Revelation Six - When The Four Horsemen Ride

Revelation 12-14: The Woman, The Beast And The Resurrection

Laying Out Revelation – Part 6

JOHN LITTLE

APR 22

In these three chapters, we’ll show the first coming of Christ, a war in heaven, proof of a post-tribulation rapture, the rise of The Beast and the First Resurrection – the one that you want to be a part of.

However, these chapters also provide opportunities to stumble, if you choose to. And yes, stumbling is a choice. Every time we pick up the Bible, we are given an opportunity to submit to the words of God, or chose the path of darkness. Too many of us have chosen darkness, so let’s try not to do that.

This is where the Book of Revelation breaks from the chronological order of chapters 5-11. Chapters 12 and 13 go back into that timeline and describe important events – even event preceding Revelation. However, chapter 14 describes events that happen in later chapters. So, keep that in mind as we dive into these chapters.

Chapter 12 describes a woman with 12 stars giving birth to Messiah and then having to flee to a place of safety.

Why?

Or maybe…

WHEN?

First, let’s answer WHO.

The woman with 12 stars who gives birth to Messiah is clearly Israel. This is not the Church. This can be no one other than Israel, the 12 tribes of. Those who claim otherwise need their heads examined.

That red dragon with seven head and ten horns is Satan. And, he tries to destroy Messiah when He is born. However, he gets it all upside down and fails to stop Jesus from entering the world and sacrificing Himself for our sins.

Unfortunately, Satan does manage to cast down a third of the angels – stars. I’m not sure how Satan can do this, or the entire meaning of this. All that we have are speculations

Does this represent Satan’s ability to persuade a third of the angels to take his side?

Then, there is war in heaven. Michael and the rest of the angels fight against Satan and his angels. Michael and his angels are victorious, and Satan and his angels are forced out of heaven and cast down to earth.

When did this war happen?

How long did it take for Michael and the angels to defeat Satan?

More importantly…

When did this war END?

Because of verse 10, we now get to argue over the Kingdom of God. That’s why the timing here might be important. Or not.

Here’s the verse:

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

– Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)

When did the Kingdom of God come?

Well, if you are a follower of Christ, then you are a member of this kingdom already. In this sense, the Kingdom of God has already come. In fact, in every way that matters, the war has already been won. It’s just that the process hasn’t been completed, which is why the next verse says this:

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (v 11)

Who is this ‘they’?

‘Our Brethren’ in verse 10. That’s us. We are also in verse 11. And, we are victorious by what Jesus did, by the testimony we give… and …by one thing more:

We do not love our lives unto death.

Those who hold to a pretribulation rapture have forgotten how Satan is defeated. They have forgotten that the war is not over until Satan has been cast into the bottomless pit. God isn’t going to take us out of the way of trouble. Our job is to be in the midst of trouble, in the midst of Great Tribulation, to finish the war.

I find it ironic that so many have forgotten the basics of our faith.

Wait. I didn’t answer the question of when the war in heaven ended. Verse 13 tells us when we will know that it has happened:

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. (v13)

When Satan goes after Israel, that’s when we’ll know that he has been cast out of heaven and down to earth. And, we’ll have confirmation that this is the case because she flees into the wilderness for a…

(wait for it)

…time, times and a half of a time

Where have we heard this before?

Ooops. I skipped over it. My bad. It’s the same moment as this verse:

Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (v6)

How long is 1260 days?

Right about a time, times and a half of a time – three and a half years.

How long is the Great Tribulation?

Three and a half years.

An amazing coincidence, right?

Oh, and what happens when Satan is unsuccessful in killing the woman who flees into the wilderness?

…and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (v17)

That’s even more proof that a pretribulation rapture is not a thing. Christians are alive and resisting Satan, while Israel flees into the wilderness. And, if you want a more detailed description of the events in question, read Daniel 11:21-45. That’s the rise and fall of the Antichrist.

Again, please remember that the chapter divisions were imposed by a Roman Catholic Priest, 800 years ago. There should be no chapter division between Daniel 11 and Daniel 12.

By the way, did you notice that the Antichrist can’t stop the woman?

That’s right. He doesn’t have an air force. I find that to be very interesting and a very big hint that Ezekiel’s Fire is exactly what it seems to be. The other positive thought is that this lack of ability might indicate that there are other places on the planet that might be safe from the Antichrist. We can’t say that with ANY certainty whatsoever, but it is a thought.

Chapter 13 revisits the time of persecution in chapter 12, but this time talks about the rise of The Beast. This one also has seven heads and ten horns. But, instead of a dragon, it is described as a leopard with feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion, with one of its heads being mortally wounded.

This beast is different. It doesn’t fall from heaven, like the Red Dragon. It doesn’t rise from the Bottomless Pit, like the Beast that is ridden by the Great Whore. No, this beast rises from the sea.

What other beasts have risen from the sea?

Go to Daniel 7 and look at the four beasts. Each rises from the sea. Each of them shares one characteristic that this Beast in Revelation has.

In Daniel 7…
The first was like a lion. (The Beast has a mouth like a lion.)
The second was like a bear. (The Beast has feet like a bear.)
The third was like a leopard. (The Beast is like a leopard.)
The fourth had ten horns. (The Beast has ten horns.)

Furthermore, we know that one of those horns on the Fourth Beast is the Antichrist. And, when you read through Daniel 7, you can see that it is a close match to what is said in Revelation.

What does this tell us about The Beast?

First, it tells us that The Beast is alive today. It doesn’t just spring into being during the Last Days. No, this Beast has been at work, all around us, from the time of Babylon – if not before. And, the power and authority that this beast comes from Satan.

Where is The Beast today?

Everywhere. It has literally conquered the globe. And, everyone has adopted the culture and style of The Beast. Think this through with me.

Whenever an empire was at its prime, what did the people do who wished to be like that empire?

They dressed like the citizens of that empire. Their money. Their architecture. Their system of laws. Their entertainment… were all borrowed from the empire of the day.

When Rome was ascendant, everyone wanted to be Roman.

When America was ascendant, everyone wanted to be American.

Notice how many people wear ties. What a ridiculous piece of cloth to wear. But, everyone does it.

Why?

Because that’s what America does.

Is the tie a mark of The Beast?

I’m prepared to believe it, ‘cuz I hate wearing them. Stupid, useless pieces of cloth tied around our necks and then draped down the front of our shirts. What a moronic custom.

Look at military uniforms. EVERY military around the world has adopted American standards. Some have tried to rebel against this norm, but with limited success.

But, is this really about America?

What is the ‘classic’ architectural style in the US and Europe?

Roman.

What is the language of science and law?

Roman.

What is the system of governance that we all claim?

Roman.

Yes, there’s a lot of Greek mixed in. After all, the Romans got a lot of THEIR culture from the Greeks – which is the leopard in Daniel 7. But, when you want to conquer the world, you turn to the Romans.

We even like to use a bit of Latin to describe it:

Divide et Impera

(Dee vee day ett Eem pare ah)

In English: ‘divide and rule’

Now, who gives authority to The Beast?

Satan. The Dragon with seven heads and ten horns.

When was this authority given to the Beast?

I don’t know.

Remember that The Beast has been around for a long time – at least from Roman times. In fact, it may be that The Beast began its rise when the Praetorian Guard took over the Roman Empire. And, we can see the fingerprints of Satan all over Europe – the Holy Roman Empire, Russia, Hitler, etc. They all looked to Rome for their inspiration, even when they were directly opposed to the Roman Catholic Church that tried to control them.

They even adopted the name Caesar for their rulers. The king of Germany was the Kaiser. The King of Russia was a Czar. And Napoleon wanted a bit of Caesar for himself, for his own attempt at empire.

Having said that, Satan has been raising up kings and giving them authority from before even Babylon. So, limiting our thoughts to Rome is probably foolish. But at the very minimum, Rome plays a key role in The Beast. Just look at the Fourth Beast of Daniel 7, or the legs, feet and toes of the image in Daniel 2 (Daniel 2:33, 40-43), which is also described as the Fourth Kingdom.

Whichever time frame you consider to be the most applicable, we are still talking about Rome and the kingdoms and empires that followed after her. And, the Seventh Head that is killed and then revived to become the Eighth, that will be the kingdom ruled by the Antichrist.

We have room to argue over how we got here. We just don’t have a lot of room to disagree over where we are. And, for those of us who had hopes that America was that bright shining city on a hill…

America is a key part of The Beast.

To put it another way, America’s power and authority come from Satan, not God. And, the same goes for Europe.

Now, verse three says this:

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. (v 3)

Here’s the question:

What is this ‘mortal wound’?

Many have said that this is the assassination of the Antichrist. And, I call foul on that one. Yes, I understand that the Antichrist leads the final kingdom and that he would naturally represent the Seventh Head that is killed before being revived to become the Eighth Head. (See Revelation 17:11) However, notice that the horns are kings. The heads are… different.

Where can we see how this Seventh Head is killed and then revived?

It’s right here:

Ezekiel’s Fire
https://ezekielsfire.com

It’s also the opening of Seal Six.

There’s literally no way that our civilization can survive a solar flare/micronova and global earthquake as big as that. It’s just not possible. Every city of any size will be destroyed. No electricity. No running water. No food distribution. No transportation. No computers. No fuel. No energy. Nothing.

Seal Six and the Redemption of Israel knocks everything down – just as the prophets described.

But, Satan brings it back to life. It won’t be as vigorous or quite as advanced as the one that we have now – which is why the Antichrist must use a tattoo on your right hand or forehead to identify you as his follower – instead of your smartphone. And yes, your smartphone tells the Beast System everything that it needs to know about you. But, Seal Six destroys all those smartphones, and the infrastructure needed to run them. But, that’s not all.

Again, notice that the Antichrist doesn’t have an air force, or at least not much of one.

It’s just more proof that it will take time for Satan to bring his civilization back to life. And, he will launch his reconquest of the world before he even has air support. That’s fascinating to think about.

However long it takes for The Dragon to raise civilization back to something high tech, It will be enough time for a newly Christian Israel to grow in spiritual maturity so that they can survive what the Antichrist will seek to do to them.

Once the Seventh Head is fully revived, it is given authority to continue 42 months.

How long is 42 months?

Let’s see…

42 divided by 12 is…

ah yes. Three and a half years.

Are you seeing a pattern here?

The Great Tribulation is three and a half years. Not seven. Three and a half.

Satan gives power and authority to this beast, and it blasphemes God and murders all who follow Christ. And, this chapter says something very interesting:

“Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” (v 10)

Then, we see another beast rise. He’s a prophet who makes an image of The Beast, causes fire to fall from heaven and makes everyone take the Mark of the Beast.

Is this the Antichrist?

What this guy does is something that certainly sounds very Antichrist-ish. But, it sounds like this lesser beast – having two horns like a lamb but speaking as a dragon – isn’t the leader. This bit has always been a puzzle. But, I’m sure that we’ll understand when we get there – at least, those of us who are still alive.

Then, Revelation 13 ends with this last verse:

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

– Revelation 13:18 (NKJV)

For decades, foolish teachers have been finding ways to calculate this number to be Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Gerald Ford, and any number of famous people. Please stop doing that. It’s embarrassing. And stop listening to people who insist that they know how the number of the Beast is calculated.

Again, stop it.

It’s not helping.

(Now, moving on…)

Revelation 12 and 13 are a retelling of important parts of previous chapters. This next chapter, Revelation 14 is different. It looks forward to events on the timeline that we have not gotten to yet. So, let’s look at this next chapter.

Chapter 14 shows us the Lamb. But instead of sitting on the throne in heaven, He is standing on Mount Zion with the 144 thousand.

Are these the 12 thousand from each tribe that were sealed in their foreheads in Revelation 7?

I don’t think that we can say with absolute certainty. But, it’s hard to ignore what looks like a pretty strong connection. Both groups have something put on their foreheads. The group in chapter 7 are referred to as sealed in their foreheads, while the group in chapter 14 are described as having the name of God the Father written on their foreheads.

I’m not prepared to see a difference between a seal and the written name of God. I see it as the same thing. Having said that, it’s still not explicitly said that these two groups are the same. I’m assuming that they are the same, while acknowledging that I could be wrong.

Now, let’s get back to that reference about Mount Zion.

Why Mount Zion?

Well, that’s the location of Jerusalem. And, we know that Jerusalem (specifically the Mount of Olives) is the precise location where Jesus returns to Earth.

Does anyone remember where Jesus Returns to first?

From the New Testament, we see this in Acts:

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

– Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV)

That was on the Mount of Olives. And the two angels that spoke to the Disciples were absolutely correct that Jesus will return the Mount of Olives, in the same way that He left – with one difference:

4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the Lord my God will come, And all the saints with You.

– Zechariah 14:4-5 (NKJV)

Did you see the difference?

Right. The feet of Jesus will be on the Mount of Olives, and it will split right down the middle, creating a huge valley. Oh, and there’s one more thing that Zechariah says:

“And all the saints with You.”

That sounds like those 144 Thousand that Revelation 14 is referring to. And furthermore, Zechariah shows us that this is where the conquest of Earth by Jesus begins. It starts at Jerusalem, spreading north to the Jezreel Valley (Armageddon) and then out into the rest of the world. In later chapters, we’ll see what needs to take place before the conquest of Earth can continue.

Then, three angels fly through the sky, giving one last warning to the people of Earth. The first calls everyone to worship God, because the final hour has come. The second angel proclaims the fall of the great city Babylon. The third angel tells everyone that all who worship the beast and receives The Mark will be tormented in Hell forever.

Then, yet again, it repeats a curious phrase:

“Here is the patience of the saints”

Then we see the First Resurrection and the Rapture. And, it is exactly as Jesus described:

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

– Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV)

Also as Paul describes here:

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

– 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV)

Revelation describes it this way:

14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

– Revelation 14:14-16 (NKJV)

Jesus is shown, sitting on a cloud, with a sickle in His hand. He then reaps the harvest of the earth, all who were followers of God – whether dead or still alive. This is the moment of the First Resurrection and the Rapture. Revelation will revisit this moment later.

Now contrast the reaping of the righteous with this next one. This time it is an angel who has a sharp sickle, and he is called to reap the ‘vine of the earth’. And, here is how that is described:

19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

– Revelation 14:19-20 (NKJV)

That’s the Battle of Armageddon. That’s the death of all who take the Mark of the Beast.

Who is left?

Those who did not take the Mark of the Beast, or worship The Beast, but were also not followers of Christ.

And yes, there are those who will be unable to take The Mark. Taking the Mark of the Beast must be a conscious decision. It cannot be forced upon you. For instance, someone in a coma cannot take the Mark of the Beast – nor can anyone too young to make such a conscious decision. Also, those Israeli Christians who fled into the wilderness… their children would not be taking the Mark, but would not be in the Rapture if they did not choose to follow Jesus. Also, since the Antichrist cannot get to the Israeli Christians who flee into the wilderness, there might be other isolated spots with people that the Antichrist also might not be able to get to.

Those who claim that EVERYONE dies when Jesus Returns, are deeply incorrect. And, I am surprised that so many persist in repeating this foolish idea. We will revisit this issue when we talk about the Millennium in Revelation 20.

Remember that when we started these three chapters, the timeline of Revelation took a break with chapter 12. Chapters 5 to 11 are in chronological order. They follow one after the other, and that timeline is not broken until we get to Revelation 12. Revelation 12 and 13 give us an opportunity for God to clarify key events that happen before and during chapters 5-11.

Revelation 14, however, is forward-looking. It describes events that are not a part of chapters 5 through 11. For instance, the Battle of Armageddon doesn’t happen until Revelation 19, which means that the reaping of the Grapes of Wrath is much later in the timeline – after the Seven Bowls of the Wrath of God are poured out.

So, Lord Willing, we will see the timeline restart with Revelation 15.

I truly hope that you’ll be ready for this

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. – Proverbs 22:3

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Sunday, 23 April 2023