STUDY 8

TOPIC 38— THE FIRST FIVE BOWLS OF GOD’S WRATH

The First Five Bowls of God's Wrath

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. REVELATION 16:2-11

Some teachings on the Seven Bowls say all the bowls are poured out simultaneously. Their reason for this, they say, is: The “The” that precedes each of the seven angels is actually the Greek word for ‘and.’ They contend that it should read—the first angel and second angel and third angel and fourth angel and fifth angel and sixth angel and seventh angel; and since the loud voice from the temple tells the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God,” they believe the bowls are poured out simultaneously. REVELATION 16:1 I  I  believe that by reading further we find that all bowls are sequential but not simultaneous; These first five bowls are poured out after the midpoint of the Tribulation and after the events that take place at that point. [Abomination of desolation and the mark of the beast] The first five bowls may be poured out in rapid succession. The sixth bowl is not poured out until just before the battle of Armageddon and the seventh bowl is poured out as time ends—after the battle of Armageddon! So the last two bowls are poured out well after the first five bowls. When all seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out, his wrath is finished.

The First Bowl

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. REVELATION 16:2

While some may believe these sores have been caused by exposure to nuclear weapons and that God needs man’s nuclear weapons to cause harmful and painful sores to come upon people. He does not! This is something God allowed the devil to do to Job. JOB 2:7 Moses took soot from a kiln and threw it into the air and it become boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. EXODUS 9:8-9 That was in Egypt just before the Exodus. Again, he made known his use of sores on man to Israel, threatening them with sores that would not be healed if they disobeyed him. DEUTERONOMY 28:27, 35 This first angel simply poured out a portion of God’s wrath the caused harmful and painful sores on a select group—the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshipped its image. Man’s weapons cannot select a specific group of people to harm! This is God’s anger being poured out.

The Second Bowl—Sea becomes like blood

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. REVELATION 16:3

In the literal interpretation of this scripture, many believe the sea is the Mediterranean Sea. The spiritualist say the sea is the masses of Gentile people. I could find no supporting scripture for either. Israel has coast on the Mediterranean and Red Seas and no doubt these end-time events will be focused around Israel. So it could be either or both of those seas or all seas! Notice verse three says, “like” the blood of a corpse. God has the power to turn water into blood as he did the Nile. EXODUS 7:20 It could be something even more horrific than blood. The blood of a corpse has no life left in it. This time every living thing died that was in the sea. When the second trumpet sounded 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. REVELATION 8:8-9 The second trumpet judgment is really bad—the second bowl of wrath is much worse for every living thing that is in the sea dies. Remember the trumpets were judgments—the bowls of wrath are God’s wrath. God’s wrath is worse than His judgments!

The Third Bowl—Rivers and springs of water become blood

The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. REVELATION 16:4 

When this bowl is poured out the rivers and springs “become” blood—not something like blood. Note this bowl is poured out into the rivers and springs—not on them. All of the water at every level is affected. Surface waters such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs are the main sources of water for most cities and towns. Ground water sources including wells and aquifers are also important sources of drinking. They may be affected as well. Becoming major sources of drinking water for many are the bottled “spring” waters. So for these sources, rivers and springs, to become blood would eliminate them as a source of drinking water.

Scientists say drinking one liter of blood which contains 800 ml of water will result in a 1,500 ml  water loss through the kidneys. That would leave you with a negative 700 ml water balance in your body! The body’s thirst for water would only increase if you drank blood. Man’s water treatment systems needed to purify water to acceptable levels for drinking are not designed to purify blood to that level. So God will be taking drinking water from mankind. All aquatic life in the rivers will probably die as well since they are accustomed to water and not to blood. [1]

This is not the first time God has turned a river and drinking water into blood. This was one of the plagues that God put on Egypt. EXODUS 7:17-20 Notice this time the water is turned into blood—not something “like” blood. “‘And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, ‘Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink.  It is what they deserve!’” REVELATION 16:5-6

“…Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ROMANS 12:19 “And I heard the altar saying, ‘Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!’” REVELATION 16:7 Verses five through seven speak for themselves—no commentary necessary; but I think it is significant the angel in charge of the waters says giving them blood to drink is what they deserve and the altar says, “…Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” The altar, I believe, refers to those souls under the altar who have been crying out … “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” REVELATION 6:10 Now they are seeing some of God’s vengeance. Sometimes judgments are tempered with Grace; but grace is gone from the earth! It is now God’s wrath on the earth.

The Fourth Bowl—Sun Scorches People

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. REVELATION 16:8-9

This bowl is poured out on the sun. This is the first bowl that affects a heavenly body! Some are divided over whether these verses are literal or spiritual. This fourth angel literally pours out his bowl on the sun—not the earth or sea. The God who made the sun can literally turn up the heat from the sun or He could cause earth to orbit closer to the sun. Either way, he choses to make the sun scorch people on earth; but since it was poured out on the sun, I believe, that it changes the sun in some way that causes the “fierce heat.”

Cursing God is literal, as is, recognizing he has power over these plagues! Like the ancient Pharaoh in Egypt, God has hardened their hearts. They will not repent; and rather than giving Him glory, they will curse Him. They acknowledge a God who is more powerful than any man; but they still continue to resist His will.

The Fifth Bowl—poured on throne of the beast—utter darkness

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. REVELATION 16:10-11

“Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt." …and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days…” EXODUS 10:21-23 With the darkness from God, all light is removed! With this kind of darkness even evil kingdoms that love darkness are paralyzed. It is possible this end-time darkness may be even greater than the darkness which plagued Egypt; for God’s unmixed wrath will be poured out without measure.

This bowl will be poured out on the throne of the beast. Once again God will plunge a “dark kingdom” into gross darkness! With a darkness that can be felt, there will be nothing these demonic people can do but curse God for the pain and sores from the first bowl and for the wrath poured out in the second, third and fourth bowls; and like Pharaoh, they will once again hardened their hearts and will not repent! EXODUS 10:27

TOPIC 39—THE SIXTH BOWL OF GOD’S WRATH IS POURED OUT

The Sixth Bowl of God’s Wrath is Poured out Before Battle ofArmageddon

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. REVELATION 16:12-16

“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east.” REVELATION 16:12 Although God does not need man’s help to dry up rivers he created, man now has the capacity to stop the flow of the Euphrates. Modern day Turkey controls the Euphrates and in 2014 they stopped the flow of water into Syria. Additionally Syria has three dams on the river and could assist in drying up the river completely! [1] But God chooses to dry up the river by pouring a bowl of his wrath on it. He doesn’t need man’s dams! God is not extending a favor to the kings from the east; but rather is showing that He is drying up or severing any connection to them—removing any barrier to their gathering with the other armies of the world. They have believed the lies of the devil, the Antichrist and the false prophet and they will be destroyed at the battle of Armageddon. Regardless, after the sixth bowl of God’s wrath is poured out, the way for the kings from the east will be set. REVELATION 16:12

It is not given in scripture how the Sixth Bowl of God’s wrath dried up the Euphrates. For a river to dry up naturally would mean months of drought perhaps even years. God chose a strong east wind that blew all night to part the Red Sea. EXODUS 14:21 Wind or drought, a dried up Euphrates River will assist the kings from the East. Verse twelve of this scripture may be more symbolic than literal. In Bible times drying the Euphrates up would have greatly assisted any army from the East in crossing it; but in modern times a river is not a barrier to amassing an army anywhere. Note there is a difference between “drying up a river” and “parting a river or a sea.” In each Biblical account when a body of water was parted it was to assist God’s people and when their passage over that body of water on dry land was complete, the water returned immediately. “Drying” up the Euphrates simply means God will “pave” the way for the kings from the east to assemble at Armageddon. Every barrier is removed and every reason for them to assemble is reinforced. They will be there!

Nations Assemble At Armageddon

And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.” REVELATION 16:13-14

Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you.  I KINGS 22:23

On the occasion of the scripture in First Kings the lying spirit was in the mouth of Israel’s prophets and Israel was defeated in battle. In the end-time the lying spirits go abroad and convince the kings of the whole world to assemble for battle; but this time the God of Israel will prevail. By the sword in His mouth He will defeat this massive army without a battle!

With God preparing the way for the armies from the East and Israel’s western border, the Mediterranean, providing access for enemies who are afar off, it will be easy for the nations of the world to assemble for war against Israel. Enemies from the North and south have familiar routes to Israel. The armies of the whole world will assemble at Armageddon. REVELATION 16:16 But they will become food for the fowls of the air. “‘Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, ‘Come, gather for the great supper of God.’” REVELATION 19:17 Hurry! Armageddon is coming!

Although some believe when the sixth bowl is poured out to dry up the Euphrates River, this means that a 200 million man army from China will be attacking the Antichrist. I do not believe this. First, the armies of the world are assembling at Armageddon at the behest of the Antichrist and not attacking him. Secondly, The 200 million man army belongs with the sixth trumpet judgment only. Their mission is over years before Armageddon. However, there could be a large army from China assembling with the armies of the rest of the world to make war against Israel; but no one knows the number of the Chinese army. Like many before them, the armies of the world will try to eliminate all of God's chosen people Israel and Jesus Christ. They will not be able to do this for the Lord Jesus Christ will kill them with the sword of his mouth.

TOPIC 40— JESUS IS COMING!

Second Coming—Foretold

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.  ZECHARIAH 12:10

For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. MATTHEW 24:27

It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” JUDE 1:14-15

“…This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” ACTS 1:11

And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. REVELATION 22:7

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! REVELATION 22:20

We all believe Jesus is coming again! Before He stands on the Mount of Olives He and His armies will be seen in the heavens. He could defeat the Antichrist and the kings of the earth from the heavens; but He will come again and stand on the Mount of Olives. That will fulfill what the two men in white robes told the men of Galilee after Jesus’ ascension. ACTS 1:10-11 That is our hope! “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” I CORINTHIANS 15:19 Our hope is beyond this life! Before he comes to the Mount of Olives, he will appear in the clouds with the sounding of a trumpet and will “catch away” those that are ‘in’ Christ.

ENOCH’S PROPHECY

Enoch Chapter 1

The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the elect [and] righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked [and godless] are to be removed. And he took up his parable and said--Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, [which] the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is for to come. Concerning the elect I said, and took up my parable concerning them: The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling, And the eternal God will tread upon the earth, (even) on Mount Sinai, [And appear from His camp] And appear in the strength of His might from the heaven of heavens. And all shall be smitten with fear And the Watchers shall quake, And great fear and trembling shall seize them unto the ends of the earth And the high mountains shall be shaken, And the high hills shall be made low, And shall melt like wax before the flame And the earth shall be ⌈wholly⌉ rent in sunder, And all that is upon the earth shall perish, And there shall be a judgement upon all (men). But with the righteous He will make peace. And will protect the elect, And mercy shall be upon them. And they shall all belong to God, And they shall be prospered, And they shall [all] be blessed. [And He will help them all], And light shall appear unto them, [And He will make peace with them]. And behold! He cometh with ten thousands of [His holy ones To execute judgement upon all, And to destroy [all the ungodly: And to convict all flesh Of all the works [of their ungodliness] which they have ungodly committed, And of all the hard things which ungodly sinners [have spoken] against Him.

The Rider on a White Horse—Jesus Returns—In The Heavens First

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. REVELATION 19:11-16

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” REVELATION 19:11 He is Faithful and True and a righteous Judge. He has come to redeem us by blood, he has appeared in the clouds to “catch away” the Church; but this is the first time Jesus has come to make war! He has eyes like a flame of fire, always searching, penetrating, exposing and judging what He exposes. REVELATION 19:12  John describes the son of man as having eyes like a flame of fire. REVELATION 1:14 There can be no doubt that the one sitting on the white horse is Jesus Christ; for He also has many diadems on His head. REVELATION 19:12

  What kind of diadems He has on His head or how many is not noted in this text; but He will not be wearing a crown of thorns that day. He will be crowned with glory and honor. HEBREWS 2:9 Isaiah knew what two of the diadems are. “In that day the Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people.” ISAIAH 28:5 On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” REVELATION 19:16 Since He is King of kings and Lord of lords, there will be crowns for His sovereignty and crowns from those He has conquered. He will wear many crowns!

“…He has a new name written that no one knows but Himself.” REVELATION 19:12 We are not told in scripture where it is written; but it could be on a diadem or on His forehead. We do know He will have a new name and He promises to give us a new secret name too. “…To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” REVELATION 2:17  Further He says, “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” REVELATION 3:12

We will have His new name written on us and the name of the city of our God, new Jerusalem; and we will be known in heaven by a new name—the name that is given to us on a white stone. Others disagree, citing Matthew chapter seventeen, verse three where Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration; and because they were still known as Moses and Elijah, they say we too will have our same names. He gave us this white stone with a new name on it to be a unique identifier; and this will be our name in Heaven. Moses and Elijah have a proprietary right to their names and for that reason this is a distinctive identifier for them; but John Smith would not be a unique identifier in heaven—it is not unique on earth.

“He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God.” REVELATION 19:13 He still has His name that no one knows but Himself. He has been treading “…the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” REVELATION 19:15 That is why His apparel is red, and His garments like one who treads in the winepress. ISAIAH 63:2 “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel.” ISAIAH 63:3 “…He has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes.” GENESIS 49:11 Since He has tread the winepress alone, none of the host of heaven have any ‘blood’ stains on their garments. “And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses.” REVELATION 19:14

The Armies of Heaven

And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. REVELATION 19:14

I do not believe these armies of heaven are the Bride of the Lamb; but rather it is legions of warrior angels. They are the angels who have fought the battle against evil in the heavenly places and have now come to watch Jesus Christ destroy the armies of the world who have come against Him.

Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords is leading these armies! [Although Jesus is leading these armies, he has a “…commander of the army of the Lord…” JOSHUA 5:14 Joshua saw him! JOSHUA 5:13] Scripture says “armies” so there is more than one army. However, I do not believe any of these armies seen in heaven is the Church. Rather, again, they are legions of warrior angels.

The legions of angels, he could have asked His Father to send Him to prevent being arrested and crucified, are a part of those armies. “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” MATTHEW 26:53 It will be angels who expel the devil from the second heaven. “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” REVELATION 12:7-8  He will use them in the end-time. “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace…” MATTHEW 13:41-42 Evil on earth is about to be destroyed. Regardless of the arguments to the contrary, there is no compelling scripture to show the Bride of Jesus Christ is His Army. Our fight against evil was over when we were caught away!

The Archangel Michael will be at Armageddon leading all of those angels. “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.” DANIEL 12:1 And He will use at least one of those angels to extract the Antichrist, who is the beast, and the false prophet and throw them alive into the lake fire. REVELATION 19:20

Jesus Returns To The Earth

The Lord Jesus Christ will return again to this earth from the point that He left, the Mount of Olives, after He has “appeared” in the clouds and taken his bride home. “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” MATTHEW 24:30  The heavens will open first to reveal His second coming! Then He will descend to the Mount of Olives!

He has come to destroy the armies gathered at Armageddon. “Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. …Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” ZECHARIAH 14:3-5  

The heavens will not open up at His “appearing” to catch His Bride away; but at the end of Tribulation heaven will open first to reveal His armies and His second coming! Then He will descend to the Mount of Olives!

TOPIC 41—ARMAGEDDON

The Battle of Armageddon—Those Who are There

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. REVELATION 19:19

We need a short review of the sixth trumpet so we can know those who are not at the battle of Armageddon. The trumpet angel blew the sixth trumpet; and the four fallen angels bound with eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment, are now released to lead an army of two-hundred million mounted demonic men and horses. Their God given mission is the destruction of a third of mankind. REVELATION 9:13-16 Then much later the bowl angel poured out the sixth bowl on the river Euphrates. This is to facilitate the crossing of a different massive army, kings from the east. The cavalry lead by the four angels released by the sixth trumpet have already finished their mission before the sixth bowl is poured out! They will not be at Armageddon. The four angels were released at the Euphrates to lead a massive army on a specific mission. I do not believe this mission includes being at Armageddon; but the kings of the earth and their armies will be there.

The Antichrist has sent for help and will have help from the whole world. They will assemble at Armageddon. This will be a massive army of people as we know armies; but an evil one for it is an attempt by the devil himself to raise an army against Jesus Christ and His chosen people. The devil knows Jesus Christ has already “caught away” His bride and he knows how to count time since then. His time is running out and he will try one more time to defeat Jesus. The devil has already been defeated by God when he was thrown down to earth the first time. But he performs signs to convince the kings of the whole world to commit their armies to this battle to defeat Jesus Christ! One lie the devil tells the nations that are assembling is that the fight is against Israel; but he knows who is going to intervene.

He failed to destroy Him as a child and failed on several attempts to kill Him before His ministry on earth was completed. Although he was crucified and died, he conquered death—another defeat for Satan. So he will try one last time to defeat Jesus Christ—the king of Kings!

“And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.”  REVELATION 16:13-14 These unclean spirts from the mouths of the dragon, beast, and false prophet are lying spirits sent abroad to perform signs to convince the kings that now he can defeat Israel. It must be some powerful signs to persuade the whole world to assemble for battle. In I Kings the lying spirits persuaded Ahab to go to battle without any signs—this time the kings of the whole world will see signs and hear lies!

Some “spiritual realm” commentators find scripture from various places in the Bible they say proves demonic giants from Sheol will be there for the battle of Armageddon. Although I did not find scripture to support their postulation, I cannot totally disagree for the devil is using every device available to him in this last effort at defeating Jesus Christ! Note, if the 200 million man calvary led by the four angels released at the Euphrates by the sixth trumpet is assembled at Armageddon, it will be as a demonic horde from the spiritual realm and will not be a 200 million man army from China!

The Battle of Armageddon—There is no Battle

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. REVELATION 19:19-21

“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.” REVELATION 19:19  He has come to battle against all evil. “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” REVELATION 19:15 The battle of Armageddon, the battle that is one-sided, is about to begin!

The mission of this battle by Satan is the destruction of Jesus Christ! The assembly that will be there for a war will fight no battle at all; for the Lord will do all the fighting! “Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. …Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.” ZECHARIAH 14:3-5

After this the beast will be captured, and with him the “…false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. REVELATION 19:20 “And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse…” REVELATION 19:21 The rest he will destroy without getting off of his horse. He will open his mouth and kills them all with the sword of His mouth. So in the big war that was to happen—no battle happens—just the sword from the mouth of the Lord Jesus!

Invitation to The Great Supper of God

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” REVELATION 19:17-18

As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God: Speak to the birds of every sort and to all beasts of the field: “Assemble and come, gather from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel, and you shall eat flesh and drink blood.” EZEKIEL 39:17

The invitation to the great supper of God is given! The amazing thing to me is the birds will be called first, before the battle begins. Image being assembled for a great battle with armies from the whole world and being optimistic about victory for you have been deceived by the signs performed by demonic spirits sent abroad by the dragon, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. Your leaders, too, have believed the lies and you have been mustered for battle. Then all of a sudden a tremendous number of birds start circling overhead. They are vultures attracted by the smell of dead things. Do you think that you would take notice?!

We have the Lord’s Supper and we have The Marriage Supper of The Lamb. Then those who were not at either of these Suppers, and are at the assembly at Armageddon, they are at the great supper of God; but they will not be eating the supper—they are the supper!

And I will cast you on the ground; on the open field I will fling you, and will cause all the birds of the heavens to settle on you, and I will gorge the beasts of the whole earth with you. I will strew your flesh upon the mountains and fill the valleys with your carcass. I will drench the land even to the mountains with your flowing blood, and the ravines will be full of you. EZEKIEL 32:4-6

“And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” REVELATION 19:21 The great supper of God has begun!

TOPIC 42—A GREAT MULTITUDE

A Great Multitude That No One Could Number, From Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. REVELATION 7:9-12

In this portion of scripture,  John sees a great multitude of people from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes. It seems that they are leading worship in heaven for they have palm branches in their hands, and are crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” When they do this all of the angels standing around the throne, the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fall on their faces and join in the praise and worship of God! That’s worship in heaven!

Who Are These, Clothed in White Robes, and From Where Have They Come

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” REVELATION 7:13-17

The souls under the altar, seen in the opening of the fifth seal, were … “each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” REVELATION 6:11 These are those souls whom were killed later!

While scripture does not say these are martyrs, the elder tells John that they are coming out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. REVELATION 7:14  One way to escape the great Tribulation and be standing in the presence of God is to be martyred. Very few will die from natural causes during the great Tribulation because of all the devastation from God’s wrath that is happening. Jesus speaks about the great Tribulation in Matthew. MATTHEW 24:21 This great multitude is now sheltered in God’s presence and the Lamb. He will be their shepherd and will guide them to the springs of living water and wipe every tear from their eyes. They will be cared for by God. REVELATION 7:15-17

Scripture says this great multitude that no one could number is from every nation, tribes, people and languages; and that they are coming out of the great Tribulation. Jesus tells Israel to flee at the mid-point of Tribulation, everything after then is “great” Tribulation; for he says, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” MATTHEW 24:21 The Jewish people have been dispersed to every nation and they speak the language of the nation of their dispersion. So this great multitude could be all Jews.

I cannot find any scripture to confirm that the Gospel is still being preached in the great Tribulation; so the context of their conversion is not known. What is known is they were probably martyred for their conversion. Isaiah prophesied “…though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return…” ISAIAH 10:22   This scripture in Isaiah could be referring to the return of Israel to their homeland, but the Apostle Paul puts this in the end-times in Romans. ROMANS 9:22-29 Some believe all of Israel will be saved because of scripture in Romans; and that this will happen when “…The Deliverer will come from Zion.” ROMANS 11:26  I believe that will be a Christ’s second coming.

Although no timeline is given for the appearance of this multitude, the wording of the elder that answers his own question to John—who are these and where did they come from—says, “…These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.”  The usage of the word “coming” indicates that they are presently exiting the great Tribulation and that exit is not yet complete! Regardless of when this happens and contrary to what some may believe, a great number from every nation, tribes, people and languages will be saved in the great Tribulation—a time when God’s wrath is being poured out!

The Lamb and the 144,000 Standing on Mount Zion

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. REVELATION 14:1-5

The 144,000 sealed in Revelation chapter seven is the same 144,000 who will appear with the Lamb on Mount Zion. They will be with Jesus when he stands on Mount Zion. They will have His name and His Father’s name on their foreheads. They will sing a new song before the throne. A song of redemption and testimony to their common experiences that no one knows and perhaps a new language that no one else can learn. Wow!  I can only image a choir of 144,000!

They are virgins and have been redeemed as firstfruits for God and the Lamb. They are blameless. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. REVELATION 14:1-5 They are on Mount Zion with Him.

Were they marked for reasons that Ezekiel foretold? EZEKIEL 9:4 Are they among those who escaped, survivors that the Lord has called? JOEL 2:32 and OBADIAH 1:17  Is Mount Zion the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem—the New Jerusalem? HEBREWS 12:22 Could it be the Lamb and the 144,000 are in the New Jerusalem before the throne of God singing their new song that no one else can learn? I believe that God likes new songs! REVELATION 5:9 and PSALM 33:3

There is not a lot of scripture to define the mission of the 144,000 and what their role will be in the End-Times; but from the passages in Revelation 7 and Revelation 14 it is obvious they are “special” and sealed servants of the Most High! We know they follow the Lamb wherever He goes! That alone makes them special.

TOPIC 43— THE FINAL BOWL OF GOD’S WRATH

The Seventh Bowl—Poured Out in the Air

“The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done!” REVELATION 16:17 

This last bowl is poured out into the air—the dominion of the devil—the prince of the air. The loud voice that came out of the temple is God declaring, “It is done!” Now God’s wrath is complete. It has been poured out on the earth, into the sea, into the rivers and springs of water, on the sun, on the throne of the beast and his kingdom, on the great river Euphrates and finally into the air! It is the final purge of evil from the earth. Now He is getting earth ready for His millennium reign. For His righteous rule, the heavens will be restored. Earth’s geography,  its topography, its ecology, its geology and perhaps its climate will be changed.

Landscape of Earth Changes—Getting Ready For 1,000 Year Rule of Christ

And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city [Jerusalem] was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. REVELATION 16:18-20

whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. ACTS 3:21

“And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.” REVELATION 16:18  “The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.” REVELATION 16:19-20 Before you can have a “renewed” heaven and earth, there first has to be some demolition. First, the greatest earthquake ever! Then the great city Jerusalem was split into three parts—and the cities of the nations fell. All the cities on earth are being destroyed at the same time. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.” REVELATION 16:20 There are no more islands and there are no more mountains. The earth is flatten!

“God remembers Babylon the great.” She has already been destroyed; but God remembers “to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.” REVELATION 16:19 There will nothing left in his storehouse to be poured out—all the wine of  the fury of his wrath will be drained from the winepress of the wrath of God! Great hailstones may be a part of the final fury of his wrath. After His wrath is drained, none of his fury is left. No wrath left!  The end has come!

“And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” REVELATION 16:21 God has been saving the “big” hailstones from his storehouse. “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?” JOB 38:22-23 God has used the little stuff before. “‘Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.’ The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field.’” EXODUS 9:22, 25

In Acts we are told that Jesus will be in heaven “… until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” ACTS 3:21 Sometime after His second coming the final restoration of earth and heaven will take place—making it ready for His 1,000 year rule.

The restored earth may well be like Isaiah’s prophecy. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.” ISAIAH 35:1-2 And “… For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ISAIAH 35:7-10

The earth’s landscape will then be gentle rolling hills and meadows—pastoral! Some Bible commentaries say this purging of earth and sky is giving away to a new heaven and a new earth. While it is clear both heaven and earth are being purged of evil, there is still one final release of the devil and one final evil war left for earth. This final war after the 1,000 year millennium will not happen on the “new” earth. After the devil and his followers are destroy and he is cast into the lake of fire where his partners, the Antichrist and the false prophet, are being tormented, then the heavens and this earth will pass away. The heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire. II PETER 3:7 They will pass away. The new heaven and the new earth will not be a renovated heaven and earth—but a newly created heaven and earth. After the new heaven and the new earth have been created, then the New Jerusalem will descend.

Written by Mallard E. Guy Jr.

Over a Period of Two + Years

Finished October 28, 2023

Edited November 11, 2023

Last Edited May 31, 2024