Revealing Revelation - Babylon is Fallen

The next section in Chapter revolves around the introduction of three angels and the announcements they bring with them. We will deal with the first two announcements in this post and reserve discussion on the third proclamation for the next post.

Rev 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

With the declaration of this first angel we see the proclamation of the Gospel throughout the whole world. This is very familiar language to those who have read our discussion of the Olivet Discourse. Jesus used similar language to describe the impact of the Gospel at the time near the fall of the city of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple.

Matt 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

As we saw in our discussion of the Olivet Discourse this relates to a time of great Gospel success after the fall of Jerusalem. We know historically this came to be as with the end of the Old Testament center for worship - The Temple - the Gospel of Christ was proclaimed and those that were predestined to be His came to Him through the proclamation of the Gospel.

Note in the passage under consideration that the proclamation of this everlasting Gospel is tied directly to the time of God’s judgment. This, like Jesus’ words in the Olivet Discourse tie the success of the Gospel to the destruction of the city and the wrath of God poured out on the first persecutor of the Church.

We then see how this time of wrath is responded to in Heaven with the proclamation of the second angel.

Rev 14:8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

This declaration is made at the same point that the Gospel is proclaimed throughout the world and ties directly to the time of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and so this proclamation should be best seen as being related to the destruction of Jerusalem and not Rome. Though there may be seen by many a shift in the emphasis of the object of God’s wrath, it is clear He is not finished declaring His wrath against Jerusalem.

No other name leveled against the city (including Sodom and Egypt) can be as curse filled as to call Jerusalem by the name of her greatest enemy, Babylon. This ultimate insult seals the feeling Good has toward her at this point in history. She has killed His son, their Messiah and has done so by whoring herself with the evil, pagan nation of Rome.

As mentioned previously, no other nation can be seen as sexually immoral from a Covenantal point of view than the nation of Israel. She continues her Old Testament description of playing the Harlot and spread her sexual immorality amongst the other nations by joining forces with them to persecute the Church Jesus had built.

This description includes how historically she has “made the nations drink the wine of her passion.” This points to Israel’s long standing history of rejecting the statues of God and going after other nation’s gods and worshiping their idols. She, through her embracing of false gods, shows her immorality.

Since a better word for “passion” in this passage would actually be “wrath” we see here this is referencing how the immoral actions of Israel will cause the other nations to “taste” the wrath of God. In other words, her enticing of the Rome to join with her in killing Jesus Christ will cause the wrath of God to be poured out on the other nations as well.This is something we will see in the following chapters.

This point cannot be missed. The covenantal binds described between Israel (the wife) and God Jehovah (the husband) are seen as marital binds. When Israel went after the idols of other nations she whored herself and broke covenant with the Lord God. The greatest proof of their harlotry would be found in the whoring herself with Rome to kill the Lord of Glory!

Babylon is fallen!

Revealing Revelation - Firstfruits

Much like how Chapter 10 was a transitional chapter, here in chapter 14 a similar technique is being employed. This is either a transition from the fall of Jerusalem to an emphasis on Rome or it simply stands on it’s own as a separate section.

But here we are reintroduced to the 144,000 and here a declaration regarding the fall of Babylon. We then see the image of the sickles introduced and the apocalyptic picture of the grapes of wrath, a horrific bloodbath and blood reaching tremendous depths.

But how are we to understand all these images? First let’s deal with the 144,000 as they have now made it through the time of Tribulation brought on by the seven trumpets.

Rev 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

These 144,000 who were introduced during Chapter seven as coming from the earth (land), are now seen as being on Mt. Zion. This picture is reminiscent of Psalm 2

Psalm 2:1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
3″Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”

4He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6″As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”

Set against the backdrop of nations raging against both the Lord and His anointed, we see both in Revelation 14 and Psalm 2 that the Lord is in control and that His wrath will be set against those evil rulers whole rail against His own. And he does so from His holy hill, Mt. Zion. This similar imagery should not be missed and again, here we see the Apostle relating that which he is seeing with that which he knows from the Old Testament.

This new Mt. Zion is pictured in the book of Hebrews as well as the place to which those members of the New covenant would be go.

Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven

The similarity in imagery is striking. Even the similarity of the term first born and John’s phrase firstfuits denotes similar imagery and a first century fulfillment. This also lends itself to understand the book of Revelation’s writing as being prior to 70 AD as with the book of Hebrews.

These 144,000 have the name of the son and the father written on their foreheads. This is shown as an image immediately following the mark of the beast at the end of Revelation 13. This, too, should be missed as the author is contrasting those who have the “mark of the beast” and those who have the “mark of Christ.” But oddly enough, most “literalist” futurist argue that the mark in Revelation 13 from the beast is a physical one while they make no similar argument for the one here. Just the close association of placement should make the contrasting obvious.

These 144,000 sing a song that no one else could learn. It was a “new song.” This most likely refers to the new song of the redeemed that would not be known to the nations of the world and the Old Covenant worshipers. This is a new song under a New Covenant. These first converts would be proclaiming this new song which would be unfamiliar to others.

These 144,000 are also called “virgins” which may be an odd description o the reader. But since the book should be taken as a whole and that we understand these 144,000 as coming from the land, and therefore representing the early Jewish converts to Christianity, the term “virgin” should best be understood Covenantally.

We will find later a second woman, this time called a harlot, that represents apostate Israel. These are those who continue to deny the Lord Jesus Christ as Messiah and saviour and continue the unneeded and unlawful ritual sacrifices surrounding the old covenant system that Hebrews says was vanishing away.

In contrast, the 144,000 are seen as virgins since they do not defile themselves with the Harlot of Old testament Judaism, but embrace the Lord Jesus Christ as their husband. Harlotry and Idolatry were synonymous and by not participating in a now idolatrous system, these new converts are “virgins” to the Lord.

Finally, John used the term firstfruits for God and the Lamb. As seen above, similar language is used in the book of Hebrews, though there the similar term is first born. Both a denoting the same thing. As a result, there is no way that one can push these events into the future, especially a future right before the “end” and proclaim these converts as “first” of anything. They would, in fact, be “last” fruits!

These are, in fact, those early converts who escaped as the final onslaught and destruction of the city of Jerusalem by heeding the warning of Jesus…following the Lamb!

Revealing Revelation - The Second Beast

Since the bulk of the previous post dealt directly with the more famous, larger beast with seven heads, we will take a short moment and discuss potential interpretation for the second, smaller beast. This beast is often referred to as the smaller beast , not because the description of it’s size leads to that assumption, but rather that he or it does his work at the bidding of the first beast. He is often called the False Prophet.

Rev. 13:11-15 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. [12] It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. [13] It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, [14] and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. [15] And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

There is quite a bit of symbolic imagery at play here and some investigating is necessary to understand both the imagery and the usage of language.

The first thing to note is that this beast comes out of the land (earth) in contrast to the first beast that arose from the sea. This should lead the reader to see this second beast as being in relation to Israel in some way, since John continues to contrast the sea as Gentile nations and the land as Israel.

The second part of the description worth noting is that this beast has two horns like that of a lamb. This would suggest more of a religious connotation that a political or military one. But since it speaks like a dragon, which we saw previously describes Satan, this must represent a false or blasphemous religion.

There have been several options presented to try and understand just what this second beast represents, and we will discuss a few of them here.

FALSE PROPHETS

Commentators like David Chilton argue that this beast actually refers to the rampant number of False Christ and false Prophets during that time. This would make sense and correlate with Jesus’ own warnings in the Olivet Discourse. The Scripture of the New Testament period before the fall of Jerusalem constantly warned the church to be wary of these false teachers and prophets.

These were possibly Judiazers calling the new converts into the bondage of the Old Testament Covenant laws and rituals. This would be a false religious system and fit the description in relation to worshiping that which was false.

CONTINUING OLD TESTAMENT JUDAISM

This would make the second beast the religious leaders of the Jews in Israel. They would still be performing the ritual sacrifices, which after Christ would and should be seen as an abomination since the perfect Lamb had come and completed the work of salvation for His people.

To continue the Temple worship system would be a false religion. This coupled with the fact that the Gospels attest to the Jewish religious leader’s affiliation with Rome - “We have no king but Caesar.” The combined culpability of the Jewish leaders and Rome in the death of Christ and the persecution of the early Church cannot be denied.

ROMAN GOVERNOR

Many have argued this second beast was the Roman Procurator at the time, Gessius Florus. In this interpretation the two horns would be a symbolic representation of being lesser than the ten horned larger beast. The speaking like a lamb does not have religious overtones, but rather the image represents the “wolf in sheep’s clothing” style of deceitful rulership used.

This view would make sense within the context as the second beast had the authority to speak for the first beast and he demanded worship or allegiance to the first beast. He also could make the image become life like symbolically be doing the bidding of Rome and persecute the church under that authority.

EMPEROR CULT

The final popular interpretation is that the second beast represented the emperor worship cult under the terror filled reign of Nero. This was dealt with in more detail in a previous post on Nero. Simply put, Nero considered himself a god, and therefore demanded worship of his subjects. This demand for worship was under the penalty of death. This demand would be carried out by the local governors of each province, and hence, they would be acting as the second beast.

I have seen strong arguments from all sides here, but have lately gravitated toward the Jewish religious leaders and their joining forces with Rome to both kill Christ and persecute His Church. This will also make more sense as we are soon introduced to the Harlot who whores herself with Rome.

Revealing Revelation - The Beast

With this post we will enter into a discussion of easily the most popular character in the book of Revelation. No other character has capture the imagination and struck fear into the heart of the reader of Revelation quite like the infamous beast! What the reader may be surprised with is how little time we will spend on the subject. The reason being that several posts previously went into great detail on the subject.

An introduction can be found here…

http://dispensationaldistortions.blogspot.com/2009/02/ladies-and-gentlemenintroducingthe.html

Information on the dual nature representing the beast…

http://dispensationaldistortions.blogspot.com/2009/02/beastly-nation.html

Identifying the historical beast…

http://dispensationaldistortions.blogspot.com/2009/02/beast-revealed.html

The character of the beast…

http://dispensationaldistortions.blogspot.com/2009/02/that-is-one-beastly-man.html

So, for our purposes here much we be spent simply reviewing in bullet form the information contained in the posts above. But one important note before proceeding with the review need be discussed. It is the parallel between between the beast as described in Revelation 12 representing the devil and the Beast in Chapter 13 representing the nation of Rome.

Rev 12:3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.

This image, taken from a combination of the four beasts from Daniel, is representative of Satan. This image in then repeated as a description of the famous “beast” in Chapter 13.

Rev 13:1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

This is meant to show that the actions described as being done by the beast may be related to the actions of Rome and it’s king, but is being orchestrated behind the scenes by Satan himself. This parallel images makes this point. Rome is the second persecutor of the Church, but it is Satan that is doing or orchestrating the persecution.

INDIVIDUAL AND NATIONAL BEAST

This time we discover that the beast is representing the nation of Rome as is explained in Chapter 17 as the city that sits on seven hills. That same description describes the seven heads as representing the seven kings of Rome. According to John that sixth head was reigning at that time. That head would be Nero.

In this we see both the individual and corporate nature of the beast. A king represents the entire nation and as the king acts, so does the nation. the nation does not act except at the bidding of the king. So, here we see that the Beast represents both the entire nation of Rome and the individual leader of Rome at the given time. the time John is describing is the time of persecution at the hand of Nero, emperor of Rome.

NERO

As noted previously a much more detailed discussion of the following points is available at the links above.

• Nero is the sixth emperor of Rome
• Galba, the seventh, reigns for six months (a little while)
• He died as the result of a self inflicted knife wound to the neck
• He was the last in the line of Julius, an assumption that the royal line had ended meant that many believed Rome itself was dead
• Josephus refers to him as “the beast”
• Was known to roam the city at night wearing animals skins raping and pillaging
• He demanded worship of himself under the penalty of death
• Blamed the Christians for the fire of Rome which led to intense persecution of christian in Rome and Roman provinces
• Penalties included impaling Christian and lighting them on fire to light his garden parties
• Christian were fed to lions and wild dogs
• Paul was put to death under the Neronic persecution
• He killed his mother, brother, wife, unborn child, two closest advisers and most in his family
• His name when translated from the Hebrew adds up to six hundred and sixty six.
• His name also adds up to 616, which many early manuscripts use as the number of the beast

Much more can be said about confirming Nero as the beast of Revelation. I would recommend Dr. Gentry’s book, “The Beast of Revelation” for a more detailed account. Also, the links above give more details and confirmation from outside sources.

The most important thing to note is that the beast has a purpose in revelation. As the second persecutor of the church, the Lord will show His power over him as well. Christ is revealed in that even in the most horrific persecution in the Churches history, not only did His Church survive, it thrived. The Gospel spread throughout the known world and Christ Kingdom expanded just as He declared it would. The nations of the world were becoming the kingdom of the Lord of glory.

Revealing Revelation - Woman, Child and Beast

After several posts in which just a verse or handful of verses have been addressed, with this post we will tackle the entire twelfth chapter of the book of Revelation. We will do it sections, but the entirety of the Chapter will reside in this post. the reason is because our focus continues to be on the prophetic, and with Chapter 12, we actually have a retelling of the Gospel story in history.

It should be noted, though, that at this point in the book there is a shaft for some, but not for others. Many claim that with the end of the seventh trumpet we close the chapters on the discussion of Israel, and with this chapter we introduce the second persecutor of the church, Rome. They argue the rest of the book deals exclusively with Rome.

While I see the introduction of Rome and God’s dealing with them, there is also much to be said about Israel, her divorce from God and the introduction of the Jesus’ new bride, the church. So it is true that the focus may now have shifted from the judgment against the one and is now transferring to the many kings, nations and languages, but Israel is not out of the picture as we will see.

Rev. 12:1-2 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. [2] She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.

John starts this section be introducing a woman who gives birth to a child. This woman should be seen as “Faithful” Israel as the image of the sun, moon and stars suggest. This image is taken from Joseph’s dream regarding his family. The son, of course, is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is born amongst great trial and tribulation as Israel is under Roman rule at this time. Since part of the revealing process in Revelation is related to the Messiah-ship of Jesus Christ, John introduces this image by having it correlate with Biblical prophecy regarding the Messiah.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Also, faithful Israel fulfills the Covenant with God by bringing forth the Messiah. Apostate Israel, though, rejects this truth. As a result, faithful Israel (the Church) will be contrasted with apostate Israel, which will be seen as the Harlot.

We are then introduced to the other central character in this section and it’s influence on the rest of the book.

Rev. 12:3-4 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. [4] His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

This great red dragon is obviously the devil, and in fact, we are told this explicitly later. The devil is seen as a combination of the four great nations of the earth; Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. This picture combines the four nation imagery from Daniel. We will see later that the Beast of Rome is a spitting image of this Beast. This denotes Satan’s working behind the scenes to orchestrate the persecution of the Church.

We are given images of the fall of Satan as when he is forced out of Heaven he takes one third of the angels with him. This is symbolically represented in the swiping of the tail that removes 1/3 of the stars from the sky.

We then see Satan there at the birth of the child in hopes of killing Him. This would be seen through the historical actions of King Herod and his act of killing all male children under two near the time of Christ’s birth.

Rev. 12:5-6 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, [6] and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Since this is not a retelling of the life of Christ, since that was covered in the Gospels, this quick snapshot jumps to the ascension of Christ. This again is a picture of the current enthronement of Christ. Then the image moves to the Churches escape during the siege as proof of God’s protection of His people. This correlates with jesus’ Olivet Discourse and the warning to His people to flee the city.

Rev. 12:7-9 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, [8] but he was defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him … [11] And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

The story reverts back to a battle in Heaven previously in which Satan is cast out. But the most important thing that is nearly always overlooked here is the way in which Satan is defeated. he is overthrown by bombs, tanks and missiles, but rather through the spread of the Gospel of the shed of blood of Christ. This becomes even more important to understand when one gets to Chapter 19.

We see that after Satan is cast out he begins his pursuit of true Israel, especially those found in Judea. But since they escape and are protected he now begins to pursue those not in Judea, but in the rest of Rome.

Rev 12:17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Here the shift of Rome’s persecution, orchestrated by the identical looking beast (Satan), now moves to those in other Roman provinces, including Rome itself. This would take place under the rule of Nero. Since historically these things take place simultaneously with the fall of Jerusalem, both Rome and Jerusalem are in view throughout the rest of the book.

It is now that we will turn our attention toward the most famous portion of the book of Revelation. Chapter 13 introduces us the Beast, the Mark and the dreaded number; six hundred sixty and six!

Revealing Revelation - The Seventh Trumpet

Now that John has finished this interlude in which we glimpsed into the working of the Gospel preached and proclaimed in Jerusalem throughout the siege and sacking of the city, he now returns his attention to the seventh and final trumpet. This also marks the third and final woe.

Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17saying,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
18The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

19Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

The first thing that should be noted that unlike the seventh seal in which a silence in Heaven was noted, this time the seventh trumpet bring great and loud noises. This is one argument against the repeated cycles of the tribulation, or that each cycle is speaking about the same events. That notwithstanding, the climate here is radically different than the somber, expectant tone of the seventh seal.

In this case we see and hear the victory of the Lord being proclaimed followed by worship of the Lord and a dramatic revelation of the heavenly temple that resides in the person and work of Christ and His victory and rulership.

So, with the blast of the seventh trumpet, those voices that had previously been requesting their vengeance has shifted from silence and awe to rejoicing and worship. The thrust of their proclamation is declaring that Jesus has received His kingdom in a physical, obvious since. This fulfills two major and important portions of the book of Daniel.

First, in Daniel 7 we are given the description of the Son of Man ascending up to the Ancient of Days to receive His kingdom. Though this was granted at His victory over death in His resurrection the literal, physical reality takes place when the Temple on earth is destroyed and He is vindicated through the destruction of the first enemy of the church and the ones guilty of His death. This is ultimately, physically noted at the fall of Jerusalem.

But previously in Daniel 2 we heard of a fifth kingdom that will come into existence that will never fall.

Dan 2:44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold

This Heavenly Kingdom takes shape and begins it’s worldwide conquest at the fall of Jerusalem and Old Testament Judaism. The physical representation of that Kingdom expansion takes place when Christianity is no longer a subset of Judaism but is recognized as the world wide religion and Kingdom that it would become. Jay Adams describes it this way:

“This [the destruction of the Temple] marked the fact that Hod had set up His own kingdom (the fifth kingdom of Daniel’s prophecy) and had begun to reign. Christianity only became a world religion…after it became totally disassociated from Judaism in 70 AD.”

So, though Jesus receives His kingdom at His ascension two things had to take. One was physical and the other spiritual. The spiritual birth of the kingdom would best be seen at Pentecost when Godly men of all nations heard the Gospel, believed and returned to their homes taking this new Gospel with them.

The second event, the physical one, would be the destruction of the temple and the divorcing of apostate Israel who had harloted herself with Rome to crucify the Lord of glory, and the beautiful picture of the New bride of Christ, His Church.

The next note worth considering is the unique change in a popular phrase…

Rev 11:17 “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.

The phrase “who is and who was and who is to come” is mentioned several times in the Book of Revelation alone. But here and following there is a change. It is simply “who is and who was.” No longer is there an expectation of the one “one who is to come.” This signals an understanding that Christ had come, at least in the fashion of judgment and that His Kingdom is not one that is to come, but had already arrived. This is proven as the verse in question finishes with “begun to reign.”

His kingdom and His reigning is NOT POSTPONED! He is not to be seen as one who is to come in relation to His kingdom. The nations raged, but could not withstand His judgment nor slow down His kingdom! The dead were judged for their rebellion and His martyrs were vindicated.

This image closes with familiar language noting the presence of God. This image of thunder, lightning, earthquake, etc hearkens back to the the Old covenant at Mt. Sinai. Here the New Covenant is visibly and obviously ratified using similar language. the physical representation of this ratification of the New Covenant is the destruction of apostate Israel and the Old testament symbol of the Old Covenant, the Temple. We then see the Spiritual Temple replace the physical one.

Rev 11:19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

With this the time of the trumpets have ended and we begin a transition to the expanded judgment hinted at in Chapter 10 and the little book. With this expansion we are introduced more clearly to the second persecutor of the Church and the coming judgment it will face. It doesn’t leaven apostate Israel out, but rather expands the judgment to include the Beast, whom we will see represents that most powerful nation the earth has ever seen.

But even this Beast cannot stand against the power of the Gospel!

Revealing Revelation - Moses and Elijah

The second half of the introduction of the Two Witnesses gives the reader a picture that is once again familiar and reminiscent of Old Testament imagery, specifically as related to two of the Old Testament’s most prevalent characters; Moses and Elijah.

Rev 11:5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

The powers demonstrated by these Two Witnesses derive directly from the events of the lives of Elijah and Moses. As Elijah called down fire from heaven to devour the sacrifice and prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel as well as on soldiers who were sent to arrest him, the Two Witnesses breathe fire from their mouths.

This fire most likely represents the wrathful proclamation of the coming destruction and the warning of repentance. This is not said without an understanding of similar Biblical imagery expressed in the Old Testament regarding the words spoken by Prophets or as the Lord speaks.

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Psalm 18:8 Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth;glowing coals flamed forth from him.

Psalm 21:9 You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear.The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath,and fire will consume them.

Psalm 29:7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.

Isaiah 30:27 Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar,burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; his lips are full of fury,and his tongue is like a devouring fire;

Even in the New Testament we note the use of fire in judgment against the enemies of God in a consuming and devouring way.

Luke 12:49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

2 Thessalonians 1:8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 10:27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

It is important again to note the continuing use of Old Testament judgment language throughout these passages. Even the judgments themselves were seen as fire being sent from the altar in Heaven. This fiery judgment should not be missed in the image presented here. Also, since these Two Witnesses would be ministering during the time of these judgments against apostate Israel, it would not be difficult to see them taking part in calling down those judgments through prophesying and warning. This again was a common practice amongst the Old testament prophets.

Also note the similarity to Elijah in the ability to keep the sky from providing the much needed rain for crops and drinking. The promise of a dry and brittle land is found in both Leviticus and Deuteronomy in regards to Covenantal Unfaithfulness.

From the life of Moses we see the water turning to blood and the plagues of Egypt befall the city. We even discover in verse 8 that the city of Jerusalem is called Egypt. It is also called Sodom, the famed city on which fire from Heaven was sent and consumed.

This is another common Old Testament image in which the Lord refers to Israel using those names.

Isa 1:1 0 Hear the word of the LORD,
you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!

Eze 16:48 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.

So, here in revelation the two hated nations of Israel have now replaced Jerusalem in the eyes of God.

Rev 11:8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.

Again note how these events correspond with the judgments we have previously witnessed in the trumpet judgments. The ministry of these two coincides with these events making the conjecture that these two are actually Peter and James more feasible.

If not those two saints specifically then the totality of faithful witnesses who become martyrs should be in view. For they would receive their promised resurrection. The Beast may try and devour this new Church through persecution and death, but she is resurrected unto new life, eternally. But before doing so they will, like Joshua and Zerubabel before them, build a new Temple. Not of of stones and gold, but rather one this is spiritual and eternal; the Church.

Finally, as representatives of the Church the Two Witnesses are pictured resurrecting from the dead. This promise is the focal point of much of Paul’s writing. This promised inheritance and great hope of every member of Christ’s Church is presented in a glorious image in this passage.

1 Cor 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

With their departure the sixth trumpet and the second woe are passed. This is shown through the intense working of God’s presence in judgment in an earthquake. We now await the seventh trumpet and the final of the three woes.

Revealing Revelation - The Two Witnesses Introduced

I have agonized over this post.

I have started, restarted and deleted it several times. This post is about to discuss, by far, the most difficult section of the book of Revelation. This is not just my opinion; it appears to be the general consensus. I have actually had a difficult time finding commentators that have not struggled with this section.

The difficulty, though, is in regards to my constant attempt to keep this blog/book simple and to collect and funnel the differing ideas into an easy to understand format. This has included listing several differing ideas in the same post allowing the reader to decipher the information for themselves and coming to their own conclusions. This difficulty here is in the plethora of ideas and how to simply the formula.

The best option may to take this passage piece by piece and let other commentators speak for themselves. I am pretty confident my prejudices will shine through, but the name of the game here will be options.

Rev 11:3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

I will note from the outset that the futurist have the easiest interpretation. They are simply two, literal prophets that will preach repentance, will be killed in the streets and will be miraculously resurrected and ascend into heaven. the end.

But since the time restrictions, thematic limitations and historical, first century focus does not allow for the futurist interpretation and this writing is to promote and defend the Preterist interpretation the focus here will be on those options before us.

The first point to consider is why would the image present two witnesses? Dr. Ralph Bass asks this question in his commentary, “Back to the Future,” and is something i had not considered previous to reading his work. But the question is valid. Why are there not 3, 7, 12 or 24 witnesses? These numbers would seem to suit the apocalyptic language better.

Well, perhaps, since they were there for the purposes prophesying concerning a coming judgment and catastrophe as noted with the Old Testament image of wearing sackcloth while prophesying a coming judgment warning.

So, this coming judgment warning comes as the result of the previous verdict and sentence rendered back in Chapter 5. That sentence was for murder. Most notably the murders of “all the saints” (Matt 23) and of the Lord Jesus Christ (His blood be on us and our children). But Old Testament law required that for the accusation like murder that would require a capital punishment.

Deut 19:15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

This may point to strengthening the argument that the crime Israel is being punished for is murder, one that would carry with it the capital punishment of death; the death of a nation.

The second thing to consider is the description of the two witnesses in relation to the lampstands and olive tress. This is another of John’s consistent borrowing from Old Testament imagery. This time from Zechariah.

Zech 4:2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.

In Zechariah we later learn this is in reference to Joshua and Zerubabel, representing the religious and political leadership of Israel. It is unclear exactly what John may mean by referencing the Zechariah passage, but the reference is hard to miss. What we do know is that Joshua, the High Priest of Zechariah’s time and Zerubabel, the political leader, worked together to try and rebuild the Temple.

Since the two witnesses appear within the context of the measuring of the Temple, the connection should not be missed. But this is where the views diverge and we will explore a couple.

The first is that the two witnesses are representing the work of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Both of their ministries lasted three and half years as the passage dictates and met their fates at the hands of the political leaders of their day.

The second is that it is possibly represented the attempt of the High Priest and the Judean governor as they warned of the coming sacking of the city. This, though, fails to meet the criteria of them being witnesses for God.

Some have argued that this represent the work of the Church symbolically in the city up until it’s destruction in 70 AD. Since at the end there were only a few Church leaders left as the vast majority of Christians escaped as we previously discussed, they would be seen as being represented by a small number like two. The number two, though, would still be sufficient to be witnesses to the acts of murder committed by the defendants.

Finally it has been argued that they represent St. James and St. Peter. Despite the popular view that Peter was killed in Rome, this is based more on legend than on any real historical date. Peter was the leader of the Church in Jerusalem along with James and it only makes since that he actually would have been in Jerusalem continuing to minister to the last breath.

The last two seem to make the most sense, especially as we consider the actions of these witnesses in the following posts.

Revealing Revelation - The Temple

Rev. 11:1-2 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, [2] but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

There is quite a bit of information crammed into these two short verses. John is given a measuring rod and told to measure the Temple. We also learn of the city and Temple’s destruction, especially when compared to the Olivet Discourse and Jesus’ pronouncement of not one stone being left upon another. There is a severity in the term “trample” that should not be missed.

But first let us consider the common Dispensational expectation of this passage. This, the Dispensationalist argues, proves that there will be a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. This is argued despite the fact that no where is Scripture is a case made that there will be a rebuilt Temple. The only mention of a Temple being rebuilt is in Daniel and that was fulfilled during the time of Ezra under the proclamation of King Cyrus of Persia. No other mention of a rebuilt Temple can be found. In fact, Jesus’ declaration is one of complete desolation!

On other major problem with the rebuilt Temple ideology is that it is clear both here and in Jesus’ discourse that the Temple is going to be destroyed during the Tribulation. This is a problem for Dispensationalist since they also believe there will be Temple standing during Jesus Millennial reign on earth. This means there must be a fourth Temple. And actually, since the Temple in existence during Jesus’ day was the Herodian temple, rebuilt under King Herod and not the Temple built after the return exile, that would make the Millennial Temple the fifth Temple!

But since the Bible does not ever mention a third, fourth or fifth Temple, we must limit our speculation to what the Scriptures provide. So, rather than looking at the Temple in John’s vision as a future, rebuilt Temple, it is best to see it for what it was; the actual Temple Jesus referred to that was around at the time John saw the vision and wrote the Revelation!

The measuring of the Temple is patterned, like so much of the book of Revelation, after the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel we are shown an angel of the Lord measuring the Temple representing the future for Jerusalem and God’s Holy people after a return from exile. Conversely, John measure’s the temple to determine it’s soon coming destruction and it’s being “trampled” for 42 months.

One interesting linguistic note is that the term “leave out” actually is closer to the term “throw out.” We find a similar usage when we are told to excommunicate and avoid the sinner in our midst. The same term is used to describe how the Jews “threw out” those who proclaimed the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, here we have an image of God’s preserving work regarding those who are covenantally faithful to Him while “throwing out” those who are not, leaving them to be trampled underfoot for 42 months.

What John does, though, is give us a beautiful, symbolic picture of God’s preserving work, for only the outer courts of the Temple are seen as being trampled, while the Temple Proper (Holy Place and Holy of Holies) is preserved. This would be God’s remnant preserved through the soon coming wrath and destruction. The physical Temple faced the wrath of God and His judgment, but His true Temple - the Church - survived and thrived amidst the persecution and tribulation.

There is no longer a need for a physical Temple and Holy of Holies, for now, with a new and better mediator (Hebrews) the man of God can enter into the real, spiritual Holy of Holies. This is truly one of the great mysteries of the Gospel: The physical represented the reality, while the spiritual is the reality. That which can be touched is the shadow and that which cannot be seen is the reality!

God here, in this interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, is once again showing His protection of His people. He has measured them out and has determined to protect them through the 3 1/2 year time of judgment set against apostate Israel and the physical representation of the old and obsolete Covenant, the Temple.

The last important note involves the introduction of the time span of 3 1/2 years. We will also see an identical time span described as 42 months and 1,260 days. There are five listings of these identical time spans in the book of Revelation. Oddly enough, there is no mention of the ever popular “seven” year tribulation. Given the five timing passages we have in Revelation should we best assume the tribulation lasts 17 1/2 years?

This gets quite confusing when futurist and Dispensationalist try and piece those five mentions of the 3 1/2 years into the seven year tribulation timeline they have created. Some place the first mention in the second half and the second mention in the first half, while others argue the exact opposite. Perhaps the best way to deal with the timing passages is to take them for what they are and the context with which they are placed.

This also best matches the similar declaration of Jesus in the Olivet Discourse.

Luke 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

3 1/2 years is also a common Biblical time period of limited wrath or difficult times of trouble.

Dan 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.

James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.

Though we will later see a persecution of the people of God under the actions of the Beast we see here in this first representation of the 3 1/2 years it is obviously most easily representative of the time leading up to the destruction of the city of Jerusalem. This time also symbolically represents the time under which Jerusalem was under the control of Antiochus Epiphanes. The time of the siege and sack of Jerusalem lasted roughly 42 months.

Though the city was originally under what would be called Marshall Law beginning sometime in 65 AD, it wasn’t until Vespasian received the declaration of war from Nero in February of 67AD that the city was under true siege and trodden under and ruled by the Roman army. This trampling lasted until the fall of Jerusalem and the burning of the city under Titus in August of 70AD, some 42 months later.

Revealing Revelation - The Little Book

After describing the angel of God who stands on both the land and sea, John introduces the reader to a little book that is in the hand of the angel. This little book is opened and John is asked to fulfill a seemingly bizarre request.

Rev. 10:8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” [9] So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” [10] And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. [11] And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.“

Before addressing the bizarre request and the instruction of prophesying, we must first take a look at this little book and discover what it best represents. There are two basic ideas, though neither would change necessarily the interpretation with a preterist perspective. Let’s step back a few verses and discuss the description of the book.

In verse two we are told that the angel appears from heaven and is holding a “little” book that was opened. This quite possibly refers to the original seven sealed scroll introduced earlier in the book. The angel, identified most likely as Jesus Christ, still has the scroll in His hand. The notion that it is “open” makes the reader assume it is the same scroll which seals had been broken previously. The book is smaller, though, because much of it has been fulfilled and only a little of the judgment or indictment remains.

It could also be a different book altogether with a distinctly different purpose. The instruction to prophesy again, this time about many people, nations, languages and kings may make the reader assume this is a new book with an entirely different prophesy contained.

I have personally wavered between the two views, but have recently come to see this as the original scroll, now opened and visibly smaller as a result of the fulfilled items. The original indictment of murder, if this is the case, would first be set against the Covenantal peoples (the Jews) but Rome would not escape punishment for it’s complicity in that act. So, the judgment extends to include both Israel and Rome as represented by the “many” language used.

It is also fair to note here that God, throughout the Old Testament, would eventually judge and punish the pagan nations for their actions against His people Israel, even though He was the one orchestrating the events. The pagan nations would not escape retributions for their actions even though God would use them as instruments of His divine punishing agents.

This was true of Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and Medo-Persia as each were punished and eventually destroyed for their actions. The same, then, would be true here for Rome in it’s actions against the Church and Israel. So, the view here is that this extension does not transfer to Rome alone, but is expanded to include Rome as well as Israel.

The above also makes sense Covenantally as both partners in a “harlotous” affair would be held responsible for their actions. Old testament law required both the man and the woman to be brought forward for punishment for the acts for fornication and adultery. The later picture of Jerusalem harloting herself with Rome makes this Covenantal image more obvious as the Harlot is seen riding the Beast (Rev 17).

So, whether the book is a new one or simply the rest of the unread original scroll, there need be no change in understanding of the judgment declarations that are to follow.

This leads to the odd request from the angel to John to eat the book which would make his stomach sour, but would taste sweet to his tongue. It is only seen as odd, though, for those unfamiliar with the Old Testament. As has been mentioned several times John, in Revelation, borrows quite frequently from the Old Testament, especially the books of Daniel, Isaiah and Ezekiel. In this instance he is borrowing directly from the book of Ezekiel.

Eze 3:1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey…14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.

This similar language used by Ezekiel to describe events surrounding Israel’s soon coming captivity at the hands of the Babylonians, would be familiar to John’s readers in the first century. They both are describing similar events and would remind the first century reader that the events about to unfold in Jerusalem would be like those that took place hundreds of years previous.

More importantly, though, is the scroll itself in Ezekiel is similar in description to the scroll in Revelation.

Eze 2:8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

The similarity of this scroll, which Ezekiel eats at the beginning of Chapter 3, cannot be missed. It had writing on the front and back and was opened before he was instructed to eat it. This scroll would taste sweet in his mouth, but later it would bring bitterness.

This scroll, just like the one in Revelation, would contain words of lamentation, mourning and woe. Even notice the term woe is repeated in Revelation as the last three trumpets were called the three woes. The events described would bring lamentation, mourning and woe, but, as we saw in a previous post, it would not bring repentance unto life, but rather a hardened heart and utter destruction!

Hence, why when John first learns of this judgment against Israel and Rome it is as sweet as honey on his lips. But when the realization of the mass loss of life and the horrific scenes that would play out in both Israel and Rome, the bitterness steps in. God’s judgments are true and right, but the consequences are severe and eternal.

As we will see in the following Chapters there is a shift in focus from the area of Judea as we are introduced to the Beast of Rome, his actions and it’s judgment. Israel is not left out, though, as the image of the Harlot reminds us. So, with this little scroll we see unfolding God’s judgment against the second great persecutor of the Church, His Bride, and the calamity that would befall it.

This is all introduced before the seventh and final trumpet is blown to show God’s orchestrating of the events from beginning to end and that nothing and no one is outside His jurisdiction or judgment.

Revealing Revelation - A Break in the Action

Just like the reader saw in our discussion of the seven seals, there is here an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets. This interlude includes an appearance of a might angel who introduces a “little book” with a prophecy attached to it. The interlude continues into Chapter 11 and the story of the Two Witnesses before this final trumpet is blown at the end of Chapter 11.

We will look at these different images and the symbols contained, but, as has been mentioned several times, the primary focus of this blog is to deal with the prophetic passages and relates them to their historical fulfillment. So, many details unrelated to the actual prophesies may be missed or not as detailed as other items for the sake of brevity.

Rev. 10:1-4 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. [2] He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, [3] and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. [4] And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

I have placed in bold the items above worth noting. there is a debate as to whether the angel in question is Jesus Christ. I think the evidence is strong enough to assume it to be so. Note the appearing in a cloud. This image is quite common, as has been discussed previously, for representing the presence of God. Also, the rainbow in reminiscent of the rainbow around the throne in the 4th Chapter. Also we earlier noted that Jesus was described as having feet like pillars of fire(Rev 1:5). Also He speaks with a voice like a lion.

The physical description appears to be sufficient to assume that this is Jesus in this image. But we also note that He has a scroll in His hand. This is quite possibly the same scroll from Chapter 5, but here it is seen as being opened. If this is the same scroll it would be safe to assume this is Jesus. The discussion of the book itself will follow.

One very important image to consider is the placement of this feet of this angel. The placement also shed light on the idea that the angel is question is Jesus. You will note that He places one foot on the land and one on the sea. The Biblical image of Israel being related to the “land” and the Gentile nations the “sea” has been discussed previously. This positioning would note that Jesus is Lord over both Israel and the gentiles. He is the Lord of both and now fulfills the promise to Abraham and discussed in Galatians that the promised seed would bless ALL nations.

Finally, one more interesting thing to note in this passage is the instruction given to John relating to what the seven thunders spoke. He is told to seal up those words and do not write them down. This is in stark contrast to later when John is told not to seal of the prophecy for the time is “near.” This may simply mean that the message from the seven thunders was regarding a future event, quite possible the second advent of Christ.

Rev 10:5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Here we note again the proclamation of no delay in these judgment actions. His people would be avenged and the Lord Jesus Christ will be vindicated! These would be fulfilled in the days of the seventh trumpet that was just about to sound. And with that sounding the mystery of God would be fulfilled in an obvious way. This mystery, though, was foretold by His servants the prophets.

The seventh trumpet, as we will see, declares the judgment against apostate Israel that is ultimately seen in the destruction of the symbol of the Old Covenant, the Temple. This destructive judgment would plainly and clearly declare that the Old Covenant that was fading (Heb 8:13) had become obsolete and that Jesus’ finished work on the cross fulfilled the Law and He was truly Lord over all and had received His everlasting Kingdom (Dan 7).

The end result of these actions fulfills what was foretold by the prophets and promised to Abraham; that the Gentiles would be blessed and saved and that He would be Lord of both the Jew and Gentile. The Gospel is for all nations and the mystery of the addition of the gentile nations into the Covenant with the Lord is fulfilled in a physical and literal way with the symbol of the Old Covenant being destroyed, with not one stone left upon another!

Revealing Revelation - True Apostasy

The sixth trumpet ends with a very depressing and tragic comment that is sometimes overlooks since it doesn’t have the “supernatural” and graphic imagery of the previous passages. It is connected with the sixth trumpet and leads the way to the seventh trumpet and the bowls that follow.

Rev 9: 20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

The actions of the Jews within the city even after the great famines, the eating of their own children and the coming horrific destruction at the hands of the world’s most powerful and prolific army, is borderline disturbing as the record of history shows.

Josephus describes those final months by noting the inhabitants of the city constantly embracing the next “Messiah” that came along. They ignored the obvious soon coming disaster and rather believed the charlatans and false prophets in their midst. Note the stunning passage from Jospephus.

“…they searched the common sewers and old dunghills of cattle…When the Romans barely heard this, their compassion was aroused; yet the rebels, who saw it also, did not repent, but allowed the same distress to come upon themselves…” (Wars V:13:7)

This should literally bring to mind Paul comments in the Epistle to the Romans.

Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen…

28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Here is a picture that matches both the historical record and the promise from the passage in question that there would be no repentance, not would they turn from their idolatry, murdering, thievery and sexual immorality.

This sets this event in stark contrast to their previous dealings with oppressive enemies and captors. The children of Israel did as God commanded and they were released from bondage in Egypt. They repented in Babylon and returned to build a more beautiful and spectacular Temple and city under the guidance of Ezra and Nehemiah. And even under the conquest of Antiochus Epiphanes they repented, returned to the Lord and shook off the yoke of their oppressors.

In this case, though, there is no repentance. No turning from idolatry and wickedness. Their hearts were hardened and they exchanged the truth of God for a liar and false prophets, false Messiahs and false expectations of delivery.

This echoes the words of Christ as He departed the Temple for the last time and announced it desolate. This is the picture of true apostasy; one in which there is no repentance nor hope for repentance.

Matt 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

38See, your house is left to you desolate.

Revealing Revelation - The SixthTrumpet

Here we now deal with the second woe as introduced previously in the Chapter. This may be the most ominous of the destructive forced unleashed thus far. The graphic imagery appears to combine the unholy forces of the previous trumpet with a an overwhelming and unstoppable army never before witnessed or described.

But again, our knowledge of the Old testament and the events of the days surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem will help decipher exactly what message John is attempting to convey. Remember we have previously dealt with the time text that John is limiting these prophesies to and the cultural, spiritual and physical situation Jerusalem was in at the time.

Rev. 9:13-15 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, [14] saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” [15] So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

The first point to discuss is the significance of the River Euphrates in relation to Israel and in relation the Babylon as Israel is referred to later in the book.

Historically speaking all of Israel’s great enemies came from over the Euphrates River to conquer Israel. These nations included Assyria, Medo-Persia and, most notably, Babylon. This image of an army or enemy coming from the Euphrates would strike fear into the hearts of the Israelites as their reckoning would be in relation to the historic enemies.

This also quite nicely coincides with the historical account of the fearsome 10th Legion of Rome’s army that was stationed near the Euphrates and was called into action in the actual assault against Jerusalem. This connection should not be missed, but should also should not be seen as the primary focus of the prophecy. The point is that the “four angels” who had been created for this specific time and purpose were to come from the same direction as all of Israel’s great enemies and conquerors.

This also points to the limited scope of the prophecy as being related to Jerusalem and the Judean area. A great army is not to arrive from the Euphrates against Portugal, Southeast Asia or the United States. Like the Olivet Discourse, this prophetic judgment is limited to a specific people represented by the “mankind” who will be affected. This also matches the percentage of dead as the result of the assault against the city.

Another important fact to note is that this event was predetermined with a specific hour, day, month and year in mind. This was not a “Plan B” in the mind of God and had determined long before. this relates back both to the Jesus’ own Olivet Discourse prophecy and to Daniel’s 70 Weeks prophecy.

In the Olivet Discourse we learn of an army that would surround Jerusalem.

Luke 21:20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.”

This same image is derived from Daniel’s prophetic pronouncement of the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem as well.

Dan 9:26b And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

Who the Prince is and the timing of this prophecy amidst the context of this passage is dealt with previously in the posts related to Daniel’s 70 Weeks. The point of our discussion here is to note that both the Olivet Discourse and Daniel’s 70 Weeks predict an events in advance that was planned out long before it took place. This is not God reacting to some actions of Israel, but is rather part of the plan from the beginning!

Along with the above prediction the time constraints of the two predictions above also match the timing of the event surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Daniel notes that the actions (Messiah being cut off and finishing the transgressions specifically) that take place within the 70 Weeks (490 years) would determine the event in question while the Olivet Discourse plainly declares this event would take place within a generation of the prophesies pronouncement.

The ultimate point is that this event took place precisely at the time God determined it would. That is why earlier we saw angels restricting the onslaught of God’s judgmental wrath and while here we see them unleashed. These judgments are under God’s control at all times!

But what are we to make of this odd and horrifying description of the army in question?

Rev. 9:16-17 The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. [17] And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths.

In prophetic conferences we often hear of this amazing army of two hundred million that will soon swarm down upon defenseless Israel. How should one best understand them?

First off since no word for million is used by the Hebrews the real term is “two myriads upon myriads” or more easily understood, “twice ten thousand times ten thousand.” A quick study of the armies of both Israel and of her enemies will show the common usage of ten thousand. Even Saul killed his thousand but David his ten thousands. This symbolic number representing a large enemy is a popular phrase in the Old Testament.

This includes the Covenantal promise of God that with Him on their side Israel could chase off even ten thousand with just one hundred.

Leviticus 26:8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

With God on their side Israel could face any army of any size and even just one hundred could chase of ten thousand. Now, as a result of Covenantal unfaithfulness, Israel does not face the ten thousand of a large army, but TWO TIMES TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND! This is a covenantal curse judgment and so the number is beyond all imagination.

Also, despite the best attempts of many to claim that China has a similar sized army one must note that this army as described actually has that many on HORSEBACK! An army of that size would not even be able to maneuver within the limited land scope of the Judean area.

Of course the horrific imagery that describes the horses had lead many prophetic prognosticators to argue this must be a modern army of tanks. This makes the 200,000,ooo even more preposterous as the space limitations would dictate.

But more importantly when considering the above mentioned “leader” of this army from the North, not the following passage from the Psalms.

Psalm 68:17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

This imagery of twice ten thousand times ten ten thousand is taken from the Psalms to note both the overwhelming power and strength of the coming attack and who is directly responsible and leading that attack. This imagery is very familiar in the Old Testament where God was seen regularly leading pagan armies against Israel in acts of judgment or other pagan armies against other enemies as judgments against pagan nations.

This is no different. Note the picture of the judgement for Covenantal unfaithfulness as described in Old testament.

Deut. 28:49-65 The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, [50] a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young … [52] “They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the Lord your God has given you. [53] And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you …
[63] And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it …[64] “And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. [65] And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.

Revealing Revelation - The Fifth Trumpet

With the first of the three woes before us we will note that there is much more discussion about the actual event than the previous four trumpets. Not only are we given the result of the fifth trumpet, we are given a detailed description of the image in a way completely unlike the first four or the the seals.

Rev. 9:1-11 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. [2] He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit … Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. [4] They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. [5] They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. [6] And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them

This graphic description most certainly refers to an intense increase in demonic activity during the time of the siege and the attack against the city of Jerusalem. Historical evidence along with the Biblical accounts points to this very matter. The passage itself obviously makes this known through it’s description as well. In fact, in the following section it is made even more clear. But let’s, do now, consider the passage before.

Again we have the image of a star falling from from heaven. Actually here we are presented with the past tense “fallen” in that this star had fallen to earth before John saw this event. This past tense form of the word coupled with the following description of the star as “him” makes this most obviously a description of Satan. In Luke Jesus tells us that He saw Satan fall to the earth like lightning, and in Isaiah, we have an even more similar sounding account.

Isa 14:12″How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!

Satan here is shown having a a key to the bottomless pit. He, by opening the pit, unleashes a previously unforeseen force of demonic activity against the people of the city of Jerusalem. This event, though, was actually predicted by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. In fact, the words of Jesus may have made no sense to the reader without this picture found here in the book of Revelation.

Matt 12:43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Here Jesus describes a spiritual reality that would impact the first century Jew in the city of Jerusalem - those who would fit into the category of “this generation” at the time of Jesus’ speaking. Just like the use of that phrase in Matthew 23 and 24, this most undoubtedly refers to the generation of Jesus’ day. This punishment is added to the physical punishment received at the hands of the Romans and the spiritual punishment of covenantal divorce at the hands of God.

This showed itself quite plainly in the acts of the Israelites during the siege of the city. From the inexplicable internal squabbles that included destroying their own food sources, to the murders of the priesthood in the Temple proper, to the mass suicides, to the cooking and eating of their own young, the results of this horrific demonic activity are quite obvious.

More evidences can be listed and I would recommend the reading of Jospehus’ Wars and the works of Chilton, Clark and Hendricksen for further details, but suffice it to say, this demonic activity was real and for a relatively short time as the limit of five months suggest versus the use of 3 1/2 years in other places.

But out context continues and we will discuss briefly here the continued evidence for the demonic activity as the illustration before us in this fifth trumpet.

Rev. 9:7-11 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, [8] their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; [9] they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. [10] They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. [11] They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

Remember as we consider this detailed description that as previously seen this activity is a demonic one and here we find it has outward signs in the physical realm as is pictured in the faces appearing like humans. This may include, as Josoephus describes, homosexual activity that was prevalent during this time (Wars 4:4:10) as the description of having hair like a woman.

The most obvious signs of demonic activity are that they were able to hurt people, but not able to kill them and that their leader over them was Abaddon, the Devil. This horrible time inhuman history cannot be equalled from a spiritual point of view. This demonic activity can only be pictured as truly hell on earth and history supports this idea.

The most terrifying aspect of this, though, is that…

Rev 9:12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.

Revealing Revelation - The Three Woes Introduced

Before continuing directly to the final three trumpets of tribulation set against apostate Israel in the first century, we must pause, as does the text, to offer a warning of the soon coming wrath. The last trumpets representing things more horrific than the first four. They also most like represent that actual attack on the city while the previous four represent the siege.

This pause of warning may quite properly represent the time when the Christian who were familiar with Jesus’ warnings in the Olivet Discourse to escape the city’s destruction escaped into the mountains.

Rev. 8:13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”

This unique warning is performed by an eagle that is flying in the heavens. It is not clear whether this warning was directed to the people of the land, or whether this was a proclamation made in the heavens for the sake of the martyrs under the altar, for whom this tribulation has been set against the people of the land.

The use though of a bird delivering the nesws is not an uncommon image. the Old Testament is filled with the warning of soon coming destruction with birds as a focal point of the image, especially birds of prey.

Deut 28:49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,

Lam 4:19 Our pursuers were swifter
than the eagles in the heavens;

Hos 8:1 Set the trumpet to your lips!
One like a vulture [eagle] is over the house of the LORD,
because they have transgressed my covenant
and rebelled against my law.

Hab 1:8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,
more fierce than the evening wolves;
their horsemen press proudly on.
Their horsemen come from afar;
they fly like an eagle swift to devour.

Even Jesus’ own words ring familiar…

Matt 24:28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures [eagles] will gather.

As had been seen previously the birds of prey are also used to describe the results of covenantal unfaithfulness (Gen 15, Deut 28, Jer 7, Eze 39, Rev 19). The use of the eagle is also an interesting image as many may have realized the symbol for the Roman army was the eagle. +

In fact, the standards that flew around the city when it was surrounded bore the image of an eagle. Some commentators may have accurately understood this image to represent the Roman army as it surrounded the city. This foreboding image would be very recognizable to those familiar with Jesus’ similar sounding warning.

The most important point, though, of this pause is that a warning has been sounded and the destruction of the city is nigh!

Revealing Revelation - The Fourth Trumpet

There is great hope that this discussion regarding the fourth trumpet will be quite brief as these images should be familiar to anyone that has been following the discussions here.

Rev. 8:12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.

These images have been discussed here at length and, as has been shown, are symbolic for leaders and peoples and nations. Most notably, the Old Testament refers several times to the demise of a king or his nation by use of the celestial bodies going dark. In fact one should note how at the crucifixion of Christ, God withdrew His light from earth and made it dark during midday as a symbolic response to the literal event of that day.

Below are just a handful of the uses of the celestial bodies going dark representing the judgment of God against a nation and it’s soon coming utter destruction.

BABYLON -
Isa 13:10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.

EDOM -
Isa 34: 4 All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall…9And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and her soil into sulfur; her land shall become burning pitch. 10Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever.

EGYPT -
Eze 32: 7 When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. 8All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord GOD.

ISRAEL/JUDAH
Amos 8:9 “And on that day,” declares the Lord God,” I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.

Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you? … [23] I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.

Jeremiah 4:28 “For this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above be dark

Isaiah 5:30 They will growl over it on that day, like the growling of the sea. And if one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress; and the light is darkened by its clouds.

Jeremiah 13:16 Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.

Joel 2:10 The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

The use of the term 1/3 in the verse under consideration may be in reference to the roughly one-third of the population of Jerusalem and Judea that died during the time of the siege. This nation under judgment lost a great deal in just the time of the siege as many starved to death, others were killed trying to escape and many others died of dehydration and other diseases of malnutrition.

The inclusion of the sun and moon may also reflect the inordinate number of leaders, both civil and religious, that met untimely deaths just in the years leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. In Rome alone they saw the deaths by murder or suicide or Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho and Vitellus. Scores of Senators met their death at the hands on Nero including his two most trusted advisers.

In Judea we have recorded the deaths of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, Herod Agrippa and nearly all of the princes in the line of the Herods. Also, the zealots were responsible for the deaths of many priest in the temple including the murder of the High Priest Ananus.

In what may be an ironic notation, but there are also witnesses at the time the described an eerie darkness over the land at the time of the great fires that destroyed the vegetation surrounding the city.

Here ends the discussion of the trumpets that deal directly with the siege of Jerusalem and lead up to the actual attack and devastation that will follow. These are known as the three woes and will be introduced in the following post.