An Introduction to End Times.

Part 4 The Tribulation and On (cont’d)

Features of the Great Tribulation – Section 4e

Revelation Chapter 14

In this chapter we envision, perhaps from a spiritual point of view some of the activities that we will see during the closing of the Great Tribulation.

In verses 1 to 5 we see the 144,000 Jews, now in heaven, who were sealed (at the beginning of chapter 7) to evangelise for the Lord. Other believers have already moved to the desert (Rev 12:6). These particular workers must have suffered tremendously during their activities and they are now worthy of a special new song which only they can sing.

In verses 6 and 7 we see a proclamation of the eternal nature of the Gospel and in verse 8 anticipation of the fall of Babylon (see chapter 17) – the satanic world system.

In verses 9 to 11 we are reminded that the most severe and eternal punishment will be meted out to those who freely co-operate with the antichrist. But, on the other hand, in verses 12 and 13 we are assured that the supreme testing of those who keep to God’s ways during those days will not go unrecognised.

Verses 14 to 20 perhaps provide a heavenly pre-view of the final harvest of believers by Jesus at Armageddon (through the agency of angels, see Mt 13:39-43). There is now no further opportunity of salvation for anyone. The rejects are trampled in the wine-press of God’s wrath (Joel 3:13).

Revelation Chapters 15 and 16

In these chapters we see the last woe and fulfilment of chapter 14.

Chapter 15: in verse 1 we see the seven last plagues, held by the seven angels, which represent the final fury of God that will be cast from the golden bowls onto the earth.

In verses 2 to 4 we catch a glimpse of the martyrs from the Tribulation (as in Rev 14:14-16) standing outside of the tumult that some of them have only recently emerged from, with maybe also, others, such as those referred to in Rev 6:9. The song they are singing is redolent of the song of Moses sung by the Israelites after the successful crossing of the red sea (Ex 15).

In verses 5 to 8 the seven angels are handed seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God.

Chapter 16: in verses 1 to 21 the angels release natural calamities (the third and last woe) from the seven bowls onto the earth. These grim judgements (Bowls one to four) fall upon all those remaining.

vs. 10-11 (Bowl five) – the antichrist and his kingdom suffer.

vs. 12-14 (Bowl six) – God opens the way for the armies (of unbelievers) from the East to join battle against Jesus at Armageddon.

v. 13 ‘3 frogs’ represent the ‘satanic trinity’.

vs. 17-21 (Bowl seven) – This final judgement (see also the earlier notes at chapter 8 verse 1) and the hugh earthquakes literally prepare Jerusalem and the world for the millennium. Mountains and valleys are reformed – especially around Jerusalem (Zec 14:4-5).

At this time, Jewish believers who have come to Christ during the Great Tribulation (ie. since the time of the escape of the others to the desert in Rev 12:6), are led to safety through the resultant valley of Zec 14:4-5.

Revelation Chapter 17

In this chapter an angel shows John the plight of the great prostitute – the false religion. This is a consensus of corrupt religions brought together by the Antichrist during the first half of the Tribulation. Even today attempts are being made to encourage the formation of a single ‘world religion’ or ‘faith’.

Verses 1 to 6 illustrate the need that the Antichrist and the false religion have for each other during the early Tribulation but eventually the Antichrist wins out. In verses 7 to 14 the allusions flow thick and fast. Seven hills of Rome? Five ancient kingdoms (Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Medo-Persia, Greece) have already fallen, Rome, at the time Revelation was penned, already is, and, following the ‘church age’ (see Part 2, section 2a), the new Rome of the Antichrist is yet to come? Ten countries of the EU?

Eventually in verses 15 to 18 the Antichrist deifies himself, as we know, at the beginning of the Great Tribulation (see Dan 9:27) and turns away from the religious mix.

Revelation Chapter 18

We now see the downfall of ‘The System’ of the Antichrist, his political and economic ‘Babylon’ (see End Note b, to follow in section 4g). In verses 1 to 3 an angel announces this and reflects on all who have been involved with her. In verses 4 to 8 God calls his people out and declares her annihilation.

Then the tears of all those who shared in her ways and Babylon’s own final destruction are described in verses 9 to 24.

Next time: The Millennial Kingdom

An Introduction to End Times.

Part 4 The Tribulation and On (cont’d)

Approach of the Great Tribulation – Section 4d

Revelation Chapter 10

In this chapter we see, at a time that maybe still within the first half of the tribulation an angel, possibly symbolising Jesus, holding another (little) scroll. ‘The seven thunders’? – who knows? – only Jesus. But there will certainly be no more delay (to the second half of the Tribulation? – the first half now being in the process of completion).

Verse 7. With the seventh trumpet the mystery of God will be accomplished. This mystery (a previously hidden truth) would appear to be the whole theme of the little scroll (See also Rev 11:15, Dan 9:24 and Eph 1:9-10)

Verses 8 to 11. This same scroll seems to contain a prophecy which John must digest (cf. Eze 3:1). Sweet because it is the word of God (Ps 19:10), yet bitter for the pain it foretells. But right now John must issue yet more of this prophecy.

Revelation Chapter 11

Verses 1 and 2 could indicate that we are now moving into the second 3½ years, ie. the second half of the Tribulation – the Great Tribulation – with the measuring (preservation) of true believers and abandonment of others. Throughout the first half of the Tribulation martyred believers have been slain as in Rev 6:9-11. Now, at the start of the Great Tribulation, according to Daniel 12:1, all new true believers – ‘everyone whose name is found written in the book’ – ie. those ‘saved’ in the first half of the tribulation and still alive, are transported by God to a safe place in the desert as described in Rev 12:6. Closer examination of the scriptures suggest it is not unreasonable to suppose that this refuge could be Petra. (See below for Chapter 12 v. 6)

The events outlined in Daniel 9:27b and Matthew 24:15-16 are about to unfold.

Verses 3 to 6 introduce God’s two witnesses who will prophecy for 3 ½  years. Don’t mess with them, they have power! – Who are they, well probably not actually Moses and Elijah themselves, but similar. Although there are no traceable corpses or graves for either of these two ancient prophets (Moses or Elijah) they must be well established in their resurrection bodies by now and presumably, in such case, could not be killed (v.7). No, but it seems that these two new witnesses certainly have the same attributes and powers as their forerunners. (Further reading around: Lk 9:28-31; 2Ki 2:1-11; and Deut 34:5-6.)

Verses 7 to 10. Finally these two witnesses are overcome by the beast – the Antichrist (see 2Thess 2:3-4) – his heart now overwhelmingly filled by Satan, and their bodies lie in the streets of a corrupted Jerusalem for 3½ days. Not so long ago, say before the twentieth century, it would have seemed impossible that their bodies could have been viewed by ‘every people, tribe, and nation’, but now, thanks to TV, we see this sort of thing almost every day on BBC News 24! This reminds us that Revelation is a book that needs to be continually reviewed in the light of technical, as well as political, changes in our lives.

In verses 11 to 14 however, we see that God makes his point. There is a severe earthquake and seven thousand of their enemies are killed, with the survivors thoroughly shaken but giving glory to God. The second woe is over, the third will follow soon.

Trumpet seven.

With verses 15 to 18 the last trumpet is sounded and we see through glimpses into heaven that the end of the Great Tribulation is in sight (see the earlier notes at chapter 8 verse 1). In verse 19 we see the ark and are thus assured of God’ ultimate salvation for his people from all that has gone before.

Revelation Chapters 12 and 13

In these two chapters we have a parenthetical re-look at the characters involved so far and the spiritual interplay of their activities throughout history.

Chapter 12 shows us the story of the woman ‘Israel’ (see Isa 54:1 and Hosea) and verses 1 to 4 show how Satan (the red dragon) has pursued her all her life, even from the time of Genesis 3:15, in the knowledge that his nemesis would be through her son (Jesus). In verse 5 the son is revealed – note the ‘iron sceptre’ (see Ps 2:8-9 and Rev 19:15). Note also, that between this verse and the next (v.6) there is room for the ‘church age’ (see Part 2 – Section 2a).

In verse 6 God transports Christian Jews to safety (in Petra? – a ‘place prepared’, also in v.14 below) as described above for Chapter 11 vs. 1 and 2. (see also Jer 30:7, Dan 11:41, and Mt 24:16)

Verses 7 to 14. During the Tribulation Satan (the dragon) is hurled to earth by the archangel Michael and loses the freedom of his realm in the second heaven. He vents his fury on Israel (through the Antichrist) but God’s eagle wings see her (Israel) to safety (as in v. 6 above).

Verses 15 to 17 describe how the antichrist’s pursuing forces chase after Israel, towards the desert, but earthquakes swallow them up. The dragon then goes after any remnants (or very recently converted Christian Jews) left in the land.

Chapter 13 reveals the strength of the Antichrist (the beast) and verses 1 to 10 describe his career and how he has emerged to his position at the start of the Great Tribulation empowered by Satan now on earth. (This from a revived Roman Empire (the EU?), see Part 2 – Section 2b and also Dan 7:7-8, 19-28, Rev 12:12, 17:3, 7-14.)

Verses 11 to 15 introduce us to the false prophet, a henchman to the Antichrist (the beast) and third member of this satanic counterfeit trinity headed by Satan. He performs miracles in order to deceive and sets up an image in honour of the beast (see Dan 9:27).

In verses 16 and 17 we now move into what I regard as a very recognisable, and frighteningly real possibility. We have already had talk in our media of a ‘cashless’ society and how convenient this might be. Think about it. We already use debit and credit cards, almost without thinking about it – it is an accepted norm in our lives. We already know that the government would like us to have ID cards. Let’s imagine that the government decide to utilise our bank cards as a forerunner of an ID card, or combine it with a dedicated ID card and then, with a little coercion, persuade us to accept the resultant device in the form of a ‘chip’, which is inserted under the skin at the back of the hand, or forehead, ‘in order to cut down the possibility of accidental loss or fraud’, or some other pretext. Well you’re there, aren’t you? (Remember that all this will not be experienced by existing believers, because of the Rapture, but non-believers will be subject to it.)

Just move on a bit, and, if as an extension to the same scheme we are persuaded to actually change to a ‘cashless’ society, then all who receive such a card or chip would be under complete control, in that it would then be quite easy for the controlling powers to limit the right of any individual or individuals to purchase anything, including food. It makes me shudder.

Quite the significance of verse 18, and what ‘666’ is, we have yet to find out. The number six in itself, of course, can signify man’s falling short of God’s perfection – ‘7’, but surely a more specific meaning of ‘666’ will reveal itself in due course?

Next time: Features of the Great Tribulation