Day 365: Revelation 19-22

(In the previous post we saw in this great city of commerce was the blood of prophets, saints, and of all that were slain on the earth. Again, whether this was a spiritual allusion to Satan or whether it was a statement that love of the physical over the spiritual has led to the killing of believers, the earth's economic system will be completely destroyed with God's judgment of the great city of Babylon. This concluded the third and largest section. The fourth and final section gave a chronological explanation of the events from the end of the Tribulation through eternity.)

(This was the fourth and final section of the Book of Revelation. This section gave an account of the events that occur from the end of the Tribulation through eternity. The chronology of this chapter is denoted by the "19" (click on diagram to enlarge).)


(In our diagram, we have seen that the first section presented events that occurred before the Tribulation. The second section gave a big picture perspective in chronological order of events that occurred from the beginning of the Tribulation until the end of the Tribulation. The previous chapter completed the largest and most complicated of the sections: the layered explanation of events during the Tribulation. This final section was actually the answer to the question "What is the Meaning of Life?" These four chapters that concluded the New Testament actually presented a clear and simple answer to the Meaning of Life. However, most people do not read these four chapters by themselves. Most people read these four chapters after reading the twelve most complicated chapters of this book, and are too confused and/or mentally exhausted to comprehend the simple answer. Again, this was how the Bible ended. Can you explain how the Bible ended? Focus on these four chapters and you will not only know how the Bible ended, you will also find out that most people do not know how the Bible ended.)

Revelation 19
1 After these things I heard as it were a great voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and power, belong to our God:
2 for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

(God is Right and Just! The beast system was destroyed.)

3 And a second time they say, Hallelujah. And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.
5 And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great.
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth.

(In the King James Version, the word "omnipotent" was used instead of "Almighty." In fact, it was the only usage of the word "omnipotent" in the entire Bible. In the American Standard Version, the word was "Almighty."

**The definition for both words, Omnipotent and Almighty, was "the all-ruling."

**The words Omnipotent and Almighty did not mean "all powerful; the being who can do anything."

**It did mean "the only being that rules; the ultimate authority; the being that answers to no one."

The context of the verse pointed to God beginning the process of being the only ruler. God being Right and Just is separate from God being the all-ruling. For example, a dictator is omnipotent over his country, but that does not make him Right and Just. We ought to be comforted by the fact that God is omnipotent and Right and Just: we are ruled by the Right and Just One!)

7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

(The Marriage of the Lamb is near. The Wife had made herself ready. Notice, the identity of the Bride was not disclosed yet, but we know it will be the Church.)

8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

(The fine linen worn by the Bride was a representation of the Righteousness of the saints.)

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.

(In the Bible, a wedding was a feast, not a ceremony done in church. Consequently, "the marriage supper" is the wedding of Jesus to His Bride.)

10 And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

(Summary of verses 1-10: There will be a Bride clothed in the Righteous acts of the saints, but John had not divulged Her identity. If this were a movie, the camera would pan up the back of the Bride in Her wedding dress and stop before reaching Her Face.)

11 And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war.
12 And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.
13 And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
15 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.

(This was Jesus (The Word of God) coming to the battle of Armageddon. The sword proceeding from His Mouth will be used to smite nations and rule them with a rod of iron. This was rhema: the powerful and revelatory word of God without precedent. Jesus fights with words: spiritual warfare. As we saw in Revelation 14:18, He treads the winepress.)

16 And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

(Summary of verses 11-16: The Groom was Jesus who smites the nations with a sharp sword that proceeds out of His Mouth: spiritual warfare with words. This was Jesus in His pure, unfiltered, unadjusted Nature: Conquering King!)

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God;
18 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.

(An angel shouted for the birds to have a great supper (due to the carcasses there will be after the battle). This is the battle of Armageddon...)

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:
21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

(Summary of verses 17-21: The Antichrist and the false prophet were cast into the lake of fire and the rest of the people that came to Armageddon were killed with the words Jesus spoke. This concluded the seven year Tribulation, also known as the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27) which was the last seven years of the Dispensation of the Law. This was the conclusion of the re-establishing of the 5th Dispensation. All that was left to deal with was Satan.)

(The next chapter documented the events from the beginning to end of the Millennial Reign and is denoted by the "20" and an arrow (click diagram to enlarge).)





Revelation 20
1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time.

(Satan was cast into the bottomless pit and was sealed so he could not deceive the nations until the 1000 years was finished. Satan will be set free for a "little time" at the end of Christ's Millennial reign.)

(Disclaimer: What follows is an explanation that is possible, but by no means proven. If this explanation does not help you or make sense, continue reading verse 4...

"Notice, the 7th Dispensation consists of Satan being locked up. This "Sabbath" dispensation consists of everyone getting a 1000 year rest from Satan. People who lack disease, poverty, and war will have to be shown the benefits of taking direction from God because they will not have any "problems," Satan is locked up. However, this would also be the perfect time for everyone who has ever been conceived to be witnessed to by those who have been saved. The point is not where (earth or heaven) these people are witnessed to or who (martyrs or saints in heaven) witnesses to them. The point is that every person who was conceived and not born...and every person who was not able to make a conscious decision for God because of their age, mental ability, or even location would be able to make this decision during this rest from Satan. The number of people this entailed could be enormous, even on the order of hundreds of billions.")

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

(The martyrs were judged and reigned with Jesus during the Millennium. During the Millennium, the martyrs will serve as "grace" to people who live on earth during this 1000 years. The Jewish believers who hid in Moab and Edom will be the only people on earth who enter the Millennium. Now we see that everyone was "saved by grace through faith"...it's just the method that God influenced the heart of the individual was different for each dispensation:
-During the 1st Dispensation (Eden) God influenced Adam and Eve face to face;
-by angels during the 2nd Dispensation;
-by verbal (spoken and written) means during the 3rd Dispensation;
-by the patriarchs (Israel) during the 4th Dispensation;
-by the Law during the 5th Dispensation;
-by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit during the current (6th) dispensation; and
-by martyrs during the 7th Dispensation.)

5 The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

(Summary of verses 1-6: Satan was locked up for 1000 years while Christ reigns on earth with the martyrs. The 1000 years Christ reigns is the 7th Dispensation: The Millennium.)

7 And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

(The "lake of fire" will be the final destination for those who are eternally tormented.)

(Summary of verses 7-10: When Satan is loosed at the end of the 1000 year reign, he deceives many of the descendants of the Jewish believers who entered into the Millennium from Moab and Edom. God defeats this group with fire coming down from heaven. God sends Satan into the lake of fire with the Antichrist and the false prophet. This next section covered the Final Judgment also known as The Great White Throne Judgment...)

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.
15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

(Summary of verses 11-15: There will be TWO judgments. There will be a Reward Judgment (according to works in books) and a Salvation Judgment (according to one book: the Book of Life).

Everyone will be judged according to all their works, all the works they did of themselves whether good or bad. This will be the only moment in history that Justice is completely equaled out. It will be done in front of everyone proving God is Just.

Some people think we will all have the same amount of Reward. They say that because they know there will not be any jealousy in heaven, and they think the way to do that is through the man-made concept of denying uniqueness. Actually, it would be unjust for everyone to have the same Reward when some people deserve more and some people deserve less. Jesus told us to store up treasure (Reward) in heaven (Matthew 6:20). In fact, earlier in Matthew 6 Jesus said some people get their Reward on earth and others get their Reward in heaven. There will not be jealousy over people having different amounts of Reward because people will know it is Just for some people to have more Reward than them and some to have less.

Also, the Reward judgment occurs first. Then the Salvation judgment. There will be people with Reward who do not make the Salvation judgment. What happens to their Reward? Again, people, in hopes of denying uniqueness, want to say that Reward is given to those who do not have much to get everyone closer to the same amount of Reward. Actually, according to the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), those with the most get the left over Reward, making the difference of Reward between people even greater.

Finally, notice that everyone that does not pass the Salvation judgment will be cast in the lake of fire. One of the places people could spend eternity is the lake of fire. The Bible ended with "bad people go to the lake of fire"...not "bad people go to hell."

Next, we will find out the other place people can spend eternity, which is why the last two chapters (21 and 22) are denoted by the "21,22" in the final section of the diagram which represented eternity (click diagram to enlarge).)





Revelation 21
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.

(The current heaven and current earth will pass away. They will not be remodeled or improved. They will be taken apart atom by atom and never exist again, because they have been defiled by Satan. Also, heaven no longer needs to hold all the angels and believers prior to the battle of Armageddon, it will have a different purpose. Apparently, the earth will have a different purpose because it no longer has a sea. From Genesis 2:22, Eve was the last creation by God before this verse. In Genesis 1 and Genesis 2, we saw that every creation made by God was more complicated than the previous creation. God created a new heaven and a new earth. These creations were more complicated than Eve.)

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven of God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

(This stated the new Jerusalem came down from heaven of God and was made ready, as a bride. The new Jerusalem is the Bride. Notice, this city is not "New Jerusalem." This city is Jerusalem, the new version. This was the final creation recorded in the Bible. This was the most complicated creation: The Bride.)

3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God:

(The new Jerusalem was also referred to as the tabernacle or house of God. In John 14:1-4, Jesus stated He was going away to prepare an eternal place for believers, which He called His Father's house. In it, there were many mansions. Hebrews 3:6 stated that Christ was the Son over His own house, "whose house are we"...the believers. Finally, in John 14:23, Jesus said that the Father and the Son would make their abode with believers. Now we see that the new Jerusalem will be the eternal dwelling place for believers, and it will be on the new earth. So, everyone will either spend eternity in the lake of fire or on earth in the new Jerusalem.)

(Recall the Disclaimer discussion from the previous chapter, everyone will exist forever in either the lake of fire or the new earth. What happens to those who died without being able to intentionally make a choice to be for or against God? God is always completely Right and always completely Just. God would not send these people to eternal torment through no fault of their own. However, God would not bring these people into the new Jerusalem against their will. There appeared to have to be a moment when these people would be able to make a choice prior to Final Judgment. Since people will not die in childbirth during the Millennium, there will not be the issue of people not being able to make this choice coming from the 7th Dispensation. It would seem the time for God to give the people from the first six dispensations to make their choice would be during the 7th Dispensation.)

4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

(Summary of verses 1-4: A new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem were created. The new Jerusalem was referred to as the Bride and the tabernacle/house of God. Believers will inhabit the new Jerusalem. The Greek root for the word cell was room. The new Jerusalem is a Bride made up of many cells (rooms the size of mansions). The believers will occupy each cell bringing life to the Bride. Every cell in the body of the Bride will desire Jesus because every cell contains a believer. Every cell in Jesus body desired the Bride as we saw in Hebrews 12:2 that Christ left heaven to endure the cross because of the joy set before Him. The joy that Jesus did not have in heaven before He endured the cross, and the reason He endured the cross was to facilitate the creation of the Bride.

Do you remember what was taught as the "Meaning of Life" from Paul's Letter to the Ephesians?:

"All believers interact with each other as "cells in the body" of the Bride which is married to Jesus.")
5 And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true.
6 And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

(The word fountain in this verse was the same word used in John 4:14 where Jesus said to the lady at the well that He would give this same fountain to believers. In that passage, we saw Jesus was referring to grace, which leads to Salvation.)

7 He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

(Notice, everyone will exist forever, however those in the lake of fire were said to experience the second death while those in the new Jerusalem experienced eternal life. Clearly, life is "the ability to repair."

Those in the lake of fire will not be able to repair. Those in the new Jerusalem will be able to repair for eternity. Every day in the lake of fire will be the worst day that person will have ever experienced because they cannot repair. Every day in the new Jerusalem will be the best day that person has ever experienced because they can repair which means it will result in something more.

Two verses that contrasted the two locations that were predestinated for everyone: believers will be children of God through their Marriage to Jesus and unbelievers will be cast into the lake of fire. Predestinated meant "to limit in advance." God limited in advance the eternal location of every person to two possible locations. However, this did not mean God determined which location each person would spend for eternity. God places them in either location in response to the choices of the individual. God selects people (the elect) for eternal life in response to their choices.)

9 And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.

(One of the angels of the bowls offered to blatantly show John the Bride, the Lamb's Wife...)

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

(This verse blatantly called the new Jerusalem the Bride of Christ.

Summary of verses 5-10: The new Jerusalem is Jesus' Bride. Everyone that has ever existed will either spend eternity in the lake of fire or in the new Jerusalem on the new earth.)

11 having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:
12 having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

(The twelve gates of the new Jerusalem had twelve angels. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.)

13 on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

(The wall of the city has twelve foundations with the names of the twelve Apostles of Christ. Hebrews 13:14 stated that we currently have no continuing city, but we seek one to come, the new Jerusalem.)

15 And he that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal.

(Definition: "twelve thousand furlongs" equals 1500 miles. This is half the size of the United States. Imagine dividing the United States in an eastern and a western half. Then imagine one of those halves being the base of the new Jerusalem and the height also being 1500 miles. Since Jesus will be at the top and seen by all, the structure will probably resemble a pyramid more than a cube. The new Jerusalem now looked even more like a Body. In our body, each cell takes direction from three possible sources:
1) adjoining cells,
2) local area center, and
3) the brain.

Ephesians 5 stated that we the Church would be married to Jesus in eternity. Ephesians 4 described how the Church would build up its Body: by speaking the truth in love to each other. Eternity began with Final Judgment which will be the only day when everything will be equaled out. After that day, every interaction in the Body of the Bride will result in an injustice: someone owing someone else. If God's mercy ended, He would have to instantly equal out every interaction. However, God's mercy enduring forever, God's lack of equaling out Justice forever, will result in believers loving each other in order to equal out Justice. This loving each other will actually result in the building up of the Body, just like Paul described in Ephesians 4.

These mansions will be stacked on top of each other. For instance, if we assume that the new Jerusalem will be a regular pyramid and each mansion will have a one mile by one mile base with a one mile height, the bottom layer of the new Jerusalem would have 2,250,000 mansions. If each mansion continued to have the same dimensions and were stacked on top of each other, the total number of mansions would be over 1.1 billion mansions. In order for the number of mansions to approximate the number of cells in our physical bodies, the mansions would need to be about 1/4 mile in length, width, and height. In Luke's presentation of the Parable of the Talents (Luke 19:12-28), Jesus stated at the end, those who entered into paradise were put over cities, in proportion to their talents (Reward). Perhaps the reason Jesus told us to store up treasure in heaven now was so that we would end up over more cities/mansions in the new Jerusalem.

Taking this thought in conjunction with the Disclaimer discussion, a large percentage of the occupants of the new Jerusalem will make up the first dozen layers. If these people were at this level because they had very little Reward, where would they come from? One possibility is these layers would consist of everyone who ever existed and was not able to make an intentional choice to follow God prior to the "first death," and then subsequently made the decision to take direction from God.

Look at this Body in light of everything written in the previous comment: a mansion will interact with the adjoining mansions on the same level. In addition, each mansion will lead the mansions under it and take direction from the mansion(s) over it. Finally, everyone will be taking direction from Jesus who is the Head of the Bride. God's mercy endures forever so we can edify (build up) the Body by speaking the truth in love to each other. Justice will never be equaled out again, and that is a good thing.)

17 And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

(The wall of the new Jerusalem will be about 216 ft. high.)

18 And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass.

(Pure gold is so soft it can be shaped by hand (and body oils actually corrode it). In fact, gold is so soft and strong it can be pounded so thin that you can see through it.)

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;
20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the several gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

(This verse is the source of the often quoted phrase: "streets of gold." Notice, all of the barriers between mansions (walls and streets) are of gold so thin you can see through it. In our bodies, each cell wall is made up of the thinnest layer of oil, literally a molecule in thickness. When oil is present in lump quantities, it flows and has no structure. However, an oil molecule by itself is very rigid and acts as strong as iron.)

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.

(Further proof the new Jerusalem is the tabernacle/house of God.)

23 And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.

(There will be no need for the sun or moon because the Glory of God and Christ will be the light. Christ is the Head and occupies the top. His light is so powerful and able to be seen (through thin gold walls) that everyone experiences "day time.")

24 And the nations shall walk amidst the light thereof: and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.
25 And the gates thereof shall in no wise be shut by day (for there shall be no night there):

(There will be no night.)

26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it:
27 and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb's book of life.

(This chapter presented the Meaning of Life. The Meaning of Life is Church and Marriage. God's purpose is to create a Bride for His Son. Church is the ultimate community solely made up of people (even though God can be part of it). The Ultimate community is Marriage because God is involved. The Meaning of Life is Church (one type of community) in the Ultimate Community (Marriage Covenant with Jesus and God the Father). There were many verses that pointed to Jesus being the Groom and the Church being the Bride: Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 2:19-20, Luke 5:33-35, John 3:29 (John the Baptist was referred to as the "best man"), and Matthew 25:1-10.)




Revelation 22
1 And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,

(The last chapter of the Bible began with a reference to grace: The water of life that proceeds from God and the Lamb.)

2 in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

(The tree of life will have twelve fruits which will be yielded every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Two points:
-First, time does not cease in eternity. At the very least, it is measured in months.
-Second, we currently sleep in order to repair as much as possible. In eternity, we will not sleep because it is always day, however, we will still have the need to repair which will occur through the fruits from the tree of life.

Remember, Adam and Eve were prevented from eating from this tree by angels. If they had ate of this tree they would have had eternal life. In fact, notice what we have here at the end of the Bible in eternity: a Husband, a Wife, a river, a tree of life - paradise: the new Eden. The Bible ended the way it began. God's initial Will was for Adam and Eve to exist forever in the Garden of Eden. They lost this ability when they justified themselves. They expressed their will to act according to their own nature. The way to exist forever in the new Eden will be to express your will to act according to God's Nature (and in opposition to your own nature), which is grace.)

3 And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him;
4 and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.

(Some people believe that Jesus cannot be God because He and God the Father would fight in eternity over the throne. However, God the Father rested from His works on the seventh day: Genesis 2:1-3. He gave up His occupation of being a First Cause when He gave man dominion. In Hebrews 4 the entrance into paradise comes to those who rest from their works just as God rested from His works. Believers must cease from their occupation of being a first cause and take direction from the Holy Spirit via grace. In eternity, everyone will look to Jesus as the Leader.  This will be the Kingdom of Jesus, which is also known as the Kingdom of God because Jesus is God. Kings ruling until the day they die is a man-made concept. However, Numbers 8:23-26 showed that God had the priests work until fifty years of age and then retire from the warfare of service and help those priests under fifty years old lead the people. Likewise, God the Father retires and His Son (Jesus) will be in charge of the Kingdom.)

5 And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

(John blatantly stated there will be no night or sun because Jesus shall provide the light.

The summary of verses 1-5 were the big picture explanation for eternity: There will be a new Eden. Next, John concluded his narrative.)

6 And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angels to show unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.
7 And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.

(Another blessing was pronounced relative to this book. This time, the blessing was for those who kept the words of this book.)

8 And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things.
9 And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the words of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.

(John was told to not seal the prophecies of this book, which was why we are able to read this information.)

11 He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.

(This verse stated that as a person dies that is how they will remain for eternity. There is no second chance after death to confess and repent.)

12 Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.

(Everyone will be recompensed, both good and bad, for everything they have done from their own strength, which is the Reward judgment.)

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
14 Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
15 Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.

(Again, there are only two places you can exist in eternity: the new Jerusalem on the new earth or the lake of fire.)

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.

(Summary of verses 6-16: The words of this book were not to be sealed up but shared to encourage us to make it into the new Jerusalem.)

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.

(Definition: "he that will" meant that whoever expressed their will was able to do this. No one is prevented from living eternally in the new Jerusalem. God has made all the provisions and we are all invited. Grace has been provided via the Holy Spirit because of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. If we end up in the lake of fire it is because it is our decision.)

18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:
19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

(This warning was specifically about the Book of Revelation, not about the Bible which was canonized by man. Many people use these verses to show that the Apocrypha was not divinely inspired. Is it possible that God divinely inspired other writings during "biblical times"? What about today?)

20 He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus.

(What followed was the last sentence of the Bible. Notice, this last chapter of the Bible began and concluded with references to grace...)

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen.

(Summary of verses 17-21: The Holy Spirit and the Bride encouraged us to live eternally in the new Jerusalem and not experience the second death in the lake of fire (click on diagram to enlarge).)


(The Book of Revelation was the final book of the Bible. It was written by John from the island of Patmos around 96 AD. This would have been about five years after his epistles. In much the same way the Book of Daniel was the main prophetic book for those who lived during the Dispensation of the Law, this book was the main prophetic book for those who live during our current dispensation. This book had four sections relative to chronology. The first section was made up of the first three chapters which documented events prior to the Tribulation. The second section was made up of the next three chapters which presented a big picture perspective of events in order from the beginning of the Tribulation to the end of the Tribulation. The third section was the largest and most confusing section. In twelve chapters, the events of the Tribulation were presented from several different perspectives, resulting in a layered presentation of the Tribulation. The fourth and final section consisted of four chapters that presented, in chronological order, events from the end of the Tribulation through eternity. This book presented the Meaning of Life which is Church and Marriage. This book ended where the Bible began: a Husband, a Wife, a river, and a tree of life in paradise, which you can now review through the following link...)

Day 1

Day 364: Revelation 16-18

(We have seen the first explanation of the events for the Tribulation from beginning to end were given with six seals (Chapters 5 and 6). The seventh seal was not a continuation of the six seals, it contained seven trumpets. The first six trumpets (Chapters 8 and 9) gave a more specific explanation of the events for the second half of the Tribulation. Now, we have seen the seventh trumpet contained the seven bowls, which represented the seven curses that would occur in the last days of the Tribulation. The seals, trumpets, and bowls were concurrent explanations of events that occurred during the Tribulation, with increased focused on the end of the Tribulation. This is clearly seen in the following diagram with the "16 (Seven Bowls)"...however, the extent of the events are only as long as the "16." The events of the following chapter do not extend beyond the end of the Tribulation (the area covered by "(Seven Bowls)")...(click on diagram to enlarge).)


Revelation 16

(This chapter gave the curses of the seven bowls during the last days of the Tribulation.)

1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

(The seven angels were told to pour out the bowls (vials) of God's wrath on the earth.)

2 And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.

(The first bowl caused a "noisome" (of a bad nature, not such as it ought to be) and "grievous" (full of labors, annoyances, hardships) sore to come upon those who had the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. It appears that people will have an allergic/toxic reaction to the (electronic?) mark that is placed in their skin.)

3 And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, even the things that were in the sea.

(The second bowl was poured on the sea and it became blood as of a dead man (coagulated - from a liquid to a thickened mass; curdle). The oceans cover 3/4 of the earth's surface. Everything that exists in this part of the earth will die.)

4 And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.

(The third bowl was poured on the rivers and fountains of waters and they became blood (flowing blood).)

5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:
6 for they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.

(The second bowl made the salt water deadly. This third bowl made the fresh water deadly. The people of the earth will not have a fresh water supply, which will be God's response through Justice for the people of the earth martyring believers. The people of earth will require the blood of the martyrs, so God will give them blood in place of water. People cannot live very long without fresh water, so this would imply the timing of these events will be within days of the end of the Tribulation.)

7 And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

(The people under the altar were the martyred saints of the Tribulation (Revelation 6:9). They testified that God's response through Justice was Righteous.)

8 And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire.

(The fourth bowl was poured on the sun and the angel was given power to scorch men with fire. It appears the earth's ability to protect people from harmful radiation from the sun will be removed.)

9 And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.

(The men who were scorched blasphemed God and were unrepentant. In fact, like Pharaoh, these people of earth will harden their hearts.)

10 And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.

(The fifth bowl was poured on the throne of the beast, the leadership. Notice, the first four bowls focused on the people. The fifth bowl then focused on the leadership. The curses on everyone were completed.)

12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising.

(The sixth bowl was poured on the great Euphrates River and the water dried up. This was related to the sixth trumpet of Revelation 9:13. The reason for this curse was to make the battle of Armageddon possible.)

13 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, as it were frogs:

(The "Anti-trinity" was mentioned together with the effect being three unclean spirits were released.)

14 for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

(The purpose of these unclean spirits will be to gather the armies of the whole world for the battle of Armageddon.)

15 (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walked naked, and they see his shame.)
16 And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-magedon.

(The sixth bowl completely facilitated everything necessary for the battle of Armageddon.)

17 And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done:

(The seventh bowl was poured in the air and a voice from the temple of heaven, from the throne stated, "It is done." (Revelation 10:7) The Tribulation could be ended.)

18 and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

(Jerusalem will be divided into three parts from the earthquake.)

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And great hail, every stone about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.

(Hail from heaven with each piece weighing about a talent (about 120 lbs.) will change the landscape of the earth, and men will continue to blaspheme God!)




Revelation 17

(This chapter was informational and gave a big picture perspective of the history of the false religion mentioned in Chapter 13.)

1 And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;
2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.

(One of the angels of the bowls talked with John and showed him the judgment of the great harlot (represented man's religions, all of them) that sits on many waters (peoples, nations, languages, races, etc. from Revelation 17:15). This was the false world religion.)

3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

(The beast system here was the same as in Revelation 13.)

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,

(This description of the woman upon the beast has been stated to be the Catholic Church because of the colors purple and scarlet. Whether it will be or not, this woman represented a false world religion that would associate itself with the beast system: seven heads and ten horns.)

5 and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

(She is the mother of harlots. She represented all fornication; all idolatry; all giving of one's self to an image.)

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.

(She was drunk with blood of saints and martyrs of Jesus.)

7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.

(The angel told John the mystery of the woman. Again, when mystery was mentioned in the Bible, it was given to believers to understand the mystery. God did not want believers to celebrate not knowing the mystery.)

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.

(The beast is Satan's system that was critically wounded during John's time by Jesus' resurrection. During John's time this system "is not," this system during John's time and today has no actual power. It works by deception. We have to choose to embrace it and let it into us. However, during the second half of the Tribulation, it will be given the ability to physically overcome believers. Unbelievers will wonder and be deceived during the Tribulation.)

9 Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:

(Some believe the capitol of this world religion will be in a city that has seven mountains/hills. Rome is built on seven hills, which is why some people point to the Catholic Church. However, there are other prominent cities built on seven hills including: Athens, Istanbul, Jerusalem, and Moscow.)

10 and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while.

(During John's time, the first five kingdoms were gone: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The sixth kingdom was the one that existed during John's time: Rome. The seventh kingdom is the one that will exist during the time of the Tribulation. This kingdom will only exist for a little while relative to the years that the previous kingdoms were in authority.)

11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.

(The seventh kingdom is in charge for a little while and the eighth king (the Antichrist) comes from the seventh kingdom, before he goes to perdition.)

12 And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.

(The seventh kingdom consists of ten kings that have authority for one hour (a little while), and then give it to the beast (Antichrist). Just as John the Baptist's purpose was to facilitate Jesus' Ministry (and took a little while), it looks as if the purpose of the seventh kingdom is to facilitate the Antichrist's authority.)

14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.

(The ten kings will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them at the battle of Armageddon which ends the Tribulation.)

15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

(This explained the meaning of waters in the first verse of this chapter: Revelation 17:1. The false religion would be used by the Antichrist to unite all the people during the first half of the Tribulation. This false religion itself was deceived: believing that it was doing something good because everyone was being united under its belief system while not realizing, like a harlot, she was being used for fornication...used to cause people to commit idolatry.)

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.

(It appears the seventh and eighth kings will use the world religion for the first half of the Tribulation. However, at the midpoint, the Antichrist takes over the temple and declares every other religion false, especially the world religion represented by the harlot.)

17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

(The woman represented a great city. During John's time, the great city that reigned over all other kingdoms was Rome. Again, another reason people point to the Catholic Church. The events of this chapter are denoted by the "17" and the arrow. The events of the next chapter are denoted by the "18." Notice, there are years between the two chapters (click on diagram to enlarge).)





Revelation 18

(Some people referred to this chapter as "The Harlot’s Obituary." However, this chapter covered an actual city that was different than the harlot from chapter 17. The harlot representing the false religion was destroyed at the midpoint of the Tribulation by the kings of the earth. This Babylon was a city that would fall at the end of the Tribulation by the hand of God.)

1 After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

(John saw another angel come from heaven with great power after the destruction of the harlot which occurred at the midpoint of the Tribulation.)

2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.

(This angel proclaimed that Babylon had fallen.)

3 For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.

(This was a city that became the center of commerce (traffick) during the Tribulation. Also, Lucifer fell and became Satan because of much "traffick": Ezekiel 28. In Isaiah 14, where Lucifer's five "I wills" were presented, verse 22 spoke of Babylon being cut off.)

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:
5 for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

(God's people will be called out of this idolatrous city, just like Sodom. Verse 5 sounded like Genesis 18:20-21 where God said the cry of Sodom's sins had reached up to heaven.)

6 Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.
7 How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.

(Babylon was in pride. Notice, this Babylon claims to sit as a queen. The harlot sat drunkenly on a beast.)

8 Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.

(This great city, like Sodom, will be "utterly burned with fire" (to be consumed by fire) in one day by God.)

9 And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,
10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

(Another difference between the harlot and this seat of commerce: The kings of the earth burned the harlot with fire (Revelation 17:16), while the kings of the earth lamented over this Babylon's destruction by God. Again, the harlot from chapter 17 was a religion. Bablyon in this chapter was valued for its commerce which was expounded upon here...)

11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more;
12 merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
13 and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.
14 And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and men shall find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;
16 saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!
17 for in an hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any wither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,
18 and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city?
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.

(Again, her destruction occurring in an hour ought to have proven that it was God who did this, not man.)

21 And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.

(The angel cast a millstone in the sea saying that Babylon will be cast down as the millstone. Again, the description was a sudden physical and violent destruction, not the destruction of the world religion as evidenced by the following description...)

22 And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23 and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.

(In this great city of commerce was the blood of prophets, saints, and of all that were slain on the earth. Again, whether this was a spiritual allusion to Satan or whether it was a statement that love of the physical over the spiritual has led to the killing of believers, the earth's economic system will be completely destroyed with God's judgment of the great city of Babylon. This post showed the systematic destruction of the earth by God which concluded the third and largest section of the Book of Revelation. The fourth and final section gave a chronological explanation of the events from the end of the Tribulation through eternity.)

Day 365

Day 363: Revelation 13-15

(The previous post showed that the events during the last half of the Tribulation will cause the Antichrist to cease from pursuing those believing Jews who will be hidden in order to focus on the rest of the world. In the KJV, this chapter ended with a period. In the ASV, it ended with a colon signifying the beginning of chapter 13 focused on what distracted the Antichrist, that was possessed by Satan, just after the midpoint of the Tribulation.)

Revelation 13

(This chapter was a continuation of the previous chapter which presented Satan's perspective up to just after the midpoint of the Tribulation and denoted by the "13" (click on diagram to enlarge).)


(The last verse of chapter 12 stated the dragon (Satan possessing the Antichrist) was upset with Israel and stopped pursuing her in order to deal with the rest of the world.)

1 and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.

(Satan in possession of the Antichrist stood on the sand. The beast came out of the sea. The beast was separate from the Antichrist. The beast referred to an entire system. The beast is a mass of people that Satan will use. This beast included the Antichrist.)

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.

(The Book of Daniel consisted of twelve chapters. The first six chapters documented Daniel's interactions with the heathen kings over Babylon. The last six chapters documented prophecies Daniel had about end times. This second half of the Book of Daniel (Daniel 7:1-8) began with a description of four beasts that were similar to this passage: lion, bear, leopard, and a fourth beast with ten horns that caused destruction. The dragon (Satan) gave the beast power.)

3 And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;
4 and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him?

(Some look at the seven heads as different dispensations, with the head that was mortally wounded representing the dispensation when Jesus was resurrected. Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross finished the beast system. It had no actual power. However, here was that same system that appeared to have power, but everything was being done through deception. The world will worship the dragon (Satan possessing the Antichrist) that gives power to the beast system.)

5 and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.

(The "mouth" was the Antichrist possessed by Satan. Forty-two months is 3 1/2 years, which corresponded to the second half of the Tribulation. Rather than continue to pursue those that go into hiding after the midpoint of the Tribulation, Satan will focus on implementing his beast system to control the inhabitants of the world.)

6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven.

(The Antichrist possessed by Satan openly blasphemed God, His temple, and His believers in heaven during the second half of the Tribulation.)

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

(Remember, Christians were raptured before the Tribulation began. Believers during the first half of the Tribulation were raptured at the midpoint, just before these events happen. Both sets of believers avoided wrath. All those who became believers during the second half of the Tribulation were at war with the Antichrist and were able to be overcome physically. Those who died during this time would be raptured with the Two Witnesses near the end of the Tribulation.)

8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.

(There appeared to be three groups of people: believers who get killed, Jewish believers in hiding (in Edom and Moab), and followers of the Antichrist. These people who worshipped the Antichrist were people whose names were not written in the Book of Life.)

9 If any man hath an ear, let him hear.
10 If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

(These two verses were written to people who will live during the second half of the Tribulation in order to encourage these believers that Justice will eventually be executed on those who follow the Antichrist. Remember, the Holy Spirit will only be in the Two Witnesses, so believers will only be able to be led through logic and not through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.)

11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

(The beast mentioned in verse 11 was the False Prophet. He appeared to be a lamb, but he was actually a dragon. He appeared to be like Christ/God, but he was actually like Satan. We now can see an "Anti-trinity":
-The Antichrist is self explanatory.
-This false prophet is the "Anti-Holy Spirit."
-The abomination that causes desolation that is set up in the temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation is the "Anti-God the Father.")

12 And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed.

(The False Prophet has all the power of the beast system (Revelation 13:1) and his focus is to lead people to worship the beast system. The Holy Spirit's focus is to lead us into all truth, which involves worshipping God the Father.)

13 And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.

(Paul warned of lying signs in 2 Thessalonians 2:9. Notice, this time of lying signs and wonders occurs during the second half of the Tribulation, not before this time, including today. These signs and wonders will be through deception and only once the "Anti-trinity" is in place. Remember, believers will not be able to physically stand before the Antichrist during the second half of the Tribulation.)

14 And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.

(The deception will be so great, the False Prophet will convince the people on earth to make an image to the beast, to state their will they have renounced God to the point they will make their own god.)

15 And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image to the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

(The False Prophet will cause the image of the beast to speak and kill those who do not worship the image. This sounded a lot like Daniel 3.)

16 And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;

(People will be required to have a mark on their right hand or forehead.)

17 and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.

(Without this mark, people will not be able to buy or sell. This requirement to take the mark will require a conscious decision by the individual. Notice, the decision to take this mark occurs during the second half of the Tribulation because of a speaking image of the beast. This will not happen without people knowing about it.)

18 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.

(The mark of the beast will be 666. This completed the explanation from Satan's perspective that began in chapter 12.)




Revelation 14

(This chapter presented specifics concerning events that occur during the second half of the Tribulation from the perspective of believers.)

1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.

(John saw the Lamb (Christ) with the 144,000. These were raptured after the first half of the tribulation after their converts from Revelation 7:9-10.)

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

(John heard a voice and he heard harps.)

3 and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth.

(The 144,000 that were redeemed from the earth were the only ones who understood the song.)

4 These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.

(The 144,000 were undefiled virgins. They followed Christ wherever He went and were redeemed among men. They were the first-fruits to God and Christ. In their mouths was no guile because they had no flaw before the throne of God. They were pure internally (cause) which led to no guile externally (effect). These events will occur during the second half of the Tribulation, after the war in heaven results in Satan's and his followers' expulsion from heaven.)

6 And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people;

(Angels will minister to the nations during the last half of the tribulation. This runs concurrently with the Two Witnesses' ministry from Revelation 11.)

7 and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.

(The angels will proclaim the Gospel.)

8 And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

(Babylon the great was a false religion, a religion that appeared to be Christian but whose purpose was to deceive people into following the Antichrist. This angel proclaimed the destruction.)

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand,
10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.

(The first angel preached the gospel, which was achieve gain: the benefit.

The second angel encouraged believers that were abused that their abusers would be judged.

The third angel warned everyone that if they took the mark, there was not repentance, which was fear of loss: the punishment.

These three approaches by these three angels was referenced as the causes for the patience of the saints...)

12 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
13 And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.

(A blessing was declared for those believers who give up their lives instead of taking the mark.)

(Verses 14-18: a preview of the battle of Armageddon, which would occur on the final day of the Tribulation.)

14 And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.
17 Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

(The phrase "clusters of the vine of the earth" referred to the earth's people.)

19 And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God.

(See Revelation 19:15 concerning the "winepress.")

20 And the winepress are trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

(Verse 20 described a lake of blood that was as deep as the height of a horse's bridle and about 184 miles long. This will be the result of everyone dying at the battle of Armageddon. The events of this chapter are denoted by the "14" and the arrow (click on diagram to enlarge).)


Revelation 15

(This chapter was focused on details of the last days of the Tribulation from the perspective of heaven.)

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God.

(John saw seven angels with seven plagues that came upon the earth to finish God's wrath at the end of the Tribulation.)

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.

(John saw those who endured and were victorious over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name. Again, these people were present in heaven which spoke to a rapture near the end of the Tribulation.)

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.

(They will sing the song of Moses (Deuteronomy 32) and the Song of the Lamb.)

4 Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest.

(Verse 4 spoke of the Millennial reign of Christ on earth.)

5 And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed with precious stone, pure and bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles.

(John saw the temple in heaven opened and the seven angels with the plagues came out.)

7 And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished.

(No man will enter the temple until the seven plagues that complete the Tribulation are finished. These seven plagues were represented as seven bowls. The events of this chapter are denoted by the "15" (click on diagram to enlarge).)


Day 364

Day 362: Revelation 10-12

(In the previous post we saw the first explanation of the events for the Tribulation from beginning to end were given with six seals. The seventh seal was not a continuation of the six seals, it contained seven trumpets, which were concurrent with some of the seals but more concentrated: The first six trumpets gave a more specific explanation of the events for the second half of the Tribulation. Before we find out about the seventh trumpet, there was more layered information that was presented.)

Revelation 10

(This chapter was informational and focused on John's perspective and role.)

1 And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire;
2 and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth;

(John saw an angel with a little book.)

3 and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

(The angel shouted and seven thunders uttered their voices.)

4 And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

(John was about to write down what the seven thunders said when a voice from heaven told him not to write them and to seal them up. We have no way of knowing what was stated, so if this angel gave some explanation of the context and/or chronology of what John had seen, we do not know.)

5 And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven,
6 and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer:
7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.

(The angel with the little book swore that in the days of the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God will be finished. The angel confirmed the timing of the seventh trumpet (which we have seen was the third woe) was at the end of the Tribulation, which was the same timing as the sixth seal. The first six seals gave a Big Picture chronology of events (in order) from the beginning of the Tribulation to the end. The seventh seal revealed seven trumpets. The events (woes) of the seven trumpets also give a chronology of events (in order), however, these woes covered the time from just after the midpoint of the Tribulation to the end of the Tribulation.)

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard it again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.

(John stood the same way as the angel stood and took the little book. The angel told John to eat the book.)

10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter.
11 And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.

(John ate the book and the angel told John that he must prophesy again. It appeared that the little book was the revelatory word of God and John would be able to divulge this information to the world through writing this book. Specifically, the following events occurred near the end of the Tribulation. We did not put a "10" on the diagram because it did not correspond to chronology of the future. However, the next chapter is denoted by an "11 Two Witnesses" with an arrow.)





Revelation 11

(This chapter was informational looking at the last half of the Tribulation from the perspective of the Two Witnesses.)

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

(The angel gave John a measuring rod to measure the temple of God.)

2 And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

(Unbelievers will tread over the holy city for forty-two months. This was the second half of the tribulation: three and a half years.)

3 And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

(The Two Witnesses clothed in sackcloth will have power and will prophesy for three and a half years which is also during the second half of the Tribulation.)

4 These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth.

(Zechariah 4 gave an explanation of two olive trees and lampstands that stand before the Lord. In that passage, they represented the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord. The Two Witnesses are anointed to stand for God and witness during the second half of the Tribulation.)

5 And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.

(If any man tries to hurt the witnesses, he will be killed by fire out of their mouths.)

6 These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.

(They will have power over the physical realm. Examples were given that reminded people of Elijah and Moses/Aaron. Consequently, some people believe the Two Witnesses will be Elijah and Moses. The Jews know that Elijah needs to physically return before the Messiah can physically return in His Kingdom, and Elijah did not die. We see that the Two Witnesses eventually die, so if the Two Witnesses were people who had already died, then the scripture (Hebrews 9:27) that stated its "given once for man to die" would be wrong. The only other person who left the earth without dying was Enoch. It would appear that Elijah and Enoch will be the Two Witnesses who testify for God and if anyone tries to hurt them, they will be killed with fire coming from the witnesses' mouths. However, when their work is finished, the beast that comes from the bottomless pit will make war against them and kill them.)

8 And their dead bodies lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

(The witnesses' bodies will lie in the street of Jerusalem.)

9 And from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations do men look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.

(They will lay there for three and a half days.)

10 And they that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry; and they shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.

(Those on earth will rejoice over their dead bodies because the testimony of the Two Witnesses tormented them, caused them to doubt whom they were following: the Antichrist.)

11 And after the three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them that beheld them.

(After the three and a half days they will be raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit and all that see it will fear.)

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they went up into heaven in the cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

(Remember, these events will take place during the end of the Tribulation. A voice from heaven will say "come up hither." This was a rapture which will occur near the end of the Tribulation. The Two Witnesses will be resurrected and raptured in the "Post-Tribulation Rapture."

Now we have seen evidence for three separate raptures: Pre-, Mid-, and Post-Tribulation. Again, this is why people who believe in each of these raptures are correct, and why they are incorrect when they claim there will only be one rapture. Nowhere in God's Word did it state there would only be one rapture.)

13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second Woe is past: behold, the third Woe cometh quickly.

(The second woe (which coincided with the sixth trumpet) was past (Revelation 9:13-21). The third woe would be the end of the Tribulation and it came quickly after the second woe which came within an hour of the death of the Two Witnesses.)

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.

(When the seventh trumpet sounded a voice from heaven announced that the kingdoms of this world are God's and Christ's and Christ will reign forever. This was the third woe and the end of the Tribulation.)

16 And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,
17 saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.

(The twenty-four elders (Church) worshipped God.)

18 And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.
19 And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.

(Verse 18 mentioned judgment, which showed this was the end of the Tribulation. In verse 19, the Ark of the Covenant was seen in heaven. This chapter covered events from the midpoint of the Tribulation up to near the end of the Tribulation.)




Revelation 12

(This chapter was informational and took a very big picture view (from the beginning (Genesis 1:1) to the end of the Tribulation) from Satan's perspective and is denoted by the "12" with the arrows (click on diagram to enlarge).)


1 And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars;

(The woman was Israel.)

2 and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered.

(The child was Jesus.)

3 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.

(The great red dragon was Satan.)

4 And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.

(This verse has been used to show that one third of the angels fell with Satan. During John's time, these first four verses presented the history from the beginning to Jesus' birth...all of these events had occurred in the past relative to John's time.)

5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.

(This verse referred to Jesus' earthly ministry: from birth to resurrection and sitting at the right Hand of God - this was the present for John, and is the present for us. Next, John presented the future.)

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

(The believing Jews who heed Jesus' warning to hide will remain hidden for 1,260 days, which is 3 1/2 years: from the midpoint of the Tribulation when the Antichrist takes over the temple to the end of the Tribulation.)

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;
8 And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

(There will be war in heaven. Satan is not omnipresent. He can only be in one place at one time. From this point on, Satan will be confined to spending his time on earth.)

10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.

(The devil who accuses people living on earth was cast down to the earth. This could be seen as the devil possessing the Antichrist at the midpoint of the Tribulation.)

11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.

(Satan and his angels were overcome by those whom he accused because of Jesus' blood, the believers' testimony, and believers being willing to die.)

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man child.

(Satan persecuted the woman (Israel) who brought forth the child (Christ). We know this will happen at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Notice, this third woe was towards the earth, while those in heaven were told to rejoice. The woe was that Satan himself would be directly persecuting Israel. He would only be able to do this through the Antichrist.

This introduced the concept that while Satan influenced the Antichrist during the first half of the Tribulation, during the second half of the Tribulation Satan would possess the Antichrist.

During this chapter, John gave the perspective of the events of the second half of the Tribulation from the perspective of Satan, whom he referred to as the dragon. It was no longer the person of the Antichrist that was doing this, it was completely Satan through possessing the Antichrist.)

14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

(After Satan comes to earth, believers in Israel will be hidden for a "time, times, and half a time." Daniel 12:7 used the same phrase:
-A time was one year.
-A times was two years.
-A half a time was half a year.

This is 3 1/2 years total, the time of the second half of the Tribulation.)

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.

(The "flood" were words of Satan coming out of the Antichrist's mouth trying to terrorize believers from Israel who will be hidden.)

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:

(The events during the last half of the Tribulation will cause the Antichrist to cease from pursuing those believing Jews who will be hidden in order to focus on the rest of the world. In the KJV, this chapter ended with a period. In the ASV, it ended with a colon signifying the beginning of chapter 13 focused on what distracted the Antichrist, that was possessed by Satan, just after the midpoint of the Tribulation.)

Day 363