Babylon’s Role In History

The sixth of the seven last plagues includes an earthquake that destroys cities around the world.  Special mention is made of the destruction of Babylon, in Revelation 16:19.  “… and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.”   Revelation 17 explains why the destruction of Babylon is such a significant event.    One of the angels who carried the seven last plagues introduces the subject in Revelation 17:1-2.  “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”  The angel describes the city as a courtesan, a woman who prostitutes herself in the courts of government to gain influence and wealth.   As a result she develops relationships with powerful political leaders, using her looks and influence to manipulate various officials.  

The angel then took John into the desert to show him the great prostitute, in Revelation 17:3.  “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”  John describes her as a prostitute riding the beast from Revelation 13:1.  “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”  As we saw, that beast of monster represented the world government led by the Antichrist. 

Revelation 17:4-5 clearly identifies the prostitute.  “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”  She is identified by several names.  The first, Mystery refers to secret religious rites.  The second, Babylon the Great,  refers to the Land of Babel, mentioned in Genesis 11:1-9.  She is then described as the Mother of harlots nad abominations of the earth.  The tower of Babel was the first false religion, deliberately built to seduce people into disobeying God’s order to fill the entire earth.  It laid the groundwork for every false religion since.  Those false religions have consistently persecuted and killed those who follow God from the very beginning, as Revelation 17;6 describes.  “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”

The angel then goes on to explain exactly what each part of the vision means, in Revelation 17:7-18.  “And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.  And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”

As we mentioned earlier, the beast represents the global government under the Antichrist.  It is based on seven earlier world empires, one of which did not yet exist when John was writing the Revelations.  Under the Antichrist’s leadership there will be an alliance of ten nations which were not known in John’s day.  They will support the Antichrist in his efforts to wipe out those who serve God, and flock to help in his attack on Jesus Christ.  Resenting and fearing the influence of the religious world, they will turn on them, fulfilling God’s purpose of destroying the city and the religious power it represents. 

The Seven Last Plagues

Because God loves mankind, he gives them warning after warning that he will judge their sin.  In Revelation 14, he warned that man’s rebellion will ultimately fail and that their army and power will be completely destroyed.  Just before he destroys them, he causes several more events that force people to choose whether they will serve God or not.  Mankind’s refusal to listen will bring God to the boiling point, as Revelation 15:1 tells us.  “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Even as people here on earth rebel against him, those who have followed Christ through the Tribulation are singing his praises, as described in Revelation 15;2-4.  “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

We are privileged to see a small example of the attitude of those who follow the Antichrist in American society today.  Like those who oppose Trump oppose everything he tries to do, Those who oppose Christ will reject every overture to reach out to them.  God will try again to get them to think about what is going on.  Revelation 15:5-16:1 describes preparations for God’s final efforts to get their attention.  “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.”

The first of the seven last plagues is some kind of skin disease, producing painful infections similar to boils, constantly oozing pus, according to Revelation 16:2.  “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”   These afflict those who have the mark and worship the Antichrist. 

While an earlier plague had poisoned a third of the sea, turning it red, the second of these last plagues make the sea coagulate like the blood of a dead person, with the result that everything in the oceans will die, according to Revelation 16:3.  “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.”

One third of the fresh water had been polluted earlier, but now all the fresh water becomes like blood, because violence has been so widely accepted, as Revelation 16:4-7 describes.  “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.  And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.  And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” 

We have heard a lot about global warming in recent years.  In that day, God will cause the sun to give off more heat than normal, with the result that temperatures become far hotter than normal.  All the efforts to prevent Global warming will have no effect, according to Revelation 16:8-9.  “And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.”  While it will be clear that only God could do this, people will refuse to repent, cursing God instead.   

The fifth plague will disrupt the power supply to the Antichrist’s capital, and block out the sunlight, yet the heat will continue. People will be doing anything they can to distract themselves from the pain of their skin infections and sunburns, as Revelation 16:10-11 describes.  “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”  The cursing of God will only get worse as a result. 

The sixth angel will cause a drought that results in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers drying up, making it easy for the armies of Asia to attack Israel.  The drying of the Euphrates will leave Babylon without water, and forcing people to leave.  Satan will use the destruction of their religious center to Incite the people to attack Jerusalem and God’s people, as described in Revelation 16:12-16.  “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.  And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”

The darkness in his capital and the destruction of Babylon have stirred up Satan and the Antichrist’s anger and they are prepared to fight the Lord at the Armageddon, but there is still one plague to come, as Revelation 16:17-21 describes.  “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.  And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.  And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.”

There will be greatest earthquake in human history.  It will destroy cities around the world, causing mountains to collapse like Mt St. Helens, and islands to disappear.  Babylon will be destroyed, and with the Euphrates dried up, they will be unable to put the fires out.  Along with the earthquake, there will be a huge hailstorm, with hailstones weighing as much as seventy pounds battering down buildings and killing people and livestock.  Blaming God, people will flock to Satan’s army in hopes of defeating him.  . 

There Is A Limit To God’s Patience

God loves mankind, and as a result, he repeatedly gives those who disobey chances to repent, but his patience is limited, as Genesis 6:3 states.  “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”  Before the flood, people lived hundreds of years, but after the flood, they were limited to only about a hundred twenty years if they refused to do what was right.  Most people today do not live even close to that long. 

Not only has God limited how long individuals will live as a result of sin, he has also set a limit on how long he will but up with humanity’s rebellion.  It is frustrating for those who try to do right to see people openly flaunting their sin and trying to force others to approve of it as the homosexual and transgender movement does.  As a result, Christians are looking forward to time when God stops the rebellion, as Revelation 14:12-13 tells us.  “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.   And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”  Now death Frees them from that struggle, but when the Lord ends the rebellion, there will be no more struggles. 

During the Tribulation, God will allow mankind to see that neither they, nor Satan can manage the problems in the world, giving them one more chance to turn to him.  When they have gone to the limit against him, he will intervene and stop their rebellion.  Just before he destroys the wicked, he will remove his people from earth for their protection.  Revelation 14:14-16 describes the Lord removing his people.  “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.”

With those who have chosen to follow God safely out of Satan’s reach, God will destroy those who have chosen to follow Satan, as described in Revelation 14:17-20.  “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”

For the last three and a half years, Satan and the global government led by the Antichrist will have controlled Jerusalem and tried to eliminate all worship of God.  When Christ returns to Jerusalem and makes it his capitol, the armies of the world will unite in an attempt to maintain the power of the Antichrist and his global government.    Ezekiel 39 lists some of the groups that will be involved.  There will be a battle fought in the valley of Megiddo, where Satan and his armies will be defeated.  So many people will be killed the blood will run bridle deep on the horses.  Ezekiel 39:12-14 tells us it will take seven months to bury all the bodies.  “And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.  Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.  And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.”

God used the illustration of reaping a crop of grapes to illustrate his final judgement on the earth.  It is essential that the grapes be allowed to come to peak ripeness so that they make the best tasting juice or raisins possible.  If picked to soon, they will not taste good, and if left too late, they will begin to rot.  God will not bring judgement on the earth until the last person has been saved, nor will he delay it and allow Satan to destroy his people.  Revelation 19 will give more detail about the battle of Armaggeddon.

God’s Love Demonstrated Again

The false prophet has horns like a lamb, but the voice of a dragon.  Like numerous other false prophets throughout history, his appearance is intended to give the illusion that he is the Lamb of God, but he is inspired by Satan.  When John looked around he saw the real lamb, Christ, surrounded by God’s chosen people, according to Revelation 14:1.  “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.”

The real Messiah will be honored by people that love God.  One of the tests John gave for identifying whether a teacher was from God or not was to look at who hears them, in I John 4:5-6.  “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”  The entire hundred forty four thousand have served their time on earth and understand what Christ has done for them.  They sing a song of praise that people who have never suffered for the Lord cannot sing.  Revelation 14:2-5 describes the kind of men they are.  “And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”

Even at this point, when the Antichrist has seized control of the world government, killing the hundred forty four thousand, and trying to kill all who believe in God, the Lord will still give people one more opportunity to accept Christ as Revelation 14:6-7 tells us.  “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

Throughout the centuries, there have been various religious centers such as Rome, Mecca. Jerusalem, Alexandria, or Constantinople.  The Antichrist will establish a worldwide religion combining elements from several of those religions, making Babylon the religious center of the world.   God will cause the destruction of Babylon to get people’s attention, as described in Revelation 14:8.  “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”  This will be discussed more in revelation 17. 

This will be followed by a serious warnings about the danger of following the Antichrist, as stated in Revelation 14:9-11.  “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall 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 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”  II Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is …longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  He will give mankind repeated opportunities to repent right up until the final judgement, because he loves mankind.  II Peter 3:10 warns, despite his love, God will judge the world.  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  

With all the repeated warnings people will have no excuse for ignoring God.  He loves mankind too much to allow Satan and his followers to keep killing people.

The Antichrist And The False Prophet

Over the centuries, Satan has repeatedly tried to seize control of the world by setting up a global government and religion.  After the flood, he inspired the construction of the Tower of Babel, and has inspired a number of world empires since that time.  He will set up one more world empire a few years before the Lord’s return.  That government will be based on what he learned from the previous world empires, and will be taken over by a man we know as the Antichrist.  Revelation 13:1-8 describes his coming to power.  “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.  

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.  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Satanically inspired, the beast or Antichrist will convince people that they can resolve all the world’s problems if they just follow him.  Despite his promises of peace, we will use military might to crush any opposition and do everything in his power to destroy anyone who worships God, blaming them for preventing his success.  The resemblances to the dragon are intentional, focusing mankind’s attention on Satan. 

Just before the Antichrist takes power, according to Daniel 11:17-19, the world government will form a peace treaty with Israel and then turn to the east in a conflict over a bunch of islands.  This will result in one of the armies being wiped out and economic collapse.  When the Antichrist comes to power he will rebuild that country, convincing people he has the power to fix the world’s problems.  Revelation 13:9-10 warns that  things will not turn out the way he promises.  “If any man have an ear, let him hear.   He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

Throughout history, governments have used religion to manipulate the people and the Antichrist will use religion to help him control the people as well.  Revelation 13:11-17 describes the leader of his religious organization.  “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

This second beast, or false prophet forms a religion that in some ways resembles Christianity, but their beliefs are Satanic.  It is designed to deceive the people, seeming miracles to convince them and getting them to worship the Antichrist as a god. 

Citizens of the Antichrists empire will be required to have a mark, perhaps some sort of chip in their forehead or their hand, and apparently it will use the number 666 as a prefix to identify them as following the Antichrist.  Revelation 13:18 warns “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”  666 is just a number at present, but what it means will become clear during the Tribulation period. 

Why Will God Judge The World?

We know from revelation 10:7 that when the last trumpet sounds it will finish God’s judgement on earth.  In Revelation 12 and 13, God gives a quick review of history to explain why his judgement is so severe.  His judgement is the culmination of millennia of Satanic rebellion against God and his plan. 

Revelation 12:1-2 introduces one major player, the nation of Israel.  “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.”  Joseph first saw the sun and moon and twelve stars in his dream in Genesis 37:9-10.  “And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.  And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?”   

For centuries, Israel looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.  The first clear statement that he would come from Israel is found in Genesis 49:10.  “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”  As time passed, the prophecies about the Messiah would become clearer,

The second major player in history is Satan, portrayed by a great red dragon or lizard in Revelation 12:3-4.  “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.”

Revelation 17:9-11 explains the symbolism of the seven heads.  “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.  And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.”  The seven heads represent seven empires. Five had already passed when John was writing, and the Roman Empire was in power at the time.  There will be one more global empire, and the Antichrist will build his empire out of it.  Revelation 17:12-13 explains that the ten horns are countries that unite with the Antichrist to form his kingdom.  “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”   Satan, the dragon has inspired and supported every one of those empires, and all of them tried to prevent the Messiah from coming to power.      

Despite the dragon’s efforts, using the governments of the world, Messiah was born, and Satan turned on Israel in an attempt to destroy her, according to Revelation 12:5-6.  “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.”  The last three and a half years of the Tribulation will be one long concerted attack on Israel.   

The whole thing started when Satan also called Lucifer decided to overthrow God in Isaiah 14:12-14.  “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

This led to war, and Satan was kicked out of heaven along with a third of the angels who chose who follow him, as Revelation 12:7-9 explains.  “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Because Christ, the Messiah brought us salvation, Satan has been defeated and knows that his time is limited he is doing everything he can to stop God’s plan.  Revelation 12:10-12 warns, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

In one final attempt to disrupt God’s plans, Satan will do everything he can to turn Israel against God and destroy those who follow him.  Revelation 12:13-17 describes those efforts.  “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”   

For three and a half years, Satan will do everything he can to destroy Israel, but when those efforts fail he will turn on anyone around the world who serves God, whether Jew or Gentile.   He is still desperately trying to overthrow God.

God’s Final Warning

Daniel 11 tells us that the Antichrist will seize control of the global government half way through the Tribulation.  Even during that period, God will still be working in people’s hearts, as described in Revelation 11:1-3.  “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.  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” 

When he comes to power, the Antichrist will break the treaty with Israel, taking over Jerusalem and defiling the Temple for forty two months or three and a half years.  During that same forty two months, God’s two witnesses will prophesy in Jerusalem, but their message will be heard around the world.  Revelation 11:4 describes their ministry.  “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”

During the first three and half years of the Tribulation, the hundred forty four thousand will build the temple and teach the Jews to worship God.  When the Antichrist takes over, they will be forced to flee, as Jesus described in Matthew 24.  Much like Elijah prophesying to Ahab and Jezebel, these two witnesses will stand against the Antichrist and the false prophet.  Like Elijah, they will do miraculous things to show that they are in fact from God.  Some have speculated that they may in fact be Elijah and John, based on the fact that Elijah was still alive when he was caught up into heaven, and Jesus’ statement in Matthew 16:28.  “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”  This could be what Revelation 10:11refers to since there is no actual record of John’s death.  “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” 

Like Elijah, the two witnesses will be hated by the powers of his day, and will eventually be killed, as described in Revelation 11:7-10.  “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.”

The death of the two witnesses will be taken as proof they have eliminated God’s power by Satan and his followers.  They will leave the bodies lying in the street as proof of their success, broadcasting pictures around the world.  Three and a half days later, the dead bodies will come back to life, terrifying the people in Jerusalem, according to Revelation 11:11.  “And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”  The fear will intensify when God calls them into heaven, in Revelation 11:12.  “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.”

Immediately, there will be a great earthquake in Jerusalem, killing seven thousand people, and the survivors will recognize it is God’s power, as Revelation 11:13 states.  “And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.”  The death and resurrection of the two witnesses seems to occur about the end of the time described in the Revelation 9:14-21, when a third of the earth’s population will be killed, as Revelation 11:14 tells us.  “Re 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.”

Revelation 10:7 told us, “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”  With the killing of the two witnesses, mankind has made it very clear they will not seek the Lord despite his efforts to warn them.  Now he will move to end their rebellion forever, setting up his own kingdom.  Those who are in heaven will be pleased that he has finally stopped Satanic power, as Revelation 11:15-19 describes.  “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

While those in heaven are rejoicing, natural disasters continue on the earth.  Revelation 11:19 states, “…and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”