The Days Of The Seven Trumpets

The difficulty understanding the book of Revelation results from not being able to separate what is real from the symbolism. Faulty interpretation leads people into thinking that it is impossible to correctly interpret the symbolism. This book is being written with the view that the book of Revelation is meant to be understood. Hence, Scripture interprets Scripture, as we have seen with the seals; likewise, with the trumpets, we need to use Scripture as much as possible.

However, people create fantastic speculative scenarios of what is going to happen in the world to sell books and videos; many others dismiss some of the symbolism to concentrate on their pet theory. One person’s work I was reading, which has numerous charts that help give the impression his statements are much deeper and more involved than what they would be if written in simple language, dismisses the first four of the trumpets and goes to the fifth trumpet and explains that this is Satan being cast out of Heaven. As we have seen, Satan no longer has access to God’s Throne. He is finally cast out of Heaven at the breaking of the sixth seal, and the residents of Earth are engulfed in fear. The woe has come upon them that is foretold when Satan and his angels are cast out of Heaven for good. The Seventh Seal tells us what happens because Satan no longer has access to Heaven.

The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Seal is opened and we learn that the prayers of the saints are still ascending into Heaven. This tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ has not yet returned when this seal is broken.

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake. The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.  

(Revelation 8:1-6)

Interestingly, if we were to see the Earth from a satellite, we would see the thunder and lightning that is taking place at the different locations around the planet. The planet is a hostile place. Amazingly, we are able to live on planet Earth and not be struck by lightning and blasted with thunder every hour of the day, or be shaken mercilessly by earthquakes—even in areas that border the Pacific Ocean and experience seismic activity on a regular basis, such as Japan to the North and New Zealand to the South.

The First Trumpet

The opening of the seventh seal introduces us to the seven trumpets. These have nothing to do with the Feast of Trumpets, which announces the beginning of Jacob’s Trouble and the end-time harvest. The seven trumpets announce events in the first half of the Feast of Tabernacles.

The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burnt up, and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

(Revelation 8:6-7)

Here we see that all the green grass was burnt up. If we were to take this literally, we would have to envisage a nuclear war that annihilates not only the green grass but also all the trees—not just one third of the trees. The grass represents the people; the trees, those who stand above the people. Note: there are three that bear witness on Earth, the water, blood and the Spirit (1 John 5:8). Hail is frozen water. God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). John saw these three elements (hail, fire, blood) thrown down to Earth. Vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay (Romans 12:19). This will become a time of distress for the population overall, although there will be exceptions among the leaders—also for those who have a right heart before the Lord.  The elements are represented in the following Scripture:

The hail struck throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and animal; and the hail struck every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field. (Exodus 9:25)

 

In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry. Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.

(Psalm 18:6-9)

Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:24)

 

The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. (Isaiah 40:7)

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

 

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who will be made as grass? (Isaiah 51:12)

 

You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass. Yahweh’s hand will be known among his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies. (Isaiah 66:14)

 

Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley of those who are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one. Like a storm of hail, a destroying storm, and like a storm of mighty waters overflowing, he will cast them down to the earth with his hand. The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot. The fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fertile valley, shall be like the first-ripe fig before the summer; which someone picks and eats as soon as he sees it. In that day, Yahweh of Armies will become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people; and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. (Isaiah 28:1-6)

The Second Trumpet

The second trumpet was blown. The jealousy of God for His people becomes evident. The intensity of the message increases. The sea refers to the people. The reference to sea creatures is not a reference to marine animals, rather to the legal corporations and institutions that are treated as if they were living entities.  A powerful nation collapses and trade is severely affected around the world.

The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:8-9)

In Jeremiah, we learn that Babylon was represented as a destroying mountain that destroyed the whole world. The burning mountain is representative of a nation that corrupted the people of the Earth. Mammon is the god of this world. The world economy is based upon mammon and, in particular, fiat currency, the outcome of Bretton Woods, 1944.[i]

Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain, says Yahweh, which destroys all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand on you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain. (Jeremiah 51:25)

Two nations are influential enough to affect world trade, the United States and China. China has its troubles but does not have the influence of United States. Although the world economy is manipulated by the banks that are run by the synagogue of Satan, the underlying monetary standard will be collapsed. The manufactured collapse of the global monetary standard will create massive international uncertainty and transfer power to the IMF.

The Third Trumpet

The third trumpet sounds. People will become more bitter[ii] about their lifestyles. Many people will find themselves subject to more injustice and they are unable to come to grips with what is happening. More civil wars erupt across the globe.

The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. The name of the star is called “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter. (Revelation 8:10-11) 

People are being demoralized and a scarcity of food and goods begins to create major problems in numerous countries because of the collapse of the financial system. A new economic system has been introduced along with major restrictions.

The Fourth Trumpet

The fourth trumpet sounds. The Lord God is further withdrawing his Spirit from people as many more individuals accept the mark of the beast, as they did tattoos, even though it is not yet being forced upon all people to accept.

The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!” (Revelation 8:12-13)

People are clamoring to be chipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips, otherwise they cannot work. Government employees are required to be chipped. Corporations are requiring their employees to be chipped.

The Fifth Trumpet

The Fifth trumpet sounds and the demonic forces are released upon the Earth that were kept in chains in Hades from the days of Noah. Some believe the description of beasts here is an attempt by John, the Revelator, to describe war helicopters. Yet we note that they look like women.

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads.  They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them. The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces. They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. They had breastplates, like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, or of many horses rushing to war. They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is “Abaddon”, but in Greek, he has the name “Apollyon”.  The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this. (Revelation 9:1-12)

There was a prophecy by Josiah Litch that places this prophecy aside the Ottoman Empire and the women’s hair represents the long flowing hair that the Arabs apparently had. But notice that unlike the Arab Muslims who behead people and think nothing of it, nobody is to be killed during this time. Obviously, this alone disqualifies the interpretation as Arabs. Litch later denied that he had made the correct interpretation, although the Seventh Day Adventists claim this is support for their interpretation of the book of Revelation and history. Whereas others claim that the similarity of Satan falling like lightning (Luke 10:18) and not being permitted to harm Job indicates that this is when he is cast out of Heaven for good—rather than merely having permission to release beings from the abyss. The Job correlation has merit when considering Job 1:12; but is this the case when Job 2:1-10 is taken into consideration? For Job was physically afflicted.

The prophecy of the fifth trumpet states the infliction upon the world lasts for five months. If each one of these trumpets are six months apart; and the plagues that are to come, when the vials are poured on the Earth, are six months apart, together we have a total of seven years in which trumpets are followed by plagues. This corresponds to the Feast of Tabernacles.

The parallels of Plato’s ancient Atlantis and the Amazons (women warriors) exist here. Women are believed to have ruled the islands of Crete from the volcanic island of Thera before it erupted and destroyed the culture and civilization of the Minoans around the time of the Hebrew’s exodus from Egypt.  What we need to take into account with this prophetic statement is we have people who are women with crowns. These are not helicopters or armored vehicles. Since when are military vehicles covered with women’s hair—unless they have netting over them that would make them difficult to see in a desert, while on the ground.  Realistically, helicopters do not cut the symbolic description. Lions are the kings of the jungle and they have manes, but this says women’s hair, not manes.  A more probable reading is these are women in power (represented by the crowns), who have been able to secure the authority to inflict punishment on men who refuse to acknowledge feminism or resist gender neutrality and equality or reject reforms to be politically correct.  For five months they torment the resistant men, but then the sixth trumpet is blown, and a more pressing matter arises.  Moreover, we must not overlook that these are not to touch those who have the seal of God upon their foreheads. We need to understand also that demons are causing this to happen—the women are possessed.

Essentially, we are told that the Earth is under the control of the Devil. We know that the locusts here are not real, for locusts have no king (Proverbs 30:27), but these have a ruler over them.  The Devil had been cast down to Earth, (typified by the scapegoat being sent into the wild in the days of the Tabernacle of Moses) on the latter-feast Day of Atonement (at the beginning of the sixth seal[iii]) and has been attempting to bring down the elect. The Church has been given protection from the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Now, the Devil’s ability to harm people has increased. Nevertheless, the Spirit of God is still working among those who are on Earth. People are still making decisions to become Christians.

The Sixth Trumpet

The Sixth trumpet sounds and we learn that there is a similar army described as that of the previous trumpet. One third of those who live on Earth are to be killed. This probably means that the global population, which grows to nine billion, suffers a reduction in number to around six billion by the time of the seventh trumpet. The population is currently growing at 1.1% per annum. This rate of growth would increase the global population to around nine billion by the year 2033. The United Nations estimates the global population to reach 8.5 billion by 2030.[iv]

The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had one trumpet, “Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!”

The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them. Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk. They didn’t repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts. (Revelation 9:13-21) 

When we read the description of what occurs at the blowing of the sixth trumpet, we once more are tempted to think in terms of a military campaign of some sort traversing the Earth; such as an army similar to the hordes of Mongols initiated by Genghis Khan that swept westward from the East towards Europe, conquering all that was in their path during the period 1206-1279 AD.  Instead of an army using weapons that might resemble fire-like sulphur coming out of guns, what we notice is these are plagues. Plagues were understood by the ancients as calamities that brought about pestilence and disease. Today plagues are understood to have been fatal diseases caused by bacteria and parasites, which were often the result of malnourishment and insects.  The Justinian Plague of AD 541-542 was estimated to kill up to 50 million people[v]. The Black Plague of AD 1346-1353 was estimated to have killed some 200 million people.[vi] These calamities indicate what is to come. With the majority of the world’s populations living in cities, plagues will quickly take out hundreds of millions of people if the grid is shut down. Without electricity there will be no water, no services, and mass panic. Exploding canisters of toxic gas will quickly wipe out whole populations. People will have no immunity against the toxin.

What this prophecy is indicating wholesale chemical attacks are going to result in pestilence and disease, killing one third of mankind. This army need not be people, it could be mosquitoes or some other insects—remember we are talking about symbols; so we need to distinguish between the symbol, and the event and its consequences. A form of biological warfare is probably what happens, causing the people of the world to be extremely afraid. This seems to be centered somewhere near the river Euphrates and could suggest that this is going to come from some power that is resident in this area, which can muster an army of two hundred million. Alternatively, the river Euphrates could be symbolic for the armies that came out of Assyria, Babylonia, Medes, and Persia through the valley of the Euphrates River and across to the Mediterranean. This being the case, an army of civilians could be unleashed upon the countries that will cause plagues as they migrate across the globe through open borders.

The stage is therefore set for the revealing of the Antichrist who brings about peace, because he is accepted by all concerned as the Madhi, who is to rule for some years before the day of judgment, and which will coincide with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

It is at this time, fear will be rampant around the Earth. However, as we see with the continuation of the prophecy concerning the sixth trumpet that thunders will sound also. Those who have an ear to hear will understand what the seven thunders say.

I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them.” (Revelation 10:1-4).

When I was a young Christian, I went to a meeting and the preacher spoke of being caught up into air when Lord Jesus Christ appears in the clouds at the Second Coming. Never having heard this before, I thought the preacher was mad. That night I had a dream, from which I woke feeling as if my skin had been burnt off. This dream was so real that the sensation left the hair on my body standing on end. In this dream, there were thunders that spoke to people, including myself. Among other things, Jesus Christ was said to have returned to Earth and a little time afterwards I was caught up into the air.  The sensation of being caught up at the speed of light is what probably caused me to think that my skin had been literally burnt off. I could not remember what the thunders said, but they spoke to my whole being. Those who did not understand the thunders naturally thought they were just thunder. Later on, I discovered these thunders were foretold in the book of Revelation and the Antichrist has to appear before we are caught up to meet our Lord Jesus in the air, I realized that this dream was true. In the dream, I was shown the country the Antichrist came from. What I saw in the dream was different to what the people were preaching at the time; so I wasn’t bothered to investigate further by reading books like The Late Great Planet Earth and looking into the other theories that contradicted what I found in the Bible that verified what was revealed to me in that dream. The Spirit of God began revealing things that people overlook and do not understand, mainly, because they are presumptuous[vii]—or, as the Bible states:

Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful (Proverbs 22:12).

 

When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:22)

The seventh trumpet has not yet sounded. It will sound, but notice what this text says about the days of the voice of the seventh angel:

The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:5-7)

We know that God can see the end from the beginning, for He is outside of time. In some ways, this is like us observing ants. We know where the ants are going once we understand which ants are male ants, soldier ants, and the worker ants that perform different functions within the ant community. Unlike ants, we possess freewill and can reject the voice of God. Nevertheless, we develop our habits that become predictable. We also develop thinking processes that have a degree of flexibility depending upon our temperament, desires, available information and circumstances at the time. In effect, it is as if God has set forth the plan, outlined the boundaries and permitted every person the opportunity to play the game of temporal life from birth until death, wherein each one has to come to realize through the ability to know right from wrong, what is good or evil, and decide whether truth is be desired rather than falsehood. Those who reason that good is better than evil, and desire truth, shall find God. Those who ignore this quest, or delight in evil, will run from God.

After having been told that the seventh trumpet is to blow soon, the prophet is provided with another perspective of what is to occur.

The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”

I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book.

He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”

I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, “Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands, standing before the Lord of the earth. If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly. (Revelation 10:8-11:14)

The vision of God’s temple is seen from another dimension. This is the people of God, who are living stones that form the temple of God. The Antichrist has not yet been revealed when the two witnesses appear on Earth. These two individuals appear to be Elijah and Moses. They will appear at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles, presumably in Jerusalem, which is called Sodom and Egypt.  Some people interpret this as Rome and, others, New York. However, this does not make sense. While the physical nation of Israel shall be saved from destruction to honor God’s word to Abraham, the people of God are not the nation of Israel according to the flesh. To think of the natural Israel as God’s chosen ones is a misinterpretation of who are the people of God. The people of God have always been those who belonged to the vine.

You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and planted it. (Psalm 80:8)

 

I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. (John 15:1-7)

 

Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Send your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth’s grapes are fully ripe!” (Revelation 14:18)

 

Contrary to popular perception among evangelical Christians, every person has his or her name in the Book of Life at birth. When a person sins, their name begins to fade; however, if a person blasphemes the Holy Spirit and claims that evil is good, that person will be blotted out of the Book of Life forever.

 

Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. (Exodus 32:33)

 

Yahweh will not pardon him, but then Yahweh’s anger and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book will fall on him, and Yahweh will blot out his name from under the sky. (Deuteronomy 29:20)

 

Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28)

 

Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name. (Malachi 3:16)

 

Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3)

 

He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5) 

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is something hypocrites do as they knowingly make out they are good when, in fact, they are bearing false witness to the true intentions of their hearts. 

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, “These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

(Matthew 15:7-8)

 

For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written. (Romans 2:24)

Matthew, chapter twenty-three, lays out what Jesus says will happen to hypocrites. They cause people to look away from God. Many religious people, who claim that they are defending God, when arguing the validity of their belief, rather than letting God defend them, deny their Savior by their actions. They honor God with their lips, but delight in their sins; instead of repenting from their dead works and demonstrating faith in Lord Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:15), so they might be saved (John 5:39-40). Among these are going to be those represented by the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-15), who erroneously think that possessing a knowledge of the Scriptures is sufficient for salvation, rather than a relationship with Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. For unless a person is truly saved by being circumcised of heart, no person is part of the Vine; this is the case for both Jew and Gentile.

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans 2:28-29) 

The Apostle Paul turns to the Olive Tree to illustrate a point in respect to those who are part of the vine.

If the first fruit is holy, so is the lump. If the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and became partaker with them of the root and of the richness of the olive tree; don’t boast over the branches. But if you boast, it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.” True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear; for if God didn’t spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness; otherwise you also will be cut off. They also, if they don’t continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, “There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant to them, when I will take away their sins.”

Concerning the Good News, they are enemies for your sake. But concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For as you in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they may also obtain mercy. For God has shut up all to disobedience, that he might have mercy on all. (Romans 11:16-32)

Here we learn that God has mercy on all people. We are all in the book of life at birth, and we are all given the option to obey or disobey the voice of God—which is essentially our natural conscience. Unbelief is the reason people are cut off from God. Nevertheless, people can still be grafted back into the Vine if they have been cut off—providing they repent, of course. The prophet Ezekiel brought forth this truth that people can turn away from God and, as long as they do not die in their sin, they can return again, because they have realized that they really hate their sins:

When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

(Ezekiel 18:26-28)

However, what is important to grasp from the passage written in Romans by the Apostle Paul is he says that Israel will be saved, once the fullness of the Gentiles have come in. In other words, there will be a remnant of Jews who will believe in God, and they will be saved on the last day, as the nation Israel is saved, which explains the Apostle’s use of an olive tree here and not a vine to illustrate his point. The Apostle is saying that the nation Israel—not individuals—consists of the branches of the olive tree and has been cut off until the complete number of people who are destined to be saved is reached. Once this number is reached, then the day that Israel will be honored above all nations will be declared. Importantly, we need to understand that a number (the fullness of the Gentiles) is being compared to a nation of people, not every individual. Too often, this distinction is overlooked and people misconstrue what Scripture is saying, and come up with ideas of people being the same as robots without freewill.

As it stands, the number that has been determined to be fulfilled has not yet been reached, because the Second Coming should have fallen around the year 2000, if everything was completely predetermined and we had not been given freewill. Unfortunately, either too many people sinned and were blotted out of the book of life or maybe the invention of the pill caused fewer children to be conceived than originally expected. Whatever the case, God has set the end from the beginning and once the predetermined number of people has been reached, then the events that are to be associated with the Second Coming will occur.

Worthwhile noting is the fact God said to Abraham that his descendants would be as the number of the stars in Heaven or as the number of the grains of sand found on the seashore.

“I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies. All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:16-18)

Many people have scoffed at this prophecy for two reasons:

1.  They could not imagine how there could be as many stars as there is sand on the seashore.

 

2.     They could not see how the number of Abraham’s descendants could number grains of sand found of the seashore because there has not been sufficient population to number in the trillions. 

However, scientists have estimated that the number of stars existing in the Universe has to be in the trillions and would be equivalent to, at least the number of grains of sand that are found in the Sahara Desert[viii]—although they are not exactly sure now many stars there are, but we are talking trillions. As it happens, there are some 50 million abortions every year according to the World Health Organization—at this rate, this would be 5000 million in a century. If we were to add all the miscarriages and children who die every year before they are able to commit evil and have their name blotted out of the book of life, we are speaking about trillions of souls since the time of Abraham.

Understanding the concept of freewill and foreknowledge seems to be difficult for many to grasp when placed within the paradigm of predestination. How can God know the future if we have freewill and He does not know what decisions we will make?

Actually, predestination for God is much simpler than people realize. This is because there are many limitations that are placed upon us, and when we make a decision, we can only decide between two things each time. We will either look into a matter or we will not. We will either choose one book and not the rest. If we are told we can choose any three out of ten books, we will not immediately select three books for very different reasons; rather we will select one book at a time. While doing this, as we single out one book, we are disregarding the rest as a group. There will be the book we select and the others. This represents two groups only.

Since we have limitations placed upon our behavior, because we have three basic elementary factors that form our desires—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (in the form of self-preservation or self-aggrandizement)—we will make choices to resist enticement or not to resist our desires and yield to them.  If we yield to our lusts, then we will find it harder to resist temptations later; even if the temptation is not too difficult to resist. Yielding weakens our will and God can calculate the probabilities of something happening down to the exact day, once everything is in place, just as a chess master knows when he cannot win against his opponent, even though there are only a few pieces taken off the board. If a chess master is capable of seeing a couple of hundred moves ahead, then surely God is capable of seeing thousands of years ahead. When a prophecy comes from God, the prophecy is true. When Jesus said that no one knows the exact day of His return, except the Father in Heaven, this does not necessarily mean that God has everything worked out and we are robots. Neither does this mean that the prophecy has to be nailed to the very millisecond to be exact. Moses was shown what God was going to do (Hebrews 8:5), and what he was shown has proven to be very accurate when analyzed. The prophet Daniel was told the exact day that the resurrection of the righteous would be, but this day has to be preceded by appearing of the Antichrist first (Daniel 12:11-12). Once the Antichrist appears, then forty-five days later the resurrection of those who have died in Christ will occur, and we who are alive will meet them in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). As we have already discussed, this event should have occurred by now, if we were robots and the pattern given to Moses was exact. Instead the pattern is a remarkably reliable guide that pinpoints the times and seasons. Because of freewill, we appear to be running a little behind schedule, but not outside of what God had planned. Actually, because of freewill, Adam sinned and the human race became embedded in the predicament that exists, where people are born merely to suffer and die. Now this was not what God originally planned. Fortunately, our Creator knows the end from the beginning. Unfortunately, there shall be no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22). Even though our Heavenly Father hates the death of the wicked and would rather they repent and live (Ezekiel 18:23).

We are told that one third of the population will be killed by the plague that is brought about at the time of the sixth trumpet. When we realize the number of people this signifies, we may be inclined to think of God as evil. Yet the people themselves will be the ones who have refused to acknowledge the truth. The many abortions, miscarriages, infanticides and children that have been killed through war, disease, famine, and accident, fortunately will have enabled the Lord God to make up the number He has set to populate the New Earth. Our loving God saves those whom people think of as being unworthy to live and yet people call Him unfair. Israel was no different (Ezekiel 18:29). When the two prophets (Moses and Elijah) are killed, the people will rejoice. God is not mocked. And because Israel as a nation rejected the Law and the Prophets, in the last days the nation is going to be given an opportunity to acknowledge them in the persons of Moses and Elijah. However, because God understands the situation at hand, like a master chess player who can see the end game, the Spirit informs us what is to happen at the end of play. Once there is no more room for the losing opponent to maneuver, the winning chess player stands up to declare game over. Likewise, we can know how the last days of the victory are to pan out. This is the victory that already had been won, when Lord Jesus defeated the Evil One, by His death and resurrection from the dead; but like any major corporate deal, its completion is finalized later.

The Seventh Trumpet

The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”

The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God’s throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed. (Revelation 11:15-19) 

The day of judgment has come. The two witnesses have been raised from the dead. The two witnesses prophesied for one thousand, two hundred and sixty days and then they were killed, only to rise from the dead three days later. The people of God have yet to be raised from the dead. This creates a problem for those who were expecting to have been raised from the dead by this time and they cease to wait for the rapture. Notice what the Apostle states:

Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to him, we ask you not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the Man of Sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. Don’t you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-7)

The resurrection is not to occur until the Antichrist takes his place at what is deemed to be the temple of God in Jerusalem. The Apostle, inspired by God, obtained this information from Daniel. We read:

The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)

 

From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. (Daniel 12:11-12)

As we can see from the book of Daniel, the Antichrist exalts himself against God, but the abomination, when he takes his seat in the temple on the one thousand, two hundred and ninetieth day, shall occur thirty days after the two witnesses had been prophesying in Jerusalem for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Rev.11:3). As for the resurrection of the just and the blessed hope, we are told that the blessing comes for those who wait (upon the Lord) forty-five days after the abomination takes place. Consequently, the Apostle says that the day will not occur until the Man of Sin has taken his place in the temple and declared himself God.

Although there is no direct reference that exactly pinpoints when the two witnesses will appear on the world stage, in all probability, they shall appear when the burnt offerings begin to take place in the Temple Mount. The Jews will be offering their sacrifices that are to no avail, and the two witnesses will be declaring what God has done and prophesying what is to come. Naturally, the Israelites of the flesh will either repent or hate them. Assuming that this is correct, the two witnesses will play an important role in the Antichrist being able to assume his place in the temple of God. For even though God permits events to happen in accordance to freewill, Daniel (11:36) tells us that certain events have been determined by our Heavenly Father. This makes sense, for even when Jesus was crucified, everything was in accordance to the will of God, even though men were exercising their freewill. On the one hand, Pontius Pilate washed his hands (Matthew 27:24) and felt unaccountable for Jesus’ death, on the other hand, the Jews were able to blame the Romans for doing the actual crucifixion. For the Bible tells us that Pilate “released to them Barabbas [a murderer], but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified” (Matthew 27:26). Therefore, we can be assured that since God has determined the end-time events that we have looked at, as each move is made, this will be like the losing chess player thinking that he can win this battle of the intellects.                             

How can the Devil outsmart the Omniscient God of Creation? Given sufficient rope, once more the Evil One will think he has the game won. While history is said to repeat itself, the events that are taking place are not those that have gone before. The Evil One never learns, for as the Apostle says, “Evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13). Deception always leads to further deception and the Father of Lies is the most deceived of all. He believes God can do nothing to him because he is an eternal being. The threats in the book of Revelation regarding the eternal fire, Satan probably sees as a meaningless symbolic reference to his exclusion from Heaven, something which at the time of writing has not yet happened—for he still has access.

That Satan sees himself as having access to the courts of Heaven, because of the sins of humans, needs to be understood by each one of us. Unbelief comes about because of what we perceive. If we believe that we cannot overcome sin, we will never overcome sin. If we believe that because we sin, therefore, there is no person who will not sin, we are not looking to God and we are not acknowledging the truth. For the truth is Jesus rose from the dead, and if the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead, dwells in us, then we too will be raised above the practice of sin. The Holy Spirit is able to remove sin out of our lives, providing we let Him. If we do not permit the Holy Spirit to take away the desire to sin from our own lives, we are denying the resurrection power of God within ourselves. Because of this, Satan looks at humanity and sees people captive to their sin, and he himself always being able to access the courts of Heaven to accuse the brethren. As far as Satan is concerned, he believes the lie, based upon his own perception that the fact men sin will not change, because he cannot see the power of God being manifest in the sons of men. Therefore, as far as Satan is concerned, how can he ever be thrown into prison? Meanwhile, each one of us, who delights in our own little sinful habits rather than recognizing the subtlety of their evil separating us from God, miss out from receiving the fullness of the inheritance that is ours in Lord Jesus Christ. As Satan believes the lie that God will not find individuals who truly desire to overcome sin, we too are inclined to believe the lie that our small sins will not harm us—even though these are what give Satan the right to accuse us.

In these times, if we desire to be among those who are going to be raised to meet Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds, rather than be among those who are deceived by the subtlety of sin, we need to note that the whole Creation is waiting for the appearing of the sons of God on Earth—that is, the male-child. Even though we may not belong to this select group of individuals, we need to take note of where the Scripture says that our own focus ought to be. The following Scriptures inform us of these truths:

For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children [sons[ix]] of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children [sons[x]] of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:19-25)

Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

 

He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. (Revelation 3:21-22)

In the book of Daniel, we learn there is a verse that has a degree of ambivalence, and only makes sense if it relates to the Lord being the person making the covenant—which is why many are deceived into thinking that this Scripture applies to the Crucifixion. What is overlooked is that the wing is not the body but an extension of the body, and a careful reading implies that end of abominations is near, not about to begin with the establishment of the Babylonian Roman Catholic Church (325 AD). The 144,000 who are chosen to be members of the male-child are the ones with whom the Lord makes the covenant for one week (of years), for they have His seal upon their foreheads and the song that only they alone can sing.

He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27).

 

This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

“When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:14-22)

The sounding of the seventh trumpet is judgment for those who reject the truth, but resurrection to life for those who accept God’s promise and refuse to receive the mark of the beast.  At this point, we are now entering the last stage of the judgment where those who form part of the 144,000 remain on Earth and bear witness as sons of light against the sons of darkness, who attempt to subdue the rest of mankind. Those who hear the voice of the 144,000 and refuse the mark of the beast are slain, only to disappear as their bodies are taken to be with the Lord.

As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. (Matthew 24:37-42)

The mark of the beast actually is the counterfeit of what God showed Moses to instruct the Israelites. On their foreheads, the Israelites were to wear a small container (tefillin) that contained Scripture. This was to remind wearers that the word of the Law (the first five of the Ten Commandments were about their relationship with God). They had to wear a phylactery around their arm with Scripture in a container on the back of one of their hands (the second five of the Ten Commandments regarding their relationship with each other). These were to remind the Israelites that how we think, and what we do, ought to be done as unto God (Deuteronomy 6:1-9). True Christians have these Ten Commandments written on their hearts and in their minds (Hebrews 10:16).

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days,” says the Lord; “I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Hebrews 8:10)

The 144,000 represent the true temple of God. They are the ark of the covenant revealed; the presence of God in human flesh. Upon their head will be the seal of God (Revelation 7:2-4). To touch them is to touch God. If there is any doubt about what happens to people who touch the consecrated, those set aside to God and His presence, we need look no further than what happened to Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:6-7).

There is a tendency to interpret the 144,000 individuals from the twelve tribes of Israel either as Jews according to the flesh or as representatives of the Church, the Bride of Christ. The reason for the former view is that interpreters fail to see how these tribes could be anything other than members of Israel according to the flesh, since the body of Christ is not identified by twelve tribes. The second view exists because interpreters cannot see how the leaders of Israel—which has been annihilated as a nation of twelve tribes—could identify who belongs to which tribe; therefore, this can only represent the true Israel, those who are saved by virtue of being members of the Body of Christ.

What both of these views overlook is the omniscience of God, who can keep track of every person’s ancestry and ensure that these individuals not only belong to their respective tribes but are also true Israelites, circumcised of heart (Deuteronomy 30:6), who can do nothing else but love the Lord God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. It is possible that all of the 144,000 would be Gentiles. To deny that God cannot keep track of each person’s heritage and bring about a people who are sinless from the mire of sin is to declare that our Heavenly Father is not capable of fulfilling His promises—an act of unbelief, denial, and rebellion.

***

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[i] Effectively, the US Dollar became the reserve currency for settling international trade and underpins the world’s economy; even to the extent that the USA can print as much money as it likes and dilutes the other currencies. What is also alarming is that the Bretton Woods Agreement was made while World War II was still in progress, suggesting that those who control the money control affairs in the world.

[ii] There is the possibility that the radioactive isotope Cesium 137 is found in abundance throughout the oceans as a result of nuclear mishaps, but we have to interpret this according to the biblical principles of Scripture interpreting Scripture rather than superimposing our own ideas based upon what we might think. People are already claiming that Fukushima is what “wormwood” represents. However, this does not fit the order of thenarrative, even if the waters that kill the people are suggestive of poison or radioactive isotopes such as Cesium 137. Wormwood is a bitter herb that has medicinal efficacy and possesses known anti-fungal, parasite-killing and cancer-fighting qualities. https://draxe.com/wormwood—accessed May 1, 2017.

[iii] Each seal is represents a two year period. The fifth seal finishes on the year that the Day of Atonement is celebrated and the Devil is cast down out of Heaven at the beginning of the eleventh year of the 21 year feast period of Jacob’s Trouble, the seventh seal (year 14) ushers in the 3.5yrs of trumpets to be followed by 3.5 years of vials.

[iv]"UN projects world population to reach 8.5 billion by 2030," UN Sustainable Development, accessed July 25, 2017, http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2015/07/un-projects-world-population-to-reach-8-5-billion-by-2030-driven-by-growth-in-developing-countries/.

[v] Associated with possible climate change due to volcanic activity. "How Devastating was the Justinian Plague in the 6th Century?" Medieval Histories, accessed Jan 26, 2017, http://www.medievalhistories.com/devastating-justinian-plague-6th-century.

[vi]Scientists discover a link between the Justinian plague and the Black Death. "Justinian Plague and Black Death," National Geographic, accessed Jan 26, 2017, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140129-justinian-plague-black-death-bacteria-bubonic-pandemic.

[vii] In stating that people are presumptuous in making their claims that have been proven false, this is said with much trepidation by the author because he knows what the Bible states about adding to the Word of God. Making predictions is not an easy thing to do, especially when one puts one’s own money on the line, for one likes to be sure. However, unlike, say, trading the financial markets of the world, making prophetic claims regarding future events that are foretold in the Scriptures, and knowing the many failures that have gone before, writing a book such as this is done with much gravitas.

[viii] Simon Driver, "Science Article on ICRAR," ABC Science, accessed August 22, 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/08/19/4293562.htm.

[ix] hyiós – properly, a son (by birth or adoption); (figuratively) anyone sharing the same nature as their Father. For the believer, becoming a son of God begins with being reborn (adopted) by the heavenly Father – through Christ (the work of the eternal Son). In the NT, 5207 /hyiós ("son") equally refers to female believers (Gal 3:28).— Helps Ministries, "5207 hyiós," Helps Word-studies, © 1987, 2011.

[x] Ibid.

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