Prophecy 11 - the Rise of Babylon

The Rise of Babylon – Revelation 12:7 – 14:5

Beginning Point in Time: Resurrection Sunday, A.D. 30
Ending Point in Time: The 1,265th day of the Great Tribulation

Summary:

This apocalyptic prophecy describes three types of kingdoms: Political, religious, and demonic. The first type lasted approximately 1,000 years (605 B.C.- 538 A.D.). During this time, political leaders governed world empires (represented by the four beasts in Daniel 7). The second type lasted 1,260 years (538-1798). During this time, religious leaders dominated the nations of Europe (the little horn in Daniel 7). The third and final type of kingdom will last 42 months and a demon will dominate it. This progression speaks volumes.

The final kingdom will have two phases. During Phase I, Lucifer will achieve an important objective through the world’s religious and political leaders. After the first four trumpets demolish the infrastructures of Earth and 1.75 billion people have been killed, the whole world will be in a state of panic and trauma. The devil will seize the moment to bring the whole world under the jurisdiction of one government. The book of Revelation calls this government Babylon. To appease God’s wrath, the leaders of the world will unite in a common effort to eliminate the sinful behaviors they believe made God angry. Once this union becomes functional, the devil will inspire the leaders of Babylon to create and implement “sin-less” laws to appease God’s wrath. Because the world will be very fearful of God, these laws will seem “reasonable and appropriate,” but they will quickly put God’s saints in a dire situation. The leaders of Babylon will not realize, at first, the unintended consequences of their laws. The laws of Babylon will stand in direct opposition to the laws of God. Lucifer’s objective during Phase I is to identify and punish all who choose to obey the eternal gospel. Civil authorities, like police officers or militia in each locality, will enforce the laws of Babylon. They will do as they are commanded (even after many within their ranks realize that what they are doing is wrong) for fear of losing their job and/or being punished by their commanders.

Phase II will begin when Lucifer physically appears on Earth with his angels. John describes the physical appearing of the devil in three different places throughout the book of Revelation^[1] and each reference reveals a new dimension about this wily foe. Masquerading as Almighty God, Lucifer will betray the leadership of Babylon so he can establish a counterfeit theocracy during the sixth trumpet. The devil will abolish all the religions and governments of the world. During Phase II, there will be one lord, one faith, and one baptism; a one-world-church-state. For a short time, the devil will rule over the world as king of kings and lord of lords. Everyone will do as he says or die.

Prophecy 11 describes the transition of Lucifer from an invisible state to a visible state. The devil will appear physically as a majestic being wearing a glorious garment of brilliant light!^[2] Jesus permits the devil to appear so that mankind can observe his words and actions. Because Lucifer is evil incarnate, even a wicked person will learn for himself that Lucifer is a grossly evil super power.

This prophecy begins on Resurrection Sunday and it reaches to the time when the 144,000 ascend on the 1,265th day of the Great Tribulation. God has given us this prophecy because He wants us to study and anticipate Lucifer’s actions even though he is currently invisible. The devil is extremely clever and powerful. The world has not seen anything that even remotely compares with the physical appearing of Lucifer. He will come down from the sky, attended by millions of demons (fallen angels). They will be very large in stature, perhaps fifteen feet tall.^[3] They will physically dwarf the people of Earth and worse, guns and artillery cannot kill them.^[4] The whole world will find out that human beings are no match for fallen angels. Lucifer will take over the world and no one can thwart him.

Introduction:

This prophecy consists of five events that occur in chronological order.

The devil is cast out of Heaven (verses 7-12)
The devil persecutes the woman for 1,260 years (verses 13-16)
The devil wages war on the remnant of the woman (verses 12:17-13:10)
The devil physically appears, sets up his theocracy and implements the mark of the beast (verses 13:11-18)
The 144,000 celebrate in a victory ceremony in Heaven (verses 14:1-14:5)

At first, it might seem strange that the victory celebration of the 144,000 is part of this prophecy because the first four events in this prophecy focus on Lucifer’s actions. God often embeds an event within a prophecy to provide additional information that we could not otherwise know. For example, if you recall, the seventh trumpet is embedded in Prophecy 10 instead of Prophecy 9 where the other six trumpets are located. Similarly, the seventh seal is embedded in Prophecy 7 instead of Prophecy 6 which contains the six seals. When God inserts a “strange” event in a prophecy, He is actually highlighting the timing and importance of the strange event. I believe the victory celebration of the 144,000 is included in this prophecy because the 144,000 will be victorious over Lucifer’s demonic efforts to stop them! With God’s help, ordinary human beings will not only prevail against Lucifer and his demons, they will win the war!

The coming victory celebration of the 144,000 may not seem to be “all that important” today, but a day is coming when their victory celebration will serve as a powerful beacon during a very depressing time. During the sixth trumpet, Lucifer will appear to meet his objectives. He will abolish the religions and governments of the world, kill a third of mankind, and set up a counterfeit theocracy. Even more distressing, many of the remnant of the woman (the saints) will be killed and most, if not all, of the 144,000 will also be martyrs. Thankfully, this dismal situation is not the end of this story! Victory day will surely come. When the remaining saints see the 144,000 resurrected and taken to Heaven, the saints will be overjoyed! When wicked murderers see the 144,000 taken to Heaven, they will become terrified and panic stricken. The resurrection and ascension of the 144,000 is pivotal in this story because it marks the end of Lucifer’s success. After he gathers the “first fruits” to Heaven, Jesus will methodically destroy Babylon and the wicked with the seven bowls of justice. Jesus will avenge the suffering of His saints.^[5]

Structurally, this prophecy is similar to Prophecy 7. If you remember, Prophecy 7 contained three elements which seemed at first, to have no connection:

The sealing of the 144,000
A numberless multitude standing around God’s throne
The breaking of the seventh seal

We discovered in Prophecy 7 (the selection and sealing of the 144,000) that these three elements are intimately connected. For example, the breaking of the seventh seal has to occur after the numberless multitude are taken to Heaven. This is true because John saw the numberless multitude stand around God’s throne before the seventh seal is broken!^[6] Chronological order within Prophecy 7 requires this progression.

In Prophecy 9 (the story of the Two Witnesses), we found that Jesus will resurrect the 144,000 and take them to Heaven on the 1,265th day of the Great Tribulation. Remember, this happens just before the seventh trumpet sounds later that day. Therefore, if the 144,000 are taken to Heaven on the 1,265th day in Prophecy 9, it appears that the victory celebration of the 144,000 in Revelation 14:1-5 aligns with the 1,265th day for two reasons: First, we know that firstfruits are always presented to God before the harvest is actually gathered. Therefore, taking the 144,000 to Heaven (they are the firstfruits of the coming harvest) before the Second Coming is in perfect harmony with the 1,265th day. Second, Revelation 15:2-4 and 19:1-8 places the 144,000 in Heaven before the Second Coming occurs. They praise God that He has condemned the great whore who corrupted the Earth and killed them.^[7] No one can sing the song of Moses and the Lamb^[8] but the 144,000, so the 144,000 must be in Heaven prior to the Second Coming! The 144,000 can sing the song of Moses and the Lamb because the 144,000 led God’s people out of slavery (bondage to sin) as did Moses and they overcame the world (victory through death) as Jesus did.^[9]

Consider a parallel for a moment. From the disciples’ point of view, the torture and death of Jesus on the cross was a great disappointment. Their hopes and dreams of seeing the kingdom of God established on Earth ended with the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. However, from the Father’s point of view, the torture and death of Jesus was a tremendous success! God’s justice was fulfilled by Jesus’ death, because Jesus died in our place, and through His perfect sacrifice, God’s mercy has been lavishly extended so any sinner could be pardoned from his sins! During the Great Tribulation, the wicked will consider the slaughter of the 144,000 and millions of God’s saints during the fifth seal a tremendous success. They will gloat in victory and celebrate the occasion as they send congratulatory gifts to each other.^[10] But from God’s point of view, this vile celebration only confirms that the wicked are defiant, hopelessly incorrigible and beyond the possibility of redemption.

Because the life, ministry, and death of Jesus was a perfect success, the Father raised Jesus to life on Resurrection Sunday. He called Jesus to Heaven and gave Lucifer’s position as prince of this world to Jesus. There was a war that morning because Lucifer would not yield his position. Similarly, the ministry and death of the 144,000 will be a perfect success. Jesus will raise them to life (on another Resurrection Sunday?) and take them to Heaven. When they arrive in New Jerusalem, Jesus will bestow the highest positions possible on them and all of the angels will rejoice.

The Devil’s Identity

A few words of caution are needed. Many people distort Revelation 12 and 13 by switching the identity of Lucifer with one of his agents. Let me be clear. No agent or prophet of Jesus is Jesus and no prophet or agent of Lucifer is Lucifer. It is important that we keep the devil’s identity separate and distinct from that of his agents. For example, in Revelation 12:7-9, Lucifer himself is cast out of Heaven with his angels. In Revelation 12:13,14 the great red dragon himself pursues the woman for a time, times, and half a time. This is a story about the devil. Lucifer is not Herod in Revelation 12 and Lucifer is not the little horn power in Daniel 7, even though Lucifer controlled Herod and the little horn.

I am belaboring this point because God wants mankind to know there is a determined and highly intelligent being at work who can see and hear us, even though we cannot directly see or hear him. (Lucifer or a demon sometimes speaks through spiritists or mediums,^[11] but again, we cannot directly see or hear him.) The devil is evil incarnate and he himself intends to destroy the remnant of the woman. Lucifer will have agents working for him during the Great Tribulation, however these agents will have no idea (at first) that they are under Lucifer’s control.

Unfortunately, God’s people will soon find themselves caught up in a deadly conflict that has been ongoing for thousands of years. Since 1798, the devil has been preparing for his final assault on God’s people and most Christians do not have a clue. When the first four trumpets occur, the devil will take advantage of the situation and initiate his first assault on those who stand for truth and righteousness. The devil’s agent will be a government called Babylon. This global government will spring to life in a worldwide crisis and be energized by demonic power. God has generously given us this warning so that everyone can understand Lucifer’s diabolical plan. Do not be discouraged. Jesus has a greater plan! Even though Jesus will permit millions of His saints to perish during the fifth seal, the death of His saints will not be in vain. Some of the wicked will turn from their defiance when they witness the calm and peaceful presence of the Holy Spirit within God’s people, when they are martyred solely for loving Jesus with all their heart, mind, and soul and their neighbors as themselves.

Sunday, April 9, A.D. 30^[12] was an incredibly glorious day in history. According to my calculation, Jesus came from the tomb on this date! Very early on Sunday morning, about the time of first light, the Father resurrected Jesus.^[13] After He came out of the tomb, Jesus waited nearby for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (His mother) to arrive^[14] so that they could see Him and serve as two witnesses. He wanted them to go and encourage His scattered disciples with the fact that He was truly alive! Jesus was in a hurry to get to Heaven, but knowing that His disciples were terribly discouraged and disoriented, He patiently waited by the tomb. What a thoughtful God! When the women arrived at the tomb, they were dumbfounded. They had just witnessed His crucifixion on Friday, but that morning an angel told them that Jesus was alive! Filled with joy, the women ran off to tell the disciples, but they did not go far before encountering Jesus. They fell at His feet and worshiped Him.^[15] They did not want to let him out of their sight! But Jesus told Mary Magdalene, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.”^[16]

A few minutes later, as Jesus ascended toward the gates of the Holy City, a chorus of angels sang out: “Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – he [Jesus Christ] is the King of glory.”^[17] What a glorious and happy morning!

Many people do not understand why Jesus ascended to Heaven on Resurrection Sunday.^[18] Please consider the following: First, Jesus was called up to Heaven and presented to the Father as the firstfruits of the dead,^[19] because Jesus was the first person to experience the penalty for sin, which is the second death. Consider this: Because of sin, there are two deaths. The first death comes as a consequence of sin. The second death comes as a penalty for sin. Everyone currently in the grave has experienced the first death. The first death is sometimes called “sleep” in the Bible because it is temporary, like sleep. Sooner or later, every dead person will be resurrected from the first death! The second death is very different. Those who die the second death will have no hope of resurrection. When Jesus died on the cross, He experienced the second death which is the penalty for sin. Jesus willingly died the death of a wicked person. He laid down His life without any hope of resurrection. The Father abandoned Jesus on the cross. He is the first person to experience the penalty for sin.

Jesus predicted His resurrection,^[20] but His statement was a matter of prophetic faith (believing the Father would restore Him to life if the Father was pleased with His sacrifice). However, when Jesus hung on the cross, the Father abandoned Jesus as though He had committed the unpardonable sin^[21] and this separation caught Jesus by surprise. Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”^[22] Jesus died with the impression that He would not be resurrected because the Father abandoned Him. The amazing thing about this excruciating moment is that Jesus could have exercised a last-minute option. Before He came to Earth, the Father gave Jesus an exit. At any time while on Earth, Jesus could exercise divine power and terminate the redemption of mankind.^[23] Jesus knew that mankind could not be saved unless He paid the price for sin and died the second death. Jesus also knew that the Father would resurrect Jesus only if the Father was pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice. Amazingly, for no reason other than love, Jesus chose to remain on the cross and cease to exist. Even after the Father abandoned Him, Jesus still chose to forfeit His eternal life so that sinners could have it. Thus, Jesus went to His death without any hope of resurrection. What a title – “Firstfruits of the dead.” It brings tears to my eyes because there will never be a greater display of love than this.^[24] What can mere mortals do to honor such a magnificent Creator/Redeemer? What title or words can describe the price He paid for our salvation?

A second reason why Jesus ascended on Resurrection Sunday. During Old Testament times, firstfruits were presented to God on the first day of the week.^[25] Therefore, it was fitting that Jesus be presented to the Father that morning as the firstfruits of the dead.

Finally, Jesus was called to Heaven on Sunday morning to receive a very special gift. When Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus volunteered to die in their place. In return, if Jesus successfully redeemed mankind, the Father promised to give the world over to Jesus.^[26] After resting in the tomb, the Father called Jesus to Heaven to restore His rightful position as the “prince of this world.” What Lucifer stole through deceit, Jesus purchased with His blood.

The Bible indicates that Lucifer would not relinquish his position. There was war in Heaven that morning and after Jesus forcibly expelled Lucifer from Heaven for the last time,^[27] He returned to Earth Sunday afternoon.^[28] Jesus spent the next forty days with His disciples. He did this for two important reasons: First, Jesus needed to provide undisputed evidence that He had been resurrected.^[29] Second, Jesus needed to prepare His disciples for His departure and the mission that loomed before them.^[30]

Positions Change

To appreciate why the war occurred in Heaven on Sunday morning, some additional information is necessary. God is love and He only rules over those who love Him and want Him to rule over them. When Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus lost His position as “the prince of mankind” because the carnal nature of sinners keeps them from wanting God to rule over them. Sinners want self-rule and self-determination. Immediately after the guilty pair sinned, they became rebellious toward Jesus because the sinful nature is naturally hostile toward God.^[31] Think about this: The sinless natures of Adam and Eve immediately changed after they sinned. They became immature miniatures of Lucifer. Thus, they became less like Jesus and more like Lucifer. This is how sin (and the originator of sin) became lord and master over them.

When Adam and Eve sinned, the Father granted the devil certain authority over Earth. This recognition explains how Lucifer became known as “the prince of this world.”^[32] Before Jesus died on the cross, the Father permitted Lucifer to attend administrative meetings in Heaven as a representative of Earth.^[33] After Jesus paid the penalty for sin on the cross, the Father resurrected Jesus and called Him to Heaven so that the Father could bestow on Him the title “The Prince of this World.” Evidently, it was the Father’s plan that Jesus would serve as “The Prince of this World” until He was found worthy to conclude the sin problem in 1798. At that time, Jesus was given sovereign power^[34] and the title, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”^[35]

On Resurrection Sunday, a Heavenly confrontation took place that possibly went something like this: The Father summoned Lucifer and all of his angels to Heaven. When Jesus arrived as a triumphant conqueror, the holy angels fell at His feet. Naturally, Lucifer and his angels refused to show any sign of worship or adoration. The contrast between Jesus and His angels with the sulking and hateful Lucifer and his angels could not have been more obvious. Before their fall, Lucifer and his followers had been physically beautiful.^[36] In fact, Lucifer had stood beside God’s glorious throne as an anointed cherub. But now, things were vastly different. His evil and tortured mind had disfigured his beautiful countenance. His face was malevolent and hatred glowed in his eyes. Lucifer’s angels also exhibited the horrifying effects of sin.

Jesus and Lucifer stood before the awesome brilliance that enshrouds God’s throne. The contrast was shocking. Lucifer had incited the Jews to murder Jesus just three days earlier without considering that he would have to face the Son of God on this morning. Since Jesus had perfectly complied with the Father’s plan to redeem mankind, the Father had legitimately and righteously resurrected Jesus. The tension was obvious. Everyone standing in that assembly knew that Jesus had faced and overcome every temptation Lucifer had put before Him.^[37] Everyone also knew the Father had promised to give Earth to Jesus if He perfectly carried out His will.^[38] It was obvious to everyone in the Heavenly court that Lucifer was not going to yield to his mortal enemy without a fight. Arrogance would rather die than accept defeat. Lucifer would rather die as “a hero in battle” than to surrender to the authority of Jesus. The Father presented the facts about the ministry of Jesus and how He overcame every temptation, even the temptation to avoid the second death. The Father then asked Lucifer to surrender his position and step down as the prince of Earth. Lucifer responded bitterly and swore that he would never surrender.

The Sequence:

Revelation 12:7

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

{7} There was a war in Heaven. Michael (the name which Jesus used before coming to Earth as a human)^[39] and His angels fought against the great red dragon and his angels.

A few hours before His death, Jesus made the following statement: “ ‘Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from Heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.’ ”^[40] Jesus knew that Lucifer would be permanently cast out of Heaven if the Father approved His sacrifice. When Jesus said, “Now is the time for judgment on this world,” He meant that the time had come for the Father to determine who should be the rightful prince of this world. When Jesus said, “now the prince of this world will be driven out,” Jesus predicted the war described in verse 7. This war occurred on Resurrection Sunday.

Revelation 12:8

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

{8} But the devil and his demons were thrown out of Heaven, never to enter again.

God did not destroy the devil and his angels on Resurrection Sunday because His purpose for them was not finished. God permitted open warfare in Heaven between Lucifer and his angels and Jesus and his angels for a significant reason. The Father wanted to make sure that among the holy angels, no sympathy for the once adored and highly exalted Lucifer remained. This war was not a test of faith as the first war had been.^[41] This war produced a revelation. The Father allowed the battle to last long enough to see where each angel firmly stood. After 4,000 years, there was no change. Those loyal to Lucifer defended their evil leader and remained unchanged. Those loyal to Michael also remained unchanged.

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

{9} Once the loyalty of the angels was confirmed, the devil and his angels were once again thrown out of Heaven, at the speed of lightning.^[42] The Father threw the devil and his angels into an earthly abyss and confined them there.

Ever since Resurrection Sunday, the devil and his angels have been bound to this planet, limited to the dimensions of the spirit realm (represented to John as the abyss). Originally, the great red dragon and his angels were hurled out of Heaven because of defiance. Four thousand years later, their defiance remains unchanged. The great red dragon is that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled into the Earth, and his angels with him.

Note – At the fifth trumpet, the devil and his angels will be permitted to exit the abyss. Therefore, a time is coming when the devil and his angels will physically appear before the people of Earth.^[43] At the Second Coming, Jesus will destroy the bodies used by the devil and his angels and Jesus will return them to the abyss (spirit realm).^[44]

Revelation 12:10

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

{10} After the war in Heaven ended, I heard a loud voice in Heaven say: “Now that salvation has been paid in full and the devil has been defeated, the gospel of Jesus Christ and His coming kingdom will advance with clarity and power throughout the Earth. Lucifer’s position as “the prince of Earth” has been honorably overthrown by the perfect life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The accuser of our human brothers, who accuses them before God day and night, has been hurled down and his endless arguments and accusations in Heaven against repentant sinners have been silenced.”^[45]

Revelation 12:11

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

{11} The voice continued: “Even though our brothers on Earth are sinners, they are not hopeless or defeated. Lucifer’s claim that God cannot legally justify sinners has been silenced because Jesus paid the price for every sinner who surrenders to the directives of the Holy Spirit and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through faith in Christ, repentant sinners are covered with Christ’s righteousness (justified as though they never sinned) in God’s sight.”^[46]

When a person surrenders to the directives of the Holy Spirit, he honors and upholds the Word of God at all costs, and the word of his testimony proves that he is loyal to God, even willing to die for Him if necessary.

Revelation 12:12

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

{12} “Therefore, rejoice holy angels, all of you who live in Heaven because atonement for sinners has been paid in full, but woe to God’s people on Earth for the devil’s wrath is upon you! He is filled with fury, because he now knows that he will fail miserably. Lucifer and his angels know they have no further standing in God’s courtroom or in the court of public appeal. They are doomed, condemned to die the second death. The demons know their days are numbered and the countdown cannot be stopped.”

The Dragon Pursues the Woman for 1,260 Years

Revelation 12:13

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

{13} When the dragon saw that he had been forever locked out of Heaven, when he saw there was no further point in accusing sinners before God (hoping to find sympathy among the holy angels), he focused his rage on the woman who had given birth to Jesus. He and his demons agreed they would not let her rest until she was totally destroyed.

Revelation 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.

{14} However, God gave the woman two wings of a great eagle so that she could flee to remote places that He had prepared for her. God’s people were sustained for a time, times, and half a time. Later, this time period would become known as, “The Dark Ages.”

The Bible declares the dragon chased the woman for “a time, times, and half a time.” This time period is defined in verse 6 as 1,260 days. Two different expressions for the same time period enables us to nail down this period of time. When translated according to Rule Four, we find that 1,260 days equals 1,260 years.^[47] History indicates this time period ended in 1798 when the power of the little horn (the papacy) was broken. Counting backward 1,260 years, this prophetic time period began in A.D. 538. The language used in Revelation 12:14 is identical with Daniel 7:25 and they easily align and identify the same time period.

Why Did God Say “A Time, Times, and Half a Time?”

God is deliberate and purposeful in everything He does. There is an important reason for everything that God does and discovering some of the reasons behind His ways is very exciting and inspiring. For example, in Daniel 9:24, God did not say that 490 years were allotted to Israel, instead, He said “seventy weeks.” He used the expression “seventy weeks” when He could have said “490 years” because the expression, “seventy weeks” indicates that as far as God is concerned, weekly cycles of seven years are ongoing. In fact, weekly cycles of seven years began with the year of the Exodus.^[48] Therefore, God used the expression “seventy weeks” in Daniel 9:24 because there is far more to this 490 years than a random period of 490 years.

When God used the phrase, “seventy weeks,” He gave Israel a very big clue about the appearing of Jesus that would help them identify Him as the Messiah.^[49] In God’s calendar, a week of years always begins with a Sunday year. God wanted Israel to watch for a decree to rebuild and restore Jerusalem that would be issued during a Sunday year. History records four decrees that were issued to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, but only one (457 B.C.) occurred during a Sunday year. If God had said “490 years” instead of “seventy weeks,” it would have been much more difficult for Israel to determine the beginning of this time period. God chose the term “seventy weeks” because He wanted His people to be prepared for Messiah’s arrival. By choosing the term “seventy weeks,” God identified 490 years that align with the weekly cycles of seven years that began at the Exodus. God provided this calendar so Israel could determine the exact year when Messiah would begin His ministry and the exact year when Jesus would die on the cross (the Wednesday year of the seventieth week)!^[50]

An interesting question we need to consider is, “Why did God say the dragon would chase the woman to the wilderness for “a time, times, and half a time” in verse 14, but in verse 6, He says the dragon would chase the woman into the wilderness for 1,260 days?” Please consider the following issues:

God described the same prophetic time period in two different ways to tell us that “a time, times, and half a time” equals 1,260 days. Additionally, the 1,260 days allotted to the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11:3 equals “a time, times, and half a time.
”God declares “a time, times, and half a time” equals 1,260 days in Revelation 12, but there must be a method to calculate this relationship mathematically. Please take a few moments to consider the following concepts:It is widely known that ancient nations often observed two or more calendars at the same time. (We do the same thing today. For example, we have a calendar that defines a year as January through December, a calendar that defines a school year as August through May, and we may have a calendar that defines a fiscal year at our place of business as July through June.) The ancients also used different calendars to meet different needs just like we do today. History indicates that ancient nations used solar calendars (based on the orbit of the Sun), lunar calendars (based on lunar cycles of the moon), as well as religious, civil, and other types of calendars. Calendars are important and necessary in any society because they enable people to plant crops, make and meet appointments with each other and to establish specific dates for business contracts. Ultimately, the purpose of any calendar is to measure time, both forward and backward.It appears that a solar calendar of 360 days (twelve months of thirty days) was in use at the time of Noah’s flood. When Moses wrote the book of Genesis, he wrote that the waters flooded the Earth for 150 days.^[51] Moses also says that the flood began on the seventeenth day of the second month^[52] and that Noah’s ark came to rest on the seventeenth day of the seventh month.^[53] I believe five months amounts to 150 days because Moses used a solar calendar based on twelve months of thirty days. If Moses had used a lunar calendar, he would have said 148 days because five lunar months contain 147.65 days.
The ancient use of a solar calendar should not be surprising. Although history does not explicitly reveal why the ancients correlated 360 degrees of arc with a solar year of 365.24 days, I believe there is a simple explanation for this correlation: The ancients studied the Sun. When looking at the stars each morning, they noticed that the rising sun appears to advance through the twelve constellations about “one Sun width” per day. From Spring Equinox to Spring Equinox, there are approximately 360 “sun widths.” From this observation, the ancients may have created a complete cycle of the Sun called “one time” or “one solar year.” This may also explain how a circle came to have 360 degrees of arc. For purposes of calculation, the solar year may have been defined as twelve months of thirty days or 360 days. Moreover, the orbit of the Sun naturally divides a year into four seasons and each season contains approximately ninety “sun widths.” Because the ancients relied upon their observation of the Sun to determine the timing for planting crops, it is possible that many ancient nations defined a solar year as having approximately 360 days.”^[54]For purposes of calculation, the nation of Israel needed a fixed solar year because Israel’s religious year was based on a solar/lunar calendar that contained 354 or 384 days. Because of this variance, when calculating time periods forward or backward, it was very difficult for the Jews to determine the exact number of days in a given year because each year varies in length. A solar calendar resolves this complexity. It simply has 360 days, or 12 months of 30 days.^[55]When God exiled Israel to Babylon in 605 B.C., there is biblical evidence showing that the Jews and the Babylonians were acquainted with a solar year of 360 days.^[56] History records that Nebuchadnezzar’s lengthy conquest of Tyre and Egypt ended in 570 B.C.^[57] Evidently, the king became delusional with his success and he began to think more highly of himself than God thought he should. Twelve months after conquering Tyre and Egypt, (569 B.C.), God imposed seven times (seven solar years) of punishment on Nebuchadnezzar and the king ate grass like an animal from 569 to 563 B.C. The Bible indicates that Nebuchadnezzar finally returned to his senses and to his throne after the seven years ended and historians believe that he died about two years later, in 561 B.C.
The Aramaic word, ‘iddan is used in Daniel 7:25. “The saints will be handed over to him [the little horn power] for a time, times and half a time.” The word ‘iddan means a definite period of time, such as one solar year. Literally speaking, three and a half solar years contain 1,278.34 days, but the ancients did not count actual days. Instead, they counted 360 “sun widths” per solar year which evidently became the basis for a circle of 360 degrees. God affirms this method of counting solar years in Revelation 12:6,14 by defining “a time, times and half a time” as 1,260 days.
Rule Four of prophetic interpretation defines how God measures time; therefore, the “time, times, and half a time” in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:14 must be translated into 1,260 years.^[58] So, to calculate when the dragon chased the woman for 1,260 years, we have to determine a starting point (to count forward) or an ending point (to count backward). I understand the little horn power in Daniel 7 represents the dominion and power of the Roman Catholic Church over the nations of Europe which ended in 1798. Obeying orders from Napoleon, General Berthier entered Vatican City and arrested the pope on February 20, 1798 on the grounds that the pope refused to renounce temporal (civil) authority over Europe. On March 7, 1798, Napoleon’s army entered Rome and established the Roman Republic. On this date, the power of the papacy was broken.To find the beginning date for “the time, times and half a time,” we subtract 1,260 years from 1798 which results in the year A.D. 538. The dragon began chasing the saints in A.D. 538. Here is a short version of the story: When Justinian I (A.D. 483-565) became the ruler of the Roman Empire, he aspired to reunite a fractured empire. He created and issued various laws between A.D. 529-534 that formed the basis of his government. “The very first law in his Codex required all persons under the jurisdiction of the [Holy Roman] Empire to belong to the Christian faith.”^[59] Justinian made this law a priority because like Constantine, he thought Christianity (a religion having one Lord, one faith, and one baptism) could solve many problems that plagued the empire. When Justinian issued this law, the head of the Christian Church at Rome (the pope) did not have sufficient power to implement and enforce the law because three tribal nations (the Ostrogoths, Heruli, and Vandals) were at war with the church. They were determined to kill the pope.A series of battles took place between A.D. 534 and 537 and eventually, the Heruli and the Vandals were defeated. In A.D. 537, the Ostrogoths set siege to the city of Rome in hopes of capturing the pope (who was inside the city), but Justinian’s general, Belesarius broke the siege and Pope Silverius escaped without harm. After the rescue, Belesarius discovered correspondence indicating that Pope Silverius had been secretly negotiating with the Ostrogoths to end the siege and Belesarius was outraged. Belesairus deposed Pope Silverius in March 537. (This event happened exactly 1,261 years, to the month, before Napoleon established the Roman Republic in March 1798.)After Belesarius removed Silverius from office and demoted him to the position of monk, Belesarius appointed Vigilius to be the next pope. About a year later, in A.D. 538, Pope Vigilius began to exercise temporal (civil) authority that no previous pope had been able to exercise because the distracting enemies of the papacy had been uprooted or rendered powerless. At last, the pope was able to make the first law of Justinian’s codex effective. When these historical events are aligned with the time frame A.D. 538 to 1798, two conclusions become apparent. First, according to Daniel 7, there is no question about the identity of the little horn power. The little horn that grew up out of the fourth beast (Rome) was the papacy and as it grew to power, it uprooted three of the original ten horns (the Ostrogoths, Heruli, and Vandals). Second, the fall of the little horn in 1798 is the terminus of the 1,260 years mentioned in Revelation 12. The details and specifications given in Prophecies 2, 6, 10, and 11 firmly align with world history. Even though the Bible does not offer a specific event to mark when the 1,260 years began, it does limit the dragon’s persecution to 1,260 years. John saw the devil chase the woman to the wilderness for 1,260 years and history records the papacy fell (received “a deadly wound”) in 1798.

A review of what we have learned regarding the 1,260 years may be helpful. First, Revelation 12 indicates that “a time, times, and half a time” equals 1,260 days. Second, God is deliberate and purposeful. His ways of measuring time are unlike man’s ways. Therefore, when studying apocalyptic prophecy, we have to carefully consider the God given name of each time period. Evidently, “a time, times and half a time” is based upon a solar year of 360 “sun widths.” During a solar year, the Sun completes a circle of 360 degrees with respect to the stars. Third, the Aramaic word ‘iddan (used in Daniel 7:25) refers to a definite period of time – such as a solar year (this stands in contrast to God’s solar/lunar calendar where a year is 354 or 384 days). Fourth, history confirms the rise and fall of the papacy (538-1798). All of this information perfectly aligns with the dragon chasing and persecuting the woman in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:6,14.

There is a reason God called this time period, “a time, times, and half a time.” God wants the final generation to understand that a second period of persecution is coming upon His people – a second period of “a time, times, and half a time” is coming!
Consider this: God’s perfect number is seven – a number denoting totality, fullness, and completion. For exampl

God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. Unlike the other six days, He made the seventh day holy.
God brought seven clean animals into Noah’s ark, but only two of the unclean.
God promised to punish Israel seven times over if they violated His covenant.
The high priest sprinkled blood before the atonement cover on the Day of Atonement seven times.
The people marched around Jericho seven times on the seventh day.
God imposed seven times on King Nebuchadnezzar.
Jesus told us to forgive our brother seven times seventy.
There are seven churches in Revelation.
The Lamb in Revelation has seven horns.
There are seven angels that stand before God.
John heard seven thunders.
There are seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls.
There are seven heads on the great red dragon and the composite beast.
There are seven lampstands.

Many other examples in the Bible show that God uses seven to denote fullness and completion, but these should suffice to make the point that seven is God’s perfect number.

Time, Times, and Half a Time is Half of the Story!

Because God often uses the number seven to show completion and fullness, it appears that the phrase “a time, times and half a time” is God’s way of dividing seven years of persecution into two segments. A time (one solar year), times (two solar years), and half a time (half a solar year) totals 3.5 years and 3.5 years is half of seven years. There are two periods of persecution in Daniel and Revelation that last “a time, times, and half a time.” When added together, they produce seven years of persecution. The first 3.5 years of persecution occurred during the Dark Ages. The “time, times, and half a time” mentioned in Daniel 7:25 must be translated into 1,260 years because of Rule Four. The second period of 3.5 years will occur during the Great Tribulation.
Because Revelation 12 proves that 1,260 days is equivalent to a time, times, and half a time, the 1,260 days allotted to the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11:3 are equivalent to a time, times and half a time. Daniel 12 confirms this: “The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, ‘It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people [the 144,000] has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.’ ”^[60] Compare Daniel’s prediction with John’s prediction: “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days [a time, times, and half-a-time], clothed in sackcloth. . . . Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.”^[61]

The Bible indicates there are two separate periods of persecution for the saints. Each period will last 3.5 years. (See Figure 11.1.) Currently, we are living between these two time periods. Here are three suggestions why God permits His people to be persecuted for a period of seven times:

First, persecution keeps the church (the body of Christ) pure. Nominal Christians cannot endure persecution. They will either flee or dilute the gospel through compromise. James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”^[62]

Second, persecution matures our faith and love for God and our love for those who also suffer for His sake. Faithless people go around in endless circles whining, murmuring, and complaining, but faithful people live by faith (and do so happily!). Faith-full people anticipate God’s sustaining grace each day and their love and admiration for those who suffer as they suffer produces a bond of fellowship and comradery that words cannot express. Peter wrote, “These [trials and suffering] have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”^[63]

Third, persecution causes God’s children to “hunger and thirst” after the Word of God. No martyr ever went to the stake questioning the reasons for his faith. When a person is threatened with suffering and death because of his determination to uphold God’s Word, the Word of God becomes his bread and water. John wrote, “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained.”^[64]

Summary

Corporately speaking, God’s people are persecuted for a period of “seven times” before they are taken to Heaven. The first 3.5 years (1,260 years) occurred between 538 and 1798. The second 3.5 years (literally 1,260 days) will occur during the Great Tribulation. We are living during the intermission.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.”^[65] To prepare His disciples for the suffering that lay ahead, Jesus gave them the most wonderful gift known to mankind. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”^[66] God gave us the books of Daniel and Revelation because He wants us to know His plans in advance. God permitted His people to be purified for 1,260 years and we anticipate that He will allow His people to be purified again.^[67] However, the woman was not and will not be tested beyond what she can bear.^[68] Make no mistake about this, a numberless multitude will come out of the Great Tribulation because there are millions and millions of honest-hearted people on Earth!

Finally, here is an interesting thought. You may recall that the Bible predicts the wicked will rejoice over the death of the Two Witnesses for 3.5 days. This period of time (which is half of seven days) suggests that there may be another 3.5 days to consider. I am speculating, but if God grants the wicked 3.5 days to celebrate their shameful victory over the death of the Two Witnesses, it seems fair that God would also grant the redeemed 3.5 days to celebrate their victory over the beast and his image. Personally, I like the idea of the numberless multitude rejoicing around God’s throne in Heaven for 3.5 days.^[69] I hope to meet you there!

The Sequence Continues

Revelation 12:15

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

{15} About two hundred fifty years before the 1,260 years^[70] ended, the devil observed the rise and influence of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. The dragon could see that if God’s truth was not stopped, light would triumph over darkness. Being the devil that he is, he attempted to destroy advancing truth with a tsunami of persecution.

John saw the devil’s endeavor to destroy the woman as a dragon spewing a great flood of water out of his mouth.^[71] This caricature is full of irony because people in John’s day believed that dragons spewed fire, not water, from their mouths. This unusual illustration indicates that God would not allow the devil to completely stop the Protestant reformation. The devil tried to sweep the woman away in a torrent of persecution that culminated with the French Revolution (1789-1799), but try as he might, the devil could not destroy the woman.

Revelation 12:16

And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

{16} God opened up a place on Earth for the battered woman. The Earth swallowed up the river that the dragon spewed out of his mouth.

Twenty-two years before the papacy fell, God established a new nation in a largely uninhabited part of the world. God led the founding fathers of this new nation to create a constitution that separated the powers of church from the powers of the state. This new nation was built on principles of religious liberty and the equality of human beings (although it would take about a century after becoming a nation to end slavery and give equal rights to women). Geographically speaking, the earth helped the Protestant Reformation by offering the woman a place where she might flee and worship God according to the dictates of conscience. The poor, the tired, the homeless, and those persecuted for their faith found civil and religious freedom in the United States of America.

Dragon Prepares for War on the Remnant of the Woman

Revelation 12:17

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

{17} When the dragon saw the outcome of the French Revolution and the downfall of the Catholic Church in 1798, he knew the Ancient of Days had issued a restraining order against him.^[72] The devil was forced to cease and desist in his war against the woman, but this is not the end of the story. He retreated from his assault on the woman to lay plans for his final war against the last of her offspring, those who love and obey the Ten Commandments and live by faith according to the testimony of Jesus, which His 144,000 prophets will speak.

The devil understands the story contained in the book of Revelation. Like us, he knows the outcome. For centuries, He has known that during “the appointed time of the end,” God will permit him to make one final war against the remnant of the woman for 42 months. He knows that he and his demons will be permitted to physically appear during the fifth trumpet. He also knows that God will allow him to establish a counterfeit theocracy during the sixth trumpet. Knowing these facts in advance, the devil has laid careful plans to utterly destroy the remnant of the woman. Keep in mind, that even though the devil and his angels understand that they will be destroyed in hell at the end of the thousand years, their hatred for the Father and the Lamb knows no bounds. Hatred motivates them to do whatever they can to ruin God’s endeavors to save mankind from sin. Lucifer and his demons are relentless predators. They were at Calvary and witnessed the love that Jesus has for sinners. They are full of hatred and they plan to do everything possible to lead people away from Christ and His salvation so that as many people as possible will be destroyed. Lucifer and his demons are insatiable predators who are without love or sympathy. Lucifer and his demons are like beasts that have rabies. They are mad; there is no reasoning.

Lucifer’s behavior will be studied throughout eternity. His life is sin personified and this explains why God has permitted the devil to live for several thousand years after his initial rebellion. God wants everyone to see the gruesome power and consequences of sin. Lucifer’s life and actions mirror the actions of any sinner and given enough time and power every sinner would follow in Lucifer’s footsteps. The drama that unfolds on Earth during the Great Tribulation will prove this fact. The sinful nature is everything that the sinless nature is not. When the sinful nature is opposed or its demands are denied, hatred and resentment erupt. This inevitable process explains why sin and sinners must be eliminated from the universe. Hatred and loathing produces a predator. Hatred often leads to murder.^[73] A sinless nature is not capable of hatred or predatory violence. Individuals with a sanctified nature understand good and evil and they are capable of carrying out the demands of justice, but they have no hatred, meanness, or maliciousness within their hearts.

As previously stated, the Father restrained the devil from making war on the woman in 1798. For more than two hundred years, the devil has been preparing for his final assault on the remnant of the woman. The devil is extremely intelligent and he understands sinful nature very well. Knowing that he would be permitted to make war on the last of the saints, the devil and his demons have conducted four clever campaigns over the past two centuries that will come to fruition during the Great Tribulation. These campaigns are Bible illiteracy, sexual misconduct, love for power, money, pleasure, and materialism, and the use of addictive substances. The devil and his demons have been operating in stealth mode, dumbing down each generation by removing the importance of God and His Word from society. Today, the world is full of people who do not know God or His will (Bible illiteracy). The devil has glamorized sex, money, power, pleasure, and materialism. Consequently, billions of people are sexually immoral. They lie, cheat, and steal without concern. We live in a world where people are lovers of money and pleasure and even more, billions are hopelessly trapped in an addiction of some kind. If you step back and study the path to degeneration over the past two hundred years, it becomes obvious that Lucifer’s four campaigns have been very successful.

Why Does God Permit Suffering?

Many Christians believe that it is inconsistent to say that a God of love will permit His saints to be tortured and killed during the Great Tribulation. However, a quick review of Scripture and church history reveals that God does permit His saints to be tortured and killed, even His own Son! We know that God permitted the little horn to chase the woman into the desert for 1,260 years and we know that He will permit the remnant of the woman to be persecuted during the Great Tribulation!^[74] Thankfully, no matter how grievous the situation may be, God always gives sufficient grace and peace to His children. He will never abandon them under any circumstances.

We may not want to admit it, but persecution benefits God’s people in several ways. Persecution enables the saints to see and depend on God’s gracious providence (which is obscured during prosperity). Persecution causes the saints to exalt the value and importance of God’s Word (which is neglected during prosperity). Persecution requires the saints to be vigilant, constantly sorting through Lucifer’s efforts to make wrong appear right (which is not detected during prosperity). Finally, suffering brings the saints into close communion with Jesus (which is barely negligible during prosperity).^[75] Suffering for Christ’s sake causes a saint to endure each day according to the strength that Jesus gives him each day. Total dependency on God creates perfect peace and happiness! Persecution reveals a God who is intimately acquainted with the needs of each soul. Those who suffer for Christ would not have it any other way. This is so ironic. Nominal Christians are annoyed by persecution while genuine Christians are refined. Genuine Christians realize that in Christ, persecution brings out the best of times, when it is the worst of times, all at the same time.^[76]

The Beast from the Sea

Revelation 13:1

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.

{13:1}
I saw the great red dragon standing on the shore of the sea, waiting for the day to arrive when he could once again, make war upon the remnant of the woman. As I watched, I saw a strange beast come up out of the sea. This beast looked similar to the great red dragon because it had the same seven heads and ten horns, but this beast had different body parts. This beast was a composite beast made up of three predators: A leopard, a bear, and a lion.

John does not attempt to explain how or why this beast appears. It just appears. John’s silence is not a problem because valid rules of interpretation reveal the purpose, origin, and identity of this beast. This beast represents a one-world-government that will form during the first four trumpets. Of course, today such a government is unthinkable, not even possible, but a crisis of apocalyptic proportion is coming upon the whole world and this crisis has no comparison since Noah’s flood. God’s coming judgments will catch the world by complete surprise. When the censer is cast down and the first four trumpets sound, God’s judgments will reduce the whole world and its infrastructures to shambles. Twenty five percent of the world will perish and the ruins of thousands of cities will force world leaders to respond to a new reality. There is an Almighty God and He is very angry with the behavior of all mankind. Rising out of a “sea of humanity,” this composite beast represents mankind’s unified response to God’s wrath. The religious and political leaders of the world will unite out of fear and together they will create this monster-beast as the best possible solution to stop God’s wrath.

The first four trumpets will turn life on Earth upside down. Every nation will be overwhelmed with shock and awe. Political leaders will be filled with panic, and fearing more judgments will soon fall, they will turn to their clergy for a solution to appease God’s wrath. Religious leaders will conclude that given the universal scope of God’s anger, the best possible option will be to form one worldwide authority that can dictate to the nations what is “acceptable and unacceptable behavior” in God’s sight. Because the world is religiously diverse, solutions will be determined on a nation-by-nation basis. The religious leaders of the world will reason that if sinful behavior caused God’s wrath to occur, then corrective behavior should appease God and cause His wrath to cease.

Martial Law Will Terminate Individual Rights

The first four trumpets will devastate the infrastructures of all nations and political leaders will be forced to implement martial law in their respective nations. The constitutional rights of citizens will have to be suspended “until the crisis is over.” Historically, governments have enacted martial law to control chaos. Martial law is a tool that suspends individual rights, concentrates executive power, expedites decisions, and implements whatever laws are thought to be necessary to preserve government. Anarchy erupts (gangs rule) when there is no government and martial law is often justified as a necessity to maintain some semblance of order. The composite beast will not dissolve the governments of the world, instead, each nation will implement martial law and the leaders of each nation will submit to the dictates of the composite beast. Throughout the world, political leaders and civil authorities in each nation will carry out the beast’s demands. Survivors will be very motivated to appease Almighty God so that His judgments will stop.

Man will create the composite beast (the global crisis authority overseeing man’s attempt to appease God). The political and religious leaders of the world will have good intentions, but unwittingly, the composite beast will quickly become a tool of the devil. The Bible says that Lucifer will give the composite beast its extraordinary power, throne, and great authority. The behavior and power of the composite beast will be stunning. Working through carnal-minded political and religious leaders (who are more concerned with expediency than morality), Lucifer will insert his hand into this puppet government so that he can use it to persecute and destroy the remnant of the woman.

When it comes to controlling conduct that is offensive to God, the only tool which religious and political leaders have is legislation. After observing the overwhelming destruction caused by the first four trumpets, the religious and political leaders will reason that God’s judgments might end if everyone repents and ceases behavior that offends God. Therefore, the composite beast will create “sin-less” laws which political leaders (wielding martial law) will implement and enforce. Civil authorities in every nation will arrest and impose severe penalties on anyone who breaks the laws of the composite beast. The composite beast will gain control of the world without firing a single bullet because the civil powers of Earth will humbly submit (out of fear for God’s wrath) to the demands of the world’s religious leaders hoping to end God’s judgments. Incidently, the book of Revelation calls the composite beast Babylon (which means confusion) because Babylon’s laws will create an enormous amount of confusion, hostility, and persecution.

{13:1 – Continued} The composite beast had ten horns and seven heads. Each of the seven heads had a blasphemous name written on it and there were ten crowns on the ten horns.

For reasons presented in our study on Revelation 17,^[77] the seven heads on the composite beast represent the seven religious systems of the world: Atheism, Heathenism, Judaism, Eastern Mysticism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism.^[78] The blasphemous name associated with each head indicates that each head (each religious system) is anti-Christ. This means that each religious system is opposed to the sovereign authority and demands of Jesus Christ. This opposition will be demonstrated during the 1,260 days allotted to the Two Witnesses. The 144,000 will proclaim the gospel of Jesus (the demands of Jesus Christ) and each religious system on Earth will oppose it. The problem is that each head of Babylon claims to know God and speak His truth, but the seven religions of the world are in fact, an insult to Almighty God. They do not know Him, speak for Him, obey Him, or represent His interests. In fact, if the seven religious systems of the world knew Jesus and had some understanding of the Bible, they would listen to His servants, the 144,000. The seven religious systems of the world will fiercely oppose the efforts and testimony of the 144,000 and they will also persecute those who embrace and obey the gospel of Jesus.

You may recall in Revelation 12:3 that seven diadems (crowns of authority) rested on the seven heads, but in this prophecy the diadems rest on the ten horns. This transition means there is a change in persecuting authority. For 1,260 years, religious authorities persecuted the woman. During the Great Tribulation, civil authorities will persecute the remnant of the woman. Babylon will operate as a church state. The seven heads represent the church side of Babylon and the ten horns represent the state side of Babylon. When Babylon is created, the composite beast will function as a global church state. The religious leaders of Babylon will make demands and the civil authorities in each nation will carry them out.

Revelation 13:2

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.

{2} I noticed that the body of the composite beast resembled a leopard, but it had feet and claws like a bear and a mouth like a lion. I also saw that the source of Babylon’s awesome power was Lucifer. The devil gave this government beast its power, its throne, and great authority. The power within this puppet beast was “supernatural.”

This beast from the sea is called a ‘composite beast’ because it has features borrowed from three awesome predators. This combination of features exposes the predatory nature of Babylon. The composite beast will be swift like a leopard, ferocious like a bear and deadly like a lion. Currently, the world does not anticipate the first four trumpets or the creation of the composite beast. Millions of Christians are totally unaware of what the Bible predicts. They have no idea that the devil has been preparing for more than two hundred years to ambush everyone who follows Jesus. Lucifer is crouched like a lion, waiting to pounce on the remnant of the woman with the ferocity of a grizzly bear and no one can outrun a leopard. When millions of Christians are forced by circumstances to admit that there will not be a pretribulation rapture, when millions of other Christians are forced to admit that the seven trumpets were not fulfilled in past history, a devastating tsunami of bitterness will flood through Christianity and wash many away.

Revelation 13:3

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.

{3} One of the seven heads seemed to have had a fatal wound, but when the composite beast rose from the sea, the fatal wound had been healed (notice the past-perfect tense). Because the first four trumpets had destroyed much of the world and its population, the survivors sought to appease God’s wrath by following the instructions of the composite beast.

The seven heads on the composite beast represent the seven religious systems of the world: Atheism, Heathenism, Judaism, Islam, Eastern Mysticism, Catholicism, and Protestantism. In terms of political clout and religious prowess, the Roman Catholic Church (having approximately one billion members and one leader) is the preeminent religion of the world. The Roman Catholic Church today has diplomatic relations with heads of state in 179 nations. History and Bible prophecy indicate the sixth head^[79] of the composite beast (the Roman Catholic Church) received a fatal wound in 1798, but the Bible also indicates the fatal wound will be healed when Babylon forms. The healing of the wounded head points forward to a time when a pope will be restored to a position that has persecuting power. In fact, the pope will lead a coalition of religious leaders into persecuting the remnant of the woman.

During the first four trumpets, the religious leaders of the world will unite in an effort to appease God’s wrath. They will create a global authority (Babylon) that will be responsible for “helping” the nations of the world appease God. World leaders will select the pope to oversee this authority. This does not mean that the pope will be able to impose Catholic beliefs on non-Catholics (approximately 85% of the world is non-Catholic). Instead, the pope will be appointed to lead a coalition of religious leaders in a united endeavor to appease God on a nation by nation basis so that His wrath will cease. At first, almost everyone will accept the pope as the leader because they realize that something must be done quickly. Millions of people will be traumatized and religiously disoriented (humbled and confused) by the evidences of God’s wrath. The Catholic Church has an existing network already established among the nations, so the pope will be the obvious choice to lead Babylon, but he will not serve alone. Religious and political leaders of the world will also serve on Babylon’s board of directors and this unity will enable Babylon to move quickly, as the leopard portion of this composite beast reminds us.

Revelation 13:4

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?

{4} People worshiped the devil when they obeyed the laws of Babylon without realizing at first, that they were actually worshiping the devil. Out of fear for God, most people cooperated with the demands of Babylon, the composite beast. No one wanted to do anything that might further offend Almighty God.

This verse teaches a profound truth: A person worships the devil when he knowingly obeys a law that has a requirement contrary to the law of God. The composite beast (Babylon) will create many laws regarding worship and moral conduct. Civil authorities will implement these laws as though they were the will of God, when actually, these laws will be the handiwork of Lucifer. Any law regarding worship that stands in conflict with the Ten Commandments, including the fourth commandment, is blasphemy. The religious leaders of Babylon will prove that their religious system is blasphemous (insulting to God) when they make laws that oppose the laws of God. Jesus is man’s Creator and during creation week, He set aside the seventh day as a memorial to Creation by declaring it holy. The 144,000 will faithfully and clearly present God’s demand that everyone rest from their work on the Creator’s seventh day Sabbath. (This topic will be examined in Prophecy 12.)

The 144,000 will inform the world that Babylon’s laws are blasphemous in God’s sight. Furthermore, Babylon’s efforts to appease God’s wrath will have no effect on God’s wrath! Corporate atonement for Earth ended forever when the censer was cast down. The first four trumpets have sounded and the fifth trumpet will occur on time! Life as it was known is over! There will be no further judgments from God until the fifth trumpet sounds.

Of course, the testimony of the 144,000 will inflame and insult the arrogance of Babylon’s leaders. Babylon’s leaders will become furious when the 144,000 explain that Babylon is merely a hand puppet of Lucifer that is designed to destroy the remnant of the woman, those who love Jesus and keep His commandments. The testimony given by the 144,000 will cause a great uproar. Many wicked people will attempt to harm and kill the 144,000, but they cannot be silenced until they have completed their work. Severe penalties will be imposed on anyone who defies the laws of Babylon. God permits this so that faith can be tested. God wants to reveal who will worship as Babylon demands and who will trust in God and do as He requires (live by faith).

Many people will complain to the 144,000, “Why should we resist the laws of Babylon and be punished? We have seen the wrath of God. We know that God is angry with the world’s degenerate behavior. If all of us do not repent and worship God, we will offend Him further and bring more disaster upon ourselves. What difference does it matter if we worship God on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday? As long as we worship God, which day we worship should not matter.” The 144,000 will respond that God’s law has higher authority than any law made by man. Surprisingly, Babylon will maintain that it does not matter which day a person keeps holy and it will then establish a day it wants people to observe as a holy day. However, the fourth commandment clearly indicates that a person cannot honor the Creator and treat His seventh day Sabbath as a secular day.

The Bible identifies the remnant of the woman as those who obey the commandments of God.^[80] Currently, this distinction is not apparent, but this will change when the remnant defy the commandments of men.^[81] Even though most people do not consider the topic of worship to be essential, it will become a topic of heated debate during the Great Tribulation. Worshiping God as He commands will produce a great deal of conflict, persecution and suffering for God’s people. It is ironic that the worship experience of Cain and Abel illustrates this problem. Abel offered the required lamb. Cain ignored God’s command to sacrifice a lamb and he presumptuously offered fruit from his garden. God honored Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s offering. When Cain saw that God had rejected his worship, Cain was insulted and embarrassed. He became jealous of his younger brother, thinking that Abel might take his place as the firstborn of mankind. In a rage of jealousy and hatred, Cain killed Abel. Think very carefully about this point. If we presume to tell God how and when He is to be worshiped, we are like Cain. When we defy God’s authority by telling God how and when we will worship Him, we attempt to supplant God.

Revelation 13:5

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.

{5} Babylon (the composite beast) created many laws which usurped God’s authority.^[82] Babylon insulted the Creator of Heaven and Earth with insults and blasphemies and it exercised authority for forty-two months (42 lunar months times 29.53 days per month equals 1,241 days).

Contrary to what many private interpretations claim, Rule One proves the composite beast does not yet exist even though all of the elements that will make up the beast are present. (A building full of car parts does not mean that a car is in the building.)

Note: Rule One requires the composite beast to rise out of the sea after 1798 because the Bible states that when the composite beast rises from the sea, the deadly wound had been healed (past perfect tense). If the papacy received a deadly wound in 1798, then it stands to reason that the healing of the deadly wound must occur after 1798. Therefore, the composite beast has to appear on Earth after 1798 and we know this has not occurred because a one world crisis government does not yet exist.

The composite beast will be granted power for forty-two months. The forty-two months in verse 5 are not to be confused with 1,260 days granted to the Two Witnesses.

Figure11-2 — 1,260 Days Are Not 42 Months

The Two Witnesses will begin their work on Day 1 of the Great Tribulation and their work will end on the 1,260th day of the Great Tribulation. As I calculate it, the forty-two months given to the composite beast will begin on Day 64 and end on Day 1305 when the fifth bowl begins. Remember, 42 lunar months equals 1,241 days, whereas 1,260 days equals a time, times, and half a time.

Because the world is religiously diverse (having seven religious systems), the leaders of Babylon will have to adjust their demands on a nation by nation basis. In countries where Christians are a majority, Babylon will require worship on Sunday. In countries where Islam is dominant, Babylon will require worship on Friday, and in countries where Judaism is dominant, Babylon will require worship on Saturday. In nations where Atheists and Eastern Mysticism (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) is dominant, a day for worship will be selected and announced as circumstances permit. Babylon will create worldwide confusion over the issue of worship, because its policies will be so diverse. This is ironic when you consider that from man’s point of view, Babylon was created to appease God’s wrath. However, from Lucifer’s larger point of view, Babylon was created to persecute God’s people.

Revelation 13:6

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

{6} As the Great Tribulation progressed, the leadership of Babylon became more bold in their blasphemy. Persecution intensified. When the fifth trumpet occurred, the devil appeared physically and Babylon’s leaders slandered God’s holy name by claiming that God and his angels dwelled among men! They proclaimed, “Let the world and everyone in it worship him!” The saints on Earth and the angels in Heaven abhorred this degrading insult.

Blasphemy occurs whenever man usurps God’s prerogative or authority. God commands everyone to rest from labor on Saturday, the seventh day of the week.^[83] When Babylon forms, it will require the nations to worship God according to the religious majority in each nation. Babylon’s religious leaders will make many declarations about God that are insulting and blasphemous. For a while, it will seem like God’s wrath has stopped and Babylon will take credit for causing God’s wrath to cease. What the leader’s of Babylon do not know is that God does not send devastating judgments during the fourth and fifth trumpets. Babylon will demand that all people worship God or be severely punished. Ironically, when men presume to tell the Creator of the universe when He is to be worshiped, they presume to have God’s authority! Blasphemy is the logical end of the fallen nature. When confronted with the clearest evidences of God’s will, the carnal nature will naturally defy God’s authority. This is why the unpardonable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.^[84] If we deliberately continue to make sinful choices, eventually God will be unable to save us.

Babylon’s blasphemy will continue to escalate because Lucifer is the hand inside the puppet. Babylon’s persecution will be intense, intimidating many Christians. For fear of punishment and lack of food, many Christians will give in to Babylon’s demands and refuse to put their faith in Jesus. The remnant of the woman will be imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and many saints will be put to death. Like the Pharisees and Sadducees in Christ’s time, religious leaders will angrily reject the testimony of Jesus, faithfully spoken through the lips of the 144,000.

Revelation 13:7

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

{7} Babylon made war against the remnant of the woman for forty-two (lunar) months. By the end of the forty-two months, it appeared as though the saints had been eliminated from Earth. The power of the holy people (the 144,000) was broken.^[85]

During the Great Tribulation, God will speak forcibly and clearly through His servants, the 144,000. In addition to this, the Holy Spirit will be poured out on all flesh^[86] so that everyone will be stirred to hear and thoughtfully consider the testimony of the 144,000.^[87] The gospel presented by the 144,000 cannot be defeated because Jesus Himself will speak through their lips. Most, if not all of the 144,000 will be killed on or before the 1,260th day of the Great Tribulation^[88] and Babylon will exercise authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation on Earth (including the United States). God’s sheep (the honest in heart) will hear Jesus’ voice^[89] and they will embrace and obey His two laws of love.^[90] It is interesting to note that in God’s sight, the difference between sheep and goats is the direction of love. Sheep love outwardly, goats love inwardly.

Revelation 13:8

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

{8} All inhabitants of Earth will worship and obey the laws of the composite beast (Babylon); all whose names have not been written in The Book of Life that was written before the creation of the world. The Book of Life is the book sealed with seven seals and is the book belonging to the Lamb that was slain.^[91]

The second word in verse 8 speaks volumes. With the exception of the saints, the whole world will worship and obey Babylon’s laws. Lucifer brings this specification to fulfillment during the fifth and sixth trumpets. John defines the wicked in verse 8 in an interesting way. He describes them as “all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life that was written before the creation of the world.” This phrase is used for good reason. The Father, having perfect foreknowledge, foreknew the names of those who would rebel against His kindness and grace, but everything possible was done to save each person. Jesus will send out the 144,000 so that God’s will might be clearly set before all mankind. Jesus will pour out the Holy Spirit on every person so that everyone will intelligently and thoughtfully consider God’s will. Jesus has leveled the playing field by offering salvation to everyone who puts their faith in Him and obeys the eternal gospel. Even though the Father foreknew the choices that everyone would make, He has done everything possible to save all mankind.

In a sense, Jesus was slain from the creation of the world, because before Adam and Eve were created, a plan for redemption existed. Jesus volunteered to die in their place the day they sinned.^[92] Of course, Jesus did not actually die until 4,000 years later, but when Jesus promised to die, His promise was as good as done because God always fulfills His promises!^[93]

Jesus will permit the composite beast to rule over the world (Babylon – Phase I) until the sixth trumpet occurs and then Jesus will allow Lucifer to overtake the world and reign as king of kings and lord of lords (Babylon – Phase II). Prior to the sixth trumpet, millions of saints will support the ministry of the 144,000. Their love for one another, and their testimony and loyalty to Jesus will impress many of the wicked to repent and be saved. Consequently, the saints will nurture millions of new converts who put their faith in Jesus. Prior to the fifth trumpet, the number of people sealed will increase daily. When the gospel fails to transform additional people, the fifth trumpet will sound. When the devil and his angels arrive, they will eliminate most of the non-religious wicked through torture. Then, during the sixth trumpet (Babylon – Phase II), Jesus will bestow a martyr’s faith on millions of His saints so that they can be sacrificed as martyrs. (This is the fifth seal). Jesus needs sacrificial martyrs because there is no greater testimony that a person can give than that of a martyr who willingly lays down his life for what is true. Jesus will permit many Christians to die during the sixth trumpet in an attempt to convert those few souls in Babylon who are still open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. If the Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to redeem one sinner, it is easy to see why Jesus would be willing to sacrifice a few million people to save a dozen sinners. The value of one sinner in God’s sight can only be measured by the enormous price He was willing to pay for our redemption.

Do we really need to understand this prophecy at the present time? Jesus said to His disciples, “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.”^[94] Jesus knows the value of foreknowledge. By giving His followers a schematic of His plans and purposes, they will not go astray. They will not be discouraged or caught off guard when this crisis occurs. Paul knew that many Christians would not want to hear from God’s Word. He warned Timothy, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”^[95]

Revelation 13:9

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

{9} If a person has an ear for the things of God, the Holy Spirit will make sure that he hears and understands this prophecy.
Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. . .”^[96]

Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”^[97]

Revelation 13:10

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

{10} Jesus knows who will go into captivity and who will die. (See NIV translation.) Therefore, He says, “Do not worry about the future or your personal situation. I will never leave you or forsake you.” We need to learn all that we can from God’s Word. We need to practice standing firm for what is right and true each day by allowing Jesus to take care of the consequences. This is the essence of living by faith. Trust in God! Be assured that when Jesus requires the death of a saint, He will bestow a martyr’s faith on that saint. The words, grace, and courage needed for the moment will be provided and on top of this, that saint will receive eternal life. So, even though these matters may be unsettling, we need to know and understand God’s plans and purposes without worrying about tomorrow. If we abide in Jesus, we can do everything He commands. A great reward awaits the faithful, those who patiently endure to the end or their end.

The Beast from the Abyss

Revelation 13:11

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.

{11} At the beginning of the fifth trumpet, the 891st day of the Great Tribulation, I saw another scene. I saw a beast come up from the Abyss,^[98] out of a hole in the Earth. This beast looked very similar to the Lamb that had been slain in Revelation 5, but it had only two horns instead of seven.^[99] Even though this beast looked like the Lamb, it spoke like the dragon.

The “lamb-like” beast is the great red dragon wearing sheep’s clothing. Lucifer will personate Jesus. Lucifer will appear on Earth about two years after the composite beast appears. The devil and his angels will be released from the Abyss at the fifth trumpet. Meanwhile, the 144,000 will deliver a third message (discussed in detail in Prophecy 12) warning everyone to have nothing to do with this beast for his appearing is the greatest deception ever created.^[100] Because the saints understand Bible prophecy, they will anticipate the arrival of this deception and they will not even go out to see Lucifer and his angels when he arrives at their locale.^[101]

The devil knows that “seeing is believing,” and in his situation, this phrase will be particularly true. During the five months of the fifth trumpet, Lucifer and his angels will travel the world nonstop from one heavily populated area to another. Wherever he goes, millions of people will go out to see him. He will claim to be God. He will claim that he sent the first four trumpet judgments upon Earth because of man’s degenerate and decadent behavior. His brilliant glory and awesome powers will appear to back up his blasphemous assertions. Physically, he will be larger than life. He will be a glorious being surrounded by thousands of dazzling angels (demons in disguise). Every day, the devil will put on a great show of signs and wonders to bedazzle his spectators. He will speak kind words and heal the sick. He will even appear to raise some dead people from their graves! His demeanor will seem genuine and generous. He will show sympathy for the suffering of mankind. He will miraculously feed millions who have been impacted by the severity of the famine in the land.^[102] When people consider this glorious being with all his generous actions, billions of people will easily accept his claims of divinity.

Revelation 13:12

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.

{12} To make this deception all encompassing, Jesus gave the lamblike beast greater miracle working powers than He had given to the 144,000. To obtain loyal support from Babylon’s leaders, the devil performed an assortment of miracles on their behalf. When he appeared in different world locations, he honored the leaders of Babylon by telling the people that they must obey (worship) God as Babylon’s leaders dictate. This flattery, of course, made the leaders of Babylon very happy to think that God himself would endorse their legislative efforts to appease His wrath!

God empowers Lucifer (the man of lawlessness) to come as “a strong delusion” because the wicked refused to believe the truth and be saved. “The coming of the lawless one will [appear to be the work of God, but it will] be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They [those refusing the eternal gospel must] perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”^[103]

Revelation 13:13

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

{13} At various times and in different places, the devil called fire down from Heaven in full view of men. This miracle was his most overpowering deception and the devil reminded everyone that even in Elijah’s day, only the true God could send down fire from Heaven.^[104]

Day 1,039 – Everything Changes

Revelation 13:14

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.

{14} The devil’s miracle working powers eclipsed and silenced the miracles performed by the 144,000. As a result, millions of wicked people were deceived. They embraced Lucifer, believing that God Himself had come to Earth to dwell among men. The wicked were ensnared by what they saw. Of course, the wicked did not realize that Jesus permitted the devil to put on this show of deception because they refused to love the truth and be saved.^[105] Since the wicked had refused to believe the truth and be saved, they would be compelled to believe a lie and be condemned.

For five months the lamblike beast will produce miracles on behalf of Babylon’s leadership. The devil will quickly subdue nonreligious people and gain the confidence, allegiance, and adoration of most of the world, but on day 1,039 of the Great Tribulation, everything will change. The sixth trumpet will sound in Heaven’s temple and the angel standing at Heaven’s Altar of Incense will say, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”^[106] When these words are spoken, the devil and his demons will abruptly change character. This phrase sets the devil free to forcibly take control of the world.^[107] During the fifth trumpet, the devil will not be allowed to kill anyone. When the sixth trumpet sounds, the devil’s “benevolent” character will immediately change and he will be permitted to kill one-third of mankind. Suddenly, he will begin speaking as a dictator, for without a doubt, the great red dragon is a narcissistic dictator. He will immediately dissolve the religions of the world because when “God” dwells among men there is no room for religious diversity. There will be one lord, one faith, and one baptism for everyone on Earth. The devil will also move to dissolve the governments of the world because as “God,” he owns the whole world. He will distribute the land to his wealthy followers.^[108] He will appoint ten puppet-kings to rule under him. Their purpose will be to oversee the day to day administration of an evil and brutal theocracy.^[109]

By dissolving the religions and governments of the world, the devil effectively consolidates Babylon into a one world church state. He will declare that Phase I was necessary because of man’s diversity, but now that “God (referring to himself) lives among men,” there has to be one faith, one lord, and one baptism. He will tell the world that he has come to establish a thousand years of peace on Earth. Therefore, the religious and political diversity of the world has to be eliminated. There must be one government and one religious body and no one other than God himself can rule as king of kings and lord of lords.

Because God’s Sabbath day will be an inflammatory issue, it seems likely that the devil will change the weekly cycle from seven days to ten days to insult the Creator and His Sabbath rest. By establishing a day for worship which the whole world will accept as a holy day,^[110] the devil will expose those who rest from working on the seventh day If the devil makes this transition, his action would end the argument that it does not matter which day a person sets aside to worship God.

Revelation 13:15-16

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. 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:

{15} After the sixth trumpet sounded, everyone refusing to worship Lucifer and obey the laws of his counterfeit theocracy was killed (if captured).
{16} Everyone wishing to survive, including the small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, received a mark, a tattoo (Greek: charagma means an etching) on his right hand or on his forehead.^[111]

It is likely that to manage the logistical needs of Earth’s population, the lamblike beast will command the people of Earth to be divided into groups of one thousand.^[112] One person from each group will be chosen to serve as the captain of the group. Each captain will be told that the first 666 people to receive a tattoo on their right hand showing the number “666” can live, while all others must be put to death. This gruesome tactic will work very well. It will quickly eliminate those in opposition or hesitant to go along with Lucifer’s counterfeit theocracy.^[113]

Revelation 13:17

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.

{17} No one was permitted to buy or sell (that is, able to survive) unless he had the tattoo. The captains of each group also received an additional tattoo on their foreheads. This tattoo showed their high rank in Lucifer’s government and the tattoo was the name by which Lucifer was called.^[114]

Many people overlook the fact that the mark of the beast is more than a number tattooed on the right hand. This mark of the beast actually includes the name of the beast, that is, the name that Lucifer will be called. Lucifer’s name will be tattooed on the foreheads of his captains so that everyone can tell from a distance that one of Lucifer’s captains is approaching or present. Lucifer will have their foreheads tattooed to mock Jesus because after the 144,000 are taken to Heaven, they will wear the name of the Father and the Lamb on their foreheads (signifying their exalted rank).^[115] Of course, the name of the Father and the Son will not be an ugly defacing patch of ink. Instead, I believe the names of the Father and Son will have an eternal electro-luminescent glow, a beautiful insignia of light that never fades.

Revelation 13:18

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.

{18} Understanding how the mark of the beast becomes the number 666 is a simple calculation for those who are perceptive.

After a captain is selected from each group of a thousand, this leaves 999 people in each group. After one-third of the group is killed, this leaves 666 survivors in each group.^[116] The tattoo showing “666” on the right hand will serve as a non-transferrable passport (physical evidence) showing that the wearer is loyal to the devil’s counterfeit theocracy and that he is eligible to buy or sell rations, the necessities required to remain alive. A simple tattoo will be a very efficient identification method because it does not require accounting, electricity, computers, or paper work. Those who wear the tattoo on their right hand will belong to the devil. They defied the gospel of Jesus. They rejected the clearest evidences of God’s will and they blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Receiving the tattoo means they committed the unpardonable sin. Therefore, they become Satan’s servants. They prostituted their souls to the devil for the sake of survival. Conversely, God’s people will be totally shut off from all earthly support, but Jesus will not abandon His children. He will provide for them because, “The just shall live by faith.”^[117]

Jesus loves children and also those who are not mentally capable of making these kinds of choices. In His sight, a person is not considered guilty of blasphemy or defiance when he is not qualified to make an intelligent and informed decision to do so. Jesus paid the price for sinners long ago, so do not worry about minors or those who are not capable of making the decisions that are forthcoming. Jesus understands their situation, and long ago He generously provided atonement for them.”^[118]

After Lucifer destroys a third of mankind and the 144,000, open opposition to his demands will no longer exist. This will prove to be a mixed blessing because the wicked will then turn to Lucifer to fulfill his promises. They will expect him to use his miracle working powers to create a new Heaven and a new Earth as he so often promised. The wicked will not anticipate the seven bowls that God is about to pour upon them on the 1,265th day. Early on the morning of the 1,265th day, the 144,000 will be resurrected.^[119] The people who murdered the 144,000 will see their victims come to life right before their eyes. They will hear a voice say to the 144,000, “Come up here,” and the 144,000 will ascend to Heaven. Fear and uneasiness will overtake the wicked. They will begin asking, “If God is here on Earth, who called the 144,000 to Heaven? Is this a divine vindication of the 144,000 and their testimony?” Then, the seventh trumpet will sound.

Revelation 14:1

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

{14:1} I looked into Heaven and saw the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb. Everyone was filled with inexpressible happiness. I saw Jesus welcoming the 144,000 with open arms. The 144,000 had the names of Jesus and of the Father written on their foreheads.

John saw the 144,000 standing on “Mount Zion” with the Lamb. I believe this scene takes place on the 1,265th day of the Great Tribulation and it underscores a very interesting point. When the 144,000 reach Heaven they will stand on Mount Zion with Jesus. Contrary to what millions of Christians believe, Mount Zion on Earth is no longer important to God! In fact, Mount Zion on Earth is insignificant since He abandoned Plan A. God has created a new Mount Zion to accommodate a new Jerusalem!

Mount Zion (also called Mount Moriah) is significant because God directed Abraham to Mount Zion to offer up his son, Isaac. God sent Abraham to a specific spot on Mount Moriah because it was God’s plan that Jesus would be offered as the sacrificial lamb on the same spot where Abraham’s faith had been tested, but this did not occur. Jesus died among two criminals outside the city of Jerusalem.

When the Israelites were in Egypt building pyramids for Pharaoh, the Jebusites were building a fortress on top of Mount Zion. Centuries after the Exodus, David captured the fortress that was sitting on top of Zion.^[120] After David began reigning from the city, he changed the name from Jebus to Jerusalem.^[121] Through the years, Mount Moriah, Mount Zion, Jebus, the City of David, and Jerusalem are names given to the same geographical place. The city has several names because each name says something unique about this special place on Earth.

After David died, God directed Solomon to build His temple over the very spot where Abraham had offered up Isaac.^[122] At the dedication of the temple, God’s presence filled the temple and Jerusalem became the seventh and final city of refuge.^[123] Under Plan A, God intended that Jerusalem would endure forever.^[124] However, when Jesus came to Earth, He found Jerusalem to be a city of apostasy and blasphemy. Jesus did not die on the Altar of Burnt Offering as originally planned.^[125] Jesus did not die where Abraham offered up Isaac. Plan A was abandoned because of Israel’s apostacy and according to the terms of His covenant with Israel,^[126] God sent the Romans to utterly destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Centuries later, God eliminated any possibility that the Jews would build another temple on Mount Moriah by allowing Moslems to build a mosque (The Dome of the Rock) there.

When Israel failed to receive Messiah, God did not give up on humanity. Instead, Jesus implemented Plan B which is based on a New Covenant.^[127] Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus returned to Heaven to prepare a new city of refuge there. This city is called new Jerusalem because it will replace the original Jerusalem. A new Jerusalem became necessary because God had made a promise to Abraham.^[128] God told Abraham that He would someday build a new city and Abraham and his descendants would live there forever. This promise explains why the patriarch looked forward “to a city whose builder and maker is God.”^[129] The significance of the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion in Heaven is a picture worth ten thousand words. They are victorious over Babylon and the great red dragon. Their presence on Mount Zion in Heaven validates the certainty of Plan B. There is redemption and refuge on Mount Zion! God’s promise to Abraham will be fulfilled and together with his descendants and the 144,000, they will worship the Father and the Lamb in the eighth city of refuge. New Jerusalem is a reality and it will endure forever! Nothing impure or that defiles^[130] will enter this city and its High Priest will be Jesus Christ Himself.^[131]

John also saw another interesting feature about the 144,000. He saw the 144,000 wearing the names of the Father and Jesus on their foreheads. I am sure the effect will be radiant and very beautiful; very different from the ugly tattoo which the devil will place on the foreheads of his servants. I believe the names of Jesus and the Father will be highly visible throughout eternity, because the 144,000 will serve as administrative assistants to Jesus. They will make up His personal entourage and follow Him wherever He goes. The honor that will rest upon these people is the highest that God can bestow. Everyone will recognize Christ’s personal assistants from a distance by looking upon their lovely faces. No one else in the universe will wear anything like the names of the Father and Jesus on their foreheads.

Revelation 14:2-3

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 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.

{2} Then I heard a sound from Heaven like rushing waters and roaring like loud peals of thunder. I continued to listen and the awesome sound I heard was like harpists playing a song on their harps.
{3} The 144,000 sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. This was an amazing event. A brand new, unheard song was perfectly performed before Jesus and the Father! I looked around Heaven and everyone other than the 144,000 was silent. No one could sing the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from Earth.

The 144,000 will sing a new song when they get to Heaven. It will be a song of experience and faithful endurance and no one else in Heaven can sing this exact song. In Heaven, a song is a unique testimony describing a personal experience that tells of trouble, perplexity, suffering, and victory through God’s sustaining power and His infinite love. Only those who have endured that experience can sing a song that has never been heard!

Revelation 14:4-5

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. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

{4} The 144,000 are God’s priests forever. They will accompany the Lamb wherever He goes, for they were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.^[132] The 144,000 are men and women who came out of the Great Tribulation.^[133] They will come from every nation, tongue, and people and special honor was given to them because of their faithful service and endurance.
{5} Most, if not all of the 144,000 will die as martyrs because they spoke the words given to them without regard for personal consequences. In God’s sight, they are blameless. They stood firmly for God’s truth and they proclaimed everything that He wanted the wicked to hear.

When we see their service, faithfulness, and courage, when we see the abuse they will suffer for Christ’s sake, when we observe their rejection, sorrows, and the endurance required, we too, will appreciate and honor their faithful and determined efforts to carry the eternal gospel to every nation.^[134]

The Rules of Interpretation

Consider how the Rules of Interpretation (discussed in the Introduction of this book) are observed in this prophecy:

Rule One says an apocalyptic prophecy has a beginning point and ending point in time and the events within the prophecy occur in the order given. This prophecy begins with war in Heaven on Resurrection Sunday and it ends with the 144,000 rejoicing with Jesus on Mount Zion (Day 1,265 of the Great Tribulation). Notice the chronological order in Prophecy 11:

1. Revelation 12:7-12 (A.D. 30)

There was war in Heaven on Resurrection Sunday. Lucifer and his angels were cast out of Heaven a second, final time.

2. Revelation 12:13-14 (A.D. 538-1798)

The dragon chased the woman to the desert for 1,260 years (a time, times and half a time). According to Rule Four, this time period must be translated using a day for a year because the Jubilee Calendar is in operation.

3. Revelation 12:15,16 (1798 to the present)

The Earth helped the woman. God provided a safe place (the United States of America) where she could escape religious persecution.

4. Revelation 12:17 (1798 to the present)

When the 1,260 years ended, the devil went off to make plans for war on the remnant of the woman. This assault will occur during the Great Tribulation.

5. Revelation 13:1 (future)

When God’s wrath reduces the world to ruins (the first four trumpets), a composite beast having seven heads and ten horns will rise. This beast will be a global government. Religious and political leaders will create this government to appease God so that His wrath will cease. The seven heads represent the seven religious systems of the world.^[135] The head on the beast that was wounded in 1798 is the Roman Catholic Church. When the composite beast (also called Babylon) forms, the pope will be selected as its leader. This is how the head that received the deadly wound in 1798 will become completely healed.

6. Revelation 13:2-6 (future)

Babylon (the composite beast) will become a hand puppet of the devil. The devil will use Babylon to persecute the remnant of the woman for forty-two lunar months. Rule Four requires that this time period not be translated because the Jubilee Calendar is not in operation. Therefore, forty-two lunar months in Revelation 13:5 represent 1241 literal days (42 x 29.53 = 1240.26 days).

7. Revelation 13:7-10 (future)

God’s people will be conquered and defeated. Most of them will be killed or put in prison and all inhabitants of the Earth will obey the laws of Babylon, all that is, except the saints.

8. Revelation 13:11-18 (future)

About two years after the composite beast is created, the devil and his angels will be released from the Abyss to physically appear before the people of Earth during the fifth trumpet. (See Revelation 9:1-11.) Lucifer is the “lamblike” beast in Revelation 13:11 that comes up out of the Earth. During the sixth trumpet, the devil’s forces will kill a third of mankind (most, if not all of the 144,000 will be killed). The lamblike beast will set up a worldwide counterfeit theocracy (the image to the composite beast) and implement his mark, a tattoo showing the number, 666.

9. Revelation 14:1-5 (future)

Jesus will resurrect the 144,000 at the seventh trumpet and take them to Heaven on the 1,265th day of the Great Tribulation. They will be presented to God as the first fruits of the coming harvest.

Rule Two says a fulfillment only occurs when all of the specifications are met, and this includes the order stated in the prophecy. Because some of the elements in this prophecy are in the future, we can say that this prophecy has not been fulfilled even though certain elements have been fulfilled in the past.

For example, the dragon chased the woman to the wilderness for 1,260 years (538-1798). This has been fulfilled. However, the dragon’s efforts to destroy the remnant of the woman during the Great Tribulation will last forty-two months. This has not been fulfilled.

Rule Three says apocalyptic language can be literal, analogous, or symbolic. To reach the intended meaning of a prophecy, the reader must consider the context, the use of parallel language in the Bible, and if an element is thought to be symbolic, the Bible must interpret the symbol with a relevant text.

This prophecy uses all three types of language: symbolic, analogous, and literal. Consider these examples: The great red dragon is a symbol representing “that ancient serpent called the devil.”^[136] The Earth literally helped the woman.^[137] Geographically speaking, a new territory on Earth (the United States of America) was discovered to become a place to receive those who had been persecuted for their faith. Analogous language is also used when describing the beast from the sea: “The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear. . . .”^[138]

Rule Four says the presence or absence of the Jubilee Calendar determines how God measures time. The time, times, and half
a time (1,260 days) mentioned in verses 6 and 14 require translation because they occur while the Jubilee Calendar (1437 B.C.-1994) is operating. The 1,260 years mentioned in this prophecy perfectly align with the time, times, and half a time mentioned in Daniel 7:25. However, the forty-two months mentioned in Revelation 13:5 should not be translated because this time period occurs after 1994 (after the Jubilee Calendar expired).^[139]

Avoiding Internal Conflict

There are time periods in Daniel and Revelation where a day should be translated as a year (for example, the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 are translated into 490 years), but there are other time periods where translation is not permitted. Because some time periods in prophecy are translated a day for a year and others are not, a valid rule is required to tell us when time periods should be translated and when they should not.

Faulty rules produce faulty conclusions. There is no valid rule that requires every time period in Daniel and Revelation to be literal or translated as a day for a year. Faulty rules always put the Bible in a position of internal conflict (inconsistency). In other words, the Bible cannot speak for itself when its chronological order is put in conflict with its timing! A valid rule of interpretation cannot have an exception, for if it does, no one but God has the authority to tell the world when an exception is permitted. Moreover, a valid rule will not force the Bible into a position where it cancels something it declares. This point is emphasized because valid rules and valid conclusions are always in harmony with all that God has said.

References:

1. 1. See Revelation 9:1-11; 13:11-18 and 17:8. Compare also with 2 Thessalonians 2. Return
  2. 2 Corinthians 11:14 Return
  3. 1 Kings 6:25 (A cubit is approximately 18 inches.) Return
  4. Daniel 8:25 (Lucifer cannot be killed by human power.) Return
  5. Revelation 18:5,6 Return
  6. Revelation 7:9 occurs before Revelation 8:1. Further, the seventh seal is not broken and The Book of Life opened until the one thousand years have ended. See Revelation 20:12. Return
  7. Revelation 19:2 Return
  8. Revelation 15:2,3 Return
  9. John 16:33 Overcoming the world is defined as overcoming the temptations of the world. “For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16) Like Jesus, the 144,000 will be resurrected and presented as first fruits of a coming harvest. See 1 Corinthians 15:20. Return
  10. Revelation 11:10 Return
  11. 1 Samuel 28 Return
  12. For a discussion on the dating of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, please see pages 185-207 in my book, Daniel: Unlocked for the Final Generation or you can freely download at this LINK. Return
  13. Luke 24:1; Acts 10:40; 13:30-37; Revelation 1:18 Return
  14. Matthew 28:1 Return
  15. Matthew 28:9 Return
  16. John 20:17 Return
  17. Psalm 24:7-10, insertion mine Return
  18. Luke 24:13-34 Return
  19. 1 Corinthians 15:20 Return
  20. Mark 10:32-34 Return
  21. 2 Corinthians 5:21 Return
  22. Matthew 27:46 Return
  23. John 10:18 Return
  24. John 15:13 Return
  25. Leviticus 23:15-17. Return
  26. Psalm 2:8; John 17:6; Hebrews 1:2 Return
  27. Revelation 12:7-9 Return
  28. Luke 24:13-35 Return
  29. Matthew 28:11-15 Return
  30. Matthew 28:18-20 Return
  31. Romans 8:5-8 Return
  32. John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 Return
  33. Job 1:6-12 Return
  34. Daniel 7:13,14 Return
  35. Revelation 19:16 Return
  36. Ezekiel 28:12-15 Return
  37. Hebrews 4:15 Return
  38. Psalm 2:7-9; Acts 13:34; Hebrews 5:5-9 Return
  39. Please see Chapter 2 in my book, Jesus: The Alpha and The Omega or you can freely download the chapter at this LINK. Return
  40. John 12:28-31, italics mine Return
  41. Ezekiel 28:12-17 Return
  42. Luke 10:18 Return
  43. See Prophecy 8. Return
  44. See Prophecy 15. Return
  45. Compare with Zechariah 3:1-7. Return
  46. Ephesians 2:8,9; Galatians 2:15-17; James 2:23, 24 Return
  47. See Appendix A and comments under Revelation 12:14. Return
  48. See Leviticus 25:1-18. Even though weekly cycles of seven years began at the time of the Exodus, Israel did not observe Sabbath years in the desert. Just as Adam and Eve’s first full day was God’s seventh day Sabbath, so Israel’s first full year in Canaan was God’s seventh year Sabbath. For a detailed discussion showing that God began counting Jubilee cycles at the time of the Exodus and not from Israel’s entrance into Canaan, please download this free article at this LINK. Return
  49. There is evidence in the Bible showing that some people understood the proper location of the seventy weeks. See Mark 1:15 and Luke 3:15; 10:11. Return
  50. For a discussion on this topic, please see pages 185-212 in my book, Daniel: Unlocked for the Final Generation or you can freely download this article at this LINK. Return
  51. Genesis 7:24 Return
  52. Genesis 7:11,12 Return
  53. Genesis 8:3,4 Return
  54. Genesis 1:14 For further information about the Sun appearing to travel 360 degrees of arc over the course of a solar year, go to this LINK. Return
  55. Isaiah 16:14 Return
  56. Daniel 4:29-32 Return
  57. Ezekiel 29:18,19 Return
  58. See Appendix A. Return
  59. See Book 1-1 at this LINK. Return
  60. Daniel 12:7, insertion and italics mine Return
  61. Revelation 11:3,7, insertion mine Return
  62. James 1:2-4 Return
  63. 1 Peter 1:7-9, insertion mine Return
  64. Revelation 6:9, italics mine Return
  65. John 15:20,21 Return
  66. John 14:27 Return
  67. Daniel 12:7 Return
  68. 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:8,9; Hebrews 11:17 Return
  69. Revelation 7:9-17 Return
  70. Revelation 12:6 Return
  71. See Hosea 5:10; Isaiah 8:6-8; 59:18,19; Daniel 9:26 Return
  72. Daniel 7:20,21 Return
  73. John 8:44 Return
  74. Revelation 13:5-7 Return
  75. Deuteronomy 8:11-19; 28:63 Return
  76. Philippians 1:20-29; 4:11,12; Hebrews 13:5 Return
  77. See The Angel Explains – Part I. Return
  78. For a discussion on the identity of the seven heads, please see pages 165-177 in my book, A Study on the Seven Trumpets, Two Witnesses and Four Beasts or you can freely download the article at this LINK. Return
  79. Ibid. See also commentary in this book on Revelation 12:14. Return
  80. Revelation 12:17 Return
  81. Mark 7:8,9; Acts 5:29-32 Return
  82. Revelation 17:12 Return
  83. Exodus 20:9-11 Return
  84. Matthew 12:31,32 Return
  85. Daniel 12:7 Return
  86. Joel 2:28-31; Revelation 11:3 Return
  87. Revelation 11:3; 14:11 Return
  88. Revelation 11:7-9 Return
  89. John 10:14-16 Return
  90. Matthew 22:36-40 Return
  91. Revelation 5:6-9 See also pages 38-44 in my book, A Study on the Seven Seals and the 144,000 or you can freely download the article at this LINK. Return
  92. Psalm 2:7-12 Return
  93. Compare Genesis 15:13-18 with Exodus 12:40-42. Return
  94. John 16:1 Return
  95. 2 Timothy 4:3,4 Return
  96. Matthew 6:34 Return
  97. John 16:33 Return
  98. Revelation 9:1-11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1-3 Return
  99. Revelation 5:6 Return
  100. Revelation 14:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Matthew 24:23-27 Return
  101. Matthew 24:26 Return
  102. Revelation 6:8 Return
  103. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 Return
  104. 1 Kings 18 Return
  105. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 Return
  106. Revelation 9:14 Return
  107. For a discussion on this matter, please see pages 55-63 in my book, A Study on the Seven Trumpets, Two Witnesses and Four Beasts or you can freely download the article at this LINK. Return
  108. Daniel 11:39 Return
  109. Revelation 17:12-14 Return
  110. This claim is based on five underlying presuppositions.
    1. The Bible says the devil will not honor one particular religious body. He will oppose all of them. (2 Thessalonians 2:4) Therefore, he would need a universal holy day that does not favor Muslims, Jews, Catholics, or Protestants who worship on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
    2. The Bible teaches the core conflict during the Great Tribulation will be over worship. (Revelation 13:15) Therefore, when Lucifer establishes his one world church state (a counterfeit theocracy), he will have to create a holy day for worship which everyone must observe.
    3. The Bible reveals that God will show the Ark of the Covenant at the close of the seventh trumpet. (Revelation 11:19) One of the underlying reasons for this exposure is God’s fourth commandment. The fourth commandment establishes a week of seven days, with the seventh day of the week (Saturday) being God’s holy Sabbath. A weekly cycle of ten days with a different holy day will clearly stand in opposition to the higher law of God. Thus, the condemnation resting upon the wicked will be clear cut and inescapable.
    4. If the devil changes the weekly cycle to ten days, those worshiping on God’s seventh day will be easily detected because God’s true Sabbath will land on different “work days.” In fact, there would be several ten day weeks that would have two, seventh day Sabbaths in them! Thus, a ten day week will flush out the remnant of the woman; those who love and obey God’s fourth commandment.
    5. The seven last plagues are seventy days in length; this could mean that ten days are allotted to each plague. God’s clocks are based on the number seven. (Seven days per week, seven months in the religious year, seven years in a week of years and seven weeks of years in a Jubilee cycle and seventy weeks in one “Great Day.”) On the other hand, man’s numbering system is based on ten. We count in terms of tens, hundreds, thousands, ten years per decade, ten decades per century, and ten centuries in a millennium. Ancient civilizations in Egypt and China followed ten day weekly cycles for centuries. After the French Revolution, France enacted a ten day week for a few years (1793-1805) in an effort to overthrow the influence and power of religion. God’s clocks are unlike man’s clocks. In an effort to confuse people and show contempt for God’s Sabbath, I believe the devil will install a weekly cycle that will appeal to man’s “base ten” numbering system.
    In summary, it seems reasonable to assume that a ten day weekly cycle will be part of Satan’s plan at the time of the sixth trumpet because a new day for worship does not favor any religious system on Earth. The purpose is to defy God’s seventh day Sabbath and clearly expose those who keep it. Of course, time will tell if my conclusions are correct. Return
  111. For further discussion on this topic, please see my commentary on Revelation 9:16. Return
  112. For a discussion on this topic, please see pages 220-227 in my book, A Study on The Seven Trumpets, Two Witnesses and Four Beasts or you can freely download the article at this LINK. Return
  113. Revelation 9:15 Return
  114. Compare with Revelation 17:5. Lucifer’s title is unknown at the present time. Return
  115. Revelation 14:1; 22:4 Return
  116. For further discussion on this topic, please see pages 220-227 in my book, A Study on the Seven Trumpets, Two Witnesses and Four Beasts or you can freely download the article at this LINK. Return
  117. Romans 1:17 Return
  118. For a discussion on this topic, please see the Wake Up Report, October 2008, “Are Children Born Saved or Lost?” at this LINK. Return
  119. Revelation 11:11,12 From the time the censer is cast down until the Two Witnesses have completed their work is 1,260 days. (Revelation 11:3) Then the bodies of the Two Witnesses will lie in the street for 3.5 days which is counted as four days when counting inclusively. On Sunday, the 1,265th day, the 144,000 are resurrected. See Prophecy 9. Return
  120. 2 Samuel 5:7 Return
  121. Judges 19:10; 1 Chronicles 11:4-8 Return
  122. 2 Samuel 24:16-25; 1 Chronicles 21:22-22:1; 2 Chronicles 3:1; Genesis 22:2-9 Return
  123. Numbers 35:1-14; Isaiah 14:32; Joel 3:16 Return
  124. 1 Kings 2:2-4 Return
  125. Zechariah 12:10-13:1, 6 Return
  126. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28 Return
  127. Luke 22:20 Return
  128. John 14:1-3; Galatians 3:28,29 Return
  129. Hebrews 11:10 Return
  130. Revelation 21:27 Return
  131. Hebrews 6:20 Return
  132. Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 23:20; Numbers 18:12,13 Return
  133. Joel 2:29 Return
  134. Matthew 24:14 Return
  135. See commentary on Revelation 17. Return
  136. Revelation 12:9 Return
  137. Revelation 12:16 Return
  138. Revelation 13:2 Return
  139. See Appendix A. Return

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Larry W. Wilson

Larry Wilson, founder of WUAS, became a born-again Christian in 1972. His interest in the gospel led him on a 40+ year quest to learn more about what God has revealed to Earth’s final generation. The results of his research have been shared throughout the world in books, television & radio broadcasts, media interviews, and seminars that are publicly available on all different types of media (see our Christian Bookstore).

What is Wake Up America Seminars (WUAS)?
Wake Up America Seminars, Inc. is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization with a focus on the study of End-Time Prophecy. WUAS is not a church, nor does it endorse any denomination. Our focus is singular: We are dedicated to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and His imminent return. We are delighted that people of all faiths are diligently using the Bible study materials produced by WUAS. All study materials are based solely on the Bible alone.

Latest posts by Larry W. Wilson (see all)

Demonic Possession – Through the Ages - July 9, 2024
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