Prophecy 14 – The Second Coming

  • Larry W. Wilson

    • The Second Coming – Revelation 18:1 – 19:10

    The Beginning of the Sixth Trumpet (1,039th day*)
    Ending Point in Time: End of Sixth Bowl (1,324th day*)

    * Note: The dates above and asterisked on the following pages are not absolute. They are derived from a mathematical matrix that involves several timing factors. For example, when considering the 1,260 days allotted to the Two Witnesses, the resurrection of the Two Witnesses after 3.5 days,[1] the 1,290 and 1,335 days mentioned in Daniel 12, and the forty-two months in Revelation 13:5, there is very little room for data manipulation. Even so, let me say again, these dates are not absolute. Ultimately, these messages will be obvious to everyone on Earth when they occur.

    Summary:

    This prophecy contains a message which the 144,000 will deliver to the world during the sixth trumpet.  I calculate the beginning of the sixth trumpet as follows.  If the fifth trumpet sounds and the devil is released from the Abyss on the 891st day (two-thirds of the way through the Great Tribulation) and the fifth trumpet torment lasts for 148 days (five lunar months), the sixth trumpet would begin on the 1,039th day of the Great Tribulation (891 + 148 = 1,039).  Next, if 1,039 days are subtracted from the 1,260 days granted to the Two Witnesses, the sixth trumpet will last 221 days (1260 – 1039 = 221 days or a little more than seven months).  During the sixth trumpet, the 144,000 will proclaim the message described in this prophecy.  When the wicked people consider this message in the environment of Lucifer’s atrocities, a few of them will reconsider their evil ways.  They will refuse to receive the mark of the beast, repent of their sins, come out of Babylon, and be saved.  I believe most, if not all, of the 144,000 will die while delivering this message because of its inflammatory nature.  When properly understood, this prophecy reveals a depth of divine love and compassion that is incalculable.

    Introduction:  The 144,000 will present four distinct messages during the Great Tribulation.  Prophecy 12 contains the first three messages and this prophecy contains the fourth and final message.   Lucifer will set up a counterfeit theocracy during the sixth trumpet and this message will be Jesus’ final call to a rebellious planet.  Remember,  when the sixth trumpet begins, Lucifer will abruptly change character.  Overnight, he will terminate his benevolent and gracious mask and become the cruel dictator that he really is.  His forces will kill 1.75 billion people (a third of mankind)[2] under the pretense of divine authority, eliminating those who oppose the establishment of his one world church state (theocracy).  To appreciate the fourth message, we need to briefly review the first three messages:

    First Message – Day One:  When the censer is cast down and the Great Tribulation begins, the first message (containing the eternal gospel) will be given throughout the world.  The 144,000 will suddenly begin proclaiming their first message to the inhabitants of Earth and it will be an outright demand.  They will say:  “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment [that is, the time for judging the living] has come.  Worship him [the Creator] who made the Heavens, the Earth, the sea and the springs of water.”[3]

    Second Message – Day 64*:  The 144,000 will add a second message when religious and political leaders of the world assemble to find a solution to God’s wrath.  When Babylon forms and begins to function with authority, world leaders will insist that God’s retribution has impacted Earth because “all have sinned” and offended Almighty God with decadent behavior.  The leaders of Babylon will assert that everyone must worship God and live righteously. “This endeavor,” they reason, “will show The Almighty our corporate sorrow and His destructive wrath will cease.”

    The 144,000 will counter Babylon’s leaders with this inflammatory declaration in the second message:  “Fallen! Fallen [false] is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine [logic] of her adulteries.”[4] The 144,000 will maintain that Babylon’s presupposition, that God’s wrath can be appeased, is false.  Therefore, the 144,000 will declare that Babylon’s demands, worship and repentance, are blasphemous.  Of course, worship and repentance are not blasphemous when a sinner is motivated by sorrow for his sin, but the irony in all this will be profound at this time in Earth’s history.  Babylon will be demanding worship and repentance and so will the 144,000, but the underlying motives between these two groups will be worlds apart.

    The phrase, “the maddening wine of her adulteries” indicates two ideas.  First, the leaders of Babylon will unknowingly “drink” many religious lies that will have a numbing effect.  The term, maddening wine, is an ancient expression for bad wine that causes otherwise fine people to lose their minds and “go mad.”  Babylon will produce some “bad wine” and she will make all nations go mad (become incoherent) because they believe its lies.  The result will be universal adultery between church and state.  The union of church and state is an adulterous affair because Jesus is the head of His church.  Until Jesus is the head of Earth’s government, any union of church and state is an adulterous union because power corrupts.  Man’s fallen nature will not allow him to love God and others as himself.  Leaders always abuse their power when church and state are united.  History has clearly proven that the church cannot be faithful to Jesus and simultaneously exercise civil authority.[5]  When the leaders of the world create Babylon, they do not anticipate the blasphemous behavior that Babylon will display.  Also, they will not know that Jesus will soon destroy Babylon (and its leaders).  Therefore, when the leaders of Babylon hear the second message, they will do their best to silence the 144,000.

    Third Message – Day 891*:  The 144,000 will present their third message when Lucifer and his angels physically appear.  Speaking through His servants, Jesus will send this ultimatum throughout the world: “If anyone worships the [lamblike] beast [who masquerades as Almighty God] and [if anyone participates in] his image [theocracy] and receives his mark [tattoo] on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.  He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.”[6]

    Fourth Message – Day 1039*:  The 144,000 will add a fourth message to their presentation when the sixth trumpet begins (day 1,039*).  The fourth message will come at a time when everyone on Earth is afraid for his life.  Lucifer’s forces will be in the process of killing a third of mankind and people will be standing in line to receive the mark of the beast on their right hand.  The fourth message contains a tender invitation as well as a solemn threat.  Jesus will speak through His servants and say, “Come out of her [the great whore, Lucifer’s theocracy] my people. . . . For her sins are piled up to Heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. [He will] Give back to her as she has given; [He will] pay her back double for what she has done.”[7]>

    When the sixth trumpet begins, I believe Holy Spirit power will rest upon the 144,000 in an unusual way.  God’s prophets will glow with a radiant light just as Moses did when he came down from Mt. Sinai.[8]  This illumination will be so glorious that it will be difficult to look at the 144,000.  This manifestation of divine power will produce the highest possible credibility.  God’s prophets will proclaim a message of truth, grace, and mercy.  It seems incredible that even with this dramatic display of power, very few people will repent and be saved, but God’s love for sinners knows no bounds.  If I am correct and the 144,000 do shine with supernatural glory during the closing days of salvation’s offer, this could explain how the whole world is illumined by the splendor of the fourth angel.  I cannot think of a more effective way to announce to the world that where sin abounds, grace much more abounds![9]

    During the sixth trumpet, Jesus will speak through His glorified servants in the clearest and tenderest of terms, “ ‘Fallen! [false and blasphemous] Fallen is [the harlot-theocracy of Lucifer,] Babylon the Great!  She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird [this language refers to the fact that vultures feed on dead flesh without any concern for whose flesh it might have been].  For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries [the whole world is intoxicated with the lies and glorious plans promoted by Lucifer]. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her [the kings of the Earth have immorally united with Lucifer’s whore, they have allowed her religious power to usurp their civil powers], and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries [the merchants are those people who went along with the whore for financial gain.  They are like vultures who feed on the poor and become fat and rich through extortion].’  Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘[Jesus Himself will speak to the whole world:] Come out of her, my people [though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow – if you will repent now of your rebellion.  Please come now, come out today], so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.’ ”[10]

    Obviously, the 144,000 will remain alive until the first four messages are delivered.  Everyone on Earth will “see and hear” the fourth message during the sixth trumpet.  However, the fourth message will be so inflammatory that most, if not all, of the 144,000 will be killed for delivering it.  When this occurs, Jesus will end His offer of grace and mercy for sinners.  At the end of 1,260 days, the ministry of the Two Witnesses will be completed.  Most, if not all of the 144,000 will be dead.  Jesus will wave His sickle over Earth[11] and the people who have the mark of the beast will be condemned to die the second death.  Six thousand years of redemption will end on the 1,260th day of the Great Tribulation.  Each person on Earth will have made an informed and final choice and Jesus will reward each person accordingly when He appears.[12]

    The Sequence

    Revelation 18:1

    And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
    {1} I saw a mighty angel come down from Heaven.  He spoke with great authority and the whole world heard his testimony.  The angel illuminated the Earth with his glory.

    The fourth message presented by the 144,000 is represented as an angel messenger sent directly from God’s throne.  This message contains God’s final offer of redemption.  The fourth message will join with the previous three messages and together they will swell into the clearest and strongest statement of truth that God can present to mortals.  Jesus will speak through the 144,000.  He will declare the truth because what matters most to God is our response to truth.

    The honest in heart always love truth.  The indwelling presence and peace of the Holy Spirit is more desirable to the honest in heart than any benefit stemming from compromise with evil.  When a person stands firm for the truth, the Holy Spirit confirms God’s will and the Bible assures him that he stands on solid ground.  When the Holy Spirit and the Word of God are allowed to do their divine work within an individual, that person is filled with peace.  To impress the wicked with the importance of this final offer of salvation, the 144,000 will radiate with the glory of God as did Moses when he came down from Mt. Sinai.[13]

    Jesus knew that sinners could not provide an atonement for sin.  For no other reason than unfailing love, Jesus came to Earth and died a cruel death so that every sinner could be saved.   His goal during the Great Tribulation is to save as many sinners as possible.  He is not willing that one soul should perish.[14]  Conversely, Jesus offers no grace to a defiant sinner.  When a person defies the Holy Spirit, he defies the two laws of love.  He rejects the wisdom and authority of Almighty God.[15]  This is why defying the Holy Spirit is unpardonable.  The Bible leaves no question about God’s love for sinners, but unfortunately, many sinners do not want to love God or their neighbor.

    Jesus will speak through the mouths of the 144,000.[16]  To make His words receptive, Jesus will also pour the Holy Spirit out on all flesh.[17]  The Holy Spirit will pound hard on the door to each heart enticing each person to surrender to God’s two laws of love.  God’s offer of redemption is extremely generous.  He has paid the price for our sins.  He is willing to remove our sinful nature[18] if we are willing to worship Him according to the demands of the eternal gospel.  Of course, obeying the eternal gospel will require faith.  The price of worship will be great.  Satan will see to it that Babylon’s decrees are in direct conflict with God’s laws.  The contest between competing laws will force everyone to make a choice and take a stand for or against the eternal gospel.

    When the Two Witnesses complete their work (on the 1,260th day of the Great Tribulation), Jesus, our High Priest, can do nothing more to save one more soul.  Everyone will have firmly settled into their final decision.  Two distinct and separate groups of people will exist: Sheep and goats.  The sheep cannot change their ways for they have been sealed.  The goats cannot change their ways for they have committed the unpardonable sin.  The following benediction indicates that Jesus has done everything that can be done and now, He will honor each person’s choice: “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.”[19]

    Revelation 18:2

    And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
    {2} When the sixth trumpet begins, Jesus will speak through the 144,000 with a mighty voice.  Using the clearest of terms, He will say, “ ‘. . . . Fallen! [false and blasphemous] Fallen is [the harlot, Lucifer’s theocracy,] Babylon the Great!  She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird [this language refers to the fact that vultures delight to feed on dead flesh without any concern for who it belonged to].

    Revelation 18:3

    For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
    {3} “For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries [the whole world has become intoxicated with her lies and the blasphemous claims of Lucifer]. The kings of Earth committed adultery with her [the kings of Earth have united with the whore, they have surrendered their civil authority to Lucifer to maintain power], and the merchants of Earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries [the merchants are those who will profit from Lucifer’s theocracy].”

    Revelation 18:4-5

    And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
    {4} Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “[Jesus Himself will speak to the whole world through the mouths of the 144,000,] Come out of her, my people [even though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow[20] if you will repent and honor me as your king.  Come out now, come out of Babylon], so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

    {5} “for her sins are piled up to Heaven, and God has faithfully recorded every crime.

    Revelation 18:6-7

    Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
    {6} “I will pay her back according to the punishment she has imposed on my people; I will punish her double for what she has done.  She deserves a double portion from her own cup, for she has violated my saints and she has rebelled against Me.  I am twice the sovereign king of Earth; first by creation and second by redemption.  I own the Earth and the fullness thereof. “I will cause the officials and employees of Lucifer’s government to suffer punishment and grief in proportion to the glory and luxury she gave herself.

    {7} They thought they were invincible.  His officials thought Lucifer’s government was secure, the whore claimed to be the queen of Earth, she claimed to be the kingdom of God, but her boasting is vanity.[21]

    Revelation 18:8

    Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
    {8} “Therefore, her plagues will begin on the 1,265th day of the Great Tribulation and I will bring her to total ruin.  During the next seventy days, she will be consumed by death, mourning, and famine.  She will be consumed by fire, for I, Almighty God, will judge her and bring her to a violent end.”

    Revelation 18:9-10

    And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
    {9}  When the kings of the Earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.

    {10}  Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: ‘‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!’

    Lucifer’s government will implode during the fifth bowl.  The kings of the Earth will be sorrowful when they see Lucifer’s government collapse because they prospered from the devil’s theocracy.  The language in this chapter of Revelation can be compared to passages in the book of Job.  You may recall how Job’s misguided friends used “calamitous prose” and “lofty language” to describe Job’s tragic misfortunes.  In this case, the kings of the Earth will be wailing and weeping because the very doom they sought to escape is now upon them.  To soothe their anxiety, the devil will send three powerful demons to speak to the ten kings during the sixth bowl.  These demons will perform many powerful miracles, convincing the kings of the Earth that there is a glimmer of hope, a chance of survival.

    Revelation 18:11-13

    And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
    {11}  The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more;

    {12} cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;

    {13} cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and the bodies and souls of men.

    Revelation 18:14

    And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
    {14}  The merchants will lament, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All of your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’

    Revelation 18:15-16

    The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!.
    {15}  The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn

    {16}  and cry out: “Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!”

    Revelation 18:17-19

    For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
    {17}  In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.

    {18} When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, “Was there ever a city like this great city?”

    {19}  They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: “Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!”

    Revelation 18:20-21

    Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
    {20} Then I heard a loud voice from Heaven say, “Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets for God has judged her for the way she treated you!

    {21} Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.

    Revelation 18:22-23

    And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
    {22}  The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.

    {23}  The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world’s great men, but their greatness and riches have come to nothing. By your magic spell the nations were led astray.”

    Revelation 18:24

    And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
    {24} In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the Earth.

    At first glance, verse 24 seems out of place in this narrative, however this declaration vindicates the whore’s destruction.  After the kings of the Earth have their eyes opened (fifth bowl), they will be forced to admit their atrocities against God’s innocent saints.  Of course, crimes against humanity always come with a death penalty and the kings of the Earth will realize their impending doom.  When the “belly of the whore” is cut open (figuratively speaking), the kings of Earth will be forced to see the evidences of their crimes and discover their solemn accountability to God for their abusive use of power.

    Revelation 19:1-3

    And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
    {19:1} During the sixth bowl, I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

    {2} for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the Earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his 144,000 servants.”

    {3}  And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her destruction goes up for ever and ever (justice is served).”[22]

    Revelation 19:4-5

    And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
    {4}  The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped Jesus, who was seated on the throne.  And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

    {5}  Then a voice came from the throne.  It said to the 144,000, “Your turn for praise has come!  Praise our God, you servants of Jesus Christ, you who fear him, both small and great!”

    Revelation 19:6-8

    And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
    {6}  Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder.  It was 144,000 voices singing: “Hallelujah! For Jesus Christ, our Lord God Almighty reigns.

    {7}  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride (his people) has made herself ready.

    {8}  Fine linen (the righteousness of Jesus), bright and clean (without spot or wrinkle), was given her to wear.”

    Jesus will give the saints a wedding garment of fine linen.  This garment represents the righteousness of Christ that was freely given to them because of faithful obedience.[23]

    The great multitude in Revelation 19:6 are the 144,000, not the innumerable multitude seen standing around the throne after the Second Coming in Revelation 7:9.  This distinction can be determined by the chronological timing in Revelation 19:5.   The scene in Revelation 19:5 occurs before the Second Coming.   Notice the directive given to the great multitude. “Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his [144,000] servants, you who fear him, both small and great!’ ”[24]

    In Revelation 7:3, the 144,000 are called God’s “servants.”  In Revelation 10:7, the 144,000 are identified as “servants the prophets.”   In Revelation 11:12, God will resurrect the 144,000 and take them to Heaven at the seventh trumpet (on the 1,265th day of the Great Tribulation).  In Revelation 17:16, the beast (religious leaders) and the ten kings (political leaders) will turn on the great whore (Lucifer’s theocracy) and burn her with fire.  When these facts are properly assembled, it becomes clear that the great multitude in Heaven prior to the Second Coming consists of 144,000 “servants.”  After all, they were presented to God on the 1,265th day as the firstfruits of the coming harvest![25]

    Using a marriage analogy, the 144,000 will be the equivalent of groomsmen.  They will accompany the Groom when He comes to Earth to receive His bride.[26]  No wonder they sing, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”[27]  The 144,000 will declare that the wedding banquet has arrived at the beginning of the seventh bowl.  After this declaration, Jesus and His wedding party (including the 144,000) will depart Heaven to retrieve the saints from Earth.  According to the timing matrix used in this book, this glorious procession will approach Earth over a period of ten days.[28]

    Revelation 19:9

    And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
    {9} After the fourth message was delivered to all the Earth and the whore was destroyed, after the 144,000 have rejoiced and heard the announcement that the time for the wedding banquet had come, the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ”  And he added, ‘All that you have seen and heard is truth, these are the true words of God.’

    Revelation 19:10

    And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy
    {10}  At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it, John! I am not divinity.  I am only a mouthpiece, a fellow servant of God like you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus.  Worship God!  For the testimony of Jesus is eternally true and infallible.  He is the Word of God.[29]  When Jesus speaks, the Holy Spirit conveys His words to His servants who have received the gift of prophecy.[30]  Even though Jesus may speak through us, we are not divine.  Worship God and serve Him.”

    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 conforms to Rule One because chronological order is self evident.   The fourth angel’s message is delivered by the 144,000, the great whore is destroyed, the 144,000 rejoice that the great whore is destroyed, and they announce the arrival of the wedding banquet.

    Rule Two says a fulfillment only occurs when all of the specifications are met, and this includes the order stated in the prophecy.   The events described in this vision unfold over a period of about 300 days.  When these events occur, this prophecy will be fulfilled.

    Rule Three says that apocalyptic language can be literal, analogous, or symbolic.  To reach the intended meaning of a prophecy, the reader must consider (a) the context, (b) the use of parallel language in the Bible, and (c) if an element is thought to be symbolic, the Bible must interpret the symbol with a relevant text.  All three types of language are used in this prophecy.  For example,  the pronoun “she” is used eight times in this prophecy.  “She” refers to the great whore which is defined as a symbol of Lucifer’s theocracy in Revelation 17.   Analogous and literal language are also used in this prophecy.  These phrases are self-evident.

    Rule Four is not used in this prophecy.

    References:

     

    1. Rev 11:3,11,12 Return
    2. Revelation 9:15 Return
    3. Revelation 14:7, insertion mine Return
    4. Revelation 14:8, insertion mine Return
    5. Revelation 14:8; Matthew 22:21  Note: When God delivered Israel from Egypt, He set up a theocracy in Israel.  He kept civil authority (the work of Moses) and religious authority (the work of Aaron) separate and distinct from each other.  Exodus 28:1-4; 30:17-21; 1 Kings 13; 1 Samuel 15  If the Dark Ages (538-1798) prove anything, they prove that when church authority usurps civil authority, the church becomes immoral and utterly corrupt. Return
    6. Revelation 14:9,10 Return
    7. Revelation 18:4-6, insertion mine Return
    8. Exodus 34:29-35 Return
    9. Revelation 18:1; Romans 5:20 Return
    10. Revelation 18:2-4, insertions and emphasis mine Return
    11. Revelation 14:14-16 Return
    12. Revelation 22:12 Return
    13. Exodus 34:29-35 Return
    14. 2 Peter 3:9 Return
    15. Revelation 22:14,15 Return
    16. Revelation 10:10,11; 7:3-4 Return
    17. Joel 2:28-31 Return
    18. Hebrews 8:10-12 Return
    19. Revelation 22:11 Return
    20. Isaiah 1:18 Return
    21. For parallel language between ancient Jerusalem and modern Babylon, see Lamentations 1. Return
    22. Revelation 21:1 indicates the whore will be annihilated.  She will not burn throughout eternity because the first Heaven and first Earth will pass away and there will be no sea (no lake of fire).  The Greek language uses an ongoing sense for fire at times to convey the idea that justice goes on and on until justice is completed.  See also Revelation 14:11 and 20:10. Return
    23. Matthew 22:2-13 speaks of “the sign” of the Son of Man appearing in the sky. Return
    24. Revelation 19:5, insertion mine Return
    25. Revelation 14:4 Return
    26. Matthew 25:6 Return
    27. Revelation 19:7, italics mine Return
    28. Matthew 24:30,31  Since the seven bowls occur during a period of seventy days, it is assumed that ten days will be allotted to each bowl.  Therefore, I conclude that the appearing of Jesus during the seventh bowl will be a ten day period. Return
    29. John 1:1-12 Return
    30. 1 Corinthians 12:10,11; John 16:14,15 Return

    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.

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    Categories: Bible Prophecy, Jesus' Final Victory Book, Second Coming
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