The Power of the New Testament Church - Part 1

The New Testament Church was not born of silver-tongued orators. It was not born through the slick preaching of the Gospel such as we have today. It is easy to preach the Gospel today because we no longer have to prove anything. In general, our listeners do not expect signs and wonders following.

All you have to do to be successful now is to be a graduate of a Bible College or Seminary to gather some credentials. You can articulate your first point, your second point, your third point and your conclusion. Interject it with a nice story or two and a little humor and you have it made. If you can talk about your "God-given" gifts and the power of positive thinking and the power of mind over matter, then you are really successful.

I thank God for great preachers and there is no shortage of them. But, slowing and unknowingly the world is going to hell! Why? Because the Church cannot stop the influence of pornogaphy, sin, homosexuality, drugs and other evils.

The demonstration of Power

The New Testament Church was not born through great preaching, nor was it born through the manipulation of people. It was born in a demonstration power.

Jesus said, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; ..." (Acts 1:8, NKJV).

When the disciples came out of the upper room after they received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they were staggering under the influence of that power. People said, they, including Peter, were drunk.

Peter stood up and said, "For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; ...'" (Acts 2:15 - 17).

When Paul came out of the desert after God overtook him and he was converted on the road to Damascus, he was able to say, ".. I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood" (Gal. 1:16).

He could go into cities and say, "When I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God ..., but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Cor 2:1 - 4).


He also said the following:

"... though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Phil. 3:4 - 6).

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:7 - 8).

"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Cor. 2:4).

Paul and the other members of the early church shook the political world in which they lived because they had Power. The Church of Jesus Christ was born through a demonstration of apostolic Power.

What do we have today? We have a lot of theory. We have have a lot of theology. We have a lot of doctrine. But we do not have a demonstration of this power.

Jesus Christ is coming back again and the Church will be raptured. And I do not believe that the Church will be raptured in powerless, anemic, compromising, sleeping, unconcerned condition that it is in today.

The raptured Church is the Bride of Christ. It is the Father's reward to His only begotten Son, Jesus, for the great work of redemption accomplished here on earth, for leaving the glories of His abode in heaven and taking on Himself the likeness of sinful flesh, for suffering humilition, rejection and pain in order that He might offer salvation and life to the entire world.

I believe the Church of Jesus Christ will be raptured in an even greater demonstration of power than the tremendous outpouring of God's Spirit and Power in which it was born. The Church was born in Power. There was a mark upon it. There were flames of fire. There were other tongues. There were miracles. there was Power. You can read part, a tiny portion, of the blazing history of the newly born Church in the book of Acts. It is maginficent, tremendous and power packed.

God took a contingent of men and women, ragged, scared, many of them uneducated, unendowed with the treasure of this world and He so ignited their souls with the fire power of heaven that they literally swept their world for Christ.

I believe the final chapter of the Acts of the Holy Spirit and of God's men and women here on this earth has not yet been written! As the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ draws near, the power, the presence, the anointing, the glory, the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the demonstration of power to the world will come forth from the spirit world. It will rest upon, glow within, radiate from, and be manifested through the Body of Christ in an even greater way than the early Church saw it.

This demonstration will become greater and greater, until just before the coming of the Lord a remarkable demonstration of the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ will be spread before the entire world.

The entire world will know that Christ is alive, that He is the Son of God that He came here to this world for a purpose. They will see His power manifested in His people in an irrefutable display of His resurrected might.

Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the word as witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:14).

We are in that time of breakthrough, that time of the witness with power.

Reasons why the multitudes followed Jesus

The Bible is very clear; it does not pull any punches. It says openly and honestly exactly why the multitudes followed Jesus.

They followed Him because of the miracles He performed. They followed Him because they saw blind eyes opened, the saw deaf ears unstopped, and they saw the lame walk.

"Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased" (John 6:2).

Jesus knew their thoughts and their desires. He knew why they were following Him. Yet He did not chase them away. He did not rebuke them; He did not send away one person who followed Him for the miracles.

The woman with the issue of blood (Matt. 9:20) ... the blind man who cried out to Him (Luke 18:35 - 43) ... the father with the demon-possed boy whom the disciples could not heal (Mark 9:17 - 29) ... the Syro-Phoenician whoman who put herself in the place of a dog and said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table" (Matt. 15:27. ... He never chased one of them away. He healed every one of them. Why? Because Jesus came here for this purpose:

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jon 3:8).

Reasons why Jesus came

1. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost:

Jesus said, ".... for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

Jesus come to transform lives - body, soul and spirit.

2. Jesus came to heal the sick and afflicted:

"Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well" (Mark 6:56).

He never once told a person it was God's will for him to bear or suffer blindness, deafness, leprosy, lameness, or any other affliction. Jesus had the answer to their problems.


God's healing center - the Church


Ask any Pastor and he will tell you, the Church is the place where you get the right Biblical teaching. You are expected to sit quietly in the pews and listen attentively to what is being taught from the pulpit. Not many Pastors know that God has placed in our hands the keys to effectively witness for Him. It is His desire that every one of His children have a supernatural, Holy Spirit-empowered ministry to the needs of others. One of the needs is healing and health.


What God wants the Church to be and what the Church actually represents often are two very different things. The real purpose often is completely overlooked and many non-essentials are substituted.


The Church too often has become the social center, the recreation center, the supper fellowhip committee center, etc.


These activities may be perfectly well and good in their time and in their place. But it is not God had in mind for the Church. It was not His intended purpose that the Church be a social or recreational center. It is not the task He set for the Body of Christ, which is His Church.


The Church may even be the prayer and Bible study center and still miss God's mark, while deep human needs, sin, sickness, death remain unmet right ouside its door.


The temple Jesus visited had become a trading center, a merchandise center, but Jesus had other plan for it. Even cleansing it, getting rid of the evils that existed there, was only part of that plan. He sent His disciples out with a task to perform.


He said to them: "I will wait here. You go out to the highways and the byways and hedges and everywhere. Bring Me the sick, the lame, the blind, the dumb and the deaf. Go get the needs of the people and bring them into the temple." The temple represents the Church, the Body of Christ. The Church is not a den of thieves. It is a house of prayer, a place of intercession, a place where the people's need must be met by the supernatural power of the living God.


If the Church of Jesus Christ had been true to its task, there would be no need for Bible School or Seminary. There would be no need for gifted evangelists to go into the cities of the world to have healing meetings. Every Church member will work the works of God. But how can the Church go out and heal the world when the majority of the so-called Spirit-filled people sitting in our pews are on pills and medicines and drugs? When so many of them are hospitalized and cannot get deliverance from cancer, blind eyes, deaf ears, sleeping disorder, eating disorder and many other kinds of sickness and afflictions. This is a bad testimony to the lost. They are likely to say, "If these spirit-filled Christians are just like us, sick like us and suffering like us, why should we join their Church?"


Transfomation of Peter


An excellent example of a disciple who caught the vision of working the the works of God was the apostle Peter.


In the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus took Peter with Him and went apart for His times of prayer, what did Peter and the other disciples do while Jesus was praying? They slept (Mark 14:37)!


When Jesus Christ was on trial for His life, what did Peter do? He denied Him three times (Matt. 26:69 - 75)!


Where were Peter and the other disciples when Jesus was hanging on the cross? They were hiding. They would not approach the cross. They were afraid.


Yet in the third chapter of the book of Acts, we find this same Peter, approaching the gate of the temple and encountered a cripple who had been sitting at the gate day after day for many years. He had passed this crippled man on many prior occasions when all he could do was look at him with sympathetic eyes. But this time as Peter and John walked past the crippled man, something seized them and Peter said to this man: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6).


He took the crippled man by the hand and lifted him to his feet. Some thing had happen to Peter - he had an experience and he had the keys and the power. The faith that Peter displayed in the healing of the lame man was not tied to some theology he had learned. It was not tied to his understanding or to the words he said. It was tied to reality. He had been to the upper room where he had received something from the touch of God - power and authority. He spoke the Word and the crippled man was healed.


The crippled man and those who were there at the temple did not want further proof that Jesus is a man. They did not want proof that Jesus is not in the grave. They did not want evidence that Jesus Christ lives.


Here is a tremendous example of one man who learned what he must do to work the works of God. I believe, in the Name of Jesus, if it happened to Peter, it can happen to us! Peter had no special man-made qualifications that somehow turned him into a spiritual giant. He was an "ordinary" person, a fisherman. Yet here he was, stepping forth before the Scribes, before the priests and doing the works of God clothed in the authority and power of heaven itself. It can happen to us!


Jesus never sent Peter out without an experience that revolutionized his life and prepared him to meet human needs. In other words, He prepared him to be an actual extension of Christ's life and ministry.


One of the greatest miracles of God is how He can take ordinary, weak, failure-prone, wishy-washy men and women and transform them into powerhouses of dynamic ministry for Himself. He did it with Peter. He did it with James, John and Paul. He did it with other apostles. He can do it with you and me today! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Biblical Philosophy of the Pastoral Ministry

Every believer is called into the full-time ministry. Every member of the Body of Christ serves full-time. But, no matter how much a Church member would desire, he cannot choose to assume the ministry of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers - the so-called five-fold ministry, without a clear and unique calling from God.

Such a ministry (pastor in particular) should not be undertaken unless one has been especially called for such a purpose. Pastors are ministers of the Lord and He alone does the choosing. Those whom He chooses, have the benefit of a personal encounter and experience resulting in "knowing" that they are called.

In his epistle to the Christians in Ephesus, Paul said: "And He (Christ) gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the equiping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ..." (Eph. 4:11, 12, NKJV, emphasis added).

To be a Pastor, one must not presume that because hs is scholastically prepared or because he, or others, decided he should pursue such a ministry; qualifies himself for such a ministry. Before specialized training is pursued, one must have received a personal call.

The "impossible" demands a Pastor needs to face

I came across a message written by an unknown author to Christians telling them what "impossible" demands a Pastor needs to face:

"Have you ever tried to preach fifty-two sermons a year to the same congregation - sometimes to almost empty audience?

Have you ever tried to please all the members of your Church?

Have you ever tried to lead a prayer meeting week after week when 148 of the 150 members are absent?

Have you ever attempted to visit all newcomers in your community? And of your congregation, have you visit all the sick at home; all the aged and the home-bound; and all who are hospitalized? Have you seek after the lost in your neighourhood?

Have you ever tried to get up in the early hours of the morning and drive more than 30 km to pray for one of your sick or dying members?

Have you ever had to lead when no one would follow?

Have you ever tried to get a little man to do a big job, or a big man to do a small job?

Have you ever tried to carry the burden of a lost world, plus the burden of your own Church and community?

Have you ever tried to love when others hate, or praise when others condemn?

Have you ever tried to bind up broken hearts or re-establich broken homes?

Have you ever tried to sympathize with and help fallen men and women when others seem not to care and even mock?

Have you ever tried to smile upon empty collection bags and realize that the world is moving away from God?

Have you ever tried to pour out your very own soul to get men to give themselves to Christ and have no response?

If not, then you cannot know what it means to be the Pastor of a Local Church!"

Let me add to the last line: If yes, then you surely know that a Pastor is a supernaturally called leader to shepherd a God-given flock.

The above demands call for supernatural strength and ability, wisdom and gifts to carry out all the tasks demanded by the ministry of a Pastor.

Timothy's Pastoral Ministry

I believe the two Epistles that Paul wrote to Timothy give the "blue-print" for a perfect Church ministry. First Timothy is Paul's advice to Pastors and Second Timothy is Paul's final messge to the Church.

The practical significance of Paul's advice to Timothy goes beyond those who are Pastors. Every Christian is called to a life of ministry and is to follow the example of the Pastor as the sheep following the shepherd.

Paul said, "These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:11, 12, emphasis added).

Paul had personally guided Timothy, a young Pastor. But Timothy encountered severe trials when he was assigned the task of leading the Church at Ephesus out of sin and error. He struggled with fear and human weakness. He was evidently tempted to soften his preaching in the face of persecution. At times he seemed ashamed of the Gospel. Paul had to remind him to stand up for the faith with boldness, even if it meant suffering:

Paul said, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the powe of God, ..." (2 Tim. 1:8).

The two important and rich Epistles from Paul to Timothy outline a ministry philosophy that put to shame the worldly pragmatic philosophy prevailing in today's Churches!


Paul's admonitions and instructions to Timothy


With careful study of the two Epistles we are able to list out Paul's admonitions and instructions to Timothy. It is interesting to see if we can identify any "Timothy" in today's Local Churches. For the sake of clarity I am going to paraphrase the verses which are Paul's instructions to Timothy. The reader should read all the verses of Scripture concerned. I shall also give my personal comment based on the Scriptures and personal observation following each instruction from Paul.


First Epistle of Paul to Timothy


1. To correct those who teach false doctrine and encourage them to have a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sinsere faith (1 Tim. 1:3 - 5)


On the contrary, many teachers of the Word, or Pastors, or preachers of today are deceived themselves. Hence, they are not capable of correcting those who teach false doctrines.


2. To fight for divine truth and for God's purposes, keeping his own faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:18).


Because of unbelief and deception, many ministers do not love the truth and do not fear God. Their own faith suffered shipwreck. Some of them even reject divine truth because of pride.


3. To pray for all men, especially those who are in authority (kings and government leaders) and the lost, and lead the men of the Local Church to do likewise (1 Tim. 2:1 - 8).


If Pastors, elders and leaders are truly honest to themselves and to God, they seldom spend time in prayers, intercessions and supplications let alone leading Church members to pray.


4. To call women in the Local Church to fulfill their God-given role of submission and to raise up godly children, setting an example of fatih, love, and sanctity with self-restraint (1 Tim. 2:9 - 15)


Nowadays it is common to find ordained women Pastors and preachers. The Scripture clearly forbid women to teach and have authority over men. Pastors are shepherds and they lead and protect the sheep and so it is ridiculous to have women to lead and protect men Church members.


5. Carefully select spiritual leaders for the Local Church on the basis of their giftedness, godliness and virtue (1 Tim 3:1 - 13).


Many Pastors are unable to dicern the spiritual gifts of Church members. Even if they are able to discern, many of them will not let them use their gifts for reasons known only to themselves. I believe many Pastors fear their inaccurate teachings will be revealed and so feel embarrass about it.


6. Recognize the source of errors and those who teach it, and expose them publicly to the rest of the Church (1 Tim. 4:1 - 6).


In some Local Churches Pastors, leaders and members are so used to errors in spiritual things that, they are not able to recognize the source of errors even though they have the Scriptures to refer to.


7. To teach and preach principles of true godliness, helping believers to dicern between true godliness and mere hypocrisy (1 Tim. 5:24 - 6:6).


When you have Pastors and preachers who are not capable in discerning between true godliness and hypocricy, how do you expect them to teach Church members to discern?


8. To instruct the rich not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God (1 Tim. 6:17 - 19).


Jesus said that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Due to fear of losing the rich men as Church members many Pastors tend to avoid giving this instruction. It is not unusual to find the rich holding leadership positions in the Local Church, even if their lifestyle is worldly and questionable.


Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy


1. Not to be fearful or timid but minister in power, in love and with a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).


Many Pastors and elders fear men and try to please men instead of trying to fear and please God. They compromise the truth of of God's Word. And so, their preaching is devoid of power.


2. Be a teacher of apostolic truth or the apostles' doctrine so that he may reproduce himself in faithful men (2 Tim. 2:2),


It is doubtful if we can find many Pastors or preachers whos teachings or doctrines follow strictly to the apostolic truth.


3. Be diligent to present himself approved to God, interpret and apply Scripture accurately (2 Tim. 2:15).


The actual verse says that if we "rightly dividing the word of truth" God is pleased and we need not be ashamed. This also means it is shameful if the word of truth is interpreted wrongly! If this instrution is followed strictly, the Church will not be deceived by false doctrines.


4. Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Tim. 4:1, 2).


I believe the simple command - "Preach the Word" is the centerpiece of every truly Biblical ministry philosophy. The Pastor's task is to proclaim the Scripture and give sense of it and nothing else. All other content is extraneous.


5. Do not compromise in difficult times (2 Tim. 4:3, 4).


The difficult times that Paul referred to is when "they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."


In my opinion we are going through the "difficult times' now. I believe when people will not tolerate the truth is the right time when courageous, outspoken preachers are most desperately needed to proclaim it.


Why are people unwilling to endure sound preaching and teaching? it is because they love sin. Sound preaching confronts ad rebukes sin, and people in love with sinful lifestyles will not tolerate such teaching.


6. Endure afflictions and hardship (2 Tim. 4:5).


Paul reminded Timothy that Pastors or ministers cannot be those who yearn for earthly applause. Neither can they be lovers of earthly comfort. Paul knew Timothy could not have the kind of ministry God desired of him unless he was willing to go through some suffering.


If the Lord calls someone to be Pastor, He will certainly enable him supernaturally to endure afflictions and hardship.


What Paul did not instruct Timothey to do?


It is interesting to consider what Paul did not instruct Timothy to do:


1. Paul said nothing to Timothy about how the congregation of believers may respond to his ministry method.


2. He did not instruct Timothy to attend a Bible Seminary or College for training before his is considered qualified to pastor a congregation.


3. He did not ask Timothy to build a Bible Seminary or College to train others how to endure as a Pastor.


4. He did not lecture Timothy on how to be successful in building mega-churches, and how to raise funds to expand existing Church premises.


5. He did not tell Timothy how much offering he needs to collect and how influential his Church needs to be to attract rich Christians.


6. He did not instruct Timothy to remember to celebrate Christmas and Easter in his Church so that inactive Church members have a reason to come to Church at least once or twice a year to be entertained.


When Pastors fail to lead the Church to seek for fruitful spiritual activities they have to look for external worldly substitutes. Otherwise the Church would be empty. But this is never the will of God!


Conclusion


Paul said nothing whatever about a "successful" Local Church. In Scripture external success is never a valid goal. The appropriate goal for the Church is not success, but excellence. Paul was encouraging Timothy to be all that God had called and gifted him to be. He was not advising Timothey to seek success; he was urging him to pursue excellence! After all this is what pleases the Lord who is waiting for His Glrious Bride, wonderfully prepared for Him. Timothy was expected to play his part to prepare the Lord's Bride. Shouldn't all Pastors also play their parts to prepare the Bride of Christ?

The New Heaven and the New Earth

People always like new things - new house, new car, new furniture, new food, new clothes and new experience etc. Whenever they can afford it, they look with eagle eyes for new things.

After revealing to John the church Age, the Great Tribulation period, and the Millennium, the Lord reveals one last time period that most Bible scholars called "eternity." God will create a new heaven and a new earth. And with these new creations, everything is made new.

Everything made new (Rev. 21:1)

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea" (Rev. 21:1).

Here John glimpsed a new heaven and an new earth, but they will be different from the original creation when God divided the waters to create seas and cause the dry land to appear (Genesis 1:9, 10). The new earth will not have sea in it.

However, I believe the word "sea" here can also have a different meaning. We sometimes call life the sea of trouble. The "sea" stands for bitterness and sorrow. But there is no pain of any kind in the new heaven and the new earth.

The New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2 - 4)

"Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away'" (Rev. 21:2 - 4).

John also saw descending from heaven the New Jesusalem, the capital of the new heaven and the new earth.

Who will live in the New Jerusalem? The Church that is the Bride of Jesus Christ will enter it with her Bridegroom and live there forever. The Jews and those who are saved during the millennial kingdom will also live in the new heaven and new earth.

In the original creation, God put Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8), but in the new creation God will put His Church in a special city called the New Jerusalem. This will be a Holy City because it will come down out of heaven. This city is not the whole creation or the whole new earth. It is just one part or one city that will come down to the new earth. Just as Babylon was the capital of Babylonia, the New Jesusalwm will be the captial of the new heaven and new earth.

Revelation 19 revealed the wedding of the Lamb - the marriage of Jesus and His Church. Now invitations will be given to the marriage supper here on earth when Jesus comes back. The New Jerusalem will be the Bride's new home after the Millennium. It will be a real city with physical attributes, but it will also be like a bride that it will be pure and radiant.


In the original creation, God came down from heaven to walk and talk with Adem (Genesis 3:8, 9). In the wilderness, God dwelled in the Ark of the Covenant from which He talked to His people (Exodus 25:1 - 22). In the new creation, God will come down with His people.

In the original creation, death came upon Adam and he worked, and experienced sorrow and pain because he sinned. And because Eve sinned, she experienced sorrow and pain in childbirth (Genesis 2:16, 17; 3:17 - 19). But in the new creation situation will be entirely different. We who will enter the New Jerusalem will no longer experience death or even sorrow. In that place there will be nothing sad and no more pain, for the former things will pass away, and it will become a completely new world.

A Declaration of God (Rev. 21:5 - 8)

"Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all this new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain water of life freely to him who thirst. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death'" (Rev. 21:5 - 8).

Following the Millennium, Jesus will not fix or repair this old creation. He will re-create everything. This is more than a verbal promise because He says, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

The new creation is inevitable because it is the spoken Word of Jesus. He proved His power to create when He fashioned all things at the beginning of creation. As the Alpha and Omega, He is the first and the last word in all things. All authority is His. What He declares will be done.

In the original creation, a rever watered the Garden of Eden and divided into four other rivers (Genesis 2:10 - 14). The new creation will have a fountain that provides the water of life. All who thirst after God will be given the privilege of freely drinking from the water of life.

He who overcomes (i.e. overcomers) will inherit the new creation and all true Christians are overcomers. God is their God. They are His children and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

The list of those who will not have a part in the new creation includes:

1. The cowardly - those who are too embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

2. The unbelieving - those who reject Jesus.

3. The abominable - those who defile themselves with abominable sins such as stealing, taking the mark of the Beast, taking drugs, and drunkenness.

4. Murderers - those who kill.

5. The sexually immoral - fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, and rapists.

6. Sorcerers - astrologers, Satan worshipers and all forms of occultism.

7. Idolaters - those who worship anyone or anything other than God.

8. All liars - those who deceive the lost, falsely accuse Christians, falsely claim to be a Christian, or add to or take away from the Bible, etc.

They will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb (Rev. 21:9 - 27)

The New Jerusalem is the Bride of Jesus Christ (Rev. 21:9 - 11)

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal" (Rev. 21:9 - 11).

The adornment of the Bride of Jesus Christ is the same as the adornment of the New Jerusalem. Therefore the appearance of the New Jerusalem is the same as our appearance spiritually. That is why the Bible calls the New Jerusalem the Bride of Jesus Christ.

The green color of the precious jasper stone stands for divinity and life, the spiritual green pasture that provides eternal life. Therefore the New Jerusalem is a place full of infinite divinity, inexhaustible satisfaction and endless life.

The twelve gates and twelve foundations (Rev. 21:12 - 14)

"Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev. 21:12 - 14).

The Holy City (New Jerusalem) will be surrounded by a thick, high wall with twelve dates. An angel will be sitting on each gate. The name of each of the twelve tribes of Israel will be written on a gate.

However John did not explain the purpose of the wall. Does the New Jerusalem need security? No one knows the answer.

The Holy City will have twelve foundations. Each foundation will have the name of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus on it. This is significant because the Bible tells us that the Church is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:20). It also says Jesus "through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen" (Acts 1:2). With the help of the Holy Spirit, the apostles preached the gospel, won converts, organized congregations, wrote the Scriptures, selected elders, and taught their followers. They relinquished everything for Jesus and His Church, and were threatened, beaten, imprisoned, and killed. They earned the right to have their names inscribed on the foundations of the Holy City.


Measurements of the Holy City, its gates and its wall (Rev. 21:15 - 17)


"And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breath, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel" (Rev. 21:15 - 17, emphasis added).


A measuring reed (stick) in John's days was approximate 10 feet long and the most common material used in heaven seems to be gold. The same angel who talked with John took a golden measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.


The Holy City will be laid out like a square. Its length will be the same as its width, and its height will equal its length. It is in consistent in shape as the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and the temple of God. The one in the Jerusalem Temple were cubes, so it seems that the shape if God's temporary residence among the Jews will be the shape of God's permanent residence among His people.


Notice that the Holy City will be enormous. Twelve thousand furlongs are 2,400 kilometers, or about 1,440 miles. So the length, the breath and the height of the New Jerusalem are about 1,440 miles. The architecture of heaven is obviously inscrutable, for by human design that kind of structure would be impossible.


The wall around the Holy City will be 144 cubit (216 feet) thick. It dows not matter whether one uses angel's measurements or man's measurement, the result will be the same. The thick wall will provide plenty of protection.


The construction material of the wall, the foundations and the gates (Rev. 21:18 - 21)


"The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each in dividual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass" (Rev. 21:18 - 21).


The wall will be made of a gem (jasper - opal, diamond, or topaz) that is beautiful, hard, and transparent. People will be able to see through it into the Holy City, and the light of God will beam out of the city. The city itself will be made of gold as pure as glass.


The twelve foundations of the wall are made of all kinds of precious stones, ant the twelve gates are twelve pearls; each gate is one big pearl.


There is a reason for the gates of the New Jerusalem being made of pearls. Pearls are produced from oysters. When sand creeps into the oyster's shell, it injures the body of the oyster. Therefore the oyster produces a secretion to cover the intruder, and in the process of time, a lustrous peal is formed.


Likewise the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem are made of pearls because the people who enter all possess faith like pearls. While they lived in the world, they were not discouraed by numerous trials that came their way. Rather, they overcame them through prayer. They endured the trials and tribulations by producing perseverance and faith.


The city's being made of pure gold means that all the people who enter it will have a divine nature, throwing away their human nature, and will live forever.


No temple, no sun, no moon and no night (Rev:22 - 27)


The New Jerusalem will not have a temple because God and Christ will be the Temple. Likewise, the Holy City will not need a sun or a moon because the Father and Son will be the light (Rev. 21:22 - 25).


Visitors will go to the Holy City to give glory and honor to the Lord. Only those with their names found in the Lamb's Book of Life will be permitted to enter (Rev. 21:26, 27).


Jesus is coming quickly (Rev. 22:1 - 20)


The second last Verse of the Book of Revelation (and of the Bible) says, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"


John was in fear and disappointment after witnessing things that would happen to the Church during during the next two thousand years, and the things that would happen during the Great Tribulation following the rapture of the Church. But after he saw the glorious new heaven and new earth, he was overwhelmed with joy and looked forward to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He prayed, shouting with a loud voice, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"


The person who has finished reading the Book of Revelation should also shout loudly, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

The Millennial Kingdom and the Great Judgment

It is interesting to begin with some comparison. The length of Jesus' reign on earth will be a thousand years - called the Millennium. Compared to the Antichrist, who will reign just seven years, Jesus will reign a whopping one thousand years, or more than one hundred and forty years of blessing for each year of Tribulation. That is the grace of God!

Revelation 19 revealed the capture of the Antichrist. Revelation 20 reveals the capture of Satan. It also goes on to discuss the future destiny of unbelievers. Later, in Revelation 21 and 22, that will be contrasted with the future destiny of believers.

The imprisonment of Satan (Rev. 20:1 - 3)

"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while" (Rev. 20:1 - 3).

An unnamed, but seemingly ordinary angel will come from heaven to earth. He will have the key to the bottomless pit that will be taken from Satan when the Devil is cast out of heaven in Rev. 12:7 - 9. The angel will also have a great chain in his hand.

Obviously, since God is omnipotent, he could seize Satan anytime he wants. But the Bible says Satan's arrest will come at the end of the Great Tribulation period. God will not jump the gun and violate His own Word. When the Great Tribulation period is over, He will send one ordinary angel to seize and bind Satan for a thousand years.

The angel will cast Satan, bound and chained, into the bottomless pit. This will keep Satan from deceiving the nations during the Millennium. The earth is once again populated with people. They neither commit any sin nor are afflicted with any sickness of disease, as they are not tempted by Satan or under his influence. They flourish and fill the face of the whole earth.

Therefore these people who have lived in a world free from the influence of Satan need to to decide for themselves whether they will truly love God. To test them, Satan will be released from the bottomless pit for a little while. This testing is no worse than that has already been experienced by many God's saints.

Multitudes will be born during the Millennium. During this time, the offspring from the Tribulation saints and Jews will not know what temptation is. There will be no real test of their faith.

The Thrones of Judgment (Rev. 20:4)

"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years" (Rev. 20:4).

John next saw thrones that gave judgment ot the people before they entered the millennial kingdom. Why should it be "thrones" instead of "a throne"? Because Jesus does not give judgment alone; His Bride, the Church, will sit with Him and judge for a thousand years.

How will those thrones give judgment? As we have already seen, the people who were sealed by the Antichrist were all killed, but those who were not sealed by him, and the remaining Jew, will enter the millennial kingdom. Out of those God will separate the sheep from the goats. The standard by which the two are separated is how they treated Jesus Christ (read Matt. 25:31 - 43).

The sheep on the right side of Jesus were the people who, though they did not believe in Him, nonetheless treated Christians well by taking care of their needs. The goats, however, were punished, for they did not accept Christians in the Name of Christ.

The First Resurrection (Rev. 20:5, 6)

"But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Rev. 20:5, 6, emphasis added).

The first resurrection is called the resurrection of life or the resurrection of believer. The second resurrection is called the resurrection of damnation or the resurrection of unbelievers. Rev. 20:5 reveals that there will be a thousand years between the two. Jesus clarified in John 5:28, 29.

At the first resurrection, those who died during the Great Tribulation rise first. Those who partake in this resurrection are blessed, for they will not enter the second death. The first death is the death of the body, and the second is the death of the soul, which means that one is forsaken by God and dies forever.

Those who participate in the first resurrection, however, are received by God and will reign with Christ for one thousand years. How blessed those people will be!

The rest of the dead do not come to life until the thousand years are ended. All the unbelievers since the beginning of the world will remain in hell; they will not enter the millennial kingdom. After Jesus' reign of one thousand years has ended, those unbelievers will come to life again and be judged. Then they will be cast forever into the lake of fire.

Therefore the resurrection of sinners (unbelievers) becomes a resurrection to judgment and destruction. But the resurrection of thse who have participated in the first resurrection is a rising to eternal life.


Satan comes out of his prison (Rev. 20:7 - 10)

"Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four conrners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Rev. 20:7 - 10).

With Satan bound during the Millennium, people will be shielded from temptation and sin. Sickness and disease will not exist, and people will live to be hundreds of years old. A population explosion will occur. However, God is no respecter of persons. Those born during the Millennium will have to be tested just like everyone else. When the Millennium is over, the abyss will be opened one more time, and Satan will be released to resume his old ways.

When Satan is released he will pick up where he left off. he will go out once again to deceive the nations. Realizing this is his last chance, he gathers his people to oppose God. "Gog and Mogog"refer to the people who oppose God. At the Battle of Gog and Mogog Satan will repeat what he tried at the Battle of Armageddon. He will try one final time to become greater than God by gathering a great horde of people from all over the world, including those from Gog and Mogog.

Jesus will reign from Jerusalem, the beloved city - the City of God, during His millennial reign. Satan's army will march across the earth and surround the city, but just as God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He will again consume Satan's army with fire from heaven.

Satan will not be allowed to lure people into destruction any longer. His deceptive career will be brought to an end when he is captured and thrown into the Lake of Fire where the Antichrist and False Prophet already reside. They will not be destroyed, but will suffer unending torment.

On the other hand, those who followed Jesus in the millenial kingdom will enter the eternal new heaven and the new earth.

The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11 - 15)

The lost will appear before the Judgment Seat (Rev. 20:11, 12)

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away. And thre was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books" (Rev. 20:11, 12, emphasis added).

At first glance, earth and heaven seem to have fled away (disappeared). But Solomon said, "One gerneration passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever" (Eccl. 14).

It is not that the earth has gone forever, but that our Lord is going to transform it according to what Peter said:

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with great noise, ant the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).

Thus, there was found no place for the heaven and earth, the a throne of judgment is set at a certain place within the universe. This is the Great White Throne, and when the judgment finally begins, all the dead (unbelivers or the lost) rise and stand before it. They will come from all walks of life: small and great, poor and rich, laborers and managers or directors, peasants and kings etc. They will all stand before the court's judgment bar to be sentenced. several books will be opened - each one is a "book of works" or a "book of deeds." these books will conatain the thoughts, words, and deeds of each individual, and by these things they will be judged.


Another book will be opened - the Book of Life. When people are born, their names are written in this book. If they never get saved, they will die in a lost condition and their names will be removed. Some will deny Jesus so strongly while they are alive that that their names will be removed (e.g. those who take the mark). Some will add to or take away from the Scriptures, and their names will too be removed. If they get saved, their names will be left in the Book of Life when they die. It will also be added to the Lamb's Book of Life at the time they get saved. Ultimately, the list of names in both books will be identical.


Why is the Book of Life needed to judge the dead? Because God is righteous, and after He points out every unrighteous behavior of sinners, He opens the Book of Life and shows them that their names are not recorded. Everyone whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life falls into the lake of fire without being able to say anything for vindication.


Here is the main difference between the Book of Life and the Lamb's Book of Life:


The Book of Life - A list of all who were born once (every person who ever live), minus the names of those who were removed for sinning against God, denying Jesus, or adding to or taking away from the Scriptures.


The Lamb's Book of Life - A list of all who were born twice (every person who truly accepts Jesus as their Savior).


All will appear before the Judgment Seat (Rev. 20:13 - 15)


"The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:13 - 15, emphasis added).


Everyone will stand before the judgment seat, even those from the bottom of the sea. No one will escape the judgment of God because He will raise them all from the dead. He will even raise them from Hades, the temporary abode of the souls and spirits of the wicked. All will be judged as individuals according to their deeds.


The Bible teaches that man is destined to die once, and then he will face Judgment (Heb. 9:27). But believers and unbelievers will be raised separately and judged separately. Believers will go before the Judgment Seat of Christ where their works, will be judged. The purpose of this is not salvation. This is a judgment of works for the purpose of receiving rewards or crowns. Unbelievers will go before the Great White Throne where their works will be judged also. The purpose of this is not salvation, but degrees of punishment.


This will be end of physical death. This is good news for believers but terrible news for unbeliever. They will want to die physically when they are raised from the dead, and cast into hell, but that will no longer be possible. They will have new bodies that cannot be destroyed in the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is a place of no hope. Jesus said concerning it, "Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48).


The second death means - The soul is permanently separated from God and tormented forever.


When the sentence is rendered, one's eternal destiny will not be determined by their deeds, but by what is written in the Book of Life. God will make a careful search of the heavenly list.


The names of those who did not accept Jesus before they died will have been blotted out of the Book of Life. Their names will not be found, and they will join Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet in the Lake of Fire forever.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Revelation 19 begins with a great voice of many people in heaven praising God for judging religious and political Babylon, and rejoicing over the political downfall of the Antichrist.

Praise in Heaven (Rev. 19:1 - 5)

"After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, 'Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and tighteous are His judgments, because He has Judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.' Again they said, 'Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!' And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, 'Amen! Alleluia!' Then a voice came from the throne, saying, 'Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!'" (Rev. 19:1 - 5, emphasis added).

After the destruction of Babylon and the worldwide reaction that will follow, the roar of a great multitude will be heard in heaven. The great multitude includes the Old Testiment saints, the true Church, tribulation saints and angels. Praise will be directed to God because salvation, glory, and power belong to Him. Salvation speaks of His deliverance. Glory speaks of His judgment. Power refers to His ability to overcome His enemies.

"Alleluia" appears three times in the above Verses. One "Alleluia" is for the destruction of Babylon, the mother of harlots. Another "Alleluia" is for the destruction of Babylon the city. However, Rev. 19:3 refers to more than the destruction on earth. It means they have gone to their everlasting destruction. It is the smoke of judgment. That means God has cast the Antichrist and his followers into the lake burning with fire and brimstone.

The third "Alleluia" appears when the twenty-four elders (speaks of the true Church) and the four living creatures fall down and worship God sitting on the Throne, saying "Amen! Alleluia!"

The announcement of the Marriage of the Lamb (Rev. 19:6, 7)

"And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.'" (Rev. 19:6, 7, emphasis added).

This will be a great day in heaven because it will be time for the Lamb's (Christ's) marriage to the true Church, the Bride of Christ. God's servants will rejoice and give Him glory in anticipation of the event. With regard to timing, this event will take place after the destruction of Babylon near the end of the Great Tribulation. We have been engaged to Jesus a long time. Even though we have not actually met our Bridegroom, Jesus will come and lead us into the Marriage Supper.

A special union will exist between Jesus and the Church similar to the union that exists between a bridegroom and a bride upon their marriage. In both instance, the two become one. Jesus is coming back to earth where He and His bride will reign together as one. Before they can reign together, though, they have to be married. The idea is that the Church will be joined together with Jesus in a special relationship that will equip them to reign with Him. He will not come back without His people, and they will not reign without Him.

Let us get ourselves ready for the future events of the Church:

1. We will be taken up in the Rapture - 1 Thess. 4:13 - 18.

2. We will go before the Judgment Seat of Christ - 1 Cor. 3:12 - 15; 2 Cor. 5:10.

3. We will attend the Marriage and the Marriage Supper - Rev. 19:7 - 9.

4. We will return with Christ for His millennial reign - Rev. 20:6.

The Bridal Gown (Rev. 19:8)

"And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev. 19:8).

Before its marriage the Church will wear fine linen, which is the Church's (individual members) own righteous acts. A person's deeds will follow him to heaven where they (deeds) will be worn like a gown or a robe. Faith in God makes that possible. When the marriage takes place, the Church will lay their righteousness aside. The holiness and righteousness of Jesus imparted to them will form their clothing for eternity.

Those who are called to the Marriage Supper (Rev. 19:9)

"Then he said to me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, 'These are the true saying of God'" (Rev. 19:9).

Again John heard an angel telling him to write. This time he was told to write about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. All those who are invited to attend this Supper are blessed. And if they are blessed, how much more blessed will be those who have become the Bride! Who are those called to the Marriage Supper? The true Church is the Bride of Jesus Christ. After Jesus was resurrected from death, the Holy Spirit descended and established the Church; and the Church, sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:26), was taken up into heaven before the Great Tribulation begins. Therefore, the Church is qualified to be the Bride - no one else. All who are not caught up into heaven with the Chuch are those who called to the Marriage Supper.

The first group of these are the friends of the Bridegroom. In the Old Testament God called Abraham His friend (2 Chron. 20:7). John the Baptist was the last of the prophets who came in the spirit of the Old Testament.

John said, "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled" (John 3:29).

The Old Testament saints, therefore, are not the bride, but friends of the Bridegroom.

The next group of guests are those who are saved after the Church has been taken up into heaven. These have died as martyrs during the Great Tribulation; after going through the "sea of glass mingled with fire" (Rev. 15:2), they will attend the Marriage Supper as the bridesmaids.

The great excitment of John (Rev. 19:10)

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testmony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy'" (Rev. 19:10).

When John saw this scene, he was so overwhelmed by emotion that he tried to worship the angel who had spoken. Of course, John knew well the commandment that we should worship only God. Nevertheless, he was so exited by the news the angel had brought that he tried to worship him.

During the Great Tribulation period multitudes will worship Satan and his Antichrist because the False Prophet will demand it. However, worship of anyone or anything other than God is forbidden.

Jesus' predictions are His testimony and prophecy. Everything He predicted is a prophecy. We need to understand and trust the testimony of Jesus.

Dsscending of Jesus to the Earth (Rev. 19:11 - 16)

After the Marriage Supper, the Church, which has become the Bride of jesus, accompanies Him when He comes down to the earth.

The Man who sits upon a white horse (Rev. 19:11 - 13)

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God" (Rev. 19:11 - 13, emphasis added).

Rev. 19:11 is sometimes called the climax of the entire Bible - the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophets prophesied this event; Jesus predicted it; and the New Testament writers wrote about it. Everything we have studied in Revelation has been building up to this. It will be a precious sight to the saints who are still alive on earth when it happens, but a terrifying sight to the Antichrist and his followers.

Heaven will open: It opened the first time when John went up to heaven identifying the rapture of the Church. It will open a second time when Jesus comes back with His Church.

A man will be seen riding upon a white horse. This will be Jesus Christ. In Revelation 6 the Antichrist imitated the figure of Jesus, but this is the real Christ. He is called "Faithful and True," since He was faithful to God unto death, and all His Words are true. And "in righteousness He judges and makes war." This is the purpose of His coming. He will return as a warrior to judge the inhabitants of the earth. He will deal with their sins, settle their eternal destinies, and establish His reign. What He will do will be just and right, because the earth will have been declared ripe for judgment.

Christ's fiery eyes reveal His insight, knowledge, and anger. He will have full knowledge of each individual and their sins. His many crowns reveal His royalty, authority, and majesty. He will have full authority in heaven and on earth.

He has many names that we know: Jesus, Lord, Christ, Wonderful, Son of God, son of man, etc. However, when he returns He will wear a special name known only to God.

This contrast with the Antichrist, whose eyes are "like the eyes of a man" (Daniel 7:8), having "seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name" (Rev. 13:1).

Concerning His second coming, Jesus said, "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many" (Matt. 24:4, 5).


Paul said, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish" (2 Thess. 2:9, 10).


In Rev. 6:1, 2 we saw the antichrist coming on a white horse. Here we see Jesus coming on a white horse. In Rev. 13:1 we saw the Antichrist rise up with ten crowns on his head. Here we see Jesus coming back with many crowns on His head. It would be wise to remember that Satan is a deceiver who transforms himself into an angel.


The robe dipped in blood is a symbol of what is about to take place. He will be coming back to deal with hundreds of millions of unbelievers at the Battle of Armageddon, and it will be a bloodbath.


His Name is the Word of God. This can be explained by looking at one of John's other books -the Gospel according to John. In his Gospel, he called Jesus the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). It will be Jesus on the white horse, and the judgment at Armageddon will be the work of God. This contrasts with the Antichrist, whose number is known, but whose name cannot be revealed until after the Rapture.


The coming down of the heavenly host (Rev. 14 - 16)


"And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:14 - 16)


The armies of heaven will follow Jesus. One army will be composed of the entire Church. A second army will consist of the holy angels, while a third army will be all the martyred Tribulation saints. The Old Testament saints will comprise the fourth army.


The armies in heaven clothed in fine linen and followed Jesus on white horses. This indicates that Christ intends for His followers to share in His glory as conquerors.


Jesus will be the only One in this great heavenly army to carry a weapon - a sharp sword, the Word of God. Just as the soldiers went to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, He spoke and they fell on the ground, similarly at Armageddon He will simply speak to destroy the opposing nations. He will speak, and they will fall. He will rule them with a rod of iron during the Millennium.


The War at Armageddon (Rev. 19:17 - 21)


Rev. 19:17, 18 tell about the things that will happen at Armageddon. The army advancing from the East is about 200 million strong, and the opposing armies of the Antichrist will probably not less than 100 million. While this battle is being fought, Jesus descends to the earth. The earthly forces quickly stop fighting each other and are allied under the leadership of the Antichrist to resist the heavenly host (read Rev. 19:19). However Jesus will annihilate all the earthly forrces. Therefore an angel beckoned the birds of the air to come and eat the flesh of the slain (read Rev. 19:17, 18).


At the same time, the false prophet who had lured people to worship the Beast will also be taken, along with the Antichrist and both will be cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone (read Rev. 19:20).


From one end of the earth to the other, when the Word of Jesus Christ goes out of His mouth, those who received the mark of the beast on their forehead or hand will all die (read Rev.19:21). Not one of the millions of troops will escape. They will all be killed by the powerful Word of God, and the birds will consume their bodies.


Besides the Jews who escape to the desert, only a handful of Gentiles will survive. These are people who live outside the domain of the Antichrist. Since they are self-sufficient, like farmers, they will not have needed to receive the mark of the Beast. One the other hand, the rich and business-class people will have received the mark for the sake of their business and they will be killed.


The handful of Gentiles, along with the Jews who survive the Great Tribulation, will enter the millennial kingdom, but there will also be distinction there.

The Great Tribulation - Part 8

The natural calamities end in Revelation 16, and in Revelation 17 the religion of the great harlot comes under judgment. Revelation 17 describes this great harlot and her fall at the hands of the Antichrist and his ten puppet kings shortly after the middle of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 18 describes the city and its fall by the hands of God near the end of the Great Tribulation period. The fall of Babylon was announced in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 16:19. Revelation 17 and Revelation 18 fill in the details of both destructions.

The Bible tells us that a harlot is more than just a woman who physically commits sexual sins. A harlot is also a person who spiritually has stopped following the true God and has turned to idol worship. The great Babylon (the great harlot) abandoned the true God and has raised her daughters (false religions) to do the same. She is the mother of false religions who wants all her daughters to grow up in her one-world harlot religion. The names of some of her daughters are New Age, Satan Worship, Mother Earth Worship, Globalism, Hinduism, and Islamism. Her daughters talk about love and peace, but none of them love Jesus, and none of them talk about peace with God through Jesus. Her daughters' followers are a collection of religious people who will be left behind when the true Church is raptured.

During the Great Tribulation, the great Harlot will open her doors to one-world government, one-world religion and global trade. People intoxicated with big govenment, big money, global commerce, and a lust for pleasure will flock to her. She will even entice these adulterous leaders to marry her daughters, which will represent a merger of one-world harlot religions with one-world government.

Shortly after the middle of the Great Tribulation, the harlot's sons-in-law (the kings of the earth) will become "wife abusers." They will kill the harlot (one-world religious system) and her daughters (the individual false religions). Near the end of the Great Tribulation period, God will pour out His wrath on Babylon where many of the sons-in-law live. Jesus will return and destroy Babylon, the mother and Babylon, the city.

Obviously, kings cannot marry religion. Think of it spiritually. Just as you and I (the true Church) are the wife of Christ, and Israel the wife of God, these adulterous kings will marry false religions in the sense that they will espouse the doctrines of the false religions. They will cooperate with the False Prophet and the Antichrist in pushing a false religion on the world.

The Antichrist will take advantage of this accommodation to consolidat his foundation for the first three and one-half years. At the beginning of the second part of the Great Tribulation, however, he will persecute this religious unity and crush it to pieces. Revelation 17 tells how he sets up his own idol and exterminates other religions.

The Judgment of the Great Harlot (Rev. 17:1, 2)

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, 'Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication" (Rev. 17:1, 2, emphasis added).

In Revelation 17, the judgment of the great harlot, signifying religion religion, begins. The great harlot represents a depraved and corrupt religion that, like an adulterous bride, follows the idol and the Devil, turning away from God. This great harlot forms a huge religious body. Taking advantage of its vast organization, she not only worships the Antichrist, but also uses him. In turn, the Antichrist politically uses the great harlot.

In the Bible, seas and waters represent great masses of people. They represent people, nations, and tongues. The fact that this wicked woman is pictured as sitting upon these great masses is an indication that she will be supported by them, and she will exercise control over them during the Great Tribulation period.

The great harlot religious sysem will commit adultery with the kings and inhabitants of the earth. She will conspire with world leaders to produce a merger of religion and government. The outcome is, a religious system united with a political system to manipulate the people of the earth into a false govenment-approved religion.

"The wine of her fonication" is a reference to demon possession. This wicked woman will cause people to be led astray by deceiving spirits.

The Scarlet Woman and Scarlet Beast (Rev. 17:3 - 18)

The kingdoms and their kings (Rev. 17:3)

"So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns" (Rev. 17:3, emphasis added).

The scarlet beast, with its seven heads and ten horns, is the Antichrist. The seven heads represent the seven kingdoms and their kings that continuously oppose God. The ten horns represent the ten countries that will form the union of Europe. The great harlot sits upon the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. This means she will achieve religious unification by using the Antichrist politically.

The figure of the Great Harlot (Rev. 4, 5)

"The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE gREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev. 4, 5).


The golden cup in the hand of the great harlot is a religious cup full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. Those who drink from the cup become full of evil spirits. She is called "Babylon the Great" because she is the religion started in Babylon, as we saw in Revelation 2.


Every corrupt religion in the world today has been influenced by the Babylonian religion. Even within Christendom, bodies of the old and new Church are trying to form an ecumenical council with other religions - not to mention the Christian denominations violating the orthodox faith of the Bible. In this move toward consensus, all the religions of the world are being gradually united. At the beginning of the Great Tribulation, backed by the power of the Antichrist, union will be achieved quickly. This is the true character of the great harlot,


I believe, in the near future, Christendom will be distinctly divided into two groups: one will be the Church united politically and institutionally, and the other will be the Church united by the Holy Spirit. Churches that genuinely love Jesus will come together, rising above denominations. Christian organizations that follow the trend of modernism and new theology will be united according to their political concern, advocating sicuak refirm.


Denomination has no meaning before God. What matters is whether a Church receives the Holy Spirit at its center and surrenders itself to Him.


The Woman drunk with blood (Rev. 17:6)


"I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement" (Rev. 17:6).


The great harlot will not only make other drunk, but she, too, will be drunk on the blood of the tribulation saints. The great ecumenical religion system will be actively involved in the persecution and death of God's people. She will be so determined to establich her one-world religion that she will actually be fill with the blood of the tribulation saints - converted by the evangelization of the 144,000 Jews and the testimony of the two witnesses.


The mystery of the Beast nad the great harlot (Rev. 17:7 - 18)


The remaining Verses of Revelation Chapter 17 reveal the mystery of the Beast (the Antichrist) and the mystery of the great harlot.


The Antichrist (a spiritual being) will come out of the bottomless pit. However, his identity has not yet been disclosed. God will one day release him, out of hell and cause him to be born into this world as a human being, imitating Jesus by putting on flesh.


My belief is that the Antichrist is already in the world. Soon he will emerge and become a conspicuous figure in the political world. Although his appearance on stage is now suppressed by the power of the Holy Spirit, he will be revealed as shoon as the true Church is taken up into heaven.


Rev. 17:9 says the seven heads of the Antichrist are seven mountains. Seven hills always refer to Rome, for Rome was built on seven hills. Hence, some people speculate that Rome will be the headquarters from which the Antichrist will rule the world.


Rev. 17:10 also says that among the seven heads, or kings, "Five have fallen, one is, and the other has yet to come." The five kingdoms - Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Medo-Persia and Greece - have already fallen. One is, which was Rome - the kingdom existing in the time of John - and the seventh kingdom is yet to come. When this kingdom comes, it will continue for only a brief time. Then the kingdom of the Antichrist will come as the eighth (Rev. 17:11).


The seventh kingdom is the union of the ten European countries that will arise in the former territory of ancient Rome. For the first part of the Great Tribulation period, united Europe will keep coalition with the Antichrist through compromise. When that period ends, the eighth kingdom, ruled by the Antichrist, will emerge out of the seventh. He will be supported by three of the ten nations, and the remaining seven will be subdued by his autocratic rule.


Rev. 17:12 - 14 further say that the ten horns are ten kings and that these kings will give their power and strength to the Beast. He, in turn, will oppose the Lamb, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in the Armageddon war but will eventually be destroyed.


The fate of the great harlot sitting on the Beast is tragic. This religious organization will get along well with the Antichrist, as they take advantage of each other for three and one-half years. As soon as the second half of the Great Tribulation begins, however, the harlot is forsaken. The Antichrist will set up his kingdom and deify himself, erecting his own idol and quickly getting rid of her. In this way religious Babylon falls.


The fall of Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:1 - 24)


Revelation 17 shows the down fall of the great harlot, religious Babylon. Now Revelation 18 ceclares the fall of political and economic Babylon. In other words, the Bible shows here the miserable destruction of the Antichrist.


The fall of Babylon prophesied (Rev. 18:1 - 3)


"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her lusury'" (Rev. 181 - 3).


Political and economic Babylon, the city where the Antichrist has wielded power for the second half of the Great Tribulation, is now destroyed - by an earthquake judgment and/or by nuclear weapons launched by the army from the East.


Babylon the great is the place that always rejects God. It opposes Him not only spiritually but also politically and economically.


A warning of God (Rev. 18:4 - 7)


"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plague. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remember her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow'" (Rev. 18:4 - 7).


A voice from heaven will urge God's people to leave Babylon for two reasons: so they will not become involved in Babylon's sin, and so they will not fall victim to the plagues God will inflict on Babylon. Thus begins a warning of God to His people against being engulfed in the judgment coming to those who partake of the ungodly assembly of politics and business.


The judgment against Babylon the Great (Rev. 18:8 - 24)


The Bible tells in detail the judgment that will come upon Babylon the Great:


"Therefore her plagues will come in one day - death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her" (Rev. 18:8).


In a single day the capital of the Antichrist's kingdom will be burned to ashes by a great explosion. Nothing other than nuclear arms can accomplish that. Rev. 18:17 - 19 say that the smoke of her burning can be seen far and wide by sailors upon the sea.


Observing the calamity, the other kings who have been on friendly terms with the Antichrist now lament for him. The merchants who have traded in this capital will also weep and mourn over him (read Rev. 18:9 - 11).


Holy apostles and prophets in heaven, on the other hand, are told to rejoice over Babylon's destruction, for God has avenged those who were robbed and killed (read Rev. 18:20).


And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore" (Rev. 18:21).


Babylon has a long history as the city of Satan. The false prophet will make his headquarters there during the last half of the Great Tribulation period. He will worship the Antichrist and have no tolerance for the people of God. He will kill all those who lack the mark of the Beast (read Rev. 18:24). Babylon's destruction will be well deserved!


So far we have seen judgments that have fallen upon the world of nature and against the Antichrist and corrupt religion and government. In Revelation 19 we will see Jesus Christ holding the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and then coming down the Armageddon, accompanied by His bride.

The Great Tribulation - Part 7

Chapter 15 of Revelation predicts what will go on in heaven just before the seven bowl judgments (the final judgments) fall. We are going to consider Chapter 15 and Chapter 16 (the seven bowl judgment) together because Chapter 15 is the shortest Chapter in Revelation.

Another Sign (the Third Sign) from Heaven (Rev. 15:1)

"Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete" (Rev. 15:1).

This will be the third of three great signs in heaven - First, the sun-clothed woman (Rev. 12:1) which signifies Israel; second, the great red dragon (Rev. 12:3) which signifies Satan. Now this third sign (seven angels having the seven last plagues) will be great and marvelous because of its terrible nature and amazing results. It will bring on the full wrath of God, which will cause the fall of Satan and his demons.

These seven plagues can be called "last plagues" because they will be God's final warnings to an unrepentant world. When these plagues are over, all of those who have not made a decision to side with God through Jesus Christ will stand before the judgment of unbelievers and perish.

Sea of glass mingled with fire (Rev. 15:2)

"And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the seas of glass, having harps of God" (Rev. 15:2, emphasis added).

This will be the second "sea of glass" to appear in heaven. The first "sea of glass" will be as clear as crystal (Rev. 4:6). This one will be mixed with fire. The sea symbolizes the masses of people, and the fire represents judgment.

Just before the final judgments (the seven bowl judgments) start, John saw masses of people standing on the sea of glass mingled with fire. They will have been in a fiery persecution. They are those who had been victorious over the Beast and his image and over the number of his name. They will not be decieved by the Antichrist or his False Prophet. They will be tracked down and ordered to take the mark of the Beast but will refuse. For their refusal they will face retaliation in the form of torture and death. Victory, however, will still be theirs because they will lose their earthly life but will gain an eternal one. They will get to heaven and God will give them harps so that they can sing and praise God.

The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb (Rev. 15:3, 4)

"They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 'Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested'" (Rev. 15:3, 4, emphasis added).

The victorious saints (tribulation sants) will sing two songs: (1) the song of Moses and (2) the song of the Lamb. The song of Moses (Exodus 15:1 - 18) celebrates the victory God gave Israel when He brought her out of Egypt. Pharaoh's army chased after the Hebrews to recapture them, but his troops were drowned in the Red Sea.

The song of the Lamb is found in Rev. 15:3, 4. It celebrates God's reign and victory over all the nations. The deeds of Jesus are great and marvelous because He died for the sins of the world and will defeat Satan. The ways of Jesus are just and true. He is never unjust, never untruthful. His judgments are righteous. He is the King of the ages. He is the eternal King. The One who has reigned, is reigning, and always will reign.

In my opinion, we should fear the Lord either on earth or in heaven for at least three reasons:

1. Jesus should be feared and glorified because He alone is holy. He alone is worthy of our worship. He is the only One who never sinned. He has been hallowed or set apart for God's special purposes: atonement for our sin.

2. Jesus should be feared and glorified because He will be worshiped by all nations. The day will come when He will deal with the godless leaders of this world. He will do away with them, and every nation will worship Him.

3. Jesus should be feared and glorified because His righteous acts will be revealed. The terrible judgments of the Great Tribulation period will be righteous acts of Jesus. he will deal with those who do not accept His mercy.

The seven angels who come out of the heavenly temple (Rev. 15:5, 6)

"After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands" (Rev. 15:5, 6).

The temple in heaven, together with the Holy of Holies, inside the temple will be opened. The Ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies contains the Ten commandments, which are sometimes called the Law or the Testimony.

Those who reject the grace and mercy God offers throught the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son will be judged under the Law (the Ten Commandments). In rejecting what God offers, they also reject Jesus. By rejecting Jesus, they reject God, and leave themselves open to be judged under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament.

The Law of Moses was given to reveal sin and not to take away sin. Sin can only be taken away by Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Seven angels will come out of the Temple. They will be dressed in pure bright linen signifying their righteousness. They will wear golden bands around their chest signifying their royal priesthood.

These seven angels are royal and powerful priests preparing to pour out the wrath of God. The people who are judged here are those left after God has reaped every one who can be saved. They will received judgment without mercy. Because they have flouted God, followed the Antichrist, took the mark of the Beast, worshiped his image, and rejected Jesus, they will face the full fury of God.

The seven angels and the seven golden bowls of God's wrath (Rev. 15:7, 8)

"Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed" (Rev. 15:7, 8).

One of the four living creatures will hand the seven angels seven bowls filled with the wrath of God.

In the Old Testament, once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would take a bowl of blood from a sacrificial animal into the Holy of Holies and dump it on the mercy seat over the Ark of the Covenant. God had him do that to offer atonement for the sins of the people. Since the Antichrist and his followers will not accept the blood of Jesus as an atonement for their sins, these priestly angels will be given bowls filled with God's wrath instead of the blood of Jesus. And instead of dumping the bowls on the mercy seat, they will dump them on earth!

Things just keep getting worse for those who reject God. When the priestly angels leave the temple, it will be filled with smoke from the glory and power of God. No one will be able to go back in or enter the Holy of Holies. No one can change their mind and pour blood on the mercy seat. There will be no more mercy, no more delays, and no more opportunities to repent until the seven plagues have passed.

The judgment of seven bowls by the seven angels (Rev. 16:1 - 21)

1. The plague of the first bowl (Rev. 16:1, 2)

"Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, 'Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.' So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image" (Rev. 16:1, 2).

As God has committed all judgments to Jesus, the loud voice from the temple must be the voice of Jesus. He will order the seven angels to go and pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth. Each angel will be given a portion of God's wrath.

The first bowl judgment will cause foul and loathsome sores. Only those who take the mark of the Beast or worship this image will be afflicted. When the Antichrist is unable to heal his own people, the world will know he is a false physician.

This plague will be similar to the sixth plague in Egypt when Moses was trying to have the Hebrews set free. At that time, God afflicted the Egyptian people with tumors, festering sores, and itching skin. The whole land, all the Egyptians, and even the animals were affected.

2. The plague of the second bowl (Rev. 16:3)

"Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of dead man; and every living creature in the sea died" (Rev. 16:3).

When the angel pours out his bowl on the sea, it becomes like the blood of a dead man. Every living creature in the sea will be killed. This reminds us of the miracle Moses performed, turning the water of the Nile River into blood according to the command of God (read Exodus 7:20 - 25).

3. The plague of the third bowl (Rev. 16:4 - 7)

"Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: 'You are rightteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.' And I heard another from the altar saying, 'Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments'" (Rev. 16:4 - 7).

This plague will be similar to the first plague in Egypt. Back then, God turned all the waters of Egypt into blood. The fish died, water smelled, and the people could not drink it. This plague will be far worse because all the earth's water will be polluted, causing worldwide suffering and death.

The angel in charge of earth's water will look at this judgment and declare it to be a judgment deserved.

The bloody waters will be God's response to the shedding of the blood of the Tribulation saints and the Old Testament prophets. The Antichrist and his followers will shed the blood of saints all over the world. God will eventually respond by turning their drinking water into blood. When He does, the martyred Tribulation saints (from the altar) will declare that God's judgements are just and true.


4. The plague of the fouth bowl (Rev. 16:8, 9)


"Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. and men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory" (Rev. 16:8, 9).


The fourth bowl judgment will cause the sun to scorch people with fire. Notice that even though people will be scorched to death by that murderous heat, the survivors still do not repent. Their hearts will be hardened to the end. Accordingly, they will murmur and blaspheme God!


5. The plague of the fifth bowl (Rev. 16:10, 11)


"Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds" (Rev. 16:10, 11).


The fifth bowl judgment will mark a turning point. God will begin to focus His attention on the Antichrist. This Beast will love spiritual darkness so he will get physical darkness. It will cover the planet. People will not be able to see the stars or moon or even the sun.


As a consequence, chaos arises and the people will be panic-stricken. Although they gnash their teeth and bite their tongues due to extreme pain, they stll will not repent of their sins. Instead they will blaspheme God!


6. The plague of the sixth bowl (Rev. 16:12 - 16)


"Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits. ... And they (unclean spirits) gathered them together to the place called in Hebrews, Armageddon" (Rev. 16:12 - 16, emphasis added).


When the sixth angel pours out his bowls, the Euphrates will dry up and the kings of the East will be able to move their 200 million soldiers against Israel in the Battle of armageddon. Notice the word "kings" is plural. This will likely be an alliance of Eastern nations.


At that time, "three unclean spirits" will go forth to the kings of the West and their kingdoms and seduce them to form an alliance against the Eastern invasion. The allied forces come to a place called Armageddon. The two enormous armies, totaling as many as 300 million soldiers and equipped with ultra-modern weapons, gather together for a showdown.


When a great massacre breaks out at Armageddon, Jesus Christ will descend, accompanied by His saints. At that point, the armies will cease fighting each other and unite in a struggle against Jesus and His hosts, but they will finally suffer defeat (read Rev. 19).


Rev. 16:15 gives a clear warning about Jesus' coming to the Battle of Armageddon.


7. The plague of the seventh bowl (Rev. 16:17 - 21)


The seventh bowl judgment will be the last. It will be poured out into the air, and then a voice from the Throne of God will say, "It is done!" Voices, thunderings and lightnings fill the the air, and the greatest earthquake in history divides Jerusalem into three parts.


These and the remaining events will bring an end to Satan's reign.