End Times Study from John's Book of Revelation - By Karen M Gray 2021   
         
    The Signs Proclaiming the Commencement of the "Last Days" Tribulation    
         
  Preamble: The Book of Revelation is not merely a warning of things to come, but a book describing how God, who is ALL powerful and ALL mighty, cannot be defeated, and who because He is not willing that even one should perish, will continue to draw all men to Himself right through until the end.  However, He is also a just God, and will also punish the wicked who refuse to repent and turn to Him. It begins with a vision of Jesus and ends with His wedding and everlasting reign.

In the first three chapters John is given seven letters devoted to the churches of John's time. Nevertheless, because of the letters inclusion into this prophetic book of end-times prophecies, it is also safe to say that Jesus wanted those of us around at the time of the end to learn something from each of these churches as well. It is important to note that only two of the seven churches are commended. The rest had strayed from their original mandate, beliefs, and/or love for God. There is a warning here for us today, especially as we see His Day approach. Some people have even hypothesised that these are also seven churches throughout history and that the seventh is the state of the current church. There is no way to prove any of these ideas so I will leave that to the reader to seek revelation from the Holy Spirit, rather than speculate on that matter myself.

Although many may be anxious about these dark times ahead, God is calling us to see that Jesus, the Lord of Hosts, is Lord of all, and He is ultimately the victorious one. Satan may have killed Jesus on Calvary but His death & resurrection from the dead brought us new & eternal life. Satan may try again at Armageddon, but Jesus will defeat Him there as well, andKing Jesus will reign over the earth unimpeded for one thousand years. Still believing he can defeat Jesus and reign in his place, Satan will try again to make war on Jesus at the end of the Millenium reign, but again, he will be defeated. Jesus is the only victor and hero in this story. The book is not about the works of the evil one, but that Jesus is the conquering King of kings and Lord of lords. So let us begin our study with this truth in the foremost part of our minds.

Please Note: In a study of the "End Times" there will always be differences in opinion because of the symbolism and language used within the pages of Scripture. To further muddy the waters of interpretation, Revelation is actually a series of visions - not one long vision given chronologically as many have assumed in the past, but as many who have studied meticulously this book have already discovered and many further are now discovering. The various vision are delineated in various ways - one clearly obvious delineation occurs when the angel tells John he must prophesy again, but there are other tell-tale signs acting as the beginning and/or end markers. Many of these visions are retelling the same series of events but from a different aspect, while still other vision are in essence adding extra points not given in the narative thus far. These are interludes or information fillers on concurrent events - similar to someone saying, "while such and such is happening here, this was happening there....." An example of similar visions are: a vision viewed from a Heavenly perspective, and a corresponding vision is seen from the earth (See below). Although there are obvious differences between the spirit and mortal realms, they describe the same events. An example of an interlude is the description of the two wittneses and another of the harlot and beast. They both add more information and detail to the story in order to give further clarity. So you can appreciate the difficulty in sorting out these visions correctly and without bias. (I in no way assume my own study of Revelation is without its limitations and possible errors.) With so much happening in these visions, there is little doubt why people are confused and arguments arise. However, in truth, this is exactly why we need each other - to provide different points of view and arguments to discuss under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, until we can ascertain the real truth. On that topic I am happy to listen to other points of view, provided the advocate of that view is also open to genine discussion.

I began this study with no pre-conceived biases or opinions. I do realise that there are various standpoints - the Preterist or pre-70 AD interpretation, the Church-Age or Historical/Dispensational, and the Futuristic, and probably more with overlapping thoughts and arguements. The futuristic veiwpoint is further splinted into "pre-trib", "mid-trib", and "post-trib" theories. Though I do not ascribe to one camp above the other, I will say this: Some viewpoints have interesting origins, which the reader may wish to research before ascribing to any. The problem with all interpretations is that everyone is convinced that their own standpoint must be THE true interpretation, and will often most vigously use the Scriptures to defend this view point instead of using the Scriptures to reveal truth. Most often people simple believe this because they were taught this by their church.   All the arguements can appear quite convincing, but similtaneously produce very contentious fruit among the brethren. I am not interested in joining that conversation. I personally don't ascribe to one school of thought above the other. As such, I have simply based my study in Scripture starting with Revelation and other prophetic verses in the Old and New Testaments, asking the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and understanding as I delved. I haven't even attempted to fix one of these schools of thought labels to the research, but instead I will say that I see the visions of the book fall into three distinct categories. The first is the letters to the churches, the second: the birth pangs as described in Matthew, and finally the wrath of God. Nevertheless, I'd rather let this page of results speak for itself, rather than to argue a case one way or the other.

Lastly: In perusing this webpage, please use the scroll functions both left & right and up & down. The information sprawls quite a distance to the right and not just what appears within the screen when first loaded. It would be ideal, obviously, to print it out onto a large sheet for clarity, but unfortunately, most people do not have the ability to do this, and the webpage is the best alternative.

In addition to the events discussed here, there are some signs that point to, or that mark the beginning of, these "End Time" events, many of which revolve around Israel, as prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus also tells of signs in the sky that will mark this event. Here is a list, albeit incomplete (Special thanks to Ps Phil Cropper for his list of "prelude to Revelation" signs):		    
    * The Dispersal will return to Israel. See Ezekiel 36:24; Jeremiah 30:1-31, 40. This return of the Jewish people to their homeland has been happening ever since the establishment of the Jewish "State of Israel" on 14th May 1948. See also Luke 21:24

* Restoration of the Hebrew Language The Jews were scattered among the nations in 70Ad when they rebelled against the Romans and Jerusalem together with the Temple were destroyed. There was another revolt in 136Ad which caused those that remained to flee leaving few to none left. The Hebrew language was mixed with other languages creating new languages like yiddish and ladino. Then slowly forgotten as the common language of the country in which they lived became the norm, and Hebrew only used for the reading of the Torah in the synagogue. Because of this the Hebrew language was viewed mainly as a holy language, and not to be used for everyday use. It was also dry and uninviting. That is until Eliezer Yitzhak Perlman, born in 1858 in Lithuania, read a copy of Robinson Crusoe that was written in Hebrew. He was later to change his name to Eliezer Ben-Yudah. When he was 21 he wrote and article in a Vienna newspaper advocating the revival of the Hebrew language and Hebrew nationalism. The Orthodox community who held the language to be too sacred for everyday use rose up against him. Despite the fierce opposition, by 1917 Ben-Yudah had developed an modern Hebrew dictionary.  Also during his lifetime, Ben-Yehuda had developed an intensive method of teaching Hebrew in which only Hebrew was used, which was extremely effective. His greatest victory came in 1921 when the British government recognized three official languages for Palestine: English, Arabic and Hebrew. Those returning from other countries to their homeland of Israel, now learnt the Hebrew language in accordance with Zephaniah 3:9.

* The Jewish people will be prosperous - Israel has the second greatest number of start-up companies in the world after America, and the third largest number of NASDAQ listed companies behind America and China. Its hi tech is said to be now on par with Silicon Valley, with many hi tech companies opening research and development centre & facilities in Israel. It also produces high tech equipment and pharmaceuticals as a leading export. Besides these, Israel is a huge billion dollar producer/exporter of fruit and vegetables, and farmed produce and milk. Its flower industry exports billions of flowers to all countries in all seasons. Add to these, the Israeli diamond cutting & polishing business amounts to 23.2% of all exports. Finally, Israel has been a tourist destination for 3.6 million foreign tourists visiting it in 2017 alone. (See Isaiah 35:7; Genesis 12:3)

* The land of Israel will again become fruitful and blossom. When Mark Twain visited the land of Israel in 1867, he found it to be desolate, with soil not rich enough even to grow cactus. Rather it was in severe poverty - still under the curse that God spoke over the land when they were exiled to Babylon centuries before, and never having recovered because of multiple invasions, causing destruction of lands and decimation of coastal regions.Even during the Ottoman Empire, eyewitnesses told of the top soil being blown away as the land suffered greatly.

Today the land is fertile and blossoming. Though many people groups have occupied the land since the Jewish people were exiled to Babylon, the land remained cursed and did not flourish. Now that God's people have been returning, the ground is once again producing. Why? Ezekiel 36:28-29; Jer 30:3; Isaiah 35:1, 7; Amos 9:13-15;  Joel 2:22-27. This is God's doing and a miracle in our eyes.

* Birds converge and build in number in Israeli mountains. Until recently there were no predatory birds living in the mountains of Israel. Then miraculously, birds of 172 different flesh eating bird species began flocking to the mountains and nesting there. They have become so plentiful that air traffic had to be diverted around the mountains to avoid collisions and subsequent destruction of aircraft. This aligns with Revelation 19:17-18, and Ezekiel 39:17-20. At the time of the last great battle, the birds are called upon to eat the flesh of the thousands of the wicked who have been slain by the sword of Jesus' mouth. The number of the dead is so large that the number of birds required to accomplish this task is phenomenal. Ezekiel 39 says that Israel will be burying the dead for seven months. This is why so many birds are needed. Consider the smell of rotting flesh alone, let alone the disease the rotting flesh could carry.

* Sign of the woman in the stars – This has already occurred on 23rd September 2017, and because this particular celestial arrangement will never be this close to the discription again, it also marks a fixed point in time. We will look at this in some detail, further below.


* Blood Moon Tetrads - a series of four consecutive blood moons over 2 years with 6 full moons between and no partial eclipses throughout and which coincide with major Jewish festivals. Only two in seven tetrads meet this criteria so they are very rare. Only 62 have occurred since 1 AD with only 9 of those meeting the criteria.

There have been many scoffers who have thrown their heads back in laughter when the blood moon tetrad is mentioned. "Nothing happened. It was a load of nothing!" but this jeering is born out of a lack of understanding as to the significance of these blood moon tetrads, and how their appearing has impacted the Jewish nation in the past. The significant tetrads have fallen on Jewish feast days, often accompanied by solar eclipses, and around the time that a major event in Jewish history occurs.

For example: A major blood moon tetrad occurred between 1492 and 1494. Shortly after this the Spanish Inquisitors expelled all the Spanish Jews, giving them only 4 months to leave their businesses, homes and possessions or be slaughtered, and their treasures confiscated.

More recently, more sets of blood moon tetrads occurred during passover. To put this in context, after 70AD the land was given over to the Gentiles until the "Time of the Gentiles" would be fulfilled, but after WW1, the Ottoman Empire that ruled over the land was defeated and the land carved up among the various people groups laying claim to it. Then in 1948, the Israeli people again became a nation - 14th May 1948.  The blood moon that marked this event was between 1949 and 1950.  (Interesting to note that exactly 70 yrs later, an American Embassy (the eagle) was reopened in Jerusalem.)

The second occurred between 1967 - 1968. This marked the recapturing and liberation of Jerusalem during the 6 day war on 4-10th June 1967.

Another set of blood moon tetrads occurred between 15th April 2014 and 28th September 2015. They first two and last of these fell on Passover and Feast of Tabernacles. At this time, preparations and plans were finished to rebuild the Temple. All that they were waiting on (besides the recovery of the Temple Mound, which is far bigger than the Dome of the Rock occupies), was the birth of a spotless red heifer (also considered a sign - see below) to reinstate the blood sacrifices. That heifer was born in August 2018, but must be at least 3 years old before it can be sacrificed.

This last tetrad is the last that aligns with Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, for the hundreds of years. (There will be more that do not align.) Therefore, this last set was heralding something rather big about to happen or marking the start of a series of events. It is interesting to note that it is 7 years come November 2021, from the first blood moon of the tetrad and it will also be 3 1/2 years since the US (symbolised by the Eagle) placed its embassy in Jerusalem.

* The Temple is Rebuilt. In Mark 13:14,26-27 Jesus tells us that the altar of the Temple will be desecrated prior to His return. The Temple building has yet to happen but by all accounts, all the details and plans have been prepared.

* The spotless red heifer -As mentioned above, in August 2018 the birth of a spotless red heifer was greeted with jubilant cries. Though breeding had continued several years, this new little heifer was the first to meet all the requirements of the Law necessary to reinstate the blood sacrifices. However, it must remain spotless until it is 3 years old in order to be the sacrificial offering at the opening of the Temple. (See notes on the sign of the Blood Moon Tetrads above right.)		    
       
  Rev 12 Because the sign of the Woman in the Stars is a snap-shot of future events and also marks of the commencement of the "Last Days" events, Revelation 12 is an excellent place to begin this study. Please Note: The description and discussion will always be to the right => in the green cells. Blue cells will provide further information.


The sign of the Woman in the stars

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth.

And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.		 The purpose of this Sign in the Stars is to place these events in an easily identifiable, fixed-point, time frame that is universal to all readers. This is a very specific astronomical event which marks the beginning of the last days. September 23rd, 2017 was the closest alignment of stars and planets, in all history and for all time to come, to the description given by John in this paragraph. There have been similar astronomical events (eg. at the birth of Christ) but none that fits this description this tightly - nor will they again (that is, not for another 7000 years but given we are in the last days and the prophets are declaring that Jesus will come soon, by anyone's calculation there can be little over 1000 years left). Together with this celestial sign of the woman, is the sign of the dragon - depicting the devil's own rise to power. These signs paint a picture - a story, or summary of events displayed in the stars themselves for all to see.

Some people believe the woman is symbolic for the country of Israel, and that the stars are telling the story from the birth of Christ to His resurrection and forward. For this to be so, the woman fleeing into the wilderness would have to actually be the Jewish nation and the dispersal of its people. However, the 1260 days mentioned are far too short a time to cover this 400 year period. Further, this arrangement of stars was in September 2017 making it relevant to those on earth at this time. Therefore, giving a history is of little value as we have the Bible and other historical documents. Others argue that the not as close arrangment of stars in Virgo at the time of Jesus birth was meant to be a message for those living at the time. (Note: that prophecy often has a now and a future fulfillment known as midrash.) However, if the sign in the stars is fortelling the events to come at the time of Christ, there would be no need to retell what has passed, in an even tighter celestial arrangement in September 2017. 

One could also argue that it is the gospel message to the unbelievers, but again, it is not the unbelievers who are trying to interpret the stars, but those Christians who are looking for markers for the "End Times" to begin. Subsequently, at this point in history, it is more likely to represent Israel as she births the revival in the Messianic church - God's people finally recognising Jesus as the Messiah. The global Bride of Christ is awaiting a great awakening, but only the 144,000 Jews are sealed and taken up as first fruits to be with Christ everywhere He goes. (See notes further down) The saints have already been sealed with the Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 1:13, 4:30)

Naturally, the dragon/devil wants to squash this last great revival before it can begin, but God will ensure it goes ahead for 1,260 days.  Again I will state that this sign in the stars acts as a pre-Tribulation summary - a clearly written statement for the discerning to read. The following verses fill in the detail of that story.		    
    Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”		 Now the message in the stars concerning the last great revival and the beast's rise to power are fleshed out. Up to this point the accuser of the brethren has had access to the courts of heaven where he has made a multitude of accusations against the saints before God. Now finally enough is enough! The testimony of the saints and the fact that they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, declare their innocence, and thus their equittal, before God. The devil is now barred from ever again accusing the brethren in the courts of Heaven. He, together with his hoards, are cast back down to earth - never to appear before God again.

This is cause for thanks and praise. Not only has the blood of the Lamb and our testimony of God's goodness and mercy in our lives, conquered him, but he will never again be given the right to accuse us before God. However, because of this, he becomes infuriated and full of anger & wrath towards Christians, for he knows he has only a limited time left.		    
    And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.		 The devil will try to stop the birthing of the last great revival anyway he can. (We have already witnessed his attempts with lockdowns, church closures, vaccines mandates and the like.) God, however, will ensure that this awakening does take place even in the secret place, and it will continue for three and a half years. (It is argued that the eagle (America) came to the Israelie rescue by erecting an embassy in Jerusalem (14th May 2018) and these dates are significant indicators of God's timing. However, I personally feel that given the global events we've witnessed thus far, it is more likely that the WHO's planned take-over of all government control in September 2024 (which incidently, is 7 years from the sign of the woman) is a more apt time indicator of the last great revival and the beginning of the beast's rise to power. No matter who is correct here regarding the last great revival, the placing of the US embassy in Jerusalem does declare to the surrounding nations that Israel was under the eagle's protection.)

Initially, the devil will focus his attention on Israel, but his torrade of verbal abuse will largely not be tolerated in a world setting. He then turns his attention to the Gentile church. However, the only way to get rid of the saints, now fully empowered by the Holy Spirit, is to raise up the beast - devil/man - who will gain the affections and following of all unbelievers by means of strong deceptions.		    
                 
  The Birth Pangs - the Prelude to the Great Tribulation    
                 
  Reference Prophetic Visions from Book of Revelation Possible Interpretations Reference Corresponding/Contrasting Visions also given in the Book of Revelation Interpretations & Discussions Supporting Scriptures  
                 
  Rev 4 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”		 John is taken to Heaven to see a picture of what the final days look like from a heavenly perspective. This commences with a picture of the throne of God - showing His absolute authority and justice over, and for, all mankind and all spiritual entities. No power, demon or human stands above Him nor can overcome our majestic God - All Mighty! He is the pinacle, the ultimate supreme being with no one above HIm.

At this, all heaven sings His praises, for He alone is worthy.		 Rev 13:1-4 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?”

 This is a contrasting account to that of God in His eternal glory given in chapter 4. The beast is a world leader - the man of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3 - see verse right) known as the "anti"-Christ or substitute Christ - a fake, and who has great authority. He rises from among the people of earth. (The sea symbolises the multitudes of people as explained by the angel later in Revelation 17:15 ).

The beast looks like a leopard, a bear and a lion. These may refer to the countries that support him in this one world government, or who use him as their spokes-person, or this may have relevence to the kind of power he weilds, but whatever the case, it is the devil - the serpent - who gives this leader his worldly authority.

The ten horns speak of ten other kings/leaders that support the beast. They are anti-Christian, blaspheming God, while the people of earth will worship the beast. This vision is similar to the vision of Daniel chapter 7 verses 7-8; 19-25  (See next column to the right.=>)

The identity of the ten kings is still an topic for debate. For many years people have speculated that perhaps the EU would be the beast's centre of power and before that, the UN was hot contender. However, both of these governing bodies seem to have lost traction, whilst the newly formed D10 is lookinglike anotherpossible  candidate at the moment. The D10 group is the latest upgrade from the G7 and now includes the original G7 countries (UK, US, Italy, Germany, France, Japan and Canada) plus Australia, India, and South Korea. The D10 group was formed in an effort to stand as a controlling force against China in the very real event that China goes to war with the Western democratic countries.

However, it may be none of these groups. Some have ascerted that in the New World Order there will be ten major regions of the earth that these elite ten heads will exercise authority over. Country borders may be a thing of the past if this is the case. We will see.

Daniel 7 says that from this global kingdom, ten kings will arise. Then another will rise removing three of the ten. This is the beast!		 2 Thessalonians 2: 3 "Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God."

Daniel 7:7-8 "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things."

Daniel 7:19-25 "Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions.

"As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.

“Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time."

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This demonic king/world leader will not gain power through war and conquest as others have done before him, but by deceit - a deception large enough to take in the entire globe. He will be anti-Christian and anti-God because he is possessed by Satan himself. And he will seek to kill the saints for 3 1/2 years. This would indicate that the Rapture has still not occurred at this time. 		  
  Rev 5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.		 Jesus, the Spotless Lamb of God, is the only One found worthy to open the scroll. He has seven horns or perfect leadership (seven = number of perfection), with seven eyes - perfect wisdom, and seven spirits - Holy Spirit perfect power.

Some have suggested that this scroll is the title deed to ownership of the Earth, for up to that point, the Earth belongs to the Father (1 Cor 10:26, 28; Psalm 24:1, et al). It is within His power to give it to whomever He desires, but He is looking for someone worthy to rule.

Note: Satan and his angels do not own the earth. They were thrown down to this world because of their rebellion, and have taken up the authority that was originally intended for mankind (Gen 1:28-31), but which was squandered by Adam when he obeyed Satan instead of God. Nevertheless, the demonic do not have ownership of the Earth - God does, as the above Scriptures attest!

Not only will the opening of the final seal bring about the Millenium Reign as Jesus takes ownership and Lordship of the Earth, but each seal itself sets another event in motion on the Earth.

Jesus is exalted and praised by all of Heaven.		 Rev 13:5-6 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Again in contrast to Jesus (whom Scriptures tell us came down from Heaven in all humility to become the Spotless Lamb - Philippians 2:5-8) who was given the title deed/scroll to open and then commences His reign, the beast begins his reign on earth when he is given a haughty mouth which he then opens to blaspheme God and His people.  
  Rev 6:1-2 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. I have heard it proposed that the white horse with its crowned rider could in fact, be the anti-Christ. The arguments and supporting evidence within the Greek words themselves, sound convincing. However, this is doubtful because this argument is also based on 1 Kings 22.   That is: Micaiah's prophecy against Ahab goes unheeded, and so God allows Ahab to be deceived by his own disbelief, reinforced by a lying spirit sent to Ahab's own prophets in order to bring about his demise. That is, God sent lying spirits to cause the fall of one currupt king who refused to turn to God and was causing all Israel to sin as a result. In that scenario, God's heart was to rescue the Jewish people from one corrupt man, and turn them back to Himself.

This arguement (because God sent a deceptive spirit to deceive Ahab) implies that the white rider was sent by God to deceive the world, and not just one leader who's destruction was imminent. However, although the beast's (man/devil) agenda is to deceive the entire world in order to turn them away from God, God is still not willing that even one should perish but that all men would turn to Him to receive everlasting life. Not only does the beast blaspheme God, he then sets himself up in place of God, causing people to worship him, not God!! Further, why would God send an antichrist to turn people away from salvation, when He so loved the world that He gave His own truthful Son to bring as many as possible to salvation? Why would God also then punish that same spirit/dragon by throwing him into the pit, if the spirit was only doing what God sent him to do?  Not only is it a complete "about face", but quite unjust. (A kingdom divided against itself will fall.)  God is always the same yesterday, today and forever. He is not a liar that He needs to change His mind doing one thing one day and the entire opposite the next. Therefore, it is doubtful that the white rider - a spirit being who is sent from God in Heaven - is actually the antichrist who himself is also described as rising from the water (ie. the multitude of people) - a man possessed by the devil himself. I personally believe that, like the other riders, the white rider is more likely an allegory of the kind of destruction taking place on earth at the time. (Note: the subsequent riders are not particular people!)

Although it is likely that the real antichrist is currently living as a rising leader on the world arena, and who perhaps has not yet reached the peak of his power or yet totally possessed by Satan. The conquest of nations that the white horse brings could even be a result of the WHO (headed up by Klauss Schwab) vying for ultimate world power (with its one world government agenda), in a world where satan - the dragon - already rules over the minds of men in power.

Peace may be promised, but peace will be taken from the earth, (red horse) with many dying at the hand of other men. There will be wars and rumours of wars (Matthew 24) as well as turbulant times on the earth. Among those who will be rounded up to concentration camps because of they dare challenge the New World Order, will be Christians who will executed for their faith. They (the Christians) will be the scapegoats for all the ills in the world - quite literally. 		 Rev 13:7-10 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.		 Matthew 24: 7-10; 13  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another..... But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:8-9  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.

 Jesus warns us that the saints will be hated, and that there will be a war against the saints. The Word used in Revelation 13 is conquer - the beast will conquer the saints. Many will be killed/martyred, or taken captive (which may end up being worse).  Jesus warns us in Luke 21: 36 "Keep a constant watch over your soul. and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the Son of Man with a clear conscience." - TPT

With regard to being captured or martyred, there is another interpretation of this warning in Revelation 13, and that is: if a believer is taken into captivity, his captor will himself become a captive, and likewise if a believer is killed by the sword, the killer will himself be killed by the sword. That is, the enemies of God's people will suffer the same persecutions they employ. To back up this interpretation,  Jesus' words in Matthew 26:52, "If you live by the sword you will die by the sword" are cited. It is also noted that this is not something the Christians themselves would do (offering violence for violence) but that God would decree the same for their punishment ultimately. Therefore, endurance and steadfast faithfulness is required of each believer. Note the NKJV, "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."

If you believe that the two witnesses are the Church and Jews who have turned to Christ, then this suggests that revival is well underway and that we have been empowered to conquer by breathing fire, those that seek to silence us. That is until the beast takes matters into his own hands.		 Jesus forewarned His disciples concerning the end times and what to expect. He wasn't telling them so much as telling those who would witness these events - ie. us!

Matthew 24: 6-8 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."

Note that Jesus mentioned all the event surrounding the four horsemen: Wars. rumours of wars, famine, pestilences and earthquakes.
  
  Rev 6:3-4 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.  
  Rev 6:5-6 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be 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 wine!” Already we are seeing food shortages because the lockdowns have prevented people from working, but this is just a foretaste. Currently, food prices are hiking globally as a result of lockdowns and those left unemployed have little money to buy any. Nevertheless, even though people are expecting things to improve now that "the worst is over", those in power have an agenda to cause even more instability to every country's economies via plagues, unemployment, economic collapse, and finally great food shortages. This instability then paves the way for a global government promising world wide stability, peace and a sharing of food via the World Food Bank, to step in and take control. However, in order to be fed, not only will you be expected to tow the line or get nothing, but you will be expected to pay exorbitantly prices because of the "shortages". (Note: We haven't yet seen the fullness of all these things.)

We thought vaccine passports were an invasion of rights, but in order to bring some stability on a global scale, the beast will mandate a mark on each person, which allows the person to buy and sell, and will also create a global digital currency to prevent people from buying outside their alloted area, or more than deemed neccessary. However, the priviledged will still have plenty (oil & wine) while the rest will be the impoverished slaves of the elite, (a day's wage for a loaf of bread).

Note: The "Great Reset" isn't about bringing in a Utopia for man, but is purely about killing off as many as possible and subjugating the rest to serve the small circle of the elite. However, Jesus has His own "great divine reset" coming. He will sweep out the old and restore the earth to the original state intended for God's creation, and He will rule with justice and equity.		 Rev 13:11-18 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.		 Emerging in this time of turmoil, will be a counter Revival occurs - this time with the rising of a herald who proclaims that the beast is God! and should be worshipped! The multitudes will link the beast's coming, to every other religion that proclaims a coming deity or prophet, saying that he is THE one foretold to save the world from extinction. (The beast arose in secret from the ranks of men, and was then revealed. In contrast to this, when Jesus returns, all will see because it will be like lightning that flashes from the East to the West, and then every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. There is no mistake, the beast is NOT the Messiah of Prophecy!)

The beast will set himself up as God and be worshipped. Some claim "Midrash" (that is, that the prophecy has both a near and far future outworking) to the Daniel 11 prophecy (that he would set himself up as God in the Jerusalem Temple). We do know that the fulfilment of the Daniel prophecy occurred in 168BC, (See right =>) but in the last days, the antichrist will also do the same or something equally abominable, (i.e., calling himself the only true god, and demanding people worship him or be killed, all whilst blaspheming the Almighty God and His Temple). This would be an abomination that causes the desolation of the saints.

With numerous lockdowns and the unvaccinated prevented from working, food shortages are common place. Now that people are used to vaccine passports, the next step is to create an I.D. or mark that cannot be forged (unlike paper certificates and even computer programs). Many believe that this will be an electronic chip that is embedded under the skin, and that the graphene oxide supplied by the vaccine, because it tends to accumulate on the forehead and the wrists, after it is further activated by specific emf, will supply power to the chip. We'll see, as this is mere speculation at this present time.

However, taking the mark is akin to an alegiance to the beast and his master, the devil. The number 666 is an emphasis of the number six which is the number for "man" or "imperfection". Saying it 3 times strengthens and emphasises it considerably - like shouting it out. In other words, this is man doing things man's way and in man's wisdom totally without God.		 Compare this to Matthew 24: 11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many", and Matthew 24:24  "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect". False prophets will arise bringing deception, and fully empowered by evil - possibly even proclaiming that the beast is the returning Christ. Many will indeed believe and follow.

The Saints will be persecuted at this time and many who refuse to take the mark will be executed. Matthew 24: 9-10, 12-13 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another........ 12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

The beast proclaims himself to be God and seat himself in the temple to be worshipped: Dan 11:31; 12:11 - "Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.  And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days."

The visions in Daniel 8:13  and again mentioned in Daniel 11:31, on the other hand, did actually happen in 168 B.C. when the Greek Antiochus IV Epiphanes who was severely perecuting the Jews, committed sacrilege by setting up an image to the Greek god Zeus in the temple in Jerusalem and sacrificed a pig on the altar (an unclean and abhorrent animal to the Jews. This sacrilege eventually led to the Maccabean revolt), thus fulfilling Daniel's prophecy. 

However, we can see that Jesus also mentions this as a future event in Matthew 24:15 - "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place" (let the reader understand), and in Mark 13:14 "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains", indicating that something similar was still to occur.		  
  Rev 6:7-8 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. People are already dying from so called "vaccines" injuries (labelled CoVid deaths), and from suicide. Again this is just a foretaste. Famine and hunger for those who refuse to take the mark, further pandemics, plagues, vaccines related deaths and lockdowns, and even animal attacks, all of which inflame bloody revolts and uprisings, nations against nations. Christians, as usual, will be blamed, hated, and consequently, martyred for Christ. Rev 14:6-8 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” 		 Angels announce the coming  Judgements of God on the earth, and people should worship the true God before it is too late.

Babylon is about to fall!! Time is running out.		    
  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 witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. Martyrs are being increased in number until all Christians have been terminated. Rev 14:9-12 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.  Another angel tells the saints that they MUST NOT TAKE THE MARK, for to do so will be eternal damnation. There are NO exceptions. Despite all the hardships and tragedies that are happening on the earth, and the very real possibility of death to those who do not comply, we MUST NOT TAKE THE MARK but be willing to endure for a time, even if faced with death.    
  Rev 6:12-17 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” A great earth quake announces the end of the church age. God is now ready to execute His wrath on the wicked. There are major signs in the sky while what appears to be a meteor shower crashes into the earth. The powerful take shelter in their bunkers. However, they understand exactly what this is all about!!

Note: at this time, the church are about to be raptured. They haven't gone just yet. This then is a sign for us that our time to leave this world is near and we need to be like the wise virgins - oiled up and ready to go!		 Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Stars falling from the sky is another way of describing a huge meteor shower - larger than anything man has seen. It will be enough to blot out the sun and moon, or will kick up enough dust and smoke to make them barely visible. Note: both the sun and moon appear reddish in the presence of a smoke filled atmosphere. Joel 2:28-32 "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." - NKJV

Note: the same description is given about the sun and moon etc, before Jesus returns to save His people from the soon coming wrath of God.		  
  Rev 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. The angels are holding back until every one of God's people has been taken home, before God executes His judgements over the wickedness of men. The lack of wind upon the earth may be quite literal as well, but the ramifications are disasterous.          
  Rev 7:2-8 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.		 This vision is of the Jews who have kept themselves pure and who are sealed with the mark of God. They are to be kept for Him as first fruits, and therefore, must be protected.

This could be happening at the same time that the angels are holding back the wind. John's attention is drawn from the four angels to another who seals the 144,000. Note: 12 is the number of government!		 Rev 14:1-5 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.

And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as first-fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.		 As I noted in the description regarding the vision of the 144,00 in chapter 7, this vision is likely happiening around the same time the angels are holding back the wind.

It is also possible that at the same time as the angels announce that this is the last chance people have and therefore, should not to take the mark, that the Jewish first-fruits are sealed with the mark of God.		    
  Rev 7:9-17 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have 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 shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”		 All Gentile Christians are now removed (raptured/martyred) from the earth and are seen in Heaven. They have come out of the Great Tribulation (Verse 14) and are now with the Lord. While a Rapture is obviously preferrable to many saints, it is also likely that there will be some suffering to be endured before this event, perhaps even leading to death for some. The devil wants to wipe out any remnant/reminder that Jesus ever existed, so that no one else will ever follow Him again.

Note: before the rapture can take place, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NKJV says that first there will be a great falling away from the faith and the antichrist must be revealed: "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 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"

This neccessitates that the formation of the one world government preceeds this, as the antichrist is one of the ten heads who is mortally wounded. It is after his death that Satan uses his body (a new satan-man as opposed to God in us - a new creation i.e. God-man) and the beast rises in power.

We will also see a great falling away of believers before the rapture. Some say this is because events are not unfolding as per their views on eschatology. However, this seems a rather flimsy reason to me at least. When the New World Order ushes in new digital currency that they can also control (WHO goal set as 2025), and only those with the mark able to buy food etc., hunger and even fear of reprisal are great motivators for many to take the mark and fall away from the Truth. Also just as those true to God have been persecuted by the religious throughout history (having a form of godliness but denying its power), I believe there will even be some religious leaders who advocate that allegiance to the beast (by taking the mark) is allegiance to God, thus, falling away forever from the true God. Many of these people will even begin to betray the elect, thinking that they are doing God's work.		 Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them!” The saints have now gone from earth to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb. They are better off in Heaven as the time of God's judgement and great wrath will be intolerable! Jesus, Himself, explains in Matthew 24:31 how the saints remaining would be taken up to heaven: "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "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."

And what is happening in Heaven while God begins to pour out His wrath on the wicked? Revelation 19:6-10 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
  
  Rev 8:1-5 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.  Now that Christians both Jews and Gentiles are no longer on earth, Jesus removes the last seal - that of the judgement on the wicked. There is a hushed silence. What is about to happen? (Incidently, this is the only place in the Bible where there is silence in Heaven).

The saint's prayers for justice and righteousness are mingled with the angelic incense and hurled to earth. This causes seven judgement trumpets to be blown, and these herald great devastation caused by what is described as a massive meteor shower. Although the trumpets are labelled one through seven, it may be more like a bullet point list of that the kinds of devastation that is occurring from this one single prolonged event of an intense meteor shower.		 Rev 14:14 - 15:4  Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”

So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.”

So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are your deeds,O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways,O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 		 Note: there are two reapings listed. The first sounds like the reaping of the saints up to heaven. The second, reaps the clusters of evil that will be thrown into the winepress of the wrath of God.

Seven plagues (in the form of a great meteor shower) are designated to destroy the evil upon the earth.  Note: that those who have not given into the beast and have loved not their lives to death, are singing God's praise beside the sea of glass. This indicates that the saints are all now in Heaven with God!		    
  Rev 8:6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.   Rev 15:5 - Rev 16:1 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.And 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, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”		      
                 
  God Now Executes His Judgement Upon the Evil One & All Those Who Have Aligned With him.    
                 
  Rev 8:7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Hail and fire talk about meteor showers which cause great devastation to 1/3 of all plant life. Note: God often uses the natural things to do His bidding. For example: In a battle of Joshua against the kings of the Ammorites at Gibeon (Joshua 10:11), God threw large stones from heaven to destroy the enemy, and these stones killed more than Joshua's army had done! Rev 16:2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. This description appears to be a little different to the first angel of the first vision. However, it is conceivable that both punishments from the two visions happen similtaneously as a result of this first angel's delivery. The sores were upon those who had the mark, (we have already ascerted that the mark is an electronic chip inplanted just beneath the skin), but it may have been activated by these meteorites, especially if there was some electromagnetic phenomena associated with them.    
  Rev 8:8-9 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Another huge meteorite is thrown to the earth, this time destroying 1/3 of all marine life and 1/3 of all shipping. Rev 16:3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The sea is turned to blood as a result of a large meteorite. It may be actual blood, or something that contaminates the water making it look like blood.    
  Rev 8:10-11 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing 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 people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. Another huge meteorite carries poison which infects 1/3 of all the drinking water Rev 16:7 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” Yet another blood poisoning meteorite or series of them, fall on rivers and springs making the collection of clean, pure water difficult.    
  Rev 8:12-13 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!"		 The phrase "the sun was struck" may speak of such a significant amount of celestial debris travelling through the solar system, that a large proportion of it collides with the sun. However, it could also be possible that the intensity of the dust created from the meteor shower, causes the sun to become barely visible, (making it appear to be striken dark), even to make the day seem like night. It is further possible that there is also unusual solar activity which causes a huge number of sun spots and solar ejections. These are all plausible, and again a wait and see is required.

This is followed by an announcement of more to come.		 Rev 16:8-9 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. Some sort of solar activity or solar cataclysmic event, begins to scorch the earth, which would seem to fit "the sun being darkened by massive sunspot activity" theory. Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken."  
  Rev 9: 1-12 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth.

They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.		 This meteorite smashes open a pocket in the earth where unusual insects live. These attack all those who are not of those sealed with the mark of God. (Given that God's people are not those left to endure the wrath of God on the wicked, it has been suggested by some that these believers are those who have realised too late, that what the Christians were saying is true, and have turned to Jesus after the church has been removed.) The bites from these insects leave people reeling in pain for five months.

There is a short description of the locust like insects. Interesting to note that the meteor headed this way in 2024 is called Apollyon as well.		 Rev 16:10-11 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. The sting of these locust looking insects is so painful, that people gnaw their tongues in anguish.    
  Rev 9: 13-21 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar 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, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the colour of fire and of sapphire and of sulphur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulphur came out of their mouths.

By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulphur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.		 China has been held back from warring until this point, but with all the devastation chooses this time to start a major war. This is Armageddon - the last great war before the return of Christ.

There have been people who have suggested that the horses of iron and fire are actually tanks. The reference to fire coming from the horses' mouths and tails being the main clincher to the argument (John has never seen them before so must describe them in terms of things he knows.) The blue and sulphur could also suggest the United Nations Task Force.

It is a bloody battle and many people die - 1/3 of mankind! This is the end of the first  vision.		 Rev 16:12-16 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east.

And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.		 China (and possibly allies from the east) prepare for battle against the West. All the countries of the world assemble in the Meggedo valley to fight. Whether those assembled fully understand the spiritual significance of this battle or not,  John's description of the battle in Revelation 19:11-21 (see right =>) clearly says that it is the devil who has assembled the nations to fight against Jesus.

From an earthly perspective, it may also be that the generals and kings believe the war is between the western coalition and China (together with whomever aligns with them).

 Rev 19:11-21 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave,[fn] both small and great.”

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.		  
                 
  Interlude between the two major visions that describe the events of the end.    
                 
  John is told to prophesy again to fill in details concerning the saints at this time.    
                 
  Rev 10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter.

And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” 		 Discussion John now sees in the Spirit another vision of an angel and is given information to enable him to prophesy yet again - this time from an earthly perspective about peoples, nations and kings. He even hears things the angel hears but is not allowed to record these. He is then told to prophesy again.    
                 
  The Two Witnesses    
                 
  Rev 11:1-3 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” Discussion This new vision feels like an addenda to the vision of Jesus removing the seals of the scroll. So far the previous vision has been to do with events and judgements, but now in this new vision,  John is shown that it is not all doom and gloom, as the church will arise in power around the time the beast arises to power. It commences with a vision of the new temple, possibly the one to be built in Jerusalem.    
  Rev 11:4-10 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. The two witnesses also called olive trees or two lamp stands have been said to be Elijah and Moses, but I am convinced that they are the church and the Jews who have turned to their Messiah, Jesus the Christ. (See the Youtube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE81HrKxHoo - a great rundown on who these witnesses are.) Whatever you are convinced is correct about the two witnesses' identity, they are indeed invincible and very powerful. The only way to rid the earth of them is for the world leaders to agree to have the beast (who is Satan personified) take power and kill them his way. The 3 1/2 days of corpes lying in the streets could be literal, or the corpes remain for 3 1/2 years - less plausible given the smell and possiblity of spreading disease. I am more inclined to take the three and half days as literal given that all the times listed thus far in Revelation are actual time frames and not symbolic as in the book of Daniel. At any rate, Christians will be so hated by then, that the people of wickedness will not even grant them a proper burial. God will them raise them to life and take them into heaven, and the world will witness the event. To counter this miracle and subsequent conversions to Christianity, the story that these people were really aliens and they returned to the mother ship, will be widely publicised. Perhaps they will even fabricate "evidence" of an armada of alien ships above the earth, carrying an alien race that wants to take over the earth.     
  Rev 11:11-12 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. Again, after 3 1/2 days/years, God's people will come back to life and rise to heaven, to be seen by all. Then there is a massive earth quake to mark the last great event.    
                 
  The Story Resumes Further Discussion  
                 
  Rev 11:13-19 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.		 The story resumes here. The seventh angel that was omitted in the last vision is now added. Victory belongs to Jesus and His Millenium Reign commences. Note that the great earthquake happens around the same time the two witnesses (Israel and newly believing Christians) are taken up to Heaven.

As well as a great earthquake that brings ultimate devistation to the city of the great seat of power, the final outpouring from the sky consists of massive hailstones which destroy just about everything else.		 Rev 16:17-21 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”

And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.

And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.		 The great earthquake occurs around the same time the angel announces that the punishments are finished.

Note that John says that there were at that time (time of the seventh angel) rumblings and thunder etc., and not after. ("And there were") There is no conflict with the verses in chapter 11.

As a wrap up to God's wrath, He sends massive hailstones (100lb each) that pulverise the earth destroying islands and mountains and anything in their path. Unbelievably, there are still people cursing God.		 Compare these verses to Revelation 18:21-24 (See Below Left)

Concurrent to these destructive events that are unfolding on earth, in Heaven, the marriage supper of the Lamb is being prepared. (Note verses 1-5 of chapter 19 are a shout of jubliant glee and praise that the the Harlet has been thrown down.) The scene of this marriage super is given in Revelation 19:6-10 - (See above & below left)		  
                 
  Another Interlude    
                 
  Explanations of The Scarett Woman riding the Beast, & Surrounding Waters    
                 
  Rev 17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”

And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”

And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marvelled greatly. But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.

As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”		   Here in this vision, the angel explains who/what the scarlet prostitute and the beast she rides, represents. Many have suggested that she is a world religion - the red and scarlet clothing indicating the Roman Catholic church of Rome, or a bastardisation of it. This religious harlet will be behind the worship of the beast.

She sits in power in a place of seven mountains - at the end of his discourse in vs 18, the angel says that she is a city  (Rome is a strong contender here because John has mentioned in throughout the book of Revelation, albeit covertly), but the angel also tells John that these mountains represent seven kings: 5 who have reigned in the past, one that was alive in John's time, and a future ruler who would live only for a short while, and possibly by now has also passed.

Next the angel describes the beast. The beast of the end times is the eighth ruler to arise, but belongs to the same category as the other seven. That is, the same antichrist spirit has ruled in them all. Under his rule, there will be ten other leaders who are in power and who in complete agreement with the beast, will give him their authority for one hour, to kill Christ. (If that were even possible - hah! Christ has already died and can never be killed again. Moreover His death and resurrection saw the complete victory over the devil who can never defeat him again no matter how many peoples and demons he recruits.)

The waters represent the multitudes of people from all corners of the earth who follow and do everything the prostitute tells them. Therefore, the 10 kings and the beasts will hate the prostitute because its religious dogma gives it power over the people - power that the beast and the kings want for themselves. Thus, they will conspire to destroy the prostitute/city so that the beast can be crowned the ultimate king of earth. 		    
                 
    The Final Outcome - Visions Describing the Fall of Babylon and the Demise of the Beast    
                 
  Rev 18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’ For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls. “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendours are lost to you, never to be found again!” The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?” And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste."

Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”		   In the next vision, a warning angel describes the impending doom of the harlet city, also called Babylon.

He begins by telling any remaining Christians (these may be recent converts who have realised a little too late, that the beast is demonic and Jesus is the only true God. God is extremely gracious in that He is not willing for any to perish, but that all would see the truth and turn to Him and be saved - even in this torraid of darkness during those last days. However, no one who has taken the mark will enter the Kingdom of Heaven! (See Revelation 14:9-12)) to come out of the city before the destruction begins.

When it is destroyed, many men will be extremely upset because they have generated so much wealth and power because of her, in trade and commodities.

Although it will be the beast and his cronnies that do the destructive deed (fire is seen so it may have been via missiles), it will essentially be a judgement that God Himself has commanded against her because of sourcery and blood spilling of the saints of God (see chapter 17:17).

The angel then demonstrates the kind of destruction the city will suffer by throwing down a milstone into the sea and declaring that in the same way the harlet will be thrown down, and swallowed up never to be seen again.		    
  Rev 19:1-5 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”		   John then sees a vision of Heavenly jubilance. There is great rejoicing over the demise of the Harlet.    
  Rev 19:11-21  Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.		   Compare this vision to those of Rev 9:13-21 and Rev 16:12-16 (see above)

This is a picture of the victorious and magnificent Jesus, the warrior King of kings.

The angels tell the birds that have flocked in their thousands to the mountains of Israel (see the signs of the Last Days at the top of this chart) to come and feast on the flesh of men.

The battle is over quickly and the beast and false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire. Jesus kills all the rest with the sword of His mouth. The birds then devour their flesh.		    
  Rev 20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.		   At the end of the battle, which seems to have been over very quickly, the angel grabs satan/the serpent/the devil, binds him, and throws him into the bottomless pit, and then seals it over for 1,000 years.

Those that were martyred for Christ they arise to life to reign with Him for the Millenial Reign.

At the end of 1000 years, satan is released and straight away begins swaying the people of the two biggest nations to try and war against Jesus yet again. This time, the Father pours down fire from heaven and consumes them all.With the devil being thrown into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown, never to arise from that place again.

All the dead from all over the earth, then stand before the Great White Throne and face judgement for their deeds during their lifetime - some will be rewarded but others punished, and any who do not have their names written in the Lamb's book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. 		    
                 
    The New Heaven and the New Earth    
                 
  Rev 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I 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 the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia.[fn] Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.  They will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.		   John sees a vision of the new Heaven and New Earth - a place where God and man can dwell together forever.

Jesus declares it is done and says that only those who have conquered over the darkness and the flesh will live there. All those who aligned themselves with evil will burn in the lake of fire.

Then the angel showed John the Bride - it is the city of God. John then describes it in detail.

Finally he is shown the true millenial temple of God where God Himself will reign. He will be the light and the temple will be open to all whose name's are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.		    
  Rev 22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. And He said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!		   John is shown the river flowing from the throne of God. It brings forth life in the form of fruit trees and healing for the nations.

The saints wear the mark of God and walk in the light.

Jesus re-enforces His words are truth, and that he is coming. Therefore, blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.

John mistakenly bows to worship the angel who then ticks him off for doing so. He was then told not to seal up the prophecy but to make it available to all despite their character.

Jesus gives His final warning. He also reiterates that His words and prophecy are true and to therefore, take note!

The Holy Spirit and the Bride - the city of God (Revelation 21:9-11) invite all to come and enjoy God's favour and life.

John finally gives the warning NOT to add or subtract anything he has written in this book (Revelation). Jesus will be returning soon.