
Study of the book of Revelation
🔑 1. The book is written by the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
🔑 2. The first three chapters are an introduction, an acquaintance with the Author of the Revelation, and messages to the seven churches. Chapters 4 and 5 are an invitation to John to the third heaven for an audience with the Almighty. Chapter 5 continues from the fourth chapter and reveals who can open the scroll with the seven seals. Starting from chapter 6 to 21, it speaks of the events that will occur before the second coming of Jesus Christ. It explains how the great tribulation will begin and what awaits humanity at the end of times. Chapters 21 and 22 tell us about the New Jerusalem and the life that awaits the Church and the saved people.
🔑 3. The book is not a linear narrative; many events in it occur almost simultaneously. This book should be perceived more as “puzzles,” and you need to find the pieces to create a complete picture.
🔑 4. The book contains texts that are explained by an Angel or one of the elders. There is no need to invent more than what is already revealed. For example, the mystery of the woman sitting on a scarlet beast (Chapter 17) is explained by the Angel who showed this ominous vision. In verse 18, the Angel says that it is a great city that reigns over the kings of the earth.
🔑 5. You should not add anything that is not in this book, even though it might seem to be missing. For example, this book is often attempted to be connected to the last seven years of Daniel. There is no direct text about this, but even if there is something, it could only be half of the seven years, and the first part of the seven years might have occurred during the first coming of Jesus. At that time, His ministry was completed in 3.5 years.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18
🔑 6. You should not remove anything that does not fit with theology. All facts should fit into one logical chain. If there are gaps, it means it is a faulty argument.
“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:19
Let’s read Chapter 1.
We’ll focus only on the most important parts, as if we were to examine each verse in detail, it would take us years to get through just one chapter.
The first two verses explain to us from Whom exactly this Word comes and to whom it is addressed. The Almighty God conveys important information about the events of the Last Time to His Son Jesus, and He, in turn, wishes to inform His servants through John! Who are these servants, friends? It is thought that they are those who have submitted their will to the will of God! (James 1:25, Matthew 5:3)
Now, let’s pay attention to a very important piece of information in the third verse! “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3
Whom does Jesus call blessed? Those who read and listen, right? How often do people nowadays say, ‘Why bother with this book, it’s beyond your understanding!’ Have you noticed that? But the Lord goes on to say that blessed are those who keep what is written in Revelation! It turns out that there is also practical information for us in there, which can literally make us blessed!
So, let’s not neglect this Revelation because there is practical advice on how to avoid total control during the reign of the beast and the Antichrist, and we will explore this topic if the Lord allows it, ‘for the time is near’!”
“John delivers a message to the seven churches. Many theologians, as well as ordinary Christians, associate the message to the seven churches with seven periods in the history of the Universal Church. However, we don’t look to authorities but instead look at what the Bible says. Nowhere in the Word is there any hint of this theory. Therefore, we will take it quite literally – the message to each specific church is a message to that particular church. Of course, in our time, based on certain signs, we may see some similarities in one or another local community, but that’s more for our perception – what churches can be like or in which community we actually find ourselves.
It’s important to pay attention and even remember – verse 6!
“…and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.“
Revelation 1:6
This is what the Lord has made us if we remain faithful to Him. The question is: when, I wonder, will we be in this status?
This will happen at the end of the reign of the beast when the Lord comes to the earth for the second time with His angels, and we, the disciples of Jesus Christ, will be with them. That’s when the 1,000-year Kingdom will begin, and in it, we are assigned the role of being kings and priests. (Revelation 20:4,5)
The 1,000-year Kingdom is not something abstract. It will be a real Kingdom where the Lord Himself will reign (on the holy mountain). The whole Church will be gathered from all tribes and nations, as well as all the Old Testament saints, from Abel to John the Baptist. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, Hebrews 11:39-40)
He will need faithful helpers for this role, and for this purpose, Christians are the best fit.
About the 1,000-year Kingdom: Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 65:25, Isaiah 65:20.
“I, John, your brother and companion in the tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ…” Revelation 1:9
Starting from verse 9, John begins to recount what he saw in the first person. A long time ago, when he was a young man, he leaned on the chest of Jesus Himself (John 13:23). We can say that it is an honor for us to hear the voice of the now-elderly John, imprisoned for preaching the Gospel on the island of Patmos, reaching us through the depths of time! He is addressing us directly, provided, of course, that we are disciples of Jesus Christ!
In verse 10, John says that he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day! Not on Friday, not on Saturday! The Sabbath is, of course, a separate topic, but to briefly explain, we Christians gather for central worship services not on Saturdays but on Sundays because this day is a celebration for us—Christ rose on the first day of the week, which comes after the Sabbath.
Now, a question for Jehovah’s Witnesses: who is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last? From the context, we see that it is our Lord Jesus Christ.
In verse 18, the Lord mentions for a reason that He has the keys of hell and death! Ephesians 4:9 states that Christ descended to the lower parts of the earth (Matt 12:40, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 4:6). This is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. It can be assumed that before His death and resurrection, the Lord did not have these keys.
The text then continues with the Lord explaining the meaning of the vision of the seven stars and the seven lampstands.
Friends, after reading this, there is only one thing left to say: “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
When the letters to the seven churches were written, there were other churches that were larger than those mentioned. For example, the Church in Colossae. But what is the connection? Why did the Lord address those specific seven churches? Perhaps, through their example—through their problems, failures, and successes—Christ conveys to us what can happen to a church and what awaits its angel if he does not faithfully fulfill his duties.
The angel is a messenger, a herald. The angels of the churches here refer to the leading minister, pastor, or shepherd of a specific church.
However, there is an interesting characteristic or connection among these churches—geographical. All of them were located in Asia Minor, and starting from the church in Ephesus (Ephesus being a major port city), one would have to travel about 50 kilometers north to reach Smyrna, and from there, north and east to Pergamum, and then on to the other four churches in sequence, as mentioned in Revelation.
All those churches have some characteristics that can still be found today in our local churches. Therefore, we cannot consider those churches as mere periods of history. In one contemporary church, they may have left their first love, in another, they might think they are alive, but they are not, while in yet another church, they have kept the word of “the patience of Jesus Christ,” and He promises to keep them from the hour of trial.
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10
This is the main thought—it is coming, this hour of trial, and it will come upon the whole world. And we want to “keep the Word,” to understand the will of our Savior through the Word, and to know what we must do to not fall with the rest of the world. We will not go into a detailed analysis of the letters to the seven churches, as this would no longer be a study of the Revelation concerning the End Times, but spiritual mini-sermons.
I will just mention an important thought—if we could simply rely on Revelation 3:10, thinking, “Why should I worry? The Lord Himself will keep me,” then why did the Lord repeatedly warn Christians in the Gospel to “beware” and “watch”? (Matthew 24:4, 24:42.)
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:11
Be sure to read the entire fourth chapter. The chapters in Revelation are not long, and it’s important to keep the whole context in mind!
“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’” Revelation 4:1
What must happen soon!?
The main theme of all four Gospels is the first coming of Christ. At the center of Revelation is His second coming, described in chapter 19.
…Come up here…! Never before in the history of humanity has anyone been granted such an honor—to see the One who sits on His throne and to convey, as much as possible, in human words and earthly terms, the heavenly beauty and glory of the Indescribable Everlasting (Eternal) God!
John specifically notes that he was taken in the spirit while his body remained locked in the prison. The Apostle Paul also testified that he was caught up to the third heaven, but he was unsure how he got there, and there is almost no information about what happened to him there (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).
From the text, we see that John saw God the Father Himself, and around the throne of the Almighty were 24 thrones with elders sitting on them. This is where the debate begins. Who are these elders? The overwhelming majority of readers and scholars, without much thought, might say that these are some of the most worthy people or symbolic representations of something, and so on. The fact is, if we reason from the position that some events have already taken place or that people can already be in Heaven and stand before God, these theories encounter irresolvable contradictions. (Why is there still no person in Heaven? See here (starting from 5 minutes and 19 seconds).
“Elders” is not an entirely accurate translation. The correct translation is “presbyters” or “senior ones.” It is possible that these 24 presbyters are representatives of the angelic realm. We know that there are not only angels but also archangels. Understand that John is describing the “elders” he saw in his own words. This is not an interpretation given from above by Jesus Christ. That is why there is such confusion.
“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”
Revelation 4:5
▪️ The seven Spirits of God are most likely a representation of the Holy Spirit. The number seven symbolizes fullness and completion—seven days of creation, seven spiritual gifts, seven seals of the Apocalypse, etc. Remember that John is trying to describe heavenly realities using earthly concepts! Most likely, the “seven Spirits of God” is a reference to Isaiah 11:1-3. It speaks of our Savior Jesus Christ, upon whom the Holy Spirit rests, expressed in seven gifts. Near the throne of God the Father, the seven lamps represent the Holy Spirit.
“…The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”
Isaiah 11:2
Now about the “living creatures.”
“…And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”
Revelation 4:6
It is unlikely that there are actual animals around the throne. This is a matter of translation. The correct translation is “four living creatures.” They cannot be described in earthly terms, so John simply wrote that they were four incomprehensible living beings (animals). These living beings glorify God, which animals cannot do. Furthermore, they had six wings like the Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2). They were full of eyes, meaning they were covered with eyes. This is very strange to us, and it is possible that John conveyed the meaning of what he saw only approximately.
“Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.’”
Revelation 4:9-11
Here, we can only join in prayerfully with the praise offered by the “elders”! Hallelujah!!!
Read the entire chapter carefully.
“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.”
Revelation 5:1
In the hand of Him who sits on the throne is an unknown scroll. What is written there? An angel cries out loudly to everyone, asking who is worthy to open it. But no one is found, neither in heaven nor on earth, nor under the earth. By the way, this is another reminder that the interior of our planet is not just some core as scientists depict, but rather the underworld where the souls of the dead have been kept for millennia. Some are in the underworld—in Hades, and others in a place of paradise—Abraham’s bosom. (Luke 16:19-31) We will also discuss the topic of the “underworld” later.
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
Revelation 5:6
Why are such images shown? What are the horns, and what are the seven eyes? In the Old Testament, a horn was always a symbol of power and strength. The seven horns represent the fullness of authority in the hands of the Lamb, that is, Jesus Christ. The seven eyes or the seven Spirits of God symbolize the Holy Spirit (compare with Zechariah 3:9; 4:10).
“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. And they sang a new song…”
Revelation 5:8-9
Only our Lord was found worthy to take this scroll! Our prayers are not in vain. Our praises and blessings are sent straight to the golden bowls! Isn’t that inspiring, friends!?
“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, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’” Revelation 5:9-10
We have reached one of the important checkpoints. Did you carefully read what the elders and living creatures are singing in this song? The key words for our discussion here are “us” and “we”!
These short words lead people into far-reaching misconceptions. The words “us” and “we” appear there mistakenly. The error crept in during the copying and translation of the book of Revelation from Byzantine-type manuscripts. When translating from Alexandrian-type manuscripts (including the Sinaitic type), the words used are “them” and “they.” So what’s the problem, and what difference does it make? The issue is that if “us” and “we” were truly correct, it would imply that the elders are representatives or a symbol of the Church, which is already in Heaven before all the apocalyptic events. I have already posted several times on the topic of post-tribulation rapture and the impossibility of anyone being in heaven before the rapture of the Church. I also have videos on the topic of the Church’s rapture after the Great Tribulation—part 1 and part 2.
Moreover, if “us” and “we” were correct, this would also contradict the fact that the four “living creatures” are also singing, and how could they, as representatives of the angelic realm, reign on earth and be priests? This would lead to a need to develop a theology about the living creatures, suggesting that they are also humans but shown here spiritually as something else…
Incidentally, in my Synodal Bible, the words “them” and “they” are used. Here are some examples of Bible translations with the correct pronouns:
Kulakov Translation and New Russian Translation: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and with Your blood, You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
Ukrainian Translation (Ogiienko): “…for You were slain, and with Your blood, You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them kings and priests to our God, and they will reign on earth!” Revelation 5:9-10
Eastern Translation and Allah Version: “…for You were slain, and with Your blood, You purchased people for Allah—from every tribe and language and people and nation! You made them a Kingdom and priests to Allah, and they will reign on the earth!” Revelation 5:9-10
As we can see, many translations have the correct placement of pronouns, and nothing conflicts. The 24 elders and 4 living creatures, as before, represent the angelic realm, and they are singing about the future, what will happen to the Church after our Lord comes again to earth at the end of the Great Tribulation—the redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, from all nations, will reign on earth (the 1,000-year Kingdom)! This idea is also expressed in chapter 1 and in the letters to the churches.
Blessings to all!
P.S. I’m curious, which version of the Bible do you use personally?
“And 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, 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.’” Revelation 5:11-12
Joining the song of the elders and living creatures are millions, no, billions… no, an innumerable number of angels! The angels themselves do not sing but speak with a loud voice. If “ten thousand times ten thousand” equals 100 million, the phrase “thousands of thousands” emphasizes the impossibility of counting all the inhabitants of heaven! (Daniel 7:9-10)
Let us also note the seven attributes of power received by the Lamb. In this chapter, Jesus appears as the slain Lamb, which indicates that Jesus Christ receives these seven attributes of power (power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing) not as the “Alpha and Omega,” but as the Son of Man, who died and rose again!
“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!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
Revelation 5:13-14
Together with John, we have visited the Heaven of Heavens and seen and heard the indescribable glory and infinite majesty of God the Father and His Son. Chapters 4 and 5 show that Heaven is real, and we have something to strive for, friends!
The culmination of this majestic event was the worship of the 24 elders to Him who lives forever and ever!
The Rider on the White Horse
Please take the time to read the entire chapter!
“And 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.’ 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.” Revelation 6:1-2
Jesus begins to open the seals on the scroll, and John sees astonishing and ominous visions of the future. We must understand that everything that happens with the opening of the seals pertains to the future that has not yet occurred. There are many interpretations on this topic, where it is claimed that some seals have been opened, while others have not, and traditionally, the Book of Daniel is mixed in, leading to gaps that we supposedly cannot understand.
Let us remember the principle of reading the books of the Old Testament: the Old Testament books should be read only through the lens of the New Testament, not the other way around. People often try to “attach” the New Testament to the Old Testament, resulting in confusion. Paul cited the Old Testament to prove that the good news of Christ runs like a red thread throughout Scripture!
Why haven’t the seals been opened yet? Simply put, just look at the first rider. Until he appears, the other seals won’t be opened. So who is hiding under the image of this first rider?
Many theologians, and not only them, believe that the rider on the white horse is the Lord Jesus Himself. A white horse, something said about the rider being victorious, and he has a bow and a crown! However, this description does not match Revelation 19:12-13. By the way, John does not mention any arrows—just the bow.
I see a different figure here. I believe that this is referring to the Antichrist, and his appearance marks the beginning of the great tribulation. (Matthew 24) Why isn’t this Jesus? Well, look: Jesus Himself opens the first seal, and then His own image appears? How does Jesus come before all the terrifying events that will happen later? Jesus Christ will come at the very end of the great tribulation, not at the beginning! (Revelation 19:11-16) The sequence of the seals being opened cannot be chaotic.
Could it be referring to the first coming of the Lord? If so, what horses, what bows and crowns? The attributes of the first coming are not visible—the crown of thorns, the image of the sacrificial lamb, and the gap in time (2000 years) is too large to consider!
And the most crucial argument that this is not Jesus is that the rider came out “as a conqueror.” Pay attention! The rider came out to conquer, but it doesn’t say that he will succeed. White horses are the preferred mode of transport for any self-respecting tyrant or dictator. The image of the beast or the Antichrist is more evident here, and the logic of events is preserved without the need to inflate theology with sub-events, additional symbols, and far-fetched revelations.
In conclusion, the first seal reveals to the world one of the rulers as the beast (Revelation 13). Then peace is taken from the earth, followed by famine and death! That’s the sequence.
The entire period of the seven seals (without offending other researchers who are convinced of century-long or millennia-long periods) is only 42 months or three and a half years (Revelation 13). At the end of this period, which the Bible calls the great tribulation, our Lord will come on a white horse, and on His head will be many crowns, and His robe will be dipped in blood! (Revelation 19:12-13) This is the description given of Christ in Revelation.
If anyone thought that this sounds suspiciously easy and too simple, remember: the Word of God is not a textbook on thermodynamics for the chosen few. The Revelation of John was given not to theology professors, but to the servants of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1-3). This means it should be simpler and more accessible to the follower of Jesus, who may not have attended university but has remained faithful to Him.
“And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ And 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.”
Revelation 6:3-4
The idea that the second horseman will remove peace from the earth might seem familiar to us—we have seen wars before, including world wars with millions of casualties! So what is unique about this rider?
After the emergence of one of the global rulers, such as the Antichrist or the beast (Revelation 6:1-2; Revelation 13), military conflicts and wars will start on our Earth. These conflicts will not be extraordinary to people; they will become routine. Unfortunately, this will be the norm. Reflect on how you reacted to news of a murder in the media in the past versus how you respond now to the deaths of hundreds and thousands of soldiers in the current war in Ukraine. A missile strike on a peaceful neighborhood, once shocking, now barely makes the front pages of newspapers—this has become commonplace. Imagine what will happen when the second horseman is unleashed!
Another important detail is the “great sword.” This term suggests a weapon of mass destruction. The ancients were not familiar with such weapons as bombs or nuclear bombs. My subjective opinion is that this may refer to such modern weaponry. (But this is just a speculation, not a certainty.)
The description of the second horseman and his role aligns closely with the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:6-7:
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”
P.S. I discuss the topic of the second horseman in this video. If you’re interested, please feel free to follow the link and watch.
Wishing you a peaceful sky and a great weekend!
The Third Horseman of the Apocalypse
“And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ And behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 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.’” Revelation 6:5-6
As noted previously, the third horseman presents an area of particular interest for us, as John provides specific information that we can observe and verify.
The rider holds a scale, which is akin to the scales used for weighing goods like grains in the market.
The vision is further explained: a quart of wheat and three quarts of barley can be bought for a denarius. A “quart” is a well-known measure for dry goods like wheat or barley. A quart is approximately 1.08 liters. Historically, a quart of wheat was considered sufficient for the modest sustenance of one person.
Now, let’s examine the denarius. In the Gospels, a denarius is repeatedly mentioned as a unit of currency. For example, 300 denarii is the value of an expensive jar of ointment (Mark 14:5). In another instance, 200 denarii is noted as insufficient to feed 5,000 people with bread at one time (John 6:7). A denarius represents a day’s wage for a laborer working in the vineyard (Matthew 20:13), as well as a tribute to the Roman Emperor (Matthew 22:19).
From this, we can infer that with the arrival of the third horseman, following the appearance of the beast (the first horseman) and extensive military conflicts (the second horseman with the great sword), there will be severe famine. A laborer’s daily wage will barely cover the cost of a quart of wheat or three quarts of barley. Consider the daily wage of an unskilled worker in your region; imagine that amount being enough only for their meager sustenance. What if they have a family to support? Add in housing costs, other necessities, etc. The situation is bleak, and we can already observe these mechanisms beginning to unfold. Just yesterday, Russia exited the grain agreement, causing grain prices to rise on the exchanges. The war in Ukraine is affecting the global community and strategically important resources like grain!
Famine might already be beginning in some African countries, and this is just the start. The thunder of these horsemen’s hooves is only beginning to be heard!
The Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse
Before we delve into the vision of the fourth horseman, let’s note an important detail: yesterday we discussed the third horseman, and all we needed to know about him was explained in verse 6.
“And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ And behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 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.’” Revelation 6:5-6
Neither the color of the horse nor the description of the rider should be our main focus. The emphasis is on the cost of a quart of wheat or barley! Additionally, the oil and wine should not be harmed. Some might see a spiritual meaning in the oil and wine, interpreting that the Holy Spirit will still be active during this time. Perhaps. However, I lean more towards a literal interpretation of the “voice in the midst of the creatures.”
Conclusion: In Revelation, there are often images or scenes that serve merely as background, and we should not dwell on them. We will focus only on what is most important and key.
So, the fourth horseman!
“And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ And 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.” Revelation 6:7-8
The color of the horse reflects its rider. A pale or light green horse (from the Greek) signifies a “deadly” color. It is logical that the consequences of the first three horsemen lead to famine, devastating diseases, and the death of a vast number of people. “Beasts of the earth” – for example, in the war zones in Ukraine, various animals are multiplying in large numbers (unfortunately, they have plenty of meat). After the capture of my city, Donetsk, in 2014, even squirrels appeared in the city, which had never happened before in my memory! What will happen when wild dogs form packs or wolves come to abandoned lands?
John indicates that the influence of the fourth horseman will cover 25% of the planet. In my subjective opinion, the fourth part of the earth is where the most active actions of the beast (antichrist) will take place – his wars and his campaign with allies against Israel and Jerusalem. Ezekiel points out in chapter 38 that Gog, the prince of Magog (also the beast in Revelation 20:7), will come against Israel from the northern regions. So consider – 25% of the earth from the far north to Israel.
I hesitate to be more specific to avoid offending believers who are not interested in politics, so you can open a map on your computer and see which capital is located directly north of Jerusalem, “from the northern borders” (Ezekiel 38:1-6, 38:15, 39:2).
Conclusion about the four horsemen: Revelation accurately conveys the chronology, as once predicted by the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24).
a) War (Matthew 24:6-7; Revelation 6:3-4); b) Famine (Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:5-6); c) Death (Matthew 24:7-9; Revelation 6:7-8);
Friends, let these future events not bring you into despair! God has a wonderful plan to save His Church from all these events!
Jesus Opens the Fifth Seal
“And 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. 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?’ 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.” Revelation 6:9-11
John is shown an interesting vision. The significance of the altar is not explained in detail, so let’s focus on the “souls of those who were slain.” Who are they?
These are the righteous who remained faithful to the Lord and spoke the Word of God even in the face of death! Where are they? We have examined this question in detail several times. Recall the words of Jesus Christ:
“No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” John 3:13
It is highly likely that these souls are in a place referred to by Jesus as “Abraham’s bosom.” (Luke 16:19-31) Recall, we have also explored where this place might be. It is in the lower regions. Detailed discussion on this topic is available here.
Note that these righteous individuals are not “sugar-coated” or “sweet” Christians who are “uninterested in politics” and “afraid to judge anyone.” They boldly assert their right to righteous judgment for the blood they shed! Also, the response from Heaven is not reproachful, as in, “How could you? You are believers, after all.” Their plea is accepted, but the Word of reassurance is given – just a little while longer (a short time). (1 Corinthians 2:15, 1 Corinthians 6:2)
During the Great Tribulation, there will be persecution, and the Witnesses of Jesus Christ will be killed, and the number of these souls is known only to the Most High. Why do I refer to them as Witnesses of Jesus? There are groups of believers who consider themselves Jehovah’s Witnesses, but we see who will reign with Jesus for a thousand years – the Witnesses of Jesus Christ. Revelation 20:4 reveals another detail – the Witnesses of Jesus will die by beheading.
Yes, these will be terrifying times, and not everyone will find a way to escape persecution.
Homework: Read Revelation 20:4 carefully! Show this to Jehovah’s Witnesses – perhaps it will affect someone.
Jesus Opens the Sixth Seal
“And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 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. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 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, 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! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” Revelation 6:12-17
We have now come to the sixth seal. The events unfolding are terrifying – an earthquake of such magnitude that even those who are essentially unbelievers turn to lifeless rocks and ask the mountains to hide them from the wrath of Jesus and God the Father. These unbelievers realize that it is the end and that judgment is imminent, and who can withstand that judgment?
I am inclined to believe with high probability that this refers to the very last earthquake, which is mentioned several times in both Revelation and the prophet Joel, and which the Lord Himself refers to in Matthew 24. In Revelation 11, there are additional details:
“Now 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.” Revelation 11:13
This refers to Jerusalem. A tenth of the city will be destroyed, and 7,000 people will perish. ⚰️
“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. 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. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 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.” Revelation 16:18-21
Note – not only is Jerusalem destroyed by 10%, but it is also divided into three parts! The cities of the nations are destroyed in some manner (recall the earthquake in Turkey). Some islands have shifted or possibly submerged, and the mountains are destroyed! It is hard even to imagine! It is no wonder that the unbelievers, in their terror, ask the rocks to hide them from what is coming!
These detailed descriptions are provided as a testimony also to those who do not believe now and do not wish to leave with the Church during the Great Tribulation but will remember and perhaps repent through these events.
Again, I emphasize that the Book of Revelation is not written linearly. All the events are scattered like a mosaic, and we must search for the hidden pieces and piece them together to form a unified whole. All facts must have logical connections and explanations.
Peace to you all, friends!
The seventh seal in the next post – the end of all events and the coming of our Lord Jesus, the rapture of the Church, the sad end of the beast and his prophet (serves them right), and the beginning of the 1000-year Kingdom!
Friends, please read Chapter 7 carefully. The Bible excerpts I occasionally include are not enough.
At the end of Chapter 6, we read the question of the perishing sinners:
“For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:17
Chapter 7 seems to answer this question. Who can stand?
Two categories of the saved:
First, the saved from the people of Israel.
“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, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ 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.” Revelation 7:2-4
The four angels are holding back the wind to prevent it from blowing, and they may be the same angels who are about to bring great harm to the earth, the sea, and nature (the trees). However, the angel ascending from the east holds the seal and stops the four, saying, “First, we will mark the servants of God, and then you can do what you want.” Marking with seals is not new; something similar was done in Ezekiel 9:4.
Who are these 144,000? There are many interpretations suggesting that this number symbolizes the Church, but we will stick to the revealed meaning. John provides the explanation:
“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.” Revelation 7:4
Why are they specifically from the tribes of Israel and not a symbol of the Church, for example? At least because starting from verse 9, there is mention of those saved from the Gentiles. In essence, both the children of Israel and the saved Gentiles are part of the Church, as they are saved by accepting the Son of God, Jesus Christ. But we are currently talking about the 144,000 being specifically Israelites.
By the way, after the death and resurrection of the Lamb of God, there is no other way or sacrifice through which either a Gentile or a Jew can be saved, except through the name of Jesus!
I find it interesting to read the names of these tribes. The tribes of Israel have long lost their genealogical records, and no one knows their lineage and to which tribe they belong, but it turns out that God has all Israelites accounted for and recorded by their tribe!
I believe that both you and I, dear researcher, as former Gentiles, are also under special consideration with God, and the Lord knows His own (and who our ancestors are).
What is also interesting in the listing of the 144,000 is that Judah is mentioned first, not Reuben, which is understandable (as his father had warned Reuben in Genesis 49:3-4). What is puzzling is the absence of the tribe of Dan; only the tribe of Joseph and his son Manasseh are mentioned, but the tribe of Ephraim (Joseph’s second son) is also absent. There is much to ponder. In Chapter 14, the 144,000 are mentioned again:
“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:4-5
“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.” Revelation 7:9
The second part of Chapter 7 shows a vast number of saved people “from all nations.” John does not know who these people are or where they are from. One of the elders explains to him and to us:
“…These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14
From this verse, we conclude that all these people are Christians, as they received salvation through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
When will this be? It seems that this multitude is already standing before the throne of God, but we see from the elder’s explanation that this will only occur after the great tribulation. Again, this will be when the Lord returns a second time to the earth. Another supporting argument is Revelation 14:1, which provides additional information about the 144,000 from the tribe of Israel:
“Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
Note that the Lamb is already standing on Zion! Zion is the mountain near Jerusalem where David’s invincible fortress once stood! This means that the Lord has come to earth and gathered the chosen ones.
Conclusion about Chapter 7: This chapter tells us that it does not matter what tribe or nation a person comes from—whether Jew, Greek, or Scythian—it is irrelevant! The Israelites do not have another special path to God. Salvation is only through the Lamb of God, that is, Jesus Christ!
The rapture cannot occur before the great tribulation for many reasons, but Chapter 7 clearly shows that these people are saved by going through the great tribulation.
Yes, there will be no rapture, but God’s Church has a plan for salvation during the great tribulation, and we are getting closer to studying this chapter.
After reading one of the recent comments, I saw a connection to Revelation Chapter 7. I understood that those like the author of this comment gather in large prayer groups to pray for a “global awakening.” Well-known YouTube preachers also teach about an impending “global awakening.” Partly, they refer to Revelation 7, which says:
“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.” Revelation 7:9
Their logic is as follows: if this multitude of people comes from the great tribulation, then there must be a great awakening! Where else could they come from? They are even writing books about it! And all in the name of the Holy Spirit.
Such a great awakening as they speak of will, unfortunately, not happen! First, let’s look again at this verse—Revelation 7:14.
The multitude came out of the great tribulation—of course, they did, and how else could it be? After all, even now we are millions, perhaps hundreds of millions, from various nations. If the great tribulation begins now, then where will we all appear before Christ? Certainly, from the great tribulation!
Another argument: Scripture teaches us that…”the Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Tim 4:1).
“Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Tim 3:1-5)
We all attend different gatherings, denominations, and even on different continents. Which one of us can boast that many people come to repentance in his church? I haven’t been to any of your gatherings, but I can say with high probability that if one person repents during a Sunday service, it is a significant event and a real celebration for everyone!
It’s not by chance that the Bible indicates that Jesus Christ came to earth the first time in the fullness of time (Gal 4:4). If He had come now, the result of His ministry would be different—everyone is caught up in gadgets, the internet, and various philosophical fads.
There will be no “global awakening,” but some assert this, misleading people by giving false hope and hiding behind the Holy Spirit. What spirit are they then guided by?
We live in the Last Days, and reading the words of the Lord about this time in Matthew 24 or Mark 13, we will not find any mention of a massive awakening.
Let us be wise as serpents and innocent as doves!
Before we begin examining Chapter 8, read it carefully.
“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.” Revelation 8:1-2
The first and second verses of this chapter illustrate how one can misinterpret, get confused, and potentially neglect this crucial book!
If we read these two verses in sequence, it seems that the Lord opens the seventh seal, then there is silence, and then seven angels with trumpets appear. In other words, the “trumpets” follow the seals, right?
Actually, it’s not like that. Remember, in ancient times everything was recorded on scrolls, and there were no chapters or verse numbers. John wrote the book of Revelation as a series of scenes and events, moving from one fragment to another, and (I repeat) there is no chronological order. So, the first verse is actually the last in the narrative of Chapter 7! The first verse does not pertain to the “trumpets.” John was simply invited to an audience with God in heaven, and the last vision he saw was the Lord opening the seals on the scroll. When Jesus opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. That’s it! The vision ended there.
A completely new story begins where John sees seven angels with trumpets.
“Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar; he was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” Revelation 8:3-4
Before the throne of the Almighty stands a golden altar. The angel placed the prayers of all the saints on the altar—one might assume that the story of the saints is coming to an end before the first trumpet.
When does the first trumpet begin?
“Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:5
“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.” Revelation 8:7
The first trumpet begins between the fifth and sixth seals.
“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.” Revelation 6:9
Before the sixth seal, all those chosen by God either are hidden in a place prepared by God or perish. Or, having received the seal on their foreheads (144,000 righteous from the Jews), they find themselves in places unreachable by the beast.
It is then that God’s wrath begins to unfold, and the seven angels start to blow their trumpets. The most terrifying events will begin when the seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out!
“The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” Revelation 8:7
“The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” Revelation 8:8-9
The great catastrophes inflicted by God upon those who worship the beast are truly staggering! God will exact retribution even for the Christians who were slain.
This description of terrible events is nearly literal in how they will occur. Recall the ten plagues of Egypt and their descriptions. If we had read about them before they happened, we might have said they were impossible, allegorical, or symbolic… Now we know that all those plagues were literal fulfillments of the Almighty’s words. Just consider the plague of hail and fire falling from the sky simultaneously! 🔥Science fiction? No, it happened! (Ex 9:24)
“The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood; a third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.” Revelation 8:10-11
We previously made a video on YouTube about the star “Wormwood.” John hears the third trumpet, and this likely represents a literal interpretation of the vision. It is just a hypothesis, but it strongly resembles the impact of strategic nuclear weapons. Strategic nuclear weapons are powerful warheads that can be used from thousands of kilometers away to destroy cities, nodes, and infrastructure. This involves intercontinental ballistic missiles. After their use, vast areas of land or sea become contaminated.
“The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, 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 turned dark; a third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.” Revelation 8:12
Disruption of the usual rhythms of day and night, reduction in daylight hours. Scientists will try to explain this scientifically, and people will still not abandon sin or repent. The angel flying in midair proclaims “woe” three times. Future calamities after the next trumpets will be even more horrifying and extensive!
So we have completed Chapter 8, dear seekers of truth. Some things we can understand and explain, while other things we can only accept by faith, without doubting what the Apostle John has written. Let me remind you, Christians will not be subjected to these terrifying judgments of God!
We begin studying Chapter 9. Please read the entire chapter carefully!
“The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth, and the key to the shaft of the Abyss was given to him. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace; the sun and the sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.” Revelation 9:1-3
We cannot yet know what these locusts are, as they are not on the earth but in the Abyss. However, the Bible does provide information about their leader.
“They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.” Revelation 9:11
Abaddon is mentioned several times in the Bible: Job 26:6, 28:22, 31:12; Proverbs 15:11, 27:20. From Revelation 9:11, we learn that he is an angel of the Abyss. The name Apollyon means “Destroyer.” Likely, the locusts are representatives of the demonic realm and are under Abaddon’s command. The Abyss is the same place where the devil will be thrown for 1,000 years at the end of the great tribulation when the Lord returns a second time to earth (Revelation 20:1-3). It might be where the Lord keeps fallen angels in darkness, bound for judgment (Jude 1:6).
The locusts will torment people so severely that:
“During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.” Revelation 9:6
The fifth trumpet occurs between the opening of the fifth and sixth seals by the Lord Jesus. It is logical that this will happen almost at the end of the beast’s reign. Indeed, the Bible confirms that the locusts’ action will last for five months, which are likely the final months after the seals have been placed on the foreheads of the servants of God Almighty. By then, all remaining followers of Jesus Christ will likely have been martyred.
“One woe has passed; behold, two more woes are coming after these things.” Revelation 9:12
John sees that one woe has passed and that two more are coming, which can be interpreted in two ways. It might mean that not only is one woe on earth ending and another beginning, but also that his vision of the first woe is concluding. He is saying, “Behold, one vision of woe has passed.”
“The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’” Revelation 9:13-14
The four angels are released at the Euphrates River. We encountered four angels in Chapter 7, where they were commanded not to harm the earth until the seals were placed on the foreheads of the chosen ones. Could these be the same angels who are tasked with killing one-third of humanity? With over 8 billion people on the planet, one-third would be approximately 2.6 billion. However, it’s worth noting that when the fourth horseman, “Death,” was unleashed, he had authority to kill a quarter of the earth’s population. How many were killed then is unknown, but by the time these four angels act, humanity will likely be much less than 8 billion.
“The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.” Revelation 9:16-17
It is unclear what kind of army and strange horses are described in the vision. They might be describing some form of advanced weaponry or spiritual beings. My subjective opinion is that this refers to an army of people and modern weaponry. In Revelation 16:12, an angel pours out a bowl into the Euphrates River, which dries up to make way for the kings and their armies from the east. This refers to countries to the east of Israel, such as China. It is clear that they will succeed in destroying one-third of humanity, as noted in verse 18.
Consider the Lord’s own words about this time:
“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.” Matthew 24:21
If someone wonders when this will occur, look at what has happened to the once-great Euphrates River even now. It has almost dried up. Videos can be found here (from the 5-minute mark).
“The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.” Revelation 9:20-21
John’s conclusion is both sorrowful and inevitable. Despite witnessing the horror of these events, people will continue to worship idols, commit murders, practice sorcery, engage in sexual immorality, and steal.
“We are making progress, friends! We are now at Chapter 10. Please read it carefully in its entirety!
“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.” Revelation 10:1-3
The vision of this angel is striking in its power and grandeur! There are many interpretations regarding this angel. Some believe it is Jesus Christ, but I do not see connections or logic in this theory. The thunders spoke some information, but it is meant to remain a mystery to the reader. Perhaps this information could have influenced the course of history. For instance, a historical figure (the beast) might recognize himself in these thunderous words and act more cunningly, causing greater harm to the saints and the Church.
“And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it, ‘There will be no more delay.’” Revelation 10:5-6
What does it mean that the angel swears there will be no more delay? Does it mean there will be no more time, leading to eternity, or something else? Other translations read: “there will be no more delay”! This more accurately conveys the angel’s message. Throughout the Bible, from Genesis onward, there is a recurring theme that a Redeemer, the Son of God, will come and judge the world! The prophets of old hinted at a certain mystery. This is what the angel is announcing. He reveals this same idea:
“But in the days of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.” Revelation 10:7
The seventh angel’s trumpet remains. All of God’s judgments (including the seven bowls of wrath), all His plagues, and all the cataclysms planned by God will be completed, and at the end of the allotted time for the beast (42 months), He, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—Jesus Christ—will come!
John was to eat the angel’s book and continue prophesying. What does it mean to “eat” it? We can only speculate. Suppose that “eating” means to “assimilate” the Word written in the angel’s book. For example, see Jeremiah 15:16.
The psalmist David says: “9 The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 11 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:9,11
“Let’s move on to Chapter 11. Halfway through! Please read the entire chapter carefully.
“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 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.’” Revelation 11:1-2
The overwhelming majority of commentators, interpreters, and Bible experts assert that this passage refers to the long-awaited temple that the Jews are supposed to build. They argue that until this temple is constructed, the beast or antichrist cannot come, as where would he sit? They reference these verses—2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. I’m not sure if it’s necessary to repeat this argument. You can find a discussion on this topic here. In summary, either the Jews will not build the temple, or if they do, it will not matter to God because Christ abolished temple worship on the cross, and salvation and access to God the Father come only through Jesus.
“Jesus said to her, ‘Believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.’” John 4:21
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
Additionally, note that John does not provide any specific measurements for the temple. This is another indirect argument that the vision he is receiving is symbolic. The temple and altar could represent all of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. An important detail is that the Gentiles will trample this “temple” for forty-two months. Again, if the antichrist were to sit in the temple, how would he access it if his followers could only be in the outer court? It is more likely that this refers to the beast’s armies invading the land of Israel and managing to capture part of the city of Jerusalem.”
Why will the Gentiles capture Israel but not the entire city of Jerusalem?
“…And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” Revelation 11:3
The fact is, two prophets will appear in Jerusalem. These will be special prophets, and we can learn some things about them in Chapter 11:
Despite being in the 21st century, these two individuals will be dressed in sackcloth. Sackcloth is a long, coarse garment made of goat hair or camel hair; ascetics wore it on their bare skin to mortify the flesh. (Wikipedia)
These two unusual individuals will prophesy for precisely 1,260 days.
They will have great power and authority over waters, nature, and people.
They will testify specifically in Jerusalem. (Verse 8)
The prophets will be killed and will rise again after 3.5 days. God will resurrect them, and they will be taken up to the Creator.
What is not specified is that these two prophets will necessarily be from the Jewish people. Why? Theologians insist on this; otherwise, how could the prophets preach to the Jews? The Bible does not say so. The two prophets are definitely Christians, but not necessarily Jews. They might be, but it is not certain.
“And 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. 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.” Revelation 11:9-10
These verses are very intriguing for us living in the digital age. Just 200 years ago, how could we have understood this passage? How could people on earth have been tormented by two individuals in a distant, isolated city? How could people from many nations, tribes, and languages simultaneously view the corpses of the prophets? How could they send gifts if it all took place over just three days? Today, understanding this is no problem—we have the internet, YouTube, Telegram, smartphones with cameras, etc. Gifts are sent online, and joy can be experienced in many places at once. Also, these many sinners might have been tormented by the online broadcasts of these two strange individuals dressed in sackcloth. The first two verses of Chapter 11 suggest that the Gentiles will occupy Jerusalem for the same 1,260 days. Thus, it seems they will not fully capture the city under their control.
The Beast from the Abyss
“And when they finish their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.” Revelation 11:7
I have repeatedly emphasized that Revelation is not a linear book but more like a mosaic. The theme of the “abyss” has been touched upon several times, and we know it is related to demonic forces. Locusts will come out of the abyss to torment people, and the devil will be cast into the abyss for 1,000 years. To understand who the beast is, we need to look at Chapter 13, which speaks of two beasts: one coming out of the sea and the other from the earth. The beast is also mentioned in Chapters 17 and 19.
The term “beast” in Revelation has several meanings. One of them refers to a human ruler who will be given authority to rule for 42 months, which is almost equivalent to 1,260 days (+17 days). (Revelation 13:5) Remember that the Gentiles are also given 1,260 days to trample Jerusalem.
Logically, it follows that the beast (ruler), a few days after revealing himself to the world, will send his forces against Israel and Jerusalem. They will succeed in capturing almost all of Israel, but at the same time, two prophets in sackcloth will emerge, and part of the city will be under their influence (also for 1,260 days). It is possible that through their preaching, a number of Israelites, including the 144,000 sealed ones, will be saved. Recall Paul’s words: “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.’” Romans 9:27
When their ministry is completed, the beast will be allowed to defeat them and kill them. (Revelation 11:7) They will, of course, be resurrected afterward.
This is a very brief overview of how the events will unfold.
“At that very hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” Revelation 11:13
It is encouraging this time that some of the surviving inhabitants of Jerusalem gave glory to God. We have already discussed the theme of earthquakes. It’s worth noting that this earthquake closely resembles the one in Revelation 16:17-21, which occurs when the seventh angel pours out the seventh bowl of wrath. This reinforces the idea that the events of the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls run almost parallel. This is further supported by Revelation 11:15.
“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.’” Revelation 11:15
The seventh trumpet marks the time of Jesus Christ’s second coming to earth, signaling the end of the earthly cycle and the fulfillment of all ancient prophecies about Christ’s return! In the brief doxology of the twenty-four elders (11:17-18), the idea is that the time has come to reward the saints (they will be resurrected and, along with the remaining living, will be caught up to meet the Lord) and to punish the sinners (who will be destroyed).
Those who considered it normal to destroy the earth have no chance. (How are we treating nature and our planet today?)
“Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a severe hailstorm.” Revelation 11:19
After all this, John is shown a remarkable vision of God’s temple in heaven, where he sees the ark of the covenant. At the moment of this profound vision of holiness in heaven, terrible divine judgments are occurring on earth.
So, we have now gone through the 11 chapters of Revelation verse by verse. This marks exactly half of the book. Congratulations to all truth seekers for this accomplishment!
Friends, read this chapter very carefully. It will provide answers to the theological contradictions that have arisen and help us understand God’s plan for the salvation of His children during the Great Tribulation if the Church is not raptured before or during it. This chapter contains many symbols and references; if anything is unclear, feel free to ask questions.
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads.” Revelation 12:1-3
If we read verses 1 through 5, we will have no doubt that most theologians (about 99%) are correct in interpreting this as referring to Israel and its twelve tribes. The child born to the woman is to rule the nations with an iron scepter, which naturally refers to the Lord Himself. Later, He is to be “caught up” to heaven, which speaks of His resurrection about 2000 years ago. However, we belong to the 1% who do not simply go with the flow. Let me explain everything step by step.
Recall the first words of Jesus Christ to John in Revelation 1:
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.” Revelation 1:1
This means that all the events in the book of Revelation were shown to John after the Lord’s resurrection and pertain to the events of the Last Time before His second coming.
The time of Israel and the temple service ended with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Revelation reveals the prophetic message about the Church and those who accept the Son of God as their Savior (for example, the 144,000). Therefore, it seems very strange if the focus suddenly shifts to Israel and Jesus in the symbols of a woman and a child.
The child rules with an iron scepter—could this only refer to the Lord? Not necessarily, as we read in the Letter to the Angel of the Church in Thyatira:
“To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—‘that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.” Revelation 2:26-27
As we see, it is also possible for a person to “rule with an iron scepter.”
Conclusion: We should move away from standard interpretations and start reasoning logically! This, by the way, is a commandment for us—to reason and not be fanatics.
“He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27
To avoid overwhelming you, we’ll continue in the next post! Blessings to all truth seekers in this new week!
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.” Revelation 12:1
The woman, or “wife” in some translations, is part of the vision shown to John (a sign). She symbolizes the Church, and the stars are a reference to the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ (many believe it refers to Israel and the 12 tribes, but their story ended with Jesus’ death on the cross).
The New Testament tells the story of the Church. The Apostles hold significant importance for the Lord. Here’s the basis for the New Jerusalem:
“The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:14
The woman is in the final stage before giving birth, but a great red dragon appears. I think it’s clear who this is referring to—the dragon is the ancient serpent or devil (Revelation 12:9). What’s interesting is that it is red! This gives us a clue to understanding the beast from chapter 17, where a woman is described sitting on a scarlet (i.e., red) beast.
Before 1917, monarchies and empires existed. But after World War I, four empires collapsed (Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, German, and Russian). Out of the remnants of the Russian Empire emerged the USSR, and power was seized by the communists. Communists had—and still have—a key attribute: the color red! They spread this symbol to many countries where they spread their influence, such as China and North Korea.
Conclusion:
The dragon is red because it will operate using a system established by the communists (which we will discuss further).
The woman is about to give birth—something or someone is expected to come forth from her. This entity must be connected to her and share her key characteristics. What are the main characteristics of the Church?
The true Church is the body of Jesus Christ, and it follows Him and His ways. Therefore, this entity coming from the Church is a Christian, endowed with special authority, and has the power to rule the nations with an iron scepter, meaning to influence them in ways they might not appreciate.
Recall chapter 11. Two prophets appear in Jerusalem who will torment the nations for nearly 3.5 years, striking the earth with plagues, killing attackers with fire, turning water into blood, and shutting up the sky from rain. This closely resembles the description of ruling with an iron scepter. At the end of their ministry, they will be killed but will rise on the third day and be caught up to God in heaven. This is similar to what is described in verse 5:
“She gave birth to a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.” Revelation 12:5
Why are there two prophets, while verse 5 speaks of one male child? Look at verse 1 of chapter 12—it’s a sign! All information is presented in symbols and shrouded in mystery.
Read the second half of the chapter once more in its entirety.
“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” Revelation 12:6
We’ve deciphered the keys to the symbols of the “great sign”: The woman represents the Church, the dragon is the devil, and the child is the prophets.
Now let’s piece the puzzle together. The woman flees for 1260 days. The two prophets also prophesy for 1260 days. The beast or antichrist will rule for 42 months (approximately 1277 days). When the beast begins to rule, this marks the beginning of the great tribulation predicted by the Lord (Matthew 24). The Gentiles attack Israel and capture part of Jerusalem under the direct leadership of the beast (the northern prince or Gog from the land of Magog). At the same time, the two prophets begin their ministry in the second part of Jerusalem, and the beast cannot do anything against them until the end of their ministry. They have such authority from God that it can be described as “ruling with an iron scepter” (Post No. 31).
The beast will fight them and kill them (approximately) two weeks before the end of his reign and the coming of Jesus Christ to earth. Since the great tribulation will be a time that is impossible for Christians to endure (the beast will overcome the saints (13:7), the saints will be killed and beheaded (Revelation 20:4), worship of the beast’s image will be required and a mark will be placed on the right hand, bringing God’s wrath (Revelation 13:16-17, Revelation 14:9)), God has prepared a plan for the salvation of His chosen ones (for us):
“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” Revelation 12:6
“And 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.” Revelation 12:14
There is a place in the wilderness that can accommodate a large number of people—a place not under the control of the beast. But one scripture is not enough for such a serious conclusion! Is there another place in the Bible that mentions this grand event? Yes! There is.
We will explore where else in the Bible the “flight to the wilderness” is mentioned, how this could be technically possible (considering the need for water and other necessities), and where this place might be, in the next post!
Let’s continue. Where else in the Bible might there be a mention of the Church fleeing to the “wilderness” to escape the wrath of the dragon and the antichrist during the great tribulation?
Isaiah 43:19-22 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field shall honor Me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise. But thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of Me, O Israel.”
Even centuries ago, God foretold that His chosen people would find themselves in the wilderness. Which people? The Israelites? No. Verse 22 and below indicate that this does not apply to Jacob. When else did God have a chosen people that He formed for Himself? When the Son of God first came to earth, Jesus established the Church.
Peter says: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
And Isaiah says the same thing: … they shall show forth My praise.
Conclusion: The prophecy of Isaiah refers to the last days when the Church will have the opportunity to flee from the persecutions of the great tribulation into the wilderness. Revelation 12:6. In the wilderness, God will make a way for a large number of people. Although there is no water in the desert now, God promises to make rivers there. By noting the presence of jackals and ostriches in one location, we can approximate where this place might be. If I am not mistaken (please correct me if I am), it is in the northern part of Africa, not far from Egypt.
How such a large number of people will manage to hide from the dragon and the beast will be discussed in the next post.
Continuing our examination of Revelation Chapter 12, we have a question: how will the Church be able to flee to the “wilderness” if the Church consists of millions of people? (I hope so).
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” Revelation 12:6
Verse 14 mentions that she was given two wings of a great eagle. (The time, times, and half a time are the same 1260 days, or nearly 3.5 years.)
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
I see many parallels here with the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The woman flees, and the Israelites fled from Egypt, spending many years in the wilderness. Likewise, the issue of feeding a large number of people is significant.
The two wings could be a hint at large aircraft that will be made available suddenly for all those wishing to flee to that place. But what about the cost of tickets? Not everyone has the means.
When the Israelites left, the Egyptians hastened them and gave them gold and valuables, urging them to leave—such was the fear the Lord instilled in the Egyptians! It is possible that there will be some programs from governments and international organizations, like the UN, to assist everyone who wishes to leave. (This is my assumption.)
God Himself describes the exodus from Egypt as follows: “… You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.” Exodus 19:4
In the book of Deuteronomy, God clarifies the “eagle” theme even further: “… As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.” Deuteronomy 32:11-12
Conclusion: If God has prepared a special place for the Church, we can be confident that He will provide for us there, nourish us, and meet all our needs. God performed a miracle for the Israelites, which was not immediately visible: “… Your clothes did not wear out on you, and your foot did not swell these forty years.” Deuteronomy 8:4
Question: When will this event occur—the flight of the woman (the Church) from the terrible events of the Great Tribulation?
There have been several comments about prophetic years, suggesting that 1 prophetic year equals 360 days. This concept seems unlikely, especially given the timing of the woman’s flight.
We take the number of days in a year as it is and start counting.
The beast will rule for 42 months, which is approximately 1277 days. The woman will flee for 1260 days. “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” Revelation 12:6
She will remain hidden until the power of the beast and the Great Tribulation come to an end. This makes sense. The beast’s power will end with the arrival of the Lord Jesus, when the beast and the false prophet will be thrown alive into the lake of fire. 1277 – 1260 = 17
The 17 days are the discrepancy troubling supporters of the “prophetic” years but are crucial for us!
Conclusion: When the beast appears, the countdown for 42 months (1277 days) begins. The Church will be alerted that it is time to flee, or those who remain will be killed. This is in addition to the saved remnant of Israelites (and the 144,000) through the preaching of the two prophets mentioned in Chapter 11.
Remember, the two prophets will also serve in Jerusalem for 1260 days. It is highly probable that both the beast and the two prophets will appear on the world stage at the same time, but the prophets will be killed about two weeks before the Lord’s second coming. Perhaps these two prophets will announce the general assembly for the Church and where it needs to flee. There will be no voices from above; everything will be very practical and straightforward to ensure that no soul ready to flee at the Lord’s call will be missed.
So what about those 17 days for the woman? This is the time from the beginning of the beast’s rule to the end of the opportunity to flee. After 17 days, this opportunity will close, and the 1260 days until the Lord’s arrival will begin. It is possible that international immigration programs for various “sectarians” who hinder the imposition of perversions in all countries will be suspended, and flights will stop, no longer transporting those wishing to escape for free.
Additional details about the woman’s flight will be covered in the next post.
Let’s wrap up the discussion on the woman fleeing into the wilderness. Here are a few important reflections for those who have carefully read the previous posts in the “Prophetic School”:
Revelation 12:13-16: “When the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.”
The details of this vision are unclear. There are many interpretations, but everything you’ve heard before is just speculation without evidence. The key point of this vision is that when the dragon is cast down to the earth, he will attempt to pursue and destroy the woman, but he will not succeed. When the Israelites left Egypt, other nations who wished to join them did so.
When the call comes for the Church to leave before the doors close, non-Christians may also leave with Christians, such as parents or siblings. There are people approaching the Lord, and in this, there is great divine wisdom to ensure that these souls are not left to the dragon’s destruction during the Great Tribulation. Similarly, children of Christians can leave with their parents. You might ask, “What’s strange about this?” We have previously discussed this topic—only those who have repented and entered into a covenant with the Lord through water baptism are part of the Church. This is an axiom. Therefore, children who have not yet entered into a covenant with the Lord are not included in this number (however sad that may sound). They are sanctified by their believing parents. Some may make a final decision during the 1260 days and join the Church, while the little ones will have the right to live in the new 1000-year Kingdom of the Lord. If the rapture of the Church were to occur before the Great Tribulation, would the Merciful God leave the children behind to fall into the hands of the dragon? No, that cannot be. The divine wisdom here is to provide salvation to all who desire it and are attempting to obtain it. Hence, God has a complex plan for the salvation and rapture of the Church at the very end of the Great Tribulation.
Another thought on this topic: There will be those who, after leaving with the Church and living for a time in the wilderness, will not be able to endure and will decide to return. There will be no Wi-Fi, no familiar comforts as we imagine. There might be no computers or televisions, and some may start to long for their previous lives, complain, and decide to go back. Those who endure to the end will have the opportunity to be cleansed of any unresolved sins, dependencies, and so on. By the end of the 1260 days, a form of purification will occur for those who need it.
Revelation 12:7-9: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
A war will occur in heaven. Who will be fighting? On God’s side, the commander will be Michael. This is likely the same Michael who came to assist the angel in Daniel 10:13, 21. He is a powerful warrior and leader of the heavenly angelic army.
Against Michael will be Satan himself, leading the demonic forces. Satan is described in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. Satan will lose and be cast down to the earth. How should we understand this? Wasn’t Satan already on earth before?
1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Even now, the devil prowls around seeking whom he may devour. Jesus also told His disciples that He had seen Satan fall like lightning. Where is the contradiction?
The answer is that there is no contradiction. We have discussed in a previous post that the structure of heaven is very complex. Paul mentioned being caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). Also, in the book of Job, Satan came to present himself before God along with the sons of God (Job 1:6).
Conclusion: It appears that Satan had the ability to present himself before the Most High but was then cast down from the third heaven, where God’s throne is, which is what Jesus referred to when He said He had seen Satan fall like lightning. Now Satan can only ascend to the second heaven and roam the earth.
In the next post, we will explore the reasons why Michael and Satan will engage in battle.
Revelation 12:7-10: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.'”
Why does this heavenly war occur? For thousands of years, God’s angels and Satan with his angels coexisted, so what triggers this conflict now?
Read Revelation 19:6-9: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”
At the end of the Great Tribulation, there will be a wedding feast between Jesus Christ and His Church. Where will this wedding take place? In heaven, specifically in the second heaven. It is crucial that this celestial event occurs without interference from those who are not welcome.
The motive behind the angelic war in heaven will be to cleanse the second heaven of Satan and his followers and to finalize preparations for the meeting of the Bridegroom and the Bride.
Revelation 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.'”
Satan, with his access to the heavenly court, was constantly accusing Christians. The Lord described him as follows:
John 8:44: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Revelation 12:12: “Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
Satan knows his time is very short, and this period from the heavenly conflict to his imprisonment in the abyss for 1,000 years is less than four years.
The heavenly war will coincide with the appearance of the two prophets in Jerusalem, the revelation of the beast to those on earth, and the opening of a 17-day window for the Church to escape the terrible tribulations of the Great Tribulation.
2 Thessalonians 2:7: “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.”
In the next post, we will explore what Paul means by the “secret power of lawlessness” and who the “one who holds it back” is, as it relates to our topic.
Revelation 12:12: “… But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
It’s interesting to consider why the devil will be particularly enraged after the heavenly battle. We know the reason is that his time is running out, but why will he have the power to act with such ferocity? Why couldn’t Satan act with this kind of strength during Christ’s time or even today? The apostle Peter already warned us:
1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
So what has changed? Why does Satan gain more power? The answer can be found in 2 Thessalonians 2:7. Read from the first verse. It discusses the Last Times and the rise of the Antichrist.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul reveals: “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.”
First, there will be a falling away from the foundational truths of God’s Word (which we can already observe almost everywhere). Then, the beast will be revealed (which we will examine in detail in Revelation 13), who will replace the truth with lies in the blinded minds of believers, making himself an object of worship instead of the true God: “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Remember, the temple is us, not a physical building expected on the Temple Mount.
1 Corinthians 3:17: “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”
In 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Paul provides us with a key to understanding the situation in Revelation 12: “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.”
There is someone who is currently restraining Satan, preventing him from fully unleashing his power and making a deal with the ruler who will become the beast, the Antichrist. Who is this figure?
The traditional answer is that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you thought of this? But let’s consider what the Holy Spirit’s role is according to the Lord Himself:
In summary, John 16:5-14 describes the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who convicts the world of sin, gives gifts, and allows people to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Nowhere in the Bible does God assign the Holy Spirit the task of fighting the devil or restraining him. You won’t find any Biblical accounts of God’s servants binding or loosing anyone in the name of the Holy Spirit.
So, who is this hero that has been restraining the prince of the power of the air and preventing him from fully manifesting his plans?
This post has become lengthy, and to avoid overwhelming you, we’ll complete this analysis (God willing) tomorrow.
Wishing you peace and blessings!
The Holy Spirit cannot be the restrainer because, firstly, He has different functions, and secondly, it is illogical—would the Holy Spirit be taken away from the earth if people are still finding salvation and going to their deaths in the name of Jesus Christ during the Great Tribulation? Without the work of the Holy Spirit, this is impossible! The Holy Spirit cannot be removed before the Great Tribulation begins, as no one can be born again without His work. (Romans 8:14-16) Nowhere in the Bible is there even one direct text that says the Holy Spirit will ever be removed from the earth.
Therefore, the one who has the power to restrain one of the most powerful angels (Satan) must possess considerable strength. He must be a mighty warrior and should be mentioned in the Bible.
In the Book of Daniel, chapters 10 and 12 mention a certain prince named Michael who came to help. An angel testified to Daniel that he had been sent to him earlier, but the forces of darkness hindered him. But Michael came and restrained the dark forces, allowing Gabriel’s encounter with Daniel to take place.
In verse 21 of chapter 10, the angel informs Daniel that there is no one who supports this angel in his work except Michael. (In modern translations, “in battle.”) In verse 1 of chapter 12, the angel again points out that Michael will play a significant role in the very last historical period.
We also see that Michael is not just an ordinary angel among the angels. In the Synodal translation, he is called a prince! In modern translations, he is termed a “great ruler.” The Bible also specifies that Michael is an Archangel! (Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:7) We see that Michael, as a formidable and experienced warrior throughout the history of the earth, appeared during the most dangerous periods and did not allow demonic forces to fully act.
Michael commands legions of angels. When Gehazi began to complain in fear, Elisha prayed, and Gehazi’s eyes were opened to see a vast number of fiery chariots prepared. (2 Kings 6)
It is Michael, by the order of the Supreme Commander, who will begin to cleanse the “second heaven” of unwanted guests. And in chapter 12, we see that the angelic armies, under Michael’s careful leadership, managed to defeat the devil and his army.
Conclusion: From the moment the devil is cast down to earth and begins to act along with the beast from chapter 13, it is likely that Michael will be ordered not to interfere with what happens on earth except in the places where the Church will be hidden and in half of the city of Jerusalem, where the two prophetic witnesses will be active (chapter 11).
We have spent many days analyzing chapter 12! But we did it, and I congratulate you, my dear researchers! If anything is not entirely clear, feel free to ask questions on the topic.
Let’s start analyzing this complex, contradictory, and key chapter for understanding the period of the Great Tribulation! Prepare to work hard, think deeply, read carefully, and don’t hesitate to ask the most challenging questions—it’s crucial for a good understanding of the topic. We will frequently refer to other chapters of Revelation, and after analyzing chapter 13, you will have a more or less clear picture of the events related to the beast and his rule.
☝️Read the entire chapter carefully!
“And 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. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion; the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”
Revelation 13:1-2
What is this sea? John does not provide a precise explanation, but if you read Revelation 17:15, it can be understood that the sea represents a multitude of people. From this “multitude” comes the beast. The beast represents a demonic system ruling over a certain territory. There can be debate about whether “beasts” rule everywhere and if Satan is the prince of this world, but the key point is that in this vision, the final act in human history before the Lord’s return is unfolding, and all the symbols represent specific people, rulers, and corresponding territories where they rule.
So, the beast is a system of rule. For example, before World War I, Europe had several empires, but after World War I, four empires disappeared from the political map of the world. These empires were ruled by emperors who passed their power through hereditary rights: from father to son, from son to grandson, and so on.
However, when this beast appears, it has a completely different system of governance. We see that this system itself is atheistic. Empires, like the Russian Empire, needed the support of religion and demonstrated a close connection with it.
The beast, on the other hand, is openly opposed to the Creator. On the heads of the beast are written blasphemous names! (Rev. 13:1,6)
The same beast is described in Revelation 17:3, but with an important addition:
“… and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.”
Revelation 17:3
Did you notice the addition?
The beast is scarlet in color, which signifies its entire political agenda, from which the Antichrist ultimately emerges.
Continuation in the next post.
The beast is scarlet. The system under the red banner brings to mind examples like China, North Korea, and Vietnam, among others. However, it’s crucial to ensure that all facts about the beast align.
Imagine if we were sitting here discussing the Book of Revelation 120 years ago. How many ideas and theories would we have had? If someone had told us that the Russian Empire would cease to exist in a few years, we would have found it hard to believe. And if someone had said that a horrifying, bloodthirsty state would emerge in its place, with a central ideology of rejecting God and promoting blasphemy, we would have thought it was absurd! As a result, we would not have been able to piece together all the clues and understand what John was talking about. We live in the final times and have the opportunity to clearly see what will happen soon.
Red communism has infected not only one-sixth of the earth’s land but also, for example, China and North Korea. Millions of people in many parts of the world have perished due to this demonic idea (a paradise without God).
We know that the scarlet beast will appear in the north. (Ezekiel 38-39) You can watch a video on this topic starting at 2:50 minutes.
How can we determine the northern location without confusing it with the Vatican, Turkey, China, and other theories of the end times?
From Jerusalem. On Google Maps, you can see that the northern bounds from Jerusalem include Moscow. The capital of the beast is mentioned in Revelation 17. We have sorted this out. Now, let’s discuss the heads and horns.
The seven heads represent seven rulers of the red system. The ten horns represent ten kings who will form an alliance with the beast and give him their power and authority.
“And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.”
Revelation 17:12-13
Can we identify the rulers of the scarlet beast and determine who the predicted beast and antichrist are? We will explore this in the next post.
Please approach this post with a clear and objective mindset. Set aside patriotism and adopt a mode of detached, ideologically neutral research.
In the previous post, we discussed the beast as a communist system. In this system, there have been and are rulers made of flesh and blood, and they have names.
How do we determine which ruler is the Antichrist in this system?
“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed… and they worshipped the beast, saying: Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
Revelation 13:3-4
Verses 3 and 4 are no longer speaking about the system but about the very ruler who will also be called the beast. Why are we certain of this?
“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image: these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Revelation 19:20
The term “beast” here refers to a person who will be cast alive into the lake of fire! (Imagine the severity of such a fate—being cast alive into the lake of fire?)
Let’s examine Revelation chapter 17.
“Here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth, and there are seven kings: five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.”
Revelation 17:9-10
The angel explains to John the mystery of the seven heads of the beast in chapter 17. We see that there are two mysteries in the “heads” of the beast.
The first mystery of the seven mountains refers to the characteristics of the city where this beast resides. Why a city? The woman sits on seven mountains, and the woman symbolizes a city.
“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 17:18
The beast is a ruler, and his city must be special—an imperial city, no less! We see in the description that the city is a ruling, great city on seven mountains. Additionally, it should be located to the north of Jerusalem (which we’ve discussed before). You can double-check—Moscow fits this description again: it is a capital city, located to the north, and on seven hills! The prophecy was written 2000 years ago, long before this city even existed! Such accuracy is remarkable! This is where we should look for the beast.
The second mystery of the seven mountains concerns the seven kings, and the beast will be either the seventh or the eighth. We need to investigate this further.
We know that five of them have already fallen. We can very precisely count the rulers of the communist system, but there will be more than the Bible mentions. How do we uncover the mystery of the five fallen rulers?
To be continued in the next post!
How to Count the Rulers of the Beast?
A clue is found in the first verse: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”
Revelation 13:1
A ruler must be a person of the system, have an official status, and fully support the system. For example, Mikhail Gorbachev does not fit as a person of the system because he contributed to the dissolution of the Union. Yeltsin also opposed the Communist Party (despite all his flaws), so we will not count him either.
We start counting from whom? From Vladimir Lenin, of course. As an aside, there is even a prophecy about Lenin in Isaiah 14. If anyone is interested, we can look into it.
After Lenin comes Joseph Stalin. After Stalin are Khrushchev and Brezhnev. We do not count Malenkov and Chernenko, as they were not system people. Malenkov was quickly removed, and Chernenko spent most of his time incapacitated, though he did participate in funeral processions. Andropov managed to rule for a short time and was a prominent KGB operative, so we include him as the fifth.
Thus, we have counted the five fallen kings.
📖 Now, let’s analyze the Angel’s words: “And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.”
Revelation 17:10-11
How can the beast be the eighth but of the seven?
“The glory of God is to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”
Proverbs 25:2
If it is said that we are a royal priesthood, then we will uncover this divine mystery! To avoid fatigue, we will continue in the next post, dear researchers and kings. Wishing you all peaceful skies!
Let’s carefully re-examine the Angel’s explanation:
“And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.”
Revelation 17:10-11
Five have fallen, one is, and another will come for a short time. In total, there are seven. The next verse also confirms that there are seven (out of the seven). Thus, “one is” refers to the beast.
Why? The five have fallen and are no longer counted. There are two remaining. One is, meaning the sixth ruler is in power, but another ruler will come for a short period (“a short space”) before the beast returns to power. The beast becomes the eighth in the count but is from among the seven.
What does “of the seven” mean? It means that the last two rulers share the same ideology and spirit as the previous five. The ruler who came after Yeltsin declared that the main mistake and tragedy of the 20th century was the dissolution of the Soviet Union. By law, he could not rule beyond a certain term, so Medvedev was placed as ruler for one term (“a short space”), and then the sixth ruler becomes the eighth.
In a time of empires or kingdoms, power always transitioned from elder to younger, from father to son, but not the other way around. It is not possible for a father to pass power to a son and then the son return power to the father. I mention this again so that we understand recent events as a miracle!
“So, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.”
Luke 21:31-32
If we misunderstand this, history would need to repeat itself in another century to recreate this ruler pattern. However, time is almost up, and the Euphrates River is nearly dried up, which is one of the signs of the very last times. (Revelation 16:12)
Interestingly, Ezekiel 38 describes the current ruler as a prince, and I prefer to call him the northern prince.
Is this northern prince, who now rules in Moscow, the beast?
No. He has not yet revealed himself to the world as the beast. The northern prince is still very weak and does not have the power to force the inhabitants of the earth to worship him.
When will the beast reveal himself to the world? What are the signs? Where will the beast gain such power? We will explore this in the next post.
So, we come to the most interesting part: how can we understand that the beast has come to power? All answers are found in the same 13th chapter. The key is to not invent anything.
“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed…”
Revelation 13:3
We have already analyzed the meaning of the seven heads of the beast—these represent specific rulers. Therefore, if one of the heads received a deadly wound that was later healed, what conclusions can we draw? The ruler, who is one of the seven, was the sixth and will become the eighth, will receive a deadly wound, but surprisingly, the wound will be healed. This will be a miracle for the inhabitants of the earth:
“…And all the world marveled and followed the beast…”
Revelation 13:3
The deadly wound will be widely reported by the media. How will the beast receive this deadly wound? Perhaps he will slip on ice during a hockey game or choke during lunch? No. The deadly wound will not be the result of an accident but of some kind of attack. The answer is in the same chapter:
“And with the miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image: these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Revelation 13:14
The wound will be inflicted by a sword! The sword is a weapon, and we can assume that an assassination attempt will be made on this northern prince. The attempt will succeed, the wound will be deadly, and many will be astonished—“Is it possible?” But the wound will indeed be healed.
How will a deadly wound turn out not to be fatal?
“…and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
Revelation 13:2
“…and they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast…”
Revelation 13:4
Conclusion: We can reasonably assume that the beast’s deadly wound will be a turning point for him and for everyone. At the moment of the deadly agony, it is likely that Satan himself will come to him and make a deal. The beast will continue to live, receive power, authority, and the throne from Satan, but in return, this ruler must carry out the direct will of the prince of this world—the devil. Satan will ensure that people worship both the beast and Satan. Remember, the devil will be cast down to the earth and will have much more power than ever before? (Revelation 12) We also found the answer to the question of where the beast will get such power and authority to act on earth—Satan himself will give this power. Furthermore, in chapter 17, it is said that the beast will receive power from ten allies:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”
Revelation 17:12-13
The assassination attempt on the northern king is the second of the two signs of the beginning of the great tribulation that we have discussed.
Did you remember the first sign?
Dear researchers,
We have come a long way together, and this is our 48th post on the Book of Revelation. One of the main themes of this book is how Christians can recognize the beginning of the Great Tribulation and prepare to “…not partake in her plagues…” (Revelation 18:4) with the rest of the world.
The argument, “I am a child of God and I have nothing to fear; God will protect me,” is not sufficient, as our safety is our own responsibility. The Lord Himself has repeatedly warned His disciples and us: “Beware…” (Mark 13:5-23)
The Book of Revelation provides a precise answer to when the Great Tribulation will begin and when the Church should retreat to a safe place.
We find two exact signs:
Two very strange men, dressed in sackcloth, appear in Jerusalem. These two prophets will prophesy for 1,260 days, nearly the entire duration of the beast’s rule. It is likely that through them, the Church will receive a message about the beginning of its withdrawal.
The northern prince will receive a wound “by the sword,” and despite the deadly nature of the wound, he will survive. From this moment, he will begin to act as the beast.
After these signs, the Lord will come to Earth within 3.5 years! We will not be able to pinpoint the exact day even then, but we can estimate the time within a few months.
There are no other exact signs for the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Many theologians deceive themselves and mislead others by claiming that a temple must be built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem first. I view this as an attempt to confuse Christians and weaken their vigilance—why prepare now if the temple has not even begun construction? The Bible does not hint that a Temple for the Most High will be built in the Last Days! After the death of the Lord on the cross, the temple service came to an end, and the Bible says that we, Christians, are the Temple of God.
“…For you are the temple of the living God…”
2 Corinthians 6:16
Some attribute the building of the temple to a special path for the Jews, suggesting that the Israeli people have a distinct path to salvation. But that’s not the case. The Bible clearly states:
“…for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek…”
Galatians 3:27-28
Another mistake is the overemphasis on the development of digital technologies and the anxiety over inadvertently receiving the mark of the beast 666. If there are those among us who are worried about this, I want to reassure you—none of you will receive the mark, and no one will be able to place it on you until the Great Tribulation begins. We will address this topic soon, as it is also covered in chapter 13. Yes, digital technologies are advancing and the beast’s system is being prepared and gaining strength, but we should not be overly concerned. The Lord will take us away from this turmoil before the beast begins to implement it.
May the Lord keep you all!
“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 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.”
Revelation 13:7-8
The beast will establish power over every tribe and language, and those not written in the Book of Life will worship him.
Which saints will fight against the beast if the Church has fled to the wilderness during the beast’s reign?
These will be Christians who, for various reasons, chose to remain behind. There can be many reasons, and I have encountered several individuals who have seriously stated that they understand they might perish but choose not to leave.
Two prophets will serve almost the entire duration of the beast’s reign, and their ministry will be somehow broadcasted. Remember, the Holy Spirit will not be taken from the earth until Christ’s return, meaning the Holy Spirit will still touch some hearts, and people will continue to repent.
These saints are mentioned when referring to the first resurrection:
“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 worshipped 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.”
Revelation 20:4
“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 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.”
Revelation 13:11-12
The first beast, who is the ruler of the system, will have a powerful ally, or rather, an assistant. This beast will serve the northern prince with remarkable zeal, compelling people not just to obey but to worship the ruler. He may perform signs that astonish people, even bringing fire down from heaven. Will this be a genuine miracle? I would advise caution here, as modern technologies can indeed perform wonders, and a technological marvel might be mistaken for a true miracle by an ordinary person. We have previously shared videos illustrating this.
By the way, for many years, there have been enthusiasts of fire from heaven who gather in Jerusalem, waiting for a priest to appear and present the new sacred fire on the Saturday before Easter. Why do I mention this? The second beast has two horns like a lamb and comes up out of the earth. The earth, apparently, represents a certain established system, and this beast is its leader. Most likely, this leader is from a religious organization (horns like a lamb).
This is why verse 8 mentions that all will worship the first beast. Satan will attempt to establish a religion similar to true Christianity. He will act as God the Father, the sea beast will resemble the Messiah (having recently died and seemingly resurrected), and this earth beast will take on the role of the Holy Spirit, influencing and compelling people to join their one-world religion, which many have longed for (Ecumenism). People will believe they are worshipping the one true God, while in reality, they will be worshipping Satan:
“…and they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast…”
Revelation 13:3
“And with the signs which it was granted to perform in the presence of the beast, it deceives those who dwell on the earth, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”
Revelation 13:14
What does it mean to make an image of the beast? If it were simply an idol, John would have said so. But he refers to it as an “image”! People are to create an image of the beast, and then…
“…it was granted to him 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 13:15
This second beast (which we assume to be a religious leader) will manage to give breath to the image created by those who dwell on the earth.
I’ll offer my interpretation (and if anyone has a better explanation, please share).
The “image” is an unfamiliar concept to John because it pertains to the Last Days. It is likely related to digital technologies. For instance, to access your bank account on your smartphone, you need to install the bank’s app. If the beast and his system want to enslave those living on earth, they would need to create an app that grants access to everything a person has and values, only through this app. For example: in the morning, a person wants to check their account or pay utilities. They open the main app, which features an interactive image of the ruler (the ruler can express emotions and respond like Siri or Google Assistant). But that’s just the appearance.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into various aspects of human life. AI can write your thesis, program your computer, manage complex systems from your computer, and more!
Through the camera on your smartphone, the connected AI will monitor the person’s actions, and the first requirement will be to bow down. Without AI, how could the beast control all this? But with AI, everything will be automated. Open the device, bow to the beast on the camera, and gain access to essential functions. If you don’t bow, AI sends a signal, a “black raven” arrives, and you’re done—killed. We’ll discuss the mark of the beast, 666, tomorrow!
“And 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, 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.”
Revelation 13:16-17
Recall that “he” refers to the false prophet who compels people on earth to worship the northern prince. This prince, with his small soul and grand ambitions, has such a sense of inadequacy that it’s crucial for him not just to wield power but to receive literal worship. People might be required to continuously affirm their loyalty to the northern prince (or Gog from Ezekiel 38, 39) through personal smart devices and other devices with cameras, by bowing in a literal sense.
Economic pressure to worship the beast will also be exerted through payment systems for all consumer goods. Cash will be withdrawn from circulation. Only those who not only bow to the beast but also accept the mark on their right hand or forehead will be able to make digital payments. This mark could be in the form of the mark itself, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. The number of the name is 666.
I believe it’s clear that modern digital technologies are being described here. There are many conspiracy theories and fears circulating, such as secret chipping and claims that chips are being transmitted through vaccines, etc.
We need to understand the main point—no one will secretly mark people, as there will be personal criminal liability for having the mark and worshiping the beast:
“…if anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”
Revelation 14:9-10
No one knows exactly what the mark will be. It could be chips, it might not be chips. It might be as simple as a barcode on the right hand or forehead to be scanned by a device for purchases or sales. I understand this to mean that it will be something very simple, mundane, and convenient. John is doing his best to explain that “666” is a human number. There is no magic or supernatural aspect to it:
“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.”
Revelation 13:18
Three sixes are already part of the system for tracking all goods. If you look at the barcode on anything at home, you’ll see the first, middle, and last double lines without a number. Somewhere in the middle, there might be a similar double line with the number 6 underneath it. The entire world is already prepared for the inclusion of the “666” system in the marks on the hand or forehead.
We must remember that those who love God will be taken to a safe place, and we will not face such a dreadful choice—to accept the mark or die.
Dear researchers, we are now in chapter 14. We have covered a large portion of the journey, and these events we study in theory are getting closer to us. Praise God, Hallelujah! The Lord is coming soon!
Please read the entire chapter carefully.
“Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.”
Revelation 14:1
We have already discussed who the 144,000 are when we went through chapter 7. In this vision, we see them standing on Mount Zion with the Lord Jesus, who has returned for the second time. This vision occurs after the great tribulation.
“And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.”
Revelation 14:2
Just imagine how beautiful and majestic the “voice from heaven,” the “sound of many waters,” and the “loud thunder” must be, with harpists playing their harps!
“They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.”
Revelation 14:3
They sing! A choir like this has never been on Earth before. These 144,000 are honored to sing a “new song” before the throne of the Almighty, where the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are present! It’s something extraordinary!
“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
Revelation 14:4-5
Redeemed as firstfruits to God—what does this mean? My interpretation is that it does not necessarily mean they are literally the firstborn of their parents (though it could be), but rather that they were among the first to respond to the call to repent and follow Jesus Christ from among the entire people of Israel.
It is also interesting that “in their mouth was found no deceit.” How so? Recently, we often see that words lose their significance. People easily betray their word. Contracts need to be notarized, and even then, it’s not a guarantee. Husbands and wives vow at the altar but soon become oath-breakers by abandoning their partners. Politicians and world leaders say whatever boosts their ratings, ready to betray their word for power. Courts judge for money rather than according to the letter of the law. Amid all this, the 144,000 Christians from the people of Israel are without deceit in their mouths. They speak only truthfully! We have a great example to follow, my friends.
A new vision is shown to John. The text suggests that this vision occurs either during the great tribulation or just before its conclusion. In modern Christianity, the theme of “fearing God” is less popular—more emphasis is placed on sermons about love. Yet here, we see that what is crucial for those living on the earth for their salvation in the hour of God’s judgment is the fear of the Lord and worship before the Creator!
“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”
Revelation 14:6-7
The second angel follows the first and announces the fall of Babylon. We will discuss this in detail when we reach chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation.
“And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’”
Revelation 14:8
The third angel flies after the first two and delivers a crucial message for us all: under no circumstances should one give in to weaknesses or accept what the world system offers. One must not worship the beast or its image or receive its mark! This is a personal responsibility for each individual. If someone disobeys and does these things, they will not find God’s love. They will face the full fury of God’s wrath! If you’re interested, the “cup of wrath” is mentioned in Jeremiah 25:15.
“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’”
Revelation 14:9-11
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7
I considered skipping these two verses since they don’t directly relate to the main theme of the End Times, but the Lord commands John to “write!” This means it is important!
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’”
Revelation 14:12-13
These verses speak to the state of those faithful to God both during the great tribulation and in times of severe persecution. We must exhibit patience, keep God’s commandments, and remain faithful until the end, even unto death. The Holy Spirit confirms that, in such a case, the deceased Christians will be “blessed” (incredibly happy), and their deeds will serve as a testament to their perseverance!
We are concluding the study of Revelation chapter 14.
“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat one like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’”
Revelation 14:14-15
It is most likely that “one like the Son of Man” refers to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Angel of God addresses Him, indicating that the time has come, and it is time to use the sickle for the harvest. The term “ripe” in this context means that the harvest on earth is withering or drying up.
“So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire; and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’ So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.”
Revelation 14:19-20
The exact nature of these “grapes” is not explained by the Angel, so we can only make assumptions. I believe that verses 16 through 20 describe the fulfillment of the words of the third Angel in verse 9 of the same chapter. Compare the texts.
One theologian, William Kelly, outlines the main events of this chapter as follows:
1️⃣ The appearance of the God-fearing remnant of Israel; 2️⃣ The final call to the Gentiles;
3️⃣ The fall of Babylon;
4️⃣ The doom of those who worship the “beast”;
5️⃣ The blessedness of the martyred saints;
6️⃣ The harvest;
7️⃣ The outpouring of God’s wrath on the wicked world.
P.S. The “winepress” is a place where harvested grapes were gathered and crushed for juice.
New milestone—Chapter 15! It’s quite short but no less interesting. Read it in full!
“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God.”
Revelation 15:1
John describes an incredible vision in Chapter 15, marked by its power and content. Note how he pays attention to details. Imagine this vision is shown to you—what would you focus on, and what might you overlook? A prophet’s skill is in noticing the small details and then conveying them to others. We learn from John’s professionalism.
“And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire; and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.”
Revelation 15:2
The “sea of glass” might be the same sea mentioned before the throne of God (Revelation 4:6). If so, does this vision contradict our understanding that no humans are in heaven yet? Not at all. This vision shows the “victorious” ones—those who stood firm during the great tribulation. They did not allow the beast to defeat them or compel them to worship him! Their victory will be fully realized only at the end, when the Lord Jesus returns, defeats the beast, and casts him into the lake of fire. These victors are also mentioned in Chapter 20. They will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).
Peace to all, far and near!
The victors over the beast stand on the sea of glass and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Could the “song of Moses” be his song from Deuteronomy 32, just before his death?
The “Song of the Lamb” is likely inspired by the way the Son of God demonstrated how to praise the Heavenly Father while He was on earth among people. The “Our Father” also begins with the praise of the Most High! The words of the Lamb might have been sung by the redeemed, and John heard and recorded it.
“And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.”
Revelation 15:7
Is this not what the third angel in Chapter 14 warned about:
“…if anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.”
Revelation 14:9-10
The bowls of God’s wrath are terrifying judgments that come just before the second coming of Jesus Christ. Remember, we touched on this topic— the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls of God’s wrath are almost consecutive. The 7 trumpets roughly start with the fifth seal, and the last plagues come with the 7 bowls of God’s wrath, starting from about the fifth trumpet.
We’ll begin discussing the bowls in the next chapter.
I suggest everyone listen to one of the best psalms by Ukrainian poet, composer, and singer Valeriy Korop, “Great and Marvelous Are Your Deeds”!
Let’s start analyzing Revelation Chapter 16. Read the entire chapter.
The judgments of the “seven bowls” continue the development of the “seven trumpets” but with much greater force and speed. The inhabitants of the earth did not learn from or humble themselves before God in response to the previous judgments of the “seven trumpets.” The “seven bowls” of God’s wrath are the final events that will conclude the period of great tribulation.
“And I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.’
The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.”
Revelation 16:1-2
The people made their choice: to accept the mark of the beast on their hand and worship its image, which seemed to them like the easiest way to a peaceful life. But the outcome was painful and festering sores on their bodies.
“The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood, like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.
The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.”
Revelation 16:3-4
When the second trumpet sounded, only a third of the sea was affected (Revelation 8). With the second bowl, the entire sea is affected! Every living thing in it perishes! We cannot know exactly which sea is being referred to; sometimes the term “sea” can also mean the ocean. The rivers and springs will be affected after the third bowl. It is terrifying to imagine the horror awaiting those on earth! Is this all just? Is it excessive?
The angel of the waters answers this question:
“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, You who are and who were; for they have shed the blood of Your holy people and Your prophets, and You have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
Revelation 16:5
The Egyptian plague of “water turned to blood” was a judgment against the Egyptian people. Here we see vengeance from God as well… “because they shed the blood of saints and prophets, You have given them blood to drink…” Remember how the “souls of those who had been slain for the word of God under the altar” cried out, asking why God did not avenge them? Revelation 6:9-10. This seems to be the answer to their question—the time for retribution has come.
“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat, and they cursed the name of God who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and give him glory.” Revelation 16:8-9
If there was ever a time to talk about global warming, it would be now—the fourth bowl! It’s important to understand that the “bowls of wrath” represent relatively short periods at the end of the great tribulation. Otherwise, everything would be destroyed.
“And if those days had not been cut short, no one would survive; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:22
The fifth angel pours out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its entire kingdom becomes dark. It’s possible that some real darkness will cover the land of Magog, but I would add that “becoming dark” might also refer to a chain of events: disasters, economic collapse, declining living standards, and widespread apathy. A transition from the “chosen status of a whole nation” to complete hopelessness.
“The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores; but they refused to repent of what they had done.” Revelation 16:10-11
Sadly, even under such conditions, people will continue to curse God instead of repenting.
“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East.” Revelation 16:12
The events of the sixth bowl are closely related to those of the sixth trumpet. They are likely concurrent events. Consider this connection.
“When the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, I heard a voice… saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet: ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’” Revelation 9:13-14
Now for something intriguing. For those who are eagerly awaiting the construction of the temple of God on the Temple Mount in the future: notice how rapidly events are unfolding. The once mighty Euphrates River, mentioned as early as Genesis 2, has almost entirely dried up in our time. Soon, armies from the East could easily traverse its dry bed to invade beleaguered Israel. These plans are already being declared.
For those interested, we cover this topic in this video (starting at the 5-minute mark).
What kings will come “from the East”? To the east of Israel are Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and further on, China as a potential ally of Gog.
It is also interesting to consider why the angel pours the bowl into the Euphrates River—this action seems to make the path easier for Israel’s enemies. I’m curious about your thoughts and reflections on this. Please share them in the comments!
“And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet three unclean spirits like frogs; they are demonic spirits performing signs, who go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them for battle on the great day of God Almighty.” Revelation 16:13-14
From this text, it seems that we are already witnessing the influence of demonic spirits affecting world leaders. Many Middle Eastern (and not only) countries are declaring their readiness to engage in war with Israel. Even China has sent six of its warships to the Middle East and declared its readiness to participate in de-escalating the conflict… notably, on the side of Russia. This implies that Russia does not support Israel and its allies. The northern prince becomes the figure who consolidates Israel’s enemies, divided by their religious beliefs.
Paul also warned that the mystery of lawlessness is already at work! (2 Thessalonians 2:7) We are witnessing its unfolding now.
Now, regarding the contradictions! Verses 13 and 14 present a significant logical problem for those who believe that a temple will be built in Jerusalem and that the Antichrist will sit there. They believe that the great tribulation will not begin until the Jews build the temple on the Temple Mount. The logical question then arises: how can the Antichrist sit in Jerusalem and, at the end of the great tribulation, the Antichrist, the false prophet, and Satan gather the kings of the earth for battle? Battle against whom? Against the Antichrist? According to their logic, the Antichrist would already be in power and sitting on the throne in Jerusalem.
The dragon’s intentions are clear—he does not want to allow Christ to come to the Mount of Olives. However, this is not something that can be explained to the “earthly kings.” They need a clear earthly reason, and there is none!
It might be different if Jerusalem were not fully conquered, and the “final solution to the Jewish question” would involve capturing the second half of Jerusalem and destroying the Israelites.
By the way, Paul reminds us in Romans 9:27 that only a remnant of Israelites will be saved. This remnant is the one we discussed in Revelation 14—the Jews from the second half of Jerusalem, free from the beast. The prophet Zechariah also spoke of this in chapter 14. In Revelation 11, we also noted that the Gentiles would not be able to capture the entire “temple” as a representation of Jerusalem, but only the outer court for the entire 42 months of the beast’s rule.
So, we are approaching the final act of world history—the Battle of Armageddon!
In verse 15, the Lord again warns that it is each person’s personal responsibility to stay vigilant and keep themselves from being deceived, for the time of the Lord’s coming is near!
“Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15
We are approaching the climax of the final events—the Battle of Armageddon and the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Mount of Olives. Notice that we have covered a significant amount of ground, and in chapter 16, we haven’t encountered any inconsistencies or contradictions! Why couldn’t past theologians explain things as we do today and fell into misunderstandings? It’s not that we are more intelligent than others; rather, as we draw closer to the great tribulation, the Lord reveals more to us through His Holy Spirit!
“And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” Revelation 16:16
Who is “he” and why have they been gathered? What is this place? The Scripture does not explicitly state who this “he” is, but it seems likely that it refers to Satan, as his burning and uncontrollable desire to obstruct Christ will lead to such future consequences.
“Armageddon” means “Mountain of Megiddo.” Near this mountain lies a very large valley (I had the honor of visiting it), where the armies of the beast (also known as Gog or the northern prince) will be gathered. For those not in the know, the reason for this gathering might be some fabricated motive, such as “restoring historical justice,” or for the beast, it might be plunder (as described in Ezekiel 38). But for “him”… For the devil, the main goal is the battle against Christ and His saints. The devil’s ultimate aim is to prevent the Second Coming of the Lord!
“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and his army.” Revelation 19:19
The prophets Zechariah (chapter 14) and Ezekiel (chapters 38 and 39) provide detailed accounts of this battle.
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.” Revelation 16:17
From the 17th verse, John is shown the very last time before the coming, and the voice saying ‘It is done’ points to the end of all predetermined events and judgments, and here comes the Lord!
Let’s add that ‘lightnings, thunders, and voices’ have already been described by the prophet in the 11th chapter. I think that John is describing the same event because in 11:19 it happens with the 7th trumpet, which makes sense, as the Lord will come with the 7th trumpet. Only here, there are more details. For example, the description of the earthquake.
“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.”
Revelation 16:18
Before the coming of Christ, another even more tremendous earthquake will occur, like never before! John was shocked by its consequences. Jerusalem will split into three parts (this is my assumption). Islands will be destroyed and submerged. Mountains will shake and crumble to their foundations. Pagan cities that promote abomination and sin will be destroyed. A vast number of people living there will perish.
“A great hail, each stone about the weight of a talent, fell from heaven upon men. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.”
Huge hailstones will fall from the sky, and from them, plagues will come. People will know that it is from God and that there is indeed a God in heaven, but alas, they will not repent. Only blasphemy against God will come from them.
My reasoning about the plagues: why will there be plagues from hail – possibly it will be related to the environment after the use of nuclear weapons. Huge blocks of ice (about the weight of a talent, approximately 25-45 kg) will be contaminated with something, possibly strong radiation. The reason could be different. This is only for your contemplation.