Revelation

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apokaluqiv ihsou cristou The Revelation of Jesus Christ by Stephen Simpson

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Outline I The Things which Thou hast Seen  Rev 1:1­19 II The Things Which Are Rev 1:20­3:22   A) Ephesus   B) Smyrna   C) Pergamos   D) Thyatira   E) Sardis   F) Philadelphia   G) Laodicea III  The Things Which must Be Hereafter 4:1­ 22:5   A) Rapture of the Saints Rev 6:1­6

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    1) 1st Seal     2) 2nd Seal     3) 3rd Seal   B) Reign of AntiChrist     1) 5th Seal     2) 6th Seal                                                                                                                                                 Chapter 7 Parenthetical                                  Sealing of 144,000/Vision of Tribulation Saints 7:1­17     3) 7th Seal Rev 8:1  God’s restraining hand removed from  Earth (7 trumps)        a)1st Trump        b)2nd Trump        c)3rd Trump        d)4th Trump        e)5th Trump  ­1st Woe Rev 9:1­12          Bottomless pit opened          Stinging Demons released        f)6th Trump ­ 2nd Woe begins  Rev 9:13­21          Demons Released         Chapter 10:1­11:12­ Parenthetical 2 Witnessess 11:3­12          2nd Woe ends­          Great Earthquake in Jerusalem 11:13­14        g)7th Trump ­ (7 vials of wrath)                                 Praise to God Rev 11:15­19 

Chapters 12­14 ­Parenthetical                                                  History of Satans War Against God 12:1­17                                          History of the Tribulation Anti Christ Chapter 13                     Angelic Prophecies, Harvests, Gospel Preached to All Chapter 14          Martyred saints are in heaven/ praise of God  Rev 15

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         3rd woe begins                  Seven Bowl Judgements  Rev 16:1­ 21                   1st vial­sores                   2nd vial­ sea of blood                   3rd vial ­rivers of blood                  4th vial ­scorching of sun                  5th vial­ darkness                  6th vial gathering at armageddon                  7th vial Hail/ earth quake/ fall of Babylon

                                                         Chapters 17&18­ Parenthetical                                      Review of Babylon’s Rise and Fall Chapters 17 &18      C) Reign of God Rev 19:1­22     1) Christ’s Return 19:1­10     2) Battle of Armageddon 19:11­21     3) Millenial Reign of Christ 20:1­15        a) Reign Rev 20:1­7        b) End of reign 20:8­10        c) Final judgement 20:11­15     4) New Jerusalem 21:1­22:5     5)Conclusion 22:5­21

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Chapter 1 7

Revelation Chapter 1 Verse 1 Bondage and Liberty in one Man “The Revelation of the anointed Jesus”, the sum of history in this first sentence! The final “Revelation “or, “un-veiling” of Christ that John writes of was known of by other disciples. It was laid open to Daniel and he was told, “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.” Saul of Tarsus, after being accosted on the road to Damascus and not having been taught “Christian” doctrine by men, was also given this final revelation, or full manifestation of Christ’s kingdom as reflected in his words to the church in Galatia, ”But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.” Christ searches for those whom he can lay himself bare to. He does not desire to show himself to those who seek him at church, or who learn more by reading books on his attributes. He explained to his disciples that mere knowledge of him does not equate to knowing him when he warned,” Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in you name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you.” Christ dwells in those who seek and worship him, but not with those who worship Christianity The finished work of Christ, which has allowed God’s Spirit to dwell in the saint, has also restored the authority to carry out God’s original command to man (Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it,), delivering all creation from the bondage of the first Adam referred to in Paul’s letter to Rome, ”The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also

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glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God”. The full consummation of creation’s deliverance will not occur, however, until Christ’s final reign. Just as one man caused bondage over all, one ordained liberation: “by the offence of one (Adam) upon all men came condemnation; likewise, by the righteousness of one (Jesus) came upon all men justification of life. Since by one man's disobedience many were ordained devoted to sin, so by the obedience of one shall many be ordained righteous” (Romans 5:18-19) Revelation or Wrath? The word translated as “revelation” is one we are familiar with: apokaluqiv-(apokalupsis), - “the apocalypse”, which our media culture markets as a time of sensational destruction. For the Christian, however, it should sound a note of expectancy and joy, as the word is better defined as “an unveiling” or “laying bare” something that was previously hidden. For example, Simeon uses apokaluqiv in Luke 2 when the infant Christ is presented to the Lord in Jerusalem. Recognizing the Messiah Simeon proclaims, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel”. In Romans 8 Paul teaches, ”I reckon that the sufferings of this present time have no weight towards the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of creation looks for the manifestation of the sons of God.”    Several weeks ago there was a month long conflict between Israel and Lebanon.  While I gave it some attention, I had no fear because for as long as I can remember, every couple of years this same conflict erupts again. At worst, if this was the end, Christ was soon coming to take me. At the same time, however, I took phone calls from those close to me, who profess to be Christians, but are paralyzed by the fear that this was literally the beginning of World War III. Further fueling the hysteria, a national preacher was preaching a message that this same crisis was the sign of the end, a prophetic word I have heard at least 3-4 times over the past 6-7 years at the onslaught of each new Middle East battle.

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     Unfortunately, the fears of the world dictate to church culture this very misunderstanding of the book of Revelation. Christ’s true bride enthusiastically looks towards the intimate consummation prophesied in this book while the “Chicken Little’s” of Christian culture feed carnality and sensationalism, seeing every conflict in the Middle-East as Armageddon incarnate. God’s Word- The Two Edged Sword Romans 13 compares the opposite reactions of the carnal Christian and the true disciple when each is exposed to the word of God, ”For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.” Is it any wonder that mankind, whether they know Christ or not, has a reaction to end time events? Man has instincts and his unrehearsed reaction is a sign as to which side of the line his soul has chosen, even if it be unknowingly. The citizen of a mighty king comforts in that king’s sword as his refuge, safety, and protection; he claims deep affection for his dread sovereign. A rebel or traitor of that same majesty, however, trembles that the same weapon may be the very instrument of his judgment if he is found out. To one the sword is security, to the other it is judgment. The differences between our earthly magistrates and God’s divine reign are vast however. On earth one may fool the king and temporarily have the sovereign’s sword for protection as the three traitors did in Shakespeare’s Henry V. Under divine majesty, however, all was known to the King before creation began- the one who does not know Christ, yet claims, “Jehovahnissi- the Lord is my Banner” will suffer the same fate as Amalek.  The very springs of God waiting to surface through his indwelling Spirit are stagnating underground because the world’s fear of judgment influences the church. This should not be so. The impending joy and consummation that will be ushered in for Christ’s disciples should be moving outward and changing the world. The final “un-veiling” and “revelation” of our Lord will affect eternity, and our souls will live in

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joy unspeakable! We jump, yell and stomp when our team makes it to the playoffs, yet temper the joy over our infinite future. We marvel at athletic skill while yawning at Jehovah Shalom. The only valid reason for our lack of zeal regarding the glory of the end times is fear of our own conviction and a genuine un-belief, possibly even a hope that the bridegroom will not return. Admit it. There are things to do before Jesus takes us away. On our wedding night my wife and I sped through the dark freeze of Northern Wisconsin to get to the bed and breakfast before midnight of Y2K, and our desire was without a doubt that Jesus tarry at least till morning. A humorous story, but it has truth. The church, presently in un-holy harlotry with the world, lacks passion for its groom. As a bride she is a virgin that fears experiencing the power of a husband taking her; it may hurt. We do not trust him but will not face why. We fear being totally subject to Christ as we know our groom may have something against us and may subject ourselves to his anger at our infidelity. We would rather risk hell than acknowledge the scarlet letter on our breast. Verse 2 Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw It was this same John, of whom Jesus said, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what to thee?”, foreshadowing this later vision of which John now writes. John lays claim to having recorded a personal witness of Christ in his previously written Gospel using the terms ,“bore recordmarturew martureo” and “testimony-marturia marturia”- the root word for these being “martuv martus”, which is also used in verse 5 to describe Jesus. In our day the term “martyr” is used of someone who dies or is killed in the service of a cause greater than themselves. The word’s initial meaning, however, was that of bearing testimony, or witness to something. As the church progressed and suffered persecution, to bear witness of Christ became synonymous with death, leading to our present day use of the word. The blessing pronounced to the churches in verses 3-5 proceeds from the full Godhead, further illustrating the completeness and all inclusiveness of this book. First from the Father in verse 4 (from he who

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is, and was, and is coming), then Jesus in verse 5 with the word kai-(kai) a word translated as “and” or “also” (And also Jesus Christ, who is the faithful martyr, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth) and finally the Spirit (and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;). This same use of “seven Spirits” to describe God’s Spirit is seen in Revelation 5:6 and in the book of Isaiah, with the prophet detailing the seven characteristics of the Spirit of God,”...And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah” Verse 3 Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.  Verse 3 contains the first of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation. The reading, hearing, and keeping of John’s prophecy in our hearts will cause blessing, disclosing intimacies that past prophets like Daniel were told to keep to themselves: “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end”

7 Beatitudes of Revelation Blessed is... Re 1:3 he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, Re 14:13, the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Re 16:15 he that watches, and keeps his garments, Re 19:9 they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. Re 20:6 he that hath part in the first resurrection Re 22:7 he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Re 22:14 they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city Verse 4 John’s letter will be delivered to seven actual first century churches spread throughout Asia Minor, so he pronounces favor and peace upon the congregations by the authority given him in Christ. Throughout the Bible the number seven represents completeness, complimenting that these seven letters to these seven churches also apply to the whole

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church at all times. The word translated here as “church”- (ekklesia ek-klay-see'-ah) had a different meaning to the readers of John’s day than we have today. When we hear the word, we think of a building or group of “Christians” who meet together several times per week. The deeper meaning has roots in two words, ek(ek) - to come out from, and kalew (kal-eh'-o) - to call aloud, or to give or receive a name or title. When John is addressing the churches he is speaking to those who have been called out and separated from the world- those called a new name, with Jesus himself declaring he gives the new name in Revelation 2:17 & 3:12! Verses 5-6 Finally, John offers praise to his King in verses 5 & 6 when he says, ”Unto him loving us, and bathing us from our sins in his own blood, And making us kings and priests unto God the Father himself ; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” John confirms the Christian’s true being in Christ:, that we are kings and priests to the Father just as Jesus is. The apostle surely remembered Christ’s prayer at Gethsemane, “And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me. (John 17:22-23) Transliterated from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then still again transliterated into Latin and into English and many other languages, The word "amen" at the end of verse 6 is practically the same in any language and almost identical to the Hebrew word Nma('aman), meaning to believe or to be faithful. Verses 7-8 Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.       The vision of Jesus coming in the clouds is a description of Christ’s 2nd advent, a return after 7 years of tribulation upon the Earth to begin his reign of 1000 years, a time of relative peace and prosperity which man will ultimately rebel against (Revelation, chapters 19 & 20). The

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Hebrew prophet Daniel saw this event when he wrote,” I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Da 7:13-14, see Mt24:3, 26:63­64, Mk 13:26) Verses 9-12 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus the anointed, was in the isle that is called Patmos, on account of the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ. I became in Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; John had been banished to the island of Patmos by the emperor Domitian in AD 95. Returning to Ephesus in AD 98, he probably outlived all of the other apostles. The seven lamp stands in this verse are the church(es) of Christ. Jesus told his disciples that he had to do the work of the Father while it was still day, and that he himself was the light. He went on to say that the night would come when no man can work (meaning his death and departure into heaven). In the night of his absence, the lamp stands (his church- the body of Christ) are to provide Christ’s light to the world. ”You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. “ Verses 13-17 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle (see Is 6:1, 11:5) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; (see Da 7:9; Heb 4:13; Ps 11:4) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as

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the sound of many waters. (see Is 52:7; Jer 25:30-31; Ez 43:2; Ps 29:4, 93:4) And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength. (see Heb 4:12; Eph 6:17; Re 2:16, 19:15,21) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last The right hand throughout the bible speaks of authority (Eph 1:20) with the seven stars in Jesus’ right hand being those he holds in authority- the seven leaders of the seven churches. Jesus holds these leaders in his grasp and stands in the very midst of his churches. (Da 12:3). John had seen Christ before in both his earthly ministry and in his resurrected body. He had not yet seen Jesus Christ in his glory, however, causing John to fall down before him as dead in verse 17. This same Jesus who is manifested in the previous verses as the judge of the world, now lays his hand on his friend and disciple with words of grace and love,” Fear not; I am the first and the last “ This juxtaposition of Judge and friend, of majesty versus condescension is manifest in Psalm 85: “Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed” Verses 18-19 I am he that lives and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; John has just completed the first part of the three fold commission given in verse 19; he has written of, the things you have seen (Rev 1:1-19). In the letters to the seven churches (Rev 1:20-3:22) the second section of Christ’s commission is complete in the writing of the things which are, describing the age of the church from his first century until today. Finally, chapter 4 begins the third part of his commission, the things which shall be hereafter. Verse 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you thou saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks you saw are the seven churches.

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Verse 20 introduces us to what is to follow, namely the words that Jesus has for each of these churches. The seven angels are the persons in authority over these seven churches. The word used for angel in this verse is aggelov (ang'-el-os), also translated elsewhere in the bible as “messenger” (Mk 1:2, Lu 7:24& 9:52, 2Co 12:7) and is used in regards to the thorn in Paul’s flesh, the spies that Rahab protected, and the disciples of both John the Baptist and Jesus.

Chapter 2 Revelation Chapters 2&3 -The Seven Churches The gleanings from the words given to the churches in chapters 2 and 3 depend on the reader’s point of reference. At the time John wrote Revelation these rebukes and exhortations were delivered to seven actual first century churches in Asia, likely birthed by missionaries sent out by Paul from Ephesus. When Jesus’ words here are viewed from a prophetic hilltop, however, scanning the horizon we see the distant storms of the church’s chronological history unfolding. We must also read and apply the messages to ourselves as individuals, a balm of deliverance for our souls, healing the many spiritual maladies we face. Finally, Christ’s words must also be taken as instruction and direction to different congregations in the body of Christ today. Christ prefixes his examination of each of the churches with, “I know your works” and adds a promise to all 7,”to he that overcomes”; All 7 messages have the same last sentence,” to he that has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches” shedding light on our current dispensation: Christ is in heaven, and it is his Spirit on the earth that dwells in and speaks to his betrothed church. In chapter one John fell down before Jesus because he had never seen Christ in all of his glory before. Now, Jesus’ first remarks to each of the seven churches declare some aspect of his full glory as a cure to each of the churches’ ails; He, the fully glorified Son of Man, is able to help all! To Ephesus he says,” These things say he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks”; To Smyrna he says,” These things say the first and the last, which was dead, and

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is alive”, and so on. The specific trait of his Glory spoken to each church reveals the solution to each congregation’s specific need. Jesus’ comments to each church are evidence of the increasing immediacy of his return as prophetic church history rolls past us: The Church in Ephesus- do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent. The Church in Pergamos-Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly The Church in Sardis- If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. The Church in Philadelphia- Behold, I come quickly The Church in Laodicea- Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Note that Jesus says he is coming quickly, not coming soon. The bible gives no indication as to the nearness of his return, but says when he returns it will happen abruptly. We are always to live as if his return was imminent. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes (Mt 25:11)

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The Church in Ephesus AD 33-100-”Thou art fallen” Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how thou can not bear them which are evil: and you hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: And have borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you hast left you first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. At the time Revelation was written Ephesus was the cosmopolitan center of the Roman province of Asia, and was devoted to the Goddess Artemis. Being a center of Pagan worship, the city earned much of its commerce from the manufacture and sale of idols. Paul threatened the viability of this trade when he preached there in Acts 19. The Jewish people were established in significant numbers, with mention of John the Baptist’s disciples being there. These disciples said they had received the baptism of John, at which point Paul completed their conversion by baptizing them in the Spirit. After establishing the church here, Paul birthed the other 6 churches in Asia using Ephesus as the hub to send out missionaries. After he had been imprisoned and was nearing the end of his life, Paul wrote to Timothy in Ephesus, having ordained Timothy as Pastor there, with

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John probably assuming the pastorate of the Ephesian church at the end of Timothy’s ministry. Afterwards, in an attempt to arrest John’s influence in Asia, Rome exiled John to the island Patmos, where he wrote Revelation, again returning to Ephesus after his exile. The “angel” mentioned in verse 1 is probably one of John’s successors as pastor, with verses 2&3 portraying the church in Ephesus a laboring patient church, committed to the work of God as evidenced by their works. Added to their patience were discipline; discernment and trial of those who falsely claimed apostleship. Sadly, however, they had forsaken love for their bridegroom. Churches and marriages blossom at first, and eventually yield to familiarity and callousness. Actions that were initially rooted in passion and spontaneity may continue, but habit and comfort soon replace passion as the hearth of affection. The outward actions in each case resemble love but the latter heart has grown cold through doctrine and routine. Jesus prescribes the antidote for this loss of love; remembrance of the vibrant beginnings and repentance towards the fervent love that once warmed the house. He admonishes the church, and us, to return to our first love. Spouses must purpose to restore the love and passion first felt for one another. The heart must be disciplined to reflect fondly back on the innocence of youth in order to return, full circle, to a mature tested love. If not, then Christ’s warning in this verse holds true; the church will be removed and the covenant of marriage between groom and bride will be broken. Opinions differ on the actual historical meaning in verse 6 regarding the  Nicolaitans.   It   has   been   said   that   the   word   describes a sect of Christians who upheld the liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols, as well as a tolerance and promotion of fornication. The result was, “destruction of people”, a literal rendering of this Greek word. In his writings, the early church father Clement regarded the Nicolatians in this manner. Simply defined the word describes an abuse of grace. Another view holds that this Greek word is a transliteration of two other Greek words,  nikaw (nik-ah'-o) and laov (lah-os').  nikaw means conqueror, (see Rev 6:2) and laov means people, but is more accurately translated as “the laity”, bringing us to the whole definition,

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”the conquerors of the laity”. This view on the nature of the Nicolatians holds that Jesus is speaking against a system of Bishops, ruling priests, and religious dignitaries which rule the Laity as an upper class. A third belief, that the Nicolatians were of the deacon Nicolas of Antioch, cannot be established with any surety, and is simply another possible theory. Prophetically the church in Ephesus is the early, post apostolic church existing from roughly 33 to 100 AD. The phrase used in chapter 2 verse 5 to describe this period is”thou art fallen”. The people of the early church began to let go of solid doctrine and embrace error. Ephesus is a word which means “permit able”. The doctrine of working for one’s salvation entered the church early on along with other Gnostic heresies. The body of Christ lost view of the need to keep their heart right, allowing righteous actions to naturally flow forth as fruits of salvation. Instead, these same “good works” were seen as the means of attaining salvation. The core of this malady, again, is that they had lost their first love, the love from which right relationship would naturally flow.

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The Church in Smyrna AD 100- 300 - And Ye Shall Have Tribulation Ten Days” And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. The prophecy to the church in Smyrna foretells of pure faith amidst unprecedented trial. From AD 100-300 the church of Christ suffered 10 separate waves of persecution from the Roman Empire. The last wave, under the last Roman emperor Diocletian, lasted 10 years, “that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days”. Believers in Christ were slaughtered en masse for their faith and refusal to deny Christ. Christ’s word to Smyrna, as well as to the Philadelphia, is free from rebuke and there is no threat from Jesus to remove this city as he does the others. Polycarp, a pupil of John’s along with Ignatius, was bishop over this church when he was martyred in later years. He may have very well been a young overseer in Smyrna when this letter was delivered from his mentor on Patmos. The Greek word Smyrna literally means “myrrh”, an embalming agent and pain reliever manufactured in this same metropolis. Like the church of Christ flourishing under pressure, Myrrh released a sweet fragrance when crushed. The crown of Smyrna rested atop the hill Pagus, around

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which were seashore and a great Greek amphitheater. This Turkish city is today known as Ismar. At the birth of Jesus, The magi presented gold frankincense and myrrh. At the death of Christ he was offered wine mixed with myrrh to deaden the pain of his crucifixion, which he refused as he had to bear all of our iniquities and pain for our full redemption. At Jesus’ burial Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus down from the cross and placed myrrh in his burial garments. In the Bible, myrrh (Smyrna) is often associated with the birth, death and burial of Jesus but not his glorification. For example, in Isaiah 60:6 the prophet is speaking of the second coming of Christ. The same gifts brought to Jesus at his birth are mentioned, with the exception of myrrh. When Jesus comes again he comes to reign; death pain and myrrh have no place,”all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of Jehovah...” To the church in Smyrna, Jesus identifies himself as the first and the last (vs. 8), a repetition of the glorified Christ’s character mentioned in Chapter 1. He mentions this in response to this prideful city’s persecution of the church; Jesus reassures the church that it is he who is first and last, to keep their eyes fixed on him because the reputation of Christ has more value than the reputation of Rome. Smyrna prided itself on being the jewel of Asia, the center of Caesar worship, its coins bearing the inscription, “The first city of Asia”. The prideful inhabitants of Smyrna despised the disciples’ simplicity, lack of lavish temples, and unwillingness to worship the idolized keeper of the Pax Romana (on this point a Christian was branded as unpatriotic and was subject to torture). Christians worshipped in homes, fearful of persecution. This Church’s trials were not transient and superficial. Church members were alienated by the cities inhabitants, kept from doing business, and as a consequence subjected to the unyielding pressure of poverty. Jesus tells the church in vs. 9 that he knows their sufferings and destitution, that he is companion to them from his own personal experience, exhorting them in verses 10 and 11 to overcome and be faithful, laying out for them the promise of a crown of eternal life confirmed by James when he wrote, “Blessed is the man that endures

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temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.” The commands given to today’s suffering Christian parallel those given to this church, “Fear none of those things which you shall suffer... be faithful unto death” We have often given and received this advice regarding trials and tribulations, and at times the hope in these words has seemed to be nothing but the whistlings of a fearful child in the dark, void of substance and hope. Total reliance on God and not on man, however, is the true test of God’s being real and able. One will never experience that God is real, present, and practical unless he abandons all hope in man and turns to God alone as his rock. ”Fear none of those things which you shall suffer... be faithful unto death” This impotent and hollow exhortation that man offers to comfort one in pain, has substance from the mouth of Christ and is the foundation Jesus lays for our deliverance. He is the faithful and true companion to our trials and sufferings. Hebrews 4:15 says,” For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

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The Church in Pergamos Ad 300 - 500 AD-The Doctrine of Balaam And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things say he which has the sharp sword with two edges; I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. You also have them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it. Pergamos comes from 2 Greek words, purgov(poor'-gos), meaning height or elevation, and gamov(gam'-os), meaning marriage. The city had been the Roman capital of Asia for 400 years when John wrote the book of Revelation. Prophetically, Pergamos represents the church during the fall of imperial Rome, when it was married to paganism and was elevated in its influence around the world. Constantine became the world ruler when Rome suffered its moral implosion. In 312A.D, after seeing a vision of the cross before his victorious battle of the Mulvian bridge near Rome, Constantine and his successors ”legalized” Christianity and made it the state religion, thereby marrying the church to the state. Christianity was now lauded

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and praised. David Jeremiah says, “The persecuting Caesars gave way to the patronizing Caesars... Paganism was baptized and the church effectively corrupted...” As a result the Church of Christ was married to the idolatrous practices of Rome. Pagan priests were ordained into the clergy, their temples having been converted to churches. Feast days that pagans celebrated were now made into Christian holidays and the worship of Pagan deities was transformed into the adoration and prayer towards our own dead saints. This marriage of the world and the church is mentioned in verse 14 when Jesus says,” But I have a few things against you, because you have them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” These are the foundations of the Roman church. As with all of the churches he speaks to, Jesus begins this letter with a picture of him from chapter 1 “These things say he which has the sharp sword with two edges;” This sword, the word of God, is used in Chapter 19 of Revelation to destroy God’s enemies. In his examination of the church Jesus gives credit to the church in that they hold steadfast to his name and do not deny him despite being in the seat of Satan, illustrating their conviction of faith and firm grasp of doctrine while experiencing Satan’s influence on this city, with several heresies birthed and put asunder. Writers outside of the bible acknowledge Pergamos being Satan’s capital after the fall of Babylon. The greatest altar to Zeus was in Pergamos, along with temples to Athene, Apollo, and Aesculapius, “the savior of the world”, the god of healing. This god’s emblem was a serpent wrapped around a rod and was probably why the city is called the seat of Satan. A thorough study of the serpent Moses raised in the wilderness and Israel’s subsequent worship of it is valuable in seeing this demon’s influence on Pergamos and also on today’s world. The church is rebuked in the letter for having those in the congregation who, while holding fast to Christ’s name, compromise and cheapen the grace of God using it as a license to sin (the doctrine of Balaam-Numbers 22-29). While the Ephesian church was praised for not allowing this heresy to form in their church, Pergamos is plainly rebuked for entering into this unholy marriage with the world. The hierarchal system between the clergy and laity that introduced itself

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into the early church after Christ’s death was solidified in the Pergamum church, mirroring the pagan clergies’ practices. With Emperor Constantine’s so called “conversion” to Christianity, pagan priest’s payrolls were threatened, so they hurried to their baptisms, converted pagan temples to churches, and replaced pagan deities with saints. Instead of worshipping an important pagan goddess, these priests could now claim legitimacy by revering and bowing down to Mary, ”the Mother of God” in similar ceremonies. Paul warns of this unholy marriage with the world in 2Cor 6:14-18”Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion have light with darkness. And what concord have Christ with Belial? Or what part has he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”. Jesus’ final word to Pergamos is that they overcome this compromised church. In overcoming the temptation to resemble the world, they will be given hidden manna and a white stone with a new name. In ancient courts of law, when a man was acquitted of a crime a white stone was cast to proclaim the innocence of the accused, a black stone to convict. The disciple of Christ is tempted on a daily basis to live out his faith in a corrupt world. The thought occurs, at times, to present the gospel in a way that appeals to the world and is palatable to it. If a person embraces this palatable gospel, he marries a compromised gospel. He has a distorted image of Christ and may be firm and steadfast to a false faith. The true believer is to hold fast to teachings in the word of God, and question all beliefs in regard to Christ. Hidden manna and revelation can then be entrusted to him without fear of misuse, and he may dwell with God on earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it will make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as

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soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, you must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.-Rev 10:9-11

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The Church in Thyatira 500-1500AD-Thou Sufferest that Woman Jezebel, And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things say the Son of God, who has eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass; I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you no other burden. But that which you have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.

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As church history progresses in chapters 2&3, so do idolatry and immorality in the body of Christ. The Thyatiran period describes the rise to power of the Roman church begun under the Pergamos church. Jezebel, the pagan wife of Israel’s King Ahab, did everything she could to come against God’s chosen people. She persuaded Ahab to build a temple to her Pagan god (Astarte) and promoted Astarte’s worship while fearful Ahab did nothing. She supported 800 priests in this cult of prostitution, using the cult as a means to kill the prophets of Israel. Likewise, the powerful Roman church’s system sought to rule the nations and became the real power behind the thrones of Europe. The word of God was closed to the laity and it was taught that only the priests had the special revelation to understand God’s will on earth. As a result of the word of God being removed, the Dark Ages came upon us. This was the time of inquisitions and plagues, lawful slaughter in the name of Christ (the crusades), and the impartial torture of any who stood against this apostate church’s authority. Speaking to Thyatira in verse 18, Jesus refers back to specific aspects of his glorified nature mentioned in chapter 1. In dealing with Thyatira he identifies himself as the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass. This speaks to his authority over all things, and his judgment. It is obvious from verse 19 that this was an active church, busy doing the work of God, loving and serving others in increasing amounts. Unlike the Ephesian church this church maintained its first love to Christ. The Ephesian church, however, maintained discernment and discipline, while it is revealed in verse 20 that Thyatira did not. The crux of the problem was that it was an unholy church. The introduction of evil into the church via leadership is fundamental to both the historic and the prophetic Thyatira (the Roman church). Ruled by a false prophetess, the church’s leadership justified it’s immorality by portraying itself as deeper and more spiritual than the other “lay” Christians who just didn’t understand the deep things of God. Jesus speaks of this depth being Satanic in nature in verse 24. The prophecies given from verse 21 to 23 are a description of the dark ages. The dark ages are the result of Pagan worship ensnaring the church. We see the woman Jezebel here being a prophetic type of “Mother Mary”, whose adoration reached and still maintains deified

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proportions. These worshippers of Mary (and other saints) are the spiritual “fornicators” mentioned in verses 22-24. Verse 24 refers to those who truly loved Christ and didn’t enter into her corruption during these ages. Many were put to death by the false church, but Jesus reassures them that he will not judge the pure as he will the corrupt. He simply tells the pure in heart it is enough that they not to do as the idolaters, “But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you no other burden” The Thyatiran Christian of today is the one who has a genuine love for others and serves them. Inside, however he believes he knows better and has a more perfect knowledge of God than others. He has difficulty being ministered to yet has a strong desire to minister. Often he is seen worshipping the more sensuous aspects of Christianity (love, grace, and service to others) while ignoring instruction from someone else on disciplining himself in areas of immorality in his own life. The spiritual fornication committed is thus: while saying he has eyes for only Jesus, he pursues and forges an idol made of Christ’s character (love, service, depth of spirit, etc). He will not let go of these character traits so that he may cling to their author. Instead, of KNOWING CHRIST and experiencing the power and authority of a direct relationship with him, he KNOWS ABOUT CHRIST, as from a book and tries to emulate him in his own strength. “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14).

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The Church in Sardis Ad 1500-1700- A Name but Dead And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things says he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. Sardis, or “red ones”, was located near the valley of Hermas at the top of an elevation. Below three sides of the city were cliffs that dropped straight down, with the fourth side having a river, making it difficult to attack. Twice in the history of Sardis the “impregnable” city fell due to overconfidence in the city’s security; once to King Cyrus of Persia and the 100 years later to Antiochus. 500 years before the book of

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Revelation was penned Sardis had been one of the greatest cities in the world. Historically, the Sardian church represents AD 1500-1700, the period of reformation and renaissance, a time when Rome’s influence became unbearable to the masses. The printing press was invented and the bible became accessible to common folk. As a result of God’s word coming back out into the light, art and architecture flourished and a new age of technology and religious awareness was ushered in. In 1517 Martin Luther influenced the reformation when scripture leapt out at him,”The just shall live by faith”, giving impetus to that doctrine and erasing an idolatrous, works oriented salvation. Over time the Roman state churches were replaced by protestant state churches, removing some of Rome’s influence but perpetuating a stagnant, tepid church. While the doctrine of justification by faith was revealed in the reformation, the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ remained largely untouched, keeping expectancy and zeal blanketed. This discovery of a faith based salvation accompanied by the lack of zeal is what verse 1 is speaking of when it says,” I know your works, that you have a name that you lives, and are dead.” Even though Jesus gives mixed praise and rebuke to the previous 4 churches, he has no good thing to say to this church as a whole. Though outwardly this church looked good, inwardly, they were spiritually bankrupt. Isaiah 29:13 describes the state of this church: Wherefore Jehovah said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” Paul writes to Timothy, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” In verse 2 Jesus exhorts this church to vigilance and to be watchful of him. There are denominational churches today with many people attending, but not believing in the full gospel of Christ, ignorant of the authority given to believers, and cynical towards any zeal associated with Pentecost. While they may desire growth, there are tradition and status-quo to contend with. Christ instructs those who are the true believers to encourage, build up, and strengthen the others in the church, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die”. Admonishing to turn to the Gospel of Christ that was first

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received and to HOLD FAST TO IT, Jesus clarifies that this Gospel includes the remembrance that he returns soon, “Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Presently, Sardian churches are preoccupied with attracting new people and keeping the current members comfortable. Though it may preach the gospel, this type of church focuses energy on membership, growth, and stability. It may leave the preaching and teaching to a few select, while most others in the body are there to support without directly participating. The stability of the church community takes precedence over evangelism because there is no fervor that Christ may return at any moment. Rev. John King of Texas rightly describes this type of church as, “a rotary club without the beer and cigars” Jesus’ mission statement to this church is simple: be Christ-like and preach this gospel to all nations making disciples of Christ. Acknowledging the return of Christ makes one zealous and expectant of the good things to come, resulting in a name, but alive. Churches and individuals need to keep this as our focus, allowing room for administration and service. The opposite of this occurs when a church gets so consumed in offering programs and social events that it only allows Jesus Christ a cameo appearance to legitimize their cause and business. The Sardian tragedy will again have the same finale; it has already fallen twice due to overconfidence in its impregnable fortress of pomp. “And she said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he knew not that Jehovah was departed from him.”(Jud 16:20) Jesus acknowledges that there are a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and that they will walk with him in white for they are worthy. We may understand this as their justification. They will experience the joy of justification by faith; they shall understand that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them, that they have been washed and made whiter than the newly-fallen snow. Spurgeon adds, “they shall understand what Solomon meant when he said "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart. Let

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thy garments be always white, for God hath accepted thy works." He who is accepted of God shall wear white garments of joy and gladness, while he walks in sweet communion with the Lord Jesus. Whence so many doubts, so much misery, and mourning? It is because so many believers defile their garments with sin and error, and hence they lose the joy of their salvation, and the comfortable fellowship of the Lord Jesus, they do not here below walk in white.”

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The Church in Philadelphia AD 1700-1930- I Have Set Before Thee an Open Door And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things say he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens; I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown. Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I

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will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. The city of Philadelphia is known in modern times as Allah-Shehr(city of God) and historically was accustomed to frequent earthquakes. Philadelphia was geographically located at the intersection of three countries, and was founded here in order to spread Hellenism to the surrounding areas. Subsequently it became the perfect location to spread the gospel from. Prophetically, this church represents the church in the 18th and 19th centuries. Great revivals occurred at this time and missionary zeal throughout the world was rekindled. Concern for the poor and aid to the needy was prevalent in the church’s mind. Unlike other periods in church history, this outpouring of “good works” was the result of God’s presence and not the result of the church’s trying to do good works in its own strength. Comparisons can be drawn between this time period and the church described in the book of Acts. While the previous time period lacked zeal (the church of the reformation/Sardis), we now see zeal re-birthed as the doctrine of the return of Christ is kindled Before God can call us to be holy, he himself must be holy. In verse 7 Jesus identifies himself as such, and calls the church to do the same. Peter, in writing to the churches in Asia said,” But as he which has called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be holy; for I am holy”. Jesus identifies himself as the one who has the key of David, of whom no one can shut the doors he opens. Usually when Jesus speaks to each of the churches he has been identifying himself with one of his titles from chapter 1. Here, however, he recalls a passage from the old Testament in Isaiah 22:22 “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open” This verse speaks of Eliakim, the one who held the key to all the treasures. The name means”God raises” or “God sets up”, an appropriate figure for this age of revival. Jesus assures us that he is the same; he opens the door, he holds all of the riches. In verse 8 Jesus tells the Philadelphian church that he has opened that door for them. (See 1Cor 16:8-9, 2Cor 2:12, Col 4:3) As we continue through verse 8 Jesus acknowledges the weakness of this church, and strengthens them in their weakness. The source of

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their power is God (2Cor 12:9). Though they appear outwardly weaker than the Sardian church, their reliance is on God instead of themselves, for which Jesus gives a message of unmixed praise; there is no rebuke addressed to them. Unlike Sardis, Philadelphia did not deny Christ’s name, stayed in the integrity of God’s word, and acknowledged the nearness of Christ. These three doctrines permeate the writings of, Whitfield, Murray, Finney and others during this period. In Chapter 2 verse 9, Jesus speaks to the Smyrnan church of the Jews who are of the synagogue of Satan. Here however, in verse 9, God not only brings up this same group of people but takes it a step further, promising Philadelphia that Satan’s synagogue will be put to shame. As we have rolled on through history, we see verse 10 begin to proclaim the taking up of Christ’s church in the end times. In addressing the Philadelphian church of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries a reference is made that this church will be delivered from the temptation that will come over the entire world- not from a localized tribulation. This is a reference to the tribulation that begins in the unfolding of the scroll later on in Revelation. Unlike Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who were kept from harm while IN the fire, Jesus assures he will keep this church FROM the fire. In chapters 1 through 3 of Revelation the church is seen 19 times. After chapter 4 the church is not seen on earth once, nor is the word ever used. In chapter 4:4 we see the elders with crowns on their heads; in the bible, only God’s church receives crowns. Then our ever present Jesus says, “Behold I come quickly” in verse 11. The last church- the Laodicean church- is the final church, but the different churches in their respective different periods of time do overlap. Though the lukewarm church of Laodaicea will be prevalent when Jesus takes us back, remnants of this vibrant zealous Philadelphian church will still be present.

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The Church in Laodicea Ad 1900 to the Rapture- Thou Art Lukewarm And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things say the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I want that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and

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he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. The Historical Laodicea (meaning, “rights” or “justice of the people”) had become wealthy under Roman rule, with its chief products being cloth and wool. The city was surrounded by hot springs from which it drew hot water, and by mountains from which cool water ran. Pipelines were laid to draw both hot and cold waters from these outlying areas but the distance was great enough from each that by the time the water arrived at the city it became tepid. Before expounding further, a quote from Harry Ironsides’ Lectures on the Revelation is noteworthy. At the time he wrote (1920) after WWI, imperialism was rapidly disappearing and the fight for democracy was on the rise. He writes prophetically, it seems, past the events of his day and into ours, “The masses of the people are realizing their power as never before. The terrific slogan, vox populi, vox dei (The voice of the people is the voice of God), is ringing through the world with clarion-like distinctness. Imperialism and every form of aristocratic government is disappearing ...Statesmen and capitalists never were so anxious and nervous than at the present time. In the great war we were told our soldiers were fighting to make the world safe for democracy. In a little while statesmen will be attempting to raise armies to make the world safe from democracy. The spirit of this ultra-democratic age has invaded a large portion of the professed church. The authority of God and his word is rapidly being denied.” The Laodicean church exists today; neither hot nor cold, the church that does not influence the world but continues to allow the world to influence it, promoting democracy over sovereign monarchy. Its marriage seminars spout pop psychology and pastors are fearful of speaking of the biblical roles of man and wife, and of Christ and his church. The present church as a whole is weak in conviction and impotent in dealing with the issues of the day. It is a cold and passionless bride, for which its groom Jesus should be pitied. Indifference is the motto; the church of the end times, the church that is manifest when the rapture occurs.

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Laodicean Christians of today lack zeal and have a half-hearted love for Jesus. They may be heaven bound but are nominal and of no effect here on earth; Christ’s salvation is seen as a future event and not believed to have a current effect on delivering us today. The reality and torment of Hell is not preached for fear of offending and losing popularity, Christ’s being the only way to heaven is avoided out of not wanting to be intolerant of other religions, and the truth of eternal damnation is inconvenient to this week’s harvest of nominal believers. Wholeheartedness and enthusiasm are labeled as fanaticism needing to be tempered with balance and wisdom. The church is proud of its ministries and accomplishments; photos of the building projects adorn the bulletins. This church is unaware of its condition (vs. 17) and unawares, Jesus is about to vomit it out of his mouth. In his rebuke to the church he prophetically tells of a church arriving in these last days before the rapture, boasting of its prosperity, growth, and self sufficiency, a church that uses its visibility and influence to promote only lethargy and cheap grace. God’s forgiving grace is seen as the instrument to justify sin, and not as the means of his justifying and changing the nature of the sinner. Bonheoffer’s The Cost of Discipleship elaborates that where cheap grace justifies sin, costly grace justifies the sinner. The Laodicean church genuinely does not know it is wrong so it can not receive correction. An ignorant child, it keeps its colors between the lines of what is commonly accepted to avoid accusations of wrongdoing, committing no crimes while omitting righteousness in the process. It is a naive little girl who, terrified of stepping from the routine and warmth of her parents’ home, refuses to experience the fear, joy, and riches that accompany being the ravished, consummated bride of the King The prescription for the first ail of the Laodicean church is repentance and zealousness towards the groom who now approaches. The second ail is the church’s poverty; the fact that the child sees the comforts of their present world but does not own any of it; it is someone else’s. The riches will belong to the consummated bride not the comfort driven child, and Jesus prescribes gold trialed in the fire of becoming his beloved. To remedy her nakedness Jesus prescribes the churches sanctification, or setting herself apart. Then, under the covering of his

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blood alone, may she be a spotless, righteous bride. Christ’s righteousness is not only imputed to the saint, but also sanctifies the saint. Eye salve is the remedy for the church’s spiritual blindness, that she may see the truth. Now the bridegroom comes to the door to take her away, an invitation is not only to the individual, but to the last day church. Note that Jesus the bridegroom is not in this church, but is standing outside knocking at the door of this church. If she opens, she may attend her marriage supper,” Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 19:7 -9 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

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Chapter 3 Revelation 4- A Foreshadowed Rapture of the Saints Chapter 4 begins the third part of the commission given to John in Revelation 1:19,” write ...the things which shall be hereafter”. Chapter 4 gives an overview of the rapture, while the opening of the first three seals gives a more specific reflection of the event. In Chapters 2&3 Jesus, standing in their midst, addressed each one of the seven churches both as historical first century churches, and as future periods of church history up until the present. Chapter 4 marks a

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sudden change in emphasis- the removal of the church from the earth. This change is marked with a door being opened in heaven as well as other signs. Between chapter 4 and Christ’s return in chapter 19, the church is not mentioned as being on the Earth during the tribulation. In addition, the Spirit of God is transferred to heaven in chapter 4. In chapters 2&3 the Spirit is seen in the midst of the churches on earth. From chapter 4 on, the Spirit is in heaven (Rev 4:5). Compare Rev 3:22 ...He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches... (Pre rapture) to Rev 13:9... If any man have an ear, let him hear... (Post rapture) Besides being a story of conflict between the disciples, John 21:20-24 is a prophecy given by Jesus that John will be the one who will still be alive when Jesus returns. Jesus was actually speaking of giving John this revelation while on Patmos. Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you? Peter seeing him said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? follow thou me Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? This is the disciple which testifies of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. As war is going to break out soon with the antichrist’s coming to power, the saints of God, who are described in the bible as God’s ambassadors, are removed from the nations just as governments today remove their own ambassadors when war is imminent. The removal of the saints before the tribulation and the antichrist’s coming is described in 2Thess2:6-8, And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time... For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: The restraining influence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer today keeps the powers of darkness at bay. Once the church is removed from the earth, so is the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit, letting evil freely reign and permitting the wicked one’s revelation. Note also

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the phrase “mystery of iniquity does already work”. We will see later that Babylon is described as this mystery, and has ties to Rome. Verses 1-12 The Voice, the Trump, the Taking Up There are three scriptures in the New Testament that almost Parallel each other in their descriptions of the church’s removal from the Earth. In each scripture we see a trump of God with a voice, followed in each case by a change; being caught up in the Spirit. Verse 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter... The phrase translated “the things which must be hereafter” meta tauta(meta tauta), is the same phrase used in Revelation 1:19. John is making it obvious that he is beginning the “hereafter” mentioned in Rev 1:19. The door opening in heaven is only mentioned twice in the book of Revelation. The first time is here in 4:1-when the church “goes up” and the second time is in 19:11-when the church “comes back down”. Verse 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne... After the voice tells John to come up to heaven with a trumpet in verse 1, he is in the spirit in heaven as the symbolic representative of the church, foreshadowing the rapture of the church. Just as the church is the special loved one of the Lord, so was John out of the 12 disciples of whom Christ said, “He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?” The reference to a voice and a trumpet at the time of the churches being taken up is also in 1Thess 4: 15-17, “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”

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1Cor 15: 51-54 adds, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” Verse 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. The mention of the Jasper and Sardius stone can be traced to Exodus 28:1720. 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of were put on the priests garments, Sardius being the first stone and the Jasper the last. Sardius would correspond to the tribe of Reuben the firstborn and Jasper, the last stone, would represent Benjamin the last son; Jesus Christ -the first and the last! The names of these sons are also a depiction of Jesus Christ. The name Reuben means, “behold a son” and Benjamin, ”son of the right hand”. The rainbow in this verse recalls God’s covenant with Noah. God promised never to fully destroy and bring his judgment upon mankind without having mercy on a remnant who was not worthy of his judgment, foreshadowing the church’s being removed from Earth before God’s judgment falls upon it. Verses 4-5 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Lightnings, thunderings and voices were present on Sinai when the law was given to Moses, and here announce the judgment about to fall upon the Earth (see Rev 8:5, 10:3, 11:19, 16:18). Since Jesus has established our salvation to God, the believer (who was taken up before this thundering throne appeared) does not come to this throne of

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judgment, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:16 The twenty four crowned elders and the seven lamp stands before the throne are the raptured church of God inclusive of the saints living upon the earth when taken up, disciples of Christ that had died, and the Old Testament saints who knew and walked with God. Since the Holy Spirit is the evidence of God in the believer the Spirit of God no longer dwells on earth but in heaven, as Christ’s ambassadors have now been removed and no longer have authority (the seven spirits of God) on earth. In addition, the elders clothing (reference with Rev 19:7-8), as well as their song in chapter 5 of Revelation identifies them as the church, “you have redeemed us to God by thy blood” We now have the Father, Jesus, the Spirit, and the church in heaven together at last. Verses: 6-8 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come...” These beasts are seen in Ezekiel 1 and are the same 4 cherubim angels in Ezekiel 10. These 4 cherubs are executers of judgment upon Earth in Revelation, and now lead the elders in worship. Verses 9-11 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying ,You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created” These verses are another indication that the elders are the church of God in heaven. The writings of the New Testament speak of the believer receiving a crown once in heaven. The crown described on the elders throughout this chapter is not a king’s crown as we might picture a

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crown. The Greek word translated here, as the elders’ crowns, is stefanov (stephanos). This crown is actually the victor’s wreath that one received as a reward for victory, much like at the early Olympics. These wreaths have been rewarded to the elders, or to the church of Christ, and are cast at the feet of Jesus as an acknowledgement that even the good works that his disciples are awarded for originate from the work of the Holy Spirit in them. These same crowns are promised to the believer throughout the bible. Paul writes to the Corinthian church, “And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible”. To Timothy he adds, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”. James and Peter both speak of these crowns in their encouragements to the church of their day, “Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him” and, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.”

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Chapter 4 Revelation Chapter 5-The Lamb and the Scroll Verses 1-5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was

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able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (see Gen 49), the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. David Jeremiah observes that as far as Jesus’ humanity was concerned he had his roots in David, coming from the tribe of Judah. He was, however, also the root of David, confirming Jesus’ divinity. Jesus was the ancestor of David and his descendant (Matt 22:41-46; John 8:58) Heaven weeps in Revelation 5 because there is no kinsman redeemer meeting The Law’s requirements to pay debt of man sealed within the scroll. Jesus Christ, being the only one to have fulfilled the requirements to be mankind’s redeemer (Gal 3:13), steps up and begins to break the seals on the scroll of debt, revealing the final will and testament of our God. This scroll, or “book” is the title deed to the earth to which Jesus is sole heir, “I have manifested your name unto the men which you gave me out of the world: yours they were, and you gave them me; and they have kept your word.” The significance of the lamb opening the seals is twofold: God is redeeming man to himself according to Jewish law (Lev 25:25-48) and is opening his sealed will and testament according to Gentile practice. He uses both the Hebrew kinsman redeemer for the Jew, and the Roman legal system for the understanding of the Gentile. Verses 6-10 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

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The lamb that had been slain is seen standing, a vision of the risen Christ. If it were a weak lamb recovering from wounds, the horns on his head would not be mentioned as throughout the bible horns signify power. This lamb is not only standing, but is doing so in the midst of the throne. John is able to recognize the wounds of this lamb (that the lamb is Jesus) (1Ki 22:11; Ze 1:18-19). The seven horns and seven eyes are identified as the Spirit of God poured out upon all believers on earth giving them authority (horns) after the death and resurrection of Christ. We have seen over and again that since the saints have been raptured, the Spirit of God is taken from the earth as well, removing any restraint from evil flourishing on the planet. These seven eyes are also identified with Jesus in Zechariah 3:89,”Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, says Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.”     The prophet continues in chapter 4,”For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” The name Zerrubabbel means, “sown in Babylon” and the prophet here gives us a picture of what is to happen in the end times, Babylon (the world system) is restrained and will eventually be destroyed. Verses 11-14 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives for ever and ever.

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The Kinsman Redeemer We can understand Christ’s role as our kinsman redeemer if we review the written law of the Hebrews concerning the redemption of people and property. To redeem people or property in Ancient Israel, a “redeemer” had to meet requirements to redeem or buy back. The redeemer had to be a near kinsman in order to keep properties in the tribe, he had to have the ability to make payment in full, he had to be willing and not forced to redeem, and he could not put his own properties in danger or debt when redeeming. The Law of Redemption Leviticus 25:24-28 gives God’s law regarding the redemption of property: And in all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land. If your brother be waxen poor, and has sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. And if the man have no one to redeem it, and himself is able to redeem it; Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that has bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession. Verses 39-48 explain the redemption of people: And if your brother that dwells by you be waxen poor, and be sold unto you; you shall not compel him to serve as a bondservant: But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with you, and shall serve you unto the year of jubile: And then shall he depart from you, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return… And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by you, and your brother that dwells by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by you, or to the stock of the stranger's family: After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him. Verses 48-53 give some of the requirements of the redeemer: After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee: and the price of his sale shall be

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according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in your sight. Boaz as Ruth’s Kinsman Redeemer Before continuing, a review of Ruth is warranted to strengthen one’s understanding of the redeemer. To summarize: Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) left Bethlehem with his wife and sons. His property was mortgaged at some point in the story, but it is unclear as to when. When Naomi’s husband died, the rights to the land passed to one of her sons. Those sons took one wife each, and then died. The three ladies are to return to Bethlehem, destitute and unable to pay the redemption price for the land, but one of the daughters-in-law goes back to her family, leaving Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem to find a redeemer for the land. Ruth 2:20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. The Hebrew word translated as “next kinsman” is lag (gaw-al') and is more literally translated as “redeemer” and “deliverer”. lag is used throughout the Old Testament as redeemer, kinsman, revenger, avenger, ransom, kinsfolks, kinsman's part, and purchase. The word lag means much more than having a near relative, as the word for close relative, bwrq (kaw-robe'), already used in the same sentence is translated as “near of kin” The redeemer Naomi speaks of is Boaz; Elimelech’s brother and a prosperous man, fully able to redeem the properties of Naomi. Ruth 2: 1 continues,”And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz” He expresses his willingness to redeem the land but there is one kinsman closer than he that must be given the first chance to redeem. Ruth 3:12-13 And now it is true that I am your near kinsman: however there is a kinsman nearer than I. Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning,

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that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to you, then will I do the part of a kinsman to , as Jehovah lives: lie down until the morning. Boaz brings the matter to the other kinsman’s attention, and though able, he is not willing, as he would have to marry Ruth to continue the family lineage and inheritance rights. The other kinsman defers the right of redemption to Boaz: Ruth 4:3-6 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, sold a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: And I thought to advertise you, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou will redeem it, redeem it: but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside you; and I am after you. And he said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, The day you buy the field of the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem my right to yourself; for I cannot redeem it. Boaz then buys the property in the presence of witnesses and takes Ruth for his wife. She conceives, and gives birth to Obed, the ancestor of Joseph, earthly father to mankind’s kinsman redeemer, Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that there is no record of a written title deed here. It seems, instead, that there were many witnesses that gave to the validity of the transaction. Jeremiah as Hanameel’s Kinsman Redeemer Jeremiah 32:6-12 And Jeremiah said, The word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum your uncle shall come unto you, saying, Buy my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is yours to buy it. So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed the money in the balances. So I took the evidence

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of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. The purchase of Hanameel’s field by his cousin Jeremiah gives another example of the role of the Kinsman. Jeremiah had been telling the people of Jerusalem that Israel was going to fall to Nebuchadnezzar and at the end of that time (70 years) they would return. Jeremiah’s cousin new the land was soon to be of no value and decided to get whatever money he could out of it while there was still time. God told Jeremiah to buy the field from prison, knowing that not he, but his heirs, would inherit it. Since there was no coined money, Jeremiah weighed out about 7 ounces of his silver, paying for the property in full. When he says “I subscribed the evidence (rpob btkaw) he speaks of signing the deed. btk(kaw-thab') means to describe, record or write up in a written or engraved form, and rpo (say'-fer) refers to a book or a scroll. After signing, he has two copies of the deed, one sealed and one open. The sealed copy remains sealed to prevent tampering. The open copy of the deed is used for reference. In the future only a purchaser of property or an heir will have the authority to open the seal. They will review the unsealed deed, and then will open the seal on the “legal” copy to make him the deed owner. Our word mortgage comes from two words meaning “death” and “pledge”. When a man would redeem a kinsman’s debt that could not be paid, the deed to that kinsman’s property would have been sealed at the last transaction. Land could not be purchased back or debt redeemed by anyone outside of the debtors family as all land had to stay within the family and returned in the year of Jubilee. Only the person qualified to redeem the kinsman’s debt or ransom could open the seals. Jesus as Earth’s Kinsman Redeemer The first condition to redeem a debt is that the redeemer be a kinsman, a close blood relative. This corresponds to Levitical law, which provided that properties within a family stayed in that tribe. It is

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awesome that Jesus was the son of God, but just as marvelous and emphasized even more in the gospels is that Jesus was the Son of Man. (Mt16:13,Mk 8:31,Lu 9:44,Jn 13:31) Hebrews 2: 14-17 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Had Jesus been only divine he would not be able to redeem mankind back to himself and maintain the perfect law of God at the same time. Being born into the human race made him a member of our blood family and a near kinsman. The second condition is that the kinsman redeemer be able to pay the debt while being debt free himself. Having a debt that is not paid, and then paying someone else’s debt still leaves debt. The purpose of this law is not to transfer debt, but remove it. Christ fulfilled this second condition, as did Boaz in the book of Ruth. Jesus had no sin debt to pay, thus he did not have the debt of death to pay, for the wages of sin is death. He did, however, assume our sin debt and die our death. As Psalm 49 says, man is able to pay the debt of his sin only through death. “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption” Jesus never sinned. If he had sinned, his death on the cross could only pay the wages of his own sin, ”For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” Hebrews 7 continues with, ”For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” Phi 2:9 Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 1Peter 1: 18-19 Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by

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tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Having not sinned, however, it was not even possible for Jesus to die, unless he bore the iniquities of someone else. His flesh suffered the wages of our sin, leaving us debt free and immortal. The third condition is that the redeemer be willing to pay the ransom. He bore our iniquities upon himself willingly, thus meeting this third requirement to be our kinsman redeemer. We see Jesus weeping tears of anguish on Gethsemane asking God to remove this cup of death from him. At the same time he expresses his willingness to do his father’s will and die on that cross. He says in John 10,”Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” Roman Law and the Will Roman law required that a written will be sealed seven times. This is not found in our bible, but has been proven by historical records; Roman emperors Augustus Caesar and Vespasian sealed their wills in this way. When a will was written and sealed, not all seven seals were on the outside edge of the scroll; only the first of the seven seals was on this outer edge. The first section of the will would be written, rolled up, and sealed to the point to which it was rolled. Once the seal was on, the writer would then add to the will rolling up the scroll more, at which point he would add the second seal. This process would continue until the seventh and final seal was added onto the very last edge of the rolled document. When the scroll was unfolded and read the first seal would be broken, the scroll would be opened and read up until to the next seal. The next seal would then be broken and the next section read. This unfolding would continue until the seventh and final seal was reached. Once the seventh or innermost seal was broken, the final revelation of the will’s contents was poured out. When the lamb opens the seventh seal in revelation, the final unfolding of the earth’s redemption takes place. All seven trumpets and all seven vials take place at the opening of

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this last seal. During the sounding of the seventh seal, all of the earth’s kingdoms become Jesus’ kingdom. The human race’s debt is so complete and his fate so determined that there are a total of seven seals. The breaking of the first 3 of these seals is the story of the rapture and our redemption. This final unfolding of the scroll and the “unveiling” of Christ is the end times that Daniel was told to “shut up” (Da 12:8-9).

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Chapter 5 Revelation Chapter 6 -The Rapture First Three Seals-Removal of the Saints From God’s Wrath The opening of the first three seals in the book of revelation is often misunderstood by saints and sinners alike. They read the verses and see a time of terror and violence, a time when four horrific figures trample the earth on powerful draft horses. When one examines the topic of the

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four horsemen of the “apocalypse” hermeneutically however, we witness a vivid description of victory and the rapture of the saints. The Greek verses of the apocalyptic riders are full of words describing purity, victory, justice, and the redemption to God of his people. Verses 1-2 The First Seal And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. The word translated here as white is leukov (lyoo-kos'). It is used to describe a dazzling whiteness, as in the garments of angels and those exalted to the heavenly state. It is also used to describe the whitening color of ripening grain and garments worn on festive occasions. This word is used when describing Jesus during the transfiguration at the Mount of Olives and is also used of the angels at Jesus’ tomb, the elders around the throne, and the garments of the saints throughout Revelation. (Mt 5:36; 17:2; 28:3; Mk 9:3; 16:5; Lu 9:29; Jn 4:35; 20:12; Ac 1:10; Re 1:14; 2:17; 3:4,5,18; 4:4; 6:2,11; 7:9,13; 14:14; 19:11,14; 20:11) The Greek word translated as crown in this verse is stefanov (stef'-an-os), and is used to describe the wreath given to victors in public games. It’s use is seen in the new testament with Christ’s crown of thorns, and the crown that saints will receive.(Mt 27:29; Mr 15:17; Jn 19:2,5; 1Co 9:25;Php 4:1; 1Th 2:19;2Ti 4:8; Jas 1:12;1Pe 5:4, Re 2:10; 3:11; 4:4,10; 6:2 ;9:7; 12:1; 14:14) The words “conquering” and” to conquer” are translated from the Greek word nikaw (nik-ah'-o). The meaning of this word goes much further than just winning. It has the meaning of carrying off a victory, as when one is arraigned in a court of law and maintains his cause. It is often used in The New Testament to describe the victory of the saints. (Lu 11:22; Jn 16:33; Ro 3:4; 12:21; 1Jn 2:13,14; 4:4; 5:4,5; Re 2:7,11,26; Re 3:5,12,21; 5:5; 6:2; 11:7; 12:11; 13:7; 15:2; 17:14; 21:7) We can conclude that the first horseman who appears with the opening of the first seal brings with him an appearance of festivity, victory, acquittal, and harvest come at the time of the ripening grain (Ex 34:21; Mt13:37-40; Mk 4:29; Jo 4:35). The opening of the third seal speaks

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of wheat and barley, and we know from scripture that the harvest of wheat and barley occurred concurrently (Ru 2:23). Verses 3-4 The Second Seal And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. The Greek words translated here as “take peace” are lambanw (lamban'-o) and eirene (i-ray'-nay). The meaning of the sentence in the Greek, ”labein thn eirhnhn” has a much deeper meaning than simply “take peace”, if we examine the words closely. lambanw is used 263 times in the New Testament. An accurate definition of the word is laying hold of and gathering to one’s self, without violence, that which is one’s own. Another definition is association with someone, as with a companion. The use of the word eirene indicates peace and tranquility; a sense of security. The belief in evangelical circles is that Adam’s God given authority over the earth has been presently restored to disciples of Christ, that this God given authority binds Satan from reclaiming what was redeemed by the blood, and that when the redeemed are removed from the earth in the rapture the peace associated with their presence will also be removed. This view would agree with the Greek definitions presented above. Verses 3-4 more literally say,”... and power was given to him that sat thereon to peacefully take back the companions that are his own, removing tranquility and security from the earth...” Once the saints are removed, this Horseman will kill no-one despite beliefs to the contrary. The verse clearly says that mankind will slay one another. The word translated as “kill” is sfazw(sfad'-zo), which means to slay or butcher violently. It is the same word used in chapter 5 regarding the lamb that was slain. It is important to note this word is in the subjunctive form, meaning that the killing was contingent upon the peace being taken; that slaughter is the purpose behind the peace’s removal. If we remove from our mind the preconceived idea that the horsemen are evil, we will see the second horseman as a ruler, a deliverer, and a judge, depending on our soul’s condition. Paul alludes

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to this horseman in his words to Rome, ”Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and you will have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil. Wherefore you must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” In short, the ruler’s sword is the enforcer of your security and safety, or it is the wrath of your judgment, depending on your relation to the one in authority. This is seen throughout the Old Testament in the stories of the reigns of the many kings. Despite the use of different Greek words for sword throughout the New Testament, the word used above in Ro 13, macaira (makh'-aheerah) , is also used in Re 6:4 and in Heb 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Do we not again see the use of the sword (or word) for dividing and separating? To summarize the second horseman: the saints of God are raptured from the Earth; as a result mankind butchers one another. The sword on the horseman is both the secure protection of the good, and the quick judgment of the evil. God, having displayed grace upon his children by his sanctifying sword, may also prove himself to be just by executing the judgment of this same sword -the word and law of God. We serve a merciful and a just God. Verses 5-6 The Third seal And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a yoke in

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his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine. The one coming forth on the black horse is said to be carrying “a pair of balances” in the King James Version. The Greek word used here for the “pair of balances” (or “scale” in other translations) is zugov(dzoogos'). This word is used a total of 6 times in the New Testament, and all of the other times it is used it speaks specifically of either a heavy or a light yoke (Mt 11:29, 30; Ga 5:1; Ac 15:10; 1Ti 6:1), not balances. Three of the other five times that zugov occurs in 3 of the Greek translations (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Text, Westcott-Hort Nestle) it is the same spelling and form of the word in Re 6:5 zugon. Add to this that its root word, zeugov (zeugos) has no other meaning than the pairing of two (as in yoking draught animals), and that the derivative zeukteria(zeukteria) means to fasten or band, there is no convincing reason why the object in the riders hand should not be a yoke brought to earth instead of scales or balances. Also consider the view that the second horseman and his sword bring either wrath or security, depending on which side of it you are on. The same hold true of this yoke which has now been brought to the earth. In other scriptures the word zugov is used to describe either the light yoke of Christ or the yoke of bondage in the law. For most there will be the yoke of the law, and the judgment of God. Since the rapture has already happened, or is currently occurring, in the opening of the seals those under the yoke of Christ will be free from the yoke of the law and its judgments. People may continue to be saved even after the rapture occurs. It is these that the voice from the throne speaks of when he says not to hurt the oil or the wine. Later in Revelation, judgments will come upon men, but will pass those who are marked with God’s seal. The word coinix(khoy'-nix) used for the word measure is about the amount that would support a man for a day. The word penny is denarion(day-nar'-ee-on) and was also about a man’s wages for the day (Mt 20:2-16). Since a day to God is as a thousand years, we see that all men will be given their wages in about 1000 years, after the millennial reign of Christ which will soon begin. God is saying in verse 6 that men shall receive the wages they have earned: the saints in

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heaven will be rewarded according to their works (not salvation, this is a gift), and the sinner also shall be given his wages (Ro 6:23).

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Chapter 6 Chapter 6 (cont.) The Reign of Satan Begins (4th-6th Seals) Verses 7-8 The Fourth Seal

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And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. The saints of God have been removed from the earth. There are now no ambassadors left to exercise Christ’s authority over principalities and Hell literally comes forth to conquer the Earth. As a result Satan and his angels are no longer restrained and as and one quarter of the planet experiences death by famine, sword, and beast. In the Old Testament when God was giving the land into the hands of the nation of Israel they were allowed to subdue it province by province lest the beasts in the land overwhelm them. Later, when Israel and Judah became apostate and backslidden the land was given back to the beasts, a foreshadowing of the events now taking place in this chapter of John’s vision. With the opening of each seal the scroll of mankind’s redemption is being opened according to Levitical law and the wages of sin are being paid. Death and famine are all a part of the process of the final legal judgment already written in God’s law for thousands of years and only those who have accepted Christ as their substitute are exempt. At this point in time God’s children have received their inheritance in the last will and testament of Christ, and the unbelieving begin to inherit their part and receive what they have chosen (death and separation from God). See comments on Revelation 12:7-13 for a description of Satan’s being permanently cast out of Heaven. Verses 9 -11 The Fifth Seal During the opening of the fifth seal, we see for the first time the saints that have died. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

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In this text the martyred saints look at the sin and corruption going on in the earth and plead with God to end injustice upon the earth once and for all. God does not rebuke them for this supplication, but replies that it will be done in time. Later, in Revelation 8:3, an angel offers the incense of these same prayers up to God at which point we see them being answered in the rapid succession of the seven trumpet judgments. In Revelation 9:13 this prayer’s fulfillment is seen when a voice from under this same altar looses four angels upon the earth. This altar in the heavens (vs.9) is the altar of incense not the sacrificial altar. Both the altar of sacrifice and the altar of incense were in Moses’ earthly temple (Exodus chaps. 27-30). Since the blood of Jesus has made the sacrificial system obsolete there is no longer a need for blood sacrifice in the heavenly temple, but the altar of incense where prayers to God were offered is not deemed obsolete. When the Antichrist is revealed, however, he will set up a sacrificial altar in the temple to perpetuate the lie that the blood of Jesus is impotent. Verses 12-17 The Sixth Seal Jesus tells his disciples of the sixth seal in Mk 13:14-27 and Mt 24:15-31. He tells of the tribulation to come when the abomination is erected, proceeds to tell that those days will be shortened for the elect’s sake, and then speaks of sending his angels with the sound of a trumpet to gather the elect from the 4 winds. We see Jesus’ words now being fulfilled in Revelation 6 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

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Chapter7

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The sixth seal has been opened, and before the seventh and final seal is opened we are shown God’s mercy in a time of judgment. Chapter 7 should be read as a “parenthesis” inserted between the sixth and seventh seals, a brief overview of what has just taken place and what is to come. These parenthetical chapters help clarify some of the past and future events in Revelation and are not part of the chronological chapter by chapter timeline unfolding before us. They are inserted between the sixth and seventh seals, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, and after the seventh vial (Rev 17). Wherever a parenthetical chapter appears, the background will appear grey as it does here. This, hopefully, will aid the reader in keeping the chronology of Revelation in mind. Chapter 7 contains two different visions. The first vision is Jewish in nature, the second refers to the church and can be said to be Gentile in nature. These are two distinct entities throughout the bible, and this chapter compares and contrasts the two. The church of Christ and the Jewish people are distinct and separate throughout the bible, and Christians often make the error of mixing the Jews and the church together when speaking of the promises of God. Christ’s church can expect the blessings of Abraham, but the blessings of Jacob (Israel) are unique to his descendants. Revelation Chapter 7 Parenthesis between chapters 6 & 8 Verses 1-8 1st Vision-Sealing of 144,000 Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. This first vision involves the Jews living on the earth at the time of the tribulation. Since Judaism does not confess Jesus Christ as the Messiah, it is safe to say that those of this religion will be left upon the earth during the time of God’s judgment. Chapters 30&31 of Jeremiah prophetically describe God’s judgment upon Israel due to their rejection of Jesus, and the revival of the remnant during this time of Judgment known as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” to the prophet Jeremiah.

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And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. These four angels are restraining winds from blowing upon the earth and are God’s angels not Satan’s. In Mark 13 and Matt 24 Jesus says he will return when these four angels are sent out at the sound of a trumpet to gather his elect from these four winds. The elect mentioned here are not those who were already taken up but will be those who accept Jesus as their salvation during this time of great tribulation. No trumpet has yet sounded; the angels are restraining the winds to protect the earth and sea from destruction. We see that Jesus has not yet returned nor have the remaining elect upon the earth been taken to him. The fifth angel, seen ascending from the East and having authority over the other 4 angels, speaks of sealing these servants of God. This sealing for the safety of a remnant people during times of judgment has biblical precedents. Just as the Antichrist will put the seal of ownership upon those that are his slaves, God, rich in mercy, does the same for his chosen people. God sealed Noah and his family in the Ark and Rahab was sealed from the destruction in Jericho. God set a seal upon Cain lest those that found him slay him. One of the most relevant Old Testament descriptions of a sealing occurs in Ezekiel. God is to judge the nations of Israel and Judah due to

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their idolatry. God commands a man with a writing instrument to set a seal upon the mourners of this idolatry. Orders are then given to men with weapons to go through the people and slay everyone without the mark (Eze 9). The seal in Revelation 7 is clearly set upon Jewish people only, and any reference to the church or certain redeemed people outside of the Jewish nation can be only be attributed to an attempt at stretching the text to be inclusive of the church. This seal may refer to an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as the bible speaks of the sealing of the Holy Spirit as a sign that one now belongs to God. (Ephesians chaps 1&4). Paul writes to the church in Rome,” Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved” Verses 4 through 8 contain a list of the tribes saved, with 12,000 being saved in each tribe. A cursory glance at this list is tempting, as lists of the tribes of Israel occur many times in the bible and are apparently devoid of instruction from God. A deeper look at these lists of tribes, however, will reveal that they are not always the same; the same holds true of this list. The tribe of Dan is not mentioned here. Dan was an extreme idolater. In Genesis 49:17 Jacob blesses Dan as a serpent, and in Deut 33:22 Dan is called a lion. Daniel’s omission from this list and his being referred to as both a lion and a serpent (Satan being the only other person called both a serpent and a lion in the bible) has fueled the belief that the antichrist will emanate from this tribe. Ephraim and Manasseh are often counted as one tribe in the Old Testament and other times are mentioned separately. Here, however, there is no mention of Ephraim in this list. Rueben, Jacob’s eldest son, lost his birthright due to the sin with his Father’s concubine (1Chron 5:1-2), hence he is not listed first on this list, but his younger brother Judah is. Levi was never listed in the lists of property distribution, as his people’s inheritance was the Lord. His being on this list seems appropriate, however, as his was the tribe responsible for the priesthood in the Old Testament. Joseph is mentioned on this list as one of the 12 tribes of Israel even though he was not given an inheritance when the Israelites entered the Promised Land.

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Verses 9-17 2nd Vision-All Saints Taken from the Tribulation are Seen      The second vision in this chapter is of the believers of Christ who come to accept Jesus as savior after his church was taken up, have had to experience the great tribulation upon the Earth, and who have died during that time. The elders present in chapter 5 (the raptured church) are seen here as a separate entity from this multitude. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders said unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. The multitude mentioned in verse 9 is not the church that was already taken up in the opening of the first three seals. We can reason this as the twenty four elders also described in this scene, and because in verse 13 when one of the elders asks John who these people are, John responds with, Sir, you know. This is an English translation of a Greek idiom meaning, “I don’t know”. If this was the church John would have recognized some of them as he knew people in the church. These are all of the people who are won to Jesus as a result of the preaching of the 144,000 during the tribulation. The multitude “of all tongues and nations” described in this chapter is a prophetic vision of

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the fulfillment of the preaching of the gospel to all nations seen in chapter 14 (another parenthetical chapter). We can see this vision as being prophetic because of the wiping away of tears. Tears will be wiped away by God 2 different times in scripture. The first time is when saints appear before the judgment seat of Christ during the seven years of tribulation. The second wiping of tears occurs in Revelation 21 at the great white throne judgment where all unsaved are thrown into the lake of fire after the great tribulation has been completed. Either way, both of these wipings occur in the future, further confirming chapter 7 as not belonging to the current chronology of Revelation. These multitudes are the brothers of the martyrs mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11. Those martyrs were given white robes and were told to rest until their fellow brethren were killed. Now we see this multitude, having been killed also, being given clothing made white by the washing of the blood of the lamb. Along with martyrs of ages past, the 6th chapter martyrs may well have included the first tribulation martyrs trickling into heaven as the persecution began. This multitude will not include those who rejected the Gospel before the church was taken up. Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2,”...And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness....” If one rejects Jesus Christ today, it will be impossible for them to be saved once the tribulation begins. These tribulation saints have palms in their hands. The significance of palms is traced back to the feast of the tabernacles. During this annual feast the Jews would construct “booths “out of palm branches and live in them during the feast, celebrating their deliverance from Egypt’s slavery. The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated at the Jewish nation’s return from captivity in Babylon (Ne 8). Palm Sunday is a celebration of the King’s coming. The palms in these multitudes’ hands celebrate their deliverance from Satan and their present safety with God. They have their own song also, as does the raptured church, and the remnant of the 144,000. The heavenly temple pictured here allows these people to serve God day and night. In the Old Testament only the

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Levite and priest served God day and night. No Gentiles were allowed near the temple and were restricted to the court of the Gentiles. Here however, since Jesus Christ has opened a way into the Holy Place, all have access to the throne of God. Even the Gentile converts pictured here will sing praises to him and serve eternally, IN HIS PRESENCE Lastly, we should realize that these people have been starved, tortured and burned during the tribulation. They withstood all of the judgments on the earth and did not receive the beast’s mark despite the consequences. They are reassured here that they will suffer no more, fulfilling the prophesy in Is 49:10. All gather around the throne and worship God. As he delivered his church from the tribulation before it began as God our deliverer, he has now delivered another facet of the body through the tribulation as Emmanuel, God with us. As we move on to chapter 8 in Revelation, the “parenthesis” inserted by chapter 7 now closes and we may continue to read on as the end time events unfold.

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Chapter 8 Revelation Chapter 8- The Seventh Seal Verse 1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.   The opening of the seventh seal indicates that the final section of the scroll is going to be opened and read. Prophets down through the ages have been given visions of the end times, but were often told that the final revelation of God’s will for mankind, and the final chapter in our redemption was still sealed and not yet revealed. Here, God finally gives the Apostle John the revelation of the fulfillment of his plan; he breaks the final seal. Contained in the seventh seal are all seven of the trumpets, with the seven final plagues (or vials) being contained within the seventh trump. The commencement of the seven trumpets begins a period of time known as “the great day of God’s wrath”. Once the trumpet soundings have been completed, Jesus Christ returns to Earth in Chapter 11 to reign for 1000 years,” And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. “ Verses 2-6 7 Trumpets seen And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

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With the opening of the 5th seal we saw the martyred saints looking at the sin and corruption going on in the earth and pleading with God to end injustice upon the earth once and for all. God did not rebuke them for this supplication, but replied that it would be done in time. Now we see this prayer’s fulfillment commence as the seventh and final seal is opened from the scroll; an angel offers the incense of these prayers to God and the rapid succesion of the seven trumpet judgments begins. In Revelation 9:13 this prayer’s realization is seen as a voice from under this same altar loosing four angels upon the earth. As mentioned in a previous chapter, this altar in the heavens is the altar of incense not the sacrificial altar. Both the altar of sacrifice and the altar of incense were in Moses’ earthly temple (Exodus chaps. 27-30), but since the blood of Jesus has made the sacrificial system obsolete there is no longer a need for blood sacrifice in the heavenly temple. The altar of incense where prayers to God are offered is still needful, however. And whom is this angel priest officiating at the altar? In his Lectures on Revelation Ironsides makes the valid point that it is Jesus Christ himself offering these prayers. While the Bible confirms his point is true (he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them), it is important to note that the Holy Spirit, as well as Christ intercede for us today. In Romans 8 Paul writes, ”Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” This same spirit is offering our prayers up upon the heavenly altars with Christ as we pray today, and if we pray according to his will we can rest assured that our prayers are being heard by our father. Verses7-12 The 1st Four Trumpets First trumpet The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

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Isaiah 40:7 reads, ”The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of Jehovah bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass”, and before Nebuchadnezzar’s fall Daniel speaks of him as a great tree due to his pride. The sounding of this first angel unleashes destruction upon 1/3 of all men, in both their weakness and supposed strength before God. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire .(Matt 3:10) Second trumpet And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. We learn that The “great mountain burning with fire” in verse 2 is none other than Babylon when we turn back to Jeremiah 51:25,“Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.” Third trumpet And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. Stars in prophetic scripture symbolize religious leaders and dignitaries, both in the spiritual and physical realms. In verse three we see a great star, possibly a religious leader, fall from his high place, affecting a third part of the fountains and rivers, turning them bitter. The French used wormwood to make absinthe, and it is known for its bitter taste, hence the Greek name “absinthian”, meaning undrinkable. Pastor Scott Anderson of Kalamazoo, MI has preached in detail of the wells and the rivers being the presence of the Holy Spirit. The “well” Christian is saved but only has enough Spirit working in his life to help himself and those close to him, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”- simple salvation.

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The “river” Christian seeks God every moment, and a result the Holy Spirit is a river to him, able to supply the needs of many “He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”- Now more than salvation, the immersion in the Spirit. Whoever this religious dignitary is, or whatever he does, the results will be the worst type of deception, some of which is seen even in today’s church. Though the Holy Spirit has left the earth by this time, people who seek God will still be under the impression that the Spirit dwells within in them and like many in today’s church will open doors for a counterfeit Spirit to enter, hence the bitter rivers and bitter fountains. Brothers in Christ, if you are saved and are asking God’s Spirit to dwell in you continue to seek and it shall be given, it cannot be forced. Jesse Penn Lewis writes of many who become content with false spirits because of pressure from others.      Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Fourth trumpet And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. The fourth Trump will affect the heavens. Jesus describes to his disciples these days of terror prior to his second coming in Luke 21 when he says,”And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” The effects of

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these judgments will affect even the length of days, and the entire heavens will be thrown off balance! Verse 13 Next begin the three woes, with an angel telling us in verse 13 that each of the next three trumpets will bring a woe with it. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! As the final three trumpets sound we are introduced to “the three woes”, a time when the world is now fully turned over to the AntiChrist and his minions. Revelation Chapter 9-The First Two Woes The First Woe (The Fifth Trumpet) Verses1-4 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star having already fallen from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. This star having already fallen is a personality, just as the leaders in the seven churches at the beginning of Revelation are called stars. This star’s name is Lucifer, and Isaiah speaks of him in Is 14:12,”How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!” In Luke 10:18 Jesus also speaks of this star, “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Recall the story of Job, and the story of Jesus’ temptations. Up to the death of Christ, Satan had access to both heaven and Earth. Here however we see him as described as “a star having already fallen from heaven unto the earth”. After his death, subsequent to having preached to the Spirits in Hell, Jesus went into the heavenly temple and purified it,

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much as the Levites did to the Earthly temple. Jesus’ entering into the Holy place in Heaven and purifying it with his blood in heaven is described in the book of Hebrews. Once purified, heaven could no longer tolerate the presence of Satan and his angels and they were removed. At the sound of this Fifth trumpet, the already fallen Satan is given full reign of Earth. God’s restraint is lifted and the keys to Hades that Jesus took from Satan when he died are given back to him to open the bottomless pit. The occupants of the abyss are Satan’s angels who were cast down by God with Satan in Satan’s rebellion. Many of Satan’s Demons rule the earth to this day, but there are also those that are bound. We can see several examples of Demon’s being bound in this pit throughout scripture. When Jesus met the man in Gadarenes who was possessed by many Devils, Jesus commanded the Satanic influences to leave the man. The demons acknowledged the pit and begged Jesus not to send them back there, “And Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.” Jude describes of this abyss of it in verse 6,”And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” There will be those whom God will protect and restrain demonic activity from influencing. These men who have the seal of God on their foreheads are the 144,000 of the tribes of Israel who were sealed by the angel in Re 7:2-8. It may be possible that others will be sealed besides these, but we should not assume this as the word does not state this. In fact the bible is clear that it will be difficult for people to get saved once the tribulation begins as a deception will be upon them so that they cannot believe. Verses 5-12 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had

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hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. The release of these demons introduces Satan’s wrath upon Earth. We know that during this time of terror it will be like Hell on Earth: men will be painfully stung yet will be unable to die, attempting suicide only to find it futile. The king over these Demons is the ruler of the bottomless pit, Nwddba ('abaddown). This entity is mentioned in the Psalms, the Proverbs, and the book of Job, and may have very well been shut up by Christ 2000 years ago when he redeemed mankind. The Second Woe (The Sixth Trumpet) Verses 13-15 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for this hour, day, month, and year to slay the third part of men. These angels are not “good” angels doing the work of God, but dark angels, servants of Satan. These angels have been restrained for thousands of years by believers upon the Earth using the authority that Christ gave them. Once the believers and God’s Spirit were removed from the earth and set before God’s throne, Satan’s restraint was gone, fully loosing his animosity upon man during the sounding of the last three trumpets. Elsewhere in scripture God’s angels engage in restraining evil (Rev 7). These four angels are angels that were bound in the river Euphrates and then let loose, probably along with the other dark angels that were bound. Even in the tribulation God has still shown mercy, restraining some evil until its time. Just as Judas was ordained for his role in Christ’s death, these angels’ destinies reside in this one act of destruction.

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The loosing of these four angels is an answer to the prayer of the martyrs that were slain for the word who are seen under the altar in Rev 6:9-11. An angel offered incense with these prayers at that same altar (Rev 8:3). The voice that commands the loosing of these four angels comes from the same altar that the martyred saints were beneath. 1) Saints under the altar pray for judgment and vengeance (Rev 6:9-11) 2) An angel offers incense with the prayers at this altar (Rev 8:3) 3) Voice from the altar brings judgment, answering the prayers (Rev 9:13) 4) A description of the judgment (man sowing what he reaps) in answer to these patient saints in Rev 6:9-11 (Rev 13:10) Verses 16-21 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. The four angels are loosed from under the River Euphrates and set out influencing mankind to wage a war with armies of 200,000,000 men. It is described as an army of horsemen and not some type of locust or demon. This would seem to indicate armies of man made conventional warfare and not a release of Demons upon the planet. Satan’s influence in religion can also be seen in these verses. Mankind will bend to Satan’s desire that he be worshipped and held above all else; the very reason he was initially expelled with his angelic followers. Next comes the 3rd woe with the seventh trumpet sounding in.

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Chapter 9 Having just witnessed the outpouring of the second woe (sixth trumpet) announced by the angel in Rev 8:13, chapter 10 brings us to another “parenthesis” in the book of Revelation before the third woe begins. The actual chronology of events ceases to exist and we are given an overview of events occurring at this point in the tribulation. This parenthesis continues through verse 12 of chapter 11, at which point the conclusion of the second woe occurs with God’s two witnesses resurrected followed by a great Earthquake in the same hour. Revelation Chapter 10 Verses 1-2 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, This angel coming down from heaven has appeared in chapters 7 and 8 of Revelation, and is the angel of God, not one of Satan’s. The presence of God is associated with clouds throughout the bible in both the Old and New Testament: so a valid contention is that this angel is in fact Jesus Christ: “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And when I saw

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it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” (Ezekiel 1: 2628) “And the angel of Elohiym, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:” (Ex 14:19) “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.” (Lu 9:35) “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” (Ac 1:9) “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” (Re 1:7) This angel is crowned with a rainbow, a reminder that God promised Noah after the flood that he would never destroy all of the earth again. The rainbow seen here in chapter 10 reminds us that there will always be a remnant, and the sign of that same covenant manifests in this time of judgment. The angel has a shining face and has feet as pillars of fire, the same description of Jesus Christ offered in Revelation 1. Jesus, the only one worthy to open the book, holds it open now, all seals broken Verses 3-11 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets. And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up;

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and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, You must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. The lion of the tribe of Judah roars as a fulfillment of Prophecy in Joel 3:16,”Jehovah also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”. After our lion roars seven thunders are heard, possibly the same seven thundering voices of God mentioned in Psalm 29. Spurgeon writes of this Psalm, ”We may, perhaps, by a prophetic glance, behold in this Psalm the dread tempests of the latter days and the security of the elect people “ A Psalm of David. Give unto Jehovah, O you mighty, give unto Jehovah glory and strength. Give unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; worship Jehovah in the beauty of holiness. 1) The voice of Jehovah upon the waters: El of glory thunders, Jehovah upon many waters. 2) The voice of Jehovah powerful; 3)The voice of Jehovah full of majesty. 4) The voice of Jehovah breaks the cedars; yea, Jehovah breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 5) The voice of Jehovah divides the flames of fire. 6) The voice of Jehovah shakes the wilderness; Jehovah shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 7) The voice Jehovah makes the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of glory. Jehovah sits upon the flood; yea Jehovah sits King for ever; Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace. Revelation Chapter 11 Chapter 11 of Revelation is a continuation of chapter 10, as John did not divide Christ’s letter to the seven churches into chapters when he originally wrote it 2000 years ago. The verses that follow should be understood to continue the “parenthesis” begun in chapter 10 that will continue through until the seventh trump in verse 14.   Verses1-2

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And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. In these last times Israel’s temple will be restored by the antichrist as a means of promoting his agenda of world rule. He will make covenant with the Jewish people and restore their system of temple worship and sacrifice. By doing this he will be trying to take focus off of Christ and his one blood sacrifice to all,” Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”(Heb 7:27). Paul wrote of the antichrist’s restoring the temple in his second epistle to the Thessalonian church: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. The reference to a rod throughout the bible and in these first two verses and is an indication that God intends to judge this temple and the people worshipping therein. Moses’ rod judged Egypt, Job accounted his circumstances to God’s rod, and the prophets of Israel spoke often of the rod of wrath and judgment. Revelation 11:2-3 can be synchronized to match 12:14 (a parenthetical chapter) as the same amount of time is mentioned. The time of the two witnesses (1260 days- vs. 3) and the Gentiles treading the temple underfoot (42 months- vs.2) occur during the same period that the Jews who confess Christ are protected by God after Satan attempts to make war with the 144,000. (Rev 12:13-17) Verses3-4 The Two Witnesses-Elijah and Moses/Enoch

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And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. In the last 3-1/2 years of the great tribulation two prophets of God will appear in Jerusalem to preach in Jerusalem against the idolatrous worship that will be going on there. They will be hated but none will have the power to stop them at first, not even the beast, as they will be under divine protection until they have finished their message. These two people are mentioned in Zechariah 4:12-14,”And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by Jehovah of the whole earth.” A thorough study of Zechariah is absolutely needed to have a comprehensive understanding, in context, of the events unfolding in this tribulation period. Verses 5-6 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. Malachi foresaw in chapter 4 of his writings that one of these witnesses is the prophet Elijah,” Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” In addition his past authority parallels the God given powers mentioned here in Revelation; Elijah had the ability to stop rain for 3-1/2years (or about 42 months), and called fire down from heaven on several occasions. Orthodox Jews from Jesus day to present know that Elijah must appear before the coming of the Messiah as evidenced by the cup they place out for Elijah on Passover and by their questioning of John the Baptist’s being Elijah. There are two possible Old Testament prophets who have biblical precedent to fill the role of the second witness. The first prophet is Moses, as he demonstrated two of the abilities used by the witnesses here and appeared with Elijah to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.

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In addition, Paul reminds us of an apocryphal writing in which Michael the archangel disputed with Satan over the body of Moses after his death, a possible sign that God needed Moses body to fulfill the future role as one of the two witnesses mentioned here. The second possible person who some consider to be one of these two prophets is Enoch, as he was taken up without dying just as Elijah was. The writer of Hebrews said, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” Heb 9:27. Since neither Elijah nor Enoch have tasted death, both are potential candidates for these end time prophets. Jude, verses 14-15 identifies Enoch as prophesying the tribulation time written of in the book of Revelation,”And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Verse 7-10 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. Here we see the first mention of the beast in the book of Revelation, one of two personalities (the antichrist being the other) Satan uses on the earth to represent him. Upon killing the two witnesses, the beast enjoys increasing popularity among the people whom they were tormenting. We have seen news footage of victors in battle dragging the enemy’s lifeless bodies around, leaving them out in the open to be spit upon and abused by those who hated them. This scene will be no different, and will be seen on the news throughout an overjoyed world, a world that takes pleasure in sin and hates righteousness. Those who hated them will feel free to vent their ghoulish pride and rage upon the two now unable defend themselves. When John first wrote of this future

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scene there were surely scoffers, as the ability for the whole world to watch this seen as it unfolded was deemed impossible by that time’s technology. Up until 10 years ago people would have been shocked to watch live action combat footage from around the world, and how many around our planet watched in real time as aircraft slammed into the World Trade Centers. God, of course, gets the last laugh because as always, he knows the beginning from the end and his word can be held as true no matter how outlandish it may seem at the time. Verses 11-12 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. Witnesses of an eternal glorious God, these two are televised to the entire world being resurrected with God’s voice broadcast around the planet, an undeniable proof that God is omnipotent!! Verses 13-14 2nd Woe Concludes-Great Earthquake in Jerusalem And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe comes quickly. Chapter 10 began another view, a parenthesis of the events going on during the tribulation period, and now with the rapture of the two witnesses and the earthquake in Jerusalem this parenthesis is done; we have caught up to present events and are about to see the third woe come to pass. Here in vs. 13-14 we see the hearts of men who give glory to God because of the calamity that has befallen their lives. These men, however, are unlikely to be born again and will quickly slide back to their ways. The praise seen here is not the result of an inward conversion but of temporary fear that, once passed, will be forgotten and left to the dark recesses of memory.

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Chapter 10 The Days of the Seventh Angel Sounding Revelation Chapter 11 (Cont.) Chronologically, the heavenly praise in revelation 11:15-19 happens immediately after the second woe has ended with the great earthquake, in Jerusalem, and continues without interruption in chapter 15. Everything written between chapters 12 to 15 is to be considered another divine overview or “parenthesis” detailing events occurring during the days of the seventh trump. Verse 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. The unfolding world history and the eventual kingdom of God praised here were foreseen by Daniel in Chapters 2, 3, 6& 7 of the book he penned thousands of years ago. The rest of this chapter in Revelation is devoted to praise and the manifestation of God’s presence, a precursor to the third woe beginning in chapter 16 with the outpouring of the 7 vials of Gods wrath. Verses 16-18 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who is, and was, and is to come; because you have taken your great

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power, and have reigned. And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. The elders’ praise in this verse should be understood as a statement that spans over several centuries. These events will be spread out over the next 1000 years that the rest of the book of Revelation covers. The first statement,” And the nations were angry “refers to the nations gathering together at Armageddon. The dead outside of Christ are judged in revelation 20 after Christ’s 1000 year reign and are here spoken of with, ”and the time of the dead, that they should be judged.” The next sentence,“ and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great” describes the rewarding of God’s saints which takes place during the tribulation period. The final judgment of Satan and his demons is addressed with, ”and should destroy them which destroy the earth.” Verse 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. In the Old Testament the ark of the testament was the presence of God amidst the nation Israel. Throughout Israel’s trials and testing there was always protection and deliverance in the presence of the ark. Here we see that despite the midst of the tribulation upon the earth, God reveals to the inhabitants of earth that there is still safety and deliverance for those who call upon God, though few will do so.

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Chapter 11 Chapter 12 begins a parenthetical section of Revelation which continues through chapter 14. The Seventh Trump has sounded and before the seven bowl judgments contained within the 7th trump begin, several overviews are given in chapters 12-14. Chapter 12 is a summation to date of the war in heaven between Satan and God, resulting in Satan’s being cast out of heaven with his angels some time past. Chapter 13 gives a review of the tribulation antichrist, with angels prophetically proclaiming what tribulation events are yet to come in Chapter 14 Chapter 12 can be broken down into two sections. Verses 1-7 are a history of Satan’s Conflict with Israel and her seed Jesus, and the battle between Satan’s powers and God’s since as long as man can recall. Verses 9-17 are Satan’s being cast down to Earth and out of Heaven permanently sometime in our future (Most likely after the rapture) and his subsequent attacks on the Jews and persecution of the tribulation believers We should first note that the woman seen in verses 1 and 2 is a “wonder” or a “sign” seen by the prophet John, and not a literal person which lives in the very end of times. The Greek word which is translated as wonder here is semeion (say-mi'-on) which is translated in the New Testament as sign, mark, miracle, wonder or token. This words root is semainw (say-mah'-ee-no) which means to signify or to

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make known; to give a sign (Jn 12:33, 18:32, 21:19; Ac 11:28, 25:27; Re 1:1). Revelation Chapter 12 Verse 1-2 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. This woman is Israel, with the 12 stars being the 12 tribes or sons of Jacob. Joseph’s similar vision in Genesis contained 11 stars, the missing 12th star being himself. Despite his brothers’ and father’s offence about this vision, his father did keep it in mind. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to you to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. The Old Testament alludes to Israel’s sons as being these stars Psalm 147:4 says, “He tells the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names,” and The prophet Isaiah speaks of Satan’s attempt to exalt himself over the stars, ”For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north The Hebrew word for star in these verses is bkwk (ko-kawb') and is used elsewhere in the Old Testament for The Messiah as Jacob’s (aka Israel) descendant (Nu 24:17) The nation of Israel being pained in delivery of the Messiah is foreshadowed in Genesis 3. God tells Eve,” I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children”. This pronouncement that God gives to Eve is not a curse but describes what God must do now that sin has entered the earth. In John 16 Jesus says, ”Verily, verily, I say unto you, That you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And

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you now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you. Verses 3-4 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, to devour her child as soon as it was born. (Is 14, Ez 28) Verse three again uses the Greek word used in verse one for “wonder”- the word actually meaning a sign or symbol. The crowns seen on the dragons head are not the victor’s wreaths as seen in heaven, but a royal crown, or “diadem”. These crowns represent Satan’s dominion and the rulers he will use. This is an event which happened in ages past when Satan was thrown from heaven (but still had access to it) and 1/3 of the angels went with him. Some, but not all of the angels were confined to the bottomless pit (2Pe, Jude). with the word “stars” referring to angels (Job 38, Lucifer is called the morning star in the Bible). At Jesus’ birth, unsuccessful attempts were made by Satan to destroy the Messiah as occurred when Satan influenced Herod to kill all the children in Bethlehem, which he hoped would include Jesus. The woman here is the Jewish nation. Verse 5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (See Ro 9:1-2) The nation of Israel is the Mother from whom the physical Messiah was born. He died, was resurrected, and was caught up to God. Verse 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. This describes the history of Satan’s attempting to destroy the nation of Israel, and as with the previous “wonder”, should be seen as a sign, a vision. The time of 1260 days occurs several times in both the old and new testaments. What is described here is Israel’s being protected from

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the dragon for a period of 3&1/2 years during the tribulation. Daniel mentions 3&1/2 years of relative world peace followed by 3&1/2 years of terror after the church is taken up and before Christ returns for his Millennial reign. Throughout the Old Testament, there are vivid descriptions of entire royal families being slaughtered but always leaving one unknown survivor in the blood line of Jesus. In Genesis 3 God tells Satan,” And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Satan moved Cain to slay his brother, Satan caused Esau to want to kill his brother, and Pharaoh to slaughter the male newborns in Egypt. In Esther, Satan moved against King Ashasuharus to kill all Jews, and moved Herod to kill the children at the time of the birth of Jesus. When Jesus was finally born Satan even tried to kill him, but didn’t succeed through Herod. Satan inspired people through out Jesus’ life to kill him. When Jesus was resurrected, Satan can be seen attempting to kill the body of Christ through the Roman church itself! Verse 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Ever since the day that Satan fell there has been a war in heaven and on Earth. An example of this war in the heavenlies is in the book of Daniel chapter 10. Daniel had been praying and fasting for 21 days. When an angel finally shows up he explains that he was held up by the Prince of the kingdom of Persia and had to wait until the archangel Michael arrived to help him. The Prince of Persia is not a person, as a human being would not be able to oppose the power of an angel of God. This prince is a principality, a delegate of Satan, given responsibility to move the Powers of Persia towards Satan’s influences and away from God’s (Eph 6:12, Isa 24:21) Persia is the Kingdom of Babylon and throughout the bible references to Babylon refer to idolatrous, deceptive ways of Satan’s workings and Kingdom. Evidence of Satan and his Angels having access to heaven as well as the earth is found in Job. Verses 8-10

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And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. In Rev 6:10 we see the same song being sung in heaven by the martyrs. Rev 12:10 is the same moment in time as Revelation 6:10; Revelation 6:10 is part of the actual chronology of Revelation, Rev 12 is an overview of Satan’s fall. These two verses are important as they allow us to synchronize Rev 12 somewhat into the whole book of Revelation. The Martyrs sing a song of praise here that Satan has been cast down to Earth. From this we learn the Satan is reigning on Earth and out of Heaven by the fifth seal. This would also correspond to the saints being removed from the earth in the 1st to third seals, with Satan’s reign on earth beginning at the opening of the 4th seal. Verse 10 gives us another example of Satan’s being in heaven in the past as it says here that he accused the brethren before our God. Verses 11-12 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. Verses 11&12 speak to the tribulation inhabitants of Earth, acknowledging that Satan has been thrown out of heaven and is now terrorizing the earth. They rejoice as he is no longer in heaven. It is written in the Bible that we deal not with flesh and blood but powers and principalities, that we war in the heavenlies, that what we bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven. Once Satan is cast down into the pit this will no longer be true, as Satan will have no authority or place outside of the Earthly realm. Satan’s anger has now been limited to the planet. “and they loved not their lives unto the death” There is no guarantee to the Christian soldier that they not die because of their allegiance to Jesus

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Christ. Obedience to God is to be valued as greater than their own lives. The only way that the Christian can do this is to Overcome by the blood of the lamb, and the word of their testimony. That testimony is an essential part of the victory and is expressed not as words but as a lifestyle. Verses 13-14 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. The term a time, and times, and half a time can easily be read as 3 1/2 years, since a “time” represents one year and “times” (plural) is two years. This period can be harmonized with Rev 11:2-3, the time of the two witnesses during the 6th trump (42 months) and the amount of time the Gentiles will tread the temple (1260 days). Rev 12:13 also harmonizes with Parenthetical Rev 13:5”and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” Verses 15-17 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Verses 15-17 describe Satan’s attack upon the Earth (42 months) Satan will persecute the Jewish nation as never before but they will be sheltered by God. Verse 17 tells of the Dragon being angry with the nation of Israel, and that he goes to make war with the remnant of her seed-the 144,000. They however, are protected by God’s seal. Revelation Chapter 13-History of the Tribulation Antichrist

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And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Dan 11: 45) Chapter 13 is another parenthetical chapter. It summarizes the history of the antichrist on the Earth. From this text it appears he will have power for 3 1/2 years. This coincides with the last half of the tribulation period from the 4th seal’s opening to the return of Christ. (Compare Rev 13: 5, Rev 11:2-3, and Rev 12:13) Verses 1-6 And he stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. The 10 crowned beast with the attributes of the leopard, lion, and bear spoken of in verse 2 are also seen in Daniel 7. This beast is Satan, and the animal's attributes given him here represent the great empires that have influence the world to this day. These great empires have had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season, meaning that though the empires have vanished, their practices and systems are still in use today and will be used by Satan. An extremely important note to verse one must be exclamated. Many translations state, “and I stood upon the sand of the sea” leading to confusion that this beast which is seen is the antichrist. As pointed out by H.A, Ironsides, the best manuscripts say, “and HE stood upon the sand of the sea”, that is Satan-the dragon. Verses 7-8

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And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Somewhere between this point and chapter 14 when the tares are harvested, all remaining believers on the earth will either be martyred or taken up in the harvest. The beast is given victory over the saints of God and they are killed, having been martyred and preserved in the book of life. No one else’s name is blotted from the book of life, nor are any believers of Christ present on the earth. Somewhere between this point and chapter 14 all the world will worships the beast, and all will receive the mark of the beast (vs. 16). All remaining believers will be gone from the face of the earth until Christ’s return with them to set up the millennial kingdom. Verse 9-10 If any man have an ear, let him hear. In chapters 2 and 3 of revelation the phrase “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches” is used seven times. In this verse here, however, a different phrase is used to say the same thing. The reason is obvious; no reference is made to the church or the Spirit anymore because it is no longer present on the earth. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Verse 10 has to do with the saints under the altar of God in chapter 6, who are crying out for justice to be served. They were told to be patient, or to “rest“until the martyring of saints was complete. Now that there are no more saints, the inhabitants of the earth will have no more mercy. Verse 10 tells of those who sow wickedness now reaping wickedness, these being all the inhabitants of earth. Verses 11-18 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exercised all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight

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of men, And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. The bible addresses two separate religious deceptions: a false Christ and a false church. These are not to be confused with one another. The false Christ is referred to personally as “he”, and apostate religious systems are referred to as “she”. The prophetic antichrist is detailed in Daniel 11:36 on through chapter 12 (see appendix). The false Messiah will most likely be a Jew who will establish the Jewish nation, and then cast off restraint and proclaim himself as God Revelation Chapter 14 -7 Prophetic Visions Chapter 14 presents a parenthetical chapter and as is the case in chapter 7, is not to be chronologically “sandwiched” between the chapters on either side of it. It is a prophetic vision of events yet to arrive in the actual time line of Revelation In Chapter 7 we paused at the opening of the seventh seal. Now, at the sounding of the seventh horn we pause before the seven vial judgments are poured in chapters 15 & 16. In Chapter 7 (the first parenthetical section) we see the 144,000 in Ministry; in chapter 14 (the second parenthetical section) we see the 144,000 receiving their reward from The Lord AFTER the tribulation will have ended. There are 7 prophetic visions in chapter 14. The first is of the 144,000 receiving their future reward. In a previous chapter it was shown that the 144,000 are clearly Jewish, and are not to be mistaken for the church. The remaining 6 visions are prophetic messages given by angels. Verses 1-5 The 144,000

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And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. Zeph 3:9-20-A Prophetic Description of the 144,000 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. In that day you shall not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein you have transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of you them that rejoice in your pride, and you shall no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. I will also leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of Jehovah. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Jehovah has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of you: thou shall not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not: and to Zion, Let not your hands be slack. Jehovah Elohiym in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you: and I will save her that halts, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Jehovah.

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Prophetic Angelic Announcements Using the Angels as an outline, we can summarize the rest of chapter 14 as 6 prophetic announcements to the remaining people of God on this earth: 1) 14:6-7 - An angel announces the declaration of the Gospel to the entire earth 2)14:8 -and there followed another angel 3) 14:9- and there was a third angel The appearance of these three angels is followed by the appearance Jesus, then by three more angels 1) 14:15 another angel 2) 14:17 another angel 3) 14:18 another angel 1st Angel -The Preaching of the Gospel to all nations God in the past had used men to declare the gospel, and God continued to do so in the tribulation by using the two witnesses and the sealed 144,000. Now, in this first announcement of chapter 14, God bypasses the human element, and one last time has the gospel presented to all of the earth by an angel seen in the heavens. The angel does not present a call to be saved, nor does he only implore mankind to accept Christ as savior. Instead, mankind in these last days must come to know God as creator of all. This last Gospel announcement is not just the gospel of salvation, but “the everlasting gospel”: the earth must give all glory and worship to God who created them. Verses 6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. In Matthew 24:13-14 Jesus tells his disciples: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

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Unfortunately this passage is taken out of context by many who claim that the second coming of Christ (which they incorrectly identify as the rapture instead of his millennial kingdom) will be ushered in by the church’s ability to finally preach the gospel of Christ to the entire world. Scripture is clear, however that the 144,000 will have a part in this, with the final fulfillment being the angel seen here. Jesus clearly says ...and then the end will come... meaning NOT the rapture, but the end. Verse 8 2nd Angel- The Destruction of Babylon And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. While Revelation 17 and 18 are devoted to the destruction of Babylon, this angel issues a prophetic announcement of its sure fall. The angel repeats the word fallen several times to emphasize the surety of its eventual total destruction, as did Isaiah in Is 21:9 when he prophesied Babylon’s fall in our past. This historical fall in the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the “future fall” of Babylon mentioned here in Revelation. In Genesis 10 and 11 Nimrod founded Babylon and fostered a proud and adulterous people. In the book of Daniel we see Babylon being used by God as the instrument of Israel’s punishment. In Isaiah 21:9 Babylon’s destruction is prophesied. Jeremiah says,” Babylon is the land of Graven images and they are mad upon their idols”. When we review the bible we see the word Babylon not only meaning the literal city, but also meaning Satan’s way of doing things, the world system of the beast. Verses 9-11 3rd Angel- The Judgment of the Beast’s Followers And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no

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rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Here, God again sends one of his angels to give a clear message to the world. As it is today, during the tribulation there will be many false teachings of the way to heaven. God will clearly and simply outline the truth to the entire world by this angel. Either worship God and be damned by the beast, or worship the beast and be damned by God. It will be clear who one worships, as they will be marked already. Verses 12-13 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. These verses give us the second of seven beatitudes in the book of revelation, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.“ This verse can be taken to mean that all those who claim Christ as savior from this point forth will enter into eternal life, and will be spared from the tribulation upon the earth. It truly will be better from this point on to suffer as a martyr for Christ than to live. When Paul wrote,” But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I know not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”, it was more needful for him to spread the Gospel of Jesus. In this dispensation, however, the 144,000 have been commissioned to go forth and preach-and with God’s protection. The mere convert will not have much effect in these days. Rev 14:14-16 The 4th Angel-Separation of the Tares from the Wheat And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

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The Son of Man is first to reap. He reaps the elect which remain on the earth and they are removed. We see them in heaven at the beginning of the next chapter. All that remains on the Earth are the unsaved- the sinner. Verses17-20 5th and 6th Angels- The Battle of Armageddon/Judgment of the Tares And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs After the wheat and tares have been separated, the tares will be burned and judged. This occurs at the upcoming battle of Armageddon. Remember, the 6 angels in this chapter are making PROPHETIC ANNOUNCEMENTS - chapter 14 is not meant to be in the chronology. We will read of these prophecies fulfilled as we continue through the book. Chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel reveal a prophetic description of the “latter years”, events leading to and including the battle of Armageddon. Chapter 39:9-12 describes it taking 7 years to dispose of the weapons used in the battle, and seven months to bury the dead. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision.The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. Jehovah also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3: 12-16) Psalm 2 also contains a Messianic psalm of this Vision as do the following verses:

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He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Matt 13:37-43) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Matt 13:47-50) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Dan 12:1-3) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mt 24:31)

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Chapter 12 Revelation Chapter 15 is the introduction to the last set of sevens in the book, the seven vial judgments. Both the Greek text and English translation of verse 1 make it clear that these are the final judgments. All seven of these vial judgments are included within the seventh trumpet. Chapters 15 and 16 continue where we left off in chapter 11:15, as everything from 11:15 to chapter 15 has been an overview, or parenthesis. Chapters 15 and 16 announce the last judgments before the second coming of Christ in chapter 19:11. As the preceding chapter (14) was a parenthetical chapter at the end of the seven trumpets, chapters 17 and 18 will also be parenthetical at the end of the 7 vial judgments contained in chapters 15 and 16 Revelation Chapter 15 Verses 1-2 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Here in verse 2 John is having a vision of heaven, describing it similarly elsewhere in Revelation. The people here are clearly the martyred tribulation Christians who did not submit to the beast (see Rev 13:7-10). This is the fulfillment of the prophetic vision given to John in Rev 7:9. Harps are given to the martyred saints along with the saints who were taken up at the beginning of the tribulation (chapter 5) and the 144,000 (chapter 14) Verses 3-4 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are your ways, King of saints. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for you alone are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments are made manifest. The Song of Moses was sung in Exodus 15 and this has parallels to the Israelites’ deliverance from the captivity in Egypt. When using the term

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“Song of Moses”, John may be referring to a praise song like this that speaks in a general way of God’s deliverance. There is however a song that Moses sang in Deuteronomy 32 that speaks directly to this situation (De 32:1-43) and could be literally sung by these tribulation saints also Verses 5-6 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles: The tabernacle of testimony (The Holy Place) was always closed to everyone but the high priest who only went in once per year to offer sacrifice. The absolute purity and justice of God’s judgment only exists because he is a perfect and holy God. Thus, the Holy place opens, and the final justice from God emanates in the form of 7 angels clothed in pure white linen. God sent his law and his prophets and they were rejected. God sent his son to redeem the world and he was killed. In the tribulation God sent 2 witnesses, the 144,000, and the angel who preached the Gospel to the world and there still remain those who reject God. God’s only option as a merciful and just God is to now give judgment. Verses 7-8 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. When God gave his law Mt Sinai was covered in smoke (Ex 19:18) When Isaiah was cleansed in the temple there was smoke in the temple (Is 6:1-4) , and when Aaron offered sacrifice on the day of atonement a cloud of smoke covered the mercy seat. Smoke is present when judgment comes. Revelation Chapter 16- The Third Woe Chapter 16 begins God’s final judgment, or, the third woe which consists of the remaining vial judgments. The men who will not drink the cup of God’s mercy and salvation so repeatedly offered to them will

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have to drink the cup of his wrath. There are only two choices given and God, throughout history, has made that fact clear to mankind. First vial -verses1-2 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. Second vial -verse 3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. Third vial -verses 4-7 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord,who was, and is, and is to come, because you have judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments. Fourth vial-verses 8-9 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, who had power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. Fifth vial-verses 10-11 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. Armageddon gathers, Jesus tells John, “I come as a thief” Sixth vial-verses 12-17 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. Christ’s return is imminent now, thus the words, “Behold, I come as a thief “The third of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation is also

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found in verse 15. Armageddon refers to a mountain which overlooks a great plain in the northern part of Palestine. Napoleon once commented that it would make an ideal battlefield for all the armies of the earth. The river Euphrates is dried up, a thing that would have seemed impossible in John’s time. This prophecy has already begun to be fulfilled, however. After the first war in Iraq, many Iraqi ex-patriots found their way to the United States in Michigan in the mid to late 1990’s. After having moved there in 2001, I became friends with Haider, a young man whom had spent years in refugee camps before finally coming to Michigan. He was from a small town that he described was along the river’s wetland’s, and he told stories of Sadaam’s successful attempts to strangle their livelihood by slowly cutting off the rivers supply to his area. At present it would take little effort at all on man’s part, much less God’s, to stop the flow. Seventh Vial-verses 17-21 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great God’s judgment upon the earth is complete. There will be no further judgments upon the earth. The next event to occur in our chronology is the return of Christ in chapter 19. Before Christ returns, parenthetical chapters 17 and 18 review the events of Babylon’s rise and its perilous fall. Remember that the term Babylon does not necessarily apply only to the city bearing that name, but to the antichrist’s system of governing.

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Chapter 13 The Rise and Fall of Babylon I have attempted to be comprehensive in showing that the Babylon written of in Revelation chapters 17& 18 is in fact the Roman system. It is superfluous for me elaborate further, as the most thorough and time tested work of this subject exists in Alexander Hyslop’s book The Two Babylon’s. I found that the more I elaborated on the woman in Revelation 17 and the mystery of Babylon, the more I included Hyslop’s treatise to give a complete picture. Revelation 17&18 is a retrospective of Babylon’s destruction. In chapter 14 an angel prophesied Babylon’s imminent destruction, followed by the actual fall in chapter 16 (6th vial). Now in chapter 17 one of those angels pulls John aside and says, “Let me stop the movie for a second and show you in detail what just happened”. Chapters 17&18 are not a chronological continuation of Revelation, but a focused review of Babylon’s rise and fall during the end times When Babylon is mentioned in the bible, it not only means the literal past and future cities of Babylon, but the world system of doing things and the world view of false religion that arose from this city; a religion which leads away from the true God and towards man and his glorification. Babylon first appears in Genesis 10 and was founded by Nimrod and his wife, Semiramis. She was worshipped in other cultures of the world as Rhea, the Syrian goddess Astarte, Isis, and Venus. All of these religions’ worship of a high priestess was founded in the Babylonian system, as they all include a “queen of heaven”. According to the Babylonian legend, Rhea’s son, Tammuz, was slain and then resurrected after his mother wept for forty days. We see here the beginnings of the idolatrous worship of mother and child, a Babylonian system echoed in the Assyrian Rhea and son Tammuz, the Phoenician Astarte and Baal, The Egyptian Isis and Osiris, the Indian Isi and Iswara, the Asian Cybele and Deoius, the Greek Aphrodite and Eros, and the Roman Fortuna and Jupiter. The 40 days of weeping is a common denominator in much mother/child worship in the world, and its present carry-over can be seen in the observation of lent.

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In the worship of these idols, cakes and wafers were offered by the believers to the one known as the queen of heaven. The mourning for her son was honored by abstaining and fasting for 40 days followed by a feast for the resurrected son. The Assyrians celebrated the feast of Ishtar with a huge meal at which participants exchanged “Ishtar eggs”. Ezekiel 8 portrays the Babylonian religions corruption of Israel. Women are weeping for Tammuz in the temple, an abomination. God tells Ezekiel he will deal with the nation furiously, because of this foreshadowing the same event in Revelation chapter 16. Jeremiah 44:15 describes the Babylonian system defiling pure worship including the Jews worship of the Queen of Heaven. At the beginning of the Roman Empire, Emperor Julius Caesar, was elected” Pontifex Maximus” and deified, with successive Emperors of Rome maintaining this status. When the Emperors were no more, the pagan bishops of Rome assumed the emperor’s spiritual responsibilities. In his work The Two Babylons, Alexander Hyslop describes relates that the Catholic College of Cardinals, with the Pope as its head, is the counterpart of the Pagan College of Pontiffs, with the pagan "Pontifex Maximus," or "Sovereign Pontiff.” This religion was formed in Rome long before the empire was great. He states that it was based on the grand original Council of Pontiffs at Babylon. The Pontiff of our day claims lead in the Church as the successor of Peter, because it was believed that Jesus gave him alone the keys of the kingdom. However, few know that up until the Pope was given this office, (for 1000 years the previous pagan “pontifex” claimed authority of the pagan keys of Janus and Cybele) there was never a claim to these keys made by the early church popes. 200 years before Jesus, the worship of Cybele was introduced into Rome. The same goddess, (named Cardea, with the key) was revered in Rome with Janus, long before. Constantine became Emperor (4th century) and legislated Christianity, ordaining the pagan bishops of Rome into the Pontiffs of Constantine’s Christianized Roman Empire. In 378AD the bishop of Rome, Damascus, was appointed Pontifex Maximus and became the successor to the BABYLONIAN PONTIFFS!! He is the first “pope” of what we recognize as the current Roman Catholic Church. Instead of recognizing the church of Christ that had existed and suffered under

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Roman persecution, Constantine legitimized the Babylonian system. Under the name Jesus Christ Pagan rituals and rules were now called Christianity. In 385 (after Pontiff Damascus) the next Roman bishop, Syricius, introduced the apostasy mentioned in 1Ti 4:3. The now fulfilled prophecy of the compromised church in Rev 2:18-29 (The Thyatiran church) is the shadow of the apocalyptic false religion prophesied in our future. In Matthew 13:24-34 Jesus describes this corruption of God’s kingdom, with the entire chapter being Jesus’ speaking of the end of the world and the Babylonian system. Revelation Chapter 17 Verses 1-6 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. At this point the reader should read the 51st chapter of Jeremiah, for the prophesy addresses these verses directly. Women are often used to illustrate religious systems in Revelation. Jezebel is used in chapter 2, the woman clothed with the sun is seen in chapter 12 describing Israel, and the bride of Christ is called the church of God. This established, the woman here represents the Babylonian religious system. Verse 3 speaks of seven heads and ten horns. There are varied opinions on this symbolism, offering no absolute basis for any single view. I will agree on the view that these rulers will exist as a political

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organization established by the beast and the woman during the tribulation period. Verses 1-4 affiliate this false religious system with spiritual adultery. Nowhere in the Bible are heathen nations described as adulterous. Only those who masquerade as worshipping Jehovah while worshipping and serving other God’s are deemed adulterers (Jas 4:4). The woman on the beast is that church that proclaims sanctification from the world into covenant with one bridegroom, but receives its laurels and value from the world system. She sits on the beast. Regarding verse 6, it is estimated that during the reformation of the mid 16th century, the church in Rome executed close to a million Protestants in about 30 years. Tens of thousands of Huguenots perished as martyrs in the Huguenot wars that followed the massacre of 4,000 in 1572. In the 15th- 19th centuries century Spanish believers were martyred and over 1,000,000 exiled at the orders of the church. It should be noted that coins minted by the Roman Catholic Church have actually borne the image of a woman with the golden cup in her hand. To add insult, she is also coined in the midst of seven hills. Verses 7-15 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space,. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he said unto me, The

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waters which thou saw, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Verse 8 discloses that the woman is in league with the beast. An obvious reference to Rome is found in verse 9. The world recognizes that Rome was built upon 7 hills. Virgil, Horace, Propertius, and Martial have all written of this fact. Even the last pagan Pontifex Maximus, Symmachus, introduces a friend in a letter, identifying him as, “De septem montibus virum” translated, “a man from the seven mountains”. At that time this meant the man was a Roman citizen. Peter even identifies Rome as Babylon in 1Peter 5:13,”The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son...” Verses 10 and 11 describe five kings that are fallen (At the time of John’s writing these were Julius Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero), one that reigns (the reigning Caesar at the time was Domitian), and the final one yet to come in the true restoration of the Babylonian system is the Roman ruling antichrist who has yet join to forces with the end time religion. The Roman Empire in the book of Daniel (legs of Iron) had ten toes- the future Roman confederation. We have not seen these ten toes yet. They will be rulers in league with the end times “Roman Empire”. Verses 16-18 And the ten horns which thou saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou saw is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. In verse 18 the angel tells John that the woman in this prophetic vision is the great city that, at the time of John’s writing, ruled the earth Rome. No other city or culture has ever affected the world and religion as it has. In the end once the world religion no longer serves the antichrist’s purposes he and the 10 future political pawns of the beast will turn on the religious system of that day and destroy Rome and its system, setting himself up as God and the only one to be worshipped. (Rev 14:8,

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16:19). This has already been foreshadowed in the fulfilled prophecy of Daniel 11, when Antiochus made agreements with the Jews, broke those agreements and desecrated the temple placing an abomination in it. Revelation Chapter 18- Babylon’s fall Verses 1-3  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Being a reflection of chronological events, these verses can be synchronized to the second angel’s prophetic announcement in 14:8, and also seen to introduce the wrath of the second vial foretold in 16:19. A review of the word “Babylon’s origin, warrants an important note here. Most have been taught that the place was first called Babel because the Bible says it was here that God confused the language of the earth, this is true. What most “Christians” do not realize is the word’s other origin as stated in Gerhard Von Rad’s wonderfully dry and objective Commentary on Genesis. Von Rad observes, that we should recall God’s judgment at the tower. Our meaning of the word Babel (from balal,"mix up") was invented, for Bab-El literally means “gate of God.” What is really revealed in the story of Bab-El is men reaching for recognition and pride and setting themselves against God. Von Rad then explains at length the relationship between repeated sin in biblical primeval history and God’s repeated judgments against that sin. During and after the judgments, God’s desire to save is always reappears, and ‘where sin increased, grace abounded all the more’ (Rom 5:20). The difference about the Tower of Bab-El story is that there is no word of grace afterwards. It seems as if because of this one event God’s mercy has changed and he is suddenly unwilling to save. Oh dreadful thought!! Once the reader realizes this he can then truly appreciate the

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strange new “grace” that appears after Bab-El’s fall; the calling and blessing of Abraham, in whom our faith has an example. Verses 4-7 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she said in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. An exhaustive study of Jeremiah and Isaiah will yield volumes on these final days of Babylon, with many chapters of the other prophets doing likewise. The visions seen by these men give the horrific details of both the past and future falls of this city and religious system that so dominates today’s religion. Verses 8-10 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. Though they helped to establish this new world in the first years after the saints rapture, The 10 kings and the beast will turn against it once it has served it’s purpose. Then the antichrist will set himself up as the one solely to be worshipped. This system is well under way in our day, and to incorporate the influences of the Roman church and other pagan religions on our walk with Jesus is to embrace a false savior. Many will not let go, however, due millennia of idolatry embedding its malignant tentacles deep into the marrow of our souls. The kings who have aided in cities destruction now mourn as over 6000 years of instinctive worship ends. Much as Jesus wishes to, Satan has now removed all forms of idolatry outside of himself, and it seems

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all mankind must now embrace their only savior, in the flesh, and admit he is the Messiah!! Woe Woe Woe, inhabitants of earth!! Verses 11-19 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all her wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. As the antichrist fortifies his image as the true Messiah, the world now engages in forced grief over the loss of its carnal pleasures. One can read centuries of Gnostic and monastic writing in which mortifying one’s appetites is revered as a path to God. When Jesus Christ is finally found and God’s Holy Spirit truly dwells in the believer, he undergoes a reaction of joy and freedom from his carnal nature, and if needed is able to endure the pain of being refined as there is a real hope set before him save God’s presence. Spiritual comfort, however, escapes those that seek the carnal pleasures which have now been destroyed; they will eternally seek that which they can never have. This false Messiah is all they can see and feel; these are the damned of which James writes, “Go to now, ye rich

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men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be yourselves also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh. Verses 20-24 Rejoice over her, heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in you; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in you; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Compare verse 20 here with a description of the same events in Jeremiah 51:63-64,“And it shall be, when thou have made an end of reading this book, that you shall bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And you shall say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. “ It is clear from chapters 17 and 18 that after the final vial judgments and the fall of Babylon, there are still nations left to mourn Babylon’s fall.

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Chapter 14 The corrupt world system has been destroyed and God’s final judgments upon an un-repentant people have been completed. The captain of our faith returns to establish his kingdom Revelation Chapter 19 Verses 1-5 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great. The Day of the Lord -Christ’s Return Behold, the day of the LORD comes, and your spoil shall be divided in the midst of you.For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of

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the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south (Zec 14: 1-4.) Verses 6-10 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousnesses the of saints. And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy The fourth of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation applies to those attending the marriage supper of the Lamb. Before Jesus died he told his disciples of this very moment when he said,” But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” The glory of God’s true church can now be revealed since the false church, or false bride has been destroyed. The fine linen described in verse 8 as the “righteousness of the saints” in the KJV, should have been rendered more literally “the righteousnesses”, meaning that the fine linen is the “righteous acts of the saints”. This righteousness is not the imputed righteousness of Christ, but the manifestation of the bride’s rewards. Each of us needs to look at our life here on earth and take an honest inventory of the type of linens we will wear on that day. No doubt there will be some of us who show up to this supper adorned with the many great things we did in Christ, as a result of his dwelling within us. There will be those who arrive at the dinner, however, thankful of being saved

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by God’s grace, but having no apparel to wear because they did not act on God’s gift deposited in them. Pastor Greg Dickow of Chicago put it well when he said that though you may get into heaven, some will have a lot more to be thankful of and have more to show for their life on earth than others,“after the party, someone’s going to have to pick up the candy wrappers in heaven “ Verses 11-15 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this event in Isaiah 63,” Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why are you red in your apparel, and your garments like him that treads in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore my own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in my anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.” Verses 16-21 And he had on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh

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of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Here we have the fullfillment of the angels prophecy discussed in Rev 14:17-20: The destruction of the tares. The rider on the white horse is Jesus Christ, but unlike the church and elders seen in the previous verses, the crown upon his head is not the crown of a victor’s wreath (stefanov-stephanos). It is the “diademadiadema” this time, the crown of royalty and of Kings. Those riding forth with him are his church and all saints, including those saints butchered under the reign of the antichrist. Another note should be taken in verse 17, as a second supper is mentioned, the supper of the great God. There are two separate suppers in chapter 19, they are not both part of the marriage supper of the lamb. First is the marriage supper of the lamb, a time of joy and festivity, with clean garments and awards meted out. This occurs in heaven concurrently with the great tribulation on earth. Afterwards Christ and his armies return to put an end to the iniquity on earth and prepare for his thousand year reign. This harvesting of tares by Christ is what is meant by the supper of the great God. The dragon will be cast into the lake of fire, and the kings of the earth will be slain by the word proceeding from Christ’s mouth (his word). The first supper will be festive, the second unfathomable in its destruction. Christ Sets Up Millennial Kingdom The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.And many people shall go and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the Elohiym of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will

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walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:1-4) Revelation Chapter 20 Verses 1-7 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. The fifth of seven Beatitudes in Revelation occurs in verse 6, “...Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection...” Christ returns to the earth with the armies of God and Satan is bound for 1000 years. This reign of Christ manifests in the lifting of the curse from Genesis 3, and the remnant of mankind that has survived the final judgments sees reprieve from the 7 years of tribulation. Clarification is needed on the term “first resurrection” in verses 5 and 6. The first resurrection only consists of those that are, or were, believers in Christ. The first resurrection includes Christ, dead believers that were taken up with the living in the rapture, the Old Testament saints, and martyred tribulation believers. These all will live on the earth with the tribulation’s survivors during these 1000 years of messianic rule; a rule that was in fact was already evidenced thousands of years ago in Jewish Talmudic writings.

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Just as Pharaoh appointed Joseph over Egypt and Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel ruler of Babylon, the prophets assert that David will be the King put in authority by Christ during this millennial reign. 400 years after David’s death, Jeremiah prophesies of the world tribulation (the time of Jacob’s trouble) and the subsequent reign of David, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, says Jehovah of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve Jehovah their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them...” Jer 30:7-9. Confirming David’s future reign in chapter 34:23, Ezekiel prophesies to the shepherds of Israel who fed themselves instead of their flocks,” And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.” Finally, another of Jehovah’s spokesmen speaks to Israel’s present state, and to David’s reigning over their future in Hosea 3:4-5.”For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek Jehovah Elohiym, and David their king; and shall fear Jehovah and his goodness in the latter days.” As a reward, many resurrected saints will be given rule over the earth under Christ and David’s kingdom. Jesus alluded to this in Matt 19:28 when he said,”Verily I say unto you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel “    In Matt 16:27 Jesus says that he will come with his angels and reward every man according to his works. Later in chapter 25, Jesus further illustrates the hour of his return with the parable of the talents: those who were good stewards of what the master entrusted them with were rewarded with varying degrees of rule. The apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the church at Corinth remarks, ” Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”

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Biblical accounts of the peace, prosperity and joy during this dispensation are too numerous to mention when one reads the Prophets of the Old Testament. Isaiah, Micah and Zechariah all give vivid descriptions, and even an exhaustive study will only touch the tip of all that is contained in the bible on this age of unprecedented Monarchy. What happens next, however, transforms this glory into an abyss of despair. Just as has been proven time and again over the centuries, the true depth, depravity, and callousness of soul entrenched in man will manifest in another rebellion against God’s kingdom. There will be no doubt in the final judgment that all mankind is corrupt and vile, and that no rule, kingdom, or perfect environment can change his heart. All knees will bow and acknowledge, in the end, that there is no hope or salvation outside of the perfect atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ! End of 1000 year reign Verses8-10 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. The question has been asked, “Why does God release Satan once he has already bound him. One of the answers that has been given may also answer why God let him loose on the earth in the first place. In the 17th chapter of Jeremiah God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I, Jehovah, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” With Satan’s release, the true wickedness of man’s heart will be revealed; again! Even under the reign of Christ, man will turn to Satan and against God, revealing the enmity that dwells in man’s heart, even in the best of conditions. At the white throne judgment there will be no existing defense against the justice of God. All mouths will be shut as they look back on their wickedness and acknowledge their recompense.

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Chapter 15 The White Throne Judgment Chapter 20, Verses 11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. While John wrote the words of this revelation given to him at Patmos, Paul echoed in 1Cor 15:24-26,” Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” The White Throne judgment occurs about 1000 years after the judgment seat of Christ, and is also known as the second resurrection.

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These resurrected people are dead both physically and spiritually and were never believers in Christ. Since the bible states that no one is righteous enough to enter heaven by their own works, all who come to this white throne judgment in Revelation 20 shall not enter the kingdom of heaven,”and they were judged every man according to their works”. According to these passages, all men who have ever died not having known Christ will be present and judged here. All who were living and dead who had known Christ prior to his 1000 year reign had either been taken up in the rapture, or harvested in the Days of the Seventh Angel Sounding just prior to the vial judgments (Revelation 14) After this point there are no longer any indications that saved people dwell on the earth, but rather evil wicked ones who have fallen to the Antichrist’s deceptions. In John 5 Jesus says,” For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. God has given all judgment to him! The same Christ who judged the saints (the quick) during the tribulation at the judgment seat of Christ, now sits on the white throne to judge the dead,”I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom ”-2Tim 4:3 In the end, there can be no defense at this judgment. Even if one could claim innocence as he was not under God’s rule, no man on the earth can be found innocent before his own conscience. Even those who hold to a different set of values than the Christian or Jew will be found to have violated their own code of conduct at some point in their life. If, for he sake of argument, a soul could be found that had never violated their very own code of conduct, that person could still be judged out of their very own words just as the wicked servant was judged in Luke 19,“Lord, behold, here is you pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin... For I feared you, because you are an austere man: you take up that you lay not down, and reapest that you did not sow. And he said unto him, Out of your own mouth will I judge thee, you wicked servant. you knew

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that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow...” Law or no law, there shall be no justification apart from acceptance of Christ , For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law... Verse 12 of this chapter gives the picture of the judgment of man being judged guilty by his own conscience (Ro 2:13-15), being condemned by his own words (Matt 12:36-37), by his own secrets (Ro 2:16, Ecc 12:14), and by his works (2Co 11:15, Matt 16:27). There are two types of books presented before the white throne. The first set of books contains the works of each man by which they will be judged. The second type of book consists of only one volume, known as “The Book of Life” (see Ex 32:32-33; Psa 69:28; Da 12:1; Php 4:3; Re 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27; 22:19) . This lamb’s book of life, at one time, had written in it all people who ever lived, saint and sinner alike, as Christ’s work has atoned for all sin. However, names can be blotted out as one rejects Christ. It may very well be that after Rev 13:8, no man can be saved, for it tells that all men who are not written in the book of life, at that point of time, will worship the beast; the book is completed. Verse 15 completes the dreadful scene, with every soul present before this white throne being cast into the lake of fire. An erroneous belief is that there will be some here who will not be cast down, as the chapter clearly states,”the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. and they were judged every man according to their works... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”. What is forgotten in this presumption is that since all men at this judgment will be judged according to their works, they will all be found to be guilty for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God... Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith, and therefore will not be found in the book of life. In this lake of fire, Dante may have been correct in writing of varying degrees of punishment, as Jesus said in Luke 12:46-48,“The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes,

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shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

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Chapter 16 New Heaven and New Earth Chapters 21 -22:5 Revelation Chapter 21 Verses 1-5 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful

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The final end of all times is now at hand and John is witness to the eternal reign of God spoken of by the prophets over the Millennia; the eternal earth where righteousness dwells (2Pe 3:13, Is 66:22). Early on in this book time was spent on the fact that God reveals himself to those that seek him. The scene presented here, with the New Jerusalem coming to the new earth was not only revealed to John and Daniel, but Abraham as well. Abraham was a man who sought God, and is the man through whom all humanity- Jew and Gentile alike- has been able to receive the blessings of God, apart from works. As Abraham sought God, God revealed “secret” things to Abraham and it may well have been these things that kept Abraham on his mark. The book of Hebrews tells us, ”By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Spurgeon comments on the verse “...and there was no more sea...”. “A real physical world without a sea it is mournful to imagine, it would be an iron ring without the sapphire which made it precious. There must be a spiritual meaning here. In the new dispensation there will be no division--the sea separates nations and sunders peoples from each other. To John in Patmos the deep waters were like prison walls, shutting him out from his brethren and his work: there shall be no such barriers in the world to come. Leagues of rolling billows lie between us and many a kinsman whom to-night we prayerfully remember, but in the bright world to which we go there shall be unbroken fellowship for all the redeemed family. In this sense there shall be no more sea. Spurgeon Verses 6-8 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall

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have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. The New Jerusalem Verses 9-14 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew you the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Verses 15-17 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. When taking these actual measurements literally, this city resembles a square that measures roughly 1500 miles each way, its walls being 250 feet high. Verses 18-22 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

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The wall of the city is made of precious gemstones, with the 12 gates being 12 giant pearls. The entrance to God’s kingdom is not one of pleasure, ease and comfort. It requires the ability to suffer,”For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” It is fitting than, that the gates are made from the pearls of an oysters wounded flesh. The church was birthed from the wounds in Christ’s side, and Eve was borne from Adam’s wound. Proverbs clarifies further,”  Pr 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Verses 23-25 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. Verse 23 is the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David reflected upon in Psalm 89,” My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.” Verses 26-27 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Revelation Chapter 22 Verses 1-5 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall

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see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. His “Swift” Return Verses 6-7, And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book. The KJV translation in verses 6 and 7 is misleading. The phrases,” the things which must shortly be done” in verse 6, and,” Behold, I come quickly” in verse seven are read by today’s readers as meaning Jesus is returning very soon with minimal delay, resulting in the doubt as to the reliability of the bible. “The bible says he is coming soon“ they cry, “yet it has been 2000 years.” Verse 6 would be more accurately translated,” That which, of necessity, must come to pass” as the word en does not denote a time frame. It is simply an intermediate word between eiv (towards, against) and ek (out of, away from). Accordingly, verse 7 should read, “I come speedily.” as the word tacu takh-oo’ used here is the singualr neuter form of tacuv takh-oos’, meaning speedily or swiftly. Often in the New Testament when Jesus speaks of coming “shortly” or “quickly”, he means not that he is coming soon, but that his advent will be swift once it begins, Verse seven contains the sixth of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation. Verses 8-10, The Envy of Angels And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then said he unto me, See you do it not: for I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. After John hearkens to and heeds the divine Revelation given him on the isle of Patmos, he falls down to worship (proskunew-pros-koo-

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neh'-o) the angel, the Greek suffix having the connotation of a dog licking his master’s hand. This messenger reminds John that he is not of higher rank than John, but a mere fellow servant of Jehovah’s, similar in role to the prophets of old and those who obey the Godhead. Unlike Daniel, who was told not to divulge the mysteries of the end-times- to seal them up until the appointed season, John is told the time is now at time to reveal the very same prophecies given to Daniel, confirming John’s Title of this book in Chapter 1, verse 1: The Revelation (laying bare, the unveiling) of Jesus Christ. We recall Peter’s epistle to the early church,”Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Verses 11-16 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Verse 14 contains the last of seven beatitudes in the book of Revelation In his commentary on these verses, Matthew Henry adds, “This book, thus kept open, will have effect upon men; the filthy and unjust will be more so, but it will confirm, strengthen, and further sanctify those who are upright with God. Never let us think that a dead or disobedient faith will save us, for the First and the Last has declared that those alone are blessed who do his commandments. It is a book that shuts out from heaven all wicked and unrighteous persons, particularly those who love and make lies; therefore cannot itself be a lie. There is no middle place or condition.”

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And Mr. Henry is right! Does not a thorough study of this revelation strengthen and entrench your faith? Does it not bring out into the light the doubts and vagueness’s in the word that you have hidden in your heart, fearful that to test them would lead you to find no God at the end of you inquiries? Dear saint, you are blessed, you that read, and you that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein. For the time is at hand- it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. At the end of the path lie the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  Do not widen the gate to allow for any interpretation of Scripture; Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:...Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Verses 17-18 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Those who walk in the Spirit and Word of God have no choice but to say, “Come Lord Jesus, return!” as is said in verse 17. Accordingly, the heart of the evangelist bride has no other desire towards a parched world but to say,” Come!” And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Jesus said of his church,” Ye are the salt of the earth”. Just as salt will cause one to desire water, so, the presence of the Christian ought to have the effect that those who come into contact with him have a new thirst for the water of life contained only in Christ, for he says, “But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Whosever wants this water is free to come and partake of it; its price has already been paid. Even the woman in Samaria, whose people were despised and rejected by Israel, asked for this water,”The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come

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hither to draw.” And then, after Jesus had tarried several days with her people they proclaimed,”And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.“ In his devotional writings, perhaps Spurgeon is best suited to expound on verse 17: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." --Revelation 22:17 Jesus says, "Take freely." He wants no payment or preparation. He seeks no recommendation from our virtuous emotions. If you have no good feelings, if you be but willing, you are invited; therefore come! You have no belief and no repentance,--come to him, and he will give them to you. Come just as you are, and take "Freely," without money and without price. He gives himself to needy ones. The drinking fountains at the corners of our streets are valuable institutions; and we can hardly imagine any one so foolish as to feel for his purse, when he stands before one of them, and to cry, "I cannot drink because I have not five pounds in my pocket." However poor the man is, there is the fountain, and just as he is he may drink of it. Thirsty passengers, as they go by, whether they are dressed in fustian or in broadcloth, do not look for any warrant for drinking; its being there is their warrant for taking its water freely. The liberality of some good friends has put the refreshing crystal there and we take it, and ask no questions. Perhaps the only persons who need go thirsty through the street where there is a drinking fountain, are the fine ladies and gentlemen who are in their carriages. They are very thirsty, but cannot think of being so vulgar as to get out to drink. It would demean them, they think, to drink at a common drinking fountain: so they ride by with parched lips. Oh, how many there are who are rich in their own good works and cannot therefore come to Christ! "I will not be saved," they say, "in the same way as the harlot or the swearer." What! Go to heaven in the same way as a chimney sweep. Is there no pathway to glory but the path which led the thief there? I will not be saved that way. Such proud boasters must remain without the living water; but, "WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY." - CH Spurgeon

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Verses 19-21 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

A Psalm Song for the sons of Korah

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His foundation in the holy mountains.       Jehovah   loveth   the   gates   of   Zion  more than all the dwellings of Jacob.  Glorious things are spoken of thee, O  city of Elhohiym. Selah.      I will make mention of Rahab and  Babylon   to   them   that   know   me:  behold   Philistia,   and   Tyre,   with  Ethiopia; this was born there.    And of Zion it shall be said, This and  that   man   was   born   in   her:   and   the  highest himself shall establish her.       Jehovah   shall   count,   when   he  writeth   up  the   people,   this  was   born  there. Selah. As well the singers as the players on  instruments: all my springs in thee.

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Psalm 87

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Daniel Daniel Chapter 2

The Vision Dan 2:31-36 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Babylon Daniel 2: 37-38 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. This prophetic interpretation occurred in approximately 602 BC and was given to Nebuchadnezzar, King of the Babylonian Empire. It is this Empire that is the Head of Gold. Daniel lived to see the first part of this

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prophecy fulfilled. King Cyrus of Persia laid to siege Babylon in 539 or 538 BC, conquering it in 536 BC and it is recorded in Da 1:21 that he continued until at least 536 BC. Medeo-Persia and Greece Daniel 2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. Upon the death of the Babylonian King Belshazzar Darius the Mede took control of Babylon, while it was still under siege from the Persians. It was a short reign as Persia shortly thereafter took Babylon. This is the “inferior kingdom” mentioned in this verse, the chest and arms of silver. Cyrus, the Persian King at the time, restored the Jews to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:2-4). After ruling for two centuries, The Persian Empire collapsed to Alexander the great in 330 BC. He and his successors, the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kings are the belly and thighs of brass of the statue. It is these dynasties that are so accurately outlined for us in Daniel chapter 11 verses 1 through 35. Incidentally, brass was not invented until the 13th century; this is a mistranslation. The word mistranslated as brass in the King James Version of the bible is the Hebrew word tvxn {nekh-o' sheth}. It actually means copper or bronze, or an alloy of such. Rome  Daniel 240  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. Just as the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kings are outlined for us in the first part of Daniel 11, so follows the Roman Empire towards the end of chapter 11. This succession is confirmed here in chapter 2 of Daniel. The Roman Empire shaped and changed the history of the world, beginning in the 1st century BC and reaching its height in the 2nd to third century AD. It literally destroyed or assimilated every culture it came into contact with. The Divided Kingdom Daniel 2:41-43 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

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And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. The late 3rd century saw the splitting of Rome into different provinces and sections, and then finally in 410 Rome was taken by Alaric. The last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Goths under the command of Odoacer. The Byzantine Empire (that which was formerly the Eastern Roman Empire) continued to exist into the 15th century. When Daniel speaks of the clay and iron continuing to mingle with one another he speaks of the fingerprints that the Roman Empire left behind in her wake. Traditions and languages can be traced to her presence. Italy itself continued to feel the results of Rome’s collapse into the 18th century. The strength of the Empire that once existed, however, ceases to hold the peoples together. Though Europe is a strong continent, the cleaving mentioned here in verses 41 to 43 do not exist. The Divine Kingdom Daniel 2:44-45 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. This describes the culmination of Revelation with God’s eternal reign of in the New Jerusalem.

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Daniel Chapter 9

Verses 1&2 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. It is 538 B.C. and Daniel realizes that there are only two years until the exile prophesied by Jeremiah are over. In 606 B.C. Jeremiah prophesied about the 70 year exile beginning that same year (Jer 25:1). 606 B.C. is

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the same year Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar Verses 3-7 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. Daniel prays to God for forgiveness for his people. Though God said that he would put them in exile for 70 years, Daniel realizes that the Jews living in exile have not repented nor turned back to God. He is further anguished that there are only two years left until the exile is to be over, and senses the immediacy of his peoples need to repent soon lest worse consequences come upon them. Already during the time of the 70 year exile, God has extended Israel and Judah’s exile due to unrepentance (390 yrs & 40 yrs respectively). He did this in 594 B.C. (Eze 1:1) through the prophet Ezekiel (Eze 4:1-6) Verses 8-11 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. Not only does Daniel see his nations need to repent immediately, he also recognizes that if they do not repent their punishment will continue for 7 times as long under Levitical law (Le 26:13-18) It is interesting to note that the first 70 years of exile began on the 1st day of the

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Babylonian month of Nissan, 606 B.C. It follows that that Ezekiel’s prophecy of 390 years began at the end of the initial 70 year exile (1st of Nissan 536 B.C). If we take that 390 years and multiply it by 7, as Daniel realized would occur (Le 26:13-18), we have 2485 years until the exile is to be finished. That seems like an unreasonable amount of time. However, that exact Babylonian date is the 1st of Nissan 1948, or May 14 1948. This is the exact day that Israel was restored to the status of a nation!! Verses 12-21 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. layrbg (gab-ree-ale') , despite some religion’s beliefs, is not Jesus Christ in his pre-incarnate form. The name is actually a combination of the words rbg (gheh'-ber) and la (ale). rbg means champion,

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strongman or warrior and la means godlike or mighty. The word la is also used in the Old Testament to speak of false gods and is never used in association with Jehovah or the Messiah. layrbg is as a proper name and was sent to the prophet Daniel to explain the vision of the ram and the goat and to give the prediction of the seventy weeks (Da 8:16, 9:21-27). It was he who announced the birth of John the Baptist and the Messiah in the gospel of Luke. He says of himself in Luke 1:19,” I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God". In the bible he is sent to give messages to Daniel, Zacharias and Mary. The Evening oblation in this verse is the evening sacrifice; there was to be both a morning and evening sacrifice according to the law. Verses 22-24 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am nowcome forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy As soon as Daniel began to pray the commandment went forth from God to answer Daniel. It does not say here that it was because of Daniel’s perseverance or persistence in prayer, but because of God’s love for him. Seventy weeks is a time period of 490 years (70x7). Gabriel is saying that 490 years have been determined to accomplish the 6 goals mentioned in verse 24. To summarize, the goals are the removal of sins, consecration of the temple and fulfillment of prophecy in the Old Testament. Verse 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Gabriel reassures Daniel that though God’s judgment will be carried out, he may find comfort that the deliverance of his people by the Messiah will happen 49 years after the commandment is given to rebuild Jerusalem’s temple. In 587 B.C God spoke to Jeremiah (Jer 32) telling him of the end of Israel’s captivity and the rebuilding of the temple. 49 years later (seven weeks, Dan 9:25) in 538 BC, King Cyrus

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ended Israel’s captivity and issued instructions to rebuild the temple. . In Isaiah 45 King Cyrus is called by God “his anointed”(xyvm mawshee'-akh), which is the same word used in Daniel 9:25 for “Messiah”. The “threescore and two weeks”, or 434 years does not begin at the termination of the 49 years. There are no scenarios presented to allow for this without allowing extremely liberal interpretation of meanings and times. Allowing a gap between these two time periods is the only way to maintain the simple integrity of the text and keep time frames literal and not metaphorical. The fact that the time periods are distinct from one another instead of being a whole 69 weeks supports allowing for a gap between times, along with the use of these gaps already having precedents in prophetic scripture (Dan 11:2-3, Micah 5:1-2). The one date that allows these 434 years to begin while fitting into world history is 440 BC, the year that Nehemiah began rebuilding the temple. According to Ne 2:1, Nehemiah requested to return to Jerusalem in April of 444 BC. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, he went to Babylon to get more volunteers to help him in the re-building of the temple (Antiquities XI), arriving in Jerusalem in 440 BC to initiate the re-building process. 587 B.C. ("issuing of a word" from God to rebuild Jerusalem) -49 years ("seven sevens") 538 B.C. ("an anointed one, a prince" Cyrus, ends Jewish captivity) (gap of unspecified duration) 440 B.C. ("street and moat return in times of distress") -434 years ("sixty-two sevens") 6 B.C. (birth of Jesus Christ) Verses 26-27 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he

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shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. The text tells us that after the 62 weeks these events will pass. It is meant not as an event which begins at the exact end of the 62 weeks, but as an event which occurs at some date afterwards. The Messiah here cannot be the same one spoken of in the previous verses, even if one were to make the 69 weeks consecutive; too much time has passed for the Messiah to be the same person. Jesus Christ is the only one who now fits into this time frame. The destruction of the Temple spoken of here is the event which came to pass in 70 AD when Rome destroyed the city.

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Daniel Chapter 11

The Abomination That Causes Desolation In Matthew 24 Jesus describes to his disciples what events will pass before “the end” is to come. They are: False Christs (anointed ones), wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom, famines and pestilences, earthquakes. Martyrdom and hatred will abound towards Disciples of Christ, with offense, betrayal and hate within the “church. Iniquity will abound and the love of many will wax cold; then the gospel is preached to the entire world, “and then shall the end come”... In Mark 13 Jesus speaks of “the abomination that causes desolation” as being the marker event to the end’s having begun, followed by a great affliction: But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains....For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days... Since Jesus points us to the prophet Daniel, we must examine this text to be clear on this seemingly bench mark event which marks the end. We will first go over the prophetic events in Daniel 11 and 12 to see that the abomination had already occurred when Jesus mentioned it. He must have been referring to a future abomination that had already been foreshadowed before his birth. Daniel 11 and 12 mention the abomination. We will review these chapters thoroughly so that we know what prophecies have been fulfilled, and which still need to occur. First Daniel 11 specifically and chronologically outlines the wars and reigns’ of the Ptolemies and the Seleucids two three centuries before they occurred, and two centuries before Christ was born. The abomination in verse 31 was the placement of pagan gods in the sanctuary by Antiochus IV. We can define

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“abomination” by finding the things that God calls an abomination elsewhere in the bible (De 7:25-26, 17:1, 27:15, Pr 16:12, Eze 18:12). After defining we can see that Antiochus IV committed abominations, and was an abomination to God. We can also see in Daniel chapters 11 and 12 the use of the Hebrew word,” Uwqqv (shik-koots'), which literally has the meaning of a detestable thing or idol, further supports the claim that the abomination spoken of by Daniel, and subsequently by Jesus in referring to the prophet, was the placement of the idol on the altar. Verses 1-4 Alexander the Great Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. The first three kings of Persia are Cambyses, Smerdes and Darius. The Fourth, Xerxes, stirred up the eastern countries to a war with Alexander the Great, king of Grecia, (Da 8:21 10:20 Zec 9:13).The word used here for Grecia is Nwy(Yavan). Nwy was the fourth "son" of Japheth (Ge 10:2) whose descendants settled in Greece. Eastern nations used this word of the Greek race. And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. Alexander the great died in 323 B.C. and his kingdom was divided between his four generals. Seleucus I Nicator (312-281 BC) had Syria, Antigonus had Asia Minor, Cassander had the kingdom of Macedonia, and Ptolemy I Soter had Egypt. None of these four were as powerful as Alexander. Verses 5-9 The Early Ptolemaic and Seleucid Dynasties And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. The king of the south is Ptolemy I Soter (BC 323-285) the prince is Antiochus I Soter, the son of Seleucus I. Antiochus I became more powerful in that he gained both Asia and Syria. And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement:

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but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times. Bernice is the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (BC 285-247) the next king of the south. She was given in marriage to Antiochus Theos, in an attempt to keep peace between Syria and Egypt. Bernice and her young son were slain by Seleucus Calinieus the son of Laodice, the lawful wife of Antiochus Theos, who had been put away for Bernice’s sake. But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. Ptolemy III Euergetes I (B.C. 246-221), was the oldest son of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, and the brother of the slain Bernice. He invaded (BC 246) Antiochus Calinicus king of Syria, returning to Egypt afterwards and reigning for 46 years. Verses 10-12 Ptolemy IV Philopater-King of the South But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. The sons of Antiochus Calinicus; Seleucus III Soter (murdered 223 BC) and Antiochus III (Antiochus the Great 223-187 BC), made war against Ptolemy IV Philopater (221-205 BC), the son of Ptolemy III Euergetes I. Ptolemy IV ruled with his wife/sister Arsinoe III until 203 BC. Antiochus III took much of Syria away from Philopater IV. And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it. This is a description of Ptolemy IV Philopater’s victory at Raphia over Antiochus III Seleucid army (217 BC). His Egyptian army had 6000 horses and riders, and 60000 foot soldiers. Ptolemy IV Philopater offered sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem after his victory, and when

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he attempted to enter the sanctuary was struck with paralysis. He went back to Alexandria and punished the Jews in that town for his disappointment in Jerusalem. Verses 13 -19 Antiochus III - “Antiochus The Great”-King of the North For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches .And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. By 212 BC Antiochus III embarked on a 7 year military campaign against the East, conquering Armenia. After the death of Ptolemy IV Philopater, his son, Ptolemy V Epiphanes (205-181 BC), became heir at the age of 4. Seizing the opportunity and allying himself with King Phillip III of Macedonia, Antiochus III invaded Ptolemy V Epiphanes’ and took control of Palestine as well as parts of Ptolemy’s Anatolia. Egyptians revolted often because Ptolemy’s guardian (Agathocles), who ruled in the young king’s name, was arrogant with the people in his ruling. So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. The most fenced city is the Phoenician seaport of Sidon. At Paneas (Caesarea Phillipi), in 198 BC Antiochus III drove Egypt’s General Scopas into Sidon. Antiochus laid siege and built a rampart, taking the city. The same year he then marched on to Jerusalem and Judah (...neither his chosen people...) taking it from Egypt. In 196BC, as the Romans were withdrawing from Greece, Antiochus crossed into Europe and took the coast of Thrace as another part of his Empire. But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed Antiochus III not only afflicted the Egyptian land that he invaded, but since he attacked Jerusalem, the Jews as well. Overall, however, he was conciliatory to the Jews as was his son. He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.

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Antiochus III and King Phillip’s invasion into Egypt was stopped when the Roman Empire interfered. The guardians of Ptolemy V formed an alliance with Rome. In order to maintain the provinces of Cole-Syria, Phoenicia, and Judea (Rome wanted their surrender to Roman rule), Antiochus III gave his daughter to Ptolemy V Epiphanes. This woman was Cleopatra Thea I, and they were married in 193 BC. She did not take her father’s side, but supported her husband and his alliance with Rome when war broke out again. Rome had defeated Antiochus III in 190 BC. Ptolemy V was poisoned (181 BC) while preparing to take back the provinces from the successor of Antiochus III, Seleucus. Cleopatra I held the regency for her son Ptolemy VI Philometer (181-145BC) until her death in 173 BC, at which point the weakness in Ptolemy VI throne became evident. He shared the throne with his brother Ptolemy VII. After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him. In 192 BC a war broke out in Greece, and Antiochus III returned. Once there he tried to capture additional territories, and Rome went to war with him, resulting in a horrible defeat for Antiochus at Thermopylae. The Battle of Magnesia near Smyrna (190 BC) gave the Romans another victory over Antiochus III. Seleucus IV was present at the defeat. Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.. Having lost nearly all his fleet at Magnesia, Antiochus fled home to Syria. The Roman forces, led by Cornelius Scipio (soon to be called Scipio Asiaticus) and his brother Scipio Africanus, crossed the Hellespont to pursue Antiochus. They forced the Syrian to surrender all his European and Asiatic possessions as far as the Taurus Mountains, to pay 15,000 talents over a period of 12 years, and to surrender Hannibal (who escaped). Antiochus III died in 187 BC. Verse 20 is Seleucus IV Philopater, Antiochus III’s son (BC 187-175) Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. After gaining the throne upon his father’s death, Seleucus IV reigned 12 years. He had to tax his territories heavily due to the monies owed to Rome now. He was murdered by Heliodorus, a courtier of his. His son,

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Demetrius Soter I, did not gain the crown at his father’s death (He did gain the crown later in BC 162). Verses 21 to 32 tell of Antiochus Epiphanes IV (BC 175-164) Believed to have conspired in the death of Seleucus IV Soter, Antiochus IV (Antiochus III’s brother) usurped the throne from the slain Seleucus’ son and came in revenge against Jerusalem destroying it. In the process he cruelly killed multitudes Jews who were living there. During his reign the Maccabean revolts occurred and were successful against Antiochus’ armies. In BC 164 Antiochus IV came with his armies to destroy the Jewish nation one last time, but on the way there he died. And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. Countries favorable towards Demetrius I Soter’s rule were overthrown, Ptolemy Philopater’s son (Demetrius I Soter’s cousin) is the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. Seleucus IV Philometer had made a league with his uncle, Antiochus IV, not suspecting that Antiochus would have him killed, usurping the crown from his son. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time. The fattest province is Egypt, And Antiochus IV would be satisfied with the small victories for a time, but would desire in his heart the larger ones. We should note the Hebrew words for strongholds at this point, as several different Hebrew words are used to translate it through out Daniel. The differences have an impact on the prophecies. In this verse (24) the Hebrew word used for strong holds is rubm (mib-tsawr'), which simply means “fortified city” And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a

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very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.. Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant:. In 170 BC Antiochus invaded Egypt and within two years declared himself King. He then went on his way to invade Alexandria when he was turned away by the Romans, who ordered that he withdraw. On the return trip of the failed Alexandrian invasion, Antiochus entered Jerusalem with no resistance from the Jews; his own men opened the gate. He plundered the temple and returned to Antioch Verses 31-35 the Abomination and the Persecution of the Jews under Antiochus It is strongly recommended that the reader review Josephus’ “Antiquities of the Jews”, book 13. so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Many wicked Jews joined Antiochus when he again came to Jerusalem and attempted to persuade other Jews to accept his Pagan practices. Antiochus kept the wicked Jews on his side by flattering them while the true Jews worshipped God. In 168 BC on the 25th of Kislev, Antiochus IV entered Jerusalem and entered the Holy of Holies. He desecrated the sanctuary by offering unclean animals upon the altar of burnt offerings and polluted the entire building by sprinkling it with water in which flesh had been boiled. He plundered the temple once more, this time taking even the veil and all of the items from within the holy of holies. He slew many in and about

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the temple and took 10,000 captive. Outlawing Judaism, he erected a statue of the God Jupiter Olympius (aka Zeus) and plundered the temple, removing its treasures. This triggered the Maccabean revolt by the Hasmoneans, who eventually took Jerusalem back from Antiochus. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. The true Jews will remain faithful and continue to teach by their example, though they are persecuted by the tyrant Antiochus. He tortured those that refused to stop practicing the religion of the Jews. Most who have studied the book of Daniel are in agreement that the first 35 verses of Daniel 11 have already occurred as described previously. From verse 36 on, however, there is a variety of opinion. I have continued with the rest of the chapter for continuity’s sake, but the following descriptions are my own opinion and should not be taken as fulfilled prophecy, as I believe the first 35 verses are. We have, at this point, solidified the purpose for this study; that when Jesus spoke to his disciples in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, Daniel’s abomination had already occurred. We are to view this occurrence as the foreshadowing of an event sometime in the disciples’ future that marks the beginning of the end. Verses 36-39 The Roman Empire’s Influence Admittedly, this writer’s simply changing the King to whom Daniel is referring at this point has the appearance of manipulating the text to serve my attempt to chronologically outline this prophetic fulfillment; as mentioned earlier it is at this point that people begin to disagree on the rest of the prophecy’s direction. However, there are reasons that I choose this as the most equitable direction: 1) Up to this point in the prophecy, Daniel frequently is seen changing the king to whom he is referring without clearly stating that he is changing the subject. To assume that Daniel will not continue to do this

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for the remainder would actually be a disservice to the context and style of prophecy. 2) It seems unlikely that God would allow over 2000 years to pass between two sentences without, at the very least, giving some nebulous reference of time’s passing as he does elsewhere in Daniel (11:6, 8, 20, 27, 2935-36, 40). In fact, in chapter 8 God tells us the exact number of days from the placement of the abomination until the temple’s cleansing. 3) The Roman Empire seems the most likely candidate. Its influence begins to increasingly dominate the region being spoken of. Rome continued dictating to the Syrian dynasty after Antiochus IV fled there and died. For all practical purposes Syria stopped being the king of the north. Syria finally became a Roman province in 64 BC. Rome’s influence in ruling Egypt is seen in the following verses. Ptolemy VI relied heavily on his alliance with Rome from 168 BC on. Cleopatra was the last Ptolemaic queen. After her defeat to the Romans at the battle of Actium and her subsequent suicide, Egypt became a Roman province in 30 BC. Rome had undisputed supremacy over Egypt as well as Syria. 4) The prophecy seems to be describing a new king as we are told that the kings of the north and south (Antiochus and Ptolemy) will come against “him” . 5) The Roman Empire “fits” into place in the statue seen by the king and explained by the prophet Daniel in chapter 2. (See Appendix S) And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. The worship of Pagan God’s in the both the Seleucid and Roman empires was commonplace, and there seemed little continuity in worship of Gods. Each would worship the gods that they had chosen, and the blending of religions was frequent. In 42 BC the Roman Triumvirate deified Julius Caesar and erected a temple to him. The “God of forces” spoken of here has ties to the “strong holds”

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mentioned in verse 24 In the Hebrew root words are hhwla 'elowahh (el-o'-ah) meaning God (also false god), and zwem ma`owz (maw-oze'), meaning harbor or refuge (same word is used in Daniel 19). The word hhwla is used almost exclusively in the writings of the prophets in the bible, and in Daniel is used several times to speak of a false God. We now see the whole set of words as meaning “god of strongholds”. The “god of fortresses” was Jupiter to whom Antiochus built an altar in Jerusalem’s temple. Throughout the book of Daniel the “god of strongholds” or “forces” leads back to the idol worship of the god Jupiter. Note that after Rome destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem (70 AD), a temple was erected to the god Jupiter on the old temple’s site (132 AD) under Emperor Hadrian. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. Both the Roman and Syrian empires built idols to the god Jupiter. From this point on it becomes difficult to pinpoint past events that have occurred in connection with Daniel’s prophecy. I break at this point because Daniel begins to use the term, “at time of the end” from this verse on. Verses 40-45 can be connected to continued events in the Roman Empire. One problem with associating verses 40-45 with the Roman Empire is that upon arriving at chapter 12, it is clear that this chapter deals with at the end of time; you have leaped 2000 years in one verse. The words themselves make it apparent that 11:45 and 12:1 are occurring at the same time. We must be careful to consider chapters and verses as guides to locate scripture easily, and not as breaks between events or separations in periods of time. Chapters 11 and 12 in Daniel are the same prophecy, and when first recorded were not broken into verses and chapters. What follows is the remainder of chapter 11, tying verses 40-45 to past events in the Roman Empire. This is only being done to give an example of how the rest of the chapter can be applied to past events, albeit not as specifically. As stated above, the problem arises when you regard 11:45 as applying to the Roman world, and then read 12:1-2 (a continuation of the same prophecy) described as a time of great tribulation followed by

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the resurrection of the dead. We know that the resurrection of the dead has not yet occurred. Vs 40-45 The End of the Empire (Problematic Example) And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. “At the time of the end” refers to the end of the reigns of the Egyptian and Syrian dynasties which we have been following in the previous 40 verses. Both the kings of the north and south eventually succumb to the Roman Empire. We have already seen the increasing Roman influence over this region. The Roman Empire, eventually annexes Egyptian and Syrian territories until they are vassal states. Rome now becomes “The King” spoken of by Daniel. We see the use of the words “strong” and “holds” again here, with different Hebrew root words. The word zwem ma`owz is used again, but this time with the word rubm (mib-tsawr') which was also used in Dan. 11:15. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. By the 60’s-50’s BC Rome’s influence was felt in Egypt. An example is when Ptolemy (55-51 BC) was unseated by the Alexandrians due to his misrule. Rome’s general Pompeii restored him to power, and was named guardian to Ptolemy’s son. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. “Tidings out of the east” would refer to Marc Antony’s defeat by Parthian forces in 36 BC and his subsequent retreat to Armenia where he openly married Cleopatra; this despite his existing marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia. Octavian, (the future Roman Emperor), set out and defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the battle of Actium in 31 BC, regaining what Marc Antony had lost to the Parthians. Tidings from the north may refer to the Roman Empire’s conquest of Gaul and the

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British isles. After Julius Caesar’s many campaigns there in the 50’s and his death, Augustus became emperor. In the mid 30’s BC to the mid 20’s BC at least 3 known campaigns against the north were planned by Augustus but were cancelled due to revolts in the empire. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Temples to all of the Roman emperors abounded throughout the empire, but Rome fell in the 4th century. We will continue into chapter 12 (as that applies to the end times and not to past events) in the next section. Our goal in this section was to show evidence that the future abomination mentioned by Jesus in Mark 13 would resemble the abomination that had already occurred in the 2nd century BC, which the prophet Daniel had prophesied centuries earlier. It should be noted that even after Jesus’ death, the Romans did place idols in the temple in Jerusalem. The events described in Mark 13 and Matthew 24 need to occur first as signs that the end is approaching, and then the abomination will be set up in the most holy place, marking the beginning of the end.

Daniel Chapter 12

The transition from Daniel 11:45-12:1 can be difficult to make in the context provided in this book. It appears as if one moment we are reading about the Roman Empire of 2000 years ago and then jump into the resurrection of the dead which has not yet occurred. This however is not the case. Daniel 11:1-45 can be read firstly as a prophecy of events that had yet to occur in Daniel’s time, and have already occurred in our time. Secondly since Jesus says to watch for those events as a sign of the end, we can also read Da 11:1-45 as prophetic for this current generation if we read on through Daniel 12. Some of the events which are prophesied as applying to our current generation in Daniel 11:1-30 may have already occurred, but I will not elaborate on these as there are already many who claim to have done this, with varied opinions. Without a doubt, however, the events in Daniel 12 have not yet occurred as they speak of the deliverance of God’s people from horrible persecution and the resurrection of all of the dead, saint and sinner alike.

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We can see that Daniel 11:30-45 coincides with the times spoken of in Revelation 12:17-13:15; the times of the post-rapture antichrist. Since Daniel 11 is the foreshadowing spoken of by Jesus of the end time events in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, we now move more easily into chapter 12 of Daniel, which briefly mentions the rapture, and then the resurrection of both the saints and the sinners in the final judgment: 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book... This speaks of the taking up of the saints out of the tribulation period. 2-3 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.... This verse continues into the times of the final judgment, when both saints and sinners alike will have been resurrected from the dead Verses 4-6 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? There are many words in Hebrew used to describe different types of linen. The word used here is db(bad), which is also used in Ex 28:42, 39:28, Le 6:10, 16:4,23,32, 1Sa 2:18, and 2Sa 6:14. It is uniformly used throughout the Old Testament scriptures to describe the sacred articles of clothing which priests wore. Its root, ddb (baw-dad'), signifies seperation. This man standing upon the waters may well be Christ foreshadowing his walking on the water during his earthly ministry. In Hebrew, the phrase translated as upon the waters here is used only in Daniel 12:6-7. The English phrase “upon the waters” is used many times in the Old Testament, often referring to the hand of the Lord or God being upon the waters. The English translation, however, is not of the same Hebrew wording used in Da 12:6-7.

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7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. God swearing by himself has established precedents in scripture (Heb 6:13, Gen 22:16, Isa 45:23, Jer 22:5, 49:13). The phrase “for a time, times, and an half” is 3&1/2 years- for a time (one year), times (plural-2 years), and an half (1/2 year). 8-9 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end... Daniel was not given the full revelation of events at the end of our world. He was told that the final words were sealed up. These very words are opened and told to us by John in the book of Revelation. Since prophecy was sealed to Daniel, it is revealed in the breaking of the seals by the Lamb of God in Revelation 5 10-13 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. The word used here for rest is not used in the Old Testament for death, but for a state of rest. The phrase, “stand in thy lot” more literally means “firmly station yourself in your portion”.

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Isaiah Isaiah 2 Verses 1-4 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his

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paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah begins by stating that this word relates to Judah and Jerusalem and progresses to describe what can only be seen as their future roles in God’s future reign of mankind. After the seven year tribulation Jesus Christ returns to rule for 1000 years upon the earth, a time of no death, famine, or war. The survivors of the great tribulation will yield to the will of God and be ruled from the City of Jerusalem. Verses 5-9 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. After describing the glory to come, Isaiah turns to Israel, lamenting their rebellion towards God which was occurring, and pleading with them to turn from their ways lest they not be partakers in this salvation! Verses 10-22 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he

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shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? The imagery presented here is consistent with Jesus’ sayings and with the events foretold to occur before the opening of the 7th seal just prior to Jesus’ 1000 year reign (Rev 6:16, Luke 21:20-27). Zechariah 12-13 continues on with a vivid description of the end of the tribulation and Christ’s rule.

Isaiah Chapters 11-14

The 1000 year reign Verses 1-2 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; These seven attributes of God’s Spirit are also seen in Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6.

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Verses 3-7 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. It is interesting to note that the animals given in this description of the 1000 year reign of Christ also appear in Daniel 7 in his prophesies of the future kingdoms of the earth, and in Revelation 13:2. Verses 8-11 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. The remnant of Israel shall be gathered back to their Holy city in the end Verses 12-16 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. And there shall be an highway

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for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. These raised roads for public use were not found in Palestine; therefore there is an assumption describing the return of the captives and the advent of the Messiah (Isa 11:16 35:8 40:3 62:10) This preparation for the millennial rule of Jesus may occur some time during the 6th seal of Revelation 16:12, “...And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. “ Chapter 12 This continuation of chapter 11 exudes the perfect joy and peace manifest in our Sovereign’s future domain: And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Chapter 13 Verses 6-12 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove

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out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land. The events seen in chapter 13 are events which, at the time Isaiah prophesied them, had not yet occurred. It was a message to the nation of Israel regarding God’s impending judgment against them which was fulfilled several thousand years ago when the surrounding nations laid siege and pillaged the nation. Like much of the bible, however, it is a foreshadowing of end time events not yet seen. It is a description of the terror and anguish suffered by all those living after the church is raptured. Verses 6-10 specifically detail events that have not yet happened to the city, but are spoken of by Jesus in Mark 13:23-25, and which will occur during the tribulation as seen in Revelation 6:12 & 8:12. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 continues as an already fulfilled prophecy, but like chapter 13, is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ return and has details of events of this time. Verses 1 through 8 continue the rejoicing surrounding Israel’s return to Jerusalem, and the fall of Satan and his world order, described as “Babylon” both here and in Revelation. Verses 9 through 21, however are vivid portrayals of Satan are being cast down to the pit during this 1000 year reign of Christ. Chapter 14 will not be displayed on this written page, however, as space does not permit, nor is further exposition warranted on so clear a word.

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Isaiah 24 Verses 1-4 Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. A description of the desolate state of all creation left to Satan and man’s devices during the seven year absence of God’s restraining power. This chapter most describes the destruction brought upon the Earth when Jesus Christ returns to establish his millennial kingdom upon the Earth. Isaiah seems to use some of the same language our Lord and his disciples used. When telling the disciples of the signs to occur to the generation of those living upon his return, Jesus says, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees. When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.-Luke 21 verses 28-33 Peter, likewise describes Christ’s return in the 3rd chapter of his 2nd epistle, writing,”This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you...:That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.... But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in

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store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ... But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up...Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (Verses 1-12) Verses 5-12 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh. The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. The images presented in these verses haunt the imagination when one stops praying for understanding and just meditates on God’s word, allowing it to become part of your soul. It is a medieval scene, matching that dark period of our history when the word of God was kept from the masses, the religious leaders fleeced the masses, and the known world stagnated economically, spiritually, and culturally. Verse 5 is a point in time we can reference elsewhere in the bible. The antichrist will think nothing of changing basic laws of God and will institute his own plan of worship to himself, setting up ordinances and times of worship for him. This same man is seen in both Daniel 7:25,”... And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Verses 13-16

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When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea. From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. Jesus returns to begin his reign of 1000 years and the earth breaks into joy at his arrival! The Jewish nation, persecuted during the tribulation (Rev 12:6) adds another refrain, petitioning their God for justice for the treatment they have received, and matching the chorus of the martyred saints seen at the opening of the 5th seal in Revelation 6,”How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth” Verses 17-23 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. The reign of our newly returned King is also detailed in Revelation, chapters 19 and 20. Satan and his cohorts are thrown into the pit for 1000 years. Micah elaborates as the earth is shaken as the reign begins, “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the

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high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.” God gives Isaiah another word in chapter 40 on Christ’s return. While Luke correctly sees it as a prophecy of John the Baptist, it is still be seen today as a yet unfulfilled prophecy,” Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

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Chapter 49

Vs 10 (see rev 7:16-17)

Isaiah Chapter 66 Isaiah 66 is a wonderful specific prophetic vision of the events seen in revelation, specifically chapter 12 Verses 1-3 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. In the book of revelation by the time we read to chapter 12 the man of lawlessness has been revealed. He reinstitutes the old Jewish sacrificial system of things. This system of sacrifices is now obsolete due to the blood of Christ being shed and actually is an abomination to God as sacrifice is no longer needed. The continuation of a sacrificial system Undermines and does not acknowledge the completed work of Christ on the cross. The need for continued sacrifice indicates a core belief that there is still some work that man can do to be pure before God; that the sacrifice of Jesus was not enough Verses 4-6

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I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies. Verses 7-9 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. This is a clear description of the woman in Revelation 12:1-5 Verses 10-13 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. This is described in Revelation 12:6 Verses 14-21 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be

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consumed together, saith the LORD. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

Verses 22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. This describes Revelation chapter 21 verses 1-7 when God comes to dwell with man forever Verse 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. A description of Revelation 21:8

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Jeremiah Chapter 30&31 Chapter 51 This chapter of Jeremiah gives another detailed account of the destruction of Babylon recorded by John in Revelation. It focuses on the world system’s wickedness and how Israel, despite past sin and rejection of God’s chosen one, are still a chosen people to him and has been fore-ordained as the chosen weapon of his righteousness. The closing verses are a solemn testimony to the sureness of God’s word coming to pass in the last days. Verses 1-3

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Thus saith Jehovah; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host. In Jude’s epistle to the twelve tribes scattered through out the world he writes,  “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Verses4-9 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and thrust through in her streets. For Israel not forsaken, nor Judah of his Elohiym, of the Jehovah of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of Jehovah’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon, a golden cup in Jehovah’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. This verse plainly states that in the time of the tribulation Israel recognizes God’s plan of salvation, and now seen by God as having not forsaken Jesus despite their past rejection of him. Flee from this idolatrous system and deliver your souls, the world system pervades even the church and she bathes in its waters. Nothing of Jesus

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harmonizes with this world, we are to remain separate and holy, despite the indulgences religion may allow Verses 10-16 The Glory of God Jehovah hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord Elohiym. Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: Jehovah hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple. Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for Jehovah hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness Jehovah of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. Verses 17-23 Israel, God’s Instrument Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name. Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. In the end of times Israel will be God’s chosen instrument, the vehicle that he will render with. Paul confirms that by God’s Grace the

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commandments, the prophets, and even the Messiah were birthed from this chosen people in his letter to Rome, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” Though an Aramaic word is used in Daniel, and elsewhere the word “break” uses the Hebrew word denoting wickedness, the term repeatedly translated here as “break in pieces” is used by English translators of the Old Testament when wickedness and kingdoms are being destroyed. Thus God speaks in this verse of his breaking up all that ever existed for the establishment of his righteous kingdom. Verses 24-32 And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD. Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers. Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion. And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant. The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken. One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end, And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted. Verses 33-38 Zion Remembered

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For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out. The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps. Verses 39-47 In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby. And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall. My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD. And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler. Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. Verses 48-57 God’s Wrath Abideth Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD. As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still:

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remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house. Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan. Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD. A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans: Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered: Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite. And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

The Sureness of God’s Word Verses 58-64 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary. The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince. So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.

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The use of the millstone in these verses is also used in the last several verses of Revelation chapter 18

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Ezekiel Chapter 1

The same beasts seen here are the cherubim angels seen in Ezekiel 10 and Revelation 4:6-8

Chapter 10

These cherubim are the same creatures seen in Ezekiel 1 and Rev 4:6-8

Chapter 28 The woman Israel Chapters 38&39 These chapters of Ezekiel contain descriptions of the end that follow so closely with the book of Revelation, almost no commentary is needed. One can easily compare these events with those that have already been commented on in the main body of the book.

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One should note that after the battle is complete and Christ establishes his 1000 year kingdom, it will take the first 7 years of this millennial rein to destroy the weapons and bury the bodies of those slain. The best way to illustrate the millennium is by comparing it to our present age. Today, though sin reigns and is the force that rules the earth, people are still capable of being good. In the millennial reign that will be turned around. The reign will be one of peace and prosperity, but there will still be work to be done. Goodness will abound but there will still be some evil in men’s hearts, which is why they rebel again at the end of the 1000 years. Though Jesus said that the resurrected will be as the angels, that same rule may not apply to the raptured saints or those who survive the tribulation. They may well still be the workers and be given in marriage, but we cannot say with certainty. Luke 20:34-36 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Chapter 38 Verses 1-7 Ezekiel names to the armies of Armageddon And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:. Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. Verses 8-13 Restoration of Israel (1948) and future conquest of Israel

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After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

The Battle of Armageddon Verses 38:14-39:29 14- Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in

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the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; Return of Christ (1000 year reign) 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Chapter 39

Christ’s Victory over The armies of Armageddon 1- Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the

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arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD. And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land. And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD. And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.

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Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

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Joel Chapter 3

Joel’s prophecy covers, in a very short span, the time from the restoration of Israel, to Christ’s return and the harvesting of the tares, including the battle of Armageddon For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it. Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of

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decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

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Zechariah Chapter 4- the two witnesses, rev 11

Zechariah chapters 12-14 clearly outline the times from Revelation 14 through Revelation 16

Zechariah Chapter 12 1 ¶ The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. A description of the armies of the earth gathering against Jerusalem at Armageddon in Revelation 16, just before the return of Christ 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.

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6* In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8* In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. 9 ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10* And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. A description of Christ’s return (the second advent) to defeat the armies against Jerusalem and begin his 1000 year reign 11* In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12* And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13* The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Zechariah Chapter 13 1 ¶ The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

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3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. 6* In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8* In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. 9 ¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10* And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11* In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12* And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13* The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. Zec 13:9 2/3 of the Jews will be killed during the tribulation, and the remaining 1/3 will be refined (see example of shadrach mesc, and abad ) and praise God as they go through the tribulation

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Zechariah Chapter 14

1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2* For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4* And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5* And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. 6* And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. 8 ¶ And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. 10* All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. 11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

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13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. 14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. 15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. 16 ¶ And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 20* In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. Matthew 24 & Mark 13- 6th seal

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