Revelation: Verse-by-Verse Commentary

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The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants things which must shortly take place.

Revelation

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Felix Immanuel

Trumpet-Call.com

Contents

Introduction 8

Chronological Order 8

Chapter 1 – The Book from God Himself 12

Author of Revelation 12

The Triune God 13

God the Father 13

Why John was in Patmos? 17

The Lord’s Day 17

Seven Golden Lampstands 19

Key to Understand Revelation 21

Why Steganography in Revelation? 22

Chapter 2 – First Four Churches 24

To the Ministering Spirits 24

Ephesus 26

Doctrine of Nicolaitans 29

Smyrna 31

Pergamos 33

Thyatira 37

Chapter 3: Three Remaining Churches 45

Sardis 45

Philadelphia 47

Key of David 50

Laodiceans 51

Chapter 4 – The Four Living Creatures 56

The 24 Elders 57

Four Living Creatures 58

Chapter 5 – The Sealed Scroll 60

The Sealed Scroll 60

Cherubims 61

Four living Creatures 62

The New Song 63

Chapter 6 – The Four Spirits 65

Spirit of Catholicism 65

Spirit of Crusade 66

Spirit of Reformation 67

Spirit of Carnal Mind 70

Persecution 72

Darkening of Sun, blood Moon and falling of stars 73

Sun darkened 74

Blood Moon 75

Fallen Stars 76

Wrath of God 77

Chapter 7 – First Fruits of Harvest 79

Before the Scattering 79

First Fruits of Feast of Harvest 80

Rejection of the tribe of Dan 81

Feast of Unleavened bread 82

Feast of Harvest (or Weeks) 83

Feast of Tabernacles (or Ingathering) 83

Out of Great Tribulation 85

Chapter 8 – The Seven Trumpets 88

Prayers of Saints 88

Seven Last Trumpets and Plagues 89

Hail and Fire 90

The Burning Mountain 91

Wormwood 93

Third of Sun, Moon and Stars 94

Chapter 9 – Army of 200 million 97

‎Locusts of Apollyon 97

Army of 200 million 103

Army Horses 106

Chapter 10 – Mystery of God 108

‎Sealed Seven Thunders 108

Mystery of God 109

Mystery of God declared to His servants 110

What is this mystery? 110

Trial of Jealousy 111

Chapter 11 – Two Witnesses 114

Jerusalem Temple and Dome of the Rock 114

Identifying the Two Witnesses 115

Lampstands 115

Power of the Two Witnesses 118

Rapture & Jesus Christ’s Second Coming 121

Chapter 12 – Israel, Rome & Christians 126

Israel 126

Rome 127

1260 days 129

War in Heaven 130

Time, times, half a time 131

Christian Persecution 132

Chapter 13 – Caliphites and Beast 133

‎Caliphates 133

Future Beast 137

Chapter 14 – Final Harvest 141

1st Angel: Everlasting Gospel 142

2nd Angel: Babylon is fallen 143

3rd Angel: Wrath of God 144

Final Harvest 146

Chapter 15 – Song of Moses and the Lamb 149

Song of Moses 149

Temple in Heaven Open 150

Chapter 16 – Seven Plagues 152

Seven Plagues 152

Repentance with Mark of the Beast? 158

Noises, Thunderings, Lightnings & Great Earthquake 159

Babylon Remembered 159

Chapter 17 – Mystery Babylon 161

A Desert City 161

Revived Ancient Kingdom 165

War with the Lamb 168

Who is the great city? 169

Babylon? 169

America? 169

Vatican? 169

Jerusalem or Mecca? 170

Chapter 18 – Mecca is fallen 171

Babylon is fallen 171

Rejoicing of Saints 177

Chapter 19 – Marriage of the Lamb 181

Marriage of the Lamb 181

John’s Angelolatry 185

King of Kings and Lord of Lords 186

Judgment of the Beast 187

Chapter 20 – 1000 Year Reign with Christ 189

Satan Bound 189

Christ’s 1000 Year Reign 190

Gog Magog War 191

White Throne Judgment 192

Chapter 21 – New Jerusalem 194

Revelation’s vs Isaiah: What’s New? 194

Christ’s Bride: New Jerusalem 197

How can New Jerusalem have God’s glory? 198

High Wall and Twelve Gates 198

The Measurement 200

Light of the New World 203

Chapter 22 – Christ is Coming Soon 205

Tree of Life 205

Beware of Angelolatry 206

Christ is Coming Soon 207

New Jerusalem is without anything that defiles 208

Bibliography 211

Statement of Faith 212

About the Author 214

Introduction

Revelation is the only book that says we are blessed to read, hear and keep the things that are written, for the time is near.

[_(Rev 1:3) Blessed [is] he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time [is] near.  _]

(Luke 12:56) “Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how [is it] you do not discern this time?

Hence, let us not be like hypocrites without discerning times and seasons. Here we will look into Revelation 1 and understand what it says.

Chronological Order

One of the important aspect to understand Revelation is its chronological order. We will notice the chronological is not as per the chapters only after reading the entire book several times. The entire book of Revelation if for God’s people. The first 11 chapters are speaking about the events happening within the churches and events related to God’s people. The rest of the chapters speaks about events happening in the world and outside the church.

The below tabulation will help you understand the chronological order of Revelation

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|<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Prophecy about the Church |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Prophecy about the World | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Roman Empire; Birth, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ Revelation 12:1-5 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. War in Heaven Revelation 12:6-12 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. John in Patmos; Revelation of God Revelation 1 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. 7 Churches in Asia Revelation 2 & 3 |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Persecution of Jews & Christians Revelation 12:13-17 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Vision of Heaven & Book of Life Revelation 4 & 5 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. 1st Horseman (Spirit of Catholicism) Revelation 6:1,2 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. 2nd Horseman (Spirit of Crusade) Revelation 6:3,4 |<>/2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Beast rises Out of Sea (Caliphites) Revelation 13:1-10 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. 3rd Horseman (Spirit of Reformation) Revelation 6:5,6 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. TODAY | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. 4th Horseman (Spirit of Carnal Mind) Revelation 6:7,8 |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Beast Out of Earth & 666 Revelation 13:11-18 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. 144000, Great Tribulation & Final Harvest Revelation 7 & Revelation 14:1-5 & Revelation 14:8-20 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Redeemed from Great Tribulation Revelation 7:14 & Revelation 15:2 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Plague of  hail, fire and sores Revelation 8:7 & Revelation 16:2 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Sea become blood Revelation 8:8-9 & Revelation 16:3 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Rivers and on the springs of water become blood Revelation 8:10-11,  & Revelation 16:4-7 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Plague on sun, moon and stars Revelation 8:12-13 &  & Revelation 16:8-9 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Torment and Painful disease Revelation 9:1-12 & Revelation 16:10-11 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. 200 million army camped at Armageddon Revelation 9:13-21 & Revelation 16:12-21 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Mystery of God (Abomination of Desolation) Revelation 10 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. The 2 Witnesses Revelation 11:1-12 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Jerusalem’s Repentance Revelation 11:13 |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Mystery Babylon’s Judgement (Mecca) Revelation 17 & 18 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Marriage Supper of Lamb Revelation 19:7-9 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ’s Second Coming Revelation 19:11 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Kingdoms of earth became God’s Kingdoms Revelation 11:15-19 & Revelation 19:15-16 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. The Great Slaughter  Revelation 19:17-21 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. 1000 Year Reign Revelation 20:4 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. Gog and Magog War; Jerusalem Surrounded Revelation 20:8-9 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.   |<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. White Throne Judgement Revelation 20:10-15 | <>. |<>. p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>\2. h2<>{color:#000;}. New Jerusalem; New Heaven and Earth Revelation 21 & 22

Chapter 1 – The Book from God Himself

Author of Revelation

(Rev 1:1-3) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants -- things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified [it] by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed [is] he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time [is] near.

The book of Revelation is the only book in New Testament that was given directly by God Himself through His servant. We are blessed to read, hear and keep those that are written in it. The first few passages clearly explain that God Himself is the author.

(Rev 10:4) Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

Seven thunders are a good example which shows how John was guided to write even each line in the Book of Revelation. Hence, each word in this book is extremely important.

The Triune God

(Rev 1:4-6) John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

John mentions God Himself as the author and writes to whom it is addressed. His first greeting itself is interesting and mentions Trinity: three persons in one God.

Grace to you and peace:

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and 

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

[]God the Father

(Rev 4:8-9) [The] four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, … (Rev 5:7) Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

It is God is the Father who sits on the throne, who is, who was and who is to come.

God the Son

[_(Col 1:18) And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. _]

(Rev 12:5) She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, first born from the dead and ruler of all kings.

Holy Spirit

(Rev 3:1a) “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘ These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:

God having seven Spirits is something new and only found in Revelation.

[_ (1Cor 12:12-13) For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also [is] Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.  _]

(Eph 4:4-6) [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.

Having said that we can see the shadow of what is clearly known today in Revelation is also seen in the law and Old Testament times.

[_(Zech 3:8-9) ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone [are] seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. … (Zech 4:10) For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. … (Rev 5:6) And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. _]

(Exod 25:37) “You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. … (Rev 4:5) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire [were] burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

John then preaches the good news in John 3:16. To Him who loved us (God so loved the world) and washed us from our sins in His own blood (He gave His only begotten Son), and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever (whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life).

(Rev 1:7-8) Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, [the] Beginning and [the] End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

The verse should not be misunderstood as if when Christ is coming in the clouds, every eye even those of the dead will see Him. The verse however confirms Christ’s second coming and every eye, even those of the dead will see Him.

[_(Rev 20:5) But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection. _]

(Rev 20:12-13) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Those who pierced Him are long dead and are part of the second resurrection. When Christ comes in clouds, every eye of those living in this world will see and when He judges from white throne judgment after the second resurrection, every eye, even those of the dead will see Him.

Why John was in Patmos?

(Rev 1:9) I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

John was imprisoned in the island of Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

(Rev 19:10b) For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

We all earnestly desire the gift of prophecy through the Spirit but are we ready to be a testimony of Jesus Christ even in tribulations and have patience in Jesus Christ in our troubles?

The Lord’s Day

(Rev 1:10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send [it] to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

While Sunday is generally understood as Lord’s day among Christians, Bible does not mention this. Hence, Lord’s day is not Sunday. Lord’s day is nothing but the day of the Lord. John was in the Spirit on the day of the Lord. 

[_(1Thess 5:2) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. _]

(2Pet 3:10a) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night

The Lord’s Day or the day of the Lord is speaking about the day He comes again to judge. It comes as a thief in the night which we least expect.

If John was in Lord’s Day, which is yet to come, how can these churches be when they have long vanished?

(Rev 5:6) And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

The seven Spirits of God are not just for the seven churches but for all the earth and for all ages. This why when each of the seven Spirit speaks to the church, it doesn’t say to that particular church but to all churches.

[_He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev 2:7,11,17,29; Rev 3:6,13,22) _]

Seven Golden Lampstands

(Rev 1:12) Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands [One] like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair [were] white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet [were] like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance [was] like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I [am] He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

There is a big difference from the lampstand in the law and the lampstand in revelation.

(Exod 25:31-32, 36-37) “ You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its [ornamental] knobs, and flowers shall be [of one piece.] And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. … Their knobs and their branches [shall be of one piece;] all of it [shall be] one hammered piece of pure gold. You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it.

In the law, only one lampstand of pure gold with seven lamps with three on each side was made. However, in revelation, there are seven lampstands.  Jesus also confirms that each church is an individual lampstand and not branches of a single lampstand.

[_ (Rev 2:5) "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place -- unless you repent. _]

It is the responsibility of the High Priest for the lampstand and the lamp must give light continually.

(Lev 24:2,4) “Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually. … He shall be in charge of the lamps on the pure [gold] lampstand before the LORD continually.

Jesus Christ being the High Priest is responsible for the burning of the lamps in lampstands. This doesn’t go off when the church it was addressed to became no more. Instead it is addressed to all churches that are similar to it. 

(Matt 5:14-16) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all [who are] in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

[_(Rev 4:5) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire [were] burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. _]

We are the light, the Spirit is the fire in the lamp and the lampstand is the church. We give light where the Spirit of God working through us in the church of all generations. The seven churches are not only those seven churches in Asia but also seven types of churches which will exist in all ages.

Key to Understand Revelation

(Rev 1:19) “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

Jesus Christ mentions what to write and explains how the prophecy will unfold.

(Rev 1:20) “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

“Steganography is the practice of concealing a file, message, image, or video within another file, message, image, or video. The word steganography combines the Greek words steganos (στεγανός), meaning “covered, concealed, or protected”, and graphein (γράφειν) meaning “writing”.”

Source: Steganography – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

The last verse in this first chapter explains how God conceals His message with symbols when told to His servants. We see this throughout Scripture. Hence, the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches and the seven stars are the angels of seven churches. 

The book of revelation is written in steganography and to understand it, we need to have a thorough understanding of the entire Scriptures. This is because, the key with which Revelation is locked is the Bible itself.

Why Steganography in Revelation?

Christ doesn’t want you to know if you don’t want to know.

(Matt 13:13-15) “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with [their] eyes and hear with [their] ears, Lest they should understand with [their] hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’

Christ speaks in parables (or Steganography) because seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear and understanding they do not understand. We are not to be like those multitude to which parables are spoken. Hence, only those who are truly His servants will be able to see, hear and understand the book of Revelation. God doesn’t give a book which His servants don’t understand. Blessed are those who reads Revelation and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it. How can we know what God wants us to understand unless we seek to understand what Christ is saying in Revelation? Revelation is the least read book in Christendom.

Chapter 2 – First Four Churches

To the Ministering Spirits

If we read carefully, Christ is not directly speaking to the churches.

(Heb 1:13-14) But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

John is writing what was told to the ministering spirits by Christ to each of the churches. We will be addressing the first four churches namely, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira. The seven lampstands are identified as the seven churches. Please note that the Spirit when saying to each church, actually addresses to “all” churches regarding the reward for those who overcome.

One of the important question is, are these prophecies for ancient seven churches (or) are these for today as well. Based on some of the prophecies, they are definitely very specific to ancient churches. These can also be used for the edification of today’s churches.

But, are these representing today’s and/or future churches as well?

(Rev 3:10,12) “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. … “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.   .

[_(Rev 14:1) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. _]

[_(Rev 9:4) They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. _]

 One of the important clues comes from the reward for the church of Philadelphia, which is a specific blessing given only to the 144000. We also see that the 144000 were living in the days of the blowing of the 5th trumpet which is just before the great battle of 200 million army and the great day of the Lord. Also, the hour of trial upon the whole world had never occurred in the days of these ancient churches and this is yet a future event. Hence, it is possible, God had hidden the real message to the saints using steganography with which Revelation itself is written. Steganography is the practice of concealing a message within another. Hence, it is certainly possible that, by addressing to those ancient churches, God is concealing the target audience who are the seven types of churches throughout the ages. Which is also why the Spirit says to all churches about the reward for overcoming.

The next question is, are these seven churches represents seven ages of churches? It is certainly possible. Without going into much details, if we see the prophecies themselves for the last two churches, it certainly shows as if they are addressed to the future churches. Great tribulation in Rev 3:10 for Church in Philadelphia and the marriage supper in Rev 3:20 for church of the Laodiceans.

Hence, the prophecies for the seven churches refers to the following:

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. Seven ancient churches in Turkey

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. Seven types of churches at any given time

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. Churches in seven ages

Ephesus

(Rev 2:1-7) “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

Below is a tabulation for the above verse which helps to easily understand what was said to the church of Ephesus.

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p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Church of Ephesus

<>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Introduction

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ holds the seven stars in His right hand who are the ministering spirits or angels of the seven churches. He walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.

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h2<>{color:#000;}.
Christ was addressing to a church which was once loving Christ more than anything. They discern everything and test those who say that they were apostles and able to find them as liars. They had persevered and had patience for Christ’s name sake and had not become weary. However, as time passed, they left the first place of love for Christ which they had and loved other worldly things more than Christ. This is the situation of many Christian churches today which had their first love for Christ but as time passes, they slowly had a setback.

Source: File:Ephesus street scene.jpg – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

“Ephesus was completely abandoned by the 15th century.”

Source: Ephesus – https://en.wikipedia.org

We can be sure of the fact that the church of Ephesus no longer exists today. If this represents the first age of churches, it should have also been in the past. Hence, one of the important warning Christ is telling us for today and future churches is that not to leave how we loved Him initially. 

[] Doctrine of Nicolaitans

[_(Rev 2:6) “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. _]

(Rev 2:14-15) But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.“Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

It is mentioned that this church hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans while the church of Pergamos holds to this doctrine. So, what is the doctrine of Nicolaitans? Doctrine of Nicolaitans is very closely related to doctrine of Balaam.

[_(Num 31:16) “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. _]

(Neh 13:2-3) because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

Long story short, Balaam wants to curse Israel but God always blesses them. Balaam found it is impossible to curse them as long as they are holy and God is with them. So, Balaam advised Balak to send females to mix with Israelite and decisively turn them against God by worshiping other gods.

(Deut 7:3-4) “Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.

This is also a warning from God Himself. Hence, God’s anger is aroused when they turn to other gods because of intermarriages with gentiles. Hence the deeds/doctrine of Nicolaitans is intermarriage with worshipers of other gods, and creating a stumbling block for believers by making them commit sexual immorality by worshiping other gods as well and eating things sacrificed to other gods.

God forbids marriages with non-believers. Deeds/doctrine of Nicolaitans which is intermarriage with unbelievers is widely practiced among today’s believers which Christ hates.

However, the church of Ephesus hates the deeds/doctrine of Nicolaitans.

Smyrna

(Rev 2:8-11) “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

Below is a tabulation for the above verse which helps to easily understand what was said to the church of Smyrna.

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Church of Smyrna

<>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Introduction

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ introduces Himself as the First and the Last.  He also introduces by referring to His resurrection by saying “who was dead, and came to life”.

<>.

<>.

<>.

<>.

h2<>{color:#000;}.
Christ introduces Himself as the one who came back to life, referring to the control He has over their life and not to fear of the tribulation they are about to experience. There are no failures or warnings. However, Christ encourages this church to not fear, but to be faithful until death and their reward is crown of Life and they will not be hurt by second death.

“A Christian church and a bishopric existed here from a very early time, probably originating in the considerable Jewish colony. It was one of the seven churches addressed in the Book of Revelation. Saint Ignatius of Antioch visited Smyrna and later wrote letters to its bishop, Polycarp. A mob of Jews and pagans abetted the martyrdom of Polycarp in AD 153. Saint Irenaeus, who heard Polycarp as a boy, was probably a native of Smyrna. Another famous resident of the same period was Aelius Aristides.”

Source: Smyrna – https://en.wikipedia.org

The ancient church of Smyrna no longer exists even through the city declined, captured, raided and rebuilt several times in the past. Church of Smyrna today represents a persecuted church. This can be a home church in China or an Iraqi church under Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Pergamos

(Rev 2:12-17) “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

Below is a tabulation for the above verse which helps to easily understand what was said to the church of Pergamos.

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Church of Pergamos

<>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Introduction

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ introduces Himself as having sharp two-edged sword.

<>.

<>.

<>.

<>.

The two-edged sword from Christ represents the Word of God.

(Heb 4:12) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Christ identifies Pergamon as the throne of Satan and the please where he dwells. This church holds the doctrine of Nicolaitans. As we saw earlier in church of Ephesus, this doctrine is about intermarrying without unbelievers which becomes a stumbling block for believers and they worship other gods and eat things scarified to idols. To those who hold this doctrine, Christ will fight with His Word. To those who overcome, He will give some of the hidden manna to eat and He will give them a white stone with a new name written which no one knows except the person who receives it.

Hidden manna

[_(John 6:48-50) “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. _]

(John 3:12) “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Manna is compared to Bread from heaven. It symbolizes Christ in the New Testament. Hence, hidden manna represents hidden things about Christ Himself which are not yet revealed to all.

[_(Rev 19:12) His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. _]

(Rev 10:4) Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

A good example of His new name that no one knows. I am suggesting that He is going to share His new name but rather, similar to the above, there are several things hidden which Christ will reveal to those who overcome. Another example is what the seven thunders uttered revealed only to John.

New name written in a white stone

(Exod 28:9-10,12) Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. …  And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial.

Names written on onyx stones on Aaron’s ephod is very similar to what Christ had mentioned here. Christ will write a new name for those who overcome on a white stone and give it to them.

Source: File:View of ancient Pergamon.jpg – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

The ancient city of Pergamon lay in ruins. Church of Pergamon today represents the group of believers who intermarry and mix with believers, which becomes a stumbling block and follow other gods, arousing the anger of God.

Thyatira

(Rev 2:18-29) “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.  And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations– He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’– as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Below is a tabulation for the above verse which helps to easily understand what was said to the church of Thyatira.

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Church of Thyatira

<>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Introduction

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ introduces Himself as the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass

<>.

<>.

<>.

<>.

Christ is introducing Himself as Son of God and rebuking against a false doctrine of Jezebel and warning of serious consequences including great tribulation. For those who repent and overcome Christ will give power over nations and give them the morning star.

The morning star

(Rev 22:16) “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Christ refers to Himself as the Morning Star. Christ had already given Himself to all believers. It is possible Christ is referring to Him dwelling within those who overcome.

Doctrine of Jezebel

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

|<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Jezebel (Israel, Old Testament) |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Jezebel (church of Thyatira) | <>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. 1 |<>. p<>{color:#000;}. Daughter of a King

(1Kgs 16:31) And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. Self-Proclaimed Prophetess

(Rev 2:20a) “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess | <>. |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. 2 |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. [* Worshiper of Baal & Asherah *
**]
(1Kgs 18:19) “Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. Worshiper of Christ

(Rev 2:21) “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. | <>. |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. 3 |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. [Massacred Prophets of the LORD
**]
(1Kgs 18:4) For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.) |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. Seduced servants of Christ to worship other gods

(Rev 2:20) “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. | <>. |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. 4 |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. [Deception
**]
(1Kgs 21:9-10,14) She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die. …  Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.” |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. [Deception
**]
(Rev 2:23) “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. | <>. |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. 5 |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. Stirred To Do Wicked

(1Kgs 21:25) But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. Known the depths of Satan

(Rev 2:24) “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. | <>. |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. 6 |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. [Spiritual Harlotry
**]
(2Kgs 9:22) Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” So he answered, “What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?” |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}. Spiritual Harlotry

(Rev 2:20) “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. |

h2<>{color:#000;}.
We see striking similarities between the Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab of Old Testament and the Jezebel mentioned in Revelation. Based on what is mentioned, she is a self-proclaimed prophetess, which means, she speaks lies in the name of Christ. She worships Christ which we can see from the patience of Christ giving her time to repent. However, she seduced the servants of God to commit spiritual harlotry of worshiping other gods and thus arousing the anger of God. She is deceptive just like Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab which we can see from the response of Christ about her. Her doctrine also includes the knowledge of depth of Satan. Hence, the doctrine of Jezebel seems to be Christian cult mixing things of other religion, which from outside looks like worshiping God. Today, we can identify Jezebel like a prophet as Mohammed and the doctrine of Jezebel as Islam, since Islam began as a Christian cult. Today, many Christians are like the church of Thyatira, who preach all religions lead to God, allowing servants of God and Christ to take part in pagan worship in the name of interfaith.

“The Church of England is trying to recruit pagans and spiritual believers as part of a drive to retain congregation numbers.”

Source: The Telegraph – http://www.telegraph.co.uk

The above is a good example of bringing paganism inside the church which was warned for Thyatira.

Chapter 3: Three Remaining Churches

Sardis

(Rev 3:1-6) And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Below is a tabulation for the above verse which helps to easily understand what was said to the church of Sardis.

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Church of Sardis

<>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Introduction

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ introduces Himself as the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars

<>.

<>.

<>.

<>.

Christ introduces Himself as the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars and warns this church of having their works not perfect before God. Some had nearly lost faith in Christ and many have their garments defiled. In other words, this church is a sinful church.

(Rev 16:15) “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Christ coming as a thief during the days of the pouring of the 6th bowl is mentioned as a warning for this church.

“By the 19th century, Sardis was in ruins, showing construction chiefly of the Roman period.”

Source: Sardis – https://en.wikipedia.org

Hence, we will look into how this prophecy applies today and future churches.

(Luke 12:45-46) “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

Christ mentioned regarding the Kingdom of Heaven in a parable about the faithful and evil servant. Hence, the church of Sardis who knowing all the righteous judgment of God, backslides because of the delay in His second coming and began to sin.

Philadelphia

(Rev 3:7-13) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens : I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie–indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Below is a tabulation for the above verse which helps to easily understand what was said to the church of Philadelphia.

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Church of Philadelphia

<>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Introduction

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ introduces Himself as He who is holy and true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.

<>.

<>.

<>.

<>.

This is a church Christ loved. He introduces Himself as holy and truth with keys of David. He will make those of the synagogue of Satan come and serve the church of Philadelphia. He will also keep this church from the great tribulation because they had kept His command to persevere. There are no faults or failures mentioned. If they hold fast what they have and overcome, Christ will make them a pillar in the temple of God.

Christ will write on them the following:

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. God’s name

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. Name of New Jerusalem

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ’s new name

[]Key of David

(Isa 22:20) ‘Then it shall be in that day, That I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe And strengthen him with your belt; I will commit your responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem And to the house of Judah. The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, And he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house.

The key of David is a phrase mentioned as a prophecy in Isaiah 22 which is also a prophecy about Christ. The specialty of this key is that, it opens and no one can shut and it can shut and no one can open.

(Luke 1:37) “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Of course for God nothing is impossible, but the point being, it is God who will make it impossible for anyone to open or close except Himself. The key of David seems to be a special blessing given to King David.

Great Tribulation
The interesting fact about Philadelphia is that, Christ will keep this church from the great tribulation which will come upon the whole world. This suggests the following statement but both cannot be correct:

*
p<>{color:#000;}. The church existed when there was great tribulation

*
p<>{color:#000;}. The church will exist when great tribulation happens.

h2<>{color:#000;}.
There was no known great tribulation in the past, or when this ancient church existed. We know great tribulation is a future event (since it had not yet begun as of writing this). Philadelphia is not the only church that will exist during great tribulation. If church of Philadelphia will exist in the days of great tribulation, and being saved from it, then it suggests that the other churches will go into tribulation. Hence, the seven churches can also be seven types of churches throughout ages.

Laodiceans

(Rev 3:14-22) And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Below is a tabulation for the above verse which helps to easily understand what was said to the church of Laodiceans.

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Church of Laodiceans

<>. |<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Introduction

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Christ introduces Himself as the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God

<>.

<>.

<>.

<>.

This is a lukewarm congregation.

(Matt 6:24) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

It is a church which does not have righteousness of Christ, walking naked. A classic example is Joel Osteen’s church.

“Joel Osteen magnifies the superficiality of 21st century evangelicalism. If he really does not know the difference between Mormonism and biblical Christianity, he should be ashamed of himself! He represents a Christianity “lite,” which seeks not the gospel, but a “feel-goodism,” which bears no resemblance whatsoever to what Jesus taught or commanded. As a leader, he should take a strong stand for sound doctrine and the distinctive theology of genuine, biblical Christianity. He has not done so—and in that is his shame.”

Source: Sound Doctrine and Joel Osteen – https://graceuniversity.edu

(2Tim 4:3-4) For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

A rich congregation but blind and doesn’t see the Truth. They want Christ and also the world. God says, He does love the church but rebukes and chasten. If they didn’t repent, God will vomit them out.

(2Pet 2:22) Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

If God did vomit them out, He is not a dog to put it back. So, repent if you are going to such rich and naked lukewarm churches. Lukewarm is nothing but seeker-friendly churches, who sacrifice the Truth in Scripture to make it comfortable for a seeker without offending them of their sin.

Chapter 4 – The Four Living Creatures

‎Glory of God

(Rev 4:1-3) After these things I looked, and behold, a door [standing] open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard [was] like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and [One] sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and [there was] a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

Rainbow is the sign of the covenant which God established between Him and all flesh on earth.

(Gen 9:17) And God said to Noah, “This (rainbow) [is] the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that [is] on the earth.”

This is the glory of God as we see in the book of Ezekiel.

(Ezek 1:26-28) And above the firmament over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne [was] a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so [was] the appearance of the brightness all around it. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw [it,] I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.

The 24 Elders

(Rev 4:4) Around the throne [were] twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

Who are these 24 elders?

(Rev 5:8-10) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

It is the church of God who was redeemed with His blood.

(Eph 1:7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

(Rev 1:4,6) John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, … and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Hence, the 24 elders were of the church.

Four Living Creatures

(Rev 4:5-11) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire [were] burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne [there was] a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, [were] four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature [was] like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature [was] like a flying eagle. [The] four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Similar to the 4 living creatures mentioned Ezekiel, as Ezekiel himself identifies. they were the cherubim.

(Ezek 1:1,10) Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month,] on the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the captives by the River Chebar, [that] the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. … As for the likeness of their faces, [each] had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. … (Ezek 10:14-15) Each one had four faces: the first face [was] the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubim were lifted up. This [was] the living creature I saw by the River Chebar.

(Ezek 10:20) This [is] the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they [were] cherubim.

Chapter 5 – The Sealed Scroll

The Sealed Scroll

(Rev 5:1-7) And I saw in the right [hand] of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 

Bible does not explicitly say what is in the sealed scroll. However, it does give some clue what it could be based on what was said after the opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

(Rev 11:15-18) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

We see a similar statement spoken by Jesus Himself which gives a clue.

(John 5:26-29) “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

The sealed scroll could be the authority to execute judgment or the book of life required to execute judgment.

Cherubims

(Rev 5:8) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Four living Creatures

(Rev 4:7-8) Around the throne [were] twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.  … The first living creature [was] like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature [was] like a flying eagle. [The] four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

(Ezek 1:1,10) Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month,] on the fifth [day] of the month, as I [was] among the captives by the River Chebar, [that] the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. … As for the likeness of their faces, [each] had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. … (Ezek 10:14-15) Each one had four faces: the first face [was] the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubim were lifted up. This [was] the living creature I saw by the River Chebar.

Similar to the 4 living creatures mentioned Ezekiel, as Ezekiel himself identifies. They were the cherubim.

(Ezek 10:20) This [is] the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they [were] cherubim.

The New Song

(Rev 5:9-10) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.

A new song is sung by 24 elders in heaven. It is to note that the cherubim did not sing for God did not redeem the cherubim.

[_ (1Pet 1:12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven -- things which angels desire to look into. _]

Redemption is for humans and angels desire to look into the gospel.

(Rev 5:11-14) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power [Be] to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

All creatures in heaven, earth, under the earth and in the sea praising God.

Chapter 6 – The Four Spirits

Spirit of Catholicism

(Rev 6:1-2) Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.

White symbolizes righteousness and holiness.

[_(Rev 3:4) “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. _]

The rider on the white horse is very similar to Jesus Christ who comes riding in the white horse.

[_(Rev 19:11) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. _]

[_(Eph 6:16) In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. _]

However, Jesus Christ has a double-edged sword and not a bow. Only the devil fires the arrow using a bow based on the similarity of the vision mentioned in Zechariah, these horse riders are spirits.

(Zech 6:5) The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.

This is a spirit which looks much similar to Christ but is of evil. It has ruling authority and goes conquering people by using a bow, just like the devil uses bow and arrow.

“Saint Innocent I, who served in the papacy from 401 to 417, championed papal supremacy in the entire Church. Saint Gelasius I, who served from 492 to 496, in a controversy with Anastasius, the Byzantine emperor, likewise fought to maintain the doctrine of papal supremacy. This dispute was an incipient point of conflict between the Holy See and the Empire.”

Source: Papal supremacy – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

The rider in the white horse is the spirit of Catholicism, with papal supremacy beginning from the 5th Century AD.

Spirit of Crusade

(Rev 6:3-4) When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.

Red symbolizes blood or sin.

[_(2Kgs 3:22) Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side [as] red as blood. _]

(Isa 1:18) “ Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Sword symbolizes battle. 

(Jer 9:16) “I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them.”

People were deceived by Pope using his false Christianity to lead people into their death to be killed using the name of Christ which He neither commanded, nor mentioned in the Bible.

“The Crusades were a series of intermittent Papal sanctioned military campaigns beginning in the late 11th-century.”

Source: Crusades – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

This is the spirit of Crusades, which began in the late 11^th century.

Spirit of Reformation

(Rev 6:5-6) When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

To understand the events described in opening of the third seal, we need to first understand what wheat, barley, wine and oil means.

[_(Exod 9:31-32) Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley [was] in the head and the flax [was] in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they [are] late crops. _]

[_(Amos 7:1) Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed [it was] the late crop after the king’s mowings. _]

[_(Joel 1:11) Be ashamed, you farmers, Wail, you vinedressers, For the wheat and the barley; Because the harvest of the field has perished.  _]

Both barley and wheat are harvest of the field but barley is a first crop and wheat is a latter crop and they require first and latter rains.

[_(Deut 11:13-14) ‘ And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give [you] the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. _]

[_(Jas 5:7) Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See [how] the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. _]

Barley symbolizes the conversion to Christianity during the gospel outreach for it is the early crop and the outreach is the early rain. Wheat however is a late crop and it requires latter rain which symbolizes the revival within the church.

(Matt 20:2) “Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

Denarius is a day’s wage for a laborer in the Kingdom of God as mentioned in Jesus parable. Pair of scales symbolizes being measured and harm is done for wheat and barley but not for oil and wine. For a day’s wage from the Master, the laborers of the Kingdom were able to get 3 measures of barley but only 1 measure of wheat. What it means is, there are huge conversion to Christianity during the outreach but there is no revival and only a third retained their faith in Christ.

[_(Lev 24:2) “Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually. _]

(Eccl 9:7) Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.

Oil is for light and wine makes merry. During this time, there is no lack of oil to keep the light within them burning and no lack of wine for the joy of being saved. However, only a third was revived as wheat in the latter rain during the reformation.

“The Protestant Reformation, often referred to simply as the Reformation (from Latin reformatio, lit. “restoration, renewal”) and sometimes as the Protestant Revolt or Protestant Rebellion, was a schism from the Roman Catholic Church initiated by Martin Luther and continued by other early Protestant Reformers in 16th century Europe.”

Source: Protestant Reformation – [+ https://en.wikipedia.org+]

This is the spirit of Protestant Reformation. It began to ride from the 16^th century AD.

Spirit of Carnal Mind

(Rev 6:7-8) When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Who is this Death? Why is he riding a pale horse?

(Mark 6:39) Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green (pale) grass.

The pale is the same translation to present green grass. So, the pale is nothing but pale green, the color of grass.

[_(Ps 23:2) He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. _]

[_(Isa 15:6-7) For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, For the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green. Therefore the abundance they have gained, And what they have laid up, They will carry away to the Brook of the Willows. _]

Pale green represents flourishing and abundance.

(Rom 8:6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Carnal mind is death. The rider of pale green horse is the spirit of carnal mind riding on prosperity and abundance.

(Mic 6:10-15) Are there yet the treasures of wickedness In the house of the wicked, And the short measure [that is] an abomination? Shall I count pure [those] with the wicked scales, And with the bag of deceitful weights? For her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Therefore I will also make [you] sick by striking you, By making [you] desolate because of your sins. You shall eat, but not be satisfied; Hunger [shall be] in your midst. You may carry [some] away, but shall not save [them;] And what you do rescue I will give over to the sword. You shall sow, but not reap; You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; And [make] sweet wine, but not drink wine.

God will strike these carnal mind people riding on abundance with sword, hunger, death and the beasts, and these wicked people shall be turned to hades.

Ps 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into sheol (hades), [And] all the nations that forget God.

(Matt 6:24) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

We are seeing this carnal minded prosperity and abundance gospel widely preached and people following Death and Hades is following them.

Persecution

(Rev 6:9-11) When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they [were,] was completed.

After the spirit of four horsemen started to work on this world, it will take a little while longer until all the true Christians are killed. This also includes the great tribulation. Then, God will judge and the wrath of God will be revealed on those who dwell on earth.

We had seen the spirit of Catholicism, Crusades and Reformation. Spirit of carnal mind is already at work today riding on prosperity gospel. It is important to note that we are in this time-frame, until all the true Christians including us are be killed for the word of God and for the testimony. The verses suggests a greater persecution ahead. Therefore, let us be prepared and hold fast on faith in Christ, walk in holiness and hope for the celestial Kingdom of God.

Darkening of Sun, blood Moon and falling of stars

(Rev 6:12-14) I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

As God said in His heart, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night will not cease as long as the world exists.

[_(Gen 8:21-22) And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart [is] evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.” _]

This means, there will not be any darkening of the sun or blood moon and no falling of stars.

[]Sun darkened

God is the Sun of Righteousness and Christ is the light of the world.

(Mal 4:2) But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

(John 8:12) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Light represents righteousness and darkness represents lawlessness.

(2Cor 6:14) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Hence, Sun represents God the Father Himself shining His righteousness on the world through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ so that the world can see and come to the light. Sun darkening represents lack of God and His righteousness in this world, just like the days of Noah.

[]Blood Moon

Moon represents the Mother which is the Holy City Jerusalem, which God had chosen.

(Gal 4:26) but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

(Ezek 16:3,8) Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: “Your birth and your nativity [are] from the land of Canaan; your father [was] an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time [was] the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD.

This is why, we see God repeatedly referring for the sake of Jerusalem.

(1Kgs 11:13) However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.

(Isa 37:35) For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.

A land getting polluted by blood is when innocent blood is spilled.

(Ps 106:38) And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.

(Num 35:33) ‘So you shall not pollute the land where you [are;] for blood defiles the land, and no atonement can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.

Hence, moon becoming blood or giving no light represents no righteousness in it and shedding of innocent blood.

[]Fallen Stars

A star in the Bible is used to guide the wise men to Christ.

(Matt 2:2) saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Stars are God’s people who guide the flock of God towards righteousness.

(Dan 12:2-3) And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

We are the stars, who are to preach the gospel and guide many to righteousness.

(John 1:12) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

(Matt 28:19-20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen.

So, what does a fallen star mean? It means preachers of God who had turned away from the truth. Instead of turning many to righteousness, they themselves turned into unrighteousness.

Hence, Sun darkening represents lack of God and His righteousness in this world, just like the days of Noah, Moon becoming blood or giving no light represents no righteousness in it and shedding of innocent blood and stars falling means preachers of God who had turned away from the truth who instead of turning many to righteousness, they themselves turned into unrighteousness.

Wrath of God

(Rev 6:15-17) And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

The people mentioned here are unbelievers abiding on the wrath of God.

(John 3:36) “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

(Col 3:5-6) Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience

Chapter 7 – First Fruits of Harvest

Before the Scattering

(Rev 7:1-3) After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

The wind here is mentioned as something that harms. In the Bible it is mentioned for scattering of the people.

[_(Jer 49:36) Against Elam I will bring the four winds From the four quarters of heaven, And scatter them toward all those winds; There shall be no nations where the outcasts of Elam will not go. _]

(Zech 2:6) “ Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the LORD; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the LORD.

The angel set the seal on the servants of God and then the people will be scattered. This is during the great tribulation.

First Fruits of Feast of Harvest

(Rev 7:4-8) And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred [and] forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel [were] sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand [were] sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand [were] sealed.

It is interesting to note that the list is a bit different from the actual 12 tribes of Israel.

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Reuben

Simeon

Levi

Judah

Zebulun

Issachar

Dan (replaced by Manasseh)

Gad

Asher

Naphtali

Joseph – (sons: Manasseh, Ephraim)

Benjamin |<>.
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Judah

Reuben

Gad 

Asher

Naphtali

Manasseh (replaced Dan)

Simeon

Levi

Issachar

Zebulun

Joseph

Benjamin |

[][
Rejection of the tribe of Dan]

[_(2Thess 2:3-4) Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. _]

(Gen 49:16-18) “Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that its rider shall fall backward. I have waited for your salvation, O LORD!

It is possible the man of lawlessness could be from the tribe of Dan.

The 144000
Who are these 144000 people? Can I be one of them? These questions are asked by us several times. To fully understand who these people are, we need to understand the Feasts of the Lord.

(Exod 23:14-16) “ Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in [the fruit of] your labors from the field.

(Deut 16:16) “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.

[] Feast of Unleavened bread

(Lev 23:5-6) ‘On the fourteenth [day] of the first month at twilight [is] the LORD’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.

We know we are to purge our the old leaven and we are to be truly unleavened. Christ is our Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for us. This feast had been fulfilled by Christ.

(1Cor 5:7) Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

[] Feast of Harvest (or Weeks)

(Lev 23:15-17) ‘ And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. ‘Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD. ‘You shall bring from your dwellings two wave [loaves] of two-tenths [of an ephah.] They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. [They are] the firstfruits to the LORD.

As we read in Acts, Holy Spirit was given to all people who where gathered there, who are the first fruits of the Feast of Harvest.  This feast was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.

(Acts 2:1-4) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and [one] sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

[] Feast of Tabernacles (or Ingathering)

[_(Lev 23:34,39-40) “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the Feast of Tabernacles [for] seven days to the LORD. ‘ Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD [for] seven days; on the first day [there shall be] a sabbath-[rest,] and on the eighth day a sabbath-[rest.] ‘And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. _]

(Deut 16:13) “ You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress.

This feast is not yet and this chapter is about this particular feast. The 144000 are sealed by God for the fruits on the first day of the feast, which Christ will take for Himself and they will go wherever He goes.

(Rev 14:1,4) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred [and] forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. … These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from [among] men, [being] firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

The timing of the Feast is also mentioned. It will be observed when all the grains are gathered.

(Matt 13:29-30,37-43) But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. … He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked [one.] The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

However, the feast of Tabernacles had not yet began when the 144000 where sealed as we read later about these men in chapter 9.

(Rev 9:4) They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Out of Great Tribulation

(Rev 7:9-17) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation [belongs] to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, [Be] to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The event is a post great-tribulation period and happening in heaven. The 144000 are still in earth even after the great-tribulation and during the wrath of God as we read later about these men in chapter 9. As in new heavens and new earth, God will wipe away all tears for those who come out of great tribulation.

(Rev 21:4) “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Chapter 8 – The Seven Trumpets

Prayers of Saints

(Rev 8:1-6) When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw [it] to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

The opening of the seventh seal begins with a silence, angel offering the prayers of the saints an sounding of the seven trumpets.

(Num 16:46) So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense [on it,] and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.”

Aaron took a censer, put fire in it from the altar, put incense and made atonement for the congregation when the wrath of God had gone out from the Lord and the plague had begun. Similarly, the angel took the golden censer and put the smoke of incense which are the prayers of saints, filled fire from the altar and threw it to the earth. The angel did exactly what Aaron did to stop the plague, for the plagues on earth are about to begin.

The seven priests bearing seven trumpets before the ark of covenant during the battle of Jericho is similar to how seven angels sound the seven trumpets. God gave Jericho into the hands of Israelite people during the time of Joshua. Here, God Himself conquers the whole world.

[_(Josh 6:4) “And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. _]

(Rev 11:15) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become [the kingdoms] of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Seven Last Trumpets and Plagues

It is important to understand Revelation 8 and Revelation 16 are same events.

[_(Rev 8:2) And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. _]

(Rev 15:1) Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

As we dig deeper into the Scripture, we will understand the events of blowing the seven trumpets and the seven plagues are related and connected. We can understand this not only based on the timeline but also based on the plagues themselves.

Hail and Fire

(Rev 8:7) The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

The first plague is similar to the plague of hail by Moses on Egyptians except this time, it is for the whole world.

(Exod 9:23-25) And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that [was] in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field.

As green grass symbolizes luxury, this plague will destroy the luxury of men.

(Isa 15:6-7) For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, For the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green. Therefore the abundance they have gained, And what they have laid up, They will carry away to the Brook of the Willow

This is the first plague of hail and fire in revelation which immediately follows sores on man as in Exodus.

[_(Exod 9:9) “And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” _]

(Rev 16:2) So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

The Burning Mountain

(Rev 8:8-9) Then the second angel sounded: And [something] like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Water becoming blood is one of the plagues of Moses on Egyptians. It also symbolizes bloodshed.

(Exod 7:20-21) And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that [were] in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that [were] in the river were turned to blood. The fish that [were] in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

(2Kgs 3:22-23) Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side [as] red as blood. And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!”

Mountain symbolizes a kingdom as we saw in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar.

(Dan 2:35,44) “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. … And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

A kingdom burning with fire and thrown into the sea represents a destruction of a great kingdom in end times. This is the second plague of sea becoming blood.

(Rev 16:3) Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead [man;] and every living creature in the sea died.

The only difference is, Revelation 8 gives more detail about a third, while Revelation 16 simply says sea becomes blood.

Wormwood

(Rev 8:10-11) Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

Stars are referred to children of Israel as in Joseph’s dream and prophecy to Abraham. Star also represents angels as we see in Revelation 1.

[_(Gen 37:9-10) Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told [it] to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What [is] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” _]

(Gen 15:5) Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

It means, a great preacher or an angel deceiving a third of the people into sin causing bitterness and death.

This is the third plague on spring and rivers.

(Rev 16:4-7) Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous [are] Your judgments.

Revelation 8 describes the plague as third of rivers and springs of water becoming ‘bitter’. These being deceived have killed the saints and prophets. Therefore, God had killed them as explained in Revelation 16.

Third of Sun, Moon and Stars

(Rev 8:12-13) Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

The Sun, Moon and stars are not the literal celestial bodies. As we saw earlier in chapter 6, this heaven and earth exists according to what God said in His heart, it will not cease.

(Gen 8:22) “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”

Without going into scientific technicalities, with Sun’s only 2/3 brightness, seedtime and harvest will cease. Hence, undoubtedly, the Sun, Moon and stars referred here are not the literal celestial bodies. Sun represents God the Father Himself shining His righteousness on the world through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ so that the world can see and come to the light. Sun darkening represents lack of God and His righteousness in this world, just like the days of Noah. A third of the people departed from righteousness. Moon which represents Jerusalem, giving no light represents no righteousness in it and a third of the city is without righteousness. A third of stars representing preachers of God turned away from the truth. Instead of turning many to righteousness, they themselves turned into unrighteousness.

This is the fourth plague on Sun, Moon and stars.

(Rev 16:8-9) Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

This plague is referring to a third of people becoming unrighteous and the rich fading away from righteousness in their pursuits.

(Jas 1:11) For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

We will revisit these plagues once again when we study Revelation chapter 16.

Chapter 9 – Army of 200 million

‎Locusts of Apollyon

(Rev 9:1-11) Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given [authority] to kill them, but to torment them [for] five months. Their torment [was] like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces [were] like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ [teeth.] And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings [was] like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power [was] to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew [is] Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

A star fallen from heaven is referred here as the angel of the bottomless pit whose name is Abaddon or Apollyon. So who is this angel of bottomless pit?

[_(Isa 14:15) Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. _]

(Job 26:6) Sheol [is] naked before Him, And Destruction (Abaddon) has no covering.

The bottomless pit is Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek. It is also by Jesus as Abyss. Abaddon in Hebrew is Destruction.

(Isa 9:18) For wickedness burns as the fire; It shall devour the briers and thorns, And kindle in the thickets of the forest; They shall mount up [like] rising smoke.

The rising smoke symbolizes wickedness. Sun represents the righteous.

(Matt 13:43) “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

The righteous are reduced because of the wickedness on this earth, as the smoke darkens the air and the sun.

(Luke 8:29-31) For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him.  And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

(Rom 10:7) or, “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ “ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

To understand what came out of the bottomless pit we need to understand who is inside. Based on several Old Testament passages and the above Romans 10:7, the dead go down to Hades but those who have Christ will be transformed from death to life.

[_(John 5:24) “ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. _]

(Heb 9:27) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Hence, until the resurrection of the dead for judgement, the dead will not be risen. Hence, the locusts who came out from the bottomless pit are unclean spirits or demons. These demons where given power not to kill but to harm only those who do not have the seal of the living God. They were also not given authority to harm anything green.

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There are several differences in locusts mentioned in Revelation 9 and elsewhere. Locusts don’t have a king but locusts of Revelation 9 do have a king. Locusts are brought by wind as we see in the plague of Moses but locusts in Revelation are from smoke. Locusts consume all green things but locusts in Revelation do not but rather harm those who do not have the seal of God. Locusts are generally frighten and shaken off but locusts in Revelation were given power to hurt men for 5 months. Locusts plunders but the locusts in Revelation torments.

These unclean spirits or demons whose king is destruction will torment those who don’t have the seal of God for 5 months. How can unclean spirit torment?

(Matt 10:1) And when He had called His twelve disciples to [Him,] He gave them power [over] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

[_(Rev 9:10) They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power [was] to hurt men five months. _]

Unclean spirit torment those who do not have the seal of God with diseases and these diseases will hurt like a sting of scorpion. This is the connected to the 6th plague mentioned in Revelation 16.

(Rev 16:10-11) Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

Just as the smoke darkened the air and sun, the kingdom of the beast was full of darkness with wickedness and suffered with a disease for 5 months. It is a disease where men will desire and seek death but cannot die.

(Rev 9:7-9) The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces [were] like the faces of men. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ [teeth.] And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings [was] like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle

(1Cor 11:14) Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

(Joel 1:6) For a nation has come up against My land, Strong, and without number; His teeth [are] the teeth of a lion, And he has the fangs of a fierce lion.

[_(Dan 2:40) “And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, [that kingdom] will break in pieces and crush all the others. _]

These unclean spirits prepared themselves as horses for battle to torment those who don’t have the seal of God. Golden crown represents authority as they have power over these men for 5 months. With a face like men and hair like women, it is a symbol of dishonor. These unclean spirits or demons will make the men who are without the seal of God to dishonor themselves. They will crush like teeth of a lion. and the men are powerless against these unclean spirits as they have the breastplate made of iron.

Army of 200 million

(Rev 9:12-16) One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.“So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen [was] two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

With Revelation 16 of the same plague, we get better clarity.

(Rev 16:12) Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

So, the great river Euphrates is made to dry by the four angels to pave way for the kings of the east to kill a third of mankind.

“Islamic State militants have closed gates of a dam on the Euphrates River in western Iraq, reducing the water and giving them greater freedom of movement to attack government forces downstream on the southern bank, local officials said.”

Source: ISIS drying the water of Euphrates – [+ http://www.reuters.com+]

This is a significant news because of the prophecy.

(Rev 16:16) And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

Source: File: euphrates-river-valley-map.jpg – [+ https://picasaweb.google.com+]

Who are the kings of the East? Based on our study on Revelation 13, they might be Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan which are part of the beast which is the final Caliphate. But does it include India and China? Yes.

(Rev 16:14) For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, [which] go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

We must understand that this number requirement is already accomplished.

Army Horses

(Rev 9:17-21) And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses [were] like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three [plagues] a third of mankind was killed -- by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Lion shall not lie down until it devours the prey. So shall these horses be with lion heads.

[_(Num 23:24) Look, a people rises like a lioness, And lifts itself up like a lion; It shall not lie down until it devours the prey, And drinks the blood of the slain.” _]

(Job 39:19) “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder?

Horses are referred here for strength and the head of the lion is referred here for it’s devouring nature. This represents some form of machinery where the rider can fire from front and tail and the tail resembles a snake. Because of the three plagues – fire, smoke and brimstone, a third of mankind was dead but the rest did not repent of their sins.

Chapter 10 – Mystery of God

‎Sealed Seven Thunders

(Rev 10:1-4) I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow [was] on his head, his face [was] like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and [his] left [foot] on the land, and cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

What God had sealed, no man can unseal. What the 7 thunders uttered is known only to John and it is not revealed to us. This however, should not stop us from meditating or studying these verses.

[_(2Sam 22:14) “The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice. _]

(John 12:28-29) “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, [saying,] “I have both glorified [it] and will glorify [it] again.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard [it] said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

The 7 thunders could be the uttering of God the Father.

Mystery of God

(Rev 10:5-7) The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

The angel then said there should be delay no longer for what the 7 thunders uttered. Let us understand the context of the situation. This is a time when 200 million army had camped at Armageddon. Why did the angel said not to delay and for what?

(Rev 6:10-11) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both [the number of] their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they [were,] was completed.

God will delay no further to judge and avenge the blood of saints on those who dwell on the earth. 

[] Mystery of God declared to His servants

(Dan 12:2-4) And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

This is the mystery of God declared to His servants.

(Dan 12:7-9) Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who [was] above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that [it shall be] for a time, times, and half [a time;] and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these [things] shall be finished. Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things?”] And he said, “Go [your way,] Daniel, for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

[] What is this mystery?

(Dan 12:11-12) “And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, [there shall be] one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed [is] he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

Prophecy about the abomination of desolation. This is why the next chapter Revelation 11 begins with measuring the temple of God, which means, it must have been built and must be standing in Temple Mount.

Trial of Jealousy

(Rev 10:8-11) Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.

This is exactly similar to what Ezekiel did:

(Ezek 3:1-3) Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.

The passages in Ezekiel also explains what it means:

(Ezek 3:4-7) Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you [are] not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, [but] to the house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel [are] impudent and hard-hearted.

This is the trial of jealousy as in the law.

(Num 5:23-24,27) ‘ Then the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall scrape [them] off into the bitter water. And he shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her to become bitter. ….. When he has made her drink the water, then it shall be, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, that the water that brings a curse will enter her [and become] bitter, and her belly will swell, her thigh will rot, and the woman will become a curse among her people.

The book tasting sweet as honey refers to preaching to a familiar people who know Christ. But many of them will be unfaithful and bitterness will be found in them. Therefore, God says John to prophesy once again about many peoples, nations, tongues and kings.

Chapter 11 – Two Witnesses

Jerusalem Temple and Dome of the Rock

(Rev 11:1-2) Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot [for] forty-two months.

As we know, Tome of Rock which is now located at the temple site and the only possible location that may have been given to the gentiles. The same people to whom the outer court is given, they will tread the holy City for 42 months. Outer court that holds tome of rock was given to Muslims. Hence, at this point in future, the Temple will be standing.

Source: File:Dome of Rock, Temple Mount, Jerusalem.jpg – [+ https://en.wikipedia.org+]

Identifying the Two Witnesses

(Rev 11:3-4) “And I will give [power] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

[]Lampstands

[_(Rev 1:20) “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. _]

(Zech 4:2,10) And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there [is] a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the [stand] seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. … For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

Lampstands refers to churches in the Bible. Seven lamps on the lampstands refer to seven eyes of the Lord. It is inappropriate to refer only two for the seven eyes of the Lord. Further, the seven eyes actually refers to the seven lamps on the lampstand and not to lampstand itself. Hence, the two lampstands refers to two churches.

Olive Trees

[_(Zech 4:3,14) “Two olive trees [are] by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” … So he said, “These [are] the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” _]

(Rom 11:24-25) For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who [are] natural [branches,] be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Two olive trees refers to two anointed ones. Olive tree also refers to both Israel which is cultivates and Church which is grafted in.

Witnesses to God in the Bible

[_(Isa 43:10-12) “You [are] My witnesses,” says the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I [am] He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, [even] I, [am] the LORD, And besides Me [there is] no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And [there was] no foreign [god] among you; Therefore you [are] My witnesses,” Says the LORD, “that I [am] God. _]

(Acts 1:8) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God calls Israel and the church as His witnesses.

(John 10:16) “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock [and] one shepherd.

Hence, the two lampstands and two olive trees are the two groups of God’s people, Israel and the Church. Israel at this point must have repented and accepted Christ as their messiah, which is why, they are referred not only as olive tree but also as a church. The church is referred as an olive tree because it is grafted into it. These are the two flocks of sheep Christ was referring to.

Power of the Two Witnesses

(Rev 11:5-6) And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

I am sure of that some people who call themselves Christians are very eager to kill their enemies with fire from their mouth and still be a witness to God. I am sorry to say the verse doesn’t mean that. You cannot kill someone and be a witness to Christ.

(Jer 5:12-14) They have lied about the LORD, And said, “[It is] not He. Neither will evil come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine. And the prophets become wind, For the word [is] not in them. Thus shall it be done to them.” Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts: “Because you speak this word, Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them.

Fire from the mouth of these witnesses are words of God. These witnesses have power to shut heaven like Elijah, turn waters to blood like Moses and with all plagues as often as they desire.

(Jas 5:17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. …. (Deut 11:16-7) “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the LORD’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.

[_(Exod 7:19) Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in [buckets of] wood and [pitchers of] stone.’ “ …. (Isa 15:9) For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon, Lions upon him who escapes from Moab, And on the remnant of the land.” _]

As we can see both the plague of Elijah and Moses are a punishment for wickedness.

(Rev 11:7) When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Did you notice the word ‘beast’? Which beast is referred here? There are no beasts mentioned from Revelation 1 till this verse in Revelation 11. We will understand why this is the case only if we understand properly the decoded chronology of Revelation. The beast which is the final caliphate with his 200 million army who are camped at Armageddon will make war against these two groups of God’s people in Jerusalem, overcome and kill them. It is important to note that Armageddon is not the place of the battle but the place where the enemies of God had gathered.

(Rev 11:8-10) And their dead bodies [will lie] in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then [those] from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

And their dead bodied will lie in Jerusalem for half a week and all the people in the world will be happy about their dead. Jerusalem here is referred as spiritual Sodom and Egypt.

[_(Jude 1:7) as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. _]

(Ezek 20:7) “Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I [am] the LORD your God.’

The spirit of Sodom is homosexuality and the spirit of Egypt is idolatry. Jerusalem had become like Sodom and Egypt and because these two witnesses spoke against them of them sins, they were happy and sent gifts when these two witnesses were killed.

Rapture & Jesus Christ’s Second Coming

(Rev 11:11-14) Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

Then, the two witnesses stood on their feet and went to heaven in a cloud. The very next event is our Lord’s second coming, which means, this event is referring to the rapture of His true church which includes the two witnesses, the gentile believers and the messianic Jews.

(Rev 11:15-17) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become [the kingdoms] of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

Paul already mentioned this in his first letter to Corinthians.

[_ (1Cor 15:51-52) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  _]

(1Thess 4:16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

The two witnesses of God will be caught up in the clouds to meet our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

(Rev 11:18) The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

The author of Hebrews writes the same event this way.

(Heb 9:27-28) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

[_(Rev 16:15) “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed [is] he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” _]

This is the same event mentioned later in Revelation when the prophesy regarding the world is told.

(Rev 11:19) Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

The ark of God’s covenant was seen in His temple in heaven. What does this mean?

(Heb 9:2-4,11) For a tabernacle was prepared: the first [part,] in which [was] the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which [were] the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; …. But Christ came [as] High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

(Col 2:16-17) So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

We clearly see the Temple of God was a shadow of things to come but the substance is of Christ. Then, why is the temple of God in heaven and the ark of the covenant seen there? It’s because, while we are not under the law, Christ is under the law. Through new covenant which Christ gave to us, we have access to the Father.

[_(Gal 4:4) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, _]

[_(Matt 5:18) “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. _]

(Rev 21:22) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

As we read, Christ was born under the law. Only after that, the heavens and the earth will be no more. In the new heavens, there is no temple for the law and all that is written in it will be fulfilled by Christ.

Chapter 12 – Israel, Rome & Christians

Israel

(Rev 12:1-5) Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

The woman is Israel gave birth to Jesus Christ who is to rule all nations with rod of iron.

(Rev 19:15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

[_(Mal 4:2) But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. _]

[_(Ezek 16:8) “When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time [was] the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD. _]

[_(Gen 37:10) So he told [it] to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What [is] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” _]

[_(Gal 4:26) but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. _]

Sun of Righteousness is the name of God the Father and Israel is clothed by God Himself. Moon represents Mother as in Joseph’s dream, which refers to Jerusalem.

Rome

(Rev 12:3-4) And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

The dragon is the serpent of the old, who is the Devil and Satan.

(Rev 12:9) So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Let us understand the heads, horns and diadems.

(Rev 17:12) “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

(Rev 17:9) “Here [is] the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

(Dan 2:35;44) “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Horns are kings who don’t receive kingdom. Heads represents kingdoms and diadems represents the rule over the kingdoms.

“A senatorial province (Latin: provincia populi Romani, province of the Roman people) was a Roman province during the Principate where the Roman Senate had the right to appoint the governor (proconsul).”

Source: Senatorial province – [+ https://en.wikipedia.org+]

It is important to understand that the time-frame was during the time of Jesus when Israel was ruled by Roman Empire. During the time of Jesus, Rome exactly had 10 senatorial provinces where Roman Senate appoints the governor (proconsul) who are the 10 horns who don’t have a kingdom of their own.

“In 27 B.C., there were ten Senatorial provinces and seven Imperial provinces (including Egypt), plus the vast area of Gallia Comata;”

Source: Page 317, Roman Political Institutions by Leon Homo

Hence the fiery red dragon is the Roman Empire and the power behind is Satan.

1260 days

(Rev 12:6) Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 

“The Jews revolted against the Roman Empire in 66 CE during the period known as the First Jewish–Roman War which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. During the siege, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple and most of Jerusalem. This event marked the beginning of the Roman exile, also called Edom exile.”

Source: Jewish diaspora – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD marked the beginning of Jewish diaspora.

War in Heaven

(Rev 12:7-12) And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Now, the accuser cannot accuse us in heaven because, we can now overcome the devil by the blood of Christ and the accuser which is the devil is being cast out. However, it is a warning for us because the devil is of great wrath since he has only a short time.

Time, times, half a time

(Rev 12:13-14) Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male [Child.] But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

When Jews were persecuted in ancient Rome and it’s previous provinces specifically in Europe, God did prepared places they were safe and had refuge. Some included as far as South India where Jews were safe until the Goa Inquisition by Portuguese colonialists in 16th Century. God also prepared other far countries who did not persecute Jews.

(Luke 21:24) “And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Time, times and half a time is also referred as time of the gentiles.

(Rev 12:15-16) So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Waters are attributed to people and multitudes. So, the devil wanted to remove the identity of Jews by being washed away by the flood.

Christian Persecution

(Rev 12:17) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

It is a well known fact that Christians were severely persecuted in Rome Empire before Constantine made Christianity the state religion. True Christians were always persecuted under Papacy.

Chapter 13 – Caliphites and Beast

‎Caliphates

(Rev 13:1-10) Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And [I saw] one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who [is] like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Let us identify the characteristics of the mentioned animals from the Bible.

[_(Dan 7:5-6) “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and [had] three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. _]

(2Tim 4:17-18) But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

The leopard presents a quick and rapid expansion of it's borders. Bear is represented as a flesh devouring beast which will crush under feet. Mouth of the lion is mentioned as a representation of persecution in the second book of Timothy. Several empires rose after the Roman Empire in and around the region - Byzantine Empire (better known as Eastern Roman Empire), Holy Roman Empire and Caliphates.

“Both “Byzantine Empire” and “Eastern Roman Empire” are historiographical terms created after the end of the realm; its citizens continued to refer to their empire as the Roman Empire (Ancient Greek: Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, tr. Basileia tôn Rhōmaiōn; Latin: Imperium Romanum), or Romania (Ῥωμανία), and to themselves as “Romans”.”

Source: Byzantine Empire – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

Byzantine Empire is always considered as a continuation of Roman Empire by its own citizens and others. It never rapidly increased its borders nor spoke blasphemy against God. So, we can safely exclude Eastern Roman Empire.

“The Holy Roman Empire (Latin: Sacrum Romanum Imperium, German: Heiliges Römisches Reich) was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806. The largest territory of the empire after 962 was the Kingdom of Germany, though it also included the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Burgundy, the Kingdom of Italy, and numerous other territories.”

Source: Holy Roman Empire – [+ https://en.wikipedia.org+]

Holy Roman Empire is very interesting. There is nothing holy about this empire and has nothing to do with the Roman Empire too. It did not rapidly expanded its territories either. Nor spoke blasphemy against God. So, we can safely exclude Holy Roman Empire.

Source: File:Mohammad adil-Rashidun-empire-at-its-peak-close.PNG – [+ https://en.wikipedia.org+]

The Caliphates following Mohammed on the other hand conquered rapidly like a leopard. It took roughly the same short time as Alexander, for the followers of Mohammed to conquer land as equal as Alexander’s, exactly matching the characteristics of leopard.

“The historic background of the Sunni–Shia split lies in the schism that occurred when the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the year 632, leading to a dispute over succession to Muhammad as a caliph of the Islamic community spread across various parts of the world, which led to the Battle of Siffin. The dispute intensified greatly after the Battle of Karbala, in which Hussein ibn Ali and his household were killed by the ruling Umayyad Caliph Yazid I, and the outcry for revenge divided the early Islamic community. Today, there are differences in religious practice, traditions, and customs, often related to jurisprudence. Although all Muslim groups consider the Quran to be divine, Sunni and Shia have different opinions on hadith.”

Source: Shia–Sunni relations – [+ https://en.wikipedia.org+]

As the mouth of lion and feet of the bear, the Caliphates crushed everyone on its way. The deadly wound was the split between Sunni and Shiite.

“Traditionally, Islam teaches the rejection of the Trinitarian Christian view that Jesus was God incarnate or the son of God.”

Source: Jesus in Islam – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

1John 2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

1John 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

But the Bible identifies Islam as the antichrist.

Future Beast

(Rev 13:11-12) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

This future beast will force all to worship the first beast (i.e., Islam?). As we saw earlier, the two horns are kings without kingdoms (Shia and Sunni leaders?). It will speak like a dragon who is Satan and will exercise all authority of the first beast (a future Caliphate?).

(Rev 13:13-18) He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted [power] to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

There are three that will be required under the rule of this beast for buying and selling:

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Mark on right hand or forehead

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Have the name of the beast

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Having the number of the name of the beast (666)

 

Mark of a nation is it’s national symbol. E.g., Ashoka Pillar for India, Commonwealth Coat of Arms for Australia, Great Seal of the United States. How can someone count the number of a name? If I ask myself what is the number of India or Australia, it doesn’t make any sense unless it is in the list of something. However a similar phrase ‘number of names’ is in the Bible refers to count of names.

(Num 1:2) “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male individually,

The number of ‘the name’ may mean number of people belonging to that beast. E.g, number of ‘Australians’. If the number of ‘the name’ represents population, then a tabulation can be put with existing nations as shown below.

table<>. <>. |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. Nation |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. Mark |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. Name |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. Number of ‘the name’ | <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  Australia |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.    |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  Commonwealth of Australia  |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  Number of Australians = 23.13 million  | <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  India |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.    |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  Republic of India  |<>.
h2<>{color:#000;}. Number of Indians = 1.252 billion | <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  [*America *] |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.    |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  United States of America  |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  Number of Americans = 318.9 million  | <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  [*Beast *] |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

 ? 

 

<>. p<>{color:#000;}.  Unknown

<>. p<>{color:#000;}.  Number of Beast-ians (or false prophets?) = 666

h2<>{color:#000;}.
Please note that that 666 is not the mark of the beast instead it is just one of the three that is required to buy and sell. The number may be 666th nation of ‘something’ or the number of false prophets/priests in the Beast or some count which we will surely know it when the beast rises. This is neither a chip implanted nor something that is secretly done without our knowledge.

Mark of the beast, the name of the beast or the number of the name of the beast will clearly be something that we will know what it means and we will know it will be against God by doing so.

Chapter 14 – Final Harvest

‎First Fruits of Christ

(Rev 14:1-5) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.

The 144000 are identified as the firstfruits to God having the Father’s name written on their foreheads who are redeemed from the earth. They are not defiled with women and follow the Lamb wherever He goes. No deceit was found in their mouth and they are without fault before the throne of God.

[_(Lev 23:34,39-40) “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month [shall be] the Feast of Tabernacles [for] seven days to the LORD. ‘ Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the LORD [for] seven days; on the first day [there shall be] a sabbath-[rest,] and on the eighth day a sabbath-[rest.] ‘And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.  _]

(Deut 16:13) “ You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress.

The 144000 are sealed by God for the fruits on the first day of the feast, which Christ will take for Himself and they will go wherever He goes.

1st Angel: Everlasting Gospel

(Rev 14:6-7) Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people– saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. Who is God? The creator of heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. What must we do? Fear God, give glory to Him, worship God.

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. Why we must do? His judgment has come

Jesus Himself said this event would happen.

(Matt 24:14) “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Gospel is not yet preached to all nations and still several are unreachable mainly due to fear of persecution. Based on the revelation passage, it seems gospel will not be preached to all the world even up to this point in future and finally an angel will preach to all.

[_(Gal 1:8) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. _]

(1Pet 1:12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into.

Paul in his letter to Galatians says that any angel preaching another gospel will be cursed. Peter also mentions about angels that they desire to look into what the gospel is.

2nd Angel: Babylon is fallen

(Rev 14:8) And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

It is important to understand this is the first mention of the mystery Babylon. If you notice the word “that”, it seems as though the reader has already read and knew what Babylon is. However, translations like Young’s Literal Translation simply translates “the great city”. Spiritual fornication refers to worshiping other gods. She forced all the nations to follow a false god. Mystery Babylon is identified as Mecca in later chapters.

3rd Angel: Wrath of God

(Rev 14:9-13) Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, “he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

A warning is given to all of God’s people about the coming judgment to the beast and it’s worshipers prior to anyone receiving the mark of the beast, even before it happens. It refers to the well informed nature of the people before they receive the mark of the beast. Blessed are all who will die in the Lord from that point in future for it is the beginning of the great tribulation, and Christ will give them rest.

(Matt 11:28) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

While all those who received the mark were warned about being cast into lake of fire and brimstone, only the beast and the false prophet were cast into the lake of fire and brimstone during the Christ’s second coming which is before the millennium reign of Christ, but the rest are cast during the white throne judgment which is after the millennium reign of Christ.

[_(Rev 19:20-21) Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. _]

(Rev 20:15) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Final Harvest

(Rev 14:14-20) Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

The great harvest of the Lord described here also refers to the feast of the tabernacles or in-gathering. Both John the Baptist and also Christ mentions this very event.

(Matt 3:11-12) “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

John refers wheat to righteous and holy people and chaff refers to those who practice lawlessness. God will gather the righteous and holy people into His barn while the chaff will be burnt with unquenchable fire.

(Matt 13:24-30) Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; “but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. “But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. “So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’  “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ “But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Similar to John’s preaching, Jesus also said the wheat will be gathered into the barn and the tares will be gathered and burnt. Jesus is speaking about the final harvest during his second coming.

Chapter 15 – Song of Moses and the Lamb

Song of Moses

(Rev 15:1-4) Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

Paul lists the reason for the wrath of God in his letter to Colossians. God is going to pour out one last time, His wrath.

(Col 3:4-6) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

Those who had victory over the beast and over his image are the ones who came out of great tribulation. The song of Moses and the song of the Lamb begins with the prayer of Moses, pleading with God to enter the promised Lamb and then follows with various people praying and praising God during various period in time.

(Deut 3:24) Your works and Your mighty deeds? …. (Dan 4:37) the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. …. (Ps 22:23) glorify Him, And fear Him …. (1Sam 2:2) No one is holy like the LORD. …. (Ps 86:9) All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You. …  (Hos 6:5) your judgments are like light that goes forth.

The song of Moses and the Lamb that was sung here in this chapter wasn’t found in the Pentateuch. It may have been found in one of the lost books mentioned in the Bible. However, the message in the song is found elsewhere in the Bible.

Temple in Heaven Open

(Rev 15:5-8) After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was open and seven angels having seven plagues where given seven bowls of the wrath of God.

[_(Num 11:33) But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague. _]

[_(Num 16:46) So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.” _]

(Jer 50:13) Because of the wrath of the LORD She shall not be inhabited, But she shall be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified And hiss at all her plagues.

God’s wrath causes plagues on those who sin against Him. We see this throughout the Scriptures. In this chapter, the final plagues through the wrath of God are described.

Chapter 16 – Seven Plagues

Seven Plagues

(Rev 16:1) Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.

As we saw earlier in our study of Revelation 8 & 9, the seven trumpets and seven plague are connected and refer the same events from a different perspective.

[_(Rev 16:2) So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. _]

(Rev 9:4) They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

The seven plagues are for those who have the mark of the beast. The events that follows the blowing of seven trumpets are for those who do not have the seal of living God. As you can see, both actually refers the same but from different perspectives. Events following the blowing of Trumpets are from a perspective within the church and plagues are from a perspective outside the church, while both representing the same events.

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Plagues

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Trumpets

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Notes <>.	<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. 1	<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. (Rev 16:2) So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.	<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. (Rev 8:7) The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.	<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Plague of sores followed by hail during Moses
<>.
<>.
<>.
<>.
<>.
<>.

h2<>{color:#000;}.
The above table must be read along with chapters 8 and 9 to understand better.

Repentance with Mark of the Beast?

If anyone having the mark of the beast, if they do repent, God is merciful to forgive them. We see His merciful nature in the seven plagues. A foul and loathsome sore was for those who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image which is the first plague.

Rev 16:2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. … Rev 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. … Rev 16:11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

However, we see end of the 4^th and 5^th plagues, it is clearly mentioned that they did not repent. It means, God did expect them to repent and turn their ways towards God because of the plagues but they did not do so but rather blasphemed Him. Hence, it is wrong to assume that repentance is not for those who have the mark of the beast.

Noises, Thunderings, Lightnings & Great Earthquake

(Rev 16:18-19a) And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.

The city not only divided into three parts, but also a 10^th of the city fell and killed 7000 people.

(Rev 11:13,19) In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. …  Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

This is a future event which happens when the seventh trumpet is blown.

Babylon Remembered

(Rev 16:19b-21) And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, [each hailstone] about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

Babylon, was finally remembered by God to judge her. Great hail also fell upon men.

(Rev 11:19) Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Chapter 17 – Mystery Babylon

A Desert City

(Rev 17:1-7) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast [which was] full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name [was] written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

There are some characteristics mentioned in the Bible which helps to identify Mystery Babylon.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Great Harlot

*
p<>{color:#000;}. In the Wilderness

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Sitting on a scarlet beast

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Beast having full of names of blasphemy

*
p<>{color:#000;}. 7 heads and 10 horns of the beast

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Having a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication in her hand

*
p<>{color:#000;}. In her forehead: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

The angel then explains the meaning shown in the vision regarding the Mystery Babylon which help to identify.

A great cosmopolitan city will be the capital of a future Kingdom which will wage war against Christ Himself. This city is not worshiping the true God as harlot refers to worshiping other gods.

(Exod 34:15) “lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and [one of them] invites you and you eat of his sacrifice,

The capital city rules over a kingdom which is located “In the Wilderness” which means a desert.

(2Sam 1:24) “O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

(Matt 27:28-29) They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!”

Scarlet is a symbol of luxury and royalty. It is the color specifically used by Roman soldiers to mock Jesus as well. Hence, the people in the kingdom will live luxurious. The kingdom will have full of names of blasphemy. It is important to understand that Jews crucified Jesus Christ because He claimed to be Christ.

(John 10:33) The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

[_(Luke 23:39) Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” _]

Blasphemy not just includes speaking ill of God and Christ but also includes anyone claiming to be Christ when they are not.

(Luke 16:19) “ There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

[_(Dan 11:38) “But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. _]

The city is arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. What does this mean? As we saw earlier, scarlet is luxury. Purple color symbolizes riches. Gold and precious stones symbolizes honor. Hence, the city is luxurious, filled with riches and has great honor.

(Rev 18:3,5-7) “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” … For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit [as] queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’

The golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication was in her hand. She made the nations drunk and make them commit sim against God using her riches, luxury and power. A very good example of what is happening today is like US using it’s God given might to put pressure on other nations (to sin) legalizing LGBT.

On her forehead, it is written : Mystery or secret Babylon, it is not the old Babylon but has characteristics of it and it will be great. This Babylon will be the mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth.

(1Chr 5:25) And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

Spiritual harlotry is referred as a Christian backsliding and worshiping demons and other gods and doing abominations of the earth.

Revived Ancient Kingdom

(Rev 17:8-12) “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Here [is] the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, [and] the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

Beast in prophecy refers to Kingdom.

(Dan 7:23) “ Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all [other] kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.

(Dan 2:35,44) The whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold. Then the wind blew them away without a trace, like chaff on a threshing floor. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth. … During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. An ancient kingdom

*
p<>{color:#000;}. This kingdom doesn’t exist in John’s time.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. An ancient kingdom will be revived.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. The harlot sits on 7 mountains.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. The kingdom had 7 kings in total. 5 had already fallen. 6th reigns during John’s time and the future 7th king is yet to come and will continue briefly. The 7th king is also the 8th and then he will go into destruction.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. The kingdom also had 10 kings who don’t have a kingdom. But for 1 hour, they all will receive authority as Kings with the Kingdom

 

The beast is an ancient kingdom. The heads are represented as a timeline. In John’s time, it wasn’t there. However, it will be revived in future. The harlot sits on 7 mountains which is interpreted as kingdoms based on Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. There are 7 kings in total. 5 had already fallen, 6th reigns in John’s time and the future 7th king is yet to come and will continue briefly. The 7th king is also the 8th and then he will go into destruction. The kingdom also had 10 kings who don’t have a kingdom. But for 1 hour, they all will receive authority as kings with the Kingdom.

So, here are the important clues and their answers:

table<>. <>. |<>.
p<>{color:#000;}.  

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Question	<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Answer
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The final kingdom will have 10 kings who will not have authority as kings but for hour, they will be as kings. It is during this final Caliphate, Christ will return. Then the final Caliphate will wage war with Christ. 

 

War with the Lamb

(Rev 17:13-15) “These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those [who are] with Him [are] called, chosen, and faithful. Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

This kingdom will go against war with Jesus Christ. This means, Christ had returned to this world when the beast will wage war. Harlot rules over many peoples, tribes and nations.

(Rev 17:16-18) “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

The 10 kings who don’t have a kingdom will hate the harlot and destroy it. It is God Himself will put in their hearts to be of one mind and to destroy the harlot. The harlot is a great capital city who reigns over the kings of the earth. The great city will rule over nations, multitudes and tribes. The 10 kings who don’t have a kingdom will then hate the great city and destroy it.

Who is the great city?

[]Babylon?

It is not Babylon because it is in ruins and already destroyed in the past and forgotten. Further, it neither persecuted Christians nor have drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus Christ. Also, the old Babylon was never built on 7 mountains or hills.

[]America?

It is not America because the kingdom must be a revived old kingdom. However, America or any city in it is very recent. While God’s judgment is pending on any nation that forsake Him, America is certainly not the harlot.

[]Vatican?

It is not Vatican because it is not riding the nations or kingdoms which are in the desert or wilderness. 

[]Jerusalem or Mecca?

This leaves us with only 2 candidates: Jerusalem and Mecca. Let us explore Chapter 18 to fully understand and conclude which city is referred here as the harlot and mystery Babylon. 

Chapter 18 – Mecca is fallen

Babylon is fallen

(Rev 18:1-3) After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

The mystery Babylon is fallen. In the previous chapter of 17, we had 2 possible candidates – Jerusalem or Mecca. However, it is very important to understand that the characteristics mentioned here are for the future and may not have all characteristics that are mentioned here.

The future city has become as following:

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Dwelling place for demons.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Prison (or hold) for foul spirit

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Cage (or hold) for unclean and hated bird

The merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. This future city will be exceedingly rich and influence all the nations to follow and worship the other god, referred as fornication.

(Rev 18:4-8) And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit [as] queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.' Therefore her plagues will come in one day -- death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong [is] the Lord God who judges her.

These passages are a warning for the people living in this future city, the harlot referred as mystery Babylon. As already mentioned while studying the earlier chapter, she had more riches and luxury. Apart from living luxuriously, she will also glorify herself.

I sit as queen and am no widow and will not sorrow – This is the phrase that was said by the old Babylon too.

(Isa 47:6-8) I was angry with My people; I have profaned My inheritance, And given them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; On the elderly you laid your yoke very heavily. And you said, ‘I shall be a lady forever,’ [So] that you did not take these [things] to heart, Nor remember the latter end of them. Therefore hear this now, [you who are] given to pleasures, Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, ‘I [am,] and [there is] no one else besides me; I shall not sit [as] a widow, Nor shall I know the loss of children’;

It was told by God to old Babylon when she did not show mercy but was filled with pride. God finally judges the harlot with fire. She will utterly burn with fire. Comparing Jerusalem and Mecca, which will burn with fire?

(Rev 20:9) and they did go up over the breadth of the land, and did surround the camp of the saints, and the beloved city, and there came down fire from God out of the heaven, and devoured them;

This is the first clue that helps to find out which will burn in fire. The above passage is after the thousand year reign during the Gog and Magog war and before the new heavens and new earth where New Jerusalem comes down from God. In other words, Jesus Christ will reign from Jerusalem (not the New Jerusalem) for a thousand years and will not be destroyed until the new heavens and new earth are created. Hence, Jerusalem will not be utterly burnt with fire.

(Rev 18:9-19) “ The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What [is] like this great city?’ They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’

This future harlot will be the main customer for all the merchandise, similar to United States today. Many scholars are misled to believe United States is this harlot based on the fact it is the biggest main customer for all the merchandise of the world and made all the merchants rich. This is true based on the present situation that US being the biggest consumer. However, we need to understand the harlot is a future city and must also fulfill all characteristics and not just a few. God will certainly judge United States and any other nation forsaking God and committing abominations in His own appointed time. However, the harlot mentioned in Revelation 17 and 18 is not US.

Other important clue here is the city’s destruction will be visible from the sea and it must be on an important trade route for every shipmaster to see the smoke of her burning.

Source: File: figure1a-660×379.gif – [+ https://www.wired.com+]

The route in the red sea where Mecca is located is the world’s busiest sea route from where the shipmaster can see the smoke of the harlot’s burning. The smoke of her burning which the shipmasters saw could be a mushroom cloud of a nuclear explosion which will last exactly an hour.

“The cloud attains its maximum height after about 10 minutes and is then said to be “stabilized.” It continues to grow laterally, however, to produce the characteristic mushroom shape. The cloud may continue to be visible for about an hour or more before being dispersed by the winds into the surrounding atmosphere where it merges with natural clouds in the sky.”

Source: The Mushroom Cloud – http://www.atomicarchive.com

Rejoicing of Saints

(Rev 18:20-24) “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and [you] holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her! Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw [it] into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

As we saw earlier, the harlot is not Jerusalem. It is often misunderstood for what Jesus said about Jerusalem regarding prophets.

(Luke 13:33-35) “Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the [day] following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen [gathers] her brood under [her] wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until [the time] comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ “

Jesus did say Jerusalem kills prophets and it is not possible for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem referring to the prophets sent to Jerusalem in the past and His own death. But the future city, the harlot, has a slightly different description. While the blood of prophets and saints are found, blood of all who were slain on earth was also found, which points to a future persecution of Christians at a global level, not Jews persecuting their own prophets. Jesus didn’t stop there. He goes on to say, the Jews will not see Him “until” they accept Christ as their Messiah. He didn’t reject them rather gave an indication of a future acceptance of Him as their Messiah.

Have you wondered why Mecca will have the following characteristics?

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Dwelling place for demons.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Prison (or hold) for foul spirit

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Cage (or hold) for unclean and hated bird

“Today, more than 15 million Muslims visit Mecca annually, including several million during the few days of the Hajj. As a result, Mecca has become one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world, despite the fact that non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the city.”

Source: Mecca – https://en.wikipedia.org

In Mecca, which is the most cosmopolitan and diverse cities in the Muslim world, no non-Muslim is allowed to even enter.

(Gen 18:32) Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy [it] for the sake of ten.”

God could have spared Mecca for the sake of ten of His children living there. But, none will be found on the day of His wrath on the harlot.

The beast with 7 heads and 10 horns represents the same beast, the Caliphates.

[_(Rev 13:1) Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. _]

(Rev 17:3) So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast [which was] full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Mecca, the harlot which rides on this final Caliphate will be finally destroyed.

(Rev 17:16) “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

It will not be destroyed by US or Russia or any other nations but by 10 kings of the final Caliphate in just 1 hour.

Chapter 19 – Marriage of the Lamb

Marriage of the Lamb

(Rev 19:1-9) After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

It is very important to note that none of all who are called are referred as the bride. So, who is the bride? There are three options based on the study of revelation.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. 144000 sealed from every tribe of Israel (except Dan).

*
p<>{color:#000;}. Israel

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p<>{color:#000;}. Church

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It is generally accepted within Christianity that Church is the bride of Christ. While the Bible does support church to be the bride of Christ through Paul’s wisdom, there is also another view to this. Jews were invited to Christ’s wedding. However, they rejected Him. So, God sent out apostles like Paul to the Gentiles and invited to the wedding.

This can be best illustrated in the parable of the marriage of the King’s Son.

(Matt 22:2-14) “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, “and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. “Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. “And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. “But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ‘Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ “So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. “So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

We see here, even the Jews were invited to the marriage. Why God did invited Jews to His Son’s marriage if Jews (or Israel) is the bride? Also, why did God invited gentiles (or the church) from the streets if the church is the bride?

[_(John 2:21) But He was speaking of the temple of His body. _]

[_(John 3:29) “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. _]

Every believer, including Messianic Jews are part of Christ’s body. So, who is the bride of Christ?

(Rev 14:1,4) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. … These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Are the 144000 sealed from every tribe of Israel (except Dan) the bride of Christ? Paul mentions the church as the bride of Christ.

(Eph 5:23-32) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

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

Every believer in Christ has a part in New Jerusalem as we read below. But, the 144000 are the ‘first fruits’ of Christ.

(Rev 22:19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Since every believer in Christ has a part in New Jerusalem, every believer is also the bride in Christ.

John’s Angelolatry

(Rev 19:10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Bible never tries to hide the fault of saints but shows even an apostle of God to whom these things are revealed can still fall into a grave sin. These are given as a warning and a reminder for us not to worship or serve anything or anyone except God.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

(Rev 19:11-16) Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

This is the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. He comes in a white horse. 

*
p<>{color:#000;}. He has many names: Faithful, True, Word of God, King of kings, Lord of lords and a name no one knows except Himself.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. He has many crowns, representing the title of every ruling authority on heaven and on earth.

*
p<>{color:#000;}. He will rule the nations with a rod of Iron.

As we saw earlier in the 4th chapter of revelation, the white horse symbolizes the spirit of righteousness and holiness.

[_(Rev 3:4) “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. _]

White symbolizes righteousness and holiness.

(Ps 2:8-9) Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

This is a fulfillment of the prophecy about Jesus Christ in Psalms chapter 2.

Judgment of the Beast

(Rev 19:17-21) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

If you read carefully, the angel is saying to the birds to gather for the supper of the Lamb, even before the war. Then, when the kings, captains, mighty men and people (both free and slave, small and great) came for war, the Lord and His army defeats them. If this is a war, we shouldn’t be expected to see people to come and fight but an army. Is this war representing the Jihad of the final Caliphate?

Then the judgment is not the same for all. The beast and the false prophet is cast into the lake of fire. However, the people who had the mark and those who worshiped the beast were not. They were just killed only to be resurrected in the second resurrection for the White Throne judgment in the next chapter.

Let us therefore, wear the wedding garment which is the righteousness and respond to invitation of God for His Son’s wedding.

Chapter 20 – 1000 Year Reign with Christ

Satan Bound

(Rev 20:1-3) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

It is Christ who have the key to the bottomless pit.

[_(Rev 1:18) “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. _]

(Rev 9:1) Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.

However, it was given to various angels for performing various tasks as per God’s plan. Similarly, it was given to an angel to lock Satan in the bottomless pit for a thousand years in this chapter.

Christ’s 1000 Year Reign

(Rev 20:4-6) And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

There are several questions we need to meditate deeply into to get answers. Who are “they” who sat on the thrones? Christ is not judging now but the judgment was committed to the saints who were beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. These reigned with Christ for 1000 years. The important question is, who are they reigning if they will be the only ones? The answer is straight forward when Christ merged the kingdoms of this world to His kingdom and He will rule them with a rod of iron.

(Rev 19:15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Hence, in the 1000 year reign, Christ Himself and those who are blessed for the first resurrection will reign over all nations. Hence, the nations are not destroyed during Christ’s second coming but only the beast, false prophets, kings and armies who came against Christ and His holy city, and He and His saints will rule all nations.

Gog Magog War

(Rev 20:7-10) Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

When the Satan is released after a thousand years, he goes to the nations and deceives them. All the nations, the Gog and the Magog will gather together to fight against the camp of the saints and the beloved city and first came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. Just a small observation that Christ doesn’t seem to be with the saints anymore in this world after the 1000 years had expired when Satan is released – because fire came down from God out of Heaven.

h2<>{color:#000;}.
Satan is then cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophets are. It is to note that the lake of fire and brimstone existed even after a thousand years after the beast and the false prophets where thrown into. Here, Satan will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

(Matt 25:41) “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

 The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. Let us pull every cursed one from the left within the church so that they all don’t go into the same place as the devil.

White Throne Judgment

(Rev 20:11-15) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

White throne judgment is the final judgement of this world. There are books and one special book, the book of Life. The book of Malachi speaks about a book of remembrance.

(Mal 3:16) Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.

(Exod 32:32-33) “Yet now, if You will forgive their sin–but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” And the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.

Moses also speaks about a book, which is the book of Life. Anyone whose name is not written in the book of Life, will be cast into the lake of fire.

(Rev 3:5) “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Jesus also spoke to the church of Sardis that He will not blotting them from the book of Life if they overcome.

Let us therefore overcome the world and make sure our names are not blotted out.

Chapter 21 – New Jerusalem

Revelation’s vs Isaiah: What’s New?

Rev 21:1-4 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

The new heaven and earth mentioned in Revelation 21 seems to be very similar to what was prophesied by Isaiah, but it is not the same, they are replaced by better promises.

(Heb 8:6) But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Revelation 21:1-27[ **](New Covenant Promise)	<>. h2<>{color:#000;}. Isaiah 65:17-25[ **](Old Covenant Promise)
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(Rev 21:5) Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Indeed, God who sits on the throne will make all things new.

(Rev 21:6-7) And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

“It’s done” – was already said earlier by Jesus Christ in the cross. Why is He saying again? What is done?

[_(John 19:30) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. _]

(Heb 9:28) so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Christ had completed the task for which He came a second time, of giving salvation to all who overcame.

(Rev 21:8) “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

All the wicked will have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone which is the second death.

Christ’s Bride: New Jerusalem

(Rev 21:9-11) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light [was] like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

The new Jerusalem, the bride, having the glory of God is ready for the marriage of the Lamb, to be with Christ forever and ever.

[_(Isa 48:11) For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do [it;] For how should [My name] be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. _]

How can New Jerusalem have God’s glory?

(John 17:22) “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

Because, it was given to us by Christ.

(Rev 3:12) “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

It is also an explicit blessing given to the church of Philadelphia.

High Wall and Twelve Gates

(Rev 21:12-14) Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The twelve gates have names of twelve tribes of Israel.

[_(Rev 21:21) The twelve gates [were] twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. _]

They are also referred as twelve pearls.

[_(Matt 13:45-46) “ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. _]

[_(Amos 5:15) Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. _]

“In the gate” is a term repeatedly used in the Bible to refer the borders where strangers/others to the household are met. The twelve gates are filled with justice which are precious as pearls. High walls are generally mentioned in the Bible for fortification.

[_(Deut 3:5) “All these cities [were] fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides a great many rural towns.  _]

(Zech 2:5) ‘For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

High walls are a symbol of protection. We also see a similar usage in Zechariah.

The city has twelve foundations with names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. New Jerusalem is built upon the foundation of the twelve apostles.

The Measurement

(Rev 21:15-16) And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

New Jerusalem is a perfect cube with height, width and length equal.

Source: File: Size of New Jerusalem, PC170579.jpg – [_ http://tourofheaven.com_]

However, the actual size of the New Jerusalem described in the Bible gives clues to the fact that it is not representing a literal city. The only other structure in the entire Bible that is also a perfect cub is the inner sanctuary or the Most Holy place.

(1Kgs 6:16,20) Then he built the twenty-cubit room at the rear of the temple, from floor to ceiling, with cedar boards; he built it inside as the inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place. … The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. He overlaid it with pure gold, and overlaid the altar of cedar.

(1Cor 3:16) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

The 12000 furlongs measurement of New Jerusalem represents the 12000 who are sealed from each tribe forming a perfect cube of Most Holy place, not built with human hands where God dwells. Unlike as the Most Holy place which was overlaid with pure gold by Solomon, New Jerusalem itself is pure God.

(Rev 21:17-20) Then he measured its wall: one hundred [and] forty-four cubits, [according] to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was [of] jasper; and the city [was] pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city [were] adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation [was] jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

The wall having 12 foundations measured 144 cubits. It is a symbolic representation of the twelve apostles judging the twelve tribes of Israel from their gates.

(Rev 21:14) Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

[_(Matt 19:28) So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  _]

(Deut 16:18) “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

These twelve precious stones represents the twelve apostles of the Lamb, just like the twelve precious stones in the breastplate of judgement representing the twelve tribes of Israel as in the law.

(Rev 21:21) The twelve gates [were] twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city [was] pure gold, like transparent glass.

The twelve gates are filled with justice from the twelve apostles which are precious as pearls.

Light of the New World

(Rev 21:22-26) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb [is] its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple in New Jerusalem. The Lamb is its light.

(John 8:12) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light. This is where the church and the gentile converts/believers like you and me come into picture. New Jerusalem is not the church. It is the dwelling place of God among His sealed 144000 of the Lamb. We, the church shall bring the glory of nations to God in New Jerusalem. The gates shall not be shut and there is no night there.

(Rev 21:27) But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

As it is written in the previous chapter, those who are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire.

(Rev 20:15) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Let us be very careful by walking in His light and not defile us with this world.

Chapter 22 – Christ is Coming Soon

Tree of Life

(Rev 22:1-5) And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each [tree] yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

The pure river of water of life which is clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb is the Holy Spirit.

(John 7:38-39) “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The tree of life bore twelve fruits, one for every month. New Jerusalem will have no night and yet months can be calculated.

(Rev 14:1) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

The servants mentioned here are the 144000 who have the Father’s name written on their forehead.

Beware of Angelolatry

(Rev 22:6-9) Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

This is the second time John was involved in worship of an angel and warned by the angel not to do it.

(Rev 19:10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

If John, who walked with Jesus and called the beloved disciple can fall into angelolatry, we need to be extremely careful.

Christ is Coming Soon

(Rev 22:10) And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.

It is important for us to understand that the book of revelation is not sealed. 

(Rev 22:11-14) “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Please note that Christ is not pleading with you to be righteous and holy. The truth is, He is asking you to do more unjust things if are already enjoy doing unjust things and be more filthy if you are already filthy. If you want the right to the tree of life and want to enter through the gates of the city, then do His commandments. The question is, are you doing His commandments?

(Rev 22:15) But outside [G1854] are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

The original Greek word for which ‘outside’ is translated can also refer as ‘without’. For example, King James Version and Young’s Literal Translation translates as ‘without’ rather than ‘outside’. ‘Without’ is the most appropriate translation because, those who do not have their names in the book of life were already cast into lake of fire as a judgment in the white throne judgement.

(Rev 20:14-15) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

New Jerusalem is without anything that defiles

(Rev 22:16-21) “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Christ is calling all who thirst to come to Him. He is calling all to take the water of life who is the Holy Spirit freely from Him.

Look into what God Himself testifies: If anyone adds to this book, God will add plagues written in this book. If anyone removes from this book, God will remove his name from the book of life.

“Luther made an attempt to remove the books of Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation from the canon (notably, he perceived them to go against certain Protestant doctrines such as sola gratia and sola fide), but this was not generally accepted among his followers. However, these books are ordered last in the German-language Luther Bible to this day.”

Source: Luther’s canon – [_ https://en.wikipedia.org_]

We must remember, even great Christian leaders like Martin Luther who led the Protestant reformation wants to remove the entire book of Revelation itself from the Biblical canon, only to be stopped by his own followers. Christ is coming soon. Let us read, listen and obey what is written in this book given by Jesus Christ.

Bibliography

*
h2<>{color:#000;}. All Scripture verses are quoted from New King James Version (NKJV).

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h2<>{color:#000;}. All references quoted inline along with website link for easy access and the benefit of the reader. (Last accessed: 14-May-2016).

Statement of Faith

Being a Protestant Christian, it is easy for me to simply say, I believe the Bible. But, there are lots of different interpretations of the Bible and several deceptions without sound doctrine which created thousands of denominations. Hence, I had put forward a Circle of Discernment to discern every interpretation from the Bible to avoid deceptions.

Source: File: Circle-of-Discernment.png – [_ http://www.trumpet-call.com_]

Circle of Discernment is another way of saying, all interpretations must match God’s spoken words, Christ’s teachings, Scripture (Law, Psalms and Prophets) and the teachings of apostles and disciples in the authoritative order. E.g., if anyone interprets Paul’s letters and arrive at a conclusion, the conclusion cannot supersede Scripture, Christ’s teachings or God’s spoken words. If you cannot find the conclusion of your interpretation taught by Christ, or found in Scripture, or spoken by God, then your interpretation is wrong. Similarly, if you interpret Scripture that does not agree with Christ, then your interpretation is wrong.

About the Author

I, Felix Immanuel is a born again Christian, trying to live a Christ-like life. I am a software professional who write blogs in Trumpet-Call.com focused on the spiritual growth of Christians. God had blessed me with my wife and two daughters. I currently live in Canberra, Australia.

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