THE GREAT TRIBULATION
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
No
book of the Bible is more misunderstood than the book of Revelation. Rightfully so, for no book in the Bible
is so filled with dramatic mysteries and parables. And the first error that people make when considering it is
the failure to see that this is a book of parables about the kingdom of
heaven, the church. Once again, Yahshua is concerned about
His kingdom on earth, and the very fact that this book begins by addressing the
seven churches, should tell you that this is the book’s focus and
message.
The
reason for this entire writing was because of the influence of Brendan
McElroy. Brendan has been a
student of the book of Revelation for many years, having read it through many
times, and has read several commentaries on it. But even so, the book has never made real sense to him; and
Christian teachings have never totally satisfied him. But when he started reading Bride truth, he began to see
many of the things already addressed in this writing, including the fact that
the great tribulation has taken place for 2,000 years. And one of the things he told me is
true in part. He wondered if
Revelation is what would take place if, for the sake of the elect, Yahweh did
not cut the church’s days short to 2,000 years. This is certainly evidenced, as you will see. But His cutting those days short is
equally evidenced.
One
example of Yahweh’s attested unabated wrath is mystery Babylon the great,
which we have seen in All’s
Well That Ends Well, page 2, is Christianity. Will Yahweh utterly destroy Christianity, as He evidences in
Revelation regarding mystery Babylon?
To answer this, all one has to do is read the prophesies in Isaiah and
Jeremiah regarding the certain destruction of literal Babylon, and then read
Daniel, and tell us if those prophesies were fulfilled. They were not! Instead, the Medes and Persians came,
dried up the Euphrates, entered Babylon, killed Belshazzar alone, and changed
the government. This is obviously
what will take place regarding Christianity as well. Thus, the third-part wrath of Revelation that Brendan
thought was being evidenced, will in fact not take place. And as you will see, there are other
testimonies of this also.
When
the Spirit of Yahweh came upon me in 1994, one of the books that I examined and
laid out was Revelation. Since
then I have not addressed it in whole, but only specific matters within it,
such as the two witnesses, the 144,000, the seven peals of thunder, mystery Babylon, Smyrna and Philadelphia, the mark of the beast, the first resurrection, and the judgment of Satan. Here now I will take my notes from 1994
and share what I learned at that time, as well as what has been learned while
writing this. I trust that by
reading this, you will realize that from henceforth you must look at Revelation
in a way you have never looked at it before.
First,
even as the truth regarding the church is not to take all the gospels and try
to amalgamate them into one and understand them, or to pick and choose messages
supporting what one believes, but rather to compare the gospels and understand
the differences, so is the case with Revelation. In the gospels, there are three books that are especially
comparable – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In the book of Revelation, you have the same three-part
comparison – the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls.
The
seals are addressed in Revelation 5 through 8:1. The trumpets are addressed in Revelation 8:2 through
11. Then in chapters 12 through
14, there is a transition wherein the woman clothed in the sun with the moon
under her feet is revealed, followed by the coming of the beast, then the
second 144,000, and concluding is the harvest of the earth. After this, the bowls, that were
specifically seven plagues, are addressed in chapters 15 and 16. Chapters 17 and 18 are about mystery
Babylon. And from 19 on is victory!
What
we find in examining this is that the seals are comparable to Matthew, and
reveal or relate to the first Remnant.
The relationship of the first Remnant and the seals is in the word
“seals” itself. What
did the first Remnant accomplish?
As an Elijah, they had the power to stop it from raining (Revelation
11:6), and the rain of the Holy Spirit does not come until the second
Remnant. But also, as it is
written in Daniel 12:4, truth was sealed by them. Neither the latter rain, nor the opening of the seals on the
book, could come until the second Remnant. The first Remnant sealed the word of God, thus the seals
speak to them.
The
trumpets are comparable to Luke, for, quite simply, it is the second Remnant
who are alive and remain when the last trumpet is sounded and we ascend
alive. Thus, the trumpets speak to
the second Remnant.
And
third, the bowls are comparable to Mark, and reveal or relate to
Christianity. Why the bowl? You will recall that in Zechariah 4,
Christianity occupies the place of the breach between the two sons of fresh
oil, the two olive trees.
Christianity’s representation is the seven-branched lampstand with
the bowl over it. Also, you will
recall that the one who would betray Yahshua was the “one who dips with
Me in the bowl” (Mark 14:20).
The bowls then speak of Christianity.
Additionally,
in Revelation 21:9 we read: “Then one of the seven angels who had the
seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying,
‘Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the
Lamb.’” The bowls are
not the Bride, for the angel with the bowls takes John to show him the
Bride. Remember, it is out of the
body of Christ, Christianity, that the Bride comes. They are not the Bride, but the Bride comes out of them.
So
again:
Before
we begin comparing and examining these three, one needs to realize that there
is no way we can cover, or even understand, all that is hidden in these
comparisons, but can only address a few matters at large. But keep in mind, none of the pictures
presented in Revelation are literal.
Also, the old saying that you can’t see the forest for the trees,
is certainly true with Revelation.
This is important to note.
People get so caught up in the drama of the vast multitude of highly
spectacular individual items, that
they cannot back off and see the big picture, the forest, where the truth is
revealed. They cannot back off and
draw much needed comparisons and analysis. Also, their entire concept of the church and what Yahweh is
doing is so entirely erroneous, that there is no way they can even come to the
truth of what is actually being revealed here. As you read the following, you will see precisely what I
mean.
To
begin with, chapters 1 through 4 address the seven churches. Therefore again, to not associate the
ensuing events and testimonies with the church is inconsistent and
shortsighted. Also, as you read through
these comparisons, do not think either literally or concretely. These are parables. As you read these, concentrate on
simply noting the order and the comparisons. Let us now back off and see what Revelation lays out
regarding the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls.
Seven Seals – First Remnant
Rev. 5 – 8:1
Yahshua, the Lamb of God, who was slain and
“purchased for God with [His] blood men from every tribe and tongue and
people and nation,” opened these seals. These were not opened by angels, as was the case when the
seven angels sounded the seven trumpets, and the seven angels poured out the
seven bowls. This difference is
quite significant and relevant. Even
as Yahshua Himself opened the seals, so He Himself established the first
Remnant. Of course He then went to heaven, and
this personal work by Him was not the case with either Christianity or the
second Remnant. Thus we see that
the angels carried out both the trumpets and the bowls. Also, this parable regarding the seals
evidences that Yahshua, or one in His office, has the authority to open the
seals that have been on the Scriptures for 2,000 years.
Interlude:
The 144,000, the first Remnant, were sealed in
their foreheads, and then a great multitude who come out of the great
tribulation, the second Remnant, were before the throne.
Seven Trumpets – Second Remnant
Rev. 8:2 – 11
The seven trumpets were preceded in verses 3-5 by
a golden sensor, adding to the prayers of the first Remnant under the golden
altar before the throne (no. 5 above).
The first Remnant pray for the second Remnant. “Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the
fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth (the promised baptism in fire);
and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”
In chapter 4, verse 5, of Revelation, we find that these are the very evidences
associated with the throne of God, where we read, “Out from the throne
come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.”
An eagle in midheaven cried, “Woe, woe,
woe” for the earth because of the remaining blasts on the trumpet of the
three angels.
“The first woe is past; behold, two woes are
still coming.”
Interlude:
The strong angel cried out and the seven peals of
thunder spoke. These were not
recorded.
A little book was given to John to eat that was
sweet to the mouth and bitter to the stomach. He was told, “You must prophesy again over/before many
peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
The two witnesses prophesied, were killed, and
came back to life to ascend alive – the two Remnant.
“The second woe is past; behold, the third
woe is coming quickly.”
Very
significantly, the third woe, that was supposed to be evidenced in this seventh
trumpet, obviously did not take place, and was not declared to have been
fulfilled!
Also,
you will notice that the seals and the trumpets revealing the two Remnant are
together here in chapters 5 through 11.
They are a united testimony, absent of the breach. Next, chapters 12 through 14 afford a
transition to the bowls. In that
transition, the woman clothed in the sun with the moon under her feet is
revealed, followed by the beast coming out of the sea, then the second 144,000
(the second Remnant) is revealed, and this is concluded with the harvest of the
earth. Then the bowls are
presented.
Seven Bowls – Christianity
Rev. 15 – 16
These are called “the seven bowls of the
wrath of God” (16:1), and “in them the wrath of God is
finished” (15:1). If Yahweh
gave the church their full 3,000 years, indeed it would be His wrath –
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Remember, this is the period of the
great tribulation of the kingdom of heaven, the abomination of desolation, the
three hours of darkness. And if
Yahweh continued “the bowls of the wrath of God” into the seventh
period as evidenced here, as the crucified body of Christ, indeed the wrath of
God would be finished. This is the
very proclamation Yahshua made after the third hour of darkness –
“It is finished.”
Also, an extremely interesting and revealing
statement is made just before these bowls – “And the temple was
filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able
to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were
finished” (15:8). Indeed, no
one has been able to ascend alive and enter into Yahweh’s temple until
the time of Christianity is finished, and they must be cut short. Also, quite fittingly, you will note
that the beast is now present, being decidedly absent in the seals and the
trumpets. More on the beast
shortly.
Interlude:
The battle at Har-Magedon (Armageddon) takes place
– the 2,000-year period of Christianity.
Chapters
17 and 18 are simply an extension of this judgment of the great city,
Babylon. Mystery Babylon, the
harlot of the whole world, is mentioned in bowls six and seven via the
Euphrates River and reference to “the great city,” and is then
addressed in these next two chapters.
As addressed in All’s
Well That Ends Well, page 2, and elsewhere, mystery Babylon is
Christianity. Therefore, chapters
17 and 18 directly relate to chapters 15 and 16 pertaining to the bowls –
Christianity. These four chapters
must therefore be viewed as one united account. And again, the bowls alone are identified with the beast,
which is extensively present/addressed in chapter 17, adding further evidence
to the common identity of these four chapters.
Let
us now note a general pattern clearly evidenced in these three
testimonies. Following are the
first four events in each testimony.
You will note regarding these that in each case, the first four are
alike. Also, you will note the
distinct similarity even between the three testimonies, especially in the
trumpets and the bowls.
Seals:
1.
A white horse and
rider conquered.
2.
A red horse and
rider brought war.
3.
A black horse and
rider with scales in his hand.
4.
An ashen horse and
rider, Death, was given authority over a fourth of the earth to kill.
Trumpets:
1.
Hail, fire, and
blood were thrown to the earth and a third of the earth was burned up.
2.
A burning mountain
was cast into the sea, and a third
of the sea became blood, a third
of the sea creatures died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
3.
A burning star named
Wormwood fell on a third of
the rivers, and the water became wormwood, and many men died.
4.
A third of the sun, moon, and stars were darkened, and a
third of the day and night were
darkened.
Bowls:
1.
The contents when
poured out became “a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had
the mark of the beast and who
worshiped his image.”
2.
The sea became blood
(in contrast to a third) and everything in it died.
3.
The rivers and
springs became blood – “they deserve it.”
4.
The sun scorched men
with fire.
Now,
here are the fifth events in all three testimonies. Note how this fifth event is distinctly different from the
preceding four.
Seals:
5.
The souls of the
first Remnant were underneath the altar.
Trumpets
5.
A star from heaven
fell to earth, and the bottomless pit was opened and smoke and locusts came out
and tormented those who “do not have the seal of God on their
foreheads” – the first 144,000 first Remnant. The king over the abyss is
“destroyer.”
Bowls:
5. The throne of the beast and his kingdom became darkened, and they blasphemed God and did not
repent.
You
will notice here a distinct relationship between the seals and the trumpets, in
that they both address the first Remnant.
Yet the bowls have no provision for either a remnant or for deliverance.
Here
now are the sixth events.
Seals:
6.
There is an earthquake,
the sun became black, the moon became like blood, the stars fell to the earth,
the sky split, the mountains fell, and men hid in caves (the cleft of the
rock).
Trumpets:
6. Four angels bound in the Euphrates were released and they
killed a third of mankind.
Bowls:
6. The Euphrates River dried up to prepare the way for the
kings from the east. Out of the
mouths of the dragon, the beast,
and the false prophet, came three unclean spirits of demons.
At
this point, before we go to the seventh event, let us note the attesting
overall pattern. The most
impacting pattern in the entire Bible is that of the seven days of creation,
and in like manner the seven 1,000 year periods of man. Regarding man, we see that the first
4,000 years were the pre-church period.
These were followed by the 2,000 years of Christianity, the body of
Christ, the premature kingdom of heaven on earth. Then, of course, next to follow is the Millennial reign, the
sabbath rest where man ceases laboring in this cursed flesh. Thus we have a four, two, and one
pattern.
This
is precisely the pattern we see evidenced in all three of these
testimonies. The first four events
within each testimony are alike, and even similar between testimonies. The fifth events would testify to the
beginning of the church, and in each case we see this evidenced. In the fifth seal, the souls of the
first Remnant are appropriately under the altar. In the fifth trumpet, the star, which is Satan, falls to the
earth. Isaiah 14:12 tells us regarding
Satan:
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of
the morning, son of the dawn! You
have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!”
Furthermore, the
bottomless pit was opened; yet the first Remnant are not tormented. And in the fifth bowl the throne of the
beast and his kingdom was darkened, the same Greek word used in Ephesians
4:17-18 – “walk no longer just as the nations also walk, in the futility of their mind, having been
darkened in their
understanding.”
The
church, of course, continued for another 1,000 years, or into the sixth events,
which you can review above. What
then would the seventh events speak to?
The third part of the church.
And in each case, these seventh events are most telling. Here they are.
Seals:
7.
There was silence in
heaven for a half hour.
Trumpets:
7.
Loud voices in heaven were saying, “The kingdom of the world has
become the kingdom of our Lord
and of His Christ; and He will reign unto the ages of the ages.” The twenty-four elders, who sit on
their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, and the ark of
His covenant appeared in His temple.
Bowls:
7. A loud voice from the temple said, “It is
done.” There was lightning,
thunder, and a great earthquake. The
great city was split into three parts (the 3,000 years of the church), islands
fled away, mountains were not found, and there were huge hailstones.
First,
notice the obviously intentional contrast of silence in the seals, and the loud
voices in the trumpets and the bowls.
In all these contrasts, this occurs only in these seventh events. The impetus is thus on the latter two
works. What would be their
outcomes?
Each
of these testify to their subject representations, with wonderful revealing
differences. First, the seals
speak of what happened to the first Remnant, in that they were silenced –
they died. And if their work was
not completed by the second Remnant, indeed they would remain silent. But, if the second Remnant does their
work, Christianity will be cut short to two parts, and this Elijah will effect
Yahshua’s return. Thus, as
represented by the seventh trumpet, the kingdom of the world will become the
kingdom of Yahshua, and He will reign unto the ages of the ages. But, as evidenced by the seventh bowl,
if the second Remnant does not do their work, then the church will complete
their third 1,000-year period, and utter wrath will come. Of these three seventh-place events,
quite tellingly, only the bowls maintain an ongoing testimony of wrath and affliction.
It
is highly revealing that in our day when the testimony of Bush –>
Clinton –> Bush is being evidenced, we see this same seventh-bowl
pattern being threatened. In 2000,
even before Bush won the election, I wrote that he would win the Presidency,
and that he would finish what his first Remnant father began. I noted that the first Bush bruised
Saddam Hussein’s head in the Gulf War, breach Christianity Clinton
placated Saddam, and the latter Bush would drive the stake into his head (Saddam Hussein, Head of Babylon).
This indeed took place.
People argue over this war, when it has in fact been clarion prophecy
and intercession taking place; and its outcome is very important!
In
type, Saddam Hussein over Babylon, evidenced Satan over Babylon
Christianity. And as we see
testified by the latter Bush, the second Remnant delivers the church from
Satan’s dominion. Also, we
see that if Christianity’s days are not cut short to two, the seventh
bowl attests that it is divided into three parts for judgment. In like testimony today, Babylon faces
the same ill fate of being divided into three – the Sunnis, the Shiites,
and the Kurds. This is no
accident, or is it happenstance; but it is a present-day governmental prophetic
testimony regarding the church, mystery Babylon.
Continuing
in this broad look at these three testimonies, particularly relating to their
relevance to the larger picture of the church, let us see yet another evidence
that Christianity is the period of the great tribulation that must be cut
short.
Following
the fourth trumpet, marking the end of the pre-church period and the beginning
of the church period, John wrote:
Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven,
saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the
remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to
sound!” [Revelation 8:13]
Why
specifically three woes? Because
they are the three woes of the 3,000 years of the great tribulation in the
church. How do we know this for
sure? First is the pattern we see
here – the three woes are the fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets, the
same three 1,000-year periods of man that are given to the church. This
is obviously quite confirming as to both the relevance of this subject
seven-part pattern, as well as the place these three “days” occupy
as the great tribulation.
Second,
once the first woe is past, following the fifth trumpet, it is stated –
“The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming.” Then after the second woe is past,
following the sixth trumpet, it is equally stated – “The second woe
is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” But then the seventh trumpet is not a
woe at all; but instead, the loud voices of victory and the twenty-four elders
worshiping Yahweh. Obviously, this
is not a woe, but good. And in
fact, as was the case with the other two trumpets, there is not even, and is
certainly not needed, any proclamation that the third woe is finished. Why? Because for the sake of the elect, those three woes are
cut short to two! This is a clear and very telling
evidence uniquely relevant to the curse-reversing second Remnant.
And,
to add further evidence and identity to this cut-short work, those two woes of
Christianity are attested in mystery Babylon. We have noted that mystery Babylon is Christianity, and in
Revelation 18, where Babylon is addressed, verses 10, 16, and 19 identify her
with specifically two woes.
“Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has
come.”
“Woe, woe, the
great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great
wealth has been laid waste!”
“Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at
sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!”
Why
specifically two woes? Because
Christianity experiences 2,000 years of Babylonian captivity – one woe
for each 1,000-year period. And if
Yahweh did not have mercy, He would let the three woes be fulfilled and no
flesh would be saved. Therefore,
we can here add yet two more testimonies that the great tribulation takes place
in the 2,000-year period of the church, or Christianity:
13. The three woes promised relative to the
fifth, sixth, and seventh trumpets, the great tribulation, were cut short to
two; and the third woe was replaced with the Millennial reign.
14. In related testimony, mystery Babylon is
identified three times as being the “woe, woe,” two woes –
the 2,000 years of the great tribulation.
While
here, let us now address the like matter attested in the interlude following
the sixth bowl – Har-Magedon, or Armageddon. Relative to that event, in our summary it was noted that
this spoke of the like judgment of the 2,000-year period of Christianity. How is this evidenced?
First,
this sixth plague took place relative to the sixth day; and as we have seen,
this event relates to the period of Christianity. Also, relative to Armageddon, we find revealing testimony
regarding the church. First, as
one would suspect, since mystery Babylon is Christianity, then the beast
associated with her and spoken of here is a part of this religious system. Martin Luther recognized this beast in
Catholicism that is built on the seven hills of Rome. And indeed he was right. But, that beast is alive and well in Protestantism also (Whose Coming Is Through Water and
Blood, page 6).
So
when did the beast make its entrance into the church? As one would suspect, at its outset! In Revelation 11:7, where the beast
makes its first brief debut, we find that it kills the first Remnant. This is the account of the
Remnant-attesting two witnesses; and clearly, it is the religious system of
Christianity that kills the first Remnant.
When they [the two witnesses] have finished their testimony
[the first Remnant complete their work], the beast that comes up out of the
abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
The
dragon spoken of relative to the sixth plague and Har-Magedon is of course the
dragon, Satan; and the false prophet is just that – false teachers and
prophets in the church. And it is
important to note that out of these three came three unclean spirits, once
again attesting to the 3,000 year period of the church. Thus we read in Revelation 16:13-14
regarding that which causes Armageddon:
And I saw coming out
of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the
mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are
spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole
world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the
Almighty.
This
is the same testimony evidenced in 1 Kings 13, where the unnamed prophet of
Yahweh prophesied against the false altar of Jeroboam, but then listened to the
false prophet and ate his bread and drank his water. For this reason he was slain by a lion, while his donkey was
unharmed. This too is the like testimony
of the first Remnant – slain by, or because of, the religious beast
system of Christianity.
Now,
if one wants to know what the fulfillment of Armageddon is, then they need to
see what is attested by Armageddon in the Scriptures. Just as natural Jerusalem attested to its fulfillment in
spiritual Jerusalem, or the wilderness attested to its fulfillment in the
church’s spiritual wilderness, or the natural temple attested to its
fulfillment in the spiritual temple, or any like comparisons and testimonies,
so natural Armageddon attested to its fulfillment in spiritual Armageddon.
The
term Armageddon is actually Har-Magedon, which means “Mount of
Megiddo.” So, if we want to
know what Har-Magedon is relative to the fulfillment of the sixth bowl, then we
must see what took place at Megiddo.
In other words, natural Megiddo attests to the fulfillment of
Har-Magedon.
What
we find is that Megiddo was the site of the death of two kings of Judah,
affording two most interesting and telling Bible contradictions. Let us examine both of these.
In
2 Kings 9:27, we read that King Ahaziah of Judah was shot by the men of Jehu at
Ibleam. Wounded, he then
“fled to Megiddo and died there.” Yet in 2 Chronicles 22:9, we read that after being shot,
Ahaziah then fled south to Samaria (which was south of Ibleam), was brought to
Jehu (who was either at Jezreel where he next killed Jezebel, or at Ibleam),
and was put to death. According to
2 Chronicles then, Ahaziah was killed in Jezreel or Ibleam, and never went to
Megiddo. This is a clear
contradiction!
In
two equally interesting accounts, we read in 2 Kings 23:29-30 that King Josiah,
also of Judah, went out to do battle with Pharaoh Neco of Egypt, and Neco
“killed him at Megiddo. His
servants then drove his body in a chariot from Megiddo, and brought him to
Jerusalem and buried him ....”
Yet in 2 Chronicles 35:23-24, we read that Josiah was wounded and
brought "to Jerusalem where he died." Another clear contradiction!
Therefore,
we see testified that, prophetically, both of these kings of Judah died twice
– at Megiddo, as well as at another location. Why the two distinctly like contradictions regarding
Megiddo, these two like witnesses?
Clearly, they must speak a very relevant message.
To
take this unique and puzzling testimony even further, we find yet a third like
testimony regarding the death of Goliath.
In 1 Samuel 17 we read that David killed Goliath. However, in 2 Samuel 21:19, we equally
read that Elhanan killed Goliath.
Thus, we see that Goliath was killed twice as well, even by two
different men.
So
what is going on here? Are these
errors and flaws that sorely discount the validity of the Scriptures, as some
claim? Or is the Bible truly
God’s word and these are divine riddles, presented for those who have
eyes to see, to understand, and to gain from? If one is to hold that the Bible is God’s word, then
they must accept that these contradictions speak, as indeed they do! Let us see.
Both
of these kings were kings of Judah, the tribe that Christianity is grafted into
by virtue of Yahshua (Romans 2:29).
Also, since the natural reveals the spiritual, we see concerning Megiddo
that whoever dies there dies two deaths.
What can this mean? Goliath
holds an important answer to this.
David
called Goliath an “uncircumcised Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:26,
36). Briefly, what other revealing
period took place where people were uncircumcised? During the sons of Israel’s wandering in the
wilderness (Joshua 5:5). What did
this mean? As addressed in the
book, Coverings, Chapter 9, uncircumcision is
operating out of one’s own flesh with cursed results, even as Abraham
evidenced when he brought forth Ishmael while uncircumcised. Not until after Abraham’s
circumcision was the son of promise brought forth, when Yahweh thereby took
full responsibility for Abraham’s fruit, his offspring.
We
know that the wilderness wanderings are Christianity. So what is meant by the fact that Christianity is
uncircumcised? In equal regard,
the only offspring Christianity has brought forth are Ishmaels – cursed
sons-of-flesh efforts. And as with
Abraham’s Ishmael, Yahweh did not take full responsibility for bringing
forth the true promised offspring.
Even as Abraham pled that Ishmael would “live before” Yahweh
and it was denied (Genesis 17:18), so Christians have not lived before Yahweh,
but have been cut off in death.
Therefore, the wilderness period of Christianity is an uncircumcised
work.
So
what can we understand about giant uncircumcised Goliath? In equal regard, he was a type of giant
uncircumcised Christianity.
Therefore, when we find that Goliath was killed twice, and both kings of
Judah, Ahaziah and Josiah, equally died twice, evidencing the testimony
regarding Megiddo, all three of these riddles speak the same thing – the
2,000 years of Christianity when kingdom men die. As declared in Zechariah 13:8, the two parts are “cut
off and die” – Har-Magedon!
Thus,
we see that the fifth and sixth bowls testify to the great tribulation, the
plagues, of the 2,000 years of Christianity that led to death – Armageddon!
The
question now arises: Why are there all the thirds in the trumpets? The trumpets alone exhibit the
testimony of “a third.”
A third of the earth; a third
of the sea; a third of the sea
creatures; a third of the
ships; a third of the rivers; a
third of the sun, moon, and
stars; a third of the day and
night; and a third of mankind.
There
can be no question that this unique message speaks to a third part of the
church. And as such, it is evident
that it must relate to the final third, where the Remnant rule and reign with
Yahshua for 1,000 years. As we
find in Zechariah 13:7-9, the church is divided into “two parts”
and “the third part.”
In this regard, all these evidences in the trumpets of “a
third,” must assign a specific identification with “the third
part” of the church.
Quite
tellingly, the only other place in Revelation that “a third” is
spoken of is regarding the sun-clothed woman in 12:1-4. Here we read that the tail of a great
red dragon “swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to
the earth.” We have already
seen evidenced with the woes that the testimonies evidenced in Revelation are
consistent. Therefore, there is
just cause to assume a correlation between the sun-clothed woman, where a third
of the stars of heaven were swept away, and the trumpets, where we otherwise
exclusively read that a third of everything is affected. So what is the correlation?
As
we addressed earlier, there is no escaping the fact that the second Remnant is
the Elijah that stops the great and terrible day of Yahweh, cutting the three
woes short to two. Likewise, the
sun-clothed woman is the second Remnant who prepares the way for Yahshua. Therefore, evidenced here by the
testimony of “a third” in each, they are the same work.
Given
both of these like testimonies, there is a legal work effected by the Elijah
second Remnant that delivers the third part of the church. It obviously is a work of grace that
Yahweh Himself performs in them, providing a redemptive effect. But also, remember, the two Remnant are
in fact one, and neither can we minimize the price the first Remnant paid, nor
their prayers as evidenced in the fifth seal and their prayers offered just
before the trumpets. Clearly, this
is a work of redemption that Yahweh Himself works and provides.
This
work, and its redemptive outcome, is certainly evidenced as well in the
interlude testimonies following the sixth trumpet and before the seventh:
The strong angel cried out and the seven peals of
thunder spoke. These were not recorded.
A little book was given to John to eat that was
sweet to the mouth and bitter to the stomach. He was told, “You must prophesy again over/before many
peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
The two witnesses prophesied, were killed, and came
back to life to ascend alive – the two Remnant.
“The second woe is past; behold, the third
woe is coming quickly.”
Quite
significantly and revealingly, there is nothing negative or wrathful evidenced
in these, other than that afflicted on the two witnesses, the two Remnant. To the contrary, the seven peals of
thunder are not recorded, which is equally the aversion of Yahweh’s wrath
(A Fresh Look At End Times, page 4). And one thing that is
most hopeful is the promise given to John, but will obviously be fulfilled by
the Elijah: “You must prophesy again over/before many peoples and nations
and tongues and kings.” In
Revelation 11:3-6, we see that the first prophecy was delivered by the first
Remnant. Also, the declared third
woe never takes place.
And
regarding the two witnesses ascending alive, very likely it is that offering
that indeed abates Yahweh’s wrath.
This is the first resurrection where for the first time a remnant of
mankind is caught up to heaven to receive immortal, incorruptible bodies and,
as spoken by Yahshua, be “born from above” (lit. of John 3:3). This is indeed the answer to reversing
the curse on mankind in the third part of the church.
In
continuing affirmation to the unmistakable revelatory pattern regarding these
three testimonies, we find in all three an interlude in the exceptionally
determining place following all three sixth events and before the seventh. We just noted the curse-reversing
interlude in the trumpets. In like
positive testimony, the subject interlude in the seals was the first Remnant
144,000, as well as the great multitude of the second Remnant. Both of these positive testimonies are
in telling contrast to Christianity’s bowls, where that interlude is
Har-Magedon! Apart from the
redemptive work of the Remnant, Christianity would suffer the wrath of the
seventh bowl. But their death work
will be cut short to the two parts.
Thus
we repeatedly see evidenced that one must back off and look at the big picture
of these matters, otherwise the old saying continues to be true – you
can’t see the forest for the trees.
One will never understand the message of Revelation at the micro level,
but only at the macro. It is
entirely futile to get caught up in trying to figure out how all of this wrath
might be carried out in a literal sense in short increments of time, when in
fact it has been going on for thousands of years, but more specifically during
the great tribulation of the church.
As stated earlier, the message of Revelation is relative to the
church. One cannot take these
parables as anything more than Yahshua’s message regarding His church.
All
three of these testimonies speak to the same period of 7,000 years, but with
messages specifically relevant to what takes place regarding the first Remnant,
the second Remnant, and Christianity.
All three of these works are in the great tribulation. In fact, as we have seen, the second
Remnant is said to come out of the great tribulation. Therefore, there is wrath and affliction in all three
testimonies, even as there has been wrath and affliction for 6,000 years. And if the church’s days are not
cut short, that wrath and affliction would continue into the seventh 1,000
years. But again, each representative
testimony speaks to what takes place relevant to that work.
In
the attesting interlude of the second Remnant trumpets, in Revelation 10:6-7 we
read the following hope for this day:
… there will be delay no longer, but in the days of the voice
of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is
finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.
We
thus see evidenced here that it is in the days of the second Remnant in the
Millennial reign that there will be delay no longer, and the mystery of God is
both revealed and completed. This
is indeed our hope. And, for the
first time the mystery of the book of Revelation is being revealed. Only now could these things be seen,
for only now is this curse-reversing work being established. The mystery of God is finished!
Continue
to page 10 of The Great Tribulation
for CONCLUSION