With
the “end of the world” coming on the winter solstice it is important to discuss
what we know will be taking place according to the bible. I am joking about the end of the world thing,
never the less, we know that there will be a time of tribulations on the
earth. Who will be on the earth at that
time and where will the redeemed ones be? We previously looked at the redeemed,
those washed by the blood of the Lamb who are snatched up in the clouds and
those who are gathered mid way through the tribulation. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/who-are-redeemed-and-are-we-seeing.html We also looked at the day of the Lord and the
hidden ones, who are the redeemed. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-day-of-lord-mystery-of-iniquity.html The day of the Lord is a terrible time on
earth. I’ve heard that in some European countries it is considered a terrorist
act to tell people about hell because it inspires fear in people; I would suggest
that unless you wish to live “hell on earth” you do what you can to avoid
it. The good news is there is a way
out. Some people question and argue as
to why the redeemed should not have to go through the tribulation. The answer
is simple; we are suffering for our faith now.
I don’t only mean in martyrdom, but also spiritually, we suffer as
believers in Christ. We have to stand through trials and tests here and
now. I’m not sure about anyone else but
life is no picnic on earth today. We are
not living heaven on earth. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2012/10/suffering-reigning-with-christ-and.html But if we suffer now we will reign with Him. It
is a sad state of affairs that those who have the Holy Spirit dwelling within
them cannot see the difference between themselves, and non Holy Spirit filled
people. If you don’t know that there is a difference between believers in
Christ and non believers in Christ, especially in God’s eyes, then maybe it’s
time to learn the difference. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are children of
Abraham. Not those who only believe in Abraham, but those who believe Jesus
Christ is Lord and Savior are Abraham’s seed.
John
was given this revelation so that he would communicate it to everyone, and
whoever reads and hears of it will be blessed. Jesus has some exhortations for
the churches, and then a door opens in heaven.
If there is a door that opens, it can also close, which is why we see
parables of people knocking on the outside of the door. The redeemed are
singing songs in Heaven, no joke, Revelation 5:9. The redeemed are watching the process of the
Lamb, who is worthy to open the seals.
Rev
5:6-14 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into
all the earth.7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that
sat upon the throne.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.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;10 And hast made us
unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.11 And I
beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the
beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten
thousand, and thousands of thousands;12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and
honour, and glory, and blessing.13 And every creature which is in heaven, and
on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are
in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto
him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.14 And
the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and
worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.KJV
Now
it is time to put on our global goggles.
Some people mistakenly think that where they live is the center of the
universe. We have to think globally.
Three year old toddlers think the world revolves around them, and every
parent does their best to change that way of thinking, otherwise parents end up
raising selfish and self centered adults. With a global perspective, we think
more clearly about the things that will happen on the earth; we will not make
the mistake of thinking every hurricane or flood on the outer isles is the
wrath of God.
Rev
6:1-17 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [seven] seals, and I heard, as
it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come [and see].2
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a
crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
The
word seven is in the Greek, but
omitted in KJV. The words and see are
not in the text. The bow this rider has is not a bow and arrow, but a bow like on
a present, or a sash, made of fabric. This rider goes out in victorious
conquest. We will later find out from
Revelation 7:2 that the riders are four angels.
What this conquering is, or who is being conquered, we don’t know, because
there are no further clues in the text.
3
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come [and
see].4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given
to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill
one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
This
rider on the red horse takes away peace from out of the earth causing people to
become violent. This seems to be
worldwide but maybe many small battles between neighboring countries instead of
global conflict. Today we mostly have peace, but there will be no peace at this
time on earth.
5
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come [and
see]. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair
of balances in his hand.6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts
say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny;
and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Here
we see worldwide famine. Crops will not produce enough to feed people. But there will be wine and oil, so whatever
happens to kill the grains, it will not affect olive trees and grape vines.
7
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast
say, Come [and see].8 And I looked, and behold a pale [green] horse: and
his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was
given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with
hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
The
word pale in the text here is actually green.
The rider on the green horse is called Death, or deadly. Along with
Death is Hades, or the grave for departed souls. Here there are either two riders for this
green horse, or Hell has its own transportation. People will be dying from lack of food, from
wild animal attacks, or from Death’s sword. One fourth of the earth inhabitants
could die and Hades takes them to the grave. If we have 7 billion people on
earth now, in 2012, and assuming people are evenly distributed over the earth
so that this fourth part of the earth has an equal amount of residents, then 1,750,000,000
could die. There could be more or less
than that depending on where this fourth part of the earth is. If it were
Antarctica and the Arctic it would not cause a lot of human deaths. When 100
people die in a disaster today, we think that is a lot. When this angel rider goes out, we may see as
many as 1,750,000,000 people die. If
there is already no peace on earth, and grain supply is low, could this be due
to war? Since the time of Jesus’ death, the believers go to paradise, not
hell. Therefore there must not be any
believers’ killed by Death here because these people all go to Hell.
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: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? 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.
We
have to wonder about these people, they are butchered beneath the altar, which
would mean they were in the temple because the altar is the place of sacrifice.
Killed for the word of God and for their testimony, yet they find rest, and
receive white robes. Some of the Jews
will be killed at this time. There is a
number of how many that has to be fulfilled. More will be killed later. As we will see shortly, this is during the
first three and one half years of tribulation.
Notice these people go to be with Jesus, not Hell. These must be those who since the harpazo
have come to believe in Jesus. This also means the temple has to be rebuilt.
These people are probably Messianic believers. This would be the time that we
see in Daniel where there is someone who rises as a world leader and makes
peace for the first half of the tribulation.
In the middle of the tribulation, the peace treaty will be broken. Although
these people may be killed before the first three and one half years are
finished if these seals are chronological in order. The martyred ones are
looking for revenge for their blood and asking Jesus about when that will be.
12
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became
as blood13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree
casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.14 And the
heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and
island were moved out of their places.
Now
an earthquake happens that causes the sky to become dark all over the world. Is
it volcano ash? We don’t know. Here the
stars fall to earth, now just a thought, if a star falls to earth wouldn’t the
earth burn up because the stars are bigger than earth? Some speculate that our
universe is holographic, and that could be a possibility. Whatever happens, the heavens change. The example John is instructed to give is
that of a strong wind that causes the fig tree to drop all its unripe
figs. Is it instead a meteor shower that
causes lots of shooting stars to hit the earth? The heaven then separates and
coils up like a scroll, and the mountains and islands are moved from where they
have been. This maybe a pole shift or
tectonic plate Shift. Whatever the disaster, it has worldwide impact.
15
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief
captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid
themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;16 And said to the
mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth
on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17 For the great day of his wrath
is come; and who shall be able to stand? KJV
It
seems that the world leaders, the lords, the rich, the military, powerful individuals,
the servants and the free men and women, will all try and hide in caves. That would mean that the caves and caverns
were not destroyed by the movement of the earth, just put in a different
place. Yet now these people can see the
face of God who sits on the throne. This
means that the heavens roll up like a scroll. If our universe is a hologram could our
universe be deleted for a time? This then reveals the Throne of God and His
countenance. That is why people hide in
caves and call for the mountains to fall on them. They are terrified by the sight of the face
of God. I suppose we could look at our
universe as simply a canvas over our heads that will be wrapped up and will
reveal God. It will also reveal that this is the wrath of the Lamb. These
people on earth now wonder who can abide and survive the wrath of the
Lamb. This is why they will try to make
war with the Lamb in the second half of the tribulation. They will see Jesus
and know that it is him that came, the parousia, and that it was he that opened
the seals. They can see the face of God the
Father and it scares them. I suppose the
earth dwellers will start to think like Nimrod and try to kill God. Let’s read the Message.
Rev
6:12-17 I watched while he ripped off the sixth seal: a bone-jarring
earthquake, sun turned black as ink, moon all bloody, 13 stars falling out of
the sky like figs shaken from a tree in a high wind, 14 sky snapped shut like a
book, islands and mountains sliding this way and that. 15 And then pandemonium,
everyone and his dog running for cover — kings, princes, generals, rich and
strong, along with every commoner, slave or free. They hid in mountain caves
and rocky dens, 16 calling out to mountains and rocks, "Refuge! Hide us
from the One Seated on the Throne and the wrath of the Lamb! 17 The great Day
of their wrath has come — who can stand it?" (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible
in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
We
see the world leaders hiding from the wrath of the Lamb. Everyone is scared. There is now no question that there is a God,
a creator of the heavens and the earth.
Everyone knows the truth now. At this time John takes a rabbit trail. He
tells us of the servants of God being sealed before the four riders hurt the
earth. He gives us the entire story, but
only part of the story happens in chronological order. Once the servants are sealed, the riders go
out to harm the earth. The sealed
servants are not taken out up to heaven just yet. They are in hiding.
Rev
7:2-4 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the
living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was
given to hurt the earth and the sea,3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the
sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their
foreheads.4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were
sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children
of Israel.KJV
After
John gives us the details of the sealed and hidden ones, he goes on to the
seventh seal. If we look at the
structure of the seven seals, and the seven trumpets, they both stop at six.
What happens next is like a behind the scenes look at one or more aspects of
what is happening at the same time.
Remember there are things that happen in heaven, and things on earth. Both
are different, and sometimes there are other things going on that have to be
explained.
Rev
8:1-5 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven
about the space of half an hour.2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before
God; and to them were given seven trumpets.3 And another angel came and stood
at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much
incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden
altar which was before the throne.4 And the smoke of the incense, which came
with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's
hand.5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and
cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings,
and an earthquake.KJV
There
is literal silence for 30 minutes, half an hour. Then the fire from the altar
is thrown to earth, and there will be a lot of noise. There will also be
thunder and lightning and earthquakes. Now
just a quick perspective on time; in the first half of the tribulation there are
forty two months. There are seven seals
opened, and seven trumpets sounding.
That would mean there are 42 months with 14 events which equals one
event every three months. One year after the start of the tribulation, Death
and Hell go out and many will die. After eighteen months, when the sixth seal
is opened, there will be a time when everyone on earth will see the Father on
His throne and the wrath of the Lamb. Now let’s look at the seven
trumpets.
Rev
8:6-13 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to
sound.7 The first [angel] sounded, and there followed hail and fire
mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of
[the country, world] [and a third part of the] trees was burnt up, and all
green grass was burnt up.
Here
the word angel does not appear in the text. There are a few extra words in the
text, country or world and a third part
should be added. Hail and fire cause
bloodshed. One third of the world, trees
and grass
8
And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire
was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;9 And the
third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the
third part of the ships were destroyed.
One
third part of whatever was in the sea becomes destroyed.
10
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning
as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the
fountains of waters;11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the
third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters,
because they were made bitter.
Whatever
it means to make the waters bitter when this trumpet sounds, men die as a
result.
12
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and
the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third
part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and
the night likewise.13 And I beheld, and heard an angel [eagle] flying through
the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters
of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels,
which are yet to sound! KJV
The
word angel of verse 13 is actually eagle. By this indication, the moon and
stars were back in place from the sixth seal. When they all, heaven was opened
so that Men could see God. At this point
one third part of the night lights were dark as well as one third of the
daylight.
Rev
9:1-21 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the
earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.2 And he opened the
bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great
furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the
pit.3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was
given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.4 And it was commanded
them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing,
neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their
foreheads.5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but
that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment
of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.6 And in those days shall men seek death,
and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from
them.7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto
battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces
were as the faces of men.8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their
teeth were as the teeth of lions.9 And they had breastplates, as it were
breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots
of many horses running to battle.10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and
there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five
months.11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless
pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath
his name Apollyon.12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more
hereafter.
Here
we see that the angel of the bottomless pit is in charge of the locust
scorpions, and that they are allowed to torment men for five months. This is
how we know the 144,000 sealed ones are still on earth, because the locust scorpions
cannot hurt them as they have been commanded.
The sealed are still in hiding in the desert. People cannot find death,
and will be tormented for five months.
At some point, one would think that these people would repent, but they
don’t.
13
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the
golden altar which is before God,14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the
trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.15
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day,
and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.16 And the number of
the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the
number of them.17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on
them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads
of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire
and smoke and brimstone.18 By these three [plagues] was the third part of men
killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out
of their mouths.19 For their power [this horse]
is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto
serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.20 And the rest of the men
which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their
hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and
brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:21
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their
fornication, nor of their thefts.KJV
There
are two words that should be included in verse 19, this horse; the Horses’ power is in their mouth. People are
stubborn. One third of the earth inhabitants die, and people are tortured but
the two thirds left refuse to repent. Let’s assume there are 5,250,000,000 on
the earth now after one fourth may have died one year into the tribulation. One third now die which would be 1,750,000,000
killed. There will be 3,500,000,000 that at this time refuse to repent. Before
the seventh thunder, John gives us a few more details, including some things we
are not to know, such as the seven thunders. Here John tells us about the two
witnesses. It would seem that the two
witnesses are on earth for three and one half years. We will discuss them shortly.
Rev
11:15-19 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our
Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.16 And the four
and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces,
and worshipped God,17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which
art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great
power, and hast reigned.18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come,
and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest
give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that
fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the
earth.19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his
temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and
thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.KJV
The
second set of words the kingdoms are
not in the text. At this point, the temple of heaven is opened, and rewards are
given to the redeemed. Here the redeemed
point out that the earth’s inhabitants are angry and the wrath of the Lamb has
come. Now that the temple of God opens,
and the inhabitants of heaven can see the ark of the testament, we are almost
at the conclusion of the wrath of the Lamb. John gives us a synopsis of
spiritual events in Chapter 12 of Revelation. He then tells us about the beast
in Chapter 13. In Chapter 14 Jesus is on
Mt Zion with the 144,000. It is
suspected that in Chapter 15 the martyred saints now singing the songs of Moses,
are those who lost their lives under the alter. They are rested, possibly for
27 months, and in white robes. After this, comes the wrath of God the Father.
It is now time for the pouring out of the bowls. So far we have noticed the redeemed singing, and
then we see the redeemed singing again at the end of the wrath of the Lamb. The
144,000 sing when they are taken off of the earth as well as the martyred
saints. I suppose our fairytale images
of heaven are partly correct, in that there seems to be singing going on in
heaven, but at the same time there is a lot of disaster and bloodshed on earth.
During
the three and one half years, the 1260 days, the 42 months, or the first half
of the tribulation called the wrath of the Lamb, there are several simultaneous
things happening. A new ruler will rise up and rebuild the temple, but halfway
through the seven years he will break his covenant with the Jews. Once again,
the temple will be abominated. The word week is not a week of days, but a week
of years according to the Hebrew.
Dan
9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst
of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.KJV
The
two beasts will have power for 42 months, or three and one half years.
Rev
13:1-5 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the
sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon
his heads the name of blasphemy.2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a
leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of
a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.3
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound
was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.4 And they worshipped
the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast,
saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?5 And
there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.KJV
Many
people will worship the dragon/serpent, who gives the beast his power. At this time another beast comes and tells
everyone to worship the first beast. This first beast is wounded, but then is healed;
this beast speaks against the children of God who are in heaven. He is given
the power to overcome the saints on earth and everyone will worship him who is
not written in the book of life. Then
another beast shows up, the false prophet.
Rev
13:11-18 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two
horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.12 And he exerciseth all the power
of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell
therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.13 And he
doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth
in the sight of men,14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means
of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast,
which had the wound by a sword, and did live.15 And he had power to give life
unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and
cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be
killed.16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:17 And that
no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding
count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is
Six hundred threescore and six.KJV
The
false prophet forces everyone to take the beasts’ mark on their heads or arms.
This image may be a statue that is given the power to speak, through a
spirit. In other words the false prophet
makes an image that has a demon spirit in it, and can speak. Those who don’t worship it will be killed.
Also no one can buy or sell without the mark of the beast which is why we
understand that the Virgins Jesus spoke of would not be written in the book of
life if they were buying and selling oil during the tribulation. While all this is going on, there are two
witnesses who come to earth to prophesy.
Remember every three months or so, there is another seal opened or
trumpet blown. Here John is measuring the temple. Remember the people killed
under the altar, this would indicate that the temple is rebuilt during this
first half of the tribulation which is what the world leader, the Anti Christ,
will do so that those who oppose the mark of the beast will be killed under the
altar. This in and of itself is an
abomination, but not the end of the three and on half year tribulation.
Rev
11:1-2 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood,
saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that
worship therein.2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and
measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they
tread under foot forty and two months.KJV
The
gentiles trample the holy city for forty two months. During that time the temple services have
resumed. This again is a benchmark of
time. The temple has to be built in
order for people to be killed in it, and for some world leader to break a
treaty half way through the tribulation. The two witnesses are now on earth as
well.
Rev
11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a
thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.KJV
After
the three and one half years, the witnesses are killed, left in the street, and
the whole earth can see their dead bodies.
Possibly because of satellite television, every news station will pick
up the death of the two witnesses. Then
after three and one half days they will come back to life, and everyone on
earth will be in fear.
At
the halfway point, three and one half years from the start of the tribulation,
Jesus steps on Mount Zion, takes the first fruits, the redeemed, who were
sealed, and are now going to sing a new song in heaven.
Rev
14:3-4 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the
four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred
and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.4 These are
they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which
follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among
men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.KJV
From NT:575 apo (apo'); a
primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various
senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):KJV - (X here-)
after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in,
(out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it
usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal,
etc.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded
Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and
International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Among men NT:444 anthropos
(anth'-ro-pos); from NT:435 and ops (the countenance; from NT:3700); man-faced,
i.e. a human being: KJV - certain, man.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
First fruits NT:536 aparche
(ap-ar-khay'); from a compound of NT:575 and NT:756; a beginning of sacrifice,
i.e. the (Jewish) first-fruit (figuratively):KJV - first-fruits.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
These
people, the 144,000, are taken out from among men, the first Jewish group. There will be another group of Jews and
Gentiles later at the end of the tribulation. These people are the ones who do
not receive the mark of the beast. Let’s look at Revelation 12, first seeing
Jesus and then the first fruits who are redeemed.
Rev
12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod
of iron: and her child was caught up [harpazo] unto God, and to his throne.KJV
Harpazo
is the same word used as in 1 Thessaloians 4:17. Jesus was born of the woman Israel, and will
one day rule the nations, King of kings, and Lord of lords. He was caught up to God and to his throne. As
we saw, everyone who was still on earth when the sixth seal was open saw God,
His throne and the Lamb’s wrath.
Rev
12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of
God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore
days.KJV
One
thousand two hundred and three score days is three and one half years. Again these are hidden from the world systems
and evil. They have the seal of God on their foreheads as contrasted to the
mark of the beast.
Understand
that during the time called the wrath of the Lamb, there are many things taking
place. The temple is rebuilt, a world
leader emerges with a false prophet to make peace, the rebuilding of the temple,
and then set up a system of commerce related to his allegiance. At the same time, 144,000 are hidden in the
desert, and sealed on their foreheads for the Lord, while people on earth are
sealed for the beast. Meanwhile, there
are two witnesses doing signs, miracles, and wonders on earth. Every three
months another disaster takes place on earth. The false prophet is doing false
signs, making a statue or even possibly a holographic image of the world leader
that can speak via a demonic spirit.
While that is all taking place some will be killed under the altar of
the temple. These people are the martyred saints.
In
heaven the redeemed watch the seals being opened and the angels sounding the
trumpets. They are then judged, and
rewarded. After three and one half years,
the 144,000 who were sealed and hidden are taken off the earth. They then follow
the Lamb wherever he goes. There are also a number of martyred people who do
not take the mark of the beast, and are killed in the temple, under the
altar. They die during the three and one
half year time around the opening of the fifth seal, which may be around
fifteen months into the tribulation. They ask how long until they are avenged. They
are then told that there are others who will suffer the same death that have to
come in.
The
second half of the tribulation is worse than the first half. The question we should be asking ourselves is
where we are during this time? Are we
one of the caught up redeemed, the martyred under the altar, or, the 144,000
sealed and redeemed? Or are we living on earth through the tribulation? The throne
of God is seen from the earth at the time of the sixth seal, and the earth
inhabitants now know for certain there is an Almighty God. They also know that
they are under the wrath of the Lamb. If
earth is not where you want to be living when you see the throne of God and cry
for the rocks to fall on you, to hide you from Him, then he has made a way out
for you. You can avoid the tribulation
if you choose to make Jesus the Lord of your life, and you live for Him. These
are not magic words, you must live for Jesus, putting off the old man and
putting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Rom
10:9-13 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the
heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will
not be put to shame." 12 For there
is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to
all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall
be saved." NKJV
Rom
10:8-10 Say the welcoming word to God — "Jesus is my Master" —
embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising
Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're
simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. 10
With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say
it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and
me!" (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by
Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
John
3:13-21 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that
is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. 17 For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through
Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he
who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God. 19
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the
light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the
light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in
God."NKJV
