The Sequence of revelations - Part 3

Rev. 13 introduces the a/c as the Beast out of the Sea and the False Prophet, as the Beast out of the Earth. This chapter is just verifying the characteristics of these two men so that the church will be able to identify them. This covers the period from their arrival in the seals through the trumpet judgments. The Beast of the Earth is described as resembling a leopard w/ feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion with seven heads, and ten horns w/ ten crowns. (remember this description). One of the heads will suffer a fatal wound and will be healed. (copying the death and resurrection of Christ in vs. 3). The Beast of the Earth is described as having two horns and he spoke like a dragon.
I picture the scenario going something like this: Satan arrives on Earth as an angel of light. (2Cor. 11:14). He could be in the form of a human-like highly advanced alien species or maybe a new age Guardian Spirit, probably claiming he is either God or was sent by God. He deceives most of mankind into believing this false identity. He appoints a man whom he has been in communication with to receive his authority, power and throne (vs.4) and he is granted the period of 42 months to reign.(vs.5). The a/c in turn grants to the false prophet the right to exercise his authority and the power to perform miraculous signs. (vss.13-14). This helps to continue the charade and further delude mankind. God will send a powerful delusion to the unbelievers so that they will believe the lie. (2 Thess. 2:11) Verses 15-18 inform us about the Mark of the Beast.
Rev. 14:1-5 brings us back to the 144,000. Verses 6-13 introduces three angels. The first proclaims the eternal gospel and announces the judgments (the bowls of wrath) about to come. The second warns about the fall of Babylon and the third warns about receiving the Mark of the Beast. At this point the rapture will already have occurred but there will be an unknown amount of people persuaded about the truth of God and vs. 13 promises "Blessed are the dead who die in the lord from now on." They will be resurrected in a couple of months. Verses 14-20 show a picture of two harvests. The first harvest could be another picture of the rapture, but the second harvest is the reaping of mankind into the winepress of God‘s wrath.
Rev. 15 introduces the seven angels with the seven bowls of God’s wrath. Verses 2-4 shows the raptured victorious church including the 70th week martyrs in heaven singing.
Rev. 16 contains the seven bowl judgments that will be poured out in a 30 day period. This 30 day period is the extension of time mentioned in Daniel 12: 11-12 which reads, "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, (which we know is at the mid-point of the 70th week) there will be 1290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days." The remaining 45 days will be explained a little later. God‘s wrath will be completed with the seven final plagues.
The first bowl is poured out on the land and those who have the mark of the beast receive ugly, painful sores. The second bowl is upon the sea and every living thing in the sea dies. The third bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs and there is no more fresh water to be had. The fourth bowl is poured upon the sun and the sun scorches people with fire and intense heat. The fifth bowl is poured out upon the beast (a/c) and his kingdom and plunges it into darkness. Men gnaw their tongues in agony and curse God but still they do not repent. The sixth bowl dries up the river Euphrates to make way for the 200 million man army of China to march towards Armageddon. At this time three frogs come out of Satan, the a/c and the false prophet and the frogs gather the remaining three kings to Armageddon. The kings of the north, south and the forces of the a/c. The 7th bowl is poured out in vs. 17, "and a loud voice from heaven proclaimed, IT IS DONE!" There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and the greatest earthquake the world has ever known. Verse 19 reads, "The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with wine of the fury of his wrath." Just who is Babylon the Great and what part does she play in the latter days? The following two chapters Rev. 17 & 18 answers these questions and more.
Rev. 17 is about the Woman on the Beast. Do you remember the description of the beast back in Rev. 13? Rev. 17:3 & 8-12 describes this beast. This beast is scarlet with seven heads and ten horns and it was covered with blasphemous names. This beast "once was, now is not and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction." Verse 8 tells us that the unbelieving world "will be astounded when they see the beast because he was, now is not and yet will come." This leads me to believe that the world will recognize him as someone that had died. Would you recognize Alexander the Great, Napoleon or any of the Caesars if they were to walk by you on the street in modern day clothing. I think not. Verse 9 goes on to describe "the seven heads as seven hills on which the woman sits.” (some think this may be Rome but I‘m not sure about that yet). If you look at a topographical map of the US in an atlas, you will see in most of them seven mountain ranges listed. Verse 10 says, "They are also seven kings, five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come...". The first five were historical figures in John‘s day, the sixth was the ruler in his day and the 7th is a future king. Verse 11 adds, "The beast (of vs.8) that once was, and now is not, is an 8th king." Verse 12 describes the ten horns as ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. For one hour they will receive authority to give their power and authority to the beast.
The woman in chapter 17 is described as "sitting on many waters" (vs.1). She is sitting on the scarlet beast. Verse 4 reads, "The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries." She has a title written on her forehead, "Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Prostitutes, And Of The Abominations Of The Earth". This "woman is drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus" (vs.6).
In verse 15 it tells us that the waters the woman sits upon "are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages." The next verse is very important. "The beast and the ten horns will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire." The chapter concludes with this description, "The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth (vs. 18). I am firmly convinced that this woman is the USA, which means at some point in time this nation will become very anti-christian and will be part of an attack on Israel as pictured in Rev. 18:24. With this chapter the cast of characters for Daniel’s 70th week are completely revealed except for the greatest of them all, the Rider on the White Horse of Rev. 19:11-16, which is our lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
One thing that is important to notice in this chapter is that the beast mentioned here is not the same beast of Rev. 13, although they are similar. The beast in Rev. 13 looked like a leopard with seven heads and ten horns w/ ten crowns on his horns. This beast is scarlet with ten horns and seven crowns upon his seven heads. We can only imagine that they are as yet an unformed on the world‘s political scene. Some folks believe one of them may come from the European Union and that is possible, but it won’t be the EU as we see it today. Some significant event, most likely the seals, will change the world#‘s political scene into something far different then we see it today.
Rev. 18 describes the fall of Babylon. I believe this is a picture of a major nuclear strike upon the USA by the forces of the beast and ten horns as described in Rev. 17:16. The description can only be the USA. In vs. 18, it is asked, "...Was there ever a city like this great city?" As a nation the USA is one of a kind and anything that might resemble it in the future would take far more time then a portion of seven years to create.
Rev. 19 opens with a time of great rejoicing in heaven over the destruction of Babylon and vs. 7 tells us that the wedding between Christ, the groom and His bride, is at hand. You may be wondering what the church has been doing in heaven since the rapture. I feel that it is during this time we have been taking part in what is known as The Bema Seat Judgment of Christ, where believers will be judged by their works according to 1 Cor. 3:12-15. Vs. 11 introduces the Rider on the White Horse, who is Jesus in his role of King of Kings and Lord of Lords, preparing to come to earth for the final battle at Armageddon. I believe that immediately after the battle of Armageddon, the additional 45 days mentioned earlier begins. This time will most likely be used for the Wedding Supper of the Bride and the Lamb, the sheep and goat judgments and for the Feast of Tabernacles with the true Messiah. The Feast of Tabernacles - aka Sukkot: is the most joyous and festive of all Israel‘s feasts. It is the most prominent and is mentioned more in scripture than any other. It occurs on the 15th day of Tishri, the 7th month. It lasts seven days and is a reminder of God‘s provision during their 40 year wilderness journey. It is also known as The Feast of Ingathering and is after the fall harvest. It corresponds on our calendar to late September/early October. The day after, the 8th day is a Sabbath. This feast depicts the Harvest of His people. Mal. 4:1-2, Is. 27:12-13, 11:11-12 and Jer. 23:7-8. That He will tabernacle with them is foretold in Ez. 37:27-28 and Rev.21:3. I believe this is also a picture of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and of His final harvest of His chosen people who will enter the Millennial age and repopulate the earth. The end of the chapter shows the final victory of Christ and the beast and the false prophet being tossed into the lake of fire.
Rev.20 opens with Satan being thrown into the Abyss and locked in for a thousand years. Verses 4-6 shows us the thrones upon which believers are sitting because we have been given the authority to judge as told in 1 Cor. 6:2 and the first resurrection. Who is in this first resurrection? I believe it consists of those last minute believers who died after the rapture but refused to take the Mark of the Beast from as told in Rev. 14:13. The chapter closes with Satan being released at the end of the millennium for a short time and the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation closes with a description of the New Jerusalem and the final words of Christ in which He promises his soon return.
In closing, I would like to say that regardless of your rapture belief it would behoove you to prepare for hard times. Also, try not to make this a divisive issue amongst the Body of Christ. As stated in the beginning these are just my thoughts on the subject and are not to be taken as a personal revelation or the gospel according me. I would like to leave you with this blessing.
May you and your household find peace and safety in Him. May you be a beacon of light to the lost and the fearing. May the Holy Spirit bathe you in understanding, and may all your family and friends rejoice with you in heaven and bless you with their presence for eternity. Amen!