
VI. Additional information on Rev 7:1-8 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Ep. 25 Gods Faithfulness. Revelation 7:1-8
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
VII. Video Details Of This Article.
A. Who are the 144,000, and what power has God given to them?
Click on the image and see the text. Click on the arrow and see the video.
I. Introduction.
A. In this article we will discuss the fifth and sixth seal judgments that “the Lamb, “Christ,” unleashes upon the earth (vv 7, 9). It is important to remember that Christ is responsible for these judgments being poured out on the unbelievers that are left behind from the rapture. Christ is no longer seen as the “Lamb of God;” per John 1:29, ““Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Christ has become “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” per Rev 5:5, “behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
B. The opening video shows people whom were left behind from the rapture, and have come to saving faith in Christ. These tribulation saints are seen being martyred at the hands of the forces of the antichrist. The “2012” at the end of the video is irrelevant.
1. In the video we see the superimposed words of Matthew 24:13, as follows: “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” [Consider the MSB note on vs 13: endures to the end . . . be saved. Cf. 10:22. The ones who persevere are the same ones who are saved. This does not suggest that our perseverance secures our salvation. Scripture everywhere teaches precisely the opposite: God, as part of His saving work, secures our perseverance.]. The words of Matthew 24 were spoken by Christ to Jews about the conditions that will confront Jews during the Tribulation through the forces of the antichrist; these will be Jews that will be left behind from the rapture. The persecution of the antichrist will also come against Gentiles who are left behind and come to saving faith in Christ.
2. Daniel 9:27 tells us that the antichrist will make a treaty with Israel, which marks the beginning of the Tribulation. Midway through the seven-year Tribulation the antichrist will break that covenant, which will be the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 12:7-17 tells us about the resulting attack that Satan makes on Israel. Revelation 12:6 tells us that Israel will flee from the forces of the antichrist for three and a half years, which will be until the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 19:11-21). In Matthew 24:15-20 Christ tells about the Jews fleeing from the antichrist during the Tribulation, which corresponds to Rev 12:6. The reason for the contents of this paragraph is to show that Jews, in total, will be the target of the antichrist throughout all of the Tribulation. The events of the opening video, and Matthew 24:13, relate to all Jews whom are left behind from the rapture, regardless of whether those Jews have will have accepted Christ as Messiah, or not.
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Text: Revelation 6:9-17.
The Fifth Seal—Martyrs
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
The Sixth Seal—Terror
12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
IV. Comments. (MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; NAC = New American Commentary; RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; WRC= Walvoord Commentary).
A. 6:9-11 (NAC)
1. “the souls of those who had been slain.” These are the souls of those who have been slain because of their testimony to Christ, and because of their adherence to the word of God remain in a disembodied state, until all of the saints who are to be killed in the Tribulation have completed their destiny.
2. ““How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” They are asking how long before all of these things will be completed.
3. “there was given to each of them a white robe.” The white robe assigned each of these martyr-spirits as a pledge of future and final glory, and a consoling proof that no judgment awaited them.
B. 12-17. (MSB)
1. 6:12. sixth seal. The force described in this seal is overpowering fear (cf. Luke 21:26). While the first 5 seals will result from human activity that God used to accomplish His purposes, at this point He begins direct intervention (cf. Matt. 24:29; Luke 21:25). The previous 5 seals will be precursors to the full fury of the day of the Lord which will begin with the sixth seal (v. 17). The events described in this seal unleash the seventh, which contains the trumpet judgments (chaps. 8, 9; 11:15ff.) and the bowl judgments (chap. 16). “great earthquake.” There have been many earthquakes prior to this (Matt. 24:7), but this will be more than an earthquake. All the earth’s faults will begin to fracture simultaneously, resulting in a cataclysmic, global earthquake. “moon became like blood.” Accompanying the earthquake will be numerous volcanic eruptions; and large amounts of ash and debris will be blown into the earth’s atmosphere, blackening the sun and giving the moon a blood-red hue (cf. Zech. 14:6, 7).
2. 6:13. “stars of heaven fell.” The word “stars” can refer to any celestial body, large or small, and is not limited to normal English usage. The best explanation is a massive asteroid or meteor shower. “late figs.” Winter figs that grow without the protection of leaves and are easily blown from the tree.
3. 6:14. “sky receded as a scroll.” The earth’s atmosphere will be somehow dramatically affected and the sky as we know it disappears (cf. Is. 34:4). “every mountain and island was moved.” Under the stress created by the global earthquake, great segments of the earth’s plates will begin to slip and shift, realigning whole continents.
4. 6:16. “wrath of the Lamb.” Earth’s inhabitants will recognize for the first time the source of all their trouble (see note on 9:6). Incredibly, prior to this they will be living life as usual (Matt. 24:37–39).
5. 6:17. “great day.” The sixth seal will commence what the prophets call “the Day of the Lord.”
C. (RSB).
1. 6:11. “rest for a little while longer.” I.e., wait a little while. It is difficult for these martyrs to understand why God would allow their murderers to live; yet, God asks these saints to trust Him.
2. 6:12. These cosmic disturbances are predicted elsewhere in scripture (Isa 34:4; Joel 2:30-31; Matt 24:29).
3. 6:16. When the Tribulation comes, men will act as if they believe the end of the world is at hand, not simply talk as if it were.
D. (WRC).
6:17. “Who shall be able to stand?” The answer is obvious: Only those who avail themselves of the grace of God, even though they suffer a martyr’s death in this future tragic period. This is brought out in the next chapter. The given revelation emphasizes the importance of partaking of the grace of God in this present age with the bright prospect of the Lord coming for His own.
V. Conclusion.
A. It is important to know that all of the individuals that are mentioned in the Tribulation are Jew and Gentile unbelievers whom were left behind from the rapture of the church (John 14:2,3,6; 1 Cor 15:50-54; 1 Thes 4:13-18). As I have mentioned in previous articles, the purpose of the Tribulation is to draw unbelieving Israel to saving faith in Christ. Unbelieving Gentiles will be blessed by the judgments that are being poured out on the Jews, and Gentiles. Without the tribulation, all unbelievers would have an appointment with Rev 20:15. It will be through the judgments of the Tribulation that unbelieving Jews and Gentiles will bypass the Great White Throne Judgment (for unbelievers) of Rev 20:15, and proceed to the Eternal State of the new heavens, new earth and new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-3), where they will spend eternity with God. However, those whom come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation will most likely be martyred by the forces of the antichrist.
B. In Genesis Chapters 1 and 2, we see perfection in the creation of God. Whether it was human, animal or natural, there was no flaw present. “There was not a tear to be shed. Neither was there death or mourning or crying or pain,” as will be the condition of the eternal state (Rev 21:4). There were no natural phenomena of disasters; alligators didn’t eat little dogs. But, the perfection that we see in the opening two chapters of Genesis ended with the sin of Adam and Eve. The resulting curse brought about death and flaw, in human, animal and natural. During the Tribulation we see the result of the curse being used by God to draw unbelieving mankind back to the fellowship that was present between God and mankind in the Genesis account of creation, before the onset of the fall and curse. As we view the world now, and later in the Tribulation, we can see that the flawed world “of human, animal and natural,” is not what God had planned for His creation. All of the perfection of Genesis Chapters 1-2 is gone. Such perfection will be present in a limited capacity during the Kingdom Age of the millennial reign of Christ, but will be just as perfect in the Eternal State, as it was in the creation of God (Revelation 21:5, ” “Behold, I am making all things new.”).
VI. Additional information on Rev 6:9-17 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Episode 24. God’s Perfect Timing. Revelation 6:9-17
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s teachings provide provide a great deal of understanding of the Bible.
Click on the image and see the text. Click on the arrow and see the video.
I. Introduction.
A. As we move into this sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation, we will consider significant things that are often overlooked. We will look into the reason that there will be a time of Tribulation which will come upon everyone whom will be present on the earth. We will look at the reason for there to be such an emphasis that God has placed upon Israel, as it relates to the Tribulation and the following Kingdom Age of the Millennial reign of Christ. We will also discuss whether any person or nation on earth will be the cause of the Tribulation. A discussion will also ensue that will examine the “who and who not” equation of those whom will be left on earth from the Rapture to dwell upon the earth while the Tribulation will be taking place. In future articles we will examine which groups of people will be present on earth, spiritually and mortally, during the the Kingdom Age and the following eternal state of the new heavens, new earth and new Jerusalem.
B. The opening video is very descriptive of things that will happen during the seal judgments of the Tribulation. The fact of the judgments being caused by Godly actions are severe. Some may wonder why God would be causing so much pain and suffering for “all whom dwell upon the earth;” we will learn of the reason for such Divine acts. We will also learn that it will be God, and only God, Who will be responsible for everything that will happen during the Tribulation. We will learn that the rapture of the church is based on God’s timing, and will have nothing to do with “any action” of mankind, whether individually or as a group. We will also learn that the relationship between God and Israel is the reason, and only reason, for the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Kingdom Age, and the Eternal State. We will learn why the word “mystery,” is key in this study of the end times, and why the key which unlocks the truth of the end times is “God’s love or Israel.” All of these issues will not be addressed in this article. However, a thorough study of each of these God-ordained factors will be addressed as we continue our study of the end times.
II. Translation Considerations. “The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation was chosen for this, and other studies, because of two main reasons. First, the NASB capitalizes the first letter of pronouns that relate to God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); not all Bible translations show that same respect for God. Second, the NASB has a history of correctness in translation.”
III. Text: Revelation 6:1-8.
The First Seal—Rider on White Horse
1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
The Second Seal—War
3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
The Third Seal—Famine
5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
The Fourth Seal—Death
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
IV. Comments. (RSB=Ryrie Study Bible; MSB=MacArthur Study Bible; SSB=Scofield Study Bible).
A. 6:1–19:21 This lengthy section details the judgments and events of the time of tribulation from its beginning with the opening of the first seal (vv. 1, 2) through the 7 “seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments” to the return of Christ to destroy the ungodly (19:11–21). (MSB)
B. 6:1 Here begins the first of three series of judgments in the book (seals, chap 6; trumpets, chaps 8-9; bowls, chap 16). The three series are consecutive, each succeeding one following the preceding one. (RSB)
C. 6.2 “he who sat on it.” Evidently a reference to the anti-Christ. His method of conquest at first does not seem to include warfare, since peace is not removed from the earth until the second seal is opened (v.e). This corresponds to the description of delusion in 1 Thes 5:3, [While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.”] (RSB)
D. 6:3-4 Everything about the second seal judgments bloodshed (e.g., “red horse, take peace from, sword.”) (RSB)
E. 6:5 “black horse.” Black signifies famine (cf. Lam. 5:8–10). Worldwide war will destroy the food supply which spawns global hunger. “pair of scales.” The common measuring device—two small trays hung from each end of a balance beam—indicates that the scarcity of food will lead to rationing and food lines. (MSB)
F. 6:6 “quart of wheat.” The approximate amount necessary to sustain one person for one day. “denarius.” One day’s normal wage. One day’s work will provide enough food for only one person. “three quarts of barley.” Usually fed to animals, this grain was low in nutrients and cheaper than wheat. A day’s wage provides enough for only a small family’s daily supply. “oil and the wine.” Although the point could be that these foods will not be affected by the famine, a more straightforward meaning is that bare staples—oil was used in the preparation of bread, and wine was considered necessary for cooking and purifying water—suddenly will become luxuries that have to be carefully protected.(MSB)
G. 6:6 A daily wage will buy food for only one person, who will have to share with his family. (RSB)
H. 6:8 “pale horse.” “Pale,” the Gr. word from which the Eng. word “chlorophyll” comes, describes the pale, ashen-green, pallor characteristic of the decomposition of a corpse. God grants this horseman the authority to bring death to 25 percent of the world’s population. “Hades.” See note on Luke 16:23. The place of the dead, which is identified as a common and fitting partner for death (20:13; see note on 1:18).
I. 6:8 “ashen” = a sickly, yellowish-green. Probably representing the inevitable result of disease that accompanies war and famine. “Death” claims the bodies, and “Hades” the souls and spirits of one-fourth of the world’s population in this single judgment.
J. Notice that each of these first four of the seal judgments are brought about by Christ (v.1,3,5,7), and not by Satan or the anti-Christ. Anyone who brings about any kind of persecution or judgment in the Tribulation is used as a tool of God for God’s purposes.
K. In 16:1, the bowl judgments begin. The words, “the seven bowls of the wrath of God,” are taught by some to indicate a pre-wrath rapture. Such a late catching up of believers in Christ would have those who accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, prior to the Tribulation, to remain on earth during each of the seal and trumpet judgments, then be raptured to Heaven. But, as Andy says in his sermon, Christ is not going to beat up on His bride “on the way to the Marriage.” Also, as Andy Woods states in his referenced sermon of this article, all of the judgments (seal, trumpet, bowl), are God’s wrath. As I have stated many times in my previous articles, “there is no reason for the church to go through the Tribulation, which was designed to bring Israel to saving faith in Christ ( Mt 23:39, Zech 12:10). If the church were to be left behind from the rapture, none of the judgments could make the saints (whom are as spiritually pure as Christ) to become any more righteous by being subjected to the judgments that God will cause to be poured out on a world of unbelievers (cf. 3:10).
L. In order to understand the Tribulation, it is important to understand the two key parties, whom are the anti-Christ and Israel. For most Christians, John 3:16 is supreme, and the end of the road. But, when we view God’s plan for the ages in its completeness, there are other key verses that tell of such Divine design, and completion.
M. Matthew 3:2 offered the promise of the Kingdom to Israel. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Conditions of the Kingdom were taught in Isaiah 65:25. 698 B.C. (SSB). Notice that peace will reign in Israel during the Kingdom. “The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.”
N. Christ taught the Jews about the Kingdom; He went to the Jews: (John 1:11) “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” If the Jews had accepted Christ as Messiah, they would have gone immediately into the Kingdom Age of the Millennial reign of Christ…..and….. we wouldn’t be here today.
O. The message of Christ to the Jews dealt with the Kingdom. The Kingdom, in relation to national Israel, was given in the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. But, in order for any Jew to be able to enter the Kingdom, “they must have been born again;” they must be spiritually cleansed by God’s Holy Spirit. 1. See the following prophecy (Ez 36:24-29) from 587 B.C.(Scofield Study Bible). 2. John 3:3-5 is taught by many as being a requirement for Christian baptism. But, in verses 5-8, Christ explains that the new birth is a spiritual act of God, which is similar to Ez 36:24-29. The teachings of Ezekiel 36 and John 3 were addressed to the Jews about personal entry into the Kingdom age. The church didn’t even exist in either times of those teachings. 3. Paul also addressed the new birth in 2 Cor 5:17, in regard to Spiritual regeneration. Paul’s teaching deals with the Kingdom age of the Millennial reign of Christ, which will follow the Rapture and Tribulation. 4. It is important to know that the new birth guarantees those whom have been born again, an eternity with Christ in the Eternal State (Rev 21:1-3).
1. Ezekiel 36:24-29
24 For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. 28 You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. 29 Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.
2. John 3:3.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
3. 2 Cor 5:17.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
4. Rev 21:1.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
P. Consider the following verses that relate to Christ’s teachings about the Kingdom.
Matt 4:17, From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matt 4:23, Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…”
Q. In the sermon on the mount (Matt 5-7; Luke 6:20-49), Christ’s teachings (to Jews) were about the Kingdom age.
R. There was no prophecy of the church in the Old Testament. When the church was first mentioned in the New Testament, per Eph 5:32 “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church,” it was discussed as a mystery because the church had not been mentioned by the Old Testament prophets. [Rom 11:25 note: “In scripture, a mystery is not a truth difficult to understand, but a truth previously unrevealed (and therefore unknown), which is not publicly proclaimed.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament.]
S. Going back to John 1:11, it was Christ’s mission to tell the Jews about the good news of the Kingdom (the Gospel of the Kingdom). In John Chap 4, Christ engages a Samaritan woman in conversation, and identifies Himself to her as being the Messiah (John 4:25-26), but does not discuss the Kingdom. Samaritans were the northern ten tribes that broke from the southern Kingdom in 931 B.C. (1 Kings 12:25); they were conquered by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. (2 Kings 17:6). The people of the northern tribes were taken from their land and carried them away into Assyria. The Assyrians moved non Jews into the vacated Jewish lands. When thode displaced Jews began to return to their former lands, they intermarried with the pagans who took the Jews’ lands. Therefore, the more pure Jews of the southern Kingdom had great disdain for their northern “half breed” Jewish relatives. (Everybody remembers the story of “the good Samaritan” (Luke 10:25-37).
T. In John 12:20-26, Greeks who were attracted to Judaism, and worshiped in their synagogues, and attended Feasts but were not proselytes, asked to see Jesus; but He denied their request.
U. The Jews had been taught about the Abrahamic covenant’s promise of a promised land, which will extend from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Iraq (Gen 15:18-21). They had also been taught about the Davidic covenant, where the Messiah would rule and reign in the Kingdom from Jerusalem (2 Sam 7:12-16). The Jews had been taught about the conditions of the Kingdom (Isa 2:1-4). Christ taught the Jews about the Kingdom on the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7, Luke 6:20-49).
V. The Jews were fully expecting a Kingdom of Jews, that would be ruled by a Messiah, also a Jew. But, in Matt Chap 8:11, they were probably astonished when Christ, being all-knowing said to them, “I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” Christ knew that the Jews would reject Him as Messiah, and that Gentiles would accept Him as Messiah. (Ryrie note: Gentiles will be included in the blessings of the millennial reign of Christ on this earth.)
W. Despite the prophecies of the Messiah, and the personal teachings of Christ, we see His being rejected by Israel in Matt 21:1-23:39. The words of Christ to the Pharisees were very pointed:
1. 21:43: “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.”
Ryrie note. “taken away from you and given to a people, i.e., taken from the Jews and given to the church, which is composed largely of Gentiles (1 Pet 2:9).
2. 23:39, For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
Ryrie note. “from now on you will not see Me. I.e., I will no longer teach publicly. “until you say.” At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize and welcome their rejected Messiah (Zech 12:10).
X. Throughout Christ’s time with the Jews, His message to them was based on Old Testament prophecies. He should have been known by the Jews as, “God with you,” (Isa 7:14, Matt 1:23).
1. Micah 5:2. born in Bethlehem. Fulfilled in Matt 2:5-6. John 7:42.
2. Isaiah 7:14. born of a virgin. Fulfilled in Matt 1:23.
3. Psalm 118:22-23. rejected by His people. Fulfilled in Matt 21:42-43.
4. Isaiah 53:5. died for Israel’s spiritual healing. spoken to Israel (Isa 1:1), “our” “our” “our” (53:5). Fulfilled in Zech 12:10.
5. Isaiah 53:12. suffered for Israel, and for Gentiles through the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:3).” Fulfilled in Matt 27:38. Mark 15:2. Luke 23:32-33.
6. Isaiah 35:5-6. performed miracles. Fulfilled in John 11:47. Luke 7:21.
7. John 14:9. a direct statement to Jews of Christ’s deity. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
Y. It is important to keep in mind that the Old Testament of the Bible, which includes the four Gospels and Acts 1, relates to Israel. The New Testament has not pushed God’s chosen people aside (Deu 14:2; Rom 11:1, 29). Gentiles will be blessed through the Jews (Gen 12:3). 80% of the Bible is OT, and covers 4000 years; 20% is NT, and covers about 62 years. I used a page count from my 1977 NASB, which has few notes on each page, to determine the percentages of OT vs NT. This is not to say that we are under the Law. If you will read the sermon on the mount you will see OT teachings. With that in mind, consider whether you believe that we are held to Luke 6:30, “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.” Here is food for thought. Consider going to a John Deere dealership and demanding a tractor, based on Luke 6:30.
V. Conclusion.
A. We opened this discussion of Matt 3:2, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” From that point forward, if the Jews had accepted Christ as Messiah, Israel would have gone into the Kingdom Age. The scriptures show that Gentiles had noting to do with Israel accepting, or rejecting, Israel’s gift of the Kingdom; it was all about Christ and the Jews.
B. When Israel rejected the gift of the Kingdom, the door became open for Gentiles to “also” inherit the Kingdom, which will come from a combination of: (1) the rapture/resurrection and, (2) the return to earth with Christ after the Tribulation, which Christ discussed in Matt 24:3-31.
C. Because the Kingdom has been set aside for the Jews (Matt 21:43), the Tribulation will be used by God to draw Jews to saving faith in Christ (Matt 23:39), at which time the Jews will enter the Kingdom and will be governed by Christ (Zech 12:10, 13:9, 14:9, 2 Sam 7:10, 16).
D. The Tribulation is seen in a capsule view in Matthew 24. The expanded view of the Tribulation is seen in Revelation 6-19. The Millennium/Kingdom Age, is seen in Revelation 20, Zechariah 14:8-21, and other Old Testament scriptures.
VI. Information on Rev 6:1-8 can be found in a sermon of Dr. Andy Woods (Th.M., J.D., Ph.D.).
A. See YouTube: Revelation Episode 23 – Our Deepest Longing. Revelation 6:1-8
B. Dr. Andy Woods has a law degree from Whittier College and a PhD in Bible Exposition from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was a Full-Professor of Bible and Theology at the College Biblical Studies in Houston, TX (2009-2016). He is currently the President of Chafer Theological Seminary and Pastor of Sugar Land Bible Church. Andy also speaks on a variety of topics at Christian Conferences worldwide. Credentials of Dr. Woods can be found on my Equipping Site Page, “About Sources.” I encourage everyone to purchase Andy’s book, “The Coming Kingdom (Andrew M. Woods). Andy’s videos provide provide a great understanding of the Bible, as they have given me many fresh thoughts that have entered into articles that I have written.
Eternity 