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