Review: The 6th Trumpet has blown. The evil entities beneath the Euphrates have been released from chains. Satan and other rebellious angels have fallen from the high places. The sign of Rev. 12 that appeared in heaven of the enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. (that has strikingly the same description as the beast from the sea that we studied about last week) has now materialized and personified on Earth. Mysterious language of the future of Earth and the angelic world is all written in the stars and depicted in Rev. 12.
4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. Rev. 12:4
The Gospel Written in the Stars
From the beginning of the foundations of the universe, the story of Messiah was declared, written, promised. As it was written – The Messiah was slain from the foundations of the world.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech; they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. (circuit)
9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:1-5, 9-11
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Rom. 10 :17-18
The Gospel Written in the Stars Shared with Abraham (Prophecy)
4 A message came from the Lord to him again: “This one will not be your heir. Instead, the child who will be born to you[a] will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took him outside. “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if you can!” he said. “Your descendants will be that numerous.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Gen 15:4-6
“Make an account for the stars” – May they count in your spirit (if you can) Abraham believed
Can you account for your whereabouts?(determine) You can count on me. (depend) Count me in (determine or depend)
You can count on it, Abraham! You can count on what the stars are saying. Abraham believed the story of the Gospel written in the stars. He was counted as a righteous believer. He believed God’s declaration in His cosmic handiwork .
Like Abraham, we can trust this story written in the stars.
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
The Beast out of the Earth
Another facet of the end time beast government emerges. It too is empowered by satan. This second beast is personifying religious authority. This person is claiming and touting to be the messiah of god. The vicar of god. But this is deception. Many will be fooled. This is where chockmah (Hebrew for God infused wisdom) must be employed and only the true born again will understand this. He is of spiritual origin but not a man of God but rather a man of satan. He is the false prophet described Rev. 19:20:
20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Believers have an advantage of knowing this is going to happen ahead of time and the supernatural ability to discern when it does. Yeshua warns of false prophets in Mat. 7:15
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Mat. 24:23-24
This false prophet will be well versed and as Satan proved to be in the temptation of Christ quoting scripture convincingly. Only believers who are truly born again and are walking in the Spirit will be able to discern the different and manipulative spirit. Many of the most elect of the Christian world who are merely Christian in name only, fall subject to the lie.
The scenario of the end times beast government will be replete with its own laws of state and religion. Worship will be commanded. But the system will be void of Torah and will prohibit the worship of any other god than the beast. This system will be called the New World Order. And the global religious leader instills and encourages the worship conduct and protocol.
In the 1st century days of the church, the Roman government commanded Emperor worship. The imperial cult worship will be re-instituted as the Revived Roman Empire once again is resurrected. Bowing to the image of the beast will be mandated and the police system (like a leopard) will be monitoring to determine who does or doesn’t comply. Those who do not comply will be (like a bear) tracked down and severely punished (like that of lions teeth). True believers, unable to conform will be considered enemies of the New World Order. Many who in the past were Christian in Name only will acquiesce.
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thes. 2:3-4
Revelation 13
11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. Rev. 13:11
Just as evil entities came from beneath the Euphrates (being the place under the Earth) is connected to this prophecy so is it that in dynamic tension of dualities that the man from the Earth (a person) holds this global empirical office of religion. From the description of the two horns like a lamb, he appears to be gentle yet holding great authority (in religion and in government). Some scholars say the two horns may also mean doublemindedness – a façade of virtue and diplomacy but a heart of evil intent. But there is no doubt that a combination of compelling secular and religious power is instilled in this person as it exercises all authority and speaks on behalf and in unison with the political beast from the sea.
Authority
12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. Rev. 13:12
The false prophet emphasizes the miracle of the supposed healing of the first beast and starts the narrative of the resurrection of the one with a fatal wound to be divine, confusing and leading many to believe that the first beast is the messiah. An intoxicating spiritual high engulfs the masses with awe.
Signs and Wonders
13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth, Rev. 13:13-14
This “prophet” will be very convincing, endowed with great demonic power, doing dark magic miracles like Pharaoh’s magicians. Man will be mesmerized as man loves to see magic shows and be entertained. (Even Christians seek a sign or entertainment in Church services) It will speak forcefully with passion and assurance as it speaks with the supernatural power of the dragon. Examples: – Gold dust, dry ice, lasers, sound effects.
The Image
14b It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. Rev. 13:14
The prophet heralding that a miracle of “resurrected life” occurred will command all to erect an image of the 1st beast. I believe this will be done on a grand scale in government buildings, parks, religious institutions including the Temple in Jerusalem, schools and even homes to give honor but to the image of the political leader. This act initiates the halting of Temple sacrifices.
The Spokesman of Imperial law
15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. Rev. 13:15
Giving breath would be the command that speaks on behalf of the 1st beast as a voice that the people are in awe of and are very motivated and attuned to listen to and obey.
A law is decreed that the beast image must be worshipped now with repercussions that are severe if not followed. The prophet blatantly disregards God’s Holy commandment in Ex. 20:4
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.
16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. Rev. 13:16-17
The mark of the beast is instituted in the last 3.5 years of the 7-year tribulation after the political leader’s image is set up in the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem. Rev. 12 says the Jews escape to a place created for them in the wilderness where God takes care of them and protects them. It’s at this point according to Rev. 12 satan goes after the believers in Yeshua. This is the most tumultuous time for believers. The Word says to endure to the end. Even recently during covid there were some businesses – Donalds in particular in Israel that would have customers pay on a kiosk that first asked for your vaccination card number before taking your order. There were no humans taking orders.
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[e] That number is 666. Rev. 13:18
Wisdom – Chokmah – divinely understood and received supernaturally. Its not going to be easily determined or known in public secular circles. This information is reserved for the righteous.
In contrast to the number 7 (completeness/perfection), 6 represents imperfection. The triplet 666 represents a “triple fall” or a system that presents itself as divine but is a counterfeit.
Many believe that this number is related to the Hebrew gramatia of a name. Nero, Vespasian, or Domitian and Hitler share the Hebrew gramatia of 666. .
Was John telegraphing Domitian who was emperor at the time was the anti-messiah? Or someone like him that one day in the end times would rule as cruel and heretically as he was ruling?
Rev. 14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. Rev. 14:1-5
As the number of martyrs climb to the predetermined number set by God, He reveals them on Mt. Zion. They sing forth their testimony.
I ran into some gender controversy here as I broke down the words.
His, their – Autos (he or she)
These- houtos – man or woman
Defile – moluno – to soil
Women – gune – specifically a WIFE -inferring intimacy
Virgin – pathenos – an unmarried daughter, a maiden
Because this is an apocalyptic book written purposefully in symbolism I can’t help but think this reference is spiritual.
It appears all the pronouns refer to male and female and the use of gune specifically “wife” in English makes no sense whatsoever to believe one DEFILES themselves with one’s wife. A wife is an extension of the husband as they are one. And since Parthenos (Virgin) means a maiden or unmarried daughter this seems contradictory to a male reference. And because God sees no difference between man or woman, Jew or Greek and because many women also lay down their lives as martyrs unto their God, why would their lives seem less of a sacrifice? All of this leads me to think this is spiritual language after all they follow the LAMB (which is spiritual language).
So, I’m inclined to believe that God is saying the martyrs, singing this song on Mt. Zion, were faithful to God, not unfaithful -playing or being intimate with the harlot – the satanic beast system of worship. The did not play the whore, bow to idols or give themselves over to be defiled by satan. They remained pure. This decision to not engage in the beast system is in itself end-time suicide for many.
Judgement –
Next, I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven with everlasting Good News to proclaim to those living on the earth — to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 In a loud voice he said, “Fear God, give him glory, for the hour has come when he will pass judgment! Worship the One who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” Rev.14:6-7
The Angel proclaims the Everlasting good news of the coming Messiah.
In this statement is cloaked the timing of Judgement and separation which happens at the last or 7th trumpet.
The Judgement on the Beast Worshippers
8 Another angel, a second one, followed, saying,
“She has fallen! She has fallen!
Bavel the Great!
She made all the nations drink the wine of God’s fury caused by her whoring!” Rev. 14:8
This verse is cloaked, with a different sense of the word “fallen” as in the spirit of Babylon has fallen on the Earth as did satan and his angels. This does not mean Babylon is conquered because, as we see in verse 9, there’s the warning to those who have chosen to worship the image and the impending judgment.
9 Another angel, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives the mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he will indeed drink the wine of God’s fury poured undiluted into the cup of his rage. He will be tormented by fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb, 11 and the smoke from their tormenting goes up forever and ever. They have no rest, day or night, those who worship the beast and its image and those who receive the mark of its name.” Rev. 14:9-11
Such a terrifying and formidable declaration to those who have taken the mark of the beast and submit to his kingdom! The angel is announcing that God’s wrath is about to come down on all who have joined the system including the beast. He apprises them of the ghastly unchangeable consequences.
Perseverance and Endurance
12 This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” Rev. 14:12-13
3.5 years in – the image has been erected at the pinnacle of the Temple. The False prophet begins to proclaim the beast is the Messiah – the beast system is implemented. Time for Endurance – Have patience, your redemption is coming soon – Don’t fear, Trust in God Saints. Even to your deaths. Time to pick up your cross. Time to trust him for Words when in front of authorities, Perhaps keep you invisible, provide for you supernaturally or give you grace even to go through death. Believers will have a shift in world view and mindset toward living in the world.
11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.12 Before all this happens, you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in your synagogues (before “church governments”) and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors. 13 But this will be your chance to tell about your faith. 14 Don’t worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. 15 I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong. 16 You will be betrayed by your own parents, brothers, family, and friends. Some of you will even be killed. 17 Because of me, you will be hated by everyone. 18 But don’t worry![a] 19 You will be saved by being faithful to me. Luke 21:11-17
They had to wait until the complete number of the Lord’s other servants and followers would be killed. Rev. 6:11b
Martyrdom causes Separation for Judgement in the Earth
Luke confirms that first there are great signs in the heavens – the beast on Earth – Word does not say all will be killed (there is a number that must be reached according to the 5th seal which is telegraphing this 7th trumpet fulfillment of separation. The martyrs in Heaven are told :
No more repent at 6th trumpet – martyrdom begins – Reaching this number of martyrs (the last of those missionaries of the gospel) starts judgement. There is no more to convert – the anointed protection and power is lifted. The attempts to kill them in the past but were unsuccessful due to this anointing has now proven to be over. They begin to ne attacked and eliminated at the 3.5 marker.
Scriptures of Encouragement in Death
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Rev. 2:10
“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s”. Romans 14:7-9
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. Philippians 1:21
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. Revelation 2:3
Jesus said to her “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. John 11:25-26
What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:6-9
…You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:23-25
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26
Others Caught Up at the 7th Trumpet
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
It cannot be denied that not ALL will die. But some will be translated. God knows who. To reiterate the words of Rev. 13: 10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.
I would venture to say If anyone is to be translated – to translation he will go.
The Reaping of the Those who Chose Wickedness (Cursing)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ Mat. 25:31-34,41
Connected to Israel and Abraham’s accounting of righteousness by believing God.
14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[b] with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Rev. 14:14-16
The Lord Himself will Harvest wicked from the Earth and crush them
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” 2Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? 3“I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. 4It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come. Is. 63:1-4
The Rabbis have always connected Edom with Rome
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia. Rev. 14:17-20
Some Saints will die, some translated. But we will all be changed. At the sound of the last (7th) Trumpet He will rescue His own – and He will reward the unrighteous.
Saved from God’s Wrath
But God’s wrath (not stored up for the righteous will be poured out on the wicked. More on this subject will be studied when we start our new bible study in May. We will be studying the 7 Bowls of Revelation and the Glorious Kingdom
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. Romans 2:5
Colossians 3.5-6: Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. Romans 5.8–9
For they report about us what kind of welcome we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thess. 1.9–10:
May We Rest in His Promises!
