Unveiling The End Times Revelation

Revelation is the capstone (crowning achievement) of the Old Testament prophetic books. All the other books of the Bible lead to Revelation. A general rule we should use is that if we see a symbol used in Revelation that is defined in the Old Testament then we should take it as symbolic, otherwise we should take it literally. We believe the Bible is intended to be self-consistent and self-supportive. We don't have the freedom to guess what these symbols mean. The reader is not in control of interpreting what these symbols mean. It's best to take the meaning as symbolic those words and figures of speech that don't make sense to be taken literally. We do that only if we see that these figures of speech and words are defined elsewhere in the Bible. We have found that throughout Revelation this method is entirely consistent. For example, the word "star" and "lampstands" is used as a symbol for "Angel" and "Churches" throughout Revelation 1 where their meanings are also defined. If used literally in those passages it would not make sense. 

For instance, a symbolic reference found in Revelation, references to the "seas" found in the Book of Isaiah tells us that the "seas" are the unbelieving gentile nations (Isaiah 60:5). In Revelation 13:1 it says "The dragon (Satan) stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast (Antichrists') coming out of the sea (Gentile Nations)." This is a reference to the Antichrist who is a human that will rise up from the unbelieving gentile nations.

A literal reference in Revelation 9:7-11 describes locusts who are ruled over by the angel of the abyss. The author John seems to be describing modern day helicopters as locusts, but when we reference the Old Testament, we could only find locusts referenced associated with demons and no references to any human made device. Revelation talks about the locust being released from the abyss which is a prison house for the evilest demons. God releases these creatures from the abyss for a five-month period to torment, not kill people in order to show unbeliever that this is what you will be experiencing in Hell if you don't want to be under my authority and repent. 

The Book of Revelation symbols were used for the following reasons:

• As a code for first century believers otherwise Rome would have used this book for persecution.
• To communicate the unfamiliar because John was describing future events and technology that he saw and described them in terms familiar to him.
• To arouse curiosity, emotions and to motivate persecuted Christian to remain faithful. Similar to the reason why Jesus spoke in parables to arouse interest because rebellious people won't listen to straight talk. Revelation is usually the first book of the Bible that new believers read because it is a mystery drawing curiosity.
• As a way means of abbreviation or shorthand to give us a compact Bible. If we removed all the symbols the Bible would be a lot bulkier.
• As a referenced somewhere else in the Bible to help us understand these other passages.

We suggest that you use a concordance to lookup symbols you do not understand. A concordance will give you every verse in the Bible where that word is used. Look at each verse until you find where it is defined. Some symbols found in Revelation are defined within the verse. For instance, the dragon is identified in the following verse:

• "The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." Revelation 12:9

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams." 

― Jeremy Irons

English Actor & Activist

A new world dictator figure is able to gain power through a false religion which we believe originates from the Roman Catholic Church emanating from Rome. The Antichrist figure will rise from the unbelieving gentile nations and will set himself up in the city as a being who is to be worshipped. He will rule from the city of Rome where a false religious system will be established that sweeps across the world. He will command all the peoples of the world to abandon the religion they are following and adopt the religion he is introducing. His strategy is to either do away with all the world religions and replace them or devise a scheme to integrate all the world religions into one. We already seem to be trending in that direction with the "coexist" theme of today's youth. The message being that all religions basically teach the same thing, so can't we all just get along. Today's religions do seem to have certain things in common like a common moral message which is expected, but the difference between them is far greater than their similarities. This will be an immense challenge for the Antichrist figure to get Muslims, Jew, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. to become part of his one world church. Christian's will have been raptured so they will be absent from this false religious system. He will use his economic power to force or recruit people into this false religious system or apostate church.

During the first half of Tribulation "The Church" will split into two groups according to Isaiah 65.  There will be all these people around the world who identify as "Christians" that are involved in Christianity. But just like the Jews that Isaiah is identifying, a portion of them forsake the Lord. The Antichrist is going to take control and we will see the Church split into two camps. The first one will be a very well established, popular "Christian" camp that will adopt the label as evangelical, but they will be fake or "false evangelicals". This will form the false religious system. The second camp will be outside the organized church of the "false evangelicals", and they will be the true evangelicals. We can identify the false evangelical Christians because they will be blending their evangelical Christianity with the things that will be put forward by the Antichrist that will border on witchcraft and the occult. God will first deal with the false evangelicals in the house of the Lord (Ezekiel 9) before he deals with the unbelievers because we are talking about people who have already heard the gospel.

• "But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will fall in the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me." Isaiah 65:11-12

The Lord will protect the true evangelical (Ezekiel 9) through a purification process to make a clear distinction as to who the true Christians are just like in the days of Pharoah when the Egyptians were cursed, and the Jews were protected from the ten plagues. This purification process will clear out the blasphemers in the Church and wake up the believers to evangelize the world of unbelievers to repentance. This purification will prepare His people to bring His message to the unbelievers. The unbelievers will see a big difference to the point where they chase after believers which will make evangelizing much easier. There will be some Christians will share in the suffering because they were partly responsible by not speaking out in protest therefore allowing this to happen.

• "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." Exodus 12:13 also see Proverbs 1:24-33

The first organized, false religion can be traced back to the Plains of Shinar where the Tower of Babel existed which is now in modern day Iraq. We believe "Mystery Babylon" is the Roman Catholic Church Organization or System as part of the Revived Roman Empire, see Isaiah 47:1-13 for the Old Testament reference. This false world religious system emerges as dominant force for evil during Tribulation times. Globalists wish for a one world religion actually becomes reality. We need to point out that there is a difference between this particular "false religious system" described in Revelation and the people who are in the system. Their will be believers and unbelievers who are members of the system. God will judge this false religious system (FRS) just as He judged Nimrod and destroyed the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9). The FRS will partner with the economic system (banks) to help the Antichrist gain full control. We believe his power will come from the Western European Union (WEU) founded in 1948 currently headquartered in Paris, France. This  FRS power will be wrapped up with politics and the economy. 

• "The woman you saw is the great city (Rome) that rules over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:18

• "For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth (wealthy churches) grew rich from her (false religious system) excessive luxuries.” Revelation 18:3

To expand, the first woman described in the verse below is Israel who is deceived by The False Prophet, she is described in the Old Testament as sitting in a basket (basket is ephah in Hebrew). Ephah is what was used as the ancient standard of measuring commerce. The woman (Israel) is forced into the basket and is entrapped in commerce against her will. The Angel identifies her as true wickedness (Whore of Babylon). There are two women with wings of a stork with a basket at their feet which is another symbol of trade. The two women are going to erect a great temple back in the land of Shinar (Modern day Babylon-Iraq) where false religion originated. This FRS will be made up of all the Churches that remain after the rapture. Iraq will play an important role during the Tribulation because this is the physical location of this FRS when the Antichrist and his False Prophet (Jewish) rise to power. Just imagine all the wealth (not just gold), power and control the Antichrist will have once all the churches of the world combine into a single apostate entity.

• "And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket (ephah) that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity in all the land.” 7 And behold, the leaden (dark) cover was lifted, and there was a woman (Israel) sitting in the basket! 8 And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening. 9 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it (False Churches location). And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.” Zechariah 5:6-11

God is judging first and foremost this FRS for the many years of persecution it has done to His church of believers throughout history. 

•  “Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God!  Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.” Revelation 18:20

This FRS is basically a "religious cult" that worships using a mixture of drugs. This describes the current direction our society is heading today with the legalization of alcohol, tobacco, mamajuana, etc. that assists in dumbing down a society so it can be easily controlled. Mother of Harlots uses sorcery (drugs) mixed in with Christianity in order to deceive many nations. See Revelation 9:21,Isaiah 47:12-14.

•  "The light of a lamp (church) will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom (Jesus) and bride (Christians) will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery (poisoned)." Revelation 18:23

Apostasy first shows up in the Bible in Genisis when Cain, the first apostate, disobeyed God's instructions on how to worship Him. Cain decided to come up with a different way to worship and God rejected his offering. He even warns Cain that sin is tempting him, but there is hope that you can defeat it. Cain defies God and becomes the first human to lose his soul and the first to consume another man's soul (Able).

• "Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:6-7

The phrase “Mystery, Babylon the Great” appears only once in the Bible found in Revelation 17:5. The Bible uses a faithful, chaste woman to picture God’s Church and a whore to picture disobedience to God, or a new false church. No let’s examine what this false church or a false religious system (FRS) tells us about her.

• She has global influence. We have already seen that she “sits on many waters representing her influence over many people around the world. Revelation 17:2 continues: “With whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” So this false religious entity not only influences ordinary people but has a history of influencing political leaders. The statement that people have been made “drunk” by her is a reference to the spiritual confusion she causes by her false teachings and practices.

• She has a history of persecution. Revelation 17:6 says, “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” This describes religious persecution directed against the saints of Jesus Christ.

• She “rides” a powerful political system. Revelation 17:7 verse reveals that this woman rides a political beast or the Antichrist. This political beast is described in verses 8-17. It is also spoken of in Revelation 13:3-8 and Daniel 7:7-8, 19-25.  Considering all the biblical clues, many students of history and Bible prophecy have concluded the woman of Revelation 17 represents the Roman Catholic Church, which led the Holy Roman Empire to bring great persecution and martyrdom on Christians who held to the teachings of Jesus and His apostles.

• She's Centered in a city with global influence. In Revelation 17 we are given the location where Babylon the great is centered. “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (verse 18, emphasis added). When John wrote this at the end of the first century, there was only one city on earth that reigned over the kings of the earth—and that was Rome.

• She has great wealth. Revelation 18:3

• Wealthy merchants' businesses supplied and profited from her. Kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries in Revelation 18:3. The greedy merchants' abandon her when they lose their businesses, mourn and stay far away from her in fear of this political system is going to consume them too. The FRS has been raped and robbed. Now that it has been destroyed the merchants (apostates) don't want this to happen to them, but they are expressing great grief because they lost their great money source in one hour (Revelation 18:9,17,19). They have a large inventory, but no more demand. The businessmen's money was their god and that is why they are grieving while the new Believers do not suffer the wrath and are joyous in their persecution. 

The great prostitute is the false religious system (FRS) that surfaces during the seven years before Christ returns which is responsible for causing all the terrible things that happen. In a spiritual sense, this second woman from Zechariah 5:6-11 above is the FRS has drawn in all people who chose to follow the beast and are participating in her prostitution of God's truth. She is riding the beast (Antichrist) because she is in control at the beginning of this Tribulation period which will ultimately lead to her fall in the end. 

• "One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters (rules over other countries). 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth (unbelievers) were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries. 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads (Leaders) and ten horns (Western European Nations).” Revelation 17:1-2

This act of prostitution is referenced in the Old Testament because the Israelites were deceived into following false gods, religions and disregarded the truth of God's word. Also see Jeremiah 3:6, Nahum 3:4 and Ezekiel 23:19.

• "Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor." Hosea 9:1

The Antichrist uses this FRS to gain power over the other nations, once he has full control of them which is through gaining economic control, he forces the ten nations (WEU?) to turn against the prostitute in order to destroy the FRS. The Antichrist uses the FRS to gain power, once he no longer needs it, he must destroy it so he can declare himself to be God in a wing of the 3rd Jewish Temple which occurs in the middle of the seven-year period. 

• "Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns (10 Nations) you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire." Revelation 17:15-16

A "mystery" in the Bible means that this is something very important for us to understand. The FRS permeates throughout all the gentile nations and powers. Her beauty means that this FRS is very inviting and deceptive with the ability to really draw anyone into joining it. Wine is frequently used as a symbol for blood. There will be two groups of people on earth during the Tribulation: (a) those who worship the beast and (b) those who worship the Lord (Revelation 13:16–18; Revelation 20:4). Those who worship the Lord are described as "saints." This woman is drunk with the blood of the saints because she will engage in a great deal of bloodshed with them, as if she'd consumed a large quantity of wine (Deuteronomy 32:42; Ezekiel 39:19). She and the Antichrist will wage war against the believers of Jesus Christ (Lamb). These are those people who become believers during the Great Tribulation. Most will become martyrs for their faith. 

• "The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus."  Revelation 17:5-6

“The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false face for the urge to rule it.”

―  Henry Louis Mencken 

 American Journalist (1956)

There are a total of 21 judgements over a seven-year period that are broken into three sets of seven. There are the seven seals, trumpets, and bowls (or vile) judgements. Each set of seven can be split into two parts. Part one is physical judgements and part two are the spiritual. The first four judgements in each set of seven are physical in nature (earthquakes, pestilence, famine, etc.) as expressions of God's wrath and the final three pertain to the spiritual. Notice that there are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse introduced in Revelation 6. These are the physical judgements being carried out. The fifth judgement is a spiritual request from the Christian martyrs (Saints) under the alter crying out in unison for Christ to judge the inhabitants of the Earth (Revelation 6:9-10). The sixth seal spiritual doom is an Earthquake and darkness because the inhabitants of the Earth realize that God is responsible for these disasters.  They now know that Jesus is pouring out judgement upon the inhabitants of the Earth. The inhabitants are angry at God, they will not repent and instead blasphemy God by shaking their fists and saying you have no right to judge us! This is the exact point when the rapture occurs because the text says, "everyone" meaning that the Church must be gone along with the Holy Spirit (Revelation 6:15). The Holy Spirit resides in believers so when they are gone so is God's Spirit which returns later because unbelievers do come to Christ in the following chapters. The seventh is about thirty minutes of silence in heaven before God's Spirit pours out another seven acts of judgement. The purpose of the first four physical judgements is to prepare people for the following three spiritual judgements. The spiritual dooms become more terrifying to the unbelievers than the physical as hinted in Revelation 6:16. Unbelievers fear God's spiritual consequences more than they fear the physical ones. God's purpose is to use a two-edge sword, which is the physical and the spiritual judgements, to bring the undecided and blasphemers to repentance. This is an expression of His mercy (Zechariah 1:16). Sometimes it takes the combination of the physical and spiritual to bring people to respond. Just like the Church of Laodicea described in Revelation 3, God can't work with lukewarm people, so He will shake them to their core to get an either hot or cold response towards or away from Him.

Each of the 10 plagues or dooms that the God of Moses poured out on the Egyptians in Exodus 7-12 were done to show Pharoah that the God's they worshipped are false God's. Each plague specifically attacked and destroyed a false god they worshipped like the frogs, flies and locus gods. These plagues foreshadow the dooms that God pours out in the end times in Revelation chapters 6, 8 & 16. The Gods we have today are completely different from the ones of the Egyptians. These dooms are also much different than the ones we read in Exodus, but they have the same purpose which is to destroy those false gods and to shake people's confidence in worshipping them. This will direct people to worshipping the true God that is eternal. Second, to shake men to their senses by removing their complacency which will bring countless numbers to salvation. The third is to bring down upon mankind the consequences of his refusal to manage the earth's resources according to God's commandment. In the end times mankind's greed will be so out of control that he will pollute the earth to death (Isaiah 24). We reap the benefits or consequences of our efforts.

Tribulation starts with a great earthquake in Revelation 6:12 and ends with a greater earthquake found in Revelation 16:18. During the first 3.5 years of the seven-year Tribulation, Christians will be warning unbelievers about the identity of the Antichrist who is already walking the earth gaining power and global control. The "Day of Wrath" or "Day of the Lord" is referring to a period during the second half of the Tribulation as defined in scripture as for a length of three and one-half years, 42 months, 1,260 days, 1,290 days or 1,335 days. All of these times roughly agree (+- 30 days) telling us how long the "Day of Wrath" will last just before the physical return of Jesus Christ. No one knows the day or the hour He returns except the father in Matthew 24:36, but we can get pretty close. 2 Thessalonians 2 tells us that when the Tribulation period begins, only Christians will know the identity of the Antichrist and unbelievers will be blind to this fact. This seems to imply that Christians are present for a significant part of the first half of the seven-year period. We should not be alarmed since we are already aware of this from the scripture teachings. 

• "Not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4

More support for this "Day of Wrath" 3.5-year period is found in the Book of Revelation. As God starts to pour out His judgement in chapter 6 only 25% of the unbelieving world population is impacted by disasters. The "Day of Wrath" period starts when we get to chapter 8 where 33% of the unbelieving world population is impacted. When we get to chapter 16, the "bowl judgements", 100% unbelieving world is impacted. These judgements will not come upon believers, only rebellious unbelievers as promised by God. God desire is for these unbelievers to repent and submit their lives to Jesus Christ and come into an eternal relationship with Him.

• "They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6:16

• "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20

When the Antichrist is revealed to believers, the Tribulation timeclock begins lasting seven-years. This is also the final seven years of the 70 "seven" years Daniel 9 prophesy relating to the Jews. In this last seven-year period the world will be in turbulent times and desperate for a leader to emerge who can bring about peace and order. The Antichrist will perform miracles, bring about global peace, order and mesmerize the world. His False Prophet will be his aides-de-camp who will carry out his orders. At the midpoint, 3.5 years, he will set himself up as God in the 3rd Jewish Temple.

• "He (The Prince) will confirm a covenant (Peace Treaty) with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple (3rd Jewish Temple) he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." Daniel 9:27

During the Tribulation God will turn His attention to the Jewish people in order to accomplish two things that hadn't been fulfilled yet. (1) There will be 144,000 Jewish pastors that will evangelize the world for Christ. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, they were never able to fulfill God's purpose for having a chosen people and creating the nation of Israel. (2) God is going to use these terrible events so the Jewish people will despair and finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah. They will feel personally responsible for His suffering and His wounds. That's why the 144,000 Jews become exceptional evangelists, the greatest the world has ever seen.

• "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." Zechariah 12:10 written 520–518 B.C.E.

There are seven scrolls of judgement which is God's number of completion. God is going to judge the world as He claims or takes the title back to the earth from Satan. In the nation of Israel, the land that was given to the tribal states and families could never be taken from them. Even if they sold the property because hard times the land would never be permanently deeded to the buyer. The land title was always open, so that family could buy it back when they recovered economically, even if it were decades later.

The point we're making is that the terms of the sale we kept in a scroll with seven seals. This sets up the background for this scroll contains Gods right to take back His earth that was forfeited to Satan by Adam. Adam was given sovereign control of the earth by God for all mankind. When Adam & Eve chose to rebel against God and follow Satan, Adam forfeited the title deed to the earth to Satan. This is part of what's behind the drama of mankind. In the verse below Satan is bragging to God that he is the one who owns the earth now because Adam had forfeited the title deed. God reply's back that there are people on the earth like His servant Job that Satan doesn't own, and they do not follow Satan and his demons.

• "Now there was a day when the sons of God (Angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, "From where have you come? Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." Job 1:6-7

"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives." 

―  Albert Einstein

Physicist, Nobel Laureate

Solomon's Temple was located North of the "Dome of the Rock", not where the Dome of the Rock sits today. The key to finding the location of the Temple original location is at the closed, eastern gate by the temple mount. The structure of the Temple it has a "Inner Court" wall where only priests are allowed and another wall called the "Court of the Women", which are all part of the "Inner Court" wall. There is another, greater outer wall, called the "Court of the Gentiles." that encloses the Jewish Temple. The scripture below says, "don't measure it". So how wide is the "Inner Court"?

In Jerusalem there is a east to west centerline starting at the eastern gate that passes through a cupula (a small, inverted cup or dome-shaped cap over a structure) called "the dome of the spirits or tablets" located in the north-west corner of the Muslim's Dome of the Rock in an area called the Temple compound. Underneath the cupula is a large, flat rock that is one of two places on that mountain where no man has ever touched or altered. The other cupula (picture below left) is at the eastern gate containing an unearthed, flat rock that no man has ever touched. This is the outline for the "inner court" where the Ark of the Covenant was put in the Holy of Holies (the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle where God's presence appeared) located on the east, west centerline. It was calculated that "inner court" wall measurement would leaves an extra 26 meters. This means that there is 26 meters between the Dome of the Rock and the Temples Inner Court. The Dome of the Rock exists where the "Court of the Gentiles" was located. The significance is that both the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Inner Court will exist side by side. There doesn't need to be a war over the location of the Dome of the Rock and the Israelites can rebuild Solomon's Temple Inner Court. If the Dome of the Rock had to be destroyed in order to rebuild the Temple, 1.9 billion Muslims would declare Jihad immediately. This is also important because this is where the Antichrist sets himself up as God in the Holy of Holies as prophesized in Daniel 9:27 for the last half or final 3.5 years of the Tribulation (also see 2 Thessalonians 2:3). The word "gentile" in the Old and New Testament always refers to unbelievers. It's not referring to Christians, it's speaking to the unbelieving non-Jews or unbelieving gentile nations. The word "gentile" never means Christian because we are believers.

• "I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles (unbelieving non-Jew). They will trample on the holy city for 42 months (3.5 years)." Revelation 11:1-2

• "Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is." Zechariah 2:1-2, also see Ezekiel 43, Zechariah 4:8

Source: Dr. Asher S. Kaufman

The Temple Mount: Where is the Holy of Holies, 2004

Temple Restoration Prophesized by Ezekiel

The third Temple restoration in Israel is foretold in great detail in Ezekiel 40-48 which mirrors the test in Revelation. The following Temple areas are discussed:

Temple Area

- East Gate to the Outer Court

- The Outer Court

- The North and South gates

- Gates to the Inner Court

- Rooms for Preparing Sacrifices

- Rooms for the Priests

- The New Temple

- God’s Glory Returns to the Temple

- The Great Altar Restored

- The Priesthood Restored

- Israel Fully Restored

- The River From the Temple

- Boundaries and Divisions of the Land

- Gates of the New City (gates named after the tribes of Israel)

• "In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3 He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand." Ezekiel 40:2-3

The third temple will be built before the Day of Wrath according to Daniel and it will be constructed approximately 2,300 days before Christ returns. This is roughly 6.3 years before the end time so we should expect the temple to be in place in the first year of the 7-year tribulation found in Daniel 9 prophesy where Israel signs a treaty with many nations led by the Antichrist. This third temple is where the Antichrist puts an end to sacrifice halfway through the 7-years and declares himself as God and there is a desecration in a wing of the temple.

• "Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the Lord’s people?” 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.” Daniel 8:13–14

The Ark of the Covenant will not be found, remembered or located in the third temple in the Holies of Holies because there will be an Ark of the Covenant in the Heavenly Temple exposed in the end times. 

• "In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made." Jeremiah 3:16

Gershon Salomon was crushed by a tank and staring into the rifles of enemy soldiers, Gershon thought his life was over more than 50 years ago on a battlefield in the Golan Heights during the six days war in 1967. Gershon said that he witnessed miracle after miracle on the battlefield that had to be from God which sealed Israel's victory. After the war, Gershon was pondering all the miracles he had witnessed. One day he said tat God spoke to him and said "You are to prepare to rebuild the Temple in this generation". And this is what he is been doing ever since. They have rebuilt all the implements and furniture that goes in the Temple except the Ark of the Covenant. They will not rebuilt it because God has it hidden currently and will reveal it at the right moment.

Gershon Salomon

Founder and leader of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement, 1967 

"I like to say that arms are not for killing. They are for hugging."

― Betty Williams

Peace Activist, Nobel Laureate (1943-2020) 

The fifth seal is broken and all the souls of every martyr who has died for their faith are in Heaven asking God to judge the earth and avenge their deaths. They go all the way back to Abel who was the first martyr killed by his brother Cain. The martyr's souls have been waiting patiently in a state of sleep for the rapture so they can be reunited with their bodies on earth. Only the martyrs sleep under the heavenly alter which is place where Christ was sacrificed bringing about the redemption of sin and at the same time, He was crucified on the earthly alter of the cross. All of the articles found in the temple are earthly copies of what's found in heaven (Hebrews 9:11, 9:23-24, Revelation 11:19, Ephesians 4:8, Psalms 68;18). This is the reason why God gave Moses such detailed instruction because they were copies of what was already found in heaven. God shows His grace by telling the martyrs to wait a little while longer because there are others that still remain on earth that will repent and come to faith in Christ. Any believers remaining on earth at this point will become martyrs for their faith. The unbelieving inhabitants of the earth come to realize they are the main target for suffering and turn their wrath to martyring believers. The Antichrist will be responsible for setting up this wholesale slaughter of Christians around the world. This horrifying act will unbridle God wrath on unbelievers in the sixth seal.

• "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth (unbelievers) and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been." Revelation 6:9-11

The sixth seal is broken and there is a great earthquake. We don't know what causes the earthquake or shaking. One could imagine that a great number of thermo-nuclear weapons exploding could cause something like this to occur. The aftermath causes nuclear debris to scatter into the atmosphere making the sun go black and the moon to become red. First century John is describing something that looks like asteroids or meteors flaming as they hit the atmosphere. He could be describing an all-out ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) exchange between countries. The ICBM's explosion would be so powerful the sky is split apart, and the mountains and islands are moved. We are not saying this is going to happen we are just giving possible scenarios.

• "I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake (seismos). The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place." Revelation 6:12-14

There is an enormous release of pressure (or overpressure) from a nuclear explosion that pushes the atmosphere back so quickly (like a vacuum) that it compacts upon itself like a scroll being rolled up. This creates tremendous heat as the atmosphere rushes back into the vacuum destroying everything in its path. This is called a nuclear mushroom cloud you may have seen images of it before. This compresses the humidity pushing it above the atmosphere into the stratosphere causing it to freeze (see Ezekiel 38:22). This type of event would alter the geography of the earth.

Below is man's response to the sixth seal. The world is terrified, and the unbelievers realize that God is sending these judgements. Even after all this destruction their hearts are hardened, they will not repent even though they believe in God's existence. These individuals are those who accepted the mark of the beast from the rider on the white horse. Apparently, once you receive the mark of the beast you become Satan's possession; delusional and unable to process logic. By the end of the seal judgements there will be a sharp realization with the large number of deaths piling up, God's Day of Wrath is approaching, and unbelievers, not believers will publicly announce it. This will be the final time that God will allow repentance.

• "Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?" Revelation 6:15-17

The seventh judgement seal is broken, there are seven archangels that are given trumpets. These seven angels were chosen by Jesus to unleash judgement on the world through the seven trumpet judgements unleashed during the final 3.5 tribulation period. 

• "When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel (Jesus as high Priest & Judge), who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne." Revelation 8:1-3

"If you want something done, ask a busy person.”

—  Benjamin Franklin 

American polymath: a leading writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher & political philosopher 

Jesus prophesied that Elijah would come and restore Israel to His disciples. Christ is giving the disciples a prelude to what's to come at the transfiguration (believed to have occurred on Mount Tabor, Israel). The first time, Elijah came in the Spirit of John the Baptist and the second time will be as one of the witnesses. This is a preview of coming attractions of how bright and glorious Christ will look when He returns to setup His kingdom.

• "And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him (Elijah came in the Spirit of John the Baptist), but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands." Matthew 17:9-12

• "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” 28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning (transfiguration). 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem." Luke 9:27-33

In the Old Testament Malachi also prophesied that Moses and Elijah will come just before Christ's (Messiah's) coming called "the day of the Lord." That's why there is a single empty chair during Passover at many Jewish diner tables to symbolize that they are waiting for Elijah coming to restore Israel hearts to turn back to God. Elijah will come and cause the hearts of the children of Abraham to turn back to their Fathers covenants and promises God has made so that they could come to know the truth about Christ being their Messiah.

• "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." Malachi 4:4-6 written ~450 B.C.E.

Moses and Elijah were chosen to be the two witnesses, not only because they were the two greatest prophets of the Old Testament, but because neither of them was able to finish their ministries. Both has a long history of preaching repentance. Moses never got to see the promise land because he disobeyed God (Numbers 20). His body was never found because he was taken directly to heaven. Elisha was chosen to replace his father Elijah because he ran from Jezebel, so like Moses, he too never finished his ministry (1 Kings 19). A chariot of fire took Elijah to heaven never to see his son Elisha again (2 Kings 2). Both witnesses' bodies were never found and buried. Moses did experience death (Deuteronomy 34:7)) while Elijah, on the other hand, never physically died. There are only three people that have been raptured meaning they already have their bodies and are in Heaven: Moses, Elijah and Enoch. The two witnesses have been watching and waiting from heaven for thousands of years to finish their ministries. The most popular belief is that it's Moses and Elijah who return because Elijah represents the prophets and Moses represents the law.

Enoch didn't die, according to Genesis 5:24, where it states he was "taken" by God. This means he was translated directly into heaven, not passing through death. Hebrews 11:5 also refers to Enoch's translation, emphasizing that he did not experience death due to his faith. Because of this we cannot rule out Enoch as a possible witness. 

God always sends a profit(s) to the people as a warning to repent before judgement. Before God destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah, He sent Lot as a profit to warn them. Noah was also a profit sent by God to warn the wicked generations living around him and used the Ark as a pulpit to preach about repentance. Prior to the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, God also sent two angels (witnesses) to rescue Lot and His family before judgement befell on the wicked, unrepentant, ungodly people. God will also do this in the end times as He raptures the church, he will also send two messengers to warn the ungodlily people to repent before He pours out final judgement.

There will appear two prophets from ancient times wearing sackcloth continuously (burlap) as a sign of rejection that every Israelite would understand that it was warning them to change their course. The Old Testament conditions for wearing sackcloth were for mourning, sorrow and repentance. The inhabitants of the earth do not want to hear their final repentance message. The two witnesses are also rejecting the Jewish people's pursuits of religion (Judaism), lavish lifestyles and all the other worldly things they are clinging to for their security. They come to warn Israel that they must follow their lead to evangelize the rest of the world. The two olive trees represent oil to keep the two lampstands burning (see Zechariah 4:11-14, Revelation 11:4). The oil represents the Holy Spirit that the two anointed witnesses represent the church which gives the light of God's word to the world through the 144,000 Israelite evangelist. They will prophesize for 1,260 days (3.5 years) and during that time Elijah will cause a drought (1 Kings 17:1, James 5:17). The other prophet, Moses, turns the water into blood (Exodus 7:17) and cause plagues as judgement. These are the exact same miracles that they performed in the Old Testament. They cannot be stopped and anyone who tries will face death during the 1,260 days.

• "And I will appoint my two witnesses (Elijah & Moses), and they will prophesy for 1,260 days (3.5 years), clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees (represents oil)” and the two lampstands (God's truth) , and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain (Elijah) during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood (Moses) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want." Revelation 11:3-6

The two witnesses are on fire to tell Israel the truth about the real Messiah, Jesus Christ, and expose the truth about the Antichrist's identity. The Antichrist is so upset with them; he has Moses and Elijah killed in the temple mount public square where their bodies remain for 3.5 day to disgrace them so to be witnessed by the entire world. There is a celebration by the unbelievers where they are actually giving gifts to one another as if it were Christmas.

• "Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast (Satan) that comes up from the Abyss will attack them and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city (Jerusalem)—which is figuratively called Sodom (immorality) and Egypt (lust for material things)—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts (like a Satanic Christmas), because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth." Revelation 11:7-1

At the end of the 3.5 days lying in the public square they are resurrected by God for a little while to convince people that they are really alive. A voice is heard from heaven is captured and heard rapturing the two witnesses back to Heaven. This will be and incredible spectacle witnessed by the entire world. Their resurrection is to show the world that they have power over death. This will strike terror into the hearts of the unbelievers because they will know God is in control and they realize they may not win. The seed of doubt has been planted. After witnessing this miracle, a severe earthquake hits killing 7,000 people occurs causing the remaining survivors to praise God. This will be a small percentage of the total population which could reach 20 million by this time and when we consider that one tenth of the city of Jerusalem will be in ruins. This should be an attention getter as God shakes up the unbelievers.

• "But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." Revelation 11:11-13

The devil and his army of demons are constantly attacking Angels in the spiritual realm and humans, especially humans in authority on earth. When Moses died his body was never found because it was taken to Heaven for a future purpose as a witness. Jesus needs his body in order to resurrect him to fulfill this role, and Satan knows this. That's why the devil attempts to claim Moses' body and prevent him from fulfilling his role as one of the two witnesses in Revelation 11:3-13. Michael ultimately wins the battle.

• "And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is." Deuteronomy 34:5-6

• "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!" Jude 9

"The man who has begun to live more seriously within begins to live more simply without."

― Ernest Hemingway

Author, Journalist, Nobel laureate (1899-1961)

The seven seal judgements impacted 25% of the world's population and only struck human beings. The trumpet judgement disasters will impact humans, the land and animals. The seven trumpet judgements intensify and impact one third or 33% of the earth population and the final seven bowl or vial judgements impact 100% of the world's population is shaken to its core. Theses judgements effect God's judgement intensifies with each judgement as well as their frequency. The seal judgements cover the first 3.5 years called "The Tribulation" period. The trumpet judgements accelerate in frequency in the final 3.5 years before Jesus Christ returns called "The Great Tribulation".  

Why would a loving God continue increasing the frequency and judgement intensity? Referencing the Book of Ezekiel, we see that God increases the intensity and frequency with each judgement cycle because the Israelites and unbelieving gentile nations have hardened hearts towards God and need to be shaken to the core in order to bring them to their senses. This is how one should interpret the Revelation dooms in chapters six, eight and sixteen as wakeup calls to humanity. In chapter six the judgements are less intense, and they increase with each judgement cycle. The point of all of this is to bring as many human being into repentance as possible. God's judgement is only to wake up ungodly to bring them into a relationship with God. It also provides Believers an opportunity to assist them in their redemption because God's promises Christians throughout Revelation that are protected from His judgment consequences. God shows mercy on the ungodly by His wrath so they can escape a far worse wrath they will receive in the Lake of Fire.

There will be a twofold attack. One will be the wrath of God and the other the step up in persecution by Satan on those who reject the Antichrist. The way the hard harden unbelievers will strikes back at God is by attacking the believers. The believers will stand up for the love, life and truth of God which will institute a reaction. This will be the first time in history when the majority of Gods people will suffer death. 

In the Old Testament the "Holy of Holies" contained two items, the Ark of the Covenant and the Sacrificial Alter that held the incense, which is the exact same picture given in Heaven except Jesus has replaced the Ark of the Covenant. Please understand that this is not God willing all of these punishments on man, it's that the Holy Spirit is no longer restraining evil (Satan) from ruling over the earth. He does this so mankind can display his true nature without having Jesus Christ in his heart. God shows His grace by restraining evil otherwise man would have already destroyed himself. These trumpet judgements are found in Revelation 8 & 9. For a first century man, John did an excellent job describing these events he had witnessed.

• "And now you know what is holding him (Satan) back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one (Holy Spirit) who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way."  2 Thessalonians 2:6-7

The Ark of the Covenant was made of wood (symbol of Jesus human nature) and covered with gold (symbol of His deity). The Ark of His Covenant is a picture of the Messiah. Inside the ark were three items: Aaron's rod that budded (rejection of God's leadership), the golden pot of manna (rejection of God's provision) and the broken tablets of the Law (rejection of God's Law). These are all symbols and reminders of man's sin. In the Old Testament, a young male bull without defect was offered annually as a blood sacrifice for sin (Leviticus 1). Israelites would understand this symbolism and that their Messiah blood was the sacrificed or covering for their sin. The Christians symbol for sin is the cross.

• "Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm." Revelation 11:19

The Greek word "thumos" (θυμός) refers to God's wrath and is used throughout Revelation. It means fierce passionate anger and is only used exclusively by God in reference to the last judgements.

The first four trumpet dooms are physical disasters (also see Ezekiel 30:21-22). The first burns the forest and grasses. The second is a volcano erupting under the sea, the third is a heavenly body crashing into the earth poisoning a third of the water. Man can live many days without food, but only a few days without fresh water.

• (1) "Hail and fire mixed (nuclear bomb?) with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up."

• (2) "Something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed." 

• (3) "A great star (Angel), blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star (Angel) is Wormwood (poison). A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter."

The fourth doom verse describes the darkness which is similar to a nuclear winter where the air is so polluted from all the airborne debris remains from ICBM missile's exploding.

• (4) "A third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night."

The three spiritual woe dooms only affect the unbelievers, and they are more painful than the physical dooms. Christ gives Satan the key to Hades to release the demons locked up in the Abyss. These demons have been locked up in Hell since the days of Noah for the evils they did to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. One of the demons is the "king" over the others and his name is given in both Greek and Hebrew as the Destroyer. Once they are released Satan has no more access to Heaven, so he turns all his attention to destroying the earth. The first woe lasts 5 months where the followers of the Antichrist are mentally tortured. John is using the word "like" to descried what the demonic angels look like. During those days people will seek death, long to die, but death will elude them.

• (5) "I saw a star (Angel Lucifer) that had fallen from the sky (heaven) to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss (Hell). 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts (demons) came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads (unbelievers). 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them." 

• (5 cont.) "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." Revelation 1:18

• "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man (before Jesus Return)." Luke 17:26

• "The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer). 12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come."

These four demonic angels are released, and they were bound at the river Euphrates during the time of Noah. The Euphrates River in ancient times dived the Near East and Far East (Kings of the East) and was the location of the first sin by man was committed in the Garden of Eden. God had prepared these angels to carry out this judgement at a very specific time, place and purpose in history. To have an army that numbered 200 million could not have happened until current day and one-third of all mankind are killed.

• (6) "The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand (200 Million). I heard their number."

What happens here on earth starts in Heaven. Satan controls our world system including thought control, the order of things and the way things operate. The rankings are made in the angelic family and God respects this order. To give an example, below Jude is describing the people who do not understand the spirit world we live in saying that even Satan is paid respect by archangel Michael because of his position he had before God. It's also telling us that we can rebuke Satan using the same language.

• (6) "In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 1:8-9

What John is describing is a combination of fire, smoke and molten metal which is believed to be a thermonuclear war which creates immense heat and melting. He could be depicting the launching of a ballistic missile which has a trail like a serpent's tail, and the power comes from the warheads, head. At this point including the Seal judgments leaves 50% of mankind is dead.

• "The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury." Revelation 9:17-19

Even after all of this destruction, they still will not repent and continued worshiping idols. Satan has a hold on mankind and the restrainer (Holy Spirit) is no longer preventing Satan's evil from spreading.

• "The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts." Revelation 9:20-21

The last trumpet blast is referenced in Exodus 19:16. When the final trumpet blows is a signal for God's people to move out. Some interpret the seventh and last trumpet as a signal for the church rapture, but there are many last trumpet blasts in the Book of Revelation, and this is only one of them.

There is a temple in heaven and when the trumpet is blown in Revelation 12:15, heaven is opening completely exposing the temple's ark of his covenant to the inhabitants of the earth. It's being exposed because it has fulfilled its purpose and the end is here and a warning to repent. This event strike terror to the unbelievers because time has run out. The ministry of redemption is about to end, and the chance of salvation is gone. In the Old Testament the ark of the covenant was found in a secrete place called the Holy of Holies where only the great high priest could enter once a year. When Christ died on the cross the veil protecting the secret place was ripped from top to bottom symbolizing that there was no longer a separation between God and man. Men could now come in the presence of God through Christ. The day of judgement and rewards are about to begin.

• "Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm." Revelation 11:19

The final woe is covered in Revelation 12 and is a calling to move.  The passage symbols are referenced in Genesis 37 identified by Jacob. God wrote this thousands of years ago anticipating that it would be needed for interpreting Revelation 12:9 because when Joseph's dream was written there was little understanding of what it meant. 

Unbelievers' hearts are so hardened that God has to use extreme and increasing measures to get the last few to repent. The dooms and woes are only intended for unbelievers, not for believers. Once an unbeliever repents, they are now protected from the dooms and woes. Believers are somehow protected from God's wrath, but not from persecution. Christians will face persecution from Satan's camp. Although people will begin to see that it is far better to suffer Satan's persecution than to suffer the wrath of God. That why these events become so extreme. God is letting the inhabitants of the earth that it is much better to be in my camp than you are in Satan's camp because Satan's persecution is temporary, but God's wrath is permanent and eternal. 

The inhabitants of the earth realize that the false idols they have been chasing are unreliable. Their first reaction is despair because everything they have trusted has proven to be untrustworthy. Their second reaction is anger at God because God did this to me. The third reaction is faith if you come to Him, you will receive a reward. 

• "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

― Derek Bok

 American Lawyer & Former President of Harvard University

Right before Christ returns and the door is shut on salvation, God displays His final act of grace by sending three angels to warn the unbelievers to turn away from the beast and repent. The first angel brings the good news of the gospel. The eternal gospel is a picture of their eternal destiny and what is at stake if they do not change. All of the easy converts have received salvation by this point. What we are left with in the final months are the last hard hearted and reprobates. This is the last and final shakeup just like in Exodus 10:29 just before the final plague on the firstborn placed on Pharaoh and the Egyptians (Exodus 11). The 144,000 protected Jewish male virgin evangelists are wrapping up their ministry and this is the last time the gospel will be preached to the inhabitants of the world until Christ returns for the Millennial kingdom. The second angel brings the judgment of Babylon the Great which is referring to false religious system (apostasy) that deceived people by focusing on what's temporal instead of what's eternal. The first angel warns of the final preaching of the Gospel message just before Gods wrath is unleashed just as the second angel warns them of the apostate religious system's destruction. The false religious system that they have been depending on disappears before their very eyes just as the expression of final gospel message is being preached. So, what we have is the true gospels being preached for the last time and the false gospel being preached for the last time. Now it's time for them to make a decision.

• "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Revelation 14:6

The third angel warns the last of the fence sitting unbelievers of the benefits and consequences. They can either receive temporary comfort from Satan or eternal comfort from God. If you take the mark, you have purchased a permanent, one-way ticket to the Lake of Fire tormented forever with no exceptions. There are some who repent and reject the mark of the beast (Revelation 14:12-13).

• "And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” Revelation 14:11

Those who do not take the mark of the beast cannot buy or sell will endure hardship, most will become martyrs by having their heads cut-off.

• "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years" Revelation 20:4

The fourth angel comes out of the false temple on earth where the Antichrist sets up residence to announce that it's time for the harvesting to begin. Jesus Christ is represented by a sharp sickle that takes out the entire cluster of grapes. This is the beginning of the war of Armageddon. The cluster of grapes are those unrepenting peoples. These are not grapes that the Lord wants to keep, cherish and stored. The second sickle used by the fifth angel comes out from the temple in heaven. The sixth angel brings God's wrath to the valley of decision in the final battle of Armageddon where 200 million unrepenting peoples are slain to where the blood is as high as a horse (5'4") flowing for 200 miles long. This will be a real-world war fought by all nations (Joel 3).

• "So he (Jesus) who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth (believers) was harvested."  Revelation 14:16

• "They were trampled in the winepress outside the city (Jerusalem), and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia (200 miles)." Revelation 14:20

In God's mercy and grace, he ends Armageddon early and evil on the earth. By doing this He limits the level of torment the unbeliever receives on judgement day and eliminates the persecution of the believer. 

The first sign illustrates Israel's history of suffering and the pain it has endured at the hands of other nations because of Satan hatred for the Jewish race. The woman described below is Israel whose father is Jacob, and his twelve sons are the tribes of Israel. The woman (Israel) gives birth to the child (Jesus Christ) who defeated the dragon (Satan) at the cross to pay for the sins of Adam and his descendants and regain the deed to the earth. Satan's mission has always been to destroy the Jewish people through. The history of mankind has been shaped by the great dragon who works through the beasts of the land and water. The second great sign in the verse below is Satan who is the number one force to attack her. That's why they are called the great signs in Heaven that show us the answers to what's happing here on earth because Satan has continually deceived mankind over and over again. 

• "A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman (Israel) clothed with the sun (father, Jacob), with the moon (mother, Rachel) under her feet and a crown of twelve stars (Jacob's 12 sons) on her head. 2 She was pregnant (Jesus) and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth (Israel's suffering Nation). 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon (Satan) with seven heads (Rome) and ten horns (10 Nations) and seven crowns on its heads (Kings)." Revelation 12:1-3

All of these terms above are found or amplified somewhere else in the Old Testament Bible. It reference to the meaning of these symbols occurred when Joseph had a dream and Jacob interprets his dream.

• "Then he (Joseph) had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun (father, Jacob) and moon (mother, Rachel) and eleven stars (Joseph's 11 brothers) were bowing down to me.” Genesis 37:9

The third great sign is the seven angel priests that will receive the seven golden bowls or sensors. These sensors are a symbol of God wrath to be poured out on the world to answer the prayers of those martyrs who suffered brutal deaths at the hands of the beast. God is responding to the prayers of the saints. The priests in the temple of the Tabernacle used sensors to wave the fragrance aroma created from burning incense in the Holy of Holies so the priest could go into the presence of God. 

• "I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed." Revelation 15:1

There is only one entrance  to the Tabernacle in order to be in the presence of God symbolizing that there is only one way to be in relationship with God (through His son Christ). There is an alter inside that is made of brass representing judgement. The only way to get into fellowship with God is to sacrifices an innocent substitute for our sins. The outside of the Tabernacle was ugly covered in goatskins, but the inside was beautiful cloth. This is a picture of the Messiah who had no worldly, physical beauty, but we would become attracted to his internal beauty. Inside the Tabernacle contain three items; the broken Ten Commandment tablets representing mans rejection God's moral law, Manna representing mans rejection of Gods provision and Arron's rod representing mans rebellion against God leadership (Moses & Arron). The three together represented all of the sins of mankind. The priest would put the blood sacrifice over the golden thrown along with the objects beneath it would to satisfy God's remissions of mans sin for one year. The cherub on the right of the Tabernacle represented God's righteousness and the cherub on the left represented God's judgement. This process was a picture of a temporary payment for sin since it's dome every year because this was not the ultimate payment for sin until the Lamb of God would come who will make a permanent payment for sin and remove the barrier between man and God forever.  The Tabernacle of testimony is reveal at this Tribulation time to remind the Israelites that the reason these horrific, catastrophic judgement are going to be poured out on the Christ rejecting world because they didn't receive His testimony or free offer of pardon.

• "After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened." Revelation 15:5

• "Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it." Numbers 1:50

• "They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." Hebrews 8:5

There are seven angels that coming out of the temple delivering the seven plagues dressed as priests in white. Once these seven bowls are unleased this is the end of God's mercy and grace.

• "Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever." Revelation 15:6-7

After the seven trumpet judgements there are the final seven plague judgements. These are the last judgements or expression of God's wrath placed on nonbelievers for rejecting God's offer of salvation. The martyrs out of the Tribulation are standing on a sea of glass with fire. They are the Victorious are those believers who have overcome evil through the Holy Spirit working through their lives in different manifestations. The sea represents the calm they are experiencing now that they are in heaven and the fire represents the horrible torture that the suffered at the hands of the Antichrist. A group within the Victorious have conquered evil through the Spirit are the martyrs who were in conflict with the Antichrist who has been changing laws and the calendars to suppress God's ministry. They are killed by their faith and fight against the Beast. These are not the same martyrs in Revelation 6 under the altar.  There is an outrage in heaven about what was done to these martyrs and God promised to avenge what was done to them. We know these are Israelite believers because they are described as the children of Moses and the Lamb (Song of Moses, Exodus 15).

• "I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God. 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb (Christ)" Revelation 15:1-2

These judgements are repeated 7 times to a specific type of people referred to as the "inhabitants of the earth." which is someone who clings to the things of this earth so much that they possess him (1 john 2:15-17). God's judgement throughout Revelation is referencing those nonbelievers that have rejected God's offer of salvation. The following passage is a clear promise to believers that God will keep the Church out of the Tribulation period. 

• "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth." (1) Revelation 3:10

For more passages referring to the "inhabitants of the earth." see (2) Revelation 6:10, (3) Revelation 8:13, (4) Revelation 11:10, (5) Revelation 13:8, and (6) Revelation 13:14

The Bible also identifies nonbelievers as those whose names have Not been written in the Book of Life. Every human ever born has their name entered in the Book of Life. And when they die, if they did not received Christ or when God knows their hearts are so hardened that they will never believe, their names are crossed out of the Book of Life. This is not the same as the Lambs Book of Life. Once you become a believer your name is transferred from the Book of Life to the Lamb's Book of Life. In the end there are two Books of believer's names. 

• "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss (Satan) and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come." (7) Revelation 17:8

This is the last alter call for repentance. Believers will be watching this final phase of the seven judgement events from Heaven which will destroy everything mankind has ever made. These are mirrored in Exodus 7-14 where God shakes the Egyptians with the ten plagues. This will be total devastation of unrepenting human beings and total devastation of the planet's resources. There will be no unrepenting survivors through these seven disasters as an act of purification. This devastation is a direct result of man's misuse of the resources of the planet. These judgements are coming directly from God and the followers of the beast curse him because they know He is directly responsible. Believers are protected from these judgements which are purposely directed to the unbelievers. This mirrors Exodus 8:22 where the Israelites in the land of Goshen were protected from the ten plagues. 

• "The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were."  Exodus 9:26

The earth will remain, but unless Jesus returned, no one would be spared. He has to reset the ecology, or nothing would be able to survive. Even after these judgements, the followers of the beast decide to curse God instead of repenting.

• "If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time." Matthew 24:22-25

In the verse below from below we find out who is to blame for the condition of the earth.

• "The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds. (misdeeds). 15 As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders." Micah 7:13, 15

Before God delivers these last 7 judgements, He shuts Heaven up from hearing any further prayer.  Heaven is closed until these judgements have been completed. There is no hope for the unbeliever who are those who have the mark of the beast. God will protect believer's, but He cannot hear anymore prayers.

• "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed." Revelation 15:8

Seven Bowl Judgements: These judgments found in Revelation 16 only apply to those who have the mark of the beast and worship the talking statue. This occurs after the Jews in Zechariah 13 come to Christ. There are no time gaps with these judgements meaning they all occur simultaneously so there is no escape for unbelievers.

1. Festering skin sores break out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Similar to the sores Job experienced from Satan in Job 2:7 which progressively gets worse and worse like cancer. Destruction of the ozone layer as a possible cause.
2. Every living thing in the sea (all the oceans are connected) dies. All salt water is contaminated. A possible cause being the removal of all the plankton which is the foundation for the sea life food chain. Plankton also consume two-thirds of all the carbon dioxide on the planet.
3. The rivers and springs of water (fresh water) became like the blood from a corpse (poisoned). The blood of the martyrs was spilled so the inhabitants will drink blood and the believers are protected.  (Mark 16:18)
4.  The Sun scorched people with fire, and they are seared by the intense heat.
5. The beast and its kingdom (revived Roman Empire) was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony because of their pains and their sores.
6.  The great river Euphrates water was dried up into seven small streams found in Isaiah 11:15 to prepare the way for the kings from the East (China's 200M man army). Preparing the path for a Global battle (Armageddon).
7. A severe earthquake the like of has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake (magnitude 25+). The great city (Jerusalem) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed (every city will collapse). God remembered Babylon the Great (Judgement against source of false religion - Roman system) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away (disappear) and the mountains could not be found. Huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on the people. The Old Testament verse below is in reference to the destruction found in Revelation 16:

• "I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone. 24 I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. 25 I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away. 26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger. 27 This is what the Lord says: “The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely." Jeremiah 4:23-27

There is one last promise Jesus makes to the few believers that remain during the bowl judgements. He tells them to not compromise your faith because of fear or their treats and hang in there because He will return very soon. 

• "Behold, I (Jesus Christ) am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.” Revelation 16:15 

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”

 ― Jonathan Edwards

American Revivalist Preacher, Philosopher, & Congregationalist Theologian (March 22, 1758)