THE SEVEN ANGELS WITH THE SEVEN VIALS

I feel certain that the action of the seven vials are yet future for the following reason:
The seven angels (agents) come out of the TEMPLE that is built up of lively stone, Christ Jesus being the chief corner stone (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21-22; and 1 Peter 2:5).
These angels are clothed in pure and white linen which is the righteousness of Christ’s bride (Revelation 15:6; 19:8).
The seven vials full of the wrath of God are given to the angels by one of the living creatures (Revelation 15:7).
These vials contain the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, for in them are FILLED UP (completed) the wrath of God  (Revelation 15:1).
Christ Jesus with his army (the saints) treadeth the winepress of the wrath of God (19:15) outside the city (14:20), i.e., the NEW JERUSALEM which signifies the NEW HEAVENS and EARTH (Revelation 21:1-2) the old heavens and earth having been dissolved with fervent heat - the Lake of Fire - which signifies the action of the seven vials.
It is evident that the seven angels and the army of white horses (chapter 19) belong to the body of Christ, his bride - as signified by the pure and white linen in which they were clothed (19:8).

Now in the 14th chapter are shown six angels taking part in two reapings after the Lamb and 144,000 are seen on Mount Zion. 
Angel #1 preaches the everlasting gospel to ALL PEOPLE
(verses 6 & 7; compare Matthew 24:14).
Angel #2 finds Babylon has fallen into degraded state (verse 8) i.e., the Laodician state. 
Angel #3 gives a warning to all people who worship the beast and his image and who receive his mark in their forehead or hand (verse 9 - 11).  Then the Revelator gives encouragement to those putting their trust in the Lord (verses 12 & 13).  Then John looks and sees a white cloud and one like unto the Son of Man sat thereon (compare Matthew 24:30) and in his hand was a sharp sickle (verse 14).

Angel #4 came out of the TEMPLE, crying to him on the white cloud to cast his sickle into the earth.  He did so and the earth was reaped (verses 15 & 16).  This is the gathering of NATURAL ISRAEL - since the saints are comprehended in the 144,000, the first fruits (verse 1).
Angel #5 came out of the TEMPLE, he also having a sharp sickle
(verse 17).
Angel #6 comes out from the ALTAR, which had power over fire.  He cries to Angel #5 to cast in his sickle and he cast in his sickle, which gathers the vine of the earth and cast it into the winepress of the wrath of God (verses 18-20).
Angel #7 is composed of SEVEN ANGELS who dispense the seven last plagues.  The winepress of God’s wrath is trod by him riding the white horse and his army, who are clothed in fine linen, clean and white (Revelation 19:14-15).
It is evident that these judgments are executed by Christ and his saints.  For authority to execute judgment in the earth has been given him by the Father
(John 5:22, 27;    See Jeremiah 23:5).  Also, this honour have all his saints, to execute the judgments written (Psalm 149:9) and to him that overcomes will be given power over the nations and he shall rule (judge) them with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:26-27).

It is disclosed that the world will be composed of three great systems which will oppose Christ Jesus when he comes.  They are:  the beast, the false prophet and the dragon.  These have been signified as:
The two horn beast arising from the EARTH, alias the woman riding the scarlet colored beast, alias the false prophet when opposing the Lamb, the true prophet.
The seven headed, ten horn beast that arose out of the SEA, alias the scarlet colored beast on which the woman rode, alias the beast that loaned his power to the false prophet against the Lamb.
The seven headed, ten horned dragon that stood before the woman with child, alias the dragon that was cast out of heaven and bound for 1000 years, alias the satan that deceived the nations in going up against the camp of the saints.


These systems have expanded throughout the world, entwining and intermingling with each other, yet retaining their separate and independent characteristics peculiar to each.  So the last plagues will extend throughout the world, taking 100% effect in each environment as revealed by the seven vials.
The first vial (chapter 16:2) is poured upon the EARTH - the environment out of which the two horned beast arose (chapter 13:11) - and effects those which have the mark of the beast (chapter 15:2).  This beast is identified as the false prophet by his deception and mark (chapter 13:16-17 with chapter 19:20).
The second vial (chapter 16:3) is poured upon the SEA (the environment out of which the seven headed, ten horned beast arose (chapter 13:1).  This beast became the scarlet colored beast upon which the woman rode (chapter 17:3) and is signified as many waters (chapter 17:1 and 17:15).  This beast makes war with the Lamb in alliance with the false prophet (Revelation 17:14).    That is why these two are cast simultaneously into the Lake of Fire  (Revelation 19:19-20) - the Fire of the Altar -
The Word of God.
The third vial (chapter 16:4) is poured upon the rivers and fountains of water (of false doctrines), as contrasted to the pure river of water of life which issues from the fountain of God and the Lamb that will be in the NEW JERUSALEM
(Revelation 22:1-2 with 21:2).  This group are those making claims in the name of Christ Jesus separately and independently of the beast and false prophet, yet they rightly belong in the same category (Christendom).  They are the remnant which is slain with the sword of him riding on the white horse (Revelation 19:21).  The Earth, Sea and Remnant typify the subject people (the Christendom systems) who are the FIRST to be effected by the Fire of the Spirit (the word of truth).  See pages 41 and 42 of the pamphlet relative to the Lake of Fire.
The fourth vial (chapter 17:8-9) is poured upon the SUN (the ruling authority of the foregoing systems) who will take action against their subjects when they realize that they are being robbed in their own house (environment) that is being converted to the Gospel promulgated from Mt. Zion (See Matthew 24:43 and Item 2, page 20 of pamphlet).


This will result in the fifth vial (chapter 16:10-11) being poured upon the Throne of the Beast.  The preceeding five plagues disclose the action of the Lake of Fire into which the beast and false prophet are cast (Revelation 19:20).  The fire is a spiritual process which leaves a residue that later connives with the dragon against the camp of the saints as shown under vial #6.
The sixth vial (chapter 16:12) is poured upon the RIVER EUPHRATES and the WATERS (faith of Islam) are dried up, that the way of the kings of the east (sun rising) might be prepared.  At this juncture the dragon, the old serpent, the devil and satan (paganism) deceives the nations in sending up their men of war against the camp of the saints (see page 46 of pamphlet).  They go up to the battle of God Almighty.
The seventh vial (chapter 16:17) is poured into the AIR, and a great voice out of the TEMPLE saying:  It is done and there were voices, thunders, lightnings and a mighty earthquake (See Isaiah 2:19).
“For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I [Yahweh] spoken.  Surely in that day there shall be a GREAT SHAKING in the Land of Israel.  So that the fishes of the sea and fowls of the heaven and the beast of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and ALL THE MEN upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence ...” (Ezekiel 38:29-20).
The AIR (atmosphere) is the life supporting element of all mankind.
The effects of this vial permeates every environment of men.  Here the dragon (satan) is cast into the Lake of Fire where the beast and false prophet are (chapter 20:10).  This is the battle of Yahweh for his Holy Name’s Sake (Ezekiel 36:22) and is the grand finale, FOR IT IS DONE.
Then begins the 1000 years of Christ’s reign.

The SEVENTH SEAL

The connection of Revelation 7 with its preceding chapter is close and obvious. Instead of going on immediately to describe the opening of the Seventh Seal, the development of the prophecy pauses to answer the awe­ful question with which Seal Six concluded: “Who shall be able to stand?” 

The Chapter opens with And after these things [that is after 1948] I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds 

The apostle saw four angels at the four corners of the earth (or Land), controlling the four winds. These winds (the first four Trumpets: see especially ch. 8:7, 8) were not to go forth in destruction against the earth, sea or trees until a certain 144,000 had been sealed unto God.

SPIRITUAL ISRAEL

It is important before going any further to recognize that the 144,000 sealed out of the twelve tribes of Israel are to be taken as referring to Israel after the spirit, i.e. saints, and not to literal Jews. The reasons for this are copious enough.

Elsewhere in Revelation the symbolism of natural Israel is used to describe the saints; e.g. “the bride, the Lamb’s wife” is described also in terms of a city, “the holy Jerusalem,” upon the gates of which are “the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel’s (21:9‑12). And in Revelation 3:12 “the name of my God,” which is the Seal applied to the 144,000 (see ch. 14:1) is promised to the faithful in Philadelphia, most of who would clearly be Gentiles.

These blessed ones are described as “coming out of the great tribulation.” “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).

In the Last Days, Jesus asserts, for his saints there will be a special deliverance from tribulation: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days ... shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven ... and he shall send his angels ... and they shall gather together his elect” (Matthew 24:29‑31.

Revelation chapter 8 begins: “And when he had opened the seventh seal ... I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given the seven trumpets.”

We must not forget that the "SEVENTH SEAL" includes all that happens during the sounding of the "Trumpets," and the pouring out of the "Vials," and so extends down to the ushering in of the Millennium. So the "Seventh" Seal includes the "Seven Trumpets," and the "Seventh" Trumpet includes the "Seven Vials."

The "seventh seal" is the last of the seals, and covers the period from 1948 to the end of the harvest

The "SILENCE" that followed the breaking of the "Seventh Seal" was preparing for what was to follow during the sounding of the "Trumpets," and the pouring out of the "Vials."

The suspense of the half hour of SILENCE in Heaven was intense. But why that half hour of silence? What did it mean? It was the period of silent preparation for the awful judgments that were to burst forth in the earth under the "Trumpets" and "Vials."

The run up to the final tribulation will provoke a “praying always, that ye may be accounted worthy... to stand before the Son of man" (Lk. 21:36). Perhaps this intense latter day praying of the faithful is what Rev. 8:1 refers to, in speaking of "silence in heaven" when the seventh seal was opened- for this is one of Revelation's allusions to the temple service: "In the Temple, when the incense was offered, the people retired from the court and prostrated themselves in silent prayer".

comparing Matthew 24 and Revelation 6

Bible Prophecy has a dual fulfilment application the first is short-term fulfilment which is now history that is a fulfilled prophecy which has happened in the past. Next is the future application or  the long-term fulfilment

When we come to the Book of Revelation most people do not understand that it has a dual application. The Continuous Historical interpretation understands the Book of Revelation as setting forth the major events of Christian history spanning the time of John until the second coming. Therefore the seals and trumpets have already been fulfilled in the past. 

However I believe that the seals and trumpets have also a  dual fulfilment to come to pass in the last days

John was told that the events of the seals "must take place". The Olivet prophecy uses the same phrase (Mt. 24:6; Lk. 21:9). The Olivet prophecy describes the events of both AD70 and our present last days, with special reference to the tribulation of God's people, both natural and spiritual. The connections between the Olivet prophecy and the seals would therefore indicate that the seals, and therefore much of Revelation, has a fulfilment in the last days. 

MATT. 24:4-5 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.	1-SEAL FALSE CHRIST'S	REV. 6:1-2 AND I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
MATT. 24:6-7 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these thingsmust come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:	2-SEAL WARS	REV. 6:3-4 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out. another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
p. 63
MATT 24:7 and there shall be famines,	3-SEAL FAMINES	REV. 6:5-6 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
MATT. 24:7-8      and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.	4-SEAL PESTILENCE AND DEATH	REV. 6:7-8 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell fol. lowed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
MATT. 24:9-13 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.	5-SEAL MARTYRDOMS	REV. 6:9-11 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy, and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11, And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until . their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled:
MATT. 24:14 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.		THE GOSPEL NOW BEING PREACHED IS THE "GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD": ACTS 20:24.
ANSWER TO THE SECOND QUESTION
MATT. 24:15 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand,)		"THE SIGN" OF THE "DESOLATOR" DAN 9:27
p. 64
MATT. 24:16-22 16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17 Let .him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his. clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give. suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.	<--- THE "GREAT TRIBULATION"
ANSWER TO THIRD QUESTION
MATT. 24:29-30 29 ¶ Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.	6-SEAL PHYSICAL CHANGES	REV. 6:12-17 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 1 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to 'the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
THE "FIG-TREE" SIGN MATT. 24:32-35 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the floors.	6-SEAL PHYSICAL CHANGES
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.	<-- JEWISH RACE

The seals, then, can be applied to our latter day tribulation. They are snapshots of the same scene from different angles. The seals and the repeated references to the tribulation period can be understood likewise; they are giving different aspects of information about the same basic scene. 

The sixth seal concludes with the great day of the Lamb coming, with the fig tree casting her immature figs (cp. the fig tree parable), and great changes in Heaven and earth. This must have some reference to the second coming. 

Revelation 7 then describes how the 144,000 are sealed to ultimately survive the persecution, and due to the accumulated intense prayer of the persecuted believers, the seventh seal of judgment is poured out on the world (8:3,4), resulting finally in the establishment of the Kingdom. 

SEVEN CLIMAXES OF THE APOCALYPSE

Revelation 1:1 to 1:9 - Opening and Salutation

Climax #1 - Revelation 1:10 to 4:11 - Seven letters to seven churches

Climax #2 - Revelation 5:1 to 8:1 - A book with seven seals

Climax #3 - Revelation 8:2 to 11:19 - Seven angels with seven trumpets

Climax #4 - Revelation 12:1 to 14:20 - Stories of beasts and harvests

Climax #5 - Revelation 15:1 to 16:21 - Seven angels with seven vials

Climax #6 - Revelation 17:1 to 19:21 - Harlot, beasts, true bride & groom

Climax #7 - Revelation 20:1 to 22:15 - Two "thousand years" periods

Revelation 22:16 to 22:21 - Closing and warnings to readers

John was shown seven different perspectives, or points of view, or history-to-come; how each climax coincided with the others, beginning at the time when John saw them - or near after - and ending at the judgement and kingdom of God; visions of the church (the true one and the false one), of certain groups of men, of the world governments, and their relationships to each other.

Revelation 6 The first 6 seals

On being opened, the seven-sealed scroll reveals the course of future events

1st seal from 33AD to 313AD

1 ¶  And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

Noise of thunder:

the voice of thunder the first living creature spoke with a voice of thunder a voice stands for an order or command a command of judgement. Now thunder implies a storm and storm symbolises political trouble (1sam 2:10 zech 9:13,14). So the thunder is a symbol of  storm judgement on the roman empire from 33AD to 313 when the paganism of Rome was suppressed in favour of Christianity

This thunder judgement was because of Roman persecution of the Jews and the Christians.

During this period the Roman Empire is afflicted with insurrection many of its emperors, died by violence murdered or assassinated.

The thunder of insurrection that developed in these events cleared the way for a change in human affairs

Next John sees a white horse and the rider has a bow and a crown and it goes forth conquering and to conquer. This is the first period of the church in the world when it went forth conquering and triumphant and the gospel message was carried over all the Roman empire until Christianity conquered the empire.

Christians usually assume this horseman is Jesus Christ because Christ also comes on a white horse. But Christ comes with a sword, not with a bow (Revelation 19:11-15).And when you see what this white horseman actually does, you realize that even though he looks like Christ, it isn’t Christ at all! This is a false Christ who has DECEIVED THE WORLD

The white horse is a symbol of Rome under the pace of Constantine he is the rider on the horse a rider of a horse is use for rulers of nations zech 10:5 and here denotes those who guide the destiny of Rome.

the rider on the horse is The Bishop of Rome, the embryo Pope, 6. The Man of Sin

The bow was arrowless now the bow is used for the word of god zech 9;13-14 psa 64;3  and symbolis the influence of Christianity conquering by the power of the word. Constantine in the year 313 issused a decree giving toleration to Christianity and shortly afterwards he declared himself a Christian. Thus after two and a half centuries of bitter persecution the  church had triumphed and the cross replaced the eagle on the standards of Rome.

2nd seal

the period is from around 313 to 800AD

John sees a red horse and power was given to the rider to take peace away from the earth. Soon after the Roman Empire officially accepted Christianity it began to fall into decay. corruption within, civil war and the barbarian tribes without gradually weakened the empire

The rider of the red horse which moved in from the west carried a great dagger, and was commanded to take peace from the earth, to cause men to slay one another. This is a clear an indication as one could want that civil war was to be God’s next judgement

The great dagger is not the same word in vs. 8  which is a sword of open war. Thus this sword is figurative of internal war which were fulfilled following the death of Constantine.

The legions were withdrawn from the outlying provinces as Rome weakened Europe fell into chaos. The Church moved into the power vacuum trying to manipulate the various rulers. peace was indeed taken away from the earth. The period continues to about the 8th century when Europe began to be dominated by the franks through whom the church began to wield power. In 800AD Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the holy Roman empire

3rd seal

the period is from around 800 to 1200AD

Balance joined with symbols denoting the sale of corn and fruits by weight, becomes the symbol of scarcity; bread by weight being a curse in Lev. 26:26 and in Ezek. 4:16,17. During this period the common people could have in their own tongue only a few words or verses of the Scriptures; and for these they were obliged to pay large sums to the clergy, who alone had the ability to translate from the dead languages, or even to read at all. As the services were in Latin the people were starved spiritually.

Famines in the period 927–928 Caused by four months of frost Byzantine Empire

1005 England

1016 Famine throughout Europe


4th seal

the period is from around 1200AD to 1500AD


The opening of this seal represents a truly terrible period. As in the letters to the churches of about this period the direction of the vision is changed from the professing christian church to the faithful few. One of the results of the assumption of power by the Roman Church was the denial of freedom of individual thought and the instrument designed to enforce this was the inquisition. it is impossible to tell how many people died under this system whilst it ruled without any organised opposition, but it is estimted that it was many times more than those who died under the earlier  persecution by again pagan Rome

during this same period there were endless wars in Europe as rival claims to thrones tried to establish themselves plague and pestilence followed in the wake of the wars  it is estimated that the black death took about a quarter of the population of Europe



5th seal

this period is from around 1500 to 1799


This period is parallel to the letter to philadelphia John sees the souls of those who had already been martyred in the preceding periods and they wanted to know how long it would be before God would come and judge the persecutors. they were told to wait a little longer until the number would be complete

it is the period following the reformation when man's consciousness arose against the wickedness of the Roman Church

6th seal

this period is from around 1799 to 1948

"Earthquake" the French revolution

And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair

dissolved on 6 August 1806, when the last Holy Roman Emperor Francis II (from 1804, Emperor Francis I of Austria) abdicated, following a military defeat by the French under Napoleon

And the stars of heaven [the Roman Church] fell unto the earth

Symbolically, the stars of the papal heavens (the pope) fell to the earth when Napoleon fined the Pope ten million dollars, organized the Papal territory into a republic and took the Pope prisoner

• The fallen starts  was the church in the French Revolution (1789). 

• Sword. Two world wars and the threat of global annihilation by nuclear and biological weapons

Even as a fig tree

The fig tree in this prophecy may be understood to signify the Jewish nation. (Matt. 24:32.) If so, it is being fulfilled; the Zionist movement, started in 1897, since that time Jewish nation was born in 1948 these buds have thrive.

CASTING her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. — threw off its immature show of character], it shall also throw off its immature show of character when surrounded in the very end by "Gog"

when she is shaken of a mighty wind [surrounded by the armies of Gog.









7th seal

A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him Revelation 1:1

Revelation 1:1 A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John,

“A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place.” (Revelation 1:1a) So it was the resurrected Jesus Christ who received this important message from God.

Far from being part of a mystic Trinity, Jesus is here shown to be subject to his Father. In the same way, the “slaves” making up the Christian Churches are subject to Jesus Christ.

"Of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him" — This teaches that Jesus was dependent upon God for the knowledge that he passed on to "his slaves," and proves conclusively that he is not co-equal with the Father. Previously certain knowledge was hidden from the Lord (see Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7), but having "prevailed," and having been raised from the dead to life eternal, and elevated to the right hand of God, the; full revelation of the Father's purpose was given unto him (see Rev. 5:5). In turn, he passed this knowledge on to his servants over whom he has the preeminence (Col. 1:18).

“Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open,’ he said, ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’”—Catholic Jerusalem Bible.

Stephen saw a vision of God in heaven with Jesus standing next to Him. The Son was standing next to the One termed, not just “Father,” but “God,” one completely separate in identity from Jesus. And there was no third person involved in what Stephen saw. The holy spirit was not seen in heaven with Jesus and his Father.

That is similar to Revelation 1:1, which states: “This is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ.” (The Jerusalem Bible) Again, the resurrected Jesus in heaven is shown to be entirely separate from God, and the holy spirit is not mentioned. If Jesus were the second person of a Trinity, knowing all things, how could he be “given” a revelation?

IF THE Trinity were true, it should be clearly and consistently presented in the Bible. Why? Because, as the apostles affirmed, the Bible is God’s revelation of himself to mankind. And since we need to know God to worship him acceptably, the Bible should be clear in telling us just who he is.

One like a son of man Revelation 1

What do the seven churches represent? The seven churches represent the faculties of the divine mind manifed in the believer.


One "like a son of man" walking in an area where there were seven golden lampstands. This would be a symbolic representation of spiritual illumination. The one “like unto a son of man” was a vision of the glorified body of Jesus after resurrection. It is also a description of what we shall be when we become like him in manifestation. 1 John 3:2 Which we will look at in another video


"dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest." Perhaps this was an indirect reference to the seamless robe mentioned in the Gospels. (See John 19:23.) Symbolically, this would represent wholeness, or completeness.


"Hair white as wool ... eyes like a flame of fire." The white hair was the well-known symbol of age and wisdom, while the flashing eyes emphasised the fact that age had not dulled the perceptive powers of the Christ.


"His feet were like polished bronze"—a reference to stability and understanding as relating to all affairs of life.


"In his right hand he held seven stars." Here, the author was apparently thinking of a scepter, as held by a monarch, symbolizing royal power. This would recall Jesus' own words: "All authority (power, A.V.) in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Matt. 28:18).


"From his mouth issued a sharp two-edged sword." What is the two-edged sword? The Word of God.This would symbolize the power of the spoken word. The writer to the Hebrews states that "the word of God is ... sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb. 4:12). It will be noticed that in Revelation Jesus is presented as a warrior, rather than as "Prince of Peace."


"First and last. . . alive for evermore ... have the keys of Death and Hades." All these phrases are reminiscent of the Isaiah's words: Isaiah 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay on his shoulder;

The Book of Enoch is the little scroll of Revelation 10:10

Rev. 10:10 And I took the little book (the book of Enoch) out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten (digested) it, my belly was bitter.
10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy AGAIN before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings [This CLEARLY SAYS that the 'little book' the book of Enoch is for the end times for the last generation and will be MADE AVAILABLE DURING THE TIME OF THE END].

The little scroll is The Book of Enoch?!! This is why it has been fiercely hidden and kept out of the canon! And all the while, perhaps it is God's plan? I am only speculating. To this day scholars still carefully avodi  it, emphasizing "it is not canon" yet they still refer to it! To me it seems all the more reason to read The Book of Enoch.

 The book written by Enoch-[Enoch indeed wrote this complete doctrine of wisdom, (which is) praised of all men and a judge of all the earth] for all my children who shall dwell on the earth. And for the future generations who shall observe uprightness and peace.

there are many parallels with Enoch and the book of Revelation as well as other apocalypses. God inspired it and intentionally placed images and phrases from other prophets in order that we should go and examine those prophets to see the bigger picture; to unlock various prophecies. Revelation is a like a reference book explaining the bigger picture which was unclear or hidden before Jesus' revelation. it is basically for the elect in the end times

The Book of Revelation has the same message with the book of Enoch.

The end event is singular and established by Yahweh. So john and Enoch saw the end event.

So the book of Enoch corroborates perfectly with the book of revelation, along with the other prophets in the canon. but one has to dig this out for themselves and see it for themselves. if they are read together making comparisons, it can clearly be seen that Enoch is inspired.

all the prophets give us the same picture of the end times and the judgment seat. the Father authenticates and confirms His Word.



Enoch 1:9 “ And behold! He cometh with ten thousands of His holy ones To execute judgement upon all, And to destroy all the ungodly: And to convict all flesh Of all the works of their ungodliness which they have ungodly committed, And of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
.”

Revelation 19:14 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[g] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

ENOCH 9:3 ... Then they said to their Lord, the King, Thou art Lord of lords, God of gods,
King of kings. The throne of thy glory is for ever and ever, and for ever and ever is thy name
sanctified and glorified. Thou art blessed and glorified.

ENOCH 47:1 In that day the prayer of the holy and the righteous, and the blood of the

righteous, shall ascend from the earth into the presence of the Lord of spirits.

REV. 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost

thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Rev 19:15 Now Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty..

ENOCH 61:4 The word of his mouth shall destroy all the sinners and all the ungodly, who shall

perish at his presence.

5 In that day shall all the kings, the princes, the exalted, and those who possess the earth, stand

up, behold, and perceive, that he is sitting on the throne of his glory; that before him the saints

shall be judged in righteousness;

6 And that nothing, which shall be spoken before him, shall be spoken in vain.

7 Trouble shall come upon them, as upon a woman in travail, whose labour is severe, when her

child comes to the mouth of the womb, and she finds it difficult to bring forth. 

compare revelation 12

8 One portion of them shall look upon another. They shall be astonished, and shall humble their

countenance;

9 And trouble shall seize them, when they shall behold this Son of woman sitting upon the throne

of his glory.

REV. 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief

captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the

dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth

on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

We will all partake of that cup (THE GREAT TRIBULATION) - Unless you READ the "little book" AND DO WHAT IT TOLD YOU TO DO...

The Eighth Day 2 Enoch

God shows Enoch the age of this world, its existence of seven thousand years, and the eighth thousand is the end, neither years, nor months, nor weeks, nor days
1And I appointed the eighth day also, that the eighth day should be the first-created after my work, that it should revolve in the revolution of the seventh thousand, so that the eighth thousand might be in the beginning of a time not reckoned and unending with neither years nor months nor weeks nor days nor hours like the first day of the week, so also that the eighth day of the week might return continually.




These Sabbaths will be no longer celebrated on the seventh day. They will be changed from the seventh to the eighth or first day of the week, which are the same. The "dispensation of the fullness of times" (Eph 1:10), popularly styled the Millennium, will be the antitype, or substance, of the Mosaic feast of tabernacles which was "a shadow of things to come." In this type, or pattern, Israel were to rejoice before Yahweh for seven days, beginning "on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when they had gathered the fruit of the land." In relation to the first day of the seven, the law says, "it shall be a sacred assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein." This was what we call Sunday. The regulation then continues, "on the eighth day," also Sunday, "shall be a sacred assembly unto you, and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahweh: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein." Again, "on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath" (Lev 23:34-43).

Thus the Lord's day, the day of His resurrection from His seventh day imprisonment in the tomb, becomes the sabbath day of the future age which shall be hallowed by the priests of Israel, and be observed by all nations as a day of sacred assembly in which they shall rejoice, and do no manner of servile work at all.

This change of the sabbath from the seventh to the eighth, or first day of the week, is the full development and establishment of the observance of the Lord's day by the disciples of Jesus since the times of the apostles.

The Lord's day is the first day of the week, or day after the seventh, and therefore styled the eighth day. It is termed His day, because it is the week-day of His resurrection. Upon this day the disciples of Christ assembled to show forth His death, and to celebrate His resurrection;

The Sabbath and the 7000 Years Letter of Barnabas Chapter 15

Barnabas is chapter 15, concerning the sabbath, which says...

1 Furthermore it was written concerning the Sabbath in the ten words which he spake on Mount Sinai face to face to Moses. "Sanctify also the Sabbath of the Lord with pure hands and a pure heart."
2 And in another place he says, "If my sons keep the Sabbath, then will I bestow my mercy upon them."
3 He speaks of the Sabbath at the beginning of the Creation, "And God made in 6x days the works of his hands and on the 7th day he made an end, and rested in it and sanctified it."
4 Notice, children, what is the meaning of "He made an end in 6 days"? He means this: that the Lord will make an end of everything in 6,000 years, for a day with him means a thousand years. And he himself is my witness when he says, "Lo, the day of the Lord shall be as a thousand years." So then, children, in 6 days, that is in 6 thousand years, everything will be completed.
5 "And he rested on the 7th day." This means, when his Son comes [at the start of that day of the week] he will destroy the time of the wicked one, and will judge the godless, and will change the sun and the moon and the stars, and then he will truly rest on the 7th day [Amen].
6 Furthermore he says, "Thou shalt sanctify it with clean hands and a pure heart." If, then, anyone has at present the power to keep holy the day which God made holy, by being pure in heart, we are altogether deceived.
7 See that we shall indeed keep it holy at that time, when we enjoy true rest, when we shall be able to do so because we have been made righteous ourselves and have received the promise, when there is no more sin, but all things have been made new by the Lord  then we shall be able to keep it holy because we ourselves have first been made holy.
8 Furthermore he says to them, "Your new moons and the sabbaths I cannot endure." Do you see what he means? The present sabbaths are not acceptable to me, but that which I have made, in which I will give rest to all things and make the beginning of an eighth day, that is the beginning of another world. [the age to come] 
9 Wherefore we also celebrate with gladness the eighth day in which Jesus also rose from the dead, and was made manifest, and ascended into Heaven (Chapter 15)

93.3 And Enoch then began to speak from a book, and said: "I was born the seventh, in the first week, [It doesn’t give reference as to when this week actually starts, however it appears that each week is a 700 year period for all ten of them to fit into a 7,000 year period. Interestingly this is like saying a week (7,000 years) ten times of weeks (700 years)! And since it says he was “born the seventh” (and there is a second witness to this in 1:14) I am making the start date of the first week on 3993 BC at the “founding of the world” when Adam sinned as it seems to fit perfectly throughout the whole “ten part” time period (one could use 3992 when Cain was born but in this scope of time it would make little difference]

91.14) And all mankind shall look to the path of uprightness. And after that, in the ninth week, [1609AD – 2309AD] the righteous judgement shall be revealed to the whole world, [this is the time period we are now in, when the kingdom of God will be set up in the earth and righteous judgement shall be revealed to the whole world. The real “terrifiers” (Is 13) will be taken out of the way] And all the works of the godless shall vanish from all the earth, [not all of the people shall be destroyed but the work shall disappear];  And the world [the order of things or the system of things] shall be written down for destruction. [those who got the mark of the beast and worshipped it while blaspheming God and His truth are bound for Gehenna to be destroyed]; and all men [both good and evil] shall be on the watch for the path of integrity [all men, will look for the Christ and His brothers for understanding and guidance].

91.15 And after this, matter on the tenth week [2309 - 3009AD], in the seventh part, [not “seventh day” - this seventh part being the last 100 years 2909AD-3009AD] there shall be an everlasting judgment [on the last day of the tenth week those who have died during the 1000 years will be brought out  of the grave to be judged], which shall be executed by the Watchers of the eternal heaven  [upon the archons or world rulers of this age]; the great judgment which shall come from all of the angels [the angels are the saints and the end of all that is evil will come as death itself is swallowed up forever - Amen!]

So here we have the basis of the 6,000 years of the Kingdom of Men from the founding of the world 3993 BC to the end of the world on 2309AD. The end of the Kingdom of Men in any event.

Appendix: Revelation: A Futurist, Islamic Approach

Revelation 9: The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets

9:1 The key- The key to death and the grave is in Christ's hand (Rev. 1:18). This person is therefore an anti-Christ. We note how the locusts who are released from it are specifically obedient to their king-leader (9:4,11).

The bottomless pit- The idea of course is that if you're thrown into a bottomless pit which is locked, there's no way you can ever get out of it. But locusts, representing the desolators of the land, do arise out of it. The figure is similar to that of receiving a deadly wound, a wound that makes one die, and then resurrecting. This is what is said of the beast and its horn (13:3,12). The locusts are connected to that entity. We should be looking, therefore, for the entity which will finally dominate Israel to receive a wound which apparently makes it dead. This could be from Western and / or Israeli intervention against them. There would then be a brief period of worldwide relief- the "peace and safety" period of 1 Thess. 5. But the entity then revives. This scenario is possible as we see from the Western conflict against the Islamic State.

So many of Revelation’s allusions to the Old Testament are to material specifically concerning Jerusalem. One could almost argue that the prophecy could have a specific application to the latter day city of Jerusalem. The language of the bottomless pit likewise has specific reference to Jerusalem: “In the floor of the small cave (measuring about 14 feet square with a six foot ceiling) under the great foundation stone in the Dome of the Rock is round marble slab closing a well shaft known as "the well of the souls" (Bir al Arwah)… A Muslim tradition holds this is the entrance into the bottomless pit, the abyss. The souls of the dead awaiting judgment are said to be audible beneath. The Talmud claims that this is the abyss above the primeval waters of creation and of the Flood” Lambert Dolphin, Early History of the Temple Mount.

The language used here is specifically relevant to latter day Islam. Mawdudi writes of how Muhammed and his message came out of “Arabia- the Abyss of Darkness” (Abul A’la Mawdudi, Towards Understanding Islam, 8th ed. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: National Offset Printing Press, 1986), p.63).

9:2 A smoke out of the pit- This is the same figure used in 14:11 for the destruction of the beast worshippers. But here it speaks of what they did to deserve that destruction- their actions against Israel and the land promised to Abraham is the grounds for their condemnation.

Smoke- The Hadith mentions smoke as one of the ten signs that the last day is coming: "Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion). He said: What do you discuss about? They (the Companions) said. We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said: It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal [Antichrist], the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), the Gog and Magog, and landslidings in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly" (Book 41.6931). Again, we see the crisis in the land in the last days foretold in terms which Moslems will relate to. Sura 44 of the Koran is entitled Al-Dukhan, ‘The Smoke’. It speaks of how painful smoke will be the punishment of God’s enemies in the last days: “But watch thou [O Muhammad] for the day when the sky will produce visible smoke that will envelop the people. This will be a painful torment. [Then they will say]: Our Lord relieve us of the torment” (Sura 44.10-12). It could be that jihadists bring smoke upon others in an attempt to judge them according to Islam. And they will be judged likewise, drinking the cup they made others to drink. This means that they will be judged as apostates within their own frames of reference.

Furnace- See on 8:7. The language of Sodom (Gen. 19:28) and Egypt. Both these places are used to describe Jerusalem under domination of her enemies as the place of particular suffering for God's people (11:8).

9:3 Locusts- The locusts of the fifth trumpet act in a very un-locust-like way. Unlike real locusts, they have a king. And, astonishing to relate, they are forbidden to touch grass or any vegetation! Once again the instruction seems to be: "Hurt not the earth, nor the trees"- only on this occasion it is given to locusts. Akrab being the Hebrew for scorpion, we may be justified in seeing here an allusion to the word 'Arab', the likely ethnicity of many of the boots on the ground of the last days. :3 The connection between these specific locusts and their place of origin is in line with how the Bible uses plant and animal imagery. "The prophets, when they used symbolical language to denote any events, commonly, at least, employed those which had a local or geographical reference; thus, in the symbols derived from the vegetable kingdom, when Judah is to be symbolized, the olive, the vine, and the fig-tree are selected; when Egypt is referred to, the reed is chosen; when Babylon, the willow. And so, in the animal kingdom, the lion is the symbol of Judah; the wild ass, of the Arabs; the crocodile, of Egypt, etc." (Elliott, Horae Apoc. i. 394-406).  Being consumed by locusts was one of the punishments upon Israel for their disobedience (Dt. 28:38,42; Ps. 78:46; Joel 1:2). Again, we are to understand this language as specifically applying to Israel.

The parallels between Joel and Revelation 8 and 9 are certainly impressive.

			Joel	Revelation
	1	Locusts.	1: 4	9:3.
	2	Symbolic of a nation.	1:6.	9: 4, 7.
	3	Teeth like lions.	1:6.	9:8.
	4	Trees and pasture withered and burnt up.	1: 12, 18‑20.	8:7.
	5	Destruction from the Almighty.	1: 15.	9: 11.
	6	Fire.	1: 19; 2:3, 5.	8:7; 9:17.
	7	Rivers of waters dried up.	1:20.	8: 10; 9:14
	8	Blowing of trumpets.	2:1, 11, 15.	8:6.
	9	Darkness.	2:2.	9:2.
	10.	Horses.	2:4.	9:7, 9.
	11.	Chariots.	2:5.	9:9.
	12.	Torment.	2:6.	9:6.
	13.	Earthquake.	2:10.	8: 5.
	14.	Sun, moon, and stars darkened.	2:10, 31; 3:15.	8:12, 9:2.
	15.	“Turn ye to me ... “	2:12.	9:20, 21.
	16.	The locust army goes back into the abyss.	2:20.	9:1.
	17.	Deliverance for the faithful remnant.	2:32.	9:4.

Locusts in Joel
Joel's prophecy is full of reference to the army of locust-horses which invade Israel in conjunction with the Palestinians (Joel 3:4), resulting in the repentance of a remnant who stand on Mount Zion (Joel 2:32), the destruction of the northern invader [another term for the locust army] after their holy war [jihad, Joel 3:9], and then the final establishment of God's Kingdom on earth. He describes the invading army in Joel 2 in terms of a locust swarm, and they come to their end as locust swarms often do in Israel- in the Dead Sea and Mediterranean. In more detail, Joel 3:2,12 speaks of a final conflict in the valley of Jehoshaphat, when the Gentiles "round about" Israel are gathered together and judged- spoken of in Revelation 16 as the battle of Armageddon (which likewise is primarily concerning the peoples "round about" Israel rather than the whole planet). The degree of damage done to the land and people of Israel was limitable- if Judah repented. Hence the frequent appeals for repentance. This prophecy could have had potential fulfilment in the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions of Judah; but the prophecy is alluded to in Revelation and in other latter day prophecies, as if it has specific and complete fulfilment in the last days. The overall context is exactly as presented in Revelation- the seal judgments appeal for Israel's repentance, the minority who respond are the symbolic 144,000 who stand on mount Zion; and then there are the trumpet and vial judgments, which are full of allusion back to Joel. The frequent appeals for repentance mention the possibility that the program of judgment and desolation can be limited- if Judah repent. And finally, Joel speaks of the establishment of God's Kingdom and physical restoration of the decimated land, into the wonder of God's Kingdom on earth at Christ's return. Joel opens by saying that the destruction of the land he was burdened to portray had no parallel in the past, and the Jews would tell their children of it and the account of it would be passed down throughout future history (Joel 1:2,3). This is another way of saying that this prophecy is about a time of trouble for Israel such as never was, and never will be in the future. And that is precisely the language of the Lord Jesus, Jeremiah and Daniel about the latter day tribulation of Israel.

The Arabs and Muhammed have a unique connection to the locust: “In the Bedoween romance Antar, the locust is introduced as the national emblem of the Ishmaelites [one of the ancestors of the Arabs –DB]. And it is a remarkable coincidence that Muslim tradition speaks of locusts having dropped into the hands of Muhammed, bearing on their wings this inscription – ‘We are the army of the Great God.’” (Albert Barnes, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Vol. 18).

:4 Have not the seal of God- They also don't have His seal. So perhaps we are intended to read in an elipsis: 'Have not [received] the seal of God'. The idea would then be that those who have not responded to the appeal to repent (as a result of the seal judgments) are targetted.

Not hurt the grass- There are many allusions in this section to the anatomy and style of the locust; the highlighted difference here with locusts [who usually eat up the grass] is therefore intentional. The people represented by the locusts were therefore going to be made to act uncharacteristically due to the charismatic individual controlling them. The reason for this is because these locusts have a king- which, again, locusts typically do not (see on king over them).

Keil in his commentary on Joel 2 describes the geographical origins of the locusts which descend upon Israel: "Swarms of locusts come from south, west, north, and east. Their home is not confined to the desert of Arabia, but they are found in all the sandy deserts, which form the southern boundaries of the lands that were, and to some extent still are, the seat of cultivation, viz., in the Sahara, the Libyan desert, Arabia, and Iraq; and Niebuhr saw a large tract of land, on the road from Mosul to Nisibis, completely covered with young locusts. They are also met with in the Syrian desert, from which swarms could easily be driven to Palestine by a north-east wind... Such a swarm as this might be called the tsephōnı̄, i.e., the northern one, or northerner [Joel 2:20], even if the north was not its true home". These are the very areas from where jihadist fighters are emerging in their tens of thousands, and uniting together to establish an Islamic state and destroy Israel. This geographical connection cannot be merely coincidental!

Concerning trees and vegetation, the Koran says: “When you fight the battles of the Lord… destroy no palm trees, nor burn any fields of grain. Cut down no fruit trees…” (Quoted in Barnes, op. cit).

:5 It was given- We are surely to read in the elipsis, that a commandment was given to them. And it is jihadist Islam which forbids damaging trees and plants during military campaigns.

Not kill them- As locusts don't usually cause death but rather suffering.

Tormented- The same word used about Babylon (18:7,10,15) and the beast worshippers being "tormented" (14:10). The language of torment is not, therefore, reflective of an angry God being mean to sinners. Rather will they drink the cup they gave others to drink.

Five months- It could be argued that the book of Revelation will 'come alive' during the three and a half year tribulation in the land, and it's possible that this is a literal period. In any case, it is based around the fact that the season for locusts is five months, from May to September. Five months is their lifespan, so the idea may be that at the end of it they too will come to their end.

9:6 Seek death- Sura 75:10,11 speaks in similar terms of the final judgment of the condemned: "On that day man will cry: Whither to flee! Alas! No refuge!". Islamists will therefore seek to do this to the Jews whom they believe it is their duty to condemn, and in turn they will drink the same cup, seeking death but not finding it (Rev. 9:6).

:7 Like unto horses- Clearly the locusts represent fighters charging to war. The Arab Bedouin call locusts Farras el Jundy, ‘soldiers’ horses'. The description of these horsemen from the East accurately fits the Parthians, who were massed to the East of the Roman empire. There was much angst amongst the Romans of the first century as to whether the Parthians would invade; they did not. But the similarity is explained if we accept that Revelation is open to many possible fulfilments. It could have all happened in the first century, and God moved the players into place. But due to human failure, the whole scenario was delayed to our last days.
“Like unto” continues the idea that John is seeing in outline form something he finds hard to describe, and he keeps likening the vision to things he is familiar with. Hence “As…as… like unto… as it were”. This is understandable if he saw modern military hardware.

Prepared unto battle- This is the process we see ongoing around us. The Joel allusions encourage us to see this as Joel 3:9: "Prepare war, wake up the might men". The gathering of thousands of fighters to support an Islamic State in the land promised to Abraham is surely the fulfilment of this.

Like gold- The stephanos may suggest they are victorious, for a brief period, over the land. But John saw their appearance like this. Turbans as worn by Moslems today were not used in his day. If he saw, as I suggest, hordes of latter day Moslems streaming into Israel to proclaim a radical Islamic state, then this is how he would've described them- wearing something like a stephanos. The Greek literally means something wrapped around the head. This is the picture of Moslem turbans and jihadist headgear. The Hadith records Mohammed as saying "And turbans are the crowns of Arabs". "Like gold" means he saw a yellow colour. Perhaps this group of jihadists will have yellow headgear or turbans? According to Suyuti's Commentary on the Koran, there are Hadith which make this association: "Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr: The latter was wearing a yellow turban on the day of Badr, so the angels descended wearing yellow turbans... the Prophet himself came wearing a yellow turban... The day of Badr the angels came down on piebald horses, wearing yellow turbans" [view these quotations online at http://www.sunnah.org/fiqh/islamic_dress.htm ].

:8 Hair as the hair of women- The long hair of the jihadist fighters.

Teeth of lions- The quotation from Joel 1:6 means that these forces will be a latter day Babylon or Assyria invading Israel. Lions are a common OT symbol of Babylon-Assyria, the historical prototype of Israel's latter day invader.

:9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron - Another allusion to how the locust has a firm and hard cuticle on the forepart of the breast, which serves for a shield or defence. ““Breastplates of iron” speak of the Arabs’ armor. The poem Antar makes at least four references to a warrior’s cuirass or breastplate. The Koran says, “God hath given you coats of mail to defend you in your wars” …” (Quoted in Barnes, op. cit).

And the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle - Alluding to the noise made by locust swarms. They are similar to chariot horses in that the locust's head is similar to that of a horse. The locusts of Joel 1 which invade Israel are also described as war horses in Joel 2:4-6: "Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run. As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle". The similarity with locusts is in the springing motion of chariots on mountain paths. This was surely the first century way of trying to express helicopter gunships and other modern military technology advancing into the land promised to Abraham in final judgment. Joel 2:8 speaks of how this locust army will not be deterred by weaponry: "they fall headlong through weapons [shelach means literally a missile], and do not cut themselves in pieces". The greatest missiles and military technology of the IDF and the West will be unable to restrain their ever forward march into the land. Currently, it is superior weaponry that enables Israel to survive and the West to control the jihadists. But the picture of the locust swarm is that absolutely no weapon can stand in their way. Perhaps it is by sheer force of suicidal numbers that the jihadists win- and thousands of Moslems are already flocking to Syria and Iraq to enlist in this great army. In Joel 2, the locust army attacks because Judah failed to respond to the call to repent made in Joel 1. But even at that late stage there is the possibility of repentance: "Yet even now, is the saying of Jehovah, turn ye to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning" (Joel 2:12). This fits the context of the trumpets admirably. The seal judgments in Revelation 6 appealed for repentance; those few who respond, the symbolic 144,000, are sealed and stand on Mount Zion; and then the trumpet judgments come. But even then there is the chance of repentance, so that God would leave behind a blessing, i.e. the harvest-produce which could be used for a meat offering and drink offering (Joel 2:14)- even though this had "all" been destroyed by the locusts (Joel 1:9, 13). And as a result of this, a remnant of repentant Jews are likewise pictured by Joel standing on Mount Zion (Joel 2:32).

Chariots- The reference is also to the language of the cherubim chariots; Ez. 10:5 is the only other place in the Bible where we read of the sound of wings as chariots are in motion. The invaders will be led by the Angels, just as the locust army of Joel 2 is described in terms of the irresistible march of the Angels. But there may also be the hint that the invaders see themselves as a cherubic system, continuing the theme of the anti-Christ being an imitation Christ.

:10 Tails like unto scorpions… stings in their tails- At first blush, this appears to not be true to the figure of locusts. But Smith's “Bible Dictionary” gives a picture of "a species of locust, the Acridium Lineola, a species commonly sold for food in the markets of Baghdad, which has a sting in the tail". We may infer that these symbolic locusts come from Iraq, specifically from the area of the Euphrates. This is in harmony with the later picture within this same chapter of hordes of attackers swarming into the land promised to Abraham from the same area- the Euphrates. The only other reference to a “tail” in the NT is in Rev. 12:4, where the dragon uses his tail to cast down one third of the stars. It could be that we are being shown part of the same process here.

To hurt men- Significantly, the same word is used in Lk. 10:19 about how those who are preaching the Lord Jesus will not be hurt by scorpions. This is the context here- these trumpets are part of the judgments which will be restrained from falling upon those who have responded to the seal judgments, the symbolic 144,000. The same word is used in 7:2,3 of how the 144,000 will not be “hurt”. And chapters 10-15 teach that the resistant believers at this time will be engaged in witnessing to Jesus.

Five months- See on :5.

:11 They had a king over them- Prov. 30:27 observes that locusts have no king. The picture presented is of an unusual and uncharacteristic unity of the locusts under the leadership of a "king" or caliph. This is what students of latter day prophecy are taught by the image's toes of Daniel 2. The components of the final entity to abuse Israel are divided, but uncharacteristically united in their domination of Israel. This will be brought about by the locusts having a king- just as the disparate materials of the image are united in the form of a man, a latter day Nebuchadnezzar.

The Angel of the bottomless pit- This presumably is the same as the fifth Angel, who opened the pit at the beginning of this section. As in Daniel, so here, the Angel refers both to an Angel in the court of Heaven, and to the person on earth whom that Angel represents before God. Again we see how that even the terrible individual on earth spoken of here is in fact represented in the court of Heaven and under the control of God’s Angel. The allusion is to the destroying Angel of the Passover deliverance (Ex. 12:23; 1 Cor. 10:10). The Angel comes in judgment upon the Egyptians and also upon any unfaithful Israelites who would not trust in the blood of the Lamb; hence all the allusions to the plagues on Egypt here in the trumpet judgments. The locusts unleased by the destroyer Angel therefore come forth to punish people for what they did to God’s people Israel, and also to punish those of Israel who will not trust in the blood of the Lamb / Jesus.

In Hebrew... Greek- The two languages are perhaps mentioned because both Jews and non-Jews in the land suffer from this invasion.
Apollyon- This is the noun from the verb apollumi. Lk. 21:18 says that not a hair of the faithful will be apollumi in the latter day tribulation, and this is clearly what the Apollyon Angel is responsible for.

:12 One woe is past; behold there come two woes more- This could seem relatively pointless information, until we perceive that the idea is to appeal for repentance, even now at a time when the window for repentance provided by the six seals and sealing process of chapter 7 has already passed. I have mentioned earlier that the third of the three woes never seems to happen- perhaps because there is repentance, or because God's mercy is such that He restrains the final destruction. Or perhaps the third woe is the pouring out of the bowls of final destruction upon the beast and impenitent.

:13 A voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God- This is the incense altar, and the voice suggests that the combined prayers of the faithful bring forward the execution of God's purpose, causing Angels in Heaven to sound and do things on the earth / land. The words / voice of those prayers really is "before God". This an attempt to relay the degree to which human words in prayer really are rehearsed before God's very presence, and result in a word of command appropriate to the word of those prayers.

:14 Saying to the sixth Angel- The voice of prayer is effectively a voice of command to Angels resulting in dramatic action upon the earth / land, and in this case, the loosing of restraining Angels.

Loose the four Angels- See chapter 4, The Significance of the Euphrates http://islamicstate.info/4.html

:15 Prepared for an hour and a day and a month and a year- Vine correctly observes: "This rendering is wrong, since it conveys the idea that the four periods mentioned are to be combined as representing the length of the preparation or of the continuance of the plague. But it is to be noted that neither the article nor the preposition are repeated before day and month and year. The meaning is that the angels are prepared unto the hour appointed by God, and that this hour shall fall in its appointed day and month and year". The parallel is with how the locust-horses are "prepared" [s.w.] unto the final battle. It is this specific battle which is the final date in view here in :15. The way of the kings from the East is likewise "prepared" (16:12 s.w.).

To slay the third part of men- This 'slaying' could be understood as a ritual slaughter [apokteino]. The fact it is done at a particular hour on a particular date and year may mean that there is some kind of religious relevance of the exact time of their slaughter; and that the men are slain at the same "hour", suggesting a specific ritual, organized slaughter rather than the gradual killing of people in the process of war or domination of the land. This kind of thing is imaginable in an Islamic state.

:16 I heard the number of them- The very words used about the 144,000 in 7:4. The contrast is made between the sealed 144,000 and this far larger group of their opponents, 200,000,000. The figures are surely not to be taken literally, rather is the idea that the opponents of the faithful are far more, and are as it were a fake imitation of the faithful, just as the anti-Christ is a fake imitation of the true Christ. This concept fits admirably with Islamist theology, as they consider themselves as the descendants of Ishmael to be the true seed of Abraham, and Isaac to be as the Bible presents Ishmael [the roles of Isaac and Ishmael are switched around in the Koran; Moslems believe that it was Jewish scribes who switched the roles to how they are in the Hebrew Bible].

:17 Fire... jacinth and brimstone- These are to be connected with the three methods by which the third part of men are killed in :18, fire, smoke and brimstone. The third of men are perhaps divided into thirds, and each killed by a different method. Or it may be that the third part of men are killed by a combination of these three factors. I suggested on :15 that this may be a ritual slaughter, performed at a specific "hour" on a carefully chosen specific date of religious significance. "Jacinth" means 'deep blue'; there may be some specific means by which fire, deep blue and sulphur [brimstone] are used in the destruction process. We are therefore to expect some form of technology which uses these three elements or appearances in order to effect the mass destruction of a large number of people in one hour. The way Babylon's destruction likewise comes in "one hour" would therefore match this; Babylon must drink the cup she gave others to drink.
Another approach is to recall that the fire and jacinth come out of the breastplates of these fighters; and yet jacinth [hyacinth] is also one of the stones on the priestly breastplate. In this case we are invited to see these fighters acting as fake High Priests, which would connect with the undoubted theme of 'anti-Christ'- the Islamic fighters acting as if they are the true Israel of God. We note that in the last day, God will put on the breastplate of judgment against His enemies (Is. 59:17). Sulphur and fire have associations with Divine judgment; these people will therefore believe that they are executing God's judgments for Him. This is precisely the spirit of radical Islam.

:20 Yet repented not- Again we note that even now at the time of the trumpet judgments, there is the desperate desire that some still repent; even though after the seal judgments, there was a sealing of those who had responded and a shielding of them from the judgments which were to come upon the impenitent.

Idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood- The allusion is clearly to Dan. 5:4,23, where the very same materials are mentioned as being the idols of Babylon. In the context, the final king of Babylon has been asked to repent in that he had been asked to learn the lesson of his father Nebuchadnezzar, who was smitten with madness and turned into an animal. But Nebuchadnezzar revived from that deadly wound, as it were. It could be that the final leader of the entity known as Babylon is intended to repent because the previous leader was struck down by God, as Nebuchadnezzar had been. But because he didn't repent, he was judged. The appeal of Daniel to him in the very last minutes of his life is therefore to be seen as the equivalent of this final appeal to the leader of Babylon through the trumpet judgments. The 'division' of his kingdom in judgment (Dan. 5:28) perhaps recalls the divided state of the toes of the image just before Christ comes to destroy them. The fifth trumpet began with mention of the opening of a bottomless pit, which I suggested is parallel to the deadly wound of the beast. The reason for this is so that the deadly wounding will be an opportunity for repentance- this deep Divine desire for human repentance, even amongst His worst enemies, is so clearly portrayed in the structure of this apocalyptic. Nebuchadnezzar’s ‘wound’ was intended to elicit repentance in the final king of Babylon. Hence the allusion to that scenario here in the sixth trumpet.

Which can neither see, hear nor walk- This again is a quotation from Dan. 5:28. The similarity with the fall of Babylon is clearly intended. And what was particularly obnoxious about the king of Babylon at that time was that he was using the temple vessels in a drunken idol ritual; this in outline terms is the same as placing an abomination on the temple mount, which will be the reason for his desolation. The reference to "sorceries" (:21) is likewise an allusion to the practices of the historical Babylon and Assyria (Is. 47:9,12; Nah. 3:4). Such things were the calling card of Jezebel, the prototype of the whore who rides the beast (2 Kings 9:22). Note she was from Tyre, in modern day Lebanon. We may well enquire how idol worship and sorcery could be part of a radical Islamic state, seeing they are passionately against such things. The point is that this latter day entity is being cast in terms of the historical Babylon; and for all Islam's protest against idolatry and sorcery, from God's viewpoint, these are the very things they are guilty of.

:21 Murders... fornication... thefts- This sounds very much the behaviour of jihadist fighters, murdering and thieving, and sexually abusing those whom they conquer (witness the Islamic State's treatment of Yezidi and Christian women whom they captured and declared as their 'spoils of war').

We observe that both the people being judged, as well as those judging them, can easily be interpreted as radical Islamist fighters. But this turning upon themselves is what we expect, both from Bible prophecy (e.g. regarding the divided state of the toes of the image in Daniel 2) and from Divine historical precedent. For His preferred method of destroying Israel's enemies has been through making them turn upon each other, rather than direct bolts from Heaven.


Sorceries- We only meet this word again in Rev. 18:23, speaking of the sorceries of latter day Babylon. This trumpet therefore speaks of the judgment upon latter day Babylon. The LXX uses the word not only of Babylon (Is. 47:9,12) but also of Egypt at the time of the plagues (Ex. 7:22). And the trumpet judgments are full of reference to the plagues upon Egypt.