The Heavenly Marriage

The Marriage of the Lamb

Book of Revelation Chapter 19 Verses 1 through 10

Some things we should understand. Prior to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth, His marriage to the Church, (the Bride of Christ) will take place in Heaven.

We know that from our last lessons, when the Lord Jesus Christ caused the 144,000 Jews to get to Heaven then, at that time, there will be the Lord and the Bride of Christ finally in the same place (Heaven) together, and this marriage will take place.

When the Lord returns with the armies of Heaven and the Saints, then the marriage of the Lamb of God has already taken place!

The "Judgment Seat" of Christ has also already taken place!

The Lord Jesus will after these things, return to Judge the earth in His wrath.

What did the Prophets teach us?

Zec 14:2  For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 

Zec 14:3  Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 

Isa 66:15  For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 

Isa 66:16  For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 

It is the marriage supper that will then take place in Israel upon this earth.

It is at this time the Lord will return to save the Jews, according to their works!

And Christ Jesus gave us this parable:

Mat 25:21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

Mat 25:22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 

Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

Mat 25:24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 

Mat 25:25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 

Mat 25:26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 

Mat 25:27  Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 

Mat 25:28  Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 

Mat 25:29  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 

Mat 25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

The remainder of the world will be "judged" regarding their treatment of the Jews.

Again the prophet Joel:

Joe 3:1  For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 

Joe 3:2  I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 

Joe 3:9  Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up

Joe 3:11  Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 

Joe 3:12  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

After the marriage of the Lamb to the Bride of Christ, these other things will take place!

Now let us witness the marriage of the Bridegroom in Heaven.

*****Rev 19:1  And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 

We may ask after what things.

After the destruction of Babylon, the False Church and Babylon the economic System of the Antichrist from Chapters 17 and 18.

Notice that word "Alleluia" the one word that is universal in its meaning, (Praise God)!

Alleluia has become the cry of victory in Heaven.

This scene takes place in Heaven as the celebration begins as the "Great Whore" of false religion has been destroyed.

All religions that reject the Bible as the truth of God have been destroyed.

All these things happen because our God is all powerful!

The Lord is absolutely true and righteous in Himself!

The Lord is absolutely true and righteous in all His actions!

Heaven will now prepare for the Marriage of the Lamb of God.

*****Rev 19:2  For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 

Rev 19:3  And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

We must remember the souls under the altar.

Rev 6:9  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 

Rev 6:10  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 

Rev 6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 

Their rest is now over for their death had been avenged!

They say Alleluia for the Lord doing as He said He would do.

False religion, which has been influenced by Satan all these years, was the tool used to corrupt the people of this earth.

Salvation belongs to God. He sent His Son to die in payment for all our sin!

He has given us His written Word to explain who He is and why He does what He does. 

He has given us purpose and He has been open to all peoples since He created Adam and Eve.

Over and over again, we have seen that the plans of God have existed before He created any part of our world, and he has given us line by line of His plan that He has followed without deviating from it at any time.

It is not just the souls under the altar who celebrate. The entire Church joins in for another promise will be fulfilled.

*****Rev 19:4  And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

The four and twenty elders, who represent all the redeemed of the Lord celebrate the victory of the Lamb.

We will all rejoice. The raptured Saints of God. Those souls who have been reunited with their bodies. All those who have been martyrs all these years.

All the 144,000 Jews, and every Saint who has come to Heaven during the Great Tribulation, and I believe all those who have the faith of Abraham before the Lord came to the earth the first time.

Heaven will be a place of celebration!

Heaven will be a place of Alleluia.

Psa 106:48  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. 

If you do not like joyful loud praise and worship, you will not like Heaven at all.

It becomes the people of God to be full of joy!

To be honest there is not much joy on this earth.

We Christians should always have a certain amount of joy, after all look at our great future!

And we will miss out on the wrath of God. We will miss out on the Great Tribulation!

Jesus said He will never leave us, and Jesus will live forever and ever!

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is God!

*****Rev 19:5  And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

We must cast our bountiful praise to the One who was found worthy to open the Book of Revelation, the "Revealing" of the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we cannot do this while we live, what makes us think we will do this at this time in Heaven?

Every sorrow we have been through and have witnessed, will not be remembered when Jesus has completed His work on this earth.

Every single tear will be wiped away by the loving hands of God!

The Marriage of the Lamb of God is about to take place and all of Heaven takes notice of this most wonderful event.

That word "omnipotent" means the One who possesses unlimited power!

Jesus said:

Mat_28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth".

Much of that power is used to provide eternal life to all of us who love Him!

Joh_17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, "that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him".

Nowhere in God's creation is there One more powerful than the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should be rejoicing now because we do not have to wait to get to Heaven.

It will just be much sweeter in Heaven.

The wedding of the Lamb of God is about to take place.

The one greatest time we will ever have as Christians.

We will be presented by the Son (the Lord Jesus) to our Heavenly Father as His Bride!

*****Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

We immediately see that this time is special to the Lamb. It is the Lamb of God who has been patiently waiting on this day!

Here on earth we focus on the Bride but should truly focus on the Lamb of God!

In Heaven all the focus will be on the Lamb!

The same Lamb that was found to be worthy to open the Book.

Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

It is Hallelujah time in Heaven!

It is rejoicing time in Heaven!

The Bride, all the "Redeemed" have made themselves ready by clinging to the faith. That faith in the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done so that we could be "Redeemed" and able now to stand before our Heavenly Father as the Bride of Christ, with the true Messiah.

When will this wedding take place? It will take place just before the Lord returns to this earth as King.

Remember the Lord first destroyed the "false religious system" of the Antichrist.

He next destroyed the "political system" of the Antichrist.

Billions of people had died because they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Earth was in flames!

When the Lord returns after the Wedding, He will restore the earth as it was in the days of Adam and Eve and reign as King.

The Lord would fulfill the promises He had made to King David and all the things of the prophets.

These things must take place quickly because there will still those living upon the earth who had not taken the "Mark of the Beast".

The world would be a much better place if we would focus on the Lord Jesus Christ now during the "Church Age"!

Jesus said He would build His Church:

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

It was true, not even Hell could stand against the Church!

The Church on earth became the "Body of Christ":

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

The Jews and the Gentiles have now been reconciled:

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

The reconciled Body of Christ now becomes the Bride:

Eph 5:1  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 

Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

As the Bride, we have been waiting until this time that has officially arrived:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

How has the Bride made herself ready?

By accepting in faith the truth of God!

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

How has the Bride made herself lovely?

Joh_3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh_3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1Pe_1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

And it has come time to put on the wedding apparel.

*****Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

As the saints of God we must dress properly for our wedding with the Lamb of God.

How had Jesus found us?

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 

We were terrible sinners!

We might even ask how could a Holy God ever see us as His future Bride?

None of us could claim to be better than others and it be true!

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

We were sentenced to eternal death and there was no remedy for our situation!

Our choice was to remain the same or accept the free gift of God!

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

There had to be a way!

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

We had to learn about "faith"!

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

We had to be constant in our faith to grow in Christ!

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

We had to put on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom_13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gal_3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

We had to dress as Christ!

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

The Church had finally reached the object of her joy! United forever, never to be separated. All sin and evil wickedness soon to be eternally imprisoned in the Burning Lake of fire.

And the Bridegroom said:

*****Rev 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 

What do we know about the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb"?

It is a celebration event that takes place on earth because Israel has finally repented in honor of the of the marriage of Jesus Christ to His Church and the beginning of, the 1000-year Millennial Kingdom.

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The word "blessed" in this Scripture means "happy and contented" are those which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.

All those who are the happiest in this world today are those who know they are going to the "marriage supper" of the Lamb!

Yes, we can know that we will be there!

The Apostle John takes just a moment to tell us that these are the very words of God.

We must realize though there is the Spiritual Babylon and a few places where the Lord uses symbolism but for the most part the Book of Revelation is to be taken literally! Just as it is written, and we would be foolish not to!

It is the Word of God that is the basis of our faith.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 

Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 

Let us review:

The false church has been eliminated.

The wedding has taken place in Heaven.

The wedding music has played.

The Bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The saints of God are the Bride.

The Bride is wearing the right garments "righteousness".

We are discussing the wedding reception in this verse. The Marriage Supper.

We will soon begin our 1000 years honeymoon here on the remade earth.

After those 1000 years the Bridegroom will take His bride home to be with Him forever in Heaven.

And then "they will live happily ever after!

It is believed that these guests, who are being called are the Old Testament Saints such as John the Baptist who was a friend of the Groom.

Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 

By the statement made by this messenger, he was one of those Old Testament Saints or at least a blood bought child of God.

John was so excited with what these words that he fell down to worship the one who gave him this message, which was not the Lord.

We are to worship no one but the Almighty God, Our Creator, Elohim, The Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 

What do we know? We know that many people even some in the Church laugh and make fun of prophesy, but the truth is, the Lord Jesus loves prophesy. 

The Lord Jesus, He is the Spirit of prophecy!

He alone is worthy of our worship!

He alone is worthy of our conversations.

All other conversations are in reality vain!

Being Christian is to be like Christ Jesus and He loved prophecy and we should to!

Next lesson we get to see the true Second Coming of the Lord.

At the "Rapture", the Lord came as a thief and stole His Church(Bride) from this earth.

At the true Second Coming, He will return to the Mount of Olives, the same place where He left this earth to go back home for a while.

If you want to know the truth, then you must meet Jesus Christ and it would be best to meet Him during the Church Age!

Amen

The Fall of Babylon the Great

The Fall of Babylon

Book of Revelation Chapter 18 Verses 1-13

In Chapter 17 we saw the destruction of the false church. We should understand by the things that have happened to the nation of Israel that Jehovah hates false religion. 

Obviously, Jehovah hates all sin and the Lord Jesus Christ died for all sin but one.

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 

Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 

The only sin that cannot be forgiven is rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is only one way to get to God's Heaven and it is by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

If this goes against your personal beliefs, then so be it. It is just the truth!

Any so-called religion that teaches something or anything different than this is truly a false religion!

Jehovah God hates all false religion.  

In chapter 17 we see that Jehovah gave to the Antichrist, who is controlled by Satan the power to "judge" the "false church", and it no longer exists during this portion of the Great Tribulation.

For Satan himself will now pushed to be recognized as God and he will be the new religion that God will not allow.

He will be the god of power in his own mind, when any power he has comes directly from our Heavenly Father!

If God hates anything the most, it is the false church!

The false church is certainly any religious group that ignores the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

What God hates the most, is all those who claim to be Christian, yet they worship something or some other person in reality.

God has two rules that should occupy our minds above all else!

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment. 

Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

There is nothing written in all books that have more importance than these two commandments!

The Antichrist destroyed the false church and now, the Lord Jesus would destroy the false economical system to the Antichrist and chain Satan for 1000 years.

Once the people have left the church and have given their support of the government (the Antichrist), they will no longer need the false church.

We see the beginning of these things in our own nation today.

A great falling away from the Church, and a great clinging to the government, but never in all of history have these things work for the best interest of any people.

*****Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 

When we read "after these things" those things are, the "judgments" of Chapter 17.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee "the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters": 

Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

This angel had great power that was delegated to him, so this could be just and angel with great power or in my case I believe this person described as an angel, could be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat_28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

He has the authority to deal with the destruction of the evil wicked system of the Antichrist!

I am not sure Christ Jesus would delegate this authority to someone besides Himself.

Notice the earth, (I believe this to mean all the earth) is lighted by His glory, which again to be the "Shekinah Glory of the Lord God".

Eze 43:2  And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 

He also had a strong voice.

*****Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 

This fall was mentioned in an earlier lesson but now has taken place.

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

It has not only fallen but lies in desolation. 

What do we know? We know the Lord Jesus will use fire to destroy this evil world!

Isa 13:19  And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, "shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah".

Before the wrath of the Lord is completed the entire world will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah! (Fire and Brimstone)

This phrase is duplicated because Ecclesiastical Babylon fell in Chapter 17.

Political Babylon has now fallen, and we will see the means in the remaining chapters.

The strong hold of devils and demons because they have nowhere else to go and no one alive to infiltrate. 

Babylon had become a cesspool of corruption and an abomination in the sight of God!

In this sense America could be a sister to Babylon today. Our government, not our president, is a cesspool of corruption today and voters are so confused that they will not allow the swamp to be drained.

*****Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 

What are the grounds for God's Judgment?

1) All nations had drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

As in the time of Noah:

Gen_6:11  The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Gen_6:12  And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Luk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 

Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 

As in the time of Lot:

Luk_17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

Luk_17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

2) All the governments of the earth had joined the Antichrist had become corrupt. (Most all of them are corrupt today). The door is wide open for the Antichrist to step in today!

Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

3) The merchants of the earth have waxed rich. Economic wealth had intoxicated the rich while the poor were ignored.

Over whelming pride.

Insolence, contempt of those who were not in their class of people.

Wantonness, lewdness, extreme immorality.

Our God just had enough of what was going on under the power of Satan.

And then, one more challenge issued to the Jews.

*****Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 

What was God's command to the Church?

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 

2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

What is God's command to the Jews who have now rejected the Antichrist:

Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

All of the wrath of the Lord was about to be unleashed upon the world of Satan, and it was time for those who had rejected the Antichrist to obey the commands of the Lord.

There would be no more opportunities.

There is no true church during these times but only the false Apostate Church, so we are never to keep attending any place of worship that does not preach and teach the truth.

The Church, those who have the Holy Spirit living within them, are to separate themselves from the world, never to compromise or to tolerate things that go against the Word of God. This is what we need to do today!

*****Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. 

All those who follow the teachings of the Apostate Church will be destroyed and those who have received the truth now have an opportunity to see the wrath of God.

Psa 137:8  O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. 

Jer 50:15  Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.

We should understand that Satan will one day spend eternity in the Burning Lake of Fire, also called perdition the place of the lost soul.

We should also understand that the Apostate Church will be repaid double for the problems it has caused the true Church. After the Rapture of the Church, all those who have been corrupted by the teachings that go against the truth of God will go into perdition.

The Political world that follows Satan will also be paid double for the things done to God's people!

Why will the Apostate church be destroyed? Because it has caused the human population to be against its Creator.

Why will political Babylon be destroyed because it has profited from the Apostate Church.

Because it has made laws that go against the Word of God.

This "judgment" has been determined from the very beginning!

Both will be destroyed because they persecuted God's people.

The world has never learned that to go against our Creator is to cause your own destruction!

It is hard to understand a world that totally ignores the signs of our Creator and who believe we are all accidents.

*****Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 

You see the world has been deceived by corrupt politicians and the world just fell in line behind the Antichrist because he spoke their language!

Isa 47:7  And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. 

Isa 47:8  Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: 

Isa 47:9  But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. 

Isa 47:10  For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. 

Isa 47:11  Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

There is nothing that Satan can do to stop the destruction of his wicked world!

The political Babylon has persecuted God's people since the beginning by Nimrod in his defiance.

She, as the whore on many waters, has felt that they are out of reach of the "judgment" of God!

*****Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 

Though the wars that lead to Armageddon will be many, the destruction of this wicked and evil thing will take just "one" day as no evil can stand before our Righteous Lord Jesus!

We have seen how one plague can cripple most of this world, even our own nation. The things of the seventh seal will cripple this wicked political system in one day.

The seven last plagues, the earthquakes, famines, all the destruction of God's "judgment" will happen at one time.

Remember Job lost everything he had in one day. It will be the same but only doubled for this system of the Antichrist.

I tell you, that if you boast against our God you are jeopardizing your personal safety!

There will be many weeping, but it will be those who have profited from this system.

You see, we must always follow the money because money is the root of all evil!

*****Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 

Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 

Politicians will weep because this wicked system no longer exist.

Makes me want to tell the politicians of today "your day is coming".

They have invested all their lives to politics and have become rich by taking advantage of the people they were elected to serve.

They have invested all their lives to government and have corrupted that system to their own advantages.

They will certainly weep and cry because it is destroyed, and it took the Lord only one hour to end this thing!

Businessmen will also weep because they too had taken advantage of a corrupt system.

Business will no longer exist.

Stores will close. 

"Business as usual" will be a saying that will no longer be heard!

Go back and read how God punished Israel, and double these things and you will get an idea what God will do to this system of corruptness.

We know this system has given us corruptness and wickedness and base immorality, and in one hour it will not exist.

Extravagance will not be seen anymore.

Wealth will not be heard of anymore.

There will be no more "lifestyle of the rich and famous"!

The system that we have seen that just keeps becoming more sinful will no longer exist.

The Apostate system will no longer exist and now the Political system will no longer exist.

The immoral lifestyle of these people will finally come to an end.

Rev 1:7  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 

When the Lord comes, He will come quickly!

*****Rev 18:11  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 

Rev 18:12  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 

Rev 18:13  And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Notice the mourning. Not because of some love one, but because of some merchandise.

Remember the silversmiths who came against Paul. Not because He was preaching the truth, but that no one would buy their false idols.

We see this same claim made by many a merchant who cannot sell their wares because the Lord has put an end to their market.

First look at the merchandise:

If we look closely, we will see that these are all things that are offered in sacrifice to the false religion that exists upon the world in that day.

These are the growing markets of today.

During certain times of the day, you cannot miss the ads for gold and silver. 

Precious stones for things such as weddings and anniversaries but out of reach and debt makers for most of us.

We can actually see that most of these things are not purchased by the average person in any great quantity today.

Notice also that slaves are still there.

Slavery has continued to exist all these years and will continue right up until the return of Jesus Christ.

The world is not interested in stopping slavery, there is simply too much money involved. It is like drugs, too much money involved!

Notice also "the souls of men". There is a market for the souls of men today!

We could say that every place of false religion deals in the souls of men, and the Lord Jesus Christ would reclaim every soul, but it is up to each individual.

Again these are all things that merchandise sold to individuals to offer in sacrifice to the false Church Babylon and since the Lord has destroyed Babylon the religious system of Satan and Babylon the political system of Satan, none of these things are needed anymore.

Anything offered to false gods is an abomination to the Lord!

God has always hated slavery that we hear so much of today!

Exo 21:16  And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

Deu 24:7  If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you. 

What will happen during the time of the Antichrist as he seizes control of the nations?

Neh 5:4  There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 

Neh 5:5  Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. 

It does not seem that much is done about slavery and the traffic of human beings today, and it will expand during the Great Tribulation.

Again as we are in these last days the merchandise of the souls of men is the battle we face, and the true Church is neglecting the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

The false Church has taken the lead through tolerance and compromise and these are the things the true Church cannot do!

We still in fact still have the work the Lord has given us to do because it is His job to save.

It is not time to quit on God!

*****Rev 18:14  And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 

Those that have profited in the days of the Antichrist will see an end to their way of life.

As Oliver Green once wrote:

This is the age of big business, big politics, big religion, big, big, big ,big until soon there will be a world government and a world religion and we the church need to hang our head in shame because we have helped these things to take place because the Church has grown "lukewarm"!

Notice the merchants are still standing though from a distance as they see the world of the Antichrist come to an end.

It is this system that has existed since the failure of Adam and exploited during the Seven Years of tribulation that has cost the lives of so many of God's people.

*****Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

We will see all that blood come back to the surface as the world of the Great Tribulation who ignored the blood of Jesus will soon see nothing but blood.

The "judgment" of God is not yet complete!

Amen

The Victory of the Messiah

The Victory of the Lamb

Book of Revelation Chapter 17

We should understand that Jesus is coming back to this earth for three reasons.

1) To get His church and take her home as His bride.

2) To rid this earth of wickedness and sin.

3) He is returning to reclaim this earth and rule for 1000 years from Jerusalem and again Jerusalem will be the center of all His creation.

Eze 5:5  Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. 

Jerusalem has been the place the Lord has designed to be a godly influence on all nations and has been a failure to do so until King Jesus sits on His throne in that city.

One man wrote: "Jerusalem was set in the midst of the nations, to be as the heart in the body, to invigorate the dead world with a divine life, as well as to enlighten the dark world with a divine light".

Jesus Christ is not coming back riding a donkey this time but a white Heavenly Stallion.

Jesus Christ is coming back to bring righteousness to this earth, and we(the Bride, the Church) will be coming back with Him!

Jesus is coming back to fulfill the promise He made to Abraham.

Jesus is coming back to fulfill the promise He made to King David.

First, upon returning Jesus will destroy false religion forever.

It is false religion that has caused most all the problems in our world since the time of Nimrod and the city of Babel!

*****Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 

Rev 17:2  With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 

False religion has caused more harm to this world than any other thing including all wars, all diseases, all plagues and all other things.

False religion had its beginning in Babel by Nimrod, and it has flourished ever since.

Gen 10:8  And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 

Gen 10:9  He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 

Gen 10:10  And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

We know that the "Church" is the "Bride of Christ"!

Well the Antichrist has his own bride and it is the false church.

The Bride of Christ.

Eph 5:22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

Eph 5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 

Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 

Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 

Eph 5:33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

We are now reading about the bride of the Antichrist, this woman who sits upon this Beast who we know by this description.

We know that Satan is a master counterfeiter. Everything that the Lord proclaims to be good, Satan has a duplicate that is wicked and evil!

God has His Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Satan has his false trinity. The Dragon who is the murderer Satan, the Beast (Antichrist) and the false Prophet.

Jehovah calls and ordains His preachers and pastors and other men.

Satan does the same.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 

2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

All these years Satan has had his false church and they are gaining in strength!

Satan not only has his false church, but he sends out many of his followers to infiltrate the true church and many churches have lost their way and have forgotten our Savior.

In a previous lesson, we saw how Israel had brought forth a Son to be the Messiah and Satan immediately tried to murder that Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The church is built upon that Rock. That Rock is the Lord Jesus Christ and His loving bride is the Church that stands upon the Rock of Jesus Christ.

Here we see the false church built upon that evil, vile, Devil.

*****Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 

Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

This woman is described as a "whore" because of her "Spiritual Adultery". She is a "prostitute" of evil and wickedness!

She is a harlot and the mother of all harlots, this to referring to "Spiritual Harlotry".

All those who deal with her, have to sell out their purity to serve the Devil! 

Many without even realizing they work for the Devil!

What does God say to the Church?

Isa 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 

Isa 42:7  To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. 

Isa 42:8  I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 

We already see that most of the entire world is given over to the false church.

This false church is given over to the Beast!

We know her by the seven heads and the ten horns and how she is arrayed.

You know all those churches that spend all their money on buildings and neglect the mission of the church, are already caught up in this work of false religion!

The Church does not need great ornate buildings! 

The Church needs a people who are dedicated to the mission of the Church given by the Lord Jesus Christ

The truth of the church is, we cannot allow the world to get inside the church.

Jas 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

Jas 4:5  Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 

Jas 4:6  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

We already know that by this time, the True Church will be in Heaven.

The "rapture" of the Church will be explained away by some means, so that it is not a good thing and people will be driven to the false church by the actions of the Antichrist, when both he and the false prophet are energized by Satan.

We can just imagine this false church sitting upon riches galore while the remainder of the world sits in poverty.

We already know that money is the root of "all" evil!

Feeding lines will be enormous but the doctrine of the false church will be all lies!

Just as it is today.

During the time of Nimrod, he had all the world convinced that they did not have to obey Jehovah God.

It is believed by many that he was building the Tower of Babel to be high enough to withstand another flood.

Many foolish people think they can defy God! Many others say there is no God to defy!

This is the same message of the false church today!

The mystery spoken of here is the mystery of iniquity.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

It is only those who are lost that are caught up in this mystery! 

The Church is aware of the source of sin! (Satan)

Those who are lost will be even more energized once the Church is removed and the Antichrist steps out onto the scene.

He will not make his ways known until the church is gone because the true church will know him and who he is!

Again "Babylon the Great" means the false religion began by Nimrod who was influenced by Satan. She is this false church.

That word Babylon means confusion and Satan instills confusion upon all his followers.

Satan intends to cause confusion and destruction throughout this world!

I think back and I am so glad I am no longer confused about my Creator and my Savior.

Today the National Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches and the Federal Council of Churches, are still trying to build a new Tower of Babel.

What are the goals of the NCC?

* Ultimately, "a world government of delegated powers."  (One World Government)

* Complete abandonment of United States. Total Isolationism.  (A New World Order)

* Strong immediate limitations on national sovereignty.  

* International control of all armies and navies.  

* "A universal system of money, so planned as to prevent inflation and deflation."  (Cashless society)

* Worldwide freedom of immigration.  

* Progressive elimination of all tariff and quota restrictions on world trade.  

* "Autonomy for all subject and colonial peoples" (with much better treatment for Afro-Americans in the US.).  

* "No punitive reparations, no humiliating decrees of war guilt, no arbitrary dismemberment of nations."  (No police force)

* A "democratically controlled" international bank "to make development capital available in all parts of the world without the predatory and imperialistic after-math so characteristic of large-scale private and governmental loans."  

These goals are reworded but essentially have remained the same since its beginning in 1908.

Nowhere do you read about spreading the "Gospel"!

These are enemies of God's Church.

It is about man-made religion.

It is about false unity.

It has an earthly city in its center.

It has some man as an earthly representative. (We know this one man is the Antichrist)

She is the Mother of Harlots. In other words there will be one denomination at the forefront of the world church.

Many believe this to be the Roman Catholic Church.

This does not mean the true believers in the Roman Catholic Church but the Doctrine of the Church in general.

There could also be some other group who is this Mother of Harlots.

We should keep in mind that all denominations, but one, had there beginning in the Roman Catholic Church beginning with the Protestants at the time of Luther.

Today Rome looks at the Protestants as brothers and no longer heretics.

There is a great movement to bring all those denominations back under one roof so in this sense back to the Mother Church.

Everyone has feelings about all these things but the true Church, the Christians will all be in Heaven before the Tribulation and all these churches will continue on doing what they do which is not promoting the ''Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

It is this false church that has murdered the Saints and the Prophets of God throughout its beginning.

More Saints have died by the actions of the false church than in any other way!

*****Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 

A look from the outside at the beautiful buildings and the ornate tapestries, and the regal services and great rituals, would seem to be something to be admired, but on the inside a wickedness that surpasses even the Antichrist.

It is the false church that will assist the Antichrist in causing the holocaust and the slaughter of all those who reject the sign of the Beast, and do their best to wipe out the Jews who will at this time reject the false church.

*****Rev 17:7  And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 

Rev 17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 

What is the mystery of this woman?

We see it today! 

If you walk the streets of America about 7 out of 10 will claim to know God and claim to be Christians.

To be Christian now has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

Most of these people do not even know the "Doctrine of Salvation"! 

The mystery is, that these same people will put leaders, and governments, and laws, and doctrines, and rituals in place, that do not honor God but actually go against God in every way.

They reject the authority of the Word of God!

They are hypocrites and counterfeits who hold to a false religion, and it is these that have allowed our nation to get in such bad shape as it is today, and they encourage even more rebellion against the Lord.

How can anyone who claims to be saved by Jesus Christ then go against everything He has taught us?

This is why John marveled at what he saw.

We should all take a step back and look at our church, to see if we are even coming close to serving the Lord the way He commanded us.

People think the Bible is a book of guidelines but in fact the Bible is a Book of Commandments!

Every time we put someone in place that does not honor the truth of the "Gospel", we jeopardize our children and grandchildren, those who follow after we are gone home to be with the Lord.

We have not left a good legacy for our children and grandchildren!

John marveled that the church no longer existed to serve the Lord, but they served a counterfeit wholeheartedly.

What did Jesus teach?

Joh 5:43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 

Joh 5:44  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 

This describes our world today and it is only going to get worse!

This Beast is the Antichrist.

Verse 8 speaks of a resurrection or at least what will seem to be a resurrection.

This false religion will be resurrected from the bottomless pit.

This again points us back to Babel in the time of Nimrod.

The Greek Word used for "Bottomless Pit" is Abyss, which means without bottom.

In reality because of the rotation of the earth, someone could fall into the center of the earth and never reach the other side. A bottomless pit!

The word "perdition" comes from the Greek word "Apolia" which means a place where the death of the soul occurs as described in this Scripture from the Book of Hebrews.

Heb 10:39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; "but of them that believe to the saving of the soul". 

As Christians, our faith leads to the saving of the soul.

As non-believers, they are those who draw back into the destruction of the soul.

All those who have followed the Antichrist will wonder about their own destination when they see the Antichrist, the Beast tossed into the "Burning Lake of Fire" the place of death to the soul, created specifically for Satan and his angels!

*****Rev 17:9  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 

Rev 17:10  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 

There may be more than one interpretation for this text. 

Literally speaking, Rome is known as the city of seven hills. The Vatican sits on one side of the Tiber River, facing those seven hills.

In ancient times, hills were sacred high places, used to worship and offer sacrifices to deities. 

The systems of worship were based on salvation by works, and also included a counterfeit savior or Messiah and mediators of both sexes. 

The gods that were worshipped in these places were manifestations of the sun god who was androgenic in that he/she could manifest himself/herself in the male or the female form. 

One further reason why the end-time religious confederacy, under the leadership of the Papacy, is called “Babylon”, is that the Babylonian system of worship has been passed down through history. 

Its rituals and doctrines are present in Catholicism, as well as religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, earth religions, and even Islam.

So we see that spiritual Babylon is actually Rome. We have the false religious systems of Babylon joined with the revised Roman Empire!

The five great empires were probably Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. 

The Roman Empire existed in the time of John and it has ceased to exist but will be revived in the later days.

The Roman Empire was never defeated!

The one that is not yet come is the eighth empire of the Antichrist which will last only 7 years, or actually only 3 and a half years.

What is the truth? Here is the mind that hath wisdom - Only those who are wise will understand this. The seven heads are seven hills.

*****Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 

Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. 

The Antichrist is the leader of the eighth empire, but he will come from one of these seven empires. Many say he will come from Rome.

I believe we can get a picture of this empire from these Scriptures of Daniel.

Dan 7:7  After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Dan 7:19  Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

The ten horns on this Beast represent ten kingdoms which represent the revived Roman Empire!

These ten kings will be no more than puppets who will follow the lead of the Beast.

*****Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

These 10 kings will follow the Beast in everything he does. This Beast, the Antichrist will be the very last world dictator.

You know not one of the followers of Satan believe him to be a dictator, he has so deceived them.

We can just imagine the wickedness of this dictatorship.

Many say this will be the revived Roman Empire and most of those Caesars were cruel and wicked people who thought they were gods, and this kingdom of the Beast will be far worse.

In fact every follower of the Antichrist will be no more than puppets under his direct control, and he will send them all to their death.

How foolish will they be? They will try to attack God.

*****Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. 

They will see Jesus only as their enemy when He has always only been a Savior but even our Savior has had enough of sin.

Why will Jesus win this war? He is God! 

He is the greatest King of all kings of the past. He is Lord of all His Creation. 

There has never been a lord as our Lord. Lord meaning He has Supreme Authority as He has had since He first made Heaven and Earth!

He has brought someone with Him. Soldiers of the Cross who will not have to draw a sword because our God will fight for us!

He brings with Him those He has called and who answered His call. Not all did answer.

He brings with Him those who have chosen to live for Him after He called them.

He brings with Him those who have been faithful to serve Him after He called.

Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 

Psa 149:5  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 

Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 

Psa 149:7  To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 

Psa 149:8  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 

Psa 149:9  To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Again one of the angels spoke to John.

*****Rev 17:15  And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 

We now see that the Beast did not actually rise up out of the Sea, but in actuality he rose up out of the people. The Antichrist is just a man!

The term "waters" used in many places means multitudes of people.

The Beast is the world of wickedness that has come to power and at its head is the Antichrist.

This is the world that will give their power to the Apostate church, raise by the "false prophet".

The "rapture" of the true Church will be talked about as fools lost forever, while this false Church will claim all the glories and riches of the world to serve the Antichrist.

She can only lead her followers to death, and that death eternal in the Burning Lake of Fire.

At first the false Church was riding upon the Antichrist, but here we see that the Antichrist is now riding upon the false Church.

All of a sudden, the Antichrist and his ten kings turn upon the false church to destroy her.

This will be the destruction of false religion and the Antichrist will claim to be God, the god of power!

*****Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 

Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 

God has put into the heart of these already wicked people to stop what they are doing and destroy false religion from off the face of the earth.

Here we see that Religious Babylon is destroyed by Political Babylon.

False religion was used by the Antichrist to gain control of the political world and no more being needed false religion, it will be destroyed with the Antichrist having total control of all the resources of this earth.

This is the end of all state religions. 

We can just imagine the resources that a world church would have at its disposal and the Antichrist will not rest until he has all things under his direct control.

God had said He would put a stop to false religion, and He will use the Antichrist to fulfill this purpose!

It should be obvious that politicians will never allow religion to dictate their actions. Not now and not in the future!

It should also be obvious that the Lord never intended for the Church to accumulate riches! 

The riches of the Church are always to be used to promote the Gospel and beautiful ornate buildings are not necessary.

This does not mean we are not to have comfortable places to worship! 

We can just imagine what could be done if all the money given to God was used in the work of the Lord in being good stewards of God's riches.

When a politician sees riches, they immediately have a desire for it as they do today.

The harlot church will be hated and hated by those who at one time worshipped her.

The harlot church will be made desolate. All her riches confiscated.

The harlot will be made naked. Stripped of her rich ornate possessions and abandoned.

The enemies of the harlot church will eat her flesh and all her glory will be gone.

The harlot church will be burned with fire. Ruined, doomed to everlasting destruction.

In truth once the apostate church falls, the other Babylon will also fall!

*****Rev 17:18  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

We already know that this political Babylon refers to the city that sits on seven hills which can only be Rome.

The Antichrist will run his course thinking all the time he is in control, when all the time he is fulfilling the will of God.

He may read the Bible, but he does not understand the power of a Holy God!

The ten kings will now have their kingdoms but even they will not be able to please the Antichrist who is now so full of hate that he hates himself!

It can truly be said that God works in mysterious ways!

In reality we will understand all these things once we have the mind of Christ after we reach the "Glory World"!

Amen!

The Seven Last Plagues of the Book of Revelation

The Seven Last Plagues

Chapters 15 and 16

Just as most of the people who remain have sworn an oath to the Beast (Antichrist) and received the "Mark of The Beast" believing the Beast, will make things better.

Just when things are so bad that the people are in need of relief and the Antichrist promises that relief, but He is a liar.

Just when the people of earth that remain believe that things just cannot get worse, they get much worse.

The Lord God Jehovah is just getting started.

There are still some who did not take the "Mark of the Beast" and they will also go through these terrible things, but they will be saved out of them. 

Many of them already martyrs for refusing the "Mark of the Beast".

We should clearly understand that nothing is over, till the Lord says they are over.

Just as the Lord was about to take His last breath as He hung on the Cross on Mount Calvary, He said it is finished.

Joh 19:28  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 

Joh 19:29  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 

Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 

What was accomplished? The plan of salvation for all believers was "finished" on that cross.

There is no other method to appease God beyond accepting the "work" that the Lord Jesus Christ did to provide our salvation, by paying the sin debt that was required for every human being that has lived since the time of Adam.

Even all those that were held in Abraham's Bosom had to believe the work that the Lord did for the salvation of all those of the world.

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 

Eph 4:5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 

Eph 4:6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 

Eph 4:7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 

Eph 4:9  (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 

Eph 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 

There is only one hope for salvation and this hope is even extended into the Great Tribulation!

Jesus Christ did all the work and our only requirement is faith in that work.

In these Scriptures Jesus will say it is over. He will use the words "it is done".

What will be done? The full wrath of God will have reached its fulfillment!

*****Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 

Rev 15:5  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 

Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 

The seven last plagues. 

In case we miss it, there is a Temple in Heaven and guess what, my home and your home and every believers home are built around the Heavenly Temple.

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

Every believer will live in the Father's House, in His Holy Temple.

But this day our Heavenly Father will show His wrath to those who have taken the "Mark of the Beast" who will live their final days in misery at the wrath of God. 

Then in Hell, and then in the Burning Lake of Fire.

They are already in misery. They will see and feel and live in even more misery before they die and be sent to Hell for even more misery and after the "White Throne Judgment" into the Burning Lake of Fire, where they will endure everlasting misery in a place they cannot die to avoid it, just because they rejected their Creator.

This word wrath does not just mean they will endure God's anger until His anger does not exist.

This word wrath means they will endure God's never-ending anger upon them!

These angels come out of the Temple because their orders can come only from God Himself.

God's "Two Witnesses" have finished their work and they are back in Heaven, their work complete.

Remember it takes two witness before God will allow death.

The angels assigned to deliver the Gospel to the entire world have finished their work as Jesus had commanded, and have returned to Heaven and their place.

Mat_24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

With all things accomplished as written then Jehovah would do just as He said He would do!

*****Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

Notice those vials full of the wrath of God were not inside the Temple because anger should never be inside the House of God.

We did not use it, but in verse three in the Song of Moses, we see that all the acts of God are "just and true"!

Verse four says these "judgments" are made manifest.

The "judgments" of God are justified, and they will be according to His written Word!

These things in these vials must be completed before the Millennial Kingdom on earth can begin! All these things that written in the Word of God.

The Antichrist will be put down forever!

The False Prophet will be put down forever!

Satan will be chained up for 1000 years then released, for a very short season, and then sentenced to the Burning Lake of Fire!

To those who have questions, Satan will not be king of the Burning Lake of Fire, it is just his eternal home of misery just as it will be for all those who reject Jesus Christ.

It was in fact designed and created for him and the angels that followed him!

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

God never intended to have to send humans to this place, but they have chosen this fate themselves! 

We must not forget the number seven used here can be said to be the complete nature of the "Wrath of God"!

God has no other alternative left for sin except to completely destroy it!

Once God has commanded this action, Jehovah stood in all His glory and no man was able to enter the Temple of God.

To be sure there are no men in Heaven!

The Lord Jesus will come to this earth in all His glory and just His glory, being so powerful that sin will be eradicated wherever the Lord places His feet upon this earth.

Sin cannot stand before the Glory of God in any form or fashion!

God is long-suffering.

God is patient.

God is good.

God is kind.

God is love.

But God is also a consuming fire!

Deu 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. 

God deals with sin with blood and fire.

If you are not covered by the blood of Jesus, you will be consumed by His glory!

Isa 28:21  For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. 

Isa 28:22  Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. 

This strange thing is about to take place!

*****Rev 16:1  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. 

Rev 16:2  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. 

What we need to clearly understand is when Jehovah pours out these vials (bowls), His wrath will flow without mercy.

At no time in the Scriptures has Jehovah showed His wrath without it being tempered with "Mercy". 

God will show no mercy at this time!

He was warned and warned and warned again. There will be no more warnings! There will be no escape!

God takes no pleasure in showing His wrath.

God will eradicate ungodliness and wickedness and immorality from the face of the earth, just as He warned and just as He promised!

We have just been through a time of pestilence (plague) throughout the world so we now realize that a plague can affect the entire world.

Plague number one:

That word "noisome" means terribly destructive.

That word "sore" means boils or ulcers.

It will be similar to leprosy but far worse.

It will be a cancer outside the body that is incurable.

It will be sin exposed to the pure liquids from Heaven that will eat them like an acid.

I cannot imagine someone with running boils and running ulcers, still falling down to worship the Antichrist (the Beast).

I am sure they will also be begging for him to help them, but he cannot, nor will he be able to.

Some of these plagues actually happened on a smaller scale in Egypt in the days of Moses.

Exo 9:8  And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 

Exo 9:9  And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 

Exo 9:10  And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast. 

Exo 9:11  And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. 

In reality "boils" are caused by "bad blood"!

"Boils" reveal "corruption" in the body!

These things will only happen to those who have the Mark of the Beast!

"Judgment" in all its bitterness had finally began.

The "fury" of the Lord that He would have rather not used, will no less be used on all those have the "Mark of the beast!

Not just in Jerusalem, not just in Israel, but all across the earth where men dwell!

*****Rev 16:3  And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

Remember we are seeing the wrath of God without mercy and its best just to understand this Scripture just as it is written.

We need to go back to the Book of Genesis.

Gen 1:9  And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 

Gen 1:20  And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 

Gen 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 

Gen 1:22  And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 

What we should understand from our verse three, is that those seas are no longer water but blood not because of the blood of the sea creatures but because it is the blood that killed all the sea creatures because the Seas could no longer sustain life.

This is not just the Mediterranean Sea but just as in Genesis it is all the Seas as they are one Sea.

We should probably also understand that these bowls (vials) were probably poured out in rapid succession.

*****Rev 16:4  And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. 

Rev 16:5  And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 

Rev 16:6  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 

Rev 16:7  And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. 

The Seas as we know are Salt Waters, now we see that the fresh waters are also affected because in reality all the waters on our planet are connected.

Job 28:23  God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. 

Job 28:24  For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; 

Job 28:25  To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. 

Job 28:26  When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: 

Job 28:27  Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. 

Job 36:27  For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 

Job 36:28  Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 

Job 36:29  Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 

Without water there is no life and drinking blood will only cause death. 

All, freshwater species, will die because of the blood.

Again this to has happened on a much smaller scale.

Exo 7:20  And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 

Exo 7:21  And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 

God's warnings are over, "death" is the key word during this time near the end of the Great Tribulation.

The prophets, the preachers, the saints of God have been murdered for centuries on end, just because of faith and the Word of God.

Even the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for all the world if the world would just show a little faith.

That blood that has been in the soil and the seas all these years would now surface in the Seas, and the Lakes and the Streams and the Springs and the waters of the earth would be blood and that blood would no longer sustain life because it is the blood of death.

The Lord God Jehovah is right to do these things, because of the injustice the world has caused to His children.

And Christ Jesus is not yet through.

*****Rev 16:8  And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 

Rev 16:9  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 

I just wonder sometimes if all those who claim "Climate Change" are just afraid that what God says is true, but they still have some notion that they can defeat Jehovah.

They forget that Jesus Christ laid down His life and He then pick His life back up and the truth is He can never die!

I for one do hot handle the hot weather as well as I did when I was young, but this fourth bowl (vial) is pour directly on the Sun.

The Sun will have enough power to scorch the skin of those it reaches, who are unprotected. 

Just what will protect you from the Sun that sends our fiery flames? Not much, and fire will break out everywhere with no means to extinguish its flame!

There will be a heat wave around this world, one such that has never been seen!

These people who can stay alive will not feel sorrow for their wickedness, they will only blaspheme and curse the Lord even more.

They still do not realize they are going to die.

How any could survive is only in the hands of the Lord.

We know the true Jews are in a place protected by the Lord, possibly the caves of Edom.

What had the Lord said?

Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 

Mal 4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 

Mal 4:3  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Over and over the Lord has warned of this day.

Old Testament

Psa 21:9  Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. 

Psa 21:10  Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. 

Nah 1:5  The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 

Nah 1:6  Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 

Nah 1:7  The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Zep 1:18  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. 

New Testament

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 

2Th 1:6  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 

2Th 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 

2Th 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

2Th 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

2Th 1:10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 

The world is ready for the coming of the Lord today! For they will not repent!

*****Rev 16:10  And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 

Rev 16:11  And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 

Some may say "well finally some relief", but this darkness will not bring relief!

In fact this darkness is just a little taste of Hell.

So dark that you can feel it.

In so much pain but cannot find relief nor even see enough even to move.

Even then those hot flames will still burn but be invisible to the eye, such as the burning of the petrol in a formula one race car.

The pain of God's Wrath cannot be avoided, and there will be no relief!

They will curse God even more!

Isaiah wrote that this would be a "gross" darkness.

Isa 60:2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 

But the Lord is not yet through.

All the world that remains hate the Lord so much, along with the Antichrist it is time for them to be gathered for one final battle, so the Lord makes a way for them to be gathered in the valley of Jehoshaphat.

Nah 1:5  The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 

Nah 1:6  Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 

Nah 1:7  The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 

Nah 1:8  But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. 

Nah 1:9  What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

The Antichrist, The Beast does not even realize what is taking place.

Psa_2:4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

*****Rev 16:12  And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. 

Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 

Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

At first glance it would seem that this sixth vial (bowl) does not seem to be much.

If we look closely, it not only says the way of the kings of the east is made clear, but the final preparations of the Great War called Armageddon have already been completed.

We know the Euphrates River has existed since the time of Creation and more or less has kept its tract even after the great flood just for the reason we read about in this chapter.

For those who do not know, there is a great dam built on the Euphrates today and it is possible to almost stop the flow of this great river that has supplied water to many people for a long time.

Nearly 2000 years ago Jehovah said He would dry up this river basin to allow a great army to come to Jerusalem from the East. 

Say what we will and guess if we must, but the largest army in existence is the Chinese Army and it lies to the East.

In earlier studies we already know that the great armies of the North will also converge on Israel, which the great armies of the North would be the Russian and the Turkish armies.

The armies of the West would be the revived Roman Empire, which by the way I would hope would not include the USA, but there is little doubt that this is true, except the Scripture that mentions "on the wings of a Great Eagle".

It is a fact that God has cursed every nation that goes against Israel, so they all will serve their purpose in this Great War that can only end one way.

The Antichrist has now the means to march all the armies of the world to Israel in an attempt destroy her, simply because the Lord has said that this is His land.

Hatred, we are fools if we do not see hatred growing today throughout the world.

What are these unclean spirits (like frogs)? The means to instill even more hatred!

Isa_11:15  And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

All the world has given in to the Antichrist, (the Beast) and he has total control of all the great armies of this world.

God does not redo things He has not already done!

1Ki 22:20  And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. 

1Ki 22:21  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. 

1Ki 22:22  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. 

The Lord used one lying spirit to convince Ahab to go to his death.

Jehovah will use three unclean spirits, to convince the Antichrist to go to his defeat along with all these great armies.

They are "spirits of devils"!

Notice they have the power to perform miracles to show the mighty (perceived) power of the Beast.

It takes a fool to challenge the Almighty God and Satan has been defeated at every turn, and now he will lead most of the remaining people of this earth to their death because of his great hatred for God's creation.

That war, Armageddon, is used by many men and women, but this is not really a war. 

God says it is a slaughter! Armageddon means "slaughter" and it will be a slaughter!

Why would King Jesus speak at this time to John? It is just a reminder!

*****Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Rev 16:16  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 

Jesus will come as a thief to carry the Church away. 

In fact the departure of the Church will be explained away by the Antichrist and the only ones who will take notice will be the Hebrew Children. 

They will become jealous!

Rom_10:19  But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Rom_11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

What will happen to true Israel?

Rev_12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

The Lord has come again as a thief and moved the intended victims of the Antichrist to safety.

Those who die in the war of Armageddon die for nothing and it will be a slaughter!

*****Rev 16:17  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 

Let us review:

The Trumpet Judgments.

1. Hail, fire, and blood cast upon THE EARTH; one third trees, and one third of all living things burnt.

2. One third of SEA made blood; one third of creatures therein and of ships destroyed.

3. One third of the RIVERS made bitter; many men destroyed.

4. One third of the SUN smitten; one third of the day darkened.

5. Star from heaven falls into the ABYSS; he sends forth locusts; men seek death; Hebrew name of their king is Abaddon.

6. Armies from the EUPHRATES destroy one third part of men; men repent not.

The two witnesses of God WITNESS for him and work MIRACLES; WAR against them by the beast.

7. VOICES in heaven; the JUDGMENT; earthquake, lightning and HAIL weighing over hundred pounds.

The Vial Judgments.

1. Vial poured ON THE EARTH; sores upon the followers of the beast.

2. The SEA made blood as of a dead man; every soul therein destroyed.

3. RIVERS made blood; declared to be God’s vengeance upon [ALL] men.

4. SUN smitten; men scorched; men blaspheme, men repent not.

5. The THRONE and kingdom of the beast smitten; men, in pain, blaspheme God; men repent not.

6. The way prepared for kings beyond the EUPHRATES. Three unclean spirits of the dragon WITNESS for him and work MIRACLES; WAR by the world at (the Hebrew) Armageddon.

7. VOICES in heaven; the FALL of Babylon; EARTHQUAKE lightning and HAIL.,

We may from this comparison notice: 

(1) The vials form a series of visions announcing God’s judgments against the wicked.

(2) The number seven as well as their character indicates the universal and complete nature of these judgments.

(3) The events portrayed occupy the same period in time as the seals and trumpets; that is to say, the period of the world’s history terminating with the last judgment day.

(4) As in the uses of the seals and trumpets, they are general indications of God’s judgments; and though particular events may be partial fulfillment, the complete fulfillment is in our time.

(5) In comparison with the seals and trumpets, we may observe some points in common and some in which the visions differ.

(a) Like the former visions, these may be divided into two groups of four and three.

(b) The structure of the vial visions is almost exactly parallel to that of the seals.

(c) The visions all terminate with the same events portrayed in similar language, though, as the three sets of visions proceed, more stress is laid upon the judgment of the wicked, and less on the victory of the redeemed.

(d) An episode occurs after the sixth vial of almost identical nature with, though much shorter than that after the sixth trumpet.

(e) The severity of the nature of the vial judgments is conspicuous. Whereas under the seals one fourth was afflicted, and under the trumpets one third, there is nothing to indicate any exemption in the vial visions.

(6) The reason of the employment of the term "vial," or "bowl," is most likely to be found in the expression, "cup of God’s anger," in Rev_14:10.

It indicates the pouring out of God’s wrath in an overwhelming and irresistible flood. 

It is, therefore, significant of retribution more dire than that symbolized by the trumpet, just as the trumpet indicated greater severity than the seals.

When we read where so many of this world died during these "vial" judgments what we see is a world under total confusion.

The Antichrist, the beast has proven to be a total lie! 

The Lord Jesus Christ has proven to be the truth!

Never has this world seen so much confusion, so much chaos, and so much discord.

All these people are at a loss to explain what is happening to them!

They had rejected the Word of God, but the Word of God had been true all along!

Psa 102:25  Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 

Psa 102:26  They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 

Psa 102:27  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. 

Isa 51:6  Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. 

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 

Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

The kingdom of Satan is crumbling, and he has no power to stop it!

Only ruin can be seen wherever eyes can see.

Jer 4:23  I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. 

Jer 4:24  I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. 

Jer 4:25  I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. 

Jer 4:26  I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. 

Jehovah in His "great anger" had accomplished what He said He would do!

The remaining chapters give us greater detail of all these things, but the truth is King Jesus has just stepped out upon the world stage.

Amen