Revelation Part 5 by Pastor Riley
Rightly Dividing…..
The Revelation…Part 5
By Pastor F. M. Riley
May 15, 2010
Revised November 14, 2014
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About the time of the End, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamor and opposition.
Sir Isaac Newton…….1642 – 1727
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“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God,”
Revelation 15:1.
ACT III SCENE I
The Prelude to this scene is set forth in chapter 14, which was discussed in Part 4 of this series of studies.
This Act and Scene in the great drama of the End-time shown to John the Revelator then opens with John being shown “another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God,” 15:1. This is the third and final “sign” John is shown in his vision. The first two are set forth in 12:1 and 12:3, translated in both of those passages by the English word, “wonder.”
A Brief Review
Just as previously referred to in Part 4 of these studies, our Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, will redeem the earth out of the possession of Satan when the Lord opens the Seals on “the little book sealed with seven seals; 5:1. The “little book” is actually [1] the Title Deed to the whole earth, but [2] it is also the inspired Word of God which we believers living today refer to as “The Holy Bible.” It never seems to occur to some readers that it is God’s inspired Word which explicitly tells us about the Creation of the Earth, WHO created it, WHO owns it, to whom it was given by the Creator [Genesis 1:26], how Adam lost it to Satan by his transgression [2 Peter 2:19], and how God became incarnate in the flesh as the “second Adam” in order to redeem or buy back the earth which Adam lost. The Lord God incarnate, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, paid the redemption price at Calvary, and by opening “the seals,” will fulfill every condition required for redeeming the earth back into the hands of mankind.
There is only one hitch in all of this prophetic picture. Satan, who has never dared to openly defy Almighty God in the past 6,000 years, will yet dare to defy God by refusing to yield the earth back into the possession of mankind after it has been redeemed by Christ. This will provide the motivation for Father God Himself flying into a rage and doing “…..His work; His strange work; and bringing to pass His act, His strange act,” Isaiah 28: 21. If our readers will look up the Hebrew word translated in this passage as “strange” in your own Concordance or Lexicon, it literally means “foreign to one’s nature or usual code of conduct; strange; peculiar; totally out of character in regards to one’s normal behavior.” Those readers who think that it would be impossible for our loving Heavenly Father to “fly into a rage” or “get mad,” likely don’t know God Almighty as well as they assume that they do.
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As these “seven angels” pour out their seven bowls of “God’s wrath” during the last half of the Tribulation, the prophecies of Psalm 110:1 and Isaiah 28:21 will both be fulfilled. Father God will take over the judgment of Satan and his fallen angels, and of all unbelieving, Christ rejecting, mankind upon the earth, while Christ Jesus sits patiently at His right hand until Father God has brought to pass “His strange work.” Did our believing readers cringe in horror over the judgments described, which are coming upon humanity left on the earth during the first half of the Tribulation period, as they read about “the wrath of the Lamb” described in Revelation chapters 6 – 14, and expounded upon in the first four Parts of this series of studies? Well…?? If our readers think that was bad, just seriously consider what is going to be poured out upon Christ rejecting, unbelieving humanity on the earth when Father God flies into a rage during the last half of the Tribulation, and takes over the reins of judgment from our tender, loving, longsuffering, compassionate Christ. THANK GOD FOR THE SAVING AND DELIVERING GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS, John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; Revelation 3:10. I want no part of the Tribulation period. None! Yet some “professing Christians” today seem determined to have the Lord’s church and every true believer going through the Tribulation. Such teaching is not only faulty, it is plain “false teaching,” 2 Peter 2:1-2. 2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible! So is Revelation 3:10.
The Sea of Glass
Immediately after John sees these “seven angels” with the “seven last plagues,” John is then shown “as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast , and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God,” 15:2.
This “sea of glass” is first mentioned in 4:6 . Notice that the Scripture states, “as it were a sea of glass…” In other words, this is not a literal sea, but rather some sort of structure or floor representing a sea. The “saints of God” are seen by John standing on this sea. Everyone who has ever given it any serious thought knows that the seas upon the earth are never still, but are always restless and moving. Compare Isaiah 57:19-21 and Jude 1:12-13. But John describes this “sea” before the throne of God as being “a sea of glass;;” perfectly calm and peaceful.
This is likely because those believers who are standing on this sea before God’s throne have just come out of the greatest time of trouble and turmoil in all of human history. Here they are seen in Heaven before the throne of God, finally enjoying true “peace,” while those still in “the sea of humanity” upon the earth will be enduring the greatest time of trouble and fear and sorrow in the entire history of humanity.
Who are these standing upon this “sea of glass?” John identifies them as “them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name,” 15:2. They are identified even more fully in 15:3-4 as John says, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.” Think about this statement! This tells us that these are Tribulation believers, composed of both Jewish believers [singing the song of Moses] and Gentile believers [singing the song of the Lamb], as they give praise to God while playing “the harps of God,” 15:2.-3. In other words, these are believers, both Jew and Gentile, who turn to the Lord during the Tribulation, fearing and loving the Lord God of Heaven more than they fear the decrees of the anti-christ and his false prophet, even though they know that it will cost them their physical lives, 13:15; 14:13. I think it is safe to say that these are the souls of these believers standing in Heaven before the throne of God on this “sea of glass.” They very likely will have been martyred on the earth as they refused to submit themselves to the anti-christ and worship his image and receive his mark. But on arriving in Heaven they are finally on a “sea” that is still and in perfect “peace.” Glory to God!
The Heavenly Tenple
“And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:,” 15:5. That there is such a Temple in Heaven is made obvious by the fact that the inspired writer of Hebrews states emphatically that the Tabernacle built by Moses some 3,500 years ago [and later the Temple built by Solomon] was patterned after “things in the heavens,” Hebrews 8:5; 9:23. This is why it is stated 12 times in the Scriptures that everything pertaining to the Tabernacle and Temple was to be made “according to the pattern.” Both the Tabernacle and Temple built by men were “a pattern of things in the heavens.” The true Tabernacle or Temple, from which the love and mercy and kindness
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and compassion and longsuffering of God has flowed downward to mankind upon the earth for the past 6,000 years is then the Temple in the New Jerusalem in Heaven. It is this Temple of God that John now sees being opened in Heaven in 15:5.
However, as John beholds this scene, the Temple is not being opened to pour out more love and mercy and kindness and compassion and longsuffering upon mankind. Rather, on this future occasion, John sees seven angels come out of the Temple “having the seven plagues,” 15:6.
As these seven angels come out of the Temple in Heaven, one of the four “beasts” [living creatures, 4:6-9] gives to the seven angels “seven golden vials” [bowls] “full of the wrath of God,” 15:7. Not love or mercy or kindness or compassion or longsuffering, but THE WRATH OF GOD. Let every reader take heed! For 6,000 years the wicked upon the earth have rejected God’s love and mercy, ridiculed and mocked God, and refused to repent and believe even after God sent His own Son into the world to become the Savior of mankind. NOW THE DAY OF JUDGMENT HAS ARRIVED!
THE WRATH OF GOD
As these seven angels come forth from the Temple in Heaven, the Temple is filled with smoke from the very anger of Almighty God against the unrighteousness and wickedness of mankind upon the earth. “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled,” 15:8.
Dear readers, here is one of the saddest statements in John’s entire vision. During the first half of the Tribulation, even while the Seal and Trumpet judgements are being poured out upon mankind, salvation will still be available to all who make the choice to call upon the Lord in repentance and faith. Those who choose to do so will be eternally saved, even though they will be martyred by the anti-christ and his crowd of followers. Read again 14:13 and 15:2-4.
But in the last half of the Tribulation, for whatever amount of time is required to pour out these “seven bowls of God’s wrath,” the Temple in Heaven will be filled with smoke from God’s anger, so that “’no man” will be able to enter into the Temple. What difference does this make, some reader may be wondering? Let me make it as clear as I know how…..
Folks, in the Heavenly Temple is located “the mercy seat” [throne] of God Almighty. Since “no man” will be able to enter into the Temple while these bowls of God’s wrath are being poured out, then “no man” will be able to be saved during that period of time, for “no man” will be able to approach the mercy seat in order to find mercy and salvation. This is the time when God Almighty will remind mankind upon the earth that “salvation is of the Lord,” Psalm 3:8; 50:23; Jonah 2:9. Sadly, many times over the 60 years I have been in the Lord’s ministry, I have had people tell me that they just weren’t ready to receive Christ as their Savior, but that they would give their life to Christ someday….. Total gross ignorance! Such people may never be saved. Salvation is not dependent upon when men and women, boys and girls DECIDE that they want to be saved. Salvation is offered by God at His time and to whom He chooses to offer it. If one does not receive Christ when the conviction of the Holy Spirit is moving upon their heart and soul, then they will never be saved. PERIOD! The Lord God is going to make this truth glaringly clear during the last half of the Tribulation. As these “seven last plagues” are poured out upon mankind, some may realize that they need to seek the Lord as Savior, but they will not be able to be saved, for “no man” will be able to come to “the mercy seat” in the Temple in Heaven while these “seven bowls of God’s wrath” are being poured out.
Not even our blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be able to help mankind during that terrible time of judgment. Yes, even Christ Jesus will not be able to enter the Temple and approach “the mercy seat” on behalf of mankind during this future time when these bowls of God’s wrath are being poured out. Why? Because He is a “man.” Even some believers seem to forget that our Savior clothed Himself with humanity, and even though He now has a “glorified body,” He is still “a man.” Read it for yourself in 1 Timothy 2:5. Wake up and seriously study the incarnation of Christ. As John saw this vision, “no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” That includes our precious Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. What terrible judgments are coming on the earth during the last half of the Tribulation, and there will be no sanctuary for any wicked unbeliever to run to to hide from God’s WRATH, Isaiah 2:19-22.
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ACT III SCENE II
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
What kind of judgments? Let’s see….. John then hears “a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials [bowls] of the wrath of God upon the earth,” 16:1. Keep in mind that this is not “the wrath of the Lamb” or “the wrath of man,” but “the wrath of God” Himself as He does “His strange work” and performs “His strange act,” Isaiah 28:21. Father God, who in His great love and mercy gave to mankind the glorious promise of John 3:16, has had that promise spurned and rejected long enough, and now He is filled with “wrath.” As these seven heavenly angels carry out God’s will here, God is also fulfilling His promise to His Son as set forth in Psalm 110:1. These “seven last plagues” will so crush and destroy the power of the enemies of the Lord Jesus that His enemies will literally become “His footstool.”
Then John sees and describes the pouring out of “the seven vials of the wrath of God” beginning in 16:2…..
[1] As the first angel pours out his bowl of God’s wrath upon the earth, “there fell a noisome and grevious sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image,” 16:2. This Greek word translated as “noisome” literally means “evil; malignant; noxious; incurable.” It suggests that this sore will be some sort of incurable tumor or cancer at best, and likely much worse. And it comes upon those who have received “the mark of the beast” and who will have worshiped “his image.”
It is highly likely that exactly in the hand or the forehead where the mark was placed, an evil and grevious sore will break out which cannot be cured by any of man’s medicines. Compare 13:16-17. Just “coincidence?” Galatians 6:7 plainly states that “God is not mocked.” Are our readers listening?
Remember that the very first Law God gave to Israel at Mount Sinai was, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,” Exodus 20:3. Then several times on through the inspired Word, it is made very clear that the worship of idols is an “abomination” to God. Look up the meaning of this Hebrew word translated as “abomination.” It literally means “stench” or “stink.” In other words, the worship of idol gods, substituting them in place of the ONE and only true God, STINKS in the nostrils of God. When this first bowl of God’s “wrath” is poured out upon mankind during the last half of the Tribulation, wicked, unbelieving, mankind is going to learn by experience just how offensive such idolatrous worship is to Almighty God. Read again 14:9-11.
[2] The second angel then pours out his bowl of God’s wrath upon “the sea,” 16:3. When this occurs, the sea “became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.” The seas or oceans of the earth will then become, not only blood red, but thick and congealed like the blood of a dead man. The result of this is that all the fish and other sea creatures presently living in the seas will die. What a foul stinking dead mess the seas will become.
I have had some over the years object to this “interpretation,” claiming that fish and other creatures do not have souls. Oh? Then why is it that in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and the Greek text of the New Testament the exact same word for “soul” which is used in referring to mankind, is also the word used in referring to sea creatures, animals, and birds? The soul is the “life force” given by God which causes “life” within every living creature. The “soul” is the seat of self consciousness. We know we are alive and exist, because we have a “living soul,” Genesis 2:7. But just as God “breathed” life into the nostrils of Adam, He also “breathed” life into all other living creatures. They all have “a soul.” Look up the word for “soul” for yourself in your own Concordance or Lexicon. Certainly the soul of man and the souls of other living creatures DO NOT all go to the same place when they die, Ecclesiastes 3:21. But this doesn’t alter the fact that every living creature has a soul as their “life force.” PERIOD!
[3] As if it is not bad enough that the seas become as the blood of a dead man, the third angel pours out his bowl “upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they become blood,” 16:4.
When this happens, John then hears “the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because Thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints, and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy [deserving],” 16:5-6. As this statement is made, John then hears “another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments,” 16:7. At this point I would suggest that our readers go back and review God’s Law for true justice as recorded in Exodus 21:23-25, as well as the same principal set forth in the
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New Testament in Galatians 6:7-8. Now tell me dear readers, do you really want God’s JUSTICE for your
own sins and mistakes in the flesh, or do you prefer God’s GRACE AND MERCY? Answer honestly, for God is listening!
[4] Next John sees the fourth angel pour out his bowl of God’s wrath “upon the Sun,” 16:8. At that time the angel is given power “to scorch men with fire.” It is obvious that this is fulfilled by causing the Sun to exceed any temperature ever previously experienced by men in human history. There are at least two ways by which this judgment upon mankind could be literally fulfilled…..
(1) First, the Lord God could simply move the earth out of its present orbit, moving it closer to the Sun. This would increase the heat of the Sun shining upon the earth daily.
(2) The other alternative is that a gigantic solar storm could explode off the Sun carrying massive amounts of fire, dust, rocks, and electro-magnetic energy into space, scoring a direct hit upon the earth, and lasting several days or weeks.
Either one of these methods would cause a severe increase in the Sun’s heat upon the earth, thereby causing the heat of the Sun “to scorch men with fire.” It is then not just “coincidence” that the inspired Word explicitly says twice that the earth will be “moved” out of its present orbit around the Sun during “the day of the Lord” [the Tribulation]. Read it for yourself in Isaiah 13:13 and 24:19-20. In this latter reference notice carefully 24:6 and 24:15. Folks, terrible judgments are coming upon the earth during the Tribulation period, such as men have never previously experienced in all of human history, and the beginning of the Tribulation is staring humanity in the face RIGHT NOW! Does any reader really want to be left on this earth following the Pre-tribulation Rapture? Be careful how you answer? The Lord is listening! Read 1 Samuel 2:3; Isaiah 30:26. .
[5] Following this extreme heat, then John was shown the fifth angel pouring out his bowl of God’s wrath upon “the seat [throne] of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness.” 16:10-11.
This Scripture explicitly states that the darkness poured out here comes upon the throne and kingdom of “the beast.” During the last half of the Tribulation the world capitol city from which the anti-christ will rule over the entire New World Order Kingdom will be located in the rebuilt city of Babylon in the modern nation of Iraq. Then “his kingdom” [the specific kingdom of the anti-christ] will be the nation of Babylon. Or will it? Is it possible that it will be the “Islamic State,” which is in the process of being established RIGHT NOW by the armies of “ISIS”? Certainly ISIS plans to include modern Iraq [ancient Babylon] as a part of their new “Islamic State.” How is all of this which is going on RIGHT NOW going to work out? I don’t know! But I do know what is going on at this very time even as I write, and it sure looks possible and even probable that the “Islamic State” could become the special kingdom from which the anti-christ will rule the entire world during the last half of the Tribulation. If so, it is his capitol city and kingdom which will become “full of darkness.”
This darkness will be such darkness as to cause unbelieving mankind upon the earth at that time, to “knaw their tongues for pain.” This prophecy brings to mind the scientific description of darkness. Most people today do not realize that scientists have “discovered” that the normal darkness that we experience at night is mixed with atoms or molecules of light. I am not prepared to enter into a discourse on the composition of matter or energy, of which light and darkness are composed. I can only point out that the darkness being described here in John’s vision has the total absence of light (or electro-magnetic energy) within it. According to scientists which have studied the subject, the total absence of light in this darkness would result in the darkness actually penetrating the human body, thereby causing great pain to those exposed to it. Don’t underestimate the knowledge and power of our great God and Father who created
I remind our readers that the exact same kind of darkness fell on the inhabitants of ancient Egypt some 3,500 years ago, as the Lord God was pouring out his judgments on Egypt, Exodus 10:21-23. This judgment was one of the judgments that preceded Israel’s deliverance from the land of Egypt. Now here in the last half of the Tribulation this judgment is poured out upon mankind, once more preceding the deliverance of the Jewish “remnant” and of all believing mankind from the New World Order kingdom of the anti-christ. Just “coincidence?” Those readers who think so need to contact me at once. I have a great “deal” for you on some seacoast property in Kansas.
How will unbelieving mankind on the earth react to such darkness when this judgment is fulfilled? Just
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like the ancient Pharaoh reacted, Exodus 10:27-28. God will harden the hearts of those whom He knows
are incorrigibly wicked, “ And [they] blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pain and their sores, and repented not of their deeds,” 16:11.
[6] “And the sixth angel poured out his vial [bowl] upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared,” 16:12.
This entire passage through 16:15 needs to be studied carefully, for this is just one of those passages in God’s Word which clearly reveals…..
The Mind of Satan
Back in 9:14-19 is the prior reference to the Euphrates river and the kings from the sun rising. What John is seeing in this passage is the final preparations being made to bring all the armies of the surviving nations together for the final great battle against Israel, against the Lord God, and unknowingly, against each other, 1 Samuel 14:20; Zechariah 14:13.
Wicked men and nations have been used and guided by Satan for the past 3,500 years in an attempt to destroy Israel and the Jewish people from the face of the earth. Satan believes that if Israel could just be
destroyed as a people and nation, then Almighty God could not fulfill His promises and covenants He made with them, and God Himself would be proven to be subject to the same faults and failures that He condemns in those whom He has created. Thereby God would not be justified in condemning Satan for His rebellion and wickedness, and Satan would then escape the punishment already determined by God to come upon him.
Yes, this is the way Satan thinks! This is why Satan has repeatedly instigated wicked men right through the centuries to attempt to destroy Israel, going all the way back to ancient Egypt, Exodus 1:8-16.. This is why Satan instigated wicked old Herod to attempt to destroy Christ at His birth, and when that didn’t work Satan then instigated the unbelieving Jewish priesthood to crucify Christ. Satan actually believed that if he could succeed in killing Christ, God could not fulfill His Word and His promises to Israel and to all of mankind. Read it for yourself in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8.
What the death of Christ actually accomplished was to provide eternal salvation for all who will hear God’s Word with their heart, believe it, and come to Christ in repentance and in faith, Romans 10:8-13.
But the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary also sealed the eternal damnation of all who refuse to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, John 3:18-21; 3:36; 5:24. However, this is spiritual truth only discerned [understood] by those who “come to the light.” If Satan and his followers had actually known that in crucifying Christ they were sealing their own doom, they would have never laid a hand on Christ. But in their wicked and unbelieving hearts, they didn’t know! So they proceeded to crucify Christ, thinking that by killing Christ they were gaining victory over God and preventing His righteousness from being bestowed upon men. How very self-deceived they were! Satan, the very epitome of evil, sealed his own doom by instigating the crucifixion of Christ. Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Preparations for the Final Battle
Now as this sixth angel pours out his bowl of God’s wrath upon mankind on the earth, John sees “three unclean spirits [sexually unchaste] like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon [Satan himself…12:9], and out of the mouth of the beast [the anti-christ], and out of the mouth of the false prophet,” 16:13.
John is then made to understand that these three “unclean spirits” are “the spirits of devils” [demons], and that they have the power to work “miracles,” 16:14. Nothing is quite so deceiving to mankind as the working of miracles. Yet there are “professing Christians” today whose whole so-called “ministry” is involved in the working of miracles. Sic! Either they have never seriously studied the subject, or they refuse to believe what God’s Word says about it, Matthew 12:38-39. And yes, they are deceiving many today in the churches and the ranks of Christianity. During the coming Tribulation unbelieving, Christ rejecting mankind left on the earth will be especially vulnerable to being deceived by the working of miracles, and Satan is well aware of it, 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10.
These “unclean spirits” then go forth “working miracles,…..unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” 16:14.
It may appear as totally irrational to some of our readers, but Satan has known for centuries that ultimately he would have to do battle against the Lord Jesus Christ to whom the Kingdom was promised, and Satan is so filled with pride from his own self-deception that he really believes that he will be able to
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defeat Christ in battle. Satan and his fallen angels and demons have been the driving force behind the invention of many heinous and diabolical weapons used in modern warfare today.
I was living in Alamogordo, New Mexico in 1967-68. That city is the home of Holloman Air Force Base and the White Sands Missile Range. While there I publicly commented on some of the fantastic weapons that were being tested on the White Sands Missile Range at that time. An Air Force officer stationed at Holloman then stated that the weapons being tested publicly were nothing in comparison to those which had already been secretly developed, and of which the public was not even aware were in existence. When questioned further, the officer said that we should recall the old Buck Rogers movies and the weapons used in those movies. Remember that this was in 1968, 46 years ago, long before such weapons as lasers and death rays had become public knowledge. When the officer was asked why such futuristic weapons were being developed, his answer was astounding. The officer, who was not a Christian believer, stated bluntly, “Some time in the future, this whole world system is going to have to go to war against Jesus Christ in order to retain control over the earth, and our leaders want to win that war!” Sound irrational and fantastic? It is! Yet it reveals that even the incorrigible, atheistic, wicked know that God and Christ really do exist, even though they refuse to believe and submit themselves to God and to Christ for salvation.
Yet here in John’s vision these “unclean spirits” are sent out to “the kings of the earth, and of the whole world” for the stated purpose of gathering them “to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” These demonic spirits have been working in the bodies, hearts, and minds, of the rulers of this present evil world
for centuries [the Illuminati or “the illumined ones” Sic!], manipulating mankind and steadily preparing the armies of the nations for this final battle between the forces of evil and the forces of the Lord God Almighty. That such a battle is going to take place is undeniable by any genuine true believer. Read about it for yourself in 19:11-21, Isaiah 63:1-6, Ezekiel 39::1-20, Zechariah 14:1-15, and many other prophetic passages which refer to it. And “Yes,” our Lord will win the battle! More on this later…..
Don’t fail to notice that right at this point in John’s vision, a warning was inserted for mankind, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame,” 16:15.
I will suggest that this is a reference to these demons as being “unclean spirits.” Many of our readers have never studied the term, “unclean spirits,” and therefore do not realize that it is literally referring to demons who are sexually unchaste. Now tell me honestly…..is it just “coincidence” that sexual sins are the most prominent sins of this entire end-time generation? Sex is pushed and promoted in every area of human life today. SEX is used to sell everything from cars to telephones. The movies, TV, and magazines all promote SEX. The educational system, politics, sports; every area of life today is filled with SEX, SEX, and more SEX. It is almost as if mankind has just discovered that they were created male and female, and are using SEX as their favorite play toy. But not sex as the gift God gave for the procreation and enjoyment of a man and his wife! Oh no! SEX today must be corrupted to bring more pleasure to the depraved flesh of mankind. Men with men, women with women, and pedophiles preying on children. Political figures and others in “high places” even engaging in such depraved sexual behavior. So-called “oral sex,” which in reality is nothing but “uncleanness” as spoken of in the Scriptures. Need I labor the point any further?
In view of this extreme sexual depravity among mankind in these “last days,” the Lord graciously warned those who would read and believe His Word, and pronounced a blessing upon those believers who “keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked,” and the lost, unbelieving, world see their shame. Shades of Laodicea! Take heed!
[7] Finally, “the seventh angel poured out his vial [bowl] into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple in heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done [completed; finished], 16:17.
When this final bowl of God’s wrath is poured out, then John hears and sees “voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great,” 16:18. Compare 4:5, 8:5, and 11:19. These voices, thunders, and lightnings all appear to herald the revelation of the power of the Divine God; the Almighty, and each time they are seen and heard, the power of God being revealed is greater than the previous revelation.
So it is here! There has been in John’s vision several previous earthquakes, 4:5, 6:12-17; 8:5, 11:19. Right today earthquakes have increased in both frequency and intensity, and they will continue to do so
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right on into and through the Tribulation period, until this final “great earthquake” seen by John on this
occasion. The inspired Word plainly states that this particular “earthquake” will be the greatest earthquake that has ever occurred “since men were upon the earth,” 16:18.
It is this earthquake which will totally destroy “in one hour” the city of Babylon, the capitol city of the entire world, from which the anti-christ will rule and reign over the whole New World Order one-world government during the last half of the Tribulation, 16:19; 18:10; 18:17-18. As this “great earthquake” occurs, the city of Babylon will literally sink into the Euphrates river and beneath the sea, never to be seen anymore, 18:21; Jeremiah 51:42; 51:63-64.
But this “great earthquake” also causes the city of Jerusalem to be divided into “three parts,” and all “the cities of the nations” upon the whole earth will be destroyed, 16:19. Also, “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found,” 16:20.
Notice this last expression carefully. Islands in the seas are merely the tops of mountains under the seas sticking up out of the water. God is going to “shake down” every high mountain on this earth, so that “the high places shall be brought low, and the low places [valleys] shall be exalted,” Isaiah 40:4; Ezekiel 38:19-20; Haggai 2:6-7; Hebrews 12:25-27. No lost unbeliever will want to be living on an island when this prophecy is fulfilled. During the coming Millennial Kingdom, there will be no more extremely high mountains such as exist today, nor any extremely low valleys, but rather the entire topography of earth’s surface will be more or less pleasant “rolling hills” fitted for mankind to live on and farm, thereby producing the food necessary for his family and others. The highest mountain on earth during the Millennial Kingdom will be the mountain of the Lord in Jerusalem, Isaiah 2:1-3; Micah 4:1-2; Zechariah 14:10.
I remind our readers that the first “city” on earth was built by wicked, murderous, Cain, Genesis 4:17. God did not ask or command Cain to build a city! Cain took that task upon himself, or else Satan influenced Cain to build the first city. Cities, from the time Cain built the first one, have been a source of blight upon the earth; producing criminals and crime, corruption, poverty, injustice, and unspeakable sins among mankind. Oh yes they have, whether some like it or not. God has never been pleased with cities, and no city will ever be allowed to exist again on the earth, other than the city of Jerusalem, God’s Holy City. Read it for yourself in Isaiah 14:21. During the Millennial Kingdom, God’s redeemed people will go back to living on the land, and from the food they produce on the land, as God intended even Adam and Eve and their descendents to do in the beginning, Genesis 2::4-15. Glory to God!
At the time John saw this “great earthquake” in his vision, he also saw “a great hail out of heaven” [the sky above the earth] falling upon the earth, 16:21. It has been assumed by most Christians that this hail storm is gigantic chunks of ice falling on the earth, each hail stone “about the weight of a talent.” Again, from this description it has been assumed that each of these “chunks of ice” will weigh somewhere between 75 to 100 pounds, thereby causing great destruction upon the earth when they fall.
Pardon me if I don’t agree with the assumption held by most “prophecy teachers” and commentators about this “hail.”
The word “ice” is never mentioned anywhere in this passage. So why do some “jump to the conclusion” that this hail is “ice”? The inspired word most certainly does mention “ice” several times in the Old Testament, so I am sure the Lord God well knows what “ice” is, and could have used the word “ice” if that is what He had meant in this passage. But He didn’t! Why? Because this “’hail” that will fall upon the earth is not “ice.” Proof? Gladly!
The exact same kind of storm fell on ancient Egypt at the time the Lord God delivered Israel out of Egypt. Carefully read the account for yourself in Exodus 9:13—35. Do our readers find “ice” being mentioned anywhere in this account? Well…?? But pay close attention to 9:22-25. Don’t these Scriptures explicitly state that “the fire ran along upon the ground,” and that there was “fire mingled with the hail,” and that “the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that were in the field, both man and beast…..and every herb of the field…..and broke every tree of the field”? Isn’t that what the Scriptures say? The clear statement is that this “hail” killed and destroyed everything it hit, and while it was falling “fire” was running across the surface of the earth. Would “ice” cause such devastation? Now let’s see the real truth of the matter.
I want to remind our readers that the word “rain” simply means that something “rains down” upon the earth. The word does not necessarily mean that it is water that is falling. Look up the word for yourself
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in any good Dictionary. The same is true for the word “hail.” This word simply means that something is
falling on the earth from out of the sky. Modern mankind has come to assume that “rain” is limited to water, and “hail” to ice. But such an assumption is simply not so, and God’s inspired Word says so!
This very “hail storm” that fell upon Egypt some 3,500 years ago is referred to again in Psalm 78 :47-48, where the “hail” is said to have destroyed their “vines” and their “cattle.”
Then it is referred to a third time in Psalm 105:32-33, where the inspired Word explicitly states that the “hail” was accompanied by “flaming fire in their land.” Now have any of our readers ever seen a hail storm of “ice” where “flaming fire” ran along upon the ground? Well…??
But if this “hail” was not “ice,” then what was it? I’m so glad you finally asked!
Archeologists have actually found a wide path of STONES going clear across the land of Egypt from the west to the east and then proceeding westward, right on across the bed of the Atlantic Ocean all the way to South America. The archeologists claim that these STONES were obviously asteroids which fell upon Egypt at the time the children of Israel were being delivered from Egypt. The Mayas in South America still have a legend that has been passed down through generations of their people which speaks of a time when red hot stones fell from the sky, causing great destruction and death and starting fires everywhere the stones fell.
Significantly, the ancient Egyptian archives also contain a record of a time when such red hot stones fell from the sky upon the land of Egypt, and the time this occurred correlates with the Hebrew people being driven out of the land of Egypt.
I would suggest that any readers wanting verification of this need to obtain copies of Immanuel Velikovsky’s books, Worlds in Collision and Ages in Chaos. These books, written by this dear old Jew, are absolutely fascinating and filled with Scriptures from God’s Word.
I have gone to some length to labor the point here, but this final bowl of God’s wrath in Revelation 16::17-21 will be the most terrible judgment which has ever been poured out upon unbelieving, Christ rejecting, humanity, and it will be brought to a close by this terrible asteroid shower. These great STONES will literally rain down upon the earth, red hot and weighing up to 100 pounds each. They will be red hot as they pass through earth’s atmosphere at supersonic speeds, and when they hit the earth, they will not only destroy anything they hit, but being red hot they will set on fire any combustible material they come in contact with. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth at that time!
This concludes the pouring out of the seven bowls of God’s wrath during the last half of the Tribulation period. After the judgment of this seventh bowl of God’s wrath has been poured out, there will be a very brief period of time when those who have managed to survive, will be able to call upon the Lord for mercy and salvation, and their cries can at that time be carried again to the mercy seat in the Temple in Heaven.
After all of these judgments upon mankind, which unbelieving humanity is facing RIGHT NOW, may the few who have managed to survive these judgments then turn to the Lord Jesus Christ with their whole heart and soul and be saved is my prayer. I know that some will, but sadly, I also know that some won’t! This is made clear by the Judgment of the Nations [Gentiles] in Matthew 25:31-46 .
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IF AND AS THE LORD PERMITS
TO BE CONTINUED
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Permission is granted to any true believer or Bible believing Christian Ministry to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.
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Please address all comments, questions, and correspondence to: Pastor F. M. Riley, Last Call Gospel Ministry, 184 County Road 108, Harrisburg, Missouri 65256, or I can be contacted by email at: fmr7sngn@centurylink.net.
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