God or men?

PART ONE

In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus spoke of a “midnight cry” that exclaims that He, the Bridegroom, is coming.  Most of us have heard the expression, “it’s the eleventh hour”, which conveys the message that it is getting late and time is beginning to run out.  And, many of us have also heard the expression, “it’s ten minutes to midnight”, which means that it is very late and time is almost gone.

I honestly believe that neither of these expressions is adequate to describe how extremely late it is in earth’s history right now.  I would say that it is “one minute” before midnight.  We need to get ready to proclaim that “the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is coming”.

I’m not going to discuss the “traditional” end-time signs that we’ve talked about for generations in this article, such as earthquakes, famines, pestilence and wars.  My focus is on the unique signs and events of this high-tech, contemporary age that immediately precede the arrival of antichrist and his one-world government.  The one “key ingredient” that separates us from previous generations of Christians who thought that Jesus might return in their day, is the recent exponential increase in knowledge reflected in today’s global satellite and radically, high-speed computer technology, which makes the implementation and enforcement of the antichrist’s worldwide buying and selling restrictions, as well as his constant monitoring of earth’s global population, an accomplishable goal at this time; this was not possible in past generations.  Daniel’s prophecy that knowledge would be increased in the “time of the end”, has truly reached a dramatic fulfillment in our day (Daniel 12:4).    

The signs of a coming one-world government are all around us.  And, America’s continued practice of abominations will shortly bring judgments from God upon our nation that will help to prepare the way for antichrist’s worldwide rule.

Before I go any further, however, I need to say some things in advance, concerning a couple of topics that this article discusses.  When I speak of the practice of homosexuality as being an abomination, which the Bible says that it is, I am not referring to individual homosexuals as being abominations.  God loves every homosexual person just as much as He loves me or anyone else.  And, Jesus died to save them from their sin, just as He died to save me from my sin.  However, the Bible is clear that we all must confess our sins and repent of them, rather than make excuses for continuing to practice them.  Homosexuality is just one particular type of sin among many that can enslave us, such as dishonesty, adultery, fornication, murder, idolatry, thievery, covetousness, selfishness, anger, lust and pride.  Now it is true that only a few sins are called abominations, as is the case with homosexuality.  However, lest the rest of us sinners become “proud” and deceive ourselves, there are a couple of common sins that most of us have struggled with at some time or other that are also called abominations; those sins are pride and deceit or dishonesty (Proverbs 16:5; Proverbs 6:16-19).  So, I do not sit in judgment of the sin of homosexuality, as though my past sins of pride and deceit were less offensive to God.  What I do rightly address concerning homosexuality, however, is the attitude of so many homosexuals today regarding their sin.  They hold “gay pride” marches and rallies, as though their sin is something to be proud of.  And, many of them proclaim that it was God’s will for them to be homosexual, because He intentionally created them that way.  I do not see groups of “proud people” and liars holding “deceit and dishonesty rallies” or “pride and arrogance marches”; moreover, I do not hear them proclaiming that its God’s will for them to be proud and deceitful.  The attitude of so many homosexuals today, more or less “spitting in God’s face”, by blaming Him for their sin and proudly wallowing in it, is what I’m referring to when I speak of homosexuality in this article.

Later in this article I also discuss Catholicism and the Roman Catholic Church.  I am not referring to individual Catholics.  There are millions of sincere Catholic Christians throughout the world.  I am referring to a religious system and the doctrinal stances established by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church.

Having established these important points, we are now prepared to continue with the discussion of America’s abominations and impending judgments from God, which will help to prepare the way for antichrist’s worldwide rule.

In June of 2000, I preached a message titled, “Judgment of America”.  I stated that “a storm is coming upon America” because of the following abominations: the practice of infanticide via abortion, honoring homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, respecting other false  religions as equal with Christianity, exalting the “Big Bang” theory as Creator rather than God, and expelling the Bible and God from our public schools and other public institutions.  I stated that “the storm was coming”, judgment from God.  Fifteen months later America was humbled by the terrorist attacks on 9-11.  I’m not trying to exalt myself as being some kind of a prophet, for anyone who faithfully studies their Bible could have arrived at the same conclusion, as you will see demonstrated from Scripture.

After 9-11 America had a brief superficial revival, which dissipated fast.  Why?  It was because there was no true repentance.  The abortion mills kept running; fanatical extreme gay rights legislation continued to be adopted; atheist evolutionary concepts continued to brainwash our children in our public schools; activist courts continued to expel God and His commandments from our society; and, false religions continued to be elevated to equal, if not superior, status with Christianity.  In fact, the same “false religion” that had attacked America was being revered as a good and peaceful religion that worshipped the same God as Christianity.

And, the moral decline has continued; since then the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that homosexual sodomy, which the Bible calls abomination, is a protected constitutional right in our nation, which we refer to as “one nation under God”.  Moreover, the Massachusetts State Supreme Court has ruled that homosexual marriage is also a protected constitutional right, and other radically liberal states have begun to follow Massachusetts.

These two national abominations, protecting and exalting abortion/infanticide as being constitutionally protected freedom of choice, and protecting and exalting the practice of homosexuality as an acceptable and moral lifestyle equivalent to heterosexuality; these two “national abominations”, coupled with the others previously mentioned, will bring additional greater judgments upon America.

And, if our newly-elected President Obama conducts himself in the presidency, as he did in the U.S. Senate and Illinois State Senate, maintaining his same unholy policies regarding abortion, the radical gay agenda, and the anti-Christian education of our children; if he takes steps to further advance these ungodly causes, such as by signing the Freedom of Choice Act, removing all restrictions on abortion and reinstating “partial-birth” abortion (the barbaric procedure that would land veterinarians in prison for animal cruelty if they performed it on baby animals); then, you can mark my words that swift and devastating judgments will be rained down upon America by our righteous and holy God.  America will face “storms” much greater that what we experienced on 9-11.  America will be forcibly and mightily humbled by God to such an extent that we will no longer be a world superpower.

Why do I say this?  I say it because our God is fair, just and consistent.  He does not “play favorites”.  The Bible states that He is “no respecter of persons”; He does not practice partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17; 2nd Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Ephesians 6:9; Romans 2:11).  And, the Bible also states that God and Jesus Christ do not change; they’re always the same (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8).  Furthermore, Scripture declares that we will “reap what we sow”, and, that if we “sow the wind, we will reap the whirlwind” (Galatians 6:7-8; Hosea 8:7).  Therefore, if God has judged other nations in the past for similar behavior, which He has, we can expect that He will also judge America.

Why shouldn’t God judge a nation like America?  The past 35 years we have murdered more than 45 million babies via abortion.  That equals more innocent lives slaughtered than Hitler and Stalin combined.  One out of every four babies in America is aborted/killed.  Every single year in America we kill more babies than the number of American soldiers killed in every war that we’ve ever fought added together: the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the war with Mexico over Texas, The Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War, Vietnam, and both Gulf Wars.

And, what about homosexuality?  Is homosexuality a sin? Is it an abomination?  What does the Bible say about it?  Genesis 13:13 states that the men of Sodom, which is where our word of sodomy came from, were exceedingly wicked.  Genesis 19:1-5 reveals that their sin was homosexuality, for it states that the men of Sodom wanted to “know”, in a sexual way, the two male angel guests of Lot.  The New Testament concurs, for verse seven in the book of Jude states that the sexually immoral sin of Sodom was that they went after strange flesh.  The Bible specifically calls homosexuality an abomination (Leviticus 18:22; Leviticus 20:13).  Romans 1:26-27 speaks of the sin of homosexuality, saying that people exchanged the “natural use” for what is against nature.  It mentions men being with men and women being with women, and says they were committing what is “shameful”; moreover, it refers to these practices as being “vile passions”.  And, 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 lists sodomites or homosexuals among those categories of sinners that will not be allowed to inherit the Kingdom of God.  Yet, our nation, which claims to be “one nation under God”, has placed its constitutional stamp of approval and honorability upon it, even referring to it as being an equally acceptable alternative lifestyle.

Should we not expect additional and greater judgments upon America?  Shall America not reap what she sows?  Shall America not receive similar judgments from God as other nations who also committed abominations against Him, remembering that God does not show partiality?

The Bible tells us that disobedient and rebellious nations will be destroyed and turned into hell, (Psalm 9:17; Jeremiah 12:17).  So, beware America!  And, there is a striking parallel between America and what the Bible says about the ancient kingdom of Babylon, especially in the New Living Translation (Isaiah 47:8-11).  Babylon was called a “pleasure crazy kingdom” that thought it was the greatest in the world, but its own wisdom had turned it away from God.  This is certainly an apt description of today’s America.  And, what did God say was to happen to Babylon?  He said that disaster would come upon her, and that calamity and catastrophe would arise so fast that she wouldn’t know what hit her, and she would not be able to buy her way out of it.  So, beware America!

The experience and example of Israel should also serve as a warning for our nation.  In Ezekiel 7:1-13, 23-27, God accuses Israel of practicing abominations and filling their land with crimes of blood.  God stated that the end had come upon them and that He would pour out His fury and anger and repay them for their abominations.  Therefore, our nation’s abominable practices and “crimes of blood” against our aborted children are surely crying out to a righteous God who does not change as well.  So, beware America!

The sin of infanticide is specifically singled out in Scripture, and was responsible for bringing God’s judgments upon Israel.  In Ezekiel 23:36-39, 45-49, God promised to bring trouble and plunder upon Israel because they had slain and sacrificed their children to their “idols”; moreover, God stated that the “women” had blood on their hands.  How very applicable this scripture is to the 45 million women who have chosen to abort their babies in our nation.  However, I must hasten to say that Jesus removes the guilt and stain of their sin when they come to Him in sincere repentance asking for forgiveness.  Nevertheless, the relevance of this text is obvious.  America has also sacrificed its children to modern-day idols of radical, liberal feminism, situational ethics, secular humanism and the supposedly noble slogan of “pro-choice”.  So, beware America!

In Jeremiah 19:3-8, God also warned Israel that He was going to bring such a catastrophe upon their land, that whoever heard of it, his ears would tingle.  What was their sin that caused this impending doom?  The Bible states that they had filled their land with the blood of the “innocents”.  Certainly the blood of 45 million innocent, aborted/killed American babies also cries out to a righteous God who does not change.  So, beware America!

Israel’s history is summed up well in Ezekiel 16:1-23, 35-41, and it is remarkable how comparable it is to the history of America.  This passage states that God had taken Israel in the beginning when they were struggling, and had blessed them in every way until Israel had become beautiful.  However, they rebelled against God and abused His blessings, using them to worship other gods, and sacrificing their children to them.

What about America?  God also took our nation in the beginning when it was struggling, and blessed it in every way and made it beautiful, because our founding fathers had founded it on Christian principles; moreover, there was only one God worshipped in America, the God of Christianity.  However, America has also rebelled against God and abused His blessings.  As previously mentioned, our nation sacrifices her children via abortion to our modern-day gods of secular humanism, situational ethics, radical feminism and a perverted “pro-choice” slogan.  And, America has also taken God’s financial blessings via our taxes, and has offered them to these modern-day gods by financing their unholy agendas.  So, beware America!

Isaiah 5:20-25 decries “woe” upon those who call evil good and call good evil.  Unfortunately, that is the sad state that we have come to in America.  The ones who oppose the radical gay agenda because of the Bible’s clear position on homosexuality are called disparaging names, such as homophobe, while the ones involved in the lewd and unbiblical behavior are exalted as practicing an honorable, alternative lifestyle.  Furthermore, the ones praying outside of the abortion clinic are hauled away as criminals if they get too close to the doorway of the abortion building, while the doctors and nurses killing the babies inside the clinic are considered to be fine, upstanding, law-abiding citizens.  Beware America!  The storm is coming!

If America continues its abomination-honoring, child-aborting, false religion-exalting, Christianity-rejecting ways; if newly-elected President Obama leads us further into abortion and the radical gay agenda, and we have every reason to believe that he will, based on his past performance; then America is racing toward catastrophic judgments from God and its ultimate humbling.  This will be a major step that will lay the foundation for the acceptance of a one-world government under the antichrist.

PART TWO

The humbling of America will not be the only cause of the acceptance of antichrist’s global government, but it will be a significant one.  There will also need to be other common “global problems” that require common global solutions.  Four of these worldwide causes already exist.  Even now, we have a common, global terrorism problem; a perceived common, global-warming, climate problem; a common, global energy problem, partially related to the perceived climate problem; and we have a common, global economic crisis.  And, we are already working toward common, global solutions to these four problems, including a global shift toward governments taking ownership in banks throughout the world, which will lay the foundation for a global monetary system and, eventually, a worldwide cashless society.

However, it will take more than just these four causes to bring about worldwide acceptance of a one-world government under antichrist.  It will require far more urgent and desperate circumstances throughout the world, as well as the humbling of three superpowers: The United States, China and Russia.  I believe that this will be accomplished by the fifth global cause, which is the catastrophic, supernatural calamities accompanying the angelic blowing of the first five trumpets recorded in the book of Revelation (Revelation 8:2-13; Revelation 9:1-11).  These are divine judgments poured out on a wicked world in the final days of earth’s history.

The first trumpet brings hail and fire mingled with blood upon the earth to the extent that one-third of earth’s trees are burned up, as well as the grass.  This judgment is similar to the seventh plague poured out on Egypt in the days of Moses, which also had hail and fire mingled.  The reference to fire accompanying the hail probably indicates severe and widespread lightning that ignites the fires that burn earth’s trees and grass.  These must be ferocious storms that encompass most of the world, because one-third of earth’s foliage is destroyed.  The description of blood mingled with the hail and fire might depict the loss of life caused by the hail, lightning and winds from this incredible global storm.

The second trumpet causes a “great mountain” that is on fire to be cast down to the earth, which destroys one-third of the ships in the ocean and kills one-third of the sea creatures, while causing one-third of earth’s seas/oceans to become like blood.  This is an obvious depiction of a large asteroid, perhaps miles in diameter, which would indeed have the appearance of being a mountain on fire falling from the sky.  The bloodlike appearance of the ocean could be from discoloration caused by the asteroid or, more likely, is a graphic illustration of the blood shed by the tens of thousands of people killed when one-third of earth’s ships are destroyed combined with one-third of earth’s sea life also perishing.  It is apparent that this asteroid lands in one of earth’s great oceans, probably the Atlantic or Pacific.

The third trumpet causes a “great star” burning like a torch to fall from heaven, which results in one-third of earth’s rivers and springs of water becoming wormwood, probably meaning they’ve become exceedingly bitter, undrinkable and poisoned.  It states that this tainted water results in the death of many men.  This certainly cannot be referring to a literal, physical star that falls to earth, because it could only affect the rivers and springs where it actually fell.  To poison one-third of earth’s rivers and springs would require hundreds or thousands of stars falling throughout the world.  Therefore, this “great star” is obviously symbolic.  And, we know that the term star is used elsewhere in the book of Revelation to represent angels (Revelation 1:20; Revelation 12:4,7,9).  So, this third trumpet probably depicts a great angel coming down from heaven to turn one-third of earth’s rivers and springs into “wormwood” as another judgment upon our rebellious world.  Now, at this point, the earth has been pummeled by a global hailstorm, set on fire by the lightning from this storm, devastated from the impact of a huge asteroid, and had one-third of its fresh water sources poisoned and undrinkable.  Millions of dead bodies will be everywhere and disease will be widespread throughout the world.  Furthermore, multitudes will be dying from thirst and starvation.  It is fair to say that chaos and panic will be rampant.

Then, the fourth trumpet brings darkness to one-third of the sun, moon and stars.  This could either be a supernatural miracle of God, or the natural result of the previous trumpets.  Scientists tell us that one of the aftereffects of a major asteroid colliding with earth would be numerous earthquakes and massive volcanic eruptions sending incredible volumes of ash into our atmosphere, which when combined with the smoke from fires already covering one-third of earth’s surface, would certainly result in darkness covering much of our planet, probably the equivalent of one-third, as stated in Revelation.  Whatever the cause, one-third of the world is now covered in darkness.

In the fifth trumpet (Revelation 9:1-11), the key to the bottomless pit is given to a “star” fallen from heaven.  Since literal, physical stars do not have hands to receive or use keys, it is reasonable to assume that this star is also symbolic of an angel; in this case, a “fallen” angel named Abaddon or Apollyon, as stated in Revelation 9:11 (Revelation 12:4,7,9; Revelation 9:11).  This angel uses this key to open the “bottomless pit”.  The Greek word used here is “abussos”, which literally means an abyss or bottomless pit.   As you will see, this is quite significant.

When the abussos is opened a dark smoke arises, from which comes “demonic locusts”.  Why do I call them demonic locusts?  There are several reasons.  This abussos is the place where the devil will be punished for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).  It is also the place where the demons named “legion” did not want to be cast into by Jesus (Luke 8:30-31); they were obviously familiar with it.  It is also the place where the beast/antichrist of Revelation ascends from (Revelation 11:7; Revelation 17:8).  Therefore, we know that it is a place of punishment or torment for the devil and fallen angels.  It also may be the same place referred to by Peter in 2nd Peter 2:4, where angels who sinned were cast down to in “chains” of darkness.  The word Peter used in this text, which is translated as hell, is tartaros, and it is only used once in all of Scripture.  It means “deepest abyss”, which would be similar to abussos’ meaning of an abyss or pit that is bottomless.  You can’t get any deeper of an abyss than a bottomless one.  It is also noteworthy that the angels in tartaros are in chains, and the devil will likewise be in a “great chain” in the abussos (Revelation 20:1-3).

All of these things indicate that it is probably not normal “insect-locusts” that had been locked away in this abussos.  Furthermore, the antichrist who also ascends from the abussos, is certainly not a literal locust.  Moreover, the king of this army of locusts is a fallen angel named Abaddon or Apollyon.  Additionally, these locusts certainly do not look like normal locusts.  They are shaped like horses, have faces like men, gold-like crowns on their heads, hair like women’s, teeth like lions’, iron-like breastplates and tails like scorpions.  And, they sting people with their scorpion-tails causing pain so intense that men desire to die.  These are obviously some kind of supernatural locusts, and their place of origin, the abussos, is certainly within the demonic realm.  Therefore, I refer to them as demon-locusts.  

Revelation 9:4 stresses that these locusts of the fifth trumpet only afflict people who do not have God’s seal on their foreheads, so only the wicked.  This statement was not made concerning the first four trumpets, which could indicate that the first four trumpets affected everyone, including God’s people.  This would be similar to the plagues that God sent upon Egypt in the days of Moses, because there also some plagues affected both the Egyptians and the Israelites, and some only afflicted the Egyptians; the first three plagues affected both, but the final seven plagues affected Egyptians only.  Apparently, now, from the fifth trumpet through the seventh trumpet, only the wicked are affected. 

The chaos and panic caused by the first four trumpets will be multiplied greatly by the supernatural attack of these swarming locusts with their tormenting stings.  At this point, people would do anything to get relief from the calamities that have befallen them.  They would gladly support any government or person who could relieve their pain and offer solutions to their problems. 

The only possible remaining hindrance to antichrist’s one-world government would be if America, China or Russia was able to maintain their superpower status in spite of all of the global catastrophes brought by the judgments of the first five trumpets in Revelation.  However, because we know that the Bible says that the antichrist’s one-world government will arise; therefore, we also know that all obstacles that could stand in the way will be removed.  And, accordingly, it is likely that the poisoned waters, devastating storms and catastrophic impact of the asteroid will be strategically located so as to cripple these former superpowers, reducing them to no greater status than other nations.  If indeed this will be the case, that formerly mighty nations have been humbled, and all nations and peoples of earth are reeling in panic and chaos; then, the stage will have been set for the entrance of antichrist, and for the acceptance of his one-world government.  The question is, “how will he enter, and why will he be viewed by all people on earth as the one who has the solutions?”

Before I present a “possible” scenario that could cause the world to welcome him with open arms, I need to “set the stage” by reminding you that angels can impersonate human beings.  The Bible states that people have unwittingly entertained angels, thinking they were strangers in need (Hebrews 13:2).  In Genesis chapter 18, the Lord and two angels appeared to Abraham as three men.  Also, we’re told that Satan can transform himself into an “angel of light” (2nd Corinthians 11:14).  And, in 1st Samuel chapter 28, a “witch” brought up an evil spirit that appeared to be Samuel the prophet (It had to be an evil spirit because we know that witches do not have authority to make righteous dead people appear before them.).  Therefore, the Bible clearly reveals that angels can impersonate people.

I also need to point out the great increase in ”UFO” sightings in recent decades.  Informed Bible students know that civilizations from other galaxies are not visiting our wicked planet.  And, although government officials try to explain all of these sightings away to avoid mass panic and hysteria; yet, we know that there have been too many credible sightings from credible people with credible photographs in recent years for us to believe that nothing unusual or supernatural is happening.  If it’s not other civilizations visiting our planet, what is it?  A past acquaintance once commented to me that people are not seeing “UFO’s”, but rather “UFA’s”, unidentified “fallen angels”.  And, quite frankly, I think he’s right.   If this is true, why has Satan been doing this so frequently in recent decades?  What is he trying to prepare us for with all of these apparent “UFO” visitations?  Keeping this in mind, I need to share the results of a recent “Roper Poll” with you.  It was found that nearly sixty percent of Americans believe in UFO’s.  It is also noteworthy that many of today’s respected evolutionary scientists endorse the idea of panspermia; the theory that life on earth was “seeded” from outer space by a super-intelligent race.

With all of these things in mind, I ask you to consider the following “possible” scenario.  At this critical and desperate point in earth’s history, following the devastating effects of the five trumpets, which have already resulted in multiplied millions of fatalities and multitudes more beginning to die from thirst and starvation; this added to the financial collapse of national economies throughout the world and the painful torment caused by the stinging demon-locusts; at this critical moment earth’s satellites begin receiving intelligible messages from outer space.  Super-intelligent beings are telling earth’s leaders and scientists that they are aware of the crisis on earth, and that they are willing and able to help.

Because of the desperate and rapidly deteriorating conditions throughout the world, permission is given them to land on earth and to meet with world leaders.  The inhabitants of the space craft say that they will land in Rome, Italy.  Media cameras from every nation are present as the spaceship lands and opens its doors.  Then, the visitors appear and everyone is in shock.  Standing before them is one who appears to be the leader, and who identifies himself as Jesus Christ (the beast/antichrist of Revelation 13).  Beside him, stands one who appears to be second in authority; he identifies himself as the prophet Mohammed (the “False Prophet” of Revelation 13:11-15 and Revelation 16:13).  Other famous, religious holy men are also present, such as one claiming to be Moses, another claiming to be the “Supreme Buddha”, and also a revered and famous Hindu swami.  Professed Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, constituting nearly eighty percent of earth’s population, are filled with excitement and awe.  The antichrist explains that many roads lead to heaven, and that all are loved by God.  He also says that they have landed in Rome because it is the home of the Vatican and papacy, which he states is the head of the Christian Church on earth, thus endearing himself to the pope and to earth’s one billion Catholics.

The antichrist says that he understands if some are skeptical about him.  So, he offers to give proof of his power, authority and goodwill.  He raises his hand and commands the tormenting locusts to immediately vanish throughout the world; of course, they do so because they are actually demons under his command.  However, this instantaneous and undeniable miracle, which brings worldwide relief to every unsaved person, from the nagging persistent pain caused by these demon-locusts; this miracle causes universal acceptance and adoration of antichrist and his fellow demonic impersonators.

Antichrist’s “performance”, though, has only begun.  He has arranged for a couple of assassins to be among those welcoming his group to earth.  And, in the midst of the festivities, he is shot in the head several times at close range.  There is pandemonium as he is pronounced dead at the scene.  However, three days later his deadly wound is healed (Revelation 13:3), and he miraculously resurrects himself from the dead after having already been embalmed.

Following this second incredible and undeniable miracle, the “fake” Moses instructs all Jews to worship this false Christ.  Mohammed (the False Prophet) commands all Muslims to worship him as well.  And, the “Supreme Buddha” and Hindu swami follow suit, by telling all Buddhists and Hindus to also revere him.  The vast majority of the world population then demands that their leaders accept and exalt antichrist to the position of president or premier of a new worldwide government.

PART THREE

To examine the reign of this antichrist we must go into the book of Revelation, especially chapter 13.  And, as we do, I believe that we find Satan’s ultimate counterfeit of God.  Satan knows that God is a “trinity”, one God, but manifest in the three distinct divine persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Isaiah 14:12-14 reveals that “Lucifer”, Satan’s original name when he was still an unfallen angel in heaven, wanted to become God.  He said that he wanted to become “like” the Most High.  So, now Satan tries to pull it off, by establishing his own false trinity, an “unholy trinity”, on earth.

Satan, the Dragon/Devil (Revelation 12:3,4,7-9), is the “unholy god the father” of this unholy trinity.  The Bible refers to him as the god of this age in 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4, and he is referred to as the “father” of lies and the “father” of the wicked Pharisees in John 8:44.

The first beast of Revelation 13:1-8, the antichrist, is the Unholy Christ or “unholy god manifest in the flesh”.  I will speak more about this later, but first we’ll take a look at the full description of this antichrist-beast in Revelation 13.

Revelation 13:1 says that this beast (antichrist) has seven heads with a blasphemous name written on them and ten horns with crowns.  Revelation 17:9-10 says that the seven heads represent seven mountains upon which the “woman harlot” of Revelation 17 sits, which I will discuss in detail later; however, it says that the seven heads also represent seven kings, five of which have fallen, one that is (at the time Revelation was written in the first century AD), and one that is yet to come who will continue for a short time. 

Who are these seven kings or kingdoms?  We get some helpful insight in Revelation 13:2, where it says that this beast was like a leopard, but with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion’s.  These particular animals were used in the book of Daniel to represent world kingdoms that ruled over and oppressed God’s people, and nearly all theologians agree that they represented Greece, Medo-Persia and Babylon.  Therefore, it is probable that the kings or kingdoms represented by the seven heads on the antichrist-beast, also represent world kingdoms that have ruled over and oppressed God’s people throughout history.  We know that both biblical and secular history speak of the world kingdoms of Egypt and Assyria, and we know that the Bible records their persecution of the Israelites.  These two kingdoms preceded Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece, and all five of them had fallen from their world empire status before Revelation was written.  Therefore, these five kingdoms would be the five that had fallen, mentioned in Revelation 17:10.  The world kingdom that Revelation said “is” (at the time of its writing), would have to be the Roman Empire.  And, since the Roman Empire, there has never been another world kingdom, although men like Napoleon and Hitler certainly tried.  This is no coincidence, for the role of the seventh king or kingdom, referred to as the one that will continue for a short time, will be fulfilled by the Revelation 13 antichrist-beast himself, for it states that he will reign for 42 months, three and a half years, (Revelation 13:5).  Why do these seven heads have a blasphemous name written on them?  Because all of these pagan kingdoms had trampled on God’s people and exalted their pagan gods, thus blaspheming the true God.  And, the greatest blasphemy is yet to come during the reign of antichrist.

What about the ten horns with crowns?  Revelation 17:12-14 states that they represent ten new kings who do not yet have any kingdoms, but who will receive authority from the antichrist-beast, and who will submit to antichrist to do his will, including assembling with him to attack the Lamb Himself, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:2 says that the dragon (devil) gives the antichrist-beast his authority, power and throne.  And, Revelation 13:3-4 states that the antichrist-beast will receive a mortal wound, but that his mortal wound will be healed, which causes the world to marvel at him and even to worship him.

Revelation 13:5 says that the antichrist-beast will reign for 42 months (three and a half years), and that he will speak blasphemies.  In 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-9, we’re told that this “man of sin” will sit in the temple of God and declare himself to be God, which is the ultimate blasphemy.

Revelation 13:7 states that he “makes war” with the saints and overcomes them.  This will be an intense persecution with severe penalties including not being able to buy and sell, as well as an eventual death decree for all who refuse to worship him, thus resulting in many martyrs (Revelation 13:14-17; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 11:7-8; Revelation 14:12-13).  Revelation 13:7 also declared that antichrist would have authority over every tribe, tongue and nation.  In other words, he will have a worldwide kingdom.  And, Revelation 13:8 tells us that everyone who is not in the Lamb’s Book of Life will worship him.  He truly becomes a “god” to all of the unsaved.

Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 17:8 state that the antichrist-beast “ascends” out of the abussos (abyss or bottomless pit).  Once again, the abussos is the place where the devil will be chained for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3), and was also the place that the demons named “legion” begged Jesus not to cast them into (Luke 8:30-31).  It is also the place that will be unlocked during the fifth trumpet, from which hordes of demon-locusts will be released with the fallen angel, Apollyon, as their leader (Revelation 9:1-3,11).  In view of all of this, it is apparent that the antichrist-beast is a fallen angel or “demon”.

Revelation 13:17-18 says that the antichrist’s name has a numeric value of 666.  Therefore, the letters of his name will total 666 in some language, perhaps Greek, Hebrew or Latin.  However, this text also states that it is the number of a “man”.  That means that the antichrist-beast is also a man!

How can the antichrist be both a demon and a man?  This brings us back to my earlier statement that the antichrist-beast is the second member of Satan’s “Unholy Trinity”.  He is the “False Christ”, the Unholy Christ, the “unholy god manifest in the flesh”.  Jesus Christ is the God-Man, and the antichrist is the demon-man.  Is this possible?  From the following scriptures, you will see that it is very possible, if not probable.

In Genesis 6:1-5 we’re told that the “sons of God” went into the “daughters of men”, and that giants were born of them, followed by such an immediate and drastic increase of wickedness that every intent and thought of the people was wicked continually, except for Noah and his family.  It became so wicked that God destroyed all of mankind except for Noah’s family.  This incredible spike in wickedness happened within just 1500 years of a “perfect creation” starting point.  We have not replicated that level of evil in the 4500 years since then, and our starting point was from an “imperfect Noah”, not a perfect Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  So, something out of the ordinary must have happened to radically increase the level of evil so quickly and dramatically.

The reference to the “sons of God” going into the “daughters of men” in this passage is very significant.  The traditional explanation has been that these sons of God are righteous men having sexual relations with unrighteous women.  There are, however, three problems with this explanation.  Would truly righteous men be having sexual relations with unrighteous women?  And, why would “righteous men” having sexual relations with unrighteous women cause such a great and immediate increase of evil, the likes of which we have never seen since then?  Moreover, I cannot think of any other reference in Scripture when a righteous man married or had sexual relations with an unrighteous woman, where it is referred to as a “son of God” having gone into a “daughter of men”.  This is, in fact, a very unique passage, and I believe it has a very unique answer, which is a biblical answer.

When the fallen angel, Satan, appeared before the Lord with other apparently angelic beings, they are referred to as “sons of God” (Job 1:6; Job 2:1).  Also, when God was creating the earth, which was before mankind was created, the Bible states that the “sons of God” shouted for joy (Job 38:7).  So, once again, we have apparently angelic beings, or at least non-humans, because humans were not created yet, being referred to as “sons of God”.  Therefore, at the very least, it is certainly a plausible biblical option for us to consider the possibility of the reference to sons of God going into the daughters of men, as referring to angels mingling with women.  And, because the fallen angel Satan was considered to be one of those sons of God, we know that this term also includes “fallen angels”.  So, it is possible that Genesis 6:1-5 is referring to fallen angels/demons having sexual relations with women, which certainly would explain why the level of evil had such a great and immediate increase.

There are also other indications in Scripture that this indeed could be the case.  Verse six in the book of Jude mentions angels who did not keep their “proper domain” and who “left their abode”, and, because of which, God has put them in everlasting chains under darkness until the judgment.  And, Peter adds to Jude’s description, saying that God cast the angels who sinned down to “tartaros” (hell) (2nd Peter 2:4).  As previously mentioned, this is the only reference to tartaros in Scripture.  It literally means the “deepest abyss”.  Furthermore, people are never referred to as being in, or going to, tartaros, so this “deepest abyss” was only for a group of fallen angels who sinned by leaving their proper domain.  Could this be referring to the “fallen angels” (sons of God) who disobeyed God, trying to totally pollute and destroy the human race by having sexual relations with women in an effort to quickly and drastically increase sin to such an extent that human minds would be totally taken over by it, thus resulting in God casting these angels into this “deepest abyss”? Verse seven in the book of Jude adds more biblical support for this theory, for, right after mentioning the angels who did not keep their “proper domain” and who “left their abode” in verse six; verse seven immediately follows with the statement that Sodom and Gomorrah, in a similar manner, gave themselves over to sexual immorality and going after “strange flesh”. Jude, verse seven, clearly states that Sodom and Gomorrah’s sins of sexual immorality and going after “strange flesh”, were similar to the sins of the fallen angels in verse six. Therefore, we know that these angels’ sins were of a “sexual nature” with strange flesh. This reference makes it highly probable that a number of fallen angels did indeed engage in sexual relations with women, which would have been “strange flesh” to angels.

Luke 8:30-31 makes this scenario seem even more likely.  Why?  Because when Jesus was casting out the demons named “Legion”, they begged Him not to cast them into the abussos (abyss or bottomless pit).  So, these demons were obviously aware of a very “unpleasant” place where fallen angels/demons could be cast into.  How did they know this unless some of their fellow “fallen angels” had already been sent there, such as the ones who sinned by not keeping their proper domain when they, the sons of God in Genesis 6:1-5, had sexual relations with women?  It is also noteworthy that the abussos (abyss or bottomless pit) is never mentioned as a place where people enter, just as tartaros (deepest abyss) is also never referred to as a place where people enter.  It seems likely that these two words are referring to the same place because, as previously mentioned, you can’t get any deeper of an abyss than a bottomless one; furthermore, because both words refer to the location where disobedient fallen angels are punished.

Therefore, there is a strong biblical case that can be made that fallen angels had sexual relations with women, which created a combination “demon-man” offspring that had only evil thoughts continually (Genesis 6:5); furthermore, resulting in these fallen angels being cast into a place of torment referred to as a deepest abyss or bottomless pit.

Now, remember that the abussos (bottomless pit) is the place where the devil is chained for 1000 years (Revelation 20:1-3), and is also the place that will be unlocked during the fifth trumpet (Revelation 9:1-3), from which hordes of demon-locusts will be released.  Finally, remember that it is the place where the “antichrist-beast” ascends from (Revelation 11:7; Revelation 17:8).  This is very significant, because Revelation 13:18 states that he is a man; yet, he also had been locked away in the abussos where fallen angels/demons were kept in punishment until this abussos was unlocked during the fifth trumpet.  Therefore, he apparently is a man, but he is obviously also a fallen angel/demon.  How can he be both demon and man?  Could he be one of the wicked “demon-men” offspring from Genesis chapter six, thus making him the perfect wicked counterfeit for Jesus Christ; Jesus being the holy God-Man offspring, and the antichrist-beast being the unholy demon-man offspring?

It is interesting and significant that abussos is only used one other time in Scripture, in Romans 10:7, where it refers to a place that Jesus visited or went when He died.  Why would Jesus have gone to the abussos, where only fallen angels/demons and apparently also their demon-men offspring were (I say this because we know that the antichrist was also there, who is called a man while still having been one of the demons in the abussos,)?  Why would Jesus have gone there, and what did He do there?

1st Peter 3:18-20 refers to Christ having gone to preach, through the spirit, to “spirits in prison” who had been disobedient during the days of Noah.  And, Ephesians 4: 8-10 refers to Christ having descended into the “lower parts” of the earth, before ascending on high while “leading captivity captive” (KJV and NKJV translations), or while “He led captives in His train” (NIV and NEB translations), or while “He led a host of captives” (RSV and NASB translations);  the obvious consensus of these various translations being that this Ephesians text clearly states that Jesus returned from His visit to the “lower parts” of the earth with a group that had apparently been held captive there, whom Jesus took with Him when He “ascended on high”.

Could it be that Christ’s infinite love, grace, mercy and equitable justice caused Him to give an opportunity for salvation to those who had no opportunity before, because they had “demonic genes” mingled with human genes resulting from the intercourse of fallen angels with the daughters of men, which had caused their thoughts to be evil continually as stated in Genesis 6:1-5?  And, were these demon-men offspring in Genesis, the “spirits in prison” from the days of Noah that the Bible says Christ preached to in 1st Peter 3:18-20?

At His death, did Christ’s spirit descend into the “lower parts” of the earth mentioned in Ephesians 4:8-10, into the abussos referred to in Romans 10:7, where He preached, as Peter states in 1st Peter 3:19, the gospel to this “tainted offspring” in such a manner that they would also have an opportunity for salvation?  And, did many or perhaps most of them accept the gospel; thus constituting the “host of captives” that Christ victoriously took captive to Himself when He ascended back to heaven?

Could it then be possible that Satan chose to exalt one of the remaining demon-men offspring to the position of being the second person in his “unholy trinity-godhead”, because this demon-man had maintained his fidelity to Satan by refusing the gospel message preached by Christ, and also because his combined demon-man status made him the perfect “unholy counterfeit” of Jesus’ combined God-Man status?  And now, after having been locked away in the dreaded abussos for 2000 years due to his rejection of the gospel, he is among those who are released when the abussos is unlocked during the fifth trumpet (Revelation 9:1-3; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 17:8).  Therefore, he comes out with such a ferocious vengeance, hatred and malevolence against Jesus, that he relishes the idea of stealing His glory by impersonating Him; moreover, that causes him to want to exterminate all those who call on the name of Jesus Christ.

I believe that this scenario with the antichrist-beast imitating Christ’s supernatural “God-Man” status, by being an evil, supernatural demon-man, accords with Scripture.  And, the following scriptures give additional evidence of antichrist’s attempt to duplicate the role of Jesus Christ.  The Bible states that the antichrist claims to be God, even as Jesus did (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4,9-10; John 5:18; John 8:58).  Scripture also says that the “dragon-devil/unholy father” gives the antichrist-beast his power and authority, just as Jesus said that His Father gave Him His authority and power to do the works that He did (Revelation 13:4; John 14:10-11).  And, the antichrist-beast receives a deadly wound and revives (Revelation 13:3), even as Jesus died on the cross and resurrected.  Furthermore, Revelation 13:4 reveals that as people were worshipping the antichrist-beast, they were simultaneously worshipping the “dragon-devil/unholy father”, because the antichrist was sent by and represented the dragon; this copies what Jesus said about Him having been sent by His Father, and that when we honor, believe in, receive, know and see Jesus, we also honor, believe in, receive, know and see His Father (John 5:23; John 12:44; John 13:20; John 14:7; John 14:9).  It is indeed obvious that the antichrist-beast is an attempted “evil duplicate” of Jesus Christ.

If the dragon-devil is the unholy father of Satan’s false and “unholy trinity”, and the antichrist-beast/demon-man is the second person in this unholy trinity, the “unholy god manifest in the flesh”; then, who is the third person of Satan’s trinity?  Who is his replacement for the Holy Spirit? 

It is the second beast that appears in Revelation 13, referred to as “another beast” (Revelation 13:11).  This second beast and his role are described in detail in Revelation 13:11-17.  We’re told that he looks like a lamb, but that he speaks like a dragon.  We know that Jesus Christ is the “Lamb of God” in Scripture, and that the dragon represents the devil.  Therefore this second beast entity must pretend to be lamb-like or Christ-like, but his words and his commands come straight from the devil.   This passage in Revelation states that he has the same authority as the “first beast” (antichrist) in his presence, and that he does miracles to deceive the world in order to cause people to worship the antichrist-beast.  We’re told that he actually has an “image”, apparently a statue/idol, made to the antichrist; moreover, that he miraculously causes this “icon” to breathe and speak.  Revelation 13:15 states that everyone is commanded to worship this idol, and if they don’t, they will be killed.  We’re talking about full-blown idolatry here.

How could this happen in our 21st century world?  It could easily happen for a few reasons.  If the antichrist makes a miraculous entry into our world, similar to the scenario I’ve presented in this article, and performs miracles culminating with resurrecting from the dead after receiving his deadly wound (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 13:3); moreover, if one of his miracles provides immediate relief from intense suffering to all of earth’s worldwide population, such as ridding the world of the painfully tormenting demon-locusts;  then, people everywhere will be willing to do just about anything he would ask.  Furthermore, we live in a world that is prepared to believe in and worship such a “talking image” as the one presented in Revelation 13.  Three billion Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists are already accustomed to worshipping and bowing to supposedly “sacred places” and/or religious statues.  And, Roman Catholics throughout the world have been bowing to and revering religious statues for many centuries; besides, in recent times, some Catholic icons have been mysteriously and miraculously weeping tears or oozing oil, resulting in their veneration and worship; these things preparing earth’s billion Catholics to also accept and worship such a talking image, particularly if the pope, their supposedly infallible leader, would instruct them to do so.  And, if the antichrist secures the pope’s allegiance by exalting him in some manner, such as in the scenario that I’ve presented in this article, the papacy would likely support his agenda.

The second beast in Revelation 13 also forces everyone to receive a “mark” on their right hand or forehead (the mark of the beast), which they must have in order to buy or sell.  I will discuss the mark of the beast shortly.

Why do I say that this second beast of Revelation 13 is the devil’s replacement for the Holy Spirit in Satan’s “unholy trinity”?  There are several reasons.  The second beast is also called the “false prophet” in Revelation 16:13, and prophecy is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Also, whereas the antichrist-beast is referred to as a “man”, the “second beast/false prophet” is never referred to as a man, just as the Holy Spirit is not a man.  Could he be the exact opposite, the “complete counterfeit” of the Holy Spirit; nothing more than one of Satan’s evil spirits (the unholy spirit) impersonating a human prophet?  And, could his impersonation take on the form of the prophet Mohammed, so as to secure the support of earth’s one and a half billion Muslims?

Also, remember that the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus and glorifies Him (John 15:26; John 16:14).  And, this “second beast/false prophet” testifies of the antichrist-beast and glorifies and exalts him to the extent of causing the world to worship him, even having an image/idol made to him (Revelation 13:11-15).  Additionally, just as it is the Holy Spirit who provides power and “powerful gifts”, like the working of miracles (Acts 1:8; 1st Corinthians 12:10-11), likewise this “second beast/false prophet” also does powerful miracles (Revelation 13:13-14).  He is indeed an apparent counterfeit for the Holy Spirit.  Thus, with the “false prophet” playing the role of the unholy spirit, Satan’s “unholy trinity” is complete.

PART FOUR

Now, we’ll discuss the mark of the beast.  As previously mentioned, the second beast and antichrist force everyone throughout the world to receive a “mark” (the mark of the beast) in their right hand or forehead in order to buy and sell.  What is this mark?  This word, “mark”, is translated from the Greek word charagma, which means mark, stamp, etch, scratch or engrave.  In the context of this passage in Revelation 13, with this mark, etching, scratching or engraving happening to a human hand or forehead, it would seem to imply a piercing of the skin, perhaps such as would be necessary to insert a “computer microchip”. 

With today’s technology, a computer microchip could be easily implanted in a moment’s time as a nonsurgical procedure.  It could contain all vital legal identification, medical, financial and other government required information that would completely eliminate the need for drivers licenses, insurance cards, credit cards, checking accounts, cash, and just about all other forms of paperwork.  And, according to Revelation 13:16-18, it will also contain either the name of the antichrist-beast or the number of his name, which is 666.  If it contains his number, 666, it will probably be mixed in with some type of long serial number to be less conspicuous.  It will also need to have satellite tracking capacity in order to effectively monitor the buying and selling of the worldwide population. 

There will be numerous logical reasons given for the necessity of installing these microchips.  They will be advertised as being the means for stopping kidnapping and runaway children, because the location of all people would be known at all times.  The microchips would also stop all monetary and identity theft, because they would completely eliminate the use of currency and identification documents.  They would stop all illegal drug sales, because they have created a cashless society with all transactions done via the microchips, and constantly visible to government officials everywhere; moreover, this worldwide around the clock monitoring of every single person would drastically reduce all other forms of crime, because it would be impossible to commit any crime without being caught immediately.

These and other compelling reasons will be used to mandate global implementation of the microchips.  Furthermore, the convenience of not having to carry around anymore credit cards, debit cards, checks, cash, insurance cards, various licenses and other identification documents, will certainly be attractive to most people as well.  It will, in fact, appear that only stubborn, unreasonable, ignorant and evil people would oppose this apparently good and necessary legal requirement of global microchip implementation.

It is a provable biblical fact that this time of microchip enforcement and death decrees during the three and a half year reign of the antichrist in the book of Revelation, covers the same period of time as the “great tribulation” in Matthew 24.  I know that most Bible teachers will tell you that the “great tribulation” referred to by Jesus in Matthew 24 is the tribulation surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. However, a close study of the context of Matthew 24:15-30 reveals that the “great tribulation” mentioned here by Jesus unquestionably is primarily referring to the time period just before His return at the end of the world. To begin with, most theologians agree that the prophecies in Matthew 24 can refer to either the destruction of Jerusalem or the “last days” before Christ’s return; moreover, that in some cases they have dual applications. In fact, in Matthew 24:1-3, Jesus Himself stated that the signs that He was about to give applied to both events; the destruction of Jerusalem and His return at the end of the world. However, the great tribulation referred to in Matthew 24:21, certainly finds its primary fulfillment during the “last days” before Christ’s return, because of all of the following indisputable biblical and historical reasons.

During this time period, when followers of Jesus will be fleeing for their lives, Matthew 24:15 states that an “abomination of desolation” will be standing in the holy place in Jerusalem.  It’s both interesting and significant that, just before Jesus returns, 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-9 says that the “son of perdition” (antichrist) will be sitting as God in the temple of God. That is certainly a striking and specific fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy of an abomination sitting in the holy place in Matthew 24:15.

It is also significant that Jesus referred to this great tribulation following the abomination sitting in the holy place, as being a tribulation “such as has not been”, nor ever will be in Matthew 24:21-22; furthermore, that unless the days of this tribulation were shortened, no flesh would be saved. This can’t be referring to the tribulation the Jews suffered from Rome in 70 AD, because they had suffered similar tribulation before when Babylon burned Jerusalem to the ground and murdered and enslaved their people.  And, they certainly suffered even greater tribulation in the future when six-million Jews were slaughtered by Hitler. Also, the Jews’ specific tribulation and suffering in 70 AD would not have caused “no flesh” to be saved, but only Jews who were living in Jerusalem.  Christ’s disciples throughout the rest of the world were not threatened by the Romans’ destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  However, the great tribulation at the end of the world caused by the antichrist will indeed surpass all previous tribulations, because it is worldwide with an internationally enforced “mark of the beast” and worldwide death decree for all who don’t worship the beast, according to Revelation 13. Moreover, there obviously will be no tribulations coming in the future to compare with the one caused by antichrist because it occurs at the end of the world. And, the tribulation brought by antichrist also fulfills Christ’s statement that “no flesh would be saved” from destruction if God did not shorten the days, because it is a “worldwide” death decree. To any previously unbrainwashed and unbiased reader it is obvious that the antichrist’s tribulation in the “last days” is the fulfillment of Jesus’ “great tribulation” prophecy in Matthew 24:21-22, and not the tribulation surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD.

Furthermore, Matthew 24:23-24 speaks of false christs and false prophets doing great signs and wonders during the time of the tribulation period mentioned by Jesus, but there are no early historical or church records of such dramatic and supernatural phenomenon happening around 70 AD.  However, regarding the great tribulation caused by the antichrist in the last days, 2nd Thessalonians 2:8-9 and Revelation 13:13-14 speak of signs, miracles and great and lying wonders being done, including fire falling from heaven.  Once again, Jesus’ words find their fulfillment during the tribulation of the last days, not in the Jews’ tribulation in 70 AD.

Then, in Matthew 24:29, Jesus said that the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken immediately after the tribulation that He had mentioned in Matthew 24:21.  Does secular or church history record any such cataclysmic phenomenon having occurred around 70 AD?  No!  So, once again, this has to be referring to the great tribulation caused by antichrist in the last days just before the return of Jesus.  And, in fact, that is exactly what it says in Matthew 24:30; the Son of Man appears in the heavens right after these cataclysmic heavenly signs. It also states that all the tribes of the earth shall see Jesus and mourn at His appearance at this time.  Did Jesus appear in the heavens with the entire world seeing Him in 70 AD?  No!  But, we know that this will happen at the end of the world.

Therefore, from all of the evidence, signs and context presented by Jesus in Matthew 24:15-30, it is indisputable that the great tribulation mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24:21, is during the reign of antichrist at the end of the world.  In other words, Matthew 24:21 correlates to Revelation 13:4-17.

It is also probable that the prophecy in Matthew 24:14, concerning the gospel being preached as a witness to “all nations” before the end comes, correlates to the ministry of the “two witnesses” in Revelation 11:3-12.  Their ministry is powerful and also is “worldwide”, and it culminates with their ascension to heaven and also with the end of the world.  I will speak more about that a little later.

PART FIVE

The antichrist-beast is associated with another important entity in Revelation 17.  Therefore, at this point in our end-time study, we’ll examine the Apostle John’s vision of the “harlot woman” in Revelation 17:1-9.  John sees a harlot sitting on “many waters”.  As we’ve previously discovered, a chaste and righteous woman or bride often depicts God’s faithful people/church in Scripture (2nd Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-9).  However, an impure, harlot woman often depicts God’s “professed people/church” when they are unfaithful, disobedient and compromising with sin and the world (Jeremiah 3:1,8; Ezekiel 16:26-39; James 4:4-5).  Revelation 17:15 also tells us that the “waters” on which the harlot sits represents multitudes, peoples, nations and tongues.  Therefore, we have a picture of an unfaithful, disobedient church who presides over multitudes of people throughout many nations and languages.

Revelation 17:2 states that this “harlot/unfaithful church” has committed fornication with kings of the earth in the past.  So, this unfaithful church has had influence over, and dealings and compromises with, many nations and their leaders; moreover, she will also be associated with the antichrist-beast in earth’s final days, because we’re told that she is “sitting on” the antichrist-beast as he carries her (Revelation 17:3,7).  This “harlot/unfaithful church” has also been unfaithful to Jesus, her espoused Husband (2nd Corinthians 11:2), because she is accused of committing fornication.

Revelation 17:4-5 pictures her in the attire of a harlot and declares that she is guilty of “abominations”.  It states that she has the name Babylon on her forehead, and calls her the “mother of harlots”.  Then, Revelation 17:6 adds that she is guilty of being drunk with the “blood” of the martyrs of Jesus.  And, Revelation 17:7-9 explains that the seven heads of the beast that carries her represent seven mountains/hills on which the harlot sits (The RSV, KJV, NKJV and NASB translations say “mountains”, whereas the NIV, NLT, NEB and “Amplified” translations say “hills”).

Who does this “harlot/unfaithful church” represent?  Revelation 17:1-9 provided us with several clear and specific clues to help us answer this question.  This unfaithful church has presided over multitudes in many nations and tongues/languages, committed fornication by being unfaithful to Jesus in her compromises and dealings with kings/nations, committed abominations, called Babylon, shed the blood of Jesus’ martyrs, and is located in a region or city that sits upon seven mountains or hills.

There is only one church that fulfills this description.  The Roman Catholic Church has a billion members spanning every nation and most languages.  The Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages was in league with kings/nations forcing its church mandates upon people throughout Europe at the threat of excommunication, imprisonment and death; thus constituting the most egregious infidelity to Jesus.  And, when it comes to speaking, practicing and teaching abominations, just read the following quotes from various official sources in the Catholic Church.

 “The Pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain, or interpret even divine law”. The pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man, but of God, and he acts a vicegerent of God upon earth” Lucius Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca, art. Papa, II, Vol. VI, p. 29.

 ”I have repeatedly offered $1,000 to anyone who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic Church alone. The Bible says ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.’ The Catholic Church says, No. By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day and command you to keep holy the first day of the week. And lo! The entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the Holy Catholic Church.” Priest Thomas Enright, C.S.S.R., February 18, 1884, Printed in the American Sentinel, a New York Roman Catholic journal in June 1893, p. 173.

 ‘Deny the authority of the Church and you have no adequate or reasonable explanation or justification for the substitution of Sunday for Saturday in the Third - Protestant Fourth - Commandment of God… The Church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.” Catholic Record, September 1, 1923.

“The leader of the Catholic church is defined by the faith as the Vicar of Jesus Christ (and is accepted as such by believers). The Pope is considered the man on earth who “takes the place” of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity.” John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994

Pope Nicholas I declared that “the appellation of God had been confirmed by Constantine on the Pope, who being God, cannot be judged by man.” (Labb IX Dist.: 96 Can 7 Satis Evidentur Decret Gratian Primer Para)

Pope Nicholas said of himself: “I am in all and above all, so that God Himself and I, the vicar of God, hath both one consistory, and I am able to do almost all that God can do…wherefore, if those things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, what do you make of me but God? Again, if prelates of the Church be called of Constantine for gods, I then being above all prelates, seem by this reason to be above all gods. Wherefore, no marvel, if it be in my power to dispense with all things, yea with the precepts of Christ.” (Decret. par. Distinct 96 ch. 7 edit. Lugo 1661)

Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) wrote: “We may according to the fullness of our power, dispose of the law and dispense above the law. Those whom the Pope of Rome doth separate, it is not a man that separates them but God. For the Pope holdeth place on earth, not simply of a man but of the true God.” (1 Book of Gregory 9 Decret. c.3)

 The title “Lord God the Pope” - these words appeared in the Canon Law of Rome. “To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical.”  (The Gloss extravagances of Pope John XXII Cum. Inter, tit XIV Ad Callem Sexti Decretalium, Paris, 1685)

“Heretics (those who are not members of the Catholic Church or who do not hold to Catholic doctrine) worship a God who is a liar, and a Christ who is a liar.” St. Augustine, (quoted in “Patrologiae Cursus Completus: Series Graca”, by Fr. J. P. Migne, Paris: 1866, 42:207).

The above quotes speak for themselves and require no further comments regarding their constituting abominations.  However, carrying on, Revelation 17 also said that Babylon is written on this unfaithful church’s forehead.  Keeping this in mind, it is significant that the Apostle Peter identifies his writing location as having been Babylon in 1st Peter 5:13, and he states that Mark is with him as well.  Why is this significant?  Because nearly all theologians agree that the book of 1st Peter is written from Rome while Peter was in prison there.  Additionally, while the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he stated that Mark was also with him there (Colossians 4:10).  Therefore, we know that Mark was in Rome at this time, and Peter said that Mark was also with him, which provides more evidence that Peter wrote 1st Peter from Rome; moreover, he was already referring to the city of Rome as Babylon.  Thus, the Roman Catholic Church’s headquarters in Rome/Babylon also fulfills the Babylon clue.

The mother of harlots clue also is fulfilled by the Roman Catholic Church.  Roman Catholicism is the first organized Christian Church from which all other Christian denominations came from, who in many cases have adopted her unbiblical teachings and abominable doctrines and practices.  How have they done so?  Consider the following.  Many Protestant leaders today refer to the pope as a great man of God and as the holy father, although they are fully aware of the past history of the papacy, which I will expand upon shortly, and are also aware that Jesus commanded that we are not to give any man the religious title of father (Matthew 23:8-10). 

Furthermore, many of today’s Protestant and Evangelical churches have adopted the same greedy, selfish, lavish, materialistic, money-focused religion that characterized the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages.  The Catholic Church poured its great wealth into huge, expensive, ornate cathedrals to pamper itself, and numerous Protestant and Evangelical churches throughout America are also pampering themselves by pouring their great wealth into expensive, luxurious, colossal mega churches costing multiplied millions of dollars, while millions of children worldwide die from starvation annually.

Protestant churches also continue teaching the Roman Catholic Church’s sadistic hell doctrine, which was used so effectively by the Catholic Church to scare its parishioners into buying indulgences for their sins, so they wouldn’t have to go to such a place of horrific torment throughout the endless ages of eternity; Protestants now continue to embrace this unjust and sadistic teaching, which I prove to be unbiblical in my article titled “Hell” on this website, and in the process slander the gracious, loving and just God of Christianity.

Protestant churches also continue trampling upon the fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments as the Catholic Church had done, and in the process pay homage to the Catholic Church and its unbiblical Sunday commandment, instead of honoring and obeying the commandment that memorializes God as Creator, the fourth commandment.  In my article titled “Sabbath” on this website, I present an overwhelming amount of biblical evidence that proves there is no biblical authority or precedent whatsoever for honoring the first day of the week, Sunday, instead of the seventh-day Sabbath commanded by God in the Ten Commandments.  Please read the following quotes from sources of authority within the Catholic Church regarding this issue, and notice their mockery of Protestants for following the Catholic Church’s practice of honoring Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath of the fourth commandment.

 “The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the [Catholic] Church.” Monsignor Louis Segur, ‘Plain Talk about the Protestantism of Today’, p. 213.

 “The Sabbath was Saturday, not Sunday. The Church altered the observance of the Sabbath to the observance of Sunday. Protestants must be rather puzzled by the keeping of Sunday when God distinctly said, ‘Keep holy the Sabbath Day.’ The word Sunday does not come anywhere in the Bible, so, without knowing it they are obeying the authority of the Catholic Church.” Canon Cafferata, The Catechism Explained, p. 89.

”Reason and sense demand the acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and the keeping holy of Saturday, or Catholicity and the keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible.” John Cardinal Gibbons, The Catholic Mirror, December 23, 1893.

“They [the Protestants] deem it their duty to keep the Sunday holy. Why? Because the Catholic Church tells them to do so. They have no other reason. …The observance of Sunday thus comes to be an ecclesiastical law entirely distinct from the Divine law of Sabbath observance. .The author of the Sunday Law…is the Catholic Church.” (Walter Drum, Catholic priest, Ecclesiastical Review, February, 1914)

“Protestants…accept Sunday rather than Saturday as the day for public worship after the Catholic Church made the change. But the Protestant mind does not seem to realize that in observing the Sunday, in keeping Christmas and Easter, they are accepting the authority of the spokesman for the church–the Pope.” (Our Sunday Visitor, February 5, 1950.)

“My brethren, look about the various wrangling sects and denominations. Show me one that claims or possesses the power to make laws binding on the conscience. There is but one on the face of the earth-the Catholic Church-that has the power to make laws binding upon the conscience, binding before God, binding upon the pain of hellfire.  Take for instance, the day we celebrate-Sunday. What right have the Protestant churches to observe that day? None whatsoever. You say it is to obey the commandment, ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.’ But Sunday is not the Sabbath according to the Bible and the record of time.  Everyone knows that Sunday is the first day of the week, while Saturday is the seventh, and the Sabbath, the day consecrated as a day of rest.  It is so recognized in all civilized nations.  It was the Holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week.  And has not only compelled all to keep Sunday, but at the council of Laodicea, A.D. 364 anathemized those who kept the Sabbath and urged all persons to labor on the seventh day under penalty of anathema.  Which church does the whole civilized world obey?  Protestants call us every horrible name they can think of-anti-Christ, the scarlet-colored beast, Babylon, etc., and at the same time profess great reverence for the Bible, and yet by their solemn act of keeping Sunday, they acknowledge the power of the Catholic Church.” (Industrial American, Harlan Iowa; a published lecture by T. Enright, December 19, 1889)

“But since Saturday, not Sunday, is specified in the Bible, isn’t it curious that non-Catholics who profess to take their religion directly from the Bible and not the Church, observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Yes, of course, it is inconsistent; but this change was made about fifteen centuries before Protestantism was born, and by that time the custom was universally observed. They have continued the custom, even though it rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible. That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church from which the non-Catholic sects broke away - like a boy running away from home but still carrying in his pocket a picture of his “mother” or a lock of her hair.” Faith of Millions, pp. 400 and 401, by the Reverend John A. O’Brien, PH.D., Copyright 1938, published by Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington Indiana.  (Emphasis supplied)

Once again, the above quotes speak for themselves, and no further comment is needed.  However, there is another similarity between the Roman Catholic Church and her Protestant daughters.  The Catholic Church has practiced abominations such as making, revering and bowing to “religious statues/carved images” for many centuries, in defiance of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:4-5); nonetheless, modern Protestant churches also have their own abominable practices.  They too have now begun to build “religious statues” to revere men, such as the Billy Graham statue.  And, they are ordaining homosexual priests and ministers, performing homosexual weddings, teaching evolution instead of creation in their seminaries, and electing teachers of false gods to head their Christian religion departments, such as was recently done in Minnesota when a Hindu theologian was promoted to chairman of the religion department at Saint Olaf College, which is a Lutheran college.

The harlot of Revelation 17 does indeed have “harlot daughters”.  And, it is just about time for true biblical Christians to give the call, “come out of her my people”, as is proclaimed in Revelation 18:1-4.  This text states that Babylon is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison or cage for every unclean and hated bird.  It said that she committed fornication with the kings of the earth, and that earth’s merchants became rich through her abundant luxuries.  It concludes by telling God’s people to come out of her, so that they don’t share in her sins and receive her plagues, probably the seven plagues mentioned in Revelation 16. 

How does Revelation 18:1-4 apply to the Catholic Church and contemporary Protestant churches?  The day is soon coming, if not already come, when not only the Catholic Church, but also her Protestant daughters, will “by and large” have completely fallen through their compromises, sins and abominable practices and teachings mentioned earlier.  Instead of the Holy Spirit, they will be filled with demonic, foul spirits.  Instead of being the “house of God”, they will be prisons or cages filled with “detestable birds”.  The pure, white dove and the noble eagle that have been symbols associated with God’s people in the past, will no longer be associated with these organized churches in the last days, but rather detestable birds, perhaps vultures and the like.

As this passage in Revelation states, they have committed fornication with the world, its systems, practices and governments.  As stated, the world’s merchants have become rich through doing business with them and providing them with their “abundant luxuries” that fill their cathedrals and mega churches.  It’s interesting that the first century Christian Church was poor financially, but rich spiritually.  It had no financial assets, but it had rich spiritual assets.  Today’s Christian churches “to a large extent” are rich financially, with expensive, beautiful buildings and first class, “state of the art” everything.  They have huge financial assets, but they are approaching spiritual bankruptcy.  Their focus is on the things of this world: money, fancy buildings and seeker sensitive programming to attract crowds; this instead of being focused on mimicking Jesus, “walking as He walked” and supplying the needs of the poor, homeless and starving through humble, unselfish ministry.  They indeed have become some of the world’s “best customers” with all of their wealth, assets, investments and luxuries.  They have pampered and ministered onto themselves instead of “onto the least of these”, as Jesus encouraged us to do.

For all of these reasons, God’s message to His true followers in the last days is to “come out of Babylon”, to come out of these worldly, compromising, sin-filled and abomination-teaching and practicing organized churches (Revelation 18:4).

There are still two more identifying clues regarding the harlot in Revelation 17, which I’ve assumed to be the Roman Catholic Church.  But, does the Catholic Church also fulfill these final two identifying characteristics?  Revelation 17:6 says that this harlot is drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.  Does the Roman Catholic Church fit this description?  Has it been guilty of shedding the blood of Christians?

According to John Dowling’s book, “History of Romanism”, pages 541-542, an estimated 50 million innocents were put to death during the centuries surrounding the Inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church.  Charles K Moore’s book, “The Roman Catholic Religion viewed in the light of Prophecy and History”, page 60, also estimates the number of martyred souls by the Catholic Church to be about 50 million during this time period.  The same number is arrived at by John B Wilder on page 87 of his book, “the Shadow of Rome”.  Other estimates, however, are even higher.  In his book, “Plea for the West”, pages 130-131, Lyman Beecher places the number of martyrs resulting from the Roman Church’s persecutions at about 68 million.  And, W.C. Brownlee’s work, “Letters in the Roman Catholic Controversy”, pages 347-348, also places the number at 68 million.  On page 170 of Bunch Taylor’s book, “The Book of Daniel”, the number of those martyred by the Roman Catholic Church is said to be somewhere between 50 and 150 million.  And, additional historical sources could be cited as well.  For now, however, it suffices to say, that the Roman Catholic Church unquestionably has fulfilled the “drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” clue in Revelation 17:6.

Why did the Roman Church put so many millions to death?  What was their supposed crime?  The charge brought against them by the papacy was “heresy”.  As you read the following quotes from authoritative Catholic sources regarding heresy and heretics, you will probably be alarmed, disgusted and even frightened.

“There are many unquestionable cases of Protestants punished as heretics in nearly all the lands where Roman Catholics have had power, right down to the French Revolution [of 1798].” Catholic author G.G. Coulton, in The Death-Penalty for Heresy, Medieval Studies, No. 18, pp. 62, 1924 edition.

 

“All sects of heretics are condemned and various punishments are appointed for them and their accomplices.” Pope Alexander IV, The American Textbook of Popery, p 135 (quoting from the “Directory for the Inquisitors”).   

“When confronted with heresy, she (Catholic Church) does not content herself with persuasion, arguments of an intellectual and moral order appear to her insufficient, and she has recourse to force, to corporal punishment, to torture.” The Rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris, H.M.A. Baudrillart, quoted in The Catholic Church, The Renassance, and Protestantism, p 182-183.

 

“Also, we decree and declare that all of the aforesaid persons have been and are schismatics and heretics, And that as such they are assuredly to be punished with suitable penalties over and above the penalties imposed at the aforesaid council of Ferrara*, together with all their supporters and abettors, of whatever ecclesiastical or secular status, condition or rank they may be, even cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops or abbots or those of any other dignity, so that they may receive their deserts with the aforesaid Korah, Dathan and Abiram…” Pope Eugenius IV, in Decree of the Council of Florence Against the Synod at Basel, Council of Florence, Session 7, on September 4, 1439.

 

“A heretic merits the pains of fire….By the Gospel, the canons, civil law, and custom, heretics must be burned.” The American Textbook of Popery, p 164 (quoting from the “Directory for the Inquisitors”).

 

“almost infinite numbers were either burned or otherwise killed,…heretics were often burned by the Catholic Church”  Jesuit Robert Bellarmine, in Disputationes de Controversiis, Tom. II, Lib. III, cap. XXII, 1628 edition.

 

“All defense is denied to heretics.”  The American Textbook of Popery, p153 (quoting from the “Directory for the Inquisitors”).

 

“Heresy consists in a stubborn denial of truths which have been defined and proposed by the Church as divinely revealed doctrines.  “Any baptized person who…obstinately denies or doubts any of the truths proposed for belief by divine and Catholic faith, is a heretic.” Canon 1324-1325 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law.

 

“He is a heretic who deviates from any article of faith.” The American Textbook of Popery, p 143, (quoting from the “Directory for the Inquisitors”).

 

“He is a heretic who does not believe what the Roman Hierarchy teaches.” The American Textbook of Popery, p 164 (quoting from the “Directory for the Inquisitors”).

 

 ”Whoever ‘obstinately’ denies these (Catholic) truths, the doctrinal commentary of Pope John Paul II says, falls under the censure of heresy.” Our Sunday Visitor, Analysis, July 19, 1998.

 

The shocking quotes above require us to ask some questions.  Were the papal persecutions of the Middle Ages an aberration, an “exception to the rule” done by only one or two popes?  No!  They “were the rule”, done by many popes over several centuries.  Did the papacy stop the persecutions on its own because it was convicted of its wrongdoing?  No!  It lost its power because French armed forces forcibly deposed and imprisoned the pope about the end of the 18th century.  The demise of papal power and its accompanying persecutions was not by choice of the papacy.  Finally, has the modern papacy changed its doctrinal stances, or has it changed its stances on heresy and the issue of papal authority to act as “God on earth”?  No!  In fact, did you notice that the last Catholic quote regarding heresy that I listed was made by Pope John Paul II as recently as 1998?  As I mentioned, the modern papacy has not renounced any of its doctrines regarding heresy and papal authority, which created the mindset and potential; moreover, the reality of killing those who did not submit to its doctrines and authority.  With this mindset still present, you can see how the contemporary papacy could work “hand in hand” with the antichrist-beast, implementing a modern-day death decree against supposed heretics; that is, of course, assuming that the antichrist first acknowledges and exalts the papacy in some manner, such as in the scenario I presented earlier.

 

The final clue concerning the “harlot” was that she would be located in a region or city that sits upon seven mountains or hills.  Does this apply to the Roman Catholic Church?  To begin with, we know that the papal headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.  The online Wikipedia encyclopedia states that the “seven hills of Rome” do indeed “form the geographical heart of Rome”.  These seven hills are listed as Aventine Hill, Caelian Hill, Capitoline Hill, Esquiline Hill, Palatine Hill, Quirinal Hill and Viminal Hill.  The “Basic Everyday Encyclopedia”, page 451, also states that Rome was built on seven hills.  And, “Compton’s Pictured Encyclopedia”, 1948, page 144, says, and I quote, “the City of Seven Hills.  …the Capitoline, Palatine, Aventine, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, and Caelian hills.  …the seat of the papacy, the head of the great Roman Catholic Church.”  Even a contemporary article in the Travel section of the Los Angeles Times dated May, 30, 2008, is titled “Exploring Rome’s Famous Seven Hills”.  So, yes, we can confidently say that the Roman Catholic Church certainly fulfills this final identifying characteristic of the harlot in Revelation 17, thus leaving no doubt that it is the fulfilled reality of the harlot symbol in this chapter.

 

PART SIX

 

Having discussed the persecution of God’s people in past centuries and the upcoming persecution of them during antichrist’s reign, we will now examine how they will prepare for their final encounter with antichrist’s unified, systematic, worldwide attempt to annihilate them.  In order to do so, we will now redirect our attention to Revelation chapter twelve.  Revelation 12 begins with a vision of a “woman” clothed with the “sun” and having a crown with twelve stars upon her head.  She delivers a male child that the dragon (devil) tries to kill at birth.  It states that this Child was to rule all nations, and that He was “caught up” to God’s throne (Revelation 12:1-5).  What is this vision portraying?

 

We know that a “woman” often represents God’s people or church (Jeremiah 6:2; Isaiah 54:5-6; 2nd Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-9).  And, her being pictured in such a “pure” manner, in contrast with the harlot woman in Revelation 17, would seem to depict a “pure church”, God’s faithful people.  This text stated that the woman or church was clothed with the “sun”.  We’re told in Malachi 4:2 that the “Sun of Righteousness” would come with healing in His wings, which nearly all theologians agree refers to the coming of Jesus into our world.  And, Jesus referred to Himself as the “light” of the world (John 8:12; John 9:5).  Furthermore, the Bible states that God’s people or church have “put on” Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27).  So, God’s people are truly clothed with the “Sun/Son”.  The twelve stars in her crown probably represent the twelve patriarchs of Israel and/or the twelve New Testament apostles who have led God’s church and served as His messengers to His people, remembering that in Revelation 1:20 “stars” represented angels or messengers (the same Greek term is used for both words).  The Child who was born through the woman or church is an obvious reference to the birth of Jesus, His genealogy traced through a faithful ancestry of God’s people that goes back to Adam (Luke 3:23-38).  And, the dragon’s attempt to kill Him  was clearly fulfilled when the devil had the wicked King Herod kill all of the male babies in Bethlehem under two years of age in an effort to murder Jesus (Matthew 2:16).  The Child’s being “caught up” to God’s throne obviously refers to Jesus’ triumphant ascension while surrounded by His followers/church (Luke 24:50-51).  All of these things indicate that this “pure woman” clothed with the sun at the beginning of Revelation 12, does indeed represent God’s faithful people or church.

 

Then, in Revelation 12:6 and Revelation 12:14, the “woman/church” is pictured as being carried on the “wings of an eagle” into the wilderness, where she is nourished and fed by God in a place He has prepared for her for 1260 days or a “time, times and half a time”; in other words, three and a half years.  What is this describing, and when will it happen?  And, where or what is this “wilderness” that God’s people are carried to?

 

The Greek word translated as wilderness in these verses is “eraymos”.  It is usually translated as wilderness, but is also translated as “solitary” in Mark 1:35, to describe the place where Jesus went to spend time with His Father in prayer.  Eraymos is also used to depict the wilderness where the “word of God” came to John the Baptist (Luke: 3:2).  And, eraymos is used to portray the wilderness where Jesus fasted for 40 days in preparation for His ministry, and where angels ministered to Him (Matthew 4:1-2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-2).  Additionally, eraymos is used to describe the wilderness where Jesus often withdrew to pray (Luke 5:16).  Moreover, eraymos is used to denote the wilderness where God personally spoke to Moses in a flaming bush, calling him to his mission for Israel (Acts 7:30).

 

Therefore, this Greek word, eraymos, that is used to describe the wilderness where God’s people are taken on eagle’s wings, nurtured and fed by God for 1260 days or three and a half years in Revelation 12:6 and Revelation 12:14; this same word is used elsewhere in Scripture to designate the place where John the Baptist heard from God, where Jesus was ministered to by angels as He fasted in preparation for His ministry, where Jesus resorted for private intimacy with His Father in prayer, and where God personally spoke to Moses to call him to his mission for Israel.  In all of these instances eraymos or wilderness was more than a “geographical location”; it was a “spiritual location” of separation from the world, solitude with God, and a place of nurturing and preparation for their mission.

 

Is it possible, if not probable, that the eraymos wilderness location of God’s people or church in Revelation 12 is also a “spiritual location” of separation from the world, solitude with God, and a place of nurturing and preparation for their momentous final three and a half year mission described in Revelation 11, which we’ll discuss shortly?  Revelation 12:6 and Revelation 12:14 do say that this wilderness is a place where God’s people are fed and nourished.  And, we know that Jesus referred to Himself as the “Bread of Life” (John 6:48); moreover, He said that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4); furthermore, that the Scriptures in general testify of Him (John 5:39), thereby depicting a “feeding” on God’s word about Jesus Christ that is much more important than eating physical food.  Also significant, is that Revelation 12:14 states that God’s people/church are brought to this wilderness experience on “eagle’s wings”.  And, how do we get eagle’s wings in Scripture?  Isaiah 40:31 says that it happens by “waiting on the Lord”; once again depicting a spiritual preparation and solitary focus on God.    This text also states that this “waiting on the Lord” renews our strength so that we won’t faint or grow weary.  That is certainly relevant for God’s people in the last days, who will need to have their strength renewed to keep them from fainting or growing weary as they conduct their mission in the days of antichrist.  Certainly the picture of eagle’s wings achieved by “waiting on the Lord” in order to come into this solitary, powerful, intimate, God-centered, eraymos wilderness experience with God, being nurtured and fed by His word in preparation for their momentous mission; this picture is surely descriptive of what God’s people will need in those final climactic days of earth’s history, even as Moses, John the Baptist and Jesus did in their eraymos wilderness experiences.

 

It is significant that, immediately after discussing the “woman’s/church’s” three and a half year wilderness experience, the book of Revelation then focuses on the dragon’s (devil’s) rage and war against her (Revelation 12:17), followed by the antichrist-beast’s arise and war with the saints (Revelation 13:1-7).  This also indicates that the Church’s three and a half year wilderness experience immediately precedes the maniacal three and a half year reign of antichrist.

 

Probably also significant, is that the three and a half years of intimate preparation for their mission by God’s people, followed by their three and a half year mission itself described in Revelation chapter eleven, equals that highly significant, prominent and perfect biblical number of “seven”.

 

The question is, “when will God’s people finally stop compromising with sin, eliminate all of the unnecessary distractions in their lives, separate themselves from the things of this world, fully surrender 100% of their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and truly “wait upon the Lord” in order to enter into their solitary, intimate, powerful, totally Christ-centered “eraymos” wilderness experience with God?

 

PART SEVEN

 

I believe that the Church’s wilderness experience propels God’s people into their powerful ministry presented in John’s new vision in Revelation 11.  I mentioned earlier that Revelation 11 describes the final three and a half year mission of God’s people.  We will now examine this chapter regarding its primary subject matter, the “two witnesses”, and I will explain why I believe that they do indeed represent the “true church’s” final mission.  Revelation 11:1-14 will now be our focus.

 

In Revelation 11:1 John is told to “measure” the temple and its worshippers.  Is it the Jewish temple?  That is highly unlikely for a few reasons.  The book of Revelation was written after the Jewish temple had already been destroyed by Roman armies.  Furthermore, there is no Jewish temple today, and the place where Jews want to build it, if they ever do, is already occupied by the “Dome of the Rock”, which is one of the most holy Islamic sites in the world.  A billion and a half Muslims will never allow several million Jews to displace the Dome of the Rock with a new Jewish temple.  Prophecy teachers who suggest that this will happen are not operating in reality.  Muslims worldwide would descend upon Jerusalem and destroy it, before they would allow their sacred site to be displaced.  Furthermore, the New Testament is clear that the Jewish nation is no longer God’s chosen nation or people; this position of honor was forfeited after their rejection and crucifixion of their Messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 21:43).  As Paul states in Romans 2:25-29, and as I thoroughly document with numerous other scriptures in my article titled “Israel” on this website, being a “true Jew” in the New Testament era has nothing whatsoever to do with being a bloodline descendant of Abraham; being a “true Jew” and a member of the true “Israel of God” is constituted by having your heart circumcised without hands by the circumcision of Christ (Colossians 2:11; Romans 2:25-29; Galatians 6:15-16).  As proven beyond the shadow of a doubt in my “Israel” article, the true Israel in the New Testament era is a “spiritual Israel”, the Christian Church. 

 

God’s temple in the New Testament is “Christian persons”, individually, (1st Corinthians 6:18-19), and the “Christian Church”, collectively or corporately (1st Corinthians 3:16-17).  When the Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian Church, they were separating into competing factions and, in the process, defiling and destroying the church; however, Paul referred it as destroying the “temple of God”.  He basically told them to “stop it”, and warned them that God would destroy them if they persisted in destroying His temple, which is clearly His Christian Church in this passage (1st Corinthians 3:16-17).  So, we know that the Christian Church is called God’s temple in the New Testament.  This may also indicate that, when 2nd Thessalonians 2:4 refers to the antichrist sitting in the “temple of God” and declaring himself to be God, it may be referring to him sitting in the now “apostate” Christian Church; moreover, with the headquarters of this apostate church now being located in Rome, which we’ve discovered is the New Testament “Babylon”. 

 

If the “temple of God” refers to the Church in Revelation 11:1, then God is telling John to do some type of “measurement” of His Church; moreover, not just the Church collectively or corporately, but also a measurement of each individual Christian, because John was told to also measure the “worshippers” themselves.  What kind of a measurement is John doing?

 

The Bible does refer to different types of “spiritual measurements”, such as a measure of faith in Romans 12:3, a measure of guilt in Matthew 23:32, and coming to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ in Ephesians 4:13.  So, apparently God is taking “spiritual measurements” of the Christian Church and individual Christians in the last days to see who is “for real” and who is not; to see who measures up in faith and Christ-likeness of character; to see who God can and will use as part of His final “missionary movement” on earth.

 

In Revelation 11:2 John was told to leave out the court “outside the temple”, because it was given to the “gentiles” to tread the “holy city” underfoot for 42 months.  If the temple was referring to the Christian Church, then those outside of the temple would be non-Christians.  There would be no need to spiritually measure those who did not even profess to be Christians in the first place. 

 

Who or what is represented by the “gentiles” who tread the “holy city” underfoot in this passage?  The Greek word that is translated as gentiles in this text is “ethnos”, which can also be translated as nations, people or heathen, as well as the “gentiles” (non-Jews) translation used here.  Therefore, Revelation 11:2 is stating that the nations, heathen or non-Christians will tread the “holy city” underfoot.

 

What does the holy city represent?  Is it the literal, physical city of Jerusalem in Israel?  That is highly unlikely for a few reasons.  In the New Testament era Jerusalem is not pictured as a “holy city”.  Jerusalem is called Sodom and Egypt in Revelation 11:8.  It is called “Hagar”, who is the mother of the Arab world, and is said to be in bondage in Galatians 4:25-26.  These are not complimentary terms.  On the contrary, they are descriptive of an evil, rebellious place; the complete opposite of a “holy city”.  Furthermore, the New Testament book of Hebrews states that we have “no city” here on this earth, but that we seek the “one to come” (Hebrews 13:14); this city being identified as the “heavenly Jerusalem” where true believers’ citizenship or membership is registered (Hebrews 12:22-23).  For all of these reasons, Jerusalem in Israel is probably not the holy city referred to in Revelation 11:2.  What “holy city”, then, is going to be tread underfoot by the nations, heathen or non-Christians?  Jesus stated that His disciples (Christians) are a “city” set on a hill in Matthew 5:14.  And, Hebrews 12:22-23 reveals that believers have become members of the “heavenly Jerusalem”, which is the “true” holy city.  Therefore, God may be telling John that His holy city, the one “set on a hill”, genuine Christians who are members of God’s heavenly Jerusalem, the “true” holy city; these faithful ones will be trampled underfoot by the nations and people in league with antichrist for a period of 42 months, as stated in Revelation 11:2, which time period is the same as that stated in Revelation 13:5-7 regarding the antichrist’s reign and his persecution of the “saints”, thus giving more credence to my explanation of Revelation 11:2.

 

Revelation 11:3 speaks of “two witnesses” who will prophecy in sackcloth for 1260 days.  Being that 1260 days also equals 42 months, and that the wearing of sackcloth in Scripture is representative of sorrow and “hard times”; it seems likely that this is the same time period as the 42 months of antichrist’s reign of intense persecution mentioned in Revelation 13:5-7.  Those who do public ministry in the face of civil penalties, fines, imprisonment, and an eventual death decree towards the end of this three and a half year period; their depiction wearing sackcloth is certainly appropriate during these “hard times”.

 

Who are the two witnesses of Revelation 11?  Revelation 11:4 states that they are two “olive trees” and two “lampstands”.  It is noteworthy that Jesus said His disciples are the “light” of the world, and He encourages them to shine their light (Matthew 5:14-16).  Also significant, is that David said that he was a green “olive tree” in the house of God (Psalm 52:8).  And, the Lord also called His Old Testament people a green “olive tree” (Jeremiah 11:16).  In Zechariah’s vision of a lampstand with two olive trees by it, we’re told that the olive trees represent the two “anointed ones” who stand by the Lord (Zechariah 4:2,3,11-14).  And, remember that Jesus said that He is with us always (Matthew 28:20).  So, as Christians, we know that we are always with or by the Lord.  And, God gave His Old Testament people of Israel the same assurance, by also telling them that He was with them and would not leave them (Deuteronomy 31:6).  Therefore, both Old Testament Jews and New Testament Christians are portrayed as being with or by the Lord.  Keeping this in mind, and remembering the previous texts that depict God’s people as being “lights” and “olive trees”, we will now look at one more scripture that provides additional evidence pointing to the near certain conclusion that the two witnesses in Revelation 11 represent God’s people, converted Jews and gentiles, working side by side in the final days of earth’s history. 

 

Romans 11:17-24 portrays God’s New Testament Church as an “olive tree” with two types of branches.  There are the natural branches representing converted “physical Jews”, and there are the wild or unnatural branches representing converted gentiles/“spiritual Jews”.  These are, in fact, the two witnesses that God has used in Old and New Testament times.  Before Christ came, He used the physical nation of Israel (physical Jews).  Down through the centuries since Christ came, He has primarily used converted gentiles (spiritual Jews).  However, in recent times there have been many Jews responding to the gospel, which has resulted in hundreds of thousands of “Messianic Jews” worshipping Jesus throughout the world.  Remember that Romans 11:23-24  does state that the natural branches (physical Jews) can be grafted back into God’s olive tree if they come out of disbelief, thus placing them right alongside the wild or unnatural, gentile branches.  Revelation 11 is the fulfillment of this scenario, with converted gentile Christians and Messianic Jews working together in the final days of earth’s history as God’s “two witnesses”.  Also, the description of the identical fate of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:7, and the saints in Revelation 13:7, both of which having the antichrist-beast making war against them and overcoming them, certainly is additional evidence that my explanation is correct; that is, that the two witnesses of Revelation 11, and the saints of Revelation 13, are one and the same.

 

Revelation 11:5 states that if anyone wants to harm the two witnesses, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies.  It adds that they must be killed in “this manner”.  What does this mean?  It is noteworthy that the fire comes out of their “mouths”.  Mouths, of course, speak words.  The Bible states that God puts His words in His servant’s mouth (Jeremiah 1:9).  And, Jeremiah said that God’s word inside of him was like a “burning fire” that he could not hold back (Jeremiah 20:9).  Furthermore, God said that He had made the words that He put in Jeremiah’s mouth to become “fire”; moreover, that He also made the people to become “wood”, and that they would be devoured by the “fire” of Jeremiah’s words (Jeremiah 5:14).  However, there is no biblical or historical record of people literally being physically “burned up” when Jeremiah spoke.  Obviously the word, “fire”, had a symbolic meaning in these passages in Jeremiah.  Therefore, this identical imagery used for the two witnesses in Revelation 11 probably has the same symbolic meaning of that in Jeremiah.  God’s words spoken through His servants in both cases destroy all of the phony excuses, arguments and charges presented by the wicked, even as fire destroys wood.  And, the wicked will be held accountable for having heard and rejected the “words” of testimony spoken by God’s witnesses (John 15:22; James 4:17: Luke 12:47-49), thus resulting in their destruction by the “fires” of hell.

 

Revelation 11:6 reveals that the two witnesses will have miraculous powers manifest during their mission.  It says that they can strike the earth with “plagues”, turn waters to blood, and will shut the heavens so that it does not rain during the days of their prophetic ministry, which is a time period of three and a half years; moreover, it is the same length of time that God shut the heavens through the prophet Elijah (James 5:17).

 

Revelation 11:7 states that the antichrist-beast will make war with them, overcome them and kill them, as in Revelation 13:7.  This is a picture of extreme persecution and eventual martyrdom via the “death decree” of Revelation 13:15.  However, God does not allow this to happen until after they finish their testimony, according to Revelation 11:7.  Their worldwide mission will be accomplished (Matthew 24:14).

 

Revelation 11:8 says that their dead bodies will be left to lie in the street of the “great city” that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified.  Is this referring to the literal city of Jerusalem, or could it be spiritually symbolic of something else, such as the whole rebellious world?  I ask you to consider the following important points.  If the measuring of the temple and its worshippers in verse one is spiritually symbolic language; if the two olive trees and two lampstands in verse four are spiritually symbolic language; if the fire coming from the mouths of the two witnesses in verse five is spiritually symbolic language; if the two witnesses themselves are spiritually symbolic of converted Jews and gentiles conducting God’s final  mission on earth; then, it is also certainly possible, if not probable, that the “great city” where our Lord was crucified mentioned in verse eight, is also spiritually symbolic; perhaps, as previously stated, symbolic of this entire rebellious world.

 

Why do I keep suggesting that the great city represents the entire world?  Revelation 17:9 says that “peoples, tribes, tongues/languages and nations”, in other words, people throughout the world, will see their bodies and not allow them to be buried.  If the two witnesses’ bodies were only laying in Jerusalem, other tribes and people groups in Africa, South America etc., would have no control over their two bodies in Jerusalem.  Also, verse eight already implies a spiritual or symbolic application by saying that the city is “spiritually” called Sodom and Egypt.  And, we must remember that Jesus was not only crucified in Jerusalem, but was also crucified in “this world”.  Furthermore, Revelation 11:10 states that those who dwell on the “earth”, which would be the whole world, are glad when the two witnesses are killed.  It says that this is because they had tormented those who dwell on earth, which would be people throughout the world.  To have tormented people throughout the world by their message, the two witnesses obviously had to be preaching to people throughout the world, not just in Jerusalem.  This also indicates a thorough worldwide ministry requiring far more than two persons.  Finally, as previously stated, the two witnesses are probably symbolic of all faithful believers, Jews and gentiles,  fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy of the gospel being preached as a witness to all the nations before the end comes (Matthew 24:14).  If that’s true, their dead bodies would be scattered throughout the world, not just in Jerusalem.

 

Revelation 17:9 states that the dead bodies of God’s people are left to lie on the ground in open view for three and a half days.  Why?  Perhaps as a reminder to others that this is what will happen to you also if you don’t obey the antichrist; moreover, perhaps as a type of “trophy” for the antichrist.  Devilish, primitive cultures have done this kind of thing in the past, practicing “head-shrinking” and scalping, and publicly mounting their gruesome prizes.  We must remember that the devil and his demons have taken complete control over those who have rejected the gospel at this point.

 

Revelation 17:10 states that the two witnesses had “tormented” those who dwell on the earth.  How?  The “truth” does indeed torment and enrage those who are opposed to it.  Read Acts 7:54-60, and note the rage against Stephen as he spoke the truth.  It tormented those who opposed him to such an extent that they covered their ears and screamed so as not to hear him anymore before they stoned him.  Also, keep in mind that the two witnesses have caused severe drought, thirst and famine by stopping the rain and turning the waters to blood; furthermore, they have caused plagues to come upon the wicked (Revelation 11:6).  These things have certainly caused torment.

 

Revelation 11:11-12 states that after three and a half days, the two witnesses (God’s people) are resurrected and ascend to heaven.  This is a fulfillment of 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1st Corinthians 15:51-54.  At the same time this is happening, Revelation 11:13 says that there is a great earthquake destroying one-tenth of the city.  It states that 7000 people are killed, which may either be a literal or symbolic number, probably symbolic.  And, note that this earthquake is followed by another earthquake that is accompanied with “great hail”, which would seem to indicate that this second earthquake is during the seventh plague (Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:17-21).

 

PART EIGHT

 

Then, after the two witnesses (God’s people) have ascended to heaven, Revelation 11:14 states that the “second woe” is past, and that the “third woe” is coming quickly.  Revelation 11:15 then records the blowing of the seventh trumpet that includes the second earthquake and great hail in Revelation 11:19, which is obviously the fulfillment of the third woe that was “coming quickly” mentioned in verse fourteen; especially because there are no more trumpets to follow, for, as Revelation 11:15 states, “the kingdoms of this world have now become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ”.  Therefore, the judgments brought by the seventh trumpet are certainly the third woe.  Keeping this in mind, and, that following the blowing of the fourth trumpet in Revelation 8:12, there were still “three woes” yet to come associated with three remaining trumpets; and, also remembering that following the fifth trumpet, Revelation 9:12 states that one of the “three woes” was now past, which meant that the fifth trumpet was the “first woe”; therefore, if the seventh trumpet is the third woe, and the fifth trumpet is the first woe, then the sixth trumpet has to be the “second woe”.  This is significant since it tells us that the sixth trumpet mentioned in Revelation 9:13-21, also includes the three and a half year time period of the ministry of the two witnesses in Revelation 11, because not until after their ministry is finished does Revelation 11:14 state that the second woe is past.  It is important to remember this fact, that the sixth trumpet’s time period is the same as that of the two witnesses.  That being said, it is now time to discuss the sixth trumpet.

 

In Revelation 9:13-15 the sixth trumpet is blown, resulting in four angels being released to kill one-third of mankind.  And, based on Revelation 9:16, they apparently make use of an army of 200 million horsemen to accomplish their task.  Is this part of the “Battle of Armageddon” taught by most prophecy teachers today; a great, final war between nations fighting each other?

 

We have already answered this question earlier.  During the reign of the antichrist, the armies of the earth are not at odds with each other, and are not gathered together to fight each other.  They are in unison serving the antichrist-beast, and are gathered together to fight Jesus when He returns (Revelation 17:12-14; Revelation 19:11-19).  As depicted in Revelation 16:13-16, demonic spirits go forth doing miraculous signs to seduce and rally the world’s armies to this audacious scheme of attacking Jesus Christ at His return.

 

Who, then, is represented by this army of 200 million horsemen?  A thorough examination of Revelation 9:16-19 reveals some significant clues.  First, it is an army of “horsemen”.  And, the Lord Jesus also leads an angelic army on horses in Revelation 19:11-14.

 

This passage states that the heads of the horses were like “lions”.  The lion is king of the land animals.  Proverbs 30:30 says that the “lion” is mighty among beasts.  Hosea 11:10 declares that the Lord roars like a “lion”.  Revelation 5:5 calls Jesus the “Lion” of the tribe of Judah.  And, Proverbs 28:1 states that the righteous are bold as a “lion”.  So, the mighty lion, king of the land animals, is used to describe our Lord Jesus Christ and His righteous followers.

 

This passage also says that the tails of the horses are like “serpents”, having heads.  Although the serpent is used at times in Scripture to depict the devil, it is also used in a “positive manner” at other times in the Bible.  It is used as an instrument of God’s leaders when God turned the rods of Moses and Aaron into serpents (Exodus 4:2-4; Exodus 7:8-12).  Also, it is used positively to describe a character trait needed by Christians when Jesus told His disciples to be wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16).  And, it is used to describe “leviathan”, which the Bible depicts as a mighty sea serpent that is the “king” of the seas (Isaiah 27:1; Psalm 74:13-14; Job 41:1-34).  Furthermore, God used the image of a bronze serpent on a pole to represent Jesus being lifted up on the cross (Numbers 21:5-9; John 3:14-15).  Therefore, the serpent is indeed also used in Scripture in positive ways, representing the mighty leviathan, king of the sea creatures, and representing Jesus and His followers.

 

This passage additionally states that the “breastplates” of the horsemen were colored fiery red (I’ll deal with the other two colors in the next two paragraphs), and that “fire” came out of the horses’ mouths.  Interestingly, Revelation 11:5 also pictured the two witnesses (God’s people) with fire proceeding from their mouths.

 

Revelation 9:17 says that the horsemen’s breastplates were also colored hyacinth blue, the color of “smoke”, and it stated that smoke came out of the horses’ mouths.  Isaiah 6:4 portrays God’s presence as being manifested by smoke.  Revelation 15:8 reveals the temple in heaven to be filled with smoke from the glory of God.  And, from numerous scriptures, it appears that things that God touches do smoke (Psalm 144:5; Psalm 104:32; Exodus 19:18).  Furthermore, Joel 2:28-31 states that, just before the great and awesome “day of the Lord”, there will be wonders on earth including “fire” and “smoke”; moreover, in the context of this text, these things are associated with God’s Spirit being poured out on His servants.  Therefore, smoke is associated with God’s presence and the work of His Spirit-filled servants in the Bible.

 

The breastplates of the horsemen are also colored sulfur yellow, the color of “brimstone”, and brimstone came out of the horses’ mouths as well.  Brimstone is always dispensed by God in Scripture, never by the devil, demons or any of God’s enemies.  These evil entities do receive and experience the tormenting punishment of brimstone, but they never dispense or control the use of it.  Brimstone is always controlled by God, and is associated with God’s wrath against unrepentant sinners.  This is evident in all of the following scriptures.

 

Brimstone is associated with God’s wrath poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24; Luke 17:29).  Isaiah 34:8-9 says that the Lord’s vengeance would turn Edom’s dust into brimstone.  Psalm 11:5-6 states that the Lord rains brimstone on the wicked.  Ezekiel 38:21-22 declares that the Lord will rain down brimstone upon Gog.  Revelation 14:9-10 states that those who receive the mark of the beast will drink of God’s wrath and will be tormented with fire and brimstone.  Revelation 20:10 says that the devil will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.  The antichrist-beast and the false prophet will also be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 19:20).  The Bible states that brimstone will be scattered on the dwelling of the wicked (Job 18:15,21).  The Lord threatened to cast brimstone upon Israel as a curse if they forsook Him (Deuteronomy 29:23-28).  And, Revelation 21:8 says that all of the wicked will die their “second death” in the lake of fire and brimstone.  Once again, brimstone is always dispensed by God, never by the devil and his agents.

 

Revelation 9:18-20 referred to the fire, smoke and brimstone dispensed through the 200 million horsemen, as being “plagues”.  It is interesting that the two witnesses also strike with plagues (Revelation 11:6).

 

The 200 million horsemen operate during the sixth trumpet (Revelation 9:13-16).  Likewise, the two witnesses also operate during the sixth trumpet, as discussed several paragraphs earlier.

 

Therefore, in summary, we’ve discovered several significant clues concerning the army of 200 million horsemen.  (1.) We know that they do not represent the armies of earth fighting each other.  (2.) We know that they are probably symbolic because literal, physical horses do not have heads like lions or tails like serpents, and they don’t breathe fire, smoke and brimstone.  (3.) We know that Jesus’ angelic followers in heaven are also pictured as an army of horsemen.  (4.) We know that Jesus and His followers are compared to a lion, the “king” of land animals, in Scripture, and we also know that the horses had heads like lions.  (5.) We know that, although a serpent was used by the devil in the Garden of Eden, and is used to depict him at other times in Scripture; nonetheless, we also know that a serpent is used in positive ways elsewhere in the Bible, such as to depict Moses’ and Aaron’s authority over pharaoh, to represent the wisdom Christians need, and to represent Jesus being lifted up on the cross; moreover, a sea serpent, the great leviathan, is called the “king” of sea creatures.  I ask you to think about the picture presented in this passage in Revelation 9:17-19.  The front of each horse, the head, is a lion, the “king” of land animals, while the back of each horse, the tail, is a serpent, knowing that the sea serpent leviathan is the “king” of sea creatures.  This could certainly be symbolic of an authority and power that is supreme, such as from the “King of Kings”, Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, once again, remember that Jesus is represented as the Lion of the tribe of Judah in Scripture, and is also represented by a bronze serpent in the Bible, and the lion heads and the serpent tails are at the front and back of the 200 million horses.    (6.) We know that the horses have smoke coming out of their mouths, and we know that smoke can depict God’s presence and the work of His Spirit-filled servants in Scripture.  (7.) We know that brimstone also comes out of the horses’ mouths, and we know that brimstone is always dispensed and controlled by God.  (8.) We know that the time of the 200 million horsemen is during the sixth trumpet, which is also the time period of the two witnesses.  (9.)  We know that fire proceeds from the horses’ mouths, and we know that fire also proceeds from the mouths of the two witnesses.  (10.) We know that the 200 million horsemen dispense plagues, and we know that the two witnesses also strike with plagues.

 

When putting all of the above clues together, what do we come up with?  Knowing that the army of 200 million is not the military armies of earth, and knowing that it is symbolic; what is it symbolic of?  It certainly appears to be symbolic of authority and power with the “lion” and “serpent” symbolism.  Is Jesus/God in charge of this army?  And, the smoke and brimstone symbolism would seem to indicate God’s presence and His judgment.  Is God’s divine presence saturating this army, and is He using it to dispense more judgments on earth?  Also, knowing that the faithful angels in heaven are pictured on horses following their Divine Commander, Jesus Christ, is it possible, if not probable, that God is also picturing the end-time, faithful followers of Jesus on earth in that manner as well?  And, remember that the two witnesses of Revelation 11 represent Christ’s faithful followers conducting their final mission on earth.  Finally, also remember that both the army of 200 million and the two witnesses bring plagues upon the people, both have fire proceed from their mouths, and both conduct their missions during the sixth trumpet.  In view of all of these things, I believe that the most logical conclusion is that the 200 million horsemen in Revelation 9, and the two witnesses in Revelation 11, are one and the same; that is, God’s people going forward to do God’s final work on earth in the name of, and under the authority of their Divine Commander, Jesus Christ.  They are pictured as two witnesses in Revelation 11 to depict God’s two olive trees, two lampstands, two anointed ones, converted Jew and gentile working together to complete the final gospel mission to the world.  However, in Revelation 9, they are pictured as the great army of “Christian soldiers” that they really are, totaling multiplied millions.  It is interesting to note that if the number of Christians involved in this end-time evangelistic endeavor will actually be 200 million, the number of the horsemen, it would represent about ten percent of the worldwide Christian population.  In this modern era of “easy believism”, cheap grace and worldly, seeker sensitive religion, there may very well be only ten percent of professed Christians who will still serve Jesus in the face of civil fines, imprisonment and martyrdom.

 

There is still one question that needs to be answered.  If the 200 million horsemen and the two witnesses represent God’s people, how do they kill one-third of mankind, as stated in Revelation 9:15?  Do they use guns and bombs?  No!  The answer is given in Revelation 11:6.  They cause plagues to come upon the wicked, they turn the waters to blood, and they stop the rain from falling on earth for three and a half years, thus producing severe drought and famine throughout the world, which will certainly cause multitudes to perish.

 

PART NINE

 

Now it is time to examine the blowing of the seventh trumpet revealed in Revelation 11:15-19.  This immediately follows the conclusion of the final events that happened during the sixth trumpet; the martyrdom, resurrection and ascension of the two witnesses (God’s people), and the earthquake that destroyed one-tenth of the “city” and “7000” people, with both numbers probably being symbolic.  When the seventh trumpet sounds, the declaration is made that “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ”, which tells us that the end has come.  It states that the 24 elders who sit before God, possibly referring to the twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles of the New Testament, now fall on their faces in worship.  Then, Revelation 11:19 states that there are lightnings, noises, thunderings, another earthquake and “great hail”.  The events described in this verse are identical to the description of the seventh plague in Revelation 16:17-21.  Revelation 16 also states that there are noises, thunderings, lightnings, an earthquake and hail stones that each weigh a “talent”, which is between fifty and a hundred pounds; that certainly qualifies as being the “great hail” mentioned in Revelation 11:19.  Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Revelation 11:19 and the seventh plague of Revelation 16:17-21 are both describing the same cataclysmic events at the end of the world.

 

However, before discussing the seventh plague in detail, we’ll take a look at the six plagues that precede it.  Revelation 16:1 states that a voice from heaven tells seven angels to pour out seven bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth.  These bowls contain seven plagues.  The first plague, mentioned in Revelation 16:2, is a “sore” that comes upon all who had received the mark of the beast, and this sore is described as being “foul and loathsome” (NKJV), or “ugly and painful” (NIV). 

 

The second plague causes the sea/ocean to be turned into blood, like the blood of a dead man, which the Amplified Bible translates as being “thick, corrupt, ill-smelling and disgusting” (Revelation 16:3).  Similarly, the third plague causes the fresh water sources, such as springs and rivers to become blood (Revelation 16:4-7).  And, an angel states that they have shed the blood of the saints and prophets, and now they have been justly given blood to drink. 

 

The fourth plague causes the sun to “scorch men with fire” and “with great heat” (Revelation 16:8-9).  This plague will obviously produce temperatures higher than any ever experienced on earth before; so high that fires will apparently be starting just from the sun’s heat alone.  Can you imagine the impact of this plague immediately following the fresh water sources having been turned into blood, and while there is no rain falling upon the earth during the final evangelistic ministry of God’s people (the two witnesses)?  This plague upon the sun is appropriate.  Multitudes have worshipped the sun throughout history.  Many in our day worship “mother nature” instead of God.  And, most Christians still honor “Sunday” instead of God’s seventh-day Sabbath; many not realizing that a fourth-century edict by the Roman emperor Constantine commanded Christians to keep Sunday in honor of the “venerable day of the sun”.  The very word itself, “Sunday”, comes from the day on which the sun was worshipped by pagan cultures.  Now this rebellious world will have their supposedly sacred sun in full force tormenting them.

 

The fifth plague is the complete opposite of the previous plague.  It apparently causes the sun to be supernaturally darkened, because Revelation 16:10 states that the antichrist-beast’s kingdom, which is worldwide, becomes filled with darkness.  It also states that this plague causes people to “gnaw” their tongues in pain.  Try to imagine the drastic change from intense brightness and heat, to intense darkness, and probably with accompanying cold temperatures if the sun is not shining.  After all, if people are gnawing their tongues in pain, there is more happening here than just a long period of nighttime.  Alaska, Finland and other spots on earth already experience long periods of darkness without causing their inhabitants to gnaw their tongues in pain.  It is reasonable to assume that this darkening of the sun must also be producing painfully cold temperatures.  It is perhaps about this point in time that the antichrist will issue his “death decree” against God’s people.  He will probably blame them for all of the suffering caused by these plagues, and will declare that once the world is rid of these rebellious, disobedient lawbreakers the plagues will end.

 

Revelation 16:12-16 presents the details of the sixth plague.  It says that this plague causes the water of the Euphrates River to dry up.  And, it states that this prepares the way for the kings from the east.  The Euphrates River runs through Iraq, Syria and Turkey, separating eastern nations, such as Iran, Pakistan, India, China and Russia, from the Middle East.  The drying up of the Euphrates River will make it much easier to transport armies and military weapons from the East to the Middle East for the final audacious attempt of antichrist to have the armies of the world unite in an attack against Jesus when He returns (Revelation 17:12-14; Revelation 19:11-19).  And, according to Revelation 16:13-14, Satan, the antichrist-beast and the false prophet will make use of miraculous signs to rally the armies of the world for this attempted assault on the King of Kings.  However, God pours out the catastrophic seventh plague upon this global assembly of armed forces, thus annihilating them.  Revelation 16:17-21 states that the greatest earthquake in history causes the cities of the nations to fall, and causes every island and mountain to disappear; moreover, simultaneously, huge hailstones fall upon them, weighing between fifty and a hundred pounds each. 

 

The events of the seventh plague seem to cover the same time period as the sixth seal.  Revelation 6:12-17 says that there is also a great earthquake that causes all of the mountains and islands to be moved out of their place during the sixth seal.  And, the sixth seal also ends with the return of Jesus.  This passage states that men are trying to hide themselves from His face.  Therefore, the sixth seal and the seventh plague obviously cover the same period of time.  However, the sixth seal reveals some extra information about additional cataclysmic events that take place at this time.  Revelation 6:12-14 states that the sun becomes black, the moon becomes like blood (probably blood red in color), the stars of heaven fall to the earth, and the sky recedes like a scroll when it is rolled up.  This supernatural phenomenon in the heavens matches the description given in the books of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and is unquestionably describing the same events and time period.

 

Mark 13:24-26 also speaks of a time when the sun is darkened, the moon does not give its light (which it wouldn’t if it was blood red), the stars fall, and the powers in the heavens are shaken.  And, immediately after this description, Mark 13:26 states, “then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory”.

 

Likewise, Matthew 24:29-30 tells of a time when the sun is darkened, the moon does not give its light, the stars fall, and the powers of the heavens are shaken.  And, once again, this is immediately followed by the Son of Man appearing in heaven.  Furthermore, this passage states that the unsaved people mourn as Jesus returns, which goes along with the sixth seal’s picture of them also trying to hide from Him.

 

Luke’s description is similar to that in Matthew and Mark, except that he adds a few more details.  Like Matthew and Mark, his account also speaks of there being signs in the sun, moon and stars, as well as the powers of the heavens being shaken, with these events being immediately followed by the Son of Man coming with power and great glory (Luke 21:25-27).  However, he adds that the sea and its waves will be roaring, and that the nations and people on earth will be filled with distress, perplexity and fear, to the extent that their hearts will fail them.  Luke’s account of the sea and its waves roaring would certainly be accurate.  The earth’s surface is two-thirds water. If numerous stars are falling to the earth throughout the world, the majority of them will probably be landing in earth’s oceans, seas and large lakes, thus causing huge tidal waves; moreover, the kind of massive earthquake that is described in the seventh plague and the sixth seal will also produce tidal waves throughout the world that will be many times greater than any this planet has ever experienced before.

 

The events mentioned in these passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke, as well as the events of the seventh trumpet, the seventh plague and the sixth seal, all bring us to the end of this world as we know it, and to the return of Jesus Christ.  The return of Jesus literally empties heaven.  Why?  According to Scripture, God the Father also returns with Jesus (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62).  And, we know that the Holy Spirit is already here on earth.  Additionally, the Bible reveals that the angels return with Jesus (Matthew 16:27; Mark 8:38), and also the souls of the saints, those who have previously died and gone to heaven, return with Him (1st Thessalonians 3:13).  All of these vacate heaven to return with Jesus and meet the redeemed of earth.  I believe that is why Scripture says that there is silence in heaven for half an hour when the seventh seal is opened (Revelation 8:1).  Heaven is literally emptied for a brief period of time, perhaps an actual half an hour, when Jesus and the heavenly host accompanying Him return to earth to bring home the two witnesses (God’s faithful end-time people).  At this time the souls of the saints from heaven will be reunited with their new immortal, incorruptible, resurrected bodies (1st Corinthians 15:50-54), and those who were still alive when Jesus returns will ascend together with those who were resurrected to meet the Lord in the air (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17).  Why do they ascend to meet the Lord in the air?  It is because they are going home with Jesus to spend the next 1000 years with Him in heaven, contrary to what many theologians teach.

 

PART TEN

 

Many contemporary theologians teach that Jesus will reign in a temporal kingdom here on earth for 1000 years, which will occur between the first resurrection of the saints and the second resurrection of the wicked.  They say that Christ’s “eternal kingdom” will be established after the second resurrection and this 1000 year period.

 

They are certainly correct in referring to two resurrections; one of the righteous to eternal life, and one of the wicked to condemnation (John 5:28-29).  They are also correct concerning these resurrections being 1000 years apart, and regarding the first resurrection being of the righteous saints, while the second resurrection is of the wicked.  Why?  Revelation 20:4 refers to the saints who did not receive the mark of the beast as reigning with Christ for 1000 years.  Then, Revelation 20:5 begins by stating that “the rest of the dead” did not live again until after the 1000 years were finished.  The “rest of the dead” mentioned in verse five, therefore, has to refer to the wicked, because the righteous saints who rejected the mark of the beast are alive during the 1000 years according to verse four.

 

Although the end of verse five states, “this is the first resurrection”, immediately after mentioning the wicked dead in the first part of the verse, we must not assume that the first resurrection refers to the wicked.  Why?  Because verse six continues speaking about the first resurrection, and clearly states that it is the blessed and holy ones who reign with Christ for 1000 years that have been part of the first resurrection.  Furthermore, as already stated, the beginning of verse five declared that the “rest of the dead”, which would have to be the wicked dead, do not live again until after the 1000 years.  The NIV Bible translation correctly places parenthesis around the first part of verse five to set it off from the rest of the verse.  Because we know that the “righteous dead” are part of the first resurrection before the 1000 years begin, and because we know that the “wicked dead” have a separate resurrection after the 1000 years; therefore, contemporary theologians are justified in referring to the resurrection of the wicked as a “second” resurrection that takes place 1000 years after the first resurrection.

 

There is, however, one error in their doctrine.  What is the error?  It is the location where the 1000 years are spent.  I don’t believe that proponents of the 1000-year reign on earth have thought things through clearly.  When Jesus returns, the earth will be in utter ruin, with literally billions of dead bodies strewn across earth’s worldwide landscape from the devastation of the trumpets and plagues.  Will Jesus have His kingdom on earth in the midst of this devastation?

At this point I’m sure some will remind me that the Bible speaks of a new earth being created, which indeed is the case (2nd Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1).  However, if God creates the new earth when Jesus returns, so He doesn’t have to reign amidst the stench of billions of decaying bodies in a land where all the vegetation was annihilated from the trumpets and plagues; notwithstanding, what will God do at the end of the 1000 years when the Bible states that Satan will be released to deceive the “nations“, which must be the multiplied billions of all the wicked dead who have ever lived from the beginning of time, and who have now been resurrected in the second resurrection?  The Bible states that Satan and this vast innumerable army will surround the beloved city where the saints are camped, and that God will send fire from heaven to devour them (Revelation 20:7-9).  If God has already created the new earth for Christ’s temporal kingdom before the 1000 years, but this new earth has now become polluted again by Satan’s presence with his vast army of the resurrected wicked; is God going to create a “second new earth” to remove the stench of sin again for Christ’s eternal kingdom?  After all, sin will reach its highest magnitude ever at the end of the 1000 years, because, for the first time in history, all of the wicked going back to the days of Adam are all together at one time and place, and are led by Satan himself.  Surely the eternal home of the redeemed shall not be upon the same ground that had been occupied and polluted by the largest and most wicked population in history.  Therefore, God would indeed have to create “another” or “second” new earth for Christ’s eternal kingdom.  However, the Bible only speaks of “one” new earth, not two.  Consequently, theologians who espouse this doctrine of a 1000-year temporal kingdom on earth, must either embrace the idea of “two” new earths being created by God, in defiance of Scripture, or they must embrace the idea that either Christ’s temporal kingdom or His eternal kingdom will be located on a devastated and sin-polluted planet.

 

Fortunately, there is another answer that does not require us to accept either of these poor choices.  It is, in fact, the only answer that totally accords with Scripture.  What is it?  The 1000 years mentioned in the book of Revelation will be spent in heaven.

 

It is important to remember that I have already debunked the secret rapture fallacy in my article titled “Secret Rapture” on this website, and shall also do so in this article after finishing my discussion of this 1000-year period.  This is very significant, because once we know that the Bible does not teach a “secret rapture”, where believers are taken to heaven for seven years, yet we also know that they do go to heaven at some point to live in the mansions (KJV), dwelling places (AMP), or rooms (NIV), which Jesus has prepared for us (John 14:1-3); then, it becomes obvious that Jesus will take the redeemed back to heaven with Him when He returns at the end of this world, to live and reign with Him there for the 1000 years mentioned in Revelation.  And, that is precisely what Scripture teaches.  It states that both the resurrected saints and those who are still alive when He returns will be “caught up” together to meet the Lord in the air (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17).  Why “in the air”?  Because we are not staying on earth, but are going back to heaven with Jesus to spend the 1000 years with Him there. 

 

This also accords with Jesus’ statement in John 14:1-3, where He said that He has built mansions or homes  in heaven for us to dwell in, and that He is personally coming back to get us.  These homes that Jesus built for us in heaven are where we will spend the 1000 years.  This is where we will reign with Him, as stated in Revelation 20:4,6.  Heaven’s glorious mansions prepared by Jesus will not sit empty, while we dwell and reign on a devastated and sin-polluted earth.

 

Then, after the 1000 years, God will literally move heaven to earth, as the glorious holy city of the “New Jerusalem” descends from heaven to earth (Revelation 21:2,9-10).  Note that it is the heavenly “New Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 21:2), not the old earthly Jerusalem.  Also, note that this New Jerusalem is called the “Lamb’s bride or wife” (Revelation 21:2,9-10).  This is an obvious indication that the redeemed saints are already inside the city as it descends from heaven, because Jesus’ bride is not buildings and streets, but is His “church body” of faithful Christian believers.  This is additional proof that the saints have indeed spent the 1000 years in heaven.  How else could they already be within the city when it descends from heaven at the end of the 1000 years?

 

There is one point that needs clarification, however, regarding Satan and the wicked surrounding the beloved city in Revelation 20:9.  Obviously the city is already on the earth if they can surround it.  How does this fit into the scenario that I’ve presented from Scripture?  There actually is complete harmony between this text and the others I’ve discussed.  The holy city comes down after the 1000 years, and the wicked dead are not resurrected until after the 1000 years.  Once they’ve been resurrected, Satan rallies them to surround the city in a futile attempt to overtake it.  God then judges the wicked and casts them into the hell fire (Revelation 20:11-15).  At this point, God creates a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1), and it only takes “one” new earth in this scriptural scenario. 

 

It is true that John does not actually discuss the descent of the holy city in Revelation chapter twenty.  However, it is obvious that it is already on the earth with the saints, because Revelation 20:9 states that this is the case.  John simply delays his presentation of the vision of the holy city descending from heaven until chapter twenty-one when he describes everything about it in glorious detail, rather than digressing from his focus on Satan’s wicked army and its final assault against God and His people, followed by their judgment and sentence to hell in chapter twenty.

 

It would probably be a good idea to do a brief recap of this 1000-year scenario at this time.  At the beginning of the 1000 years, the righteous dead are raised and ascend together with the saints who were still alive to meet Jesus in the air as He returns.  They return back to heaven with Jesus to live with Him for 1000 years in the mansions He had built for them.  At the end of the 1000 years heaven is moved to earth, so to speak, as the holy city of the “New Jerusalem” descends to earth with the saints in it.  Also, at the end of the 1000 years, Satan is released and the wicked dead are resurrected.  They surround the holy city in an attempt to overtake it, but are judged by God and thrown into the hell fire.  Then God creates a new heaven and a new earth where we dwell eternally.

 

One last question needs to be answered.  What about those verses in Isaiah, Ezekiel and elsewhere that speak of a restored kingdom of Israel, a rebuilt temple and the reinstitution of animal sacrifices; a kingdom where peace reigns and other nations are subservient to Israel?  Am I ignoring those Scriptures, or trying to avoid them? 

 

It is not necessary to ignore or avoid these passages because Jesus already provided the answer.  He clearly stated that the kingdom of God was taken away from Israel and given to a new nation (Matthew 21:43); moreover, that their house was now desolate, in other words, unoccupied by God (Matthew 23:38), and He said that the things and peace that could have been theirs, was now “hidden from their eyes”, in other words, they would not see it (Luke 19:42).  Jesus further stated that the reason was because they did not know the time of their visitation (Luke 19:44).  They had not recognized and honored their Messiah, but rejected and crucified Him instead, declaring that they had no king but Caesar (John 19:15). 

 

Israel could have been restored to prominence and could have been exalted above all nations in a temporal messianic kingdom, if they had repented, put an end to their sins as stated in Daniel 9:24, and accepted and worshipped their Messiah instead of murdering Him.  But, sadly, they did not repent, and they forfeited the temporal kingdom that could have been theirs.  As Jesus said, the things and peace that could have been theirs was now hidden from them, and they were replaced by a new nation, the Body of Christ (1st Peter 2:9), which had its inheritance in the “New Jerusalem” in heaven (Hebrews 12:22-24), not in the earthly city of Jerusalem, which was now called Hagar, Sodom and Egypt (Galatians 4:25; Revelation 11:8).  Some of these scriptures may be hard to swallow for some people, but the Bible is God’s word and we need to accept it.  The truth is the truth whether we like it or not.

 

PART ELEVEN

 

You may be wondering why I have not discussed the “seven-year reign of antichrist” and the “secret rapture” doctrine, although I have briefly referred to the secret rapture.  After all, most prophecy teachers espouse both of these concepts.  However, this popular teaching of a secret rapture of God’s people before a “seven-year reign” of the antichrist, contradicts Scripture.

 

 When Jesus returns to take His faithful followers home, it will be anything but secret, quiet or invisible.  The Bible states that He will return in the same manner in which He ascended to Heaven, which was “visibly” in the clouds; furthermore, it states that every eye and all the tribes of the earth will see Him return (Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).  The Bible also declares that His return will be quite audible.  It says there will be the “great sound of a trumpet” and a shout; that there will be “great noise” (Matthew 24:29-31; 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2nd Peter 3:9-10).  It is interesting to note that Jesus said it is the “false Christs” who will appear secretly in the desert or “inner rooms” (Matthew 24:24-26).  Therefore, according to Scripture, proponents of the secret rapture theory are unwittingly describing and anticipating the appearance of false Christs.  On the contrary, Jesus’ return will be as visible as lightning flashing from the east to west (Matthew 24:27).

 

Also, the assertion that the saints are raptured before the appearance of the antichrist and the great tribulation period is yet another contradiction of Scripture.  The Bible clearly declares that we will not be gathered together to Jesus until after the antichrist arises with all power, signs and lying wonders (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-10).  And, Jesus plainly stated that the sounding of the great trumpet gathering the saints from the earth happens “after” the great tribulation events, such as the sun being darkened, the moon not giving light, the stars falling from heaven, the powers of the heavens being shaken, the sea and waves roaring, the distress of nations, and men’s hearts failing for fear (Matthew 24:29-33; Luke 21:25-31).  You can read my article titled “Secret Rapture” on this website to get more detailed information documenting the many scriptural contradictions in the secret rapture doctrine.

 

Regarding the antichrist’s reign, the Bible clearly states that its duration is only three and a half years (Revelation 13:5; Revelation 11:1-7), not the popularly taught seven years by today’s prophecy teachers.  In fact, the idea of a seven-year reign of antichrist was arrived at by manipulating Daniel’s seventy-week prophecy concerning Israel in Daniel 9:24-27.  Daniel’s prophecy states that seventy weeks were determined for his people (the Jews) and for Jerusalem to make an end of their sins, to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to anoint the “Most Holy” (the Messiah).  The start-date of the prophecy is declared to be when the command was given to restore and build Jerusalem, which was given by the Persian King Artaxerxes in 457 BC.  This decree not only gave help in rebuilding the temple, but also gave Israel the right to self-government, such as setting up their own magistrates and judges to carry out their laws (Ezra 7:25-26).  Now they were recognized as a nation, which was vitally important to the reestablishment of Jerusalem.  And, although the majority of the decree deals with the temple, the king additionally authorized Ezra to use his silver and gold for “whatever seemed good to Ezra according to the will of Ezra’s God” (Ezra 7:18). Thus, Ezra was not limited to repairs on the temple, but could spend the king’s money on any other repairs he chose to do in Jerusalem as well.  Furthermore, it does appear that Israel must have viewed this decree by Artaxerxes as allowing them to rebuild Jerusalem, because Israel’s adversaries wrote to Artaxerxes following this decree, saying that Israel should not be allowed to rebuild its walls and foundations, which obviously means that Israel had already begun to do so.    

This letter from Israel’s adversaries warned the king about Israel’s rebellious history, and encouraged him to research the “book of records”, which would document their previous rebellions and sedition. This letter is found in Ezra 4:7-16.  Ezra 4:12 records their accusation that the Jews were “building the city”, “finishing its walls” and “repairing its foundations”.  And, this verse says that this was being done by “the Jews who came up from you”, which would mean from Artaxerxes, because this letter was written to him.  So, these were Jews who had been sent from some decree by Artaxerxes, himself.  This would have to be the decree in 457 BC that I previously mentioned, and which is recorded in Ezra 7:11-26.  Ezra 4:17-22 records Artaxerxes’ response to the letter sent by Israel’s enemies, where he commanded that the Jews were to cease their work in Jerusalem because of their past rebellious nature.  And, in Ezra 4:21, he specifically commanded them to cease from “building the city”, so they obviously had begun rebuilding Jerusalem after his decree in 457 BC.  Apparently, Ezra had indeed exercised the authority that had been given him in that decree to spend the king’s silver and gold on whatever Ezra thought it was God’s will for him to do (Ezra 7:18), which obviously included the rebuilding of Jerusalem in Ezra’s mind.  However, the letter from Israel’s adversaries, informing Artaxerxes of Israel’s rebellious history, had sufficiently scared him to the extent that he temporarily stopped the work in Jerusalem, which he had previously authorized in his 457 BC decree.   

Why do I say that Artaxerxes “temporarily” stopped the work?  Because, in his letter that ordered the Jews to stop the work, he hinted that he might issue a future decree to allow the work in Jerusalem to resume.  He said “this city may not be built until the command is given by me”.  And, in 444 BC, he did issue a second command authorizing and funding the work in Jerusalem, following Nehemiah’s appeal in Nehemiah 2:1-8.

It is noteworthy that, in the book of Nehemiah, we have additional evidence that Ezra and his associates had begun the “optimistically, expectant plan” of rebuilding Jerusalem following Artaxerxes’ 457 BC decree, and that they had been thwarted.  Nehemiah 1:1-3 records that some of the Jews who had survived the Babylonian captivity came from Jerusalem to Nehemiah in the Persian city of Shushan in the 20th year of Artaxerxes, which would be 444 BC.  In Nehemiah 1:3, they told Nehemiah that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and its gates were burned with fire, which caused him to sit down, weep and mourn for many days (Nehemiah 1:4).  If these Jews, who came to Nehemiah in 444 BC, had survived and been released from the Babylonian captivity, when had they been released?  The first and second chapters of Ezra record the release of captives by Cyrus in 538 BC, but Nehemiah’s visitors could not have been among those captives, because that was nearly a hundred years earlier.  However, the seventh and eighth chapters of Ezra record the release of captives, including Ezra himself, following Artaxerxes’ decree in 457 BC, which would be just thirteen years prior to the events in the first chapter of Nehemiah.  Therefore, it is virtually certain that Nehemiah’s visiting captives would have been among those who had returned to Jerusalem with Ezra in 457 BC.  Why is this important?  It’s important because that was the group who had begun the “optimistically, expectant plan” of rebuilding Jerusalem, including its walls and foundations, according to Ezra 4:12.  But then, Artaxerxes had been frightened by the letter from Israel’s enemies (Ezra 4:7-16), which prompted him to command them to cease their work of “building the city” (Ezra 4:21).  And, Ezra 4:23 records that Israel’s adversaries then went up to Jerusalem and made them to cease their work “by force of arms”.

We can only imagine how emotionally devastated these returned captives were.  They had gone from optimistically rebuilding their beloved Jerusalem, with the weight of the king’s 457 BC decree behind them, to being forced to cease their work with weapons in their faces, based on a new letter from the king.  It is no wonder, that when they bring this sad news to Nehemiah, it causes him to weep and mourn.  Their optimistic expectations had been crushed.

It is certainly significant that Nehemiah 1:3-4 states that Nehemiah is caused to weep and mourn by the news that Jerusalem’s wall is broken down and its gates are burned.  This has to be a “recent destruction” that causes him to be so sad.  The original destruction of Jerusalem’s wall and gates by Nebuchadnezzar had occurred 150 years earlier, and all Jews were well aware that Jerusalem had been laying in ruins ever since Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion.  Nehemiah would not be so emotionally devastated by hearing from his visitors that Jerusalem was in the same condition that it had been for the past 150 years.  This had to be a “new destruction” that was done to Jerusalem’s wall and gates that Nehemiah was not expecting; a new destruction that crushed his hopes that had been generated by the rebuilding efforts begun by Ezra and his associates following Artaxerxes’ 457 BC decree.  Nehemiah had thought that the work was progressing in Jerusalem and its future was optimistic.  However, now his visitors crushed him with the news that work had ceased; furthermore, that the progress that had been made on the wall and gates by Ezra and his associates had been reversed, and their work on Jerusalem’s wall and gates had been destroyed.  Apparently, when the king ruled in favor of Israel’s enemies, and commanded the Jews’ work on Jerusalem’s walls and foundations to cease, and when these adversaries armed themselves with weapons and forced the Jews to comply (Ezra 4:12; Ezra 4:21-23), Israel’s enemies must have thought that the king’s new letter also allowed them to destroy the work that had been done up to that point by Ezra and his associates.  And, apparently they took advantage of the king’s letter to do so.  These new and discouraging developments reported by Nehemiah’s visitors, dashed the optimistic expectations he had embraced following Artaxerxes’ decree in 457 BC.  All of the Jews’ progress and hopes had been eliminated, and Nehemiah was understandably caused to weep and mourn. 

The historical and situational context in chapters four and seven of Ezra, and the first chapter of Nehemiah, certainly endorse the premise that Artaxerxes’ 457 BC decree did allow for, and did in fact result in, the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and gates; that is, until the letter from Israel’s adversaries caused the king to write another letter commanding them to stop. 

Therefore, in view of all of the evidence, 457 BC is indeed the start-date for Daniel’s 70-week prophecy, which we will now resume discussing.  Nearly all theologians agree that the 70 weeks equaling 490 days in Daniel’s prophecy, represent 490 years.  Therefore, 490 years were given to the Jews to make an end of their sins, to establish righteousness, and to anoint the “Most Holy” (the Messiah).  Daniel’s prophecy states that there would be 7 weeks plus 62 weeks until the coming of “Messiah the Prince”; in other words, 69 weeks equaling 483 days or “years”.  Adding 483 years onto the start-date of Artaxerxes’ decree brings us to 27 AD.  What happened in 27 AD.?  Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and anointed with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending upon Him (Luke 3:21-22).  Luke 3:1 states that this happened in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, which was 27 AD, because he began his co-reign in 12 AD!  History and prophetic timing matched perfectly!  The conclusion of the 69th week of Daniel’s prophecy brought us exactly to that 27 AD date.  However, Daniel said that a total of 70 weeks were determined for Israel to stop their sinning and to establish righteousness.  And, Daniel 9:27 states that following the first 69 weeks, “He”, which would in proper context be the Messiah, would still confirm His covenant for one more week, which would have to be the 70th week.  And, it states that, in the middle of that 70th week, “He” (the Messiah) would bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

This is where most of today’s prophecy teachers manipulate Scripture, by taking this 70th week and arbitrarily separating it from the previous 69 weeks, and placing it 2000 years in the future, into the 21st century.  Furthermore, they change the context, which Daniel had clearly stated to apply to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, by now applying this 70th week to antichrist, in order to fit into their prophetic paradigm.

If we are allowed to split prophetic time prophecies at our own choosing, breaking certain portions of the prophecy off and inserting them hundreds or thousands of years later at our discretion; then, we can pretty much concoct just about any fulfillment of Scripture that pleases us.  Likewise, if we are allowed to arbitrarily switch the subject of texts from Christ to antichrist, once again, it allows mere men to manufacture their own personal favorite fulfillment of prophecy.  This type of “prophecy manipulation” might be pleasing to those who have made their own personal prophetic desires come true, but it certainly does not constitute faithful, thorough, principled Bible study.  If Daniel had wanted the final week of his 70-week prophecy separated by 2000 years, he would have said so.  Furthermore, the prophecy finds a remarkably precise fulfillment when leaving the 70 weeks “intact” as Daniel wrote it.

The 70th week, as one would normally expect, immediately follows the 69th week, which ended on 27 AD.  This 69th week would then be the week referred to in Daniel 9:27, where it states that “He”, which would in proper context be the Messiah, would still confirm His covenant for one more week.  This 70th week of seven days or “years” added onto 27 AD would bring us to 34 AD.

What happened in 34 AD?  As stated in the online Wikipedia Encyclopedia and other sources, that is the year when the Jewish leaders stoned Stephen, as recorded in Acts 7:59-60.  Immediately following Stephen’s martyrdom, Acts 8:1-5 records that the Jews, through Saul of Tarsus, greatly persecuted the Christian Church and made havoc of it, which resulted in the Church scattering “everywhere” preaching the word (Acts 8:4).  Philip even went to the hated Samaritans preaching the gospel, and from then on throughout the book of Acts the message is taken to the gentiles.

It is important to remember that these 70 weeks were also a “probationary” period for Daniel’s people, the Jews, to make an end of their sins, and to establish righteousness.  The 70 weeks ended in 34 AD with their continued obstinacy, rebellion and persecution of Christ and His followers, culminating with the stoning of Stephen and the gospel going to the gentiles.  They failed to make an end of their sins, but rather increased their guilt by crucifying their Messiah and martyring His messengers after His crucifixion, thus closing their 70-week probation and fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy that God’s kingdom would be taken away from them, and would be given to a new “nation” (Matthew 21:43).  Peter then identifies that new “nation” as being Christians, the Christian Church (1st Peter 2:9).  The attributes and descriptive titles of God’s people that once belonged to the Jewish nation are now placed upon the “Body of Christ” by Peter.  The Body of Christ is now called God’s “holy nation”, “chosen generation”, “royal priesthood” and God’s own special people.  The Jewish nation’s total failure during their final 70-week (490 years) probation, culminating a history of persistent rebellion against God throughout many centuries, and climaxed by crucifying their Messiah and martyring His messengers, resulted in their “chosen nation” status being taken from them and given to the new “holy nation” of the Body of Christ (Matthew 21:43; 1st Peter 2:9).  You can read my article titled “Israel” on this website to get a more thorough and detailed biblical presentation proving that the nation of Israel was rejected by God and replaced by the Christian Church.  The biblical evidence I present in my “Israel” article is overwhelming.

While the historical record of Stephen’s stoning in 34 AD is a remarkable fulfillment of Daniel’s 70-week prophecy, there is one more astounding prophetic fulfillment of Daniel 9:27.  Daniel states that, in the middle of that final 70th week, “He”, which in proper context is the Messiah, would bring an end to sacrifice and offering.  The middle of the 70th week would be about half-way between 27 AD and 34 AD.  That would have to be either 30 or 31 AD.  What happened at that time?

Most early church historians date Jesus’ death anywhere from 28 to 33 AD, because it happened during the reign of Pontius Pilate, and because of other historical references.  We know from Scripture that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, and that He was crucified on the Passover, which means that there was a “full moon”.  It certainly seems to be more than a coincidence that in the year 30 AD, which is in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy, astronomical data reveals that there was indeed a full moon on Passover Friday.  This must be when Jesus, the true Lamb of God, was offered on the “altar” of the “cross”, which made any future offering of lambs and other animal sacrifices meaningless.  They had been mere types and symbols of the true reality, fulfillment and antitype that was to come, Jesus Christ.  Therefore, Jesus’ death on the cross, as the true Lamb of God, ended the sacrificial system from God’s standpoint.  Jesus had truly brought an end to sacrifice and offering, as Daniel’s prophecy stated.  This was graphically demonstrated by God when the veil of the temple was supernaturally torn in two as Jesus died (Matthew 27:50-51), thus indicating that the Jewish temple and its services were now empty and meaningless, for Christ had fulfilled everything represented by them.  And, in remarkable fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy, it happened in 30 AD, in the middle of the 70th week. (Please note: While it is true that there was also a full moon on Passover Friday in 33 AD, and this date has been made popular as the crucifixion date through “The Star of Bethlehem” DVD and the bethlehemstar.net website, there are serious biblical, historical and chronological problems with the 33 AD date, which I document at the end of this article.)    

With such extraordinary fulfillments of Daniel’s prophecy when the 70 weeks are left “intact”, how did theologians come up with the idea of removing the 70th week and placing it 2000 years in the future, and also switching the emphasis from the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to the antichrist?  Who originally did this?

It was done in the sixteenth century by a Roman Catholic, Jesuit priest named Francisco Ribera in his 500-page commentary on the book of Revelation titled, “In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij”.  Ribera was the first one to separate the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy and to place it in the distant future, which planted the foundation for the whole secret rapture doctrine, as well as the seven-year reign of antichrist instead of the three and a half years clearly taught in Scripture (Revelation 13:5; Revelation 11:1-7).

How or why did this Roman Catholic, Jesuit priest come up with this “futuristic” 70th week doctrine?  Quite simply, it was to protect the papacy from the charges of Protestant reformers that the pope himself was the antichrist.  In the Council of Trent in the mid-sixteenth century the papacy decided to search for ways to prove that the pope could not be the antichrist.  So, two Jesuit priests came to the rescue of the papacy with two new doctrines, which they claimed provided proof that the antichrist was not the pope.

Louis De Alcazar wrote a 900 page commentary titled, “Investigation of the Hidden Sense of the Apocalypse”, in which he put forth the doctrine of “preterism”.  Preterism focuses on “past fulfillment” of Revelation’s prophecies, and taught that the Roman emperor Nero had been the antichrist, thus intimating that the antichrist could not be the papacy.  I debunk this doctrine in my article titled “Preterism” on this website.

Likewise, as previously mentioned, Francisco Ribera put forth his doctrine of placing Daniel’s 70th week in the distant future, with the antichrist’s reign occurring in that time frame, thus also attempting to prove that the papacy could not be the antichrist.  Thus, the foundation of preterism and today’s popular, but unbiblical, secret rapture and seven-year antichrist doctrines were laid by two Roman Catholic, Jesuit priests who were protecting the papacy. 

The devil does not care which doctrinal “ditch” of deception people fall into.  His only concern is to keep them away from the biblical truth, so that they will not be prepared to recognize and properly respond to the true signs and events taught in Scripture.  If people are looking for the “wrong signs”, which are mere concoctions of men, they will swallow the enemy’s deceptions and endanger their souls.  Focusing on the physical nation of Israel as the benchmark for determining prophetic “timelines”, the seven-year reign of antichrist, preterism and the secret rapture are four of these deceptions being successfully employed by Satan in end-time prophecy. 

This is my perspective on the events leading up to, and during, earth’s final days.  Is my entire end-time scenario guaranteed to be 100% accurate?  No.  With all of the symbolism in the book of Revelation, it is impossible for anyone to be 100% certain of every future detail to come.  I am sure that all of us, myself included, will get a few surprises.  I do believe, however, that my scenario is more plausible and accords more with Scripture than any other theory I’m aware of.

 

The “bottom line” is that the signs that Jesus’ return is very near are all around us.  And, it is time for every sincere follower of Jesus Christ to pray and study the Scriptures more than they ever have at any other time in their lives.  It is time for each of us to press into our own solitary, intimate, “wilderness” experience with Jesus.  If we do this, we will be ready to fulfill His mission, and to meet Him when He returns.

 

Regarding the suggested 33 AD date for Jesus’ crucifixion:

To begin with, advocates of the 33 AD date use 444 BC as the starting point for Daniel’s prophecy, instead of 457 BC.  I have already proven that the context of the biblical record favors 457 BC.

The second and far greater problem with the 33 AD theory, is that it uses time reckoning from the “Egyptian calendar” to arrive at its 33 AD date.  Only the Egyptians used the 360 day-per-year calendar that the 33 AD advocates use.  Neither the Jews, Babylonians or Persians used a 360 day-per-year calendar.  Daniel, who wrote the time prophecy regarding the coming of the Messiah, served within Babylonian and Persian systems and governments, but never Egyptian ones.  So, why would Daniel’s prophecy utilize an Egyptian calendar? 

Furthermore, Daniel’s prophecy was written for the benefit of the Jewish people, giving them a prophetic “time-clock” to count the years till the coming of their Messiah, so that they could be ready to receive Him.  And, as I’ve already discussed, it also gave the Jews a specific probationary time period to put an end to their sins and to establish righteousness.  Doesn’t it seem reasonable and logical that Daniel would utilize Jewish time reckoning and a Jewish calendar in his “prophetic message” for the Jewish people?

The Jewish year and calendar is based on the lunar cycle, and each month averages 29 and one-half days.  The twelve Jewish months are Nisan, Iyyar, Sivan, Tamuz, Ab, Elul, Tishri, Chesvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat and Adar.  Six of the months have 30 days, and six months have 29 days, thus averaging 29 and one-half days per month.  Therefore, the Jewish year has 354 days, not 360 days. But, that’s only part of the problem for proponents of the 33 AD theory.  The Jewish “time system” also has “leap years”.  In fact, there are seven leap years in every nineteen year cycle; the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th years of every nineteen year cycle are leap years.  What happens in a Jewish leap year?  They add a thirteenth month named Adar 2 (in Roman numerals), which has 30 days, thus increasing the number of days in a Jewish leap year to 384.  The net effect of this system averages out to within a couple hours of our “solar-year” based 365-day calendars.

Although the Jewish leap year system is not commanded in the Bible, we know that the Jews have obviously used this system throughout their history.  If they hadn’t, their “holy feasts”, which were commanded by God to be held in specific months at specific seasons of the year, which also corresponded with “first fruits” and “harvest” offerings; these feasts would have moved dramatically within just a few years, because of the eleven day difference between a lunar year and a solar year.  For example, if they would have omitted their leap years, every eight years Passover would have fallen in January, and the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles would have fallen in July.  And, every sixteen years Passover would have fallen in October, and the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles would have fallen in April; thus Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles would have completely switched places with each other every sixteen years.  In fact, without the Jewish leap year system, these “holy feasts” would only have been held at the right time of year ten percent of the time, while being at the wrong time of the year ninety percent of the time!  Therefore, the appropriate first fruit and harvest offerings commanded by Scripture could not have been offered ninety percent of the time.  Obviously this was not the case, and, therefore, it is equally obvious that the Jewish people have always used this leap year system.

This creates a huge and “uncorrectable problem” for proponents of the 33 AD theory.  They use 483 years multiplied by 360 days (an Egyptian year) in their calculations to arrive at their 33 AD date.  However, Daniel was not an Egyptian; he was not writing to Egyptians; and he was not serving under an Egyptian government.  Therefore, the chances of him using Egyptian time reckoning are probably about nil.  In fact, it’s a virtual certainty that he would not have used the Egyptian calendar, but rather the Jewish calendar.  And, when using the “start date” used by advocates of 33 AD (444 BC), if he included the Jewish leap years, of 384 days, in his time reckoning, it would add about seven years onto the total of his time prophecy, thus bringing us to 40 AD, not 33 AD.  In this scenario Jesus would have been at least 42 years old when he died, and He would have had a ministry of about 12 years!  On the other hand, if Daniel omitted the leap years, and just used a Jewish “standard” or non-leap-year of 354 days for his time prophecy, then it would deduct about eight years from the total of his prophecy, thus bringing us to 25 AD, not 33 AD.  In this scenario Jesus would have died before He was 30, and the Bible says that He first started His ministry when He was about 30 years old.  In other words, both scenarios are biblically impossible.

What’s the “bottom line”?  If Jewish Daniel, writing to a Jewish audience, did use Jewish time reckoning, the 33 AD date is impossible.  Once again, the 33 AD date only works with an Egyptian calendar.  And, if you think that Jewish Daniel, serving under Babylonian and Persian governments, writing to a Jewish audience, using a time prophecy that was meant to help Jews be ready to accept their Messiah when He came; if you think that he was using Egyptian time reckoning, then I’ve got some swampland in Florida that I want you to purchase from me for a few million dollars.

Although the 33 AD date has already been debunked, I will provide some additional evidence as “frosting on the cake”.  If 33 AD marked the end of the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy, what happened at the end of the 70th week in 40 AD, which marked the close of the Jewish nation’s probationary period that God had given them to put an end to their sins and to establish righteousness? 

With the 457 BC prophecy “start date”, the 27 AD baptism date for Jesus at the end of the 69th week, and the 30 AD crucifixion date that I espouse, there is the stoning of Stephen at the end of the 70th week in 34 AD, which resulted in the disciples going to the Samaritans and the gentiles with the gospel.  And, the vast majority of the remainder of the book of Acts, as well as the rest of the New Testament, is focused on the gospel going to the gentiles, rather than the Jews anymore.  Therefore, with the 457 BC “start date” that I espouse, there is a striking fulfillment of the close of the Jews probationary period at the end of the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy.  However, there is no such fulfillment in 40 AD, which would be the end of the 70th week for those espousing the 33 AD theory.

Furthermore, if 33 AD marked the end of the 69 weeks of the prophecy, what happened in the middle of the 70th week, which would be either 36 or 37 AD, that brought an end to the sacrifices and offerings mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy?  Once again, there is nothing that would serve as a fulfillment for this part of Daniel’s prophecy.  However, with the “start date” and prophetic timeline that I espouse, there is the crucifixion of Jesus right in the middle of the 70th week in 30 AD, which indeed brought an end to any purpose or meaning of all future animal sacrifices and offerings. 

The bottom line, is that the theory that I espouse “works”.  It results in historical, chronological and biblical fulfillment of every part of Daniel’s time prophecy.  On the other hand, the 33 AD theory does not have any fulfillment for the middle of the 70th week; it does not have any fulfillment for the end of the 70th week; and even the end of the 69th week (33 AD) can only be fulfilled by using an Egyptian calendar!  In fact, one of the dangers of this 33 AD theory is that it forces its adherents to adopt the unbiblical seven-year reign of antichrist, and the unbiblical moving of Daniel’s 70th week to 2000 years in the future, in order to try to get some kind of fulfillment for the events at the middle and end of the 70th week.  Unsurprisingly, one error produces other errors.

There are still more problems for those advocating the 33 AD date.  If 33 AD marked the fulfillment of the end of the 69 weeks in Daniel’s prophecy, then what time prophecy was Jesus talking about after His baptism in 27 AD, when He proclaimed that “the time is fulfilled” (Mark 1:15)?  There is no good biblical answer to this question for those espousing the 33 AD date.  On the other hand, my “start date” and prophetic timeline result in a striking biblical fulfillment, because Jesus’ baptism in 27 AD is exactly at the end of the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy, and perfectly fulfills Daniel’s statement that there would be 69 weeks “until” Messiah the Prince came (Daniel 9:25).  For, it was at Jesus’ baptism in 27 AD that the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and God audibly declared Jesus to be His Son.  Once more, with this passage in Mark 1:15, my “start date” and prophetic timeline produce biblical fulfillment and harmony, but the 33 AD theory does not.

Another problem with the 33 AD date is that Jesus ends up having at least a five or six year ministry, because Luke 3:23 states that Jesus was about 30 years old when He was baptized and began His ministry, and a five or six year ministry does not agree with the narrative of the Gospels.  In an attempt to deal with this problem, advocates of 33 AD try to give Jesus a birth date as late as 2 BC.  However, this date is impossible according to the biblical record. 

Why is the 2 BC date impossible?  We know that Herod died in 1 BC from early historical records; furthermore, we also know that he was still alive for at least two to three years after Jesus was born because of all of the following reasons. 

By the time that the wise men from the east got to Jerusalem, after seeing the “star” that marked Jesus’ birth, and then were redirected to Bethlehem, a considerable time of probably at least one year had passed since the Baby Jesus was born in the stable in Bethlehem.  On what basis do I make this assertion?  Joseph and Mary have had time to take Jesus to Jerusalem and dedicate Him after the days of her purification, which was 40 days for male children (Luke 2:22-24).  They also have had time to return to Bethlehem and move into their own home, because the “star” guides them to the house where Joseph, Mary and Jesus were living.  And, by the time Jesus is visited by the wise men, He is now referred to as a “young Child”, and not as a baby.  Furthermore, after Herod had inquired of the wise men about when they had seen the special star, he calculated that he needed to kill all the male children two years old and younger in Bethlehem, in order to make sure that He would kill this special Child.  All of this evidence indicates that Jesus is probably at least one year old at this time.  And, Herod evidently took that “probable one-year age” of Jesus, and then created an extra “time cushion” by doubling it to arrive at the two-year age that he used when he massacred all the boys two years old and under.

After the visit of the wise men, Joseph and Mary then moved to Egypt with the “young Child”, and stayed there for an unknown period of time until an angel brought them word that Herod had died.  And, we have no idea how long this period of time spent in Egypt was, but it is certain that God would not have had them move all the way to Egypt if Herod’s death was going to take place within a few weeks.  After all, because God is omniscient, He knew in advance when Herod would die.  For all that we know, Jesus could have spent two or three years in Egypt.  However, even if we’re “exceedingly generous” to the 33 AD proponents, and say that this whole Egypt scenario only occupied one year, in which Jesus’ family would have had to have moved to and from Egypt, and also to have lived in Egypt for a period of time; even then, the absolute latest that Jesus could have been born is 3 BC.  And, as previously stated, this results in at least a five or six year ministry for Jesus, which is biblically impossible.  In fact, even if you use the impossible 2 BC date for Jesus’ birth, He still ends up with at least a four or five year ministry, which still does not agree with the Gospel accounts.  Based on the Gospel narratives, Jesus’ ministry was anywhere from two and one-half years to three and one-half years long.  Once again, the 33 AD date contradicts the historical, chronological and biblical record.

Why has the 33 AD date become so popular, in spite of all of the problems that I have documented?  First of all, most people don’t take the time to thoroughly research the facts that expose these errors.  The second reason is because of the phenomenal success of “The Star of Bethlehem” DVD and bethlehemstar.net website, which I mentioned earlier.  At this point, I want to say that I do not question the honesty or integrity of those involved in the making of this DVD.  Rick Larson, the man who studied the astronomical signs behind this theory, and the one who presents it all over the world, seems to be a very sincere and devout Christian.  I am sure that he genuinely believes what he is teaching, and that he is making an honest effort to share what he considers to be the truth. However, having said that, I must also say that I wholeheartedly disagree with him for all of the biblical, chronological and historical reasons that I have presented.  As the saying goes, it is possible to be sincere, but also to be sincerely wrong.

I believe that Rick Larson’s basic error in his “Star of Bethlehem” DVD, results from his sincere effort of trying to “explain” God’s miracles, and trying to find, what man considers to be, rational and scientific explanations for them.  I believe that he became fixated on trying to find the specific “physical star” that the wise men followed, when the biblical account makes it clear that it was not a “normal star”, but a miraculous one created and used by God.  Once he found, what he considered to be, the “right star”, he was then locked into specific dates that everything else had to revolve around.  Whenever we try to explain God’s supernatural miracles, we’re getting in over our heads.  It is better to just realize and accept that God is infinite and that we are finite; moreover, that God can and does do miraculous things that finite man cannot explain astronomically or scientifically.  

We serve a God who made the sun miraculously move backwards in the sky in the days of Hezekiah.  We serve a God who made the sun miraculously stand still in the sky without moving for a full day in the days of Joshua.  We serve a God who miraculously blackened the sun from noon to 3 PM on the day Jesus was crucified.  We serve a God who is going to miraculously make the sky recede as a scroll when Jesus returns (Revelation 6:14).  We serve a God who miraculously split the waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan River.  We serve a God who brought forth a torrent of water from a rock to quench the thirst of His people.  We serve a God who creates things out of nothing.  He does things that man considers to be physically, astronomically, biologically and scientifically impossible.  And, the “special star” that led the wise men to Jesus was one of those kinds of miraculous and impossible events.  It was a star that moved and stopped at God’s command.  It was a star that could shine over one specific house!  That’s not a normal star; it’s a miraculous star.  We do not and should not have to attempt to find that star and explain it; we just need to accept by faith that God created a “miraculous star” for that “miraculous event” when Almighty God was born into this world as a Man.

In conclusion, the 33 AD date has far too many problems to be considered as an acceptable date for Jesus’ crucifixion.  There is, in fact, only one date that “works”.  That date is 30 AD.

Please note: In fairness to advocates of the 33 AD date, I must mention that there are two references to a 30-day month, time prophecy in the book of Revelation, where 42 months is mentioned, and it is equated to 1260 days (Revelation 13:5; Revelation 11:2-3).  However, this prophecy pertains to the final three and one-half years of earth’s history during the reign of the antichrist.  And, by the time John had written this prophetic book, the Messiah had already come 60 years earlier. 

Why did the Apostle John use a 30-day month in this time prophecy in Revelation?  Because, based on the 365-day Julian calendar used by the Roman Empire at the time John wrote the book of Revelation, when you divide 365 days by 12 months, you come up with 30 days per month when rounding off to the nearest whole number.  So, John based his prophecy upon this “solar-year” style of calendar being used throughout the Roman Empire at that time, and which was still to be the basis of the approximate 365-day-per-year time reckoning that we use today.  You see, God is wise, and He meets us where we’re at, so that we can be prepared to receive His messages.  He had Jewish Daniel, writing to a Jewish audience about the coming of their Messiah, use a Jewish calendar for his time prophecy, which still equates to about 365 days per year when you factor in the Jewish leap years.  And, God had the Apostle John, writing during the time when the Roman Empire was using the Julian calendar, and writing to people who would still be using a “solar-year” style of calendar during the time of the fulfillment of John’s time prophecy concerning the antichrist; He had John base his time prophecy upon the solar-year, Julian calendar. 

Furthermore, based on John’s relatively short 42-month time prophecy in Revelation, using an average of a 30-day month only produces a variance of a matter of days when compared to an actual solar calendar.  Quite to the contrary, however, when 33 AD proponents are working with their 483-year prophecy, there is a huge time variance of 83 months, nearly seven years, which completely throws off their time prophecy, as I documented earlier.

In closing, I pray that God will richly bless you with His presence and guidance in your life.  And, if we never meet in this current world, I’ll look forward to meeting you on “the other side” in that perfect land that God has prepared for us.