The End Is Near

THE END IS NEAR

 

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET: THE THIRD WOE

(Revelation 11:15-19 KJV)

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The sounding of the 7^th trumpet consists of the seven bowl judgments described in chapter 16 including the events prior to the establishment of the millennial kingdom (the thousand year earthly reign of Jesus Christ.  The Bible depicts Satan as the current god

of this world, who’s influence has led the inhabitants and leaders of the world to be hostile and antagonistic to the teachings and gospel of Jesus Christ.  Heaven has already been cleansed of Satan and his angel followers.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.   (Revelation 12:7-9 KJV)

The gospel of the Kingdom is now fulfilled.  Our Lord and His Christ are now in complete physical control of the earth, with some time allotted for the final cleansing of the planet.  Satan and his minions will be locked away in the abyss for 1000 years.  This final cleaning may take place during the extra 30 days and 45 days spoken of by Daniel. 

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (extra 30 days) Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (extra 45 days)  (Daniel 12:11-12 KJV)

There will be no attempt to identify the 24 elders as some have tried.  They are beings created by God, for His express purpose.

The phrase: art to come or “who is to come” is not found in some manuscripts.  Some, who are knowledgeable in the Greek area, say it is not found in the most reliable of the manuscripts.  It most likely should be omitted in this particular scripture due to its redundancy.  The coming of the kingdom of God is now present, not future.

The earthly denizens are pictured as no longer frightened or terrified as they were depicted in verse 11:13, they are now angry or as one writer stated, “filled with defiant rage.”  Why are they angry?  I would surmise there are no atheists or agnostics at this time.  They must fully know there is a God of creation, justice, and judgment. 

• They desire their earthly existence and perhaps think they can escape death.
• Their ‘god’ is Satan and they have believed his lies.
• Their think Satan is equal to God and can’t accept their current situation
• They think that if God is supposed to be so wonderful and caring of His creation then why didn’t He fix this issue at the beginning (I’ve actually had someone ask a similar question)
• They believe the AC’s armies can actually defeat Jesus, allowing them to continue their control of the world.

The seven bowls of wrath have yet to be poured, but the elders speak of His wrath as an assured certainty.  The dead will be judged, the prophets will be rewarded, and the old and new Covenant saints who fear the name of God will also be rewarded.  The ones who have destroyed the earth will be destroyed.

The temple of God was opened in heaven with a view of the ark of His testament.  John sees this in his vision.  If it is visible to earth dwellers in real time is unknown.  The NET version seems to read as if it is visible.

Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.   (Revelation 11:19 NET)

As a climax to the 7^th trumpet and immediately prior to the seven bowls is:  lightning flashes; roaring thunder; an earthquake; and a great hailstorm.

Revelation chapters 12 and 13 will be temporarily omitted at this time.  They both contain highly important information and will be dwelt with later.

The location of chapters 12 and 13 in the book of the Revelation sets them as a kind of retrogression in the historical chronology of the epistle.  They provide the background and more detailed information concerning:  the woman; the dragon; the beast; the false prophet; and the wrath of God.

Revelation: Chapter 12

• The appearance of a wonder in heaven:  a woman bearing a child
• The appearance of another wonder in heaven:  a great red dragon who cast stars of heaven to the earth
• The woman births a child – Jesus
• The dragon attempts to devour the child
• The woman flees into the wilderness
• A war in heaven.  Michael and his angels cast out Satan and his angels
• The dragon is angry and declares war on the remnant of the seed of the woman and those having the testimony of Jesus Christ

Revelation: Chapter 13

• The beast with 7 heads, 10 horns, & 10 crowns on his horns rises from the sea.
• One of his heads was wounded to death, but it was healed
• He made war with the saints and overcame them
• Another beast rises from the earth with two horns known as the False Prophet.
• The false prophet causes earth dwellers to make an image of the first beast and causes all who will not worship the image to be killed
• The false prophet causes all to receive a mark

 

(Revelation 14:1-5 KJV)

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation chapters 12, 13, and 14 are explained, by most modern commentators, as an attempt to “tie up loose ends”.  The view of revelationcommentary.org is that chapter 14 is a preview of God’s planned destruction of the beast and God’s judgment against the living earth dwellers.  This commentary also states that the so-called battle of Armageddon will take place during the extra 30 day period forecast in Daniel 12:11 which is an extended period past the 70^th week.  The authenticity of the activities of that extension period are unknown to me, but it appears to be valid.

The exact chronology of certain events such as:  Jesus with the 144,000 on Mount Zion; the destruction of Babylon the Great; and the Armageddon battle are not clear. 

The first event described in chapter 14 is Jesus with the 144,000 on Mount Zion.  John hears voices seemingly coming from heaven and the sound of harps.  The 144,000 have been redeemed from the earth and as singing a song before the throne, four beasts, and elders.  Whether they are on Mount Zion or in heaven is unclear.  It could be they were first seen on Mount Zion and then in heaven.

The phrase “Not defiled with women” raises several different opinions.  Some say they are completely chaste, others say they did not defile themselves with illicit sexual relationships, and others say they did not succumb to the standards of the “woman” or Mystery, Babylon (which has no scriptural validity).  They are called the “first fruits”, meaning they are the first group redeemed from Israel.  Saying they are symbolic of Israel in general or some other large group, again, has no scriptural validity.

 

(Revelation 14:6-7 KJV)

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The everlasting gospel indicated here is not the gospel of Christ, that is, salvation by grace through faith for the forgiveness of sin.  It is the first gospel message proclaimed by John the Baptist and Jesus, that is, the gospel of the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven.  As some commentators point out, only people can proclaim the gospel of Christ, not angels.  This has lead some to teach that the gospel of Christ must be preached to the entire world before Jesus can return.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.   (Matthew 4:17 KJV)

The angel also proclaims that the judgment of God is extremely near as well as the kingdom of God is here.

 

(Revelation 14:8 KJV)

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Another angel announces that Mystery, Babylon the Great is fallen or destroyed.  The details of Babylon’s practices and fall will be given in another chapter.  This will be the city of the temple and the 70^th week capital of the world, Jerusalem.  All the world has been made to follow her path (drink of the wine) of Satanic indulgence  and a passion for immorality.  Of course, everyone has a choice of worshipping the beast and denying or ignoring Jesus Christ/the Lord God. 

 

(Revelation 14:9-11 KJV)

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

This particular message seems out of place chronologically, considering that the 70^th week is either completed or almost complete, but maybe not.  It could be directed to the surviving saints as a type of “good job” missive and to the apostates and heretics a warning of their future.  The Babylon angel’s message may be saying that the city is fallen as a known impending fact but hasn’t actually occurred yet.  The third angel’s message states the ramifications of worshipping the beast and receiving the mark.  The result will be the torment of fire and brimstone before angels and the Lamb, Jesus Christ.  They will be tormented forever with no rest at all.  A harsh judgment, therefore, I state again, that the mark will be taken deliberately and purposely.  It will not be an accidental trick.  One will not be forced to take the mark.

 

(Revelation 14:12-13 KJV)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

God is encouraging the saints to remain faithful, the ones who keep the commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus.  With the final outpouring of the wrath of God that is perhaps just days away, who is this message directed to?  It is possible there are still sheep in the world since the sheep and goats judgment will be very soon, immediately following the battle of Armageddon as told in Matthew 25:31-46.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: (Matthew 25:31-32 KJV) (continues through verse 46)

 

(Revelation 14:14-20 KJV)

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

Revelationcommentary.org has the following to say about verses 14:14-20.

The purpose of Revelation 14:14-20 is to preview the final judgment of God against the wicked earth-dwellers.  This section will be expanded in chapters 15-19.  Revelation 15-16 will expand Revelation 14:14-20.  Revelation 17-18 will expand Revelation 14:8-13.  Revelation 20 expands Revelation 14:6-7.

Other than being a “preview”, this announcement may be the actual chronological event with the following chapters being a more detailed analysis or expansion of the events previously depicted.  Chapters 15 and 16 are about the bowl judgments which may occur during the extra 30 days after the end of the 70^th week.  Chapters 17 and 18 give details of the destruction and judgment of Mystery, Babylon the Great.  Chapter 19 presents a more in depth analysis of the return of Jesus and the extremely fast battle of Armageddon.

and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle

This “one” like the Son of man and wearing a golden crown appears to Jesus.  Many commentators have difficulty identifying Jesus as the one harvesting here.  They also have a hard time with Jesus responding to another angel who came out of the temple.  It may be that the angel with a loud voice is relaying instructions from God the Father, or it could also be that the angel is making an announcement that can be heard by the entire population of the earth.  However, Jesus makes clear in Matthew 13 that angels do the reaping, therefore, it will be said this is an angel.

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.   (Matthew 13:39 KJV)

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;   (Matthew 13:41 KJV)

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,   (Matthew 13:49 KJV)

The one like the Son of man swings His sickle and reaps, however, the group being reaped is not identified, but they must be the glorified ones.  Next, an angel swings his sickle with the harvest delivered to the winepress of the wrath of God, which are definitely not glorified individuals.

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.  (Is 63:3-4 KJV)

And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.   (Jeremiah 25:33 KJV)

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

1,600 furlongs, is approximately 200 miles, and specifies that the area within a 200-mile radius from Jerusalem will be gathered at the time of the second coming of Christ.  In my opinion, this is the battle of Armageddon, but will take place in and around Jerusalem.  This harvest will complete the destruction of Babylon/Jerusalem and the armies of the beast.

There is evidence that John’s placement of the final battle at Har-Magedon (harmagedon) has been incorrectly transliterated. Nothing about Megiddo is a mountain.  It is located on flat land in a valley.  Megiddo was an ancient city located on a plain in the southwest portion of the Valley of Jezreel or Esdraelon, the site of several significant ancient battles….David Aune, Word Biblical Commentary

The original Greek, derived from a Hebrew word and usually transliterated as Armageddon, is most likely Har Mo-ed which is usually considered the mount of assembly or Mount Zion.  The location of the last battle is not a decisive theological decision but placing it in or around Jerusalem would tie up several loose ends.  The treading down of Jerusalem by Gentiles, the escape of Judeans after the abomination of desolation, the destruction of Babylon the Great, and the last battle would all take place in the same general locale.