Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
(For appendix please email me as they are not posted yet. Everything is taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.)
(G numbers are Greek from Strong's Concordance.  H numbers are Hebrew from Stong's.)

Revelation 1: Christ is Revealed.  See Appendix R1.
Rev 1:1 “ The Revelation of Jesus Christ!” That is what this book is about!  In life, we shall find what we are looking for!  Matt 7:7 says: Seek and ye shall find.  Let us look for Christ as he is revealed in His Revelation!  Let us seek him and He will reveal himself to us!
Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Introduction: The Revelation of Christ, given to John to share with the 7 churches.
Blessed are those who read, for the time is at hand.
Now why would He tell us that we are blessed when we read Revelation if this book did not apply to us? Who are the 7 churches?  They are all of us, as we will see shortly.

Verse 7: Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Revelation is a description of the process of the coming of Christ.  It’s not his plan to just pop out of the sky some bright or dark day!  He has set up a chain of events that will occur in order to wake up the world, test the righteous, win many souls for the kingdom, vindicate the truth, justify the sanctuary, and punish the wicked. (Justify is translated "cleanse" in Dan 8:14)
Now let’s check out what Matthew says about this time:
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
So, if things will be similar in the end to the days of Noah, then it appears that God’s special witnesses must be preparing NOW to share His final message to the world, in order to be ready when the trumpets start to blow! For when the trumpets begin to blow “there aint nobody who won’t know!”

The description of Christ is clear, He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. He stood in the midst of the 7 golden candlesticks. His hair was white as snow and His eyes as a flame of fire.
He held 7 stars..which are the angels or ministers of the 7 churches. Rev 1:20 is A KEY: The candlesticks are the 7 churches. This will become very important down the line.

Revelation 2:
Here Christ is the shepherd of his flock...this 7 churches.
Memory hook: Every saint pauses to seek providential light. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodecea.
Before discussing the details of the prophecies to the 7 churches let’s look at their time frame.
The apotelesmatic interpretation of prophecy means that it has recurring and ongoing fulfillments. Fulfillment 1: These were actual churches in John’s time named by the cities in which they dwelt.
2.  They apply to God’s church down through history.
3.  They all may apply to God’s church in the end times.  Therefore, our choices may help determine which experience/church we become a part of. We may even share parts of the experience of several churches.  The point is, these messages are given to God’s people to bless and save them. Remember, there is so much to learn here I’m only touching some highlights which have literally jumped out at me and have me jumping up and down with joy.

Ephesus: This group lost their first love, but the good thing is that they hate the Nicolaitans.  The Overcomers were promised that they will eat of the tree of life.
How many Christians come to Christ and initially get all excited about Him and the truth they have learned, but then get too occupied with the cares of life and lose their first love experience?  Certainly we can all take a lesson from this church.
According to Wikipedia the Nicolaitans were those who “lead lives of unrestrained indulgence.” Sounds like the broad road to me!  We must strive to travel the narrow road, as it alone leads to Eternal life.
Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14  Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Smyrna: These things sayeth the first and last which was dead and is alive.  I know thy works and poverty and tribulation (but you are rich) and that you have those who say they are Jews but are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Smyrna has three characteristics which parallel Philadelphia.
1.  No sin is mentioned.
2.  They live during a time of trouble.
3.  They live during the time of the Synagogue of Satan, run by those who say they are Jews.
He says, I know your persecution, tribulation, trouble! The devil will put some of you in prison but you must be faithful to death...You will receive a crown of life, and not be hurt by the second death.
Put this in your pipe...and think about it later on.  Rev 11 tells about two witnesses, which are also two candlesticks. Remember the KEY in Rev 1:20?  A candlestick represents a church!
Smyrna is told that they will have trouble for 10 days, and that they will be put to death.  I believe they will be martyrs.  But they are promised strength and Eternal deliverance.
In Rev 11  the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit, Satan himself, will kill them, but in 3 ½ days they will be raised and called up to heaven, in the sight of their enemies. I just love this command which comforts me anytime I am inclined to fear: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer!”

Pergamos: You dwell where Satan’s seat is, but have not denied my faith.  You have there the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.  Repent or I’ll come quickly and fight them with the sword of my mouth.  The overcomers will eat of the hidden manna.
Christ is the one with the sharp sword and promised to fight those who do not repent, and who dwell at Satan’s seat.  Could this sword be the same sword which crippled the Roman Catholic church at the time of the Reformation?–The Sword of the Word!

Revelation 3:
Christ is the good Shepherd, warning, reproving and promising deliverance to his churches/people.

Sardis: You have a name that you live, but you are dead.  Strengthen the things that remain. The overcomers will be dressed in white raiment and I will not blot out your names from the book of life.  What could be a greater priority of life than to have your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?  The faithful of this church are promised that their names will not be blotted out of that book!  And guess what? These promises and warnings are for all of us!

Philadelphia: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; This reminds me of Rev. 22:11–He that is unjust let him be unjust still....righteous-- righteous still etc.
Rev 3:8  I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
This church also fits the experience of one of the two witnesses in Rev. 11. There is no sin recorded.  They have the open door...they are sealed...no man can close it.
Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.     After the two witnesses are killed, and raised great fear fell on them that saw them... Rev 11:11, 12.
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Because you have endured I will keep you in the season of adversity...or time of trouble....that is coming  on the whole world to prove or test/examine them.
Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Behold I come soon, or by surprise.  Seize, or hang on to what you have. Let no man remove your badge of royalty.
Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.   Ever heard of pillars of the church?  Well, these are some of them!
They will have the name, or character of God and the new Jerusalem. They may even be IN the new Jerusalem when it comes down!

Laodiceans: I know your works.  You are not hot or cold, I wish you were hot or cold.  But since you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth.  You say you are rich and increased with goods, but know not you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Buy of me gold tried in the fire, and white raiment and eye salve that you may see.  As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Repent.  I stand at the door and knock.  Hear my voice and open the door that I may sup with you. He that overcomes will sit with me on my throne. This is the church that doesn’t know...but when you try to tell it you get an adamant response.  This is the last church in the list and applies with greatest force to us who are living in the last days of this age.  How sadly appropriate is this truth: You think you are rich, you are engrossed in materialism, but really you are lacking the white raiment, the robe of Christ’s righteousness.  The plea is given, Buy of Me gold, character?, white raiment, my righteousness, and eye salve, the Holy Spirit, so that you may see!

Revelation 4:
Here we start out with a view of the Throne..where Christ and God/Yahweh dwell. Notice the rainbow around the throne–we’ll see it again in Rev. 10.
The door of heaven is opened. It’s not secret anymore! I will show you what is going to happen.
Here is a parallel to Rev 1:1, Shortly come to pass, and 22:6, Things which must shortly be done. He’s warning us that when these things start to happen they will happen quickly.  Then there is a view of the throne.  The ONE who sat on the throne looked like a jasper and sardine stone.  A rainbow surrounded the throne like an emerald. Quite the description of God!  Around the throne were 24 elders, clothed in white with golden crowns. These are VIPS!!  Lightnings and thunderings and voices come out of the throne, and before it is a sea of glass. There are 7 lamps which are the 7 spirits of God.  The 4 beasts (G2226 live thing or living creatures) are in the middle of the throne and around it.  Their emblems are: Lion, Calf, Man, Eagle. They are Full of eyes and they cease not to cry Holy Holy Holy. The 24 elders and the 4 living creatures fall on their faces before him that liveth forever and cry, Thou are worthy to receive glory and power for Thou hast created all things.
He is the creator!   There are many wonderful passages, along with Revelation 4 and 5  that give us insight into the glory of the edifice of the throne.  Here are a few: Isa 6:1-5; Eze 1; Eze 10; Isa 33:14; Heb 12:29.
 
Revelation 5:
Jesus the Christ is the Lamb who has been slain!  He is in the center of the throne edifice!
See here that 7 is God’s number!
Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts/living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The seven Spirits could certainly remind one that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent!
Note: the word Beasts is translated by 7 out of 9 translations as LIVING CREATURES! So I’m going to use it that way.  See Eze 1:5
There was a book with 7 seals, written within and on the back side!... No one could open it...John wept much because no one could open..but he was told, Weep Not...for the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of Jessie, can open the book.
Could this book be of history already past–the back side? And the future? It must have been very important to John to know what was written in this book!  Only the slain Lamb could open it! Could that be because sin created a problem so huge that no one could solve it except the life and death of Christ the Lamb?
The Lamb took the book... He experienced it! He went through it! The 4 beasts and 24 elders held the vials of odours which are the Prayers of saints. They say, Thou are Worthy...Thou hast redeemed us by thy blood from every kindred, people, tongue and nation and hast made us kings and priests...we shall reign on the earth...  They sang a new song. Around all of them were angels...10,000 times 10,000.

Revelation 6: The Lamb opened one of the seals and there was Thunder. See Appendix R15
Is it not Christ on the white horse conquering and to conquer? (The seals are one of my most uncertain understandings, so I have much to learn.)
Seen again in Rev 19:11

It appears that the Seals could span the time frame of the 7 trumpets and the 7 last plagues. Some of these horses may ride simultaneously..
Seal 1: First beast, the lion, said come and see.  There is a white horse with a bow and a crown conquering and to conquer. –Maybe Christ and his church, or 144,000 or two witnesses going forth in great power.  Son 6:10  Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army  with banners?  See Rev 19:11-16.

Seal 2: Second beast, the calf, said come and see. Red horse bringing war-
Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him (the beast) to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Seal 3: Third beast, the man, said come and see.  Black horse with balances/scales in his hand or a yolk of servitude...hurt not oil and wine– Time of judgment, to those who wear Satan’s yolk. Could possibly fit the time of Rev 9:15–18 Don’t injure the olive oil, the two witnesses?-- those who have the Holy Spirit, or the wine, those who have Life..
Rev. 14:6–The hour of God’s judgment is come...
Mat 24:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41  Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Seal 4: Fourth beast, the flying eagle, said come and see. (The fowls of the air were called to eat the flesh of kings.  Rev 19:17, 18.)  Pale horse..death and hell followed.  He was given power over the fourth part of the earth to kill with (1) sword, (2) hunger, (3) death, and (4) beasts of the earth.
Eze 14:21  For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.

Seal 5: The souls under the altar who were slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony they held!  They say with a loud voice.. How Long till you avenge our blood?  They were given white robes and are told to rest a little season...till their fellow servants should be killed as they were.
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. So we see when the two witnesses are killed the time comes that the dead will be judged and reward will be given to God’s servants the prophets. Rev 11:18.

Seal 6: Earthquake..
Rev 6:12  And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;   Acts 2:19, 20.
Rev 6:13  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Rev 6:14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Isa 2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
It would seem that Matt 24 has THE KEY as to when this earthquake happens...as it is the only one with which the stars fall.–unless the meteors or the Wormwood star in trumpets 1 and 3 quality, but I expect them to be during, and not after, the tribulation.
Mat 24:29  Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
There are 4 other earthquakes mentioned and quoted below...we would think these are the 4 Earthquakes of the time of trouble....and that Seal 6 is likely one of them or the last one... See Appendix R3.
Earthquake 1: Just before the trumpets: Rev 8:5  And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.  We think/believe this may be the first thing to happen to initiate the time of trouble...However there will be persecution of some of the righteous just before that time.  Luke 21:11, 12.
Earthquake 2: 6th trumpet: Rev 11:13  And the same hour (as the witnesses were raised) was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. There were separate earthquakes also at the death  and resurrection of Christ after his 3 ½ years of ministry.
Mat 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Earthquake 3: 7th trumpet: Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Rev 15:5  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
The wicked are shown the law of God from the sky just before the wrath of God is poured out in the form of the plagues.
Earthquake 4: 7th plague: Rev 16:18  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. See Rev 6:13-17.

Revelation 7: The sealing of God’s servants in their foreheads.  See Appendix R10
Rev 7:3  Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Here we see God’s special people being sealed with his mark or name in their foreheads.
How does this happen? It is the work of the Holy Spirit on the heart.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eze 9:4  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark (or  seal) upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
In Eze 9:6 those who do not receive the seal of God are slain without mercy.  In the story of the 10 virgins in Matt 25: 1-13, the 5 who did not have the oil were shut out of the wedding.  The bridegroom said: “I never knew you.”
Now is the time to be getting the oil! Now is the time to be learning the Scriptures, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be building our faith!  And “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God!” Rom 10:17 If we are to stand in the coming days of trail, we must Know God and His Word, and have established a living relationship with Him!  We must trust Him with our lives and everything we have and are!  Dear friend, please get into His Word now, while there is time!

Rev. 7 verse 10 says: Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb!
The 4 angels hold the winds until the servants of God are sealed...
144,000 sealed...12,000 from each tribe
Then John saw the great multitude which no man could number...of every nation, kindred, people and tongue...clothed in white robes
Who are the white robed ones?  They came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. It appears that this innumerable company are those who were converted by the work of the 144,000 during the time of trouble. What an honor it will be to be used of God to bring others to Him! Now is the time to start!

Revelation 8:   The Last Seal, the “opening” earthquake, and the First 4 trumpets.
In these first 4 trumpet blasts we Christ’s warning blasts to wake up the world.
Seal 7: There is Silence in heaven 1/2 hour.. This is the last Seal...or last section of the book of 7 seals...Could the silence apply during the actual coming of Christ?  It appears that the 6th seal which speaks of the wicked calling for the rocks to hide them from the wrath of God has just occurred and would parallel the last plague or vial, since they have just experienced a good share of God’s wrath during the previous 6 vials. Therefore the earthquake in Rev. 6:14-17 is likely the same one as Rev. 1618, which is the worst earthquake of all time!
All these comments are the best that we know as of this time and should at least get one thinking and aware of the times and events so that we can recognize them “when they come to pass.”

It would seem a new section starts here.  John saw 7 angels with the 7 trumpets.  Then another angel came and stood at the altar and to him was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints upon the altar that was before the throne.  And the smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the saints ascended before God from the angel’s hand.  Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and cast it to the earth.  There were voices, thunderings, lightenings and an earthquake, and the 7 angels prepared to sound..
And it would seem that this earthquake heralds the beginning of the last section of earth’s history. See Appendix R17.
It appears that when the censer is thrown down, there is an earthquake, which may mark the beginning of the time of trouble, or of the 1260 days.  Here’s a little back ground on the altar of incense.
Exo 30:6  And thou shalt put it before the vail that [is] by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that [is] over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. (Meet here can mean to be engage or betroth as well as agree or assemble. H3259)
Exo 30:7  And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
Exo 30:8  And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual (H 8548: same word as daily) incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
Exo 30:9  Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
Exo 30:36  And thou shalt beat [some] of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
Exo 35:8  And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
Lev 4:7  And the priest shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD.
Lev 16:12  And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring [it] within the vail:
Lev 16:13  And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that [is] upon the testimony, that he die not:
H8548    taw-meed'   From an unused root meaning to stretch; properly continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially constantly); elliptically the regular (daily) sacrifice: -  alway (-s), continual (employment, -ly), daily, ([n-]) ever (-more), perpetual.
Daily is also H8548
It is used 103 times.  53 as continually; 27 as continual; 7 as daily; 6 as always; 4 as alway; 3 as ever; 2 as perpetual; 1 as evermore.
There should not be any doubt that this means continual and all it’s synonyms seem to also be joined to incense.
Let’s look at another verse:
Exo 28:29  And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy [place], for a memorial before the LORD continually. See Appendix R22
So when the censer is cast down to the earth things change, and God prepares for his entry to planet earth.  Do the witnesses pick up the censer and run between the living and the dead as Aaron did in times of old?
Num 16:47  And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
Num 16:48  And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Trumpets:
All through Scripture the trumpet is a call to worship, or a sound of alarm and warning.
Joe 2:1  Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for [it is] nigh at hand;
Joe 2:15  Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Mat 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Trumpets are calls to battle.
1Co 14:8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Trumpet 1: Hail and fire mingled with blood– Could this be a Meteoric Firestorm? Would hot rocks which start fires be mingled with blood when crushing living creatures?  Is not God finally using his arsenal against the wicked?
Job 38:22, 23  Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,  Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Trumpet 2: A burning mountain is cast into the sea– What about an Asteroid Impact in one of the oceans? Or a volcano? (Have you seen “Deep Impact?”)
Psa 46:2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Trumpet 3:  A star, Wormwood, falls from heaven poisoning the streams of  water– Maybe an Asteroid on Land which pollutes the water sources.
Trumpet 4: The sun was smitten...1/3 part of sun, moon, stars, day– Great darkness, maybe from volcanoes which erupt as a result of the other impacts.
Act 2:19  And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
Act 2:20  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
It would seem that the first 3 trumpets certainly raise enough dust, vapor and smoke to darken the sun and moon!
Three woes are yet to come which are the last 3 trumpets.

Revelation 9: Trumpet 5, 6 which are woes 1 and 2.
Here we see the arch enemy of Christ is revealed.
Trumpet 5: WOE 1: A Star fell from heaven and to him was given a key to the bottomless pit, and out of the pit came locusts as smoke...as horses prepared for battle, with scorpion stings in their tails, with power to torment men 5 months...they cannot die.. They have a king over them: Apollyon or Satan!  See Appendix R13.
Satan is “the Fallen Angel from Heaven!.”  Also known as Lucifer.  He is given a key and is therefore released from the pit or the abyss, the demon world. G12  Infernal/deep/abyss/pit/abode of demons.  He can now appear in visible form, as Christ, and as an angel of light.  His angels come out like dark smoke.  Smoke burns your eyes, blinds you and chokes you...so you cannot breathe.  Think of the spiritual significance to this!
Luke 10:18-20 is the KEY for interpreting these verses.  John saw Satan as lighting fall form heaven. Then, God’s servants are given power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy!
2Co 11:14   And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
We’ll see as we go on how he appears in many places as the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit... Rev 11:7 He kills the two churches/witnesses. He appears in Rev 12:3 as a red dragon.  In 13:2 and 4 as the dragon giving power and authority to the beast and in 13:11 as the Lamb like beast with two horns/powers (religious and civil) who speaks as a dragon!! That’s because he is the dragon! This is his most powerful manifestation as Christ—HE IS THE ANTICHRIST!!  (We’ll check out more details in our study of chapter 13.  In Rev17:3 he’s the scarlet colored beast that supports the whore.  In verse 8 all the world, whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of life, WONDER when they BEHOLD (or see the visible form of) the beast that was, and is not, and yet is! Rev 17:11  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Trumpet 6: WOE 2:  4 Angels loosed.  See Appendix R19.
200 million Horsemen were loosed, with breastplates of fire and smoke issued out of their mouth and their tails were as serpents...who had power to kill with fire and brimstone.  1/3 of men were killed with the fire and brimstone coming out of their mouths, but the rest repented not of the from worshiping devils and all evil.  This could well represent World War 3, or is it a special destruction of God using the Devil's army on the wicked? It could also apply to Eze 9.  In Rev. 7:1, 2 --- 4 angels were holding the winds until the servants of God were sealed. Eze 9 speaks of the sealing time.  6 men/angels were called.  One angel, clothed in linen, had the writer’s inkhorn and was to put a seal or mark on the forehead of all who were sighing and crying for the abominations done in the land.  Then, they were to go forth with the slaughtering weapons to slay the false teachers who have rejected the truth. Isa 56:10 calls the sleeping watchmen dumb dogs! Could this army under the 6th trumpet  be assisting those 6 men? We continue to pray and seek for HIS wisdom!

Revelation 10: The mighty angel and the little book.
Is Christ the mighty angel that comes down from heaven with a book...trying to prepare his people for the experiences they go through as they share the truth with power? I like this: clothed with a rainbow...like it’s a little piece of the throne come to earth... compare with Revelation one's description of Christ.

See Appendix R20 for uses of the word BOOK in Scripture.  It’s used 25 times in Revelation.
The mighty angel came down from heaven, clothed with a cloud and a rainbow upon his head.
His face was as the sun and his feet as pillars of fire. He had one foot on the sea and the other on the land. He had a little book open in his hand. He cried with a loud voice like when a lion roars. At this point 7 thunders uttered their voices.  John was about to write, but was told to seal this up.  The Angel lifted his hand to heaven and swear by him who made/created that there should be time (G5550 delay) no longer. In the days of the 7th angel when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God shall be finished.    John was told to take the book and eat it.  That it would be sweet in his mouth and bitter in his belly.  He did so, and it was so. He was told he would prophecy before many peoples, nations, tongues and kings.
It appears to me that this angel is Christ. He wears a rainbow of promise.  The book could be the experiences that the two witnesses or 144,000 will go though.  It is a joyous experience to share Christ’s truth with the world, but the persecution that results will be bitter–yet only for a short time.   Remember the words to Smyrna:
Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
7 thunders uttered their voices, but John was told not to write. These stories are better left untold until the time comes.

Revelation 11: Two Witnesses    See Appendix R2.  Witness: G3144 martus–Martyr, record, witness.
Christ pours out his spirit and power on his two witnesses!
Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Measure the temple–and the worshipers..(G3358 ascertain by a fixed standard, measure out or off or number them) .Only the inner court ...the outer court, or Holy City, will be given to the Gentiles to tread under foot for 42 months, verse 2.  See Appendix R4 on the 7--3 ½ yr times.
Power will be given to “My Two Witnesses” (those counted out of the inner court?)  to prophecy in sackcloth/or mourning 1260 days, verse 3. So they give their powerful message for 3 ½ years.  The script for this message is very likely the Three Angel’s messages in Rev. 14:6-12. Are these not the sealed ones who were sighing and crying for the abominations done in the land in Eze 9?  Or the ones sealed in Rev 7??    They have power to shut heaven, to bring plagues as often as they will.....and the fire goes out of their mouth consumes their enemies...Any who desire to hurt them must in this manner be killed!
So, who are Christ’s witnesses?  Over and over it says: Ye are my witnesses!
Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Now let’s go on and let Scripture interpret itself:
Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
A KEY: Olives trees have oil, which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Church was on the Mount of Olives!  He preached there, left from there and will come back to there!
Zech 4 talks about the two olive trees as delivering oil to the candlesticks:
Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, saith, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What [be these] two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden [oil] out of themselves?
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These [are] the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
Notice the parallel language in Zech and Revelation about the olive trees...
Are the two olive trees the two ministers of the churches that encourage them on like Moses and Elijah? Or are the olive trees representing the filling of the Holy Spirit?
A KEY: The candlesticks are the 7 churches. The two churches which seem to have the experience needed by the two witnesses are Smyrna and Philadelphia.  Read about them in Rev. 1 and 2 if need be.  These appear to be two groups who share the final message of warning and mercy to the world.  Could they be the 144,000?
Where else is their work described?  They have the power of Moses and Elijah and they are invincible until their testimony is given.  Is this the Elijah message?
Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

So what is their message?  Is it not the three angel’s messages in Rev. 14:6-11?
Is this not the script for the last message to the world?
1.  Fear God, and worship HIM!  His judgments are here!
2.  Come out of Babylon, it’s fallen!
3.  Watch out for the mark of the beast!  Don’t take it or you will receive the plagues of God.
Another thought: It would seem that the message Rev 18:1 is a repetition and enlargement of the second angel’s message.  An angel came down with great power, and the earth is lightened with his glory.  Then he cried with a loud voice:  “Babylon is fallen, come out of her my people!”
So how does one come out of Babylon?  It’s a process of getting out of sin, debt, the cities, the financial slavery system and the spiritual slavery.  See comments on Rev. 13 for more on this.
Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
It’s obvious that these witnesses have great power, as did the prophets of old.  The works of Moses and Elijah are specifically mentioned here.
Rev 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
So, when the two witnesses have finished their testimony–the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit (Satan Himself) kills them.  Then, their dead bodies lie in the streets 3 ½ days (a day for each year they testified).  At the end of the 3 ½ days God’s spirit of life enters them, and they hear his voice, come up hither so they ascend in a cloud and their enemies behold them!
Next, there is a great earthquake, 1/10 of the city fell and 7,000 men were killed and the rest are affrighted and give glory to God!   The 24 elders fell on their faces and  worshiped God.
Wow, what a glorious event!
The Second WOE (trumpet 6) is past...Now, the third is coming...

Trumpet 7 WOE 3:–There were voices saying the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Verse 18: The time is come that the dead should be judged and that Thou shouldest reward they servants the prophets, and the saints, and them that fear thy name both small and great!  And shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth.
Could this be what the souls under the altar were looking for in Rev 6:9, 10?
Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Here we see this important event mentioned in chapter 10...the Mystery of God is finished!
Now he says: The nations are angry.  Thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged. It’s time to reward His servants the prophets and destroy them that destroy the earth.. There is another earthquake.  After this time the plagues can come...as probation will have closed for the world.  God does not punish the wicked without their knowing why. Before the plagues start, wicked men will have seen the two witnesses (two groups with the experience of Smyrna and Philadelphia?) raised and called to heaven, a sure vindication of God’s people, or his sanctuary!  The cause will be justified! (The sanctuary is cleansed–as spoken of in Daniel 8.) Then, they are shown the law, the 10 commandments, which they have been insisting were not important, were done away, or did not apply to them!  Now they will understand why the plagues will fall on them!
Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Rev 15:5  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Testament--- Strongs 1242: A dispostion, contract, will, compact, testament
Testimony--- Strongs 3142:  Decalogue, testimony, witness
Ark---Strongs 2787:  A box, sacred ark, and that of Noah
Ark--2787-- is used 6 times in the NT:  3 refer to Noah and the flood and 3 refer to the Ark of the Testament in the Sanctuary....The two in Revelation obviously refer to the Ark of theTestament as that is what they say.  This is the box that housed the 10 commandments.  The testament, or contract or compact which God made with His people was the 10 commandments in specific and the law in general...So is it important that we keep it as He directed!  If God is going to open heaven to reveal his law to the World we better be keeping it now!

Revelation 12: The great wonder appeared.  See Appendix R16.
Here is the glorious woman, Christ’s church.  Who is the man child? Is it not Jesus the Christ?!

This glorious woman, is clothed with the sun, stands on the moon, and has a crown with 12 stars, is in labor or travail...Since women in Scripture represent churches we would assume that this woman represents God’s church.
Then there is another wonder–a great red dragon with 7 heads and 10 horns with 10 crowns. This is very obviously Lucifer, Satan, the Old Dragon the Devil!(the 7 heads and 10 horns are explained in Rev. 17)  His tail drew 1/3 of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth...and he stood before the woman, waiting to devour the man child.  The woman brought forth a man child who was to rule with a rod of iron...and he was caught up into heaven.  The woman fled into the wilderness for 1260 days... Most interpret this as referring to the Devil and his powers trying to destroy Christ at his birth and then persecuting the church in the wilderness for 1260 years.
Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Then, A voice from heaven says...salvation is come, the accuser of the brethren is cast down...They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.
Who is THEY?  Could it be the witnesses? That’s what testimony is!  Have they not just laid down their life?
Woe to the earth...the Devil is come with wrath for he has but a short time.
He persecuted the woman who had the man child...she was given Eagle’s wings to fly into the wilderness for 3 ½ years(a time, times and half a time). The Devil cast out a flood after her, but the earth helped the woman, swallowed the flood... As mentioned above, this would appear to apply to the end times when the two witnesses give their testimony and the ANTI-Christ power rules.
Rev 12:17 The dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus. Here we see two identifying marks of the final generation of believers: They obey God’s law and they bear testimony of Jesus and His righteousness! Salvation is not of works but of faith that works. James 2:18, 20; Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Testimony: G3141 Record, Report, Witness.  These people tell the story of Jesus, they share the record of Jesus, and they are His witnesses! They carry the three angles messages!

Revelation 13: The two beasts
Here again Christ’s arch enemy is revealed as well as the powers of church and state that he controls!
The first beast rose out of the sea, which had 7 heads and 10 horns.  The 10 horns had 10 crowns. On his heads were names of blasphemy.
Heads apply to religions, or locations of worship as Rev 17:9 says: the 7 heads are 7 mountains on which the woman sitteth. See notes on Rev 17 for examples.
Blasphemy means vilification or speaking evil of God’s character or attributes. It can also mean claiming to be God!  The Jews killed Christ for blasphemy–saying he was God! The 7 false religions of the world actually blaspheme God by their claims.
Joh 10:33  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Back to this beast:
This beast was like a leopard, a bear, and a lion. A conglomerate of the beasts or government systems of history. The dragon gave him his authority. In other words, the Devil or Satan runs or empowers this system. One head was wounded as it were to death, but did live. Could this be the wounding of the Catholic Church by the reformation? After all it was wounded by a sword–the two edged sword of the spirit and the Word.  I believe this prophecy was fulfilled when Pope Pious VI was taken captive on February 20, 1798 by Napolean’s general Berthier. He died 6 weeks later in the commune of Valence, City of Drome, France.  (See Appendix R12 for verses on Wounded and slain.)  It was not until February 11, 1929 that the Lateran Pacts granted Vatican City it’s independence and the deadly wound began to be healed.  (Taken from Wikipedia under Roman Question.)
All the world wondered after this beast and worshiped the dragon that gave him authority. We’ll study this more in Rev 17.
This beast blasphemed God, his temple and them that dwell in heaven,  and power was given to him to continue 42 months. This time period, as 42 months, 1260 days or 3 ½ years is spoken of 7 times in Scripture.  See Appendix R4.
He made war with the saints and overcame them.  All, whose names are NOT in the Lamb’s book of life, shall worship him.  The Lamb’s book of life is mentioned 7 times in Rev. It’s obviously very important to have our names written there–as these are the only one who will receive Life Eternal! See Appendix R7.
If any man have an ear let him hear.  In other words, pay attention to this!
Here is the patience of the saints.
Then a second beast comes up out of the earth...(From no where.) This guy is the embodiment of the Unholy trinity! He would certainly fit the dragon, the beast and the false prophet all in one!  He speaks like a dragon, he has the power of the beast and works miracles as the false prophet.  Rev. 16:13.
He is called the Lamblike Beast with two horns, and causeth all to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  He causes fire to fall from heaven, deceives them that dwell on the earth by the miracles, and makes an image to the beast, gives life to it,  and causes all to worship the beast or be killed. For Image see Appendix R8 and D2.  I believe this beast is THE ANTICHRIST! The false Messiah!  He has the appearance of the Lamb!  He has two horns which likely represent CHURCH (religious powers) and STATE (civil powers). Rev. 5:6 speaks of the true Lamb as having 7 horns or spirits!  Here, Satan comes in visible form claiming to be the Christ -- to deceive the nations!  He works miracles, calling fire from heaven in the sight of men and deceiving all by his miracles....that is all whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life!  For more about Satan and his work See Appendix R16.
Many have taught and still teach that this two horned beast is America, and that it came up in the wilderness rather than in the midst of groups of people–symbolized by waters.  That America started out as a lamb, a Christian country, and that in the end it will be foremost in enforcing the Mark and Image of the beast.
Important prophecies are frequently given with repetition and enlargement.  For example in Daniel 2 the coming world powers are shown as a great image, while in Daniel 7 and 8 beasts represent the same powers. Besides new prophecies being given in greater detail, God gives us greater insight into understanding the prophecies as the time draws near.  Let’s not get bogged down in old interpretations when we can have greater detail and a more specific understanding.
 
He (this two horned lamb-like beast) causes all, small and great, rich and poor, to receive a mark in their forehead or hand. No man can buy or sell unless he has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of  his name.  Here is wisdom: Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it’s the number of a man: 666.  The Mark of the Beast is mentioned 7 times in Rev.  See Appendix R6.  HERE IS WISDOM!  This is really important!  See Appendix R14. See also Rev. 17:9–the mind that hath wisdom!
The number 666, which is the number of his (the beast’s) name has had numerous interpretations over the years. (Rev 13:17; 15:2) (NOTE: there is a difference between the Mark of the Beast and the Number of his Name)  Some think it’s a tattoo, others believe it will be a chip implanted in the right hand or forehead with all of one’s information.  A distinguishing factor is that no one can buy or sell without it! Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy, sell, work, get a Driver’s License, get medical assistance or even go to college without the Social Security number!  May I suggest that the SSN is the leash with which the government system keeps up with it’s subjects.   There is a possibility that the 9 digit SSN and 9 digit zip + 4 could be used as individual identifiers...18 numbers, divided to 3 sets of 6 would be used with the bar code, which I understand is set up on 6s. This number could at least be used in the early stages before the Acts of God shut down the system!   As for me, I want to stay as far from this identification system as possible. However, I don’t believe it is necessarily a testing truth yet, but that it will become such when the message of the Angel of Rev. 18, who comes down with great power so that the whole earth is lightened with the knowledge of God.  This angel’s message is Babylon is fallen, come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and receive not of her plagues!!.

Revelation 14: 144,000
Here is the Lamb on mount Zion and with him the 144,000–with His name/character!

In Rev 7 the 144,000 are sealed, as if anointed for a special work.  I believe there is a good possibility that their work is described in Rev. 11 as that of the two witnesses.  These are God’s spokes people to give testimony of Him and His truth!  After they finish their testimony they are killed and in 3 ½ days are raised and go to heaven in the sight of their enemies! They are greatly honored!  Now, we come to Rev 14 and we see the 144,000 on Mount Sion with the Lamb! They are even called the first fruits! Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
They sing a new song that no one else could learn, as it’s a song of their experience...likely that which was told in the little book of Rev. 10.  These are not defiled (deviled!)  with women (false religion) and follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth! Hmm, The Philadelphia people are pillars in His temple and go no more out! Rev 3:12.
 And then John saw the  three angels with three messages:
1.  Fear God, the hour of His judgment is come.
2.  Babylon is fallen. (Rev 14:8; Isa 21:9; Jer 51:8; Rev 18:2)
3.  If any man worship the beast of his image, or receive his mark in his forehead or hand, he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God! (Watch out for the mark of the Beast!) The smoke of their torment ascends forever– as long as life shall last!
But even as the warning against the Mark of the Beast is given, the true and faithful are acclaimed:
Here is the patience of the saints; (33-Patience 5281–Cheerful endurance)  here are they that keep the commandments of Jesus. Then a comment: Blessed are the dead that die from now on that they may rest from their labors.  Does this mean that many of those who give the three angels messages will die? Now, lets look at the rest of the chapter and take note of the two reapings.
Then appeared a white cloud, with the Son of man–Christ!  On His head a golden crown, in his hand a sharp sickle. Another angel said, Thrust in they sickle for the time is come to reap, the harvest of the earth is ripe.  He that sat on the throne thrust in the sickle and the earth was reaped. Then another angel (note this is not Christ but another angel) came out of the temple with a sharp sickle.  Another angel came out of the altar who had power over fire and cried to the angel with the sickle to reap for the grapes of the earth are ripe.  And the angel thrust in the sickle and reaped the vine of the earth and cast it into the winepress of the wrath of God.  The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress to the horses bridles for 1600 furlongs. Now we see that since the two witnesses have finished their testimony and are with the Lamb, now the wrath of God can be poured out as it is with the 7 last plagues or vials!  Watch out! Here they come....

Revelation 15:   Preparing to pour out the 7 Last Plagues
Here’s another view of the people of God who have gotten the victory over the Mark of the beast...standing with him on the sea of glass.

There were 7 angels with the 7 last plagues.
There was the sea of glass with them that had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, over the number of his name.  They stood on the sea of glass with harps and sang the song of Moses and the Lamb.  Wow, let’s notice these people!  They are before the throne, but they lived in the time when the Mark of the Beast, the Image of the Beast and the Number of his name were imposed!  It would appear that they are the two witnesses, as we already know they were raised and went to heaven only 3 ½ days after they were killed!  But also, the 144,000 are shown in heaven in chapter 14 and called the first fruits! They appear to be the same group as those here in chapter 15.
Then the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony was opened in heaven. See also Rev 11:19.  OK, let’s look at TESTIMONY: It’s G3142 evidence, specifically the Decalogue, to be testified!  Here we see God’s 10 commandments, His law, is revealed to the world!
I wonder if this has any parallel to: Rev 6:14 The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together.
7 angels came out of the temple with the 7 plagues, clothed in white linen, with golden girdles.
One of the 4 beasts gave the 7 angles 7 vials of the wrath of God.  The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and no man could enter the temple until the 7 plagues were fulfilled. Isa 26:21.  Here we see God, in His wrath finally executing his STRANGE WORK.  Isa 28:21.

Revelation 16: 7 Last Plagues Poured Out
Here we see God and Christ pouring out their wrath on the wicked... this is their strange act. Isa 28:21

1.  Grievous Sore– This terrible boil or sore came upon ALL men who had the Mark of the Beast.
2.  Sea became as blood and everything died in the sea–parallel to trumpet 2 but now all inclusive...everything died in the sea instead of only 1/3 as in Trumpet 2.
3.  Rivers of waters became blood...They have shed the blood of saints and prophets.  Give them blood to drink!– Similar to Trumpet 3 but more intense and universal.
4.  The sun scorched men–they blasphemed but repented not.-- In trumpet 4 there was darkness but here the sun scorches all who have the mark of the beast.  I can’t imagine it helped the feeling of their boils! In Trumpet 4 there was darkness and this is the opposite, with the darkness to follow..
5.  The Vial is poured out on the seat of the beast—It’s dense darkness-- and they gnawed their tongues for pain– In trumpet 5 the Devil appears.  Here the kingdom of Satan is thrown into darkness.
6.  Poured out on the great river Euphrates that the way of the kings of the East would be prepared...3 Unclean spirits like frogs came out of the mouth of the Dragon, Beast, and false prophet.  They are the spirits of devils going out to the whole earth to gather them to Armageddon.  Trumpet 6 was a huge battle, maybe even World War 3, but here Satan and his people gather together for the great battle of Armageddon–to fight against Christ at His coming.
7.  Poured out on the air..There is a declaration from heaven: It is done!  There are voices, thunderings and the greatest earthquake that has ever been.  The great city was divided into 3 parts.  Every island fled away...Great hail fell the size of a talent. A talent, according to Wikipedia would weigh anywhere from 60 to 110 lbs! Imagine that weight of rocks falling out of the sky! It appears that hail starts the time of trouble with the first trumpet in Rev. 8:7 and ends the time of trouble with the 7th plague here in Rev. 16:21.   I believe this is the time of the realization the 6th and 7th seals and the ending of the sounding of the 7th trumpet when the mystery of God was finished, Rev. 10:7; 11:15-19.  It would seem that all the seals, trumpets and plagues come to a climax here!  See notes on the falling stars, earthquake etc. of Seal 6 for more details, Rev. 6:12-17.  Think of the following in the light of IT IS DONE!
The declaration: “He that is unjust let him be unjust still.  He which is filthy let him be filthy still. He that is righteous let him be righteous still.  He that is holy let him be holy still”...of Rev 22:11, 12; The silence in heaven; (Rev 8:1 Seal 7); The mystery of God finished-- (Rev 11:15 The Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Trumpet 7); The statement here: IT IS DONE!  Along with the greatest earthquake that has ever been since men were upon the earth! (Rev 16:17 Plague 7.)

Revelation 17: Woman and Scarlet Beast
Again, the arch enemy of Christ is revealed with his earthly powers.
Here we go back and start over with more detail...Repetition and enlargement.
The woman rides the scarlet beast which has 7 heads and 10 horns.  She is arrayed in purple and scarlet and gold, precious stones and pearls, holding a cup full of abominations–Mystery Babylon.  She is drunken with the blood of saints and martyrs.  This would seem to fit the Catholic church which is here identified as  the mother of harlots.  She is drunken with the blood of the saints.  She has been notorious for persecution and martyrdom. She decks her cardinals in scarlet, and her bishops in purple.  (I’m told some other churches do similar.) Her churches are gold plated while the people, especially in Latin America live in hovels.  Now, apostate Protestantism is trying to get back in good graces with “their mother”.  NOTE: There are many sincere believers in the protestant churches.  Their true spirit will shine forth as persecution erupts. Here is another KEY..
17:9 The 7 Heads are 7 mountains on which the woman sitteth. See Appendix R11.
A Mountain represents places of worship or religions. The false religious systems support the whore..as that is really what they are! Here are some examples of mountains:
Lev 26:30  And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
Deu 12:2  Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree.
Now let’s look at some good high places:
Zech 14:4, John 8:1 Mount of Olives (mentioned 12 times in Scripture)...where Jesus preached–and He ascended to heaven from there and He’s even coming back to earth there! Acts 1:12, Acts 7:38, Gal 4:24 Mount Sinai; 2Peter 1:18 Mount of transfiguration; Rev 14:1 Mount Sion.
There are apparently 7 false world religions.
1. Heathenism–Create your own God and worship it.
2. Atheism–There is no God.
3. Judaism–God does not act...the Messiah has not come.
4. Islam–Kill all the non-believers in the name of God.
5. Eastern Mysticism–You can become God.
6. Catholicism–You have to get to God through the Church
7. Apostate Protestantism–The age of materialism–Forget God except on Sundays.
It would seem that everyone, other than true believers,  falls under one of these categories.

Rev 17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
This beast appears to be Satan himself.  He was in the presence of God, he was cast down into the earth and the bottomless pit. He is released from the bottomless pit in Rev 9 and can now appear in visible form.  He comes as the Lamblike beast in Rev 13 and makes the whole world worship the image of the beast.  Here they WONDER WHEN THEY BEHOLD his visible form! He is the fallen angel of light! 2Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. He very likely is: The beast that was and is not and is the 8th and is of the 7 and goes to perdition.
Compare this above to this description of Christ.
Rev 4:6  Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Rev 17:10  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, [and] the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

OK who are these 7 kings?–5 are fallen, 1 is, the other is not come..but will continue a short space...(Space G3641 Brief Season, Short While.)
Could these 7 kings refer to: 1. Babylon, 2. Media Persia, 3. Greece, 4. Pagan Rome, 5. Papal Rome, 6. The feet of Iron and Clay representing the divided kingdoms we live in currently, and 7. The one last earthly kingdom to come, being ruled by Satan himself, along with His 10 kings which will rule together for a one hour? (G5610 a short time).  See Rev. 12:12–where the Dragon knows he has but a short time! It would seem that these three short times all are the same time. The 10 horns are 10 kings which will rule 1 hour with the beast–they have one mind and give their strength and power to the beast.  I believe these to be the leaders of the 10 Regions of the New World Order.  They will cooperate with the beast and rule with Satan for a short season.
Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.
How exciting to be among those who are called and chosen!
Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.
1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many  mighty, not many noble, are called:
This must be Armageddon!

Another Key: in 17:15  the Waters are peoples and multitudes.
Then these 10 kings hate the whore and eat her flesh and burn her with fire–for God puts it in their heart to do so.  When they see they are conquered, they turn on each other.  They blame the church and religious leaders for their plight.

Revelation 18: Babylon is Fallen See Appendix R9.
Christ’s power is poured out on his people and the earth is illuminated with the glory/worship of God.

We have repetition and enlargement here–expanding the understanding on the second angel’s message–which was Babylon is Fallen.  This angel had great power, as did the two witnesses in Rev. 11 and the whole earth is lightened with the knowledge of God.  Everyone has an opportunity to accept or reject the truth about Christ. Everyone will have at least two witnesses of the truth.
An angel came down and with great power and the earth was lightened with his glory.
For a whole study on the meanings and uses of this word LIGHTENED see Appendix R21
Eph 1:18–the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.
Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Hab 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

This angel, or messenger, cried: Babylon is Fallen, is Fallen...It’s the habitation of devils and unclean and hateful birds...
Come out of her my people that ye partake not of her sins and  receive not of her plagues.
Reward her double according to her works
The kings of the earth weep and mourn over her.... for in 1 hour her judgment is come.
No more merchandise....including souls of men..  The merchants stand afar off weeping...for in 1 hour such great riches is come to naught.  They weep while they watch her burn..casting dust on their heads.
Remember, Babylon means confusion.  It is the whole system of Satan.  It includes the governments, the apostate churches, the financial system etc.  Here they are weeping over the lose of their wealth. Even though in Rev 17 they eat the flesh of the religious sector and burn the whore.
Rejoice over her holy apostles and prophets, as God hath avenged you on her.
In her was the blood of prophets and saints and all that were slain.

Revelation 19: The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
The time has come for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

Alleluia –the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Come to the marriage supper...His wife hath made herself ready...
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  White--G2986-- means radiant, magnificent, sumptuous, gorgeous, so that does not sound boring!
 The fine linen–G1345-- is the righteousness/justification/equitable deed/decision of the saints.
Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.    Testimony G3141=record, witness, testimony; Spirit G4154=breath, vital principle, breeze; Prophecy G4394=predictions, utterances of the prophets. The record or witness or story of Christ is the spirit or life of the prophecy or teaching.  To put it more simply: The story of Jesus is the life of the sermon.

Christ rides forth:
Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12  His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13  And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14  And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16  And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Ok, let’s figure out what the beast and false prophet are here.

Rev 16:13  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, (Satan) and out of the mouth of the beast (worldly governments which do not keep God's laws), and out of the mouth of the false prophet (false religions).
We see here the UNHOLY TRINITY!  Remember Satan copies Christ in every way he can! These three–THE DRAGON, THE BEAST, and THE FALSE PROPHET-- deceived the people and gathered them to the great battle of Armageddon.
The dragon is Satan.  He aspired to be God!
Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa 14:15  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isa 14:16  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; And to the prince of Tyrus, typically thought of as an illustration of Satan God said:
Eze 28:6  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
Eze 28:7  Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
Eze 28:8  They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of [them that are] slain in the midst of the seas.
Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
The beasts are earthly governments–civil powers, which condem those who keep God's laws.  Daniel 7:3 describes the 4 great beasts that came up and in Daniel 7:17 are described as 4 kings.  Then in chapter 8 there are two more beasts, the ram and he goat, which are described as Media-Perisa and Grecia–verses 20-25.
The False Prophet is the same as all through history–religious powers! THE leader of the false religious system.  False teachers, religions or religious systems are all lumped together here. These false prophets “have the spirit”–they do miracles and profess to see the future!  1Thess 5:4 says: When THEY shall say Peace and Safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.  I would think the THEY are the false prophets.
Jer 14:14  Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent
 them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a
false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Luk 6:26  Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Act 13:6  And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name [was] Barjesus:
1Jo 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Revelation 20: The 1000 years.
Christ’s people live and reign with Him 1000 years!

An angel came down with a key to the bottomless pit and laid hold of the dragon, Satan, and bound him 1000 years. So we see that the Beast and False prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire, but the Dragon is bound for 1000 years in the bottomless pit.
You may remember that “bottomless pit” is used 7 times in Revelation!  It appears to me that it applies to Satan every single time!  He and his angels abide in the bottomless pit.  (G12 Abyss, deep). They were let out of the Pit in Rev. 9:1 to deceive the world, and they are put back in here in Rev. 20:1 until the 1000 years are over.  Then they get one more chance to deceive the wicked dead, who are raised for their final punishment, and fight against Christ and His people.
 
Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Dan 7:22  Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Blessed is he that hath part in the fist resurrection. The rest of the dead lived not till the end of the 1000 years.  Then, after the 1000 years, Satan was loosed out of his prison and went out to deceive the nations, and they surrounded the camp of the saints.  Then fire fell from heaven and devoured them and the devil was cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet are!  Then death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, and any whose names were not in the Lamb’s book of life. This is the second death.

Revelation 21: New Heaven and New Earth
Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev 22:4  And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads.
So we see that this book truly is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him from beginning to end! Rev 1:1!!

John saw a new heaven and a new earth.  The New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  The tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them. And God shall wipe away all tears. Behold I make all things new! This is the truth!
Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
 Wow! Those who thirsted for Him here and now will thirst again–they can drink continually!
Isa 55:1  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa 49:10  They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Mat 5:6  Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Joh 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Here is fulfilled–speaking of the 144,000 AND the innumerable company:
Rev 7:16  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
The fearful and the unbelieving will have their part in the lake of fire which is the second death.

Rev. 21:10-27 are a description of the New Jerusalem.
Then one of the angels who had the 7 last plagues carried John away to see the New Jerusalem.
There were 12 gates, three on each side, having the names of the 12 tribes.  The city is foursquare, same length as breath and heigh--12,000 furlongs. The wall of the city is 144 cubits.

We read back in Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  It appears to me that the New Jerusalem is a symbol of the redeemed people of God.
Let's look at some parallels:

Bride and Bridegroom:
Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Then he give the description of the Holy City!
Mat 25:1  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom. 

Numberical dimensions:
The wall is 144 cubits high.  There are 144, 000 sealed in Revelation 7.
The length of each of the 4 sides is 12,000 furlongs.  There are 12,000 of each tribe sealed in Revelation 7.

The city has 12 gates, each set made of a pearl.
These gates have the names of the twelve sons of Jacob on them, the 12 tribes.
Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls.
So the kingdom is about seeking souls!

The city had 12 foundations:
Rev 21:14  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Measure:
Rev 21:16  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
Zec 2:2  Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what [is] the breadth thereof, and what [is] the length thereof.
Rev 11:1  And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Them that worship therein?  Sounds like the saints to me, and that measuring is counting out, or dividing between the sheep and the goats.

Stones:
Rev 21:19  And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones.
1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
So we are to be his lovely and precious stones!  What an honor!

Summary: The city is too glorious to describe clear as crystal and shines like gold! The 12 foundations are of 12 different brilliant stones. The gates are pearls.  They are not closed by night.  There is no night there!  There is no temple...the Lord Himself is the temple. Nothing that defileth shall enter, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life!  See Appendix R6.

Revelation 22: River of Life, Tree of Life–He comes quickly.
There is the river of life, the tree of life that grows on each side of the river.  It bears 12 kinds of fruit..a different kind each month.  There is no more curse.  Finally the curses that man brought upon himself in Eden when they ate the fruit are erased!  The throne of God and the Lamb are in it and his servants shall serve Him. They see his face–His name is in their foreheads. There is no night! This is the truth!  Blessed are they that keep the sayings of this book!  Seal NOT the sayings of this book for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me.
Rev 22:14  Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Rev 22:15  For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus sent my angel to tell you in the churches.  I am the root of David and the bright and morning star.  The spirit and the bride say come, and let him that heareth say come.  Come drink of the water of life freely!  If any man add to the words of the prophecy of this book God shall add to him the plagues.  If any man will take away from the words of the prophecy of this book God shall take his name out of the book of life.
Surely I come quickly!
AMEN, PRAISE THE LORD, YAHWEH! GLORY HALLELUJAH!!!!