READ THE FIG LEAVES
Signs of the Times
STUDY 5
TOPIC 28—THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS SOUND
First Four Trumpets
The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” REVELATION 8:7-13
First Trumpet—Devastation of Earth
After the sound of the first Trumpet the earth is devastated. Hail and fire mixed with blood are thrown down to earth. REVELATION 8:7 God has storehouses of hail that are reserved for a time of trouble and for the day of battle and war. JOB 38:22-23 Since most of the damage is from fire, perhaps he will not use the huge hailstones until later. REVELATION 16:21 In one of the plagues on Egypt, God sent hail and “fire flashing” such had never been in all the land of Egypt. EXODUS 9:24 And in the first Gog and Magog war he will use hailstones, fire and sulfur on them. EZEKIEL 38:22 There is scripture to show God’s use of hail and fire as judgment; but I could not find scripture other than this passage that had hail and fire “mixed with blood.” The “mixed with blood” could be the result of the bloodshed that would be the result of a storm of hail and fire upon mankind.
Some place this entire passage into the symbolic or spiritual realm for lack of an explanation of the “mixed with blood” part of the scripture; but they lack enough supportive scripture to be convincing. Although I do not understand that part either, I am convinced that at the sounding of the first trumpet hailstones and fire “mixed with blood” will fall from heaven and that a third of the earth and trees will be burned up and that all the green grass will be burned up!
A third of the earth on fire causes all major fires we have seen in California and other places to pale in comparison. A fire of this magnitude will not only affect earth and all its functions—trees and grass; but it will affect the oxygen level of the earth, the food supply and many other things. It will undoubtedly cause many people and animals to die from the fire and smoke. It will not cause “nuclear winter;” for God still has plans that do not yet include a severe winter.
Second Trumpet—burning great mountain thrown into sea
While the First Trumpet’s plagues affected one-third of the earth, the Second Trumpet affects one-third of the sea. Much of the aquatic life is destroyed. What John describes is a big asteroid. [This sounds like one of God’s non-nuclear weapons of mass destruction.] Studies of ancient hits by asteroids cause scientists to conclude that a hit on earth by a large asteroid will not cause a nuclear explosion but would have some of the same effects as a nuclear explosion. So obviously, everything is destroyed in the one-third of the seas that is affected. That one-third of the sea “becomes” blood. REVELATION 8:8 A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. REVELATION 8:9 Although this disaster causes these named things, other things will be affected.
With one-third of the earth destroyed and one-third of the sea obliterated, the economies and food supply of the world will be affected making it easier for the beast to “sell” his mark and for those on earth to “buy” it. This is the continuing work of the horsemen of the apocalypse—wars and famines and death. Further, the two witnesses may still be on earth and they have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying. REVELATION 11:6 With no rain for growing food and with the previous judgments, the food supply on earth has to be really scarce; and all of those left on earth need food; for they are not depending on the God who is able to send them manna from heaven, quail from the sea and water from a rock!
Another thing we should consider as we study the end-times is the compounding effect of all the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments. Is it any wonder that Jesus said, “…there will be great tribulation…” MATTHEW 24:21 Or that Daniel said, there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time? DANIEL 12:1 I do not know about you; but I want to be “caught away” or “die-in-Christ.”
Third Trumpet—great star falls from heaven
Although a number of Bible scholars consider Wormwood as symbolic, much of the drinking water on earth will be contaminated by this star—wormwood. “The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.” REVELATION 8:10 All objects from outer space blaze like a torch when they enter earth’s atmosphere. This is a specific kind of star. It is Wormwood. “A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.” REVELATION 8:11
This scripture literally tells us what will happen at the sound of the third trumpet. A blazing star will contaminate a third of the rivers and springs of water—drinking water. Scripture does not say all people died that drank the water; but many people did die. Wormwood has been used as an ingredient to flavor tea, wines and spirits and as an ingredient in medicines among other things; but when God uses it as a judgment many people die from its effects.
“Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with bitter food, and give them poisonous water to drink.” JEREMIAH 9:15-16
Fourth Trumpet—1/3 of sun and moon struck
The earth is darkened.
The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. REVELATION 8:12
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. MATTHEW 24:29
“When he opened the sixth seal…the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.” REVELATION 6:12-13 “Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.” ISAIAH 13:9-10
“When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord God.” EZEKIEL 32:7-8 Scripture says it best—no commentary necessary. Mankind may not know how much he misses the heavens and its light until they are affected by God’s judgments.
From this plethora of scripture witness it is obvious that sun, moon and stars will be affected more than once in the end-time—first when the sixth seal is opened. And now when the fourth trumpet sounds. Evil likes darkness, so God will give them much darkness.
Topic 29—THE FIFTH and SIXTH TRUMPETS SOUND
The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets Sound—Bringing Pain & Suffering & Death to Mankind
While the first four trumpet’s sounding brought devastation on earth and in the heavens, the sound of the fifth and sixth trumpets brings pain, suffering and death to mankind. The locusts of the fifth trumpet bring pain and suffering. The sixth trumpet brings death to one-third of mankind.
Three Woes
Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!” REVELATION 8:13
Woe is defined as “great sorrow or distress.” The word “woe” is mentioned many times in the Bible, including several times in Revelation; but, specifically, a first, second and third woe are mentioned in Revelation. They denote times of intense sorrow and distress. The first woe happens after the fifth trumpet sounds. It is after the invasion of demonic locusts. The second woe happens after the sixth trumpet sounds. It is after an invasion of 200 million demonic horsemen led by four angels with a mission to kill a third of mankind. The third woe is the rise of a totally demonic empire in the last three and one-half years of Tribulation and the pouring out of God’s wrath on the earth and on that empire; but with the third woe the trumpet sounds after it is over instead of before it happens.
Fifth Trumpet—Star [angel] Fallen From Heaven Given Key to Shaft of Bottomless Pit
And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them. 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. They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. REVELATION 9:1-11
Scripture is silent on why a fallen angel will be given a key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. [He is the devil or one of his angels; for only the devil and his angels are described as fallen stars.] This is the permissive will of God—His plan. To bring about the devil’s destruction, Jesus is using the devil against himself; for it is demonic locusts stinging [wounding] those on earth who belong to the devil. Jesus said, “… Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” MATTHEW 12:25 The devil’s kingdom is going to fall; for now one of his angels is working against “his” people.
“He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” REVELATION 9:2-4 These locusts were told they were not to do what locusts normally do, that is—destroy all vegetation—as they did in Egypt before the exodus. EXODUS 10:5 Their sting is not a sting of death. REVELATION 9:6 Instead they are allowed to torment mankind for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. REVELATION 9:5
John’s description, like all of his descriptions, of these locust is based on things that he is familiar with. Parts of the descriptions he uses are used elsewhere in scripture—its teeth are lions' teeth. JOEL 1:6 And appearance like horses, and like war horses they run with the rumblings of chariots. JOEL 2:4-5
John seemed to be having difficulty describing these locust for he often used the word “like.” Like horses prepared for battle—like crowns of gold—like human faces—like women's hair—like lions' teeth—like breastplates of iron—like the noise of many chariots—and tails and stings like scorpions. REVELATION 9:7-10 Some scholars through intricate use of symbolism try to make these creatures into something other than locusts. Regardless of how they literally look and what symbolism is involved, they will be a plague of demonic locusts, that torture unbelievers. They are reserved by God for the end-time—with their duty limited by God to torture only.
The First Woe Has Passed
The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come. REVELATION 9:12
Sixth Trumpet—Release of 4 angels—200 Million Men Mounted Army
“‘Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire [dark blue] and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, REVELATION 9:13-20
Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run. As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle. Before them peoples are in anguish; all faces grow pale. JOEL 2:4-6
Although some believe the Trumpets and Bowls are parallel and that they happen at the same time, the only commonality between this sixth trumpet and the sixth bowl of God’s wrath is the River Euphrates! Further, after the mission of the four angels and the 200 million man calvary is completed, there is no scripture that connects them and this sixth trumpet with any other events in the Tribulation! They are not a 200 million man army from China who will complete this mission and appear again at the battle of Armageddon!
“Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Release the four angels who are bound at the great River Euphrates.” REVELATION 9:13-14 Since the trumpet angels are those who stand in the presence of God, it is God who gives them their orders! This voice came from the four horns of this altar. No reason why this voice came from the four horns could be found in other scripture; but could it be the blood that was put on the horns of the altar crying out? Blood was applied to the horns of the altar in the Old Testament. EXODUS 29:12 And we have scripture for blood crying out in Genesis GENESIS 4:10 and in Hebrews we are told, “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” HEBREWS 12:24 Blood speaks! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from our sins. I JOHN 1:7 But does it cry out from the horns of the altar for destruction of those that are evil?
That those four angels are bound points to the fact they are fallen angels that are prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, [and are] released to kill a third of mankind. REVELATION 9:15 Their mission is specific—kill one-third of mankind. Their release is temporary—until their mission is fulfilled. “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” JUDE 1:6 Or until needed for a mission. These four angels have now been released to lead or assist this massive “calvary” in its mission. Scripture is not clear what the role of the four angels is—only that they are prepared and the result will be a third of mankind will die. There will be two-hundred million mounted troops. John heard their number. REVELATION 9:16
[They are not a massive army from the east that crosses the Euphrates River that has been dried up by the sixth angel who poured out his bowl on the Euphrates to prepare a way for the kings of the East. That happens later for the assembling of armies for Armageddon.]
This is not a normal calvary! Remember one-third of an innumerable number of angels fell with Satan, so he has a large number of demons that he can deploy. This is another horde of demons, much like the locusts, capable of killing with “… fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of the mouths…” REVELATION 9:17 of their horses. By these three plagues a third of mankind will be killed—the fire, smoke, and the sulfur. REVELATION 9:18 The horsemen wear breastplates the color of fire [bright orange] and of sapphire [dark blue] and of sulfur. [yellow] REVELATION 9:17 This huge army is from the bottomless pits and the breast plates of the mounted troops reflect where they are from. God is still in control, even of demons in Sheol.
These horses kill with the plagues from their mouths, with the fire and smoke and sulfur. “For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.” REVELATION 9:19 We have nothing to fear from serpents or scorpions for Jesus says “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” LUKE 10:19 He is the God “who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions…” DEUTERONOMY 8:15 But when this massive army rides, the inhabitants of earth will have great reason to fear. There is nothing to restrain this demonic horde for the restrainer is gone!
After the fifth trumpet all the evil inhabitants of the earth will know the hurt a scorpion can give and before they recover from those hurts the sixth trumpet will sound. Then they will be wounded by the heads of serpents on the horses’ tails that these two hundred million demons are mounted on—if they survive the breath from the mouth of those demonic horses! Like the locusts, they will have a precise mission; but different in that they both hurt and kill mankind. The locust will have a king over them; these that will kill one-third of mankind will have the four angels who were released from bondage at the great river Euphrates leading them.
Even after one-third of mankind is killed, they will not repent. Those “…who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” REVELATION 9:20-21 Locust from the bottomless pit that will hurt them will not change them, neither will this horde of demonic horsemen and horses lead by four fallen angels.
It must be noted again, scripture says, “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent…” REVELATION 9:20 This may sound like the only people left will be people who have not been sealed by God, evil people who will not repent; but “They [the locusts] will be told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” REVELATION 9:4 So if any of those who are sealed by God are left on earth after the sixth trumpet, they will still be protected by God. [The 144,000 sealed by God will not be harmed.]
There is no Biblical evidence of how long this army will be on earth before it is gone nor of what happens to it; but those who attempt to put everything in a time frame say the mission of the 200 million will last about one year or until after the middle of Tribulation!
Again, this sixth trumpet has nothing to do with the sixth bowl of God’s wrath; yet many confuse this army of 200 million who will be lead by the four angels—who will be released at the Euphrates River with the future event of the sixth bowl being poured out to dry up the waters of the Euphrates River to make way for the kings of the east and their armies; but these are unrelated events, except for the fact they both are the judgments of God. Further, although many place this 200 million man army at Armageddon, the mission of this 200 million man army is completed near the mid-point of Tribulation—after they have killed one-third of mankind. Armageddon is at the end of Tribulation! The armies assembled at Armageddon will be from the whole world; but there is no mention of a number of troops in those armies in scripture that I could find. And—no—this is not a 200 million man Chinese army!
Recently there have been news reports of the Euphrates River “drying up.” Some commentators immediately tied this to the sixth bowl and the drying up of the Euphrates River. I disagree with them for two important reasons. First, a severe drought has caused the Euphrates to dry up—although this is an action by God, it is not the action of the angel who will pour out the sixth bowl! Further, Turkey has had the ability to control the flow of the Euphrates with one of its dams for sometimes now. [1] Secondly, I do not believe the sixth bowl has yet been poured out—there are too many other signs that have not yet happened—including the sixth trumpet that must sound before a sixth bowl is poured out!
More
The locusts from the fifth trumpet “ In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle…” REVELATION 9:7 It is the horses that appear after the sixth trumpet that have heads “… like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths that are horses ready for battle. The only thing we know about the mounted troops is their number, that they are mounted on horses, and “…they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur…” REVELATION 9:17 All sound like demons from Sheol to me!
PART 5 THE LAST THREE AND ONE-HALF YEARS OF TRIBULATION
GREAT TRIBULATION
Prologue
While scripture never mentions a Revived Roman Empire, scripture in Daniel chapters two and seven talks about the fourth kingdom, of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, being a divided kingdom [the Roman Empire and a revival of the Roman Empire]. The composition of the feet of that statue are not like the legs. Some Bible scholars and commentators are saying this last empire will be a Revival of the Roman Empire. [A fifth empire.] The ten horn kings and the world church will begin this last empire that will eventually be usurped by the devil’s incarnate—the Antichrist. The last one-half of Tribulation is all about this demonic kingdom. From the abomination of desolation, at the mid-point of tribulation, to the end, this satanic kingdom will rule the world with a fist of iron without input from any other entity!
More beasts [the devil in various forms] arise to torment the people on the earth and to keep them in their grasp. Babylon will fall and the great prostitute, the apostate church, will be destroyed. The grapes of God’s wrath will be ‘harvested’ and the bowls of His wrath will be poured out.
Jesus is coming! But before he does, the armies of the world will assemble for the battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire. The armies will be destroyed by the Word of Jesus. And an angel will bind Satan and throw him into the bottomless pit.
THEN COMES THE END!
Topic 30—THE FIRST BEAST—RISING OUT of THE SEA
The First Beast—Rising Out of The Sea
Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. REVELATION 12:17
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. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 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 they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” REVELATION 13:1-4
The last part of verse seventeen of Revelation chapter twelve “…And he stood on the sand of the sea.” REVELATION 12:17 belongs at the start of verse one of Revelation chapter thirteen. In the KJV version it is at the beginning of chapter thirteen—verse one and before—“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea…” REVELATION 13:1
I do not believe this is John standing on the beach watching a beast rise from the sea; but rather that it is a demonic beast rising from or being supported by multitudes of people. God told Abraham that his offspring would be as the sand on the seashore. GENESIS 22:17 While sand may represent multitudes of people, the sea represents nations. This beast is rising out of the sea—nations in turmoil. It has ten horns, seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. REVELATION 13:1 While it is not called Satan, every beast in Daniel and Revelation is the devil in some form.
These ten horns are ten kings that will be in power for a short time with the beast. REVELATION 17:12 The diadems on his ten horns belong to those ten horn kings of this end-time kingdom. The seven heads are seven mountains and they are also seven kings. Their meanings are covered elsewhere in a greater depth.
“And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth…” REVELATION 13:2 These are partial descriptions of the first three beasts in Daniel; but the symbolism of Daniel’s beasts are recounted in the opposite order from the order of the features of this beast in Revelation. Daniel’s leopard was given the mind of a man. The bear was to told to devour much flesh and dominion was given to his lion. DANIEL 7:4-6
This Revelation beast will have the mind of a man. He will have dominion over the earth and he will devour much flesh. “… And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.” REVELATION 13:2 In another place it says, “‘And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’” REVELATION 13:4 From this second scripture it appears his “great” authority is now “all” authority. So everything the devil can do, now this beast can do!
“One of its heads [on this beast rising out of the sea] seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed…” REVELATION 13:3 This wounded head is incarnated by the devil and becomes the Antichrist. He will become the ruler of the demonic kingdom of the last three and one-half years of Tribulation. All of the things that the antichrists have done in the past are now incarnated into this Antichrist who will become exponentially worse than any of the others.
The Antichrist Prophesied
Some things that belong in end-time events in Daniel are the ten horns on his fourth beast and the little horn that came up among them. “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,” And then there is the little horn. “… and 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 the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.” DANIEL 7:20-22 This little horn is the Antichrist of the end-time.
“‘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 they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?’ And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.’” REVELATION 13:3-5 This is the Antichrist!
This scripture does not say the beast had a mortal wound; but that it “seemed” to have a mortal wound, as did all versions of the Bible that I viewed. This will be a staged scene by the devil in his attempt to replicate the death of Jesus and his resurrection. The father of all lies will show the world a mortally wounded man—wounded by a sword REVELATION 13:14 then that man is “healed”—no wounds. I will not speculate as to how he does this; but this is a deception of the devil to fool the world into thinking that his “son” has died and been resurrected. “…and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.” REVELATION 13:3 This is the “head” that is the Antichrist—Satan incarnate—now the head has become the beast. “It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.” REVELATION 13:6
Both Daniel’s “little horn” that plucked three horns or kings by the roots; and is speaking great things; DANIEL 7:8 and the wounded head REVELATION 13:3 on the beast rising out of the sea in Revelation are prophesying about the same Antichrist.
A lot of these things about the Antichrist will be repeated in future chapters. We look at them now for they are necessary for these topics and because the repetition will help us to understand them. If we are to interpret the signs of the time, then we need to know them!
The Antichrist’s End Time Kingdom—Prologue
God has always had a time to end all things evil on earth and to establish His never ending kingdom. After He has destroyed all evil and bound the devil, He will rule this earth for a thousand years. Then when the devil is finally destroyed, at the end of the millennium, Jesus Christ will rule in the new heaven and the new earth and the new Jerusalem for eternity. We are nearing the end of the age! The start of the “ending” is at the gate.
But before the end of the age, and before tribulation starts, there will be a revival of the Roman Empire. Although most of the world is oblivious to what is happening, the infrastructure for this Empire is being framed now. To be congruent with scripture, this Revived Roman Empire will be a ten nation or ten kingdom alliance that will continue to move toward total globalism. In its early stage, I believe, it will be a confederation of independent nations—much like the European Union. It possibly could be the European Union. Although they may be separate nations at first, they will work as one. It will become a true one-world government when the kingdom of the Antichrist is consolidated.
The Revived Roman Empire will at some point make an alliance with the Catholic Church. The church will have great influence for a while. This influence will be the cause of many conflicts among some of these nations. Regardless, there will not be a lasting peace among these nations. The many global problems will only get worse; but an ambitious and charismatic leader will arise and promise peace and prosperity. He is not a prince of peace. He is everything evil; but to gain power he first appears as a man of peace and a man with the answers to all of the many global problems.
After he brokers a temporary peace treaty among the nations and with Israel, he will address world hunger and world economic problems. He will bring the world to true globalism. While it is not clear in scripture how he rises to prominence, at some point in his rise to power, he will take absolute control of three of the ten ‘horn’ kingdoms—with their leaders remaining as subservient governors or kings. It could be most of these governments will be awkward democracies; but as the Antichrist’s power increases, that will change!
Important to the understanding of the Antichrist’s end-time kingdom is scripture that prophesies about the “divided kingdom,” a Revived Roman Empire, and the ten horns on the various beast that represent ten kings or kingdoms of this Revived Roman Empire. To help understand who the Antichrist is we need to look at the “little” horn that, “plucks up three horns” in Daniel, and one of the heads, “that seemed to have a mortal wound,” on the beast in Revelation. Scriptures about the seven heads on three of the beasts in Revelation give additional witness to a Revived Roman Empire.
The Ten Kings
There will be ten kings in the beginning of the end-time kingdom. Daniels fourth beast had ten horns. Daniel wanted to know “…about the ten horns that were on its head…” DANIEL 7:20 “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, [the Revived Roman Empire] and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.” DANIEL 7:24
Three of the beasts in Revelation have ten horns—the great red dragon REVELATION 12:3 —the beast rising out of the sea REVELATION 13:1 —and the scarlet beast. REVELATION 17:3 All of these beasts in Revelation that have ten horns represent ten kings or kingdoms. “And 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 These ten kings and their kingdoms are a prelude to the kingdom of the Antichrist.
The Seven Heads
The seven heads are further scripture witness of a Revived Roman Empire and that the Antichrist will take over this empire. Three beasts in Revelation have seven heads—the great red dragon REVELATION 12:3—the beast rising out of the sea REVELATION 13:1 —and the scarlet beast. 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.” REVELATION 17:9-10 These heads represent the Empires of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Roman and the Revived Roman Empire—the end-time kingdom.
The ‘head’ that becomes the end-time kingdom, the seventh, becomes the wounded head on the beast rising out of the sea. This wounded head is healed and morphs into the Antichrist.
The Many Antichrists become “The Antichrist”
Even before Jesus walked the earth, false prophets had been perverting the Word of God—just as the serpent did in the Garden—making their word sound like God’s Word, but meaning something entirely different. Today deception is everywhere. Differing interpretations divide us. While some may believe that those differing interpretation are not meant to deceive anyone, when Satan is involved it is deliberate deception. It will get worse as we near the end of time.
After the Law was given, eventually the “sects” of Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes were formed because they had differing views on certain scriptures. Their views divided them. These were the precursors of denominations. Their differing views has given rise to many of the antichrists! The more confusion there is among Christians, the easier it is for the devil to spin his lies.
The apostles warned the early church that there were already antichrists in the world. I JOHN 4:3 [Only John used the word antichrist.] Anyone who does not confess Jesus is the Son of God is antichrist. Anti Christs have been here since the Lord Jesus Christ; but “The Antichrist” in The Great Tribulation is yet to make himself known. Until then perversion of God’s word that causes division among Christians will continue. No one has caused division any more than the Catholic Church.
After the Catholic Church came into existence, perversion of the Word of God began in earnest. To chronicle all the ways they have perverted the gospel and how they have tried to interfere with an individual’s relationship with God, would take volumes of books to begin to convey the extent of that interference. It was—is good the Protestants broke away from the Catholic Church; but Reformation brought Counter-Reformation by the Catholic Church. And the reformists divided themselves into an unbelievable number of denominations and some kept many of the idols and doctrines of the Catholic Church.
Now we have mass media and the antichrists are able to exponentially spread their false doctrines. Years ago our government got involved—moving away from its Biblical foundations. A government campaign to remove God from public speech, public places, schools—from all public entities has been happening for many years now. This too is antichrist. In the place of God and his plan, government, with the help of mass media started promoting evolution, humanism, tolerance, and the false doctrine that there is more than one way to God. All of these doctrines are “anti Christ.” False doctrines, especially when spread globally, often cause chaos and violence. Violet crimes are often committed in the name of religion. Wars and rumors of wars often happen in countries where the major religions of the countries involved differ greatly.
All of this is becoming the perfect environment for a person that will poses as a “man of peace” to take over! He will say he also has the answer to all of humanity’s problems; but we can now see, that it is men who have caused these problems. Today the level of the world’s problems are greater than man’s ability to solve them. Man’s solutions only create additional problems. We are almost at the moment in this world where people will try anything or any person—even a man that will become Satan’s incarnate.
He will be revealed in the end time. When he seats himself in the temple and proclaims that he is god, then everyone will know that he is The Antichrist. II THESSALONIANS 2:3-4 Those that “read the fig leaves” may be able to identify him much sooner; for there will be other ‘signs of the times.’
The Revealing of the Antichrist
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming [His Second Coming]. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. II THESSALONIANS 2:1-10
Some of the Thessalonians believed that the Lord Jesus Christ had already come and gathered His people to Himself; but Paul tells them that day has not come and will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed. II THESSALONIANS 2:2-3 Paul refers to “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him” and “the day of the Lord” as the same event. II THESSALONIANS 2:1-2 Further, he tells us, “And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed…” II THESSALONIANS 2:6-8 When the Bride of Christ is “caught up,” then he [the Holy Spirit that indwells the Bride] will not be here to restrain the Antichrist and his evil. Without “the restrainer” to restrain him, then the Antichrist—the lawlessness one can no longer conceal his true identity; for his evil actions will betray him.
Daniel tells us a little horn plucks up three horns by the roots. DANIEL 7:8 Some believe these three horns are three of the ten ‘horn’ kings of the last earthly empire. When the Antichrist removes those three kings, those people attuned to the signs of the times, those that “read the fig leaves,” may see that and know that this aggressive leader is the Antichrist; for it will be obvious at that time he is not a man of peace. After the restrainer is removed, he takes his seat in the temple of God and proclaims himself to be God, then there is then no doubt that he is the Antichrist! That event is referred to by Daniel and Jesus as being the abomination of desolation. DANIEL 11:21, 36 and MATTHEW 24:15 And it takes place at or near the mid-point of Tribulation—the great Tribulation.
The Antichrist and The Ten Kings Act Together
At or near the mid-point of tribulation, the ten leaders of the ten nations will “rule for one hour with the Antichrist.” During their short rule with the Antichrist, together, they will destroy the Catholic Church—she is the rider on the scarlet beast! Now those ten nations, [he already controls three of them.] out of fear of the Antichrist, will give him all of their power after the great harlot is destroyed. The Antichrist then seats himself in the Temple at Jerusalem and claims that he is God. His demonic kingdom has started.
“And 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 “And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.” REVELATION 17:16-18 Daniel prophesied that this marriage of iron and clay would not last.
“And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.” DANIEL 2:41-43
Clay represents people and iron the rigid rule of government. This clay will be the world church and pacifiers in the end-time. The iron will be the rule of the ten ‘horn’ kings of the end-time. These will mix—marry much like the Holy Roman Empire did; but they will not hold together and the Antichrist’s government will replace that coalition or marriage at the mid-point of tribulation. Church and State divorce! State, the ten ‘horn’ kings give their power and authority to the Antichrist. Without the “restrainer”and without the apostate church and without the balancing effect of other rulers, the kingdom of the Antichrist is consolidated!
The Antichrist’s kingdom will then last for three and one-half years. DANIEL 7:24 It will be “…over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it…” REVELATION 13:7-8 And, again, it will be free from any influence other than that of Satan and his demons.
The Divided Kingdom is United Under the Antichrist
In Daniel it is clear that the feet, Daniel’s “divided kingdom” is not a part of the Roman Empire; but many refer to this last earthly kingdom, the kingdom of the ten ‘horn’ kings and the Antichrist, as the “Revived Roman Empire.” While it will have many of the attributes of the Roman Empire, it may be more similar to the “Holy Roman Empire” [800 to 1806] in its beginnings; but I do not believe that the Holy Roman Empire is the subject of Daniel’s prophecies. It was not as intense as this end-time kingdom will be.
The start of this last earthly kingdom will be a revival of the Roman Empire. It is further symbolized by Daniel’s prophecies about the beast with ten horns and the “little horn” that plucked up three of the first [ten] horns. DANIEL 7:8 And the prophecies in Revelation of three beasts that each have ten horns and seven heads, all have important end-time kingdom meanings; but when the “divided kingdom” is united under the Antichrist, it will look like Daniel’s fourth beast, in chapter seven, on steroids!
Daniel’s fourth beast—the ancient Roman Empire was “… terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.” DANIEL 7:7 "Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet,” DANIEL 7:19 And “Thus he said: 'As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.’” DANIEL 7:23 This was the old Roman Empire! The last three and one-half of Tribulation—the great Tribulation—will be much worse!
In Daniel, chapter two, Nebuchadnezzar had his dream. Although he was greatly trouble by it, he could not remember the dream. So Daniel had to, both, tell him what he dreamed and tell him the interpretation of the dream. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was of a great image, mighty and of exceeding brightness—its appearance was frightening. DANIEL 2:31. Each part of the image was of a different metal—head of fine gold, chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. DANIEL 2:32-33 It is interesting that when Daniel was giving Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation of his dream that he reminded him, “And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay.” DANIEL 2:41 It would not be the same kingdom as the legs; but before he began his interpretation, he told Nebuchadnezzar’s the ending of those kingdoms represented by this impressive image.
As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. DANIEL 2:34-35
The scripture above is a very clear description of what will happen at Jesus Christ’s second coming. Especially interesting to me is that the stone “cut out by no human hand” strikes the image on its feet—first. The kingdom of the Antichrist. Then it destroys all evil and all evidence of the other kingdoms of the past and the “wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found.” After the earth has been purged of all evil, the stone, the Rock of my Salvation, fills the whole earth!
Last One-half of the Tribulation—The Great Tribulation
"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
In Matthew chapter twenty-four Jesus says after the abomination of desolation there will be great tribulation. Since the abomination of desolation takes place at or near the mid-point of Tribulation, then the reference to great tribulation is to the last one-half of Tribulation. That will be when further judgments will be unleashed and God’s undiluted wrath will be poured out on the earth.
Written by Mallard E. Guy Jr.
Over a Period of Two + Years
Finished October 28, 2023
Edited November 9, 2023
Last Edited May 31, 2024