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.

1. The devil is cast out of Heaven (verses 7-12)
2. The devil persecutes the woman for 1,260 years (verses 13-16)
3. The devil wages war on the remnant of the woman (verses 12:17-13:10)
4. The devil physically appears, sets up his theocracy and implements the mark of the beast (verses 13:11-18)
5. 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:

1. The sealing of the 144,000
2. A numberless multitude standing around God’s throne
3. 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

Revelation 12:8

Revelation 12:9

Revelation 12:10

Revelation 12:11

Revelation 12:12

The Dragon Pursues the Woman for 1,260 Years

Revelation 12:13

Revelation 12:14

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:

1. 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.
2. ”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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Revelation 12:16

Dragon Prepares for War on the Remnant of the Woman

Revelation 12:17

The Beast from the Sea

Revelation 13:1

Revelation 13:2

Revelation 13:3

Revelation 13:4

Revelation 13:5

{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.

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

Revelation 13:7

Revelation 13:8

Revelation 13:9

Revelation 13:10

The Beast from the Abyss

Revelation 13:11

Revelation 13:12

Revelation 13:13

Day 1,039 – Everything Changes

Revelation 13:14

Revelation 13:15-16

Revelation 13:17

Revelation 13:18

Revelation 14:4-5

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. 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)

• The Temple of God - November 27, 2024
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