A thief comes when no one is expecting him, like in the middle of the night when it's dark. (Didn't we just read in the last study, at the 5th Trump and 5th Vial, that "his kingdom was full of darkness")? Yes we did.The American Wisdom Series
Presents
Pamphlet 1898 Rev. kc 44-2They will think Jesus has already returned
and it's heaven on earth, peace and safety, all is well.
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.
Let's return to Revelation and see what old frog breath is up to!
Whose the "them" he has gathered? The kings of the earth from verse 14! Where's Armageddon? Wrong! It's not the valley of Megiddo! It is a place "called" in the "Hebrew" language "Meggidown" and it means "rendezvous" or "gathering place of the crowd".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. That's where Satan will gather his troops. That's where Jesus Christ is returning.
So the kings are gathered. Sound the 7th Trump and Pour out the 7th Vial!
When this seventh angel pours out his vial into the "air", the flesh age is over. It is done! This word "air" does not mean the sky. Look it up in Strong's Concordance. It means "to breath unconsciously", breath in and out, to respire, blow.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.
The apostle Paul very eloquently explained this, which seems to be a mystery to most people, and that is the fact that when Christ returns, AT THE LAST TRUMP, and not a moment before like in some secret whisking away of the "goodie, goodie, two shoes", we are all changed into spiritual bodies, the breath of life body, the "air", INSTANTLY.
So when we gather back to Him, as Paul explained in 1 Thes. 4:17, we will meet Him in the "air", i.e. our breath of life body.Again, the word "air" does not mean sky.You must look it up and do your own homework!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.
G109
?????
ae?r
ah-ayr'
From
?????? ae?mi (to breathe unconsciously, that is, respire; by analogy to
blow); “air” (as naturally circumambient): - air. Compare G5594.
G5594
?????
psucho?
psoo'-kho
A
primary verb; to breathe (voluntarily but gently; thus differing on the
one hand from G4154, which denotes properly a forcible respiration; and
on the other from the base of G109, which refers properly to an inanimate
breeze), that is, (by implication of reduction of temperature by evaporation)
to chill (figuratively): - wax cold.
So
much for the Rapture Theory! 1Th 4:17Is
refering to our last earthly breath but it ain't no "Rapture of the Church"
prior to the tribulation. This is the end of the flesh age for everyone
of us.
Here's more of the 7th Trump:
Here's more of the 7th Vial: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.
They are identical, except for there is hail listed in the Trump but not listed in the Vial. Well guess what? The hail is listed separately in the last verse of this chapter 16, for it the last "physical" act of wrath in this flesh age, and will destroy the armies of Hamon-gog in Ezek. 39 and Armageddon, which we just read of. The Word of God is so full of wonders!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.
The Mount of Olives has been split in two and the great city, Jerusalem, has been divided into three parts. The grapes are now squeezed in the winepress of Rev. 15:20!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?
Islands and mountains are symbolic of governments and nations. They're history! They're gone! They belong to Him now! They are all under the "Rod of Iron". This verse is just another way to express this same event of the 7th Trump and 7th Vial. Here's the Trump version:Rev. 16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
It's all over!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.
Oh well! They will have a thousand years to change their attitudes and turn to our Father or their names will simply be blotted out of the books and they will perish with old frog breath in the lake of fire.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.
Leapin' Lizards!
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