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A Study of Revelation

PART 3Revelation 11:1 - 16:21

GREAT TRIBULATION

LESSON 6Revelation 15:1 – 16:21

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of thisbook. (Revelation 22:7)

REV 15:1-16:21

IntroductionChapter 15 concludes the events of mid-Tribulation and introduces the Great Tribulation. This is the

beginning of God's grand finale of the wicked, the bowl judgments.1

Seven Angels With Seven PlaguesREV 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven lastplagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast,and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, havingthe harps of God.

We have seen two preceding signs in heaven presented in Revelation chapter 12. In the first of thesesigns we saw the sun-clothed woman representing Israel. Next we were introduced to the great red dragonrepresenting Satan, or more precisely the empire under Satan’s control. Now we're told of another sign in heaven.This third sign will be that of seven angels that bring the seven last plagues and will be the harbinger of the fullwrath of God that will cause the fall of Satan and his henchmen.2 These plagues are termed “last” because “inthem is filled up [completed] the wrath of God.” This indicates that the preceding seal and trumpet judgments arealso judgments of God. That they are connected reinforces the idea that they all represent God’s wrath – theseventh seal contains the seven trumpets and the seventh trumpet contains the seven bowls.3

In part 2 lesson 1 (Rev 4:6) we learned that "sea" symbolizes the masses of humanity. We also learnedthat a glassy sea is a calm sea. In Revelation 15:2 the calmness of humanity assembled before the throne of Godis "mingled with fire," possibly indicating that the Holy Spirit has produced the sea of glass, and is responsible forits presence at the throne of God.4 This “sea of glass” reflects God’s glory and majesty and is symbolic of Hispurity, holiness, and separation from creation. Being “mingled with fire” may symbolize the divine judgment about

1 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 171. LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p. 204.2 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 172. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 225. Duck, Richards, REVELATION:GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 221.3 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 172. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, pp. 225, 226.4 Sutton, THE BOOK OF REVELATION REVEALED: Understanding God's Master Plan for the End of the Age, p. 79.

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to be poured out on wicked humanity.5 This sea of glass may represent the Tribulation Saints that have beenredeemed from the fiery persecution. "Fire" represents judgment. The Tribulation Saints resisted the beast andwere martyred and obtained victory over death.6 The victory the Saints obtained was through fire, not avoiding it.7

These Tribulation martyrs will receive their rewards and their resurrection bodies and will return with Christ at theSecond Coming to rule and reign during the Millennium.8 Resisting the beast will be what those who are leftbehind at the Rapture will need to do, that is, hold fast to the word of God and resist compromise with the beastand his system.

The martyred Tribulation Saints have harps. Only four groups in heaven have harps: living creatures,elders (Rev 5:8), heavenly singers (Rev 14:2), and the martyred Tribulation Saints (Rev 15:2).9

REV 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Greatand marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall comeand worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

The martyred Tribulation Saints sang two songs. The first is the song of Moses that the Israelites sung forthe victory they received when God brought them out of Egypt.10 God miraculously saved them by allowing themto cross through the Red Sea on dry land, while drowning the pursuing Egyptians taking the same route.

EXO 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I willsing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown intothe sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, andI will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a man of war:the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captainsalso are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as astone…. 19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into thesea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel wenton dry land in the midst of the sea.

The second song is the song of the Lamb which celebrates God's victory over the nations. This songspeaks of the "great and marvelous" deeds of Christ, because He died for our sins and will defeat Satan. It speaksalso that He is just and true, that is, His judgments are righteous and His words are trustworthy. It says that Christis the eternal King and the eternal God.11

REV 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the sealsthereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, andtongue, and people, and nation;

Revelation verses 3 and 4 give the outline of the song of the Lamb. Isaiah 45:23 and Philippians 2:10confirm this verse and indicate that all nations shall bow and worship before God.

ISA 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall notreturn, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

PHI 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,and things under the earth;

REV 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven wasopened:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen,and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

5 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 172. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 227.6 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 173. Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 222.7 Lindsey, THERE'S A NEW WORLD COMING, pp. 197, 198.8 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 173.9 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 173.10 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 173.11 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 223. LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADEPLAIN, pp. 207, 208.

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7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials [bowls] full of the wrath ofGod, who liveth for ever and ever.8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able toenter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Inside the Temple of Israel was the Holy of Holies. Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant.Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. Those who reject God's graceand mercy that was offered by the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son reject God and leave themselvesopen to be judged by the Law of Moses of the Old Testament.12 If you accept Christ, then His atoning blood savesyou. If you reject Christ, then your salvation depends on obedience to the Ten Commandments which condemnsyou already. No one can keep the Ten Commandments.

The angels are dressed in pure and white linen symbolizing their righteousness, and the righteousness ofwhat they are about to do. They come out of the Temple away from the Mercy Seat because the earth is about toreceive God's wrath without mercy. Additionally, they wear Golden girdles, symbolic of God’s riches, beauty,greatness, and majesty. The dress is similar to what the Israelite priests wore in the temple, and what Christ worein Revelation 1:13. These angels will be sent to perform a duty remarkably similar to the temple priests of Israel.13

"Vials" are shallow bowls, shaped like a saucer, used in temple worship. They are here used ascontainers for God's wrath, and are to be poured out on the earth.14 In the Old Testament, once a year on the Dayof Atonement, the priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood from a sacrificial animal and sprinkle it onthe Mercy Seat to offer atonement for the sins of the people. Since the Antichrist and his followers will not acceptthe blood of Jesus as atonement for their sins, the angels will be given bowls filled with God's wrath instead of theblood of Jesus, to be poured out, not on the Mercy Seat but on the earth.15 According to Alfred Edersheim:

For the death of the sacrifice was only a means towards an end, that end being the shedding andsprinkling of the blood, by which the atonement was really made. The Rabbis mention a variety of rulesobserved by the priest who caught up the blood – all designed to make the best provision for its propersprinkling. Thus the priest was to catch up the blood in a silver vessel pointed at the bottom, so that itcould not be put down, and to keep it constantly stirred, to preserve the fluidity of the blood.16

John Phillips says that this is "the manifestation of God's wrath:"

The awesome Shekinah fire resided within the Holy of Holies in Israel's Temple. Once a year, a priestwas permitted to enter there carrying a bowl of blood in his hand. Since Calvary, the way into the holiestin heaven has been opened to all, because the blood of Christ blazed a highway to the heart of God. Butnow, for a brief spell, that royal road is barred. God's wrath, once poured out upon His Son on man'sbehalf, is to be outpoured again. The world that crucified the Lamb and that now has crowned itsrebellions with the worship of the Beast, is to be judged to the full. So bright glory burns within theTemple, filling it with smoke and standing guard at the door. The way into the holiest is barred again fora while.17

Daymond Duck writes:

Once the angels leave the temple smoke from God's glory will fill the temple preventing anyone fromseeking mercy and obtaining one last chance.18

LEV 16:14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercyseat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within thevail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercyseat, and before the mercy seat: 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of

12 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 224, 225. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p.176.13 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 225. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 176.14 Phillips, EXPLORING REVELATION, p. 189. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 177.15 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 225, 226.16 Alfred Edersheim, THE TEMPLE: Its Ministry and Services as they were in the Time of Jesus, Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. EerdmansPublishing Company, Reprinted November 1988, p. 115.17 Phillips, EXPLORING REVELATION, p. 189.18 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 227.

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the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins : andso shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of theiruncleanness.

Interestingly, the blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat seven times. God will pour out the bowls of Hiswrath seven times. That the bowls were “full” indicates the comprehensive, complete, and totally devastatingcharacter of the “wrath” (anger) to be poured out. Smoke, symbolic of God’s glory and power, filled the Templemaking it impossible to enter, or come near the Mercy Seat, until His wrath is complete.19 Once these bowlplagues begin, atonement will be impossible until they run their course.

The Seven Bowls of God's WrathChapter 16 begins the phase of "the world rescued by God."20

REV 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pourout the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous soreupon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Noticed the similarity to the sixth plague in Egypt when Moses was seeking to free the Hebrew slaves:

EXO 9:8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of thefurnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 And it shallbecome small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains uponman, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt. 10 And they took ashes of the furnace, andstood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forthwith blains upon man, and upon beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses becauseof the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. 12 And the LORDhardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.

“Blains” refers to violent ulcerous inflammations, foul smelling, painful, and malignant, which will not heal.21

This may be a worldwide epidemic, such as AIDS, Ebola, or some new disease, raging out of control.22 Like thefirst trumpet judgment this bowl is directed at earth, but the judgment here is more intense. Where each of thebowl judgments parallels the trumpet judgments we see that the intensity of the judgment is increased.23 Wherethe Trumpet judgments affect a third of the earth, these bowl judgments affect the entire earth. The trumpetjudgments begin near the midpoint of the Tribulation. The seventh trumpet contains the bowl judgments whichthus commence near the end of the Great Tribulation before the Second Coming of Christ.24 That the bowljudgments take place near the end of the Great Tribulation is confirmed by the statement that it is poured out onthose which had the “mark” and worshiped the image of the beast.25

REV 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a deadman: and every living soul died in the sea.

This will be worse than the second trumpet judgment when a third of the sea creatures died. However, inthis judgment all in the sea will die severely impacting the world’s food supply. The sea will become “like” bloodbecoming “a thick, coagulated mass producing a putrefying stench like that of a decaying corpse.”26

REV 8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast intothe sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures whichwere in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

19 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 177. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 230.20 Phillips, EXPLORING REVELATION, p. 189.21 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 182. Sir William Smith, F. N. and M. A. Peloubet (revisionists and editors) SMITH’S BIBLEDICTIONARY, Blains, Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986, William Smith (1813-1893). Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUSCHRIST, p. 232.22 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 230, 231.23 H. A. Ironside, REVELATION, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1920, 1996, p. 180.24 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 182.25 Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 232.26 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, pp. 182, 183. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 233.

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REV 16:4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they becameblood.5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be,because thou hast judged thus.6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for theyare worthy.7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thyjudgments.

This judgment is similar to the first plague in Egypt. The earth's remaining fresh water will be pollutedcausing worldwide suffering and death.27 "The very sources of life are destroyed."28

EXO 7:19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine handupon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and uponall their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all theland of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as theLORD commanded;… and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. 21 And the fishthat was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of theriver; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt…. 24 And all the Egyptians diggedround about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.

Men will go insane digging for water and only finding blood. This judgment also parallels the third trumpetjudgment.

REV 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were alamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And thename of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and manymen died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

Men often question God’s judgments, but the angel of the waters confirms the unrighteous deeds of man whileaffirming that God’s judgments are righteous. Since these wicked men shed the righteous blood of the martyrs, itis only fitting that they should have blood to drink.29

REV 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorchmen with fire.9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over theseplagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

Notice Malachi's prophecy concerning a day when the earth will burn like a furnace.

MAL 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and allthat do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up , saith the LORD ofhosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

The Sun which was provided to sustain life and give comfort to man has now become a curse and a causeof suffering. The sun’s heat will increase in intensity so that men will be scorched with fire.30 After all this, men willnot turn to God and repent of their wickedness. They instead will blaspheme the name of God.

REV 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full ofdarkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of theirdeeds.

27 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 231.28 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 180.29 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 183.30 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 181. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 234.

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This judgment again parallels one of the plagues God inflicted on Egypt.

EXO 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may bedarkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22 And Moses stretched forthhis hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

Darkness again occurred for three hours when Jesus died.

MAT 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

This fifth bowl darkness, unlike previous times of darkness, will cover the entire earth and will be so thickthat it will cause intense psychological pain to those already suffering from the pain of boils. Men will gnaw “theirtongues for pain.”31 Both Isaiah and Joel prophesied of a future darkness covering the earth.

ISA 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but theLORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

JOE 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants ofthe land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and ofgloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: agreat people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it,even to the years of many generations.

When the fifth trumpet sounded we are told that the bottomless pit was opened and that the smoke of thepit caused darkness. It may be that this darkness is "brought about by demonical delusions."32

REV 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him wasgiven the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke outof the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of thesmoke of the pit.

Jesus prophesied that He would return at a time when the Sun and Moon would be darkened.

MAT 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and themoon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shallbe shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all thetribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven withpower and great glory.

Agony and fear will grip the earth causing such mental anguish that men will gnaw their tongues.33 LikePharaoh their hearts are hardened in their unrepentant attitude. They, in fact, love death.

PRO 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

REV 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereofwas dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth ofthe beast, and out of the mouth of the False Prophet.14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of thewhole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked,and they see his shame.16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

31 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 184.32 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 181.33 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 234, 235.

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The way is prepared to bring the kings of the east into the battle of Armageddon. The Euphrates is adividing river hindering the mobilization of a vast army from the East against Israel. This river was the easternboundary of the Roman Empire. It also represents the eastern boundary of the land promised to Israel by God.34

When the Euphrates is dried, a way will be open to bring the army of the kings of the East across the dry riverbed(see Isaiah 11:15). Since the Word "kings" is plural, the mobilized array probably will consist of an alliance ofnations. The Ataturk Dam in Turkey has the capability of cutting off the flow of the river Euphrates allowing theliteral fulfillment of this prophecy, even by natural means. If, as some teach, this army is the 200 million man armyof Revelation chapter 9, then realize that In 1994 China had a standing army of more than 184 million men, with atotal of more than 330 million men of military age. The kings of the East represent a real army. However, basedon the context of Revelation chapter 9, it is believed that the army of Revelation 9 is a separate demon army notassociated with the kings of the East.35

REV 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand….17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire,and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out oftheir mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone…. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and intheir tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

The final conflict will be the direct result of the deceiving influence of demons.36 During the time of KingAhab an evil spirit spoke through Ahab's prophets and deceived him, leading him to his destruction.

1KI 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall atRamothgilead?....21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I willpersuade him. 22 … I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. Andhe said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

Ahab indeed listened to, and was persuaded by, the evil spirit in the mouth of his prophets, so that he wentup and was slain at Ramothgilead.

1KI 22:34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between thejoints of the harness…. 35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in hischariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midstof the chariot…. 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king inSamaria.

The unclean spirits were like frogs. The Egyptians worshiped Heka, a frog- headed goddess. The secondplague in Egypt was one of frogs. The frogs are connected with the occult. Witches used them in their spells."Frogs breed in mire and muck and are a symbol of uncleanness."37

EXO 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD,Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite allthy borders with frogs…. 4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, andupon all thy servants…. 6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogscame up, and covered the land of Egypt.

The frogs of Revelation are deceiving spirits. Like the deceiving spirit that brought Ahab to destructionthese evil spirits will gather the kings of the earth to their utter destruction.

1TI 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

34 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 182. Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 236. Levy,REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 184. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 236.35 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 236, 237. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word,pp. 114, 184, 185. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 236.36 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 183.37 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 237.

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The armies will assemble, deceived by the lying spirits, and Jesus will return and surprise those (“I comeas a thief”) who have received the Mark of the Beast. Those who have refused the Mark have been watching, andwill be blessed at His appearing. Their garments represent their righteousness in Christ. It is apparent from theseverses that the Antichrist will not succeed in killing all of the Saints that refuse his mark or will reject worshipinghim. The unrepentant will be naked before Him.38 Notice the following in 1 Thessalonians (see also, 2 Peter 3:10):

1TH 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Jesus said the same thing to the Church of Sardis. He warned those that were not watching in eagerexpectation of His return. If you expect, you will watch. If you love Him, you will hope for His return, and thereforewatch. If you watch and hope, you will not be caught unawares.

REV 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If thereforethou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will comeupon thee.

The word translated “battle” (Gr: Polemos) indicates a series of battles rather than a single battle ofArmageddon.39 Revelation 16:16 is the only reference to the word "Armageddon" in Scripture. It means "Mount ofMegiddo." The meaning of the complete name "Armageddon" is "The Hill of Slaughter." The root meaning of theHebrew is "place of rendezvous," or "gathering."40 It will be the staging area for the armies gathered initially tochallenge the rule of the Antichrist, but while engaged in the battles with Antichrist the battle will suddenlyculminate in their destruction when Jesus Christ suddenly appears at His Second Coming. When these armiessee the signs of the Lord’s return, they will turn and direct their hostility toward Him. The battles will not beconfined to this area, but will take place within a 200 mile radius of Jerusalem, or Armageddon.41 Notice thedescription of this event as prophesied by Daniel (see also Isaiah 11:11-16):42

Dan 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south [Egypt] push at him [Antichrist]:and the king of the north [Syria, Turkey, Lebanon?] shall come against him like a whirlwind , withchariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shalloverflow and pass over. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious land [Israel], and many countries shallbe overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of thechildren of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egyptshall not escape [he conquers them]. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and ofsilver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps[they will pursue him]. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north [the kings of the eastgathered at the Euphrates?] shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury todestroy, and utterly to make away many. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace betweenthe seas in the glorious holy mountain [he resides in Israel]; yet he shall come to his end, and noneshall help him [Second Coming].

"The Mount of Megiddo is a large hill just west of the Jordan River, in the plane of Esdraelon."43 TheValley of Esdraelon (the great Plain of Jezreel), fourteen miles wide and 20 miles long, is located in the northernpart of Israel, west, and slightly to the south, of the Sea of Galilee (Appendix, Figure 1). "Napoleon Bonaparte saidthis plain would make an ideal battleground for all the armies of the world."44 During Armageddon this place will bethe gathering place of the armies for their advance on Jerusalem according to Zechariah 12. During the SecondComing some of the armies will then be at Jerusalem (see Zechariah 14:1-3):45

38 Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 238. Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p.239.39 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 185. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 237.40 Mauro, THINGS WHICH SOON MUST COME TO PASS, p. 474. Ironside, REVELATION, p. 182. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUSCHRIST, p. 238.41 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 185. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 238.42 John Phillips, Jerry Vines, EXPLORING THE BOOK OF DANIEL, Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1990, pp. 192-194. Walvoord, THEREVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 237.43 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 239.44 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 182. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 239.45 Allen Beechick, THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE, p. 217. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 239.

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ZEC 12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when theyshall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem….9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come againstJerusalem.

REV 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of thetemple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as wasnot since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babyloncame in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and menblasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

The significance of pouring the seventh bowl out into the air is "the utter destruction of every spiritual andreligious institution that man has built up apart from God." This is "the absolute overthrow of civilization and thecomplete wreck of all man's hopes to bring even livable conditions in this world, while rejecting the Lord JesusChrist." There will be anarchy and confusion, and still, despite all, men will continue to blaspheme God and refuseto repent.46 That the bowl was poured out into the air has the further significance of indicating an all-embracingjudgment for the entire world. Remember that the air is "the abode of hosts of evil powers and spirits."47

EPH 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince ofthe power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience :

EPH 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places .

Similarly, the seventh plague in Egypt was directed against Isis, the cow-headed goddess of the air.48

EXO 9:18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hathnot been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now . 19 Send therefore now, and gatherthy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in thefield, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die . 20He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattleflee into the houses: 21 And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle inthe field. 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may behail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field,throughout the land of Egypt. 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORDsent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon theland of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as therewas none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail smotethroughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smoteevery herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

When Jesus completed His work of atonement on the cross He said, "It is finished."

JOH 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed hishead, and gave up the ghost.

One more time Jesus will say, "It is done." This will be just before returning to earth at the time ofArmageddon. This will signal the end of Satan's reign.49 The atmosphere will respond with loud thunders andlightnings. A great earthquake will take place. This earthquake will be the greatest experienced by man.

46 Ironside, REVELATION, p. 184.47 Mauro, THINGS WHICH SOON MUST COME TO PASS, p. 477.48 Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 240. Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p.242.49 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 240.

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Jerusalem will be split in three parts.50 Zechariah prophesied that the Lord would return and stand on the Mount ofOlives, which will be cleaved in two. Remember that we saw in Chapter 12 that during this time God is protectingthe true Jewish believers in their wilderness sanctuary.

ZEC 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 ForI will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, andthe women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shallnot be cut off from the city. 3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when hefought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which isbefore Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof towardthe east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shallremove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

The other cities of the world will be leveled.51 Although Jerusalem will not be completely destroyed, rebuiltBabylon (or possibly Rome) will receive the special fury of God's wrath, being particularly destroyed.52

ISA 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of thekingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. 5They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of hisindignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shallcome as a destruction from the Almighty…. 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty ofthe Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It shall neverbe inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tentthere; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

JER 51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken:the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad…. 25 Behold, I am againstthee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch outmine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain . 26And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt bedesolate for ever, saith the LORD.

REV 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

The surface of the earth will be changed. Islands will disappear and mountains will be leveled. There willbe massive flooding.53 The rise of worldwide disasters seems to be accelerating in recent years, includingtsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes. A super volcano below Yellowstone Park, by some reports, is about toblow up (see also: Appendix, Figure 2).

Posted by geologist Christopher C. Sanders on January 1, 2009."I am advising all State officials around Yellowstone National Park for a potential State of Emergency. Inthe last week over 252 earthquakes have been observed by the USGS. We have a 3D view on themovement of magma rising underground. We have all of the pre warning signs of a major eruption from asuper volcano. - I want everyone to leave Yellowstone National Park and for 200 miles around thevolcano caldera."54

ISA 24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is movedexceedingly. 20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage;and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21 And it shall cometo pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and thekings of the earth upon the earth. 22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the

50 Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 240.51 Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, p. 319. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 186. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUSCHRIST, p. 240.52 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 241, 242. Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, p. 319.Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 186. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, pp. 240, 241.53 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p. 186. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 241.54 www.earthmountainview.com/yellowstone/yellowstone.htm.

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pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. 23 Then the moon shall beconfounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and inJerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

MAT 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, whenshall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesusanswered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, Iam Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled:for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdomagainst kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All theseare the beginning of sorrows.

The hailstones of the seventh bowl will weigh more than 100 pounds each and will beat the earth withgreat fury, but still the darkened souls of men, like Pharaoh in Egypt, will refuse to repent.55

APPENDIX___________________

FIGURE 1 – MEGIDDO56

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55 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 243. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, pp. 186,187. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p. 241.56 Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p. 240.

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FIGURE 2 – EARTHQUAKES