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“Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” - Revelation 22:7, NKJV

A.    The Final Words Issued by God Himself

1.     God issues His final Words designed for those who live in the end time, the day of His return to the earth.

“Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.” (Revelation 22:6, NKJV)

a.     This passage reveals the identity of the One who has been talking to John throughout the vision.

b.    Jesus sent His angel to show His servants the things that must shortly come to pass.

c.     Our Lord wants His servants to know what the future holds.

2.     The theme of the final chapter of the last book of the Bible is found in

 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7, NKJV)

a.     Jesus has been calling individuals home for over 2,000 years, and it always seems to come too quickly.
“whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14, NKJV)

b.    As the generation who will soon see the physical return of Jesus to the earth, the words have never rung truer.

c.     Three times in this closing chapter of the Holy Scriptures, God repeats this phrase, “Behold, I come quickly.”

d.    His final purpose of this final book of Scripture is to warn us to be ready for His coming.

B.    Keeping the Sayings of Revelation

1.     In chapters 2 and 3 messages are given straight from Jesus to the seven churches of Asia.

a.     We are told what they were doing right and what they were doing wrong.

b.    We should learn from these messages and adjust our conduct accordingly.

2.     In chapter 6 of Revelation, these are the four spirits that seek to control the human race:

a.     Catholicism

b.    Communism

c.     Capitalism

d.    Islamism

3.     In chapter 7, God devotes this entire chapter to the great Jewish-Gentile revival that will be poured out in the end time.

a.     Jesus wants us to participate in this final harvest just before His Second Coming.

4.     In chapters 8-11, the Seven Trumpets are given so that we can understand the world-changing events that are happening all around us.

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6, NKJV)

a.     Although we are living through the events prophesied in the Seven Trumpets, Jesus told us not to be troubled by these climactic events.

b.    He said we should stay on course and accomplish what He has called us to do in reaping the final harvest.

5.     In chapter 12, we are given an overview of events from the birth of Christ all the way to the end of the Great Tribulation.

a.     Revelation 12:14 reveals the eagle (the U.S.) will stand with Israel against the entire world during the end time.

b.    This passage should give the United States confidence to stand against the Antichrist and his world government.

c.     Most of the nations of the world will be against the U.S.

6.     Chapter 13 reveals Satan’s plan for the last days.

a.     It shows us the Antichrist and his world government.

b.    It reveals the False Prophet and his world religion.

c.     The enforcement mechanism of Satan’s plan to cause all people to worship him – the Mark of the Beast – is disclosed.

7.     Chapter 14 says all who worship the Antichrist and receive the Mark of the Beast will be tormented forever in the presence of the Lamb and His holy angels.

a.     The chapter concludes with an account of the Two Harvests, the harvest of the wheat, and the harvest of the tares.

b.    It provides Revelation’s third account of the Rapture of the church and the Battle of Armageddon.

8.     Chapters 15-16 record the coming Wrath of God that will be poured out upon His enemies during the Battle of Armageddon.

a.     God interrupts the flow of the Book of Revelation to interject the account of His judgment that will be poured out upon false Christianity

9.     Chapters 17-18 are devoted to the judgment of Mystery Babylon and all of her daughters.

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4, NKJV)

10.  Revelation 19:7 gives us the final account of the Rapture and the Battle of Armageddon,

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."” (Revelation 19:7, NKJV)

11.  In chapter 20 the binding of Satan occurs for 1,000 years.

a.     The Millennial Reign of Jesus and His church begins.

b.    The Great White Throne of Judgment takes place.

12.  Chapter 21 reveals the New Jerusalem is a portrayal of the bride.

a.     The angel said to John
“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,” (Revelation 21:9-10, NKJV)

13.  The Book of Revelation is finalized in Revelation 22:6-21.

C.    Worship No One Else but God

1.     After seeing all the visions and prophecies given to him in the Book of Revelation, John was overwhelmed.

“Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” (Revelation 22:8-9, NKJV)

a.     John’s impulse was to fall at the feet of the angel that had shown him all of these incredible revelations.

b.    The angel immediately reproved him and reminded him of a truth that none of us should ever forget. When Jesus was tempted by Satan to worship him, Jesus quoted the words of the First Commandment given in Matthew.
”Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.' ” (Matthew 4:10, NKJV

2.     We all must forever remember there is one and only one God. Never worship anyone else! Never pray to anyone else! He said, “Worship God.”

D.    The Time is at Hand
“And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 22:10, NKJV)

1.     Many people have questioned the statement “the time is at hand” since the Book of Revelation was written almost 2,000 years ago.

a.     Why did the angel say, “The time is at hand?”

b.    This statement is true because the Book of Revelation covers the entire 2,000 years from the time it was written until now.

2.     The seven churches to whom God sent messages in chapters 2 and 3 existed at the time Revelation was being written.

3.     In chapter 5, we are shown Heaven before Jesus came to the earth as a Lamb. Then we see the Lamb as it had been slain.

4.     Afterward, we see the prophecy of the Four Horsemen representing the four spirits that would control the nations of the earth from Christ until His Second Coming.

5.     All of these things explain why the angel instructed John to not seal up the book because the time is at hand.

E.    The Last-Minute Call

1.     Revelation 22:11-20 is specifically directed at the people that will be on earth at the time of the conclusion of the events of the Book of Revelation.

a.     Revelation 22:11-12 speaks to those who are living right before the time of the Rapture:
“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” (Revelation 22:11-12, NKJV)

b.    Jesus decides to give one more appeal in Revelation 22:14-15,
“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” (Revelation 22:14-15, NKJV)

c.     This passage repeats the call made to mankind throughout the Old and New Testaments.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NKJV)

F.     I am the Root and the Offspring of David

1.     Throughout the Book of Revelation, Jesus declares who He really is.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8, NKJV)

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Rev 1:17-18)

2.     As Almighty God who created all things, He is the root of David; as the Son of God, He is the offspring of David!
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Rev 22:16)

G.    Whosoever will, Come

1.     As the Book of Revelation draws to a close, Jesus is still calling for His prized creation, the human race, to come to salvation.
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost.” (Rev 22:17)

a.     This passage is telling the world that God’s Spirit is calling everyone to salvation.

b.    The bride (the church) is also saying, “Come.”

c.     The most wonderful message of this scripture is “whosoever will” may come.

2.     It is not God’s will for anyone to be lost.

a.     “Who” will means whoever desires to come can be saved.

b.    If you want to be saved, you can be!

H.    A Final Warning

1.     God issues a solemn warning in Revelation 22:18-19,
“I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.” (Rev 22:18-19)

a.     Apparently, God did not want any of the prophecies of the Book of Revelation to be tampered with.

b.    He said if anyone added to the prophecies found in Revelation, He would add unto that person the plagues found in the book.

2.     In verse 19 God said if anyone would take away the words of the Book of Revelation, God would take away his part out of the Book of Life.

a.     This is a very important truth that God warned a person’s name could be removed from the Book of Life.

b.    Many people teach that once a person’s name is written in the Book of Life, it cannot be removed; however, this scripture teaches the opposite is true.

c.     This is not stating that anyone besides ourselves can remove our name from the Lamb’s Book of Life.

d.    Through our own actions, we could cause our names to be removed from the Lamb’s Book of Life even after they were once written there.

3.     Another very important truth is revealed in verses 18 and 19. Not only should we not add or take away from the Book of Revelation but we should also not alter any of the Scriptures.

a.     The Apostle Paul said in II Timothy 3:16,
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;” (2Ti 3:16)

b.    Every one of us should have a deep reverence for the sacredness of God’s Word.

c.     We should never attempt to alter it to fit our lifestyle or to justify something we are doing wrong.
“Forever, LORD, Your word stands in heaven.” (Psa 119:89)

4.     The conclusion of this marvelous book in found in Revelation 22:20-21,
“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. ” (Rev 22:20-21)

a.     For the third time in this final chapter of Revelation, we receive the warning from Jesus that He is coming quickly.

b.    John adds his own commentary by saying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

c.     John signs off with this final salutation, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Activation: Knowing the time is short, that we are most likely the final generation who will witness the events of the end time, what is our role? We are the bride who is to say, come. Ask the Lord to embolden you to say, “come” to those who are in your life.

I.      Conclusion and Review

1.     There are three sections of the Book of Revelation according to John in Revelation 1:19:

a.     Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

• The things which thou hast seen – Chapter 1
• The things which are – Chapters 2 and 3
• The things which shall be hereafter – Chapter 4
  
  

b.    The prophetic portion of the Book of Revelation begins when John is shown the things which must be hereafter.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” (Rev 4:1)

2.     There are four divisions of Revelation which dramatize the Second Coming of Jesus.

a.     Revelation 4:1 – Revelation 8:1,5

b.    Revelation 8:6 – Revelation 11:19

c.     Revelation 12:1 – Revelation 14:20

d.    Revelation 15:1 – Revelation 19:21

e.     Each of these divisions end with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Rapture.

3.     There are four accounts of the Rapture in Revelation.

a.     Revelation 8:5 – “And there were voices, and thunderings, an earthquake and great hail.”

b.    Revelation 11:15-19 – “And there were voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake and great hail.”

c.     Revelation 14:14-16 – This is the first of the Two Harvests, the harvest of the wheat, which is the Rapture.

d.    Revelation 19:7-11 – The Marriage of the Lamb is come, and the bride has now made herself ready.

J.     Four Timelines of the Book of Revelation

1.     The timeline for the Seven Seals

a.     The First Seal – Revelation 6:2 – The white horse which is the symbol for Catholicism.

b.    The Second Seal – Revelation 6:4 – The red horse is the symbol for communism.

c.     The Third Seal – Revelation 6:5 – The black horse which represents capitalism

d.    The Fourth Seal – Revelation 6:8 – The symbol of Islamism

e.     The Fifth Seal – Revelation 6:9-11 – Represents souls under the altar, a scene from the Great Tribulation

f.      The Sixth Seal – Revelation 6:12-17 – A depiction of the Heavens opening, and this Seal occurs during the Battle of Armageddon.

g.     The Seventh Seal – Revelation 8:1,5 – 30 minutes of silence in Heaven, the Rapture which concludes with the words, “And there were voices, and thunderings, an earthquake and great hail.”

2.     The timeline of the Seven Trumpets

a.     The First Trumpet is found in Revelation 8:7 and symbolizes World War I.

b.    The Second Trumpet occurs in Revelation 8:8-9 and represents World War II.

c.     The Third Trumpet is the Chernobyl Nuclear Explosion found in Revelation 8:10-11.

d.    The Fourth Trumpet in Revelation 8:12 talks about the shortening of the days.

e.     The Fifth Trumpet in Revelation 9:1-11 provides information about the Gulf War and Saddam Hussein.

f.      The Sixth Trumpet in Revelation 9:13-21 predicts World War III.

g.     The Seventh Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 describes the Rapture and the Battle of Armageddon.

3.     The timeline of the Seven Vials

a.     The First Vial is found in Revelation 16:2, where there are grievous sores placed upon those who have taken the Mark of the Beast.

b.    In the Second Vial of Revelation 16:3 the sea became blood.

c.     Under the Third Vial in Revelation 16:4 the rivers become blood.

d.    Under the Fourth Vial in Revelation 16:8-9 men will be scorched by the sun.

e.     Under the Fifth Vial in Revelation 16:10 there will be a great plague of horrible darkness.

f.      Under the Sixth Vial in Revelation 16:12-16 the Euphrates River will be dried up to make way for the Kings of the East to come down for the Battle of Armageddon.

g.     The Seventh Vial of Revelation 16:17-21 reveals history’s greatest earthquake, the greatest hail that has ever happened and also the Rapture.

4.     The timelines of the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets and the Seven Vials integrated

a.     The First Seal represents Catholicism which began around 300 AD. The Second Seal symbolizing communism began about 1848 AD. The Third Seal is capitalism and the Fourth Seal represents Islamism.

b.    Then the arrival of the First Trumpet, World War I in 1914 and then afterward the Second Trumpet, World War II in 1939.

c.     In 1986 the Third Trumpet sounded, which was the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

d.    Under the Fourth Trumpet the Berlin Wall fell and the days were shortened.

e.     The Fifth Trumpet was the Gulf War in 1990.

f.      The Sixth Trumpet is the Euphrates River War or World War III.

g.     The Fifth Seal represents the souls under the altar and the Great Tribulation.

h.     The Sixth Seal, the Sixth Vial, Armageddon and the Wrath of God all happen simultaneously.

i.      Under the Seventh Seal, Seventh Trumpet and Seventh Vial, all happening at the same time, there is silence in Heaven, which is when the Rapture takes place.

K.    The timeline for the Final Seven Years

1.     The Final Seven Years begins with a treaty signed between the Palestinians and the Israelis, the Middle East peace treaty.

a.     This treaty launches the Final Seven Years preceding Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth.

b.    Under this peace treaty, the Temple Mount will be placed under a sharing arrangement.

c.     The prophesied end time revival will begin, and this revival will continue throughout the next seven years culminating at the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth.

2.     During the first 31⁄2 years of the seven-year period, the Jews’ Third Temple will be built.

a.     As soon as the temple is built, then animal sacrifices will be resumed.

b.    The Jewish people still feel obligated to offer the sacrifices under the Old Testament law.

3.     Halfway through the seven-year period, the final 31⁄2 years begin.

a.     At this time, there is a War in Heaven between Satan and his angels and God and His angels.

b.    Satan will be defeated and consequently, he will be confined to the earth and forbidden from ever appearing again in Heaven.

c.     At this same time, the Abomination of Desolation will occur and the Antichrist will be revealed.

d.    The False Prophet who supports the Antichrist will also appear on the world scene.

4.     The Great Tribulation occurs at the beginning of the final 31⁄2-year period.

a.     Satan will send out his two witnesses, the Antichrist and False Prophet.

b.    The Two Witnesses will be sent out by God and will begin their ministries.

5.     During this final 31⁄2 years, the Antichrist will expand his control over the world.

a.     Toward the end of his reign, he will implement the Mark of the Beast to make sure everyone pledges allegiance to him and worships him. At the end of the seven years, the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth will take place.

b.    The Jews will meet their Messiah at this same time. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit for the next 1,000 years.

6.     Jesus Christ will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords!

a.     This will put us into the next 1,000-year Millennial Reign of peace with Jesus Christ and His church.

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“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev 21:2, NKJV)

A. John Saw the New Jerusalem

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev 21:2, NKJV)

1.     The New Jerusalem is the bride of Messiah.

2.     This passage confirms the church is the bride of Christ.
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,” (Heb 12:22-23, NKJV)

1. The heavenly Jerusalem is the church.
2. There are two Jerusalems.
3. The physical Jerusalem is in the land of Israel and the spiritual Jerusalem is the church.  
4. The church is the bride of Christ.
   “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2Co 11:2, NKJV)

3.     God’s purpose behind the creation of mankind was to create a bride for Himself that could live with Him forever.

1. God devoted Revelation 21 to describe his ultimate prize – the church.
2. The prophecy about the bride of Christ is revealed in symbols.

B. The Church is the Tabernacle of God

 “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."” (Rev 21:3-4, NKJV)

1.     The tabernacle of God is where God dwells.

1. Those who have been raptured will make up the tabernacle of God.
2. There will be no death, nor pain, nor sorrow or crying.

2.     The Apostle Paul explained that our bodies are the temple of God.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1Co 6:19, NKJV)

3.     God doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, according to the sermon preached by the first martyr, Stephen, before he was stoned.
“"However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:” (Act 7:48, NKJV)

1. This is so important to understand since humans have a tendency to exalt temples, church buildings and holy places.

C. It is Done 

1.     As John was receiving his vision, he saw One sitting on the throne.
“Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.” (Rev 21:5-6, NKJV)

1. The One on the throne said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”
2. This is Jesus speaking because in Revelation 1:8, He said He was Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
3. When Jesus said, “It is done,” He is saying that His purpose from the beginning of creation was fulfilled and now He has His bride.
4. His bride is now redeemed and His marriage to His bride is accomplished.

2.     Jesus encouraged all to be a part of His bride and warned those who would choose to follow the path of damnation.
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."” (Rev 21:7-8, NKJV)

D. How can We Overcome?

1.     We can be overcomers and inherit the Kingdom of God.
“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.” (Rev 12:11, NKJV)

1. The blood of the Lamb is the Christian’s defensive weapon.
2. There is nothing Satan can inflict upon us that the blood of Jesus Christ cannot eradicate.
3. The word of our testimony is our offensive weapon.
4. After we are saved, we can lead others to Christ by testifying to them about how Jesus saved us.
5. Not loving our lives unto death describes the old man who was bound by death. Death and the fear of death no longer rule our hearts, where our love resides. We overcome because the devil has no threat to hold over us of death!

2.     Jesus warned about those who would not be a part of His Kingdom.

1. The first two conditions were the fearful and the unbelieving.
2. His Word tells us we have not received a spirit of fear.
   “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Ti 1:7, NKJV)

3.     Jesus said all liars would have their part in the Lake of Fire.

1. The reason liars are so severely condemned is that salvation is dependent on belief of the truth.
2. The Apostle Paul said because people receive not a love for the truth, they wouldn’t be saved.
   “and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2Th 2:10, NKJV)

E. I will Show You the Bride

 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,” (Rev 21:9-10, NKJV)

1.     When Jesus promised to show John the bride, the Lamb’s wife, He showed him the holy Jerusalem.

1. This provides absolute proof the bride is the holy Jerusalem.
2. The holy Jerusalem and the New Jerusalem are the same entities since the bride is called the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:2.

2.     God describes the New Jerusalem throughout Revelation 21.

1. The New Jerusalem is the church.
2. All the descriptions given about the New Jerusalem are descriptions about the church.

F. The New Jerusalem has 12 Gates

 “having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:” (Rev 21:11-12, NKJV)

1.     The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are inscribed on the 12 gates of the New Jerusalem.

1. Many have wondered if the Old Testament saints will be included in the church and consequently in the Rapture.
2. Since the names of the 12 tribes of Israel are included in the New Jerusalem, it is obvious that the Old Testament saints will be a part of the church.
3. Remember the New Covenant is with Israel and Judah first.

2.     Jesus specifically said Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as all of the prophets, will be in the Kingdom of God.
“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.” (Luke 13:28, NKJV)

G. The New Jerusalem has 12 Foundations

 “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Rev 21:14, NKJV)

1.     The names of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb are inscribed in the 12 foundations.

1. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are in the gates of the New Jerusalem.
2. The names of the 12 Apostles are in the 12 foundations of the New Jerusalem.

2.     According to the Apostle Paul, Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church.
“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph 2:20, NKJV)

1. When a cornerstone is laid in the construction of a building, everything must line up perfectly to that cornerstone.
2. Everything in the New Jerusalem will be in perfect alignment with Jesus Christ. “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” (Eph 4:13, NKJV)

H. The Measurements of the New Jerusalem are Symbolic

 “And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.” (Rev 21:15-16, NKJV)

 1.     Since the New Jerusalem is not a physical city, the measurements describing the city are symbolic.

1. The one with the measuring reed measured the length of the city as being 12,000 furlongs.
2. He also said the width and the height of the city would be the same.
3. Since the city had 12 foundations, and since the measurement of the city is 12,000 furlongs, it is interesting that 12 x 12,000 equals 144,000.
4. This figure could be related to the 144,000 Jews who were sealed in Revelation 7:4.

2.     The person with John measured the wall of the New Jerusalem as 144 cubits. “Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.” (Rev 21:17, NKJV)

3.     John described the different materials making up the New Jerusalem.
“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.” (Rev 21:18, NKJV)

1. Gold has a special characteristic that causes it not to tarnish.
2. All those who make up the New Jerusalem will have been purified.
   “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” (Rev 3:18, NKJV)

I. The Beauty of the Apostolic Ministry

“The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.” (Rev 21:19-20, NKJV)

1.     The 12 foundations are adorned with all manner of precious stones.

1. In Exodus 28:15-21, when God gave Moses the design for the garments the priests were to wear, He commanded them to make a breastplate of judgment for each priest.
2. This breastplate was to contain 12 stones.
3. These stones appear to be the same as those described in the 12 foundations of the New Jerusalem.
4. These stones were beautiful and emphasized the importance of the God-called ministry.
   “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!"” (Rom 10:15, NKJV)

2.     The sacredness of the ministry is described in the following scripture:
“And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.” (Hebrews 5:4, NKJV)

1. No individual can just choose to be a minister.
2. This vocation is only available to those that God Himself calls.

J. There will be No Temple in the New Jerusalem

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Rev 21:221-22)

1.     To depict the glory of the church, it is portrayed as having streets of pure gold, as if they are transparent glass.

2.     Each gate is depicted as one solid pearl!

K. No Sun or Moon in the City

 “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.” (Rev 21:23-24, NKJV)

1.     Jesus is the light of the New Jerusalem.

1. During His ministry on earth, Jesus proclaimed in John 8:12, ...I am the light of the world...
2. The Lamb is the light of the New Jerusalem. Light comes from the same Hebrew root as order, ar.
3. The nations that are saved will walk in the light of the New Jerusalem, a Divine order!

2.     The saints will rule and reign as kings and priests with Jesus Christ during His Millennial Reign.
” And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." (Rev 5:9-10, NKJV)

1. The church will provide light by teaching the principles of the Kingdom of God to the mortals who will be allowed to live upon earth into the Millennium.
2. The rest of the nations (beasts) will have their dominion removed, but they will live on into the Millennium for a season and a time (Daniel 7:12).

L. The Gates of the New Jerusalem will Never be Shut

“Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.” (Rev 21:25-26, NKJV)

1.     These aspects are descriptions of God’s immortal church.

1. Since the gates are symbolic, this means that access to the immortal church will not be shut.
   “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” (Zec 14:16, NKJV)
2. Everyone who remains of the nations that came against Jerusalem during the Battle of Armageddon shall then go up to worship the King, Jesus Christ, from year to year.

2.     John continued his description of the New Jerusalem and reiterated Revelation 21:8 concerning those who will not be allowed access to the holy city.
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.” (Rev 21:27, NKJV)

1. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed inside the New Jerusalem.
2. We must partake of the salvation purchased by the Lamb, Jesus Christ to have our names written in the Book of Life.
3. Jesus Himself named His plan of salvation of being born again when He spoke to Nicodemus
   “Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."” (John 3:3, NKJV)

3.     The Apostle Peter clearly defined how to be born again
“Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Act 2:38, NKJV)

1. The most important decision in every person’s life in order to prepare to enter the New Jerusalem is to be biblically born again.

M. Living Water in the New Jerusalem

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Rev 22:1, NKJV)

1.     Jesus met the woman at the well in Samaria and asked her for a drink of water.

1. She questioned Him, asking her for a drink since she was a Samaritan and Jesus was a Jew.
   “Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10, NKJV)
2. Jesus then explained further about the living water of which He spoke.
   “Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." (John 4:13-15, NKJV)

2.     Jesus also spoke of the living water on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39, NKJV)

1. Jesus explicitly stated the living water was His Spirit, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2. At the time He spoke of this living water, it was not yet given because His Spirit only became available after He was glorified.

3.     The Tree of Life grew beside the River of Life in the Garden of Eden.
“In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Rev 22:2, NKJV)

1. Once Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were forbidden from eating from the Tree of Life lest they should live forever.
2. To the saved who will dwell in the New Jerusalem, they will be given open access to the Water of Life and the Tree of Life.
3. The leaves of the Tree of Life were for the healing of the nations.
4. There will be no sickness, no pain and no death in the New Jerusalem.

4.     There will be no more curse because Jesus bore the curse for us.
“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. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.” (Rev 22:3-4, NKJV)

Galatians 3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"),” (Gal 3:13, NKJV).

1. We will be the Lamb’s servants and serve Him.
2. We will have access to His presence continually. I Thessalonians 4 :17 ...and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
3. Jesus’ name is placed in our foreheads when we are baptized in His name.

5.     John concludes his record of the vision of the New Jerusalem
“There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev 22:5, NKJV)

1. There will be no need for the sun, electricity, or artificial light!
2. We will dwell in His presence, and He is the light!
3. We shall reign with Jesus Christ forever and forever!

Activation: Yeshua told us we are the light of the world. In the new Jerusalem, the bride, the light will shine that is sourced from the Lord. Yeshua told us to work the works of Him while it is still today. 

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“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."” (Rev 19:1-2, NKJV)

1. The Conclusion of the Judgment of False Christianity

   1. Revelation 19:1-5 describes the judgment of false Christianity. 
   
   “After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."” (Rev 19:1-2, NKJV)
   
   2. The remarks about false Christianity are concluded in Revelation 19:3, … And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
   
   

2. The Marriage of the Lamb

   1. After these horrible pronouncements of judgment, the mood of Revelation 19 shifts to one of rejoicing!
   
   “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."” (Rev 19:7, NKJV)
   
   a. Many people have taught the Rapture of the church occurs in Revelation 4:1.
   b. Verse 7 reveals the marriage of the Lamb to His bride has not happened yet.
   
   “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev 19:8, NKJV)
   
   c. This is the only place in Scripture where the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is specifically mentioned.
   
   “Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God."” (Rev 19:9, NKJV)
   
   2. Heaven is opened and Jesus appears in the sky.
   
   “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” (Rev 19:11, NKJV)
   
   a. Jesus is coming to the earth to receive His bride and to fight the Battle of Armageddon.
   b. These scriptures describe the same event as the bride meeting her Bridegroom for the Marriage Supper in Revelation 19.
   
   “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. 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.” (1Th 4:16-17, NKJV)
   
   c. Since the church by then will have received immortal bodies, this could be held virtually anywhere.
   
   3. Some have speculated the Marriage Supper will last for seven years.
   4. This cannot be true since the Battle of Armageddon follows immediately after the Marriage of the Lamb in Revelation 19.

3. The Second Coming of Jesus

   1. The Second Coming of Jesus is recorded several times in the Book of Revelation. 
   2. The last description of the Second Coming is found in this passage.
   
   “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.” (Rev 19:11-12, NKJV)
   
   a. John saw Heaven opened. This same event happened in Revelation 6:14,
   
   “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” (Rev 6:14, NKJV)
   
   b. These scriptures depict the exact same events.
   
   3. The name of the One on the white horse is called The Word of God.
   
   “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” (Rev 19:13-14, NKJV)
   
   a. The One on the white horse is Jesus because John 1:1,14 reveals that Jesus is the Word of God.
   b. The armies which were in Heaven followed Jesus upon white horses.
   c. This refers to the church according to the prophecy of Enoch found in Jude1:14,
   
   "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,” (Jud 1:14, NKJV)

4. Let’s Review the Events of The Battle of Armageddon

   1. The armies of the world government, led by the Antichrist, will invade Jerusalem.
   
   a. They will come across the Euphrates River, travel down through Syria and will then cross into Israel. At the plains of Meggido.
   b. Included in this world government army will be Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia and Libya.
   
   2. Israel will fight valiantly against the world government forces but will slowly be driven backward down the Jordan Valley. After days of bitter fighting, the antiChrist armies will reach Yerushalayim.
   
   According to Zechariah 14:2, half of the city of Jerusalem will then fall to the superior forces of the world government army.
   
   3. When Israel is on the brink of defeat, this will trigger the intervention into the war by Jesus Christ Himself.
   
   a. He will descend from Heaven and the church will be raptured to meet Him in the sky.
   b. Afterward, Jesus will place His feet on the Mount of Olives.
   
   4. The following passage describes Jesus treading the winepress of the fierceness and Wrath of Almighty God.
   
   “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev 19:15-16, NKJV)
   
   a. The same treading of the winepress by Jesus is described in Revelation 14:19.
   b. Revelation 19:15 states Jesus will rule the nations with a rod of iron.
   c. Revelation 12:5 states the man child born to the woman with 12 stars around her head was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.
   d. This provides absolute proof Jesus was the man child.

5. The Supper of the Great God

   “Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."” (Rev 19:17-18, NKJV)
   
   1. At Armageddon, God will be so angry toward wicked men that He will call for the beasts of the field and the fowls of Heaven to eat the flesh of kings, captains and mighty men.
   
   a. This same expression of God’s anger is found in Ezekiel 39:17-18,
   
   “"And as for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: "Assemble yourselves and come; Gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal Which I am sacrificing for you, A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, That you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, Drink the blood of the princes of the earth, Of rams and lambs, Of goats and bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan.” (Ezk 39:17-18, NKJV)
   b. Ezekiel 38 and 39 describe the Battle of Gog and Magog.
   c. After comparing Ezekiel 39:17-18 with Revelation 19:17-18, we prove conclusively the Battle of Gog and Magog is the same as the Battle of Armageddon.
   
   2. Both accounts in Ezekiel and Revelation describe the great sacrifice God will make of the kings and the mighty men of the earth.

6. We have previously studied The Antichrist and the False Prophet

   1. The ultimate end of the Antichrist, the political leader of the one-world government of the end time, and the False Prophet, the religious leader of the one-world religion, is found in Revelation 19:19-20,
   
   “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (Rev 19:19-20, NKJV)
   
   a. The religious partner of the Antichrist is described as the False Prophet.
   b. The False Prophet performed miracles before the Antichrist and used those miracles to deceive the people of the world.
   c. He will use his influence to convince the world to pledge allegiance to the Antichrist and to receive the Mark of the Beast.
   
   2. In Revelation 13:11 the beast with two horns performed miracles and by means of those miracles convinced the world to follow the Antichrist.
   
   a. This provides absolute proof the beast with two horns is the False Prophet.
   b. The consequences for those who follow the Antichrist and False Prophet is described in Revelation 19:21,“
   
   And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” (Rev 19:21, NKJV)
   
   3. The end of both of these evil personages is to be cast alive into a Lake of Fire burning with brimstone.

7. The Two Harvests

   1. Jesus gave the parable of the simultaneous harvests of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:36-43.
   2. Another description of the Two Harvests is found in Revelation 14:14-20.
   3. A very detailed description of the Two Harvests is contained in Revelation 19:7-21.
   a. The bride is preparing for the Rapture and the announcement that the Marriage of the Lamb is come.
   b. The bride joins the Bridegroom for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
   c. Jesus and His bride (the church) descend to earth to fight the Battle of Armageddon and to replace the kingdoms of this world with the Kingdom of God.
   d.We will crown Jesus Christ King of kings and Lord of lords
   
   

8. Satan Bound for 1,000 Years

   1. The Antichrist and False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire.
   2. An angel will lay hold upon Satan and bind him for the next 1,000 years.
   He will be confined to the bottomless pit preventing him from deceiving the nations during the 1,000 years.
   “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.” (Rev 20:1-3, NKJV)

9. Establishing the Kingdom of God on Earth

   1. Satan has ruled the world since the time of Adam and Eve.
   2. The Scriptures call Satan the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4).
   3. Once Satan is bound, a new order will be established upon the earth.
   
   “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Rev 20:4-6, NKJV)
   
   a. Those sitting on the thrones are the saints of God.
   b. All who are born again will rule and reign as kings and priests with Jesus Christ during the 1,000 years when Satan is bound.
   
   “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."” (Rev 5:10, NKJV)
   
   4. John saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God.
   a. This group of people lived during the time of the Antichrist.
   b. They did not worship the beast (the Antichrist) and did not receive the Mark of the Beast in their foreheads.
   c. These also lived and reigned with Christ during the 1,000 years.
   
   5. Those who were born again, along with the Old Testament saints, will be resurrected at this time.
   a. When those who did not worship the beast or take his mark were resurrected, the passage specifically says, “This is the First Resurrection.”
   b. Those who have part in the First Resurrection will not need to worry about the second death.
   c. The second death takes place 1,000 years later at the Great White Throne of Judgment.
   d. If we are blessed to be a part of the First Resurrection, we will be given our immortal bodies at that time and we will forever have eternal life.

10. Who will Populate the Earth During the 1,000 Years?

    1. The saved will rule and reign as kings and priests with Jesus Christ on earth. Who will we rule over?
    
    “"I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.” (Dan 7:11-12, NKJV)
    
    a. The beast (Antichrist) will be slain at the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth.
    b. Verse 12 addresses the destiny of the other beasts in Daniel 7, which are a symbol of nations.
    c. When the Antichrist is destroyed, the other nations will have their dominion (or power) taken away, but they will be allowed to live for a season and a time into the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ.
    
    2. The people who were not killed during the Battle of Armageddon will continue to live as mortals on earth during the reign of the Kingdom of God.
    a. The saved will be immortal.
    b. The immortals will rule over the mortal population remaining on earth.

11. How will God Decide Who will be Allowed to Continue Living During the 1,000 Years?

    1. The Scriptures do not clearly explain who will be allowed to continue on earth.
    2. We are given a clue from the Old Testament. When Israel arrived at Promised Land, because of unbelief, Over age 20 could not enter.
    a. Those under the age of 20 were not held responsible for the unbelief of their parents.
    b. Could it be God again will not hold young people responsible for the iniquity of their parents?
    
    3. Approximately one-third of the world’s population today is below the age of 20.
    a. If this rule would hold true, there would still be plenty of people to inhabit and replenish the earth during the 1,000-year reign.
    b. God in His infinite wisdom will decide who will be allowed to inhabit the earth into the Millennium.

12. The Millennium

    1. After the Battle of Armageddon, all human governments will be disbanded.
    2. Jesus will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords.
    3. The events of the Millennium are described in Isaiah 2:2-4,
    
    “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isa 2:2-4, NKJV)
    
    4. The headquarters for the Kingdom of God upon earth will be located in the city of Jerusalem.
    a. The throne of Jesus Christ will be located on the Temple Mount.
    b. He will rule the nations with a rod of iron.
    c. He will teach the nations the way of righteousness and peace and will tolerate no rebellion.
    
    5. There will be no more war upon the earth.
    a. Isaiah tells us men will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
    b. There will not be one war on earth for 1,000 years.
    
    6. More details about the Millennium are given in: Isaiah 65:17-25,
    
    “"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them. "It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD.” (Isa 65:17-25, NKJV)
    
    a. When Isaiah prophesied there would be a new Heaven and a new earth, he didn’t mean there would be different Heaven and earth; he meant the earth would be renovated.
    b. Mortals will continue to populate the earth after the Battle of Armageddon.
    
    7. The Apostle Peter also spoke of a new Heaven and new earth:
    
    “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2Pe 3:10-13, NKJV)
    
    a. The Day of the Lord refers to the time of the Second Coming when God’s Wrath will be poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth at Armageddon.
    b. The Heavens will pass away and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat.
    c. This will not be a worldwide occurrence or else all the inhabitants of the earth would be destroyed.
    
    8. The effects of nuclear weapons used at Armageddon are described in Zechariah 14:12,
    
    “And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.” (Zec 14:12, NKJV)
    
    a. Nuclear weapons will actually melt the elements when detonated.
    b. This is what Peter was describing when he said the elements would melt with a fervent heat.
    c. This event will occur around Jerusalem during the Battle of Armageddon.
    
    9. During the Millennium, world conditions will be restored to the way they were before the fall of Adam and Eve.
    a. People lived to be almost 1,000 years of age at that time.
    b. Isaiah reveals a person dying at the age of 100 during the Millennium would be considered a child.
    
    “"No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.” (Isa 65:20, NKJV)
    
    c. There will be sinners during the Millennium but they will be in the minority.
    d. Once Satan is bound, this situation will be reversed; most people will live righteously but some will live as sinners.
    
    10. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the bullock.
    a. Meat eating animals will be changed to vegetarians.
    b. All killing will be suspended.

13. Satan will be Loosed

    “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison” (Rev 20:7, NKJV)
    
    1. After Satan being bound for 1,000 years, why would God turn him loose?
    a. In the beginning of creation, God gave every human being the power of choice
    b. The world will be very different during the 1,000-year reign of Christ when Satan is bound.
    c. To provide the same power of choice for those on earth at the end of the 1,000 years, God will release Satan so the people of the earth can be exposed to temptation.
    
    2. When Satan is loosed, he will quickly be able to deceive the world once again.
    
    “and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.” (Rev 20:8, NKJV)
    
    a. Satan will influence the inhabitants of the world to fight against Jesus Christ.
    b. The people of the world will come against the beloved city of Jerusalem.
    
    “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” (Rev 20:9, NKJV)
    
    c. Fire will come down from God out of Heaven and devour those that have gathered against Jerusalem.
    d. Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire where the beast and False Prophet were placed 1,000 years before.
    e. Satan will then be tormented day and night, forever and ever.
    
    “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Rev 20:10, NKJV)
    
    f. This is the the end of the human experience and the end of Satan himself.

14. The Great White Throne of Judgment

    “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” (Rev 20:11-12, NKJV)
    
    1. This is a description of the final judgment when all the dead, small and great, will stand before God.
    
    2. Books opened recording deeds.
    a. Another book was opened called the Book of Life, which contains the names of all those who will be saved.
    b. The Scripture says the dead will be judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works.
    
    “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” (Rev 20:13, NKJV)
    
    3. The graves will yield up their dead to stand before the Creator and Judge of the universe.
    4. Death and Hell will be cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death.
    
    “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:15, NKJV)

15. What must We Do?

    1. What must we do to have our names included in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
    a. We will live forever with our Lord if our name is found in the Book of Life.
    b. If our name is not in the Book of Life, the Scriptures declare we will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Next time we will look at what John has to say about Yerushalayim, the city with 2 places or locales!

To listen to the audio-only version click above

Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. - Matthew 24:3-5 NKJV

Who is Mystery Babylon?

1. In His Most Famous Prophecy Chapter, Jesus Foretold That False Christianity would be Rampant in the End Time.

   1. He prophesied that most Christians, both Catholics and Protestants would be deceived by this false Christian movement.

   2. Jesus had just told His disciples the temple in Jerusalem would soon be totally destroyed.

   His disciples asked Him two important questions in this passage, Matthew 24:3-5: (NKJV) …Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
   
   a. Jesus said concerning the sign of His coming and the end of the age to “take heed that no man deceives you.”
   b. He said many would come under the name of Christianity and would deceive many.
   
   

2. True Christianity vs. False Christianity

   1. Understanding this prophecy is absolutely essential in order to understand the difference between true Christianity and false Christianity. Revelation 17:1-2
   
   “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."” (Rev 17:1-2, NKJV)
   
   a. This prophecy foretells a decree of judgment against the great harlot who sits on many waters.
   
   2. The woman is riding a beast in Revelation 17:3.
   “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev 17:3, NKJV)
   
   a. In Revelation 13:1-8, the seven-headed, 10-horned beast symbolized the Antichrist and his one-world government.b. The beast referred to in this passage is the same beast.
   c. The beast in Revelation 17:3 is depicted with this harlot riding on its back.
   
   

3. Six Specific Clues as to the Identity of This Woman, the Great Harlot

   1. The woman is a great city on earth. 
   “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."” (Rev 17:18, NKJV)
   
   a. God Almighty has decreed horrible judgment on this great city.
   b. This prophesied judgment will occur at the time of the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth.
   
   2. The city is the headquarters for a vast international system.
   
   a. Revelation 17:15 tells what the waters symbolize,
   …“Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.” (Rev 17:15, NKJV)
   b. She sits on many waters, which represent peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues.
   c. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church is in Rome.
   d. The church presides over a billion people from almost every nation on earth.
   
   3. The city sits on seven hills and the beast on which the woman sat had seven heads.
   "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.” (Rev 17:9, NKJV)
   
   a. Rome is known as the City of Seven Hills.
   b. The seven hills are so famous they each have their own name.
   c. The property was called the Vatican before being purchased by the Roman Catholic Church.
   d. “Vatican” literally means Divining Serpent and is derived from Vatis = Diviner and Can = Serpent. 
   ... for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.” (Rev 18:23, NKJV)
   
   4. The woman was arrayed in red and purple. 
   “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.” (Rev 17:4, NKJV)
   
   a. There are two ruling bodies of the Roman Catholic Church:
     1) The College of Cardinals
     2) The College of Bishops
   b. It is the official Roman policy that cardinals wear red, while bishops and non-cardinal archbishops wear purple.
   
   5. The woman was drunken with the blood of the saints.
   “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” (Rev 17:6, NKJV)
   
   a. Throughout the Dark Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was a great persecutor of all Christians who would not join themselves to the Catholic Church.
   b. During the Spanish Inquisition in 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella issued an edict that every person in Spain had to be baptized Catholic within four months or else leave the country. Their slogan was “be baptized or die.”
   c. Estimates of the number killed by the Spanish Inquisition, which Pope Sixtus IV authorized in a papal bull in 1478, have ranged from 30,000 to 300,000.
   d. John Huss was burned at the stake for his refusal to pledge allegiance to the pope of the Roman Church.
   e. William Tyndale, the translator of the Tyndale Bible, was strangled and then burned at the stake for the crime of translating the Bible into the language of the common people.
   f. Martin Luther was declared a heretic at the Diet of Worms, Germany and he was sentenced to die because he had dared question the teachings of the Roman Church.
   g. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs records thousands of martyrdoms of Protestants by the Roman Catholic Church.
   h. Estimates of the total killed by the Roman Church range from six million to 68 million.
   
   6. God gave Roman Catholicism the name Mystery Babylon the Great. 
   “And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Rev 17:5, NKJV)
   
   a. Roman Catholicism is modern day Babylon disguised under the name of Rome.
   b. Babylon was the origin of man-made religion.
   c. Over the years, the Roman Catholic Church has changed many central doctrines and teachings of the New Testament Church.
     1) There was no sprinkling for baptism ever done in the New Testament Church and no baptism of infants recorded in the Bible.
     2) Priestly celibacy has caused the Roman Church horrible heartache.
     3) Forbidding to marry is a doctrine of devils according to this passage,:
   
   “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;” (1Ti 4:1-4, NKJV)
   
   Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.” (1Co 7:2, NKJV)
   
   

4. Mother of Harlots

   1. Not only is the Roman Catholic Church called Mystery Babylon but she is also the Mother of Harlots.
   
   a. She has daughters that are also harlots.
   b. A harlot is a woman of ill-repute.
   
   2. In the Bible, a church is always portrayed as a woman.
   The Apostle Paul explained in this scripture,
   “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2Co 11:2, NKJV)
   
   a. The true church is symbolized as a woman, a virgin.
   b. False churches in the Bible are also symbolized as women but they are referred to as harlots.
   c. A harlot is someone who has been unfaithful and has gone out on her bridegroom.
   
   3. Israel became a harlot in the Old Testament.
   “Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do so.” (Jdg 2:17, NKJV)
   
   When Israel began believing in more than one god, or false gods, God said they went “a whoring after other gods.”
   
   4. The Roman Catholic Church came up with a doctrine which teaches a plurality of deities.
   
   a. The Roman Church decided there were three separate persons in the Godhead – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
   b. When the Roman Catholic Church hatched the doctrine called the holy trinity, they began believing they will see three deities when they get in Heaven.
   c. The belief of three separate persons, three separate deities in the Godhead was injected into the church.
   d. When this doctrine was formed, this is when Catholicism went a whoring after false deities.
   e. The Bible is explicit there is one Lord.
   "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” (Deu 6:4, NKJV)
   f. The new doctrine of the trinity taught, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is three.”
   

5. The Birth of the Doctrine of the Trinity

   1. The Roman Catholic Church called the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.
   
   a. The doctrine of the trinity had been taking root in the church prior to this time.
   b. At Nicea, the hierarchy of the church codified this new doctrine and incorporated it into the legal beliefs of the church.
   c. In order to make their baptism match the belief in this plurality of deities, the church changed the formula for baptism from in the name of Jesus Christ, to Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
   
   2. The following statements concerning these doctrinal changes are excerpts from several encyclopedias:
   
   a. The Canney Encyclopedia of Religion documents this change on page 53: “The early church was always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the development of the Trinity Doctrine in the third century. Afterward they were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”
   b. The Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia in Volume 1, page 430 says, “The New Testament knows only the baptism in the name of Jesus.”
   c. In Hastings Dictionary of the Bible on page 88, Hastings said, “It must be acknowledged that the three-fold name of Matthew 28:19 does not appear to have been used by the primitive church but rather in the name of Jesus or Lord Jesus.”
   d. Hastings Encyclopedia of Religions, Volume 2, page 377 state: “Christian baptism was administered using the words, in the name of Jesus.”
   e. Hastings Encyclopedia of Religions, Volume 2, page 389 says, “Baptism was always in the name of Jesus until the time of Justin Martyr.”
   f. The Britannica Encyclopedia, the 11th edition, Volume 3, page 365: “The trinitarian formula and triune immersions were not uniformly used from the beginning.”
   g. In the Dictionary of the Bible by Scribner on page 241, Scribner said, “The original form of words was into the name of Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus. Baptism into the Trinity was a later development.”
   h. The New Catholic Encyclopedia, the 2nd edition, page 61 says: “With regard to the formula used for baptism in the early church, there is difficulty that although Matthew 28:19 speaks of the trinitarian formula, which is now used, the Acts of the Apostles speak of only baptism ‘in the name of Jesus.’”
   
   3. The first church always baptized in the name of Jesus!
   
   a. There is only one God, but He fulfilled three offices or roles.
   b. God is Father, Son and Holy Ghost but He is one person, Jesus Christ.
   “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;” (Col 2:9, NKJV)
   c. Jesus is not a member of the Godhead, the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus.

6. Baptism is a Marriage Ceremony

   1. Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is a covenant marriage ceremony.
    “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal 3:27, NKJV)
   
   2. When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, we actually take on the name of our Bridegroom Jesus Christ.
   
   a. Satan, knowing the importance of us taking the name of our Bridegroom, wanted to take the name out of the marriage ceremony.
   b. The name of Jesus was taken out of the baptismal formula and replaced with a formula that has no name—Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
   
   

7. Who are the Daughters?

   1. On the harlot’s forehead was the name, Mother of Harlots. Not only is she a harlot but she has daughters who are also harlots.
   
   2. When the Reformation took place, the Protestants were breaking off from the Catholic Church.
   
   a. In an effort to stem the hemorrhage from the Roman Church, the pope called an emergency council—the Council of Trent.
   b. The prelates condemned many of the practices that the Protestants had adopted after leaving the church.
   c. They stated that Protestants at least had not forsaken the Mother Church’s baptism.
   
   3. When the Protestants did not go back to the biblical form of baptism, they continued to believe in a plurality of deities.

8. Daughters Come Home

   1. The Roman Church called the Vatican Council II from 1962 to 1965 and they referred to the Protestants as daughters of the mother.
   This is the quote: “We the Mother Church are opening our arms to all of our daughters to return home. Anyone who holds to our baptism may return home without being re-baptized.”
   
   a. If a person is baptized using the phrase Father, Son and Holy Ghost, that person can join the Catholic Church without re-baptism.
   b. Those baptized using the Mother Church form of baptism are already considered part of the Catholic Church.
   
   2. Without the name of Jesus in baptism, we cannot be in the bride of Christ!
   
   

9. Catholics and Protestants Moving Toward Reunification

   1. A meeting was held in Austin, Texas on January 29, 2013.
   The Huffington Post recorded the following: “Catholic leaders will join representatives from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Christian Reformed Church in North America, Reformed Church in America and United Church of Christ at the ceremony in Austin, Texas to sign the agreement, which is called the “Common Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Baptism.” The event coincides with the national meeting of Christian Churches Together in the U.S.A. Tuesday’s agreement says that for our baptisms to be mutually recognized, water and the scriptural Trinitarian formula “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19-20) must be used in the baptismal rite.”
   
   a. They are saying that everyone that uses the trinitarian formula for baptism is recognized as daughters of the Roman Catholic Church.
   b. Baptism is the defining issue according to Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."” (Act 4:12, NKJV)
   
   2. False Christianity baptizes using the phrase, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
   a. This practice was not done one time in the Bible.
   b. While it’s true that Jesus commanded His disciples to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, He assumed they knew by then what the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost was.
   c. Notice the word “name” is singular. There is one name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
   
   3. What is the name of the Father?
   a. Jesus said in John 5:43, “I am come in my Father’s name...”
   b. In John 14:8, Philip asked Jesus,…”Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."” (Jhn 14:8, NKJV)
   c. Jesus replied to Philip in John 14:9,
   “Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?” (Jhn 14:9, NKJV)
   d. The name of the Father was always Jesus. It was simply kept secret until it was time for the birth of God’s plan of salvation to be revealed.
   
   4. What is the name of the Holy Ghost?
   a. The Holy Ghost is simply Jesus in us in Spirit form. 
   “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (Jhn 14:26, NKJV)
   
   “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (Jhn 14:17, NKJV)
   
   “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (Jhn 14:18, NKJV)
   
   b. The Holy Ghost is the Helper and Jesus is the Holy Ghost.
   c. A few days before He left the earth, Jesus gave the Apostles the Great Commission,
   “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Mat 28:19, NKJV)
   d. In obedience to the Lord’s instructions, the Apostles baptized every single time in the name of Jesus Christ.
   e. They understood there is one God and His name is Jesus.
   
   5. False Christianity baptizes with the phrase Father, Son and Holy Ghost and believes in three deities in the Godhead.
   
   6. True Christianity baptizes in the name of Jesus Christ as was done every time in the New Testament church and believes in one God manifest in three roles.
   
   

10. Catholics and Protestants Move Toward Unity

    1. On March 30, 1994, the Indianapolis Star published this story about the ecumenical movement.
    The headline was “Catholics, evangelicals affirm ties that bind.” The subtopic said, “Statement recognizes that all are Christians, seeks to end attempts to convert each other.” The article reported, “In what’s being called a historic declaration, evangelicals, including Pat Robertson and Charles Colson, joined with conservative Roman Catholic leaders Tuesday in upholding the ties of faith that bind the nation’s largest and most politically active religious groups. They urged Catholics and evangelicals to increase their efforts against abortion and pornography and to lobby for value-laden education but to no longer hold each other at theological arm’s length and to stop aggressive proselytizing of each other’s flocks.”
    
    2. On June 17, 1994, again in the Indianapolis Star, this story was carried:
    “Southern Baptists embrace Catholics.” The subtopic: “National convention overwhelmingly endorses declaration of unity despite theological differences.” The article said, “Southern Baptists and Roman Catholics can be more than political soul mates, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination declared Tuesday. In a major step toward ecumenism, the Southern Baptist Convention said born-again believers may be found in all Christian denominations and endorsed Baptist-Catholic dialogue.”
    
    3. Ecumenism is being accomplished by compromising beliefs that have been long held.
    a. People no longer believe what they used to believe.
    b. Most religions are in a state of compromise.
    
    

11. Interfaithism – The Next Step

    1. Once the art of compromise has been learned, the compromises become bigger and easier to achieve.
    
    2. In 1994 the Roman Catholic Church published its first new catechism in 400 years.
    On pages 242 and 243 (Section 841) it said, “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”
    
    a. The Roman Church says Muslims are included in the plan of salvation.
    b. Muslims do not believe Jesus is God and they also do not believe He died on the cross to redeem us from our sins.
    c. The church has become so adept at compromise that they have found a way to say Muslims are saved without believing in Jesus as their Savior!
    
    3. We are moving toward a one-world religion that will hold hands with the one-world government of the Antichrist.
    
    4. The Parliament of the World’s Religions was held in Chicago, 1993.
    Those attending put together a Global Ethic, which they hoped would join mankind together.
    
    5. The Global Ethic was published in the National Catholic Reporter and the following statements are a few bullet points:
    
    “We are women and men who have embraced the precepts and practices of the world’s religions.
    
    We affirm that a common set of core values is found in the teachings of the religions, and that these form the basis of a global ethic.”
    
    “There already exist ancient guidelines for human behavior which are found in the teachings of the religions of the world, and which are the condition for a sustainable world order.”
    
    “We must sink our narrow differences for the cause of the World Community [for the one-world government], practicing a culture of solidarity and relatedness.”
    
    a. Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, Jews, Wiccans, Zoroastrians and many others attended the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
    b. Zoroastrians, Buddhists and believers in Judaism don’t believe in Jesus Christ at all but these global planners claim we must “sink our narrow differences.”
    c. Wiccans are witches, so must we accept them as well?
    d. These religious leaders are saying we must compromise for the sake of the World Community.
    
    

12. What should We Do?

    1. Most Catholics and Protestants will follow the False Prophet into an alliance with the Antichrist and his one-world government.
    “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” (Rev 18:4, NKJV)
    
    2. God has many people who love Him in these harlot churches slated for judgment.
    
    a. God’s instruction to His people is, “...Come out of her, my people...”
    b. In the times just ahead, there must be a mass exodus out of false churches into churches that are teaching true biblical Christianity.
    c. God did not say stay in these churches and try to change them.
    
    

13. The Judgment of the Great Harlot

    1. God describes the judgments that will be poured out upon Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots,
    “In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.'” (Rev 18:7, NKJV)
    
    a. Why does the Mother of Harlots say, “I sit a queen and I’m not a widow. I shall see no sorrow?”
    b. The true church will be preaching the message around the world that you (the church) forsook your husband; you took the name out of baptism and adopted a plurality of deities.
    c. The message will become so loud that it will ricochet around the world and people will realize they need to get out of the false church.
    d. Catholicism will defend herself by saying, “I’m a queen and am no widow! I’m not going to see judgment or sorrow!” After she makes this statement,
    “Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.” (Rev 18:8, NKJV)
    
    2. God’s judgment will soon fall on all of false Christianity.
    
    3. His judgment will happen at the end of the Great Tribulation at the time of the Battle of Armageddon and Rome (Mystery Babylon) will be completely destroyed.
    
    4. God spent two chapters, Revelation 17 and 18, describing in detail the judgment against these false religions which deceived the world and turned people away from true Christianity.
    
    a. God hates false Christianity and He hates the fact that so much of the original teachings of the Bible have now been changed by modern Christianity.
    b. God instructed His people to, “Come out of her my people lest you be a partaker of her sins and lest you receive of her plagues.”
    
    

14. Is the Babylon in Revelation 17 and 18 the Same Entity?

    1. Many people have taught that the Babylon of Revelation 17 and 18 are two different entities.
    
    a. Some have claimed the Babylon of chapter 18 is the United States but this teaching is absolutely false.
    b.We can prove by these scriptures that both chapters 17 and 18 address the very same woman called Mystery Babylon.
    “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."” (Rev 17:1-2, NKJV)
    c. The very same descriptions are given about the woman in the following two passages:
    “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.” (Rev 17:4, NKJV)
    
    “and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!” (Rev 18:16, NKJV)
    d. In both of the following scriptures, the woman was drunken with the blood of the saints and prophets
    “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” (Rev 17:6, NKJV)
    
     “And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."” (Rev 18:24, NKJV)
    e. The woman is referred to as that great city in the following verses:
    “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."” (Rev 17:18, NKJV)
    
    “Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.” (Rev 18:21, NKJV)
    
    2. There is no doubt that both chapters 17 and 18 are speaking of the same Mystery Babylon.
    
    

15. Why will the Merchants Mourn at Her Destruction?

    1. Revelation 18:11-23 describes the kings and the merchants of the earth mourning because of the destruction of the wealth of Mystery Babylon.
    
    a. The Roman Church is one of the wealthiest organizations in the world.
    b. The article, “The Catholic Church is the Biggest Financial Power on Earth” by Zubeida Jaffer disclosed the following statements:
    
       1) “The Vatican has large investments with the Rothschilds of Britain, France and America, with the Hambros Bank, with the Credit Suisse in London and Zurich. In the United States, it has large investments with the Morgan Bank, the Chase-Manhattan Bank, the First National Bank of New York, the Bankers Trust Company, and others.”
      2) “The Vatican has billions of shares in the most powerful international corporations such as Gulf Oil, Shell, General Motors, Bethlehem Steel, General Electric, International Business Machines, etc.”
      3) “Some idea of the real estate and other forms of wealth controlled by the Catholic Church may be gathered by the remark of a member of the New York Catholic Conference, namely ‘that his church probably ranks second only to the United States Government in total annual purchase.’”
      4) “Another statement, made by a nationally syndicated Catholic priest, perhaps is even more telling. ‘The Catholic church,’ he said, ‘must be the biggest corporation in the United States. We have a branch office in every neighborhood. Our assets and real estate holdings must exceed those of Standard Oil, A.T.&T., and U.S. Steel combined. And our roster of dues-paying members must be second only to the tax rolls of the United States Government.’”
    
    2. It’s no wonder the merchants and the kings of the earth will mourn at her destruction!
    
    

16. Conclusion

    1. It’s important to know the truth because most of Christianity, both Catholic and Protestant, are moving straight toward the arms of the Antichrist.
    
    2. Millions will follow the False Prophet into an alliance with the Antichrist.
    
    a. Whoever is pope at the time of the Antichrist will be the False Prophet.
    b. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will form a league together like they always have under the Holy Roman Empire.
    c. The political leader will be from Europe and the spiritual leader will come from Italy.
    
    3. We must not blindly remain a part of apostate Christianity.
    
    a. Not only should we obey what we have just learned but we need to spread this message. Jesus said in this scripture, Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
    b. We must break away from tradition and return to biblical Christianity.
    c. This truth is going to ignite a revival that will travel around the world.
    
    4. Jesus is coming back after a people who have been baptized in His name.
    
    a. When we are baptized in Jesus’ Name, we become a part of the bride of Christ.
    b. Jesus is coming back soon and when He returns, His bride will be caught up to meet Him in the air.

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And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues (vials); for in them is filled up the wrath of God. - Revelation 15:1 

The Seven Vials of God’s Wrath

1. The Difference Between the Great Tribulation and the Wrath of God

   1. The Great Tribulation is Satan’s wrath against people that will not worship him.
   
   Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."” (Rev 12:12, NKJV)
   
   a. The Great Tribulation will occur 3½ years before the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth.
   
   b. Satan pours out his wrath against the inhabitants of the earth because he knows he only has a short time left.
   
   c. Revelation 12:14 reveals that Satan will persecute the woman with the 12 stars (Israel) for time, times and half a time, which is 3½ years – the length of the Great Tribulation.
   
   d. The Great Tribulation is not the Wrath of God.
   
   2. The Vials containing the Wrath of God will be poured out at the end of the Great Tribulation and during the Battle of Armageddon.
   
   a. God will use the Vials to deliver Israel from the armies of the Antichrist.
   
   b. The Vials will be used like God used the plagues in the Old Testament against Pharaoh to deliver Israel from Egypt.
   
   c. Five of the Seven Vials in Revelation 16 are duplicates of five of the 10 plagues poured out upon Egypt.
   
   d. The beast does not take power until 3½ years before Armageddon according to Revelation 13:5.
   
   e. Since the Mark of the Beast will probably be administered toward the latter part of his reign, the Vials will be poured out toward the end of the Great Tribulation.
   
   

2. The First Vial

   Revelation 16:1-2 “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth." So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.” (Rev 16:1-2, NKJV)
   
   1. Verse 2 helps establish the timing of the pouring out of the Vials upon the earth.
   
   2. The First Vial was poured out upon those who had received the Mark of the Beast and those who had worshipped his image.
   
   A noisome and grievous sore is placed upon those that worship the Antichrist.
   
   

3. The Second Vial

   Revelation 16:3 “Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died.” (Rev 16:3, NKJV)
   
   1. The plague of turning the water into blood was the first plague poured out upon the Egyptians in Exodus 7:20.
   
   a. The plagues against Egypt did not cover the entire world.
   
   b. The plagues didn’t affect the people of Israel who were living among the Egyptians.
   
   2. The Vials of Wrath will only affect the Antichrist and his kingdom but the people of God will be protected according to Revelation 7:2-3, “Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."” (Rev 7:2-3, NKJV)
   
   Hurt not the earth and the sea nor the trees till we have sealed the foreheads of God’s people.
   
   3. This account of the sealing of God’s people to protect them from God’s Wrath is described justafter it is announced that the great day of God’s Wrath is come.
   
   Revelation 6:15-17 states: “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"” (Rev 6:15-17, NKJV)
   
   a. The timing of the pouring out of the Vials of Wrath
   
   b. Most of the Vials will be poured out leading up to or during the Battle of Armageddon when Yeshua returns to earth.
   
   

4. The Third Vial

   Revelation 16:4 “Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.” (Rev 16:4, NKJV)
   
   1. The rivers and fountains of water will become blood.
   
   This Third Vial, like the Second Vial, is a repeat of the first plague poured out upon the Egyptians in Exodus 7:20.
   
   2. Heaven’s attitude toward the enemies of the people of God is revealed in Revelation 16:5-7:
   
   “And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due." And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."” (Rev 16:5-7, NKJV)
   
   a. The angel of the waters declared the Lord was justified for pouring out these plagues upon mankind because they had shed the blood of saints and prophets.
   
   b. This passage is referring to the saints and prophets who will be killed by the Antichrist and False Prophet during the time of the Great Tribulation.
   
   

5. The Fourth Vial

   Revelation 16:8-9 “Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.” (Rev 16:8-9, NKJV)
   
   God will make the sun exceedingly hot.
   
   a. Men will be scorched with great heat because of this plague.
   
   b. Instead of repenting in response to the judgments of God, the people will blaspheme the name of God.
   
   

6. The Fifth Vial

   1. The Fifth Vial is the same as the ninth plague with which God smote Egypt. Revelation 16:10-11 “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.” (Rev 16:10-11, NKJV)
   
   The kingdom of the Antichrist will be filled with horrible darkness.
   
   2. Exodus 10:21-23 describes the darkness under the ninth plague of Egypt.
   
   a. The darkness was so thick for three days that no one could move out of his place.
   
   b. The Fifth Vial appears to be this same plague all over again.
   
   

7. The Sixth Vial

   1. The Sixth Vial will lead the world into the Battle of Armageddon. Revelation 16:12 “Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.” (Rev 16:12, NKJV)
   
   a. The headline in the Indianapolis Star on January 13, 1990 read, “Flow of Euphrates to be Stopped for 30 Days.”
   
   b. Turkey built the Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River, which gave them the ability to control the flow of the Euphrates River.
   
   c. Turkey will be one of the nations that will participate in the invasion of Israel.
   
   2. The Kings of the East refer to the nations that will invade Israel under a United Nation’s banner at the time of the Battle of Armageddon. These nations are named in Ezekiel 38:
   
   a. Russia
   b. Iran
   c. Ethiopia
   d. Libya
   e. Turkey
   
   3. These nations will come across the dried-up Euphrates, travel down through Syria and invade Israel near the Valley of Jezreel, which is located in northern Israel.
   
   a. The Valley of Jezreel is also called the Plain of Megiddo, which is why the final battle is called the Battle of Armageddon.
   
   b. The word Armageddon is composed of two words: Har, meaning hill and Megiddo.
   
   c. These two words become Armageddon or the Hill of Megiddo.
   
   4. The motivation for these nations to come against Israel is explained in Revelation 16:13-14. “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Rev 16:13-14, NKJV)
   
   a. Daniel 7:20 reveals the mouth of the beast (the Antichrist) will have a mouth speaking great things.
   
   b. The Antichrist will use his gifts of oratory to cause the world to follow his leadership.
   
   c. His religious partner, the False Prophet, will also persuade the world to follow the Antichrist.
   
   d. Revelation 11:18 describes the nations at the time of Armageddon, “The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth."” (Rev 11:18, NKJV)
   
   e. The power of the beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet to work miracles will influence the kings of the world to follow them to Armageddon, also called the battle of that great day of God Almighty (Revelation 16:14).
   
   

8. The Last-Minute Warning

   After describing the preparations for Armageddon, God gives a last-minute warning in Revelation 16:15, “"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."” (Rev 16:15, NKJV)
   
   a. According to the Book of Revelation, the Second Coming will occur during the Battle of Armageddon.
   
   b. After this last-minute warning, God gathers the nations together. Revelation 16:16 “And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Rev 16:16, NKJV)
   
   c. Revelation 16:16 is the only verse in the Scriptures that actually uses the word “Armageddon”.
   
   

9. The Seventh Vial

   
   1. The Seventh Vial will finish the pouring out of God’s Wrath upon the earth. Revelation 16:17 “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!"” (Rev 16:17, NKJV)
   
   The Church Age will conclude with the Battle of Armageddon and the Kingdom of God will be established upon the earth.
   
   2. The horrors of the Seventh Vial are described in Revelation 16:18-19, “And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and greatearthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.” (Rev 16:18-19, NKJV)
   
   a. This same description is given during the Seventh Seal in Revelation 8:5, “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Rev 8:5, NKJV)
   
   b. These same words describe the conclusion of the Seventh Trumpet in Revelation 11:19, “Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.” (Rev 11:19, NKJV)
   
   c. This phrase is repeated at the end of the Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets and the Seven Vials because these are the exact same events.
   
   3. An earthquake will divide the great city (Jerusalem) into three parts.
   
   a. This same earthquake is described in this scripture, which says 7,000 men will be destroyed in Jerusalem. Revelation 11:13 “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.” (Rev 11:13, NKJV)
   
   b. Another account of this same earthquake occurs at the time of Jesus’ Second Coming when He descends from Heaven placing His feet on the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4 “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.” (Zec 14:4, NKJV)
   
   4. God’s Wrath will be poured out upon great Babylon (Revelation 16:19).
   
   a. Babylon refers to the city of Rome.
   
   b. Rome will be destroyed by history’s greatest earthquake during the Battle of Armageddon.
   
   c. Many other cities around the world will also be destroyed.
   
   5. Other amazing events of the Seventh Vial are in Revelation 16:20, And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
   
   a. This same event is described under the Sixth Seal in the following verse in Revelation 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.
   
   b. In both passages, the mountains and the islands of the world are moved.
   
   c. Revelation 16:18 reveals this earthquake will be the mightiest earthquake that has ever occurred on the face of the earth!
   
   6. The final portion of the Seventh Vial is found in Revelation 16:21, “And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.” (Rev 16:21, NKJV)
   
   a. The hailstones will be about the weight of a talent, approximately 125 pounds.
   
   b. This great hail will not be worldwide because everything would be destroyed if this was true.
   
   c. The hail will be one of the weapons God uses against the invading armies of the Antichrist during the Battle of Armageddon.
   
   7. The pouring out of God’s Wrath during the Battle of Armageddon is also described in Ezekiel’s prophecy as the Battle of Gog and Magog. Ezekiel 38:18-23
   
   “"And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel," says the Lord GOD, "that My fury will show in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: 'Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.' I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains," says theLord GOD. "Every man's sword will be against his brother. And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD." '” (Ezk 38:18-23, NKJV)
   
   a. When describing the same earthquake that will occur under the Seventh Vial, Ezekiel says, “There shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel.”
   
   b. The mountains shall be thrown down and the steep places shall fall.
   
   c. God will plead against the Antichrist and his armies with pestilence, blood, fire, overflowing rain and great hailstones.
   
   d. These same events are also prophesied under the Seven Vials.
   e. God says He will be magnified in the eyes of the nations and they will know He is the Lord. Right in the middle of God’s description of Armageddon and the Wrath of God in Revelation 16 and Revelation 19, God interjected two entire chapters to prophesy about the judgment of Mystery Babylon. Revelation 17 and 18 go into graphic detail about the judgment of the Great Whore whose name is Mystery Babylon. It is obvious God hates Mystery Babylon since He devotes two entire chapters to her destruction.

In our next session we will learn the identity of Mystery Babylon and why God hates her so much

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And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. - Rev 11:3-4

The Two Witnesses

1) The Seven Thunders

1. “I saw another strong angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little scroll, which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them.”” (Rev 10:1-4)
2. John heard the voices of the Seven Thunders but was not allowed to write down the messages that he heard.
3. This is the fourth group of seven in the Book of Revelation.
4. The Seventh Seal, the Seventh Trumpet and the Seventh Vial all end at Armageddon; more than likely the Seventh Thunder also ends at Armageddon.
5. We are unable to know the content of the Seven Thunders.

2) The Final 3 1/2 Years

1. The angel which landed on the sea launches the final 3½ years to the Battle of Armageddon.
   “Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will no longer be a delay,” (Rev 10:5-6)
2. This prophecy does not mean this is the end of time; it is saying delay shall be no longer. This prophecy states there are three and one-half years left from the time the angel stands with one foot on land and one foot on the water, declaring the delay shall be no longer.
3. The same prophecy is also found in the Book of Daniel.
   “And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.” (Dan 12:6-7)
4. The Great Tribulation happens during this final 3½-year time period.
5. When the seventh angel sounds, the mystery of God or the plan of God will be finished.
   “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 announced to His servants the prophets.” (Rev 10:7) NKJV
6. This culminates with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Rapture of the church.
7. The producing of the bride will be complete, which was the plan of God from the beginning of creation.
8. We then move into the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ.

3) John Released from Exile to Prophesy

1. “Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” And I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. And he *said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”” Rev 10:8-11
2. John was told that he was not going to die in exile but would prophesy again before many peoples, nations, tongues and kings.
3. Some people have mistakenly thought John died on the Isle of Patmos
4. John returned to be the overseer of the seven churches of Asia.
5. John was released from exile after the death of Domitian, the Roman emperor who placed him there.
6. He had a vast ministry after his release; therefore, the prophecy saying he would prophesy again was fulfilled.

4) The Temple Mount

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. 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." Rev 11:1-2
2. Revelation 11 is completely devoted to the events of the final three and one-half years, the last 42 months between the beginning of the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.
3. John was told to measure the temple of those that worship therein, but not to measure the outer court.
4. This prophecy states the Jews will build a temple on the Temple Mount.
5. The Jews have not assembled there in 2,000 years.
6. They will be allowed to have control over part of the Temple Mount.
7. The prophesied coming peace agreement
8. The Temple Mount will be placed under a sharing arrangement.
9. The Scriptures prophesy the outer court will be trodden down by Gentiles; the Muslims claim control of the Temple Mount.
10. The Temple Mount is the holiest place on earth to the Jewish people.
11. God said He would put His name there forever.

5) Satan’s Two Witnesses

1. These are Satan’s two agents on the earth.
2. Antichrist will be the political leader.
3. False Prophet will be the spiritual leader.
4. These two leaders will be extremely powerful.
5. They will control politics, media, the money and the religions of the world.
6. The Antichrist and False Prophet will be revealed to the world at the beginning of the final three and one-half years.
7. The Great Tribulation will be a time of tremendous battle between good and evil and light and darkness.

6) God’s Two Witnesses

1. God will grant extraordinary power to His Two Witnesses.
2. ““And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” Rev 11:3-4
3. They will have power like no two prophets in the last 2,000 years.
4. They will have the ability to thwart the plans of the Antichrist.
5. They will have the power to smite the earth with plagues, which refer to the Vials that will be poured out in the end at the time of the Battle of Armageddon.
   “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.” Rev 11:5-6
6. They will preach the message of the coming Kingdom of God during the final three and one-half years.
7. They will tell the world not to follow the Antichrist and False Prophet; if they do, eternal damnation will be their destiny.
8. They will use the prophecies to expose the Antichrist and False Prophet to the world.
9. They will have a worldwide ministry and employ television, Internet, radio and other means to spread their message around the world.
10. They’ll explain the Bible prophesies a one-world government and a one-world economic system called the Mark of the Beast.

7)  Who are the Two Witnesses?

1. Some have thought they might be Moses, Elijah or Enoch since they were translated and never died.
2. There’s no precedent of anyone coming back after 2,000 or 3,000 years and then return to the earth as a mortal being.
3. Hebrews 9:27: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
4. The Two Witnesses will be mortal because they are going to die.
5. These two men are alive on earth right now and God is preparing them for the ministry He has for them.
6. Their powers will be much like Moses and Elijah.
7. They will have the spirit and power of Moses and Elijah but they will not be literally Moses and Elijah.

8)  World’s Greatest Revival

1. The Great Tribulation will be a time of the greatest revival the world has ever known.
2. The Two Witnesses will not be preaching just to take vengeance on the Antichrist and False Prophet but will be preaching to convert people to the Kingdom of God.
   “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;” (Rev 7:9)
3. They will be incredibly successful and will be specially used during this end time revival.
4. A great multitude that no man can number out of every tongue, every kindred and every people will be saved during this great revival.
   “Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev 7:13-14)

9)  The Two Witnesses Killed

1. After their ministry is complete, God will lift His hand of protection from them and allow them to be killed.
   “When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie on the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.” (Rev 11:7-8)
2. The Antichrist will capture them after his armies overtake Jerusalem and possibly while they are ministering on the Temple Mount.
3. The Battle of Armageddon will be in progress during this time.
   “For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be taken, the houses plundered, the women raped, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be eliminated from the city.” (Zec 14:2)
4. They will be killed three and one-half days before the Rapture during the Battle of Armageddon.
5. The Antichrist will kill the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem, and he’ll hate them so much that he will not allow them to be buried.
   “Those from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth.” (Rev 11:9-10)
6. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt; that city is Jerusalem.
7. They will be on display for three and one-half days and their bodies left in the street to rot.
8. The majority of the world will be so evil and sinful they will hate these Two Witnesses who tormented them and they will rejoice when they are dead.

10) The First Resurrection – The Rapture

1. The Two Witnesses will raise from the dead after three and one-half days.
2. The news of the prophesied resurrection of the Two Witnesses will be broadcast around the world.
3. The major media outlets will be present to broadcast this event and will make fun of Christians who actually believe this will happen.
4. Their enemies will watch them ascend into Heaven
5. After three and one-half days, the Two Witnesses’ feet leave the ground and rise into the air.
   “And after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.” (Rev 11:11-12)
6. The First Resurrection, the Rapture, happens at the end of the Great Tribulation.
   “Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” Rev 20:4-6
7. When those who have not taken the Mark of the Beast, nor pledged allegiance to the Antichrist are resurrected, the Scriptures plainly say this is the First Resurrection and this is when the resurrection or the Rapture occurs.
8. The Two Witnesses will go up at this same time in the First Resurrection.
9. he Scripture is explicit that the First Resurrection happens at the end of the Great Tribulation and the Rapture occurs at this same time.

11) A Great Earthquake

1. This earthquake happens during the same hour the Two Witnesses ascend into Heaven.
   “And at that time there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” (Rev 11:13-14)
2. The Mount of Olives will split in two; half will go toward the north and half will go toward the south.
3. A tenth part of Jerusalem will fall and 7,000 will be killed.
4. At this time, Jesus returns and plants His feet on the Mount of Olives.
   “Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west forming a very large valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and the other half toward the south.” (Zec 14:3-4)
5. Those who are born again will rise to meet Him in the air and join Him at the Mount of Olives.
6. Men will be afraid and give glory to God; they will know the Antichrist and the False Prophet have vilified these two preachers of God.
7. The Lord will go forth to fight against the nations and against the Antichrist and his world governmental system.

12) The Seventh Trumpet – The Third Woe

1. This is the end of human government and the beginning of the reign of Jesus Christ on the earth.
   “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”” (Rev 11:15)
2. The mystery of God or the plan of God will be finished.
3. The church will become the bride of Christ.
4. God’s plan from the very beginning was to have a special people who would become His bride, the Lamb’s wife – the New Jerusalem.
   “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.”” (Rev 21:9)

13) Conclusion

1. We are now living in the church age. If you want to enter the Kingdom of God, you must be born again.
2. You must get in the church of Jesus Christ because everything will culminate a few years from now when the last trumpet sounds.
3. When that trumpet sounds, you want to make sure when those Two Witnesses go up, that not just they go up, but you also are a part of the First Resurrection.
4. The plan of God and the mystery of God will have come to fruition.
5. We will crown Jesus Christ King of kings and Lord of lords!

So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. - Rev 8:6 NKJV

The Seven Trumpets

1. Book of Revelation - Divided into Three Segments (Revelation 1:19)

   a) Things which thou hast seen: chapter one – vision John saw
   b) Things which are: chapters two and three – Letters written to seven churches - 2,000 years ago
   c) Things which shall be hereafter – prophetic portion (Revelation 4:1)
   
   

2. Four Major Categories Form Skeletal Structure

   a) Seven Seals – Long story
   b) Seven Trumpets – Shorter story
   c) Seven Vials (Bowls) – Very short story
       i) First Vial happens after Mark of the Beast implemented.
       ii) Unleashed on whomever takes - Mark of the Beast
   d) Seven Thunders not explained (Revelation 10:4)
       i) God only allowed John to write what He wanted understood.
   e) Seals, Trumpets, Vials and Thunders begin at different times - end at the same time.
       i) Proves the Book of Revelation is not written in chronological order.
   
   

3. Parenthetical Chapters – Color Commentary

   a) Events were revealed to provide fuller understanding of Revelation.
       i) War in Heaven (Revelation 12)
       ii) One-world government - Antichrist, one-world religion - False Prophet and Mark of the Beast
       iii) (Revelation 13)
   
   

4. Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:6)

   a) Third Trumpet sounded (Chernobyl nuclear disaster) - April 26, 1986. (Revelation 8:10-11)
   “The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The star is named Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.” (Rev 8:10-11)
   b)       
       i) Russian word Chernobyl means wormwood.
       ii) Worst nuclear disaster in history of world
   c) Ten times as much radiation as Hiroshima and Nagasaki
   d) Nuclide Caesium-137 contaminated the waters. 30 year half-life
   e) Many have died - others developed cancer from radiation.
       i) Star of Wormwood Memorial Complex - dedicated to liquidators
   
   

5. “Trumpeting Angel” monument - 30-foot-tall iron angel sounding trumpet - symbolizes the prophecy.

6. Second Trumpet – World War II (Revelation 8:8-9)

   “The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.” (Rev 8:8-9)
   
   a) One-third of ships – 36,387 ships destroyed of 105,125.
   
   b) Great mountain burning with fire – first nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
   
   c) Largest death toll of any war – 52 million
   
   

7. First Trumpet – World War I (Revelation 8:7)

   “The first sounded, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.” (Rev 8:7)
   
   a) 8.2 million died.
   b) Scorched earth policy
   
   c) Biological weapons first used
   
   

8. Fifth Trumpet – Gulf War 1991 (Revelation 9:1-3, 7-9, 11)

   “Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him. He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the shaft. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.” (Rev 9:1-3)
   
   a) Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait - 1990.
   b) Hussein set 700 oil wells on fire.
   c) Smoke from the pit darkened the sun and sky for three months.
   
   d) Locusts with breastplates of iron - faces of men
   “The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like human faces. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle.” (Rev 9:7-9)
   “They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.” (Rev 9:11
   e) Helicopters and jet airplanes
   
   f) Abaddon in Hebrew - Apollyon in Greek - means destroyer.
   g) The Arabic word for Saddam means destroyer.
   
   

9. Fourth Trumpet – 1989 (Revelation 8:12, Matthew 24:22)

   “The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.” (Rev 8:12)
   

   a) Length of days and nights shortened by 1/3
   b) Number of days not shortened (Daniel 12:11)
   c) Time sped up
   
   

10. How could a man run a four-minute mile?

11. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity – time and speed - relative to each other

    a) Fall of Berlin Wall – a pivotal day in history
    

12. Beginning of the New World Order

13. An article from the London School of Economics called “The Global 1989? The year that changed the world”

14. Sixth Trumpet (Revelation 9:13-16)
    

    a) War will kill one-third of mankind.
    “Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw in my vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire, of hyacinth, and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths *came fire and smoke and brimstone. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire, the smoke, and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.” (Rev 9:13-18)
    
    

15. USAWatchdog.com - May 17, 2022, “Third of Global Population Killed in Next War

16. Cycle – Charles Nenner”

    a) War originates from Euphrates River area.

17. Four angels/evil spirits bound in Euphrates

18. Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran house the Euphrates River.

    a) Why will this war be fought?

19. Unsustainable population growth may be a factor.

    a) Army of 200 million will participate.

20. China – largest military force in the world

21. Islam – population around 1.9 billion

22. India – population around 1.35 billion

23. Thousands of United States troops stationed in Euphrates River region.

    a) Nuclear war highly likely (Revelation 9:17-19, Zechariah 14:12)

    “Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth.” (Zec 14:12)
    
    

24. John appears to be describing modern-day warfare.

25. John calls the fire, smoke and brimstone plagues.

26. Zechariah described flesh falling from people’s bodies.

    a) Seventh Trumpet (Revelation 11:15-18)

27. Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying:

    “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”” (Rev 11:15-18)
    
    a) Kingdoms of this world become kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

28. Reward given to the saints.

29. God’s Wrath will come.

30. Second Coming of Jesus Christ

    a) Apostle Paul taught about the last trumpet. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

    
        i) “Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1Co 15:51-53)
    
        ii) “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1Th 4:16-17)
    
    

31. Those who died and were born again will raise from the dead.

32. Those alive and serving God will be changed from mortal to immortal in the twinkling of an eye.

33. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air – the Rapture (Romans 8:11)

34. Summary

    a) To be in the Rapture, make sure you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
    b) The Holy Ghost is the power that will raise you up on that last day.
    c) Be prepared for the soon return of the Lord to this Earth

“And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (Rev 13:16-18, NASB)

666 – The Mark of the Beast

A. The Number 666 – Recognized Worldwide

1. Fear of the number 666 - Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
2. Reagans changed address from 666 to 668

B. Antichrist and His World Government will Require a Number

1. No one able to buy or sell without a number
2. Everyone forced to pledge allegiance - Antichrist.
   a. Bible says anyone who pledges allegiance - eternally damned

C. Fulfillment - 2,000-Year-Old Prophecy Only Possible Today

1. A system - every person on Earth - tracked and controlled economically - already in place
     a. Invention of computer
     b. Internet
     c. Blockchain technology
     d. Digital forms of payment

D. Global Economy

1. Mikhail Gorbachev - three root causes for war on Earth: “Perestroika”
     a. Political conflicts
     b. Religious conflicts
     c. Economic conflicts
2. Revelation 13
     a. One-world government and its ruler, the Antichrist (Revelation 13:1-8)
     b. One-world religion and leader, the False Prophet (Revelation 13:11-15)
     c. One-world economic system (Revelation 13:16-18)
   “And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (Rev 13:16-18, NASB)

E. False Prophet Gives Life - the Beast (Revelation 13:15)

1. Beast refers to political leader - Antichrist.
2. Image may be set up by the False Prophet through these venues:
   a. Television
   b. Internet
   c. Lifelike digital person using holograms
3. Everyone required to worship the beast
   a. Worship may mean to pledge allegiance.
   b. Worship of the Antichrist = worship the Devil (Revelation 13:4)
     “they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”” (Rev 13:4, NASB)
4. Those who refuse to accept the Mark of the Beast could be killed.
   a. Joseph Stalin – 20 million killed
   b. Mao Tse Tung – 60 million killed
   c. Adolf Hitler – Six million Jews killed, total 11 million killed
   d. History repeats itself.
       1) The Spanish Inquisition
       2) The Crusades
       3) Soviet Union, Communist China, Nazi Germany
   e. Coming persecution - worst persecution ever

F. Economy of the Antichrist (Revelation 13:16-17)

1. Number of his name - required to participate in economy
   a. Those who refuse - economically boycotted
   b. Everyone - required to conform
2. Europe moving toward conformity
   a. Homeschooling - against the law in Germany and other European areas.
   b. The government does not want a parallel society.
3. United Nations – Sanctions on nations who do not comply
   a. Sanctions - to apply on an individual level
     1) Technology exists - enables governments to sanction individuals.
     2) National ID card required in many countries to have a job.

G. Mark of the Beast

1. The mark will be required for individuals to buy and sell.
   a. Mark on right hand or forehead – fingerprint or eye scan
   b. National ID
   c. Digital number stored on smartphone
2. Two things a person should never do:
   a. Never allow a mark of identification to be placed on your person.
   b. Never pledge allegiance to the Antichrist or world government system.
3. Number of a man – 666 (Revelation 13:18)
   a. Ronald Wilson Reagan - 666
   b. Vicarius Filii Dei – Roman Numerals = 666
4. Accepting Mark of the Beast and Antichrist = eternal damnation (Revelation 14:9-11)
   “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”” (Rev 14:9-11, NASB)
   
   a. Those who refuse - Mark of the Beast - killed (Revelation 20:4-6)
   “Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Rev 20:4-6, NASB)
   
      1) First Resurrection - Reign with Christ 1,000 years
   
   b. Some who refuse the Mark of the Beast will survive. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
   “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1Th 4:16-17, NASB)
   
   
5. Antichrist will not control every part of the world.
   a. Jordan will escape. (Daniel 11:41)
   b. Israel will not be under control of the Antichrist. (Revelation 12:14)
   c. Eagle (U.S.) protects Israel from the Antichrist and world government.
     1) U.S. will not be a part of the world government.
   d. Other nations may resist the Antichrist. (Daniel 11:44)
   
   
6. All who take the mark - cast into the Lake of Fire - tormented forever. (Revelation 14:9-11)
   “Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”” (Rev 14:9-11, NASB)
   
   a. All will take the Mark of the Beast unless their name is in Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 13:8)
   b. Antichrist - rules for 42 months. (Revelation 13:5)

H. History Records the Numbering of People

1. United States Social Security System 1935 – Franklin D. Roosevelt
   a. Government stamped “Not to be used for identification.”
     1) Proved not to be valid – removed in 1972
   b. Social Security card required for taxes, buying a house and bank loans.
2. Adolf Hitler numbered the Jews during the Holocaust.
   a. Tattooed with numbers to be identified and tracked
3. End purpose of numbering - control
   a. Control and freedom - opposite terms

I. Most Nations Operate Under a National ID System

1. Some nations’ citizens are required to carry ID cards.
   a. North Korea
   b. Egypt
   c. Uganda
2. National IDs - legal identity for most of the world
   a. Over 100 nations have compulsory national ID cards - socialistic.
     1) India – universal biometric ID cards for all citizens
     2) China – ID cards with RFID chip for all citizens
   b. Non-compulsory IDs become mandatory over time.
     1) Driver’s license or ID card is required to fly in the U.S.
3. Global ID
   a. ICAO (arm of United Nations) oversees international travel. International Civil Aviation Organization
     1) Passports issued by member nations - conform to ICAO.
     2) Passports - global ID
     3) U.S. passports - RFID chip/digital photo with biometric identification

J. UN Sustainable Development Goals

1. Reached by 2030
   a. Convert nations - global community – governed by U.N.
2. ID 2020 Summit - May 2016
   a. Meeting of 400 people - provide unique digital identity
3. Global planners - universal digital identity - global government
   a. Blockchain technology could evolve - universal database.
4. Universal Numbering System (Revelation 13:16-17)

K. Universal Numbering System (Revelation 13:16-17)

1. Blockchain technology - Building Blocks - aid to Syrian refugees
   a. Biometric technology creates digital profiles unique to each family.
2. Vast global numbering system eventually used by the Antichrist to coerce people to pledge allegiance to him.
   a. World government must number every person.

L. Cashless Society

1. A digital system
   a. Cash is not trackable.
   b. Better Than Cash Alliance – achieve SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
2. Move from physical cash to a central bank digital currency
   a. Chinese digital yuan – control over citizens’ finances
3. Federal Reserve and central banks control the economies of the world.

M. Federal Reserve – not part of U.S. government

1. Cabal of private bankers controls our U.S. economy.
   a. Secret meeting on Jekyll Island - U.S. banking and currency reform
   b. Outline for the Federal Reserve Act determined – November 1910.
   c. U.S. Constitution - Congress sets interest rates and amount of money in circulation.
2. Federal Reserve Act placed control of America’s money in the hands of private bankers.
   a. Took control of U.S. economy away from Congress
   b. Became law Dec. 23, 1913
   c. Paul Warburg – principal architect - father of the Federal Reserve
     1) A citizen of Germany – became U.S. citizen in 1911
     2) Appointed member of Federal Reserve by President Woodrow Wilson

N. Federal Reserve – the United States’ Central Bank

1. The Federal Reserve is NOT a part of our Federal Government.
   a. A cabal of private bankers that control our economy
   b. Part of a global system of central banks designed to control the global economy
2. The Bank for International Settlements – the central bank of the central banks
3. Proposal for a Federal Reserve central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the U.S.
   a. President Biden signed the “Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets.”
4. Bank for International Settlements reported May 2022
   a. “Nine out of 10 central banks are exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) - over half are developing them or running concrete experiments.”

O. Summary

1. A universal system of digital currencies will control the buying and selling of every person. (Revelation 13:16-17)
2. The Antichrist will usurp authority over a fully operating global numbering system.
3. A person should never take any kind of mark of identification on their person.
4. Never pledge allegiance to the Antichrist and his world government.

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2Th 2:3-4)

The Antichrist and the False Prophet

A. Antichrist and False Prophet will Rule Revived Holy Roman Empire

1. Antichrist – most powerful political leader from Europe
2. False Prophet – most powerful religious leader from Rome

B. Antichrist – Coming One-World Government Dictator

1. Known by many names in Scripture:
   
   a. Man of lawlessness, son of destruction (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
   Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2Th 2:3-4)
   
   b. That lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
   Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and end by the appearance of His coming; (2Th 2:8)
   
   c. Little horn (Daniel 7:8, 21-22)
   
   d. Beast (Revelation 13:4-5)
   they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. (Rev 13:4-5)
   
   e. Antichrist
   Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. (1Jn 2:18)
     1) Anti means - against Christ
     2) Means in the place of Christ

C. Where will the Antichrist Come From?

1. Among a 10-horned kingdom – 10-king alliance (Daniel 7:8)
   
   “While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. (Da 7:8)
   
   
2. From the last 10 kings symbolized by the 10 toes of the image (Daniel 2)
   
   a. Antichrist arises from revived Holy Roman Empire. Mixture of clay and iron, political and religious.
   
   And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have within it some of the toughness of iron, since you saw the iron mixed with common clay. “And just as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong, and part of it will be fragile. “In that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in their descendants; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not combine with pottery. “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” (Dan 2:41-44, NASB)
   
   b.  Antichrist - from Europe

D. Antichrist’s Kingdom (Revelation 13)

1. Antichrist and his end time world government (Revelation 13:1-8)
   
   And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. (Rev 13:1-8)
   
   
2. His religious partner - False Prophet (Revelation 13:11-15)
   
   Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Rev 13:11-15)
   
   
3. One-world economic system (Revelation 13:16-18)
   
   And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. (Rev 13:16-18)
   
   
4. World government beast
   
   a. Germany – leopard
   b. Russia – bear
   c. Great Britain – lion
   d. Ten-nation alliance (10 horns) from Holy Roman Empire
   
   
5. Antichrist rules world government - 3 ½ years. (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5)

E. Identity of the Antichrist

1. Antichrist - man (Daniel 7:24-25)
   
   ‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. ‘He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (Da 7:24-25)
   
   
2. Antichrist confirms Abrahamic Covenant - seven years. (Daniel 9:27)
   
   “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (Da 9:27)
   
   a. God - covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:18)
   b. Confirmation of Covenant (peace agreement) confirms Israel’s right to exist in the Holy Land – the Promised Land.
   
   
3. Antichrist will arise among 10 kings. (Daniel 7:24, Revelation 17:12-13)
   
   
4. Antichrist uproots three kings. (Daniel 7:8, 24‘)
   
   As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. (Da 7:24)
   
   
5. Antichrist uses peace as a weapon. (Daniel 8:25)
   
   An example: United Nations’ “Responsibility to Protect” – historic expansion of power for the U.N.
   
   
6. Antichrist has a fierce countenance. (Daniel 7:20, 8:23)
   
   “In the latter period of their rule, When the transgressors have run their course, A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue. “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree And prosper and perform his will; He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. “And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken without human agency. (Da 8:23-25)
   
   
7. Antichrist claims to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
   
   a. Event - Abomination of Desolation (Antichrist revealed)
   b. “No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” (2Th 2:3-4, NASB)
   
   
8. Antichrist deceives through his brilliant intelligence. (Daniel 7:8, 8:23)
   
    ““And in the latter period of their dominion, When the wrongdoers have run their course, A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue.” (Dan 8:23, NASB)
   
   
9. Antichrist persecutes God’s people. (Revelation 13:7, Daniel 7:21)
   
   a. “It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over every tribe, people, language, and nation.” (Rev 13:7, NASB)
   
   b. ““I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and prevailing against them,” (Dan 7:21, NASB)
   
   
10. Antichrist dominates the world - faces resistance.
    
    a. Israel is protected by two wings of great eagle (U.S.). (Revelation 12:14)
    b. “But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent.” (Rev 12:14, NASB)
    
    
11. Antichrist will not control country of Jordan. (Daniel 11:41, 44)
    
    “He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.” (Dan 11:41, NASB)
    
    
12. Antichrist honors god of forces. (Daniel 11:31, 38)
    
    “Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.” (Dan 11:31, NASB)
    
    
13. Antichrist changes times and laws. (Daniel 7:25)
    
    “‘And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.” (Dan 7:25, NASB)
    
    
14. Antichrist will not regard desire of women. (Daniel 11:37)
    
    a. Desire of women is to have children.
    b. He may regulate the population of the Earth.
    c. ““And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will boast against them all.” (Dan 11:37, NASB)
    
    
15. Number of his name - 666 (Revelation 13:18, 15:2)
    
    
16. Antichrist is promoted by his religious partner (False Prophet).

F. False Prophet

1. Most powerful religious leader on Earth - two objectives:
   
   a. Unite the world’s religions under one belief system
   b. Influence all to pledge allegiance to Antichrist’s one-world government. (Revelation 13:11-15)
   c. “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. And he deceives those who live on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause all who do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” (Rev 13:11-15, NASB)
   
   
2. False Prophet looks like a lamb - speaks like a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)
   
   a. The dragon is Satan. (Revelation 12:9)
   
   
3. False Prophet supports the world government agenda. (Revelation 13:12)
   
   a. Pope Francis affirmed importance of Sustainable Development Goals.
   b. Pope Francis promoted redistribution of wealth, major plank of socialism.
   
   
4. False Prophet pulls down fire from Heaven. (Revelation 13:13)
   
   a. People will believe - work of God in the Earth.
   b. Jesus warned people - deceived in the end time (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24)
   c. Search the Scriptures (John 5:39)
   d. Be rooted and grounded - fundamental doctrines of the Bible to avoid being deceived (Psalms 119:11, 1 Timothy 4:16)
   
   
5. False Prophet will perform miracles to influence worship of the beast. (Revelation 13:14, 19:20)
   
   
6. False Prophet is the chief perpetrator of Great Tribulation. (Revelation 13:15)
   
   
7. False Prophet will support Antichrist - enforce Mark of the Beast. (Revelation 13:16-17)
   
   
8. False Prophet - influence world leaders - invades Israel at Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:13-16)57

G. Holy Roman Empire

1. Always ruled by two leaders – political leader from Europe - religious leader from Rome
   a. Charlemagne crowned emperor - 800 A.D. by Pope Leo III.
   b. Pope - always been - religious leader
   c. Political leader - Antichrist
   d. Spiritual leader - False Prophet – pope at the time of Antichrist
      1) Catholic prophecies predicted last pope.

H. Jesus will Destroy Antichrist and False Prophet - His Second Coming (Revelation 19:19-20)

1. Both will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
2. Jesus will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords.
3. Beginning of the Kingdom of God

I. End of Millennial Reign

1. Satan loosed to deceive the nations after 1,000 years expires. (Revelation 20:7-10)
   a. Satan - influences the world - fights against Jesus Christ.
   b. The people of the world come against city of Jerusalem.
2. Fire from Heaven comes down from God - destroys those gathered against Jerusalem.
   a. Satan cast into Lake of Fire with Antichrist and False Prophet.
   b. End of human experience - end of Satan

J. Summary

1. Know and understand biblical truths in the end time. (John 8:32, 5:39)
2. A working knowledge of the Bible is of utmost importance.
3. Biblical illiteracy would allow someone to believe the False Prophet’s deceptive message and pledge allegiance to the Antichrist.
4. It is time to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

"You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. "The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. "You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:31-35 NASB)

1.  Rebirth - Holy Roman Empire – Nov. 3, 2009
   1. One of top five prophetic fulfillments in 2,000 years
   2. Antichrist and False Prophet - out of reborn Holy Roman Empire
   
   
2. Prophecy - Woman Riding - Back of a Beast
   1. Statue of bull - woman (Europa) riding on its back.
   
   
3. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream – Feet of Iron Mingled With Clay
   1. Nebuchadnezzar cannot remember his dream.
   2. Daniel dreamed the king’s dream and provided interpretation. (Daniel 2:31-35, 37-45)
   3. "You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. "The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. "You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Dan 2:31-35 NASB)
   4. "You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory; and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold. "After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth. "Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. "In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. "As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery. "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. "Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy." (Dan 2:37-45 NASB)
   
   
4. Interpretation of the Dream
   1. Five empires - rule the world - until Lord’s return
      a. Babylon – Head of gold
      b. Media-Persia – Arms and breast of silver
      c. Greece – Belly and thighs of brass
      d. Roman Empire – Legs of iron
      e. Holy Roman Empire – Feet of iron mingled with clay
   
   
5. Common Misconception About Nebuchadnezzar’s Image – Daniel 2
   1. Some teach - sections of image are same as four beasts of Daniel 7. They claim:
      a. Lion - Babylon
      b. Bear - Media-Persia
      c. Leopard - Greece
      d. Ten-horned kingdom - Rome
   
   2. Inconsistencies with this theory
      a. Daniel 8 reveals ram fighting with he-goat. (Daniel 8:20-21)
         1. "The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia. "The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. (Dan 8:20-21 NASB.
      b. Kingdoms of Babylon and Media-Persia no longer exist.
      c. Beasts of Daniel 7 represent nations - in power - Second Coming of Jesus Christ
   
   
6. Handwriting on the Wall
   1. Belshazzar used vessels from temple dedicated to God.
   2. Forefinger of God wrote a message on wall.
      a. Daniel called to interpret the message. (Daniel 5:25-28)
         "Now this is the inscription that was written out: 'MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.' "This is the interpretation of the message: 'MENE'—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it. " 'TEKEL'—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. " 'PERES'—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians." (Dan 5:25-28 NASB)
      b. Kingdom of Babylon overthrown by Medes and Persians - 539 B.C.
   
   
7. Greek and Roman Empires
   1. Grecian Empire ruled the world - 331 B.C. to 197 B.C.
      a. Alexander the Great conquered the Medes and Persians.
   2. The Roman Empire defeated Grecians - 197 B.C.
      a. Ruled until 284 A.D.
      b. Ruled during time of Christ
   
   
8. Holy Roman Empire Born – 800 A.D.
   1. Feet of iron mingled with clay (Daniel 2:42-43): "As the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery. (Dan 2:42-43 NASB)
      a. Iron - Roman element
      b. Clay - Religious element
      c. An alliance of church and state
   
   2. Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor of Holy Roman Empire on Dec. 25, 800 A.D.
      a. Ruled the world for 1,000 years
      b. Ruled by dual leadership – political leader and religious leader
   
   
9. Stone Represents Kingdom of God
   1. Stone rolled down the mountain, smote the image on the feet mingled with iron and clay.
      a. God destroys - governments of men.
      b. Holy Roman Empire - in power at this time
      c . Sets up His Kingdom in the days of these kings (Daniel 2:44)
   "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. "Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy." (Dan 2:44-45 NASB)
   
   
10. Ten Toes Same as 10 Horns
    1. Ten kings symbolized by the 10 toes. (Daniel 2:40-43)
       a. ““Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; just as iron smashes and crushes everything, so, like iron that crushes, it will smash and crush all these things. “And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have within it some of the toughness of iron, since you saw the iron mixed with common clay. “And just as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong, and part of it will be fragile. “In that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in their descendants; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not combine with pottery.” (Dan 2:40-43)
    
    2. Ten-king alliance supports Antichrist as 10 horns. (Revelation 17:12-13)
    ““The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.” (Rev 17:12)
       a. Last 10-nation union will support Antichrist and end time world government.
       b. Ten toes in Daniel 2:44 are exact same as 10 horns in Revelation 17
       c. These 10 kings will fight against the Lamb/Jesus. (Revelation 17:14)
    ““These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”” (Rev 17:13-14)
    
    3. The Lord will defeat the world government armies.
       a. Those with Him when He returns will be called, chosen and faithful. (Jude 1:14, Zechariah 14:5)
       “It was also about these people that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord has come with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”” (Jud 1:14-15)
    
    “And you will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!” (Zec 14:5)
11. Rebirth of Holy Roman Empire – Nov. 3, 2009
    1. Winston Churchill called for United States of Europe after WWII.
       a. Treaty of Rome signed in 1957
       b. Common Market established
          1) First goal - economic union, ultimate goal – political union
             a. 1987 ECU - European Currency Unit Coin
             b. Charlemagne Coin – First Emperor of Holy Roman Empire 800ad
    
    2. Maastricht Treaty – 1992
    a. Goal to transition from economic union to political union
    b. Established common currency - euro – 1999
    c. Common Market expanded to 25-member states – 2004.
       1) Merged economies – adopted euro as their currency
    
    3. European Union – 2007 27 members
       a. Became world’s #1 economic power – 500 million population
       b. Charlemagne Prize
          1) President Clinton awarded for bringing Yugoslavia into EU
          2000 Clinton took Milosovich out of power European unity
       c. Charlemagne Page in The Economist magazine
       d. Applicants apply to join EU – Charlemagne Building in Brussels, Belgium
       e. EU flag with 12 gold stars – Catholic symbolism despite 27 nations like woman rev 12 12 stars
    
    
12. European Union Constitution
    1. Converted Constitution into Lisbon Treaty
    2. Ratified by 27 members - Dec. 13, 2007
       a. Finalized Lisbon Treaty Nov. 3, 2009, in a monastery – Holy Roman Empire reborn
       Its own President and its own Foreign Minister
          1) The entity - in power at time of Antichrist, False Prophet and Second Coming of Jesus Christ
    
    
13. Beast - Seven Heads and 10 Horns
    1. Depiction of governmental system - reborn Holy Roman Empire
       a. Woman (symbol of Vatican) riding back of beast
    “And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev 17:3)
       b. The beast - symbol of world government system
          1) Symbolizes a union of politics and religion
    
    2. Ten horns, 10 toes symbolize 10-nation union – 10 kings
       a. Ten nations - form an alliance - Antichrist (Revelation 17:12-13)
       b. Antichrist rises up from this union - uproots three kings.
    
    
14. How does the 10-Nation Alliance Develop?
    1. Europe urges member nations to give up their sovereignty.
       a. Some nations willing to integrate - others are not
    
    2. Two-tiered European Union proposed
       a. Financial Times article titled, “A two-tier model to revive Europe.”
       b. Potentially solve - British exit from EU
       c. Perhaps upper tier of 10-nations make alliance with Antichrist.
    
    
15. Europe - Center of World Power - End Time
    1. Four beasts described - Daniel 7:4-7
       a. Lion with eagle’s wings – Great Britain and United State
       b. Bear – Russia
       c. Four-headed leopard – Germany
       d. Ten-horned beast – reborn Holy Roman Empire or EU
    
    2. John uses same symbols to describe end time world government. (Revelation 13:1-2)
       a. Four separate nations in Daniel - federalized into one large global governing body
       b. All these nations - part of Europe
    
    3. After World War III - center of power swings to Europe.
       a. Antichrist and False Prophet rules the world - 3 ½ years.
    
    
16. Summary
    1. Holy Roman Empire - reborn and current European Union
    2. Last world dominion - prior to Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." (Dan 9:27 NKJV)

Provisions of the coming peace agreement:

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." (Dan 9:27 NKJV)

1. A Palestinian state created in Judea - West Bank
2. Jews living in the new Palestinian state will be permitted to stay.
3. Temple Mount placed under sharing arrangement.
4. Israel will build Third Temple on Temple Mount.
   1) Jewish temple completed during first 3 ½ years of seven-year agreement.
5. A final agreement on the status of Jerusalem will be postponed for seven years, allowing Israel to retain control.

The seven-year peace agreement:

1. Jews offer animal sacrifices - Antichrist orders sacrifices stopped.
2. Antichrist stands on Temple Mount declaring to be Messiah – Abomination of Desolation.
   
   "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,'  spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. (Mat 24:15-22 NKJV)
   
   
3. Great Tribulation starts - middle of seven-year agreement - Jews in Judea flee – continues 3 ½ years
4. End of seven-year agreement - Palestinians and International Community demands Israel surrender east Jerusalem – Israel refuses.
5. International Community invades Israel to force compliance.
6. Israel will fight invading armies of the Antichrist and his world government – Battle of Armageddon.
   
   The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are 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. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.") And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.(Rev 16:12-16 NASB)
   
   
7. Jesus will come back to Earth and fight for Israel – defeats world government armies – establishes His Kingdom on Earth.

Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27)

"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."(Dan 9:24-27 NASB)

1. This prophecy is described as 70 weeks of years or 490 years.
   
   Another seven-year timespan is recorded in Genesis 29:27-28.
   
   "Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you shall serve with me for another seven years." Jacob did so and completed her week, and he gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.(Gen 29:27-28 NASB)
   
   A week equaled seven years just like the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.

Final Seven Years - 490-Year Prophecy

1. Middle East peace agreement - Final Seven Years begins. (Daniel 9:27)

2. Five important aspects:

   a. Who is “he”?
   b. What is the “covenant”?
   c. What is the Confirmation of the Covenant?
   d. What are the sacrifices that will be stopped?
   e. What is the Abomination of Desolation?

3. Who is “he”?

   a. The “he” does three things:
      1) Confirms covenant
      2) Causes the sacrifice and offering to cease
      3) Sets up Abomination of Desolation     
   b. Antichrist - prince of the covenant (Daniel 11:21-22)
   "In his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. "The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant. (Dan 11:21-22 NASB)
   c. Antichrist takes away the daily sacrifice. (Daniel 11:31)
   "Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.(Dan 11:31 NASB)
   d. Antichrist shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Daniel 11:31)
   e. The “he” is the Antichrist.

4. What is the Covenant?

   a. God made a covenant with Abraham. (Genesis 15:18)
   On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:(Gen 15:18 NASB)
   b. Abrahamic Covenant - God’s promise - Promised Land would belong to him and his descendants forever.

5. What is the Confirmation of the Covenant?

   a. Antichrist confirms Israel’s right to homeland in the Promised Land.
   b. Agreement establishes Palestinian homeland in Judea-Samaria.

6. What sacrifices will the Antichrist stop?

   a. Animal sacrifices - offered as in Old Testament
   b. Antichrist stops animal sacrifices.

7. What is the Abomination of Desolation?

   a. Abomination of Desolation occurs in holy place. (Matthew 24:15)
   "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),(Mat 24:15 NASB)
   b. Holy place - temple or Temple Mount 1) Antichrist stands in temple and claims to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
   that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.(2Th 2:2-4 NASB)

Peace, at Last!

1. The world rejoices when agreement is struck – believing new era of peace and security.

   a. Jews and Muslims worship side-by-side.
   b. Jews believe Third Temple signals return of Messiah.

Final War on Earth – Armageddon

1. Issue of Jerusalem resurfaces at end of seven years.

   a. Israel refuses to surrender Jerusalem.
   b. United Nations demands Israel allow the establishment - Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem.
   c. Israel declares Jerusalem her eternal capital – never divided or surrendered.
   d. Military invasion launched by U.N. to force Israel’s submission - will of International Community (Zechariah 14:2)
   For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. (Zec 14:2 NASB)
   e. Invasion starts in Plain of Megiddo (Battle of Armageddon).
   f. Israel fights valiantly - driven back by superior forces.
   g. Israel makes last stand at the outskirts of Jerusalem - half of the city goes into captivity. (Zechariah 14:2)
   h. Jesus Christ intervenes on the side of Israel. (Zechariah 14:3)
   Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. (Zec 14:3-4 NASB)
   i. He destroys the Antichrist and human government – establishes His Kingdom upon Earth. (Revelation 11:15)
   j. Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."(Rev 11:15 NASB)

This is the Second Coming of Jesus

“On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:” (Gen 15:18, NASB)

Today we are going to look at the centerpiece of God’s end time plans, the nation of Israel.

A. Significance of the Nation of Israel

1. More prophecies about the nation of Israel than any other nation
2. Israel is a chosen nation by God.

B. History of the Nation of Israel

1. First 11 chapters of the Bible are devoted to 2,000 years of human history.
2. God devotes the next 12 chapters on the life of one man, Abraham.

C. Abraham

1. Father of the physical people of God, the Jews and father of the spiritual people of God, the church. (Genesis 12:1-3)

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Gen 12:1-3 NASB)

1. Abraham was called Abram until God changed his name.
2. Abraham was called to go to the Promised Land – the nation of Israel.
3. I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse (Genesis 12:3)

2. God gave Abraham two promises.

1. The promise of the Promised Land (Genesis 15:17-18)
   On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: (Gen 15:18 NASB)
2. The promise of the promised seed (Genesis 17:19)
   But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.(Gen 17:19 NASB)
   1. Fulfilled with birth of Isaac

3. God tests the loyalty and faithfulness of Abraham. (Genesis 22:1-2)

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."(Gen 22:1-2 NASB)

1. God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac, the long-awaited promise.
2. God led Abraham to Mount Moriah. (First Temple - Temple Mount today)
3. Abraham built the altar and placed Isaac on the altar. (Genesis 22:12-13)
   
   He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.(Gen 22:12-13 NASB)
   
   
4. The word “seed” is singular, and the promise refers to Jesus Christ. (Genesis 22:18, Galatians 3:16)
   
   "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."(Gen 22:18 NASB)
   
   Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.  (Gal 3:16 NASB) 
   
   
5. God provided Himself as a sacrifice and wants to know if we love Him more than anything else and will obey Him.

D. The dual covenant promise of God to Abraham of the promised seed which includes all Believers and the covenant with the Land ensures that God’s eternal purposes will be fulfilled in Israel. A critical part of this is the Melchizedek relationship which is tied to Jerusalem.

1. Let’s dive into this a bit. Abraham wins a battle to rescue Lot and then on his return he meets with Melchizedek who is identified as the King of Salem, Jerusalem.
   
   And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." He gave him a tenth of all. (Gen 14:18-20 NASB)
   
   
2. Most would not see this critical action but by tithing to Melchizedek Abraham is delivering His covenant loyalty to him. When Abram tithed he declared His provision to be under the Lord. Our tithing is a statement of loyalty. As Yeshua told us:
   
   for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mat 6:21 NASB)
   
   As a revelation, the book of Hebrews tells us:
   For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU." And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.(Heb 6:13-20 NASB)
   
   
3. The order of Melchizedek. His name means king of righteousness. He defined as being the hope or promise that enters the veil. This is a description of covenant. A bride wears a veil. Within the veil is a word picture of oneness. The promise of God, His covenant oath, which He is said to have sworn on Himself, because there is none greater. This is the first foundation stone of the promise of God, to give a seed and to ensure a land inheritance.

Ok. Let’s come full circle to the end times and the role of Israel as a prophetic timeclock. I wrote a book entitled: Why Israel, Why Now? We are going to dive deep into that question.

A. Prophecy With a Date on It

1.  Daniel prophesies the Confirmation of the Covenant

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." (Dan 9:27 NKJV)

1. When this event occurs, it will be seven years until the Battle of Armageddon and Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
2. Without this prophecy, we cannot perceive God’s time clock for the time in which we now live
3. the “peace treaty which will be forced on Israel by the world government will break the covenant of God and usher in the government of the antichrist.

Let’s look at some events that have pushed us in this direction:

B. Six-Day War

1. Israel defeated her enemies in six days.

2. Israel captured the following areas which were part of the biblical Promised Land:

1. Sinai Desert - Egypt
2. Golan Heights - Syria
3. Biblical areas of Judea and Samaria
4. City of Jerusalem and Temple Mount – fulfillment of God’s promise

3. Israel disobeyed God by not removing the pagan houses of worship.

1. Israel invited the Muslim Waqf back and placed the Temple Mount under their control.
2. They feared the International Community if they destroyed the Muslim holy places.
3. Israel did not drive the inhabitants from the Promised Land. (Numbers 33:50-55)

C. Yom Kippur – Day of Judgment

1. Israel’s enemies plotted to destroy the nation of Israel.

1. In 1973 the Arab armies launched a surprise attack against Israel on Yom Kippur.
2. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in Israel.
3. God in His anger sent the judgment of the Yom Kippur War.

2. God instructed Israel to avoid agreements with their enemies. (Exodus 23:32)

1. Israel has failed to live by His Word and instruction

D. Treaties with Israel’s Arab Neighbors

1. Israel has sought to make treaties with her Arab neighbors.

1. 1979 – Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty at Camp David Accords
2. 1993 – Oslo Peace Accords on White House lawn
3. 1994 – Israeli-Jordanian peace agreement
4. Bill Clinton attempted peace to the Middle East at Camp David in 2000.
   1) Yasser Arafat refused to give up Temple Mount.
   2) Clinton offered the solution - share the Temple Mount.
   3) Coming peace agreement - Temple Mount placed under sharing arrangement. (Revelation 11:1-2)
5. 2002 – Road Map for Peace proposed by Quartet – Russia, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations.
6. 2007 – Annapolis Peace Conference – George W. Bush g. 2009 – Barack Obama – wanted peace in the Middle East
   1) Appointed George Mitchell – special envoy - unsuccessful
   2) Appointed John Kerry - unsuccessful 2014 - Palestinian-Israeli negotiations unsuccessful

2. Resolution 2334 - U.N. Security Council - Dec. 23, 2016

1. Israel’s presence in all territories east of 1967 borders - violation of international law
2. Israel could be placed under economic sanctions and military invasion by International Community

3. President Donald Trump attempted to do the “deal that can’t be done.”

1. Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt - proposed “Peace to Prosperity.”
2. Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel – Dec. 6, 2017.
   1) Moved U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
   2) Recognized Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights
3. Trump and Netanyahu unveiled “the deal of the century” for a two-state peace plan – Jan. 28, 2020. d. Washington, D.C. - Abraham Accords signed between Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain – Sept. 15, 2020.

4. hamas and Iran. Pushing the envelope further to the isolation of Israel and the US. Next week we’ll look at part 2 and look at the specific events to come.

“And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:15)

World War III

A. World War III (Revelation 9:15)

1. Fifteen to 20 translations of Revelation 9:15 indicate a third of mankind will die in this war. “And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:15)

B. World War Fatalities

1. World War I – 8.2 million dead
2. World War II – Over 52 million dead
3. World War III – Over 2.5 billion will die.

C. The Beginning of World War III – Sixth Trumpet Prophecy

1. WWIII will begin around the Euphrates River. “Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:13-15)
   
   a. When the four angels who are bound in the Euphrates River are loosed, their assignment is to slay the third part of men.
   
   
2. The angels are evil spirits. (Revelation 9:14)
   
   a. They are bound and when loosed, they are to kill.
   b. According to Daniel 10:13, 20, nations have their own angels.
   
   
3. Four nations house the Euphrates River.
   
   a. Turkey
   b. Syria
   c. Iraq
   d. Iran

D. Who will be Involved in WWIII?

1. The number of the army was two hundred million (Revelation 9:16) “The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.” (Rev 9:16)
   
   
2. The question is who could assemble such an army?
   
   a. China - Mao Tse-Tung boasted he could field an army of 200 million.
   b. Islam – Population of 1.9 billion
   c. India – Population of about 1.4 billion
   d. The United States military presence – around Euphrates for decades

E. The Three Woes

1. The Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Trumpets - the Three Woes (Revelation 8:13)
   
   “Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”” (Rev 8:13)
   
   a. The first woe - Fifth Trumpet (Revelation 9:1-12)
   b. The second woe: The Sixth Trumpet War (Revelation 9:13-21)
   
   “Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Rev 9:13-15)
   
   c. The beginning of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 10)
   d. Events that transpire during the final 3 ½ years (Revelation 11:1-13)
   e. The third woe - Seventh Trumpet/Battle of Armageddon and the Rapture (Revelation 11:15)

F. The Timing of World War III

1. Before the Great Tribulation (Revelation 9:13-20)
   
   a. The Great Tribulation begins 3 ½ years before the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 10:1-2, 5-6, NKJV)
   b. The Great Tribulation is 3 ½ years. (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5, Revelation 12:6)
   c. Old Testament account of Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1, 6-7)
   
   
2. Jesus said the Great Tribulation would begin at the Abomination of Desolation.
   
   ““Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house. “And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. “But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” (Mat 24:15-21)
   
   a.        The Abomination of Desolation happens halfway through the final seven-year period. (Daniel 9:27)
   b.        ““And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come the one who makes desolate, until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, gushes forth on the one who makes desolate.”” (Dan 9:27)    

G. Timeline of Events

1. Sixth Trumpet War (begins just before or just after the peace agreement in the Middle East)
2. Peace agreement (Confirmation of the Covenant) – Final Seven Years begins.
   
   a. Final borders of Israel established.
   b. Temple Mount will be placed under international control.
   c. Third Temple built within first 3 ½ years.
   
   
3. Animal sacrifices reinstated
   
   a. Antichrist will cause the sacrifice and oblation to stop.
   
   
4. Abomination of Desolation – Final 3 ½ years begins.
   
   a. The Antichrist will stand on the Temple Mount and claim to be the ultimate authority and God.
   b. Jesus said, “... then shall be great tribulation ... ” (Matthew 24:21)
   
   
5. Mark of the Beast
   
   a. Every person on Earth will be forced to pledge allegiance to Antichrist.
   b. Power was given to the beast (Antichrist) to continue 42 months then culminating at the Battle of Armageddon. (Revelation 13:5)

H. What Happens After World War III?

1. An incredible outcry for peace
   
   a. This war will be catastrophic enough to usher in the peace agreement in the Middle East.

I. What will Start World War III?

1. Terrorist attacks
   
   a. A terrorist attack against the United States?
   b. Israel could attack Iran?
   c. The U.S. could attack Iran in support of Israel?
   
   
2. Noted historians say this war began with 9/11.
   
   
3. Iran (bordering the Euphrates River) is the number one state sponsor of terrorism.
   
   a. Iran’s goal is to take over the world and convert everyone to Islam.
   
   
4. The war will be a nuclear war to kill over 2.5 billion people.

J. The Global Political Situation After World War III

1. Whole world will follow this beast. (Revelation 13:1-3)
   
   a. Four beasts from Daniel 7 are combined into one beast in Revelation 13
   
   (one-world government).
2. The eagle’s wings from Daniel 7 are not included in Revelation 13.
   
   a. The U.S. will not be part of this one-world government.
   b. America will not be under the reign of the Antichrist.

K. American-Israeli Friendship

1. The nation of Israel
   
   a. Israel will survive WWIII to build her Third Temple.
   
   
2. Over 2.5 billion people killed during WWIII
   
   a. Islam will be part of this number.
   b. China may be included.
   
   
3. The center of power in Europe will include:
   
   a. Germany (the leopard)
   b. Russia (the bear)
   c. Great Britain (the lion)
   d. The Holy Roman Empire (the 10-horned beast)
   
   
4. The Antichrist and False Prophet will form a coalition.
5. The False Prophet will be the leader of apostate Christianity.
   
   a. Because of lack of doctrine, Christians will rejoin the leadership of Roman Catholicism.
   b. The Roman Catholic Church will be the strongest religion on Earth.
6. Religious extremism will be blamed for WWIII.
   
   a. Those who are unwilling to bow to the belief that all religions are accepted under Christianity will be persecuted.

L. What About the Eagle?

1. The eagle’s wings are not mentioned in the combo beast of Revelation 13.
   
   a. The Antichrist will make war against the woman Israel. (Revelation 12:13)
   b. Israel will be protected during Great Tribulation - final 3 ½ years. (Revelation 12:14)
2.  Israel’s only friend is the eagle – the United States.
   
   a. The U.S. has used its veto power at the United Nations to protect Israel.
   b. There will be nations who resist the Antichrist.
   c. The people that understand among the people are going to be in full evangelism mode. (Daniel 11:32)

M. Sixth Trumpet War is not the Battle of Armageddon.

1. The distinctions of the Sixth Trumpet War
   
   a. Originates in the Euphrates River region (Revelation 9:14-15)
   b. This war must expand beyond the Middle East region.
   
   
2. The distinctions of the Battle of Armageddon
   
   a. This battle will be localized in Israel. (Revelation 16:16)
   b. The word “Armageddon” comes from two words: Har Megiddo or Hill of Megiddo.
   
   
3. The Sixth Trumpet War occurs before the Great Tribulation.
4. The Battle of Armageddon occurs at the end of the Great Tribulation.
   
   a. Mark of the Beast is implemented during the Great Tribulation and reign of the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:5, 7)
   b. The Seven Vials of God’s Wrath are poured out at the end of the Great Tribulation. (Revelation 16:1-2)
   
   
5. The location and timing allow us to know these are two separate wars.

N. After the Sixth Trumpet War men did not repent of their sins. (Revelation 9:20-21)

1. Men will turn toward the Antichrist and his one-world government.
2. This scenario where men repented not is recorded another time. (Matthew 11:20-24, NKJV)
   
   Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. “But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. “But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” Matthew 11:20-24 (New King James Version)
   
   
3. During the Fourth Vial, men were scorched with great heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God instead of repenting. (Revelation 16:8-9)
   
   a. Most people will feel no remorse for their sins and rebellion against God.
   b. When we are chastised by God, we should repent instead of rebelling!

O. Summary

1. Repentance is part of the salvation experience. Ask God to forgive you of your sins and turn away from your old sinful lifestyle.
2. It is so important to God, He included the inconceivable unrepentant mindset of mankind after both the Sixth Trumpet War and during the Vials of the Wrath of God!
3. There is only one place of safety in the times just ahead. (Proverbs 18:10)
   
   The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 (New King James Version
   
   
4. Except a person is born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”” (Rev 5:1-2, NASB)

Last session we spoke about the first four seal which revealed the main spiritual players in the earth who would be part of the antichrist government.

The colors of the horses revealed that these are strongholds or philosophies of man that control vast numbers of people. Red is communism/socialism, white is Catholicism, black is capitalism and finally the green horse is Islam. Now let’s turn our attention to the final 3 seals and see their significance.

Seal number 5: “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth?” And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also.” (Rev 6:9-11, NASB)

The fifth seal describes people who will be killed during the Great Tribulation. Their spirits have ascended to God and they are in the Presence of the Lord asking, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth?” The Lord replied that they should rest a little while longer until their fellow servants should also be killed.

Yeshua prophesied this in Matthew 24:21:

““For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” (Mat 24:21, NASB)

The 5th seal is the seal of the Great Tribulation. It precedes the 6th seal which is the return of the Lord. The time period of the 5th seal is 3 ½ years. It is described in Daniel 7:25, describing the Great Tribulation, which is the rule of the antichrist:

“‘And he will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.” (Dan 7:25, NASB). A time is a year, times is 2 years and half a time is 6 months, total 3 ½ years 

REVELATION 13: 5 tells us again of the rule of the antichrist:

“A mouth was given to him speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.” (Rev 13:5, NASB) 42 months is 3 ½ years.

Daniel 12:7 describes the war with God’s people , the Great Tribulation, by the antichrist:

“And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.” (Dan 12:7, NASB)

Revelation 11:2-3 finishes the picture of the 5th seal: ““Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations; and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”” (Rev 11:2-3, NASB).

We’ll discuss the witnesses soon. 

Onto the all-important 6th seal: “And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they *said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”” (Rev 6:12-17, NASB)

The 6th seal reveals the second coming of Yeshua at the Battle of Har Meggido or Armageddon. The sun will become black as sackcloth of hair. The moon will become as blood. The stars will fall from the sky. These are celestial signs that are spoken of in conjunction with the return of Yeshua. Yeshua spoke of this in what is known as the Olivet discourse on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. He was asked:

“And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”” (Mat 24:3, NASB). Yeshua spent the rest of Matthew 24 answering this question with prophetic declarations.

In verses 29:31 He tells of the celestial signposts:

““But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” (Mat 24:29-31, NASB)

First notice that this is after the Great Tribulation, the 5th seal. Those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon shall not give off its light. Stars will fall from the sky. The powers of the heavens will be shaken. This is a change in governmental authority.

The Apostle Paul tells us:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12, NASB)

The antichrist and the one-world government he heads up that have ruled the world for 3 ½ years are about to be shaken up. 

The 6th seal continues: “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Clearly this is the return of the Lord at the battle of Har Megiddo when Israel is surrounded by her enemies. On a side note it is clear that this is when the Lord gathers his elect who have not been killed by the Great Tribulation. This should put to rest any notion of a pretribulation rapture or who are the elect?

Finally the 7th seal.

“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” (Rev 8:1, NASB)

Why is there silence in heaven for ½ hour? I believe it is in honor of what has just happened with the 6th seal. 6 is the number of works and 7 is the number of rest or completion. I believe the 6th seal is the equivalent to the 6th day of creation and it is where God shows His love for His bride, His beloved. The 7th seal is the peace of the cross the completed work, the it is finished.

Those who have been martyred and those who survived the antichrist are all joined together as the bride: Paul describes this process:

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” (1Th 4:13-17, NASB)

Yeshua returns with those who have fallen asleep through Yeshua, the martyrs of the Great Tribulation clothed in white. Those who are still on the earth will meet together with Him and we will all be transformed. This all takes place and in response there is 30 minutes of silence in heaven, a big Wow!

Heaven continues:

“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the saints before God.” (Rev 8:2-4, NASB)

What is key here is realized that our prayers are not lost. They are bottled up until the great day of the Lord.

“Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.” (Rev 8:5, NASB)

This is the final event of the 7th seal and is repeated in the 7th vial and the 7th trumpet. The 7th trumpet is described in Revelation11:15

“Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”” (Rev 11:15, NASB)

This indicates the shift of power is complete.

The 7th vial is poured out in Revelation 16:17

“Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”” (Rev 16:17, NASB)

These 3, the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet and the 7th vial all point to the completed work of God. It is truly what the sabbath, the shabbat is all about. The entering into His rest. Before this though we need to cover some other key events so we can be prepared for this time that we are in as we head to the final showdown.

“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."” (Rev 5:1-5)

The book of Revelation is structured in 3 groups of 7. These are the 7 seals, the seven trumpets and the 7 vials. The first group is the seals and the fist 4 of the seals are the 4 horsemen. What is a seal, biblically?

A seal in Hebrew is Chatam. It is literally the picture of a ring with a signet on it. When a king sent a communication, its authority came from the seal. The signet was impressed into wax which was melted over the closure of the document. The seals represent the authority of the document and also they reserve the document for the one it is addressed to.

In Revelation 5, the angel asks the question who is worthy to open the scroll? John is told there is no one worthy is heaven or on earth or even under earth worthy to open it. As an aside, for those who doubt the existence of the underworld, this should clear that up.

John begins to weep. Why? Because He knows the scroll is the key to the end times and if not opened then there can be no transition of governments from the kingdom of man to the kingdom of God. Again, remember that the end times describes not “the end of time” but the end of the time on man’s government and the beginning of the kingdom of God with Yeshua ruling and reigning.

One of the elders answers John’s tears. Who are the elders? Revelation 4:4 tells us:

“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.” (Rev 4:4)  The thrones indicate authority as do the crowns. The white garments indicate purity. This is picture of the coming Kingdom with Yeshua s the king of kings. These would be the kings that He is King of. So they have the mind of Christ and understand the true nature of the coming kingdom. So it appropriate when no one is found worthy and John weeps that it would be an elder who reveals Him who is worthy. 

He tells John that it is Him who is the lion of the tribe of Judah. The lion is the symbol of Judah, which is distinguished from the lion of Great Britain which is a beast from the earth. He is the root of David, meaning the authority of David and the eternal covenant that is the power of David’s kingdom. This is so important to see that God always honors His covenant. The source of David’s eternal kingdom is and always will be God. This is why Israel may be attacked but God is her defense.

OK. Let’s proceed to the seals themselves. For today we will speak of the first 4.

“Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him. When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.” When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.” (Rev 6:1-8)

These four horsemen are God appointed power active in the end times. Let’s pay close attention to the colors of the horses and the symbolism of rulers in the end times. Let’s go out or order just to make it simple to see. Let’s begin with the red horse. It is the easiest to see. Whose symbol is red today? Communism or socialism. Let’s look at their flags and you tell me what the predominant color is?

What is the power or authority of communism according to Revelations 6? To take peace from the earth and to have people kill one another. No one has ever voted from communism. Communism has always been a result of a revolution, and always bloody. In 2005, the National Committee of the Communist Party, USA approved the final text of its Party Program. This is an excerpt: “The struggles for the immediate demands and reforms needed by working people today are essential steps towards our ultimate goals of the revolutionary transformation of society and the economy towards socialism and them communism”. The important thing to remember with the horses and their colors is that they are principalities and powers that are vying for the heart of mankind and represent man’s ideas of solutions to world problems. Socialism and communism is the solution of enforced equality.

Next I want to look at the black horse. The black horse has a pair of scales in the hands of the rider. A voice declares: , “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”  This is the principality of capitalism. The scales represent trade and commerce. Capitalism has been at war with communism since World War 2 and the Cold War. The ultimate idea of capitalism is to be in the black. In authority structures where capitalism is the ruling principality people vote based on the impact to their finances. Economic prosperity is the driving force.

I know this is so in the US where financial markets are central to our decisions. It would do  us well to remember what Yeshua said: ““For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!”” (Luk 18:25)

The prophet Zechariah tells us: “The angel replied to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out after taking their stand before the Lord of all the earth, with one of which the black horses are going out to the north country; and the white ones are to go out after them, while the spotted ones are to go out to the south country.” When the strong ones went out, they were eager to go to patrol the earth. And He said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then He called out to me and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.”” (Zec 6:5-8)

The black horse goes to lands of the north. It is interesting to note that 80 percent of the world’s financial wealth is in the lands north of the equator. It is also interesting to see that revival is mostly happening in the lands of the southern hemisphere. Those who trust in wealth have a difficult time entering in.

Ok. Let’s return now to the white horse before we go to the last horse. The white horse has: one who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.  Paul Blanshard, a prominent historian wrote a book entitled, “Communism, Democracy and Catholic Power”. He stated that in world events it is these 3 powers that are involved in most outcomes. Is it possible that Catholicism could be the power behind the white horse?

Malachi Martin a prolific catholic wrote saying “the question is not will there be a world government? That’s a settled issue, all nations are now interdependent. The only question is who will rule the coming one world government.” He continues, “there are three and only three geopolitical powers with the necessary doctrines and structure to rule a world government: communism, Catholicism, and capitalism.”

It is the tradition of the Catholic Church for the Pope to wear while. The Pope’s helicopter is white. His bulletproof vehicle is white. His airplane supplied by Alitalia is white.

The rider has a bow but no arrows. This tells us that the weapons of this rider are not military. A crown was given to him. The Popes did not start wearing crowns until after 960 AD.

If the red horse is communism, the black horse is capitalism and the white horse is Catholicism, then these seals have been opened for a while. Catholicism became an official religion in 300 Ad, Communism in the 1850’2 and in recent times capitalism has become a dominant force of global proportions. These 3 horses lead up to and culminate at the battle of Har Megiddo, Armageddon. The seven trumpets tell of a shorter story and the seven vials an even shorter one, which we will explore soon.

Revelation 17 reveals the government of the Antichrist. This government is red, so communism will be the government of the Antichrist.

“And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev 17:3)

Ok. Let’s turn to the final horse: “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.” (Rev 6:7-8)

The word ashen is actually a mistranslation. The actual Greek world is “chloros” where we get the word chlorophyl. Everywhere else in the Bible it is translated as green. This rider is named death. This is his authority or power.  He operates by death and death is his God. What world power has green as its color and death as its power? Islam.

The bible prophesies 2000 years ago that this rider would have authority in the end ties over ¼ of the world’s population. Islam has between 1.7 and 1.9 billion followers. Think about how amazing that is. Also remember that to die is the goal of Islam. Power was given to them to kill with the sword. Islam’s favorite way to kill is to behead.

Ok. So there is our first four seals. Next session we’ll look at seal 5-7 as we journey into the revelation of the end times.

Now with collapse of the Berlin war, the New World Order was birthed. Things are wrapping up on man’s rule and soon we will be witnesses to the return of Yeshua.

“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.” (Rev 13:1-2)

Last session we spoke about the keys in Daniel 7 that revealed the time signature of the end times. Remember also that the term “end times” really means the end of man’s government and the beginning of the 1000 year reign of Yeshua and the Kingdom of God on planet Earth.

Daniel revealed 4 kingdoms that would mark the time for the government transfer.

“Daniel said, "I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. "And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. "The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. "And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!' "After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.” (Dan 7:2-8) 

The beasts represent kingdoms as Daniel tells us: “'These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.” (Dan 7:17)

The beasts kingdoms are:

1.        The Lion, Great Britain

2.        The Bear, Russia

3.        The Leopard, Germany

4.        The 10 horned beast, the revived Roman Empire, known today as the EU.

Today we will go into more detail on the new World Order which as we will see arises out of these 4 beast kingdoms. Let’s turn to Revelation Chapter 13.

“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.” (Rev 13:1-2)

Remember we spoke that the sea, “yam” in Hebrew is the composite word of a “yod” which means power or force and am, which means people. So a beast coming out of the sea means a government that arises out of the nations. The dragon, of course is Satan.

“And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Rev 12:7-9)

The Dragon welcomes the beast and gives the beast-government its power, throne, and authority.

Let’s look at the beast directly. First we see it has 10 horns and 7 heads. The 10 horns tells us that the beast contains the revived Holy Roman Empire, which we will see later on is part of its spiritual authority. The 7 heads are the seven ruling symbols. Where do they come from?

1.        The Leopard, Daniel 7 had 4 heads

2.        The Bear, Russia had one

3.        The Lion had one

4.        The 10 horned beast, the EU, revived Holy Roman Empire, has one head.

5.        Total is 7 heads.

Now, unlike Daniel’s vision where we have 4 distinct beasts or countries, this is a composite beast united into one world government which we will see is ruled by the anti-Christ and derives its power directly from Satan.

Let’s go one to verses 3 and 4

“I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"” (Rev 13:3-4)

This is a huge key to unravelling the truth about the one world government and its timing. There is one of the heads of the beast who was “slain” and then healed. What country on Earth in recent times was wounded and then restored? Only one, Germany. Germany was destroyed after world war 2. And then was restored by Ronald Reagan and Mikael Gorbachev in 1989. This tearing down of the Berlin wall marked the rebirth of a unified Germany, the healing of the head.

 The whole world was amazed and followed the beast. The one world government birthed out the UN will be treated worldwide like a sign and a wonder. “Who will be able to wage war with hm?” The totalitarian control will be so complete that it will bring despair to any who try to oppose the beast, the antichrist world government.

 I want to look at one more detail about these 7 headed beast that is important.

and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. If we return to the tower of Babel incident as the first attempt at one-world government and we look at how God dealt with it we see the key was confusion of languages.

“Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.” (Gen 11:1)

“"Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech."” (Gen 11:7)

Language has been the barrier to the plan of one world. The beast government will have the mouth of the lion. Remembering that the lion is Great Britain and the language of GB is English, then English has to become the global tongue. Is this happening? Yes.

 What is the language of the internet? English. Here’s a quote about English: English is recognized as an official language in 67 independent and 27 autonomous countries around the world. It is also used in business life, as well as being the official language of several of the world's most important institutions, including the United Nations, NATO and the European Union. All airline pilots who fly internationally are required to speak English. It goes on and on, but we can clearly see the mouth of the lion.

 OK. Let’s trace back a little and see the genesis of the beast. First where did the concept originate in modern times?

It is an old idea traced back to Babel but it surface in modern times after WW1. After the war in which 8.2 million people died, more than all previous wars combined. In response an organization known by the label The League of Nations was formed. US president Woodrow Wilson championed the idea. Unfortunately for him, Congress voted against it citing issues of national sovereignty and it fell apart.

 Next came WW2. 52 million died. The cry for global security was astounding.

 It resonated with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He had already relied on his soon to be Vice President Henry Wallace for the design in 1935 of the dollar bill with the words of a new world order.

 Henry Wallace was the inspiration for FDR of a vision of one world government which led to the founding of the United Nations. He was a know occultist who later was revealed to be a strong supporter of Stalin.

In February 1945 after the end of WW2, Roosevelt met with Churchill and Stalin at Yalta. As you can see in the picture Roosevelt was quite ill and feeble. He died 10 weeks later. He relied strongly on a promising young man, the 3 leaders tapped him to write the charter of the UN. He then served as the Secretary General in 1945. But there was a huge problem. 3 years later he is arrested for spying for the Soviet Union.

His name was Alger Hiss. He gave much of the UN’s power to Russia. There was a lot of murmuring here in the US. Why did Russia get so much? Because Alger Hiss was a soviet spy. He was imprisoned. Look at the symbols of the USSR and the UN.

Now with collapse of the Berlin war, the New World Order was birthed. Things are wrapping up on man’s rule and soon we will be witnesses to the return of Yeshua.

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Rev 1:17-18, NASB)

One of the biggest issues in life for all of us is the issue of our own mortality. The resurrection of Yeshua transformed death eternally. This is revealed most clearly in the book of Revelation. Over the next few sessions, we will be diving into the issue of the end times and specifically how to live congruent with God’s plans and purposes.

The book of revelation is primarily an account that unveils the majesty of Yeshua our Messiah. It tells us:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bondservants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,” (Rev 1:1)

The things which must soon take place. We are in that hour, and we need to be prepared.

What are the clues that we are in the hour? Turn to 2 Peter 3

“This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,” (2Pe 3:1-3)

We will show that we are in the hour spoken of by the prophets but also in the hour of mockery marked by people going after their own lusts.

“and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."” (2Pe 3:4)

People, including church people have adopted a pessimism about the return of the Lord. What people often don’t realize is that there is a clock and God had given us many keys to the exact hour of His return.

The first key that we will talk about is the key of Israel. As you all know Israel became a nation in 1948. This fulfilled Jeremiah 30:1-3

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book. 'For behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.' The LORD says, 'I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.'"” (Jer 30:1-3)

We have both hosted tours and live in this promise. Yeshua in Luke 21:29-33 connects this with His return:

“Then He told them a parable: "Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. "So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Luk 21:29-33)

This tells us that a timer has begun with the restoration of Israel. The next prophetic signpost is Jerusalem.

In AD 70, Jerusalem was overthrown and remained in foreign or Gentile control until 1967 with the 6 Day War. Yeshua said:

“And they will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luk 21:24)

In 1967, the times of the Gentiles ruling Jerusalem came to a close and now a new clock is ticking. The miracles that occurred in the 6-day war were astounding.

In one story 88 Egyptian tanks were coming against 1 Israeli tank. He began firing thinking, “this is it. I’m going down firing”.  The Egyptian tanks stopped and to his surprise, the Egyptian commander got out of his tank and asked the soldiers to allow him to surrender to them. They, in shock asked why? They were alone. The Egyptian said that all night he saw the countryside filled with tanks all in white and soldiers in white. He said, “You fired at us all night and we can’t take any more.”

Another miracle was a small regiment of Israeli soldiers were down to their final bullets. One had 3 and another 4. The Syrian army was bearing down on them. The Israeli soldiers realized that they were about to die. All of a sudden, the Syrian army stopped in its tracks, pointed to the sky and said Father Abraham and shrieked and started running. Later when interviewed, the Syrians said, that it wasn’t “Father Abraham but the angels that frightened them with their flaming swords. We knew we couldn’t defeat them.”

One final story, a division of Israeli army was surrounded by a mine field on one side and the enemy on the other. There was nowhere safe to go. They were outnumbered 100:1. Suddenly a huge wind began to blow exposing all of the mines, so they were able to cross the minefield safely.

This is the generation that saw the restoration of Jerusalem and thus we are in the period of His return!

A third sign was prophesied by Daniel and in the book of Revelation: The revival of the Roman Empire. This the platform for the antichrist. In 1957, the Treaty of Rome which created the foundation for what we know today as the EU.

“"Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces.” (Dan 2:40)

“"Thus he said: 'The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 'As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.” (Dan 7:23-24)

“And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints. Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” (Rev 13:1-18)

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality." And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly. And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. "Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. "The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. "These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." And he *said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. "And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."” (Rev 17:1-18)

Another sign is the restoration of Hebrew which was prophesied in Zephaniah 3:9

Zep 3:9  "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord.

We will be going into much detail on these verses but for now, just be open to the time that we are living in, is the return of the Lord. How are we to live? Well think of a football game or a race and you are coming to the finish line. How you finish is everything. We have been in a relay race since the time of Yeshua. The baton has been passed from generation to generation and we are the anchor leg runner. You save the strongest runner for the final sprint.

 This is not the time for la-di-dah Christianity or even human potential Christianity. Nothing wrong with being your best, but this is the hour to live strong for the finish.

“'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Rev 3:21)

He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. (Dan 12:9 NASB)

Daniel in trying to understand his own prophecies is told by God that they are concealed and sealed until the time of the end. The time of the end is the tie when man’s government is surrendered unto the Kingdom of God.

Let’s begin by understanding the nations that will be revealed in the end times. These are key powers that ultimately oppose God and then surrender to Him.

Turn to Daniel 7:2-8

 Daniel said, "I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. "And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. "The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. "And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!' "After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. (Dan 7:2-8 NASB)

We will analyze these closely but let’s go to verse 9:

"I kept looking until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. "A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. "Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. "As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. (Dan 7:9-12 NASB)

This is a power transition from the “beasts” or man-centered political kingdoms to the Kingdom of God. This gives us an insight into the final composition of “beasts” or man centered political powers and the timeline of the end of days. Their dominions are taken away and Messiah begins the 1000-year rule.

Prior to this Daniel tells us in verse 11, the worldwide rule of the “horn” who speaks boastful words against God who is the antichrist. As we will see the antichrist has many names. He is the horn in Daniel, the antichrist in Revelation, the man of sin, son of perdition, the beast. He comes out of a kingdom of 10 nations, which involves the rising of 3 nations and then His worldwide rule.

Daniel tells us that the antichrist will be thrown into the burning fire. Revelation 19:20 states:

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.(Rev 19:20 NASB)

This tells us that the antichrist will also be accompanied by a “false prophet”, a religious leader who convinces the world to worship the antichrist, a political leader. This combination of religion and politics will mark the end times.

Verse 12 is a biblical time key. "As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. (Dan 7:12 NASB).

This verse tells us that there will be nations who are part of the government of the antichrist who will lose their dominion but NOT their lives. These nations will continue to exist into the Millenium. There will be unsaved people who will live and die in their natural identities even with the rule of Messiah Yeshua.

Now if we can discern who these nations are then we can know that we are in the period of the return of Yeshua. Daniel tells us that these beasts will arise at the time of the end:

'These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. (Dan 7:17 NASB)

Let’s look at first eight verses and see if these nations, beasts are in the earth today.

"And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. "The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. (Dan 7:3-4 NASB)

A lion with the wings of an eagle. First, let’s discuss the lion. Is there a nation today whose national symbol is the lion? The first is the lion, which is Great Britain. The modern-day symbol of Great Britain is a lion. Great Britain came into being officially in 1707. Great Britain was once the major world power, having power over 1/5 of the world’s population. At their height, they were the largest empire in the world and held power for over 100 years. They were known for having a superior navy.  But then their zeal to conquer and colonize the world waned and they went from being a voracious lion to having the heart of a man, which is more sensible and restrained.

"And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much meat!'  (Dan 7:5 NASB)

The bear is the second beast which arises after the lion. A bear is a modern-day symbol of Russia. When the Berlin Wall came down, modern-day Russia was reborn in 1991. However, it is really a rebirth of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic originally birthed in the October Revolution of 1917. Russia is well known for its ability to devour much flesh as leaders like Lenin and Stalin killed several million people. The bear is raised up on one side with three ribs in its mouth. These three ribs may be the nations the final end-time Russia will conquer in an attempt to gain back former Soviet republics that it once held, such as Ukraine and two unknown others. So we can predict that Russia is on the move to take two more former Soviet republics which will cause a great deal of tension with the West.

"After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. (Dan 7:6 NASB)

So how can one learn who the leopard is? We have to look more closely at the passage. It says this leopard has four heads. So there must be four distinct kingdoms within this one kingdom. It also says it has the wings of a fowl. Therefore, another kingdom is associated with it.

Germany seems to fit best as being the leopard because of their ferociousness at war like a leopard on the hunt. Interestingly, Germany has a modern tank is called the Leopard. The four heads are the four reichs (German for “empires”) of Germany. The First Reich was the Holy Roman Empire first ruled by a Frankish king Charlemagne (800 – 1806). The Second Reich was the German Empire under Otto Van Bismark (1870 – 1919). The Third Reich was Adolf Hitler’s rule (1933 – 1945).  The Fourth Reich seems to be the European Union (1958 – present), an entity almost entirely held up and controlled by Germany and France. The Germans have a strong alliance with the French as the key players of the European Union. France’s national symbol is a rooster, hence the wings of the foul prophecy is fulfilled when these two nations come together.

All of the reichs were/are attempting to unite Europe under one government and religion. They are attempting to recreate the original Holy Roman Empire which held so much power for over 1,000 years. The fall of the Berlin wall united East and West Germany into one nation again (and incidentally created modern-day Russia). This resurrection of Germany was prophesied in Revelation as the head that had the mortal wound but lived. Rev 13:3 KJV And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Germany was mortally wounded as a nation and was thought to never recover after WWII, uniting East and West Germany. But we know that it did happen which created the New World Order.

"After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. (Dan 7:7 NASB)

What are the 10 horns. Verse 24 tells us.

“‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will humble three kings.” (Dan 7:24, NASB)

The New World Order, when fully grown, I believe will unite the West (Europe in particular) with the East (Russia in particular) under the banner of Socialism for “forty and two months” (Revelation 13:5) through the United Nations.  This is the final dreadful beast that the Antichrist will rule. Europe right now is being prepared to choose between Islamic invaders and terrorists or Russia. Both “radical” Islam and Russia are evil, but they will choose what they deem to be the lessor of the two evils. They will choose Russia to help push back “radical” Islam. Revelation 13:1 says a single beast will rise up having seven heads. That tells me the lion, bear, and leopard beasts, which historically may have been in opposition to one another, will unite to create the Antichrist Kingdom – the final dreadful beast. In other words, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Russia will unite for a short time with the newly revised United Nations. It is no wonder all the world will wonder after the beast and say, “Who could make war against it?” Through the new U.N., ten world leaders and the antichrist will claim to have a plan to save us from calamities they will have generated.

What are the calamities that the iron beast will save us from? Yeshua described it:

Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. (Luk 21:10-13 NASB)

This is the hour we live in and we should embrace it as we are on the verge of the kingdom of God, the new age for mankind.

One final and very important piece of the end time word powers, the United States. Where are we? Let’s go back to the lion and look closely:

"The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. (Dan 7:4 NASB).

The wings of the eagle that are plucked out of the lion. What nation has the symbol of the eagle and came out Great Britain. None other than the US. Think about that. Over 2500 years ago God prophesied not only England but the United States. We will see as we go deeper into the end times how and why the US is and what our part can be.

Activation: End Times.