A Chronology of End Times

EVENTS IN HEAVEN

A. The Rapture of the Church (See 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10).

B. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthian 3:9-15; 4:1-5; 9:24-27; 2 Cor 5:10).

C. The Marriage of the Lamb (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6-8).

D. The Singing of Two Special Songs (See Revelation 4-5).

E. The Lamb Receiving the seven sealed Scroll (Revelation 5).

EVENTS ON EARTH

A. Seven Year Tribulation

1. Beginning of the Tribulation

A. Seven-year tribulation begins when the antichrist signs a covenant with Israel, bringing peace to Israel and Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; Ezekiel 38:8-

11).

B. The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 11:1).

C. The reunited Roman empire emerges in a ten nation confederation. (Daniel 2:40-44; 7:7; Revelation 17:12)

2. First half (3 ½ years) of tribulation

A. The seven seal Judgments are opened (Revelation 6).

B. The 144,000.00 Jewish believers begin their great evangelistic ministry (Revelation 7).

C. Gog and his allies invade Israel, while Israel is at peace under the covenant with the antichrist and are supernaturally decimated by God (Daniel

11:40-45; Ezekiel 38-39), This will probably occur somewhere nearer the end of the three-and-a-half year period. The destruction of these forces will

create a major shift in the balance of power that will enable the antichrist to begin his rise to world power.

3. The Mid-point of the Tribulation

A. Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and invades the land (Daniel 9:27; 11:40-41.

B. Antichrist begins to consolidate his empire by plundering Egypt, Sudan, and Libya, whose armies have just been destroyed by God in Israel

(Daniel 11:42-43; Ezekiel 38-39).

C. While in North Africa, antichrist hears disturbing news of resurrection in Israel and immediately returns there to destroy and annihilate many

(Daniel 11:44).

D. Antichrist sets up abomination of desolation in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; 11:45; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4;

Revelation 13:5, 15-18).

E. Sometime during these events the antichrist is violently killed. Possibly as a result of war or assignation (Revelation 13:3, 12,14; 17:8).

F. Satan is cast down from heaven and begins to make war with the woman, Israel (Revelation 12:7-13). The primary means that he uses to

persecute Israel is the two bests in Revelation 13.

G. The faithful Jewish remnant flee to Petra in modern Jordan, where they are divinely protected for the remainder of the Tribulation (Matthew

24:16-20; Revelation 12:15-17).

H. The antichrist is miraculously raised from the dead to the awestruck amazement of the entire world. (Revelation 13:3).

I. After his resurrection from the dead, the antichrist gains political control over the ten kings of the reunited Roman empire. Three of these kings

will be killed by the antichrist, and the seven others will submit (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12-13).

J. The two witnesses begin their three-and-a-half year ministry (Revelation 11:2-3).

K. Antichrist and the ten kings destroy the religious system of Babylon and set up their religious capital in the city (Revelation 17:16-17).

4. Last half (three and a half years) of the tribulation

A. Antichrist blames God, and the false prophet performs great signs and wonders and promotes false worship of the antichrist (Revelation

13:5, 11-15).

B. The mark of the beast (666) is introduced and enforced by the false prophet (Revelation 13:16-18).

C. Totally energized by Satan, the Antichrist dominates the world politically, religiously, and economically (Revelation 13:4-5, 15-18).

D. The trumpet Judgments are unleashed throughout the final half of the tribulation (Revelation 8-9).

E. Knowing that he has only a short time left, Satan intensifies his relentless, merciless persecution of the Jewish people and Gentile believers

on earth (Dan 7:25; Revelation 12:12; 13:15; 20:4).

5. The End of the Tribulation

A. The bowl Judgments are poured out in rapid succession (Revelation 16).

B. The campaign of Armageddon begins (Revelation 16:16).

C. Commercial Babylon is destroyed (Revelation 18).

D. The two witnesses are killed by Antichrist and are resurrected by God three and a half days later (Revelation 11:7-12).

E. Christ returns to the Mount of Olives and slays the armies gathered against Him throughout the land, from Megiddo to Petra (Revelation

19:11-16; Isaiah 34:1-6; 63:1-5).

F. The birds gather together to feed on the carnage (Revelation 19:17-18).

After the Tribulation

1. Interval or transition period of seventy-five days (Daniel 12:12).

A. The antichrist and the False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20-21).

B. The abomination of desolation is removed from the temple (Daniel 12:11).

C. Israel is regathered (Matthew 24:31).

D. Israel is judged (Ezekiel 20:30-39; Matthew 25:1-30).

E. Gentiles are judged, Sheep and Goat Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).

F. Satan is bound in the abyss (Revelation 20:1-3).

G. Old Testament and Tribulation saints are resurrected (Daniel 12:1-3; Isaiah 26;19; Revelation 20:4).

2. One-thousand year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:4-6)

3. Satan’s final Revolt and defeat (Revelation 20:7-10).

4. The Great White Throne Judgment of the Lost (Revelation 20:11-15).

5. The destruction of present heaven and earth (Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:3-12; Revelation 21:1).

6. The creation of the new Heaven and new Earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22, 2 Peter 3:3-13; Revelation 21:1).

7. Eternity (Revelation 21:9-22:5).

A Chronology of End Times

EVENTS IN HEAVEN

A. The Rapture of the Church (See 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:10)

1 Corinthians 15:51-58: Discussion of the last trumpet. Question what are we talking about here? The Rapture? Let’s turn to Revelation 11:15. Some people

have mistakenly identified the seventh trumpet as the trump of God that signals that rapture of the church, but let’s read this verse and see what it is about.

Isn’t this verse talking about the Second Coming? In context this is talking about judgment and wrath, not the rapture of the church.

1a. The Restrainer is removed (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

The Holy Spirit is taken out of the way at the Rapture; will He still be active on earth during the tribulation period? The answer is yes. After the evangelism

rapture of the church the Holy Spirit will continue His work bringing people to salvation, but He will no longer baptize them into the mystical body of Christ

the church nor will He actively hinder Satan from bringing his schemes to fruition. Evangelism will be more effective than it has ever been (Matthew 24:14;

Revelation 7:9-14). So the Holy Spirit will still be active during the tribulation period. But His work will be different than before the Rapture. He won’t be

restraining or holding back Satan any more.

Trumpet in

1 Corinthians 15

Trumpet in Revelation

11

Subject

Church

Wicked World

Character Catching up of the

church to be with the

Lord (Rapture)

Judgment of a godless

world

Timing We are gone Signals the

close of the life of the

church on earth. The

last trumpet of the

church age

Marks a climax in the

progression of the

tribulation judgments

Please turn to Matthew 24:31 and read it.

Now let’s talk about post-tribulationists. Post-tribbers see the trumpets mentioned in Matthew 24:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and 1 Corinthians 15:52 as being

one and the same. Since the trumpet in Matthew 24:31 happens at the end of the tribulation, post-tribbers contend that it must be the same as the last trumpet

in 1 Corinthians 15:52. But the only similarity between these trumpets is that they draw the Lord’s people together.

B. The Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 4:1-5; 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

When: In heaven right after the Rapture. 1 Corinthians 4:5

Participants: Believers only.

Purpose: The purpose of the judgment seat isn’t to determine if we get into heaven, because that has already been decided. The issue at the judgment seat

isn’t salvation but rewards.

Salvation is based on Christ’s work for us (Ephesians 2:8-9). Rewards are based on our works for Christ after we trust in Him.

What actually happens: At the judgment seat, every believer’s conduct, service, and motives will be turned inside out. And they will appear for what they were.

We can fool others about our service and motives, and they might think we are doing great things for God, when in fact we aren’t, but we can’t fool God. And

His reward will be based on the truth, period.

So in my own words, everything we have done since we accepted Christ, and again this is all predicated on since you were a believer, not before you were a

believer, will be evaluated by Jesus Himself alone with Him, face to face.

If what you did was for show or phony or for impure, ungodly motives it will burn up. If it was done in the Lord, with the Lord, from pure motives, you will

receive crowns for it.

1st Crown, Incorruptible Crown. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

This reward is for those who consistently practice self-discipline and self-control, it’s the crown that

won’t fade away.

2nd Crown, Crown of Righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:8

The crown of righteousness is the reward for those who eagerly look for the Lord’s coming and live a

righteous life in view of this fact.

3rd Crown, Crown of Life. James 1:12, and Revelation 2:10

The sufferer’s crown is given to those who faithfully endure and persevere under the trials and tests of

life.

4th Crown, Crown of Rejoicing. 1 Thessalonians 2:19

The soul winner’s crown is given to those who win people for Christ.

5th Crown, Crown of Glory. 1 Peter 5:1-4.

The Shepherd’s crown will be given to those pastors, elders, and church leaders who lovingly,

graciously, faithfully shepherd and oversee God’s people they have been given responsibility for.

We will be judged fairly, thoroughly, impartially, individually, and graciously

with no partiality.

C. The Marriage of the Lamb (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6-8).

Scripture portrays Christ as the bridegroom (John 3:29) and the church as His bride (Revelation 19:7). The backdrop to this imagery is rooted

in Hebrew weddings, which had three phases. First the marriage was legally consummated by the parents of the bride and groom, after which

the groom went to prepare a place to live in his father’s home. Next, the bridegroom came to claim his bride. Finally there was a marriage

supper, which was a huge deal and it could last several days. All three of these phases are seen in Christ’s relationship to the church, the bride

of Christ.

1. As individuals living during the church age come to salvation, under the Father’s loving and sovereign hand, they become a part of the

bride of Christ (the church). Meanwhile, Christ, the bridegroom, is in heaven preparing a place for the bride of Christ to live in His Father’s

house.

2. The bridegroom (Jesus Christ) comes to claim His bride (Ephesians 5:25) (at the Rapture) and take her to heaven, where He has

prepared a place for her (John 14:1-3). The actual marriage takes place in heaven prior to the second coming (Revelation 19:6-16).

3. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, in his book “The Footsteps of the Messiah”, suggests that the marriage ceremony necessarily takes place after the judgment seat of

Christ.

“The marriage ceremony takes place in heaven and involves the church. That it must take place after the judgment seat of the Messiah is evident from (Revelation

19:8), for the bride is viewed as being dressed in white linen, which is the righteous acts of the saints.

This means that all the wood, hay, and stubble has been burned away and all the gold, silver, and precious stones have been purified.

So the event has to follow the Rapture of the church in which the bridegroom brings the bride with Him to His home, and following the judgment seat of the

Messiah which results in the bride having the white linen garments, the wedding ceremony takes place.

4. The marriage SUPPER of the Lamb will follow the second coming, apparently taking place during a 75 day interim period between the Second Coming of

Christ and the beginning of the millennial kingdom.

5. After we are presented to our heavenly Bridegroom, the greatest celebration in history will break loose – the marriage supper of the Lamb. While some

believe the marriage supper will occur in heaven, it appears that it will take place here on earth, spilling over into the millennium kingdom. The length of the

wedding feast in ancient time was determined by the wealth of the bridegroom’s father. When Christ takes His bride, His heavenly Father, Whose wealth is

infinite will throw a party that will last for not seven days, but for one thousand years. Jesus frequently compared the millennial kingdom to a wedding feast.

(Matthew 8:11; 22:1-14; 25:1-13; Luke 14:16-24).

D. The Singing of Two Special Songs (See Revelation 4-5).

Let’s read chapters 4 and 5. Because of what He does (Revelation 5:5-10) when the Lamb came and took the scroll, the weeping ended and the praising

began. God’s people and the representatives of God’s creation joined their voices in a new song of praise. Note that praise and prayer were united, for

incense is a picture of prayer rising to the throne of God (Psalm 141:2; Luke 1:10). We shall meet the “incense prayers” of the saints again (Revelation

6:9-11; 8:1-6).

What kind of song did they sing? To begin with, it was a worship hymn, for they said, “Thou art worthy!” To worship means “to ascribe worth,” and Jesus

alone is worthy.

E. The Lamb Receiving the Seven Sealed Scroll (Revelation 5:1-16).

1. And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

2. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”

3. And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

5. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to

loose its seven seals.”

6. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had

been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

7. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

8. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden

bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

10. And have made us kings and priests to our God;

And we shall reign on the earth.”

11. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand

times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

12. saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

14. Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

EVENTS ON EARTH

A. Seven Year Tribulation

1. Beginning of the Tribulation

The main purpose of the Rapture is to end the church age. Meanwhile it is the covenant of peace between the Antichrist and the nation of Israel that

inaugurates the Tribulation and starts the end times clock ticking (Daniel 9:27).

The peace agreement could be signed very soon after the Rapture, but there could be several days, weeks, months, or even years between the Rapture and

the signing of the treaty, we don’t know. The Bible never tells us how much time passes between the Rapture and the beginning of the Tribulation, but it

seems to me that it probably won’t be too long, because part of the purpose of the Rapture is to deliver God’s people from the wrath of the Tribulation.

(Daniel 9:27; Ezekiel 38:8-11).

Daniel 9:27

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,

Even until the consummation, which is determined,

Is poured out on the desolate.”

9:24 Chuck Missler says: When we examine the period between March 14, 445 B.C. and April 6, 32 A.D., and correct for leap years, we discover that it is

173,880 days exactly, to the very day!

Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people (Israel) and for your holy city (Jerusalem). The historical fulfillment of the first part of the prophecy

shows that the weeks are weeks of years. Thus seventy weeks equal 490 years. We will see that the seventy weeks are divided into seven weeks plus sixty-

two weeks, and then, after a time gap, one final week.

At the end of these seventy weeks, the following six things will happen:

To finish the transgression, to make an end of sins. While this may refer in a general sense to all of Israel’s sinful ways, it has special reference to the nation’s

rejection of the Messiah. At the Second Advent of Christ, a remnant will turn to Him in faith and the nation’s transgression and sins will be forgiven.

To make reconciliation for iniquity. The basis for reconciliation was laid at Calvary, but this refers to the time, still future, when the believing portion of the

nation of Israel will come into the benefit and enjoyment of the finished work of Christ.

To bring in everlasting righteousness. This, too, points forward to the Second Advent and the Millennium, when the King will reign in righteousness. It is

everlasting righteousness in the sense that it will continue on into the eternal state.

To seal up vision and prophecy. The main body of OT prophecy centers on the glorious Return of Christ to earth, and His subsequent kingdom. Therefore, the

bulk of prophecies will be fulfilled at the end of the seventy weeks.

And to anoint the Most Holy Place. At the beginning of the thousand-year reign, the temple described in Ezekiel 40-44 will be anointed or consecrated in

Jerusalem. The glory will return in the Person of the Lord (Ezekiel 43:1-5).

9:25 “Know therefore and understand,

That from the going forth of the command

To restore and build Jerusalem

Until Messiah the Prince,

There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;

The street shall be built again, and the wall,

Even in troublesome times.

9:25 So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This was the decree of Artaxerxes in 445

B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

Until Messiah the Prince. This refers not merely to the First Advent of Christ, but more particularly to His death .

There shall be seven weeks (forty-nine years) and sixty-two weeks (434 years) x 360 days = 173,880 days.

The city shall be built again, with plaza and moat, even in troublesome times. Jerusalem would be rebuilt (during the first seven weeks) with public square

and protective channel, but not without opposition and turmoil.

26 “And after the sixty-two weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;

And the people of the prince who is to come

Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The end of it shall be with a flood,

And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks - that is, after the sixty-two week portion of time, 483 years, the Messiah shall be cut off. Here we have an

unmistakable reference to the Savior’s death on the cross. A century ago in his book “The Coming Prince” , Sir Robert Anderson gave detailed

calculations of the sixty-nine weeks, using “prophetic years,” allowing for leap years, errors in the calendar, the change from B.C. to A.D., etc., and

figured that the sixty-nine weeks ended on the very day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, five days before his death.

But not for Himself, or literally and have nothing. This may mean that He had received nothing from the nation of Israel, to which He had come. Or it

may mean that He died without apparent posterity (Isaiah 53:8). Or it may be a general statement of His utter poverty; He left nothing but the clothes

that He wore.

And the people of the prince who is to come. This prince who is to come is the head of the revived Roman Empire, identified by some as the Antichrist.

He will come to power during the Tribulation. His people, of course, are the Romans, who shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The Romans, under Titus, destroyed Jerusalem and its magnificent gold-trimmed white marble temple in A.D. 70.

The end of it shall be with a flood. The city was leveled as if by a flood. Not one stone of the temple, for instance, was left on another. Titus forbade his

soldiers to put Herod’s temple to the torch, but in order to get the gold they disobeyed, thus melting down the gold. To retrieve the melted gold

successfully from between the stones they had to pry loose the great stones, thus fulfilling Christ’s words in Matthew 24:1, 2, as well as Daniel’s

prophecy.

And till the end of the war desolations are determined. From that time on, the history of the city would be one of war and destruction. The end here

means the end of the times of the Gentiles.

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,

Even until the consummation, which is determined,

Is poured out on the desolate.”

9:27 We now come to the seventieth week. As mentioned previously, there is a time gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks. A week is 7

years, divided by two is what? 3 1/2

This parenthetical period is the Church Age, which extends from Pentecost to the Rapture. It is never mentioned specifically in the OT; it was a secret

hidden in God from the foundation of the world but revealed by the apostles and prophets of the NT period. However, the principle of a gap is nicely

illustrated by our Lord in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:18, 19). Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1, 2a but cut it short at “the acceptable year of the Lord”

(His First Advent), and left off the judgment of His Second Advent: “and the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61:2b). In between was to occur the

whole Church Age.

Then he (the Roman prince, the antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many (the unbelieving majority of the nation of Israel) for one week (the

seven-year Tribulation Period). It may be a friendship treaty, a non-aggression treaty, or a guarantee of military assistance against any nation attacking

Israel.

But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. The Roman prince will turn hostile toward Israel, forbidding further

sacrifices and offerings to Jehovah.

And on the wing of abominations. We learn that he will set up an abominable idolatrous image in the temple and presumably he will command that it be

worshiped. Some think the wing here refers to a wing of the temple.

Shall be one who makes desolate. He will persecute and destroy those who refuse to worship the image.

Even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate. Terrible persecution of the Jews will continue for the last half of the

seventieth week, a period known as the Great Tribulation. Then the Roman prince, “the one who makes desolate,” will himself be destroyed, as decreed

by God, by being cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20).

Let’s do a recap.

According to Sir Robert Anderson: 173,880 days from Artaxerxes’ declaration and issuing of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This was the

decree of Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

Until Messiah the Prince. This refers not merely to the First Coming or Advent of Christ, but more particularly to His death.

There shall be seven weeks (forty-nine years) and sixty-two weeks (434 years). The sixty-nine weeks are divided into two periods, seven weeks and sixty-

two weeks 7x7=49 + 62x7=434 years, so 49 plus 434 = 483 years x 360 day Jewish Calendar = 173,880 days.

After the sixty-two weeks - that is, after the sixty-two week portion of time, which is really at the end of the sixty-ninth week, the Messiah shall be cut off.

Here we have an unmistakable reference to the Savior’s death on the cross.

Gregorian Calendar. OK, so from 445 B.C. to April 6th, A.D. 32 which is the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt. 476 years times 365 days is 173,740

days, add in leap year days you have 173,880 days.

A century ago in his book “The Coming Prince”, Sir Robert Anderson gave detailed calculations of the sixty-nine weeks, using “prophetic years,” allowing

for leap years, errors in the calendar, the change from B.C. to A.D., etc., and figured that the sixty-nine weeks ended on the very day of Jesus’ triumphal

entry into Jerusalem, five days before His death.

A. The Rise of the Antichrist

The apostle warned of a “man of lawlessness,” which is the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8-9). Though sin and lawlessness are already at work in our own

day (verse 7), Paul says a day is coming in which a specific individual will come into power in the future tribulation period who will be the embodiment of sin

and lawlessness (1 John 2:18; Revelation 11:7, 13:1-10).

This lawless one will ultimately lead the entire world into rebellion against God (2 Thessalonians 2:10) as the son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3). He is

presently being restrained by the Holy Spirit, but after the Rapture (when Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit will be removed from the earth), he will come

to life, be made manifest and will deceive multitudes (Revelation 19:20). I personally believe that he, whoever he might be, is alive somewhere in the world

(Revelation 19:20).

Scripture reveals that the antichrist will be a genius in intellect (Daniel 8:23), commerce, (Daniel 11:43; Revelation 13:16-17), war (Revelation 6:2; 13:2),

speech (Daniel 11:36), and politics (Revelation 17:11-12).

This man will perform counterfeit signs and wonders and deceive many people during the tribulation period (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).

The antichrist will rise to prominence in the tribulation period, initially making a peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27). In his desire to dominate the world, he

will double cross and then seek to destroy the Jews, persecute believers, and set up his own kingdom (Revelation 13), which he cannot do with the Muslims in

power. (More on that later).

He will speak arrogant and boastful words, glorifying himself (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The false prophet will seek to make the world worship the Antichrist

(Revelation 13:11-12).

Ezekiel 38:8-11

8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people

on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.

9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:

11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and

having neither bars nor gates’— We believe that Ezekiel 38-39 will take place right before the midpoint of the tribulation. The false prophet will control the

global economy by forcing people around the world to take the mark of the antichrist or the mark of the beast, in order to buy or sell (Revelation 13:16-17).

READ.

If one receives the mark, he or she is assured to receive God’s wrath, and that means they can buy or sell, but do nor pass go, they go to hell at the great White

Throne judgment. The antichrist will rule the whole world (Revelation 13:7) from his headquarters in Rome (Revelation 17:8-9). Throughout history, Rome has

been known as the city of seven hills. This beast will be defeated and bound by Jesus at His second coming (Revelation 19:11-16).

The antichrist won’t be a Jew

An early tradition held that the antichrist would come from the tribe of Dan. Story short, Revelation 13:1 and 17:15 picture the antichrist rising out of the sea - a

scriptural metaphor for the Gentile nations. Antiochus Epiphanes, himself a Gentile, typifies the future antichrist in Daniel 11. The antichrist is therefore not

likely to be a Jew. Besides, he will persecute the Jews in the tribulation period (Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:6, 13-14).

Will he be a Muslim?

More recently, for understandable reasons, many have claimed that the antichrist will be a Muslim. However, this view has many theological problems. For

one thing Daniel 11:36 tells us the antichrist “shall exalt himself and magnify above every god.” We also read in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 that the antichrist

ultimately opposes and exalts himself against every so called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be

God.”

Will he be a Muslim, continued

To say the least a Muslim antichrist who claimed to be God would be trashing the Muslim creed, “There is only one God named Allah, and Muhammad his

prophet.” No true Muslim would make any claim that he was God. Just as it is anathema for Muslims to call Jesus, “God incarnate,” or the “Son of God,” so it

would be anathema for any Muslim to claim he was God. Still further Muslim teaching asserts that Allah is so radically unlike any earthly reality-so utterly

transcendent and beyond anything in the finite realm-that he can scarcely be described using earthly terms. How then could a human Muslim antichrist claim to be

God?

Also, why would a Muslim antichrist make a covenant with Israel, guaranteeing its protection? Really? Or how even more farfetched do you think Israel would

buy that? They want to push Israel into the sea, and kill every living Israelite.

So how about Gog?

Contrary to the assumptions of some today, Gog, the leader of the invasion of Israel described in (Ezekiel 38) simply couldn’t be the antichrist either. The

antichrist heads up a revived Roman Empire, but God heads up an invasion force made up of Russia and a number of Muslim nations (Ezekiel 38:1-6). Moreover,

Gog’s invasion into Israel constitutes a direct challenge to the antichrist’s covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). Further, Gog’s moment in the limelight is short-

lived because God will destroy the invading force (Ezekiel 39), whereas the antichrist is in power most of the seven year tribulation.

The Antichrist’s Rise in a Revived Rome

Daniel 7:3-8 refers to four beasts. These represent kingdoms that play an important role in biblical prophecy. Daniel begins in verse 3 by affirming, “four great

beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.” These four beasts reveal much about prophetic chronology. The first, Daniel says, was “like a lion

and had eagle’s wings,” but its wings were plucked off” (verse 4). The wings indicate rapid mobility. Interesting that winged lions guarded the gates of

Babylon’s royal palaces (Revelation 4:7). The wings indicate rapid mobility, and the plucking of the wings the opposite. Verse 5 a bear, Medo Persia, 6, a

leopard, Alexander the Great, and finally verse 7.

Daniel 7:3-8

7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring,

breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

8 “I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by

the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Finally we are at Rome. This wild imagery refers to the Roman empire. Rome already existed in ancient days, but it fell apart in the fifth century A.D.

It will be revived however, in the end times, apparently comprised of ten nations ruled by ten kings (ten horns) some times referred to as the ten nation

confederacy. (Animals used their horns as weapons then and now as well, for this reason the horn eventually came to symbolize power and might. As an

extension of this symbol, horns in biblical times were sometimes used as emblems of dominions, representing, kingdoms and kings, as is the case in the book of

Daniel 7-8 and Revelation 12:13; 13:1, 11; 17:3, 16.

In Daniel 7, an eleventh horn - a little horn (the antichrist) - starts out apparently in an insignificant way but grows powerful enough to uproot three of the

existing horns (kings). He eventually comes into absolute power and dominance over this revived Roman Empire, probably halfway through the Tribulation

period. Related to this, Daniel 2 records a prophetic dream that Nebuchadnezzar had. In this dream the Roman Empire was pictured as a mixture of iron and

clay (verses 41-43).

Daniel, the great interpreter of dreams, saw this as meaning just as iron is strong, so this latter day Roman Empire would be strong. But just as iron and clay do

not naturally mix with each other, so this latter day Roman Empire would have some divisions. It would not be completely integrated.

Many modern biblical interpreters see the European Union (which is characterized by both unity and some division) as a primary prospect for the ultimate

fulfillment of this prophecy. The stage is now appearing to be set for the fulfillment of Daniel 2 and 7. Once the antichrist emerges into power in a revived

Rome, it is just a matter of time before he comes into complete global dominance.

B. The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 11:1).

The Jewish temple has long played a role in Jewish history. In fact, Israel has had three different temples.

The first temple David wanted to build the first temple for God, though it was not to happen, because David was disqualified for being a warrior. His son

Solomon eventually built the temple (1 Kings 6-7, 2 Chronicles 3-4).

The Second Temple

Following the Babylonian exile, many Jews returned to Jerusalem and constructed a smaller, leaner version of Solomon’s temple. King Cyrus of Persia had

allowed them to return and rebuild the temple. And he sent along the temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had looted. The returned exiles in 538 B.C.

started out well, but soon ran out of steam. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah worked hard to encourage them, and the second temple was finally rebuilt

in 515 B.C. However this temple was not as magnificent as Solomon’s temple it replaced, it had little of its former glory, and was a dim reflection of the

original. This temple was without the ark of the covenant and had only one seven branch lampstand. The ark and Solomon’s lampstands were never

recovered.

The Tabernacle Pre Temple

Solomon’s Temple

Destroyed 586 B.C. by Nebuchadnezzar

Second Temple Zerubbabel’s

Herod’s Temple

The Third Temple

Israel’s third temple in Jerusalem was built by King Herod the Great. Herod believed that this ambitious building program, which he began in 19

B.C., would be a great way to earn favor with the Jews of his time, and impress the Roman authorities.

Completed in A.D. 4, it was much larger and much more ornate, (it had more gold). It was an enormous cream-colored structure that was very

bright during the day, it measured 490 yards (North to South) by 325 yards, (East to West). This temple was destroyed along with the rest of

Jerusalem in A.D. 70 by Titus and his Roman warriors.

The Tribulation Temple

Scripture tells us that yet another temple will be built during the Tribulation period. In terms of prophetic chronology, there are a number of

important factors. First and foremost is the prerequisite that Israel be back in her homeland as a nation. This has been a reality since 1948. The

Jews have been streaming back to the Holy land from all around the world ever since (Ezekiel 36-37). Obviously the Jewish temple cannot be

rebuilt unless a reborn nation of Israel is in the land.

Second, we know that the temple must be rebuilt at least by the middle of the seven year tribulation because Jesus in the Olivet discourse warned of a

catastrophic event that assumes the existence of the temple. “When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy

place (let the reader understand), then let those in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16). This abomination of desolation is the desecration of the

Jewish temple by the antichrist, who will set up an image of himself within the temple at the midpoint of the tribulation, so we know the temple has to be built

by this time. The only possible conclusion or explanation is that the temple of Jesus’ day would be destroyed, as it was in A.D. 70.

The abomination of desolation would occur in a yet future temple. This latter temple would be built at least by the middle of the tribulation (see also Daniel

9:27; 12:11).

Jewish Sacrifices Reinstated

Scripture is clear that there will be animal sacrifices in the Jewish temple sometime during the first half of the tribulation, but then the antichrist will stop them.

We read in Daniel 9:27 that the antichrist shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he “shall put an end to sacrifice and

offering.” This week refers to the seven year tribulation period that precedes the Second Coming.

2. First half (3 ½ years) of tribulation - The Lamb and the seven sealed scroll.

In Revelation 5, we witness an awe inspiring, Christ-exalting scene that takes place in heaven early in the Tribulation period: Jesus Christ the Lamb of God

receives the seven sealed scroll. We covered this earlier in this study.

Revelation 6 (NKJV)

First Seal: The Conqueror.

1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”

2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (An

imposter, a false Messiah, the antichrist. Rising out of Europe, he will be seen as a economic genius, who has the power of Satan).

Second Seal: Conflict on Earth.

3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.”

a. The seven seal judgments are opened (Revelation 6).

4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and

there was given to him a great sword.

Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth.

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a

pair of scales in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not

harm the oil and the wine.”

Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth.

7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.”

8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a

fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs.

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow

servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances.

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became

like blood.

13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and

in the rocks of the mountains,

16 and said to the mountains and 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 His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

B. The 144,000 Jewish believers begin their great evangelistic ministry (Revelation 7).

c. Gog and his allies invade Israel, while Israel is at peace under the covenant with the antichrist and are supernaturally decimated by God (Daniel 11:40-

45; Ezekiel 38-39), This will probably occur somewhere nearer the end of the three and a half year period. The destruction of these forces will create a

major shift in the balance of power that will enable the antichrist to begin his rise to world power.

Revelation 7 (NKJV) The Sealed of Israel

1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the

earth, on the sea, or on any tree.

2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was

granted to harm the earth and the sea,

3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were

sealed;

6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand

were sealed;

7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were

sealed;

8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand

were sealed.

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the

throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made

them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear

from their eyes.”

C. Gog and His Allies Invade Israel

Gog and his allies invade Israel (Daniel 11:40-45; Ezekiel 38-39).

While Israel is at peace with the covenant it made with the Antichrist, they are attacked and are supernaturally destroyed by God. This will probably occur

somewhere near the end of the first three and a half year period. The destruction of these forces will create a major shift in the balance of power that will

enable the antichrist to begin his rise to world power.

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company

with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.

5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops - many people are with you.

1-6 I think the best place to start in chapter 38 is to identify the nations specifically named by the prophet, the countries of that day have changed their names,

their borders have changed, but I believe it is still possibly to identify the current countries listed here. It reads like a who’s who of a current list of enemies.

Let’s start with Gog. There are four things we can say about Gog. First Gog is a person, not a place. Ezekiel says that Gog is of the land of Magog and that

he is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal verse 2. So this clearly identifies Gog as a ruler or prince of nations. Second, Gog is the leader of this invasion. In

Ezekiel 38-39, the name Gog appears eleven times, more than any other name. God directly addresses Gog on several occasions in these chapters.

Now this leads me to believe that Gog is the leader or key figure in this invading force. We need to be careful not to confuse Gog with another key end time

political/military leader known as the antichrist.

The Antichrist rules the great Western confederation of nations during the first part of the tribulation and eventually the whole world for three and a half years.

Gog, however, leads a great Russian-Islamic army alliance of nations in opposition to Israel and the antichrist as we will see later.

Remember Gog and the antichrist are not the same person at all. As a matter of fact they are rivals during the first half of the tribulation. God leads His troops

into Israel for the battle of Gog and Magog; the Antichrist leads his army into Israel at the end of the tribulation for the war of Armageddon.

Third, although Gog could be the person’s name, it is probably a title-like President, Caesar, or General.

Fourth, we know that Gog is from the land of Magog and rules over Rosh, Mesech and Tubal. So to know the precise land from which Gog comes, we need to

identify the land of Magog.

THE LAND OF MAGOG

Magog was the second son of Japeth, the son of Noah (Genesis 10:2).

His name appears in the Bible in 1 Chronicles 1:5, Ezekiel 38:2, and Ezekiel 39:6. Outside the Bible his name doesn’t appear in ancient literature except by

those commenting on the Bible, like Josephus. Magog founded the Magogians, so named after him but were called the Scythians by the Greeks. The ancient

Scythians were a great nomadic tribe who inhabited the ancient territory from Central Asia all across the southern part of Russia. The descendants of Magog

were the original inhabitants of the plateau of Central Asia.

MODERN MAGOG

Today the land of Magog is inhabited by the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and possibly even

parts of modern Afghanistan. All of these nations have one thing in common and that’s Islam - they have a combined population of over 60 million.

GOG, MAGOG AND THE KORAN

One of the most fascinating things I’ve discovered about Ezekiel 38-39 is that Islam has their own version of the Battle of Gog and Magog, they call it the War

of Yajuj and Majuj. In two places the Koran specifically mentions Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj). Short story for the sake of time, When Jesus (according

to Muslim teaching) prays against Gog and Magog, Allah will wipe them out by some kind of disease or plague. The disease is described as either infectious,

lethal boils, or a disease that eats flesh from their bones. Does that sound a little familiar? Mohammed clearly “borrowed” that imagery straight from Ezekiel

38, with a few convenient changes to fit his own ends.

Ezekiel 38:22 specifically says that God will judge the invaders “I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed.” Do you think it’s interesting

that the Muslims believe in the prophecy of Gog and Magog. They appear to be totally ignorant of the fact that the nations represented in the prophecy will be

destroyed by God, and are all Muslim nations today, with the exception of Russia. But let’s keep moving and see what the Bible has to say to support this.

ROSH

It’s pretty easy to jump to conclusions because Rosh, sounds like Russia, let’s see if in fact it is. The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT, translates

rosh as the proper name Ros. This is especially significant since the Septuagint was translated only three centuries after Ezekiel was written. An ancient

group of people known as Ras, Rashu, and Rus inhabited the land of Rasapu. These people inhabited the area we know today as Southern Russia.

ROSH TODAY

Many people might be surprised to know that one of the key places mentioned in Bible prophecy is Russia. You are all familiar with the fall of Russia, their

humiliation, and how we thought they were out of the game. Well that’s not true a few years later. Putin is very power hungry, and will do anything to be

top dog, but I think their alliance with some of the Muslims countries is going to suck them into a fight that will lead to their end. As we will read in the next

paragraph, “I will put hooks into your jaws and lead you out.”

MESHECH AND TUBAL

Meshech and Tubal were the sixth and fifth sons of Japeth, the son of Noah (Genesis 10:2). Most prophecy students think that they refer to the cities of

Moscow and Tobolsk, Russia. Meshech and Tubal are mentioned in Ezekiel 27:13 as trading partners with ancient Tyre (modern Lebanon). It’s highly

improbable that ancient Tyre was trading with people in the area as far North as Moscow and Tobolsk.

A closer study of these names reveals that Meshech and Tubal are the ancient Moschi Mushki and Tubalu/Tibareni peoples who dwelled in the area around,

and primarily south of the Black and Caspian Seas in Ezekiel’s day. These nations today are in the modern country of Turkey, possibly of southern Russian

and northern Iran.

PERSIA

Ezekiel 38:5 lists Persia as another nation that will join in the end time alliance against Israel. This is the easiest one to figure out. This is present day Iran.

ETHIOPIA

There are two North African nations mentioned in Ezekiel’s list. The first is Ethiopia, or more correctly (Cush). The ancient kingdom of Cush in Ezekiel’s

day was the land just south of Egypt on the Nile River. Today the nation that occupies this land is Sudan. One would be hard pressed to find a more rabid

enemy of Israel and the West today than Sudan. Madeline Albright has called Sudan “A viper’s nest of terrorism.”

One of the most amazing things about Ezekiel 38 is that God placed Persia and Cush right next to each other approximately 2,600 years ago as end time

allies against Israel. This is incredible because contemporary Iran and Sudan have a very close relationship. Sudan is Iran’s best ally. Iran supplies Sudan

with military supplies, oil, and military training, and Sudan gives Iran docking rights at Port Sudan on Red Sea shipping routes.

LIBYA/PUT

Put or now better translated Libya, ancient Put was the land just to the west of Egypt. Muammar Qadaffi was the fairly recent leader until he was killed a

couple of years ago.

GOMER

Gomer, God identifies another participant in the end time confederation of nations as ancient Gomer, who was the first son of Japheth, the son of Noah

(Genesis 10:2-3). The Gommerites were the ancient Cimmerians, expelled in 700 B.C., from the southern steppes of Russia into the area we know today as

Turkey.

Interestingly four of the ancient locations Ezekiel gives are found in the nation of Turkey today. God seems to be emphasizing Turkey’s role in this end

time coalition.

TOGARMAH

According to Genesis 10:3 Togarmah was the third son of Gomer. The word Beth at the beginning of the word is the Hebrew word for house, or place of. It

simply means, house or place of Togarmah. The only indication about Togarmah’s location in the Bible is found in Ezekiel 38:6, Beth Togarmah from the

remote parts of the North with all its troops. So we know that Togarmah is from the far North of Israel. Going back to Ezekiel’s time, we discover that

there was city in Cappodecia (modern Turkey) known as Tegarma, Til-garimmu, and Takarma. This fits Ezekiel’s identification exactly because Turkey is

far north of Israel.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people

on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.

9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

38:7-9.Chapters 36 and 37 essentially devote themselves to the restoration of Israel, right? i.e., since 1948 when Israel became a nation. This attack will be

against Israel, whose people will be gathered from many nations and will be living in safety. Gog and his allies will go against Israel in massive strength,

advancing like a storm and a cloud. So let’s look for some clues here.

First clue: Israel must be regathered to her land when this invasion occurs.

Second clue: The timing of the battle of Gog and Magog will be during the “latter years” or “last days” so we know it will occur after the Rapture of the

church.

Third clue: they will be dwelling in safety verse 8. So God is telling these invading nations that some time in the future they will attack Israel when she’s

been restored to her land in the latter years. This can only be referring to the regathering of Israel that took place in 1948. When many Jews returned to their

homeland, and has been continuing up to this time in 2017.

And fourth: Israel must be at rest when the invasion occurs.

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan:

11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and

having neither bars nor gates’—

12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the

nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.

13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take

booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’

38:10-13. Gog’s purpose in the attack will be to plunder and loot unwalled and unsuspecting Israel, which will be rich in livestock and goods, living at the center

of the land. Israel’s importance geographically, politically, and economically will be noticed. She will be a strategic target for any power wanting to control

commerce between Asia and Africa. Some commentators say the merchants of Tarshish is a reference to England, and the young lions the USA. There is

simply no proof. No proof does not mean it cannot possibly be true but that it cannot be proven to be true. So let’s talk about this. Has there ever been a time in

history when we could say this was taking place, that is, Israel was at peace?

There are only two times in Israel’s future when the Bible indicates that she will be at peace. The first is the 3 ½ year period during the first 3 ½ years of the

tribulation.

The second time will be the Second Coming at the end of the tribulation to inaugurate His literal 1,000 year reign of peace and joy, i.e., the millennial

kingdom. (Revelation 19:11-20:10). Isaiah 2:4 says explicitly that this will be a time when there will be no war.

This is in fact the exact situation Israel will find herself in when she enters into a covenant with the antichrist. Under that covenant, Israel will be able to

relax, because her Gentile enemies will have become their friends, apparently guaranteeing her borders, and promising them freedom. During that first three

and a half years, we have the one time when regathered Israel is at rest and secure. Apparently Russia will invade during that period, maybe towards its

close. So we know that the battle of Gog and Magog then will occur at least three and a half years before the war of Armageddon, or World War III. At the

end of the Tribulation.

God’s word says that the antichrist will arise from Europe, the reunited Roman empire, and will bring peace, although temporarily, to Israel.

14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day when My people Israel dwell safely, will you not know it?

15 Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.

16 You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the

nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.”

38:14-16. Gog’s attack against Israel will come from all sides. Gog will come from the far north. With him will come his allies from the east (Persia=Iran), the

south (Ethiopia/Cush=Sudan, southern Egypt, and northern Ethiopia), and the west (Put=Libya). They will advance against . . . Israel like a cloud (9) that covers

the land. This awesome army will overrun all obstacles as effortlessly as a cloud sailing across the sky.

This attack will be another means of God’s displaying to the nations His holy character and sovereign power. In going against Israel, the nations will come to

know God for He will show Himself holy (cf. Ezekiel 20:41; 28:22, 25; 36:23; 39:27). As a result of the unsuccessful attack Israel will be delivered and God

glorified.

17 Thus says the Lord God: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days

that I would bring you against them.

18 “And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord God, “that My fury will show in My face.

19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel,

20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of

the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’

21 I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.

22 And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him,

flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23 Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’

38:17-23. Gog’s attack will be crushed by God Himself. God asked Gog, Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel?

This has caused some confusion among interpreters because no direct reference to Gog is made by any of the previous writing prophets. Perhaps this means

earlier prophets had predicted the coming of invading armies against Israel in the last days, which Ezekiel now associated specifically with Gog (cf. Joel 3:9-

14; Zephaniah 3:15-20).

When the armies reach Israel, God’s anger will be aroused against them. He will cause a massive earthquake in . . . Israel that will interrupt Gog’s invasion

plans and spread fear and confusion throughout the ranks of the invading forces.

In the pandemonium, communication between the four invading armies will break down and they will begin attacking each other. Every man’s sword will be

against his brother (Ezekiel 38:21). Fear and panic will sweep through the forces so each army will shoot indiscriminately at the others. (Friendly Fire gone

wild)

The slaughter of the armies will be aided by additional “natural” catastrophes, including torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur (v. 22). The rain will

combine with dirt and debris from the earthquake to produce massive mudslides and floods.

Huge hailstones will smash the survivors, killing many (cf. Joshua 10:11). The “burning sulfur” might be volcanic ash.

Chapter 39 Ezekiel

1 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and

Tubal;

2 and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.

3 Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand, and cause the arrows to fall out of your right hand.

4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to

the beasts of the field to be devoured.

5 You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken,” says the Lord God.

6 “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.

7 So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall

know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.

8 Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord God. “This is the day of which I have spoken.”

39:1-8. The invading armies will be totally destroyed by God. Having brought them against the mountains of Israel, God will weaken them (39:3) and strike

them down on the mountains of Israel. This once-mighty army will then be food for birds and … wild animals.

God will also punish the homelands of the invaders: I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands. Sending fire implies

destruction and military devastation. The nation that will spawn the invasion will herself be destroyed. The “coastlands,” already mentioned several times by

Ezekiel (cf. Ezekiel 26:15, 18; 27:3, 6-7, 15, 35), imply the farthest reaches of the known world. Through all this God will teach Israel that He is holy and is

not to be profaned by their sins (cf. 36:22).

Also the nations will see that He is the Holy One in Israel. (2) The aftermath of the battle (39:9-20).

9 “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the

javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.

10 They will not take wood from the field nor cut down any from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will plunder those

who plundered them, and pillage those who pillaged them,” says the Lord God.

11 “It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct

travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.

39:9-11. Those who will come to plunder Israel (verse 10) will themselves be plundered. Israelites will use the fallen soldiers’ weapons for fuel for seven years.

Should the weapons of war - horses, swords, shields … bows … arrows … clubs … and spears (38:4-5; 39:9) - be understood literally or do they refer

figuratively to modern-day weaponry? The text itself can allow for both interpretations, but the normal meaning of the words would lead one to see Ezekiel

referring to literal horses, etc. With the other worldwide catastrophes evident during the first three and one-half years of Daniel’s 70th Week (Matthew 24:6-8;

Revelation 6), reverting to more primitive methods of warfare might become possible.

Throughout the remainder of the Tribulation period and into the beginning of the Millennium, as Israel will be burning those weapons, she will not need to cut

down trees. This will be an amazing reversal of Gog’s fortunes. Israel will plunder those who plundered her and loot those who looted her.

After the battle Israel will also bury Gog’s dead.

The burials will take place in the valley of those who travel east toward the Sea. This translation is somewhat confusing as “toward” was supplied by the

translators, and the “east” should be translated “on the east of” (cf. Genesis 2:14; 1 Samuel 13:5). The valley where Gog’s army will be buried is “on the east

side of” the Dead Sea in what is today Jordan. The phrase “those who travel east” could be taken as a proper name. It might refer to the “mountains of Abarim”

east of the Dead Sea that Israel had traveled over on her way to the Promised Land (cf. Numbers 33:48). If so, Gog’s burial will be in the Valley of Abarim just

across the Dead Sea from Israel proper in the land of Moab. Yet the burial will be in Israel because Israel controlled that area during some periods of her history

(cf. 2 Samuel. 8:2; Psalm 60:8). The number of corpses will be so great that the way of travelers will be blocked. “The way of travelers” could again be

translated “Abarim.” The valley will be clogged with the bodies of soldiers. The name of the valley will be changed to the Valley of Hamon Gog, meaning “the

Valley of the hordes of Gog.”

12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.

13 Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified,” says the Lord God.

14 “They will set apart men regularly employed, with the help of a search party, to pass through the land and bury those bodies remaining on the ground, in

order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search.

15 The search party will pass through the land; and when anyone sees a man’s bone, he shall set up a marker by it, till the buriers have buried it in the Valley

of Hamon Gog.

16 The name of the city will also be Hamonah. Thus they shall cleanse the land.” ’

39:12-16 The number of soldiers killed will be so great that for seven months the house of Israel will be burying them. Even after the initial cleanup, squads of men

will be employed to search the land for additional remains. As they go through the land and one of them sees a human bone, he will set up a marker beside it. Then

as grave diggers see the markers they will take the remains to the Valley of Hamon Gog for burial. The operation will be so vast that a town will be set up in the

valley at the gravesites to accommodate those cleansing the land. It will be named Hamonah - a form of the word “hordes.”

17 “And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God, ‘Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field:

“Assemble yourselves and come;

Gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal

Which I am sacrificing for you,

A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel,

That you may eat flesh and drink blood.

18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty,

Drink the blood of the princes of the earth,

Of rams and lambs,

Of goats and bulls,

All of them fatlings of Bashan.

19 You shall eat fat till you are full,

And drink blood till you are drunk,

At My sacrificial meal

Which I am sacrificing for you.

20 You shall be filled at My table

With horses and riders,

With mighty men

And with all the men of war,” says the Lord God.

39:17-20. Another result of Gog’s defeat will be a feast for the wild animals. (These verses expand verse 4 where God announced that the corpses of those who

fall will be food for birds and beasts.) God will reverse the roles of animals and people. Usually people slaughtered and ate sacrificed animals. Here, however,

the men of Gog’s armies will be sacrifices; they will be eaten by animals. In addressing the birds and animals God said that at this great sacrifice they will eat

flesh and drink blood … as if they were … fattened animals from Bashan. Bashan, east and northeast of the Sea of Kinnereth (later the Sea of Galilee) was

known for its fertile land and fat cows (Amos 4:1). At God’s table the animals will eat their fill of horses and riders, mighty men and soldiers of every kind.

21 “I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them.

22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward.

23 The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from

them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.

24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them.” ’

39:21–24. Two results will come from the battle: (a) the nations will see God’s glory and (b) Israel will turn back to her God (39:22; cf. v. 7). God’s stunning

defeat of Gog will force Israel to acknowledge His power.

25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Now I will bring back the captives of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for

My holy name —

26 after they have borne their shame, and all their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, when they dwelt safely in their own land and no one

made them afraid.

27 When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations,

28 then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who sent them into captivity among the nations, but also brought them back to their land, and left

none of them captive any longer.

29 And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,’ says the Lord God.”

39:25-29. The defeat of Gog will also hasten God’s plans to restore the other Israelites from other nations. Verses 25-29 look ahead to the end of the

Tribulation when God will restore the nation from her final dispersion. God will … bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people

of Israel. God will show Himself holy through them (cf. 20:41; 28:22, 25; 36:23; 38:16), acknowledging them as His people. Also He will pour out His Spirit

on the house of Israel (cf. 36:27; 37:14; Joel 2:28). The ultimate result of the battle with Gog will be Israel’s national repentance and spiritual restoration. This

will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom.

So let’s recap. We know that the only time this invasion can occur is when Israel is at rest, it is emphasized three times in Ezekiel 38 “and they are living

securely, all of them 38:8; “Those who are at rest, that live securely. All of them:. 38:11; and “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you

not know it.” 38:14

Since 1948 Israel has never enjoyed a time of peace and safety, when she could let her guard down.

When will Israel enjoy a time of rest and security like the one described here in Ezekiel?

There are only two times in Israel’s future when the Bible indicates this could ever take place. The first is a brief three and a half year period of peace during

the first half of the Tribulation, which will begin when the antichrist makes a covenant or peace treaty with Israel, and that is covered in Daniel 9:27.

The second time of peace for Israel will be when the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus returns to earth from heaven, to destroy Israel’s enemies and inaugurate

His 1,000 year reign in a kingdom of peace and joy (Revelation 19:11-20:10). Isaiah 2:4 says explicitly that this time will be a time when there will be no war.

So if we put all these things together the only time that fits the bill is the first half of the tribulation, after the church has been raptured to heaven and when

Israel is living under the peace and protection of her covenant with antichrist.

John Walvoord, the eminent prophesy scholar, writes “Under that covenant, Israel will be able to relax, for their Gentile enemies will have become their

friends, apparently guaranteeing their borders and promising them freedom.

Apparently Russia will invade the land of Israel during that period, possibly toward the last, and the scriptures will be fulfilled.

God’s word says the antichrist will rise from Europe, the reunited Roman empire, and will bring peace to Israel. Revelation 6-19 is the most detailed picture

of the coming seven year tribulation period. Revelation 6:1-8 records the opening of the seal judgments that inaugurate the seven year period of hell on earth.

The first four of these seals are called the four horsemen of the apocalypse: a rider on a white horse, a rider on a red horse, a rider on a black horse, and a rider

on a pale horse. The first two of these horsemen parallel what we see in Ezekiel 38. First the rider on the white horse pictures the emergence of Antichrist on

the world scene. Revelation 6:1-2 says, Then I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a

voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering

and to conquer.

Notice the antichrist rides a white horse to imitate Christ (Revelation 19:11) and that he carries a bow, but no arrows. This suggests that his first conquest will

be a bloodless one. He will threaten war but achieve his victory through peace. He will conceal his end game in the velvet glove of peace.

Second, the rider on the red horse pictures the brutal, bloody slaughter of war. The word for red in the original Greek is pryrros (fiery red). He rides forth with

a great sword to take peace from the earth that was ushered in by the Antichrist. Revelation 6:3-4 says, When He broke the second seal, I heard the second

living creature saying, “Come,” And another red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would

slay one another, and a great sword was given to him.

I think the red horse pictures a general state of warfare that begins to break out all over the world in the first half of the tribulation just as Jesus predicted in

Matthew 24:6-7 and continues until Armageddon. But more specifically, I believe that the rider on the red horse symbolizes the first great bloodbath of the

Tribulation period, the battle of Gog and Magog. This is another reason why I believe the Battle of Gog and Magog will happen during the first half of the

Tribulation. It fits precisely with the timing of the rider on the red horse in Revelation 6:3-14.

So in closing, let’s take a look at the Jumbo-tron screen and at this point let’s step back a little. Let’s see how this all fits in to the overall puzzle.

The destruction of the vast horde of Islamic invaders in the days just before the middle of the Tribulation period will serve at least two important purposes in

God’s prophetic master plan.

First, the destruction of this major bloc of nations (Russian and her Islamic allies) will pave the way for the Antichrist to establish his world kingdom with little

resistance. (Think about it.) There will be a dramatic shift in the balance of power in favor of the Antichrist, making him the undisputed leader of the world.

After this battle ends, the Antichrist will seize this opportunity to break his seven year covenant with Israel at the midpoint as predicted in Daniel 9:27 and begin

his three and a half year reign of terror (Revelation 13:5-7).

Second, this will not only pave the way for Antichrist’s invasion of Israel and military rule of the world, but also to prepare the world stage for his demand that

all the world worship him as God (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:8).

So listen up, as long as Islam is a major force in the world, it is very difficult to imagine a one-world religion with one man worshiped as God. There is no way

the Muslims would worship any God but Allah, think about it.

Consider this: after the Rapture of all true Christians to heaven, which of the world’s major religions would pose the greatest obstacle to the Antichrist’s demand

to be worshiped? “Islam.”

There are approximately one billion Muslims worldwide who would vehemently if not violently resist worshiping a man as God. But with the destruction of

their armies in Israel by God, those who are left in the Islamic nations will be unable to mount much of a protest against Antichrist’s demand that he be

worshiped as God. By this time they have to pretty much be defeated in every respect, don’t you think?

So with the destruction of Russia and her Islamic allies, Antichrist will be able to put his program into full swing to rule the world militarily, economically, and

religiously for three and a half years.

3.The Mid-point of the Tribulation

a. Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and invades the land (Daniel 9:27; 11:40-41).

Daniel 9:24-27 reveals that the event that will mark the beginning of the tribulation period is the signing of a covenant between the Antichrist and Israel.

We know that it is the Antichrist who does the signing, for verse 26 tells us the signer will be “the prince who is to come.” The Antichrist will then be the

covenant maker, and he will come into power by heading up a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 7:8). Our text tells us that the Antichrist “shall make a

strong covenant with many for one week” (Daniel 9:27). This is a week of seven years, so the covenant the Antichrist signs with Israel is designed to

remain in effect for the full seven year period. But the Antichrist will double-cross Israel, because we are told “that for half of the week he shall put an

end to sacrifice and offering.” In other words, after the covenant has been in effect for three and a half years, he, the Antichrist reneges on the covenant

and causes Israel’s temple sacrifices to cease.

Daniel 11:45 indicates that the Antichrist will move from Europe into the land of Israel: “He shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious

holy mountain.” So summing this up it seems clear that in the middle of the Tribulation period, the Antichrist will invade the Holy Land and cause

sacrifices to cease in the Jewish temple, which also lends support that there has to be a temple. So why cause the sacrifices to cease? The key reason is

that near the midpoint of the Tribulation period, the Antichrist-having already attained political power-will now seek to assume religious power as well. He

will seek to cause the world to worship him (See 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of

perdition,

4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he

is God.

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the

foundation of the world. For him to be worshiped by all people on earth, he must destroy all competing religions-including the Jewish religion, with its

Levitical sacrifices and offerings. We can conclude that the Antichrist starts out as Israel’s protector but becomes Israel’s persecutor, from defender to

defiler.

b. Antichrist begins to consolidate his empire by plundering Egypt, Sudan, and Libya, whose armies have just been destroyed by God in Israel (Daniel

11:42-43; Ezekiel 38-39).

42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his

heels.

c. While in North Africa, Antichrist hears disturbing news of resurrection in Israel and immediately returns there to destroy and annihilate many (Daniel

11:44).

But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.

d. Antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 9:27; 11:45; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4;

Revelation 13:5, 15-18).

In the book of Daniel, the term “abomination of desolation” conveys the outrage of horror of a barbaric act of idolatry within God’s holy temple. This act utterly

profanes and desecrates the temple (Daniel 11:31). Daniel told of Antiochus Epiphanes defiling the temple by sacrificing a pig to the god of Zeus. He was a

prototype of the future Antichrist. It was also a prediction of what Antichrist would do in the great tribulation.

So against this backdrop, we read this about the Antichrist: “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.

Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 11:31).

The NT gives further clarity on this abomination that causes desolation. It will apparently take place midway through the tribulation – “the man of sin” (2

Thessalonians 2:4) sets up an image of himself inside the Jewish temple (Matthew 24:15). The antichrist will not be able to sit in the temple 24/7 to receive

worship, so in the second phase of abomination, he will commission an image or idol of his likeness to be constructed to sit in the temple in his place

(Revelation 13:11-15).

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly

wound was healed.

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth - by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to

make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the

image of the beast to be killed.

Now who will do this? I imagine someone like Disney’s artists that make the characters they make now. The beast will actually breathe and speak, it will

probably be so realistic, it will be difficult to tell it’s not the real Antichrist, and remember this creature will be empowered demonically to appear to be real.

SCARY!!!!! HUH? The idol will remain there for the final 1,260 days or 3 ½ years of the Tribulation period.

Actually Daniel 12:11 says 1,290 days. That is the final 1,260 days plus 30 days = 1290. Why an extra 30 days? When Jesus returns at His second coming at

the end of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will be destroyed, but evidently the judgments of Christ will take some time to complete, so the image will remain in

the temple for another 30 days beyond that time and then it, too, will be removed and destroyed.

e. Sometime during these events the antichrist is violently killed. Possibly as a result of war or assassination (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14, 17:8).

Antichrist is Wounded and is Seemingly Resurrected. In Revelation 13:1-3, we read of the apparent death and resurrection of the Antichrist.

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his

heads a blasphemous name.

2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his

power, his throne, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

Chapter 13 introduces us to two great beasts: one beast rising up out of the sea, and one out of the earth or land, that is, the land of Israel. There is no doubt that

these beasts symbolize men who will play prominent roles during the Tribulation Period. They combine the features of the four beasts of Daniel 7:3-7.

The first beast is the head of the revived Roman Empire, which will exist in a ten-kingdom form. He rises out of the sea, a type of the Gentile nations. He has

ten horns. Daniel predicted that the Roman Empire would be revived in a ten-kingdom form (Daniel 7:24). He has seven heads. In Revelation 17:9, 10 these are

said to be seven kings, a possible reference to seven different types of rulers or seven different stages of the empire. He has ten diadems on his horns. These

speak of the power to rule, which was given to him by the dragon, Satan. He has a blasphemous name on his heads, and he makes claims for himself as if he

were God and not a mere man.

13:2 The beast is like a leopard, his feet like a bear’s, and his mouth like a lion’s. In Daniel 7, the leopard symbolizes Greece; the bear is a type of Medo-

Persia; and the lion represents Babylon. The revived Roman Empire thus resembles its predecessors in that it is swift to conquer like a leopard, powerful as a

bear, and greedy as a lion.

In short, it combines all the evil features of the preceding world empires. The empire and its ruler receive supernatural strength from Satan.

The beast has a mortal wound in one of its heads.

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

Scofield explains: “Fragments of the ancient Roman Empire have never ceased to exist as separate kingdoms. It was the imperial form of government which

ceased; the one head wounded to death.”

This supernatural event would seem to be a contributing factor to people worshiping the Antichrist, for many will believe that this involves a godlike recovery.

Many will be awestruck.

Satan's Power. John Walvoord touches upon an important issue: Does Satan have the ability to engage in miracles? Scripture reveals that Satan has creaturely

limitations but nevertheless is extremely powerful and influential in the world. He is called the "ruler of the world” (John 12:31), “the god of this world” (2

Corinthians 4:4), and the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). He deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9; 20:3) and has power in the

governmental (Matthew 4:8-9), physical (Luke 13:11, 16; Acts 10:38), angelic (Jude 9; Ephesians 6:11-12), and ecclesiastical (church) (Revelation 2:9; 3:9)

realms.

It is very important, in fact it is critical, that Christians realize that Satan has vast experience in tricking human beings and bringing them down. He has been

practicing his craft for thousands of years. In view of the scriptural evidence, we have to conclude that in the end times, Satan will either perform a limited

grade “B” miracle in healing the Antichrist or engage in some kind of masterful deception - or maybe a combination of both. The bottom line is the world will

be amazed that the mortal wound will be healed, and many will worship him. This will contribute to his ultimate goal of world dominion.

f. Satan is cast down from heaven, and begins to make war with Israel.

In Revelation 12:12-13 we find a sobering description of Satan's ousting from heaven, after which he indwells-or at the very least, fully energizes-the

Antichrist: “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath,

because he knows that his time is short.” Notice the contrast between “woe” and rejoicing, Satan’s access to heaven is hereby removed, and he will no longer

be able to stand before the throne of God and accuse the brethren. And for this, there is rejoicing in heaven, but conversely Satan is filled with anger, rage, and

fury, because he knows his time is short.

Because of Satan’s wrath, it is woe for the earth. If you think the first half of the Tribulation was bad, and it was, you won’t believe the second half.

f. Satan is cast down from heaven and begins to make war with the woman, Israel (Revelation 12:7-13). The primary means that he uses to

persecute Israel is the two beasts in Revelation 13.

Revelation 12:7-13 (NKJV)

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,

8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels

were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the

accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having

great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.

Daniel 12

7 War breaks out in heaven with Michael and his angels on one side and the dragon and his angels on the other. This is in the middle of the Tribulation.

Michael, the archangel, is associated with the affairs of the nation of Israel (Daniel 12:1).

8-9 The dragon is so thoroughly defeated that he loses any right of access to heaven. He and his minions are cast down to the earth. This is not his final fate,

however (Revelation 20:1-3, 10). Notice John’s description of him: the great dragon, that serpent of old, the Devil, Satan, the one who deceives the whole

world.

10 The eviction of the dragon is followed by a loud cry in heaven that God’s triumph and the day of His people’s conquest have come. This anticipates the

Millennial Kingdom. In the meantime, it is a glorious event that the accuser of our brethren … has been cast down.

11 The announcement continues. Persecuted Jewish believers overcame the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Their

victory was based on the death of Christ and their testimony to the value of that death. In faithfulness to Him, they sealed their testimony with their blood.

12-13 The heavens can rejoice over the dragon’s departure, but it is bad news for the earth and the sea! The devil … knows his time is short and he is

determined to pour out his wrath as widely as possible. The dragon’s spleen is vented especially against Israel, the nation from which the Messiah came.

14 The faithful Jewish remnant is given two wings of a great eagle, enabling it to escape quickly to its wilderness hideout. There the remnant is cared for

and protected from the serpent’s attacks for three and one half years (a time, times, and half a time). Next week: The faithful flee to Petra.

g. The faithful Jewish remnant flee to Petra in modern Jordan, where they are divinely protected for the remainder of the Tribulation (Matthew

24:16-20; Revelation 12:15-17).

The Jewish Remnant Flees

The persecution of the Jew will escalate exponentially after Satan is cast out of heaven and down to earth. Revelation 12:13–17 (NKJV)

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and

half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.

16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have

the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Who is the woman who becomes the object of Satan’s great persecution?

Revelation 12:1-6 (NKJV)

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour

her Child as soon as it was born.

5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty

days.

In this passage, the woman represents Israel, building on the Old Testament imagery of Israel as the wife of God (Isaiah 54:5-6; Jeremiah 3:6-8; 31:32; Ezekiel

16:32; Hosea 2:16). Consequently the twelve stars represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

The sun, moon and stars depict the glory and dominion which has been promised to her in the coming kingdom, just as they pictured Joseph’s ultimate rule

over his father, mother, and brothers (Genesis 37:9-11). The male child refers to Jesus Christ. The dragon’s attempt to devour the Child likely alludes to

Herod’s massacre of male children (Matthew 2:13-18). The Child was caught up to God in the sense that He ascended into heaven following His

resurrection (Acts 1:9, Hebrews 1:1-3, 12:2). The Child - the divine Messiah - is designed to rule the nations (Psalm 2:6-9).

In verses 12 and following, Satan seeks to persecute Israel with fury because he knows he has very little time left. But God provides supernatural help, and

the Jews manage to find shelter in a secret place. OK, the hiding place was clearly not identified.

Some suggest that it might be Petra, and in fact it might well be Petra. Petra was the fortress capital of Nabateans in Edom, South of the Dead Sea. This

city has a narrow access which could easily be blocked but which opens up into a large canyon capable of holding many thousands of people.

The two wings probably refer to God’s supernatural delivering power (Exodus 19:4, Deuteronomy 32:11-12) as an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its

young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings.

12 So the Lord alone led him,

And there was no foreign god with him.; (also Matthew 24:16, and Luke 21:21). Though God will preserve a remnant of Jews through this persecution, not

all Jews will survive. Many prophecy scholars relate this passage to Zechariah 13:8, where we are prophetically told, “In the whole land, declares the Lord,

two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.” Many will die but a remnant will survive the onslaught.

Scripture informs us that God preserves the Jews for “a time, times, and half a time.” This refers to the last three and a half years of the Tribulation period and

is often referred to as “The Great Tribulation.” In the middle of the Tribulation period, things become traumatic for the Jewish people in Jerusalem. The

Antichrist has assumed political power, and now he declares himself to be God and exalts himself in the Jewish temple. To make matters worse, the Antichrist

is afire with a passion to persecute the Jewish people, like Paul was before the Damascus road experience. Jesus in the Olivet Discourse points to how bad

things will be and predicts that Jews living in Jerusalem will flee for their lives.

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him

understand),

16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.

18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

When these horrific circumstances unfold in Jerusalem, Jesus urges the Jews living there to have no concern whatsoever for anything personal, “Like run for

your lives”. Time spent in gathering personal belongings might well mean the difference between life and death. Jesus indicates that this distress is about to

escalate dramatically and rapidly. Jeremiah 30:7 describes this as “a time of distress for Jacob.” And you all know, I'm sure, that Jacob is another name for

Israel.

h. The antichrist is miraculously raised from the dead to the awestruck amazement of the entire world. (Revelation 13:3).

Another stunning event in the end time scenario that will catapult the Antichrist to global worship as god will be his death and restoration to life (Revelation

13:3-4).

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war

with him?” Revelation 17:8 is a parallel passage. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And

those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that

was, and is not, and yet is.

This has been the topic of a great deal of debate over the years. Some have suggested that this may refer to the revival of the Roman Empire, and that people

will be amazed when it happens. However, this view has problems as prophecy scholar Arnold Fruchtenbaum notes: A revived Roman Empire would not

cause man to worship it as God any more than the revival of Poland or Israel did. This kind of thinking is purely imaginary. “It is the resurrection of the man

Antichrist which creates this worship.”

Many other Bible believing prophecy lovers believe this refers to the Antichrist suffering a mortal head wound and then somehow being healed by Satan. In

keeping with this, Revelation 13:12 clarifies things a bit in its reference to the “first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.” John Walvoord explains it

this way: The final world ruler receives a wound which normally would be fatal but is miraculously healed by Satan.

While the resurrection of a dead person seems to be beyond Satan’s power, the healing of a wound would be possible for Satan, and this may be the

explanation. The important point is that the final world ruler comes into power obviously supported by a supernatural and miraculous deliverance by Satan

himself. This supernatural event would seem to be a contributing factor to people worshiping the antichrist, for many will believe that this involves a god-like

recovery. Many will be blown away/awestruck.

Walvoord touches upon an important issue here: Does Satan have the ability to engage in miracles? Scripture reveals that Satan has creaturely limitations but

nevertheless is extremely powerful and influential in the world. He is called the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

and the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).

He deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9, 20:3) and has power in the governmental (Matthew 4:8-9), physical (Luke 13:11,16; Acts 10:38), angelic

(Jude 9; Ephesians 6:11-12), and ecclesiastical (church) (Revelation 2:9; 3:9) realms.

i. After his resurrection from the dead, the Antichrist gains political control over the ten kings of the reunited Roman empire.

Three of these kings will be killed by the Antichrist, and the seven others will submit (Daniel 7:24). The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this

kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings; (Revelation 17:12-13). The angel then

interpreted the meaning of the 10 horns, stating that they are 10 kings in this kingdom. The fourth empire, in spite of its great power (verses 7, 23), will be

characterized by progressive weakness, deterioration, and division). When the hordes from the north conquered the Roman Empire in the fifth century A.D.,

they did not unite to form another empire.

Instead, individual nations emerged out of the old Roman Empire. Some of those nations and others stemming from them have continued till the present

day. The present age, then, is the 10 horned era of the fourth beast.

j. The two witnesses begin their three and a half year ministry (Revelation 11:2-3).

During the Great Tribulation, which is the second 3 ½ years, Satan will use two men - the Antichrist and the False Prophet - to carry out his evil agenda. At

the same time God will raise up two bright lights to shine for Him in the darkness. These lights are two men called the two witnesses, and Revelation 11:3-

14 describes their ministry. God will anoint these two special witnesses who will minister on His behalf in the middle of darkness and devastation. Just as

John the Baptist was the forerunner for the Messiah, these two witnesses will pave the way for His return.

So what do we know about these two witnesses? Who are they? What will they do? When will they serve? And what will happen to them?

Are they Literal or Symbolic? The first question concerning the two witnesses is whether or not they are literal individuals who will appear. The two

witnesses have been interpreted to symbolize the Old and New Testament, the law and the prophets, or as representatives of all the prophets. However,

scripture clearly identifies the two witnesses as individual people. They are described as wearing sackcloth, just like John the Baptist, sackcloth signifies

mourning and repentance. They perform miracles. They prophecy for God 1,260 days (3 ½ years). They die, and their bodies lie in the street for 3 ½ days.

They are raised back to life. They ascend into heaven.

Revelation 11:3-14 (NKJV)

3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed

in this manner.

6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to

strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put

into graves.

10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who

dwell on the earth.

11 Now after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were

afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

k. Antichrist and the ten kings destroy the religious system of Babylon and set up their religious capital in the city (Revelation 17:16-17).

16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are

fulfilled.

17:16 When the ruler in the Middle East takes on worldwide political power, he will also assume the place of God and demand that everyone worship him or

else be killed (cf. Daniel 11:36-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:8, 15). The world church movement, which characterizes the first half of the seven

years leading up to the Second Coming, is thus brought to an abrupt end. It will be replaced by the final form of world religion which will be the worship of

the world ruler, Satan’s substitute for Christ.

At this time, the Antichrist, along with ten kings who are under his authority, will destroy the false world church, the religious prostitute of the end times.

It appears that the revived Roman Empire allows itself to be controlled, or at least influenced by the harlot church for a while. Then, however, the revived

Roman empire destroys the world church, in Rome, many theologians say it is the Catholic church, i.e. the Beast. The hated harlot is stripped, consumed,

and burned by the beast on which she sat (Read Revelation 17:9).

17 God is behind the scenes in all of this. It is He who causes the kingdoms to unite under the Roman beast and then to turn against the harlot. It is all to

fulfill His sovereign purpose.

18 That great city is Mystery Babylon, ruling over the kings of the earth. But as we have seen, the woman has her headquarters in Rome. When the ruler

in the Middle East takes on worldwide political power, he will also assume the place of God and demand that everyone worship him or else be killed (cf.

Daniel 11:36-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:8, 15).

Before moving on, I would like to quote Pastor Chuck’s comments on Revelation 17:16-17. This religious system is connected with the ten kings of the

revived Roman Empire and it is centered around Rome, which was built on seven mountains and is clearly delineated in chapter 17 verse 9. It is important

to remember that the corrupt religious system coming out of Rome will be the church that exists after the Rapture. When you take all the Christians out of

any church, what is left will be awful. And that is what you have here. Pastor Chuck Smith.”

4. The Last Three and a half Years of the Tribulation

Revelation 13:5. And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

13:5, 6 The beast makes proud boasts and utters unspeakable blasphemies. He is allowed to make war for forty-two months. He speaks with callous

irreverence against God’s name, His tabernacle, and the hosts of heaven.

Revelation 13:11-15 (NKJV)

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose

deadly wound was healed.

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth - by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth

to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship

the image of the beast to be killed.

13:11-15. In contrast with the first beast who came “out of the sea” (v. 1), the second beast came out of the earth. He was similar to the first beast (thērion,

“a beast,” was used of both personages). However, while the first beast was a Gentile, since he came from the entire human race as symbolized by “the sea”

(v. 1), the second beast was a creature of the earth. Some have taken this as a specific reference to the Promised Land and have argued that he was therefore a

Jew.

There is no support for this in the context as the word for “earth” is the general word referring to the entire world (gē). Actually his nationality and

geographic origin are not indicated, and he is apparently the one referred to as “the false prophet” in 19:20 and 20:10.

The second beast had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon, that is, like Satan. From this it can be gathered that he was a religious character

whose role was to support the political ruler, the first beast. He had great authority apparently derived from Satan and the political ruler, and he made the

earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, the one whose fatal wound had been healed.

The Bible does not seem to indicate that Satan has the power to give life to an inanimate object. Only God is the Creator. So probably the beast’s image is

able to give an impression of breathing and speaking mechanically, like computerized talking robots today. There might be a combination of natural and

supernatural powers to enable the beast out of the earth to accomplish his purpose. It apparently was quite convincing to people and induced them to worship

the image.

The command to worship the image as well as the first beast was enforced by killing those who refused to do so. But there was a difference between the

decree to put them to death and its execution. The problem of ferreting out everyone in the entire earth who would not worship the beast would naturally take

time. Hitler, in his attempt to exterminate the Jews, took many months and never completed his task. The multitude of martyrs is referred to in 7:9–17.

The false religious system, which was supported in this way imitated the divine Trinity. Satan seeks to take the place of God the Father; the first beast

assumes the place of Jesus Christ, the Son, the King of kings; and the second beast, the false prophet, has a role similar to the Holy Spirit who causes

Christians to worship God. This is Satan’s final attempt to substitute a false religion for true faith in Christ.

The miracles of the beast (13:13-15)

13:13-15. To induce people to worship the first beast, the second beast performs great and miraculous signs (lit., “great signs,” sēmeia megala; cf. “a great

… sign” in 12:1), including fire … from heaven. People sometimes overlook the fact that, while God can do supernatural things, Satan within certain

limitations can also perform miracles, and he used this power to the full in this situation to induce people to worship Satan’s substitute for Christ.

Accordingly, the second beast deceived the inhabitants of the earth.

In addition to causing fire to come down from heaven, the second beast set up an image of the first beast. The image was probably set up in the first temple in

Jerusalem which was taken over from the Jews. According to Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:4-I’m actually going to give 3 and 4. 3. Let no one deceive you by any

means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself

above) the first beast actually sat in God’s temple at times and received worship which properly belonged to God. Perhaps the beast’s image was placed in

the same temple to provide an object of worship when the beast himself was not there.

This image was mentioned frequently (Revelation 13:14-15; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). Whether the image was in the form of the world ruler, the

first beast, or merely some object of worship is not clear, but it did seem to symbolize the power of the first beast.

b. The mark of the beast (666) is introduced and enforced by the false prophet (Revelation 13:16-18).

Enforcing his control over the human race and encouraging worship of the beast out of the sea, the second beast required everyone … to receive a mark on

his right hand or on his forehead, and without this evidence that he had worshiped the beast no one could buy or sell. The need to buy or sell such necessities

as food and clothing would force each person in the entire world to decide whether to worship the beast or to bear the penalty. Apparently the great majority

worshiped the beast.

There has been much speculation on the insignia or “mark” of the beast, but it could be any of several kinds of identification. Countless attempts have been

made to interpret the number 666, usually using the numerical equivalents of letters in the Hebrew, Greek, or other alphabets. As there probably have been

hundreds of explanations continuing down to the present day, it is obvious that if the number refers to an individual it is not clear to whom it refers.

Probably the best interpretation is that the number six is one less than the perfect number seven, and the threefold repetition of the six would indicate that

for all their pretentions to deity, Satan and the two beasts were just creatures and not the Creator. That six is man’s number is illustrated in many instances

in the Bible, including the fact that man should work six days and rest the seventh.

The practice of gematria, the attempt to find hidden meanings in numbers in Scripture, was prominent in the ancient world. Maybe John had in mind a

particular person whom his close associates would be able to identify. Literature from the early church fathers, however, reveals the same confusion and

variety of meanings that exist today, so probably it is best to leave this puzzle unsolved. Probably the safest conclusion is that of Thomas F. Torrance, “This

evil trinity 666 apes the Holy Trinity 777, but always falls short and fails” (The Apocalypse Today, p. 86).

Chapter 13 is important because it introduces two of the main characters of Revelation: the beast out of the sea, the world dictator; and the beast out of the

earth, the false prophet and chief supporter of the political ruler.

There is no evidence that either of them is a Jew though some have identified one or the other as an apostate Jew based on the expression “the God of his

fathers” (Daniel 11:37, KJV). However, the Hebrew word ’ělōhîm is a general word for god, quite different from Yahweh, and there is no proof that in

Daniel it refers to the God of Israel. In recent translations it is “gods” (cf. ASV, NASB, NEB, NIV, and RSV) ALL ALEXANDRIAN I might add. Thus while

it has been popular to consider either the first or the second ruler of Revelation 13 as an apostate Jew, the supporting evidence is lacking. Both beasts are

probably Gentiles inasmuch as this will be the final hour of the time of the Gentiles, when Gentiles will tramp underfoot the city of Jerusalem (Luke 21:24),

and both rulers will persecute Jews as well as believing Gentiles.

KJV King James Version

Revelation 13, however, gives much insight into the character of the Great Tribulation. It will be a time of one world government and one world religion,

with a one world economic system. Those who will resist the ruler and refuse to worship him will be subject to execution, and the martyrs may outnumber

the believers who survive. It will be Satan’s final and ultimate attempt to cause the world to worship him and to turn them from the worship of the true God

and Jesus Christ as their Savior.

This chapter also makes it clear that the postmillennial dream of a world getting better and better through Christian effort and gospel preaching is not

supported in the Bible. Instead, the final form of world religion will be apostate, satanic, and blasphemous. There are many indications today that the world

is heading in this direction, with the corresponding conclusion that the coming of the Lord is very, very, very, near. JES

c. Totally energized by Satan, the Antichrist dominates the world politically, religiously, and economically (Revelation 13:4-5, 15-18).

Revelation 13:4-5 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able

to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

4 The beast is worshiped by men. They are not only amazed at him; they actually worship him as God. They also worship the dragon.

5 The beast makes proud boasts and utters unspeakable blasphemies. He is allowed to make war for forty-two months. He speaks with callous

irreverence against God’s name, His tabernacle, and the hosts of heaven.

Revelation 13:15-18 (NKJV)

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship

the image of the beast to be killed.

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

13:15 He gives animation to the great image, the abomination of desolation, so that it can actually speak. The penalty for refusing to worship it is death.

13:16 The second beast insists that people indicate their allegiance to the Roman emperor by wearing the mark of the beast on their right hand or on their

foreheads.

13:17 In addition to this mark, the beast has a name and a mystical number. Unless a person takes the mark, name, or number of the beast, he will not be able to

buy or sell. It is an effort to force men by economic means to forsake Christ for idolatry. This will be a severe test, but true believers will prefer death to

renouncing their Savior.

13:18 The number of the beast is 666. Six is the number of man. The fact that it is one less than seven may suggest that man has fallen short of the glory or

perfection of God. The three sixes are a trinity of evil.

One of the biggest questions raised in connection with chapter 13 is whether the first or second beast is the Antichrist. Basically, the argument for the first being

the Antichrist is that he insists on being worshiped as God. Those who hold that the second beast is the Antichrist point out that no Jew would ever accept a

Gentile as Messiah, and that since the second beast is a Jew, He must therefore be the false messiah.

d. The trumpet judgments are unleashed throughout the final half of the tribulation (Revelation 8-9).

Revelation 8 (NKJV)

1 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 to them were given seven trumpets.

3 Then another angel, having a golden censor, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the

saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

5 Then the angel took the censor, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an

earthquake.

6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up,

and all green grass was burned up.

8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.

9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A

third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth,

because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

So we actually end the seal judgments from chapter 7 in the first part of chapter 8.

1 After the parenthesis of chapter 7, in which we saw two companies of Tribulation saints, we now come to the seventh and final seal. This is

introduced by a thirty-minute silence in heaven, an awesome hush which precedes ever-deepening judgments.

2 No specific judgment is mentioned when the seventh seal is broken. The Bible moves directly to seven trumpet judgments. From this we understand

that the seventh seal consists of the seven trumpets.

8:3, 4 The angel in this verse is often understood to be the Lord Jesus. He is called the Angel of Jehovah in the OT (Genesis 16:13; 31:11, 13; Judges 6:22;

Hosea 12:3, 4). The prayers of all the saints ascend to the Father through Him (Ephesians 2:18). He takes much incense to offer it with the prayers. The

incense speaks of the fragrance of His Person and work. By the time the prayers reach God the Father, they are perfectly flawless and perfectly effectual. In

the context, the prayers are those of Tribulation saints, beseeching God to punish their enemies, although the order is true of all prayer.

8:5 In answer to their prayers, the angel … threw flaming coals to the earth, causing loud explosions, thunderings, lightnings and an earthquake. “The

prayers of the saints return to the earth in wrath.” 7. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

First trumpet judgment: Hail and fire upon the earth. We are told that a “third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all

green grass was burned up.”

Some modern prophecy scholars suggest the possibility of nuclear detonations in this judgment, and that is possible. Please believe me with the situation we

have here on earth and it is getting worse by the day, example: IRAN. But I want to say if God wants to destroy 1/3 of the earth, He does not have to go

nuclear, remember He is God and He can do anything.

Second trumpet judgment: A fiery mountain plunges into the sea, which turns bloody, resulting in a third of the sea creatures dying, This, of course cuts into

the food supply as well as fouling the waters of the sea.

Third trumpet: A great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch. Many believe this will be a huge meteor or an asteroid striking the earth and causing near

extinction level impact. It looks like a star because it bursts into flames as it plummets through earth’s atmosphere. It results in turning a third of the waters

bitter so that people who drink them die.

The Tunguska event was a large explosion that occurred near the Stony Tunguska River, in what is now Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, on the morning of 30 June

1908 (N.S.).[1][2] The explosion over the sparsely populated Eastern Siberian Taiga flattened 2,000 km2 (770 square miles) of forest and caused no known

casualties. The cause of the explosion is generally thought to have been a meteor. It is classified as an impact event, even though no impact crater has been

found; the meteor is thought to have burst in mid-air at an altitude of 5 to 10 kilometers (3 to 6 miles) rather than hit the surface of the Earth.[3] Different

studies have yielded varying estimates of the superbolide's size, on the order of 60 to 190 meters (200 to 620 feet), depending on whether the meteor was a

comet or a denser asteroid.[4] It is considered the largest impact event on Earth in recorded history.

The fourth trumpet: Severe cosmic disturbances emerge. We are told that a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that

a third of their light will be darkened or eliminated, so a third of the day, and a third of the night did not shine. The diminishing light could be due to the

massive cloud of dirt released into the atmosphere by the meteor or asteroid hits earth, how many are old enough to remember Mt. St. Helens?

The Fifth Trumpet: We go into Chapter 9. Revelation 9 (NKJV)

1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit.

2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the

smoke of the pit.

3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their

foreheads. (Apparently meaning everyone still alive on earth besides the 144,000 of Israel who were sealed by the Lord in 7:2-4 [although by this point its

possible they had numerous converts]).

5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a

man.

6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.

7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.

8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.

9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.

10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.

11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses

were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.

18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed - by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.

20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and

idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.

21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

9:1, 2 The star fallen from heaven may be a fallen angel or even Satan himself. He had the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit (the abyss in Greek). This is

the dwelling place of demons. When he opened the entrance to the abyss, billows of smoke poured forth, as if from a huge furnace, veiling the landscape in

darkness.

9:3, 4 Swarms of locusts emerged from the smoke, capable of inflicting excruciating pain like the sting of scorpions. But their power was restricted. They

were forbidden to harm vegetation. Their victims were those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads, that is all who were unbelievers.

9:5, 6 Although their sting was not fatal, it inflicted torment that lasted for five months. It was so intense that men wanted to die, but they could not. These

locusts probably represent demons which, when released from the pit, took possession of unsaved men and women. This demon-possession caused the most

intense physical suffering and mental torture, as it did with Legion in Mark 5:1-20.

7 The description of the locusts is designed to create an impression of conquest and victory. Like horses prepared for battle, they were a conquering host.

Wearing gold-like crowns, they were authorized to rule in men’s lives. With human-appearing faces, they were creatures of intelligence.

8–10 With hair like women’s, they were attractive and seductive. With lion-like teeth, they were ferocious and cruel. With armor-like iron breastplates, they

were difficult to attack and destroy. With wings that made a great sound, they were terrifying and demoralizing. Tails like scorpions equipped them to torture

both physically and mentally. Their power … to hurt men five months meant unrelieved suffering.

11 They had a king … whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon (destruction), but in Greek … Apollyon (destroyer). This is generally understood to refer to

Satan.

12 The first of three woes is past. The worst is yet to come. The judgments increase in intensity.

9:13-15 The mention of the golden altar which is before God links the following judgment to the prayers of God’s oppressed people. The sixth trumpeter

releases four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. These four angels, perhaps demons, had been held in readiness for this exact moment to go

forth and kill a third of mankind.

9:16, 17 Following them were two hundred millions riders on horses with breastplates that were fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The horses’ heads

were like lions’, and their mouths belched fire, smoke, and sulfur (brimstone). The majority of manuscripts read one hundred million. The majority speaks of

the Alexandrian manuscripts, the NKJV and the KJV read two hundred million. Actually the KJV says two hundred thousand thousand which equal 200

million.

Contd. 9:17-19. The horses and their riders had breastplates of red, dark blue, and yellow. The lion-like heads of the horses imply something other than natural

horses. Furthermore, John declared, out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur. Some have taken this as a picture of modern warfare including the use of

armed vehicles such as tanks. Whether symbolic or literal, the passage certainly implies terrible destruction and an awesome invading force. The results are twice

stated and include the death of a third of mankind (vv. 15, 18).

9:20, 21 Although two-thirds of mankind survived these plagues, they did not repent, but continued to bow down to demons and handmade idols, lifeless and

impotent. They did not turn from murders, sorceries (drug related v. 21), sexual immorality, and thefts. Punishment and suffering cannot change a sinner’s

character; only the new birth can do that.

21 (9:20, 21) The Greek word for sorceries is pharmakia, medicine, potion, drug (English pharmacy).

e. Knowing that he has only a short time left, Satan intensifies his relentless, merciless persecution of the Jewish people and Gentile believers on earth

(Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:12; 13:15; 20:4).

Daniel:7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then

the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to

the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 13:15 He

was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of

the beast to be killed.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for

their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their

hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

5 The End of the Tribulation

a. The bowl judgments are poured out in rapid succession (Revelation 16).

Now remember to get to this point, the Antichrist has been well established, the mark of the beast is enforced by the false prophet, and the world has gone

through the seal judgments and the trumpet judgments, now we start the bowl judgments.

1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those

who worshiped his image.

3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.

4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying:

“You are righteous, O Lord,

The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

And You have given them blood to drink.

For it is their just due.”

7 And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”

8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire.

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give

Him glory.

10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of

the pain.

11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be

prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great

day of God Almighty.

15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!”

18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since

men were on the earth.

19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of

the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that

plague was exceedingly great.

1, 2 A loud voice from the temple orders the seven angels to go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. These judgments are similar to the

trumpet judgments in nature and sequence but they are greater in intensity. The first bowl causes foul and loathsome sores to break out on those who

worshiped the beast and his image.

3 The second plague turns the waters of the sea to blood, like that of a dead man, and all marine life dies.

4 The third bowl causes all water sources to become blood.

5-6 At this point, the angel of the waters defends the justice of God’s judgments. Men are only receiving the just recompense of their own sinful deeds.

They had shed blood in abundance; now they are rewarded with blood to drink instead of water. It is their just due.

7 The altar probably symbolizes the souls of martyred saints (6:9). They had waited long and patiently for their persecutors to be punished.

8-9 The fourth plague causes men to suffer severe sunburn or solar radiation. This does not, however, cause them to repent. Instead they curse God for

sending this scorching heat on them.

10-11 The fifth angel pours out his plague of darkness on the kingdom of the beast. This adds to men’s suffering because they are not able to travel for relief

from the preceding afflictions. But it does not soften their hearts. They only become more settled in their hatred of God.

12 When the sixth bowl is poured out, the water of the Euphrates dries up, permitting the armies from the east to march toward the land of Israel.

According to John’s revelation, the sixth angel poured out his bowl and dried up the river Euphrates to prepare the way for the kings from the East. There

has been endless speculation about “the kings from the East,” with many expositors trying to relate them to some contemporary leaders of their generation.

A survey of 100 commentaries of the Book of Revelation reveals at least 50 interpretations of the identity of the kings of the East.

The simplest and best explanation, however, is that this refers to kings or rulers from the Orient or East who will participate in the final world war. In the

light of the context of this passage indicating the near approach of the second coming of Christ and the contemporary world situation in which the Orient

today contains a large portion of the world’s population with tremendous military potential, any interpretation other than a literal one does not make sense.

Alford states it concisely: “This is the only understanding of these words which will suit the context, or the requirement of this series of prophecies” (Alford,

The Greek Testament, 4:700).

This is related to the great river Euphrates because this is the water boundary between the Holy Land and Asia to the east.

While the implication is that the water is dried up by an act of God, the fact is that dams have been built across the Euphrates River in this century to divert

water for irrigation so that there are times even today when there is little or no water in the Euphrates.

The Euphrates River is frequently mentioned in Scripture (e.g., Genesis 15:18; Deuteronomy 1:7; 11:24; Joshua 1:4). The drying up of this river is also

predicted in Isaiah 11:15.

16:13, 14 John sees three frog-like spirits issuing from the mouth of the dragon, … the beast and … the false prophet, Satan’s counterfeit trinity. These are

demonic spirits, performing miracles to deceive the world’s rulers, and to lure them to a climactic battle on the great day of God Almighty.

15 At the mention of that battle, the Lord interjects a special blessing on the tribulation saints, those who are watching for His return, and who have kept

themselves pure from the idolatrous worship of that day. He will come to the unsaved as a thief, unexpectedly and causing loss.

16 The armies of the world will gather at a place called in Hebrew Armageddon (NKJV margin, Megiddo). This is commonly associated with the Plain of

Esdraelon, with Megiddo on the southern rim. It is reported that Napoleon called it the cockpit of the world, that is, the ideal battlefield.

NKJV New King James Version

16:16 “Armageddon” comes from Hebrew “Har” (Mount) Megiddo.

16:17 That this is the final bowl judgment is indicated by the seventh angel’s announcement, “It is done!” The wrath of God is finished as far as the

Tribulation Period is concerned.

16:18 When the last bowl is poured out, there are violent convulsions of nature: explosions, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake of

unprecedented proportions.

16:19 The great city of Babylon, divided into three parts, drinks the cup of God’s fury. He has not forgotten her idolatry, cruelty, and religious confusion. At

this same time the cities of the nations are laid flat.

16:20 Every island and the mountains disappear as the earth reels.

16:21 One-hundred pound hailstones bombard the earth, but men blaspheme God rather than repent. Next week the Battle of Armageddon.

Megiddo is strategically located at the head of a pass through the Carmel Ridge overlooking the Jezreel Valley from the west.

26 distinct layers of civilizations have been unearthed at Megiddo.

In the Bible, King Saul, Israel's first King, led a charge against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 28:4). The battle ends with the king falling on

his own sword and Saul's sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Melchishua being killed in battle (1 Samuel 31:1-4). David, who hears about the tragedy after the

battle, curses the mountain: "Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of choice fruits; for there the shield of the

mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil" (2 Samuel 1:21).

b. The campaign of Armageddon begins (Revelation 16:16).

Ezekiel 16:13-16 (NKJV)

13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and

oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty.

14 Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord

GOD.

15 “But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it.

16 You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them. Such things should not happen, nor

be.

16:13-16 John was then given a symbolic and comprehensive view of the preparation for the final bowl of God’s wrath. He saw three evil spirits that looked

like frogs coming out of the mouths of Satan (the dragon) and the two beasts (Antichrist [13:1-10] and the false prophet [13:11-18]). We don’t have to

speculate on the identity of the three frogs, verse 14 explains that they are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs. These demons go throughout the

world influencing kings to assemble for the battle on the great day of God Almighty (“Almighty” [pantokratōr] is also used in Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17;

15:3; 16:7; 19:6, 15; 21:22).

While the meaning of this symbolic presentation is clear, there is a major problem involved in what the demons do. The coming world government in the

Great Tribulation will be established by the power of Satan (13:2). Here, however, Satan, the world ruler, and the false prophet unite in inciting the

nations of the world to gather for the final world war. Actually the war is a form of rebellion against the world ruler.

Why then should satanic forces be let loose to destroy the world empire which has just been created?

The answer seems to be in the events which follow. Satan, knowing that the second coming of Christ is near, will gather all the military might of the

world into the Holy Land to resist the coming of the Son of Man who will return to the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). Though the nations may be

deceived in entering into the war in hope of gaining world political power, the satanic purpose is to combat the armies from heaven (introduced in chapter

19) at the second coming of Christ.

The war is said to continue right up to the day of the Second Coming and involves house-to-house fighting in Jerusalem itself on the day of the Lord’s

return (Zechariah 14:1-3). The reference to “the battle” (ton polemon, Revelation 16:14) is probably better translated “the war” (NASB). Thus it is better

to speak of “the war of Armageddon” (see v. 16) rather than “the battle of Armageddon.”

The war will be going on for some time, but the climax will come at Christ’s second coming. “Armageddon” comes from the Greek Harmagedōn, which

transliterates the Hebrew words for Mount (har) of Megiddo. That mountain is near the city of Megiddo and the plain of Esdraelon, the scene of many

Old Testament battles.

Accordingly, John heard the warning coming from Christ Himself: Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him,

so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.

Christ’s return is often compared to the coming of a thief. It implies suddenness and unpreparedness as far as unbelievers are concerned. Just as Christians are

not to be surprised by the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 5:4), so believers at the time of the Second Coming will be anticipating His return. Blessing is

promised to the one who is prepared for the coming of the Lord by being attired in the righteousness or clothing which God Himself supplies.

Taken as a whole, the sixth bowl of the wrath of God is preparation for the final act of judgment before the Second Coming, and is the later stage of

development related to the river Euphrates, anticipated earlier (Revelation 9:14). The time factor between the sixth trumpet and the sixth bowl is comparatively

short.

Now, let’s go into more detail.

The battle of or the campaign of Armegeddon has more than one name in the Bible, as a matter of fact it has 7 titles.

1. The day of the Lord’s vengeance (Isaiah 34:8). 2. The winepress of God (Isaiah 63:3; Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:19-20). 3. The great and awesome day of the

Lord (Joel 2:31 NASB). 4. The harvest (Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:15-16). 5. The day…is coming burning like a furnace (Malachi 4:1). 6. The great and terrible

day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5 NASB). 7. The war of the great day of God, the Almighty (Revelation 16:14).

The Scope of the Campaign

The campaign of Armageddon will be spread out over 20,000 square miles. It will encompass the entire land of Israel from Megiddo in the north to Edom and

Bozrah in the south, spanning two hundred miles from north to south and one hundred miles from east to west. The battle will the most intense in three specific

areas. Let me ask you a question, if an F16 flies 1,500 miles per hour, how long would it take to cross Israel? The answer is 8 minutes. One of the things the

Israeli fighter pilot mentioned when we were in Israel at Jezreel Valley F16 Squadron, was that they're going so fast they have to be very careful at supersonic

speeds.

1. The Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 12). This name is probably another name for the Kidron Valley. Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions locate the

place of the final judgment for the nations in the Kidron Valley, or the Valley of Jehoshaphat. This valley runs east of Jerusalem and between the city and the

Mount of Olives. The Valley of Jehoshaphat is only mentioned by name two times in the Bible (Joel 3:2, 12). The word Jehoshaphat meant “Yahweh judges”,

so it is a fitting place for God’s judgments to be poured out. Zechariah locates the final judgment of the nations near the city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-5).

2. The plain of Esdraelon (also known as the valley of Jezreel, the valley of Taanach, and the plains of Megiddo). This plain is twenty miles long and

fourteen miles wide. The armies of the earth will gather here, allied with the antichrist, and meet their doom.

The Kidron

Valley

Or Valley of

Jehoshaphat

3. Bozrah/Edom Bozrah is a city east of the Jordan river in the ancient nation of Edom (modern nation of Jordan). It is near the rock city of Petra.

After descending to the Mount of Olives, Christ will lead his army down to Edom to rescue the hiding Jewish remnant there. When He returns from Edom,

His clothes will be stained with blood, and His sword will be drenched in blood and the land will be soaked in blood (Isaiah 34:2-7).

Why Do the Nations Gather at Armageddon?

Scripture never clearly tells us why a massive army assembles in Israel. Some believe they will gather from all over the world to challenge the Antichrist.

After all, by the end of the Tribulation, with all God’s judgments coming to fruition, the world will be in terrible shape. The nations may view the Antichrist

as the source of trouble and want to destroy him.

Others believe that the armies are gathered to finally once for all wipe out the Jewish people. This campaign energized by Satan will be his last effort to get

rid of the Jews and thwart the promises of God. Of these two options, the second one makes more sense to me because Revelation 16:13-16 indicates that

unclean spirits (demons) that gather the armies together will come from Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet.

It doesn’t make sense to me that the Antichrist would gather the armies together to destroy himself. So I think the armies gather in Israel in a final anti-

Semitic, satanic push, to once and for all rid the world of Jews. Whatever the initial reason is, though, Scripture reveals that as the armies gather together in

Israel they will see the Lord Jesus coming from heaven and galvanizing their efforts and animosity toward Him (Revelation 19:19).

7 Key Phases of Armageddon

Since Armageddon is a military campaign and not just one single battle, it will play out in several distinct phases that are outlined in chapter 7. So putting all

these pieces together in chronological order is a difficult thing to do. What we have to do is say this is as close as we can get with the information we have.

So this is a proposed chronological order of the key phases, if one turns out to be out of turn in timing, take it up with God when you get to heaven.

Phase 1 The Euphrates river dries up, preparing for the way of kings of the East (Revelation 16:12).

Phase 2 The Antichrist's allies assemble (Revelation 16:12-16). The armies assemble to annihilate the Jews once and for all.

Phase 3 The armies attack Jerusalem and it falls (Zechariah 14:1-3).

Phase 4 the second coming - Jesus returns personally to the Mt. of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).

Phase 5 Christ and the armies of the Lord destroy the armies gathered against Jerusalem in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:9-17; Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:3).

Phase 6 Christ descends on Bozrah/Edom - in modern Jordan - to destroy its inhabitants and to deliver the Jewish remnant (Isaiah 34:1-7; 63:1-5; Joel 3:19).

Earlier when the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and sets up the abomination of desolation, one third of the Jewish people will flee into the hills

and the wilderness, where they will be supernaturally protected by God for three and a half years from the ravages of the Antichrist and Satan (Revelation

12:6, 14). The scriptures seem to indicate that they will hide in the rocks of Petra in the southern part of modern day Jordan, (Micah 2:12-13; Daniel 11:41).

Phase 7 The armies at Armageddon are destroyed (Revelation 16:16; 19:19-21). At Armageddon, the Antichrist will rally the remaining troops to fight

against the Lord Jesus and His army (Revelation 19:19). The Antichrist and his armies will suffer total cataclysmic defeat at the mighty hand of our King

(Psalm 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:8). Jesus won’t have to lift a finger, the “Sword of His Word” will smite the nations (Revelation 19:15).

19:17-18. The armies of earth are no match for the armies from heaven. The sharp sword in Christ’s mouth (v. 15) is symbolic of His authoritative word of

command that destroys earth’s armies by divine power. Millions of men and their horses will be destroyed instantly. In keeping with this, John recorded that

he saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all flying birds to gather together for the great supper of God to eat the carcasses of kings,

generals, horsemen, and all people slain by Christ.

19:19-21. The beast and his armies will gather to fight against Christ and His army. The outcome of this battle - referred to in 16:14 as “the battle on the great

day of God Almighty” - is summarized in 19:19-21. The world rulers - the beast and the false prophet - will both be captured. Their former miraculous

demonic power will no longer be sufficient to save them. Both of them will be thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

The wicked who have died throughout the history of the world up to this point are in hades (Luke 16:23). The fiery lake, a different place, was prepared for

the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), and will not be occupied by human beings until later (Revelation 20:14-15).

The armies themselves will be killed by Christ’s sword (19:21; cf. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15). The number of dead will be so great that the vultures will have

more than they can eat. The defeat of the earth’s wicked will then be complete, and will be finalized as later judgments search out the unsaved in other parts

of the earth and also kill them (cf. Matthew 25:31-45).

The same inspired Word of God which so wonderfully describes the grace of God and the salvation which is available to all who believe is equally plain

about the judgment of all who reject the grace of God. The tendency of liberal interpreters of the Bible to emphasize passages dealing with the love of God

and to ignore passages dealing with His righteous judgment is completely unjustified. The passages on judgment are just as inspired and accurate as those

which develop the doctrines of grace and salvation. The Bible is clear that judgment awaits the wicked, and the Second Coming of Christ is the occasion for

a worldwide judgment unparalleled in Scripture since the time of Noah’s flood. So this ends the campaign of Armageddon. There will be no more war on

earth for 1,000 years.

The Fall of Babylon The Great

Revelation 16 completes the pouring out of the seven bowls of wrath and reaches to the campaign of Armageddon. The end is in sight. But before

Armageddon is fully described and the Second Coming of Christ is unveiled in in Revelation 19, there is a sudden pause or interlude in the main action. Before

Christ returns, one final event must be addressed - the end of Babylon the Great.

In Revelation one out of every ten verses concerns Babylon. Two entire chapters in Revelation 17-18 are devoted to this city and its destruction. Obviously, it

holds a key place in the mind of God and in His final plan for the ages. Babylon the earthly city, is presented in Revelation 19:18 (or 18-19) as a disgusting,

vile prostitute. In sharp contrast the new Jerusalem, the heavenly city, is pictured as the virtuous bride of Christ in Revelation 21-22.

The practical implication of these chapters is clear: God’s people are to live for heaven, not for earth. However, while the message is clear, the identification of

Babylon is more difficult.

There has been a great deal of speculation about the identity of Babylon. This great prostitute of the last days has been identified with the Roman Catholic

church and the Vatican, apostate Christendom, the Americas, New York City, Rome, or some unknown great metropolis that will emerge in the end times. But

if it has to emerge, it better get going and fast.

I will offer seven clues from the book of Revelation to help identify the end times city.

Babylon as a literal city (Revelation 17-18); Babylon is a city of worldwide importance, probably the capital city of the Antichrist Revelation (Revelation

17:15-18. Let’s stop and read those verses).

Babylon and the beast (the Antichrist) are very closely connected with one another. The woman (Babylon) is pictured riding on the Beast the Antichrist.

(Revelation 17:3-5,7 READ).

Babylon is the center of false religion (Revelation 17:4-5; 18:1-2).

Babylon is the center of world commerce (Revelation 18:9-19).

Babylon persecutes the Lord’s people (Revelation 17:6; 18:20, 24).

Babylon will be destroyed suddenly and completely at the end of the Tribulation, never to rise again (Revelation 18:8-10, 21, 24).

Babylon the Harlot represents the one-world religious system that rules over the religious affairs during the first half of the Tribulation. She rules over the

nations of the world (the many waters) fully controlling religious affairs and has the reluctant support of the government. The headquarters of this one world

religion or either a brand new Babylon rebuilt again after Sadam Hussein tried it, or it is Rome, that sits on seven hills and has been the Great Harlot biblically

since John’s time, since the Bible was written. The revived Roman empire in Daniel 7:7.

c. Commercial Babylon is destroyed

1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every

foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!

3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the

merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

18:1-3. Further revelation on the destruction of Babylon was made by another angel coming down from heaven. This contrasts with “one of the seven

angels” mentioned in 17:1 and should not be confused with angelic representations of Christ. Angels do have great authority and often make

pronouncements in the Book of Revelation. The power and glory of this angel was such that the earth was illuminated by his splendor (18:1).

The angel’s message is summarized: Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! The question has been raised as to whether or not this is another view of the same

destruction mentioned in 17:16-17. A comparison of chapters 17 and 18 reveals that these are different events. The woman in chapter 17 was associated with

the political power but was not the political power itself, and her destruction apparently brought no mourning from the earth.

By contrast, the destruction of Babylon in chapter 18 brings loud lamentation from the earth’s political and economic powers. Instead of being destroyed and

consumed by the ten kings, here the destruction seems to come from an earthquake, and it is probable that this is an enlarged explanation of what was

described in 16:19-21.

What is pictured here is a large prosperous city, the center of political and economic life. The judgment of God makes it a home for demons and a haunt for

every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. This false religion is like

a drug that drives men to madness. While it brought riches to merchants, it is now doomed for destruction.

Revelation 18:4-8 (NKJV)

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

6 Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.

7 In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as

queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’

8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day - death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who

judges her.

18:4-8. Following the pronouncement of the angel, another voice from heaven instructed the people of God to leave the city so that they would escape the

judgment to come on it (vv. 4–5). Babylon will receive torture and grief commensurate with her glory and luxury, in which she boasted that she was a queen

(v. 7). Death, mourning, and famine, also fire, will come on the city in one day (v. 8).

Revelation 18:9-12 (NKJV)

9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her

burning,

10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:

12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of

ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;

Revelation 18:13-20 (NKJV).

13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls

of men.

14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no

more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a

distance

18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’

19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea

became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’

20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

18:9-20. When kings who were involved with the city see its destruction they will be grieved, and will cry, Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power!

(v. 10) Merchants too will bemoan the city’s downfall since they will no longer be able to carry on commerce with the city. The description in verses 12-13

indicates the great luxury and wealth of the city. This obviously refers to an economic and political situation rather than a religious one. The mourning of the

merchants is similar to that of the kings: Woe! Woe, O great city …! (v. 16)

Sea captains … sailors, and others in navigational occupations will lament in similar fashion: Woe! Woe, O great city …! (v. 19). All three groups - kings,

merchants, and sailors - speak of her destruction as sudden: in one hour (vv. 10, 17, 19). As the world mourns the destruction of Babylon, the saints are told to

rejoice because God has judged her for the way she treated you (v. 20).

Revelation 18:21-24 (NKJV)

21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown

down, and shall not be found anymore.

22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and

the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore.

23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were

the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”

18:21-24. The final and violent destruction of the city is compared to throwing a large millstone … into the sea (v. 21). The lament follows that those who once

characterized the city - harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, and workmen of any trade (v. 22) - will not be seen in the city again. Nor will there

be light and the joy of weddings (v. 23). The reason for her judgment is that by her magic spell (pharmakeia; cf. 9:21) all the nations were led astray from God

(18:23; cf. 17:2), and she was guilty of murdering prophets and … saints (18:24; cf. 17:6).

The question remains as to what city is in view here. A common view is that it refers to the city of Rome, because of the prominence of Rome as the seat of the

Roman Catholic Church and the capital of the ancient Roman Empire. Some find confirmation of this in the fact that the kings and sea merchants will be able

to see the smoke of the burning of the city (18:9, 18).

Other evidence seems to point to the fact that it is Babylon itself, located on the Euphrates River, which in the end time will be converted into a ship-bearing

river. When all the evidence is studied, the conclusion seems to point to Babylon being rebuilt as the capital of the world empire in the end time rather than to

Rome in Italy. Bible expositors, however, continue to be divided on this question.

The events of chapter 17 will be fulfilled at the midpoint of the seven years, whereas the events of chapter 18 will occur at the end of the seven years,

immediately before the second coming of Christ. The destruction of the city of Babylon is the final blow to the times of the Gentiles, which began when the

Babylonian army attacked Jerusalem in 605 B.C. (cf. Luke 21:24).

With chapters 17 and 18 giving additional insight and information concerning the earth’s major religious and political movements during that final seven years,

the stage is now set for the climax of the Book of Revelation - the second coming of Christ (Chapter 19).

d. The two witnesses are killed by Antichrist and are resurrected by God three and a half days later (Revelation 11:7-12).

During the Great Tribulation, and that would most probably be in the second half’s 3 ½ year period, Satan will use two men - the Antichrist and the false

prophet to carry out his evil agenda. At the same time God will raise up two bright lights to shine for Him in the darkness. These lights are two men, called

the two witnesses, and Revelation 11:3-14 describes their ministry. God will anoint these two special witnesses who will minister on His behalf amid the

darkness and devastation. Just like John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah, these two witnesses will pave the way for His return. So, what do we

know about these two witnesses? Who are they? What will they do? When will they serve? What will happen to them?

Some say this language is symbolic, however scripture clearly identifies the two witnesses as individual people. They are described as wearing sackcloth, just

like John the Baptist, sackcloth signifies mourning and repentance. Some of the things they will do: They perform miracles, They prophesy for God for 1,260

days, which is 3 ½ years. (Please remember the prophecies in the Bible are based on the Babylonian calendar which was a 360 day year, so 3 1/2 years would

be 1,260 days). They die and their bodies lie in the streets for 3 ½ days. They are raised back to life. They ascend to heaven.

Revelation 11:4 offers further evidence that the witnesses are real people. There they are called “the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand

before the Lord of all the earth.” This imagery alludes to the Old Testament prophet Zechariah, who mentioned two great witnesses in his day - Joshua the

(high priest), and Zerubbabel (the civic leader). Two men whom the Lord used to restore the people who returned from Babylonian captivity.

John Walvoord says this about the comparison of the two witnesses to olive trees and lampstands in Revelation 11:4.

This seems to be a reference to Zechariah 4, where a lampstand and two olive trees are mentioned. The olive oil from the olive trees in Zechariah’s image

provided fuel for the two lampstands. The analogy here is that the two witnesses of this period in Israel’s history, namely Joshua the high priest and

Zerubbabel, were the leaders of Israel in Zechariah’s time. Just as the two witnesses were raised up to be lampstands or witnesses for God and were

empowered by olive oil representing the power of the Holy Spirit, so the witnesses of Revelation 11 will likewise execute their prophetic office. Their

ministry has nothing to do with human power, but is controlled and orchestrated by God, the Holy Spirit.

Let’s take a moment to read Zechariah 4:1-6 from the Bible.

Have these two witnesses ever lived before?

Having concluded that the two witnesses are real people, the next question is, are they people who have lived before? Many scholars believe that the two

witnesses will be two men God will raise up in the end times as His special witnesses, not two men that lived before. But most of the conservative

traditional pastors, teachers, theologians believe, as did the early Christians such as Tertullian, Irenaeus, and Hippolytus that Enoch and Elijah will reappear

during the Tribulation and will be the two witnesses. Others believe one of them will be Moses, along with either Enoch or Elijah.

Let’s make a case for Enoch: There are two main reasons for Enoch being one of the two witnesses: Enoch never died. Second, Enoch was a prophet of

judgment who announced the coming of the Lord in the days before the flood (Jude verses 14-15).

Moses: Three main points favor Moses as one of the two witnesses. First, like Moses, the witnesses will turn the rivers to blood and bring other plagues on

the earth (Revelation 11:6). Second, Moses appeared with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration, which of course foreshadowed the glory of Christ at His

Second Coming (Matthew 17:1-11). Third, Moses was a prophet.

Elijah: Five main reasons are given for Elijah as being one of the two witnesses. Like Enoch, Elijah never died; he was taken up in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1-

12). Second, like Moses he was present at the Transfiguration. Third, the scripture predicts that Elijah will come before “the great and dreadful day of the

Lord” (Malachi 4:5). Fourth, God used him to prevent rain from falling for 3 ½ years just like the two witnesses. And fifth, like the two witnesses, Elijah was a

prophet.

Conclusions: We, of course, cannot be certain, but I think that the two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah.

I believe these two men are the witnesses for two main reasons:

First, both are mentioned in tandem in the final chapter of the O.T. (Malachi 4:4-5). Second, they appear together with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration,

which previewed the Second Coming of Christ (Matthew 16:27-17:5; 2 Peter 1:16-18.

So, because the two witnesses appear in close connection with the coming of Christ, I believe it is very likely that the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah.

They will come upon the world dressed in sackcloth, the garments of mourning and repentance, and will proclaim God’s message of salvation and judgment on

this sin-wracked world of the Tribulation. We will know that the end is very near. The two witnesses will be given incredible power by God (Revelation 11:3,

6).

From reading Revelation 11:6, it is possible that these two are the ones that God uses to call forth the first six trumpet judgments in Revelation 8-9, but at the very

least they would be working in conjunction with the judgments, creating in addition to all of the plagues, their own destruction.

Revelation 11:3-14 (NKJV)

3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this

manner.

6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the

earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into

graves.

10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who

dwell on the earth.

11 Now after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid

and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

11:3 God will raise up two witnesses during the Tribulation, which half is argued quite well. Clothed in sackcloth, a symbol of mourning, they will cry out

against the sins of the people and announce God’s coming indignation.

11:4 The two witnesses are compared to two olive trees and two lamp stands. As olive trees they are filled with the Spirit (oil). As lampstands they bear

testimony to the truth of God in a day of darkness. (For an OT parallel see Zechariah 4:2-14).

5 For three and on-half years, the witnesses are miraculously preserved from harm. Fire proceeding from their mouth consumes their foes, and even the

effort to harm them is punished by death.

6 They have power to bring drought on the earth, to turn the waters to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues. It is not surprising that they have

been commonly associated with Moses and Elijah. Their power to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with all plagues reminds us of what Moses

did in Egypt (Exodus 7:14-20; 8:1-12:29). Their power over fire and weather reminds us of Elijah’s ministry (1 Kings 17:1; 18:41-45; 2 Kings 1:9-12).

Which Half of the Tribulation?

You need to know there are compelling arguments for each side.

Of the commentators I read and trust here is the breakdown.

First half of Tribulation: Ron Rhodes, Vernon McGee, Warren Wiersbe, Tim LaHaye, and Thomas Ice.

Those that believe in the second half are: John Walvoord, John MacArthur, Mark Hitchcock, William McDonald, and Pastor Chuck. Most literal interpreters

opt for the second half of the Tribulation.

John Walvoord: Some believe that the 42 months refer to the first half of Daniel’s 70th week (Daniel 9:27). While it is not clear, the evidence surrounding

this passage in Revelation seems to refer to the final three and one-half years. This also seems to be confirmed by the fact that in the first half of the last

seven years the Jews will actually possess the city of Jerusalem and worship in their temple, whereas here the context indicates that this is the period when

Gentiles will tread down the Holy City, implying ill treatment of the Jews and desecration of the temple.

Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast from the bottomless pit will kill them. This beast seems to be the same as the one in 13:8 - the

head of the revived Roman Empire.

8 The dead bodies of the witnesses lie in the street of Jerusalem for three and one-half days. Jerusalem is here called Sodom because of its pride,

indulgence, prosperous ease, and indifference to the needs of others (see Ezekiel 16:49). And it is called Egypt because of its idolatry, persecution, and

enslavement to sin and unrighteousness.

9 People from all nations view their dead bodies but do not allow them to be buried, a tremendous indignity in almost all cultures.

10 Great rejoicing breaks out because their unpopular prophecies have been silenced, and people exchange gifts, much as they do today at Christmas

time. The only prophets people love are dead ones.

11, 12 After the three and a half days, … God raises them from the dead, much to the consternation of the populace, and takes them to heaven as

their enemies watch.

13, 14 At the same time, Jerusalem is shaken by a great earthquake, one tenth of the city falls, and seven thousand people are killed. The survivors give

glory to God, not genuine worship, but a grudging admission of His power. The second woe is past.

This does not mean that everything from 9:13 to 11:13 comprises the second woe. On the contrary, chapter 10 and 11:1-13 are a parenthesis between the

second woe (sixth trumpet) and the third woe (seventh trumpet).

Conclusion: So when is this going to take place? The Bible clearly states that 1260 days or 3 ½ years, which clearly means half of the Tribulation, correct?

But the Bible doesn’t specifically tell us which half. So here's my case.

As I alluded to earlier, there are actually arguments in favor of each position. But I, along with most of the teachers, and theologians I subscribe to believe

that it will happen in the second, or what is referred to as the Great Tribulation.

First, the context of Revelation 11:2-3 strongly favors the second half. Revelation 11:2 says: But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not

measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

The two witnesses are introduced in the next verse. The context in Revelation 11:2-3 indicates the two witnesses will minister during the same 42 month period,

which = 1260 days, or 3 ½ years-that the temple is being trampled by the nations and is dominated by the worship of the Antichrist. This corresponds to the

second, or latter half of the great tribulation when the Antichrist will control Jerusalem.

There are two schools of thought on when the two witnesses appear, and there are good arguments for both positions. The commentators that I most respect and

use are split down the middle. First half of the Tribulation are: Ron Rhodes, Vernon J McGee, Tim LaHaye, and Thomas Ice, those that favor the second half

are: John MacArthur, Mark Hitchcock, William McDonald, and Pastor Chuck. So maybe you should write in the margins of your Bibles, that we can dial it in

to the 7 year Tribulation, but it’s difficult to say which half.

e. Christ returns to the Mount of Olives and slays the armies gathered against Him throughout the land, from Megiddo to Petra (Revelation 19:11-16;

Isaiah 34:1-6; 63:1-5).

Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes

war.

12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads

the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

19:11 Finally we reach the event to which the rest of the book has been looking forward to, the glorious coming of Christ to earth in order to put down His

enemies and set up His kingdom. Remember, this is not the Rapture of the church; there Christ comes to the air for His saints. Here He comes to the earth with

His saints.

Notice the description of our Lord. He is sitting on a white horse; here obviously it is a war horse since He is coming to conquer His enemies. His name is

Faithful and True. He is faithful to His promises and true to His own character. In righteousness He judges and makes war.

He can only rule over a kingdom where the people are willing to live under a reign of righteousness. Therefore He must first remove all things that offend.

19:12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, suggesting the penetrating power of His judgment. He can detect all rebellion and unbelief. On His head are many

diadems. Others may wear the crown of victory, but only the Lord Jesus is spoken of as wearing the diadem of royalty. He has a name inscribed which no

one knows except Himself. There are mysteries connected with the Person of Christ that no created being will ever be able to comprehend.

19:13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, not the blood He shed on Calvary’s cross, but the blood of His enemies whom He tramples in the

winepress of the wrath of God. He is called by the name, “The Word of God.” A word is a means of expressing thought. In Christ, God has fully expressed

Himself to man.

19:14 He is accompanied by the armies of heaven, which are clothed in fine linen and riding on white horses. These armies are no doubt made up of the

saints, but it is noteworthy that they are not required to fight. The Lord Jesus defeats His foes unaided.

19:15 From His mouth issues a sharp sword with which He strikes the nations. He comes to rule them with a rod of iron and to tread the winepress of the

fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

19:16 On His robe and on His thigh is written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Our Jesus is the Supreme Ruler; all others must submit to His

reign.

Isaiah 34:1-6 (NKJV)

1 Come near, you nations, to hear; And heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, The world and all things that come forth from it.

2 For the indignation of the LORD is against all nations, And His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to

the slaughter.

3 Also their slain shall be thrown out; Their stench shall rise from their corpses, And the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

4 All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine,

And as fruit falling from a fig tree.

5 “For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; Indeed it shall come down on Edom, And on the people of My curse, for judgment.

6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, It is made overflowing with fatness, With the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of

rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

34:1-4 In Isaiah chapter 34 we have God’s indignation against all nations in general, and against Edom in particular. The latter may be representative of

all the other nations. When Jehovah judges the Gentiles (nations) the air will reek from the decomposing corpses, and the mountains will melt away from the

torrent of their blood. Even the stellar heavens will be convulsed.

34:5-6 The sword of the Lord, “intoxicated with blood,” will fall in fury on Edom, this will happen to both on the common people (lambs, goats, rams) and on

the nobles or leaders (wild oxen, young bulls, mighty bulls).

Isaiah 63:1-5 (NKJV)

1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His

strength? - “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”

2 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?

3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury;

Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes.

4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come.

5 I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My

own fury, it sustained Me.

The Day of Vengeance (63:1-5)

When the Lord returns to set up His kingdom, He must first destroy His enemies. That destruction takes place at different times and in different places. One

stage occurs in the Valley of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), another in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:12), and still another in Edom. The latter is what

we have here in chapter 63.

The Messiah is marching up from Bozrah, a metropolis of Edom, in glorious garments that are red with the blood of Israel’s foes. When asked why His

apparel is red, He uses the figure of a winepress to describe His trampling of His enemies. The time had come for Him to wreak vengeance on them and to

redeem His people. In the absence of any merely human deliverer, He stepped in and won the victory.

f. The birds gather together to feed on the carnage (Revelation 19:17-18).

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather

together for the supper of the great God,

18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all

people, free and slave, both small and great.”

19:17-18 The armies of earth are no match for the armies from heaven. The sharp sword in Christ’s mouth (v. 15) is symbolic of His authoritative word

of command that destroys earth’s armies by divine power. Millions of men and their horses will be destroyed instantly. In keeping with this, John recorded

that he saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all flying birds to gather together for the great supper of God to eat the carcasses of

kings, generals, horsemen, and all people slain by Christ.

After the Tribulation

1. Interval or transition period of seventy five days (Daniel 12:12).

12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

Blessing is pronounced on one who waits for and lives to see the end of the 1,335 days. This is an additional 45 days beyond the 1,290 days (v. 11). Forty-

five days after the end of the Tribulation Israel’s long-awaited blessings will be realized. Books about the End Times frequently overlook the interval of

time between the second coming and the official inauguration of the millennial kingdom. Daniel 12:11-12 present this interlude. The tribulation for Israel

will last 1260 days, which is 3 ½ years (Daniel. 12:7). Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of

desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

And the blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of 1335 days.

So there are three time periods clearly delineated: 1260 days, 1290 days, and 1335 days.

So what are we to make of these time periods? The 1260 isn’t difficult, it is in Daniel and Revelation, it’s the final 3 ½ of the tribulation. The 1290 days is 30

days beyond the end of the Tribulation, and the 1335 days is another 40 days beyond that. These time periods will describe an interval of time between the

end of the Tribulation and Christ’s second coming, and the beginning of the Millennium.

So, while we can’t be certain about everything that will transpire during this time, it is safe to say that during this time period Christ will remove the

abomination of desolation, cast the antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20), throw Satan into the abyss (Revelation 20:1-3),

judge those living on the earth (Matthew 25:31-46), resurrect and reward Old Testament saints (Daniel 12:1-3), and assign responsibilities for the

administration of His kingdom. During this interval the celebration of the marriage supper will begin on the earth (Revelation 19:7-10). Maybe the

construction of the millennial temple will start as well, (Ezekiel 40-48). The fact that those that have made it to day 1,335 have come through the judgments

and are allowed to enter the kingdom.

a. The Antichrist and the False Prophet are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20-21).

20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of

the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

19:19, 20 In a desperate attempt to prevent Christ from taking the reins of government (Ps. 2), the beast allies with the armies of the world to make

war against the Lord and against His army.

But it is a futile attempt. Both the beast and the false prophet are captured and hurled alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

19:21 The rest of the rebels are killed with the sword of the Lord, their bodies providing ample carrion for the vultures. The sword is an allusion to the

word of God (see Ephesians 6:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; 2:12, 16).

This brings us to the end of the Great Tribulation.

b. The abomination of desolation is removed from the temple (Daniel 12:11).

11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and

ninety days.”

c. Israel is regathered (Matthew 24:31).

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven

to the other.

He will then send His angels forth to regather His elect from the four winds, which relates to the earth (cf. Mark 13:27), from one end of the heavens to the

other. This involves the gathering of those who will have become believers during the seventieth week of Daniel and who will have been scattered into

various parts of the world because of persecution (cf. Matthew 24:16). This gathering will probably also involve all Old Testament saints, whose

resurrection will occur at this time, so that they may share in Messiah’s kingdom (Daniel 12:2-3, 13).

d. Israel is judged (Ezekiel 20:30-39; Matthew 25:1-30).

Ezekiel 20:30-39 (NKJV)

30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry

according to their abominations?

31 For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be

inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.

32 What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’

33 “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you.

34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and

with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face.

36 Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord GOD.

37 “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

38 I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not

enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord GOD: “Go, serve every one of you his idols - and hereafter - if you will not obey Me; but profane My

holy name no more with your gifts and your idols.

Matthew 25:1-30 (NKJV)

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’

12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five

more talents besides them.’

21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into

the joy of your lord.’

22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’

23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter

into the joy of your lord.’

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering

where you have not scattered seed.

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not

scattered seed.

27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The wise and foolish virgins (25:1-13).

While the full revelation of the church and Christ as the Bridegroom was not made until later, the disciples did know that Christ’s relationship to His own

was that of a bridegroom. (See Matthew 9:15 and John 3:29.) In Matthew 25:1 we have separation (they were virgins); illumination or testimony (they

had lamps, Philippians 2:15-16); and expectation, as they went forth to meet the bridegroom. Is this not a picture of what the church ought to be doing

today?

However, within the group there were those who were not prepared, just as in “the church” (Christendom) today. Of course, all believers are in the true

church and are ready for heaven. However, in the professing church, as we see it, there are many who appear to be Christians but have never been born

again. As in Matthew 13, they are the tares among the wheat.

It has been nearly 2,000 years since Christ promised to return, and during that time, the church has gone to sleep. In the last century, Christians have

awakened to the great truth of Christ’s return, and the cry has gone out, “Behold, the Bridegroom is coming” (v. 6, NKJV).

It’s not necessary to make each detail of this parable mean something. The oil may speak of the Holy Spirit, whom every true believer has within (Romans

8:9). Christ’s main lesson in this parable is: stay awake and be ready! When He returns, we will be surprised to find some whom we thought were true

Christians not ready at all.

The profitable and unprofitable servants (vv. 14-30).

The first parable spoke of service within the household; this parable deals with service in the world. “Talents” are different from “abilities,” for in v. 15, he

gave to every man “according to his own ability” (NKJV). The talents represent opportunities to use our abilities to serve Christ. We are born with various

abilities, but Christ gives us opportunities to exercise our abilities. The important thing is to be faithful (see 1 Corinthians 4:2).

The first two servants were both faithful and doubled their talents, so they both received the very same reward (vv. 21, 23). The Christian who is faithful in

his or her sphere of service, though it be small, will get the same reward as the person who seems to have a great ministry. It is doubtful whether the third

servant can be called a Christian. He called the Lord “a hard man” and said that he was “afraid” (vv. 24–25).

Actually, he refused the reward by not using the opportunity Christ gave him. In v. 26, Christ repeats the servant’s unjust accusation (but does not say it is

true), and says, “Therefore, if these things are true, you should have worked even harder to please me!” The principle is given in v. 29 - to whom much is

given, much shall be required. If we fail to use what He gives us, we will lose it to another.

e. The Sheep and Goat Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46, Joel 3:2)

Matthew 25:31-33 (NKJV)

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the

world:

35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;

43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister

to You?’

45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

25:31 This section describes the Judgment of the Nations, which is to be distinguished from the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Judgment of the Great

White Throne.

Facts: The Judgment Seat or Bema Seat of Christ, a time of review and reward for believers only, takes place after the Rapture (Romans 14:10; 1

Corinthians 3:11–15; 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10). The Judgment of the Great White Throne takes place in eternity, after the Millennium. The wicked dead will be

judged and consigned to the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11–15).

The Judgment of the Nations, or Gentiles (the Greek word can mean either), takes place on earth after Christ comes to reign, as verse 31 clearly states:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him.”

Fast Facts: Judgment of the Nations (or Gentiles)

Time: At the Second Coming of Christ. Place: Valley of Jehoshaphat. Judge: Christ. Subjects Judged: Gentiles living when Christ comes. Basis:

Treatment of Christ’s “brothers”, i.e. Israel. Result: Saved to enter kingdom, or cast into the Lake of Fire.

The location is the Valley of Jehoshaphat, outside Jerusalem (3:2). The nations will be judged according to their treatment of Christ’s Jewish brethren during

the Tribulation (Joel 3:1, 2, 12-14; Matthew 25:31-46).

25:32 It is important to notice that three classes are mentioned - sheep, goats, and Christ’s brethren. The first two classes, over whom Christ sits in judgment,

are Gentiles living during the Tribulation. The third class is Christ’s faithful Jewish brethren who refuse to deny His Name during the Tribulation in spite of

towering persecution.

25:33-40 The King places the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. He then invites the sheep to enter His glorious kingdom, prepared for them

from the foundation of the world. The reason given is that they fed Him when hungry, gave Him drink when thirsty, welcomed Him when a stranger, clothed

Him when ill-clad, visited Him in sickness, and went to Him in prison.

25:46 So the goats go away into everlasting punishment, but the sheep into eternal life. It is not unreasonable to believe that nations will continue to

experience divine retribution. This does not mean that every single individual in the nation will be involved in the outcome, but that the principles of divine

justice will be applied on a national, as well as an individual basis.

The word ethnē, translated “nations” in this passage, can equally well be translated “Gentiles.” Some believe the passage describes the judgment of individual

Gentiles, whether nations or individuals. Perhaps it is best to think of representatives of the nations or individual classes assembled for judgment.

Three other points should be mentioned. First, the kingdom is said to have been prepared for the righteous from the foundation of the world (v. 34), whereas

hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (v. 41). God’s desire is that men should be blessed; hell was not originally intended for the human race. But if

people willfully refuse life, they necessarily choose death.

The second point is that the Lord Jesus spoke of eternal (same word as “everlasting”) fire (v. 41), eternal punishment (v. 46), and eternal life (v. 46). The

same One who taught eternal life taught eternal punishment. Since the same word for eternal is used to describe each, it is inconsistent to accept one without

the other. If the word translated eternal does not mean everlasting, there is no word in the Greek language to convey the meaning. But we know that it does

mean everlasting because it is used to describe the eternality of God (1 Timothy 1:17).

Finally, the judgment of the Gentiles reminds us forcefully that Christ and His people are one; what affects them affects Him. We have vast potential for

showing kindness to Him by showing kindness to those who love Him.

Joel 3:2

I will also gather all nations,

And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage

Israel.

Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.

f. Satan is bound in the abyss Revelation 20:1-3 (NKJV)

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years

were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

20:1 Before the Millennium begins, Satan must be restrained. To accomplish this, an angel comes down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a huge

chain in his hand.

In one sense, our Lord bound Satan when He came to earth (Matthew 12:29). So this is another stage in His binding.

20:2 The angel seized Satan and bound him for a thousand years. John lists four names of the tempter: dragon, serpent, Devil (accuser), and Satan

(adversary).

20:3 During the Millennium, the archenemy is confined to the bottomless pit. The abyss is sealed so that he cannot go forth to deceive the nations. Toward

the end of Christ’s reign, he will be released for his last brief rebellion (vv. 7-10).

g. Old Testament and Tribulation saints are resurrected (Daniel 12:1-3; Isaiah 26:19; Revelation 20:4).

Daniel 12:1-3 (NKJV)

1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as

never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

12:1-3 The opening words of verse 1 establish the timeframe for the text that follows: “Now at that time...” These words force us back to the previous

context for the temporal setting, which 11:40 stated was the “end time” and verse 40-45 revealed was the time of the seventeenth week, or the Tribulation

period. That at the end time is in view here is also confirmed in verses 12 and 13, which mention the resurrections of the righteous at the second advent or

coming (Revelation 20:4) and the wicked at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:5). The dire conditions predicted in Israel during the great

Tribulation, that’s the second half, explain why Gabriel’s fellow archangel, Michael, will arise at that time on behalf of “the sons of your people.”

Apparently the magnitude of the “time of Distress” was so great and fearful, that Gabriel had to include a word of assurance about the fate of those Jews

who would perish during the tribulation.

This word of assurance is the promise which here is described as a dead (and disintegrated in to “dust”) body, (not soul) awakening from sleep (verse 2).

Jesus affirmed the resurrection in a dialogue with some Jewish religious leaders known as Sadducees in (Matthew 22:29-32; John 5:28-29). Daniel 12:2 is

one of the most significant OT texts on the resurrection and is enlarged upon in Revelation Chapter 20. According to this chapter, the righteous who died

before the church age and during the tribulation will be resurrected at the beginning of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4), but the wicked dead will

not experience resurrection until the conclusion of the Millennium verse 5). The former will share in the blessing of the kingdom (verse 40), while the latter,

the unsaved, will face the great white throne and the lake of fire. (The Church Age is the period of time from Pentecost (Acts 2) to the Rapture (foretold in 1

Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Isaiah 26:19 Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew

of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead.

Isaiah 26:19 This is a prediction of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those born before Jesus’ time did not enter heaven but went into Abraham’s

bosom (paradise) (Luke 16:22-31), and when Jesus died, He descended there to set them free, and when He ascended on high He led the captives free from

captivity, by dying for their sins, death no longer had a hold on them. (Matthew 12:40, 27:52-53; Acts 2:24-35). When we are resurrected, our bodies will be

changed - fitted out for heaven.

2. One Thousand Year Reign of Christ on Earth (Revelation 20:4-6 (NKJV))

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to

Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived

and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

A distinction should be made between what John saw and what he received as revelation. Though he could see the souls, he was informed that they had been

beheaded because they had refused to worship the beast or his image and would not receive his mark.

If the church was raptured prior to this event, as pre-millenials teach, it would make sense to single out these martyred dead for resurrection. But if the church

was not raptured, it would be most unusual to ignore all the martyrs of preceding generations, the church as a whole, and to specify this relatively small group.

In Revelation 20:4-6 John sees the resurrection of the tribulation saints. We know from Daniel 12:2 that the OT saints will also be raised at that time. Church

age believers will already have been resurrected at the rapture of the church before the seven-year tribulation (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The saints of the ages will then be able to join one another in the long awaited kingdom. Can you imagine when we can recline at a table with Abraham, Isaac,

and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:11)!

In contrast to the condemnation of Satan and his followers, believers who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the Word

of God (20:4) get to spend their eternity with Jesus, starting with the 1,000 year kingdom.

Some people try to argue that there is a single resurrection that will occur only at the end of history. They usually quote John 58:28-29: “Do not marvel at

this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life,

those who committed evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” While this passage is a statement about the facts of the resurrection in general, it does not

contradict other passages that provide greater detail concerning the different resurrections. Revelation 22:5 calls the resurrection of the tribulation saints

“the first resurrection,” by the way, is a qualitative distinction, rather than indicating a mere chronological sequence.

There are multiple first resurrections : Christ’s resurrection after His death;, the Rapture of the church, the resurrection of the tribulation saints, and Old

testament believers after the second coming, and presumably the resurrection of mortal believers at the end of the millennium. Yet there will be only one

“second resurrection” of all unbelievers who are collected in Sheol or Hades throughout history to be judged at the end of history (20:5). So there will be

multiple resurrection events throughout history; and we can be certain that every human being will be raised from the dead at some point in order to be

made fit for eternity - whether to dwell in the new Jerusalem or the Lake of Fire.

3. Satan’s final revolt and defeat (Revelation 20:7-10)

Revelation 20:7-10 (NKJV)

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison

8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as

the sand of the sea.

9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and

devoured them.

10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day

and night forever and ever.

Apart from frequent mention of the thousand years, no details are given concerning the reign of Christ on earth except that it is a time of great blessing. Many

Old Testament passages supply additional information about the Millennium. The main point of the revelation here is that the Millennium follows the Second

Coming.

20:7-8. John was told what would happen at the conclusion of the thousand years. Satan will be released from the abyss, his prison, and will make a final

attempt to induce nations - called Gog and Magog - to come and battle with him against Christ. Satan’s release will produce a worldwide rebellion against the

millennial reign of Christ. The armies will be so vast in numbers that they are said to be like the sand on the seashore.

Who are these who will follow Satan? Those who survive the Tribulation will enter the Millennium in their natural bodies, and they will bear children and

repopulate the earth (Isaiah 65:18-25). Under ideal circumstances in which all know about Jesus Christ (cf. Jeremiah 31:33-34), many will outwardly profess

faith in Christ without actually placing faith in Him for salvation. The shallowness of their professions will become apparent when Satan is released. The

multitudes who follow Satan are evidently those who have never been born again in the millennial kingdom.

The question has been raised as to whether this war is the same one discussed in Ezekiel 38-39, where Gog and Magog are also mentioned (Ezekiel 38:2).

These are two different battles, for in the war of Ezekiel 38-39 the armies come primarily from the north and involve only a few nations of the earth. But the

battle in Revelation 20:7-9 will involve all nations, so armies will come from all directions.

Furthermore, nothing in the context of Ezekiel 38-39 is similar to the battle in Revelation, as there is no mention of Satan or of millennial conditions. In

Revelation 20:7 the context clearly places the battle at the end of the Millennium, whereas the Ezekiel battle takes place in connection with end-time events.

Why then is the expression “Gog and Magog” used by John? The Scriptures do not explain the expression.

In fact it can be dropped out of the sentence without changing the meaning. In Ezekiel 38 Gog was the ruler and Magog was the people, and both were in

rebellion against God and were enemies of Israel. It may be that the terms have taken on a symbolic meaning much as one speaks of a person’s “Waterloo,”

which historically refers to the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, Belgium, but has come to represent any great disaster. Certainly the armies here come in the

same spirit of antagonism against God that is found in Ezekiel 38.

20:9 The armies will surround the camp of God’s people, the city He loves. This could mean only Jerusalem, which will be the capital of the world

government of Christ throughout the millennial kingdom (cf. Isaiah 2:1-5). The result is immediate judgment. Fire will come down from heaven and devour

them.

In contrast with Ezekiel 38, there is no mention of earthquake, hail, or other disasters. The only similarity is that in both cases there is fire from heaven, a

frequent method of divine judgment on the earth (cf. Genesis 19:24; Exodus 9:23–24; Leviticus 9:24; 10:2; Numbers 11:1; 16:35; 26:10; 1 Kings 18:38; 2

Kings 1:10, 12, 14; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1, 3; Psalm 11:6; etc.).

20:10 After Satan’s followers will be destroyed, he will be thrown into the lake of burning sulfur. Being cast into the lake that was prepared for him and his

angels is the final judgment on Satan (cf. Matthew 25:41).

Most significant as a support of the doctrine of eternal punishment is the concluding statement, They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. The

word “they” includes the devil, the beast, and the false prophet. The lake of burning sulfur is not annihilation, for the beast and false prophet are still there a

thousand years after they experienced their final judgment (Revelation 19:20).

4. The Great White Throne Judgment of the Lost (Revelation 20:11-15)

Revelation 20:11-15 (NKJV)

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the

dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his

works.

14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

20:11 Next we are introduced to the great white throne judgment. It is great because of the issues involved and white because of the perfection and purity of the

decisions handed down. The Lord Jesus is sitting as Judge (John 5:22, 27).

20:12 The dead, small and great, stand before God. These are the unbelievers of all ages. Two sets of books are opened. The Book of Life contains the names of

all who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. The other books contain a detailed record of the works of the unsaved. No one who appears at this

judgment is registered in the Book of Life. The fact that his name is missing condemns him, but the record of his evil works determines the degree of his

punishment.

20:13 The sea will yield up the bodies of those who have been buried in it. The graves, here represented by Death, will deliver up the bodies of all the

unsaved who have been interred. Hades will give up the souls of all who died in unbelief. The bodies and souls will be reunited to stand before the Judge.

Just as there will be degrees of reward in heaven, so there will be degrees of punishment in hell. This will be based on their works.

20:14 When we read that Death and Hades are cast into the lake of fire, it means the complete persons: spirit, soul, and body. The text explains that this is

the second death, and the NKJV margin adds, the lake of fire.

There is a difference between Hades and hell (The KJV calls everything hell). For the unconverted who have died, Hades is a disembodied state of conscious

punishment. It is a sort of holding tank, an intermediate condition where they await the judgment of the Great White Throne.

For believers who have died, Hades is a state of disembodied blessedness in heaven, awaiting the resurrection and glorification of the body. When Jesus

died, He went to Paradise (Luke 23:43), which Paul equates with the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2, 4), the dwelling place of God. In Acts 2:27 the Lord’s

disembodied state is called Hades. God did not leave His soul in Hades, but clothed it with a glorified body.

Hell is the final prison of the wicked dead. It is the same as the lake of fire, Gehenna, and the second death.

20:15 The deciding factor at this judgment is whether one’s name is written in the Book of Life. Actually if a person’s name had been inscribed there, he

would have already been a part of the first resurrection. So this verse applies only to those who stand before the Great White Throne.

5. The Destruction of Present Heaven and Earth (Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:3-12; Revelation 21:1).

Some commentators believe this happens before the Great White Throne Judgment. I do not, along with Ron Rhodes, Pastor Chuck, Tim LaHaye, Ed

Hindson, Dr. Thomas Ice, and Mark Hitchcock, to name a few. Furthermore, I think it’s appropriate that this happens on earth. The sin was accomplished

here on earth. I think it should be dealt with here on earth, after that is done and the business taken care of, it’s a time for a fresh start with a new heaven and

a new earth.

Mathew 24:35

35: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

24: 35 To emphasize the unfailing character of His predictions, Jesus added that heaven and earth would pass away but His words would by no means pass

away. In speaking of heaven passing away, He was referring to the stellar and atmospheric heavens — the blue firmament above us — not to that heaven

which is the dwelling place of God (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). The dissolution of the heaven and the earth is described in 2 Peter 3:10-13 and mentioned again in

Revelation 20:11.

2 Peter 3:3-12

3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,

6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly

men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all

should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with

fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt

with fervent heat?

Revelation 21:1-2 (NKJV)

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

21:1. The opening verses of chapter 21 describe the creation of the new heaven and the new earth, which chronologically follows the thousand-year reign

of Christ described in chapter 20. Chapter 21 begins with the familiar words “I saw,” an expression repeated in verse 2 (cf. v. 22, “I did not see”). This new

creation is described as a new heaven and a new earth. That it is a totally new heaven and a new earth, and not the present heaven and earth renovated, is

supported by the additional statement, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

6. The Creation of a New Heaven and New Earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:3-13; Revelation 21:1)

We have just discussed most of these verse in the destruction of present heaven and earth, the only one that weren’t discussed were: Isaiah 65:17, and

66:22.

Isaiah 65:17 (NKJV)

17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”

65:17 The closing verses of chapter 65 describe millennial conditions. The new heavens and the new earth here refer to Christ’s kingdom on earth; in

Revelation 21 they refer to the eternal state. In Isaiah’s new heavens and new earth there is still sin and death; in Revelation 21, these have passed away.

7. Eternity (Revelation 21:9-22:5)

Revelation 21:9-12 (NKJV)

9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show

you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from

God,

11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve

tribes of the children of Israel:

13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth,

and height are equal.

17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third

chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth

amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Revelation 21:21-23 (NKJV)

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

The New Jerusalem

It is about 2.25 million square miles total. It is a 1,500 mile cube, as its length, breadth and height are equal. Can you visualize a skyscraper that is 1,500

miles wide, high, deep, etc. Reno to Wendover as the crow flies is about 400 miles, to give you an idea of how big the new Jerusalem is.

Even if each story was a half mile high, the total landmass would be bigger than the landmass of the entire earth.