Revelation chapter seventeen opens with an invitation to John by one of the vial judgment angels to witness the judgment of the great whore.
At first, this great whore is seated on the waters and then on a beast. The great whore is symbolic of the unfaithful, worldwide, religious system and is characterized by the apostasy which will be operating during the tribulation. This system encompassed many false religions. Also, this religious system will be supported by people of various languages, nations, leaders, kings, and finally by the Antichrist for a short period. This system will be influential in reaching people from every walk of life.
The whore’s forehead has the name written, “Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother of Harlots and The Abomination of the Earth.” which depicts her position of prominence, that which she produces, and her interaction and contamination of those with whom she is involved.
Her manner of dress exudes wealth and power. This woman is skilled in enticing, and seducing men of all socio-economic status and they revel in the pleasures they receive from her. In her hand is a filled golden cup which represents the idolatry and wickedness of those that partook of her substance.
History reveals that down through the centuries she has gorged herself on the blood of believers whom she persecuted and martyred, for this God will repay her.
John became perplexed by this woman until the angel explained what he had seen. Like John, there are times when we do not understand what we see and hear, and it takes a revelation from God to provide us with insight. The book of Revelation can be a difficult book to understand; however, as I continue to pray over it I find myself understanding it more and more. Thank God for the wisdom which He gives to those that ask Him.
This is the worse of times. The Bible says in Matthew 24: 21-22, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Aren’t you glad you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? I don’t know about you, but right about now, I am HAPPY I have a personal relationship with Him.
The seventh angel pours out his vial into the air accompanied by a voice from the throne in the temple of heaven, saying, “It is done.”
Voices, thunders, lightning, and the greatest cataclysmic earthquake that has ever taken place occurs. The consequences of the earthquake are: the greatest city divides into three parts, cities crumble and were reduced to rubble, every island submerges in the water and mountains are leveled. Also, remember as I stated in a previous blog, some of the known side effects of an earthquake are: fires, floods, tsunamis, landslides, volcanic activities, and soil liquefaction which cause structures to tilt, sink or collapse. This earth will be a mess!!!
Commentators are divided on whether the greatest city is Babylon or Jerusalem. Eventually we will know for sure, but for now, we know this city will be devastated.
When the sixth seal judgment occurred, every island and mountain shifted. This time the unthinkable happens. As of today, there are close to nineteen thousand islands in the world, and people go to many of the beautiful islands for vacation. If the scriptures are right, both the islands and the people on them will be gone. The earth’s topography will be forever changed.
Verse nineteen tell us God has not forgotten the wickedness of Babylon and He is about to turn His full wrath upon them and give them what they deserve.
The final act of judgment is a storm of hail, each weighing approximately one hundred twenty pounds plummeting earth. Can you imagine being in a plane, or any mode of transportation, walking the street, or just in your home, and hail the size of small boulders falling on you? Can you imagine the death toll? Even more incomprehensible is human continue to blaspheme God.
Revelation, chapter sixteen, verses eight through eleven, discusses vial judgments four and five.
The fourth angel who had the power to scorch men with fire pours out his vial upon the sun resulting in the scorching of men on earth. Unlike a previous judgment where the light from the sun was dimmed, this time, the sun heats up. Some of the side effects to humans can be: sunstroke, eventual unconsciousness, damage to vital body organs, nervous instability, seizures, comas, and the list goes on. Remember there is no available water; so the earth will experience uncontrollable fires, and vegetation will die. Other possible results from the heated sun are volcanoes, glacier melting, flooding, and earthquakes.
The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, which is the headquarters of the Antichrist, and darkness covers that area. Besides being in continuous pain, men who live where the Antichrist reigns will also be in the dark.
The Bible does not say how long these judgments lasted. It does say rather than repent, the effects of these judgments caused men to speak of God in an irreverent and impious manner. This lets me know earthlings are acknowledging though negatively a higher power which is orchestrating the calamities on earth. Eventually, this negativity will be used to gather earthlings to war against Jesus.
Let me end with these questions. After you have experienced trauma in your life, how do you view God? Do you speak kindly of Him, or do you reject Him?
In Revelation chapter fifteen, another heavenly scene is revealed to John. First, he sees seven angels with the seven last judgments. Then he sees and hears victorious believers who had not succumbed to the plan of the Antichrist singing a song of deliverance, redemption, and worship to God.
The scene closes with the seven angels with the seven last plagues coming out of the temple of the tabernacle, and from one of the four living creatures that are around the throne, each received a golden vial full of the wrath of God. Then the Shekinah glory fills the temple prohibiting further entrance into it until the last judgment is completed.
In some Bible translations, the word “vial” is used, and in others, the word “bowl” is used. They both have the same meaning: a hollow vessel. I will be using the word “vial” in my blogs.
The actual pouring out of these judgments begins in chapter sixteen. God’s angels do not act on their own accord. They are given directions and told when to move. They held on to the vials until they were told to go. Unlike us, they know how to wait.
Revelation, chapter fourteen, opens with a glimpse of the Lamb (Jesus) on Mount Sion with the hundred forty-four thousand sealed Jews who were previously mentioned in chapter seven. These Jews were: virgins, followers of Jesus, redeemed, first tribulation converts, blameless, and having a genuine conversation.
In heaven, the harpist was singing a new song before the throne that only the sealed Jews could learn and sing.
Flying amid heaven was an angel that had the gospel for the world proclaiming that judgment has come to them. I realize despite man’s behavior, our God remains faithful in trying to get their attention, but men, unfortunately, will not listen.
Following this another angel declared the fall of Babylon, which represents the religious system of that time. This will happen in the middle of the tribulation.
Another angel declared the final eternal sentence that would be meted out to those who choose to serve the Antichrist. Understand, there is no reversal of decision for those who received the mark of the beast; their end will be the lake of fire.
Amid the angel’s activity, a message is given to new converts. Tribulation converts were encouraged to have patient endurance, obey God’s commandments, and keep their belief in Jesus. Also, John was told to write about the lives and actions of deceased converts, which will be remembered and rewarded.
John has a foreglimpse of the Son of man (Jesus) with a victor’s crown on his head and a sickle in his hand being told by another angel to thrust in the sickle. This marks the end of the tribulation drawing near, and when this occurs, the battle of Armageddon will soon take place.
The fifth angel with a sickle in his hand and who had power over the fire was told by yet another angel to thrust in his sickle into the earth and gather the vines and cast them into the winepress which he did . The result is a massive, bloody, slaughter, the battle of Armageddon which will be fought in Israel in the valley of Megiddo at the end of the tribulation.
The second half of Revelation chapter, thirteen verses, eleven through eighteen exposes us to the beast from the earth. This beast is the false prophet whose authority is religious rather than political. He gives the appearance of being meek and gentle however he speaks with authority derived from Satan.
The false prophet is in allegiance with the Antichrist, and he persuades men to worship the Antichrist. Also, he can perform great miracles like the two witnesses which cause men to believe in him.
The false prophet has a statue erected that looks like the Antichrist and can talk. Like Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Testament, anyone that does not bow down and pay homage will be killed.
Also, he requires earthlings to take the mark of the beast on their right hand or foreheads if they wanted to buy or sell. Those who refuse to accept this mark will be known as an enemy of the Antichrist, unable to purchase food to keep themselves nourished, unable to conduct any business proceedings, and unable to openly exist in the world of the Antichrist. The mark is the mystical six six six, and once taken, cannot be reversed.
Commentators question whether this mark and the bowing down to the statue are imposed on the whole world or just the nations and people under the control of the Antichrist. For those who will be living on earth during the tribulation, the answer will be revealed.
In Revelation, chapter thirteen, verses one through ten information is given concerning the Antichrist .The chapter opens with a beast having seven heads, which are the seven world monarchies, and ten horns with ten crowns who represent ten nations and their kings who will dominate during the tribulation. This beast had some attributes that were descriptive of the beast found in Daniel chapter seven displaying swiftness, power, and greed. This beast is the Antichrist who comes out of these nations and is given power and authority by the dragon (Satan).
Everyone is not impressed with the Antichrist as he rises to power and he is murdered. However, a miracle takes place, and he is restored to life, causing the world to be amazed and impressed with him – consequently, satanic worship and worship of the Antichrist increases. People begin to view the Antichrist as an extraordinary individual, and his influence escalates all over the world. This is what he wants; for his ultimate goal is to be the ruler of the whole world.
During the last half of the tribulation, which is called the great tribulation, the Antichrist becomes intoxicated with his power and vaunts himself – he blasphemy God, His name, His tabernacle, and the heavenly host.
Since the rapture, the world has been suffering from global catastrophes. The salvation message being preached to the world, bible reading, biblical study tools, etc. informed the world that God is the judging them. Therefore, God, the tribulation ministers, and converts are all seen as enemies of the world. This sentiment assists the Antichrist in making wars against believers, and he is victorious over them.
In all of this, believers assurance is that one day, Jesus will reign supreme, and the Antichrist will reap what he has sown.
In reading Revelation chapter twelve, which tells the ongoing struggle between Israel and Satan, an understanding of biblical history helps place past and future events in its’ proper order.
The chapter opens by introducing us to a woman who represents the nation of Israel. This woman who is travailing in the delivery of a child is depicted with the glory and dominion, which has been a promise to Israel in the future.
Also we are introduced to a great red dragon who is Satan, the Devil, or the old serpent. Throughout history, Satan has been busy. First, he can cause havoc and rebellion in heaven resulting in one- third of the angels being cast out of heaven to earth.
Next, he unsuccessfully attempts to kill the newly born Jesus who lived, was crucified, resurrected to heaven and in the future will return to earth to rule with a rod of iron during the millennium kingdom.
In the middle of the tribulation, there is a great war in the heavens between the archangel Michael and his angels against Satan and his angels, which ends with Satan and his host being expelled from heaven. The heavenly host rejoices that Satan is prohibited from heaven, and we are reminded that the blood of Jesus, our testimony and willingness to die for the gospel causes us to be overcomers.
Knowing his time is short and now confined to earth Satan’s anger, and wrath is fueled against Israel whom he persecutes and attempts to annihilate via a flood. God helps Israel to escape from Jerusalem into the wilderness where He protects them for three and a half years. The attention of Satan is then directed at the Godly remnant of Israel that was left in Jerusalem. His plan for them is a war, and the trauma Israel will experience is terrible!
Sometimes we do not believe the Bible. We think that God does mean what He says, but He does. Please be aware that many of the judgments that have occurred and are about to occur are similar to the plagues of Egypt; only these will be more intensified. If you believed what happen in Egypt was not fiction, then you can believe God’s judgments will occur during the tribulation. They are real folks!
In Revelation chapter sixteen, after receiving their instructions, the first angel poured out his vial and everyone that has the mark of the beast and worshipped his image breaks out in severe, foul-smelling sores. People are going to be itching and stinking. No doubt, because a large percentage of earth inhabitants will be affected, they will feel like a plague has come to the world.
The second angel pours out his vial upon the sea, and it becomes like the blood of a dead man causing every living soul in the sea to die. If marine creatures in the water have a soul, they will die. For those who eat fish, they will no longer be available or edible. This vital food supply will be extinct.
The third angel pours out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of water, which turns them to blood. Thus, the source of drinking water will no longer be accessible, and the foul-smelling blood will breed pestilence and disease. This reminds me of a poem I had to learn as a child in school from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, “Water, water everywhere and nor any drop to drink.”
Then the angel assigned to the waters declares the Law of Recompense, which allows men to get what they give. The unbelievers had shed the blood of the tribulation converts, and now they have blood to drink. There is no error in God’s judgments; eventually, everyone is rewarded for their actions.
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