Bible, NT-28, Revelation-2: Part 1

LESSON 28

BOOK OF REVELATION 2

Part 1

By Rev. G. Evan Newmyer 

INTRODUCTION TO LESSON 28

By now we’re getting the idea, when the Woman feeds the poor, takes care of the widows, as the 144,000 show mercy to the world, she rules as a holy city, but when she attempts to rule the people, she becomes Babylon. Some of us think being a “king” means we can sit high on a chair barking out orders like some junkyard dog, not so, Jesus is our example, a King of Mercy, Grace, Longsuffering, not imputing the sins on the people, rather working to help the people be free of sin.

As we begin this last lesson we want to keep in mind we’re still studying the Book of Revelation, in reference to what John saw, as he reports it to us. The letters to the seven churches are done, the Record in heaven written, the seals opened, we’ve just entered chapter 11, so let’s move on with the Revelation of Jesus, the very revealing of the Lord of Glory.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION – Part 2

We begin where we left off, where was it? Oh yeah, Rev. Chapter 11…

Rev 11:3-7

If we simply look at the Two Witnesses as intended, rather than making them some mystic reincarnation, we will find this entire chapter easier to understand. The Two Witnesses of the Law and Prophets are assigned to the last two candlesticks, not all seven, dividing the times and Seasons. In our Season we have the Witness of the Water, Blood and Spirit, but the Two Witnesses being the Law and Prophets draws a direct line between the Day and Night. Both the Law and Prophets are a testimony, they contain more than enough evidence for one to repent. On one side we have the Witness unto Salvation, on the other the Two Witnesses have the testimony unto Judgment. It doesn’t take long to see the Law and Prophets Witness against the people, the New Testament Testifies for us.

Some of this we viewed in our studies of the Prophets, we recall Zechariah told us about the Seven Lamps, equating to the Menorah Jesus is seen in the Midst of. It’s not simply seven lamps, but “His seven lamps” (Zech 4:2). However, the Two Olive Trees are next to the Lamp, as they stand next to the Lord of the whole earth, they are not part of the Lamp, the Light from the Lamp, or the Branch of the Lamp. They are Olive Trees, they are not Fig Trees, the Remnant are the leaves of the Fig Tree, but the Two Witnesses speak of the Mercy of God, not the Grace of God. The anointing of the Two Witnesses is based in the knowledge of God’s Mercy, but they also warn of what happens when those called of God refuse to grant Mercy. Would taking the nations by trick be Mercy related? Of course not, yet the Woman takes those nations on the advise of the false prophet.

The Two Witnesses are dressed in sackclothe as they make the call is to repent continually, a sign of God’s Mercy. They do not have white robes, they don’t promise white robes, their function is found in the sackcloth. Since honoring the Law and Prophets will keep the Time of Comfort as Comfort we can see when they are tossed into the Street, or made ineffective, it also removes the Mercy of God from the people (Zech 4:3).

If the Gentile Court is left out, if this is a matter of Measurement, then we have a division of importance taking place. The Two Witnesses bring one to repentance, they are suppose to, but they also judge the person, they are suppose to. Therefore, if we hold to the Law of Moses we will judged by the Law. However, if we hold to the Law of the Spirit, we are Free of judgment, making us free of the wrath of God. God never intended for the Law of the Spirit to hold any Wrath, thus we walk in Peace, not Wrath.

These Two Witnesses of the Law and Prophets did Prophesy during the Day, but only in their principality, not in the kingdom. We are sent to be Witnesses of Jesus, thus the Law and Prophets continue to judge the world, the Holy Ghost reproves the world, yet we are free of the world. This is the Day of Salvation, let us Rejoice and be Glad in it, for the Night comes when no man can work.

This is still talking about the Three Woes, this is the Second Woe (vs. 11:14), thus the First came with the Fifth Angel who opened the Pit, then the Sixth Angel who has the Sickle (vs. 14:18), making the Third Woe the Judgment. This second Woe displays why it came, the temple was there, it has been re-built, there are no Gentiles, just those who worship inside, yet it begins to change rapidly.

In Zechariah we notice something strange: the angel talking to the prophet is surprised Zechariah doesn’t know about the Two Olive Trees, Why? (Zech 4:5). This is the same question asked of John in reference to those who came out of the Tribulation (vs. 7:14). Just as John should know those who made it through the Door by the Spirit, Zechariah should know the Two Olive Trees refer to the Law and Prophets. Since those through the Door include John, those subject to the Two Olive Trees include Zechariah, a prophet of Old. The Two olive trees have strange positions, one is on the left, one on the right; therefore, these two Olive Trees were seen one on the left and one on the right of Jesus as they talked about the type of decease Jesus would accomplish (Luke 9:31). This wasn’t the decease of Jesus, but what He would cause to be deceased, the Law and Commandments are nailed to the cross. Nonetheless it’s the Cross, not the realm we are seeing here. These Two Witnesses point to the Everlasting Gospel of Judgment, not the Gospel of Peace unto Salvation. They have a Power unto Judgment, yet the Gospel of Peace is the Power of God unto Salvation, there is a vast difference between the two Gospels. Today if anyone tells us the Everlasting Gospel is the Gospel of Peace they have introduced the wrong Gospel to our Season, let them be accursed.

John makes a clear separation, the Two Witnesses are only assigned to Two of the Candlesticks, if we get nothing else from this Chapter, we must get this. If the Law and Prophets were assigned to all Seven, there would be no division between the Day and Night, but it’s not the case. There is a clear division taking place, one showing the Rock and Church are gone at this time, Zion (metaphorically known as the Moon) and the Sun (Israel) are in their Season, their Witnesses are not the Water, Blood and Spirit but the Law and Prophets.

These Two Olive Trees, or anointed ones stood by the Lord of the whole earth on the mount of Transfiguration, they will stand for the Lord in the Time of Comfort (Zech 4:14). Peter, James and John saw these Two Witnesses on the Mount of Transfiguration when they heard the Father say, “Hear ye Him”, not hear ye them (Matt 17:1-9). We now find the people being told to Hear ye them, Why? It can’t be hypocrisy, the same Holy Ghost is the Author, anytime we assume there is hypocrisy in the Scriptures, we are in fact calling the Holy Ghost a Hypocrite, hardly the position for a Believer to be caught in. The answer is simple, the ability to Hear Ye Him is gone in the Rapture, clearly the Two Witnesses on the Mount were the Law and Prophets. These Two Witnesses bring torment to the sinner, as they point out sin, condemn it, then find the person guilty, yet because the person exists it also shows the Mercy of God. If the concept of “go and sin no more” is violated, these Two Witnesses are designed to point it out.

This also shows where the anointing is, for us it’s on and in us, but here it’s on the Law and Prophets, not the people. Jesus does Mark the 144,000, but it’s not the Anointing, it’s ownership. We are “Sealed” by the Holy Spirit, but we can also grieve the Holy Spirit by Whom we are Sealed. Here we find only the Two Witnesses are anointed, thus those who join to them would be like those who joined to Moses, they will be covered by the same anointing. It’s for this reason we find the false prophet in sin, simply by claiming to be a prophet, since the only prophets will be recorded in the words of the Prophets. The false prophet sets up as the only prophet, then claming the Law is dead, it no longer has any effect. Therefore in our Season they are Anti-Christ, in the next they are Anti the Law and Prophets.

Envy is a terrible foe, it will cause us to do all sorts of evil, yet claim our acts as Godly, but the source is still the spirit lusting to envy. The Pharisees delivered Jesus based on their envy, here in the last days we find the same “working of Satan” coming from the Wicked. They made the choice to sit in the seat of the Satan, they lust to envy regardless of the Season. The False Prophet is envious of the Woman, although the False Prophet claims to be the friend of the Woman, it’s the False Prophet who entices her into the bed of adultery, as the abomination is established in the place it should not be. It’s bad enough to make it a den of thieves, but a house the abomination?

The Law and Prophets don’t testify for the people, as the Law of the Spirit does for us, rather they call for repentance, not salvation, they have power to bring all sorts of harm to those who reject the call, whereas, we are in the Age of Salvation. Often people bring their own woes upon themselves, Paul told us not to give place to the devil, thus if the devil is beating our brains out, we gave him place, don’t blame him, defeat him, by defeating his works in our own hearts. Drive out the spirit of man, by joining to the Spirit of Truth.

The wording “To Shut” in verse 6 is the Greek Kleio meaning No Rain, it was used in Luke 4:25 when Jesus talked about the Rain being held back in the days of Elijah. Jesus showed there were many widows in the land, but only one received, since God only sent the prophet to one person. The same context is used here, if they Receive the Testimony, they will receive the blessing, twist the words it will cause the blessing to be twisted into a curse, thus God sent the Two Witnesses to the last two candlesticks alone. This goes right back to 9:20-21 showing how they repented not, but it also shows there is no excuse, none of them will be able to say, “Gee we didn’t know it was You Lord”. In the days of Elijah the Rain came when the people destroyed the idols and killed the priests of Baal, the same call will go out in the latter days; however, John will show instead of killing the priests of Baal, they kill the Law and Prophets with all those who hold to the Law and Prophets, then they worship the Image of the Beast calling the City their God and Deliverer.

The reference to the Latter Rain is found in Seven Old Testament scriptures. The Hebrew word is Malqowsh meaning Spring rain, it’s not the Hebrew Acharown meaning Last or Latter, as in Latter days. In order to grasp the view of the Latter Rain one must recall the Former or the First rain, which was the Rain in the days of Noah, yet we know the rainbow was a promise not to destroy the earth with rain again, thereby giving the promise of the Latter Rain being good. There are two types of rain, the seasonal rains to bring growth, and the Rains relating to the events here. The First Rain destroyed the rebellious people of the earth, the token was a rainbow, the same one we found with the angel who stood on the sea and earth. The Latter Rain in this case will not be water, it will be brimstone, and the purpose will be the same.

Deuteronomy 11:14 is the first place where the Latter Rain is noted, relating to  following the Commandments given by Moses (not the Law, but the Commandments). Accordingly it refers to being blessed as a result, but how can anyone follow the Commandments? They are wrapped up into two things, Love the Lord you’re God with all your heart, and Love your neighbor as yourself. The 144,000 will care for the entire world (what’s left of it), making sure everyone has there own fig tree, meaning all will look to Jerusalem as the only place of religion on the earth. Therefore, they will have the Temple, yet even the Synagogue of Satan will come and worship at their feet, proving the point. There will be no “Dome of the Rock Mosque”, and no other places to worship. It will begin as Peace and Safety, but then there will be those who think the blessing is a result of their personal goodness, causing it all to come falling down.

When they love the Lord and serve Him with all their heart and soul, then the Corn, Wine and Oil will be given. This Latter Rain is conditional, in Proverbs 16:15 we find the Light is the Life, the king’s favor is as a cloud of the Latter Rain showing the Clouds as types and shadows of Witnesses. In Jeremiah we find, “Therefore the showers have been withheld, there has been no latter rain; and you have a whore’s forehead, you refuse to be ashamed (seek repentance)” (Jere 3:3). Here it shows the Latter Rain was held back because of a lack of repentance, of course they refused to be ashamed for their wicked deeds, again showing the Latter Rain has to do with blessing. Hosea 6:3 says, “Then shall we know, if we Follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the Latter and former rain unto the earth”. In this case it shows rain as seasonal, the former or first rain brought the Growth to the planted seed, but the latter allows the seed to grow, the metaphoric correlation shows the former rain for us is the Mercy of God when the Seed is planted, but the Latter Rain is when we apply Mercy and Rivers of living water flowing from our bellies. We are the result of the Latter Rain, John told us one of the riders were not allowed to touch the Oil and Wine, making us the First Fruits of the Spirit, the result of the latter rain.

Joel 2:23-24 says, Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He has given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month; and the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. Metaphorically, and prophetically we can see the use of the word Wheat points to the New Testament, couple it with the Oil and Wine, showing we are the latter rain of the Day. The former rain was Moderate, it began with 3,000 coming to the Lord on Pentecost, but the Latter Rain will be greater, it will come just before the Wheat is Harvested. All this in Joel connects to the prophecy of the Spirit being poured out, which we know Peter said was upon the people when Pentecost opened. The Latter Rain of Blessing then connects directly to the Body of Christ, not the Remnant, or the Tares. The tares won’t be harvested until the Reaper comes, but the wheat is different, it’s time to enter the House is at the Rapture. The prophecy goes on to talk about the vats being overflowing with Wine and Oil, which we know metaphorically is a reference to Grace by the Blood of Jesus, coupled with the Mercy of God by the Oil.

There is a connection to the Time of Comfort found in Joel chapter 2 verses 25 and 26 connecting to the Day of the Lord. However those verses have nothing to do with us, they point to the Time of Comfort for Israel of the earth.

Zechariah 10:1-2 says, “Ask you the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain; therefore, they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd”. The metaphoric content shows “clouds”, which is more than one, when we find clouds it points to the Gentile Age, the first cloud of witnesses taken captive by Jesus, the other cloud of witnesses started when Stephen was killed. This prophecy speaks of grass in the field, the purpose of the rain is bring forth more grass, giving us increase, yet we know the Night is when no man can work. We also know the 144,000 are not increase, but decreased, the only group who increases is the Body.

We have the Wine and Oil, but in the Night it’s the Two Witnesses who bring the Word. Ahh, another mystery, instead of the Two Witnesses, the people hear and obey the two Beasts. In our Season we have the promise of the Latter Rain coupled with promise of the Living Waters flowing our bellies as Rivers. We are the Rain of God sent forth into the earth as a Latter Rain, noted by the out pouring of the Living Water to give the people one more chance before the Night comes. It stands if God went through all this to seek repentance from these people in the very end, He will do more during the Day, but instead of plagues, it will be the Glory of the Lord coming from His Born Again Saints.

There is a type of Latter Rain for these people, but it’s not a rain of water, it’s a raining of brimstone. From the Two Witnesses comes Fire, representative of the lake of fire, the Jews are judged by the Books, the Books are the first five Books of the Bible known as the Law. When the Remnant are all overcome by being killed or having to hide in caves, the latter rain will fall. The latter rain has nothing to do with us, we are a people who overcome, not a people overcome. The Two Witnesses have power to devour their enemies, those who kill by the Sword, must die by the Sword, the devouring begins when the people reject the words of the Law and Prophets, it finishes at the Judgment when those same people have to face the books. Those assigned to the Law, or who have assigned themselves to the Law, are judged by the Law in the end.

Since the Two Witnesses are in sackclothe, their call is to repentance, not Salvation (Jonah 3:5), thus the latter rain is dependent on the repentance of the people. We also read, Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts (vs. 9:21). The call is there, they simply rejected it, causing the latter rain of brimstone to fall, as they bring about their own destruction, it’s the point. By your words you are condemned, or by your words you are justified, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

The use of the word “Mouth” in reference to the Two Witnesses points to the Words written, thus it’s what these Two Witnesses Have Said, the Testimony of Jesus is still written in the Law and Prophets. The phrase, “If Any Hurt Them” is the warning, the word Hurt is the Greek Adikeo meaning To act unjustly, or Do wrong, which shows a rejection of the words spoken by the Law and Prophets by the Unjust. Who would it be? The Just live by faith, but if any man draw back, God’s soul shall have no pleasure in him, but we are not of them who draw back to the perdition, but of them who believe unto the saving of the soul (Heb 10:38-39). The people reject the words of the Prophets and Law, based on the words of the False Prophet. Rather than run to God, they run to the Image of Jealousy, the Image of Jealousy is what they were worshipping in the Temple with it was measured.

Twisting the Law and Prophets to make some nation God, or some image Christ, is a great Harm committed against the Two Witnesses, thus we find the false prophet, the beast, and the dragon all use their mouths as well. During the Day it is permissible to say, “Christ in me”, or “I see Christ in you”, but after the Rapture the ability to be Christ like in any fashion will be gone, thus anyone who says, “here is Christ” or “there is Christ” lies.

When the sixth angel sounds, the River Euphrates opens then we find the horsemen coming forth, these are not the four horsemen we saw prior, rather we find these horsemen use their mouths (words), causing Wormwood, fire, smoke and brimstone to kill one third of men (8:11 & 9:17). We just saw one-third slain, now another one-third, the last one-third would be the Third Woe.

On the same note the Power and Authority in the Law and Prophets are far greater. How powerful? At the Judgment they must pass by the “Books”; therefore, those same words will be speaking at then as well. However, the words of the false will fall to the ground as they hear, “Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity”. Those words are torment to those who harm the Law and Prophets by their unjust acts. They are left with two possibilities, repent, or destroy any trace of the Law and Prophets, including those who stand with the Law and Prophets.

Verse 7 gives us some clues, the Beast who ascends out to the pit shall make war against the Law and Prophets. Take this to Revelation 17:11 where we find the Beast is the Eighth, or false prophet from perdition. The one who was antichrist in our Season, was not during the Time of Comfort, but then at the very last, we find he is of the seven, as he associates to Perdition. There is only one group fitting the description, the sons of perdition as the false prophet.

Verse 8 shows the “dead bodies”, this has two meanings, the first is those who held to the Law and Prophets, at the judgment they shall be raised by the resurrection unto life. Then the “holy city” becomes known as Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified (vs. 8). It has to tell us where this city is, it also shows why it is a “holy city”, albeit for a short time.

The people who held to the Law and Prophets shall lay in the Street, the place between places, they shall not be in hell, but neither can they get to heaven; until the Judgment produces the resurrection unto Life.

Verse 9 shows “three days and a half”, of course metaphorically, it means a short time, at this time the people will not put the bodies in graves, rather they will rejoice over their supposed victory. The two Witnesses of the Law and Prophets tormented the people, they called for repentance, but when it was completely rejected, they served their purpose. However, the word Graves doesn’t mean a hole in the ground, it’s the Greek Mnema meaning A memorial, or Monument intended to preserve the memory of someone or something. This refers to the Memory or Honor of the Law and Prophets being destroyed by the False Prophet, causing them to be put out of sight, but they will be remembered by God. Even today if man puts the Ten Commandments out of view, it doesn’t negate the responsibility.

Verse 11 speaks of the resurrection unto life, not the First Resurrection. The First Resurrection is for those who have the Spirit to begin with. This is after they are dead, not before. The voice “come up hither” is when the Bride calls for Her bridesmaids, this would be the very end (Rev 22:17). Verse 13 shows the last earthquake, when the earth turns inside out, leading to the Third Woe as the Judgment. At this time they shall look upon Him they have pierced, the rest of the people will be slain, including any who escaped the city to hide in caves.

The number 7,000 takes us I Kings 19:18, where Elijah found God had reserved 7,000 prophets in caves who had not bowed to Baal (taken the mark, name or number of the Beast). The use of the number 7,000 shows those who stood with the Prophets in the days of Elijah, here the connection is how small a number stood with God, as they held to the “little strength”, yet they were the ones who obeyed “Come out of her My people”, as they ran to the caves. For their sake, as well as the sake of the others who belong to the Little Flock, God brings an end to this as the earth turns inside out to become the Lake of Fire. We then find a Tenth part of the city, then we see the 7,000 as the remnant, only in this cast the remnant means all the remaining people.

Verse 14 shows the Second Woe has passed, behold the Third comes quickly, which would be the third part of the question asked by the disciples. Then the Seventh angel sounds, and the twenty four elders worship God, saying, “We give thanks O Lord God Almighty, which are, was and are to come”, this is Jesus back on the throne, at the time when it’s Done.

Verses 17 and 18 define the judgment, “time of the dead”, “should be judged”, “give a reward to the servants”, “destroy them which destroyed the earth”, all elements of the judgment, including Lucifer being judged for destroying his own land.

Verse 19 would be the last time the Temple would be seen in heaven, then the   wrath of God is poured out, defined later.

There are some additional areas of evidence, we find the River Euphrates involved in the last war, which must have a metaphoric content. First the border for the Promised Land to Abraham was the Euphrates (Gen 15:18), but going back further we find it listed as the fourth river from the Garden (Gen 2:14), later God promised the land to the Jews from the Euphrates to the sea (Deut 11:24). The word Euphrates in the Greek means To break forth, but in the Hebrew it means Fruitfulness, thus it depends on which side of the river you are on. The river divides Jew from Gentile, as it protects the Jew from the Gentile. The angels in the River keep the Gentiles from invading the Promised Land, remove the angels, the Gentiles can spill forth like a flood. There were four rivers related to the Garden, with the Euphrates being the last, there are four angels in the Euphrates, there must be a connection. The Euphrates is like a Wall of Separation, but remove the foundation the wall falls.

However, in our case we find Jesus built the Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail. Jesus also gave us power to tread on serpents, scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Wait, Tread on? Footstool? Ahh, the darkness is already subject to us, we must be kings reigning with Christ. No need to look up to find the serpents, scorpions or works of the enemy, they are our footstool. Which simply means they are subject to us, but Jesus said don’t rejoice in the things subject to us, rejoice over our names being written in heaven, now we know why.

The Law and Prophets, if followed, will continue the Time of Comfort by stopping the plagues based on the repentance of the people. If the people don’t listen, then Fire and Brimstone fall as the Last Rain. Yet, the false prophet will use tricks, words, and deception to convince the Woman she is a Queen, her Nation is God, then the Woman says, “I Am”, but the prophet Zephaniah said, “This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, who said in her heart, I Am, and there is none beside Me: how is she become a desolation, a place for Beasts to lie down (adultery) in!” (Zeph 2:15). Woe to her who is filthy and polluted, to the Oppressing city! She obeyed not the Voice, she received not Correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God (Zeph 3:1-2). Her princes within her are “roaring lions”; her judges are “evening wolves”; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow, her prophets are light (consider God unimportant) and treacherous persons, her priests have polluted the sanctuary (allowed the Image of Jealousy), they have “done violence (violently taken away) the Law” (Zeph 3:3-4).

In Ezekiel we find Jerusalem’s father was a Amorite, and her mother a Hittite, but God saw her, then washed her as He took pity on her, making her the “city of David” a holy city because God said so, yet the people change the course of the city (Ezek 16:1-34). In Isaiah God said, “The show of their countenance does witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not” (Isa 3:9). Rather than repent, they were bragging in their sin. Egypt was a place of captivity, a place where the people of God were in bondage under the hand of the ungodly, but Sodom sinned and didn’t care, they didn’t even care who knew, they paraded their sin. The correlation shows the people have no shame, they reject the call to repent coming from the Law and Prophets, they laugh at the prospect of Judgment, they parade their sin and idol worship like some honor, they have idols in the Temple, thinking their own hand has caused them to be blessed. They have Gain, but they don’t have Prosperity.

This brings in the saying from Malachi, as the people say, “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it, for we have kept His ordinance, and have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they who work wickedness are set up; yea, they who tempt God are even delivered” (Mal 3:14-15). If they can see the gain, why do it? No love, their love has waxed cold, they seek only what pleases them, rather than seeking to please God.

Also in verse 18 we find the word Wrath, it would appear as if God just had it; however, the word Wrathful is the Greek Orgizo meaning To make angry, the word Wrath in the Greek means To be angry. The Wicked produced the Wrath,  when they see those they killed, persecuted and mocked moving past the Judgment seat of the Lord into Glory, they will know their folly, their deception will be open, they will know their reward will be the resurrection unto damnation.

In verse 19 we find the word Temple, yet in 21:22 we find there is No Temple, but in 21:3 the Tabernacle is with men, how can all this be? The use of the word Temple still connects to Judgment, the Tabernacle connects to the Bride in heaven. This is still the Second Woe, the Third is yet to come. The Ark contained the Manna, the rod of Aaron appeared dead, but then had life, the tablets of the Commandments, yet the Mercy Seat has been rejected, it was time for the Commandments, then the Rod as a symbol for the last resurrection.

Rev 12:1-12

John talks about two great wonders, the wonder in heaven is a Sign, but it’s a sign God has seen before it happens. All this is no surprise to God, it was known before the foundation of the world, the plan of Salvation includes the plan of separation. In Genesis 1:5 God called the Light the Day and the Darkness the Night, then in Genesis 1:16 God set the Greater Light to rule the Day and the Lesser Light to rule the Night, thus there is a Lesser Light to rule the Night, yet the Night will be a time of darkness. Therefore, when they remove the Lesser Light, it becomes a time of gross darkness. We can determine the method in which one Rules by looking at the Light they project, if any. If one rules as Jesus did, they are the Greater Light, if they rule as Moses, they are the Lesser Light. The only problem left? The Lesser Light is overcome, the Greater Light becomes the Overcomers.

The determining factor in ruling is the result, not the event. In Genesis 1:17 the word Set is the Hebrew Nathan, although it has many applications the context points to the meaning of Appointment, thus showing God calling things as a not to man, as a were to Him. These events are yet future tense, the Woes have many years before they come to pass, but they will come to pass.

We begin this area viewing the Woman as God intended, but between here and chapter 17 something happens to change the Desire of the Woman into becoming the Whore and Babylon. The word Wonder in verses 1 and 3 is the Greek Semeion meaning A sign with a spiritual end and purpose; it’s the same Greek word used in verse 3 as well; therefore, even the devil has a purpose. This clue will help us understand why the City is Spiritually known as Sodom and Egypt. In Acts 2:19 the Greek Semeion is translated as Sign, the Greek Teras is translated as Wonder. The Greek word Teras is the root word for the Greek Teres meaning To Watch. Here the Holy Ghost is telling us to take notice of this Sign, to Watch it, as we learn something to help us.

Here we find two signs in heaven, but were there others? God also places Lights (plural) in the heavens to Divide the Day from the Night, these Lights were set to become Signs, Seasons, Days and Years (Gen 1:14). Why doesn’t John talk about the Greater Light in this area? John sees the Woman before the Man Child (Jesus) is born, then later he sees the same Woman in the Wilderness. This area will show us Jesus, but the context is the City with the events surrounding the City.

Jesus was clothed with White, the Church is clothed in White, but the Woman is clothed with the Sun, the Moon under her feet, and upon her head is a Crown with twelve stars, this Woman is a City, not the nation Israel. When we break these down we find the City was founded on Zion, thus the nation is the Sun, Zion the Moon as the mother of the City, the Twelve Stars are the tribes of Israel. Instead of the Woman being the Sun, she is wearing it, thus the glory of the Sun is her covering, it’s not her, but the covering which projects the glory. This is made so clear in 18:10 where we read “Alas, alas great Babylon, the mighty city”. Ahh, Mighty City, not a Holy City, a mystery opened. Then the true Holy City is New Jerusalem, the Mighty City will point to Jerusalem of the earth, yet Jerusalem of the earth was classed as a holy city by the events taking place in her when Jesus walked her streets.

We know the nation of Babylonia had a city by the name of Babylon, thus the Woman is not the nation, but the City, she will be known as the “Daughter of Babylon”.  she has the glory of the Sun on her, the 12 tribes as stars in her crown, the Moon as her foundation. When she makes the Moon her footstool, then things begin to unravel quickly.

The connecting metaphors are found in the very first usage of the Sun, Moon and a certain number of the stars in Genesis 37:9-13, there is no earlier combination of the Hebrew words for Stars, Moon or Sun prior to the verses in Genesis 37, any attempt to pull the metaphors further back would extend them producing a fable. It’s important to notice the Woman isn’t the Moon, the Sun or the Stars, she is either clothed in them, standing on them, or wearing them as her crown. Jesus cried over Jerusalem just prior to teaching on the End Times (Matt 23:37-24:2). It was Jerusalem who killed the prophets, and stoned those which were sent, equating to the parable of the Fig Tree (Matt 23:37). The temple was, and will be in Jerusalem, thus the nation is the divorced wife, the city the wicked child. Thank God we have the Seed of God, through obedience and submission we are being trained in the way we should go.

The glory of the Sun is her covering, but she is of the Night, her crown gives us the division between the types of stars. We know God gave the Greater and Lesser Light, but then in Genesis 1:16 we find “He made the stars also”, thus there are types of Stars. For us the metaphor shows we become Heavenly Stars directly through Jesus, but the Crown on the Woman points to stars located just above the earth, but not in the heavens. They are on her head, thus the Tribes give her the right (authority) to her throne on the earth, but they also hold a Promise of heavenly positions. From those stars come the 144,000, but at this time in history we find the Remnant of her Seed is yet future tense, but the Promise is seen in her crown.

Prior John listed the Twelve Tribes (7:4-8), he also saw those of the Day before the Throne of God (7:9). When John listed the Twelve Tribes, he also showed 12,000 taken from each, and 12 times 12 is 144, thus the 144,000 are on Zion, which puts them at the feet of the Woman, yet the Synagogue of Satan will worship at the feet of the Sixth church, guess where they are? Under the Moon.

The Sun, Moon, Crown, and the Woman explain the phrases from Romans, wherein Paul said “Though the number be as the Sand of the Sea, a Remnant shall be saved” (Rom 9:27), and “all Israel shall be saved” (Rom 11:26), with “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Rom 9:6). The Crown, Sun, Moon and Woman give us the inclusion of the nation, but only the Moon holds those who are Israel, thus the rest would fit the phrase “are not all Israel”. These Stars on the Crown are not the Church, rather they are explained when we find 12,000 taken from each Star. Nonetheless there is a Glory of the Sun and Moon, just as the Glory of the Stars differs. The Glory for these Stars differs greatly from the Glory of the Stars of the Day. If we run after the Night or the glory of the Night, we lack the Glory of the Day.

If God divorced the nation, how is the Woman able to gave birth to the Man Child? The Woman is not the Nation, but the City; therefore, there is the Nation, then those who are truly Israel (of Covenant). When Jesus manifested as the Word made flesh, the Father had already given Israel the nation her divorce papers, thus the divorce didn’t effect the Daughter, her time comes in the Time of Comfort. Jerusalem was a virgin, she was not betrothed, or married to any other city, she is the daughter of the nation.

The Remnant are the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman. Wait, they are not the Seed, they are the Remnant of the Seed, yet the Woman doesn’t have a Seed, a mystery to be explained in reference to the Man Child (Jere 3:8-11, 2:3, & Isa 48:1). The word for Crown in verse 1 is the Greek Stephanos, it’s the same word used for Crown of Life, but here it has twelve stars, thus her Purpose is found in the Twelve Tribes, but wait there were really thirteen, ahh, the promise, this crown points directly to the Time of Comfort, thus even before Jesus came as the Man Child the course was written. When she kills her own Crown, forces Zion to be her footstool, twists her covering by usurping authority, she destroys any chance she has for the Crown of Life. She causes the Moon to lose her Light, as she causes the Sun to be filled with Darkness. This also shows the purpose of the Sun, Moon and Stars is the Woman, since she is the one wearing them. Jesus talked about how the children treated the parents, as the Pharisees allowed it (Matt 15:3-7). Children are a gift, but so are the parents, we will find the City will honor her parents, then she thinks she is the only gift, as she begins to use her parents in a self-serving manner.

This is another example of what happens when we elevate something of God higher than God has. The city was called “holy”, but it was never called “God”. The purpose of the city was not to save mankind, but to be the place of the Man Child, to produce the 144,000, yet the city becomes the center of attention, she ends thinking she is God. At lease the people in the city call her “god”. The blessing was from God, but it was not God. Some of us worship the things of God, more than we worship God.

This Crown was based on God telling her “I will never leave you nor forsake you”, her promise was granted through Abraham, her purpose through the Prophets, her failure comes when she leaves God. This Woman thinks she is a Queen and no Widow, yet she is responsible for killing her own Crown. Isaiah 26:17-18 tells us “Like as a woman with child, drawing near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cries out in her pangs; so have we been in Your sight O Lord. We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen”. This shows the Woman giving birth to the Man Child is Jerusalem, but it doesn’t mean Jesus was born in Jerusalem, rather it points to purpose. The city of David, when David was king, was Jerusalem, but David wasn’t born in Jerusalem, thus we find three cities for David, one for his birth, one as king, and another called Zion.

The Scriptures are plain, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea (Matt 2:1), but Jesus was circumcised and dedicated in the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:22-38). This shows the Covenant place is the City, the Birth is for our benefit, the dedication in the Temple according to the Law for the nation of Israel. Since the dedication involved the “redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38), the inclusion of the City became the issue. Therefore we have New Jerusalem in heaven, not New Israel.  If God divorced the City as well as the Nation, then Jesus would be legitimate; however, if the Woman is the City of Jerusalem, then the birth was proper and in order, brought by a Virgin. The Remnant are the Virgin Daughter of Zion, this city is also a Virgin when the Man Child is born, but loses the role in the bed of adultery.

What about after the Cross? Not one jot or tittle shall in any way be destroyed until all is fulfilled, the Law came from God to Moses, thus as long as the Law is intact, God is still involved in Israel, yet not all who call themselves Israel are of Israel. Isaiah also said, “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child” (Isa 66:7). This would sound strange in conjunction with Isaiah 26:17-18; however, Isaiah explains who this Woman is, or better at what point in time this Woman appears by saying, “Who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith your God. Rejoice you with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her” (Isa 66:8-10). Here we find several elements, first we find the phrase, “for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children (plural)”, but then we also see, “she delivered of a Man Child (singular)”. Two completely different elements, one showing Jesus as the Man child, the other showing the Remnant as the children, thus the Remnant are of the Seed of the Woman. Then it’s Rejoice with Jerusalem, rather then Rejoice In Jerusalem. We also find two areas, those who Joy with Jerusalem, and those who Mourn for her, thus we find two Jerusalems, not one. We know the Remnant will mourn for the abominations done in Jerusalem; we also know Jesus said to Jerusalem of the earth, “I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not” (Matt 23:37). If it’s the case, then Jerusalem of the earth didn’t Rejoice, but rejected her own Man Child, thus the Jerusalem who Rejoices is New Jerusalem, in a few verses John will tell those of the Heavens to Rejoice confirming the premise.

Clearly God brought forth the Child, later He will bring the Remnant of her Seed, thus we find Christ reigns on earth now by His Body, but the Father will make the enemies of Jesus His Footstool in the Night, thus Jesus will reign as the Son of man through the Two Witnesses in the latter days as well, the Father will reign through the Remnant.

The metaphor and context shows she was called and chosen to bring forth the Man Child, but something happens to her, the something begins in our Season. Since David’s city was built on Zion, we find the 144,000 marked on Zion, but the Woman as the City, thus the position of the Moon under her would be correct, but she is suppose to subject to the Moon, not attempt to control it. When she makes the Moon her footstool, she also makes Herself the footstool of Jesus. Judge not, lest you be judged, those who lead into captivity, shall go into captivity. This paradox is the complete opposite of the Rock and Church, the Rock is subject to the Church.

Before the Woman gives birth another wonder appears in heaven, both of these are in heaven indicating a Record. The Woman’s Image is New Jerusalem, yet the dragon was once there, but the dragon left his first estate, as the Woman went back to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The word Crowns in verse 3 is not the same Greek word we found in verse 1, this word is the Greek Diadems or Diadema from Dia (around) with Deo (to bind), it’s not a metal crown, or one made of flowers, rather it’s made of a filament of silk tied around the head as a symbol of royal dignity, whether appointed, or self-appointed. This Greek word is used here, it’s also used in 13:1 and 19:12, in 19:12 it’s Jesus who has many of these crowns, thus we find a mystery, how could the devil have a crown of royal dignity? And why doesn’t Jesus come with the Crowns of Life? Jesus gives to everyone their reward, but the reward may not be what they expected. A Diadema is a Binding, not a Loosing, it’s reflective of the crowns the devil gives to the Beast, it is not reflective of the Crown given by the Holy Ghost, don’t forget when Jesus returns it’s for Judgment, not Salvation.

The Head of the Body of Christ is Jesus, the Body of Christ is Christ centered, but here the heads of the devil are nations guided by the spirit lusting to envy, yet God uses them to bring about His Will. Whether we understand the plan or not isn’t the question, whether we agree with it or not isn’t the question, whether we Submit to it or not is.

These verses show God saw the Woman with Child, before the devil came on the scene, yet we know the devil became the devil many years before Joseph had his dream, many years before Abraham was given the promise, and many years before the Jews took the Promised Land, or before David took the city. The prophecy of the Woman was in the Garden when God said “I will put enmity between your seed and her Seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen 3:15). This is Judgment, not Salvation, yet it nonetheless shows the Virgin Birth, and the Remnant, thus we find Jesus referred to as a Man Child, rather than an Adult, but why not the Lamb? The Lamb was crucified for the Woman, but wait, we will find Jesus was crucified Outside the city, not in the city, yet John just said it was in the City (vs. 11:8). The City and the actual place of the Cross are different, but the trials took place in the City, without them there would be no Cross, thus John shows how the City is still responsible, although the act was not done within her Walls. It’s very interesting, since some of the Wicked use civil authorities to carry out their evil plans, then sit back thinking their hands are clean. The Pharisees felt the same way, yet they did the lusts of their father the devil.

In all this we ask, Which comes first? The ten horns (power) or the seven heads (authorities)? From the ten horns (power) come the seven heads (authorities), just the opposite of the manner in which Jesus operates. Jesus gave us Authority, then told us to Tarry for the Power from on high. The dragon being the dragon produced the Power, then granted the Authority, making his entire premise illegal and lawless. When the Woman removes three of those horns, there will be Seven, but the premise of the Seven came after the promise to the Woman, well before the time she enters the Wilderness. We will see the crowns change positions, the crown represents the seat of Satan, some nations used Power, some used Authority, nonetheless we will find the prince of the power of the air is centered in disobedience, all disobedience is unbelief, the parents of unbelief are the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. The dragon is the not the Beast of the Sea, or the Beast of the earth, yet the dragon did give the Beast of the Sea his power, authority and seat of Satan, making the Beast of the Sea the spirit of the world: but the Beast of the Earth uses the authority of the Beast of the Sea, making the Beast of the Earth the “he in the world”, yet both obtained from the dragon, a counterfeiter, when Jesus gave us authority and power, the dragon gave the Beast of the Sea his, yet it’s all wrapped up in the seven headed dragon, and written in the Record.

The Beast of the Earth is neither the Sea or the Sand of the Sea, or the Heavens, yet it uses the Authority (power) of the Beast of the Sea, making it Gentile, making them the “synagogue of Satan”. This connects to the Eighth who comes from Perdition, the same place the “unjust” drew back to (Heb 10:38-39), which is the same group Judas started as the original son of perdition. This helps us define this Eighth as connected to both Sevens by association, yet separated as independent. We find the synagogue of Satan in both Seasons, John said they came from us, but were not of us, making association, yet also showing the separation. This Eighth is directly connected to perdition, there is only one group associated with perdition who has authority, the sons of perdition. Perhaps the easiest verse in the Book of Revelation to define is the one speaking of the Eighth, all the clues are there, leaving one conclusion (Rev 17:11). When they draw back to perdition, they reject the Name of Jesus for the Name of the dragon.

This also tells us the plan was in motion before the devil, or the Woman knew there was a plan. Although the devil assumes he runs his own show, he does nothing unless it’s known by God, as the devil makes his plans, they were still known by God from the foundation of the world. We know God is able to guide us through, or around any event. God doesn’t allow any evil to come, unless He has first provided a means for the faithful to escape. If nothing else is clear in this Book, we know God will not destroy the Righteous with the Wicked, yet we have the Righteousness and Holiness of God within, we are not appointed to the wrath of God.

The metaphor Head points to an authority, the metaphor Horn to power, the metaphor Crown to a monarchy seat, thus the authority, seat and power are all seen here, but don’t think these horns and heads are growing out of the dragon, as some mystic creature. Rather, they are possessive, these are areas under the control of the devil, but granted to mankind. The “prince of the power of the air” isn’t the prince of the air, the air, or the god of the air, or the king of the air, rather he is prince of the power (authority) of the natural air producing thoughts in the natural realm. The devil still uses suggestions looking for the lusts in mankind in order to entice mankind to do for the devil, what the devil is unable to do.

When Jesus was tempted of the devil the evil plan was to entice Jesus to use an ungodly power to accomplish what appeared to be a Godly endeavor. Did Jesus come to turn the Rocks into Bread? Yes, even Peter who was a piece of the Rock who became the Bread, as did we all, but not by the power of the devil. Did Jesus have power over the Temple? Yes, He cleaned it out twice, but not by the power of the devil. Is Jesus King of kings? Yes, but not by the power of the devil. The Wicked bring the suggestion, the means seems like it would serve a Godly endeavor, but it’s the wrong authority. Instead of coming boldly to the throne of God, they find they have placed themselves in the seat of Satan.

The dragon gives his power, seat and authority to the Beast of the Sea, the Beast of the Earth uses the same authority, causing all to worship the first Beast (Beast of the Sea). It’s interesting how the dragon gave his entire kingdom to the Beast of the Sea, yet the Beast of the Earth only uses the authority. Paul said the false apostles came with Satan in their heart, but with a mask of righteousness. They didn’t have the “seat” of Satan, rather it was Satan the mark or authority of the dragon. Each of the three areas of the dragon can be found from the fall to the end. There are times in history when the world used only the power, or only the authority, in each case the crown would transfer to an element being used. Often the nations would use their power one against the other, or their authority one against the other. However, we know wars and rumors of wars are a product of the Rider of the Red Horse. The Rider of Red Horse “takes Peace”, then the nations use the power or authority of the dragon to bring the wars and rumors of wars. God doesn’t cause the wars, but He does send the Rider on the Red Horse to take Peace.

Isaiah already told us who the ten are, as who the seven are after the three are removed, as well as who does the removing (Isa 11:11-14), there is no need to guess at it, the prophet already wrote it, let us not become as the Woman, attempting to change prophecy to fit our self-desires, it’s written, it’s purposed, it will come to pass. The Ten and Seven are the places where the devil exercises his authority and power in the “Sea” (Gentile world). Prior we found the Woman in the nation, here it’s the Gentile world. Until the Cross there were only two Bible recognized peoples, Jew and Gentile, after the Cross came those who were neither Jew or Gentile as a group on the earth, but not of the world. The Ten and Seven noted here are not the Sand of the Sea, neither are they the Heavenlies, they are in the Sea, the place of “disobedience”. We were all the children of disobedience, as we were under the hand of the dragon, but things changed for us at the Cross, now we are children of the Day, behold All things are New, a powerful statement any of us who are Born Again can make. When the enemy tells us we were disobedient, or we took of the Mark, or we have no right to the First Resurrection, we look to the Promise, knowing Behold all things are New, we believe God Is. We are being renewed day by day, as a Promise for the Children of the Day (II Cor 4:16 & Col 3:10).

Later we will see the Woman sitting on the beast who has seven heads and ten horns, then the Beast is without crowns, there will be three stages of change with this Beast, each denotes a change in Seasons (vs. 17:3). Here it’s obvious there are Two Wonders, the Woman and the dragon, later they attempt to become one in the bed of adultery through the acts of the Wicked, but here in the beginning they are yet separated. At this time two things are evident, the devil is not defeated, the position of the son of perdition is not opened.

The word Tail as in the tail of the dragon comes from the Greek word Oura meaning Tail of an animal, but more important to us is the phrase “you are the Head, not the tail”. This doesn’t mean we are the Head of the Body, or one of the Seven Heads, it means we are no longer subject to the sting of the dragon’s tail. Wait, didn’t we see something like this prior? Yes, when the people are filled with devils their “tails” will be like scorpions, their torment will be as the torment of scorpion, when he strikes a man (vs. 9:10 & 9:5). Since their weapons are words, and since the sting of the scorpion comes from nowhere, it stands their words are “backward”, or deceptive lies. The only power the devil has against us, is what we give him, give no place to the devil, resist him and he will flee from you, humble yourself under the Mighty hand of God. We will find even this woman has a protection from the dragon, a place designed for her.

The word Cast is the Greek Ballo meaning To cast off, or To throw, this is a past tense issue (did cast them), but how did dragon accuse before God day and night? The Satan nature is the accuser, the devil uses the same method he did at the tree; take of his fruit, speak his mind for him, ending being accused. Paul said corrupt communication is how one grieves the Holy Spirit, what then does the same communication do for the devil?

The separation is clear, the dragon stood before the Woman, the Woman was not riding the dragon, thus we find the dragon gave his power, authority and seat to the Beast of the Sea, yet the Woman will be seen sitting on the Beast, not the dragon. The dragon will be bound then, but the Heads and Horns will not. The Mountain of the Lord was suppose to sit on the mountains of the world, but the Woman is not the Mountain, she is the city, the Moon (Zion) is the Mountain of the Lord.  Ahh, the Woman thinks she is the Mountain, indicating she will believe a lie. The Body is not the Head, and the Woman is not the Mount.

God divided three areas, the Day from the Night, the Light from the Darkness and the Heavens from the Earth. The Light is never Darkness, it’s separated, thus when we find the Sun in darkness it has to refer to the Sun of the Night, as the House of Jacob. On the same note, we are children of the Day, not children of the Night, or children of the Darkness. There was darkness before Jesus came, regardless of how much faith some of the Old Testament saints held (Jn 1:1-5), then came the Day of Salvation, then comes the Night of judgment. God purposed the Day before the Night, the darkness before the Light

The area in verse 4 talks about the Woman being ready to Deliver connects to Isaiah chapter 66, before one talks about the Woman in travail, they must define the purpose. Isaiah says, “A voice of Noise from the City, a Voice from the Temple, a Voice of the Lord rendering recompense to His enemies” (Isa 66:6). Here we find three Voices, each relates to a Woe, the Hebrew word in each case is Quwm meaning Sound or Thunder. The location is defined as the City (Woman), and Temple within the city. This is not the Tabernacle, but the Temple.

This shows the Seven Thunders are not something good, they are sent to the Wicked exposing their folly, each Thunder relates to the evil done to each of the seven churches, showing the thunders are directed to the synagogue of Satan.

Isaiah 66:7 talks about the Woman bringing forth the Man Child; Isaiah 66:8 talks about the Earth and the Nation; the Earth is still a metaphor for the kingdom of heaven, then we see Zion must bring forth “children”, not “child”. The Woman did bring forth the Man Child, Zion will bring forth the 144,000 (children). Isaiah 66:10 isn’t speaking of Jerusalem as the Woman seen in Revelation 17, but as Jerusalem when Jesus came as the Word made flesh, but extends to the time of the Sixth church, the time when the Gentile no longer treads the city under foot (Isa 66:13).

Between the Wonder in heaven, and Revelation 17 many things take place. The Woman (city) is in comfort, but the city is fashioned by the people in her. When the 144,000 are showing the Mercy of God as the Sixth church as they spread the knowledge of God, the Comfort remains, and the City is at Peace. However, then comes the Lukewarm ones, coupling to the Wicked, to bring it all to an end. Then the City turns corrupt, and becomes “the Whore”.

However, long before then, the City brings forth the Man Child. The word Child in verse 4 is the Greek Teknon meaning A male or female, but then we find “It” was born, rather than “He” was born. What? Yes, when Jesus came, the promise of having the Body of Christ also came, thus the Body of Christ is an “It” as neither male or female, the wording here shows Christ in total, the Head as the “Man Child”, the Body as the “It”.

The devil knew there would come a Second Adam, but he had no idea who this Second Adam was, or what would happen. Paul pointed it out by saying, “which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory” (I Cor 2:8).

All this is a little clearer from the Greek Text, where verse 1 reads, “on her head a crown with twelve stars, and having in her womb, she cries, being in travail, and having been distressed to bear”, showing the Woman had the Man Child in her Womb, yet it was a Virgin Birth, thus the Seed, not the Egg is the issue. Her goal to bring the Man Child before she had a chance to do good or evil. Mary became the product God would use to show the allegory to the City, thus the City was never to be married, she was to remain a Virgin, even after the Birth of Jesus. When she seeks lovers, she leaves her calling behind.

The Seed was pure from the beginning, regardless of what the Woman did. The devil set his mind on killing the Second Adam in the same manner as he caused death to fall on the first, through temptations. The devil thinks he knows all things, yet knows nothing, he didn’t figure on this Second Adam being more than he could handle. After the Man Child came the devil began to plant Tares in the kingdom of heaven, but his goal was to destroy the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman. Why? The Remnant will make him with those who follow him the footstool. The devil knows he will be bound, even the devils asked Jesus if He was going to bind them. This is the Season for him to plant his tares, then he is gone, or bound in the pit the tares surface as the Beast of the Earth. In all this, God knew, thus God’s plan shows we win in the end.

Verse five gives us the Birth and Accession, the word Man is the Greek Arsen meaning Male, the word Child could also read Son, it’s the Greek Huios meaning A male offspring, the complete opposite of the Greek Nothos meaning an Illegitimate son. However, this shows a young son, we know Jesus was a male adult; could this be a clue to the Seed of the Woman? This also shows Jesus is legitimate, born the Prince of Peace, to be ruler over God’s City of Peace, as He rules all nations with a Rod of Iron.

The word Rule is the Greek Poimanion meaning Shepherd, it’s the same word used in the phrase Bishop and Shepherd of your souls. The word Rod or Staff is the Greek Rhabdos meaning A staff for chastising and scourging, thus we find Two areas, the Great Shepherd, and the Correction, but we can’t forget this is to “nations”, not “kingdoms”, thus we have the Staff of Guidance, the world the Rod of Correction, giving us Two Seasons.

The wording “Caught Up” is another hope of the Rapture, pointing to the First Resurrection is a Catching Up. This is the same word Paul used in reference to the Catching Away, it’s used in other places as well referring to the same thing (Acts 8:39, II Cor 12:2, I Thess 4:17, and here in vs. 5). The Resurrection of Jesus is the First Resurrection, yet it’s not complete until we are seen as New Jerusalem before the Throne of God. The Man Child is of course Jesus, we are parts of His Body, we are not the same as the Man Child, although we are partakers of His Resurrection, yet the title Man Child indicates a youth, not an adult, thus pointing to Jesus as the Son of man. However at the Ascension He is the Son of God (Rom 4:3-4), as the Word made flesh He is still a Son.

The Woman never considered her Man Child, she never accepted Him, yet the Remnant of her Seed will look upon Him, asking where He got the marks.

We recall from Daniel the two meanings of Times, here in verse 6 we find the phrase “a thousand two thousand and three score days”, but didn’t we see this exact term prior? Yes, back in 11:3 we saw the Two Witnesses would Prophesy for the length of time in sackclothe, but here we find something different, it will help explain the “they” found in this verse. Here it’s not Prophecy, but To Feed, the word Feed is the Greek Trepho meaning To nourish, or Nurture. The use of the days points to the Time of Comfort, this is confirmed when John is shown this same Woman is in the wilderness (vs. 17:3). This is the progression, the gap between verses 5 and 6 would be the Day.

Back in Chapter 11 we found a gap between verses 2 and 3, the city will be trodden under foot for “forty two months”, but the Two Witnesses who are assigned the last two churches will be clothed in sackclothe for a thousand two hundred and three score days. The same is true here, the Woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a “place”, but in just a few verses we will find she was given two wings of a great eagle, ahh, two wings, two witnesses, Law and Prophets, it all connects (vs. 12:14).

This is also interesting since the children were in the wilderness to test their love for God, all wilderness experiences are based on the premise. After the Man Child ascends, then the Woman is seen in the wilderness, it has to have a great point of importance we can’t miss. The actual city was in the Promised Land, but John says she is in the wilderness. Although the actual city is in the land, the people in the city will be in the wilderness, the place before their true Promised Land.

When the “Man Child” is caught up what is it? The Accession? Yes, but what else? The First Resurrection, yet it’s not complete until the Partakers enter therein. The Holy Ghost gave us an entire Season in a few words, showing we are not assigned to be partakers of the Night, we are assigned to be partakers of the First Resurrection.

What would the war be in verse 7? The devil being bound? Maybe, Jesus saw Satan fall from heaven, but it was the authority of the devil. However, we see an entire war going on, this is the time when the devil gives his authority, power and seat of Satan to the Beast of the Earth. Who would be the “angels” of the devil? Paul said, “and no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light”, connecting to, “for such are false apostles deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ”, with, “whose end will be according to their works” (II Cor 11:13-15). This war happened at the Cross, the effects got to the lake of fire, showing how the Cross of Jesus made the devil ineffective (destroyed in KJV – Heb 2:14). The metaphor Earth is the kingdom of heaven (not the Kingdom of God), the devil is the tare planter, after the devil is bound in the “pit” the Beast of the Earth comes with the working of Satan.

Two words are used for heaven in the Book of Revelation; in verse 8:13 and 14:6-7 when the angel gives the everlasting Gospel it’s the “mid-sky”, which is not God’s heaven, thus the angel gives a Gospel to those who are unable to enter heaven. However, the other word for heaven, which is used several times, including here in verse 7 has many meanings. Not only does it mean God’s heaven, but it means Happiness and Power, it’s the issue. The devil lost the ability to present his accusing ways before God, this changes the Job experience in our case. This war is connected to the Voice from heaven saying, Now is come Salvation. However, Michael is connected to the Jews, but the first disciples were Jews, the first to receive the Gift were Jews.

Some of the other words used here show the devil lost place, the word Place is the Greek Topos meaning As occupied, as in Give place to the devil, which is to give the devil some opportunity he can’t obtain on his own. The word Old in the phrase “old serpent” is the Greek Archaios meaning What was from the beginning of something, it doesn’t mean Old as in age (Greek Palaios), rather it refers to a principality, or the beginning of something which would be the beginning of the spirit lusting to envy. In all this we are assured the devil hasn’t changed methods, he lost his effectiveness and knew it, the first place he was sent was the Sea, there he gave the Beast of the Sea his power, authority and seat, then the comes the Earth, where he made entry into the earth by the Tares who use his authority.

The word Serpent is the Greek Ophis meaning Maliciousness, or one who holds Malice, and Malice is the intent to cause harm, or injury to another. Malice is the intent behind Slander, yet Slander is the meaning of the name Satan. The working of Satan begin with Maliciousness toward people; malice is the use of the information, it doesn’t matter if the information is fact or not, if it’s used to cause harm, it’s slander. The wording “Cast Onto The Earth” has the idea of a motion, showing the devil was cast onto the earth, the Earth is the place where the “he in the world” does his wickedness. The devil no longer has the ability to accuse us, we accuse ourselves with our own unbelief. Jesus doesn’t rebuke us with the devil, rather He upbraids us with our own unbelief.

Later we find the devil who deceived them being cast into the lake of fire, where the Beast and False Prophet are (vs. 20:10). This war has to be at the Cross, since verse 10 begins with “Now is come Salvation”, pointing directly to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. Verse 11 adds to this, giving us more information; from Now is come salvation,  to strength, the Kingdom of God, Power of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down (present tense), to “they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony, and loved not their lives unto the death”, a past tense saying which can only be attributed to those who are Christ Like (vs. 10-11).

The three elements of the Blood, Word of their testimony and loved not their lives to the death all point to the Witness. The Witness is the Water, Blood and Spirit, they fit, the Blood is easy, but the Word of their testimony is not what they say about Jesus, or their selves, it’s what others say about them, pointing to the Water, or Mercy of the Father. The ability to “not love our souls (lives) unto the death” is only possible by the Spirit. All the attributes mentioned in verse 10 point to the abilities found in being Born Again, we have the Kingdom of God within, the New Man is the Power of Christ from on High. The purpose of our faith is the salvation of our souls, we don’t have a little strength, we have Strength. The word Strength is the Greek Dunamis which is dependent on the place it’s delivered from, or to the purpose it’s to be used. Even the devil, Sea and false prophet have limited natural dunamis, but we are Born Again with Power from on High, much different. Dumamis is predicated by the authority, the ability in our case we is coupled to the Power (Authority) of Christ, in the Kingdom of God, which means it will accomplish all things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. In the case of the false prophet it’s very limited to deception, in the case of the devil it’s the same, deception.

SALVATION:

Strength (Dunamis)
Kingdom of God
Authority of His Christ

DAMNATION:

Power(Dunamis) of the dragon
Seat of Satan
Authoirty of the dragon

Another way to see this is:

SALVATION:

Kingdom of God
Strength (Power)
Power (authority) of His Christ

PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR:

Seat of Satan
Power (evil dunamis)
Authority of dragonWe’re going to be looking at the chain of events again, the seals give us periods of time, the angels don’t give us periods of time, but they do show their appearance is well after we are taken.

CHART SHOWING SIMPLE CHAIN OF EVENTS

First Seal – Spirit given (Day of Pentecost)

Second Seal – Wars rumors of wars

Third Seal – Famine

Fourth Seal – Pestilence

Fifth Seal – Rapture of Church, Day ends, devil bound

Sixth Seal – Time of Comfort, Night begins

Seventh Seal – Short time begins, brings 7 Angels

First Angel – Everlasting Gospel

Second Angel – Mountain cast into the Sea

Third Angel – Wormwood cast into the Sea

Fourth Angel – Nation of Israel loses 1/3

Fifth Angel – Opens pit, devil released

Sixth Angel – Finish of great war

Seventh Angel – Judgment begins

GROUPS: 

First group judged – Jews, must pass books, and find name in Book of Life.

Second group – Those who sleep in Jesus

Third group – Rest of dead

End of time as man knows it.

Final Separation – New earth as lake of fire.

New Jerusalem for Heavenly citizens.

We then find Rejoice you heavens, but Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth of the Sea, this refers to the time of Woes, not the Day. The Earth after the Rapture is the place for the Beast of the Earth, the Sea of course for the Beast of the Sea. This is after we read how we “overcame”, rather than being overcome. This area points to the “Great Wrath”, it hardly fits with “Now is come Salvation”, unless it’s the division of Seasons. All this covers the seals, giving us a look at some history leading up to who the City was, what she is, and what she will be, then we will find why she is judged.

What did we find here? We have Strength, the Kingdom of God, and the Authority of His Christ, all of which comes with Grace unto Salvation. What does the opposite sound like? Ahh, the power, seat and authority of the dragon. However, is the power, seat and authority of the dragon unto Salvation? Or Damnation? If we put these areas side by side we find the clues, we have so much going for us, the New Birth is more than a religious idea, or concept, it’s the very Nature of the Overcomer.

Rev 12:13-17  

The devil had no idea he would be cast into the earth, as soon as he hit the Earth, he started his evil plans. The devil knows the only way he can do a thing to us, is if we allow it, thus he changed his focus. His planting of tares is people holding to the spirit lusting to envy, making the invasion into the Body, the devil doesn’t come into the kingdom, he sends his tares.

The Woman brought forth the Man Child, it was the devil’s downfall, so knowing he can do nothing to the Man Child, or those belonging to the Man Child, he set out to get the Woman (vs. 13). Much of what we see today proves this verse, if nothing else. However, God gave the Woman a place prepared for her, plus an “eagle” with Two great wings, one wing as the Law of Moses, the other as the Prophets, she will be nourished for a time, and times and half a time, meaning during the Day. We are in the time, and times, and half a time, as we saw in Daniel, these refer to Passover, Pentecost, and half of the Feast of Trumpets.

The devil finding he can’t fight the Law of Prophets, had to figure some other means, all this shows he is making up plans as he goes. The most frustrated entity on the face of this planet is the devil. The devil having turned over his power, authority and seat to the Beast of the Sea, sent the flood from the Beast for one purpose, to cause the Woman to be carried away, thus wipe out the Remnant of her Seed, thus stop the Night, stopping the devil from being bound, then stop the judgment, which would halt the lake of fire. However, his plans were know, they will fail, but being so self-deceived he continues to fight the Truth, attempting to make his lies come to pass.

Verse 15 shows the serpent used his mouth, the malicious thoughts in the air, the accusations against the Jews. History is full of examples, including the events we see today. No secret, here is the Scripture, out there is the proof, but nonetheless those Great Wings prevail. It may seem redundant, but we must see how perfect the Kingdom is. There are many things going on in the world, some us have to work in the environment, but we can also be assured, this is the Day the Lord has made, we are not appointed to the wrath of God, we live in an age where repentance gains Immediate results.

Verse 16 is a progression, the word Earth is the same Greek word used prior, only we found the devil was cast into the earth, but here it looks like the same thing, but it’s not. The earth swallowed up the Flood, not the devil, this shows over the years there have been many “floods”, in each case the earth has swallowed them, which is not a good sign to those who join to the floods. A flood is a body of water leaving it’s banks to venture into an area where it has no right in order to bring destruction.

Verse 15 said the Serpent sent the flood, verse 17 shows the dragon was wroth with the Woman. Things changed, verse 17 shows the purpose is not to destroy the Woman, but to make war with the Remnant of her Seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the Testimony (Old Testament, or Law and Prophets) of Jesus. It’s the key here, separating this group from the one in verses 10 & 11.

Chart showing differences between verses:

Rev – 12:11

Blood of the Lamb
Word of Their Testimony
Loved not their souls unto the death

Rev – 12:17

Keep the commandments of God
Have the Testimony of Jesus

The Testimony of Jesus is the Law and Prophets, thus we have a division of Seasons, verses 10 and 11 point to those of the Day, verse 17 to the Night. The devil was wroth, the word Wroth means Provoked to anger, verse 17 is the only place in the Book of Revelation we find the word Wroth.

Did the dragon persecute the Body of Christ, or the Woman? The devil came after the Woman, he sent the tares to the Body of Christ. The devil attempts to attack the Women by various means, placement of religions to halt the Temple, sending nations with the heads or horns of the dragon against the Woman, thus if he can stop the Woman, he destroys the Remnant of her Seed. Nonetheless we find we have so power over the devil and his works they amount to less than zero in our lives.

Rev 13:1-10

The Wicked who entered the kingdom of heaven during our Season had their sins forgiven, but they continued to use the ways of darkness, as they committed the sin against the Holy Ghost which was the result of their iniquity, thus they enter the Night with the sin hanging over their heads, as they use the working of Satan in the Night. The Tares are planted in our Season, when the devil is bound those same Tares emerge as the Beast of the Earth, thus the devil was cast into the earth.

All other people through the efforts of the Remnant have their sins atoned on earth, but join to the Wicked in the end, in so doing, join to the sin which can’t be forgiven, thus we are still seeing why they failed to repent after they are subjected to the plagues.

John is standing on the Sand of the Sea, but he is looking to the Sea, thus this connects to the Woe on the Sea, explaining how the dragon used the Flood. The devil was cast into the earth as the tares, but he gave his power, authority and seat to the Beast of the Sea, thus the first Woes are on the Earth and Sea.

The word “stood” is the Greek Histemi meaning A set place, or Established, John was a converted Jew, because he moved by faith to a place higher than the Sand of the Sea, thus his position here is one of the Heavens. Since he is of the Heavens, he has gained clarity. The Beast of the Sea has seven heads and ten horns, the metaphor Head points to authority, the metaphor Horn to power, but which authority and which power becomes the issue. The word Beast here is different from the one used in reference to the four beasts, the four beasts had Life, this word is the Greek Therion meaning A wild beast, denoting A venomous animal, such as a viper, or serpent.

We’ve seen all this prior, but there is yet more for us to gain. We can see now the power, seat and authority are venomous in nature, thus the purpose of the dragon is to destroy. We also keep the metaphors in line, horn is power, head is authority, the authority of the dragon is used against the Woman, thus showing the importance of Authority. Before we gained Power, we first gain Authority, thus the Great Faith of the Centurion was based on his knowledge and use of Authority.

We also want to keep in mind how the dragon gave his authority, power and seat to the Beast of the Sea, thus the Beast of the Sea is not the devil, but devilish. Also not all in the Sea are connected to the Beast of the Sea, there are many who are not. The Beast of the Sea will send one nation after another, those free of the Beast are used to tame the nation sent by the Beast. These heads and horns appear three times in the Book of Revelation, prior it was 12:3, then in 13:1 again in 17:3, but in each case there is a change:

12:3 – seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on the heads

13:1 – seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns on the horns, with the name of blasphemy on the heads.

17:3 – seven heads, ten horns, and “full” of the names of blasphemy.

In 12:3 the crowns are seven in nature, located on the heads (authority), but in 13:1 those crowns change to the horns (power) becoming ten, but the crown only means which area is being used at the time, thus in 17:3 there are no crowns. In 12:3 there is no mention of blasphemy, but in 13:1 we find the blasphemy on the heads, but in 17:1 the Beast is full of blasphemy. The progression shows a compromise by the people coupled to the Beast, in the compromise the Beast grows in blasphemy. Since the Blasphemy is related to the Head (Authority), it stands the Beast of the Earth who uses the Authority is also guilty of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, perhaps the primary violator.

Jumping ahead to verses 5 and 6 we find the evil Mouth, from the Mouth comes the Words of Blasphemy (vs. 5-6), these verses follow the progression of the Flood from our Season into the Next, this is the First Beast of the Sea. Prior the angel stood on the Sea and Earth, but here John isn’t standing on the Earth or the Sea, rather he is on the Sand of the Sea, the Woman is part of the Sand of the Sea, since the Sand of the Sea refers to the Jewish people, the Fig Tree to their religious order. Later the Woman will be seen sitting on the Beast, but then we won’t find the Sun, Moon or Crown of Stars. We will find her covered with the things of the world, but she is holding a cup full of abominations. Therefore, we will see a progression of downfall for the City. Where is the Beast she rides? In the Sea, the Beast didn’t invade the Sand of the Sea, the Sand of the Sea joined to the Beast as a mountain falling into the sea. The “name, number and mark” of the Beast all relate to the world, showing how the Woman compromised her position and condition, as she joined her heart to the Beast, instead of God and her being “One”, she made the decision to be one with the Beast.

In this chapter we find the danger of operating from a position of revenge, even a revenge against the devil. One of the most used tricks of the devil is revenge, he really doesn’t care if it’s revenge against man, God or him, as long as man holds the intent of slander in the doing. God said Vengeance is His, to take it from God, means one has to usurp the authority of God.

The devil gave his three elements of his plan of destruction, to steal, kill and destroy; however, we have God’s ability to give, bring life, to have it more abundantly unto the saving of our souls, so we can have God’s Salvation.

Steal, Kill and Destroy? Power, Authority and Seat? Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life? Cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches and the lusts for other things? Ahh, they all relate, they are the Wiles of the enemy, we come against them by having Life by the Spirit, as we refuse to use the wiles of the devil.

There are two things we have to understand before jumping into this Chapter. The word Blasphemy with the Parable of the Tares. The word Blasphemy is used in 8 verses in the Book of Revelation, defining the Character of these two Beasts. Here the use of blasphemy is singular, but in v 17:3 we find the Woman is found with the names (plural) of blasphemy, but this is much later, the metaphor Name means authority, showing how she joins to the false prophet and the Beast of the Sea by the authority.

Some translations show the “names” of blasphemy in this verse; however, this is based on verse 5, which says, “speaking great things and blasphemies”, but the Greek text shows this as, “speaking great things and blasphemy”, thus the blasphemies come from the authority of the dragon. The “great things” are the high things coming against the knowledge of God.

In our Season this Beast is still of the Sea, but earthly in thinking and wisdom, thus John (representing the Church), is standing on the Sand of the Sea looking to the Earth and Sea, he is not of the Sea, nor of the Earth at this time. If this is the Night he is already removed, but this is his vision as well, thus he is above the sand of the sea. All this is very interesting, since we are fishers of men, we came from the Sea or the Sand of the Sea, thus we find the day we made the decision to receive the Cross of Jesus the dragon, the Beast of the Sea, the power, authority of seat of Satan couldn’t stop us, we left the dominion by entering the kingdom of heaven. As awful as all this sounds regarding the Beast of the Sea, or the Beast of the Earth, the truth remains, we were able to leave the realm, surely they have no power over us now.

This chapter is still talking about the Woe to the Sea and Earth, but it also expands our conceptional thinking on the kingdom of heaven. The Kingdom of God is within, in order to reach the Kingdom of God in heaven, one must have the Kingdom of God within. However, the kingdom of heaven is for the potential inhabitants of the Kingdom of God, thus the kingdom of heaven has kings, the Kingdom of God has kings and priests. It stands when we leave the kingdom of heaven remains, the Remnant will fill in, but there will still be the Tares, as independent rocks. However, we have to keep in mind Chapter 13 is still speaking of the Woes, the Woe to the Sea is being defined here, soon the Woe to the Earth, then the third Woe will be found on the Woman. Each Woe leads to the Judgment, which is the conclusion of the Woes.

John sees the combination of the beasts Daniel saw, this is the Image in the dream, the image of a “man”, measuring six by six, when it ends in the Temple it will be six, six, and six. Only one of the heads was wounded, the head was joined to the Beast of the Sea, thus it relates to an authority of a nation, which nation was Babylon with it’s idols, yet prophetically it points to Assyria. However, the Beast of the Earth will use the means of this head who suffered the head wound. We know it’s idol worship, yet it was God Who wounded the head (Hab 3:13). No need to look for someone with an axe in his head, the wound pertains to idol worship.

John uses the leopard, bear and lion, but instead of the dragon leading the pack, we find the dragon gave his Power, Authority and Seat to the Beast, we see these as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. The Second Beast is like unto the first by sharing the same authority. The First Beast (of the Sea) uses the acts and ways of the dragon, the Second uses the ways, but authority used without the power ends in witchcraft. Fro this reason we judge the Ways, not the Acts, in Matthew 7:21-23, it’s exactly what Jesus is doing, judging the Ways, but the people being judged were trusting in the Acts. They presumed Acts were works, they failed to see Ways are works.

Daniel used a different order, he said the lion came first, then the bear, then the leopard (Dan 7:4-6). Daniel saw the Beast going toward the Time of Comfort, John sees it coming into the Time of Comfort. Daniel saw three separate beasts, then one large one; whereas, John sees it as the combined Beast, the Lion with wings is Babylon, the same symbol was used in Daniel’s day, thus he had to know what it meant, as did John. The Bear was one side, or out of balance, the three ribs are the three nations, thus showing this Bear is near the Promise, much like Ishmael, but still leading toward the Sea. The Leopard had four wings and four heads, each representing a nation, becoming the four kings who come from the east.

The Leopard and Bear give us seven nations, three with the Bear, and four with the Leopard, but the driving force is still a Babylonian thought process. Since we have the Lion, Bear and Leopard we can also make a correlation between the Power, Authority and Seat of the dragon. The Lion represents the Authority, the Bear the Power, the Leopard the Seat; therefore, we find the Head Wound points to Babylon as idol worshipping, plus the image of the king. The symbol of Babylon is the Lion with a man’s head.

The “they” who worshipped the dragon would be the world, but do they know it? No, did we? Not hardly, so how is this? By using the wiles of the enemy, anger, pride, manipulation, the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or any other elements of darkness. The name Michael is a question, it means “who is like God?”, the people will say, “Who is like unto the Beast”. They consider the works of man’s hand the wonders, they are impressed with the ways of the world. Lucifer is a merchandiser, to him it’s just business, no matter who suffers, the way of the world.

Verse 4 shows the “they” who worship the dragon, the proof is what they say about the Beast who has the power, authority and seat of Satan. Once we entered the Kingdom of God we entered a training period, the division is between, “if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. All in the world is defined as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I Jn 2:15-16): and “Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world” (I Jn 4:1-4). Yes we will partake of the bad water, not because we want to, but we do slip, yet repentance in the day is the power of reconciliation.

Verses 5 and 6 show “a mouth” not mouths as many, this one speaks great things and blasphemies, here we find this Beast is around today as the, “forty and two months” (vs. 5). The blasphemy against God, is against the Father’s Mercy, against His Tabernacle against the Church, against His Name, moreover against the spiritual ways of God. How do they do it? Taking the glory, man giving man the glory for the efforts of man. If it’s good, it came from God, give God the glory.

Verse 7 changes times, showing the Beast of the Sea will overcome the saints in the Night, only this is a “he”, not a “them”. The Authority will be held over all kindreds, tongues and nations, referring to the Gentiles, defining the metaphor Sea.

Verse 8 combines the Earth with the Sea, but it also has a very important separation, “whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the world”. This is vital, it shows those who walk in Mercy have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life; however, those who do not would be the vessels of dishonor.

At times we have thoughts, or think we have committed the most horrid of all things, we lost Grace, it’s over, we’re cooked. Not so, we are learning, as we are being Justified, if we are completely Justified, then we would not slip, we would not need to be trained, or guided, if  we try to operate in Mercy and Grace, our names are written in the Book of Life.

Verses 9 and 10 connect to the letters to the churches, if any man have an ear, let him hear. Those who lead others into captivity, shall go into captivity, those who kill with the sword, must be killed with the sword, here is the patience and faith of the saints.

If it’s death unto death, captivity unto captivity, sword unto the sword, then it all relates to verses 8 and 10. We find one head (power) of the Beast is like unto Babylon, in the end the Woman is called Babylon, in fact she is called, 1) Mystery, 2) Babylon the great, 3) the mother of harlots, and 4) abominations of the earth (vs. 17:5). Not to jump ahead, but we can see a counterfeit in the making. Didn’t John tell us “Now is come 1) Salvation, 2) Strength, 3) the Kingdom of God, and 4) the Power of His Christ (vs. 12:10)? Yes, we find the Second Beast uses the authority of the First then counterfeits the course of Salvation, thus bringing about the Judgment. If we placed these side by side we can gain a hint to why we submit to the New Man to form us into the Image of God’s Son, and how the counterfeit of the Wicked forming the Woman into the Image of the devil.

Rev 12:10 –

Salvation
Strength
Kingdom of God
Power of His Christ

Rev 17:5 –

Mystery
Babylon the great
Mother of harlots
Abominations of the earth

The last area gives us the division in the kingdom of heaven. Our goal is to walk in the Power of His Christ, the Wicked cause the abomination in the temple, but it begins when they bring the abomination into the temple. We begin to see why it’s, Woe to the Earth and Sea, rather than Woe to the Sand of the Sea, or Woe to the Brethren who have Overcome. This also explains the phrases “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth”, with “Here is the patience and faith of the saints”, with “Here is the patience of the saints (both groups): here are they who keep the commandments of God (Remnant), and the Faith of Jesus (Christian Church)”. This latter statement combines the Two Seasons in reference to these Beasts, later we will see we are Raptured before the 1,000 years, yet we didn’t take of the number of the Beast. If the Beast doesn’t appear until after the seventh seal, yet we are Raptured at the fifth, surely the mark of the Beast is around today.

One of the aspects of Patience is endure something, without attempting to force a change, thus Patience knows the Sea has a Beast, we can’t tame it, we lack the power and authority to engage in the activity, but we do have the power and authority to call the called from the Beast before it’s too late.

The word “Leading” is the Greek Sunago meaning To assemble or One who holds something or someone, much like the term The Synagogue of Satan holding people captive. We find John is talking about two beasts, one beast holds people captive under the spirit of disobedience, the other will kill with the sword, both are later found in the lake of fire. The Patience of the Saints is to stay the course, don’t take people captive and don’t kill the Just.

Rev 13:11-18

John sees another Beast coming out of the earth, the very place the devil was cast down to. This is the area where the saying, “What if God, willing to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction (perdition): and He might make known the riches of His Glory on the vessels of Mercy, which he had afore prepared Unto Glory” (Rom 9:22-23). Makes sense, two vessels, both of Clay, one lacks Mercy, the other has it, but both had the same opportunity to do the Will of the Father by walking in Mercy. Since one element rejected the call during the Day, we find them coming up as the Beast of the Earth in the Night, thus it’s not God denying them repentance for their iniquity, rather they refuse to walk in Mercy, this also explains why they are again moved by envy. The Remnant walk in Mercy, it will be the offense to those who don’t.

This will also tell us why Jesus told us to pray “Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil”. We can add to this request with words such as “Lord never allow me to be self-deceived, keep me from the Night, please Lord if I left the Sheepfold without Your permission, guide me back, I submit to Your Spirit”. This Chapter is a warning of a clear and present danger.

We know these are the Tares, the Wicked, the Lawless, the workers of iniquity, but we do gain some interesting knowledge. Matthew told us the Tares do Offend and do Iniquity (Matt 13:41), Jesus said He would cut off the Offending hand, and pluck out the Offending eye, they will lose their right to the kingdom, simply because they accepted the wrong authority. Jesus also said “Not every one says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in the day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name? and in Your Name have cast out devils? and in Your Name done many wonderful things? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you who work iniquity” (Matt 7:21-23). The word “into” in the phrase “into the kingdom”, means A completion of purpose, rather than simple entrance. It points to the purpose, which is to accept the Kingdom of God.

This Beast has two horns like a lamb, but spoke as a dragon, thus the authority came from the Beast of the Sea, but the Beast of the Sea obtained it from the dragon. Since when do lambs have horns? Horn is a sign of power, this Beast used the authority of the Beast of the Sea, but mixed it with the power of the lamb, very dangerous and costly. In Verse 12 the world Power refers to Authority (Greek Exousia), he will cause the “earth” and them which dwell therein to worship the First Beast (Beast of the Sea), whose deadly wound was healed (vs. 11-12), referring to entering idol worship. We found it was only one head to suffer the wound, not the entire dragon. The Beast of the Sea has those within who worship the dragon, but here we find this Beast won’t worship the Beast of the Sea, rather he will make those in the Earth do so. It would include the Laodiceans, who think they are rich and in need of nothing. This goes right back to John measuring the temple as he saw those who “worship” therein, connecting to a Woe.

Each horn represents a Season, Daniel told us one horn was larger than the other, from the chart we can see the Larger is the Day, the Smaller the Night. This also shows the Saints referred to in verse 7 are the Remnant, they will have a Little Strength, rather than the Strength from the Greater Light of Salvation.

CHART SHOWING THE ELEMENTS OF THE TWO HORNS

LARGER HORN + SMALLER HORN

1- Fearful + Dogs

2- Unbelieving + Sorcerers

3- Abominable + Whoremongers

4- Murderers + Murderers

5- Whoremongers + Idolaters

6- Sorcerers + Whosoever loves or Makes a lie

7- Idolaters

8- Liars

There must some text in this study showing the two horns: we find the Larger Horn is Fearful, Unbelieving, Abominable, Murderers, Whoremongers, Sorcerers, Idolaters and Liars (vs. 21:8), the Second smaller Horn contains Dogs, Sorcerers, Whoremongers, Murderers, Idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a Lie (vs. 22:15). There are differences between these two lists showing the character in one Season as the spirit of antichrist, in the Next it’s the false prophet, yet both are Wicked. The first lists shows a character, the second shows all the working of Satan.

The first list has eight items, pointing to the Eighth, but the second list has six pointing to man. The areas found in both lists are; Sorcerers, Whoremongers, Murderers, Idolaters and the Lie, each shows something about the Character of the Second Beast. The Sorcerer aspect points to witchcraft, indicting the type of “miracles” they do, they will use mystic mind power through deception, the heart witchcraft. They lie in wait to deceive, they always have some “game a foot”, their mind games are to trap and snare those they hold envy against.

The Whoremonger shows how they trick us into the bed of adultery through the Jezebel mindset. The Murderer was defined in James, they Kill the Just by bringing doctrines of devils, or teach traditions of men as doctrine. The Idolater aspect includes self-worship, mentor worship, or worshipping the Beast; they also worship their own souls, as they sit in the temple of God, proclaiming their souls as God. The Lie they hold to, is saying they want to be Christ Like, but they use the spirit of antichrist, they are false christs in this Season, false prophets in the Next. They say they walk in the Light, but they hate (slander) their brethren, thus they are in darkness even now.

The Second list holds those who loved the Lie, as well as those who made the Lie, it also shows they are Dogs, since they use the “rope of the Dog”. The rope of the Dog is the rope of Judas, they presume they are hanging us, but in truth they are hanging themselves. This shows they marched around the Cross, but in their hearts they were mocking the Cross by not submitting to it (Ps 22:16 & 22:20). They use the Cross, the Body, the Name of Jesus, simply because they are in the Body, it will work as Matthew 7:21-23 shows, thus when the Rock is broken the Name won’t work for them, they run to the feet of the Sixth church to be involved, for their sake, not the Lord’s. In this season they wanted to feel superior over the rest of the Body; in the next it’s the same, only in the Night it’s to be superior over the Woman.

This Beast only deceives those of the Earth, the word Dwell or Dwelling for those of the earth is not Tabernacle, but the Greek Katoikeo meaning A certain fixed place to reside, thus showing their home is not heaven as they would assume, rather they are Bound to the earth. Those who follow after these Beast are earthly, not of heaven. It’s very important, giving us Hope, these sons of perdition, for the most part have no idea what they are doing, they are sent by the enemy to destroy ministries, people, or shipwreck faith, but in their minds they think they are doing God a service, yet they are natural thinkers, they depend on natural reasoning. The evidence is clear, not only did Paul tell us the princes of this world had no idea what they were doing, we find Judas had no idea what he was doing, as he presumed when Jesus said, “what you do, do quickly” was permission, rather than a warning. However, there are signs of what they are doing, envy, nastiness, slander, hate, deception, they lie in wait to deceive, they trust in the arm of man, they hold the words of man above the Bible.

Daniel also saw the lion stand as man, thus the lion is the one who suffered the head wound, this is seen as One of the heads, not seven, nine or ten, thus not all the Beast suffered a head wound. We know this wound relates to Authority, not an actual physical head wound. This Horn is like unto a man, the number of the Beast is the number of “a man” not Men as many, this is a head wound, not a body wound, or a foot wound. The nation who suffered the wound was Babylonia, the city Babylon was located in the nation, thus the Woman is known as Babylon, not Babylonia.

The house with the head wound, received the wound from God (Hab 3:13, Isa 10:24, 10:33 & Jere 50:18), but in order to see the Head we have to go back to Daniel where we view the dream of Nebuchadnezzar. The Image’s head was of find gold, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar “you are this head of gold”; however, Nebuchadnezzar wanted it all, thus he made an image of himself of Gold. The number of his image was 6×6, with the head wound being healed it ends being 666 (Dan 2:32, 2:38 & 3:1). It’s still making an Image of the world, then worshipping the ways of the world, rather than God who created the world. Paul said it was worshipping the creation, rather than the Creator.

In Jeremiah 50:18 God says, “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria”. This connects Assyria with Babylon, although they were two different countries, they were to the north of Israel, and connected by their forms of idol worship.

In Isaiah 10:12 we read “when the Lord has performed His Whole Work upon mount Zion, and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks”. Therefore, there is a glory in pride, demonic, but nonetheless a type of glory. In the end all glory is taken from the earth, there is nothing left but deep darkness. Habakkuk 3:13 says, “You have wounded the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck.” This shows us the False Prophet is akin to Assyria, who will use the methods of Babylon, causing the Woman to become Babylon.

Babylon was first a city after the Flood in the Days of Noah, then it became the  nation Babylonia (Gen 11:1-9), it was the Principality of Nimrod, who was a hunter of men (Gen 10:8-9). The head wasn’t the discernment, it was discovering the foundation of the neck, or the part joining the head to the Body which produced discernment. Here we see the neck was attached to the dragon, the dragon to the Beast of the Sea. In the end it won’t be worshipping one nation, but the entire Beast of the Sea.

A view of history shows the Tigris-Euphrates Valley usurped control from the native Sumerians, who survived almost two thousand years under the leadership of Babylon and Assyria. Assyria had a religion of idol worship which used certain copies of the nation of Israel, many worldly scholars assume the creation account in the Bible was taken by the Jews from the Assyrians, instead of seeing it the other way around, thus today the Beast still hates the Woman, and still makes war with her, as it blasphemes God.

The name Assyria was taken from Ashur, the Greek meaning is “land of the god Ashur”. Ashur was the capital of Assyria around the third millennium BC, thus they worshipped the City. The Assyria political history has been of importance to the world since the sixth century BC, also the borders of Assyria were Mountains.

Babylon has been considered “one of the most famous cities of antiquity”, part of the antiquity is the famed Rampant Goat, who stood behind a tree with eight branches with buds on three of the branches. This Goat had two horns, it was clothed with feathers, it’s height was two cubits. Other Goats have been found from the culture as well, such as the Copper Goat, which had a mark between the horns on the forehead which appears to be a wound or a Mark.

The famed Iamassu is the winged human headed bull, which developed from the earlier lion, became a man with wings, the symbol of Babylon. Other items show the lion at war with the Horse, all these symbols point to the prophecy, as the heathen is completing prophecy, yet they don’t know it.

This Beast of the Earth was talked about in the Old Testament as well, Ezekiel said the prince of Tyrus, “they shall bring you down to the pit, and you shall die the deaths of them who are slain in the midst of the Seas. Will you yet say before him who slays you, I am God? but you shall be a man, and no God, in the hand of him who slays you” (Ezek 28:8-9). This warning shows the Ways of the Beast, not the Ways of God. From all this we know God Is, it’s the point. Before the Cross this Beast still had seven heads and ten horns, but it was run by the Red dragon, but after the Cross the devil was defeated and destroyed. The devil knew he couldn’t face the people of God, thus he gave his power, seat and authority to the Beast of the Sea, the Beast of the Earth left the realm but retained the authority becoming the Tares in the field of the kingdom of heaven. The Beast of the Sea was given three evil elements, but the Beast of the Earth has the choice to be free of them, yet desired to retain the authority, thus they found they could control the spirit lusting to envy, they could use it to make them feel superior over the rest of the Body, when in truth they were forming themselves into the footstool of the Lord.

Those of the Sea are victims of demonic oppression; they are under disobedience, as we all were, thus we all used the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. We all took of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, striving for self-awareness, or self-confidence. However, we left the old realm by entering a realm wherein we are Free indeed, if we receive it.

We know this Beast comes out of perdition, making it the son of perdition, but we also know the title is a New Testament concept, since the word Perdition has no Hebrew equivalent. The word Perdition means Ruin or A Loss of something, it’s the Greek Apolia, translated as Destruction (in Matt 7:13, Rom 9:22, Ph’l 3:19, II Pet 2:1 and 3:16), as Waste (in Matt 26:8 and Mark 14:4), and as Perdition (in John 17:12, Ph’l 1:28, II Thess 2:3, Heb 10:39). In Romans 9:22 we find the reference to the vessels of dishonor; in II Peter 2:1 it’s translated as Damnable, thus II Peter uses the word more than any other book. It’s in II Peter where we find who they are, and how they operate. They are those who come among us proclaiming to be of us, yet holding private conclusions of Prophecy, they quote verses, but out of context, some can quote verses faster than we can look them up. Ahh, a trick, if we can’t look them up, they can change words here and there, making up their own conclusions, or worse they quote them, but use them out of context. It’s the deception, the same trick the Beast of the Earth will use on the Woman.

The root word to Apolia is Apollumi, translated as Destroy, or Perish; however, it also shows the person destroys their self, another interpretation shows a type of “tossing away” the very thing God gave them to be saved. They are earthly, but they are also free of the Sea and the Sand of the Sea. Instead of dwelling in the heavens, they made the decision to dwell in the Earth, they obtained the Clay nature, then mixed it with the Iron, as they use the Ten Toes to their advantage, thus causing the Ten Toes to be mixed clay and iron.

Clearly we are seeing the Tares, in the Parable of the Tares we found the Wheat are the children of the kingdom, but the Tares are the children of the Wicked. The word Wicked is the Greek Poneros meaning One who corrupts others with malicious or mischievous means, this is not the same Greek word Paul used in II Thessalonians 2:8 in reference to the Wicked, but it is the same word he used in Ephesians 5:16, 6:13 and 6:16 regarding the elements we war against. The word Paul used in II Thessalonians 2:8 is the Greek Anomos meaning A transgressor, thus the Greek word Poneros tells us what they do, the Greek word Anomos tells us who they are in the Night. Why didn’t Paul tell us to war against the Anomos? We don’t war against flesh and blood, but against the Wiles (methods or works) of the devil, which would be the Poneros. Both the Anomos and Poneros point to the Ways, not the Acts, thus the hidden agenda of the Wicked is to get us to enter the ways of the Wicked as our means of defense.

A close Hebrew equivalent is found in Ezekiel 18:24, which shows a Righteous person can turn from their Righteousness, the wording “Turn Away From” could equate to the word Perdition. The verse shows they will do “according to all the abominations the wicked man does”, the word Wicked here has about the same meaning as the Greek Poneros. This doesn’t mean all who are carnal are sons of perdition, if it were the case all of us would be lost, Babes in Christ are carnal, they have the Spirit, but they are in the process, thus we all began carnal, then we Grew up in Jesus, thus we find the “son of the morning” never grew up, rather he obtained Mercy, refused to grant it, since he retained the spirit lusting to envy, the heart of the self-nature.

Verse 13 would almost seem as if this Beast of the Earth is Elijah, who comes to prepare the way of the Lord, but the Beast doesn’t “call” fire down, rather we see he “makes” fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. The word Make is the Greek Poieo, meaning to Cause, or be the Author of, thus the false prophet is the cause for the fire to come from heaven to devour the earth, as the prayers of the saints are mixed with the coals from the altar. The connection does take us to Elijah, since the king of land sent his soldiers to inquire of “Baal-zebub the god of Ekron” (II Kings 1:3). Therefore, the False Prophet caused fire to fall based on the abomination being setup in the place it should not be.

The Greek Poieo is the same word used in reference to “causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the First Beast”, with  “causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark” (vs. 13:12 & 13:16). It doesn’t mean forced, it means presented or made, or prepared, make ready, to provide, but not forced. This will made clearer when we find the 144,000 came from the same “earth”, yet they didn’t worship the Beast, or take the Mark.

We see Power in verse 12, Wonders in verse 13, Miracles in verse 14 by the power noted in verse 12, these three give us clues to the attitude and intent of this Second Beast. The word Power means Authority, the dragon gave his Authority to the First Beast, and the Second Beast uses the same Authority. Why would it use the Authority of Beast, with the Authority of God at hand? The devil gave his authority for man to use, as man wills, since the devil knew anything to do with him ends evil, regardless of the intent of man. The authority of the dragon is set to Waste, no matter what “good” man does, another man will figure someway to make Waste.

An aspect of our Faith is knowing we have a higher Authority, but are under Authority. The Wicked have authority, but refuse to be under authority. It’s this hidden intent of envy causing the Second Beast to surface, then seek to control the Woman. This Beast begins the Night at the feet of the Sixth church, but when the Seventh church surfaces, it sees the opportunity for another take over.

The word Wonders means Signs which includes the concept of Mark or the Token, but in this case it’s signs and wonders to deceive. This Second Beast is a Deceiver, thus it deceives those who Dwell on the earth, not those who Dwell in heaven.

If we keep this in order we find the Beast of the Sea has the authority, power and seat of Satan, then the Second Beast brings forth the Mark, Name and Number of the Beast, don’t you think those relate? Yes, we know Name refers to Authority, the Mark shows association, or ownership, then Number is counted among something, then comes the Image. This preparing is to lie in wait to deceive, the Second Beast doesn’t enter one day, then set up the abomination the next, it’s a series of deceptive acts preparing the people to embrace the abomination. Once they are accept the Authority, Power and Seat, bowing to the Image would be the next logical step.

This is important since we will find the purpose is to “buy and sell”, connecting to the love of money, the same we see today. Clearly this has to do with doing business in the world, as it relates to the “love of money is the root of all evil”. There are three ways the world uses money, when the supply and demand is such they can charge more, they do, calling it “good business”, but it’s still robbing the people, showing money is used as an Power. When they want more, they use a person’s Wealth, relating to Authority. When someone uses their money to gain favors, they are buying honor, or using money as a means to gain honor. When someone uses the position they obtained from their wealth to gain favor, it’s a seat. All three relate to the “buying and selling”, yet it has nothing to do with working in the world, or even doing business, it has to do with doing business the way the dragon desires it. Deception has to be the clue, using secrets and deception to make money, is using whatever means seems “legal” at the time, no matter who it hurts.

John is telling us, If we think we can play mind games with God in this Season, then repent in the next, we’re sadly mistaken. If we presume we can keep the old man, yet claim the New Man, we have mistaken the Truth for a Lie. Today while it is yet today is the Day of Salvation. This is not given to scare us, it’s given as incentive to endure those hardships, or events produced by the Wicked in their attempts to make us fall.

In our Season we are the Very Elect, in the next it’s the Elect, yet we know they cry over the abominations done in the city, thus they are not fooled by the Beast of the Earth, they become part of the conviction. They will refuse to bow to the image, or take the Mark, they will stand, yet be overcome, or it would seem.

It was just after the Garden Prayer when Judas appeared on the scene as the “prince of this world”, with the religious leaders (Matt 26:45-47). Jesus prayed for our clarity, as He prayed on a Rock, not The Rock, but a Rock, thus this Beast assumes it is the Rock, but it remains independent. It’s so self-deceived it will be convinced God has exalted it by allowing it to raise out of the Earth. Pride, ego and arrogance are still the three pillars to the Wicked, they still use the workings of Satan. They will assume God’s wrath came in the Rapture. They will mistakenly assume God destroyed the Wicked, and left them as the Pillars, but the truth is, God delivered the Just to bring about the Judgment.

Religious Conceit is a product of envy, the Beast is driven by envy, which produces religious conceit, thinking they can do it better than the 144,000. Their envy sees the Law and Prophets as hindrances, but they also see the Woman is the prize. They twist the concept of reconciliation, bringing the Woman and the Beast of the Sea together, yet the kings end hating the Whore.

In all this, what are we seeing? In Revelation 17 we will see why the Woman is judged, here we’re seeing why the world and Wicked will be judged. “Well, gee, it doesn’t seem fair, after all the dragon made them do it”. It would seem so, except, God has provided the escape, He has done so for nearly two thousand years. The Night being 1,000 years, yet Salvation has been here for nearly two thousand should be a hint regarding how God desires for all mankind to partake of the Grace of the Lord. It’s also obvious God will not force the plan on anyone.

We can get confused since this Beast begins in our Season and ends in the Next. In our Season they are false christs, in the next they are the Law Less Ones (false prophets), thus during our Season they are “anti Christ”, since the Spirit of Christ is here, but in the next they are against the Law and Prophets making them “false prophets”, yet it’s the same position using the spirit lusting to envy as their guide and teacher.

During the Time of Comfort they will use the working of Satan, but it’s still supernatural in nature, not spiritual. They will use deception to gain the land for the Woman by taking Edom, Moab and the children of Ammon, which will appear to be a Miracle. After all doesn’t the Bible say the land goes to the River Euphrates (Gen 15:18)? Doesn’t the Woman have a right to the land? Why not take it? It’s written, let it be done.

Ahh, they use the Old Testament, yet twist it by the authority of Satan. The Wicked will say, “if you are the City of God, cause this land to be yours”, “if you have the temple of God show the world your glory”, then “if you join with me, I will give you all the kingdoms of the world”. The same three temptations, only this time the Wicked gain entry into the wilderness where the Woman is found. However, the Woman will be open for the trap, she will become lukewarm, thinking she is “the I Am” (Zeph 2:15). How did she become Lukewarm? She trusted not in God, she failed to draw near to God, yet she had the glory of the Sun and Moon, even the windows of heaven were opened to her, in her was the Temple, the Temple was the Storehouse (Zeph 3:1-2). She becomes the filthy City, and partakes of the Woe from the Earth, and the Woe from the Sea; she becomes the Third Woe. The Second Beast joins the Woman to the First Beast by the Image, the bed of adultery is filled to the brim, ready to burn.

In our Season their envy brings strife, or slanderous attacks, in the next it will be Great Swelling words of falterings, but nonetheless the weapons of their warfare are still words. If the benefit suits them, they use words of flattery, if not, they slander. In no way can we assume because they have Acts in our Season, their Acts are wrong. We are not told to judge the Acts, or the person, we are told to judge the Fruit (Ways). We can still receive the Precious, yet reject the vile.

First comes the deception, then the Image “to the Beast” which then becomes the Image “of the Beast”. The word Image is the Greek Eikon meaning A representation or Likeness, it holds the concept of a Prototype. It’s the same word used in the phrase “Image of His Son”, it was used to describe Jesus as the Prototype of the Father. This is the most interesting, if we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father, here we find the Image will be represented as “the Christ”.

In our Season they trick us into thinking the Image of the Beast is the Image of Jesus, in the next it will be the Image of the Beast as the Image of Christ. Jesus said, “if they say here is Christ, or there is Christ”, but more important is Matthew 24:26, if they say “in the desert”, which makes reference to the Wilderness, or if they say in “secret chambers” pointing to the Temple, believe them not. Why? In the Night the ability to be Christ like will be gone. The Image of the Beast is two fold, it’s by a Beast to represent a Beast, but it will be the image of a man. It won’t be of the Woman, she thinks she is God, it will associate to her, but still be a man. They will be looking for the Messiah, the False Prophet will only fill the need with his own view of the Messiah, the same mistake Judas made.

The Wicked twist Scripture to their own destruction, they will use Scripture to convince the Woman, she is God. In our Season it’s not an Image made of stone, metal or wood, it’s a mental image. As an example the quest to be Adam Like is forming an Image of the Beast in the minds of the deceived. In the next Season it will be the Image of Jealousy. In verse 15 we find the words Power and Life, the word Life is the Greek Pneuma translated as Spirit, or Ghost, but here it’s correctly translated as Life. It’s the Life promised by the Spirit, but as Jude points out, they were unable to hold to the Spirit, since they gave their life to the Seat of Satan. They bartered their opportunity for life, for the authority of the Beast, thus they “give life” to the Beast, but it doesn’t mean the Image walks around, it means they gave up their opportunity for life by retaining the wrong authority.

The word Power is the Greek Didomi meaning To give of one’s own accord, this one word alone shows it won’t be someone with a computer chip, rather it takes one’s own will to give up their promise to worship the Image. This bartering is one of self-decision, a desire to have and control power, it’s the same lust which trapped Judas. Judas traded Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, in the process he traded his position, office, and hope  for his own agenda, based on the love of money.

God gave us the Gift, what we do with it determines the result. Jude tells us they turn the Grace of our God into lasciviousness (Jude 4). He also shows they have Roots, but they are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts (Jude 12 & 16). They speak evil of things they know nothing about, they speak evil of dignities, yet they have an outward appearance of righteousness (Jude 7, 10 & II Cor 11:13-15).

All this shows they return to Perdition, in order to return, they had to be delivered from Perdition. This is not some “I’ve had it, I give up”, one moment decision, rather it’s “I want what I want, and I will use any means to get it” attitude. They Draw back to Perdition, showing they once left it, the wording Draw Back is the Greek Hupostole meaning they retreated because of their fear of being found out.

Daniel called the image: the Abomination making desolation (Dan 9:27), Ezekiel called it the Image of Jealousy (Ezek 8:3), Jesus said it would stand in the holy place (sitting in a position, as an idol), not walking around (Matt 24:15); therefore, we find in this part of the chapter we find the Eighth as the Wicked, the false prophet who retains the spirit lusting to envy.

Both Beasts begin in our Season, but move into the Next, it’s John’s point. Explaining the Time, Time and half a Time, as our Season, then the Next Time and a Dividing of Time for the blowing of Trumpets, with half a time for the short space, all in order according to the Record.

The wording Buy or Sell could cause us to run to the caves, but really it’s not the purpose, the concept was noted by Paul as “forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats” (I Tim 4:3). This is seen in his phrase “speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron”. The word Buy is the Greek Agorazo meaning The value of something, it was also used to show we are “Bought with a price”, it’s not simply doing business in the world, after all Lydia was a seller of purple, yet Paul stayed in her house (Acts 16:14-15). This word goes much further, showing ownership, meaning a person does business in the same manner as the Beast of the Sea, thus they trust in the ways of the Beast, indicating they belong to the Beast by association. The word Sell is the Greek Poleo meaning To trade or Barter. We find the explanation of this in Joel 3:3, which reads “And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, so they might drink”. It’s the method of business, not business alone.

This could relate to taking captive, which is what some business endeavors do, make people captive. This can also relate to taking over the people of God by use of tricks and devises through a type of barter system, our using a lust against someone, rather than helping them to be free. Don’t forget at this point in time everyone had their need taken care of through Jerusalem, no one had to worry about a thing. But along comes this salesman with a “better” idea, one where they can allow their lusts to run wild, yet still be considered “Godly”. The idea is wicked, the means deadly, the result frightening. Yet, with all their history, and the conviction from the Law and Prophets, the people give of themselves to the Beast, and do so in fear of being killed, or in fear of not having (vs. 15). Like Nebuchadnezzar and the Image he made, we find the Wicked stand behind the Image causing all to fall down and worship the Image, which to them is the same as worshipping them (Dan 3:1-5). Their minds think they are God, they have set themselves up in the Temple of God, as the people bow to the Image they set up, then consider themselves the god of the Image. Nebuchadnezzar made the image of himself, here we find it’s of the Beast, but at least Nebuchadnezzar didn’t take it to Jerusalem.

The mark, name and number of the Beast is not the mark, name or number of the Image. Each of the three elements relate to each other, the combination of accepting all three leads to the Image. This doesn’t mean someone will grab us, then place some chip under our skin, or in our brain, the reference to the Right Hand has to do with power, the forehead with the thought process, or ways, or better the authority used, the number is placing the power, authority and seat in the same place, thus the mind of man will to do the bidding of the Beast willingly to get what man wants. This relates to Isaiah 55:7-9: the Ways of the Wicked, and the Thoughts of the Unrighteous are not the Ways and Thoughts of God, they are the Ways and Thoughts of the Beast. They give their hand to the effort of evil by placing their minds on the things of the world, they know not the Ways of God, neither do they seek to know them.

Jude told us on some have compassion making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire: hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 22-23). When they take the “he of the world” over the “Greater He” as their lord and prince,  they also take of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life, three elements equating to the name, number and mark of the Beast. Each 6 in the number 666 is representative of man being formed of the earth. We find this in verses 17 and 18, in verse 17 we read, “or the number of his name”, but then in 18 we read, “for it is a number of a man”, well, which is it? Number of his name, or number of a man? The number is the number of “a man”, we figure it must be one person, then we presume there is no way a person can come from the Body, so we pick the world. However, this is number is narrowed down to the premise of looking for the characteristics of man. In the Image found in Daniel chapter 3 the measurements are threescore by six, or “6-6”, add one more “6”, and you have the number. What man? Going back to Genesis 46:8-26 we find “the man”, Jacob brought 66 of his family into Egypt, but wait didn’t we also find there were other numbers involved? Yes, Stephen said 75 souls, Exodus 1:5 says 70, so what gives? We know how each is arrived at, but the point being it wasn’t Israel who brought 66 into Egypt, it was Jacob. Jacob did many things, but he never made an image of himself, but if someone in the future did as some representation of the nation, they would be a dreamer of dreams, and a prophet, if the sign they gave came to pass, yet they not only told them to go after other gods, they made an Image of a man calling it God, would they go? (Deut 13:1-3). They are warned not to in the Law, but they will also cause the Law to lay in the street. James says everyone is drawn away by their own lusts, this will be the proof of the pudding.

Later we will see those who make the Rapture, or better who make it when the First Resurrection is complete, they did not associate with the Name, Mark or Number of the Beast. If we project the Name, Mark and Number to some future time, say past the Time of  Comfort to Jacob’s Trouble, we have a major problem. Those who complete the First Resurrection go before the 1,000 years, not after. Today we wonder what these things will be, but it shows we better know what they are Now. The entire acceptance of the Beast is based on one thing, the old man. Retaining the old man is the center of it all, allowing him to guide us, instruct us. The use of the Mark in order to buy and sale is yet future, yet the shadow is seen today. When money is the complete motivation for our religious zeal, we’re in trouble. People will vote for a person who is morally corrupt, because the person seems to benefit them financially. When we are motivated to use Godly principles in an ungodly way just for personal benefit, we’re in trouble. We may bring millions to the Lord, yet not make the Rapture. However, it’s not easy to retain the old man, especially if you have tasted of the Gift. It takes someone who loves the feelings of darkness, who enjoys the authority of the Beast of the Sea, someone who is so self-willed, they will say they love God, but they love the pleasure of darkness more.

Is there Hope? Oh yes, this shows there must be a lust in us before the enemy has any chance whatsoever. Unless we take the trick presented by the sons of perdition, or use the power, authority, or sit in the seat of Satan we have not joined them. If it was easy surely James would not tell us to rejoice if we fall. The Word in is being engrafted on a daily basis, we are gaining, it may not seem so, but we are.

The word Seat in the phrase Seat of Satan has the same context as a throne and footstool; however, when the Wicked attempt to move their throne into the kingdom they become the footstool to bruise the heel of the Lord. The Wicked attempt to make the child of God captive to them, yet in the end they are captive. They sit in the throne of Satan, claiming we are their footstool, thus when the devil heard “the footstool of Jesus”, he brought his counterfeit.

The Wicked are at the foot of the Cross, but assume it’s the Head, they have turned the Cross upside down, the Footstool of Jesus holds His enemies, indicting they are not of the Body after the Rapture. James told us about the Perfect Law of Liberty to reverse the process. Instead of Captivity, we obtain Freedom, this is the Day of Salvation.

We have access to Peace and Freedom, rather than an evil mind killing the Just. Our mistakes are mistakes, it’s our heart determining the difference between a mistake and Wickedness. We overcame the World (First Beast) by the Mercy of God; we overcome the Second Beast by the Faith of Jesus through the Blood of the Lamb of God. The separation is this, Do we seek the saving of the soul? Or do we seek to find fault in others in order to destroy them? Are we speaking to hinder by unbelief? Or are we speaking Faith, Hope and Love? Do we bring Mercy? Or do we go about slandering? Do we bring Peace? Or do we war against the brethren? What is our motive? What is our intent? Only the Word in us can detect and discern these matters, thus we must have Ears  Hearing what the Spirit in us is saying (James 1:21).

In our Season it’s the temptation to use our will, or use the kingdom for self-benefit, in the next it will be an Image made of stone and wood, but what man could bring the number threescore and six, yet equate to Israel? None, other than Jacob, the Sun, with the combination of the Image of king Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 3:1). What was about the Woman? The Sun. Is the Woman Israel or the City? She is the City. She is also known as Babylon? Yes, even Peter called her Babylon, thus the three evils of the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life overtake the Woman, yet she has the Sun, Moon, and Twelve Stars. Ahh, another mystery, the Sun, Moon and Twelve Stars, yet she takes the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. She had a choice, but allowed her pride to make it. The Wicked speak from a lust, looking for one. The Woman thinks she is rich and in need of nothing, she sits Herself up and thinks she is a Queen, and her own lusts trap her. The Wicked won’t tell her she is servant, the only reason she is in power is based on her covering, rather she will be convinced she is the covering, instead of submitting to Zion, she will make Zion her footstool, when she does, she becomes the Seat of Satan, as the Wicked set up the Abomination in her.

First is the Mark, then the Name, lastly the Number (vs. 17-18). The word Mark is the Greek Karagma, meaning a graven image, or a badge denoting whom one serves, thus it begins with a loyalty to the Beast. John said “if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I Jn 2:15). This doesn’t mean Acts won’t happen, rather it refers to the Ways of a person. Running from the Acts simply because the Wicked do them, is foolish, Jesus did them as well, but Jesus held the Ways of God, the Wicked don’t. Some run from the Acts presuming they are saving themselves from the mark of the Beast, but they are running from God, the Acts never produce the problem.

The world is generated by the spirit of fear, the news wouldn’t even be on the air if they didn’t promote fear. Fear makes one captive, it grows in the mind of the holder, until they seek some escape, yet they run to the world for protection. The causes of mankind are centered on personal interest to benefit the person, not the people, regardless of the spoken words, it’s the intent we seek to know. Laws are made to please the masses, whatever man presumes is Right, is good in his own eyes. When someone in the world takes up a Cause, it’s based in some self-benefit. They want to be seen by man, some get involved to feel “right” about themselves, yet it’s still self-based. The intent of the Beast of the Sea is to “Save the world, thereby Saving me”.

We in the Kingdom live by our Ways, but we do Acts, yet we don’t look for signs, they follow us. Acts are given for others, the Ways show who we are, it’s who we make the difference in the end. Jesus judges the intent of the person, there will be those who say, “when did we give You drink?”, it would seem on the surface to be an Act, but their intent is being judged, thus they did a Way, which produced an Act. Jesus will say, “If you did it for the least”, thus showing the ways of the person was to give, regardless of the position or the person they gave to. The Ways of a person do produce acts, the ways of the false prophet produce acts as well, it’s exactly what we see here, telling us why we judge the ways of a person.

The word Name is the Greek word Onoma, it’s the same Greek word used in the phrase “Name of Jesus”, thus relating to authority, yet we know the Wicked use the Name of Jesus in our Season (Matt 7:21-23), but they also do for self-importance. The Authority is the given right to perform an act, by one who has the right to grant the authority. The false prophet does use the power of the dragon, only the authority, making it witchcraft. Power is the ability to carry out the authority, thus the false prophet uses the Woman to carry out the nefarious deeds.

The word Number is the Greek Arithmos, which is a root word, from this word we get our English word Arithmetic, or a process of adding, thus it refers to adding people to the Beast, or the Beast being added to the person by similar likes or feelings. The number gives us three areas of the Six, each relates to the three areas of the world, the lust of the flesh, good for food;  the lust of the eye, looks pleasant: and the pride of life, one to make one wise; connecting to the power, seat and authority of the dragon. This goes to “while they promise them Liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption (death)”, showing their Master is Corruption (II Pet 2:19-22). They say “I have life”, but in truth they are full of envy and strife, attempting to take our life from us. They are in competition with the Spirit, they seek the self, the Spirit seeks the Kingdom. They are like the serpent who bites at the heels of the horse to cause the Rider to fall backward. In this case we are the rider, the horse is the Holy Spirit, or Another Comforter.

Some things are evident, the number Six has to do with man, not the dragon, not the Beast, not the earth, not the serpent, man and man alone. We have to Count the Number, the Number has three 6’s, or 666. Even the world plays with the number, some are deceived enough to have it marked on them as some game. The word Count is the most interesting, considering the events in Acts chapter one. It’s the Greek Psephizo meaning to calculate, or better to vote upon.  However, this word is not the same one used in Acts chapter 1, rather the only other place it’s used is in Acts 26:10 when Paul was talking about his days as Saul the Christian hunter, only there it’s translated as “voice”, meaning “cast my pebble of voting”, which is giving ones voice to the vote. This doesn’t mean voting in elections is wrong, rather it means one joins the Beast by association, they case the same vote.

To continue in Acts we find When Paul was Saul he used a vote gaining authority to punish Christians, or to compel them to blaspheme, he was so mad at them he persecuted them in various cities (Acts 10:11). It gives us the attitude, however, Saul was of the Sand of the Sea, not the Sea. The Beast became existent at the Fall, thus we have one six for the authority, one for the power, and one for the seat, when we use all three then joining to the Image is next. By this we recall how the crowns were on the heads, or the horns, but never on the horns and heads at the same time. No matter what history holds, no matter what evil the dragon did, there was never a time in history where the power, authority and seat came together at one time. At times the power held the crown, at times the authority did, yet, it’s what we see happening when the Beast of the Earth sets up the abomination.

What do we have here? First was the dragon, who gave his power, authority and seat to the First Beast of the Sea, then the Second Beast of the Earth, who is a natural beast, one who is earthly in nature, who began as the son of the morning, held the old nature while sitting at our table, yet both Beasts are dead and don’t know it. The Beast of the Earth uses the authority of the First Beast to produce an Image to cause the children of God to stumble, as did the teaching of Balaam. They barter their live away for the old nature, becoming envious of the 144,000 to the point of using the working of Satan to over throw the Woman, so they can set up their own Image, to control the people. All this takes a direct, firm decision to cast away the promise of the salvation of our souls, to exalt the self. It’s a refusal to take the old nature to the Cross, a fear of letting go of the old, a fear of exposure, a fear of being found out, a fear of losing control over the spirit lusting to envy. They put on a mask of righteousness to play religion in our Season, they use the same self-deception in the next to excuse their behavior. This is the Beast of the Earth, the self-exalted one, the one who causes the entire thing to fall apart, although they think they are above everyone, they end as the footstool of the Lord.

Do we have examples of this division between the intent of seeking God, or the intent of using the self? Yes, Peter and Judas; Peter is a type and shadow of one who sought after God, yet made mistakes. Peter wanted to do something for Jesus, but failed. Judas on the other hand is a type and shadow of one who barters away his calling, in essence he took the authority of the Beast (Satan) attempting to do something To Jesus in order to get what he wanted. When Judas allowed his own lust to deceive him, the door to his heart was opened, then the devil put Satan in the heart of Judas, when it happened the Image of the Beast took seat in the heart of Judas, as Judas became known as a son of perdition. It’s where the Image will remain until the time of Jacob’s Trouble, then they produce the actual Image, the same Image opposing and exalting himself above all called of God, or is worshipped, so he as God sits is the temple of God, showing himself as God (II Thess 2:4).

Whereas, Peter made a mistake in the misconception of his ability, he was converted to become an Apostle of God. Why did Jesus give Peter three chances, yet Judas only one? Or was it one? Didn’t Jesus teach both men in many parables? Yes, Judas had more than one chance to change his course of action. Peter didn’t run to the obvious enemy to get help, he went out and wept bitterly. Judas saw the religious rulers come against Jesus as they set themselves to find fault, so they could accuse Jesus, yet Judas used the works and lusts in the hearts of the Pharisees to his advantage. This should have warned Judas he was moving in the wrong direction.

Peter was faced with his own soul, Judas rejected the exposure. We know Jesus looked Peter right in the eye and said “get you behind Me Satan”, but when Satan entered the heart of Judas, Jesus said “what you do, do quickly”. This didn’t mean for Judas to do his evil quickly, rather it means whatever he was going to do, he better act quickly. Judas could have turned against his self desire as quickly as he used it. Jesus called Judas a devil, He didn’t say Judas was possessed, nor did He say Judas was of the devil, nor did He attempt to cast the devil out of Judas, rather He said “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil” (Jn 6:70). What did it mean? Judas held to his lust so tight he not only attempted to hide it, but he used it by seeking those who were opposed to Jesus to help him in his cause. Yet, Judas was a member of the twelve, he was ordained by Jesus, sent out to do Acts, held the bag, a position granted him by Jesus.

When Peter denied the Lord, what do we suppose he thought? “I’m the one, I’ve lost it”, but Peter made a mistake, one the Lord allowed to bring Peter past his ego into a servant role. Was it the end of the mistakes of Peter? Hardly, he had to answer for eating with the Gentiles when he was rebuked by Paul, he made other mistakes, but he knew his heart loved Jesus, more than it loved Peter. Judas on the other hand, loved his desire more than he loved Jesus, as evidenced by his acts.

Unless we take of these evil elements and use them we can’t Toss Away Grace, this is still the Day. A great sign is the root of bitterness springing up: if we notice bitterness in our heart, it’s a warning, time to be recovered by the Spirit. All this shows it’s not easy to toss it away, it takes more than a one minute fit, more than a few words, it takes a concentrated effort over a span of time.

The spirit of antichrist proves one thing, greater is He in you than he who is still worldly. The “he in the world” is run by the spirit of antichrist, thus if we are Sealed by the Holy Spirit we’re in a win situation.

Rev 14:1-5

This would almost see as a chapter seven being played out again, but it’s not. There is much more, this is really a continuation from the last chapter. The first thing is “a Lamb”, interesting it’s not “The Lamb”. This representation is the Sacrifice, but the mark is the “Name of His Father”, relating to Mercy. The counterfeit was associated with the Beast, yet we find the Mark of the Father, the Seal of the Holy Spirit, the Authority of Jesus, our throne is heaven based. Although there is no Grace in the Night, we know God’s Mercy endures forever. This time it’s written In their foreheads, or better Mercy becomes a part of their nature, just as Grace becomes our New nature.

Ezekiel says this figure is as an angel (Ezek 9:4), we find the angel stands in the Place of Jesus, not saying Jesus is an angel, thus we find “a Lamb” yet the writing is a direct involvement of the hand of Jesus, but what is written relates to the Father. This takes us back to Acts 1:6-8, Jesus holds the Cup, but the Father holds the times and power regarding making the enemies of Jesus His footstool.

Verse 3 tells us these 144,000 were “redeemed from the earth”, going back we found the dragon was cast to the earth, the Beast of the Earth comes from the earth, causing the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the First Beast. The people are deceived, but they allowed it to happen. The 144,000 are males and females, but if it’s the case, how could these 144,000 be Virgins? By the Mercy granted they were able to resist the temptation of the false prophet. It’s really good news, if they can resist, what about us who have the Spirit?

The word Cause doesn’t mean forced, the evidence of the False Prophet not being able to force the mark on people is found in how the 144,000 were redeemed from the earth, yet they didn’t take the Mark, nor were they deceived, since they will weep over the abomination done in the city, rather than fall down before it.

A seal is placed On or In someone denoting they possess an authenticity to do something, but a Mark means they are associated with someone or something, displaying ownership. We have the Seal of the Spirit because we gave our souls to Jesus when we imputed the old nature dead. In the case of the 144,000 they lack the Cross, but they do receive and walk in the Mercy of the Father.

This is clearer when we see the word “Redeemed” in verses 14:3-4 is the Greek Aghorazo meaning a Purchased property, thus we are the Treasure redeemed by the Blood of Jesus, the 144,000 are the Pearl of Great Price in the Field purchased by the Father; therefore, we are Redeemed from the Rock, but the 144,000 from “the earth”, two areas of Redemption, for two different purposes.

The Remnant are not the Firstfruits of Christ or the Firstfruits of the Spirit, they are the Firstfruits Unto God, then to the Lamb at the Judgment; whereas, we are the Firstfruits of the Spirit and Christ before the Judgment (I Cor 15:20 & 15:23). This shows the connection, we know no one comes to the Father except through Jesus, but here we find the reverse. The Remnant hold to the Mercy of the Father to see Jesus at the end in order to be resurrected unto Life to be with the Father. Their function is to complete the will of the Father by making the enemies of Jesus His Footstool. The Remnant are motivated by a Phileo Love for God, rather than a hate toward the abomination, there is no guile in them, thus they are not deceived.

This is the second New Song, the First New Song was sung by the Church in heaven. This New Song couldn’t be sung until we sang ours in front of the throne (vs. 5:9-10), this is explained by who signs our New Song, Revelation 5:9-10 tells us they are from “every kindred, tongue, people and nation”, but this New Song is only for the 144,000, thus the First New Song is for the Firstfruits of Christ, the Second New Song is for those who come after. Each song is New, or a sign for the changing of Seasons, the Beginning of something New.

In chapter 7 it was an angel who said, “until we have sealed” (vs. 7:3); here we find the promise, although the angel sealed them, we find it was the Lamb who stood with them, and did so by the Law and Prophets, who spoke of the suffering Messiah. This shows the Law and Prophets talking to Jesus on the Mount, yet we are told Hear Ye Him. This is confirmed in the next verse, the “voice of many waters” comes from heaven, back in Revelation 1:15 it was an attribute of Jesus. The thunder was also heard, but so was the harpers, as they sung “as it were” a New Song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders, which no man could learn except for the hundred and forty and four thousand, “which were redeemed from the earth” (vs. 3). This is a past tense statement, showing the promise is written in the Record, they are still on the earth, no one can leave the earth until the Judgment, but in verse it’s before the Throne, showing why the phrase “redeemed from the earth” is past tense.

This is not the sound of a great thunder, but the voice of great thunder, indicting a change in seasons, the voice of many waters is attributed to Jesus (v. 1:5), the voice of thunder to the Father. The four beasts being in this shows one Season is done, a New Season has begun. The metaphors help us see this is part of the vision, they will not defile themselves with the Woman, or the Women of the past, it has nothing to do with them being all males, it has to do with metaphors pointing to idol worship, or be defiled by the Woman when the abomination is placed in the temple. (vs. 4). They will follow the Lamb,  as they return with the Lamb after the Judgment, but we follow the Resurrected Jesus. The Lamb was seen prior as “as it had been slain” not as if He had been resurrected, this is still talking about Jesus as the Son of man. This explains why they will ask where He got the Marks, they are still looking for the coming Messiah.

Back in Chapter 3, Jesus said “I will write upon him the Name of My God”, then “the Name of the City of My God, which is New Jerusalem”, then “I  will write upon him My New Name”, three areas of writing, not one, each with a time and timing. From this we can see how John sees the Cause, Ezekiel sees the action (vs. 3:12). This shows the Remnant are not spiritual, the Mark relates to the Father, or Mercy, it’s in their foreheads, not their hearts, neither is it the Seal of the Holy Spirit. We are Sealed by the Holy Spirit to present the Gospel of Peace, this Mark of God on the Remnant allows them to project Mercy and Testify from the Two Witnesses. This connects to Acts 1:6-8, the times and Seasons moved to the Father, the purpose is making the enemies of Jesus His footstool, it’s not the Season of the Spirit unto Salvation, it’s the time of Judgment.

The “virgin” aspect shows the Remnant are of the Virgin Daughter of Zion: the evil woman Israel and her wicked sister Judah did commit adultery and defile the marriage bed, thus there appears Three Wicked Women, one of Judah, one of Israel, and later one of Jerusalem, with wicked Jerusalem of the earth being enticed by the lukewarm lust (Jere 3:6-11). Therefore the Remnant are promised a place in New Jerusalem, rather than Jerusalem of the earth. In the end the Second Beast joins to the Woman, then the Wicked Woman will justify herself more than her evil sister Judah, yet we are suppose to be the House of Judah? We are the Tents, but we are not the “sister”, or physical land.

The references to the House of Judah makes it clear, an evil group from the House of Judah will remain on the earth, becoming the Beast of the Earth after the Rapture, but the Good from the House of Judah are Transfigured into the Tents (Tabernacles) of Judah, as they go to meet their Lord in the Air. Those who held to the Mercy of the Father in our Season, but for one reason or another, not their fault, never obtained the Spirit become among those who Sleep in Jesus through the Night. Those who Sleep in Jesus are termed those who “soul sleep” by some. If God will reward the Remnant for holding to His Mercy in the face of affliction, He will also reward those who did the Law of Faith, without knowing it. However, the clue is “without knowing it”, one can’t “know it”, reject it, then assume they fit the “without knowing it” group.

There is a difference between the Women and the Houses, in the end the House of Judah will walk with the House of Israel, but not with the House of David. When the Door to the House of David is opened there will be at Peace in the land (Jere 3:18). Then God shall open the Windows of heaven (since the Door to heaven will be closed), then they will have Comfort (Jere 3:19). However, the house of Israel departed from her husband, and did so treacherously (Jere 3:10). God will bless the Remnant, yet the Wicked will benefit, but the blessing is not for their benefit, rather it’s for the benefit of the Remnant, a Quail Hunt is still a Quail Hunt. God will test His people to determine whether they Love Him, or love the riches. The Seventh church is the result of the testing, they equated the blessing as product of their goodness. The same mistake any of us can make, if we equate God’s blessing based on our giving, or our faith, or something else, yet we forget God gave us the seed to sow, the faith to use, everything else including the breath of life. If we didn’t have the seed to sow, we wouldn’t be able to sow, if God had not granted us the measure of faith, we wouldn’t have the faith, if God had not given us evidence to believe in, we would lack the God Is thinking to enter faith. The glory always goes to God, not mankind.

Babylon was a wicked city, Babylonia was a wicked nation, yet both had a purpose, even Pharaoh was raised for a purpose, both the Pharaoh and Babylon minds twist the thinking, assuming they are the reason for the purpose. The Strange Woman is in high places, or raised above something, but the Virtuous Woman is in the Highest Place. The one in high places forms high things coming against the knowledge of God, but the Virtuous Woman submits to her Husband. The Strange Woman is still above something, much like a “little horn”, but the Strange Woman has lips raising up against the Most High (Lam 3:62 & Dan 7:25). Spiritual wickedness is found in high places, not the highest place (Eph 6:12). High places have idols (Lev 26:30), we also find the Lord did lead him, where there was no strange god, He made him to ride on the high places of the earth, so He might eat of the increase of the fields, He made him to suck honey out of the rock, but then we find the “he” waxed fat, and forsook God, the provider, then provoked God to jealousy with strange gods (Deut 32:12-17). Sound like the Sixth church? Yes, the preview was written in the Two Witnesses.

The word Wickedness in the phrase spiritual wickedness is the Greek Poneria meaning Iniquity, or being unbalanced, or having the Spirit, but refusing to be spiritual. The context of high places shows the unbalanced, or unequal position will cause one to fall into idol worship. How do we war against it? By allowing the New Man to bring us into a spiritual position.

All this helps to explain why Paul is the only one denoting the Broken Body of Jesus in the Communion Service, he equates the cause to the failure, or iniquity of Judas. Why? Wasn’t Corinth carnal, acting as “men”? Was there not strife, envy and division among them? The perfect bunch to warn about discerning their ways. Judas is the beginning or Principality of the son of perdition, the Body of Jesus will be Broken at the Rapture, thus part of our Discerning of the Body is to have the Spirit to detect any thoughts contrary to the Mercy or Grace of God. Do we use slander, strife, or envy? Do we lack Wisdom and Mercy in dealing with the events, or the members of the Body? Are we hindering the work of the Spirit in our lives? If so, the table is the place to be clean and restored.

It’s simple, if there are no Christ Like people on the face of the Earth, there can be no antichrist, thus the Wicked change to the Lawless Ones in the Night, as they oppose the Law of Moses. They make the change in the progression of evil, from iniquity to sin. There are those of this group today, they are around, but not of us. They have a different “spirit”, centered in the he in the world, the spirit lusting to envy. All of us were governed by the spirit of disobedience at one time, but we were governed, we didn’t use it to our advantage. We found the Cross, or better the Holy Ghost found us, then we gained the Greater He, Another Comforter, the Stronger One, One who is fully able to get us through this. It’s the New Man who will Confess Jesus through us of a truth, for the Remnant it will be the Mercy of the Father. However, as the world reacts to Grace, they will also react to Mercy. The False Prophet being a vessel of dishonor, will be affronted by the appearance of Mercy. In our Season they are affronted by the appearance of the Greater He. It’s the same envy, only directed in a different direction.

The attribute of being a virgin in respect to the Remnant also explains what they will be doing in heaven, and why the Bride descends to get them, rather than the Lord taking them at the Rapture. They will be virgin bridesmaids, those who care for the Bride, while the Bride cares for her Husband, yet we will find the Lord also has Servants who will be raised on the last day, as they find their names in the Book of Life. Yes, we find more than one Reward, as we find more than one group. This goes to the concept of the Betrothal, as the Body of Christ we are in the Espousal Period, but according to custom, the Bride to be is then taken into the House of the Groom for a period of time, which we know as the 1,000 years, where She makes Herself ready, as She applies the finishing touches, so to speak, then comes the Wedding, with the Feast, then the Bridesmaids join the Bride, the Groom’s servants join Him, the Wedding Party is set.

Verse 5 confirms these are “sons of men”, back in John’s account Nathanael was sitting under the fig tree and heard, “We have found Him, of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (Jn 1:44-45). John the Baptist during the same time called Jesus, “the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:36). Here is the connection to those events, the earthly ministry spoke of Grace, but operated in Mercy. Nathanael heard Jesus say, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (Jn 1:47). Guile is deceit, the false prophet will use deceit, the 144,000 will not. These are all elements of having the Mercy of God, they will not have the Spirit, or be Born Again, but they will nonetheless show the power of Mercy is a little strength, but enough to withstand the Wicked.

This area also joins with Romans 9:21-23, showing the vessels of dishonor. The teaching applies to both Seasons, simply because God’s Mercy endures forever. Has not the Potter power (authority) over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? (Rom 9:21). This is one lump, but two vessels? Since it’s an allegory we can learn much, the vessel can being as one unto dishonor, repent in our Season, have the Water applied, then be formed into one of honor. God will make some of honor, and some of dishonor, the determining factor is water (mercy), the more water the pliable the clay. This is not some hyper predestination where the person has no choice, rather it’s predicated on the person’s choices. Acceptance and application of Mercy is a choice, we made the choice to receive, we also make the choice to apply. “What if God, willing to Show His Wrath” (Rom 9:22), this has to be a clue to the Night. Romans 9:21 points to our Season, but the reasoning is found here in chapter 14. Continuing in Romans, “To make His Power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of dishonor of wrath fitted to destruction (perdition), thus He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of Mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory” (Rom 9:23). Then Paul makes the clarification, “even us”; “whom He has called” (Rom 9:24). If the Us fits, why say, “even us”? The application is still correct, the Season changed. Paul’s teaching, with these events show us the Mark on the 144,000 relates to Mercy, not Grace. It’s vital, we are in the Season of Grace, there is no need to bind the devil in the pit as long as we are around, thus our presence keeps him bound under in darkness. However, when we’re gone it’s the Season of a little strength, he must be bound.

So, then, if the earthly ministry was Mercy based, why did the disciples cast out devils, yet the 144,000 can’t? The anointing and ordaining by Jesus, here we find the Mercy of the Father, no where are the 144,000 told to heal the sick, raise the dead, or cast out devils. They will follow the Lamb, but do so by the Two Witnesses, the Law of Moses lacks any provision for casting out devils. This shows the voice of Many Waters was still in heaven, the Lamb was represented by the angel, thus the 144,000 are assigned a task, to make the enemies of Jesus His Footstool.

The Body of Christ began with the twelve, thus Jesus said “upon this Rock”, present tense, but then said, “I will build” future tense (Matt 16:18). The purposes are much different, the Night is not to judge the devil, it’s to test the vessels of clay. Some will mix with iron, some with water.

The wording “without fault” in verse 5 is the Greek Amomos it’s not the same as Justified before the God, it means blameless regarding the events at hand. Since they wept, rather than bow, they are blameless. Since they were of the earth, yet refused the Mark, they are blameless. They may be blamed by the False Prophet, but it’s not the issue is it? They are without fault “before the Throne of God”, therein is the issue.

When the False Prophet and Woman tell the people to follow them, the Remnant will remember Deuteronomy 13:1-3, which reads: “If there arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder. And the sign or wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto you, saying Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them; you shall not hearken unto the words of the prophet, or the dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proves you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul”. The connection to the Wicked is found in the phrase “dreamer of dreams”, as Jude pointed out (Jude 8). They were filthy dreamers in our Season, their hearts don’t change in the next. “Oh wow, dreams are evil”, not so, this doesn’t mean dreams are evil, it shows they have desires of the Night, while it is yet Day. It was once said, “what about the Christians in the next Season?”, the answer is “What Christians?”. They will either go in the Rapture, or sleep in Jesus through the Night.

Jesus told the Sixth church “you have kept the Word of My Patience”, rather than telling them they kept The Faith; the Tribulation is to test or try those on the earth, not to try the Faith of the saints (vs. 3:10). The Sixth church has not denied the Name of Jesus, yet to them it’s Mercy, the foundation for the Son of man as Jehovah, thus they are the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman, they don’t have the Seed of God, thus the Seed of God is for Salvation, the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman toward Judgment.

This also explains why Jesus told the Sixth church He would write upon them the name of His God, then said He would give them a New Name, which Name still pertains to Mercy (v 3:12). The correlation showing the Sixth church as the 144,000 is clearer from the verses, showing the change in Seasons. They will receive the Name of the Father before the last resurrection, showing Jesus or Jehovah will not be the Mediator, rather the Two Witnesses will be the course of Mediation. This also connects to Matthew 25 showing the sheep are blessed of the Father, the goats are rejected. Also we know the Church is built on the Rock, Paul said the Rock is Christ, but this group is marked on Zion, the foundation for Jerusalem of the earth. Paul also said “every man is his own order: Christ the Firstfruits; afterward they who are Christ’s at His coming” (I Cor 10:4 & 15:23). This gives us the Order, those who are the Firstfruits have already become Partakers of the First Resurrection, now it’s the Season of the Night for those who belong to Christ, they promise is still in the Record, but they have to wait for His coming.

The Beast of the Sea, the Beast of the Earth, and the Woman will all find fault in the Remnant, but there is no fault found in them before the Throne of God. They will sing a “New Song”, showing their Season is the Night, thus we have a New Song as well, one pointing to Salvation, not Judgment; therefore, there is a New Song for the Day, and one for the Night.

Ezekiel shows the angels came from The Way, from the Higher Gate, the use of the word Gate points to the Remnant. The angel goes through the midst of the city Jerusalem marking only those who sigh and cry for the Abominations done in the midst thereof, this is before the plagues, thus the protection of the Mark comes before the plagues, the Everlasting Gospel comes with the angels. The 144,000 will be marked On their foreheads, the Authority (Name) will be written in their foreheads (Ezek 9:4). Then the Glory of the God of Israel has Gone Up, but the glory of the Moon and Sun remains, bringing the knowledge of the Lord (Ezek 9:3). The Remnant will follow the Lamb, which means they will hold to the Testimony written in the Law and Prophets, in the end they will hear “Come up hither”.

The precious “sons of Zion” are comparable to fine gold, they are earthen vessels, not heavenly, but the daughter of God’s people is cruel, like the ostriches “in the wilderness” (Lam 4:2-3). It would be better to be slain by the Sword than die of hunger (absence of the Scriptures – Lam 4:9). They respected not the persons of the priests (offices), they favored not the elders, their end has come, but the sons of Zion shall be saved (Lam 4:16-18). The sons of Zion are the 144,000, here is one of the few places we see them referred to as “sons”. The purpose is to divide them from the Strange Woman, indicating they are Virgins. The Woman has given her hand to the Egyptians, but the Assyrians are waiting for their gain, thus the lust was there, where the bait is, so is the hook (Lam 5:6).

The idol worship of the Wicked does reach an end, only not as they suppose, the joy in their heart has ceased (Lam 5:15). The promised crown has fallen from their heads (Lam 5:16). The Woman and the Wicked of Judah have invaded the holy place with the Image of Jealousy, but the Remnant have remained virgins. They refused to be married to the evil, they remain disassociated from the Woman, nor do they connect to the false prophet (Second Beast). Their reward awaits, the resurrection unto Life.

Rev 14:6-13

Verse 6 begins by telling us “I saw another angel” which might make it seem as if there was one prior, but then in verse 8 we read, “there followed another angel”, then in verse 9 it’s “the third angel”, making this one the first. What gives? The angel who stood with the 144,000 was not counted among the Seven, rather the Woes are not directed to the 144,000, they are directed to the Sea, Earth and Woman. This is the same angel we found back in 8:7 who sounded, then hail followed the fire directed at the earth. After the third part is destroyed, then comes the Saying, the warning is clear, if they receive it. This will be the same angel we will see in Revelation 19:2 pouring out the Vial causing the noisome and grievous sore. Going back to the three part question we find the Saying equates to “what shall be the sign of Your coming?” (Matt 24:3). A Saying then is a Sign, the Sign in this case is “the hour of His judgment is come” (vs. 7).

Here we find the difference between Chapters 7 and 14, in Chapter 7 when the 144,000 were picked from the tribes it was at the Fifth Seal, but in Chapter 14 it’s just before the first angel, which would be after the Seventh Seal is opened. Chapter 14 is the end of the Test, Chapter 7 the beginning of the Test. In Chapter 7 they were Sealed, in Chapter 14 we find the Father’s Name (authority) impeded. They refused to receive the Mark of the Beast, after they obtained the Mercy of the Father. This is akin to us, we are Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise, but it doesn’t mean we can’t turn and grieve the same Holy Spirit with corrupt communication, but it also means we are in a Process, the end thereof is far greater than any testing we go through.

This second Angel brings the Warning in the Everlasting Gospel, but if Gospel means Good News, what is so Good about, “for the hour of His Judgment is come”? Much when we add the call for repentance. The Good News is there was a route of escape, this is after the 144,000 are promised to be redeemed, this has to be near the very end. The angels enter at Jacob’s Trouble, the very short time, making it near the end.

The word Everlasting is the Greek Aionios meaning Without beginning or end, or Since the world began, indicating the work done in Genesis chapter 1. This Gospel is specific in nature, both in content and location as note, “dwell on the earth”. Going back to 13:14 we again find if the False Prophet forced all those who “dwell on the earth” to make and worship the image, why even present the Everlasting Gospel? Even if they did partake, here we find God is presenting an escape, whether they take it or not is still up to them. Even to the point where it’s appointed unto all men to die once, then comes the judgment we find man has moral free choice. They can accept the call of the Everlasting Gospel, or blaspheme heaven.

We also find from verses 1-5 the context is the 144,000, but in verse 6 it’s “every nation, kindred, tongue and people”, pointing to the Sea and Earth, so what about the rest of the House of Israel? By this time they fit “every nation”.

The phrase “midst of heaven” is used three times in the Book of Revelation, back in 8:13 it was an angel saying, “Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth”, this angel came after the fourth angel (vs. 8:12). Here in Chapter 14 is the second use, then in 19:17 it’s an angel standing in the “Sun” who cries to the fowls. The phrase doesn’t mean the highest heaven, rather it points to the area just above the earth (Deut 4:11).

The angel carrying the everlasting Gospel is not the same as the one who cries “Woe, woe, woe”, rather we find this angel comes before the Third (vs. 9), making this angel the second one.

Also at this time we don’t see these Angels blowing their trumpets (sound), or pouring out the vials, this area gives us the Sayings of the angels. The Saying, the Sound and the Vial all point to the three part question and answer. What is the difference between a Sound and a Saying? The Sound comes from the trumpets, the Saying from the Angel. Therefore, we are looking at the Sayings, this angel is the one who brings the Everlasting Gospel, which reads, “Fear God, and give Glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come: and worship Him who made Heavens, and Earth, and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters” (vs. 6). No where in this Gospel do we find Jesus, the Cross, the Resurrection, the Accession, Pentecost, the Spirit, Grace, Salvation, or any of the aspects of the Gospel of Peace unto Salvation. Did the angel miss it? Wait, this angel simply hasn’t read Romans, right? Hardly, the Everlasting Gospel points to Judgment, the Gospel of Peace is not Everlasting on the earth, it has an end at the opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals. We are not to preach the Everlasting Gospel, we preach the Gospel of Peace, as the Power unto Salvation, this is the Day of Salvation, not the Night of Judgment. However, the Everlasting Gospel does point to Mercy, the escape is “give glory to Him” up to this point the only ones who did were the 144,000.

This explains why Paul said, If any preach another Gospel let them be accursed. The other Gospel isn’t wrong in content, it’s wrong for the Season. Preaching the Everlasting Gospel out of Season would be akin to preaching the Gospel of Peace in the Night. Why would it be wrong in the Night? It would the attempt to crucify the Son of God Twice.

It’s clear the Beast of the Earth is carrying out the devil’s plan, which was to destroy the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman. Like the events at the tree, the surface would appear as if he is successful, but the arrogant rascal has no idea he is headed right to the lake of fire. If nothing else is clear it’s the arrogance of the devil, here we see the Record  laid out for us, the Season of Grace, the Rapture, those who Sleep in Jesus, the 144,000 resisting the Mark as the receive the Mercy of the Father, the promise of being redeemed, then the Judgment, then either the resurrection unto Life, or the one unto damnation. Then the greatest News, New Jerusalem in heaven. Yet, the devil sets his goal to change it so he can have his agenda become the result. This same arrogance is seen in his children, they presume they can change events, or even force change on people so they can make their personal agendas come to pass. Who does it sound like? Judas? Yes, the nature of the son of perdition is complete independence, so much so their personal agenda is more important to them than the Calling of God.

Although the devil had a plan, it nonetheless fits the Will of God, but it doesn’t mean the devil is in the Will of God, rather God has it all in hand, it is written in the Report, the purpose is the finish of the race. Why is it so important to hold a “fear of God”? God has given us a purpose in fearing Him, although we know our fear is based in missing God, or interfering in His plan, it’s nonetheless a fear. If the Wicked can get us to fear the Beast, fear the mark of the Beast or fear what is to come, we fall subject to what we fear. If we fear God, we become subject to Him. This was made clear by Job who said, “the thing I fear the most has come upon me”. If we fear God, then He comes to us, if we fear the Beast, guess who shows up for dinner?

There are various types of fear, the fear of the Wicked, and having a fear of God are completely different. Our fear of God is based in a respect for who God Is, our faith  begins with our belief of “God Is” making our holy fear of God a part of our belief and faith. But a fear of God beating our brains out is not the same as a respect for God. God is holy and just, thus God is not partial. He will not wave the rules because we go to the right church, or join the right denomination, or reject all denominations. The methods for each of us are the same, deny the self, pick up our cross and follow Jesus. The Remnant are to stand in mercy in order to follow the Lamb.

This shows how much God is in control, even if man does something evil, God has penned it in the plan. Most of our problems come when something doesn’t go the way we think it should, then we blame someone for stopping the plan of God, a carnal reaction lacking belief and faith in God. It ends giving God no credit for knowing All Things from the beginning. Even if it doesn’t go the way we want, it’s going the way God knows it will, it’s far better to submit and give the Glory to the God in heaven, then curse man. It stands if God saw it, He knows about it, even if man puts up walls, or barriers, God has made a way through or around them, thus instead of cursing the darkness, find the Precious.

All the sounds, sayings and vials, plus seeing one-third, all show the longsuffering of God, and the removal of “excuses”. “Ah, Gee if You would have made it plain and clear”, “I didn’t understand all those parables, allegories and metaphors”, “I thought it was those preachers you gave me causing all this”, “if you would have bound the false prophet with the devil, then I wouldn’t have worshipped the beast”. Genesis 3:10-13 display the excuses of man, the man said it was the woman God gave him, was it the woman? Yes, she gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat (Gen 3:6). Did God give the woman to the man? Yes, the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, then God took the female from Adam bringing forth the woman (Gen 2:21-23). Eve said “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat” (Gen 3:13). The word Beguiled is the Hebrew Nasha meaning To lead astray; did the serpent lead her astray? Yes, he was more subtle than any “beast of the field”, the metaphor Beast of the Field points to the Second Beast, or the sons of perdition. The serpent remained silent in the face of God, yet even silence isn’t an excuse. All three give us the excuses of man, blame God, blame people, blame the devil, or remain silent, yet none of these moved God to compassion. Did God know what would happen at the Tree? Yes, He created Adam perfect for the purpose, but in the creation we find a warning to anyone who have their sins forgiven. Adam began without sin, thus he is a type and shadow of one who has their sins forgiven, but still desires to test the Commandment, or to see their own agenda played out regardless of who it hurts. Was the Commandment plain enough? Yes, if you eat, in dying you shall die. Paul said the woman was deceived, the man knew what was happening. In the End the Woman will be deceived, the “man” (Beast of the field) will know what is going on, because he caused it. However the same Woman has the Law and Prophets as Witnesses; no excuse.

We will find Six of these angels (14:6, 14:8, 14:9, 14:7 & 14:18), corresponding to the six men found in Ezekiel. This adds to the concept of the three questions and answers. We found the Sound of the Angel, now the Saying of the Angel, next will be the Angels pouring out the vials. Now wait, wasn’t there Seven Angels? Yes, but the Seventh isn’t at issue here, since there will be no human physically alive on the earth to Hear his saying, but he will pour his vial into the Air, not on the earth.

The end of the earth points to Genesis 2:1 where we recall how the wording “Were Finished” comes from the Hebrew Kalah meaning Ready to be destroyed. God produced the separation between those who truly love Him, from those who don’t. The choices are presented, the result is still in God’s hand, control is found in who has the last word. Yet, the Word here is to Repent, give God the glory, avoid what is coming quickly. God is doing what He has always done, reaching to save man from himself.

Paul said “who knowing the judgment of God, they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them who do them” (Rom 1:32). We know sin lays at the door, if any man says he has no sin, he is a liar. We know as long as we have the flesh the spirit of man lusting to envy may be ineffective but laying in wait; however, we do have the Greater He, giving us the advantage.

Everyone who enters the kingdom of heaven has to make a decision to become Born Again to have the Living Waters, or reject the entire premise for the old man. Not one of us hasn’t tasted of Pride, Religious Conceit or Emotions running our lives, yet the Vessels of Honor hold to Mercy as part of their Faith toward God. Yes, we missed it from time to time, yes we are weak at times, but when we were weak the Greater He in us is strong, we pray our prayer of faith, Jesus will raise us, again we gain in the process.

The progress here shows the Tabernacles in heaven were promised before the foundation of the world, the End was in hand before the Beginning, then came the Sea and Earth, then the Fountain of Waters, where can we find this? In Genesis 1:1 we see the Heaven and Earth, but in 1:2 we find the Earth is without Form (wrong Image), Darkness on the face of the deep, then the Spirit of God moves over, not in, the Face of the Waters, all this shows the plan in hand before man. The Fountain of Waters is not the Living Waters, it’s not the River of Life, but it is Mercy based.

After the Everlasting Gospel is preached then comes the Second angle, but if we add all this to the “Days of Noah”, we find the people rejected the concept of Judgment. Thus the next premise seeking for them to repent as when the Second angel says “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, the Great City, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (vs. 14:8). Psalm 137:8 says: “O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall He be, who rewards you as you have served us”. Isaiah 13:1-3 says, “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Lift up a banner upon the High Mountain, exalt the Voice unto them, shake the hand, so they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded My sanctified ones, I have also called My mighty ones for My anger, even them who rejoice in My highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustered the host of the battle”. Isaiah 21:9 says, “And, behold, here comes a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he has broken unto the ground”. Jeremiah 50:40 says, “As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein”. Jeremiah 51:7-9 says, “Babylon has been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, who made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed”, indicating the seven church invaded by the Wicked.

It becomes obvious this Babylon is a she, who is a Cup in the Lord’s hand, but the Cup in the Woman’s hand is not the same as the Cup in the Lord’s hand. This shows the Woman has a cup, but she herself is also a Cup, the Cup of God’s wrath. It’s obvious God is in control. The Woman is not the ancient city of Babylon, rather the False Prophet used the means of the wounded head to bring idol worship, as the Woman received it she became Babylon. Therefore, the Woman entered the bed of adultery, God can’t tell one from the other, the two became one in their own destruction.

This Angel has a Sound of the Great Mountain burning with fire being cast into the Sea, this Angel has a Vial which is poured onto the Sea, it all relates and ties in. It’s not a Mystery any longer, we have a Choice in this Season, walk in the Spirit, or walk in the flesh. This Mountain is Zion, thus the Lord will save those of Zion when the Woman brings Zion into the Sea, this goes back to Isaiah when he was told “because the daughters of Zion are haughty” (Isa 3:16), with “Zion shall be redeemed with Judgment” (Isa 1:27). From this we find we are redeemed by Grace, but the Remnant through Judgment. This ties in with 14:3 showing they are redeemed from the earth.

The Mountain of the Lord shall cast Herself into the Sea, but it’s when the Mountain is taken over by the City and False Prophet. Even if the Remnant are still connected to Zion, they know God can redeem them no matter where they are. The Remnant know the power of submission when it’s connected to Mercy, instead of fighting the Woman, they present the Everlasting Gospel as they submit.

The Woman joins with the First Beast of the Sea as the Mountain joins the Sea, but she does so based on the words of the Second Beast, but the Remnant In Zion shall be saved at the last resurrection. In this we don’t pray “I thank you O God, for I am not a son of perdition”, rather we pray “O God keep me from the evil, purge me, clean me, wash me in the Blood, never let me be deceived”.

The Third Angel follows, all those who did worship the Beast, his image or receive the mark shall drink of the Wrath of the Wine of God. This is a direct correlation to the Strange Woman, coupled with the Beast of the Earth. This Wine is not the Wine as the Blood of Jesus, this is the Winepress, or the Fourth Cup of the Wrath of God.

This angel has a sound, as the Star falls from heaven. Those run by the antichrist spirit in our Season, become among the False Prophet in the next were lost forever at the Rapture, but here we find those who failed to repent after hearing the Everlasting Gospel or seeing the Mountain of the Lord fall into the Sea, are also lost. Babylon has fallen, the Star has fallen, Zion is being mixed with the Beast of the Sea. The Rivers and Fountains of Waters are killed. The Star becomes Wormwood which is Bitterness, if we fall from Grace, the Root Of Bitterness will spring up in the latter days, which Root has defiled many. This Angel also has a vial which turns the Rivers and Fountains of Water into blood, the Angel of the Waters watched as the fountains of waters and rivers were removed (vs. 9-10). It’s done, not all the efforts, but at this point in time the Law and Prophets have been made ineffective by the Beast of the Earth and the Woman, now they begin to kill the Remnant, removing Mercy from the earth. The Woman and False Prophet form their plan to kill the saints, the Smoke of their torment is already seen. They used the Authority of the First Beast, they sat in the Seat of Satan, claiming to be like God, they used the power of Satan, yet the pit isn’t opened yet, this is all based on the choices of man. They refused to let God’s people go, they preached Liberty in our Season, yet they were in bondage to the flesh, now bondage is their means applied others. The Second Beast is judged wanton, the purposed Star has fallen, just as Babylon has fallen, fallen.

Ezekiel 38:22 says “And I will plea against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will Rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people who are with him, and overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone”. Looking for the latter rain? Here it is.

It’s also important to keep the parties in their proper positions, we don’t want to make the error of saying the “Woman” is Jezebel, true both are noted as female, true both are spoken about, but Jezebel was not a city, rather Jezebel, the doctrines of Balaam, and the doctrines of the Nicolaitanes were all within, the Woman is a City, the 144,000 are marked on the Mount, not in the City. The “space” for the children of Jezebel to repent is being presented, God’s longsuffering is amazing, we should praise Him for it. When Paul said, “we who are alive and remain”, it’s what he meant. He felt the Rapture could happen at any second, he saw nothing undone, yet God and His longsuffering saw you and I, as He waited. Praise ye the Lord, this is the Day the Lord has made, let us Rejoice and be Glad in it!

Verse 14 is perhaps one of the more important verses, helping us define and understand Revelation 20:4. If Paul was right and we meet the Lord in the Air, there we will forever remain with Him, and if these verses relate to Judgment, then why do we see the mark, name and number in Revelation 20:4, yet it’s before the 1,000 years? Revelation 20:4 begins with “I saw thrones and they sat upon them, and judgment”, not Salvation. Also he sees “souls”, not people in white robes, yet they were “beheaded for the Witness of Jesus”, not physically beheaded, rather this is for the Witness of Jesus, the Witness is the Water, Blood and Spirit based in the New Covenant. The 144,000 have the Testimony of Jesus in the Law and Prophets, we have the Witness if we are Born Again. Then we find “and for the word of God”, the Word is Jesus, but the Word became the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Then we read, “which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received the mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years”. It doesn’t take long to see there are many mysteries here, why “neither”? Why is Lived and Reigned different? Why say Jesus, then Christ? Could all this related to both Seasons indicating something here in Chapter 14? Yes, the word Lived is the Greek Zao meaning To have true Life, it was associated with the Kingdom of God. The word Reigned is the Greek Basileuo meaning to be a king, or to reign. The Sixth church has the synagogue of Satan worship at their feet, the Sixth are pillars in the Temple. Taking this back here to 14:11 we find the smoke of torment, just prior was the outpouring of the wrath of God. Those who “worship the beast and his image”, AND “whosever received the mark of his name”. The conjunction divides this, it’s not just the “mark”, but the “mark of his name”, or the mark of his authority. If we put them side by side we may gain something:

Rev-20:4

Worshipped the beast
Neither his image
Neither received his mark on foreheads or hands

Rev – 11:4

Worshipped the beast and his image
Received the mark of his name

There are differences, in 11:4 it’s worship the beast and his image, which is present tense, but in 20:4 it’s worshiped the beast, past tense, the word Worship is the same Greek word in both cases. The word Mark is the Greek Charagma it was used to show ownership, not mere association. In classic Greek it was used when someone put a mark on an animal to prove ownership. We just read where the Father’s Name was written on the foreheads of the 144,000, they promised to be redeemed. In our case we are Sealed by the Holy Spirit as a sign of God’s ownership of our souls. If we skip down to verse 14:13 we find those who die in the Lord, then “saith the Spirit”. It has to point to the Day, we look at these things as way ahead in the future, but they are still in the world today. The promise here is we have entered the Rest of God, we Believed, thus we are viewing all those who make to New Jerusalem. It doesn’t take a real genius to see the premise; however, there is a combination of things to take place prior.

In Revelation 20:4 we find a progression  beginning with worshiping the beast, then the image, then receiving the mark of ownership. This has to be a clue, when we came to Jesus did the devil own us? No, if so we couldn’t leave his domain. The prince of the power of air is the spirit of disobedience, but nonetheless we heard the call of the Cross, then moved from one realm to another, there wasn’t a thing the devil could do about it. What makes ownership? The house? This relates to those who draw back to perdition, as they give their life away, by accepting the Ownership of the Beast of the Sea. The Beast of the Sea is not the entire Sea, just as the Beast of the earth is not the entire earth, it’s clear in Revelation 13:14 & 14:3. It’s when one comes to the Cross, then goes back to perdition making them a son of perdition. Peter says, they return like a dog to its vomit, yet they were saved from the world (II Pet 2:19-22). These are not backsliders, backsliders walk away, rather these people stay in the Body, but separated, while they promise liberty, they themselves are “servants” of corruption (II Pet 2:19). They are spots in our feasts of love, when they feast with us, they are feeding themselves on fear, as they draw back to perdition (Jude 12 & Heb 10:38-39). This is not someone jumping in the middle of our chest and planting a computer chip in our eyebrow, this is someone who was saved, yet turned back to join to the Beast of the Sea by using the same authority. The danger is in both Seasons, the “Image” is the same Greek word used in the Book of Revelation, which is the Greek Eikon meaning a likeness or representation, it was used in reference to the stamp of a monarch on a coin, the Eikon image always assumes a prototype, not merely represents, but what it was drawn from. The impression on a coin is the monarch, it looks like them, showing who caused the coin to be made. The mark of the beast is not being in the world, it’s remaining worldly by using the he in the world, rather than obtaining the Greater He (I Jn 4:1-4).

Verse 12 connects to this showing both Seasons, with the last first, and the first last, here is our Patience, the ability to stay the course, both for the 144,000 who keep the Commandments of God, and for us who have the Faith of Jesus. It’s a division, yet containing some very Good News. The Faith of Jesus is victorious, it has blazed the path of Righteousness, He is our forerunner, thus we are told to Follow Jesus.

Back in Chapter 12 we found a like division in verse 11, as “they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony”, which is connected to, “loved not their souls unto the death”, these are acts of faith; but in verse 17 it was the Remnant of her Seed who keep the Commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus. We find a like division here, one group keeps the Commandments of God, which group are the 144,000, or Remnant, or Small Flock, whichever one prefers. The second group are those who have the Faith of Jesus, which means us in this Season. This verse covers all Seven churches, the last shall be first here, both have the Faith. The word Patience applied to the Remnant refer to them keeping the Commandments of God, they shall be last, the other five have the call to hold to the Faith of Jesus, they shall be first, yet both groups face the First and Second Beasts. In our Season the Beast of the Earth has the larger horn, in the next the smaller, thus we must have the Faith of Jesus in the Season. Now we know why it’s so important to keep the possession of the words intact when we translate. If we mistake this for our measure of faith, we lose, it will look ahead, but sees nothing. Our Hope is what Jesus has done by His Faith, thus we are of The Faith.

Verse 13 tells us there was a Voice from heaven, but wasn’t John taken through the Door? Yes, but he also measured the Temple on earth. The phrase “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord” has two words for dead and die. The word for dead is the Greek Nekros meaning a corpse or dead person, but it was also used in the phrase Dead in Christ (I Thess 4:16). The word for Die is the Greek Apothesko meaning to die off, this is a stronger word it was used in reference to “die to sin”, or to be “dead to the Law”, or to have no more dependence on righteousness or justification as a dead man would. This is not the Greek Teleutao (to end ones life), or the Greek Apollumi (to be destroyed), or even the Greek Thnesko meaning to physically die. The term “henceforth” relates back to “Write these things”, showing it was then when John was on the Island, indicating he was in a place before the 1,000 years, since the Rapture hasn’t happened yet, it’s still the Day.

The added confirmation is “they may rest from their labors”, in the Book of Hebrews we read how there remains a Rest to the people of God, for he who has entered into His rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His (Heb 4:9-10). The wording Has Ceased in Hebrews 4:10 is the Greek Katapauo meaning to make to cease, or bring an end to.

All this is just before the next verse, which is Judgment related. Verses 11-13 are to us, then he tells us there are cups many, we are not assigned the Forth Cup of God’s wrath, or the Golden Cup of Babylon, but we do have the Third Cup with the Blood of Jesus as the New Covenant. These verses are hope for both Seasons, they tell us there is a reward for staying the course, whether it’s those of the Faith, or the Remnant.

Rev 14:14-20

Clearly this points to Judgment, the time when it’s appointed unto all men to die once is near complete. We see Jesus as He is “sitting” on one Cloud, but doesn’t He come back on a white horse? Here He is above a Cloud of Witnesses, showing He is the voice of many waters back in 14:2. This Cloud is noted in 10:1, as the Cloud of Witnesses made up of the 144,000, prior the angel was clothed with the Cloud, here Jesus is over the Cloud, just as He stands on Zion when the 144,000 are marked. When He again sits then it’s over, done, these are the ones He will take back with Him to the Father.

In verse 15 we find the Temple, crying to Him who sat on the cloud, which we know is Jesus (vs. 14). This angel tells Jesus to Trust in Your sickle and reap: for the time is for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. Okay, we just saw the one sitting on the Cloud was like unto the Son of man, the same description John gave us back in Chapter 1, yet we have this angel barking orders, who does he think he is, anyhow? He is bringing a message from the Father, the Night is in the Father’s power. This is still Jesus as the Son of man, not the Son of God, or God the Son.

This Crown is very important, it’s different from the many crowns Jesus brings with Him. This is a Crown of Life, the crowns He returns with are not the Greek Stephanos as we see here, rather they are the Greek Diadema. When Jesus returns, the Clouds follow, here Jesus is Above the Cloud. This is different than Paul’s comments, the Dead in Christ in the Clouds, Jesus in the Air, those of us who remain are caught up to them. Jesus promised Smyrna a Crown, He told Philadelphia to hold fast as they watch, so no man take their Crown (vs. 3:11). Who would take their crown? The Beast of the Earth. At this point in time the angel is calling for the Harvest, yet there is more angels to come. This would be at the time the fourth angel sounds. It would also be at the time a Third of the Sun, Moon and Stars are smitten.

This is a promise, the Remnant have their Crown in hand, they held fast, no man took it, yet they were overcome. At the same time we find another mystery. Going back 8:12 we can obtain a better view of the “one-third”. In 8:12 we have one-third of the Sun, one-third of the Moon, and one-third of the Stars, then One-third was darkened, making four-thirds. If a third is taken from the Nation, and a Third from Zion, and a Third from the Tribes, we have a mystery, these are the same items metaphorically seen about the Woman. The Sun is her covering, the Moon at her feet, the Twelve Stars as her crown. The 144,000 come from the Twelve Stars, both the 144,000 and the Twelve Stars are from the Sun (nation). This is the division of Three’s, the part darkened are those left when the pit opens as the Sun is covered with darkness, then the Moon will lose her light, since those with the Lesser Light would be killed.

The Sickle is in the hand of Jesus, yet we know from Hebrews the Scepter of Righteousness is the Scepter of His Kingdom, what happened? When the Rapture takes place a Change takes place, a Change so great it will move the world from Salvation to Judgment. Most of this is defined by the title, “like unto the Son of man”, going back to the figure of Jesus John saw in verses 1:12-16, thus this Cloud is the 144,000, Jesus is Above them, He is not on the earth with them. This can’t be the Rapture since it happened before the Angels came forth, in fact it happened before the Sixth Seal was broken. This one Cloud refers to those who stood with the Two Witnesses, this is the Report seen prior in 14:3-4, thus the Cloud is their promised position. Jesus being above the 144,000 shows He is not on the planet at then; but He is approaching quickly.

The Fourth Angel comes forth, telling Jesus it’s time to Thrust in His Sickle, He does, yet we find another angel will Thrust in his sickle as well (vs. 15-16 & 19). When Jesus Thrusts in His Sickle it’s to take the Remnant out of the picture to shorten the time for the elects sake. Those who failed to pray about the Hour will find the Second Sickle is far more painful than the first.

The fifth angel comes out of the temple having a sharp sickle, but this is also the angel who opens the pit (vs. 9:1). The Fifth Seal bound the devil, here the Fifth angel releases the devil, but it was the people’s attitude toward God causing the devil to be loosed. They failed to bind the strongman, causing the darkness of the devil to be loosed. Herein we find those who are darkened are demon possessed.

The sixth angel comes from the altar, which had the power of fire, this is the same angel whose voice is heard from the golden altar (vs. 9:13), as the same angel who turns Loose the four angels of the Euphrates (vs. 9:14). Now why the Euphrates? Oh, it’s the border to the land. What is the importance? The border is gone, the Promised Land has now mixed with the kings of the earth, and the kings of the world, the bed of adultery is full to the brim. The very purpose was to separate them from the world, yet here in the end they join to the world. The Mountain is in the Sea, the Sun is darkened, the Wicked are mixed into the whole mess, they are all shaking their fists at God.

By Rev. G. E. Newmyer – s.b.i.les28rev7/ © 2003