The American Wisdom Series

Presents
The Book of

the Revelation of Jesus Christ

Do Sundays sneak up on you like a thief in the night?
Do they take you by surprise? If they do there's a new thing out now called a "calendar" which will let you know when they are  coming.  The Day of the Lord Isn't Sunday!

INTRODUCTION

Revelation, the name of which means to "Disclose", to "Unveil", to "Reveal", i.e. to make known.  The Greek word for "revelation" is apokalupsi (Strong's #602) which comes from apokalupto (#601) and more specifically means to "Take the Cover Off". It is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who has given this open, unsealed, book as a special gift to those who love and serve Him.

Perhaps those who have studied the Book of Daniel will recall that Daniel was instructed to SEAL UP the words that he wrote until the time of the end, when the wise would understand.

Daniel 12:4
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.

So in contrast to Daniel, John was given specific instructions by one of the seven angels, whom we will read about shortly, NOT TO SEAL the sayings and prophecy of this book. That means that the Book of Revelation is UNSEALED, free and open for the partaking and understanding by God's "servants".

Here is John relaying his instructions:

Rev. 22:10
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

And guess what? It is a documented fact that people remember infinitely more of what they "see" than what they "hear" or "read". 

Please allow me to digress for a moment:

I once worked closely with the man who carries the credentials of the "World's Foremost Applied Memory Expert". He not only has the #1 Medical Terminology course in the U.S., which teaches over 11,000 complex medical terms and their meanings in just 14 hours of video with a guaranteed classroom average of an "A", but he also has a program that can teach third graders ALL 100 of the basic multiplication facts in just 90 minutes. Here's how:

First he simplifies the task at hand by teaching four easy rules: 1.) The Little Rule, which is to always say the little number first, for the answer to 5 x 3 is the same as 3 x 5. This rule eliminates almost half the 100 questions. 2.) The Zero Rule, which is that the answer to any question with a "0" in it is "0". 3.) The 1's Rule, which is that the answer to any question with a "1" in it is the other number. 4.) The 2's Rule, which is that the answer to any question with a "2" in it is the same as adding the other number to itself.

After applying these Four Easy Rules there are only 28 questions left to learn in the multiplication table. In fact, in the "9,s" column there is only one question left (9 x 9), because the Little Rule eliminated the others.

Next, he converts the ten digits, 0 - 9, into the ten hard consonant sounds of the English language. For example 1 = T, there is one "downstroke" in the letter "T", 2 = N, there are two downstrokes in the letter "N", M = 3, there are three downstrokes in the letter "M", etc. The children learn to "sound-out" the letters, i.e. 3 = mmmmmmM. Now by adding vowels, which have no numeric value, he can form nouns and turn the 28 remaining multiplication questions into PICTURES they can see.

For example, the question 3 x 3 is turned into a picture of MoM, "mmmm"  "mmmm" (M*M = MoM), and they see a picture of a Mom. The picture is then made funny by showing MoM with a Pie on her head. A "9" flipped around becomes a "P", so 9 = "P" in the number code (remember vowels have no value). So 3 x 3 = 9, MoM = Pie. So after learning the "number code" and seeing 28 funny pictures, they KNOW their multiplication facts. The need for the pictures soon goes away and they are left with knowledge.

This teaching method is so powerful that later you cannot "unteach" the children. If you try to tell them that MoM had a TaiL sticking out her ear, they would correct you and say "NO, Mom had a pie on her head! We know because WE SAW IT."

The Book of Revelation teaches us much the same way, using PICTURES, so that WE CAN SEE what is to be known. And once we've "seen it" no one can take it away, i.e. no one can shut the opened door. We will know with certitude what is happening and what is going to happen in the future because WE WILL SEE it. Stay with us! The movie is fantastic.

We also have a few "easy rules" to apply in learning the pictures of Revelation. The first is to begin reading and studying the rest of the Bible, for Revelation is the "last" book. If you have read the entire Bible you will basically discover nothing prophetically nor symbolically new in Revelation, it's just that it is now tied together and simplified into pictures for us. The other rules we will point out as we come to them.

Now, having exceeded the length of an introduction, let us begin the "Unveiling".  

John, that disciple Jesus loved, wrote these words in approximately 96 A.D. from the isles of Patmos where he was imprisoned for teaching the Word of God.

Rev. 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Notice that this is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ", not "The Revelation of John", as many Bibles title this book. Also note that the purpose of the revelation is to show things unto "His servants". If you are not one His servants, forget it, you won't get the pictures. You'll think that "locusts", when we come to them, are big bugs out to bite you. If you're not one of His, you need to get with the program.

The reason John writes that these things must "shortly come to pass" is because we will find in verse 10 that John isn't writing from the perspective of 96 A.D. He was spiritually taken ahead in time, to the future, even to this 21st. century, shown what is to happen then, and he wrote from the perspective of the time he was  taken to. 

How do we know that time is now, in this 21st century? Because we learned "The Parable of the Fig Tree" as Jesus told us we should, in order to know when he would return.  

On  May 15, in the year 1948 both The GOOD FIGS & The BAD FIGS were both planted, together, in that little country in the middle east, that we call Israel, today!

So, therefore, we know we are in that final generation when Christ will return.

Live Link to- The Parable of the Fig Tree

This is another "rule" that you must understand.

[2] Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

[3] Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

John now addresses The Seven Churches.

[4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

We will learn about the seven Spirits later on.

[5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross, because He loved us, and "loosed" (washed) us from our sins by the shedding of His blood.

[6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

He has made us priests and kings to reign at a yet future time, i.e. during the millennium. We will "See" it all in context as we go through this book of Revelation.

Here are a couple of references that we will come to documenting that this reign is yet future, i.e. prophecy too.

Rev. 5:10
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Rev. 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath 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.

Hey, the first resurrection, which takes place when Christ returns, is where it's at. Go for it!

For those who are familiar with the closing chapters of Ezekiel, because they have read the rest of the Bible, these priests are the same as the "Zadok", the just, i.e. God's elect.

[7] 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.

Not only will every eye see Christ when He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords, but as recorded by Paul in Romans 14:11, every knee shall bow. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God (Rom 14:11)".

When does Christ return? At the seventh trump, the last one! Just wait 'till we see that picture a few chapters from now. 

Did you know that His return ends this "flesh" age, instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of last trump?

And because we know that the final generation began on May 15, 1948, when both the good and the bad figs were set forth in Judea, that means that there will be "Baby Boomers" who will hear that Seventh Trump. Pretty exciting, isn't it?

Would you believe me if I told you that the Book of Revelation is one of the easiest, if not "the" easiest books of the Bible to understand?  Sure, it's filled with symbolism, but that's what makes it so easy. Remember, it is an uncovering, a revealing. Yes, of course you have to understand what the symbols mean. But that is really easy too! They are either already used and explained in the prior books of the Bible or they are clearly defined for us in Revelation.

You'll "see".

Let's continue in Revelation. Christ is speaking.

Rev. 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet giving the analogy of completeness, from the beginning unto the end. And of course Jesus Christ is Lord Eternal, of all time, i.e. the Lord of the "Present" earth age, in which we now live, the "Past" earth age, the world that then was (2 Pet 3:6) which perished at judgment (Gen 1:2), and the "Future" earth age to come.

And did you know, that in all that expanse of time, the Lord is the same? 

The apostle Paul explains:

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

John now lets us know that he is a team player, our brother and companion (partner), and not some "super preacher" high-up on a pedestal.

 As with all true servants of God he gives all the credit and all the glory to Him, the Alpha and Omega who makes it all possible.

[9] I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ
.

Partner in tribulation? You mean we're going to have tribulation? But I want to be "saved", saved from pain and the horrible things I've been told Satan is going to do to people when he gets here as the spurious messiah! I want to be "whisked" out of here like preacher "X" said.

So we see John, the Christian realist, who knew there was no "easy ride", on the isle of Patmos for the preaching and teaching God's Word. 

[10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.

What does it mean that John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day? What's the Lord's day?

Remember we discussed earlier how that one should read and study the entire Word of God?  Well, here is an example of a verse that a student of the Bible would immediately understand. The "day of the Lord" is spoken of in Isaiah 2, 2 Peter, 1 Thessalonians, etc., and is a time yet future, beginning with the first day of the millennium, the day the Lord returns, (and lasting 1000 years) His day, the Lord's day.

But know this well. The understanding of verse 10 is extremely important in order to know the time frame of the Book of Revelation. The Lord's day is where John was taken, in spirit, when he saw the visions.

Let's look at a few verses concerning the day of the Lord. Paul talks about Christ's return, the day of the Lord, in 1 Thes. 5:2.

1 Thes. 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Do Sundays sneak up on you like a thief in the night?

 Do they take you by surprise? If they do there's a new thing out now called a "calendar" which will let you know when they are coming.

Christ's return will only come as a thief in the night to those who aren't watching (which is the majority of Christianity), to those who do not have the seal of God, His word, in their foreheads. God's children, His servants to whom the Book of Revelation is addressed, have the solar calendar, if you will, i.e. the calendar of events in the order in which they occur.

1 Thes. 5:4-6
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. [6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

What happens before and the day Jesus Christ returns is REVEALED in this Book of Revelation.
Stay with us and you'll soon know, too!

Peter also discusses the day of the Lord in his second book.

2 Peter 3:8
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.

So the Lord's Day will be 1000 years commencing at Christ's return. We call it the millennium, which means a thousand. It is His Sabbath, the day of rest, the 7th day.

[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[10] 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.

You just read what happens on the day of the Lord, so don't listen to this "it happened on Sunday" stuff anymore!

So in verse 10 John heard a great voice as of a trumpet,

Rev. 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, 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.

John is told to take this Book of Revelation, all of it, everything he SEES, from A to Z, and send it to ALL the CHURCHES of today. And so it is that they all have it! But do they all teach it? We'll get to test them in chapters two and three, for they will be identified by what they teach.

And now John will "SEE" exactly why he was just given the instructions of verse 11.

[12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

What are the seven golden candlesticks? We will be told shortly. Right now just see the PICTURE.

[13] 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.

Of course the Son of man is Jesus Christ and His appearance is being described in the best "physical" terms possible .

[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

This is nothing new. We've seen description before:

Daniel 7:9
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

White is a symbol of purity. For documentation ask women. (That's why wedding dresses are white.)

Rev. 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.

His voice was as the sound of many waters. Is this something new in the Book of Revelation? Nah. Ezekiel gives the same description.

Ezekiel 1:24
And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

Remember, the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. Of course, there is nothing new under the sun. I think this was said before by a man with great wisdom:

Eccles. 1:9
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

John continues:

Rev. 1:16 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 shineth in his strength.

Do you see the picture? It's pretty awesome, isn't it? Christ is standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, holding seven stars in His right hand and has a sharp twoedged sword coming out of His mouth. Always "See" the picture first, before concerning yourself with the symbolism.

Got it so far? OK, let's look first at the twoedged sword. What is it?  Do swords come out of peoples mouths? Oh please! Words come out of the mouth, in this case His Word! Christ's Word is the sharp twoedged sword. This is nothing new. Paul, tell us!

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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 you see how powerful His word, the twoedged sword, is? It can even kill the soul!

And, guess what? God's elect also have this sharp Sword. It is part of the Gospel Armor that you must have on to be in the battle we are soon going to read about in this exciting Book of Revelation. So, you can see why it must be handled with the utmost care, for it is razor sharp!

Ephes. 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Well, that should about take care of what the "Sword" is. Now back to John describing the vision.

Rev. 1:17 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:

There's absolutely no need to be fearful of Jesus Christ if you are one of His.

[18] I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

In this verse we see the "I am that I am". This was the name God gave to Moses on the mountain when Moses asked "Who shall I say sent me?" (unto Pharaoh).

Christ is alive for evermore. He's not dead on a cross any more. And He has the keys of both hell and death.

This would be a good person to get to know. Don't you think?

[19] Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Oh, and just to wrap up the rest of the symbols in this  Illustration, here it is.

[20] The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

What? The seven stars are the angels and the seven candlesticks are the churches. I thought the Book of Revelation was really mysterious. This is pretty simple.

Now, let me see if I got the picture:

Jesus Christ, who is standing in the midst of the churches (hmmm, equal distance from all, that's fair), is going to use His messengers, the seven angels, to send a message, directly from His mouth (His Word which is the very, very sharp twoedged sword), to all seven churches, meaning ALL churches.

Hey, I got it! Oh! This must be very serious. I wonder what He has to say to them? We'll find out! Stay tuned! . Don't drop your ISP (Internet Service Provider).

OK, it's time for a pop quiz!

1.) The day of the Lord is:

A. Sunday
B. The Millennium
C. Saturday

2.) The stars in Christ's right hand represent:

A. Oscar winners
B. The Zodiac
C. Angels

3.) The two-edged Sword represents:

A. The Word of God
B. King Arthur's Excalibur
C. An hors d'oeuvre accessory

4.) The seven candlesticks represent:

A. The Altar
B. The Churches
C. Liberace

5.) The Book of Revelation is the revelation of:

A. John
B. Jesus
C. Jerry

Well, how did you do? The answers are contained in an acrostic in the following sentence. BeCAuse we love the BiBle, we study it.

Now that we're all in the testing mood, feeling confident because we scored 100%, it's time to test the seven candlesticks. We have come to chapter two where Christ will now address the seven churches.

(The first "End Time" church Christ describes to John)

Our Lord speaks:

Rev. 2:1
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Make no mistake about it. The message to the church of Ephesus is directly from Jesus Christ. The "picture" is refreshed in our minds and we now understand the symbology.

[2] I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Jesus Christ knows all of our works and our labours and our patience (of the lack thereof) .

These good folks obviously have some degree of common sense. They can spot a "phony" preacher on the street corner or on TV, and after listening awhile (trying them) they find them to be liars, con artists! We need more people to be able to do that, i.e. to try these phonies and realize they are liars, and that they are not sent from God.

[3] And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

They are steadfast in their labors. They are faithful churchgoers and tithers and never grow weary.

[4] Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

This is not good! Whenever one has Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, against them they have a big problem. This is not to be taken lightly.

What is a Christian's first love? It is Jesus Christ, the Savior, the living Word of God. How is it then that they leave Him? By becoming involved in "church" and following the teachings of the church, the traditions of men, that make void the Word of God, which is Christ. They are wasting their time. Christ said so Himself!

Mark 7:7
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

However, Jesus provides the solution to the problem:

Rev. 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

They better leave "Churchianity", i.e. quit playing church, and start studying and following the will of God, else HE will come quickly and remove their candlestick, by declaring it a non-Christian church, a Beth-Aven, which is Hebrew for "House of Vanity".

Some people have a real hard time understanding how there will be Christians that do all these wonderful works and yet don't make it into the kingdom of heaven!

Jesus addressed this issue.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Well meaning people can be running around calling themselves Christians, saying "Praise the Lord this" and, "Praise the Lord that" and still not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Again, one must do the will of our Father.

What exactly is His will? His "will" is His "testament", both the Old and the New.

If one doesn't do His will they are simply "kidding" themselves by calling themselves Christian! James 1:22 reads: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

So Jesus says, when talking about the same time period where John is now, i.e. the day of the Lord:

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Look at all the wonderful things this church has done. They have prophesied in the name of Christ, cast out demons, sent missionaries to various parts of the world, raised money at benefits or by playing Bingo to buy food for the homeless, etc, etc.

Though they profess Christ, too often well meaning Christians turn their will and their lives over to the care of their "church", and their church actually becomes their "means to salvation". This is especially true when their church thinks that only they are God's "elect", a term they interpret wrongly to mean "elite". Then just "belonging" to this church gets them into the kingdom. 

Here's what Jesus will say to them:

[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Christ never knew them because they never knew Him. If one doesn't know the Written Word of God then one doesn't know the Living Word of God, for they are one.

Christ now continues to give His message to the church of Ephesus.

Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

At least they also hate licentiousness and lustful, perverted practices (which would not make them politically correct). Although there is not much history on the Nicolaitanes, Smith's Bible dictionary gives us a brief outline of this sect of heretics whose doctrines originated with Balaam. They worshipped idols, did not believe in creation, and held their women in common.

It is amazing how many church goers today do not believe in creation, but believe evolution took place in one form or another.

Jesus Christ has one more thing to say to all of us, not just to the church of Ephesus:

[7] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

We will learn more about the tree of life in the final chapter (22) of Revelation.

What can we conclude about the church of Ephesus. Well, they appear to pretty "main stream" Christians, good hearted, well meaning church goers, who are definitely against sinful, lustful practices. The problem is that they are Biblically illiterate, they have left their first love, and so they don't have the seal of God, His Word, in their foreheads. Consequently, they will worship Satan when he appears first as the spurious messiah, i.e. they will believe that he is Jesus Christ Himself. That is not an opinion, for we will document this in the remaining chapters of the Book of Revelation beyond a shadow of doubt.

The truly sad part is, that when one worships Satan, even through ignorance, guess what? They can kiss their candlestick good-bye! Did you "hear" that?

Next we will see one of only two churches that Christ has nothing against. Hey, that's one to pay close attention to and become a part of what they teach.

Let's pay close attention to this next church, the church in Smyrna, for there are only two churches that Christ will find no fault with, this one and the church in Philadelphia. Hey, go with a winner! We will find that they share a common teaching, so whatever it is it must be very pleasing to Christ.

[8] And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

[9] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Now notice what identifies the church of Smyrna. They know who the blasphemers are that say they are of Judah, who run around claiming to be God's chosen people, while all along they are liars and are of the synagogue of Satan. Whew, that's pretty powerful stuff! You bet!

John 8:39-44
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

[40] But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

[41] Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

[42] Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

[43] Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

[44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Time for another pop quiz.

Who was the first murderer in the Bible?

A) Cain
B) Cain
C) or Cain

Good, you got it right! They were Kenites, the sons of Cain. It was the kenites who killed Christ, (some of them had already mixed in with and were living with our brother Judah, even back then) not those of our brother Judah. Take the time to look up the word "Jews" in Strong's concordance. You will find it is the Greek word Ioudaios, which means either a person of Judah's descendents or a person who resides in the land of Judea. People are often identified by the land in which they live. If you live in Texas you could be called a Texan. If you live in Judea you could be called a Jew.

Note: We will be addressing the subject of the Kenites throughout the Book of Revelation, so just be patient if this is new to you. However, if anyone would like to be brought up to "modern times" concerning Rev. 2:9 and 3:9 then do some research on the subject of Khazars. Here's a quote from one paragraph in the Encyclopedia Britannica:

"Khazar civilization shows a fairly complex texture and their religious life raises more than one problem... About 740 the Khazar ruler - and probably the greater part of the ruling classes - were converted to Judaism. The circumstances of the conversion remain obscure, the depth of the Jewish layer difficult to assess; the fact itself is, however, undisputed and unparalleled in the history of Eurasia. ... The story of this conversion of the Khazars had a considerable and lasting impact on the western world."

You take it from here.

Now let's return to Revelation.

Rev. 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

[10] And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Think carefully now. Remember the picture we were given? The message to the churches, and to the whole world for that matter, comes directly from the mouth of Jesus Christ (His Sword, the Word). Right? That's why God's elect are not to premeditate what they will say. They won't have to! It will be the Sword of Christ, His Word, the Holy Spirit of God, proceeding directly out their mouths to proclaim His Gospel to this world.

And finally to the church of Smyrna, Jesus says:

Rev. 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

So maybe you're beginning to think that being a Christian soldier in these last days requires some guts. Well, maybe so. But when you have the gospel armor (Eph 6) on and in place and Jesus Christ lets you carry His twoedged Sword (and He does if you're willing), then, as He says over and over again, there is nothing to fear.

Here is something to think about, "If you don't know something, then you don't know that you don't know it. Furthermore, how in the world would you know that you were supposed to know it?"

Our people have been kept so ignorant about God's Word that they have no idea that it was written personally to them by their Father who loves them so much and has given them blessings and an inheritance beyond their wildest dreams! It is His will and testament. It is even called "Testament", the Old and the New.  Sure they may love their Father, but they have to claim His will!

If someone left you a fortune, and recorded it in his last will and testament, but the will laid on the coffee table and you never read it, then you wouldn't know about the fortune and consequently you couldn't claim it. Meanwhile you struggle through life wondering why you are so "unblessed".

Worse yet, professional "will readers", with seminary degrees in "will reading", who claim to have read and studied the will, tell you come back "faithfully" every Sunday and they shall explain what the will says. The problem is, they never quite get around to explaining the will, but they never, ever, forget to pass the golden, felt lined plate.

Keep that in mind as we now move on to the church in Permagos.

However, remember where John has been taken to, the day of Lord, the first day of the Millennium, which is yet future.

Let's see what Christ has to say to them.

Rev. 2:12
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

This church is reminded right away of His sharp sword that has two edges, i.e. His word that proceeds out of His mouth. The church in Pergamos is about to get a "tongue lashing" with the sharpest tongue in the universe.

[13] I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

It looks like this church has "made their bed" right where Satan dwells. I'm sure they believe he is the real thing, for most of the world will! When Satan appears at the six trump (which we will learn about in this Book of Revelation), he will claim to be Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

You should remember from kindergarten (or Sesame Street) that the number 6 comes before the number 7. It is at the 6th Trump that Satan is cast out of heaven onto this earth (Rev. 12:7-9), to play the role of the spurious messiah. We don't gather back to Christ until the 7th Trump, the very last one! The apostle Paul WARNS us this will happen before we gather back to Jesus at the 7th Trump.

2 Thes. 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 Thes. 2:3
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;

The "that day" is the day we gather back to Christ.  And the son of "perdition" is the son who will "perish" (in the lake of fire). That's Satan. He's as good as dead which is why he is also called "Death".

[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Well, there will be one person in the church of Pergamos who will know the difference between the two and he will be martyred. His name, not doubt derived from his reputation, is Antipas which means "anti-father", and yet Jesus calls him His faithful martyr. He is faithful in telling the Biblically illiterate of the church of Pergamos that the dude who sits in the temple claiming to be God "Ain't the Father". Six comes before seven, don't you know?

Let's return to Revelation chapter 2.

Rev. 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Uh oh! This church has multiple problems, "a few things" wrong.

1.) They've got the "Balaam Syndrome". Balaam was a true priest of Israel all right, but if one takes the time to read the account they will find he preached to Balac, i.e. the Moabites, for MONEY. Know any churches like that? Do you know any churches that concentrate on fund raisers, pledges of money, pass the plate, building funds, etc, etc.

In fact at one point Balaam had his ass so loaded with "donations" that God intervened with an angel and had the ass speak to Balaam to bring him to his senses.

You know, it seems like every time I hear a sermon on TV by certain "will readers", I learn how blessed I'll be if I send money to them. Balaam lives on!

[15] So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

2.) They got "hanky panky" going on, too! We addressed this in the church of Ephesus.

[16] Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

REPENT! That is a strong command, and He means it! If they don't, guess what? They'll get a lesson in sword fighting!

Here is a word of wisdom! If there is one person in this universe you don't want to get into a sword fight with, it's Jesus Christ. I don't care if your name is Zorro or Luke Skywalker!

Rev. 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh 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 knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

This time Christ says if we have those "ears to hear" we better pay attention to what the Spirit, i.e. Jesus Christ, is saying to these churches, ALL of them. It is extremely important, a matter of eternal life or death.

What is this manna spoken of here? Manna is the angel's food that our Father fed His children with in the wilderness of Sinai. It is symbolic of the truth, i.e. the bread of life (the Bible) , which our Father feeds His children in today's wilderness, during this time of the great famine spoken of in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.

"What?.. I don't see a great famine!" Maybe you also need "eyes to see". Look into the Book of Amos and "see" what is revealed concerning the famine of the end time.

Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

 In this church, theres just no time to prepare a meal with real meat, i.e, rightly dividing "God's Word"  for God's children. There's too much Balaam going on. Give 'em a little morsel and then "Bail-'em", the money that is.

Now, notice in Rev 2:17 that there is "hidden" manna, i.e. hidden truth. Some will ask, "Why is it that truth is hidden in the Bible?" The answer is, "So that when you go looking for it, you can find it!" Actually, all you need are "eyes to see" &"ears to hear" and it becomes revealed, uncovered, as it is right here in the great Book of Revelation. But, you must know and love Him and want the truth enough to search for it in your Bible!

We then learned the simplicity of the use of symbology, which allows us to see in Picture Format that which Christ would have us know.  However, it only makes sense if we allow the Bible to do the explaining and not "mystify" what is being revealed with our own runaway imaginations.

Let's check the scorecard of the first three churches:

Church      Fault         No Fault

Ephesus        X

Smyrna                                X

Pergamos        X

We now move to next church, which is in Thyatira.


[18] And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

 Jesus now makes it a point to refresh in our minds the Picture we saw in chapter 1, of His Majesty in His glorified body standing in the midst of the seven churches, which are represented by seven candlesticks (Rev 1:13-15).

The church of Thyatira should pay particular attention to His eyes that "see" what they're doing and His heavy metal feet that could do some serious "stomping" when He returns.  Brass feet will be great for "treading the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Rev 19:15). Remember, He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords to rule with a rod of iron (and brass feet).

[19] I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

The "ands" in this verse constitute a figure of speech called a Polysyndenton, just like the "Ands" in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis (And the evening and the morning... etc.)  See appendix 6 in the Companion Bible. The "ands" are used for emphasis and so you could read verse 19 like this to understand the emphasis of the figure polysyndenton:

I know your works,
And I Know your charity,
And I Know your service,
And I Know your faith,
And I Know your patience,
And I Know your works.

It would appear that this group loves the Lord and is doing all the right things, as far as "religion" goes. 

But there's trouble within. Something is wrong:

[20] Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

What's wrong is that they are obviously listening to someone who is "teaching" them, who calls herself a prophetess (which means teacher), but all the while she is leading them astray! She's seducing them to commit fornication and if they don't wise up, they're screwed alright!  They're going to get stomped with brass feet.

Now let's back up and analyze what's being said. First, this is not, and cannot be, the Jezebel of 1 Kings chapter 16, though she certainly was a type.  Her name, Jezebel, means chaste, and so she gives the appearance of purity and holiness and goodness and truth (read as a Polysyndenton now that you know what one is), but we just learned that she is anything but those things. The problem is her church members are too deceived, too seduced and in love with her, to know that what she teaches is an abomination to our Father! (She is not an actual woman, but a "teaching" of the church).

What does it mean to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols? Do you mean she teaches people to have sex outside of marriage and eat food sacrificed to idols?  No, this is church doctrine that is being talked about.

She teaches people to become idolaters by eating "spiritual food", i.e. doctrine and traditions, that are not Biblical, and so not from God. It comes from other gods, meaning the false god, Satan himself, but it looks and "tastes" so good!

An example would be the "rapture theory" taught in most Christian churches today. Margaret McDonald, a prophetess herself, originated this doctrine in the year 1830 in Glasgow Scotland. She herself wrote that at first it was evil and there was darkness about it. That should tell you right there where it came from, the dark one himself. It is not supported in anyway, shape, or form in the Bible, yet it "tastes" and "feels" very good to those who wish to "eat" of it and continue being "seduced".

But let's check out the type, the Jezebel in I Kings 16-19.  She had good old Ahab make groves that really angered our Father, more so than all the kings of Israel that were before him. That's pretty serious stuff!

1 Kings 16:33
And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

Do you have any idea what a grove is?  The truth of the matter is "covered up" in the English, hidden just beneath the surface, if you will.  If you're like most of the people in the church of Thyatira you're probably thinking Ahab planted a bunch of trees, like an apple grove, or maybe cleared away the under brush to make a nice oak grove.

Well guess what? We just read in verse 17 of Rev. 2 that there is hidden manna, so henceforth we better all start looking a little deeper to uncover the truth.  Get a Strong's Concordance and look up "grove". The word is "asherah", from the root "ashar", to be straight, erect or upright!

Check out all the passages where this word is used and you will "see" without question it is not a grove like the folks of Thyatira think. For example, in 2 Kings 17:10 "they set them up under every tree" and in 2 Kings 23:6 "he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron...".

The asherah was a "thing", it was the Phallus image of  Isa. 57:8 and the "image of the male" in Ezek. 16:17. You guessed it, it was the image of the male upright organ of procreation. OK, it was a big carved penis, there I said it.

But you know what? It was a religious "thing". It was used in the spring sexual orgies honoring Ashteroth, the queen of heaven, from whom we get our word "Easter". Uh, oh! The church of Thyatira wouldn't bring symbols of fertility into the house of God, would they? 

"Oh, but those", we are told, "are just symbols of new life, after all it's spring time. And besides, it's so cute for the kids." (Doesn't Jezebel speak so sweetly?)  Sure, and grove means a clump of trees. How's it feel to be seduced by her? Do you know the origin of Easter eggs and Easter bunnies? What do they have to do with the Passover anyway?

It may offend some, but if that be the case, go ahead and try to find Easter in the New Testament. It ain't there! Surprised? (Note: Please don't send an e-mail saying you found it in Acts 12:4. The word is pascha, 
translated all 28 other times as Passover.)

[21] And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Our Father uses "adultery" to represent the far worse sin of "idolatry" throughout the Bible. He's giving her time, even now, to repent.

[22] Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Hey, she's going to "bed" and those that she "seduces" are going with her. And they will have great tribulation. Do you know what that means?  It means they will be "taken" by the false messiah, who is Satan, when he comes at the 6th trump claiming he is God. He'll be in the sack with them! In other words, they will worship the devil as Jesus Christ.

Worshipping Satan, even if in ignorance, is not a very good thing to do if you claim to be a Christian, is it?  It is called the great falling away, the great apostasy.

[23] And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Christ isn't going to physically kill children. Come on! It simply means that the children of Jezebel, her followers, i.e. the deceived members of the church of Thyatira, are going to be "Spiritually Dead"!!!

[24] 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 none other burden.

Stay away from Satan's fake doctrines. Learn his mysterious and conniving ways of slipping paganism into the churches of Christianity. Get out of Satan's bed!

[25] But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

If you have eyes to see and those ears to hear what Christ has been mentioning to every church, then hang in there. These are exciting times now, but more excitement is about to befall us all!

[26] And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

God's elect will reign with Christ during the,  1000 year, day of the Lord, the Millennium.

[27] 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.

To "rule" means to "shepherd".  But the rest of the church of Thyatira better watch out for those brass feet.

[28] And I will give him the morning star.

The morning star is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who reveals the hidden manna to those who will "hear" and "see". Remember though, you have to want it; To Ask Him TO REVEAL IT TO YOU.                    

Rev. 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine 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.

But never forget, there is an imposter that "looks" so much like the real Christ, that the majority of Christianity can't tell the difference. So it is no wonder that in Isaiah 14, Satan is also called the bright star. There are two stars, two Christs; The real and the fake!

[29] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

So much for the church of Thyatira. It didn't score well either.

The question is, "Do you want to please Christ, or not?" That may sound like a "dumb" question to ask someone who professes to be Christian, but let's think about it?

The point is, you may have "wanted" to please your boss, but you didn't "care enough" to take the time to learn what it was that he wanted done. Such is the case with those in five of the seven churches.

I'd like to quote two paragraphs from the work of one of the greatest Bible scholars of our modern era, E. W. Bullinger, in his work titled "How to Enjoy the Bible", American Christian Press, pg. 6.

When we come to ask ourselves, and say "Where did I learn this?" "How did I get this?" "Who taught me this?" it is astonishing to find how much we have imbibed from man, and from tradition; and not directly and for ourselves, from the Word of God.

All that we have learned from our youth up must be tested and proved by the Word of God. Where we find it is true we must learn it over again, from God. And where it will not stand the test of His Word we must be not only content, but thankful to give it up; and receive Divine revelation in the place of man's imagination.

These two profound paragraphs are the essence of what Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are all about. It is the reason we are testing the churches, shall we say it's "the purpose of the exercise". To be able to do that which we just read requires great courage and discipline. Most would rather take the easy road and follow traditions. That road does not lead to our Father, nor does it please Him.

The apostle Paul was able to sum it up in one short sentence that we all need to live by:

1 Thes. 5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

And now on to the church in Sardis.

Rev. 3:1
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Remember, Jesus Christ knows all of our works, the good, the bad and the ugly. This church in Sardis is Christian in name only because they are spiritually "deader than a door knob". They probably don't even know where the plans are.

Sardis, if you care to research it's history, was a wealthy merchant town and the capital of the ancient Lydia (which Homer called Moeonia), once the "Queen of Asia". How interesting. Not too many years ago there were 6, and there are still 2 standing, of the pillars of Cybele (60 feet high). Those with eyes and ears will take note of the 6's and multiples thereof.

Cybele, also known as Rhea, was the goddess of the growth of natural things in Greek mythology. She was also called the mother of the gods. Hmmm, this sounds like something that could be mixed in with Christianity, don't you think? Hey, people will love it! We'll add some eggs and bunnies.

[2] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

How much impact does it have upon your mind to realize that these are the very words and instructions from Jesus Christ Himself, as if He were standing talking directly to you, face to face?

[3] Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

You see, if you don't watch, then you'll be in the dark! And if you don't know when the day of the Lord comes, you'll worship the false messiah, guaranteed! Paul told us the exactly same thing as Jesus just told us in verse 3.

1 Thes. 5:2-9
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Hey, the Berlin wall has fallen, the Big Bear (Russia) has gone to sleep, supposedly. The USSR no longer exists. And if you think they aren't saying peace and safety, you haven't got your ears on!

[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

These brethren are "watchers".

[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

There are no surprises to God's elect. The Lord will do nothing lest He first reveal it to His servants through the prophets. It is all written in the set of plans.

[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

[7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

[8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

We completely and totally escape the wrath of God, completely and totally. He's not angry at His children who love and obey Him. Do you get angry with your children when they love and obey you?

Now there's a "dumb" question!

Let's return to Revelation chapter 3.

Rev. 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

There are a few folks in each of the churches that have stuck to His Word. Do you suppose our Father places them there for the benefit of others, to stir the pot so to speak?

White, of course, is symbolic of purity.

[5] He that overcometh, 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.

White raiment is symbolic of righteous acts. When we come into this world we have nothing (and I still have most of that), but when we leave we take our works with us. Those works will be our "clothing", raiment, in the kingdom. That could be a pretty scary thought for some!

Oh yes, God keeps books. He is well organized and maintains a complete database file on everyone of His children. It's much more extensive than Big Brother, it's Big Father. Of course His technology and software far exceeds that of the PC and Windows. His Spirit is linked directly to your brain and the thoughts of your heart and He downloads everything, I mean everything.

So just make sure that your Father is pleased with you so He doesn't "blot out", i.e. hit the Delete Button, on your file in the Book of Life. Why? Because if you check out the word "blot out" in Greek, it means "gone", "erased", i.e. there is no recovery program available, no recycle bin. And so you will not even be history, there will be no record, no archive. It will be as if you never existed. And once again, no matter what the traditions of five out of the seven churches teach, that is Biblical! Test it yourself.

Finally, you should know what is written in the books concerning you. After all, you are writing the story of your own life even now. The question is, have you read His Book to see if maybe yours needs some serious editing?

Rev. 20:12
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.

The dead referred to here are those who are spiritually dead, as in, those who don't know Christ as their personal savior!

 Now for the fifth time Jesus says:

Rev. 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Just as a reminder, and for those who have recently joined our study, we saw a Picture in chapter 1 of Revelation, where Jesus Christ, in His glorified body, was standing in the midst of seven candlesticks (churches), with seven stars (representing angels) in His right hand, and a sharp twoedged sword (the Word of God) proceeded out of His mouth.

Christ then turned to each church and began addressing them, noting their doctrines and giving to them His instructions. He uses His servant John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, who was taken to the day of the Lord, i.e. the first day of the Millennium, to record His words to the churches which are present THEN, even now, not in 96 A.D.

However, before we begin, here is a quote with an interesting historical note regarding the two cities of Smyrna and Philadelphia, that ought to tell us something. It is from the Smith's Bible Dictionary under the title "The Seven Churches":

"Philadelphia was included in the message with Smyrna as deserving approbation and encouragement; and these two only out of the seven cities have continued to our day, and now possess a material prosperity somewhat equal to their importance." "Smith's Bible Dictionary", A. J. Holman Company, Philadelphia, pg. 277.

And now the words of Jesus Christ to the church in Philadelphia:

Rev. 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Now notice the remarkable characteristics He presents before the church of Philadelphia; holiness, truth, and the key of David.

But first, allow me to digress. Even though this original church of Philadelphia was in Asia Minor and was but a type, as an American I can't read "Philadelphia" without thinking about the "City of Brotherly Love", our own beloved city in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia means "brotherly love"). For it is there that Independence Hall resides and the Liberty Bell rests, the symbols of Freedom and Liberty and Justice for All. And when you are given the "key to the city", you have free, unhindered access to the entire town.

Much the same, as an analogy, applies to the Key of David. With it you have free, unhindered (by the traditions of men) access to the entire Word of God. It will unlock each and every book while at the same time locking out false doctrines.

Those who have been "Bound" by the traditions of men, lied to by the sweet talking Jezebels, can be "Set Free" with the Key of David, and can never be bound again. Why? Because it unlocks truth and the truth leads to freedom from bondage. Did not Christ tell us?

John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jesus continues with the church of Philadelphia:

Rev. 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

We see that the folks in the "church of brotherly love" have also kept His Word. Of course that doesn't mean they have kept it on the coffee table. It means they know it, and understand it, and do it. You must first have studied His word in order to keep it, else you never had it to keep! It's the contents - not the book. In the very same chapter of John where Christ addresses the bad figs, He also says:

John 8:31
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Moving right along now, let's stick the key of David into the next verse and open it up. Click...

Rev. 3:9 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 thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Christ also says that he will make the kenites to come and worship before our feet. Of course this doesn't mean they are going to worship us, but when Christ returns EVERY KNEE will bow to Him. God's elect will be with Him, at His feet, before whom they, the kenites,  will either worship or eventually perish in the lake of fire.

Finally in verse 9 our Lord and Savior lets His servants in the church of Philadelphia know that He loves them for what they do. If you are part of that church that will make your heart melt and bring tears to your eyes for the warmth that it brings forth.

[10] Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

What is the hour of temptation that the church of Philadelphia escapes?  The hour of temptation is that "hour" (we'll learn exactly how long that is when we get to chapter 5) when the "Tempter", Satan, is here as the false-christ claiming to be the Messiah.

These Christian "bruisers" will be right here, with their feet firmly planted on the ground, walking around with a full suit of gospel armor on and in place, giving Sword Lessons. Care to challenge one of them?

[11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

[12] Him that overcometh 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 will write upon him my new name.

Now listen real carefully to what is said next and try to grasp the almost unimaginable magnitude of it. If you don't have ears to hear yet, then dig the wax out of the ones you've got and use them for a change.

[13] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Do you still want to listen to Jezebels? If so, we'll send you some postcards after the wedding.

Before we begin examining the seventh and final church, the church of Laodicea, and in as much as historically it was a type, there are some very interesting points about this church that pretty much tell the story for those with eyes to see.

The following is a direct quote from Smith's Bible Dictionary (the parenthesis aren't his), those were mine.

Laodice'a, an ancient city on the Lycus, in the valley of the Meander, forty miles east of Ephesus.  Its site was on seven hills, which were drained by two brooks, the Asopus and Caprus. The ruins are of a stadium, in very complete preservation, three theatres (one of which was 450 feet in diameter), bridges, aqueducts, and a gymnasium, which testify to its ancient wealth and importance.  Its original name was Diospolis (the city of Jupiter) which was changed to Rhoas, under which title it became the largest city in Phrygia (Pliny). Antiochus II gave it the name of his wife Laodice.

It became the seat of an archbishop, and in its cathedral church were gathered several councils; in one of which, a system of supplying the villages or small societies in the interior with church services by itinerating presbyters, was adopted (somewhat similar to the Methodist plan now in use), under the direction of the bishop of Laodicea.

The city was utterly destroyed A. D. 1230, since when it has lain in shapeless ruins, only visited for its marble and other materials.    Smith's Bible Dictionary, A. J. Holman Company, "The Seven Churches", pg. 277.

I thought it would be fascinating to those who are familiar with the great Book of Zechariah, especially the 4th chapter where the two olive trees, standing on either side of the candlestick, empty themselves of oil, i.e. empty into the candlestick, as in filling it up.

Whereas here, Laodicea, along with its candlestick, is being DRAINED by two brooks.

And while they are being drained, beautiful, magnificent stadiums and theatres are being built (no doubt funded by the tax payers).

Then we see a church hierarchy developed and the supplying of "church services" (ceremony and song in substitute for teaching line by line, no doubt). And so another "church system" is born. I would suppose that the birth of the Church Quarterly, written by man, was instituted here also.

Then notice that Laodicea was destroyed in 1230 A.D. Shall we give each day for a year? Then that's just little short of the 1260 days in Daniel chapter 12. Looks like they didn't make it unto the end. Perhaps they had been drained too much and were a little short on oil.

We also have a quote form Davis' Bible Dictionary on the subject of Laodicea:

It manufactured cloth and garments from the black wool produced by a breed of sheep in its vicinity; and it was the seat of a medical school, whose physicians prepared the Phrygian powder for the cure of opthalmia. It numbered many Jews among its inhabitants (Antiq. xiv. 10,20). Davis Dictionary of the Bible, Baker Book House, pg. 441.

Well, it looks like there were a bunch of Black Sheep running around the area of Laodicea (black no doubt because they were kept in the dark, if you know what I mean). But no matter, those presbyters sheared those suckers anyway and made merchandise of their hides! Boy, there's nothing new under the sun, is there?

In any event, verse 18 of this chapter will have more meaning by understanding the wealth and products of Laodicea. Enjoy.

Rev. 3:14
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

The word "Amen" is of Hebrew origin and is a transliteration (a letter for letter conversion from one language to another, in contrast to a translation of the word) from the word "Amen" (Strong's #543). It's the same in English as in Hebrew and it means "truth", "sure", and when we say "amen" we are saying "so be it, truth".

And obviously, the last phrase of this verse, "the beginning of the creation of God", doesn't mean God created Himself. If you want to unlock scriptures you can't just stick the key in and open up the door and stand there and peek in. You have to go in and look around. If you are not familiar with the original languages then at least check out other translations from credible scholars. Here's how Dr. Moffat translate this verse:

Rev. 3:14
Then to the angel of the church at Laodicea write thus: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation. (Moffat Bible)

Now back to the KJV and verse 15:

Rev. 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Maybe we should take a poll. Would you believe that's how some churches go about selecting their ministers?
Here's an actual question from one prominent local church that did just that:

As a Christian, how important do you believe it is to study the Bible?

Extremely         Very            Somewhat         Not too          Not Important
Important      Important        Important         Important            At All

They asked the same type questions about the qualifications of the minister and after spending thousands of dollars in surveys and consulting fees (because they are rich and increased with goods) they concluded that it was more important that the minister be able to comfort and minister unto the sick and elderly, than to know and teach the Word of God. And they got what they wanted. He's a great guy. Everybody likes him.

[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

The Greek word for "spue" is emeo (Strong's #1692), and it means to "VOMIT".  Does that tell you what our Father thinks about lukewarm?  Either "do it" or get off the pot!

[17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

This verse is totally self explanatory. It should be read from your window as you look out upon this nation which recently went through a period of  unparalleled economic prosperity, during the Clinton administration,  which has produced an unparalleled false sense of security.

[18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

It's your choice Laodicea! The Lord says "I counsel you to seek "spiritual gold", that has been purified in the fiery furnace whereby the slag of sin has been removed by your seeking His sacrifice... and the pure white raiment of righteous acts, instead of those black wool suits you so covet, so that when the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, returns, you aren't standing there stark naked before Him and the host of heaven He brings with Him, and you're scrambling to find some rocks to hide behind, wishing they'd fall upon you and end the awful shame."

And these "spiritual items" cannot be purchased by cashing in your IRA's & 401 K's, and your inflated Bonds & Mutual Funds, for all the riches of man combined cannot purchase even one soul.

It's your choice Laodicea! Anoint your eyes with a poultice (a soft, usually heated and sometimes medicated mass spread on a cloth and applied to sores or other lesions), that they might open up and now you have "eyes to see".

It's your choice Laodicea!

[19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

One thing is for certain. Our Father loves His children very, very much. And if they've got it coming, they're going to get it! It is for their good because He loves them. It's Corporal Punishment and repentance now, or it's Capital Punish at the judgment.

It's your choice Laodicea!

[20] 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.

Jesus Christ is right there, at the door, right now! Knock, knock! He wishes to invite you to the wedding feast about to take place (Rev. 19). Do you have "ears to hear" Him? If you do then YOU must open the door to your heart and let Him in. YOU must open the door for the LIVING WORD to come in. And YOU must open the Book for the WRITTEN WORD to come in. They are one and the same. It won't open itself.

If you do, He promises to dine with you, and so another thing is for certain. You have "not eaten" until you have tasted the hidden manna that He has prepared for those who love Him AND answer His call, for He is the Master Chef and the meals He prepares are Exquisite!

[21]To him that overcometh 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.

Want some incentive? What to know "What's in it for me"? Eternal life isn't just a "religious term". The rewards and honor and glory that He will grant, and has already promised in His Testaments, is for real! And guess what? They can all be yours!

It's your choice Laodicea!

And now, for the Seventh and final time to the churches of today and tomorrow, He who is Spiritually Perfect says:

[22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Seven times Jesus Christ has made this call and soon the Seventh Trump will sound. Are you buying fine white linen and getting dressed for the banquet, or will you be caught stark naked in front of everyone?

It's your choice Laodicea!

In chapter 4 of Revelation where John will be taken to the very throne of Almighty God and we will get to see what lies beyond the veil, into the spiritual dimension, even into heaven itself.

Imagine that! John was taken to heaven and records in detail all that he saw, and yet people run around wondering what heaven is like. Go figure! They visualize people floating around on clouds (I think the clouds are numbered because "cloud nine" seems to be the one to go for) and playing harps.

Perhaps their preacher told them they didn't have to read the Book of Revelation because they weren't going to be here when those awful events take place. That's a great "cop out" because they can't explain it anyway. Their eyes are closed and they cannot see. 

Isaiah said it best:

Isaiah 29:10
For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

Yep, they're sleeping. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz!

[11] And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

So, let's understand this. You take the Bible to one that is "learned", whom you will recognize as "learned" because of the title he carries, like PhD or Master of Divinity, and ask him to explain what candlesticks and stars represent in the Book of Revelation. And the "learned" says (as he lowers his glasses to the bulbous portion of his nose and peers ever so intellectually out over the frames), "My child, it is a mystery of God and it can be interpreted many different ways."

He's clueless! Next.

[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

So you ask a lay member of the church, one who has attended at least 35 years or more, and he says "Beats me. You'll have to asked someone who is learned".

Oh boy! You're in trouble now. What to do, what to do! (Suddenly, you realize that you went to school and you know how to read yourself.)

So let's get serious and complete our study of the Seven Churches of Revelation by taking a TEST! I used to hate tests, but in this case I'm giving it, not taking it, and that's not too bad. I get to make up all the questions and it's kind of like playing Jeopardy, start with the answers and then make up the questions.

We are all instructed by our Father, through His servant Timothy, to study ourselves (because obviously asking the "learned" and the unlearned yields the same Babel). Our Father likes us to study His letter; It pleases Him. Yes, it's work. That's why "studiers" are called workman.

2 Tim. 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

One of the reasons we study is obviously to learn, but another reason we study is so that we can remember what we've learned, for then can we help others with answers to their questions. We are "reminded" to "remember" many times in the New Testament.

We realize that not everyone has the same ability to recall information. For some it is a gift and comes naturally, for some they must study and work hard, and still for others they simply cannot recall very well that which they have learned. But, our Father knows, and so we do that which we are able and try our best.

 TEST

Multiple Choice

1.) The word "revelation" means to:

a) ignore, while waiting for the rapture
b) uncover, take the lid off

2.) The Book of Revelation is the revelation of:

a) John the Revelator
b) Jesus Christ

3.) John was exiled to the isle of:

a) Patmos
b) Malta

4.) John was taken in spirit to the "day of the Lord" which is:

a) Sunday
b) The Millennium

5.) The sharp twoedged sword is:

a) the Word of God
b) an actual sword like the one Peter used

6.) John described Christ's feet as being like unto:

a) Iron mixed with miry clay
b) Brass

7.) Candlesticks symbolize:

a) Churches
b) Angels

8.) The seven stars were in which of Christ's hands?

a) His Left Hand
b) His Right Hand

9.) How many of the seven churches did Jesus find no fault with?

a) 5
b) 2

10.) The churches Christ found no fault with both taught about:

a) those who claim to be of Judah but are not
b) the Nicolaitanes

11.) Christ spoke the words "He who hath an ear let him hear" how many times?

a) 5
b) 7

12.) The church of Ephesus:

a) lost it's first love and are Biblically illiterate
b) are rich and increased with goods

13.) The church of Smyrna:

a) is admonished for celebrating Easter
b) Christ finds no fault with

14.) The church of Pergamos:

a) has preachers who teach for the money
b) tries those who say they are apostles

15.) The church of Thyatira:

a) is about to lose its candlestick
b) teaches false doctrines such as rapture

16.) The church of Sardis:

a) is dead (spiritually)
b) has no one who has not defiled their garments

17.) The church of Philadelphia:

a) has the key of David
b) holds the doctrine of Balaam

18.) The church of Laodicea:

a) is rich an increased with goods
b) Christ finds no fault with

Fill in the blanks.

19.) Which two churches did Christ find no fault with?

  __________________ & _________________

20.) Which of the Seven Churches most resembles the one you attend, and why?

__________________ because _________________________________

Bonus Question   (Yes or No)

21.) Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear?  NO _____  YES _____
 

You can correct your own papers by looking up the answers*Get used to it! That's where all the answers are. in the Word of God. When you have a question, don't run to some "learned" person. Go directly to Jesus Christ, the Living Word. He will answer you in the Written Word.

*Question 20 is a test of honest evaluation and is subjective, subject also to your honesty.

Question 21 is intuitive.

I sincerely hope you've enjoyed this section of Revelation concerning Christ's message to the Seven Churches. He obviously thought it was important for us to evaluate what we believe and what our church may be teaching! For that which they teach either aligns with His Word, or they are just following what tradition has laid before them, never waking up from their slumber, never anointing their eyes with the poultice, and thereby robbing the people of their crowns.

The blind leading the blind, the "learned" leading the "unlearned". And so it has continued until we now find ourselves in the midst of the great famine of the end time that Christ warned us about in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. The famine is for hearing the truth of His Word!

Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

[12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

From sea to shining sea they run. They enter into the House of God as hungry sheep in the dark. But they are not fed and the light is not turned on. Instead, they are sheared and left to stand naked without honor. It's a serious matter. It's a matter of eternal life and death.

We ask our Father's help as we search our hearts and minds, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Don't miss studing The seven SEALS of Christ's Revelation and "see" what He showed John was happening in HEAVEN at this same time

The seven SEALS of Christ's Revelation

Revelation Chapters 4 through 8:1

In Revelation chapters 1 through 3 Christ showed the apostle John what is happening on EARTH and in the seven churches on the day of Lord, the first day of the Millennium, a time even yet future as we enter into the 21st. century.

John will be describing as best he can the things which he sees, once again painting a PICTURE in our minds using symbols and vivid imagery.

Rev. 4:1
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 shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Notice that the first voice John hears in heaven was the same first voice he heard on earth, as of a trumpet, which, by the way, even in the Old Testament is connected with War and the Day of the Lord (Zeph 1:14-16). 

Here is a reminder of what John heard on earth:

Rev. 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Rev. 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

Wow, here we go! John saw a throne in heaven and Someone was sitting on it. Guess who!

[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.

Notice that He who sat on the throne was likened unto beautiful, translucent gemstones, the significance of which we'll discuss shortly.

Now also visualize in your mind's eye a beautiful rainbow glowing about the throne with its magnificent prisms of light beaming forth. You are "seeing" the "shekinah glory" of Almighty God.

Got the PICTURE so far? Now keep this scene in your mind as we read about another servant of God who ALSO SAW His throne, when God Himself visited Ezekiel in His space vehicle, with His throne aboard (read the entirety of Chapter 1 of Ezekiel). 

Ezekiel 1:26-28
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.

Notice the same description of gemlike translucency.

[27] 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.

Have you ever read Hebrews 12:29? It reads,  "For our God is a consuming fire." I guess that's why every description of Him from the "Burning Bush" on depict Him that way, eh?

[28] 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 the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

[4] 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.

OK, we see this beautiful throne in heaven and situated around the throne are 24 seats with the same number of elders seated in them. These elders are clothed in white raiment, which if you'll remember from previous studies are symbolic of purity and righteous acts, that which we are clothed with in our spiritual bodies. And they have already received Crowns of Gold.

Who are they? Well, John doesn't exactly tell us, but if we've read the rest of the Book, and in as much as the gemstones in the breastplate, representing the 12 Tribes, are mentioned, then we are left to conclude that 12 of them are the 12 Patriarchs of the Old Testament. The other 12 would most likely be the 12 Apostles of the New Testament, the founding pillars of the NT Church. The number "12" in Biblical numerics represents "Governmental Perfection" (see appendix 10 of the Companion Bible).

So all the board members are present and accounted for.

[5] 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.

So we see the bright prisms of light flashing and emitting from the throne and we here His thundering voice, as it was on the Mountain in the wilderness.

The seven lamps are the seven Spirits of God. 

They will be mentioned again, even individually, at which time we'll learn what they are and discuss them in greater detail.

[6] 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.

What John saw he described as a sea of glass which resembled crystal before the throne. Can you imagine all this?  It must have been absolutely stunning in beauty and brilliance and purity!

Therefore, next we will learn who these beautiful "living beings" are who reside at the very throne of our Father. We will also learn that they are described elsewhere in God's Word and that their appearance is so familiar to a student of the Word that sometimes they forget, how aghast the unlearned become, when they read without foundation.

Please stick around. It's a fantastic trip into the heavens. He who gave us the key of David has left the portal into the other dimension wide open for us.

While exiled on the Isle of Patmos for preaching the Word of God, John was transported through time, in spirit, to the Lord's Day, the first day of the Millennium, a time yet future but very near. 

So John has been describing heaven for us, the very throne of God Almighty, with what looked like a sea of glass before it and the "shekinah glory", the beautiful multi-colored flashing rainbow surrounding it. There were 24 elders seated around the throne and John had just begun to tell us about the four living beings present at His throne.

Let's review verse six:

Rev. 4:6
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.

Perhaps it is unfortunate that the translators of the King James Bible used the word "beasts" to describe these living beings. Today the word "beast" is often synonymous with "monster" and is used to describe creatures such as Godzilla and one's spouse.

But then again, if very few people ever even read the Book of Revelation, especially since many ministers tell folks they'll be gone in a "rapture" and don't need to read it, what difference does it make? The wise in this generation will check it out anyway. And so it is that the Greek word used here is "zoon" and simply means "living being".

And once again, there is nothing really new described here by John, for we have record of these entities elsewhere in God's Word. Their first mentioned way back in the Book of Genesis, for these "zoa" are the cherubim of Genesis 3:24 that were placed at the east of the garden of Eden to prevent access to the "Tree of Life", i.e. they were guards whose purpose was to protect.

Genesis 3:24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

And so it is that these "zoon" are cherubim, guards, that stand at the throne of God. John now gives us a more detailed description of their appearance:

Rev. 4:7 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.

If this is new to you, if this is the first time you're reading about the lion, the calf, the man, and the eagle, then you are probably perplexed and filled with wonderment. That is why the Book of Revelation seems mysterious and sounds bazaar to some!  But once you become familiar with the Word of God and have read it all with some degree of understanding these beings will be appear completely natural to you.

Let's read one more verse describing the "zoon".

[8] 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.

The phrases "full of eyes before and behind" and "full of eyes within" come from a figure of speech which has lost its meaning in the translation from Greek into English. It simply means that they looked all around, a thing which guards do. It is much the same as the "flaming sword which turned every way" in Genesis 3.

We've discussed figures of speech in previous studies. In English, for example, when a person dies we might say "he kicked the bucket". That is a figure of speech that has nothing to do with buckets. It means he died. But such is not a figure of speech in French. So if we translate "kicked the bucket" into French, the Frenchman would never think of death (except dying while trying to figure out why some poor Christian would be kicking buckets around).

Now let's go back in time about 2500 years (2 1/2 days as God reckons time) to the prophet Ezekiel. God Himself visited Ezekiel. That's right! God came to Ezekiel in a vehicle escorted by four other vehicles. Ezekiel describes these vehicles as "flying wheels" that looked like "highly polished spectrum metal".  And guess what? Aboard the mother ship was the throne of God and He who sits thereupon. 

Ezekiel 1:4
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

Ezekiel 1:4  I saw, in this vision, a great storm coming towards me from the north, driving before it a huge cloud glowing with fire, with a mass of fire inside that flashed continually; and in the fire there was something that shone like polished brass. (Living Bible)

Ezekiel 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

[6] And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

[7] And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.

[8] And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

[9] Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

Ezekiel 1:14 The living beings darted to and fro swift as lightning. [15] As I stared at all this, I saw four wheels on the ground beneath them, one wheel belonging to each. [16] The wheels looked like they were made of polished amber and each wheel was constructed with a second wheel crosswise inside. [17] They could go in any of four directions without having to face around. [18] The four wheels had rims and spokes, and the rims were filled with eyes around their edges. [19, 20, 21] When the four living beings flew forward, the wheels moved forward with them. When they flew upwards, the wheels went up too. When the living beings stopped, the wheels stopped. For the spirit of the four living beings was in the wheels; so wherever their spirit went, the wheels and the living beings went there too. (Living Bible)

And now here is a more detailed description of the four living beings Ezekiel saw, way before John saw them in Revelation.

Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

Rev. 4:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

UNBELIEVABLE! They are identical to John's description; the man, the ox, the lion, and the eagle. These are exactly the same living beings as John saw, and they were with the throne, guarding and protecting it just as they are doing in heaven right now.

Let's now go back even farther in the Word, to the Book of Numbers, chapter 2, and understand what these symbols are. If you are fortunate to have a Companion Bible, on page 181 you will find a diagram of the encampment of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness of Sinai. Each of the Twelve Tribes had its own standard, i.e. flag, which went before them.

Download a Companion Bible free at: http://www.companionbiblecondensed.com/  When you open the site click unto and download one book at a time unto your disk or hard drive.
and the appendix at: http://www.markfoster.net/rn/companion_bible_appendices.pdf
or
I believe you can still buy one from Artisan Publishers @ http://www.artisanpublishers.com  Yes I just checked their web site. They sell a hardcover addition, with tabs,for $65.00. Click open their links to Bibles
or You can also write to them  @ P.O.Box1529, 1409 West Shawnee, Muskogee, OK.74402
The Companion Bible contains notes directly from the Massorah text, pointing out any discrepancies from the original manuscripts.

Now back to our Revelation study:

The Israelite encampment from the Book of Numbers:

                                                      (N)

                                     DAN
                                (Eagle)
 
 

(W)      EPHRAIM                                JUDAH      (E)
         (Taurus)                                    (Lion)
 
 

                                   REUBEN
                                    (a Man)

                                        (S)

Mysterious symbols in the Book of Revelation? Not so!  You will also notice that Judah is on the east side. Read verse 8 again. It says the lion was on the right side! Of course it was!

[9] And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

When the living beings give glory and honour and thanks, then:

[10] The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

[11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

He has created all things for His pleasure, which includes you and me. We have our children to give us pleasure and company and family. If you have ever had children, and one of them comes to you and puts his or her arms around your neck, and gives you a big hug and kiss, and says "Mommy (or Daddy), I love you", then you will know the joy and the pleasure which our Father seeks from His children.

Have you hugged your Father today?

Did you ever wonder what heaven looked like? We've been shown so many fluffy clouds with angels in white flowing gowns strumming golden harps that it's hard sometimes to get that picture out of our minds. You might say our minds have been "clouded" by the traditions of men.

But John, who writes from first hand experience having BEEN THERE in the spirit, has just described a magnificent palatial chamber with a floor resembling a sea of glass like crystal before the very throne of Almighty God, in heaven. The brilliance of the "shekinah glory", as the beautiful prisms of light from the rainbow around the throne flash as lightning, is a sight to behold. Standing guard at the throne there are four mighty cherubs, zoon, with the likeness of the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle, which are the four (E, W, S & N) major standards of Israel. And He who sits on the throne can only be compared to dazzling translucent gemstones and when He speaks His voice is as the mighty thunder of many waters. Then we see seated around that awesome throne of our Father 24 elders, people we know, the 12 Patriarchs and the 12 Apostles, all in white raiment wearing crowns of gold. 

Have you ever wondered what heaven looked like? 

Wonder no more!

Let's continue now with reading the Book of Revelation (good name I'd say). John is at the Headquarters of the Universe, and is seeing everything. Isn't this incredible?

Rev. 5:1
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.

God is holding a book (biblion in the Greek) in His right hand. It is a complete scroll, filled both front and back, and it is sealed with seven seals. The number seven, if you recall from our previous studies, is the number of spiritual perfection or spiritual completeness (reference appendix 10 if you have a Companion Bible).

By the way, the word Biblion should give you a clue as to what the book is.

[2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

John saw a mighty angel heralding with an exceedingly great voice and asking "Who is worthy"?

Well, that lets me out. How about you?

[3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon

I suppose you could sadly say that misery loves company, because it sure looks like we're not alone in the "unworthy" department.

[4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

Yep, you have to admit it is pretty sad!

[5] And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Hold it! Stop crying! We've found One who is worthy! The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed to open the book and unseal the biblion. (Of course! He is the Living Word.)

[6] 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.

You've just got to "See" all this in your mind. Read it and then close your eyes and see. (Sometimes your flesh eyes interfere with your spiritual vision. If you still see "clouds" then reformat and reboot and then reprogram your brain directly from the Word, bypassing the traditions of men.)

The Lamb slain is Jesus Christ, so the Lamb is obviously symbolic, right?

  

So too are the seven horns and eyes. We are told what the are. They are the "seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth". Remember, we don't have to guess about ANY symbology in this Book of Revelation.

In a few verses we will learn what these seven spirits of God are.

[7] And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

[8] 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 odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Golden vials full of odours, i.e. incense? What are they? They are the prayers of the saints! He's got them ALL! They are bottled up, everyone of them. Yours are there too! Guaranteed!

Have you ever thought sometimes He didn't hear you? Wrong! He did!

[9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

If you look up the word "new" in Strong's Concordance, you'll find it means "new" as in "freshness", or even "refreshed", for that which is sung is already recorded. The "melody" may be different but the "song" is the same unchangeable Word. And the Song of Moses, recorded in Deut. 32, which we will now document is sung on this sea of glass before the throne, says it all. Let's just jump ahead a little in Revelation and peek in:

Rev. 15:2-3
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.

Hey, we know where they are standing! (Don't you feel good having read this verse, because it's not so mysterious anymore?) Sea of glass?
It's so easy you can now explain it to others:

"Yes, Mrs. Jones, the 'sea of glass' is the beautiful crystalline floor before the throne of God".

"Wow", says Mrs. Jones, "how did you know?"

"I read the biblion, Mrs. Jones."

And we'll have learned who the beast, his image and his mark are by the time we get to this chapter. That's a "no brainer" too!

So what are these "overcomers" doing standing on the sea of glass?

[3] And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

They sing the "Victory Song", the Song of Moses. It's in Deut. 32. and so named in the last verse of Deut. 31. ("How did you know, Mr. Simplelayman?" "I know, because I read the book. You can too, you know.")

Deut. 31:30
And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

Let's continue now in Revelation 5.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

We're going to reign on earth?  Who me? I wonder when that is going to be? (he quickly searches the scriptures with Pentium-like speed clocked at 450 mhz. Zooooon, I mean Zoooooom!)'

And the answer is....

Rev. 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath 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.

Those who honestly "Know the Lord" will reign with Christ AFTER the first resurrection, after Christ returns, i.e. during the Millennium. Jesus will soon be leaving that place we've been reading of in heaven and coming here, to earth. Eventually the New Headquarters, the New Jerusalem, throne and all, will be moved to Jerusalem here on earth for the remainder of all eternity.

We'll read about that in the closing chapters of this book.

[11] 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;

[12] Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Let's see now.
This is the Lamb with the seven spirits of God which are sent forth into all the earth. Let's count these spirits:

1.) Power
2.) Riches
3.) Wisdom
4.) Strength
5.) Honour
6.) Glory
7.) Blessing

Well I'll be! The Seven Spirits which are sent forth into all the earth. How many have come your way? He blesses those who love and serve Him, don't you know?

[13] 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 honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

[14] And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Hmmm, I don't know about you, but I'm joining with them!

AMEN, PRAISE GOD!

This is an awesome event, a momentous occasion, and we have just read that there is a huge assembly before the throne of God with all 24 elders present and seated in their formal attire with their crowns on and in place, and an innumerable number of angels, sons of God, gathered around the throne. And John is witnessing all of this! Can you imagine what a thrill this must have been for him? I don't know about you, but it's a thrill for me just reading about it! And I can't help thinking that as big an affair as this is, just wait until the wedding!

So what time is it? When is this occurring? The ceremony is taking place in preparation for the Day of the Lord, the end of this flesh age and the beginning of the Millennium, the time period where John was taken to in Chapter 1 verse 10 of this Book of Revelation, where he is now. Christ is still there, in heaven, and hasn't left yet to return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. But He is about to, as soon as He fulfills His promise to His servants to foretell them all things, i.e. to remove all seven seals.

This event was even foretold of in the 12th chapter of the Book of Daniel, when Daniel was instructed to place a seal on his book which would remain until the time of the end, until this ceremony of the unsealing took place, when the wise would understand!

Here is the angel speaking to Daniel:

Daniel 12:9-10
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [10] 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.

Remember also that Jesus' disciples came unto Him in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 and ASKED Him to REVEAL to them the signs when all these prophecies would come to pass and He would return to establish His kingdom (the Day of the Lord).

Mark 13:4
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? [5] And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

By the way, notice what the very first thing He told them was, "Watch out for deception!" We'll come back to this verse shortly.

Jesus then proceeds to give them the Seven Seals and warns them again about false Christian representatives:

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

[23] But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

All set? Let's go for it!

Rev. 6:1
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.

John is standing there watching the Lamb of God open one of the seals. Then one of the four guards turns to John and in his usual thunderous voice says, "Hey John! Come over here and take a look at this!" So John did. (It doesn't say anything about his knees shaking or anything! Brave soul I'd say.)

[2] 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.

You may already know this, but when we get to Rev. 19 we'll see that Christ comes on a white horse. His horse is white! (Let's see: "horse" = power, and "white" = purity, righteousness.) Hmmmm, now I know why all the "good" guys in the movies and on TV always rode white horses. It's Biblical!

But wait! There's a "he" with a little "h" sitting on this white horse. No big "H"? Who's this dude? No big "H" means it's not Him.

We see he has a bow. What's a bow? A bow and arrow, a rainbow? Please hold while I go get my Strong's Concordance. The Greek word is toxon, #5115, and means the simplest (cheapest) fabric. It's a cheap fabric made to resemble the beautiful "shekinah glory" surrounding the big "H". This guy's a FAKE!

And he even has a crown. Who gave him that? My guess is that he crowned and exalted himself, the phony, and our Father has allowed him to continue his charade for a short season. No, I take that "guess" part  back. It's no guess! I've read Ezekiel 28 and I know who this little "h" who thinks he's a big "H" is. Guess what? He's going to go to "h".

Finally, we see he's been riding around "conquering" and seeing who else he can conquer. And do you know what? He's been to five churches, or should I say church denominations, rode right up to the pulpits, took over command, and conquered their congregations into believing he's the big "H". "Hey, look at me, I'm on a white horse!" And on queue they read from a script "It is the Lord, Amen." Let's now sing hymn # 666.

Didn't Christ warn of this? Did Jesus give this seal to the disciples?

Mark 13:5
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Number one seal? Deception! Watch out for dudes (so-called/in name only Christian preachers/priests) who claim to be Christ's representatives! Their cheap clothing may be hiding a big bad wolf!

[6] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

There were Two TREES in the garden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (the little box cedar), there are Two ROCKS (a big "R" and a little "r"), there are Two Christ's and there are Two Christianities, the "religion", i.e. illusion, and the "reality".

There were two trees in the Garden of Eden:---One was "The Tree of Life" (Jesus Christ); His fruit will lead you to ETERNAL LIFE! and the other was "The Tree of the Knowledge of GOOD and EVIL" (Satan); his fruit leads to ETERNAL DEATH!, even though some of it is good. Satan returns to earth, claiming he is God, five months before Christ's return. God is allowing Satan five months on earth as a test for us, to see if we who claim to be Christians really know the difference between What is HOLY and what is PROFANE!--- DON'T FORGET THAT SATAN IS A SUPERNATURAL ARCHANGEL We will be no match for him and his trickery with out "The Seal of God in Our Foreheads". He fooled and seduced Eve in the garden! Don't you be fooled by his good fruit, and worship him as God.--- Watch for the EVIL fruit! Don't have Christ return to find you have already been to bed with Satan! Will you remain spiritually true as a "chaste virgin" and wait for your bridegroom, Jesus Christ, or will you spiritually hop in bed with Satan when he comes to earth performing miracles and claims to be God?  

The first seal has been removed. Was it tough? Not at all! It's a "Piece of Cake", we say figuratively, meaning it's simple!

Just remember seal #1: "Not everyone who rides a white horse is who in the "h" he says he is!"

However, don't be mystified by the symbolism, for you will notice that the rider of each of these different colored horses is the very same entity, Satan himself. He controls the reigns of these four horses, i.e. powers (hidden dynasties), and rides upon them bringing about the religious, political, economic and educational conditions of the earth, which make up his New World Order (the political beast we'll soon read about), just prior to the return of Christ.

We now come to the second seal, opened by the Lamb of God.

Rev. 6:3 And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

This time, when the second seal is opened, the second cherub tells John to "Come see". Don't miss the fact that these four seals involve each of the four guards, the watchmen of the throne of God.

[4] 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.

Here we see that the rider of the red horse has the power to take peace from the earth, i.e. to bring about war. Well, who is it that declares war?

It is the governments, the political leaders of the nations, and the reigns of their power today are controlled by Satan who also rides upon the red horse, using his influence spiritually on his "children of disobedience".  The Kenites, descendants of Cain, his son, from his sexual encounter with Eve in the "Garden of Eden".

For an informative look behind the scenes and into the hidden dynasty of politics, read the book by author William Guy Carr, "Pawns in the Game", Omni Publications.

Jesus also warned the disciples to watch the political stage just prior to His return, and so He gave them the second seal.

Mark 13:7
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

[8] For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places,...

There will even be world wars (I & II) that will bring about the alignment of the nations, and so it has come to pass. And there shall be "commotions" in divers places, and so there are.

Note: Look up the Greek word translated "earthquakes". It is seismos and is directly translated "commotions". It derives its meaning from the context, i.e. the subject. If it is (of the air) it's a gale, if it is (of the ground) it's an earthquake, if it is (of wars) it's skirmishes.

That should about bring us up to date, to 1 Thes. 5:3. It's when you hear them cry peace, peace, peace plan here, peace accord there, that the 6th trumpet blows! Listen carefully!

Live Llink to->>> Take Heed

And now the Third Seal.

Rev. 6:5 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 pair of balances in his hand.

The Black horse symbolizes famine and inflation which always follow war.

Balances are the symbol which we use for justice. So yes, we could say that justice is out of balance, even upside down, and that would certainly be a true statement. But these balances aren't just used to mete out justice, they are used to weigh commerce as the next verse so aptly documents.

Rev. 6:6 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 thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

And who rides this black horse? You guessed it. Satan.

Along with all his all his offspring, i.e. the kenites. Strangers they are called in Deut. 28.

They say we work until May 8th of each year to pay our taxes. Then we make mortgage payments, let's say of $1000 a month, and 90% ($900) of it goes to usury, to make the banks and mortgage lenders wealthy (let's see... $900 x 12 = $10,800 per year).  Add to that the car payment interest and oh yes, the credit card debt.... Yep, that about leaves enough per day for a loaf of bread.

Do you think that's an overstatement? Actually, some are so insolvent they literally don't even have enough for a loaf of bread. They live on borrowed money.

Our people have become servants to a debtors system of usury. Many are prisoners in their own homes and yet they sleep on. But our Father warned us long ago about the stranger who rides with the red horseman.

Deut. 28:43-45
The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. [44] He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.

Why has this happen to our people?
The answer is in verse 45.

[45] Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

Did Christ include this third seal in His revelation of the signs He gave to the disciples? Yes He did. It is included in the 8th verse of Mark 13, right where it should be, following war.

Mark 13:8
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Live Link to->>> Take Heed

Of course those with "eyes to see" know that the true famine of the end time is recorded in Amos 8:11, and is for the hearing of the Word of the Lord. Did we not just read in Deut. 28:45 that not listening to our Father is the reason for the "troubles" with the lenders?

The Greek word for "sorrows" means "labor pains", and so it is that each contraction of current events, fulfilling one prophecy after another, brings us closer to the birth of a new age, the Day of the Lord.

Have you ever heard the phrase "Back in Biblical Times", as if God's Word stopped in history somewhere along the way? Well guess what? It's a stupid statement! Because these are the most exciting Biblical times in the history of mankind. Right now! All the prophets and disciples wanted to know what it would be like in the latter days, this 21st century A.D. Checked your calendar lately? Checked world events lately? Noticed any "connections"?

Come on baby!

We have just completed the revelation, the unveiling, of the Third Seal by the Lamb of God and discovered that it too was given to the disciples in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. Not only that, we will see that all Seven Seals were given to the disciples when they ask Jesus what the "Signs" would be just prior to His return and "When" shall they be.

So in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, at the time Jesus walked this earth with the disciples, the "Seals" were called "Signs", but when John was taken in the spirit to the Day of the Lord, a time just a little ahead of us, these "Signs" had become "Seals". Why?

Because in the final generation, the generation of the "fig tree" (also known as the Baby Boomer generation), you MUST HAVE these "Signs" in your forehead, i.e. sealed in your mind, in order to escape the Flood of Lies, the fast approaching Great Spiritual Tribulation of the false-christ.  It is documented in chapter 9, where we see Satan's army described as swarming locusts that may consume (eat spiritually) all those men which HAVE NOT the seal of God in their foreheads.

Rev. 9:4
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.

Do you remember what the very first thing Christ told His disciples would be the sign of His coming?

Mark 13:5
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Jesus told us that many would come riding in on the "white horse" of Christianity, claiming to be authorized riders (Christian preachers) of His horse, and deceive the masses. 

How would they do it? By teaching the Traditions of Men, like Rapture theories and Ishtar bunnies, and promoting religious services and church attendance, etc., etc., and never quite getting around to teaching the Word of God, book by book, chapter by chapter, line by line, leaving their congregations UNSEALED. It is sad but documented thoroughly; If you are Biblically illiterate in this final generation then you are gourmet locust food, scorpion prey, or as we say today, just plain "Dog Meat".

Jesus then said to His disciples that there would be "Wars and rumours of wars..", i.e. the "Red Horse". The Second Sign! and The Second Seal!

Then there would be "famines and troubles; which are the beginnings of sorrows", i.e. the "Black Horse". The Third Sign! and The Third Seal!

And that brings us to the Fourth Seal.

Rev. 6:7
And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

Remember that John is right there at the very Throne of God. The fourth and final cherub now beckons John to come and see.

Rev 6:8 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.

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Let's return to Rev 6:8. The phrase the "fourth part of the earth" should be read the "four parts of the earth", or even the "four corners of the earth" if you like, which means they have power over all the earth.  See Acts 10:30 where exactly the same Greek word, tetartos, is translated "four" instead of "fourth": "And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour;... "

And so the power they are given over all the earth is to "kill", i.e. make you ready for the second death, with sword, hunger, death and beasts. What are these?

The word "beasts" in verse 8 is not the same word used to describe the "living beings", the zoon (cherubs) who guard the throne of our Father. This word is therion and means a dangerous venomous beast, such as an asp or poisonous snake.  They would be the very same "children of disobedience", the tares of Matthew 13, the offspring of the head Serpent, the kenites (descendents of Cain), the same "beasts" Christ addressed in John 8, Matthew 23, etc.

Matthew 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Their sword, hunger and death are symbolic of their "lies", their offensive weapon of propaganda (sword), and their withholding, i.e. starvation (hunger), of truth both secular and religious, which ultimately causes spiritual death unless the people "wake up" from the slumber induced by the viper's venom.

Live Link to- The famine is coming

In Matthew 24:7 Jesus referred to this Fourth Seal as loimos, i.e. pestilences, meaning a "plague" or "disease" or figuratively "pests". And so it is and so they are.

And there you have them, the First Four Seals of the unveiling that you must have locked in your mind in this final generation in order to be able to begin to "unroll the scroll" and read His Word with understanding. Do you "see" them? Did you make the trip to the throne with John to take a look?

Let's recap the first four seals.

Seal	Horse	Symbolic of:	Hidden Dynasty
1st	White	False Messiah	Religion
2nd	Red	War	Political
3rd	Black	Famine, Troubles	Economic
4th	Pale	Pestilences	Education

If you have "eyes to see" and "ears to hear" then you will marvel how blinded our people are as to who "rides" behind their "religion", who foments wars and why, how money works and why it is a root of all evil, and how all of "this" is kept hidden from view.

I sincerely hope these 4 Seals, unveiled by the Lamb of God, revealing the hidden truth of what is happening on the four corners of the earth just prior to His return, has been a blessing to your eyes, shall we say a real "eye opener".

There are Three Seals yet to come. I can't wait!

Four Seals have now been opened and revealed by the only one found worthy in both heaven and earth to open them, the Lamb of God. There are three more which must be opened in order to gain full access to the scroll on which they are affixed. If you know anything about sealing scrolls then you should realize that if one or two seals were to remain unopened, the scroll would still be waxed shut.

Many in this generation would say that it is not important to study the Bible in depth, or at all for that matter.  What is important, they say in many churches, is that you just "believe" and have "love" in your heart.  Well, you can't argue that those aren't important, because they are, but you can argue that they are not the ONLY important things. For instance, did you know that even the demons "believe" there is one God (and they also know that Jesus is the Christ), and that even non-believers love and care for their own families.

James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But Jesus Christ warned us.  He said, "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things". 
Question: Where has He foretold us all things? Answer: In His Word.

Mark 13:23
But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Do you think He expects us to read and understand that which He foretold us? I hope you recognize that to be a dumb question (I'm capable of asking them you know). Paul certainly knew the answer and so he recorded for us in 2 Tim. 2:15 that which should be obvious to Christians:

2 Tim. 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Notice though that Paul added a qualifier as to how we should study.  
     We should rightly divide it.
 

Rev. 6:9
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:

Look who John sees! The "dead in Christ", who are under the altar of God, right there in heaven. (Picture them as being in the center court, with prestigious front row seats, beneath the throne which is elevated before and above them, as well as every one else.) This is an "eye witness" documentation of where the dead are! But they are not dead at all, as in spiritually dead, they are only physically dead, i.e. as in they have experienced the shadow death of their flesh body, for we shall hear them speak in the next verse.

1 Thes. 4:13-14
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Next we are told why they were slain. They were slain for the Word of God, for boldly and fearlessly teaching the truth and for giving testimony both of Him that was crucified and against those who would crucify.

And guess what? The Four Horsemen have ridden far enough, dropping enough manure, to see to it that at this time the most "Politically Incorrect" subject in our society is the "true" Word of God. They seek to erase it from our government, our schools, our money, and yes, even our churches (Whadda you know, I believe we touched all four dynasties there).

Rev. 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Do you recall in Luke chapter 4 that Christ went into the synagogue and picked up the Book of Isaiah and read the first half of chapter 61, verse 2, which pertained to His first advent, and then closed the book?

Isaiah 61:2
...To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

[11] 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.

Mark 13:28
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

The big question is who is the "you" who will be delivered up? Take heed, Christ said, that could be you!

Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

[11] But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Because here's where it really gets exciting! At this delivering up, that cloven "tongue" which goes forth in all directions, which was spoken on Pentecost Day in Acts chapter 2, will once again be spoken.  Every person of every language of every nation tuned in to listen will hear God's servants give testimony, and they will hear the words spoken in their own dialektos, i.e. their own native language wherein they were born.

Also, at that time of these trials, the sixth trump will have sounded, and the rider of the first white horse will be here in person and the world at large will believe he is in fact the real Jesus. But he will be the fake, the false, the instead of Christ, Satan, who you better know appears first. And don't forget, one of his names as we read a few verses back is "Death".

Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 21:17-18
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. [18] But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Do you remember the type of the "delivering up", set forth in the Book of Daniel, when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered up before the king of Babylon, the type of spurious messiah?  They were tossed into the fiery furnace which was heated 7 times hotter than was wont to be.  And guess what? Yep, not one hair on their heads was even singed.

Psalm 105:15
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

We have now come to the 6 verses of the 6th seal in the 6th chapter of the Book of Revelation. The seals, remember, unlock, i.e. give access to the knowledge (His Word) that is necessary for one to have stored in his/her forehead in order to remain a "virgin" until the true Bridegroom comes at the sound of the 7th Trump, the final trump.

The false messiah though, the look-alike Jesus, Satan, will appear first, before our Lord's return, and he shows up at the 6th Trump and the 6th vial, and we will find him here in the 6th seal as well. 666

This is absolutely precious knowledge! If you have "eyes to see" and "ears to hear" you will discover that this sixth seal will reveal something that the majority of Christian ministers and pastors and teachers are completely unaware (ignorant) of, and consequently they cannot understand the events of prophecy foretelling of our present day and the days that lie just ahead. (They have been following the rider of the white horse, of the first seal, who has led them down a desolate road.) They must therefore rely on "traditional" teachings which defy common sense and can easily be proven to be contradictory to God's Word even by a child. It is no wonder they shy away from the Book of Revelation, even telling their congregations that they won't be here anyway when these events take place, so why bother trying to understand it.  Woe unto them!

Mark 13:13
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

[14] 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:

You will find that "he" is the "abominator" who comes in on the wings of desolation, i.e. lays waste, makes desolate, spoken of by Daniel the prophet in chapter 9 of the book bearing his name. That is why Dr. Moffat translates "standing where 'it' ought not" as "standing where 'he' ought not".

2 Thes. 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Mark 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

[16] And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

[17] But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

2 Cor. 11:2
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

2 Cor. 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

[18] And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

[19] 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.

[20] 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.

[21] And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

[22] For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

[38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Live Link to- Just as it was in the days of Noah!

[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

[40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

[41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

What is it that Jesus Christ would have us learn from the 6th Seal? For one thing, there are TWO TRIBULATIONS! We'll find out more as we continue in this Book of Revelation!

Rev. 6:12 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;

[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Rev. 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev. 9:1-2
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. [2] 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.

Rev. 6:12 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;

Rev. 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

[15] 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;

[16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

[17] For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

[25] And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Rev. 12:12
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye 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 knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Mark 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

[27] And then shall He send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

[28] Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

If you don't want to be harvested out of season then you better do as the Savior instructs: Learn the parable of the Fig Tree.
 

 [29] So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

But here is the bottom line:

If you don't know ahead of time that the False Messiah is coming first; if you believe Jesus Christ can return at any moment; if you don't have the Seal of God in your forehead, then it will be next to impossible to convince you that the First Rider of a White Horse, when he appears in person, is not Jesus Christ. For he is most charming and beautiful and he will bring peace and prosperity to the world and he will perform great signs and miracles in the sight of men and his ministers, appearing as angels of light, will be sweet as pie as they seduce you.

When will all this happen?

[30] Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

The generation referred to here is the generation pertaining to the subject being discussed, i.e. the Fig Tree. When you learn the parable you will find that both the good and the bad figs (Jer. 24) were set out on May 15, 1948 when the United Nations sanctioned the State of Israel.

So there will be those of the Baby Boomer generation (which officially began in 1946) who will see the return of Jesus Christ.

[31] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

You can count on it! And isn't it incredible to know that the Word of God has now been declassified, no longer under seal, available to understand clearly to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear? Isn't that wonderful? Now's your chance. Go for it!

Let us find out why.

Rev. 7:1
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.

This 21st. century is the place and time in the history of the world where we now stand & you are still here in the flesh to witness it and actually take part in it.

Isn't this exciting!

The four angels are holding back the "four winds" that they should not blow, i.e. they are stopping their action. What does that mean? Well, every time the "four winds" are spoken of they are always connected with the final events, the consummation of this earth age.  You can read of them in Ezek. 37 and in Daniel 7 as well. Or log unto 

So Rev. 7:1 is simple. 

John saw that there is a holding pattern concerning the final events of this earth age which are about to befall us. And I am sure there must be a very good reason why, and I am sure we will find out because Christ has foretold all things, remember?

[2] 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,

Who is this angel ascending from the east having the seal of the living God?  It is the angel of the 7th Seal, containing the 7 Trumps, saying "Hold it right there!"

[3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Aha! I knew it. There's the answer. There is a VERY IMPORTANT job that must be done before the four winds are released upon the earth and the final trumpets blow. The "servants" of the living God must have the "seal" of the living God placed "in their foreheads".

Hmmmm... sounds like an implant of sorts. Do you think this will require surgery?

I heard once that people are going to have the "mark of the beast" stamped, maybe even implanted, on their foreheads, which I was told was the number 666. Someone suggested that it might even be done in Roman numerals like VI VI VI which looks an awful lot like maybe a bar code, doesn't it? It might even be a computer chip.

If you have eyes to see and ears to hear you may be chuckling over such complete and utter nonsense. However, books and tapes and lectures and discussions and guesses like the one just illustrated here as to what is the "mark of the beast" are prevalent everywhere. And it would be funny if it weren't so sad.

We have already learned that the Seal of God is His Word. And we are expected to know from common sense or grade school anatomy class that our brains, or shall we say our minds, reside in our foreheads. Duh! So to have the Seal of God in our forehead is simply to have the Word of God in our mind, i.e. to have an understanding of God's Word, of His overall plan of salvation, to even understand the Seals themselves if you will.

It is interesting that the Greek word for "sealed" is sphragizo which means to preserve or mark for security. Why? 

Read this verse:

Rev. 9:4
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.

Hey, look! When those four winds are released and the hurtin' comes upon the earth, look who is protected; only those with the Seal of God in their foreheads, those who understand the Word of God.

If you DO NOT have the Seal of God in your forehead, then you will have the Seal of Satan in your forehead, the mark of the beast, i.e. Satan's word, which is garbage, deception, and will lead you to the spiritual crematorium because you are "marked" for hurtin'!

So we know what the Seal of God is (His truth), and who it is that is to be sealed (His servants), but who is to do the sealing?

Next we will not only learn who will (even is) to do the sealing, the teaching of His Word, but we will learn about a group of 144,000 who are going to (even are) get their ears on!

Have you ever heard about the 144,000 of Revelation? Some churches and sects have taught (and still do this very day) that there will only be 144,000 people go to heaven out of the great tribulation. And of course you could guess that most of those who teach that will tell you those 144,000 are members solely of their church. So you'd better join their ranks, and put you tithe in their felt lined plate if you want to be spared the great tribulation!

In fact, one major group started out teaching that they alone were the 144,000 and once their membership exceeded that number they were forced to modify their doctrine. It would now be those "among them" who were the more righteous servants of God (read "biggest financial contributors") who would be selected. So dig deep and give, give, give and we'll give you recognition as a good Christian.

The first problem with this line of thinking (other than it stinks) is that heaven isn't even mentioned, nor is it discussed at all in relation to the 144,000. So let's recap where we are in the Book of Revelation and learn from Him (Jesus), not from the imaginations of men who preach "elitism" in order to hold captive their congregations.

We had just finished chapter six where the Lamb of God had opened six seals and it looked like we were ready for number seven. BUT, We are not told about the seventh seal until we get the Chapter 8 verse 1, so we'll have to wait until we get there TO LEARN WHAT THE SEVENTH SEAL IS.  In the mean time our Lord takes a little side trip in chapter seven to tel us about the 144,000, 12,000 from each tribe of Iarael, who are sealed with "His Word" in their mind. So the end of this earth age will be held-up, delayed for awhile, until a great teaching of the truth of His Word to these 12,000 servants, from each tribe, of the living God is accomplished.

But in Rev 7:1 John then saw the four angels whose job it is to release the four winds upon the earth, which bring about the final events of this flesh age, standing on the four corners of the earth, N, S, E, W. Four remember is the number of "earth" in Biblical numerics. In verse 2 then we read (in Baby Boomer paraphrase form):

But after those things John looked and ascending in the eastern sky, "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an angel having the Seal of the living God saying to the four winds of the earth with a great voice 'Stop, do not bring about the final events of this earth age until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads'."

We learned that to be sealed in your forehead means to have His Word in your mind. So to be sealed is to be taught! So the end will be held-up, delayed for awhile, until a great teaching of the truth of His Word to the servants of the living God is accomplished.
 
So let's be about our Father's business.

Rev 7:4 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.

Wait a minute! These 144,000 are only from the tribes of Israel (12,000 from each) and it doesn't say anything about a church!

But, I thought race doesn't matter?
That's correct as far as salvation goes, for it is available to all of God's children regardless of race, but did God create the races to exist just until Christ paid the price and then His purpose for them was finished? Don't be silly. In the next few verses the tribes will be specifically named so as to dispel this rumor. Not only that, the nations (Greek word ethnos, meaning non-Israelite races) are present at the New Jerusalem throughout eternity and they have kings as well.

Rev. 21:23-24
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. [24] 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 honour into it.

Where are the 12 Tribes of Israel today? Did you know that the Book of James was specifically written to them? So this New Testament apostle recognized them and there whereabouts, didn't he?

James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Following King Solomon's reign, the last king to reign over the entire 12 Tribe House of Israel, the House of Judah, along with most of Benjamin, split from the House of Israel. (Look at the maps in the back of any Bible which has them and you will see the northern House of Israel and the southern House of Judah, for they are separate). Although all those of true Judah are of the 12 Tribe House of Israel, the other 11 Tribes are not of Judah, i.e. not Jews.

Here's a brief synopsis of the terms Hebrew, Israelite and Jew:

Abraham was an Hebrew, which comes from the word "eber" meaning "from across the river". Abraham's nephew, Lot, was also an Hebrew. Abraham then begat Isaac, who naturally was Hebrew, too. However, neither Abraham, nor Isaac, nor Lot were Jews!

Why? Because, Judah hadn't been born yet.

Furthermore, we will have Lot and his descendants growing and multiplying as Hebrews, but they will never be of Israel or Judah. So there are Hebrew people, even to this day, who are not even of Israel (Jacob) much less of Judah.

Without a doubt, this is one the biggest reasons why preachers and ministers of today are clueless about end-time Bible prophecies. Ask them where the United States and Great Britain are referred to in prophecy. When they can't give you an answer, or try to spiritualize (read "spin") them into the church of God, or worse yet gentiles, say "In other words, you are telling me, God forgot to mention the super power of super powers of the end-time in Bible prophecy?" It is at this point that you will be told it is of little importance my child, just have love in your heart and be kind and love Jesus, and don't worry, you'll be raptured away when all these events happen anyway.

An entire book could be written here concerning who the 12 Tribes of Israel are, and where they are today, but obviously space and time will not afford us to go there, now. However, if you haven't read E. Raymond Capt's little booklet the "Abrahamic Covenant" then by all means contact Artisan Publishers at www.artisanpublishers.com and purchase a copy. It will give you an outline of the identity of God's people, who basically make up the Free World, the Christian nations. The so-called ten lost tribes are not lost to our Father, nor to those who have the seal of God in their foreheads. 

Here are the nations of the full House of Israel to be taught before the four winds are let loose:

[5] 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.

You see, Judah is only a small part of the entire House of Israel.

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] 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.

If you analyze these 12 Tribes of Israel you will find that Dan and Ephraim are omitted and Levi and Joseph are substituted in their place. Why? Because of their idolatry. You can read of it in Lev. 24:10-16, Deut. 29:18-21, Judges 18:2-31, 1 Kings 12:16-33, and Hosea 4:17. However, know this: God has stated that all of Israel shall (eventually) be saved (Rom. 11:29) and therefore we find that Dan and Ephraim are restored in Ezek. 48, during the Millennium.

There is no mention of why there are 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel to be sealed, so one can only suppose. But here is the brief outline of the number 12 in Biblical numerics from appendix 10 in the Companion Bible:

TWELVE. Denotes Governmental Perfection. It is the number or factor of all numbers connected with government: whether by Tribes or Apostles, or in measurements of time, or in things which have to do with government in the heavens and the earth. Companion Bible, appendix 10, pg. 14.

Now since we are about to enter the Millennium and Christ is going to set up His Kingdom, and since He is not the author of confusion, but of discipline and order and ranks, and since we have already read that the 12 Patriarchs and along with 12 Apostles are seated before the throne, doesn't it make sense to you that these 12,000 have to do with the coming transition to the new government of God?

Next verse:

Rev. 7:9 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;

Well would you looky here! God has not limited the sealing to just the 144,000.  It's just that those 144,000 have a special job to do. There will be a GREAT MULTITUDE of ALL NATIONS, and kindreds, and people, and tongues who come out of the great tribulation. (I peeked ahead to verse 14).

They are clothed in white robes. We know what that is symbolic of!

And what of the palms? They were used in John 12:12-13 at the Feast where those with them were praising and blessing God. And we find the same thing in heaven.  There's no mystery here!

John 12:12-13
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, [13] Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna means oh save! or "salvation now" which is what is being said by the great multitude in the next verse. (Isn't the Word of God absolutely incredible in it's consistency and accuracy? It should be no surprise though, for it is the Word of the Creator of the Universe.)

Rev. 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Rev. 7:11
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,

You should have a very vivid image of the throne by now with its "shekinah glory" radiating forth the beautiful colors of the rainbow, with the "zoon", the protecting cherubs, standing guard, and the 24 elders seated in their formal white robes and wearing their crowns, and the multitudes of the sons of God gathered at this awesome assembly in the throne room of Almighty God which has a floor resembling a crystalline sea of glass. If not, go back and re-read chapter 5.

[12] Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Speaking of chapter 5, do you remember the seven spirits of God we read of in chapter 5 verse 12? They are given here in reverse order, basically, but with one exception. The "riches" in 5:12 have been replaced by "thanksgiving" in 7:12. Why?  Because this is after the great tribulation and they have already received the
 "riches" for which they are now "thankful".

1.) Power        1.) Blessing
2.) Riches        2.) Glory
3.) Wisdom     3.) Wisdom
4.) Strength     4.) Thanksgiving
5.) Honour      5.) Honour
6.) Glory         6.) Power
7.) Blessing     7.) Might

And so it is unto our God for ever and ever. Amen

[13] And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

This is just fantastic! Notice here that one of the 24 Elders spoke to John who must have been near where of one them was sitting. I don't think he expected John to know the answer, and so his questions are rhetorical.

[14] And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. 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.

These came out of great tribulation which implies they were in great tribulation. They washed their own robes in the blood of the Lamb, for only by personally accepting Christ as your savior can you be purified and your robe made white.

[15] Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

When we get to the last chapter of this Book of Revelation we will read about our Father leaving the current location of His throne and bringing the New Jerusalem down out of heaven and dwelling among His children for all eternity. (Also read the very last verse in the Book of Ezekiel.)

[16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

The reason is that the Lamb of God will be with us!

[17] 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.

We shall read of this again in chapters 21 and 22. Let's jump ahead and get a glimpse into the future:

Rev. 21:4
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.

The flesh age has passed away and we are in magnificent spiritual (celestial) bodies that feel no pain, and all the "rudiments", evilness and evil ones, have perished.

Rev. 22:1-3
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.

This is the new throne now, in the New Jerusalem, here on earth, and our Father is with us.

[2] 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.

[3] 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:

Yes, the throne of God and He who sits upon it will be with us and we shall serve Him who has exciting things planned for us throughout this universe and all of eternity to enjoy.

Do you think a big house and a fancy car now can compare to that?

Now, back to the seven seals:

Rev. 8:1
And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

Something is about to happen. The 7 Trumpets are about to blow! But before they do, there is a period of quietness, of silence, that transpires. Let's call it silent meditation, or the calm before the storm.

Rev. 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Mark 13:28
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

Live Link to->>> The Parable of the Fig Tree

[29] So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Let's ask some questions.

Q.) What are these things which come to pass?

[30] Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

A.) The subject is the fig tree, so the answer is "the generation of the fig tree"!

Q.) When did that begin?

A.) May 15, 1948.

Q.) How do you know?

A.) To understand the (live link) to->>>parable of the fig tree you must begin at the beginning, in the fig grove of the garden in Eden, and understand who the "children of disobedience" are, that they are the "seed" of the serpent, the "tares" of the Parable of the Tares in Matthew 13, the sons of Cain (kenites). This you must do in order to understand who the "bad figs" of Judah are spoken of in Jeremiah 24, which describes the setting forth of both the good and bad figs in Judea, in Jerusalem. Then you will KNOW that the United Nation's sanction of the State of Israel on May 15, 1948, planted the fig tree.

People are often shocked when they hear that statement, and not so much by the fact of the event itself, but by the connection to the Bible, i.e. by the identifying of a "modern event" with scripture, with the fulfillment of prophecy. It's as if they didn't know the Bible had any relevance to today except for its moral teachings. They have the mentality of "back in Biblical times", and it is no wonder when they hear the archaic, oh so holy, monotone style of the "selection from the Bible", "our scripture reading for today" that they hear when they attend church. You see, there's deception even in the way they read the Bible. Who communicates, who talks like that in the "real world"? Not you, not me.

[31] Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The Seals have now been removed and each and every one of them was opened by the Lamb of God Himself. The detail which He gives us sometimes seems overwhelming, but it is greatly appreciated by those who seek to know all the things that He has foretold us, and He has foretold us all things.

I suppose we could "sum up" the Seals in just a few words: They are to understand the powers and dark forces of the Four Hidden Dynasties which are (the 1st 4 Seals), and what happen(s)(ed) to those who teach the true Word of God and confront the rider of the horses and the worldwide testimony of God's elect soon to be delivered up which is (Seal #5), and to understand the Two Tribulations and the work (sealing) that must take place before the four winds blow which is (Seal #6), and to understand the parable of the fig tree and the season when all these things come to pass which is (Seal #7).

If you understand those 7 Seals, revealed to you by Jesus Christ, then you have eyes to see and ears to hear, and the scroll, "His Word", will unroll before your eyes and you can read with understanding the marvelous mysteries of our God. There is nothing like it in the entire universe! It will turn your heart to Him with such love that you cannot contain it.

All sealed? Good, then we're ready for the 7 Trumpets.

The 7 Trumpets of Revelation

If you've studied Revelation 1 through 7 you're All sealed?
If not See Live Link to- Our Complete Study of Revelation
If you have, Good, then we're ready for the 7 Trumpets.

Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

[3] 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.

Rev. 6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

[4] And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

[5] 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.

Now that sounds frightening!

Note: Be prepared, for in the next few chapters we will encounter much symbology, but "not to worry" or "be frightened" as those are who would try to read a scroll that's still sealed. As we learned in the very first chapter of this great book, the symbolism is clearly defined and it produces vivid pictures in our minds which we will "see" clearly and understand that which is taking place.

Hebrews 12:29
For our God is a consuming fire.

[6] And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

If you are a student of God's Word, and if you understand the 7 Seals which we've just covered, then these trumpets will make a lot of sense.

It is fascinating how eager people are to understand the Book of Revelation, which by the way is the last book in the Bible. Some want to know because they are curiosity seekers, some sense it could be true, and others want to know what is going to happen so they can "live it up" and then repent just in time to "make it" (as if they could 'pull one over' on God).

Again, and it bears repeating, if you are familiar with God's Word then you will have encountered trumpets many times before you get to Revelation, as well as most all of the symbolism in Revelation, which you will see.

For example, if you've read Exodus you will remember that it was Jo-shua (the same name as Ya-shua, i.e. same name as Jesus) who led our people into the promised land. Well guess what? We are about to enter into the promised land again, the Millennium. Do you recall what God instructed Joshua to do to take the city of Jericho? March around the city 6 days + the 7th. And on the last day, they compassed the city 7 times and blew the 7 Trumpets and at the "shout", the walls of the great city came tumbling down.

1 Thes. 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God...

Live Link to-Mystery Babylon"

Numbers 10:8
And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

Now here it is, God's command to blow the trumpets:

Numbers 10:9
And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

Also, before we begin the trumps, be prepared to encounter much symbolism, the purpose of which is to Paint a PICTURE in your mind.

Remember back to our first few lessons in Revelation, and our discussion about pictures? 

First SEE the PICTURE. 

When the first 4 Trumpets sound, the Word of God is going to be cast, mixed even more, with the 4 Hidden Dynasties and things will really begin to "heat up". The first 4 trumpets, as were the first 4 Seals, are also grouped apart from the last three which are Woe trumpets to the inhabiters of the earth. 

Yesireee! Woe, woe, woe!

The first four trumpets of Revelation in one file.

The 1st Trumpet of Revelation

Let the action begin!

Revelation 8;7 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.

A "third part" is an expression meaning "not all of", i.e. only of portion of. We'll document that when we get to the 12th verse, but it's kind of like we say "wait a minute", which doesn't mean wait exactly one minute (except to a friend of mine who is so compulsive he'd probably start his stop watch.)

Exodus 9:24-26
So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

[25] And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

1 Cor. 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

And now, here's the rest of the story.

Exodus 9:26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

 Here's proof positive:

Rev. 9:4
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.

Presents

The 5th Trumpet of Revelation Rev. 9:1
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

Now, let's see what happens when the bottomless pit is opened.

[2] 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.

[3] 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 arising in the smoke are Satan's fallen angels/locusts and scorpions from the days of Noah.  
 And their tails/ the descendants of Cain, Satan's son from his sexual encounter with Eve in the "Garden of Eden" (Christ called them, snakes and vipers).

So we are talking about the enemies of God and "Seeing" an analogous "Picture" of them. They are like a bunch of insects, i.e. locusts, scorpions, etc. Are they to be feared?

NAW! Jesus Christ has given His own His Two-edged Sword, remember? And along with it, the POWER of it, i.e. the power to wield it! Here's what He has to say about creepy, crawly snakes and insects, i.e. low life creatures, Satan's own.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Now, here's another key to remember to help understand "Pictures" more fully, shall we say to a deeper level. The Holy Spirit in giving us these Pictures doesn't just arbitrarily pick the symbols He uses. There is a purpose and a meaning contained in the selection. So if we learn the characteristics of the symbols we can better understand what is being described.

Let's start with the scorpion. Here's a link, one of many, where you can go to learn how the scorpion takes its prey.

http://www.desertusa.com/oct96/du_scorpion.html

And what of the locusts? We don't even need to research the worldwide web for this one. We can go to the Book of Joel, which we will later, and to Exodus, where God's two witnesses, Moses and Aaron, were sent to Pharaoh. Here we see locusts used in one of the judgments poured out, where we "See" the physical type set forth.

Note: Those locusts were sent by God just as we will read in Joel that these locusts in Revelation are also sent by, controlled by, God. Why? For the same reason the plagues were brought upon Egypt... "So that they may know that the Lord God Almighty doth reign supreme in both heaven and earth".

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By the way, if your father or one of your forefathers has broken this commandment of God in Joel 1:3 to tell your children His words contained herein, then YOU get busy studying His Word and learn the truth and restart the process with your children. John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Below are some excerpts from the websites listed above:

"What are locusts?

Locusts are insects belonging to the order Orthoptera. They are identical in appearance to grasshoppers with which they share the family Acrididae. The only difference between the two types of insects is that locusts can exist in two different behavioural states (solitary and gregarious) whereas grasshoppers do not. When the population density is low locusts behave as individuals, much like grasshoppers. However, when the population density is high locusts form highly mobile gregariously behaving bands of nymphs or swarms of adults. It is this change from one behavioural state to another, known as phase change, that makes locusts such devastating pests. Phase change may be accompanied by changes in body shape and colour, and in fertility, survival and migratory behaviour. These changes are so dramatic in many species that the swarming and non-swarming forms were once considered to be different species."

These insects when they swarmed through the land of Egypt consumed everything in their path. Here's the narrative:

Exodus 10:14-15
And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. [15] For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

But wait, those were actual locusts that ate every green thing and all the grass and fruit and leaves off the trees, etc. These locusts in Revelation don't eat anything green, no trees, no grass. Of course not! They eat men's brains! Uneducated, unlearned in the Word of God, unsealed brains (which are what is supposed to be in their foreheads)! And they consume any truth found growing and leave behind their poop!

[4] 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.

Ezekiel 9:3
And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon He was, to the threshold of the house. And He called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;

[4] And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

[5] And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

[6] Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

We have been instructed in the 6th chapter of Ephesians to put on the gospel armour to prepare to stand in battle against the fiery darts of the wicked one and his army. It is spiritual warfare and it is your worst nightmare!

Ephes. 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

So how is "the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man?" The first thing to understand is that because a scorpion has no stomach, its digestive process is outside its own body. It grabs hold of the subject, paralysis it, and vomits its digestive juices on the subject. While the subject lies helpless, the juices dissolve the subject's body and then the scorpion sucks that food back into itself. The person "man" that has been struck lies helpless through the entire process, unable to think or defend himself.

Do you remember on Pentecost Day in Acts chapter two when Peter stood up and explained what the Galileans were speaking of in the tongue, meaning language, that was understood by every dialect of every nationality present? He quoted from the Book of Joel concerning the last days, these days and those just ahead, when God would pour out His spirit on His sons and daughters and they would prophesy, meaning teach from the prophets, like Joel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, etc.

Let's pick it up with verse 5 in chapter 9 of Revelation concerning the locusts:

Rev. 9:5
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 striketh a man.

Now LOOK! Did you notice there is something in tomorrow's newsreel that is very revealing (what a great title for this book)? Did you notice how long the locust army has to do its thing? Five Months!

Mark 13:20
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.

Verse 6:

Rev. 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

This verse carries forward to just before the day of wrath when Christ returns. Remember we read of this in the sixth seal?

Rev. 6:15-17
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; [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Rev. 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

[8] And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

Nice folk, these gentle looking liars of Satan's own, wouldn't you say?

[9] 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 by the way, the breastplates that the Levitical Priests wore were made of precious materials with gold rings and chains and inlaid with the 12 precious gems of the 12 Tribes of Israel. The breastplates worn by Satan's priests are made of iron, figuratively of course. 

Rev. 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

[11] 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.

Proverbs 30:27
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

Let's next look up in Strong's Concordance the names Satan is given here.

Abaddon, Greek #3; of Hebrew origin [#11 abaddown]; a destroying angel - Abaddon.

Apollyon, Greek #623; active participle of Greek #622 (appolumi); a destroyer (i.e. Satan) - Appollyon.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Thes. 2:3-4
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; [4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

[12] One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

The 5th Trumpet has sounded and one Woe is past!

He'll be here soon enough! 

At the sounding of the sixth trump!

There are still two woes to go. And remember, these three Woe Trumps are "Woes" to the inhabiters of the earth. Why? The answer is real simple: Because the final generation will confront the "supernatural" face to face. Satan, in person, who was in the garden of Eden and seduced mother Eve, along with his angels who came to earth in Genesis chapter six and seduced the daughters of Adam, are all coming to this generation to "seduce" the entire world. And what a spiritual orgy it will be! The whole world, with few exceptions, will marry the wrong Jesus! Woe to the inhabiters of the earth!

1 Cor. 11:10
For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

Matthew 24:37-39
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, [39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The 6th Trumpet of Revelation

And now the 6th Trump. (Don't forget, John is still in heaven, in the spirit, witnessing all this for us.)

Rev. 9:13
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

Note: If you've read the Book of Daniel then you know that one of Satan's names is "little horn". And that about says it all, doesn't it? However, I'll bet it infuriates him to called that! Little horn, little horn, na, na, na! Live Link to- Daniel's visions

Now here's the command to the sixth angel from the One who has All Power:

[14] Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

So who are these angels? The answer lies in the phrase "bound in the great river Euphrates", which symbolically means "bound in judgment". The river Euphrates has always been the boundary between Babylon and God's children. Did you know that the word "Hebrew" comes from "eber" which means people "from across the river", i.e. across the great river Euphrates where lies not the great city of Babylon?  And we find that the Euphrates is connected with the judgments of the great day in Jeremiah 46:4-10.

Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

[15] And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

The hour, day, month and year given here is not a duration of time but rather a fixed period of time, i.e. the time and date they are appointed, prepared, to be let loose, which only God knows.

[16] And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

The word "thousand" is  murias, Greek #3461; a ten-thousand; by extension a "myriad" or indefinite number.

[17] 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.

[18] 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.

Also, these guys can't harm and are but a mere nuisance to those with the seal of God in their foreheads. We practice on them while we await the "Fire Breathing Dragon" who gets his head cut off with the Sword of the Lord! Didn't you always wonder why dragons breathed fire? Now you know what it means!

[19] For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tais were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

[20] 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:

[21] Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Finally, did you know that this five month period of the locust army, headed by the chief serpent, that old dragon, the devil, will soon be compared to a great flood, a flood of lies?

Rev. 12:15
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.

Genesis 7:24
And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

But there are those who have the seal of God in their foreheads whom Satan and his troops may not touch. Let's read some more detail in chapter 10 of the Book of Revelation.

Rev. 10:1
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:

Note: Just so you know, you'll never read of a female angel in the Bible. They are all male, for they are all sons of God, even as we all are, though in the flesh we have gender. (Personally, I think God sent all the female angels here in the flesh to try to add some semblance of sanity to men's ways. Just kidding.)

[2] 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,

[3] And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Thunder is the loud crackling sound you hear that tells you that lightning has struck.

Note: If you are struck by the lightning itself, chances are you won't hear the thunder because your ears are probably burnt off.

Now here's the point to all of this. Jesus Christ has forewarned us about the "lightning". It is not of nature, it is of super-nature, i.e. supernatural.

Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Rev. 13:13
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

[4] 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.

[5] And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

[6] And sware by him that liveth 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:

Time's up!

Rev. 10:7 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 hath declared to his servants the prophets.

(What? Is Deuteronomy really someone's name? Well, you know how we shorten everyone's full name from like Frederick to Fred and Matthew to Mat, etc. So I think that's were we got "Hey Dude" from "Hey Deut". Hmmmmm. Maybe not.)

[8] And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

Want to be sealed of God? Then go get the unsealed scroll and here is what you do with it!

Jeremiah ate His words.

Learning and knowing the truth of God's Word is exciting and beautiful and the taste of truth is as sweet as honey! But when you have digested that knowledge and meditated upon it, and can see the stark reality of what is happening in this world and why, it can be pretty "gut wrenching", and thus is one form of bitterness.

John 17:14
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them...

And finally, back to Rev. 10 to complete the chapter, the angel of the Lord said to John:

Rev. 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.." Acts 2:17

There are some really exciting times just ahead of us! And those who have the seal of God in their foreheads, who have eaten the "little book", are going to be delivered up (Mk. 13) and give testimony, i.e. prophesy, during this 6th Trump. It will be bitter sweet, though we know we have the victory!

Jesus Christ told us the very same thing:

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

There be will lots of excitement during this 6th Trump. Are you ready?

In chapter eleven we are now going learn about two of God's testimony givers, witnesses, who are going to be real trouble makers for Satan and his New and Improved New World Order, now with Lightning Miracle Glow. You've heard the expression "fighting fire with fire" (and you should well know what the "fire" in Revelation is). Well, these two witnesses will be given authority and power from on High to be unto Satan what Moses and Aaron were unto Pharaoh, with one exception. Pharaoh finally gave in and let the people go. Satan never gives in and eventually kills these two witnesses and throws a big party to celebrate.

Let's now begin chapter 11 of Revelation. This is still good old John telling us what's going on.

Rev. 11:1
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.

John is being told to measure three things for destruction: the temple (which is supposed to be God's house), the altar (where the sacrifice is given), and those that worship therein (those in the temple).

Why? What's going on?

2 Thes. 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

That is exactly why Jesus would say that the temple will be destroyed at His coming, and that not one stone will be left standing upon another.

Matthew 24:1-2
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. [2] And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

So in verse one John is simply told to go size up the temple for this destruction. Today John could have just given him the coordinates via satellite digital relay
.

Back to Revelation 11 verse 2.

Rev. 11:2 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.

He's not going to destroy everything, just the temple area, so no need to measure outside of it.

OK, I admit it. I peeked ahead again and read to the end of the chapter. And so we find in verse 13 the actual destruction of that which John measured in verse 1. Only a tenth of the city is destroyed, obviously the temple area, and only 7,000 "men" are slain. This happens when Jesus Christ sets foot upon the Mount of Olives as described in Zech. 14 and pulverizes the temple and the altar and those 7,000 fallen angels that worship therein. So that is why the "court without" has not been measured for destruction. The Word of God just continues to amaze me more and more.

Romans 11:4
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

These 7,000 He has reserved for these last days. I'd say the playing field is about even now.

Here's something else that's amazing throughout the Bible! All prophecy as to length of time given in God's Word concerning Satan and the children of the night, is given in lunar terminology (because they are a bunch of lunartics). All prophecy as to length of time given concerning God's children, the children of light, is given in solar terminology. (Let's hear you rationalize that, Mr. Skeptic Higher Critic).

So here we see that the treading under foot of the holy city, Jerusalem, is 42 months, moons. But in the next verse we see that God's two witnesses prophesy 1260 days, which are determined by the revolution of the sun, i.e. solar.

Now you might think that the time periods are exactly the same, because 1260 / 30 = 42. But actually they are not. A lunar month is 29.53 days and falls short of a solar month which is 30 days. So the two witnesses actually have more time, don't they? God's children are always one step ahead of the serpent.

Rev. 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

You've heard of Power Rangers? We'll these two are much more powerful. They are Power Saints.

Also, when we of sackcloth and ashes they are always associated with repentance and fasting, and of course the two witnesses will be preaching repentance and abstaining from eating lunch at Satan's Cafe de Rapture.

Rev. 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

This verse is very precious.

If you've eaten the tasty little Book of Zechariah then you've already read of the two olive trees in chapter 4. The subject is a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:

Zech. 4:3-5
And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

[4] So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?

The Book of Revelation hadn't been written yet or he would have known they are the two witnesses. How fortunate we are!

[5] Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

It takes a mighty man to admit he doesn't know something. Let's skip to verse 11 where he persistently asks the same question. He was a digger of truth, for sure!

Zech. 4:11
Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

Maybe you don't understand the question. Let me rephrase it slightly:

[12] 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?

[13] And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.

You just know he's thinking "Duh! This is the third time I've asked the same question!"

Zech. 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

Rev. 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Perfect Match!

Of course you should know by now what candlesticks are. We learned that in the last verse of chapter one.

Rev. 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

What happened to the other five churches? Oh, they're already married to some guy who says he's Jesus.

Do you remember what two churches are in good standing? Right, the church of Smyrna and the church of Philadelphia. Do remember what they both taught in common? If you don't recall go back and read again Rev. 2:9 and 3:9.

"Ok, we've studied hard, and now we'd like you to just flat out tell us who the two witnesses are!"

"Good grief, Charlie Brown, you don't want much, do you? If it was written I'd tell you."

"Well, do you think it's Enoch and Elijah?"

"Do I think? My Opinion? No, we saw Elijah appear on the mount of transfiguration in his transfigured body. We will soon learn that the two witnesses will be killed and their "corpses" will lie in an open arena. He'd have to be de-transfigured and enter again into flesh. I don't think so."

"Yes, but Malachi 4:5 says that God will send Elijah before Christ's return."

"Hmmmm. Is that in spirit or in person? He sent good old "locust eating" John the Baptist before the first advent in the spirit of Elijah. Luke 1:17 "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

"Then based on that, do you think the two witnesses are here now, alive and well?"

"Figure it out for yourself. But if you ask me there are certainly enough clues. Here's three to get you started:

Clue #1: The two candlesticks are the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna, easily identifiable by that which they teach. If you need to, go back and review chapters 2 and 3.

Clue #2: The two witnesses are not Biblically illiterate. You'll see in the next verse we read that they breath the fire of God's Word, so we know their fuel tanks are filled to capacity, just overflowing with oil (Hey, "sons of oil", I get it.).

Clue #3: Now read all of Zech. 4 and you'll find in verse 12 that these two anointed sons are diligently pumping oil. Got it? They are pumping oil!"

Rev. 11:5
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

2 Kings 1:10
And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

Jeremiah 5:14
Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Now you also know why our Father calls His ministers "a flame of fire". They are of Him.

Hebrews 1:7
And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.

Let's return to the two witnesses.

Rev. 11:6 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.

"If that's what it takes, yes, of course. The type fits exactly. They can certainly control nature. But remember 1 Cor. 10:11 'Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

If you'll peek ahead two verses you will see that the two witnesses are going to "Spiritual Egypt". Simply, positively, amazing, isn't it?  And we already documented in previous studies that waters are the peoples of the earth: Rev. 17:15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." And so when the waters are smitten with the Word of God, those souls who turn away bleed pretty bad and they could die, couldn't they?

[7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

[8] 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.

[9] 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.

Psalm 79:1
O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. [2] The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. [3] Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

Rev. 11:10 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.

Well, their days are certainly numbered when you see this party going on. Number 3 1/2 days and guaranteed, the party will be all over! Jesus Christ is going to CRASH this bash. That "stone cut out without hands", our Rock, is going to smash the whole thing.

Rev. 11:11
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.

Rev. 11:9
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.

So by now the world has witnessed the witnesses (called prophets in vs. 10 - see appendix 189 in the Companion Bible) rain on their parade, "tormenting them that dwell on the earth (vs. 10)", exercising the awesome power of God.  And the abomination who sits in the temple with his cronies, claiming to be Jesus, performs yet another of his long line of "religious deeds", dating back to garden of Eden, beginning with Abel. He murders them, too!

And now the dead bodies of two witnesses lie in an open forum in Jerusalem with the television cameras continuously focused on them, making sure nothing happens to their bodies, until at least 3 1/2 days has expired. But then, when the 3 1/2 days are fulfilled, God breaths their life back into their bodies and they stand upon their feet! As you can imagine, this will cause many to wet their pants as a great and paralyzing fear falls upon all those who are watching.

Rev. 11:12 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.

[13] 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.

Rev. 14:7
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.

The 7th Trumpet of Revelation
It is now time for the 3rd and final Woe!

Rev. 11:14
The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

[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.

[16] And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

[17] Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

Remember back in chapter 6 what the prayers of those who were slain for the Word of God were?

Rev. 6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Well praise God, the time has come and the Day of the Lord, the Day of Vengeance, has arrived and "how long" is asked no more.

Rev. 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Let the nations be angry all they want! They will still bow their knees to the King of kings and Lord of lords. And there shall be a judgment as the First Resurrection takes place, and the servants of the Most High will receive eternal life and a double portion of the blessings and rewards from our Father. What a time it will be! And it's not too far off! In fact, it may be much closer than you think!

[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.

Notice though what comes out of the Temple in Heaven when it is opened:

Rev. 16:17
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.

[18] 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.

These are the exact same events we just read of in Rev. 11:19, except for the hail. Where's the hail?

Rev. 16:21
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.

There's the hail! This happens to those gathered together five verses ago in Rev. 16:16 in the place "called" Armageddon, which means rendevous, or gathering. And as you know, Jesus Christ returns to Jerusalem, which is where Satan's crowd will be gathered. We'll discuss Armageddon and also Hamon-gog of Ezekiel 39 when we get to Rev. chapter 16.

Finally, did you notice that the Ark of the Covenant was located in the Temple in Heaven? Yet now and then we read in the newspapers that some archeologists and/or Rabbis believe it might be in a sealed tunnel or under a wall in Jerusalem, etc., etc. And Hollywood film producers further the interest and ignorance regarding the Ark with movies like "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Had they looked in the Word of God they would have found it!

Then too, many men seek their salvation through the traditions and the teachings of their church and will thus be ashamed and wish the mountains to fall upon them when the 7th Trump sounds and Jesus Christ returns. 

Too bad. 

Had they looked into the Word of God they would have found it!

The woman, Israel, gives birth to the male child, Christ.
God's plan from the First Earth Age even to the Third earth Age as presented in Revelation.What a masterpiece the great Book of Revelation, the Book of the Uncovering, the Book of the Unveiling. Let's pause and reflect for a moment and review some of that which has been revealed to us thus far.

In chapter one we learned that John was taken (in spirit) to the Lord's Day, which is yet future from now, and shown "visually" many marvelous and wondrous truths, to provide us in these last days with concrete PICTURES of the way it is and the way it is going to be. We learned that the graphics and symbols used in the descriptions are easily understood because they are either defined right in the Book Revelation itself, or we have read of them before in the Incredible Edible Book.

For instance, we now know that the Sword of the Lord is symbolic of the Word of God, that stars are symbolic of angels, i.e. sons of God, that horses and horns are symbolic of power, and that snakes, scorpions, locusts, etc. are all symbolic of our enemies.

In chapters 2 and 3 we saw Christ address the 7 Churches present at the time of the end. He admonished all but two of them, for He found no fault with the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, who both taught concerning those who claim to be of Judah, but are liars and of the synagogue of Satan himself.

We saw gathered at that great assembly the 24 Elders, i.e. the 12 Patriarchs and 12 Apostles, all those who have lived and died in Christ including our loved ones who have passed away, and all those who were slain for the Word of God, i.e. martyred.

The Lamb of God then unsealed the Scroll giving us in Picture Format the signs of the end time even as that same Lamb outlined them in Matthew 24 and Mark 13. To fully understand these seals is to have the seal of God in your forehead whereby the scorpions and locusts cannot harm you.

Then, having been given the complete intelligence report with all the necessary signs to look for, with all the enemy's methods of operation disclosed, the amount of briefing of the saints which must take place before the final battle, and what to do and say if and when captured by the enemy and brought to trial, John is then shown the 7 Angels with the 7 Trumps sound their trumpets.

The Trumpets are sounded in order announcing the events that are to transpire and describing the details using symbolic, understandable, graphic imagery. The last three trumps are called "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth Trumps" and culminate with the appearance of the two Messiahs.         The first Messiah, Satan, the false one,  appears at the 6th Trump            and         The true Messiah, Jesus Christ returns at the 7th Trump.

John then saw the very Temple of God opened in heaven and therein was the Ark of the Covenant. And there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail, all of which we understood.

Let's begin.

Rev. 12:1
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:

Can you SEE the PICTURE. She is a very beautiful woman.

The word "wonder" means "sign" and so John saw a great sign in heaven, and wondrous it was. Would you like see one? Go outside on any clear night and look up at the stars, and wondrous it will be. And if you are familiar with the uncorrupted Zodiac the plan of God will appear, for it is the Bible in the stars. Did not God say in Genesis 1:14 that the lights in the firmament of the heaven are to be for SIGNS, and for seasons, and for days, and years? Yes He did. And He numbered and named them ALL.

And so you can begin with "The prophecy of the promised seed", Virgo, the virgin, who brings forth the man child and travel through the redeemer's conflict, etc., to Leo and destruction of the old serpent. It was declared in the "beginning of time" and repeated in Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (You must read appendix 12 in the Companion Bible or and/or obtain the book "The Glory of the Stars" by E. Raymond Capt.)

So what about this woman in verse one who is clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars? She symbolizes mother Israel (which would be the Christian nations of today's 21st century) and her 12 Royal sons, stars (we/us, their descendants, many who are living today in these animal bodies), chosen before the foundation of this earth age, through whom would come Messiah. Do you remember the dream (Genesis 37:9) that one of those stars had in this earth age while in the flesh? His name was Joseph, son of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.

Genesis 37:9
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.

Eleven "stars", sons, made obeisance to the twelfth, Joseph.

Rev. 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

Notice that the woman hasn't given birth yet, to the Messiah, and in fact would not until this earth age for which she is travailing, i.e. sorrowing. The time just before the "birth of a new age" is always liken to the labor pangs, the travailing of a woman. As Christ would say regarding the signs just before the end of this age, "these are the beginnings of sorrows" (look up "sorrows", it means "travail", labor pangs) Mark 13:8. Also see Romans 8:22 and 1 Thes. 5:3.

John now SEES the second wonder, the bad guy, the one who rebelled and fell in the "world that then was".

Can you SEE the PICTURE? He is described as a very ugly beast, in contrast to the very beautiful woman!

And when we get to the next chapter, chapter 13, we'll see this creep, Satan the beast, with almost exactly the same power structure he had in first earth age of which we just read. The difference is he has handed out three promotions and elevated them to royal, priestly status, i.e. he has three more crowns.

Rev. 13:1
And I 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.

One last thought on Rev. 12:3. He, Satan,  is called the "Red" dragon. Look up "red" in Strong's Concordance and your see that it is "purrhos" from "pur" meaning "fire" or "literal or figurative, specially lightning". And so Jesus Christ would say regarding this fire breathing dragon in Luke 10:18 "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Rev. 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven (we/us), and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon (Satan) stood before the woman (Mother Israel, i.e. who today are the Christian nations of western Europe and the Americas) which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

Our Father then held the first judgment of one of His sons, Lucifer/Satan. And He sentenced him to "perish", to die the 2nd Death in the lake of fire. So you can see there was a price to pay for sin even in the "world that then was".

That price is death!

TO BE NO MORE! 

Satan's sentence is so recorded in Ezekiel 28:

Ezekiel 28:18-19
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

[19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

"And never shalt thou be any more" is exactly what "perish" means! Satan is even called the son of perdition, the son who will perish. He's as good as dead which is why he is also called "death", to whom some of you will be delivered up to.

But our loving Father did not judge the rest of His children, because the penalty for those found guilty would also be death! Sentencing your children to die is not something anyone would want to do. So He postponed that judgment until after the Millennium, after His plan to salvage His children, His plan of salvation, is fulfilled.

He would make man, His sons, to dwell in flesh/animal bodies fashioned after the very likeness of themselves, and yet be born innocent, which is WITHOUT knowledge of the world that then was. That way they could be free from interference to chose whether to love God or once again follow Satan's tail.

But the penalty for sin would still be death and so our Father, in His infinite love for us, His children, decided to pay the price Himself, to DIE FOR US, in our stead, that we might be redeemed to Him and love Him as He so wants His children to do. 

Those of you who have children know full well that you cannot order or command or decree by law that your children love you. It must come from their hearts. And so it is with our Father and we His children. 

The price has been paid. We can live eternally with Him, if we'll turn to Him and love Him, for He first loved us and He still does.

We've seen the two great signs in heaven. 

One was a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. The sun "solar" represents the "sun of righteousness", Jesus Christ, and the moon "lunar, having no light of it's own" represents the "lunatic", Satan. 

So you could say that the woman, mother Israel, was clothed or covered, even protected by the LORD, wrapped in His arms. And of course the moon is under her feet where the footstool belongs.   

In 745-721 B.C. after being taken captive and relocated below the Black and Caspian Seas, the tribes of the House of Israel plus tens of thousands of Jews (from the House of Judah) were used by their Assyrian conquerors as a buffer state to ward off any advances by the Medes.

Soon, groups of Israelites started moving out to east, and north. The main body of people remained in the area for about a hundred years, during which time they fought as mercenaries for just about everyone.

Their unique triangular arrow points were even found in the ruins of one of the burned gates of Jerusalem; meaning that some of them were in on the conquering of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzor!

Soon after the power of the Assyrians was broken, vast numbers of the Israelites began several migrations, with the main two groups moving west under the Black Sea, and north through the Dariel pass of the Caucasas mountains into the steppes of south Russia.

A large group also moved east. These were called Sakka (Saka) and Iskuza by the Medes and Persians. The Japanese name Sakai is but a step away from Saka. There are many strange customs of unknown origin in Japan that can only be explained by recognizing that some from the east Jordan tribes of Manasseh, Reuben and Gad, 

Manasseh being pre-eminant, made their way to that far eastern Island, while their cousins headed west to populate northwest Europe and the far western island of Britain.

Some of these migrations were undertaken all the way into the 17th century when,  in the final migration, some from the tribe of Manasseh sailed the north Atlantic to Plymouth to fulfill Isaiah 49:20, which was prophesied to the hegemony of the House of Israel, Ephraim (England).

You see, the crux of the whole subject is that the names we want to look for to trace the Israelites are not the names that historical accounts and archeological finds give those same folks.

To more confuse the issue, large groups of Israelites called themselves by different names. Some of them called themselves the House of Isaac, which is pronounced e-sahk with the emphasis on the last syllable. How natural for the Persians to call them the Sakka (Sacae in Greek), while the Assyrians called others, the House of Omri, after the sixth king of Israel. This name sounded like Khumri, and was variously pronounced Ghumri, Gimri, Gimira, Gammer, all of which turned into the Greek Kimmeroii, our English word Cimmerians.

The Israelites weren't lost, their name got lost.
That fact coupled with the erroneous search for the Jews' fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies has held the Lost Tribes teaching in virtual obscurity these millenia since 500 BC.

As Israel left the Caucasus Mountains and migrated into Europe, and to North America, they became known as Caucasians.

Though they basically comprise the Christian nations of the world, in their ignorance they call themselves gentiles.

If you are a Caucasian you are also an Israelite, according to Noah Webster and the Holy Bible.
The Webster Encyclopedia of Dictionaries (Copyright 1958, Literary Press, p.64) says "Caucasian" pertains to the white race originating from the Caucasus Mountains near the Black Sea.

The Holy Bible states that the House of Israel would be scattered north of the river Euphrates (I Kings 14:15).

This promise was fulfilled when, from 745-721 B.C., all ten tribes were taken captive and driven by the Assyrians into the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas

The Bible story of the ancestry and the modern prophetic identity of the British peoples, other Northwest Europeans and of the United States is the most amazing, yes astounding, the most fascinating and interesting story ever told. It is really the story thread of the Bible itself, from Genesis to Revelation.

Although the birthright has come to the British Commonwealth and the United States, yet there are other tribes who share in the blessings. For example Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, along with Canada and Germany.

THE NAME'S THE GAME The following is an incomplete list of names for various groups of Israelites as they migrated.

Khumri, Cimmerians, Sakkas, Sacasene, Sacasune, Schythians, Cimbri, Thraco-Cimmerians, Celt, Galatians, Germans, Saxons, Normans, Danes, Gimira, Kimmeroii, Iskuza, Gauls, Angles, Picts, Iberes, Scots, Basques, Bretons, Goths, Vandals, Lombards, Franks, Burgundians, Ostrogoths, Daci,   Belgae, Massagetae

Had enough?

Sorry for the long side trip, but it is important that you know, when mother Israel is talked about, that If you are a Caucasian descended from Northwest European and  United States ancestry you most likely are an Israelite.

Now back to Revelation chapter 12:

Then we saw a great red dragon with seven crowned heads and ten horns. This is Satan and his power structure in the "world that then was" (2 Pet. 3:6), before this flesh age, where his tail drew, i.e. dragged down, a third of God's children to rebel against our Father and follow after him.

And we saw the dragon, Satan, standing before the woman, which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was to be born. It was to be born at the appointed time, at the first advent in this earth age. So we now jump ahead to that time.

Rev. 12:5 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.

This brings us to Mary, who gave actual birth to Christ, but as you know, to get to this point and bring forth the promised Messiah (Gen. 3:15) from mother Eve on, was no small task as that great red dragon, that old serpent, tried to devour the "seed" from the beginning.

And this "man child" was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, which didn't happen when He walked this earth and hasn't happened yet. He was born an innocent babe and died to pay the price for our sins. It is when Christ returns, at His second advent, that He takes command of all nations with the rod of iron.

Rev. 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

What a day the sounding of that 7th Trump, announcing the Day of the Lord, that Day of Vengeance, will be. Meanwhile "her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne" where He now sits at the right hand of the Father, and He will remain there until all His enemies are His footstool.

Hebrews 10:12-13
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Neither Jesus nor Satan are present on earth, in person, at this time. And we have documented time and again that they both are returning, in person, soon. Satan comes at the 6th Trump and Christ comes at the 7th Trump. Let no man deceive or confuse you by any means. Of course, both the Holy Spirit and Satan's evil spirit, as the prince and power of the air, are present now.

Rev. 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

From the parting of the Red Sea and the earthquake that split the ground asunder and swallowed all those who followed Korah, throughout the Bible, we can read how God has used nature and natural forces to protect His own and even defeat their enemies. It then should seem no great thing if the woman is protected by our Father, and she will be. We already read in Rev. 9 that Satan cannot harm in any way those with the seal of God in their foreheads.

But the wilderness is our place among the people, prepared of God, where He wants us to be. It is not a physical place in the desert, like Petra, where we fly in a 747 Jumbo Jet to save our hides from some blood and guts battle espoused by Biblically illiterate preachers. We're foot soldiers of the Most High, and we can always be found on the front lines.

You may remember that John the Baptist was a voice crying in the wilderness, and common sense tells you he wasn't preaching to the animals.

Matthew 3:3
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

This was a direct quote from the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 40:3
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.

And remember what will the two witnesses be doing during those same 1260 days? Rev. 11:3 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." They will be prophesying, teaching. They will continue to pump oil into the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

One thing is for sure, the woman is certainly not "hidden" somewhere for she will be persecuted when Satan gets here as we will see in verse 13. So much for the flying to Petra theory.

So get ready. War in heaven is about to take place in the next verse, and woe to the inhabiters of the earth.

Rev. 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

"But I thought everything was peaceful and serene there with harps of gold and people sitting on fluffy clouds saying holy, holy, holy! War in heaven?"

Welcome to reality. Heaven is where Satan and his angels are right now, and wherever he is there's trouble. Yes, he's been here on earth in person before. He was in the garden and he was here when he tempted Christ.

But don't worry, he's no match for Michael and the rest of the Christian Army there.

[8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

See what I mean? He's a loser. And it's time this whole bunch of losers, Satan and his angels, get kicked out of heaven, to the earth. Woe! So when the war is finished on that battle front, it resumes here on earth. Got your gospel armour on (Eph. 6)?

"So that's OK Michael, send them down, we'll take it from here. Jesus has given us power over all our enemies. And believe us, we're thankful and give praise to Him because our names are written in the Book of Life."

Luke 10:19-20
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. [20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Let's see now. When Michael stands up and fights against the dragon, it will be "woe" time, Woe Trump time, to the inhabiters of the earth (vs. 12), i.e. big trouble here. Hmmmm. That's exactly what Daniel said concerning the end time.

Daniel 12:1
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.

Again, if your name is written in the book, that would be the Book of Life, then Satan is ordered to leave you alone.

Rev. 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Let there be no doubt about who the great red dragon is. He is the Devil, Satan himself, that old serpent who was in the garden of Eden and seduced mother Eve.

What is the most dangerous doctrine/belief in Christianity today? Did you know there is one? It is so dangerous that it could cause you to lose your very soul!

It is the "any moment Rapture theory"! Why? Because if a person believes that Jesus Christ can return at any moment, then when the supernatural archangel, Satan, and his angelic entourage are cast out of heaven to this earth (Rev. 12:9), disguised as Christ and His "angels of light", that person will think Jesus Christ has returned to this earth. And they will worship him as Jesus! Yuck! Just wait until the real Jesus returns at the 7th Trump and they discover they've been worshipping Satan. How ashamed they will be!

The apostle Paul made it perfectly clear in 2 Thes. 2 that we WILL NOT gather back to Jesus Christ until AFTER the son of perdition, Satan, stands in the holy place showing the world that he is God, i.e. Jesus. Until that happens Christ isn't returning, so don't expect Him today or tomorrow!

And what of Satan's angels? Yes, we read his angels are cast out with him (Rev. 12:9)! Remember those 7,000 who were measured in the temple (Rev. 11:1) and are destroyed by Christ at His return (Rev. 11:13). They were here on earth before when they seduced women, the daughters of Adam. (the reason for Noah's flood) You can read of them in Genesis chapter 6 where they are called the sons of God. They were giving and taking in marriage and giants were born as a result of their "hanky panky".

But you don't have to take anyone's word for it that these angels are coming. Jesus Christ Himself documented that they are coming again when He gave the signs of what it will be like just before He returns.

Matthew 24:37
But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Noe is Greek for Noah. What was going on then?

[38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

Who was marrying and giving in marriage? Those before the flood, the fallen angels and the daughters of Adam.  Jesus told us that it is going to be just like it was in those days before the flood. They, those seducing fallen angels, are coming again to marry and give in marriage (only it will be flood of lies this time, NOT A FLOOD OF WATER)! That is also why Paul says in 1 Cor. 11:10 that a woman should have power, the veil of Christ, on her head, i.e. be subject to Him. The reason? Read it yourself: "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." Because of the angels who will be coming to seduce them.

Satan and his angelic host will deceive the whole world (Seduce both men and women with lies), except for those who are aboard the ark of the covenant of these last days, i.e. have the seal of God in their foreheads.  All others will drown in the flood of Satan's lies. But, it won't be physically this time!
It will be with lies about Satan being God!

[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

[40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

The woman, or man, taken in the field is taken by whom? By Satan and his angels, swept away in their flood of lies,  just like those swept away in the flood of Noah days!

[41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Let's return to Revelation where John is speaking.

Rev. 12:10 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.

Satan's a big "tattle tale"! Every time you do something wrong he runs to your Father and tells on you and tries to get you in trouble! Read about the conversation this "smart aleck" had with our Father concerning Job in Job 1:6-12.

But what about those who have the seal of God in their foreheads, whom Satan accuses day and night, i.e. relentlessly?

[11] 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
.

They overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by kicking that old dragon in the teeth with their testimony, WITHOUT FEAR of harm or death, knowing that they have the victory!

[12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye 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 knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Rejoice ye that dwell in the heavens? Oh yeah, sure! You kicked him out! It's easy to sing Hallelujah now, isn't it? Didn't we read back a few chapters that "there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" (Rev. 8:1)?  Nice and peaceful!

"But Woe to us poor suckers, the inhabiters of the earth and the sea. Thanks a lot! You not only sent Satan down here in person, but now he's really PO'd because he knows he only has 5 months and he thought he had 3 1/2 years."

[13] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

Now there's a surprise! He comes after those rascally children of God! He'll be sorry.

[14] 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.

Again, these two wings aren't found attached to the fuselage of a jet owned by Eagle Airlines. Our Father is liken to this great eagle in  Deut. 32:9-11. This 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy is the very "Song of Moses" that the overcomers are singing in Rev. 15. It is therefore a part of the Book of Revelation. Notice that God's people are found in the "wilderness" and protected by "wings" of the great eagle, our loving Father.

Deut. 32:9-11
For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. [10] He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. [11] As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

And so the woman (the true Christian church) is given the two wings of this great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness of the world, fully protected and nourished during the great tribulation. Of course, the great eagle is our loving Father.

OK, now get ready, cause here comes the flood!

Rev. 12:15 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.

He's trying to drown the woman in the field and take her, isn't he?

[16] 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.

Our feet don't even get wet from this dragon's flood of lies! (remember the two witnesses) he doesn't have a prayer of a chance! With God and mother nature on our side.

[17] 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.

Them's fight'n words! But you know, to Christian soldiers there's nothing funnier than an angry, out of control, flailing dragon, puffing smoke! After kicking him around awhile to show others he's a loser just take the sharp two-edge sword and go for the head!

And he makes war with the remnant of her seed. We know that this old serpent has been after the "seed" of the woman from the very beginning. At the beginning of this chapter we saw the picture of him standing there in the first earth age waiting with "baited breath" for the chance to devour. And when this flesh age began and God placed Adam and Eve, though whom the "man child" would eventually come, in the garden, then lo and behold, there Satan was just chomping at the bit! Here is what our Father had to say to him:

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Yes, there sure is enmity, isn't there? But you see, "the losers", Satan and his offspring, the Kenites, only bruised the heel of the "man child". This happened when the stake was driven through His feet at Calvary. But "the winners", the seed of woman, the real bruisers, take the head off that old serpent, the dragon, the devil, Satan.

We have the victory!

Next in Chapter 13 of the Book of Revelation, which is to many folks, one of the scariest and most misunderstood chapters in all the Bible. Why? Well, the main reason is that people (including preachers and ministers) who are unfamiliar with the Word of God and the plan of God try to interpret what it says. Since they are completely unfamiliar with the symbology used to create a PICTURE to make things clearer and illustrate what's happening, they must make up stories out of their own imaginations to try and explain that which completely baffles them. And that's really scary, for that which one who claims to be a teacher or preacher says to God's children, affects their very lives and even their souls. It is a serious matter.

But for those who do have eyes to see and ears to hear, who are familiar with God's Word, and even for those who have followed along with us in this Book of the Revealing from the beginning, this chapter is easy, as you will see, because we have seen and read of it all before.

As an overview, we will encounter two "beasts" in this chapter 13, the descriptions of which will give us a PICTURE of the Political and Religious systems, two of the Four Hidden Dynasties, in their full flourishing, that Satan uses to deceive the whole world. It's really just that simple! Enjoy it.

The Rise and Reign of the Beast and the False Prophet, The beast out of the sea: the deadly wound healed.

This Chapter of the Book of Revelation is to many folks one of the scariest and most misunderstood chapters in all the Bible.

Why?

Well, the main reason is that people (including preachers and ministers) who are unfamiliar with the Word of God and the plan of God try to interpret what it says. Since they are completely unfamiliar with the symbology used to create a PICTURE to make things clearer and illustrate what's happening, they must make up stories out of their own imaginations to try and explain that which completely baffles them. And that's really scary, for that which one who claims to be a teacher or preacher says to God's children, affects their very lives and even their souls. It is a serious matter.

Here's the first beast:

Rev. 13:1
And I 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.

[2] And the beast which I saw was like unto 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.

Got the PICTURE? 

Then you have just seen the awesomeness of what the structure of the New World Order will look like after Satan, the dragon, is cast out of heaven and takes over. 

Now let's look at the symbolism used in the PICTUREs you just saw.

1.) Who is the dragon? We just read Rev. 12:9 so there can be no doubts or guess work as to the identity of the dragon. The Dragon is Satan.

Remember also that we saw this same description of this same power structure of the dragon in the first earth age in Rev. 12:3, except that he will have 3 more "crowns" with him this time when he gets here.

2.) And what is the sea? The sea is the people of the earth from which the political system arises.

4.) And what of these names of blasphemy?  Don't forget, just as Satan will be appearing as the Messiah, though he be the false one, his angels will be with him and appearing as, and called by the name, "Ministers of Christ". Can you be more blasphemous than that?

Rev. 9:8
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

But there's no need to fear these attributes of Satan's political system.  Though it might appear to us as a giant beast we're not afraid of Goliaths or multi-headed beasts, or scorpions, or locusts, etc. We have power over them (Luke 10:19) . How about that David?

1 Samuel 17:36
Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

Did the lion's mouths hurt Daniel when he was cast before them in the den? Not!

Even Paul was delivered out of the mouth of the lion by the Lord who stood with him!

2 Tim. 4:17
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

So much for lions and tigers and bears,
oh my!

Note: I thought I told you not to guess about God's Word. If you want to look ahead to verse 12 you will see that Satan himself, the supernatural archangel coming as Jesus Christ, heals the deadly wound. No problem for Slick Satan.

"And all the world WONDERED after the beast". Yes, it will be truly amazing, just marvelous for world peace!

The following quotation is from the World Book Encyclopedia.

"The League of Nations was an international association of countries which was created at the end of World War I. It grew out of the desire of the people throughout the world to prevent war forever.

The most important work of the League of Nations was the peaceful settlement of international quarrels. The Council of the League of Nations was set up for this purpose.

Unfortunately, the efforts of the Council were not always successful. For example, during 1935 and 1936 the Council failed to settle the dispute between Italy and Ethiopia. At that time Italy was trying to build up a great empire at the expense of the Ethiopians.

The failure of the Council to solve the Italian-Ethiopian dispute did much to weaken and finally destroy the influence of the League of Nations. No one really had the power to force nations to remain at peace." World Book Encyclopedia, 1953, vol. 10, pg. 4342.

Rev. 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 So of course they will worship him!

My goodness, they say that now! I've heard the statement several times on talk shows: "Who is able to go against the wishes of the international community?" Not too many years ago, then United States  President Clinton even said it in his State of the Union address regarding Saddam Hussein.  How much more true it will be when Satan comes!

1 Thes. 5:1-3

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

Should not have to tell you this!

[2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

That means while one is sleeping. We're not!

[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

And the dragon with them! Right after the NWO takes a hit!  It's the next benchmark in Bible prophecy!

[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Isn't studying God's Word in these last days exciting? I mean here we are, present when these prophecies are coming to pass! Just think! The prophets like Ezekiel and Daniel and all the disciples of Christ wanted to know what it would be like in our day, in the final generation, the generation of the fig tree which was planted in 1948, the first born of whom are now senior citizens and received AARP cards in their right hands (No, it's not the mark of the beast! It's just a sign of aging and the advent of discounts.)!

Do you realize how blessed we are that our Father saved you and me to be born now, at the end of the 6th day, the 6,000 years of flesh man, to witness the birth of a new age?

Earlier we learned that the old serpent, the dragon, is actually Satan himself. 

So, let's continue our study of the revelation of the "Acts of the Dragon" in Rev. 13:5.

Rev. 13:5 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 what a BIG MOUTH he has!

This verse means that Satan was permitted or allowed to speak and have power for 42 months. Dr. Moffat translates it:

Rev. 13:5 He was allowed to utter loud and blasphemous vaunts, and allowed to exert authority for two and forty months; (Moffat)

Satan can do NOTHING except our Father allows it, though he thinks he can. This Big Mouth Dragon also suffers from a severe case of self delusion!

We also noted in chapter 12 that all prophecy pertaining to Satan and his own is given in "lunar" terminology since they are of the "night". But God's children walk not in darkness, but are children of the "day", i.e. light, and so prophecy pertaining to them is given in "solar" terminology. Here Satan, the chief "lunar-tic", is allowed 42 months (moons) to do his thing. Of course we know that Jesus overrode this time period and shortened it, else no flesh would be saved. Mark 13:20 "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." We learned in Rev. 9 that the shortened period is 5 months, the time of the swarming locusts.

Back to old dragon breath:

Rev. 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

Rev. 13:7 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.

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

Rev. 13:8 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.

[9] If any man have an ear, let him hear.

We learned concerning the dragon, Satan, that "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 (Rev. 13:8)."

So the obvious question must be asked? 

Do you have ears to hear?

This is an important question because the very nature of the question itself lets us know by implication that there are those who don't have them, right?

Therefore, there are two types of people who will read the rest of this 13th chapter of Revelation. Those who have "ears to hear" and those who do not.  Those who do not, cannot "see" or "hear" past the flesh level and cannot understand that the tribulation is a battle for their soul, not their flesh.

When they read "kill with the sword" they think about their flesh, despite the fact that we are told in Rev. 1:16 that the "sword" is the Word of God.

When they read of "famine" they think about their bellies, despite the fact that Amos 8:11 tells us that the famine of the end times is for the hearing of the Word of God.

In fact they love to hear preachers. in our so-called Christian churches, tell them how they are going to "fly away" in the clouds to save what? Their souls? NO! They say you must be saved to be "raptured". What then? To save their flesh! Does the Rapture Theory have anything to do with other than saving their little old flesh hides? Think about it.  Did Paul tell us in Eph. 6 to put on the gospel armour to fly away or to take a stand? Even our Christian soldiers when they go off to war ask God to protect them on the front lines. They don't ask Him to fly them away so they can watch the battle from a remote place of safety. Arrrggg!

Is the Bible a book about saving your flesh or "your soul"? 

Should we be worried beyond that which is the instinct of natural preservation about our bodies, which are going to wither and die ANYWAY!

Here's what Jesus Christ has to say concerning the matter:

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

I rest my case.

This next verse in Revelation continues with the "destiny" which we just read in verse 8, just prior to the "If you can understand".

Rev. 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

This verse contains a Hebraism, again showing destiny (read Jer. 15:2), which the KJV doesn't bring forth all that well.

Here's how Dr. Moffat translates it:

Rev. 13:10 Whoever is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes: whoever kills with the sword, by the sword must he be killed. This is what shows the patience and the faith of the saints. ( Moffat)

Rev. 13:11 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.

[12] And he exerciseth 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.

proskuneo, pros-koo-neh'-o, Greek 4352; from Greek 4314 (pros) and a probably derivative of Greek 2965 (kuon) (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literal or figurative) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore) :- worship.

Rev. 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

The Greek word "fire" is pur Greek 4442; a primary word; "fire" (literal or figurative, specially lightning).

[14] And deceiveth 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.

How does he deceive the people, them that dwell on the earth? By means of those miracles, one of which we just read of in verse 13. Snap, snap. And the people will "snap to it".

[15] 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.

[16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Note: There is so much ignorance regarding God's Word for the lack of understanding figures of speech. I said before that if in the Book of Acts we found a verse that read "The apostle Paul got into hot water", there would be churches that would require members in good standing to get into a pool or tub of hot water. The scholars would discuss how much water they should get into and just exactly what degree of temperature crests the threshold from "warm" to "hot". They would cite Strong's concordance which would say that "water" means the wet stuff H2O as coming from a lake, river or the sea. But the figure of speech "he got into hot water" means he "got into trouble" and it has NOTHING TO DO WITH WATER! Do you have wisdom or not?

There are only two choices:

(1.) You either have the Seal of God in your forehead, in which case Satan can't touch you.

(2.) Or, you have the Seal of Satan in your forehead, in which case you'll do his bidding and worship him.

Here's something else to consider. If you don't know something then you don't know that you don't know it! 

That's a definition of deception.

In other words, if you are deceived then you are unaware that you are deceived. You believe a lie and stories to be truth. So, if you're running around looking for Satan's mark to be a tattoo or stamp or some microchip or a UPC code, then guess what? He's already got you captive. You already have the "mark of the beast" in your forehead and you don't know it! Wisdom has completely escaped you! ("That ought to make me some new friends", he said facetiously as he went to the next verse.)

Rev. 13:17 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.

In other words, if you are not a member of "the party", the NWO and his Congregation, you'll have much difficulty in commerce. 

So as a physical example: How did those who were not members of the Nazi party make out in Hitler's Germany?

But, as a spiritual example and it is what's spiritual that is important throughout eternity: Read this Live Link to->> What did Jesus tell the folks from Laodicia to buy and sell?

Once Satan arrives here in person, claiming he is God, you will no longer be able to find gold "spiritual gold" (The Word of God, i.e. a accurate version of the Bible), that has been purified in the fiery furnace, much less buy it.

Do you remember how Satan altered scripture to seduce Eve in the "Garden of Eden"? Well it is already being altered and he isn't even here, in person yet!  Right now his Kenite descendants are working on his revised version of scripture with only his spiritual influence to guide them!

 Oh, you'll be able to buy and sell bibles, but the accurate "Word of God"; that will be a thing of the past!  Tell ye your children of it! Let your children tell their children! And their children another generation!

Live Link to- The famine is coming

[18] 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.

And have you looked up 666 in Strong's?

chi xi stigma, khee xee stig'-ma, Greek 5516; the twenty-second, fourteenth and an obsolete letter (Greek 4742 (stigma) as a cross) of the Greek alphabet (intermediate between the fifth and sixth), used as numbers; denoting respectively six hundred, sixty and six; six hundred sixty-six as a numeral :- six hundred threescore and six.

What is a stigma? It is as Strong's defines it "(figurative) scar of service" which is precisely as Webster has it  "a mark of shame or discredit". So, do you carry his "stigma"? Are you stigmatized with the traditions of men? Do have the mark of the beast "in" your forehead where the brain resides?

One last comment. Are you familiar with the Song of Moses which we've already mentioned several times is sung by the overcomers in Rev. 15, which we will soon study. If you read Ezek. 28 you'll discover that Satan is called the king of Tyrus, which in Hebrew means "rock". How many different ways must we be told, how many vivid PICTURES must we be shown until we understand that there are two lambs, two Jesus Christs, yes there are two rocks.

Deut. 32:31
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

So the question is: If you are not familiar with the Song of Moses, then how are you going to know it to sing it? Huh? You won't, because you wouldn't know one pebble from another. So you'll be counted out! Christ will say as it is written "Get away from me, I never knew you."

Live Link to-666
Live Link to- Lets take a look at Cain and his children throughout the scriptures.
Live Link to- "The Song of Moses"

 In Revelation chapter 14 we get to see what is happening on earth when Jesus Christ returns. Good old John is still in heaven and once again he looks on.

Rev. 14:1

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.

The qualifier in this verse, "having His and His Father's name (as the texts read) written in their foreheads", lets us know that these are the same 144,000.

Let's review from chapter 7:

Rev. 7:2
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, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. [4] 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.

Rev. 14:2 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:

[3] 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.

Yes, they made a joyful noise before the LORD.  (We'll document that it was the Song of Moses when we get to chapter 15.)

Please notice that these are only the 144,000, redeemed from the earth, redeemed from this earth age, singing at this time and not God's elect.  God's elect were chosen before the foundation of the world, before this earth age. Of course the 144,000 were redeemed from the earth by the Blood of the Lamb but it was His elect that help to seal them.

[4] 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.

Virgins? They're virgins? Do you think there's 144,000 virgins left in this society?

Flesh, flesh, flesh, flesh. Our minds seem to always go there first, don't they? But we know this doesn't mean they never had sex. These folks were not "spiritually seduced" by Satan and his angels into believing the Great Lie! Which was what? That the one sitting in the temple was Jesus Christ as Paul so warned in 2 Thes. 2. Remember Satan deceives the whole world with his miracles and his great and prosperous "Peace on Earth" society, which means they all got screwed!

[5] And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

You can look up the word "guile" if you so desire, but this verse pretty much speaks for itself.

[6] 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,

The Word of God is eternal, it is forever. And yes, there will be preaching and teaching during the Millennium. It is also documented in the closing chapters of Ezekiel. Begin with chapter 44 and read on.

[7] 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.

The sand has run out of the hour glass. It is time to pay up! There will be judgment when Christ returns, both good and bad, so give glory and honor and reverence to God. We will read of some of this judgment in this chapter.

[8] 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.

And if you know the history of that first great city, Babylon, founded by the "seed" (offspring  of the serpent), who was Cain sent forth into the land of Nod, who is also known as Sargon the Magnificent in secular history, then you know how perverse and idolatrous the first world empire was at the beginning. So shall it be at the end.

Do you recall in Daniel chapter 2 the image that Nebuchadnezzar saw, with Babylon as the first "one world political system", the head of gold? Well, the last "one world political system", is the "beast" we just studied in Rev. 13:1, the one with the 10 "crowns", i.e. kings, remember? It is the same as the fourth kingdom of iron in Nebuchadnezzar's image, the one with the 10 "toes" identified as "kings" in verse 44 of Dan. 2, and it is smashed by Jesus Christ at his return. Then the angel of Rev. 14:8 will say "Babylon is fallen, is fallen."

Isn't it amazing how we've seen all of this before in the Word of God?  The scripture so rings true as it is recorded in Eccles. 1:9 "... there is no new thing under the sun."  

Here's the account in Daniel:

Daniel 2:40
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.

[42] 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.

[43] 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.

[44] 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.

[9] 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,

[10] 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:

Now I don't know about you, but I sometimes have difficulty with the way they spoke in 1611 England. The revisers help a little bit, but my brain isn't so formal and it has to put verses like these into words I can better relate to:

"And the 3rd angel followed the other 2 angels and said loud enough so everyone could hear him, 'If anyone participates with Satan's activities in any way shape or form, he's really going to 'get it' from our Father according to His Word, who will give it to him with the fire and brimstone paddle, right in front of everyone in total anguishing humiliation!"

Got it? Because if you want to make it more difficult than that, then you don't understand the simplicity of what is being said.

And by the way, the "cup of His indignation" is the same cup that Jesus desired could pass from Him in the garden. It was the cup of wrath to be poured out, not a cup of fear. Christ was never afraid to pay the price! He came for that express purpose.

11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Anyway, here's verse 11 with some updated figures of speech:

"The aftermath of their punishment will reach to high heaven and they are going work their butts off (during the whole period of the Millennium.)"

Rev. 20:12
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.

Judged according to their works!

IF you don't have a Companion Bible you can Download a Companion Bible free at: http://www.companionbiblecondensed.com/  When you open site click unto and download one book at a time unto your disk or hard drive.
and the appendix at: http://www.markfoster.net/rn/companion_bible_appendices.pdf

Rev. 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Rev. 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Again, if you are not familiar with the Greek words translated "dead" in the New Testament (see appendix 139 in the Companion Bible), then just read "those" for "the dead", i.e. "Blessed are those which die in the Lord from henceforth".

Why? Yea, saith the spirit, they get to rest during the Millennium, the day of rest, instead of working their butts off day and night while awaiting the great white throne judgment and the hope of the second resurrection! So you see, your works do follow you, don't they?

It's the Day of the Lord, the first day of Millennium here on earth. Jesus Christ has returned to reap the harvest of that good seed which He has sown (Mat. 13) and to exercise judgment and pour out "the cup of wrath" on the wicked.

In the first few verses of this chapter 14 we saw the "Happy Time" of the Day of the Lord when the overcomers were singing and the heavenly orchestra was playing and the saints were with Jesus on Mount Zion.

Now, in the remaining verses of this chapter 14 we are going to SEE a very graphic PICTURE of what the "No-So-Happy Time" looks like for those who are not standing on Mount Zion. 

We continue with John's description:

Rev. 14:14
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.

Jesus Christ returns with a Golden Crown upon His head, for He returns as King of kings and Lord of lords. No longer does He have a crown of thorns, a crown of humiliation on His head. And now it's harvest time and He will do the reaping and the threshing.

[15] 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.

The Father knows and determines the exact times, for no man knows precisely. Now here comes word from a messenger who was in the temple, where He sits, and the word is "The time has come", "The harvest of the earth is ripe", which simply means it's judgment time!

[16] And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

[17] And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

Here comes another messenger out from the temple he also has a sharp sickle to do some reaping. But...

[18] 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.

Uh oh! Here comes an angel from the "altar" this time to give instructions to the one with the sharp sickle! You remember what comes from the altar, don't you? Fire! Remember what we read in our last study in Rev. 14:10 "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:" Well, here it comes!

But it would seem that there's somewhat of a problem here. The problem is that you don't harvest "grapes" with a sickle! It gets real messy!

[19] 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.

[20] 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.

Yes, God is going to "Put the Squeeze on Them" for their wickedness is great.

What does it mean "without the city? Without or outside the city simply means the wrath of God is not poured out on His children who love Him, because do you remember where they are?  They are with Him on Mount Zion, which is where John saw Jesus standing in verse 1, which is "within in the city".

Is all this something brand new that we are reading in the Book of Revelation? Hardly. Remember we have said repeatedly that if you are familiar with the Word of God then by the time you get to the Book of the Revelation you'll have seen and read it all before?

Well, the prophet Joel told us EXACTLY the same thing about the judgment we just read of on the Day of the Lord.  Have you read it? 

Let's do it now.

Joel 3:12-15
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.

Joel writes the words of the Lord who says "Wake Up" for I will bring Judgment to the Valley of Decision, to those heathen "round about", i.e. "without the city" as we just read in Rev. 14:20.

[13] 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.

There's the same sickle of Revelation! And it's the harvest time! Thrust it in and cast those wicked grapes into the winepress!

Here's the definition of "fats" word for word from Strong's Concordance:

yeqeb, yeh'-keb, Hebrew 3342; from an unused root meaning to excavate; a trough (as dug out); specifically a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into which the juice drains; or the upper, in which the grapes are crushed) :- fats, presses, press-fat, wine (-press).

There will be so much juice draining from this press it will produce a river as high as a horse's bridle and farther than the eye can see! Squish! SEE THE PICTURE!

And when does all this occur? Joel tells us!

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Oh, the Day of the Lord! Is God's Word consistent and accurate from beginning to end or what?

And when the "multitudes, multitudes" are squeezed in the winepress (figuratively of course) there will be more than a few drops of blood (figuratively of course). There will be river of blood! Yeeccchhh! I think I'd rather be standing on Mount Zion.

By the way, here's the definition of "blood" used in the last verse of Revelation 14:

haima, hah'ee-mah, Greek 129; of uncertain derivative; blood, literal (of men or animals), figurative (the juice of grapes) or special (the atoning blood of Christ); by implication bloodshed, also kindred :- blood.

So here's a question. Have you ever read the Book of Joel, whose name means "Yah is God"? Has your pastor or minister ever taught it to you? All Christians should know it thoroughly. Peter knew it and because he did, he KNEW what was happening on that first Pentecost Day when he stood up and quoted directly from it. Joel describes the locusts of the locust army we read about in Revelation chapter 9. And it contains much information about the Day of the Lord and the judgment which we just read of.

As a final thought, in the next chapter of Revelation, chapter 15, we will see the overcomers singing the Song of Moses, which is the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy (Deut. 31:30 And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.)

You see, we know who the true vine is. Jesus said in John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." But just as their rock is not our Rock, their vine is not our Vine:

Deut. 32:32-43
For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

And they are going to get their grapes smashed! Ouch!

[33] Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.

Their "truth" comes from the dragon himself, that old serpent, Satan! They'll also get squashed!

[34] Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? [35] To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

Now we are going to see what is happening from the vantage point of heaven at that same time as in the previous study. 

So, heeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeee'ssss Johnny!

Rev. 15:1
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

[2] 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.

[3] And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

And what is the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb? The "Ode of Moses" or "The Ballad of Moses the Servant of God" is the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, which sums up the plan of salvation, which draws from the entire Word of God, which is the Word of the Lamb, which is His Song.

It is, as Dr. Bullinger notes in the Companion Bible (Deut. 31:30), the key to the apocalypse of Rev. 15:3.

Why?

Because it tells of His greatness and of the proclamation of His Word and it tells the story of the plan of God, the plan of the Rock of our Salvation for His people. It tells of those who would claim to be God's chosen people as taught in these latter times by the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, but whose rock is not our Rock for they are a perverse and crooked generation, and their vine is not of the true Vine.

It tells of how dearly and lovingly our Father brought forth and nourished and protected His people, giving them of the fattest portions and blessings of the earth and how after all that, they turned their backs and whored after other gods, provoking our Father to jealousy. It tells of how His people would become "lo ammi", which is to say "not my people" for period of time.

It tells of how He would scatter His people (the Christian Nations of Western Europe and the Americas, in this 21st. century) abroad and they would lose their identity, no longer calling themselves of the House of Israel and in fact calling themselves gentiles. It tells of how God would allow the "teeth of beasts" and the "poison of serpents" to come upon them to chastise them, and yet through all of this our loving Father would not forsake them.

Finally it tells how in the end, in the last days, that God would render vengeance to His enemies and to the enemies of His people, that they would know that He and He alone is Sovereign, and that there is no other Rock but Him. 

So here is a question of paramount importance. When is the last time you heard the Song of Moses, the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, taught in your church, or even read for that matter? Of course many churches teach that you don't need to know the Book of Revelation because you're going to fly on out of here before all those events occur. Therefore they never read the 15th chapter of Revelation and are completely unaware that the overcomers will be singing the Song of Moses. I guess their names won't be printed among the choir members in the program directory. They will be elsewhere getting squeezed in the winepress.

So it would serve us well before we finish this 15 chapter of Revelation to review the Song of Moses. The last verse in Deut. 31 gives us the identity of this song.

But just let the good times cease or calamity befall them and they turn quickly and say "Oh God, please help us!"

So it would seem that when the sun is always shining that God's people soon take it for granted and cease to appreciate its warmth and kindness, until a violent storm comes along and destroys their crop and takes their roof off.

Then hopefully they will return to the Rock of their salvation at which point the storm was truly a blessing.

We are studying the 15th chapter of the Book of Revelation, and in verse 3 we saw that the overcomers of the beast and his image (his image is that he is Jesus), and his beast system (the one world political system), were singing the Song of Moses, the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy.

Now since "momma didn't raise no fools" we figured it would be a "wise 'ting" to know the words of the song before we had to sing them or we just might be humming a different tune. Know what I mean?

We had just read how that our Father had richly blessed His children. You might even say that He spoiled them. And guess what?  They got fat and lazy and began to think their riches were an entitlement and that the "good times" would never end, and they forgot God and sought after other gods.

That didn't make our Father too happy with them, nor does He like it today.

"So not only will I stop answering their prayers", our Father says, "but I will allow the kenites to come in and afflict them, and bind them into captivity until the end of this age!"

Let us continue now with Song of Moses, the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy, which those "who have gotten the victory over the beast" are singing in Revelation 15:3.

In verse 35 the Lord said "To Me belongeth vengeance" and "the day of their calamity is at hand".

Having now made His point as to "the worthless one", the Lord continues:

Is that not what we are now reading about in Rev. 15, about the Day of Vengeance?

So what is the conclusion of the matter?

How appropriate it is that this Song of Moses will be sung on that day of victory.

Let us recap why:

"Because it tells of His greatness and of the proclamation of His Word and it tells the story of the plan of God, the plan of the Rock of our Salvation for His people. It tells of those who would claim to be God's chosen people as taught in these latter times by the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia, but whose rock is not our Rock for they are a perverse and crooked generation, and their vine is not of the true Vine.

It tells of how dearly and lovingly our Father brought forth and nourished and protected His people, giving them of the fattest portions and blessings of the earth and how after all that, they turned their backs and whored after other gods, provoking our Father to jealousy. It tells of how His people would become "lo ammi", which is to say "not my people" for period of time.

It tells of how He would scatter His people abroad and they would lose their identity, no longer calling themselves of the House of Israel and in fact calling themselves gentiles. It tells of how God would allow the "teeth of beasts" and the "poison of serpents" to come upon them to chastise them, and yet through all of this our loving Father would not forsake them.

Finally it tells how in the end, in the last days, that God would render vengeance to His enemies and to the enemies of His people, that they would know that He and He alone is Sovereign, and that there is no other rock but Him. It is that Day of Vengeance, the pouring out of those 7 Last Plagues".

The Song of Moses is ended in verse 43.

 We return now to the 15th chapter of Revelation.

Rev. 15:3
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

[4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

"GREAT AND MARVELOUS ARE THY WORKS,
O LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY;
RIGHTEOUS AND TRUE ARE THY WAYS,
THOU KING OF THE NATIONS.
WHO WILL NOT FEAR, O LORD, AND GLORIFY THY NAME?
FOR THOU ALONE ART HOLY;
FOR ALL NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE THEE,
FOR THY RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED." N.A.S.

There are 8 lines to the Song of Lamb. 8 in Biblical numerics is the number of "new beginnings" and "resurrection" (see appendix 10 in the Companion Bible). And so it is that this song is sung on the 1st day of a "new era", the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ and His "zadok", by those who have just been "resurrected" to both their spiritual bodies and eternal life.

[5] And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

[6] 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.

[7] And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

[8] 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.

Let us all remember that as we see His wrath poured out in chapter 16 of Revelation.

Rev. 16:1
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.

[2] 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.

We have documented many times what the "mark of the beast" is. It is deception, "the seal of Satan", the lack of the "seal of God", His Word, in your mind. 

But many have asked "What is the image of the beast"? Some have suggested that his "image" is the Picture on the screens of TV's and Computers as he holds services and broadcasts to the world. And that will happen. But, no, such is his picture and not his image. In fact it will be the "picture" of his "image". Why?

Because the "Image of the Beast" is that which Satan "imagines" himself to be, which is Jesus Christ. In other words the Beast, Satan, "sets himself up" as Jesus Christ and presents that "Image" to the world. It is a deception, a mirage, a smokescreen! It is a mere image! It is his IMAGE and NOT REALITY! And he causes the deceived people of the world to worship his "Imaginary Christ", making them believing that he is Christ, when in fact he is really "the Beast".

Note: Most politicians try to create an image of themselves to the public. Many of them whom the public perceive as great guys and gals, all for the good of the people, are really a bunch of lowlifes. Test their fruit, don't believe their image!

  Here the 1st Trump and the 1st Vial:

Rev. 8:7
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.

Rev. 16:2 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.

The Vials then are simply the effect of what the events of the 7 Trumpets will have on those who (in the end) had the mark of the beast and "are worshipping" (as the Companion Bible documents) his image, which we just explained. 

Actually, the past tense in verse 2 reveals the fact that they already have the mark of beast, i.e. they are already deceived with "apple and snake stories" and "rapture fly-away tales" and the rest of the traditions of men, and they WILL BE seduced by the spurious messiah when he is cast out of heaven in Rev. 12:7-9. 

They have no idea that there are two Jesus Christs. Mention that to them and they look at you like you're nuts. They think Satan comes to earth as some bad dude who will be going around killing people after they're gone, in some sort of RAPTURE!!! But they are already gone, gone from the reality of His Word and gone from common sense.

And we have already noted that the wrath of God is not directed, and will NOT BE POURED OUT on HIS CHILDREN, who love, have studied "His Word" (and THEREFORE; HAVE THE SEAL OF GOD IN THEIR MINDS). 

So when the "fire" from the altar, the truth of God, is cast upon the earth, it warms the heart of His "ministers of fire" (Heb. 1:7), His children, but it infuriates and scorches and consumes "stubble".  You can witness this yourself on TV whenever the liberal left, gods and goddesses are confronted with "facts" and "substance" by those who are "right", they become infuriated and usually resort to name calling.       It's a hoot to watch!

So whereas when we see the verses depicting the Trumpets aligned with the vials, they will say "the third part" was "killed" (spiritually that is, not physically killed), while the vials will be all inclusive for they concern only those who worship Satan as Jesus AND do not make it before the return of Christ, i.e. they do not repent and will be placed in the "winepress of His wrath" when He returns and they will go through Millennium, in disciplinary school, learning once and for all  how to tell the difference between what is holy (Jesus) and what is propane (Satan). Hopefully, after that disciplinary school, they will still be saved, BY THEIR WORKS AT THE CLOSE OF THE MILLENNIUM, and they will also be awarded eternal life!

One more important point. You will notice that with the rest of the Trumpets and Vials, as they Sound and Pour respectively, that there is an exact parallel in terminology in both, for they are exactly the same. Only the Vials are a "close up" of His wrath upon those who didn't make it, at His return! upon those who worshiped the image of the beast!

Keep it simple. There's nothing complicated here at all!

Rev. 8:8
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;

Rev. 16:3 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.

Now notice in 16:3 that it is "every living soul died". Again it is "everyone in Rev. 16:3 meaning it is every living person who worships the image of the beast. 

Rev. 8:10
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;

Rev. 16:4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

[5] And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

[6] For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

Matthew 23:31-36
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

[32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

[33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

[34] Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

[35] That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Christ concludes His address to the Kenites with the warning of wrath.

Mat. 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

Rev. 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

Rev. 8:12
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.

Rev. 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

Matthew 13:6
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Mark 4:6
But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Rev. 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Rev. 11:5
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

Rev. 9:1-2
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. [2] 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.

Rev. 16:10 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,

[10] ... and they gnawed their tongues for pain, [11] And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Next we will see that the 6th and 7th Vials exactly parallel the 6th and 7th Trumps. And you know what? When we are finished with the Vials you will be able look back upon your studies and SEE that the false messiah, Satan himself, is present in the 6th Seal, the 6th Trump, and 6th Vial, and he too gets the "Wreath of God!

"666" Amazing isn't it!

The Word of God is perfect.

Now we'll conclude our study of the 7 Vials containing the wrath of God, which is poured out "upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image". We have seen that the Vials are simply another view of the 7 Trumps, focusing on the "recipients of the wrath" and not the children of God who have no part in it other than to witness it.

Rev. 9:14
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Rev. 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.

It is the great river Euphrates upon which Babylon sits, where resides the king of Babylon, who you will recall from the Book of Daniel is a "type" representing Satan. 

Remember we learned in chapter 12 of Revelation that Satan and his angels are now "bound", i.e. restrain, by Michael and his angels. But Satan and his angels will soon be "loosed" and cast to this earth. It happens at the 6th Trump and the 6th Vial and it is "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth".

So the event of the 6th Trump and 6th Vial is the "un-bounding", the "loosing", the casting out of Satan and his angels upon the earth. It is the event of Rev. 12:7-9.

Who then are the "kings of the east" in verse 16:12? They are simply the kings who reign with Satan during the hour of temptation, when he is cast out. Let's look at the Hebrew definition of "Euphrates" in Strong's Concordance to gain more insight.

Rev. 17:12-14
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. [13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. [14] 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.

Rev. 16:13 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.

[14] 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.

[15] (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.)

Now think about it. The whole world will be worshipping the false messiah and will think that Jesus is ALREADY HERE! (They're in the dark all right!) So obviously they won't be looking for Him and they won't be expecting Him! 

All of a sudden at the 7th Trump, SURPRISE! They will all be caught with their pants down getting seduced by their lover, Satan! But don't you be caught. Keep
your gospel armour on!

Also, there's nothing new about this statement describing the surprise of Christ's return to the unsuspecting. Peter, in 2 Pet. 3:10, and Paul, in 1 Thes. 5, both told us that Christ's return will come like a thief in the night to those who aren't watching for Him. Again, why won't they be expecting Him? They will think Jesus has already returned and it's heaven on earth, peace and safety, all is well.

Rev. 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Do you recall in chapter 11 where Satan's angels are gathered when they are slain? In the temple in Jerusalem (OR IS THAT PLACE IN YOUR HEART) We talked of this earlier!

Rev. 10:7
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 hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Rev. 16:17 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.

1 Cor. 15:51-52
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] 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.

Ok, the 7th Vial has been poured out, which means the 7th Trump has sounded. What else do we see?

Rev. 11:19
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Here's more of the 7th Vial:

Rev. 16:18 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.

Rev. 16:19 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.

What else do we learn from the 7th Vial?

Rev. 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Rev. 11:15
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.

It's all over, my Christian friend!

Rev. 16:21 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.

Editors note: Look up the weight, in pounds, of a talent on your computer. Can you picture the amount of damage 130 pound hail stones falling from the sky, will do?

Leapin' Lizards!

Please keep in mind as you read these accounts in Revelation that our Lord took John spiritually into the future (this is prophecy) and many of these events that he describes haven't happened as yet in real time even though John has seen them. 

We will now see one of those 7 angels who poured out the vials come and give us a "close up" view of the judgment of the "Great Whore". Maybe we should update the terminology a little and call her the "Great Slut" because the Holy Spirit wants us to get a real good PICTURE of exactly how He looks upon the false religious system that spews forth from of our churches, that great city where the "son of perdition" will sit claiming that he is God (2 Thes. 2).  Also, be it known that our Father deals in reality, so if the terminology used here is offensive then one can always go to a church where they only teach nice things like cute little bunny rabbits and Ishtar eggs, real Biblical gems!!!

Now, if you have read all of God's Word, then you are already familiar with "whores" and "harlots" and how their actions are used to describe "idolatry".

You see, idolatry is a far greater sin than being a whore, for the latter is of the flesh but the former is of the spirit. And while most whores know they are "whoring around" most idolaters of religion think they serve God, yet they violate the very 1st Commandment of God.

For those, however, who are not familiar with God's Word, for perhaps they are just beginning to study His Word, then it would serve them well, if they wish to understand this great chapter 17 of Revelation, to first read and understand the Book of Hosea in the Old Testament. Hosea means "salvation" which is what the Book of Hosea is about! That's right, the book titled "Salvation" is in the Old Testament. Then perhaps they will SEE how our Father feels about and looks upon "idolatry"/false religion. As the apostle Paul documents in 2 Thes. 2:3, there's a Great Apostasy about to be born and this Great Whore in Rev. 17 will be its mother and give it birth.

Hosea 1:2
The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.

Live Link to->>> Hosea

Hosea 2:2
Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

[3] Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

[4] And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.

[5] For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge...

Rev. 17:1
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 thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

By the way, here's Strong's definition of "whore". It is from where we get the English word "porno".

porne, por'-nay, Greek 4204; feminine of Greek 4205 (pornos); a strumpet; figurative an idolater :- harlot, whore.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

Rev. 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Rev. 11:8
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.

Rev. 17:4 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:

Ooooh! Did you see what was in that cup? I don't even want to describe it! Yeeeech!

You know what? We've seen this "golden cup" before. Not only that we've read of the "earth being made drunk with her wine", too! Have you read the entire Bible! Imagine how little we'd know if just ran around with half the book, like just the New Testament, and said "Just believe, little ones, and you'll be safe. Why don't you know, you're going to fly away into a place of safety (the ushers will now pass the collection plate as we listen to the beautiful special music, now turn to song #666)."

Jeremiah 51:6
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 the LORD'S vengeance; He will render unto her a recompence.

[7] Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Again, "confusion" is what Babylon means. Here's Strong's definition of Babylon:

Babel, baw-bel', Hebrew 894; from Hebrew 1101 (balal); confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire :- Babel, Babylon. 

Live Link to->>> Mystery Babylon

Rev. 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

MYSTERY, BABYLON, MOTHER OF WHORES, ABOMINATIONS!

Next we'll document the simplicity of the meaning of this name written upon the woman's forehead!

Have you ever read the book "Sargon the Magnificent" by Mrs. Sidney Bristowe?  It is a remarkable work revealing and tracing Cain in secular history as Sargon of Akkad. It begins with his ousting from the presence of God and his journey into the land of Nod, Sumer, and the founding of Babylon from whence originates the "golden cup" full of abominations. He is reported to have lived 730 years and founded many religions of the earth in his travels including sun worship, dragon worship, etc.,etc.)

So, while the majority of Christianity today teaches that Jesus Christ can return at any moment, both Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul WARNED about being deceived concerning His return. Jesus said repeatedly that many would come claiming to represent Him, i.e. as Christian ministers, and would deceive MANY, the multitudes, not just a few! Take a look at what the majority of our Christian churches teach concerning our gathering back to Christ, then read what Paul says in 2 Thes. 2. 

Here it is:

2 Thes. 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

The subject is the 7th Trump, the return of Christ, and our gathering back to Him.

2 Thes. 2:3
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;

[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Satan will be revealed as Jesus Christ! It is a mystery to most. Hang on a few verses!

[5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Paul says "Don't you remember I told you all of this?"

[6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

"You know what Satan's status is now."

[7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

What is this "mystery"? Let's look up the Greek word in Strong's:

musterion, moos-tay'-ree-on, Greek 3466; from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) :- mystery.

The subject being discussed is when will the "man of sin" be revealed? The answer is when Michael let's him go in Rev. 12:7-9. Michael is holding him back! 

Here's verse 7 from the Living Bible translation:

2 Thes. 2:7 As for the work this man of rebellion and hell will do when he comes, it is already going on, but he himself will not come until the one who is holding him back steps out of the way. (Living Bible)

Back to the KJV and continuing in 2 Thes.:

2 Thes. 2:8 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:

[9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

[10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

[11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Rev. 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Here's the link again, PLEASE READ IT!
Live Link to- Mystery Babylon

We know what every word in this verse means:

Forehead = Brain location
Mystery is "musterion" = Hidden Religion
Babylon = Confusion
Mother = One who gives birth, brings forth
Harlots & Whores (same Greek word) = Idolaters
Abominations = Idolatries
Earth = World

Rev. 17:6 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.

Note: Did you know that our Father chose Jerusalem to become the Headquarters of the Universe? You can read of it in Ezekiel 16 where He "took to wife" that location, and in Rev. 21 we see the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven to that location. Is it any wonder that Satan has so attacked this great city and has chosen it for his headquarters when he comes here with an "in your face" attitude?

Rev. 11:7
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

[8] 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.

[10] 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.

Rev. 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

[8] The beast that thou sawest 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 in verse 8 we also read for the "umpteenth time" that if you are not one of God's elect, if your name is not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, then you are going to love this beast! (For a further explanation of "from the foundation of the world" as also spoken of by the apostle Paul, visit Ephesians here on this site.

Rev. 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

[10] And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

[11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Now, verse 11 makes it really simple. Again, what is the subject? We are talking about the beast that was and is not. The beast is who? Satan! In as much as he will also have an 8th role at the end of the Millennium, he is of the seven, ALL SEVEN, because he was #1-5 and is now #6 and shall be #7, i.e. he is all seven kings. So just as the 8th is of the 7, the 7th is of the 6, and the 6th is of the 5. The 7 kings are the same king, Satan, in series of reigns not 7 contemporary kings.

[12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

[14] 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.

Rev. 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

[16] And the ten horns which thou sawest 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.

[17] For God hath 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.

[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Next we will get an even closer view of the Great Fall of the Great Babylon of the end times. It is most fascinating indeed!

In chapter 17 we learned that the great whore who "sitteth upon many waters (peoples of the world)", is not a woman at all, but is in fact that Great City, (Mystery Babylon) which will reign over the kings of the earth, the city where the beast, Satan, sits atop the one world political and religious systems, the city in which the son of perdition sits in the temple and claims he is Jesus Christ. The woman is that great city, Jerusalem, where also our Lord was crucified.

Rev. 17:18
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

And so we see and understand why people are confused! They believe their religion, their church, is right and holy and pure and good! They cannot see that they have already been led astray from the TRUTH by the traditions of men, perpetuated by Biblically illiterate pastors and ministers, though many are well meaning, who follow the doctrines of their church and NOT "THE BIBLE" , "HI SWORD", which means they lead our people astray from the God's Word and let them wander the hills of confusion!

Is something new? 

Not a chance! It's been going on since ancient Babylon who "hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad (Jeremiah 51:7)."

1 Cor. 10:11
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

It will not be "Jesus in Jerusalem" when the false-christ arrives. It will be "Satan in Babylon"!

Satan is coming as Jesus Christ and the whole world will believe him! It is that simple, but the world doesn't see it. The waters (people, even church attending pro-claiming Christians) are confused because they have sipped from the filthy, muddy, golden cup of Babylon. And if they don't wake up they will get to share the whore's name, which is the same as the beast's mark!  Why? Because they'll be a little HARLOT!

You remember the "Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne?  Well, you'll get to wear (not literally, of course) the "Scarlet Number" by Satan the Beast, which is "666" !

Jeremiah 50:6
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

Let's begin.

Rev. 18:1
And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

Here are the two words "abundance" and "delicacies" from Strong's.

abundance
dunamis, doo'-nam-is, Greek 1411; from Greek 1410 (dunamai); force (literal or figurative); specially miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) :- ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, might (wonderful) work.

delicacies
strenos, stray'-nos, Greek 4764; akin to Greek 4731 (stereos); a "straining", "strenuousness" or "strength", i.e. (figurative) luxury (voluptuousness) :- delicacy.

[4] And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Jeremiah 51:6
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 the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.

[7] Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

[5] For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

[6] Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

[7] How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

And she claims she's a Queen!  She says she is not a widow, which means she has a HUSBAND (she doesn't even know he's Satan!). Did she wait until the great wedding feast of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to wed Him?

[8] 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 judgeth her.

[9] 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,

[10] 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.

[11] And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

[12] The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

[13] And cinnamon, and odours, 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.

Live Link to- Ezekiel 28

Live Link to- Lucifer's Flood

Ezekiel 28:2
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:

[3] Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: [4] With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

[5] By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

Written by the hands of Jeremiah and John, are the words from the Lord our God, "Flee out of the midst of Babylon", "Come out of her my people!" Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. The end of all religious confusion has come, for Jesus Christ has returned.

Rev. 18:14
And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

[15] The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

[16] 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!

[17] 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,

You should check out the word "hour" used here. It is translated "season" in 2 Cor. 2:7, "short time" in 1 Thes. 2:17, as well as "hour", both literally and figuratively which can be determined by the context wherein it is used. In this case it means "instantly" or as we say "in an instant" or "just like that".

hora, ho'-rah, Greek 5610; apparently a primary word; an "hour" (literal or figurative):- day, hour, instant, season, × short, [even-] tide, (high) time.

[18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

[19] 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.

[20] Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

[21] 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.

[22] And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

Daniel 3:7
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

We have studied in this Book of Revelation that the beast, Satan, "sets up" his image, i.e. that he is Jesus, and the people who go to church regularly, but are never taught any of the meat of our "Lord's Word" will believe he is God when they will hear the sound of the music and they will sing praises to Satan, the one sitting in the temple claiming to be God.

 (They know not that he is the son of perdition). Yes, they will kneel to and worship Satan, who will appear in the image of Christ.

[23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

pharmakeia, far-mak-i'-ah, Greek 5331; from Greek 5332 (pharmakeus); medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literal or figurative) :- sorcery, witchcraft.

pharmakeus, far-mak-yoos', Greek 5332; from pharmakon (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician :- sorcerer

[24] And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

So next time, before you take a sip, look in the golden cup and see if what's in it is from the "Word of God". Of course you'll have to know what the Word of God says to make that determination, won't you?

vs. 2 The great whore

vs. 4 The four and twenty elders and the four beasts (living beings)

vs. 6 The voice of many waters

vs. 8,14 Fine linen, clean and white

vs. 11 A white horse

vs. 12 "Eyes as a flame of fire"

vs. 15 Sharp sword proceeding from Christ's mouth

vs. 15 the winepress of God's wrath

Therefore the rest of the words and phrases in in this study, such as Lamb, Word of God, Kings of kings and Lord of lords, etc., are to be found previously in God's Word.

Chapter 19 verse 1:

Rev. 19:1
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:

Psalm 104:35
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

[2] For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

[3] And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

[4] And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

[5] And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

[6] 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.

[7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Rev. 19:8 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.

Rev. 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Rev. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

[10] And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

[11] 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 doth judge and make war.

[12] 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.

Yes, He will have many crowns on His head for all the crowns of the earth will have been surrendered to Him.

[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Rev. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

[15] And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

1 Tim. 6:11-16
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

[12] Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

[13] I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

[14] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

[15] Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

[16] Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Christ is coming to make war (Rev. 19:14-15) and to subdue all nations, taking all their "crowns", and placing them all under His rod of correction. We observed Him returning with His armies, who rode upon white horses, and were clothed with fine white linen, meaning their righteous acts.

2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

In any event, when Christ returns to make war at the sound of the 7th Trump, we read that His armies will follow Him. It is at this time that His Kingdom will be ushered in, which is to say that His Millennial reign will begin. This is one statement to which most everyone agrees. But there is something which happens at Christ's return which is a "mystery" to most.

1 Cor. 15:44
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Cor. 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

[52] 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.

Now don't let the phrase "the dead shall be raised incorruptible" cause you to switch subjects in the middle of a sentence. 

The subject is the change of bodies from flesh to spirit. We read in verse 51 that it is ALL who are changed and here in verse 52 Paul breaks it down into two categories. (1) The "dead", who are the "spiritually dead", i.e. the figuratively dead, as in still liable to die the second death (the death of their soul) (see appendix 139 in the Companion Bible regarding the different use of the word nekros translated "dead" in the NT). They too will be elevated, or raised to incorruptible bodies, and (2) we Christians also!

[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

And so there is much confusion in the ranks of Christianity concerning the subject of "resurrection" because of the lack of understanding of the use of the word "nekros" and the failing to understand the simplicity of the "mystery" that Paul explains in 1 Cor. 15.

So we have learned from the apostle Paul that ALL flesh will be changed when Christ returns, and it is at that point to which we have arrived in Rev. 19. 

Here then is the PICTURE of the end of all flesh at the sound of the 7th Trump:

Rev. 19:17
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;

The original texts read "to the great supper of God". The word "supper" used is here is the Greek word "deipnon" which comes from "dapane", dap-an'-ay, Greek #1160; from dapto (to devour); expense (as consuming) :- cost.

[8] That ye 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 of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

[19] 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.

Zech. 14:12
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.

Rev. 19:20 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.

Here's verse 21 to complete the 19th chapter:

Rev. 19:21 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.

Again, I hope you can see that there is nothing new here that we haven't read of before! We are reading the final chapters of the Word of God. We should know all of this before we get to this point. Revelation is simply the uncovering, a final Pictorial Look at the events consummating the end of this age, i.e. it is mostly summary material.

We come now to the 20th chapter of Revelation at which point the 7th Trump has sounded and the true Jesus Christ has returned with great power and glory, bringing with Him His army of saints. Babylon the Great, i.e. the one world political system and the great whore along with Satan's role as the false-christ, i.e. the spurious messiah, has been destroyed forever and ever. And as we learned in our chapter 19, ALL flesh has been "changed" and everyone, both the good and the bad are in their spiritual bodies.

THE MILLENNIUM PRESS
First Edition
      "SATAN IMPRISONED, BEGINS SERVING 1000 YEAR SENTENCE"          John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was present today as Michael came down from heaven and appeared on Satan's doorstep with a warrant from the King of kings for his arrest. Satan has been residing in the temple for the last 5 months (ever since Michael cast him from heaven) where he has been impersonating Jesus Christ and claiming he is the Messiah come. He also is being held responsible for orchestrating the murder of God's two witnesses, a despicable crime, which he has been actually celebrating with his cronies for the last 3 1/2 days. 

Here's John description of the first thing he saw:

Also, we were not able to determine from John's report whether he was close enough to hear what the angel said to Satan, but we believe it was something like "OK chump, the party's over! Let's go!" John did not report that the angel read Satan his rights because having already been judged and sentenced to die, he has none.

John then gives this account of the actual incarceration: 

[3] 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.

Yes, it's fun to imagine how it might happen, but happen it will! We already knew who the dragon and that old serpent was. We also knew from 2 Pet. 3:8 that 1000 years to the Lord is a one day, so that the Day of the Lord is 1000 years.

But the one thing we didn't discuss is "why will Satan be released at the end of the Millennium"? I'm sure you realize if you've studied this Book of Revelation from the beginning with us that Satan is coming to this earth disguised as Jesus Christ (and I'll bet you know that he comes before the true Christ). This final generation then will be tested by the false messiah, right? Those who fail, who do not overcome and who don't partake of the first resurrection, will go through the Millennium and be taught of and with discipline for 1000 years, which is how much time they have to get their act together. After they have been taught there will be another test, a final exam if you will, which they must pass before they can receive their diploma of eternal life. That test is Satan's release once again upon the world, but this time without the political beast and the role of spurious messiah. And no, it is not a second chance because they never came to a full knowledge of the truth in this generation because of the "famine" (Amos 8:11), and as such never had a prayer of a first chance.

Next we will learn what reward comes with being part of the first resurrection.

[4] 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.

Thrones, you know, are where rulers, the ones who wear crowns, i.e. the ones in authority who exercise judgment, sit. 

And there are two groups in this verse who sit upon them.

(1) The first group are the martyrs down through the ages, those who have been beheaded, i.e. killed or executed for the (a) the witness of Jesus, and (b) for the Word of God. It would include the two witnesses also.

(2) The second group are those of this final generation who had the seal of God in their foreheads and who overcame the beast.

Now, did you read the last phrase in verse 4, "and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years"?  What an honor and a privilege! If you ever are in want of some encouragement to continue to fight the good fight, then just refer to Rev. 20:4.  For if you are one of God's elect then you will be part of the first resurrection at His coming, and you will reign with Jesus Christ for the entire 1000 years during the Millennium.

[5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

But if you are not part of the first resurrection then you are part of "the remainder" who are called "the dead" and you must wait until the end of the Millennium. You will then be tested that short season by Satan who will be released temporarily, and then you will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment when the books are opened (vs. 12). Only then can you be part of the Second Resurrection and receive eternal life. Until then you are called "dead" because you are still subject to the second death, which is the destruction of your soul in the lake of fire (vs. 14).

 Here is Christ documenting that there are two deaths, one of the flesh, and one of the soul in the lake of fire:

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

And of course to have your soul "destroyed" is to "perish", which is taught in the most quoted verse in God's Word, John 3:16.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

So you'll either receive eternal life at the first or second resurrection, or you'll suffer the second death, i.e. perish in the lake of fire and YOU WILL BE NO MORE!

Let's now go back to Rev. 20:5. Understand that we are now in the Millennium! There are no more flesh people! Everyone has been changed. And John is telling us what's going on! The first death (of the flesh) and the first resurrection (to eternal life) is over! So the "dead" (who are still alive in their spiritual bodies) in the Millennium means those who are "spiritually dead", i.e. still liable to die the second death (the death of their soul). To "live" then is to receive "eternal life". So the "dead" cannot "live" until the thousand years are finished, i.e. none of them can receive the gift of eternal life until judgment day following the Millennium, which is the second resurrection! If you don't quite understand yet, wait until we finish this chapter and it should become clear in your mind regarding the "dead".
 

Rev. 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath 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.

Ezekiel 44:23
And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

[24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

Rev. 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

[25] And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.

We are now going to be taken behind that veil to the End of the Millennium, and we must "transport" our minds to that time with the understanding of those things which have been revealed to us thus far. Remember, everyone is now in an incorruptible, spiritual body. Christ and His zadok have been reigning for the 1000 years during which time Satan has been imprisoned. Everyone now fully understands God's Word and they have been taught the "difference" and how to "discern" between the unclean (Satan's ways) and the clean (God's way). They have all seen many times the video replays of this flesh age and the results of following the unclean path.

Rev. 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

[8] 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.

[9] 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.

[10] 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.

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

[19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Rev. 20:11 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.

[12] 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.

Remember where we are? We are at the end of the Millennium. There are no people in flesh bodies nor are there any souls in the ground. The "dead" referred to here are the spiritually dead who are about to be judged from the books and receive their rewards according to their actions! Even though many of them claimed to be Christians; Their last actions recorded in the books just before the Millennium were to worship the beast and his image! God will pick it up from there.

And so it is more than obvious that these books that are opened are the Books of Works. You see, Almighty God keeps perfect records of all His children's activities?  Thank God for this dispensation of grace and for repentance (provided our repentance was sincere) whereby we can have our "activities", our sins, deleted from the books. Also, remember that those of the first resurrection are not subject to the judgment of the second resurrection and/or the second death. 
We read that in verse 6.

Rev. 13:8
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.

Rev. 20:13 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.

[14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

1 Cor. 15:55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Rev. 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Now we'll learn of the new 3rd. heaven age and the new 3rd. earth age.

Rev. 21:1
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.

[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

[3] 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.

Ezekiel 37:26
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

[27] My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Ezekiel 48:35
It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

Rev. 21:4 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.

[5] 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.

So if it sounds too utopian for the skeptic, or it sounds too good to be true, it isn't. In fact the words of man cannot even begin to describe the beauty and wonder, and yes, even the excitement of all that our Father has planned for His children. Man's words cannot describe it because man's mind cannot imagine it. 

This we know for it also is written and is true and faithful:

1 Cor. 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Rev. 21:6 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.

Our Father tells us if we thirst for Him, (Amos 8:11 ...not a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:), He will provide us with all of the purest water of life that we could ever want.

[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

In the 37th Psalm each of the 22 quatrains, i.e. sets of four lines, begin with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, except that the 4th, 11th, and 19th letters each have a triplet assigned to them, i.e. only three lines, instead of a quatrain.  These three triplet verses occur in perfect order within the 37th Psalm and when taken together, as a separate set, they form an acrostic.

This acrostic will reveal the second death, the ultimate fate of the wicked who sometimes seem to have it made with lots of money, big mansions and fancy cars, beautiful babes, etc., all derived from wicked devices like those we just read of in Revelation, i.e. drug pushing, prostitution, extortion, theft and deceptive business practices such as fixed markets and underhanded commodities trading.

Psalm 37:7
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Psalm 37:20
But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Psalm 37:34
Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Rev. 21:9 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 thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

[10] 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,

We are now in the eternity. The Millennium is over. All that which offends has been consumed away for ever and ever in the lake of fire, to be remembered no more. And our Father has prepared a great and beautiful city which He now brings to earth and places squarely on the spot He picked out to be the headquarters of the universe for all eternity, Jerusalem (read Ezek. 16).

[10] 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,

Hebrews 11:10
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.

Rev. 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Rev. 4:3
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.

     

Rev. 21:12 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:

[13] On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

Ezekiel 48:31-35
And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi. [32] And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan. [33] And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun. [34] At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.

[35] It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

Rev. 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Rev. 21:15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.

[16] And the city lieth 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.

[17] 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.

[18] And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

[19] 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;

[20] 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.

Rev. 21:21 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.

[22] And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. [20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? [21] But he spake of the temple of his body.

Rev. 21:23 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.

[24] 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 honour into it.

It is too bad that the Four Hidden Dynasties, especially those of both religion and education, have brought forth the humanist doctrine that there are no differences between the races. Of course there are and there always has been, and furthermore, there always will be even throughout eternity. But then of course the humanist also teaches that everyone is the end product of the evolution of organic slime.
They are not too bright, are they?

However, if the truth of God's Word were taught, that we are all equally God's children, i.e. created by Him, and loved by Him, then the racial and cultural differences would be looked upon as gifts from God for the purposes of His plan for His children throughout all eternity. "Variety is the spice of life" we say, and yet God is declared a "racist" for instilling differences into His children.

[25] And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

[26] And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

[27] And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

And as it is written, the rest lived happily ever after!

What an incredible source of information this picture Book of Revelation has been to those of us who have willingly taken the time to SEE the PICTURES and then read the simple explanations of the symbols and imagery used by the Holy Spirit to teach us.

We have now come to the 22nd and final chapter of this remarkable book where we continue, since chapter 21, verse 9, to read about the glorious new Holy City of Jerusalem which our Father will bring down out of heaven to this earth, wherein He shall dwell with His children for ever and ever. And since the entire Godhead will now be present on earth, heaven will be here also.  So you see, the earth is our home for ever and ever, for Heaven and Earth shall be as one!

Rev. 22:1
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.

Rev. 22:2 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.

Yes, I can SEE the PICTURE, but what does it mean?

Genesis 3:22
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Rev. 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Well, how about the leaves? Are people going to get sick and need medicine? Imagine after all the times we've discussed the incorruptible body, the spiritual body, which never hurts or pains, that we can come right back with a question like that?

Rev. 22:3 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:

[4] And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.

[5] And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

[6] And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

Rev. 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev. 22:8 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.

[9] Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

[10] And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Of course if you listen to what many preachers and ministers tell their people, who blindly trust in them to show them the truth of God's Word, saying that they don't need to understand the Book of Revelation, then this is how they present Rev. 1:1 "The Secret and Sealed Sayings of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to hide from His servants things which must shortly come to pass;". A sealed revelation? I think not!

Isaiah 29:11
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

[12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

[13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

The answer is given in the last phrase of verse 13. For all they are taught about Him is taught BY THE PRECEPT OF MEN, the traditions of men. They are not taught line by line and chapter by chapter the wonderful words and the wonderful works of God.

Rev. 22:11 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.

Deut. 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Rev. 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

[13] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

[14] 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.

[15] For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Rev. 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Deut. 30:19. Choose one of the following:

        Plan A:  Life and Blessings

        Plan B:  Death and Cursings

Rev. 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine 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.

And remember He also said while addressing those churches that He has something special for those who overcome: Rev. 2:28 "And I will give him the morning star." Jesus is that bright and morning star.

Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth 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:

[19] 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.

[20] He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

[21] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

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