REVELATION LESSON 39

REVELATION

LESSON 39

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 16:16   ¹⁶ And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

The pronoun “He” refers to God. This is the only time the word Armageddon can be found in the bible, and refers to a literal place where a literal battle will be fought. Armageddon is Hebrew and is the name of a place in northern Israel, when translated the word means “mount of Megiddo”.

The mount of Megiddo is a large hill just west of the Jordon river, in the plain of Esdralon, sometimes called the valley of Jehoshaphat. The Euphrates river will dry up to allow the two hundred-million-man army to approach from the east. Demonic spirits will go forth from the satanic trinity, Satan and the antichrist and the false prophet to gather other armies from all over the world.

Revelation 16:17  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.

This is the last judgment, it signifies an earthquake such as the world has not previously known, which will affect not only particular cities, but also entire nations, the mighty voice that shouted “It is finished” when Jesus died on the cross, will say just before he returns to earth, “it is done” the remaining events will bring an end to Satan’s reign.

Revelation 16:18  ¹⁸ And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

The divine purpose in grace was finished at the cross. Here the divine purpose in wrath is finished. This vial judgment could well take place simultaneously with the second coming, also presents the last cataclysmic upheaval. 

When the seventh bowl is poured out into the air, something will happen to the atmosphere. Great flashes of lightning will explode to the ground, and thunder will rattle the earth. Fire will break out and tremendous earthquakes will shatter the land.

Revelation 16:19   ¹⁹ And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

John goes on to describe the destruction of the great city split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of fury of his wrath.

The scriptures declare that the great city split into three parts and that throughout the world the cities of the gentiles would be shaken to pieces and fall. The text does not indicate what great city is in view though Jerusalem was mentioned as a great city in the bible indicates that there will be tremendous changes in the land surrounding Jerusalem.

The problem that occurs with identifying Jerusalem as a city destroyed is that at the time of the second coming Jerusalem is still a city intact, in spite of the earthquake which has destroyed the other cities of the world.

If Jerusalem had been destroyed by an earthquake the houses to house fighting and other aspects of the final war could not have taken place.

Zechariah 14:8   ⁸ And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

Jerusalem will have perilous times but will be spared from total destruction.

Babylon will be rebuilt, every city on earth except Babylon and Jerusalem will be in ruins as the end of the tribulation period approaches. With Babylon somewhat standing and Jerusalem hard hit, it will come into remembrance before God. It is predicted, Babylon’s doom will happen, it will be time for those prophecies to be fulfilled. She will get the cup filled with the wine of the fury of Gods wrath.

Revelation 16:20   ²⁰ And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

The surface of the whole earth will be changed. Every Island will sink beneath the water, every mountain will be leveled. The prophet Isaiah said the flood gates of Heaven will be opened, the earth will reel to and fro like a drunkard.

Isaiah 24:20   ²⁰ The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

Revelation 16:21   ²¹ And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

From the sky huge hailstones about seventy-five pounds each fell upon men, and they cursed God on account of the plague of hail. Because the plague was so terrible the nature of the world will be dramatically changed. With the after math of each earthquake, the mountains and islands disappearing causing a resolute loss of life and property.

Huge waves in the ocean created by these changes will bring total destruction that is beyond description. Whatever is left from the earthquake in terms of buildings and monuments of men will be beaten to a pulp by these huge blocks of hailstones.

As in previous judgments of God, it does not bring repentance or confession of sin, instead men recognizing that the judgments came from God and they curse God for it.

 You don’t want to go through this period of time. Accept Jesus Christ, Gods son, as your savior and know that you can look forward to eternity in Heaven with the creator.

Until our next lesson

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 38

REVELATION

LESSON 38

Are We Living in the End Times?

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

God is good and he is the God of heaven. He deserves praise and exaltation. These people will curse and blaspheme God and everything he is and does. They blame God for their situation, even though he plainly told them not to take the mark of the beast.

They will not blame themselves for their sins or admit that these judgments are fair retribution for their wrong doing. Instead of repentance, they will choose continued blasphemy and in spite of their misdoings they will continue to follow the antichrist and his false prophet.

Because they repented not of their deeds represents the fact that the heart of man is so corrupt that even the fiercest judgments fail to affect their attitude, spirit or conduct.

Revelation 16:12   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.

When this sixth angel pour out his vial upon the great river Euphrates this body of water dries up is referring to preparations for the coming battle of Armageddon. This great river will dry up during the tribulation period. Why?  It is a barrier that divides the east from the west. It prevents the kings of the east from moving their great army into the west.

When the sixth angel pours out his bowl, the river will dry up the barrier will be gone and the kings of the east will be able to move their two hundred-million-man army against Israel in the battle of Armageddon.

Notice the word Kings is plural. This will likely be an alliance of all the eastern nations. No one knows who the kings of the east are, but to build an alliance this large it is a good guess to think it would include China, North Korea and perhaps India, Japan and others.

China alone has more than 200 million men of military age and the number increases by more than ten million each year. However, the word says Kings (Plural).

In less than a generation China’s oil wells will be dry and she is investing heavily in the middle east; building ships and vehicles to transport her troops. Upgrading her weapons and communications systems and threatening her neighbors not to help the United States if she gets into a war with America.

This great battle will probably start in the early last half of the tribulation period. It will cover large portions of the earth but it will wind up in the middle east with nations coming together to attack Israel.

Revelation 16:13   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.

John is saying that three evil spirits will come forward during the tribulation period. One from the mouth of Satan, one from the mouth of the antichrist and one from the mouth of the false prophet. This is where we get the term False Prophet.

While John saw these demon spirits in his vision, they will be invisible to all others. These invisible creatures are functioning presently on earth. Even as they have since the fall. There is only one power that affects them and that is the name of Jesus.

The unclean spirits like frogs concerns the fact that this ungodly trio connives to secure the help of other nations regarding the coming battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 16:14   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.

For they are spirits of devils refers to a flood of demonic spirits working in conjunction with three unclean spirits which will probably be done through the false prophet and others, proclaims that the fact that all miracles are not necessarily from God.

As is obvious here, there are nations the antichrist doesn’t control whose help he will seek. While he thinks all of this is his plan, God Almighty is actually orchestrating all the events. The antichrist will think to destroy Israel, but God will destroy them.

Revelation 16:15   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.

I am coming as a thief, refers to the meaning of the coming of Jesus as a surprise and it cannot be the rapture, because by this time that would have already occurred. Who will be surprised? It can’t be the church because they were resurrected in the rapture.

This is in reference to the second coming of Jesus at the end of the tribulation period. The antichrist has been so successful with his propaganda that very few in the world at that time will actually be expecting Christ to return.

The unclean spirits will gather the armies of the world at Armageddon and only then will Jesus return and catch them by surprise.

Blessed is he who keeps his garments points to those on earth who worship and serve the Lamb, and that they must be constantly vigilant and loyal to him. Those who refuse the mark of the beast will be blessed but those who take it will be exposed.

Until our next lesson

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION Lesson 37

REVELATION

Lesson 37

Are we living in the end times?

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

This is referring to those who will be murdered by the antichrist during the time of the great tribulation because of their allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. The bloody waters will be Gods response to the shedding of the blood of the tribulation saints and the old testament prophets.

The old testament plainly says you shall not murder. Jesus also said all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Matthew 26:52   ⁵² Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

This may be a hard truth but these unbelievers will get what they have coming to them. It is bad enough to ignore the bible, but its even worse to turn ones back on the mercy of God at the same time.

Those who shed the blood will be forced to drink it. This proclaims the fact that the beast worshippers are getting their justice. We can only hope to grasp the full extent of this judgment when we consider the reason for it.

If the voice of the blood of one single person who was murdered (Able) cries out to the Lord, how much louder must the blood of all the murdered people cry out to heaven.

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

This is referring to those who will be murdered by the antichrist and are asking vengeance. The antichrist and his followers will shed the blood of saints all over the world. God will eventually respond by turning their drinking water into blood, even so, Lord God almighty true and righteous are your judgements proclaims those at the alter who cry for vengeance and are about to have their cries answered.

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

The forth bowl of judgment will cause the sun to scorch people with fire. This will add to the boils and their problem of a water shortage. Evidently the sun at that time will pour out more heat on the earth than ever before.

Malachi 4:1    4 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.

It seems this plague will also be confined to the area of the antichrist. If that is the case the Lord will have to stop the heat from effecting other parts of the globe.

Multitudes will want to take a cold shower and wash their painful sores but they will only be able to shower in blood. Those involved in the blood bath of Christians will experience the wrath of God by bathing in blood or not bathing at all. Two options, neither good.

Revelation 16:9   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.

The strong heat of the sun will bear down on them with a vengeance they will thirst but will have nothing to drink but blood. They will get sunburned on top of the painful sores caused by the first bowl judgment. Still they refuse to repent.

Blisters sunstroke and extreme thirst will be Gods punishment to the unbelievers. These people know beyond a doubt that God is light and Satan is darkness. Nevertheless, men will love the darkness rather than light because their acts and deeds are evil.

These afflictions will cause them to finally admit that God exists and that he controls these plagues. Even with that in mind, they will still not fall on their sunburned face and sore knees to ask for mercy. Instead, they will curse his Holy Name.

Revelation 16:10   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,

This tells us that its coverage area is the seat of the beast. This could refer to Jerusalem which at this time is the religious headquarters of the antichrist. This is the fifth bowl judgment and will mark a turning point. God will begin to focus his attention on one of the biggest adversaries on earth, the antichrist.

This beast will love spiritual darkness, so he will get physical darkness. It will cover the planet. People will not be able to see the stars, moon or sun. it will be similar to the darkness of Egypt when Moses was trying to free the Hebrew children of God.

The last time darkness covered the earth is when Jesus hung on the cross.

Matthew 27:45   ⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

The next time it will happen will be to fulfill many old testament prophecies. People will become anxious, they will begin to think about their future. Some will have mixed feelings about taking the mark of the beast and following the antichrist, others may be tormented by insanity and chew their tongues in agony.

When Jesus who is the light of the world died God plunged the world into darkness for three hours. The world cannot survive without light. This means that the world cannot survive without Jesus.

The prophet Joel says the tribulation period darkness will be unlike anything the world has ever experienced. The agony and fear will be indescribable. 

Joel 2:2   ² A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

Revelation Lesson 36

Revelation

Lesson 36

Are We Living in the End Times?

Revelation 16:1   16 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.

In chapter 15 we read that the heavenly temple will be filled with some that no man will be able to enter the temple. Then a loud voice from the temple is saying go and pour out the bowls of wrath of God on the earth.

This refers to the kingdom of the antichrist and not to the believers. Crisis usually causes men to look to God. The tribulation period will be a time when God creates a climate of crisis, a climate conducive, or helpful in causing men to call upon God while he is near.

Matthew 24:21   ²¹ For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The trumpet judgments extend to only one third of the earth, while the bowl judgments extend to the entire earth. Scripture reveals that these judgments as time progresses will become increasingly worse and occur in raping chronological order. These judgments are beyond anything ever mentioned before.

Revelation 16:2   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.

This first bowl judgment introduces grievous or painful sores or boils upon men and women who had the mark of the beast who worshiped his image. The only ones who will escape this judgment are those who have refused to worship the beast.

This proves that these plagues will be poured out only on the kingdom of the beast. These sores will have a very offensive odor. When the antichrist is unable to heal his own people, the world will know he is a false healer.

In the end times there will be several worldwide epidemics raging out of control and no one will be able to stop it.

Revelation 16:3   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.

Following next the second bowl is poured out. The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea pertains to the entire Mediterranean Sea. It turns to blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.

This second bowl judgment is even worse than the second trumpet judgment. In the second trumpet judgment. One third of the sea creatures were killed. One can only imagine the repercussions of such a horrible event.

When people know of the true existence of God and refuse to glorify Him as God and stop being thankful for the great gifts of his creation, God will finally give up on them, even so the creation itself turns against them.

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

This speaks of all underground rivers as well as all the water throughout the kingdom of the beast is poisoned.  It becomes blood, this is not to be explained away as being merely symbolic. This will actually happen.

Then I heard the angel in charge of the water say: you are just in these judgments and you are and who were the holy one. Because you have so judged for, they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. In response to this a voice is heard again from the alter. Yes, Lord God almighty true and just are your judgments.

Some try to explain the judgment of the sea turning into blood as something not actually blood. If one accepts the omnipotence of God of course nothing is impossible and the sea could become literal blood: or it may be the language of appearance, but in either case it is a terrible judgment rendering the water unfit for both fish in the sea and for man to drink.

Attention is called in the third bowl to the martyrdom of the saints and rejection of the prophets. The judgment was declared to be just.

Revelation 16:5   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.

We probably don’t realize the important role angels play in the managing of God’s creation. We have already encountered the four wind angels, those angels in charge of holding back the earths wind. Now we learn that God has a water angel in charge of the earths water. Were it not for these angels, man would not have survived as long as he has: The angel in charge of the earth’s waters will look at this judgment and declare it to be a judgment deserved: He will express the justice of God the eternal existence of God the holy nature of God.

You are righteous o Lord, proclaims the fact that what the Lord is doing is righteous. In fact, everything he does is righteous. God does not change. It would be unrighteous if God did not judge accordingly.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy