READ THE FIG LEAVES
Signs of the Times
STUDY 2
TOPIC 16—THE OLIVET DISCOURSE—HAPPENING in the FUTURE
The appearing of the Son of Man and the Abomination of Desolation are two major events Jesus told us about in His Olivet Discourse. I believe, for reasons stated later, the abomination of desolation will happen after the appearing of the Son of Man—Jesus Christ.
The Coming [Appearing] of the Son of Man
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. MATTHEW 24:29-31
In this scripture in Matthew Jesus tells about His “appearing” for His bride—the Bride of the Lamb. Scripture witness in Revelation places his appearing at or near the mid-point of Tribulation. REVELATION 6:12-17
No One Knows That Day and Hour
But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. MATTHEW 24:36-44
Jesus makes it clear in scripture that no one but the Father knows the day or hour that He is coming. He is coming like a thief in the night—unexpectedly—Paul and Peter witness that He will come like a thief; but this speaks to the element of surprise and not that it will be in secret in the ‘dead’ of night. “…They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds…” MATTHEW 24:30 seems to say it will be on a partly cloudy day with vision into the heavens. There is scripture in a later chapter that gives us insight into the time-frame of his return.
The Abomination of Desolation
So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. MATTHEW 24:15-16
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. MATTHEW 24:21-22
Daniel first spoke of the abomination that makes desolate. DANIEL 11:31 Jesus reaffirms the abomination of desolation is a future event in Matthew chapter twenty-four. MATTHEW 24:15 Scripture witness confirms the abomination of desolation will occur at or near the mid-point of Tribulation. Scripture confirming the timing of the abomination of desolation will be looked at it in a later chapter.
Some of these end-time signs of Matthew chapter twenty-four are now happening! Others are yet to come. We need to learn the lesson of the fig tree. Our “leaves” of summer are “signs” of these events. They are insight into end-time events from the teachings of Jesus. I do not believe in reading “tea leaves” but I do want to be able to read these fig leaves.
PART 4 HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE
Time-Frame Three: The Start of Tribulation—the First Three and One-Half Years
Prologue
Numerous events happen in the first one-half of Tribulation. These first three and one-half years are the judgments of God being poured out on the earth and its people. The Judgments of God differ from His Wrath in that Judgments are meant to draw us to Him—to repentance. His Wrath that will be poured out at the last in the Great Tribulation is a separation from God, a death sentence. Regardless of one’s beliefs, all can agree that Tribulation is going to be a dreadful time. Many things which are happening now are a prelude to the start of Tribulation. The end of the War of Gog and Magog will be a sign that Tribulation is about to start. Birth pains begin to get serious.
Then, when the 144,000 are sealed—a sign which may not be visible—and when we hear that the two witnesses are preaching in Israel, we will know Tribulation has started. The four horseman of the apocalypse ‘whip’ their horses for the final stretch of life’s race. Following this will be the opening of the last two seals. Then the scroll will be rolled out and front and back will be read. There will be one-half of an hour of silence in heaven!
At or near the mid point of Tribulation, the earth will be harvested [Caught away! Raptured!] and the two witnesses will be killed. A messenger angel will proclaim the gospel to the whole world setting the stage for the battle of the great red dragon and the angel Michael in the second heaven. The abomination of desolation happens. The trumpets start to sound. Judgment is coming upon the earth. Great Tribulation is then starting.
TOPIC 17—TRIBULATION STARTS—SIGNS
Reading The Fig Leaves
Jesus says if we see the fig tree put forth its leaves, we know summer is near. If we apply this concept of reading the signs of summer, we should be able to read the signs of the end of time if we look for them. If we watch those signs closely and we look at scripture witness, we can tell when Tribulation is about to start. The end of the War of Gog and Magog should be a signal that Tribulation is near. When the two witnesses start to preach, then there is little doubt that Tribulation has started. Note: [Contrary to what many of us seem to have ‘learned’ from the many sermons and books on the end-times, times will not suddenly get so bad that this worsening of world conditions will be a sign that Tribulation has begun; for birth pains will already be serious. And contrary to a commonly held view, the rapture of the Church will not be a sign that Tribulation has started.]
The War of Gog and Magog
In a previous chapter I discussed the War of Gog and Magog. I believe this war will end about three and one-half years before Tribulation begins. To review: In Ron Rhodes’ book, “Northern Storm Rising,” one of the many theories he writes about is that this war will end at least three and one-half years prior to the Tribulation. [1] Chapter 9 After this war is over “…they [Israel] will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them…they will make fires of them for seven years.” EZEKIEL 39:9
If the Jews are to spend seven years burning the weapons of war, they must start at least three and one-half years prior to the beginning of Tribulation. The burnings can only go to the middle of Tribulation, another three and one-half years; for at the middle of Tribulation most of Israel will flee to the wilderness, to the protection of God. REVELATION 12:14 This scripture is the basis of Rhodes’ conclusion that the War of Gog and Magog will end three and one-half years before the start of Tribulation. It is a plausible view. If I am living at that time, a “reading of the fig leaves” would convince me that Tribulation was about to start and that the Bride of the Lamb would be caught away in about three and one-half years after Tribulation’s beginning. Those conclusions do not mean that I know the day and hour; but rather I am watching the signs of the times—not the weather.
The 144,000 of Israel Sealed—Jews
Many believe the first thing that happens at the start of Tribulation is the sealing of the 144,000; for the angel with the seal of the living God calls to the four angels, who had been given the power to harm earth and sea, do not harm the earth or the seas until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. REVELATION 7:2-3 It seems the start of Tribulation is being held up until they are sealed. Although this sign may not be visible, Tribulation will start after they are sealed. They will be redeemed from the earth, they are virgins, they will follow the Lamb wherever he goes—and they will be redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and no lie will be found in their mouth. They are blameless! REVELATION 14:1-5 They will stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb’s name and the Father’s name written on their foreheads—they will sing a new song before the throne that no one else can learn. We need scripture witness to believe anything further. Important to note is the fact that “they will follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” They stay with the lamb—they are not sent on various missions as some declare.
The Two Witnesses Start to Preach
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. REVELATION 11:3
When Elijah and Moses start preaching in Israel, then we know Tribulation has started. These are the two witnesses [Note—God’s precept for two witnesses] that will preach for twelve hundred and sixty days. Whether this sign of the times will be readily visible and knowable or shrouded in mystery is not yet clear; but we do know they will preach, that their message will be detested, and that they will be killed when their witness is completed.
But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. REVELATION 11:11-12
TOPIC 18— THE 144,000 of ISRAEL SEALED—JEWS
The 144,000 of Israel Sealed—Jews
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” REVELATION 7:1-3
John “…saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree.” REVELATION 7:1 These winds are the judgments of God. He does not want those 144,000 who are to be sealed to suffer from judgments meant for those who are evil. God wants all of the 144,000 sealed before destruction of the earth starts—they will obviously be in harm’s way and need His protection. This seal symbolizes God’s ownership and protection of His people and is antithetical to the mark of the beast. Those who overcome are promised a gift, “… and I will write upon him… my own new name.” REVELATION 3:12
The “…angel ascending from the rising of the sun, coming from the East, with the seal of the living God…” REVELATION 7:2 has a visible means to seal the 144,000. He calls to the four angels holding back the four winds to wait until he has finished sealing the servants of God. REVELATION 7:3 The start of Tribulation is being held up until they are sealed.
While there is not a lot of scripture witness concerning this 144,000, we can look at what we do know. First, they are going to be sealed “…with the seal of the living God…” “…It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” REVELATION 14:4 And they will be with the Lamb on Mount Zion “…singing a new song before the throne…” REVELATION 14:3
Sealed by God means you belong to Him—that you are safe from His wrath—and that others can see you belong to Him. Even the locusts that will be released from the bottomless pit after the fifth trumpet will be able to distinguish between those who have the seal of God and those who do not. REVELATION 9:4
This 144,000 literally are Jews that will be sealed by God. Although it’s not clear from scripture, God does have a special purpose for them in the Tribulation. Scripture tells us they follow the Lamb wherever he goes. Perhaps they are his elite spiritual soldiers who are ever present with Him to do his biding. And they may well be a part of the army of God. We know that they are a choir!
They will be united at the end of times for a song. This song could be about their experiences following the Lamb; for it is a song only they can learn. It is obvious, from Revelation chapter fourteen verse four, they will spend the Tribulation on a mission with the Lamb—not apart from him.
One view is the 144,000 will be the Lamb’s elite unit during the Tribulation. Others believe they may be the ones to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and when they are finished, the end will come. MATTHEW 24:14 But that is the mission of the first Messenger Angel. They could be the reason all of Israel will be saved. ROMANS 11:26-32 Again, we know they will follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
One writer says, “they have a special calling. And that they will be celibates who preach the gospel around the earth—since there is no time for families in the Tribulation. Their mission to preach the gospel will be a full time task. They will be spared the coming judgments and wrath of God.” [1] This may be; but I did not find supporting scripture witness, to conclude the 144,000 will be missionaries.
The fact that the four angels were asked to delay destruction until the 144,000 are sealed and the fact the list of the tribes that will be sealed differs from some lists of tribes in the Old Testament tells me God has a special reason and purpose for these whom he seals; but he choses to keep those reasons hidden for now. The only supporting scripture, as to their roles, says they will follow the Lamb wherever he goes and later—when Tribulation is over—in chapter fourteen, they are standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb—still following him. Then they are before the throne in heaven and before the four living creatures and before the elders singing a new song. REVELATION 14:3 So anything further is yet to be discovered by me.
Tribes That are Sealed
And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel: 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed. REVELATION 7:4-8
Sons of Israel
The sons of Israel are these: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and Benjamin. GENESIS 49:3-27 Differing lists of the tribes of Israel are found in the Bible. Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were added to the blessings that Israel gave his sons—Joseph received a double portion! GENESIS 48:5, 20 There is no a clear reason to me why the twelve tribes listed here are different from most lists. Since the two sons of Joseph were each given a tribe, there was no tribe of Joseph. This would make thirteen tribes; but Levi was considered to be God’s so the twelve tribes of Israel were the sons of Israel minus Levi and Joseph, with Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, each receiving a tribe.
In this list Dan is missing and Joseph’s son, Manasseh, is added. Usually the tribes are listed in order of the patriarch’s birth; but only Joseph and Benjamin are in their birth order on this list. Judah is listed first but his birth order is fourth. Manasseh is the youngest listed but he is listed as the sixth tribe sealed. It could be Judah was listed first because he is the tribe of Jesus.
There is a lack of scripture witness to explain why Dan and Ephraim are missing from the list of sealed tribes; but two scriptures give reasons they may have been excluded. “In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.” JUDGES 18:1 For some reason Dan had not received an inheritance with the rest of Israel—so he was seeking for himself an inheritance to dwell in. Further, from scripture, he was a worshipper of idols. In Psalm we are told that God, “…rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.” PSALM 78:67 Again, no reasons are given why they are not included in the list of those sealed; but their tribes will not be sealed with the seal of God.
TOPIC 19—THE TWO WITNESSES
The Two Witnesses—1260 days to prophesy
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. REVELATION 11:3-6
Scriptural precept requires two or three witnesses to confirm testimony. MATTHEW 18:16 While I could not find scripture to confirm which 1,260 days of the Tribulation that is referred to in Revelation, it is the first one-half of Tribulation that the two witnesses will be present on earth; for in the second one-half of Tribulation Israel will flee to the wilderness and the Antichrist will rule—then will not be a time to preach repentance with most of Israel not present to hear. The witnesses will be martyred by Satan himself—the beast that rises from the bottomless pit. Their bodies will lay in the street dead for three and one-half days. Then they will be resurrected. It could be this happens at the same time the Bride is caught away.
The Two Witnesses will have authority from God. They will be clothed in sackcloth—a symbol of humility and repentance; but their message and their defense against those who wish to harm them is not so humble. They will be street preachers. These two Old Testament prophets will be on earth to prophesy for a specific time of 1,260 days. REVELATION 11:3 Many scriptures in the Bible confirm that two or more witnesses are required before a charge or a death sentence can be carried out—God always uses two or more witnesses. JOHN 8:16-18 and DEUTERONOMY 19:15
There are varying views on the identity of these two witnesses, the two olive trees, the two lamp stands that stand before the Lord of the earth; REVELATION 11:4 but the most convincing view is that they will be Moses and Elijah. Zechariah saw the two olive trees but did not identify them. ZECHARIAH 4:2-3 and ZECHARIAH 4:11-14 In Malachi we are told that one of the witnesses, Elijah, will be sent before the great and awesome day of the Lord. MALACHI 4:5-6 Some believe the second witness will be Enoch; but I find a more compelling view to be that it will be Moses.
Evidence for the identity of the two witnesses is found in Matthew chapter seventeen and Luke chapter nine. On the Mount of Transfiguration Moses and Elijah were there. They were the two witnesses that God chose to witness that Jesus is the Son of God—confirmed by God’s voice from heaven! Moses, a priest, and Elijah, a prophet, are familiar with plagues—turning water into blood and with calling fire down from heaven—two of the things they did while on earth the first time and two of the things they will do while they are on earth a second time. EXODUS 7:20 and II KINGS 1:10 These two will preach that the antichrist, a man of false peace and false hope, is not who he pretends to be—he is not the Prince of Peace. Since the people will be deceived by the antichrist, the Two Witnesses will be hated; but no one can kill them until their 1,260 day ministry is complete. REVELATION 11:5-7 Jesus’ ministry was also for three and one-half years and no one could kill him, even though they tried, until his ministry was complete. God has always been in control and will always be in control.
Jewish tradition teaches that the two witnesses will be Enoch and Elijah. These two prophets were taken up into heaven without dying. Since it is taught that all must die, it is believed they will return in the last days to witness and then they will be killed; [1] but Elijah and Moses are the most compelling choices. I am still looking for more scripture witness.
When the two witnesses start preaching, it will be the beginning of Tribulation.
TOPIC 20—PREVIEW of END-TIME BEASTS
Beasts—Heads—Horns—Diadems
End-time peoples, things, and events that are prophesied about in Revelation and other books of the Bible often are shrouded in much symbolism; but it should be remembered that not all things in prophecy are symbolic. Although prophecy writers in scripture often use comparisons that are unfamiliar to us, many times they are simply used to complete their descriptions. However, that is not to say that descriptions cannot be symbolic also. For a better understanding of these scriptures it is necessary to differentiate between symbolism and comparisons. Further, most things in prophecy can be both spiritual and literal. For the hard to understand, we simply need revelation from God.
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. REVELATION 12:1
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. REVELATION 12:3
These two verses in Revelation chapter twelve are great examples of symbolism in scripture. They need scripture witness to understand what these symbols mean. In the following scripture from Revelation chapter nine John uses the word ‘like’ eight times in his ‘comparative’ description of the locusts. These are not necessarily symbols; but rather they are comparisons used to paint a picture of the appearance of each locust. While those listed in chapter nine are things that can be easily pictured in one’s mind, it is good to remember that writers of prophesy can only use things that are familiar to them and that are in their period of time for their comparisons.
In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth; they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. REVELATION 9:7-10 [emphasis added]
However, this preview is not about locusts. It concerns the four beasts of Revelation and some symbolism from Daniel’s fourth beast. We look at a total of five beasts. Daniel’s fourth beast has an anomaly that is believed by many to play an important role in the end time. And the beasts in Revelation have horns, heads, and diadems that also are a vital part of end-time prophecy. The four beasts of Revelation seem to belong in the timeline in the order they are seen by John. While we will look at each of these beasts as they appear in our timelines in later chapters, a viewing of them together will help us to know them better—their essence and some of the meanings of their symbolism. While those chapters will contain some repetition, these subjects are worthy of repetition. For me, repetition was necessary in helping me to arrive at some understanding of these beasts.
One commonality all these beasts share is that they are all demonic. There are many demonic spirits in the world along with the devil; for it is believed that one-third of the angels in heaven fell with him—an innumerable number. They too are demonic. However, these beasts, we find, are Satan himself or his incarnate. The “little horn’’ on Daniel’s fourth beast and the head that had the mortal wound, on John’s beast rising out of the sea, are the same demon—the Antichrist. The Antichrist, a man incarnated by the devil, now becomes a devil himself. The second beast rising out of the earth becomes the false prophet. These demons represent the darkness of the devil’s final earthly kingdom and will be among those who help provide that evil darkness.
Important to identifying the beasts—what they symbolize and their roles in the end-times are their horns, heads and diadems. All of the beasts have multiple horns but not all have multiple heads; and not all beasts have diadems. The two beasts that have diadems—have them in differing places. One has them on his horns—the other has them on his heads. In this chapter most of our focus will be on the meanings of their horns, heads and diadems. Since all are symbolic, and with so many variables, it is no surprise that the interpretations of these beasts vary so greatly among Bible scholars and commentators. As might be expected, there are few things in Revelation that do not have a lot of differing views.
The Beasts
Our first beast is the great red dragon of Revelation chapter twelve.. His tail sweeps down a third of the stars. REVELATION 12:3-4 And he shows that he has great powers even in his unsuccessful battle with the woman in chapter twelve. REVELATION 12:15-16 In the war that will arise in heaven, [the second heaven] he is defeated and he will be thrown down to the earth [again]—he is identified as “that ancient serpent,” the devil and Satan. He tried to destroy the woman’s child. When he could not destroy him, [Jesus Christ] he pursued the woman [Israel] and tried to destroy her. When he failed to destroy her, [He failed to destroy her even in the Holocaust.] he makes war with her offspring. REVELATION 12:7-17 He will try again at Armageddon and one final time at the end of the Millennium.
The great red dragon has seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven diadems. REVELATION 12:3 There is no other scripture that specifically references the red dragon’s seven heads; but the scarlet beast’s seven heads are defined. “they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.” REVELATION 17:10 This scripture says that they “are” seven kings—to me that takes away some of the mystery about the seven heads.
The great red dragon has ten horns. “…the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.” REVELATION 17:12 [That beast is the Antichrist.] Again, that the ten horns “are” ten kings also takes away some of the mystery about those ten horns.
And the great red dragon has seven diadems on his seven heads. Since diadems are normally worn by kings, this symbolizes the fact that the great red dragon, the devil, has been ruler or king over six empires and will be ruler or king over the final kingdom or empire—seven empires. These diadems were his to give to each ruler of an empire; for he is the ruler of the kingdoms of this world.
These are the same kingdoms that he showed Jesus. “‘And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’” LUKE 4:5-7 Jesus did not accept the devil’s offer; for He knew that there are no shortcuts to the kingdom of God. And that one day they would all be His. After the seventh trumpet sounds these kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.
One really interesting note about the great red dragon is he chased the woman in Revelation chapter twelve into the wilderness. REVELATION 12:6 That is where we find the scarlet beast in Revelation chapter seventeen. REVELATION 17:3 But this time a great prostitute is riding him. She is not the woman he chased into the wilderness.
Our second beast is seen rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. REVELATION 13:1 This beast was like a leopard with feet like a bear and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. These are characteristics from each of Daniel’s four beasts. However, this beast rising out of the sea is different, at the beginning, from the great red dragon; for scripture says the dragon gives “it” his power and his throne and great authority. REVELATION 13:2 So obviously John’s first beast did not have satan’s power and authority from the start. [before his rise out of the sea—at least one of his heads, the Antichrist does not]
The ten horns on the beast rising out the sea are also ten kings of the seventh and last kingdom; but this beast has his diadems on his horns. There is one for each of the ten kings. These are the diadems of those kings of this seventh kingdom—the last earthly kingdom. Remember, the great red dragon has his diadems on his heads—one of each of the emperors of the seven empires of the world.
This beast rising out the sea has seven heads. Scripture says that one of the beast’s head has a mortal wound that is healed—this wounded head is worshiped by all whose names are not in the book of life—he is given a haughty mouth speaking blasphemous words and authority to rule for forty-two months—he blasphemes God, his name, his dwelling and all those in heaven—he makes war on the saints and has authority over all nations. REVELATION 13:3-8 The head with the mortal wound that was healed is the Antichrist’s. The devil by giving him his power, his throne, and his authority, incarnates the wounded head that was “healed,”the Antichrist. This head is still a beast. He will be the sole ruler of the last one-half of Tribulation.
This wounded head still belongs to the seven heads or empires. It will be the last part of the seventh kingdom. It is the Antichrist’s kingdom that is destroyed after the second coming of Jesus Christ. “As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.” REVELATION 17:11 It is this seventh and final kingdom that is taken over by the Antichrist at mid-Tribulation that becomes “an eighth but it belongs to the seven.” Since the wording of this scripture says it belongs to “the seven” and not the seventh, it is reiterating that all of the seven empires of the world belonged to the devil and he belonged to them. Again, the reference to the eighth is to a totally demonic empire—the last part of empire number seven, the last empire of this world, is the empire of the Antichrist. It is that “divided empire” that Daniel speaks about.
With the incarnation of the Antichrist, he and the devil are now one; but in the end of times the Antichrist, the flesh, will be destroyed at the second coming of Jesus Christ. The devil will be bound for a thousand years before he is cast into the lake of fire to be tormented forever and ever with his partners—the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
The other six heads on the beast rising out of the sea are six kingdoms or empires that are in our past. Five of those kingdoms or empires were before John penned Revelation. He lived in the time of the sixth empire—the Roman Empire.
John sees another beast rising out of the earth—the people. Earth is often representative of Israel. This beast has two horns like a lamb and speaks like a dragon. He will exercise all the authority of John’s beast rising out of the sea. This beast from the earth will make the inhabitants of the earth worship this [seventh and wounded] head of the beast from the sea. He will perform great signs, even making fire come down from heaven. He will be allowed [by God] to work signs in the presence of the beast that deceives those who dwell on earth. He will tell them to make an image of the beast, then he is allowed to give breath to the image so that the image speaks and causes those who do not worship the beast to be slain. He causes all to be marked in their right hand or forehead in order to buy or sell.
Further on in scripture we learn he is the false prophet—the lackey of the Antichrist. REVELATION 16:13 He wants to appear to be a lamb. Revelation does not say he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing as recounted in Matthew; but then he is a the false prophet. He does have horns like a lamb; but the demonic voice of the dragon defines his character for he is a demon.
The last beast mentioned in Revelation is the scarlet beast. This is the third appearance of a beast in Revelation with ten horns and seven heads; but this beast has no diadems. He does have a rider—the great prostitute. REVELATION 17:3 This particular beast with his rider is representative of the seventh kingdom while the apostate church still has some control of this kingdom. Much of Revelation chapter seventeen is devoted to the great prostitute, her sins and her destruction—her judgment. “‘Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters.’” REVELATION 17:1 She will lose her ride at or near the mid-point of the Tribulation when she is destroyed by the ten ‘horn’ kings and the Antichrist. There is no scripture that explains why the scarlet beast—this devil has no diadems.
The great red dragon is, of course, red. And the scarlet beast is, of course scarlet. I believe that this difference in color has important symbolic meaning. First, red is a pure color—not a mixture of other colors. The great red dragon is pure Satan. Scarlet is a mixed color—a mixture of red that is slightly tinged with orange. [It is notable that the cardinals of the Catholic Church wear scarlet.] So, I believe, this scarlet beast represents the time in the last kingdom when the clay was still mixed with the iron. DANIEL 2:43 A time when the apostate church was allied with the end time kingdom.
Although we look at four beasts in Revelation it is obvious the great red dragon and the scarlet beast are the same—although they are not the same in color—but both are the same devil. The beast rising from the sea did not have all of the devil’s power and authority until it was given to him; but I see all three beasts with ten horns in Revelation as the devil or devil incarnate. The beast rising from the earth had neither ten horns nor seven heads. He is different; but he, like the Antichrist, is a man that the devil incarnates who becomes totally demonic. The great red dragon is pure devil. The scarlet beast is both devil and apostate church; but both are still authentic devil. An angel identifies this scarlet beast, to John, as the devil in a unique way.
The angel told John, “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.” REVELATION 17:8 One common explanation of the last part of this verse, because it was and is not and is to come, is that it is a mockery of the phrase, “who is and who was and who is to come.” REVELATION 1:8 This may be; but there are a lot of interpretations of this verse. However, there is a reasonable explanation. The devil was and now is on the earth from its foundation until he is bound at the end of Tribulation— and is not on earth during the Millennium but is about to rise from the bottomless pit and lead a rebellion that leads to his final destruction. From this we see the devil’s past, present, future—his end!
No book of the end-times would be complete without looking into Daniel’s prophecies. The final beast we will view is the fourth beast of Daniel. We look at its ten horns and its characteristics for they seem to closely parallel John’s beast rising out of the sea. Daniel’s beast also comes out of the sea. DANIEL 7:3 This fourth beast was terrifying, dreadful and exceedingly strong—it had great iron teeth and claws of bronze—it devoured and broke in pieces—it stamped what was left with its feet and it had ten horns. DANIEL 7:3-7, 19 This fourth beast [the Roman Empire] caused Daniel to be anxious and greatly alarmed. Remember this is the Daniel who faced the lion’s den without fear. DANIEL 7:15, 28
This fourth beast in Daniel is demonic and has the same number of horns [ten] as the great red dragon, the beast rising out of the sea and the scarlet beast. It has no additional heads and no diadems. Daniel’s fourth beasts rising out of the sea is [many believe] a representation of the Roman Empire—with ten horns representative of the ten kings and their kingdoms of the end-time. [A Revived Roman Empire] It has a little horn that plucks up three of the original ten horns. DANIEL 7:8 Satan has been antichrist since his first thought of ascending above God. He now incarnates this “little horn,” a charismatic statesman who will rise in the end-time to become the Antichrist. He displaces three kings [horns] before he takes full control. The first part of this seventh kingdom will be ruled by the ten ‘horn’ kings. The second part will be the empire of the Antichrist. It will be in existence when Jesus comes again.
An end-time ten nation coalition, that the Antichrist eventually completely controls, could be that Revived Roman Empire. There has already been a revival of a sort—the Holy Roman Empire. Many of the things [The Crusades, the control of government by the Catholic Church] about the Holy Roman Empire are a shadow of the end-time kingdom; but the intensity in the end-times requires a multiplier!
Horns—Ten
The great red dragon and the first beast rising out of the sea, have ten horns as does the scarlet beast and Daniel’s fourth beast. The great red dragon and the scarlet beast can be none other than the devil himself—for he, the great dragon, is identified in scripture as such. REVELATION 12:9 The beast rising out of the sea is demonic but not identified as the devil in scripture and Daniel’s fourth beast represents the ancient Roman Empire; but the ten horns on all of them represent the same thing—ten kings; but only the scarlet beast and Daniel’s fourth beast have scripture defining their horns. “… the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power; but they are to receive authority as kings for one-hour together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.” REVELATION 17:12-13
We see from this scripture these ten kings have not yet received royal power but rather are given authority for a short time which they share with the beast, the Antichrist. Later being of one mind they hand over all of their power and authority to the Antichrist. These ten kings and the beast will hate the great prostitute and will bring about her desolation and destruction. REVELATION 17:16 “For God has put it into their hearts of the kings and the beast to carry out his purpose… until the words of God are fulfilled.” REVELATION 17:17 These ten horns on Daniel’s fourth beast are the same ten kings as the Revelation beasts with ten horns; but Daniel says his fourth beast has another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up.
Daniel says about his beast, “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.” DANIEL 7:8 And this little horn seemed greater than his companions, the other kings. He made war with the saints and prevailed over them—until the Ancient of Days came. DANIEL 7:20-22 “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.” DANIEL 7:24 This is the Antichrist that arises and plucks up three kingdoms. Daniel’s “little horn” and the wounded head of the first beast rising out of the sea are the same—the Antichrist.
First, it is clear from scripture the ten horns—before any are displaced—are ten kings. They arise from a kingdom—or become a kingdom—that many refer to as the Revived Roman Empire. After the Antichrist and the ten kings destroy the great prostitute—the apostate church—it will become a totally demonic empire—nothing good is left; for then the ten ‘horn’ kings hand over their kingdoms to the Antichrist. They will become subservient kings under the him, if kings at all. It is he who will take over the revived Roman Empire and will rule it with a fist of iron.
Heads—Seven
The great red dragon of Revelation chapter twelve that appears in heaven has seven heads as does the first beast rising out of the sea and the scarlet beast in a wilderness. There is no mention of multiple heads on the other beasts that we have looked into. So a total of three beasts have seven heads.
“And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.” REVELATION 12:3 There is no other scripture that specifically references the red dragon’s seven heads; but the scarlet beast’s heads are defined.
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. REVELATION 13:1
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and the worshiped the beast, saying ‘who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? REVELATION 13:3-4
The head that had a mortal wound is now referred to as a beast—he is now the devil incarnate—the Antichrist. The Antichrist is now a devil. Nothing is said about the other six heads in chapter thirteen; but they are six empires of the past.
“And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.” REVELATION 17:3 “This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.” REVELATION 17:9-11 Here it says the heads are both mountains and kings. There is some disagreement over the meaning of the seven mountains; but many believe that it represents the seven hills of Rome, the seat of power of the apostate church. However, most agree the heads represent seven empires.
In a strictly spiritual sense I see that the seven heads could be Satan’s attempt to again define himself; for the Bible speaks of the seven spirits of God; REVELATION 3:1 & 4:5 & 5:6 but it was predetermined by God to have seven major world empires that had the twelve tribes under their bondage; for seven is His number of completion.
Diadems
Only two of the five beasts in our preview have diadems. The great red dragon has seven diadems on its seven heads. REVELATION 12:3 The reason the diadems are on the heads of the great red dragon is that his heads represent the empires or kingdoms that have oppressed Israel in the past and the one kingdom that will oppress them in the future—the kingdom of the ten ‘horn’ kings and The Antichrist. The dragon has been and will be present for all of these empires or kingdoms; for they are his kingdoms. Six of those kingdoms have already come and are now gone. Only the revived Roman Empire is yet to rule. The Antichrist will usurp rule of that empire at the mid-point of Tribulation. Then the world will be ruled by the devil for the last three and one-half years of Tribulation. The Antichrist’s kingdom “…is an eighth but it belongs to the seven…” REVELATION 17:11
Again, the great red dragon has diadems on its seven heads. They represent the six kingdoms that have ended and the future kingdom, the revived Roman Empire. The beast rising out of the sea with the diadems on its ten horns represent the ten rulers or nations of the revived Roman Empire that is in the world when this beast rises out of the sea—masses of people.
The first beast rising out of the sea has ten diadems on its ten horns. REVELATION 13:3 There is a diadem for each king. The Antichrist will be present for all of these ten end-time kings. So one beast has diadems on its heads and the other has diadems on its horns. And the scarlet beast has no diadems on its seven heads or its ten horns.
I do not know why the scarlet beast has no diadems on its horns or its heads. There is no plausible explanation for this—certainly there is no scripture witness. The ten horn kings have already given their diadems to the Antichrist and since the devil gave the Antichrist his authority, then one of the seven diadems on his heads was also given to the Antichrist. The devil will have all the kingdoms of the world—past and present and the last earthly kingdom.
All scripture about horns and heads and diadems on beasts is symbolic with both spiritual and literal connotations. While I deeply desire to understand the spiritual things of God and the symbolic, these beasts with their horns and heads have too many deep meanings to believe a single view is totally defining. This book on Revelation is to differentiate between the literal, the seen—the physical, and the symbolic and spiritual. I want to know all I can about what is going to literally happen.
So in future chapters, the focus will be on those meanings with the most scripture witnesses and on the literal context—with horns being kings and heads being empires. Again, every scripture has its own spiritual and symbolic meaning or meanings or is a witness to confirm other scripture. Confirmation can sometimes be in two different forms. Pharaoh’s dreams about famine were in differing versions; yet they both told him famine was coming. Again, the horns are kings of the end-time—the seventh empire. The heads are seven empires. The scarlet beast’s heads are mountains and kings that also represent those seven empires. So Revelation, too, has differing versions of the seven heads in differing scriptures—all meaning the same thing—scripture witness.
PART 5 THE MID-POINT OF TRIBULATION
Time-Frame Four: The Mid-Point of Tribulation
Prologue
From this point forward the Birth pains get increasingly serious until the kingdom of God is born. At the mid-point of Tribulation many things happen quickly. I believe some things will happen sequentially, others may happened at the same time—for things will be happening in heaven and on earth. It is hard to know how long it takes for mid-point events to happen. They could last for hours or days or even weeks Although I have no scripture witness, I believe they will happen within a very short time at the mid-point of Tribulation. The following sequence of events is probable. I believe all of the following events will happen in this time frame.
There will be War in Heaven—Satan will be Thrown Down to Earth. The first beast will rise out of the sea—The Antichrist will be revealed and become an incarnation of the devil. The Sixth Seal is opened. Those who are in-Christ, living and the dead, will be caught away.
Then the Abomination of Desolation will happen. The great prostitute will be destroyed. The first messenger angel will fly—THE GOSPEL will be PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT the WHOLE WORLD one last time. The seventh seal is opened. For one-half an hour there will be Silence in Heaven.
TOPIC 21—THE WOMAN and THE GREAT RED DRAGON
The Woman
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. REVELATION 12:1-6
“…a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” is a reference to Joseph’s dreams in Genesis and the beginnings of the nation of Israel. The woman who “…fled into the wilderness…” in verse six is a reference to modern Israel and a time after the abomination of desolation. This scripture covers from Joseph’s dreams in Genesis to Israel’s exodus to the wilderness in Revelation. That is an inordinate amount of time.
The woman can be identified from the symbols. In verse one the symbols used to describe her are symbols from Joseph’s dreams. REVELATION 12:1 Joseph dreamed his father and mother, the sun and the moon, and his brothers, the stars, were bowing down to him GENESIS 37:9 The story of when this actually happened is in Genesis. GENESIS 42—GENESIS 50 The descendants of Jacob, Joseph and his eleven brothers, are the patriarchs of the nation of Israel. There is little doubt that the woman who appeared in heaven is Israel. That she “was crying out in birth pains” in verse two, REVELATION 12:2 I believe, has multiple meanings—the birth of the Messiah and the birth of the end-time kingdom that will become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ. [Some say this scripture also refers to the “birth of a nation in a day”—Israel.]
The woman was about to give birth to “to a male child,” REVELATION 12:4-5 a Messiah, who Satan was waiting to devour. With the persecution Israel was enduring under Roman rule, they were hoping for a military Messiah and were crying out in agony; but instead of a militant military general, they got the Savior of the world whom the devil was, and is, trying to destroy. Herod tried to kill him before he was two years old. MATTHEW 2:16 Later, after preaching in his hometown, those who heard him drove him out of town, intending to throw him down a cliff. LUKE 4:29 And on at least two occasions those who did not like his teaching tried to stone him. JOHN 8:59 & JOHN 10:31
The dragon wants to destroy him; so he keeps plotting against him until the Romans crucified him. Jesus could not be killed until it was time for the sacrificial Lamb of God to be offered; but in spite of the attempts on his life, after he finished his ministry of the gospel and after he had paid for our redemption with his death, “her child was caught up to God and to his throne.” REVELATION 12:5
And her child is the “…one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron…” REVELATION 12:5 Notice verse five says, “one who is to rule.” It is happening in the future after the end of tribulation. “From his mouth comes a sharp sword [this is how he defeats the armies at Armageddon.] with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron…” REVELATION 19:15 “‘When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, loud voices in heaven will be heard, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.’” REVELATION 11:15 The end has come!
Jesus said many would come in His name and claim to be Christ, there would be wars with nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and earthquakes and famine in the first part of the tribulation. “All of these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” MATTHEW 24:4-8 Unlike the woman in Isaiah who gave “birth to wind [And] … accomplished no deliverance in the earth…”ISAIAH 26:17-18 These birth pains lead to a Messiah who delivers His people from their sins. It also will lead to a an end-time kingdom He will rule for a thousand years.
While there is some controversy over what Jesus says in Matthew Twenty-four about birth pains most believe He is referring to the end-times. Israel has already given birth to the Messiah and about two thousand years later the nation of Israel was born in a day; ISAIAH 66:7-8 and after he pours out his judgments and wrath on the earth, his kingdom that will never end will also be “born” in a day.
The Great Red Dragon—Who He Is
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. REVELATION 12:3-4
And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. REVELATION 12:9
“And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth…” REVELATION 12:3-4 This great red dragon is the first of the beasts mentioned in Revelation with seven heads and ten horns. John leaves little doubt as to the identity of this dragon. He is “…that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world…” REVELATION 12:9 All the other beasts that follow him are a differing manifestation of him or a man who has been incarnated with his evil spirit. He may present himself in many ways for he is the master of deception; but he is still the fallen Satan.
War in Heaven—Satan Thrown Down to Earth
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” And 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. REVELATION 12:7-13
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. …the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” REVELATION 12:7-10 This is the final expulsion of the devil from heaven. He will no longer have any access to heaven or its outer courts to accuse the brethren.
The war in heaven ends with Satan and his angels permanently barred from all heavens except earth’s atmosphere. Now the battle against evil will be physical and on the earth and its atmosphere—the first heaven. The devil is already the prince of the air.
We have seen the serpent in the Garden of Eden and we have looked at Satan’s and his angels’ first fall from heaven. Further, we saw how hell was stirred up to meet him and we saw some of the evil things he has done and is still doing—he makes the earth tremble, shakes kingdoms, makes the world like a desert and overthrows its cities and does not let his prisoners go home. His first expulsion was from the third heaven that Paul speaks about. II CORINTHIANS 12:2-4 After his first “fall” Satan no longer has access to the Throne Room of God. He still has access to the second heaven where he accuses the brethren. He will accuse them day and night before God until he has been thrown down by Michael and his angels. REVELATION 12:10
It is clear to me that God created heavens, more than one; for there is scriptural support for three levels of heaven. I will make no suppositions based on the wording of one scripture; but a careful reading of many scriptures show that distinction is made in the Bible between heaven and the heavens. God created heavens. GENESIS 1:1 The heavens declare God’s glory; and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. PSALM 19:1 King Solomon in his temple prayer makes the distinction between heaven and the “highest” heaven. I KINGS 8:27 Again, a careful reading of many scriptures show that the writers often differentiate between heaven and the heavens.
Some Bible Scholars believe the devil still occupies heaven and has all his heavenly privileges based on a verse in Job chapter one. “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” JOB 1:6 The Bible does not state where the sons of God presented themselves or why; but Satan did not come from the assembly of Angels nor from a suite in heaven; but he came “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” JOB 1:7 After his final expulsion from heaven, he will be a homeless man on earth; but Sheol—his eternal home beneath is stirred up to meet him.
The last supernatural end-time war to occur in the heavens will happen in the middle of the Tribulation. Satan and his angels are opposed in this war by Michael and his angels. Michael and his angels prevail in this war, and Satan is cast down to earth and his place in the heavens is cut off. REVELATION 12:8-9 Michael is an archangel who in Hebrew scripture is proclaimed to be Israel’s prince and defender. DANIEL 10:13, 21
After he is thrown down, all war will then be on earth. That war will be so intense that Jesus said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” MATTHEW 24:21 “And if those days had not been cut short, no human being [KJV says “no flesh.”] would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” MATTHEW 24:22 Now the spiritual wars in heaven will become real physical wars on earth.
The devil, after losing his place in the heavens, still controls the whole world: for the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. I JOHN 5:19 The devil is enraged over losing the war in the heavens. When this happens, Satan realizes his time is short. REVELATION 12:12 It is now a literal war on earth with the those who are evil against all of those who do not take the mark of the beast; but God fights this war through them and by His divine intervention.
This is the time of great trouble prophesied by Daniel. DANIEL 12:1 Since he has already failed in his attempt to destroy Jesus Christ, in his rage, from being cast down, Satan pursues the woman. [Israel] He will try to destroy the Jewish people and the saints. Further, he will try to setup a kingdom that emulates the kingdom of God. These decisions lead to wars that cause some in Israel to flee from their own country; but the end is not yet.
Reiterating, Satan’s first fall was from the presence of God, the third heaven. ISAIAH 14:12 He no longer appears in the throne room of God nor does he have access to the throne room. Spiritual battles with angels are still being fought today on a cosmic level, in the second heaven. JUDE 1:9 & ZECHARIAH 3:1 And the devil is still the prince of the power of the air, the first heaven. EPHESIANS 2:2 When he is thrown down this last time there will be no more wars in the heavenly realm—and no more Satan in them.
War on Israel
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ. REVELATION 12:17 [KJV]
War on Israel, those who keep God’s commandments, and those who hold to the testimony of Jesus, is the devil’s occupation. Even after losing his ability to make war from the heavens, he will continue to make war on Israel until he is destroyed. The assembling at Armageddon is Satan’s plan for the final destruction of Israel and Jesus Christ. It will be a total loss for him.
Written by Mallard E. Guy Jr.
Over a Period of Two + Years
Finished October 28, 2023
Last Edited August 2025