The Scroll of Revelation, 19 - Israel and the Church Overcome Satan

Revelation 12:1-17, Commentary

This chapter is another of revelation's "close-ups" Here you will see a Woman, her Children, and a Dragon, depicting events that take place during the final three and one half years of earth's history.

During this time, Jerusalem has a Jewish temple and a Gentile population, per chapter 11. God has a witness represented well by two Elijah-like prophets. What else is going on for these "one thousand two hundred and sixty days"? Chapter 12 is given to show us just that.

Review. I believe we have seen this "woman" picture before, in chapter 7. More details are given here, but the overall pattern is the same. First there is something very Jewish that appears. The woman that is clothed with the sun, moon, and stars (12:1) must be the same as what Joseph saw and related to his family way back in Genesis 37:9-10. This is Israel. In chapter 7 Israelites from every tribe are sealed. Later in both chapters is seen "another" group, the "rest of her offspring" who keep the commands of God (12:17), have the testimony of Jesus (12:17), and who washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14). That other child certainly matches every description of the church available to us. Here in chapter 12 we see more of the church's washing process, and how they come out of the great Tribulation through untold suffering.

Here is the first introduction to the source of all the Jewish and Christian trouble: a "fiery red dragon" with seven heads and ten horns. We know that neither the woman or the dragon here are to be taken as literal, but every piece of information given is valuable. The seven heads and ten horns will be fully explained in chapter 17, and will be seen again as a part of the "beast" known as antichrist in chapter 13. But the identity of this chapter's monster is spelled out in verse 9: This is Satan.

Though one is tempted to see Jesus and Mary in the beginning of this passage, the imagery will not work for the latter portion of the chapter. The woman, after giving birth (12:2), flees into the wilderness (12:6), and is seen later as the mother of others, who follow Jesus (12:17). This does not fit the reality of Mary's life, but does describe Israel, who first brought Jesus into the world, then an elect people. The continued hatred of Satan for Israel through the centuries is documented history.

So Satan tries to devour Jesus, through King Herod (12:3-4, Matthew 2:16-18). But the King to be is born anyway (12:5). That same Satan tries, during the Tribulation, to devour the Elect (12:15). The suffering church of verses 7-12 overcomes this assault by being faithful until the death. No rapture is hinted at here.

Basic to the understanding of the chapter is the fall of Satan. It is mentioned in verse 4. One third of the angelic host is thrown to the earth. This is further explained in 12:7-9. There is a heavenly battle between the good and evil angels. The evil ones lose and are cast out of the heavenly realm. This is what Jesus "saw" predictively (Luke 10:18). This is also what Daniel saw in his prophecy (Daniel 8:9-10). In that vision, the "little horn" aka the man of sin grows up to "the host of heaven", and is able to bring "stars" (Biblical symbol for angels) to the ground.

So, war in heaven, conflict on earth. The man of sin is released from his place in the pit (chapter 13 and 17) and Satan, cast to the ground, uses him to rise to power here (12:10-12), having lost it in heaven. Israel is protected (12:16), experiencing Christ for the first time. Saints are scattered, defeated, (Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:11) because they are ready to go and be with Jesus.

In the telling of the story, behind-the-scenes truths come out:

12:10, The accuser: Satan and his accomplices, we are told, use the mechanism of accusation against us daily. We see this working itself out in the life of Job, and know that it has a reality we must also confront. He accuses us because he himself is guilty. So when he comes to earth, his desire to hurt the people of God is foremost on his mind.

12:11, The defense of the believer: What Jesus did for us, and our constant talking about it, and our seeking first His Kingdom until the day we die, that is the victory!

12:12, Such hatred,stored up for such quantities of time, is lethal. Satan has more than Christians to overcome in his "short time." He has to unravel the predetermined will of God in three and one half short years. He knows God has never been wrong about anything He has predicted, but in his great pride he will hope for one exception to the rule.

12:13, 14, His first task is to go after Israel, the apple of God's eye, the heart of his plans for humanity. The special 144,000, as noted in chapter 7, are "lured" away to the wilderness, loved by Jesus, and protected by Him. They are taken to a place seemingly by airlift where they cannot be touched by Satan's rage. How long? Three and one half years, the entire length of the Great Tribulation.

12:15-16, Desperate, frustrated, the enemy takes measures to flood, literally, the hiding place of the Jews. This could well be what is going on in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, with the control of water for the Tigris-Euphrates, or some such vast water supply (see part five). But by an earthquake or another natural phenomenon, supernaturally timed, water meant to flood the wilderness retreat will be diverted.

12:17, Description of the believer: Just like the Antiochus of ancient history, and indeed, quite possibly that man himself, preserved through the ages for this moment, this angry frustrated God-hater will find someone else upon whom to vent his fury: The Church. Like the true Jew, we are those who "keep God's commandments", as John loved to point out in his epistle (eg I John 1:3). We are also those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ.This is no end-time faction called "tribulation saint". This is me. This is you. This is the church of God.

Look for Bob Faulkner's creations on http://professorenglish.org There you will find a variety of Scripture studies, including a through-the-Bible course, in video, audio, and text. There are works about the Christ, the antichrist, the rapture, and more.
For those who love North Korea, I have created http://chosunhouse.com.
As for me, I'm a man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving in tentmaker style with my wife and my local church in Chicagoland.
Contact me at diakonos3@gmail.com

The Scroll of Revelation, 19 - Israel and the Church Overcome Satan

Revelation 12:1-17, Commentary

This chapter is another of revelation's "close-ups" Here you will see a Woman, her Children, and a Dragon, depicting events that take place during the final three and one half years of earth's history.

During this time, Jerusalem has a Jewish temple and a Gentile population, per chapter 11. God has a witness represented well by two Elijah-like prophets. What else is going on for these "one thousand two hundred and sixty days"? Chapter 12 is given to show us just that.

Review. I believe we have seen this "woman" picture before, in chapter 7. More details are given here, but the overall pattern is the same. First there is something very Jewish that appears. The woman that is clothed with the sun, moon, and stars (12:1) must be the same as what Joseph saw and related to his family way back in Genesis 37:9-10. This is Israel. In chapter 7 Israelites from every tribe are sealed. Later in both chapters is seen "another" group, the "rest of her offspring" who keep the commands of God (12:17), have the testimony of Jesus (12:17), and who washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14). That other child certainly matches every description of the church available to us. Here in chapter 12 we see more of the church's washing process, and how they come out of the great Tribulation through untold suffering.

Here is the first introduction to the source of all the Jewish and Christian trouble: a "fiery red dragon" with seven heads and ten horns. We know that neither the woman or the dragon here are to be taken as literal, but every piece of information given is valuable. The seven heads and ten horns will be fully explained in chapter 17, and will be seen again as a part of the "beast" known as antichrist in chapter 13. But the identity of this chapter's monster is spelled out in verse 9: This is Satan.

Though one is tempted to see Jesus and Mary in the beginning of this passage, the imagery will not work for the latter portion of the chapter. The woman, after giving birth (12:2), flees into the wilderness (12:6), and is seen later as the mother of others, who follow Jesus (12:17). This does not fit the reality of Mary's life, but does describe Israel, who first brought Jesus into the world, then an elect people. The continued hatred of Satan for Israel through the centuries is documented history.

So Satan tries to devour Jesus, through King Herod (12:3-4, Matthew 2:16-18). But the King to be is born anyway (12:5). That same Satan tries, during the Tribulation, to devour the Elect (12:15). The suffering church of verses 7-12 overcomes this assault by being faithful until the death. No rapture is hinted at here.

Basic to the understanding of the chapter is the fall of Satan. It is mentioned in verse 4. One third of the angelic host is thrown to the earth. This is further explained in 12:7-9. There is a heavenly battle between the good and evil angels. The evil ones lose and are cast out of the heavenly realm. This is what Jesus "saw" predictively (Luke 10:18). This is also what Daniel saw in his prophecy (Daniel 8:9-10). In that vision, the "little horn" aka the man of sin grows up to "the host of heaven", and is able to bring "stars" (Biblical symbol for angels) to the ground.

So, war in heaven, conflict on earth. The man of sin is released from his place in the pit (chapter 13 and 17) and Satan, cast to the ground, uses him to rise to power here (12:10-12), having lost it in heaven. Israel is protected (12:16), experiencing Christ for the first time. Saints are scattered, defeated, (Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:11) because they are ready to go and be with Jesus.

In the telling of the story, behind-the-scenes truths come out:

12:10, The accuser: Satan and his accomplices, we are told, use the mechanism of accusation against us daily. We see this working itself out in the life of Job, and know that it has a reality we must also confront. He accuses us because he himself is guilty. So when he comes to earth, his desire to hurt the people of God is foremost on his mind.

12:11, The defense of the believer: What Jesus did for us, and our constant talking about it, and our seeking first His Kingdom until the day we die, that is the victory!

12:12, Such hatred,stored up for such quantities of time, is lethal. Satan has more than Christians to overcome in his "short time." He has to unravel the predetermined will of God in three and one half short years. He knows God has never been wrong about anything He has predicted, but in his great pride he will hope for one exception to the rule.

12:13, 14, His first task is to go after Israel, the apple of God's eye, the heart of his plans for humanity. The special 144,000, as noted in chapter 7, are "lured" away to the wilderness, loved by Jesus, and protected by Him. They are taken to a place seemingly by airlift where they cannot be touched by Satan's rage. How long? Three and one half years, the entire length of the Great Tribulation.

12:15-16, Desperate, frustrated, the enemy takes measures to flood, literally, the hiding place of the Jews. This could well be what is going on in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, with the control of water for the Tigris-Euphrates, or some such vast water supply (see part five). But by an earthquake or another natural phenomenon, supernaturally timed, water meant to flood the wilderness retreat will be diverted.

12:17, Description of the believer: Just like the Antiochus of ancient history, and indeed, quite possibly that man himself, preserved through the ages for this moment, this angry frustrated God-hater will find someone else upon whom to vent his fury: The Church. Like the true Jew, we are those who "keep God's commandments", as John loved to point out in his epistle (eg I John 1:3). We are also those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ.This is no end-time faction called "tribulation saint". This is me. This is you. This is the church of God.

Look for Bob Faulkner's creations on http://professorenglish.org There you will find a variety of Scripture studies, including a through-the-Bible course, in video, audio, and text. There are works about the Christ, the antichrist, the rapture, and more.
For those who love North Korea, I have created http://chosunhouse.com.
As for me, I'm a man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving in tentmaker style with my wife and my local church in Chicagoland.
Contact me at diakonos3@gmail.com

The Scroll of Revelation, 29 - An Antichrist in Every Empire

Revelation 17:3, 8-14, Commentary, Part 2

The unveiling of the antichrist

I suggest that the first of the five "fallen" kings of John's vision could well be Nimrod, followed by the Assyrian Sennacherib.

Who then is third of the five? Babylon returns to power in the early 600's B.C., and of the "Neo-Babylonian" kings, the greatest by far is Nebuchadnezzar. He is so great, and so powerful, and so creative, and so against Israel at times, that the fallen ruler Saddam Hussein is convinced that Nebuchadnezzar should be brought back to life in his (Saddam's) own person! To this end he "rebuilt" Babylon on a miniature scale, and placed his own name on every brick.

Nebuchadnezzar's reign is well documented in Biblical and extra-Biblical sources. He is in Kings and Chronicles and Isaiah and Daniel. He beseiged Jerusalem, and took King Jehoiachin prisoner, as now backslidden Judah is not even to be protected from the invader. Their sin is just too heavy a burden around their neck, and they must go down. He carries away first much of Jewish treasure and people, leaving only the poor (II Kings 24:13-14). He builds a siege wall around Jerusalem (25:1), kills King Zedekiah's sons, even blinding Zedekiah in the process (25:7). He burns the temple (25:9), captures the rest of the people (25:11) and actually places in the Temple of Marduk at Babylon, the treasures from the Temple of God (II Chronicles 36:7). Marduk is a mythical descendant of Nimrod, and one can even see three letters of Nimrod's name in the later manifestation.

Now it should be seen that, as Jeremiah recounts in chapters 21, 22, and 27 of his prophecy, Nebuchadnezzar is a "servant" of the Lord, even though unwittingly and for his own reasons. He is God's whipping-boy for His people. But as Pharaoh was raised up for the purposes of God and later drowned in the Red Sea, so judgment will fall on Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon for their treatment of Israel (Jeremiah 50-51).

Daniel recounts incidents in Nebuchadnezzar's life, subsequent to the fall of Jerusalem. His insights into the varying degrees of that monarch's devotion to Yahweh are helpful in our understanding of his heart. Nebuchadnezzar seemed to be pleased with Daniel and his Jewish companions, as he had been with Jeremiah before them, yet he continued on in his idolatry and especially his unbearable pride. The image of gold (Daniel 3) which by the way previews the image of the beast (Revelation 13), was erected to remind citizens of the greatness of the King. This statue became the reason for the punishment of the three young Hebrew friends of Daniel. Yet God breaks through into Nebuchadnezzar's life by saving them from the fiery furnace. Earlier, Daniel's revelation of the meaning of a troubling dream had likewise awakened him to the greatness of the God of Israel. His respect grows from merely including the true God with his own gods, to honoring that God as supreme, but never to worshiping Yahweh alone.

Later in the story (Daniel 4) we see Nebuchadnezzar thinking back on his glory with satisfaction and pride. At this point he is humbled before the Empire, but is later restored. Altogether then, a proud, sometimes blasphemous, idolatrous, anti-semitic King of Babylon was this Nebuchadnezzar, and for that reason we can include him in the list of antichrists.

Babylonia falls again, and is replaced by Persia whose Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 536 B.C. Here it becomes more difficult to find a man who fills the bill as "man of sin" of the hour. Yet, judging from the description of the Revelation 13 beast in terms of animals, there is no doubt that the bear, or Persia, must be included in the history of the man of sin. Now, the Persian Emperors were despotic and often cruel, and definitely worshiped the wrong god. However, they were by and large friendly to Israel. Cyrus, who inherited the captive Jews, immediately released them. Succeeding rulers tried to support the growing state of Israel against foreign elements of that day who did not want her to prosper.

And were the Persian kings also "King of Babylon"? Yes, until the coming of Xerxes, several Emperors later, this was the honorary title they claimed. And Xerxes? Though he is a "legitimate" King of Babylon, it is said he "illegitimized" several generations of coming rulers by storming the Babylonian Temple of Marduk, aka Nimrod. The idea is that it is Nimrod who gives authority to the King. No Nimrod, no King. Knowing that that was the feeling, even in Persia, lets us believe that we are on the right track in looking only at these Babylonian kings as candidates for the man of sin. Alexander the Great, it is said, restored Marduk to his place, and for many generations the Greek Rulers wore the title again.So, for example, the Bible's Artaxerxes (Ezra 4) is not a King of Babylon, whereas Ahasuerus (Xerxes, Book of Esther) and Cyrus (II Chronicles 36:22-23) are, for the above reason. Could either of them be the "antichrist" of the Persian Empire?

Consider the book of Esther, and the wicked plot of Haman, the highest ranking official in the court of Xerxes (if indeed Ahasuerus and Xerxes are the same person, as many believe).

Though the Persian ruler was not possessed of hatred for the Jews, he did submit to Haman's Hitler-like plot that all Jews be destroyed. Genocide, we call it today. Through the intervention of Esther, the wickedness of Haman and Xerxes was superceded by a plan for Jewish self-defense. But it would seem that any ruler who, as King of Babylon, decreed the extinction of God's people, whatever his ignorance or motivation, would qualify as a candidate for "beast."

Next the great Alexander storms through the Persian Empire in the name of Macedonia and Greece. The Greek Empire follows. Alexander is King of Babylon in name, and yet he favors and spares Israel in his conquests. When he dies, his kingdom is divided four ways, as prophesied by Daniel. Out of one of these splits (Daniel 8:8-9) comes "the little horn." Bible scholars who are convinced the Bible is not totally true tell us that that horn must be Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of the largest portion of the Greek domain. Bible believers, however, point out that, no, this cannot be Epiphanes, for the passages about what happens are always couched in an end-time setting. Perhaps it is time for these two positions to merge and declare that it is possible for one man to live in two eras. Of course, he must be resurrected to do that. As you know now, this is what I believe happens.

Consider the wickedness of Antiochus and see if he qualifies to be an "antichrist". He was treacherous and deceitful. He wore the title "King of Babylon." He was driven out of Egypt by the Romans and in fury he unleashed evil on Jerusalem. He broke a treaty with that city in order to plunder the Temple for its wealth. He forbade Jewish sacrifices, according to Josephus, for three and one-half years. He slaughtered many Jews. He burned buildings, knocked down city walls. He built an idol altar on God's altar, and sacrificed pigs on it. This is the Old Testament version of the "abomination of desolation." But Jesus in his day said that that abomination was still future. He referred people to the book of Daniel. But it had already happened. But it will happen again. Do you see the confusion regarding this man Antiochus? Is he the "once and future" king?

Antiochus compelled Jews to forsake their worship, making them build temples to his gods. He allowed no circumcision. Many yielded to these pressures. Those who did not were whipped. Or torn to pieces. Or crucified. Or strangled. The Book of Law was destroyed. He was a proud man obsessed with his own worth and deity. On coins you will see his name as Theos Epiphanes "God Manifest", the very description of the Son of God (I Timothy 3:16 ).

We mentioned above also the strange case of Daniel 11. No one questions that 11:21-35 has to do with the wicked reign of Epiphanes. But 36-45? With hardly a clue we are suddenly in the end times, even on into chapter 12 where history is climaxed. From 11:36 to the end is antichrist, all say. But if you blink you'll think for sure it is Antiochus, though none of these things ever happened in his life! I wonder if the Spirit is saying right here in plain sight that this latter-day figure is also Antiochus, raised from the dead?

Nimrod, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, Xerxes, Epiphanes. These five have fallen. One is. Now, since we live in the same Roman era in which John lived there is a sense in which that "one" still is! The Empire that ruled in John's day has never been replaced, only greatly diminished. If we were to use Daniel's statue vision (Daniel 2) as an outline of history, it would begin with Nebuchadnezzar's Neo-Babylonia, according to the interpretation, continue to Medo-Persia, then Greece, and finally Rome, the "two legs" which would attach to the feet kingdom of the last days. We still live in the "legs" days of Rome. When the Spirit opens the eyes to this revelation, my but does one's world view change!

Look for Bob Faulkner's creations on http://professorenglish.org There you will find a variety of Scripture studies, including a through-the-Bible course, in video, audio, and text. There are works about the Christ, the antichrist, the rapture, and more. For those who love North Korea, I have created http://chosunhouse.com. As for me, I'm a man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving in tentmaker style with my wife and my local church in Chicagoland. Contact me at diakonos3@gmail.com

Steve Quayle : Japan Quake Tsunami The book of the Revelation etc... MAR 15

Steve Quayle : Japan Quake Tsunami The book of the Revelation bible prophecies nuclear disaster etc... MAR 15The Bible says numerous geological events will occur in the last days. The word "earthquake" is used 19 times in the Bible . " And there will be EARTHQUAKES IN VARIOUS PLACES,and there will be famines and troubles..."He predicted that "These are the beginnings of sorrows"(Mark 13:8)

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Revelation the Book - Don't Wait for the Movie or You Have Waited Too Long

Question:

Should the book of Revelation actually be taken literally?

Answer:

Yes, but this might seem a bit clearer by posing another question. If Revelation is as some say only a book of symbols, allegories, metaphors and myths then why is it preceded with one of the most powerful promises of blessing for those who read it and hear it, Rev. 1:3 And secondly why would such a fairy tale be appendaged with what is probably the most grave warning in the entire Bible...For I testify unto every man that heareth the prophecy of this book. if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the hook of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22: 18-19.

We are not talking here about some failure of our crops or the coming of blight, but rather the complete removal of our lives, our names and our future with God. That is some serious punishment for fooling with a book of myths and symbols. This would he about the equivalent of being condemned to hell for leaving out or altering a verse from The Rhyme of The Ancient Mariner.

Question:

Would God give a message or an entire book of the Bible that had no readily discernable meaning until a later time, or the very end of the world as we know it?

Answer:

Yes. In fact God has in many cases told the writers of the Bible to expose their messages for a specific time. Rev. 22:10. At other times he told them to conceal their message because it was meant for a later time. Daniel 12:4. 12:9 Revelation 10:4. One thing that jangles up believers quickly is their inability to cope with the fact that God sees past, present and future as one single continuum. This is child's play for the creator, but it is a wrestling match for us and that is exactly why God has chosen to make these various dispensations. They are effectively Gods way of helping us win the wrestling match.

Jesus said the Pharisees couldn't discern the times they were living in, even worse he said they wouldn't understand much of anything he was saying regardless of what time it was for. Jesus spoke using examples from nature, the elements and common everyday life. But these learned men couldn't grasp the spiritual content of his words, how could they be expected to understand the timing of the events or the place in history that his words would be more fully realized?

How could anyone understand unless they had Gods help and were actually entering a time when the message was pertinent? Any one who has ever taken a self improvement course, or a business management course, or had training in any level of sociology knows that there is timing in all communication that is second only to the content of that communication. Modern advertising executives can bet their success or failure on their ability to accurately note that timing. Why then, would we expect an omniscient God to be so careless as to leave timing out of his messages?

Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote ?Hook Line and Sinker or what has Your Church Been Teaching You,? publisher, PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book published by Xulon Press entitled ?An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ.? His book is now being heralded as the clearest book on the subject of the second coming of Christ since Hal Lindsey's "Late Great Planet Earth" Rev Bresciani?s website is, http://americanprophet.org.

Nuclear Meltdown and the Book of Revelation

Revelation 8:10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

With reports coming in of an imminent Nuclear Meltdown at the Fukushima power station in Japan, question arise as to what this event means in relation to Bible Prophecy.

The Book of Revelation speaks extensively on the subject of massive natural disasters occurring around the earth simultaneously. Chapter 8 of Revelation begins with the opening of the seventh seal that began the seven-year Tribulation in Revelation chapter 6. As the seventh seal is opened, there is a pause in heaven with complete silence for about half an hour.

Revelation 8:1-2 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.  And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

Back in chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation, we see that the church is already present with Jesus in heaven singing the song of redemption that only the church can sing:

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

The key to understanding that this is Jesus’ church, is found in what these in heaven are singing: “You… have redeemed us to God by your blood…”

Only mortal human beings who lived on the earth can sing of Jesus’ blood redeeming them from sin and death. Angels cannot sing this song, no other creature in heaven can sing this song.

As the church is present in heaven during the opening of the seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls, they have the opportunity to see what is happening and respond:

Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

The biblical term for “Saints” are those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. Here we see that the saints who are in heaven, offer their prayers upon the golden altar in heaven, apparently in response to the sounding of the first trumpet of Revelation 8:7

Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

The golden censer that was filled with the prayers of those redeemed human beings in heaven, is now filled with fire from the altar before the throne of God and thrown to the earth.

Revelation 8:5-6 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

As the golden censer is thrown to the earth, hail, and fire are mingled with blood and scattered over the earth. The effect of this judgment is that a third of the trees and all the green grass of the earth are burned up:

Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

What event could cause a third of the trees to burn and all of the grass of the earth to be scorched?

One of the possible causes would be contact with earth by an asteroid. As this object enters the earth’s atmosphere and strikes earth, it could cause massive heat to be thrown off from the blast. This heat could burn up large portions of the forests of earth and scorch the grass of the entire earth.

The possibility of this being a strike of the earth by an asteroid is seen in the next verse:

Revelation 8:8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood.

This second object does not hit the land, but strikes the sea. John being a first century man has never seen or heard of an asteroid. His description is that the object that falls to the earth looks to him like a “Great Mountain Burning With Fire”.

The effects of this second object striking earth is that there is a massive death of the sea creatures who fill the ocean with their blood. A secondary effect is that all those who are in ships where the object strikes the earth, also perish.

Revelation 8:9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Object One: Contact with land, trees and grass burned.

Object Two: Contact with the sea, death of sea life and those in ships.

Object Three: Contact with fresh water on land:

Revelation 8:10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.

At this point a description is given of what this third object does to the fresh waters that it comes into contact with:

Revelation 8:11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.

The term “Wormwood” is an old testament term for “Bitterness”

Deuteronomy 29:18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood…

Jeremiah 23:15 “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; ‘Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, And make them drink the water of gall’ “

The term “Wormwood” is connected with judgment from God. It is not a mistake that the Holy Spirit chose this term here in describing this third objects contact with the fresh water supply of the earth.

What intrigues me at this point is that the term “Wormwood” has also been used in describing nuclear events on the earth.

The Russian word for “Wormwood” is “Chernobyl”

The worst nuclear reactor meltdown tragedy in history happened at the Chernobyl Nuclear Facility on April 26, 1986 at 1:23 am in the Ukraine, Russia. Reactor four of the facility suffered a catastrophic increase in power that led to an explosion of the core and nuclear meltdown of the reactor. The explosion dispersed large quantities of nuclear material into the earth’s atmosphere and turned the fresh water supplies for hundreds of miles around Chernobyl “Bitter” or Poisonous and undrinkable.

Isn’t it interesting that the term “Wormwood ” in the Book of Revelation is used to describe an event of the last days that has a long Biblical history of meaning “Judgement”.

Of course it is not possible to know the mind of God concerning the Japanese people, nor what the massive earthquake and ensuing Tsunami mean in the plan of God. It is for certain however, that it is the intention of the Lord that when we see an event like what happened in Japan, that it causes us to turn our own thoughts to that of reflection.

Where am I personally with God right now? Have I done what He requires for the forgiveness of my sins? Do I know for certain that I have eternal life?

These are questions that every person must answer about themselves during their life, and before they pass from this earth into eternity.

There is a second interest in seeing the nuclear meltdown of the reactors in Japan as a parallel with the Chernobyl accident in Russia in 1986:

In Bible Prophecy, there is often an earlier warning or fulfillment of a later event.

I believe that the massive 9.0 earthquake in Japan and devastating Tsunami that followed, with the now apparent nuclear meltdown of Japan’s first Nuclear Reactor, are an advanced warning by God. We are living in the last days, we are about to see the return of Jesus for His church, the seven-year Tribulation is about to begin.

With the start of the seven-year Tribulation, there will be objects falling from the heavens, and nuclear events happening all over the earth. These future nuclear events will be “Wormwood” and “Bitterness” to all those who dwell on the earth during that time.

The rest of Revelation chapter 8 describes the results of Asteroidal and/or nuclear events that will happen as the seven trumpets are sounded by the seven angels:

Revelation 8:12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.

Revelation 8:13 And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

Rob Robinson

This entry was posted on Monday, March 14th, 2011 at 10:13 am and is filed under Asteroids and Meteors, Earthquakes, Fulfilled Prophecy, Natural Dissasters, Rob Robinson, Signs In the Heavens, The Book of Revelation, The Tribulation, Tsunami's. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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Problems With the Prevailing Views of the Book of Revelation

As a young pastor just getting started, I was filled with ambition for the Lord and a desire to build a strong work. Naturally, as most preachers do eventually, I turned to Revelation since I knew that most people were instinctively interested in the prophetic book.

I began teaching a year long series of Bible Studies on this most fascinating book. I didn't really run into problems until I came to Revelation 4:1.

Revelation 4:1 -- After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

For most of my church life and, indeed, through my Bible college years, I was taught that this verse marked the Rapture in Revelation-as, undoubtedly, many who are reading this have been. Now, I happen to believe that all Scripture agrees, and that Scripture ought to back up Scripture. I didn't just want to gloss over the verse based on what I had always been taught. I wanted to back it up.

I wanted to prove it Biblically! But I could not.

I struggled...oh, how I struggled with this. I called pastor after pastor asking for their input, advice, material, and teachings as I sought additional scriptural proof that Revelation 4:1 was the rapture. The more I talked to people, the more confused I got. It seemed that nearly every preacher I talked to had a different idea of what the verses mean exactly. Many disagreed with each other which did not help me at all. I pointed out the verses that confused me, listened to their explanations and came away shaken at how often I felt even more confused than helped.

You see, there are basically FOUR Rapture positions that a person can take. They are:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture - The Rapture of the saints before the seven years of Tribulation.

Mid-Tribulation Rapture - The Rapture of saints halfway through the Tribulation period.

Post-Tribulation Rapture - The Rapture of saints after the seven years of Tribulation.

Preterist View - That all of Revelation has already occurred and that the Rapture is symbolic.

I found significant problems with all four of the prevailing beliefs!

Let me break down some of the problems that I had. An honest evaluation of these verses will reveal clearly the problem with ALL of the views. Some of the objections tend to point to one or the other of the prevailing beliefs, but when put to their rivals, I never got a satisfactory answer.

Objection #1 - The disciples asked Jesus three questions at the beginning of Matthew 24. The typical Pre-Trib belief says that these were answered in a different order than they were asked. If so, where, pray tell, did Jesus answer the first question about the destruction of the Temple? This question bothers all but the Post-Tribulation View.

Objection #2 - The verses that describe the Rapture in Matthew 24 are those between verses 29 and 51. Most agree on this. Why then does the 'Great Tribulation' appear in verse 21-before the Rapture? This seems to lend weight to the Post-Tribulation View.

Objection #3 - If the Rapture is described starting in Matthew 24:29, why then does it say, "Immediately following the tribulation of those days?" Even a cursory study of the scriptures tells us that the 'tribulation' of verse 29 is the same 'great tribulation' of verse 21. How can the rapture follow the Great Tribulation? Doesn't this give credence towards the Post-Tribulation View?

Objection #4 - Matthew 24:34 tells us that Jesus told His disciples that their generation will not pass until ALL these things were fulfilled. Doesn't this give credence more towards the Preterist View?

Objection #5 - If Revelation 4:1 is the Rapture why then does the sixth seal in Revelation 6:12-17 so closely parallel-almost word for word-the description of the Rapture in Matthew 24:29-51? Doesn't this lend credence to the Mid-Tribulation View?

Objection #6 - If the Rapture happens in Revelation 4:1, why then does Revelation 7:9-14 tell us of a multitude that no man could number that was saved out of the Great Tribulation? Does this not lend credence to the Mid-Tribulation View?

Objection #7 - Is it not true that several men of God have had similar experiences to John in Revelation 4:1? Men like Ezekiel who had the experience twice, Elijah was carried into heaven in a whirlwind, and the two witnesses in Revelation 11 had nearly identical experiences. Could not Revelation 11 (the two witnesses who are called up with a trumpet) be the Rapture of the saints? Would this not lend credence to the Mid-Tribulation Rapture view?

Objection #8 - If the Rapture happens midway through or after the Tribulation, why does God repeatedly warn us that we need to be ready for His coming-a coming that will be so unexpected, so quick, as a thief in the night? If we see signs of the Tribulation, then will we not know that the Lord's coming be soon? It can't be as a thief in the night when the thief tells you that he is coming in the next seven days, is it? Doesn't this lend credence to the Pre-Tribulation View?

Objection #9 - If the seals are part of the Tribulation, then why do the martyrs in the fifth seal believe that God has yet to begin the Tribulation of man? In fact they are told to wait for a season until more Christians are killed. Why do they think that the Tribulation has not yet started? Does this lend credence to the Preterist View?

Objection #10 - If the Tribulation is a time for God to show vengeance for a world that has rejected Him, His people, and His Word, why then would God allow the Christians to suffer through any part of that? Does not 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 tell us that the Christians will have no part in the wrath mentioned-the Tribulation? Does not this lend credence to the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view?

These are just a few of my objections. I would raise one of these objections, listen to the counter argument and be amazed at how they twisted the scriptures to say other than the simple clear meaning of the verses. I was astounded, and extremely disappointed.

You may ask, "So, which one of the Views do you hold to?"

The answer, by the strict definition of each of the prevailing views, is: none of them!

Interestingly enough, there was a common thread between all the views: That the definition of 'The Tribulation' did indeed refer to the seven years of chaos mentioned in Revelation. When I realized that, I actually studied the term and discovered that the definition, Scripturally, is not accurate. According to Scripture the seven years mentioned in Revelation is more accurately called 'The Day of the Lord'. It seems that in all but two or three instances, the term 'tribulation' is applied to Jews and Christians, including all five instances in the book of Revelation itself.

Studying prophecy with the understanding of these views Biblically changed my entire view of Revelation. It actually became easy to study. Things were in order. Things made a whole lot more sense. I challenge you to study prophecy by first making sure in your own mind that these terms, 'The Tribulation' and 'The Day of the Lord' are accurate according to Scripture.

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