are
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taken up to heaven. These churches and church organizations are
one of the two horns.
The other horn represents the religious organizations of the
world that believe in a creator God but deny that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of the living God. These organizations say that Jesus was
a good man, a great teacher, or a prophet, but do not know that he
alone is “the way and the truth and the life” ( John 14: 6) and that no
one can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ.
Thus, the “two horns like a lamb” represent the religious organizations
of all the world that mankind chooses to follow. Through
this part of the false prophet, satan has deceived and will deceive a
great portion of mankind.
The Work of the Second Beast
The second beast has an appearance of good––“two horns like a
lamb”––but is still that ferocious, destructive beast––“spoke like a
dragon.” He has the power, throne, and authority of satan and is led
by satan himself to his destruction in the lake of fire.
The second beast will “exercise all the authority of the first beast
on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the
first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed” (Revelation 13:12). This second beast is the heir apparent of the first. The first beast is in
power now; the second beast will be in power after the two witnesses
are killed. He will then carry on all of the first beast’s work. There
seems to be an end to the first beast, which brings in the second
beast. Revelation 13:3 says, “One of the heads of the beast seemed
to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.”
When we couple the head of the beast in this verse with the explanation
of the seven heads of the beast in Revelation 17:9–10, this
head that had a fatal wound is one of the seven kings. Thus, there
will be a king whom satan will set up as a person who will seem to
be the Messiah.
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The Wounded King
The king may or may not be a king or ruler or a great man of importance,
because satan is the one who wants to be great and worshiped. The use of the word seemed in describing the fatal wound indicates
deception. Also, an image of this king will be set up as an object to
be worshiped. The second beast will be given power to give breath to
the image so that it will be able to speak, thus deceiving the inhabitants
of the earth (Revelation 13:13–15). This king will be a deception,
a fake, and an effort by satan to duplicate the coming of Jesus; his
life on earth; and his death, burial, and resurrection. If the king is
to be this satanic version of the Messiah, he will seem to fulfill the
messianic prophecy of the Old Testament. He will seem to recover
from the fatal wound, and his image will seem to breathe and talk,
deceiving the whole world so that everyone will worship the image
as this false messiah.
Therefore, the purpose of the second beast is to exalt the king
that is wounded, thereby putting into place a false messiah and causing
everyone to worship the image of that false messiah. The beast
will also force everyone to receive a mark. Revelation 13:16–18 says of
the second beast,
He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and
slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so
that no one could buy or sell unless he has the mark, which is
the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for
wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of
the beast for it is a man’s number. His number is 666.
Please note, in the above verse, the phrase, “a man’s number” is singular. But
this does not demand that this means only one man. We
can say a man has two arms; that does not mean that only one man
has two arms but that the condition of mankind is that a man has
two arms. In the same way, “666” is not about one man, but the condition
of mankind at the time of Revelation 13.
Taken literally 666 as an actual number has no significant meaning. The
context does not speak of a number of persons, but only as
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666 being the seal, or a mark, of satan. It will be necessary to put a
seal on the family of satan, for there is a seal on the family of God. So there needs to be an interpretation of 666.
In the interpretation of 666, we applied two rules of numbers in
biblical interpretation. (These are rules only in the sense in which
we understand their use in the Bible.) The first rule has application
to the number six. It is one less than the complete number seven. Being one less than complete, we call six an incomplete number. The
second rule has to do with the series of three. A series of three in the
Bible is used to give exclamation to the Word. “Holy, Holy, Holy,”
means the most holy; “Woe! Woe! Woe!” means the greatest woe.
As we put the two number rules together, 666 becomes the most
incomplete. Most incomplete is indeed the reality of mankind as a part
of the family of satan during the era of the second beast. Reality at that
time will be that the two witnesses will have been killed and resurrected
and the remainder of the family of God will have been taken to heaven
with the family of satan left on the earth. Consequently, they will be
controlled by satan, totally without God and totally without choice. They may no longer cry out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” and be
saved. The gates of heaven will have been closed.
Thus, 666 means mankind without God. It is the number
of satan, his name since he was cast out of heaven, and it will be
man’s number after God closes the gates of heaven. 666 equals most
incomplete, without God, without hope.
With this marking of mankind, the beast will have complete
control. The Bible says, “His number is 666”
(Revelation 13:18c). The mark is satan’s way of exercising authority
over his people at the time when he has complete control. The
marking will be ordered by the beast and carried out by the ten kings
of Revelation 17:12–13. The mark of the beast is satan’s duplication of
the seal of God (Revelation 7:3–4). satan’s falsification of the Messiah
is described in the following statements.
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The Messiah, Jesus Christ:
1. Has all authority (Matthew 28:18).
2. Died on the cross.
3. Was resurrected from the dead.
4. Performs great miracles (Revelation 11:12).
5. Rules with power (Revelation 1:15).
The false messiah:
1. Has limited spiritual authority (Revelation 13:2).
2. Seemingly died (Revelation 13:3).
3. Was seemingly resurrected (Revelation 3:3).
4. Performs deceptive miracles (Revelation 13:13).
5. Rules by force (Revelation 13:16).
With these similarities, satan builds a case to deceive the whole
world and make them believe that Jesus was a false messiah and
that his beast is the real messiah. He deceives the whole world, who
would “rather believe a lie than the truth.”
Thus, this first beast that comes out of the sea is a beast of conquest. He
makes war against the family of God until he is permitted
by God to conquer them. When he has conquered the family of
God and has brought the rest of the world under his control, his task
will be complete and a new era will begin.
Then I saw another beast coming out of the earth. He had two
horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all
the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth
and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound
had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs,
even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view
of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf
of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He
ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast, who was
wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give
breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and
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cause all who refuse to worship the image to be killed. He also
forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no
one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name
of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast,
for it is man’s number. His number is 666.
Revelation 13:11–18
The calculation of 666 is best understood from the context in which
it is written. 666 is the last word of Revelation 13 and also the last
word in the description of the seven trumpets of tribulation. Thus
we conclude that the calculation is derived in the explanation of the
seven trumpets.
“Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the
remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are
about to sound.”
Revelation 8: 13b
“Woe woe woe” is synonymous with trumpet numbers five, six, and
seven.
The conclusion of the trumpets is 666.
Therefore, three Woes equals three trumpets, which equals three 6s.
The conclusion of the first woe and the fifth trumpet is seen in
Revelation 9: 11.
The inhabitants of the earth have as their king the destroyer—
not Jesus Christ.
Thus, they are incomplete—a 6.
The conclusion of the second woe and the sixth trumpet is seen
in Revelation 9: 20–21.
The inhabitants of the earth will not repent of their sins.
Thus, they are incomplete—two 6s.
The conclusion of the third woe and seventh trumpet are seen
in Revelation 13: 14–17.
The inhabitants of the earth will be forced to worship the image
of the beast.
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Thus, they are incomplete—three 6s.
Conclusion and calculation of 666:
Please note; every person is born incomplete—a 6. When a person
believes, repents and receives Jesus Christ as Lord they become
complete—a 7.
The beast (satan and his followers) and mankind who have the
destroyer as king, have not repented and are forced to worship the
image of the beast are 666 incomplete—never to be complete.
They will be judged guilty—the doors of heaven will be closed
and they—outside.
satan and all who follow his rebellious ways are incomplete and
at the end of chapter 13, waiting to be cast into the lake of fire—forever
without God, forever incomplete—666.
The Three Children of the Family of satan
The peoples of the earth are so diverse, as created by God, that it
was necessary to divide the family of satan into different entities. So,
to best describe the multiplicity of ways that mankind has rejected
God’s plan for salvation, John was shown through visions and by
word this “Revelation.” He was told to describe three entities, which
I call the three children of the family of satan. They are the beast, the
great prostitute, and the false prophet.
The Beast
The physical beast is made up of individuals or organizations that
are committed to satan or participate in satanic worship and/or
satanic practices. The spiritual beast has as its head satan (Revelation
17:8). It is also comprised of the dead in satan and the living who
have committed themselves to satan. In the beast is satan’s attempt
to duplicate the true church or the bride of Christ. The true church
has as its head Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:23–24), and it is also comprised
of “the dead in Christ” and the living who have committed/
given themselves to Jesus Christ. Whereas, Jesus loved the church
and gave himself for it, satan hates the beast and his other children
and rather than give himself for them, he destroys them (Revelation
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17:16–17). satan worshipers often speak of the bride of satan, but this
not a love relationship. Because of satan’s rebellion against God, he
attempts to destroy everyone.
The Great Prostitute
The great prostitute, the woman riding on the beast, is a visionary
woman who exemplifies that segment of mankind that has rejected
God’s plan for salvation through Jesus Christ. They have chosen to
fulfill their own desires and lusts with the physical things of earth
to the exclusion of God. These men and women fulfill their lusts by
their own abilities, thus making themselves gods.
The woman, as a child of satan, differs from the beast in that
she is not committed to satan, does not worship satan, and, for the
most part, does not even believe satan exists. Within the woman are
those who are deceived by satan and caused to reject what they do
not understand so that they believe that there is no God.
Through deception, satan blinds a large portion of mankind and
causes them to reject God’s plan for salvation because they do not
understand. Many hear the gospel but reject it for lack of spiritual
depth or understanding as shown in Matthew 13:18–19. Many are
deceived because they reject God’s plan as a result of seeing the lifestyles
of Christians and others who claim to be, or are perceived to
be, Christians. Many are deceived and reject God’s plan simply by
neglecting to hear and accept the truth. satan also deceived many by
helping them to choose to believe that there is no God or devil, just
physical mankind (atheist)
The woman is blinded to spiritual realities, rejects God’s plan
for salvation, and places all hopes of a future in the things of this
world. She fulfills her desires and lusts (Revelation 17 and 18) without
considering the consequences of eternity and the destiny of eternal
souls.
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The False Prophet
The false prophet is a child of satan. They, mankind, who make
up the false prophet are those who believe that there is a God and
believe they are worshiping God, but they have the wrong message
( Jeremiah 23:9–40; Matthew 24:24; 1 John 4:1–6; and 2 Peter 2:1–3). Thus, satan, through the false prophet, deceives, confuses, and misleads
those of mankind who reject God’s plan for salvation through
Jesus Christ. The false prophet is made up of religious systems that
believe that there is a God but deny Jesus Christ as the Christ, the
Son of the living God. The false prophet is particularly destructive,
for it deceives man’s natural yearning for God and leads mankind to
his own destruction.
He was given authority to make war against the saints and to
conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe,
people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will
worship the beast––all those whose names have not been written
in the Book of Life, belonging to the Lamb that was slain from
the creation of the world.
Revelation 13:7–8
This ferocious beast (physical mankind), who is committed to and
controlled by satan, receives his power and his throne and great
authority from satan, who is its head (Revelation 13:2). The result
of the spiritual power astonishes the whole world and men worship
satan because they are at a loss of what else to do. They do not
know God or the power of God for they have rejected him, so they
exclaim, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?”
(Revelation 13:4). All of mankind, except those whose names are
written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, are ruled by and, do in fact, worship
the beast (Revelation 13:7–8; 15).
These three entities are stereotypes in which fit all of mankind
as characterized by their individual method of rejecting God’s plan
for salvation, thus making up the entirety of the family of satan. The
beast, the great prostitute, and the false prophet are stereotypes in
that an individual person will not fit all aspects of their stereotype
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but do fall into that category as they reject God by making one of
the three their god.
Stereotypes:
I. The beast
A. satanic worshipers.
warlocks
witches
High priest of the occult
B. Practicing occultist
Idol worshipers
Worshipers of creation––the sun, the moon, and
stars, etc.
Certain religious organizations that reject God’s
plan through Jesus Christ
II. The great prostitute
A. Those that make the things of this world their gods.
Materialists: possessions are god
Those who are completely self-sufficient: self is
god
Nationalist: nation or ideology is god
Those who have no time for God: the thing that
takes their time is their god
Those who are blinded by sin: self is god
Those who are blinded by the desires of the world:
self is god
Those who are blinded by satan: satan is their god
Those who are blinded by hypocritical “Christians”:
ignorance of God
B. atheists: those who believe there is no God
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
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III. The false prophet.
A. Those who think they worship the creator God, but
reject Jesus Christ as Messiah.
B. Those who are church members but have not made
a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, resulting in
salvation (not born again).
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Revelation 14
Chapter 14 is a series of three visions that give an overview of history
from a heavenly viewpoint They show what God did as opposed
to the description of the work of satan in chapters 12 and 13 It is
important to understand the sequence of the visionary scenes as
given in chapters 11–14
Chapter 11 is a series of scenes that show the conclusion of what
happens to the last generation of the family of God It concludes
with God taking control of the situation by his great power We
believe that the last of the family of God is raptured to heaven in
11:19 At the end of chapter 11, God is in control and the doors of
heaven are closed
Interesting situation: satan, his beast, and the false prophet are
in total control of earth At the same time, God takes control!
Explanation: Throughout history God has given to mankind
freedom of choice (crown) When God takes control, there is no
more choice
Chapters 12 and 13 explain from the viewpoint of satan and his
family how mankind came to experience the events of chapter 11 and
how satan brought about the killing of the two witnesses
Chapter 14 explains from the viewpoint of the family of God
what God is doing during that same time span of history
Then I looked and there before me was the Lamb, standing on
Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his
Father’s name written on their foreheads
Revelation 14:1
The lamb is the resurrected Jesus Revelation 13:8 says, “the Lamb
slain from the creation of the world ” Jesus always has been and
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always will be the Lamb, who takes away the sins of the world. In
this respect, Jesus Christ is standing on Mount Zion. Jesus, as standing
here on Mount Zion, is the resurrected and victorious Jesus. He
has proclaimed salvation complete. Salvation for mankind is completed
through Jesus’ sinless life, vicarious death (life given for others),
and the resurrection from the grave. He stands victorious on
Mount Zion, having accomplished God’s plan for the salvation of
mankind and to receive mankind, who comes to him for forgiveness
of sin and salvation.
In Bible times, Mount Zion was the place where God’s presence
was recognized, where God was worshiped, and where mankind
went to meet God. Therefore, the Lamb, the resurrected Jesus,
stands victoriously on Mount Zion and ready to receive all of mankind,
who will come to him for salvation.
There is a place in the city of Jerusalem that is called Mount
Zion. It is where the temple of Solomon stood. However, this particular
spot was not always called Mount Zion. The chain reference
Bible states, “Mount Zion originally meant the city of David, which
was the lower eastern hill of Jerusalem known as ‘Ophel’” (2 Chronicles
27:3; 33:14). Later, when Mount Moriah became temple hill and
the ark of the covenant was brought up out of the city of David to
the temple, the name was transferred here (1 Kings 8:1; 2 Chronicles
5:2), and this became “Zion,” the most significant of all sacred places
to the prophets and others of those centuries. In addition, biblical
references speak of Mount Zion as being the place of God’s presence
and the place where mankind goes to meet or to worship God.
So using chain reference and scriptures Isaiah 4:5, Jeremiah 31:6,
and Zechariah 8:2–3 as evidence, I conclude that Mount Zion has a
spiritual meaning that is of greater importance than its physical location
in Jerusalem. Thus, I interpret that Mount Zion, as used in Revelation
14, refers to a spiritual place rather than a physical place.
Therefore, in this vision, Mount Zion is the place where mankind
meets their Savior standing victorious over sin, death, and hell. Since it is a spiritual place other than Jerusalem, mankind may be
saved anywhere, anytime they “call upon the name of the Lord.” We
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do not have to face Jerusalem to pray, but we know that our spiritual
Savior hears our prayers wherever we are when we address our voice
to him.
The 144,000 as enumerated in Revelation 14:1 is not the same
144,000 spoken of in chapter 7. The 144,000 in chapter 7 are clearly
described as the descendents of the twelve sons of Jacob, which gives
a strong message that many, but not all, of the descendents of Jacob
are sealed into the family of God. I understand that, just as in chapter
7, the 144,000 of chapter 14 comply with the interpreting principle
of limiting numbers. Therefore, the 144,000 standing with Jesus are
many, but not all, of the family of God. They sing a new “song,” have
been “redeemed from the earth,” have sanctified themselves (verse
3), “have kept themselves pure,” and are “firstfruits to God and to
the Lamb” (verse 4b).
The 144,000 sing a “new song” that no one else could learn. They are a unique group who have dedicated themselves to the work
of their Lord and, as such, are given a new song.
They have been redeemed, saved from sin by the redemptive
blood of Jesus. These 144,000 are “redeemed” from sin, cleansed,
and keep “themselves pure.” In verses 3 and 4, in two places they
are called “redeemed”: “from the earth” and “from among men.” I
understand this to mean that they were no different from any other
person as born by nature to be sinners, but were saved, washed their
robes, were redeemed, and their sins forgiven. Thereafter, they live
their lives in dedication to God’s anointing upon their lives. They
did not go back to the sins of the world as many do, but kept themselves
pure (verse 4a).
They keep themselves pure from two areas of sin, as related in
verses in 4 and 5: “these are those who did not defile themselves with
women, for they kept themselves pure … No lie was found in their
mouths; they are blameless.” This is not a complete list of sins but
two areas of common sins that illustrate that the 144,000 lived committed
lives pleasing to their Lord.
I need to include the fact that “defile themselves with women”
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does not demand that they be celibate, but that they were not defiled
by women. The plural form of woman is used. Therefore, these did
not have more than one intimate partner. God is the one who instituted
marriage, so an intimate relationship within the bonds of marriage
is not sin. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable in all, and
the bed undefiled.” Therefore, these 144,000 were not celibate, but
undefiled by sexual sin.
In the same sense, there was no lie found in their mouths. It
was not that these had never told any lie in their physical lives––for
all children have lied to their parents––but that, after the age of
accountability, they confessed their sins, accepted Jesus Christ, and
lied no more. They served the living God and were blameless.
The Bible says, “They follow the Lamb, wherever he goes” (verse
4b). As the 144,000 commit their lives to the Lamb, they are filled
with the Holy Spirit, are led by the Holy Spirit, and follow wherever
he leads.
The Bible also says, “They were purchased from among men
and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb” (verse 4c). Therefore,
I believe that the 144,000 are particularly strong and moral
witnesses who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion. As such, they
are preachers, evangelists, teachers, and witnesses who present the
gospel and offer the opportunity for mankind to come to salvation
through the Lamb. Any person who takes the Word of God and
presents the Word of God to a person they meet, sharing with them
the way to salvation, and if that person determines to believe in God
and to receive Jesus Christ as Lord, confessing their sins and receiving
salvation, they are experiencing this event standing on Mount
Zion. On Mount Zion are three persons: the one giving the witness,
the one receiving the witness, and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Mount
Zion can be any place, a place where mankind meets God.
Throughout history, there has been 144,000––many, but not all,
out of a much larger group––who have followed Jesus Christ in witnessing
the Word of God to mankind to the ends of the earth. They
sing a new song. They have been redeemed and keep themselves
pure in order to be the best witnesses they can be.
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I quickly add that this would not necessarily include all who
call themselves preachers, evangelists, teachers, and Christians. The
Scriptures speak of false prophets and false teachers who are prophets
and teachers for the purpose of filling their own bellies for money. This world is not out of false prophets and false teachers; indeed, it
seems there are more of them with every passing day.
The vision of the Lamb standing on Mount Zion shows the
completed work through which salvation was accomplished. It also
shows those with the Lamb, who throughout history have kept
themselves pure and who presented the Word of God to mankind.
Whereas chapter 12 describes the dragon warring against God’s
plan for salvation through God’s chosen people, beginning with
Abraham and continuing through Pentecost and the New Testament
era, chapter 14 describes the Lamb standing on Mount Zion
receiving the individuals who come to receive him and entering into
the family of God. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and a new era
began. In this era, the gospel is to be proclaimed to the whole world
as seen in verse 6. Thus, Jesus Christ stands with his messengers on
Mount Zion receiving the family of God––any place on earth.
The Three Angels
Revelation 14:6–13 gives a vision of three angels who are given three
messages to be proclaimed to the whole world during the time of the
first beast. That time era is outlined in Revelation 13:2–10. It begins
at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 and continues through the killing of
the two witnesses in Revelation 11:7.
The message of the first angel is to be proclaimed “to every
nation, tribe, language and people” (Revelation 14:6). It seems to
me that the angel has a responsibility of promoting the spread of
the gospel as the Holy Spirit leads God’s messengers. The gospel
message began to be preached at Pentecost by Peter and the other
apostles as the Holy Spirit came upon them. Thus began the new
era, which will be consummated only when the gospel has reached
all peoples and all who will accept the gospel of Jesus Christ have
done so.
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The second angel followed with the message that Babylon the
great had fallen, mankind in spiritual adultery (Revelation 17 and
18). The message literally means that mankind, who has rejected the
gospel in favor of the desires and lusts of the flesh, is destroyed. This
has been a part of the gospel message even from Pentecost until the
present time. Acts 2:40 says of Peter, “With many other words, he
warned them; and he pleaded with them, save yourselves from this
corrupt generation.” Thus, the second angel gives a severe warning
to all mankind that the world system of desire and lust—”maddening
wine”—will be destroyed. Judgment is already pronounced, yet it
will not be carried out until all are sealed either with the seal of God
(Revelation 7:4) or the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16).
The third angel follows with a similar message of judgment and
destruction upon all who worship the beast. They will be tormented
forever “in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb” (Revelation
14:10b).
The messages of the three angels are to be proclaimed to physical
mankind throughout the era of Pentecost to the harvest of the
earth when God determines that all who are going to be saved are
saved. Indeed, the messages of the three angels are the same message
proclaimed by Isaiah and Jeremiah to the whole known world
of their day, as seen in Isaiah, that says,
They have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned
the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the Lord’s anger
burns against his people; his hand is raised, and he strikes them
down.
Isaiah 5:24–25
Thus, the message of the gospel has always been to “fear God” and
repent, for those who do not fear him and repent are “fallen” and
will suffer the wrath of almighty God. This is the “eternal gospel” of
Jesus Christ.
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The Harvest of the Earth
In Revelation 14:14–20, there are two scenes depicting the final conclusion
of physical mankind on earth. Each scene speaks of the reaping
of the earth, and that grapes of the earth are ripe. In each scene,
an angel comes from the temple and commands that the earth be
reaped with a sharp sickle.
In Revelation 14:14–16, the first of the visionary scenes depicts
the rapture or the final gathering of the family of God. The one sitting
up on the cloud with a golden crown we understand to be Jesus
Christ. He “reaps” the final members of the family of God who are in
hiding from the beast. This illustrates to physical mankind that God
is in charge of the time and circumstance in which physical mankind
will come to their end––as an act of God, not a war between armies
of physical mankind.
Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud
voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and
reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth
is ripe” (Revelation 14:15).
The above verse, Revelation 14:15, is similar in nature to 1 Thessalonians
4:17, which says, “Then we who are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air.”
God designated the time to reap when the angel came out of
the temple and called in a loud voice. The message comes from the
temple, the place where God dwells; thus, the angel came from God
with the message that “the time to reap has come.”
Not only was it the right time for the end of time, but also the
circumstances were also right as related here in verse 15, which says,
“because its grapes are ripe.” The earth will be ripe because the family
of God will have been defeated (Revelation 13). There will be
no more witnesses (Revelation 11). No one else will be saved. The
family of God is complete, thus the final members of the family of
God are taken (raptured) and will not see death, as is common to all
mankind, but meet the Lord in the air.
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With the family of God complete, God’s plan for his creation
is complete and there is no further purpose for physical creation as
we know it.
God, then, determines both the time and circumstance in which
the physical comes to an end. The second scene coincides in time and
circumstance with Revelation 19:11–21, which explains the return of
the victorious Jesus to destroy those who have destroyed the earth. Those who will be reaped through this second scene, or second reaping,
will be all mankind who are not the family of God, but who have
rejected God and God’s plan for his creation. They will be tread upon
in the wine press of the wrath of God, just as the Bible says in verse
21, “The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of his
mouth.” This passage also coincides in time and circumstance with
the pouring of the seventh bowl in Revelation 16: 17.
After the time and circumstance has been determined by God––
Jesus said that he did not know the time, but only the Father knew–
–then the angel will swing his sickle on the earth and physical mankind
will be no more. The number of those killed by God at the time
of the end can be somewhat determined by verse 20, which says,
They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and the
blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horse’s bridle
for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
Revelation 14:20
Thus, the first reaping is the reaping of the family of God. In time
sequence, I believe that this happens at the point in time of 1335 days
after the tribulation era begins. This is spoken about in Daniel 12:11–
12. It is also after the time that the two witnesses have been killed,
that the image that brings desolation has been set up, and the final
remaining family of God is forced to go into hiding as explained in
Matthew 24. They are reaped from the earth, changed in the twinkling
of an eye, to live with the Lord forever in heaven.
The second reaping is the reaping of the family of satan—those
who have rejected and fought against God. They will be killed by
the sword that comes from the mouth of Jesus Christ as he returns
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on the white horse. Their souls will leave their dead bodies to that
place which God has prepared for them, and that the Bible calls hell. They have chosen to reject God as their God; thus, they received
their choice: eternity separated from God.
Outside the City
The city is Babylon the great, whose populace is the family of satan. Babylon the great is the whole world as seen in its description in
chapter 18. Chapter 18:3 refers to “all the nations,” “the kings of the
earth,” and “the merchants of the earth.” Refer to the discussion on
Revelation 17 and 18. Therefore, if Babylon the great comprises all
the peoples of the world, then the city is the earth and outside the
city would be outside the physical earth.
A typology of the crucifixion of Jesus is seen in this passage of
Scripture. Jesus was taken by the family of satan outside of the holy
city Jerusalem––the city of God, Mount Zion, the city he loved,
where God made his dwelling place, etc.––to Golgotha hill, and
they crucified him. In the same manner, the family of satan will be
taken out of their beloved Babylon (earth) and will be slaughtered in
the winepress of God Almighty. This is not a physical war between
two physical armies. It is an act of God as clearly described in three
places: “the angel swung his sickle on the earth” (Revelation 14:19),
the description of the earth’s destruction (Revelation 16:16–21), and
“the rest of them were killed with the sword … of the rider on the
horse” (Revelation 19:21).
Revelation 14:20 says, “Blood flowed out of the press rising as
high as a horse’s bridle for a distance of 1600 stadia.” This picture is
shown to John to illustrate how many people there will be that will
have rejected God’s plan for salvation.
Please note that we are given only two dimensions: height and
length. To determine volume requires three dimensions: height,
length, and width. If we had the width, we would be trying to figure
out by volume how many people would be in the winepress. The
message of the flowing blood is that there will be many millions
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who will experience the wrath and destruction of God. We need to
be busy proclaiming the gospel of salvation.
Many have interpreted this blood flow to be the result of a
physical war with guns and bombs in a valley named Armageddon. There is a battle of Armageddon. It is not a physical war. There
will be physical wars, fightings, and killings until the very end, but
Armageddon is more than a physical war. It is a spiritual war fought
between the physical family of satan and Jesus with the armies of
heaven. (Refer to the sixth bowl, Revelation 16:16; 19:11–21).
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Revelation 15
John is shown two scenes in chapter 15 Both scenes are in heaven,
and both illustrate that God is in complete control, as was stated
in Revelation 11:15–18 Chapter 15 contains continuing thoughts and
visions that follow a time sequence immediately after chapter 11
Chapters 12–13 are explanatory chapters that relate how the earth
came to be in the conditions stated in chapter 11 As chapters 12 and
13 explain the work of satan and those with him, chapter 14 explains
the work of Jesus, the Lamb, and his followers In chapter 15, we take
up again the sequence of events ending in chapter 11
As John saw the “seven angels with the seven last plagues” (Revelation
15:1), the angels were prepared and were waiting for the command
to pour out upon the earth “bowls” of God’s wrath, as seen in
verse 7, which says, “Then one of the four living creatures gave to
the seven angels seven golden bowls fi lled with the wrath of God ”
The fact that the bowls are fi lled with the wrath of God symbolizes
that God has been angry and has been storing up that anger for
many centuries against “those who destroy the earth” (Revelation
11:18b) God is indeed angry and is justifi ed in his anger For satan,
his demons and the human family of satan have destroyed God’s
beautiful creation from the Garden of Eden and all through history
until God himself puts a stop to it as foretold in chapter 20
The Lord allowed me to see, illustrated in real life, this destruction
of God’s creation Many years ago, my wife and I were shopping
in a Mexican border town where prostitution was an accepted
profession and big business As my wife was continuing to shop, I
stepped out of the store and was standing on a street corner I was
immediately approached by a man who began to show me nude pictures
of a young woman He was soliciting business for this young
prostitute, who was very beautiful As I was turning down his offer,
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my wife came out of the store, and we proceeded down the street. Sometime later, we were back in our car making our way back to
the international bridge where we passed an old woman sitting and
exposing herself in an effort to promote her profession of prostitution. We
were greatly repulsed by the filth, ugliness, and pitifulness
of this old, worn-out prostitute still trying to exercise her trade.
Having seen this, the Lord pierced my heart with the awful
destructiveness of sin to his creation. On the street corner, I had
seen pictures of a beautiful young woman, God’s beautiful creation,
and a couple of city blocks away, the awful ugliness and the result of
a life of sin that had destroyed God’s creation.
In this manner and in every other way that the mind of satan and
mankind can devise, mankind has destroyed God’s creation. Thus,
God has good reason to be angry as he looks down from heaven and
sees what destruction satan, his demons, and mankind have done. This anger is stored up in seven bowls full of God’s wrath to be
poured out on those, and only those, who have destroyed the earth.
These bowls of wrath will be poured out only on the family of
satan, for all of the family of God will be in heaven. This is evident
in Revelation 15:2, where John wrote, “And I saw what looked like a
sea of glass mixed with fire and standing beside the sea, those who
had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number
of his name.” It is very clear in this verse that the last generation
of Christians is in heaven, so only the family of satan will experience
the wrath of God as poured out of the seven bowls, which are
recorded in chapter 16.
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Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven
angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the
earth ”
Revelation 16:1
The command to pour out the seven bowls on the earth came from
the temple, the dwelling place of God, so it is evident that only God
knows the time for judgment and only God can give the command
Then God’s wrath will be complete, as recorded by John, who said,
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels
with the seven last plagues, last because with them God’s wrath
is completed
Revelation 15:1
The completion of these last plagues brings the end of physical
mankind and the end of the earth as we know it
The fi rst angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and
ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the
mark of the beast and worshiped his image
Revelation 16:2
These sores that affect the family of satan are interpreted to be an
act of God, not a result of a natural phenomenon or nuclear radiation,
although both of these may have a dramatic ecological effect
on earth and cause physical problems for the family of satan during
the same time era These sores of the fi rst bowl will be an act of God,
without physical explanation and probably without cure
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The AIDS virus can be an illustration of this type of plague. The
AIDS epidemic was brought about through sexual transmission––
sexual sin––primarily begun in homosexuals, but homosexuality is
not a new phenomenon; note Sodom and Gomorrah. A similar parallel
can be seen as AIDS was not known to mankind until the latter
part of the twentieth century when suddenly it became a very deadly
disease. I believe that in a similar, but more deadly way, the sores that
result from this act of God will suddenly come upon mankind all
over the world and there will be no known medical treatment.
In the same respect, there may be physical problems resulting
from an ever-decreasing ozone layer, from solar storms (note: the
first and fourth trumpets), and from nuclear radiation as a result of
the wars described in the sixth trumpet.
Nevertheless, I believe these sores of the first bowl will be an act
of God at a time when he commands the angel to pour out the first
bowl on the earth.
The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned
into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the
sea died. The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and
streams of water, and they became blood.
Revelation 16:3–4
The second and third bowls are similar in that they, when poured
out, turn the waters into blood. Physical life––plant, animal, or
human––cannot exist without water, as exemplified in the phrase,
“and every living thing in the sea died” (Revelation 16:3). Because
of this fact, the end will be very near for all the living on earth. This
causes us to think that the bowls of judgment will be poured out very
quickly and that the family of satan, in the flesh, will be destroyed
very rapidly. This is evident in the description of the destruction of
Babylon the great: “Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off
and cry; ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in
one hour your judgment has come!’” (Revelation 18:10)
God is just in his decisions as described in this passage:
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You are righteous in these judgments, the One who is and who
was and who is to be, because You have judged these things; for
they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have
given them blood to drink as they deserve.
Revelation 16:5–6
So as a result of the second and third bowls, the family of satan
will have only blood to drink. When we hear today the reports of
satanists drinking the blood of their victims in their rituals, how true
and just are the judgments of God as portrayed here?
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun
was given power to scorch people with fire.
Revelation 16:8
The destruction that occurs from the pouring out of the fourth bowl
seems to be a fueling for the sun’s fires that brings intense heat on
the earth. I believe this to be an act of God at God’s determined
time, not a natural phenomenon in which the sun suddenly explodes
into a great fireball that burns the earth. Nor do I believe it to be
anything that mankind can create, such as nuclear fallout. God has
the resources to sustain the sun indefinitely. He declares the time of
the end.
Revelation 7:1–3 substantiates the fact that it will be an act of
God. In these verses, the four angels are instructed to hold creation
in order until such time as the family of God is sealed. So prior to
the pouring of the bowls, all of the family of God will be sealed and
safe in heaven, and then, God will take creation apart; the sun, the
earth, the moon, the stars, etc., that have been held in place since
the beginning of creation will fly apart. God could hold creation in
its place indefinitely through his sustaining power. However, when
the time comes that no one else will be saved or enter the family
of God, there will be no reason for creation to continue. With the
family of satan as the only occupants of earth, it will be fit only for
destruction.
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They were seared by the intense heat, and they cursed the name
of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to
repent and glorify him.
Revelation 16:9
The family of satan will know who has control over the plagues as
seen in verse 9. The rulers and the leaders of the family of satan
today know that they are fighting God and that they are engaged in
a spiritual war, not a physical war fought with guns and bombs as in
the past. This war will be fought with spiritual powers, as seen in the
fifth and sixth bowls, the kind of spiritual power that witches, etc.,
(the beast) have been using and perfecting since time began.
Even though the family of satan will know that God is in control
of the plagues, they will refuse to repent and acknowledge him. It has been the same continuously over the ages. They harden their
hearts, even more than the Pharaoh did at the time of the Exodus.
The family of satan will know who is in control, and they will
reject him. God will close the door, and they will be outside. They
will have no choice. They must prepare to fight against God.
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,
and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.
Revelation 16:10
The “throne of the beast” is representative of the seat of power and
authority, leadership, kings, rulers, etc. As used in the biblical context,
“darkness” is representative of a lack of or void of knowledge
and understanding. Therefore, the leadership––the ten kings and
subordinates (Revelation 17:12–13) of the family of satan and kingdom
of the beast will be plunged (forced by God) into a state of
spiritual and physical ignorance. Mankind will be paralyzed by their
inability to make decisions and will be totally at the mercy of satan
to manipulate their minds. Thus, satan will be in complete control
of his family.
The family of satan will be in agony and curse God, whom they
blame for plunging them into this calamity of darkness and ignorance.
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This blaming of God for troubles has been characteristic of all
mankind from the beginning of time. A person who does not accept
the reality of sin in their own life and repent of it is forever hampered
in the decision-making process by never having learned the
proper process of one’s relationship to God and mankind. This can
be illustrated in the learning process of mathematics. If one does not
learn simple addition, he will have problems with multiplication and
division. It is necessary to learn addition first, then subtraction, then
multiplication, and then division. Life follows the same type of process. God
has put in process a system through which mankind sins,
acknowledges their sins, and repents of their sins. Only then can a
person move into a proper relationship with God and mankind. If
mankind refuses to acknowledge and repent of their personal sins
and rejects God, he is out of order and will continue to be so until
he gets that first step right.
Thus, near the end of time, the family of satan will know about
God (Revelation 16:9) and will refuse to repent of what they have
done (Revelation 16:11). Those unrepentant hearts will bring on the
sixth bowl.
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,
and its water dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the
East. Then I saw three evil spirits that look like frogs; they came
out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast
and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of
demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the
kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle of the
great day of God Almighty.
Revelation 16:12–14
As discussed earlier, the great river Euphrates is a barrier. It is clearly
a spiritual barrier as used here, and it releases spiritual demons when
it is dried up, not a physical army. There is a definite relationship
between the sixth trumpet and the sixth bowl in the usage of “the
great river Euphrates.” The second time a barrier is released through
the great river Euphrates, the result is worse than the first time,
although it is similar.
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At the blowing of the sixth trumpet, four angels are released
from the river, but at the pouring of the sixth bowl, the river is dried
up. The result of the sixth trumpet gathers a 200-million-man army
that kills one-third of the inhabitants of earth. On the other hand,
the result of the sixth bowl gathers all the kings of the earth for the
battle of Armageddon that kills “all the rest” of the inhabitants of
earth (Revelation 19:21).
The great river Euphrates is a spiritual barrier, which God
removes in a two-step process. This removal brings to a conclusion
the family of satan by giving them strong warnings in which God
proves to them that they are fighting against God as seen in the
fourth and fifth bowls. After having proved this and still they continue
to resist, unrepentant, God orders the river to be completely
dried up; thus, no more barrier. This prepares the way “for the kings
of the East.”
By the time of the pouring of the sixth bowl, the situation on
earth will be much worse, which necessitates and also prepares the
way for the kings of the East. This worsened condition on earth
brought about by the first five bowls will make it necessary for the
family of satan to unite for protection––so they will think. The scenario
is as follows:
The trumpet plagues, as directed by God, bring mankind into
a worsening relationship with each other, which is culminated by
a great war in which one-third of mankind is killed (sixth trumpet). This
proves to mankind that, in spite of the fact that they have
cleansed the earth of the old system, by killing the two witnesses,
they cannot attain that world peace or Utopia (new-age doctrine)
that they desire.
As the bowls are poured out, conditions continue to deteriorate
until the family of satan comes to realize that they are engaged in
a spiritual war between God and satan. Yet they still do not repent,
having concluded, by the miraculous feats of the beast, that they can
indeed engage in spiritual warfare against God. This is the greatest
deception. However, they do deem it necessary to unite into a
worldwide front against such an adversary as God.
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Through the barrier of the great river Euphrates, God has prevented
the family of satan from having the ability to rule the world
and to rise up in courage against God Almighty until such a time as
he deems the earth is “ripe” (Revelation 14:8). When the barrier is
“dried up,” all ten kings will be allowed to unite and to be gathered
together for the “great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14) at
“Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16).
John was shown through this vision the process that will gather
the “kings of the whole world” (Revelation 16:14). In the vision, John
saw three evil “frog like” spirits that came from the mouths of the
dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
The fact that they appear like frogs points to their ugliness
and repulsiveness. A person would be repulsed at their sight. In the
vision, John saw the ugliness and true nature of the demons that will
deceive and gather the kings of the earth by the miraculous signs
that they will be able to perform.
The power to perform these miraculous signs will be given (permitted)
by God and released through the sixth bowl. Because of the
great signs, “even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth
in full view of men” (Revelation 13:13), the ten kings of the whole
earth, followed by the whole world, will be led to believe that they
can do spiritual warfare against God. Therefore, they prepare and
are gathered for the battle of Armageddon on the great and terrible
day of God Almighty.
Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and
keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be
shamefully exposed.
Revelation 16:15
Verse 15 is an interlude of warning to the family of God. This does
not mean that the family of God or any portion of it will be present
at that time in history when the bowls are being poured out. Nevertheless,
it is the family of God (the seven churches) to whom the
message is given. We, the family of God, should take warning that
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such events will occur in the end and remove ourselves from the sins
of this world.
In the midst of the most dreadful part of the message, the family
of God is warned to keep their clothes with them. In chapter 7,
clothing is referred to in regard to the family of God. Those who are
standing before the throne and the Lamb are clothed in white robes. In verse 14, the robes are “washed” and made white in the blood
of the Lamb. A person does not wash anything in blood, which is
red, and make it white. Therefore, the interpretation is spiritual, and
the elements, symbolic. White is symbolic of purity. Robes are symbolic
of having “put on Christ,” or salvation. Washing is symbolic
of cleansing from sin, or forgiveness. The blood is the blood that
Jesus shed at his death. The clothing referred to, in Revelation 16:15,
is spiritual clothing, which the family of God has” put on” through
the act of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is not to be confused
with works. The work of Jesus is that which washed the robes, yet
each person must choose to believe and repent, and, thus, the robes
are washed.
The warning of the family of God as they read this terrible
account of what will happen to the family of satan is to be careful
that they do not fall back into sin and the things of this world after
they have been cleansed and given white robes. This is referred to
very clearly in the message to the church at Sardis, “Yet you have a
few people in Sardis, who have not soiled their clothes. They will
walk with Me, dressed in white, for they are worthy” (Revelation
3:4).
Then they gathered the kings together in the place that in
Hebrew is called Armageddon.
Revelation 16:16
The last ten kings (Revelation 17:12) will be gathered at Armageddon. Although
there is a place that is commonly understood to be
the valley called Megiddo, I do not believe that Armageddon is a
particular spot on earth where all the kings of the earth will be gathered
for battle on the great day of God Almighty. I believe it is clear
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that the family of satan at that time will be in control of all the earth,
that they will live on all the earth, and that the battlefront will be
worldwide.
Here in the United States of America, we use a common phrase,
“He met his Waterloo.” Most people readily understand this phrase
to mean he met his defeat. It comes from the famed battle of Waterloo,
where Napoleon met defeat. The phrase, “He met his Waterloo,”
does not mean that one met at the place called Waterloo, but that
one met defeat. In a similar way, Armageddon is interpreted to refer
to be a time and circumstance in which the family of satan meets
defeat at the hand of God. This is substantiated by the fact that
many great spiritually decisive battles of Bible times were fought in
the Valley of Megiddo, Jezreel. Megiddo is the root word of Armageddon. “
The kings were gathered together” does not demand that
they were gathered at a particular place, but gathered together in
purpose, direction, and allegiance to satan. The Bible says, “They
have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the
beast” (Revelation 17:13).
The Battle of Armageddon
The battle of Armageddon will be a unique battle. There has been no
other battle like it in the history of mankind. It is a battle in which
physical mankind will think he can wage war in the spiritual realm.
Since the deception of the Garden of Eden, satan has deceived
mankind into thinking they can be like God. In order to do this, he
has used and will use black and white magic, Ouija boards, the Dungeons
& Dragons game, and other games that use or insinuate use of
spiritual powers (witches, warlocks), calling fire down from heaven,
an image that will both breathe and speak, a man who will seem to
be fatally wounded and healed, etc. By the end of the miracles performed
by the three frog-like demons, satan will have convinced his
family that they can, through these miraculous powers, actually fight
against God in spiritual warfare. This will be the ultimate deception,
the ultimate rebellion, the ultimate egotism, and the ultimate
battle––Armageddon.
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The battle of Armageddon is set! satan, the demons, the beast,
and the false prophet, and all of the physical family of satan are in
battle array against the Lamb and the armies of heaven.
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out
of the temple came a loud voice from the throne saying, “It is
done!”
Revelation 16:17
The explanation, “it is done!” clearly means that “God’s wrath is
completed” (Revelation 15:1). The history of mankind will be completed,
the history of the earth as we know it will come to an end,
and mankind’s rebellion against their Creator will be ended, finished,
“done.” The Bible says, “It is done!” and God will have done
it, not mankind’s wars or bombs or nuclear fallout!
A great earthquake like no other will rip the earth apart. So
the scripture will be true that says, “Every island fled away and the
mountains could not be found.” Thus, the end of the earth as we
know it. “And they cursed God” (Revelation 16:21b).
God spoke, creation was created. Alpha!
God will speak, and creation will be destroyed. Omega!
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One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and
said to me, “Come I will show you the punishment of the great
prostitute, who sits on many waters ”
Revelation 17:1
The fact that this verse specifi es that one of the angels came and
spoke to John is important to help us understand that chapters 17 and
18 are not just thrown in, but are a continuing thought and explanation
of the entire vision John, having just seen the awful destruction
of chapter 16, was given the explanation of chapters 17 and 18
to show how mankind and earth came to receive the great wrath of
God God has judged and executed judgment and is correct in his
judgment He poured out his wrath, but not without explanation
God would be totally just even if he did not explain his judgments
Nevertheless, because of his grace and his long-suffering, our Lord
has told mankind and given warning many centuries before so that
mankind is without excuse in their rejection of and rebellion against
their Creator
Thank you, Lord, for thoroughly explaining the reason for
destroying your creation! Amen
Who Is the Great Prostitute?
The reason for the awful destruction of the bowls is contained within
the visionary description of “the great prostitute” (Revelation 17:1)
John was given a vision that is the best possible picture to show to
physical mankind a spiritual dilemma It is a spiritual dilemma in
that it is the description of “the punishment of the great prostitute”
(Revelation 17:1)
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The great prostitute is a picture of an anonymous entity that is
both spiritual and physical. It is spiritual in that its leader is satan
and physical in that she is comprised of physical mankind.
The great prostitute has some parallels to the true church, the
bride of Christ.
1. Both have a spiritual leader: The great prostitute has
satan. The true church has Jesus Christ.
2. Both, though spiritual entities, are comprised of
physical mankind. The great prostitute, the family
of satan, who has rejected Jesus Christ as Lord. The true church, the family of God, who repent and
receive Jesus Christ as Lord.
3. Both are described as feminine. The great prostitute
is a woman on the scarlet beast. The true church is
the bride of Christ.
4. Both are loose-knit entities of numerous persons
and organizations with the same purpose, direction,
and continuity coming from their respective spiritual
leaders.
The great prostitute: persons who, through organizations,
businesses, and governments worldwide,
teach, promote, sell, and export things that satan uses
to destroy God’s creation. Example: alcoholic beverages,
desire for physical things, the use of beauty with
sexual emphasis, etc.
The true church: persons who, through churches,
businesses, and denominations worldwide, teach,
promote, sell, and export things that God uses to
save mankind from destruction.
5. Both are evangelistic.
The great prostitute is evangelistic through manipulation
and deception. The true church is evangelistic
through free choice in Jesus Christ.
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6. Both have knowledgeable leadership.
The great prostitute: beast and false prophet
The true church: born-again Christian leaders
7. Both contain borderline persons.
The great prostitute has persons who respect
Christians and Christian values, but are not Christians. The true church has carnal Christians who live more
in the world than in Christ.
Thus, the great prostitute is an anonymous, worldwide entity that is
comprised of the family of satan, directed by satan, and is somewhat
comparative to the true church.
There are seven descriptive phrases of the prostitute that help us
to understand her as that entity which is physical, spiritual, worldwide,
and led by satan.
1. “Sits on many waters” (Revelation 17:1).
This phrase is clearly explained in verse 15, which
states, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits,
are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.” Also,
Revelation 18:24 says, “In her was found the blood
of the prophets and of the saints, and all who have
been killed on the earth.” If we couple verse 15 with
Revelation 18:24, then the prostitute is the one who
“sits” on all mankind, and she is responsible for “all
who have been killed,” and then “many waters” represents
all of mankind. So she “sits on” all of mankind
and is also comprised of mankind.
I suggest that the prostitute sitting on many waters,
or all mankind, has the effect of suppressing, or pressuring,
mankind. This can be illustrated through the
effects of peer pressure. Many young people are pressured
into alcohol, drugs, sex, etc., because, as they
say, everyone does it.
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Another illustration of peer pressure can be seen
as teachers and professors, who teach evolution,
pressure students to reject the reality of creation by
God and to believe a theory that satan has injected
into society. Thus, the great prostitute “sits on many
waters” and suppresses all of mankind, both physically
and spiritually. In this way, she molds society
into the same entity: the great prostitute.
2. “A woman” (Revelation 17:3).
The great prostitute is feminine “woman,” which
is comparative to the true church, the bride of Christ,
but opposite to and opposed to the bride of Christ. Thus, she is somewhat the bride of satan, whom he
hates (verse 16).
3. “Sitting on a scarlet beast” (Revelation 17:3).
The beast she is sitting on and also rides is clearly
described as satan in verse eight, which says, “The
beast which you saw, once was, now is not, and will
come up out of the abyss and go to his destruction.”
No other being fits this description––only satan, who
is the head of the beast. One would normally think
of a rider directing the animal he is riding, but here
the opposite is true. The beast directs or takes the
woman where he, satan, wants her to go.
4. “Dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering
with gold, precious stones and pearls” (Revelation
17:4).
This indicates that she is rich and lavishes on herself
her worldly wealth. Her riches and the accusations
brought against her are thoroughly explained in
chapter 18.
5. “This title was written on her forehead: Mystery;
Babylon the great; the mother of prostitutes; and of
the abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5).
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This title that was given reveals her identity,
“Babylon the great,” and the accusations that warrant
her death penalty. As Babylon the great, she is comprised
of the whole family of satan. As the mother
of prostitutes and of abominations, she is that which
gave birth to, taught, and promoted sin and rejection
of God that brought the destruction of chapter 16.
6. “The woman was drunk with the blood of the saints,
the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus”
(Revelation 17:6).
This phrase speaks of the multitude of the family
of God whom she had killed worldwide throughout
history.
7. “The great city that rules over the kings of the earth”
(Revelation 17:18).
This phrase speaks of the influence and power
that is inherent in the woman as she is influenced
and guided by the spiritual mind of satan.
The actual vision that John saw is described in verses 3- 6. The
remainder of chapter 17 and chapter 18 are various descriptions and
explanations pertaining to the woman.
The Vision
John saw “a woman sitting on a scarlet beast” (verse 3). She was
“dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious
stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand” (verse 4). This
portion of the description causes us to see that the woman was very
wealthy with the things of this world. This portrait, which depicts
the family of satan, shows that two of their major characteristics are
their desire for the things of this physical world and their concern
for their outward appearance.
The family of satan, as seen here, has such a desire for material
things that those things control their lives and value systems to
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the exclusion of God and spiritual things. This does not mean that
they are all wealthy or that all who are wealthy are included in this
group. However, regardless of their financial status, their thoughts
and desires dwell totally on the material things of this world.
The woman’s material things are explained in this text as being
a serious problem that results in her condemnation. In Revelation
18:7, judgment is pronounced. It says, “Give her as much torture and
grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.” Thus, the sin is the
desire for things to lavish on oneself to the exclusion of God from
their lives.
The results of this desire are given in the book of James:
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come
from your desires that battle within you? You want something
but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what
you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you
do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you
ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on
your pleasures.
James 4:1–3
Therefore, the woman on the beast is portrayed as wealthy and as
one who lavishes that wealth on outward appearance (self ).
The woman’s desires were expended in pride of self. She had
gained wealth, which she used to dress and decorate herself in beautifully
colored clothes and expensive jewelry. As we make application
in real life, we realize that not all people are consumed with the
desire for clothes and jewelry. Some desire a luxurious car, a beautiful
home, valuable land, savings, a quality education, prestige, public
office, authority over others, etc.
One of the messages of the woman on the beast is that when
mankind’s personal desires take prominence to the exclusion of
God, it becomes spiritual adultery. When one puts self before God,
self is God. This spiritual adultery pertains to physical mankind
from every walk of life, as explained in verse 2, which says, “With
her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of
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the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” This is
interpreted to mean all kings, leaders, presidents, dictators, etc., who
are of the family of satan and all inhabitants who are of the family of
satan. The great prostitute portrayed here is the family of satan, as
their personal desires control their lives and as they put self on the
throne of their lives.
This wealthy woman is also seen “sitting on a scarlet beast”
(Revelation 17:3). Again, this scarlet beast is satan, as can be seen in
verse 8: “The beast, which you saw once was, now is not, and will
come out of the abyss and go to his destruction.” There are two other
references to the abyss in the book of Revelation. One is in chapter
9, the other in chapter 20. Each refers to the same abyss. It is a spiritual
prison that God has set aside for satan and his demons.
John describes the beast as “scarlet.” This indicates that the
beast is satan in that scarlet, as red, coincides with the “red dragon”
in chapter 12.
The beast is “covered with blasphemous names” (verse 3). The
scarlet beast, being satan, is the spiritual leader of the false prophet
and the great prostitute (the three children of the family of satan). Being their spiritual leader, satan is indeed covered with blasphemous
names, filled with the “abominations of the earth” (verse 5),
“drunk with the blood of the saints” (verse 6) having killed all “who
refused to worship the image” (Revelation 13:15).
The scarlet beast had “seven heads” (17:3). The “seven heads”
are described in verses 9 -11 as being “seven hills on which the
woman sits.” If the interpreting principle for numbers is applied,
the “seven hills” are all the hills on which the woman sits. The fact
that the woman is interpreted as sitting on all mankind (verses 2,
15, 18; Revelation 18:24) and on all the hills strengthens the interpretation
of the great prostitute, Babylon the great, as being a
worldwide entity.
The “seven heads” (Revelation 17:3) are also “seven kings” (verse
10). The seven kings are also interpreted as complete, thus, all the
kings of the family of satan. Since the heads of the scarlet beast are
also kings, then satan is the head of the kings. Of these seven kings,
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John wrote, “five have fallen”; at the time of the writing of Revelation,
“one is” the other is “not yet come” (verse 10).
The following explanations about these seven kings are simple
reasoning, not proven facts:
If seven kings represent all the kings of the family of satan––five
before the first century, one at the first century, and one to come––and
1900 years later, that one to come has not yet come, then the seven
kings would not be consecutive kings in historical sequence. Moreover,
when God’s time is applied––interpreting principle number
four––the five kings could have existed anytime from Adam to Jesus.
It may be possible that these seven kings (all kings equal five
plus one, plus one to come) could represent seven eras or times when
satan exercises a particular power or success over the family of God. If this theory is correct, then a possible interpretation for the seven
kings could be:
Period number one: king at the time of Noah and the flood
Period number two: king at the time of the Tower of Babel
Period number three: king at the time of Egypt and the exodus
Period number four: king at the time of Elijah and the prophets
of Baal
Period number five: king at the time of the exile in Babylon;
story of Esther.
These could be the five who have fallen. At each of these times, God
intervened to change the course of history and save his people from
destruction. The one “who is” could represent the first beast, which
comes from the sea and is in power from the first century until the
two witnesses are killed in Revelation 11. The one “to come” could
represent the beast that comes from the earth and leads the family
of satan in the battle of Armageddon.
At these times in history, God’s people, the family of God, were
in particular jeopardy before the onslaught of satan and his family. The seven kings are all the kings of the family of satan, but these
are seven times in biblical history in which satan exercised particular
control over the majority of mankind. These times brought the fam181
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ily of God into critical circumstances that required the intervention
of God to save his people.