At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our...

72
1 At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis The Mystery of Revelation 17 Revealed We Haven’t a Moment to Lose Manuscript Rev 12-13-17 03/10/2016, 11/30/2016

Transcript of At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our...

Page 1: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

1

AtWorld’sEnd–OurImminentCrisis

TheMysteryofRevelation17Revealed

WeHaven’taMomenttoLose

ManuscriptRev12-13-1703/10/2016,11/30/2016

Page 2: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

2

Copyright©2016MarkE.LaRoseTableofContents:Introduction Pg3Acknowledgments Pg6Preface Pg7Chapter1:DanieltheProphet Pg10Chapter2:Revelation12–TheCosmicControversyBetweenChristandSatan Pg18Chapter3:Revelation13:1-10–TheSeaBeast:RiseofthePapalChurch Pg27Chapter4:Revelation13:11-17–TheEarthBeast:RiseoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaandApostateProtestantism Pg33Chapter5:Revelation13:18–Wisdom,Understanding,andCalculation Pg39Chapter6:Revelation17:1-6–TheGreatHarlot Pg42Chapter7:Revelation17:7-11–IdentificationoftheBeast Pg49Chapter8:Revelation17:12-17–TheHarlot’sDaughters Pg58Chapter9:Revelation17:18-18:5–BabylontheGreatisFallen Pg62Chapter10:TheCriticalComprehensionoftheThreeAngel’sMessages Pg65Epilogue Pg69Appendix:ChartoftheSevenHeads Pg71

Page 3: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

3

IntroductionYouareabouttoembarkonajourneythroughpartoftheRevelationofJesusChristasgiventoJohntheapostle.Asyoucarefullyconsiderthisstudy,itismyprayerthatyouwillgainnewandvitalunderstandingthatwillchangeyourprioritiesforever.WheneverIreadsomething,Ialwayswanttoknowaboutthesourcetodetermineitscredibility.Ialsoappreciatesomebackgroundaboutthewriter,andsoitisfairtodescribeabitofmyjourney;whoIamandwhyIbelievethatunderstandingthisprophecyiscriticalforhowweallorderourlivesgoingforward.Ihavebeenrichlyblessedinmylife,andIattributethattothegoodnessoftheLord.GrowingupinaChristianhomewithayoungersister,IwasgivenBiblicalunderstandingbymyparentsfromaveryyoungage.Itwasourcustomtogotochurchweekly.Wewereenrolledinchurchschool,andIhaveanMBAwithemphasisinhealthcare.Myfatherworkedinsalesandinsurance,andmymother,amaster’spreparedregisterednursepractitioner,workedinanumberofdifferentsettings.Myfirstjobwasintheaccountingdepartmentofafaith-basedhospital,andIwashonoredtocontinueworkinfaith-basedhospitalsduringmyhealthcarecareer,nearlyhalfofwhichwereintherolesaschieffinancialofficer,chiefoperatingofficer,andchiefexecutiveofficer.Throughchallengingcircumstancesandnotbymydesign,Ifoundmyselflookingforanotheropportunity.WhatIdidn’tunderstandin2013,IknownowwasandisGod’splanformylife.WhenweputourlivesinHishand,wereallydon’tknowwhereHewilllead.Thatsaid,IwouldratherbeunderHiscareandguidancethanfollowingmyownplantoachieveearthly“success.”Thoughwedon’tknowonaday-to-daybasiswhat’snextinourlives,wehavetheassurancethatallourneedswillbeprovided.Isay”we”becauseI’mhappilymarried,andwehavetwowonderful,God-fearingchildrenandonegrandchild.Thoughwelivegreatdistancesfromeachother,currenttechnologyallowsustokeepintouchonadailybasiswhichwearegrateful.WhileservingasCEOin2009,IinitiatedaweeklyBiblestudyatthehospitalwhereIworkedthatwasopentoeveryone,includingcommunitymembers.Theformatwassimple.WestartedoutinthegospelsreadinganddiscussingthewonderfulwordsandworksofChrist.WeprogressedtootherbooksintheNewTestamentandthenintotheOldTestament.Aftermyemploymentended,anumberoftheBiblestudymembersrequestedthatwecontinuestudying,whichwedidinmyhome.ThetimecamewhenseveralpeoplerequestedtostudythebookofRevelation.FrommybackgroundIwasreasonablycomfortablewithunderstandingmostofscripture,butIknewenoughaboutthebookofRevelationtoknowthattounderstandit,wefirstneededtostudythebookofDaniel.

Page 4: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

4

TheBiblewasinspiredbyGodandwrittenbyaboutfortypeople,spanninga1,600-yearperiod.Eventhoughmanydifferentpeoplewrotethesixty-sixbooksoftheBible,theyprovideaGod-inspiredpictureofHisplanforhumanitywithcompletecontinuity.Thisaloneisamiracle.ThebookofDanielcontainsfivefoundationalprophecies,andtheprinciplesofinterpretation,ofthesepropheciesaretobeconsistentlyusedwhenstudyingthebookofRevelation.AfterreceivingtherequesttostudyRevelation,ImadeanefforttomakesureIcouldadequatelyspeakabouttheprophecies,theirinterpretation,andrespondtoquestionsaccordingly.InNovember2013,IsetaboutadeliberateprocessinmypersonalstudytounderstandGod’soverallplanforredeeminghumanity,andtobeabletospeakabouttheprophecieswithreasonableconfidence.ThebookofDanielisrelativelyliteralinitspropheticdescriptions;however,thebookofRevelationisnearlycompletelywrittenusingsymbolsandsymboliclanguage.Bothbookscontainpropheciesthatreferenceeventsfuturetowhentheyweregiven,andthatrepeatandenlargeonpreviousdreamsandvisions.Icreatedacharttracingouttimepropheciesandimportanteventsinordertoseehowtheyfittogether.OneofthewaysthatIliketounderstandinformationistogetthebigpictureinitially,thenwithallthedatapresent,drilldowntospecificdetails.Onmychart,IplacedBibletextsasreferences,thendrewtimelinesforthetimeprophecies,andwrotesummarydescriptionsofvariouseventsstartingatabout850B.C.andspanningthroughtheSecondComingofChrist.InAugust2014,oneofourstudymembersasked,“Mark,canyouleadusinBiblestudythroughthechartinchronologicalorder?"Iquicklyagreed,knowingthatIwasgoingtoneedtomakeaverysignificanttimeinvestmentintheprojectbecausetheBibleissointerrelatedwithmanyreferencesthroughoutitofsignificanteventsandallusionstoimportantspiritualthemes.Istartedcreatingonepagestudyguidesforthepurposeofbreakingupthestudiesintoshortlessons.IcompletedmyinitialdraftofsomeninetypagesofnotesintheformofstudyguidesinJanuary2015andaddedasecondchartthatspansfromcreation,recordedinthebookofGenesis,tothebeginningoftheinitialchartstartingin850B.C.AsIstudied,IbeganunderstandRevelationandthefollowingprophecyunfolded.Whatfollowsisanamazingunderstandingofthe“mystery”ofRevelation17.IhopeandpraythatwewillreceiveandbeblessedbyabetterunderstandingofGod’splanforallhumanity.ThisprophecyisanincreasinglyurgenttopicasnearlyallBibleprophecyhasbeenfulfilled.Wehavebutlittletimeremainingtosharethegospelwiththeworld.IconsiderthepurposeofthisworktodirectourattentiontoGod’sWord,theBible.TheBibleisprimarilyhowGodspeakstoallofus.ThegreattruthscontainedthereinaretheroadmaptospendingeternitywithourCreatorwithasidebenefitofprovidingeachofusthegreatestpeacethatwecanexperiencethissideofHeaven.

Page 5: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

5

IpraytheLordwillrichlyblessusandguideinourlivesaswesurrenderalltoHim.AlwaysaskfortheHolySpiritforwisdomasweopenHisWordandthatHewilltransformourcharacterstobecomecompatiblewiththeprinciplesofHeaveneachday.

- InChrist,MarkLaRose

Page 6: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

6

AcknowledgmentsIwishtorecognizeseveralpeoplethathavecontributeddirectlytomyunderstanding.TimRoosenberghasspentmanyyearsofHislifestudyingDaniel11and12.Thisledmetoanunderstandingofthischallengingprophecyforthefirsttimein2011anditdovetailscompletelywithRevelation.IbelieveanunderstandingofDaniel11,isaprerequisitetounderstandingthetimingofRevelation17.Hiswebsiteishttp://www.islamandchristianity.org.Likewise,duringmysearchtounderstandRevelation17,IbelievethattheLordledmetothewebsiteoftwopeople,WendellSlatteryandRonaldJohnstoninDecember2014.ThesemenhavededicatedtheirstudytotheLord,andIamconvincedhavethecorrectunderstandingandcalculationforetellingtheidentificationofthemanofsin.Theirwebsiteishttp://666man.net.IalsowishtothankTomMenocalforhisassistanceandencouragementinthisproject.IhavegratefullyreceivedinvaluabletechnicalassistanceandhighlyinformedquestionsfromMelissaHanson,bydivineappointment.Importantlymywife,Terri,mylifecompanionwhodemonstratescaring,compassion,andaboveallpraysformeallthetime,Iloveyoualwaysandforever.Finally,IacknowledgeourLordJesusChristwhoisabletotransformourcharacterswhenwesurrenderourwilltoHis.Evenso,comeLordJesus!MarkLaRoseUnlessotherwisenoted,BiblequotesarefromtheNewKingJamesVersionTheHolyBible,NewKingJamesVersion®Copyright©1982byThomasNelson,Inc.Allrightsreserved.ESVreferstoTheHolyBible,EnglishStandardVersion®

Copyright©2001byCrossway,apublishingministryofGoodnewsPublishers.Allrightsreserved.KJVreferstoKingJamesVersion,1611,publicdomain.

Page 7: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

7

PrefaceMan,asfarbackasrecordsexist,hastriedeverywayimaginabletodesignandcreatereligionstofillthespiritualvoidfoundineachofus.Manyhavesoughttofillthisemptinesswithwork,thepursuitofmoneyandpower,myriadsofaddictivebehaviors,substanceabuse,andpotentiallymostdeluding,falsereligion.SomehavediscoveredpeacethroughathoroughunderstandingofGod’sWord,leadingtoarelationshipthattranscendsourearthlylives.UniquetoChristianityisaGodthatredeemedallthatwouldaccept“TheChrist”astheirSavior.

“ForGodsolovedtheworldthathegavehisonlybegottenSonthatwhoeverbelievesinHimshouldnotperishbuthaveeverlastinglife.ForGoddidnotsendhisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworldbutthattheworldthroughHimmightbesaved.”John3:16-17.

However,SatanhasinfiltratedanddeceivedthevastmajorityofthousandsofChristianreligionsintheworldtoday.TheonlycertainwaytodeterminetruthistocompareittowhatGod’sWordsays.Theremustbenodiscrepancy.TheBibleistheultimatehistorybook,boastinga100%accuracyrate,withcountlessarcheologicalconfirmations,aswellasmanypropheciesthathavesincecometrue.ThereareonlyafewunfulfilledpropheciesremainingandtheshockingunderstandingofRevelation17isoneofthose!DoesGodexist?WhoisGod?Whileathoroughstudyofthesequestionsisbeyondthescopeofthisstudy,asystematic,prayerfulreadingoftheBiblewillrevealthenatureandcharacterofthetrueGod.TheBibleusesmany,manydifferentnamesforGodthatattempttodescribeHischaracter.ThisstudyshowsthatGodismadeupoftheFather(AncientofDays,Daniel7:9),Son(Christ,Jesus,Savior),andHolySpirit(Comforter,Counselor),collectivelyreferredtoas“Lord.”God’sadversaryisnamedinRevelation20:2,“Helaidholdofthedragon,thatserpentofold,whoistheDevilandSatan…”ThetrueGodhasuniquelydemonstratedHisloveforeverypersonthroughthesubstitutionarysacrificeofHisSon,Jesus.Thequestionis,howwillGodgettheattentionofthe7.4billionpeoplelivingtoday,allofwhomHediedfor,inorderforeachtomakeaninformeddecisionofwhomtoworship?

“Letnoonedeceiveyoubyanymeans;forthatdaywillnotcomeunlessthefallingawaycomesfirst,andthemanofsinisrevealed,thesonofperdition,whoopposesandexaltshimselfaboveallthatiscalledgodorthatisworshiped,sothathesitsasGodinthetempleofGodshowinghimselfthatheisGod.”2Thessalonians2:3-4.

ThisBiblestudyrevealswhothemanofsinis.Thismanofsinisalsoknownasthe“sonofperdition”,“thelawlessone”,“thebeast”,“theeighthking”,“(butbelongingtotheseven).”This666manislivingtodayandwillsoonassumepower!“Andthenthe

Page 8: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

8

lawlessonewillberevealed,whomthelordwillconsumewiththebreathofhismouthanddestroywiththebrightnessofhiscoming.”2Thessalonians2:8.Aswestartourstudy,Paul’scounseltoTimothyisvitaltobelieve:

“AllscriptureisgivenbyinspirationofGod,andisprofitablefordoctrine,forreproof,forcorrection,forinstructioninrighteousness,thatthemanofGodmaybecomplete,thoroughlyequippedforeverygoodwork.”2Timothy3:16-17.

PauladmonishedthebelieversinThessalonica,“Donotdespiseprophecies.”1Thessalonians5:20.ConcerningprophecyPetersaid,“Forprophecynevercamebythewillofman,butholymenofGodspokeastheyweremovedbytheHolySpirit.”2Peter1:21.TheBibleisliterallyGod’sWord!ThequestionofwhichBibleversiontouseisanimportantone.Thebestapproachistouseliteraltranslationsfromtheoriginallanguage.Asnotedearlier,thisstudyprimarilyusestheNewKingJamesVersion.OthersrecommendedaretheEnglishStandardVersionandtheKingJamesVersion.Itisalwayshealthytocomparetheseandothersinorderto,asmuchaspossible,gainunderstandingandcontextofthewriter’sintent.Agoodconcordanceisinvaluable,andtheauthorhasusedwww.abibleconcordance.comforitseaseandreadyaccess.Occasionallyitisquiteusefultotrytounderstandthemeaningoftheoriginallanguage.ShortofactuallylearningArabic,Greek,andHebrew,theauthorhasfoundanInternetresourcetobeveryhelpful;www.blueletterbible.org.Thefollowingstudyisexpository,meaningthattheliteralmeaningofeachwordinscriptureanditsrelationshiptoothersinitscontextisofutmostimportance.Thisisknownasexegesis;acriticalexplanationorinterpretationofatext.AswestartourstudyinthebookofRevelation,thereareseveralimportantthingstoknow.ThefirstofsevenblessingsinthebookisrecordedinRevelation1:3,”Blessedishewhoreadsandthosewhohearthewordsofthisprophecy,andkeepthosethingswhicharewritteninit;forthetimeisnear.”Oneneedstoconsiderthisblessingprayerfullyandwithgreatcare;it’sanamazingstatementandapromise!Itisconditionalonouractions(read,hear,andkeep).ThereareanumberofimportantprinciplesofinterpretationnecessarytounderstandthebookofRevelation.It’simportanttobeconsistentbyusingthesameprinciples,pattern,andunderstandingofthebookofDanielaswestudythepropheciesinRevelation.Everyworddeservesprayerful,carefulconsideration.Eventheabsenceofawordwemightotherwiseexpect,whencomparingscripture,hasmeaning.IsaiahprovideskeycounselforsuccessfulBibleunderstandingwhenhewrites,“Forpreceptmustbeuponprecept,preceptuponprecept,lineuponline,lineuponline,Herealittle,therealittle.”Isaiah28:10.

Page 9: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

9

LikethevisionsgiventoDaniel,mosteverythinginRevelationisfuturetoJohn’stime.“Iwillshowyouthingswhichmusttakeplaceafterthis…Toshowhisservantsthethingswhichmustshortlytakeplace.”Revelation4:1;22:6.ThehistoricistmethodofinterpretationisusedforbothDanielandRevelation.MuchofthebookofRevelationiswrittenusingsymboliclanguage.Whenendeavoringtounderstandsymbolicwords,wemustfirstlookfordefinitionsandcorrelationselsewherewithinthepropheticbooks,includingIsaiah,Jeremiah,Daniel,Ezekiel,andRevelation,thentheBibleasawhole,followedbyhistoricalfactsandevents.Thereareseveralwell-knownhistoricaleventsreferencedinthisstudythat,shouldthereaderwishtoverifyorgainadditionalinformationon,areeasilyaccessedviainternetsearch.BothDanielandRevelationarewrittenusinganumberofcomplexwordpatterns,includingchiasticstructures.Achiasmisawritingstyleusingrepetitionofsimilarideasinthereverseorder,likeamirrorimageofwordsandmeanings.Thisisdonetoclarifyandforemphasisofimportantpoints.PropheticeventsandtopicsinRevelationarebuiltbyprogressiverepetitionaddingdetailjustaswefindinthepropheciesinDaniel2,7,8,9,and10-12.InordertoappreciateandunderstandthemeaningofGod’smessagestousinthepropheticbooksoftheBible,werelyonHispromisetoprovideknowledgeofHisWord,“…Iwillpouroutmyspirittoyou;Iwillmakemywordsknowntoyou.”Proverbs1:23.Fatherinheaven,pleaseworkinourlivesandprovideyourSpirittoguidethemindofthereaderwithwisdomtounderstandYourWord.MayweallfindspiritualpeacebyadheringtoyourWordandcommittingourmindstoYoualone.Mayweunderstandprophecyaccordingtoyourwillandpurposeforourlives.Amen.

Page 10: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

10

Chapter1

DanieltheProphetInordertounderstandthebookofRevelation,onemustthoroughlyunderstandthepropheciesofDaniel.ItisimperativetobefamiliarwithNebuchadnezzar’sdreamoftheimageinDaniel2andtheparticularadditionalfactsshowntoDanielenablinghimtointerprettheking’sdream.Inaddition,therearecertainaspectsnecessarytounderstandaboutthedreamsgiventoDanielasrecordedinchapters7and8.Indeed,Jesussaid,“…whenyouseetheabominationofdesolation,spokenofbyDanieltheprophet,standingintheholyplace(whoeverreads,lethimunderstand)…”Matthew24:15.Theword“understand”isveryimportantandwewillstudythesignificanceofitlaterinRevelation13:18.ThedreamsandvisionsinthebookofDanielarecompleteandsignificantstudiesontheirown,soforthepurposeofthisstudyonlytheminimumfactsnecessaryforourunderstandingoftheprophecyinRevelation17willbeconsidered.However,theauthorencouragesatleastacasualreadingofalltwelvechaptersofDanieltofamiliarizethereaderwiththestoryandtheprophecies.TheriseoftheBabylonianempirewasprecipitatedbyaseriesofcivilwarsandinternalstrifestartingin627B.C.Nebuchadnezzar’sfather,Nabopolassar,establishedhimselfasthekingofthecityofBabylonduringthisperiodemergingasregionalleaderafterrootingoutEgyptiansfromthesouthernMesopotamiaarea.Nabopolassardiedofnaturalcausesin605B.C.,andNebuchadnezzarquicklyassumedcontroloftheempire,proceedingtoextenditsboundariestoincludeavastareaoftheMiddleEastandpartsofAsiaMinor.InthefirstofthreecampaignsagainstJudah,DanielandhisthreefriendsweretakencaptivefromJerusalemtoBabylonin605B.C.In603B.C.,bothKingNebuchadnezzarandDanielweregiventhesamedreamofanimagerepresentingthekingdomsandpowerstofollowuntiltheendofsinfulearth!Thesekingdomswereillustratedbymetalsthatdeterioratedinvaluefromonetothenext,alongwithincreasinginhardnessastimeprogressed.

“…thentheiron,theclay,thebronze,thesilver,andthegoldwerecrushedtogether,andbecamelikechafffromthesummerthreshingfloors;thewindcarriedthemawaysothatnotraceofthemwasfound.Andthestonethatstrucktheimagebecameagreatmountainandfilledthewholeearth.”Daniel2:35.

Throughthesymbolismrepresentedbythisimage,theLordrevealedthecivilandreligiouspowersthatweretodirectlyaffectHischosenpeople,theliteralnationofIsrael,andthatofitssuccessor,spiritualIsraelwiththecommissiontomakedisciplesof“allnations.”(Matthew28:19).ThekingdomsofBabylon,Medo-Persia,Greece,and

Page 11: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

11

RomehavecomeandgoneaccordingtothisandsubsequentpropheciesinDaniel7,8,and11.Justover2,600yearslater,wearelivingatthetimeofthelastpowersrepresentedbythefeetandtoesoftheimagewiththeendofsintofollownext!

“Inasmuchasyousawthatthestonewascutoutofthemountainwithouthands,andthatisbrokenpiecestheiron,thebronze,theclay,thesilver,andthegold-thegreatGodhasmadeknowntothekingwhatwillcometopassafterthis.Thedreamiscertain,anditsinterpretationissure.”Daniel2:45.

JustasthedifferentmetalsintheimagerepresentedpowersopposedtoGod’speople,the“Stone”andthe“Mountain”inthisparticularpassagerepresentpowersthatultimatelyrescueHispeople.WhatorwhodoesthestoneinDaniel2:35,45represent?Jesus.WereadinMatthew21:42-44,

“Jesussaidtothem,“HaveyouneverreadintheScriptures:‘ThestonewhichthebuildersrejectedHasbecomethechiefcornerstone.ThiswastheLord’sdoing,Anditismarvelousinoureyes’?“ThereforeIsaytoyou,thekingdomofGodwillbetakenfromyouandgiventoanationbearingthefruitsofit.Andwhoeverfallsonthisstonewillbebroken;butonwhomeveritfalls,itwillgrindhimtopowder.”Somefifteenhundredyearsearlier,MosesreferredtotheLordastheRockinDeuteronomy32:3-4.

And,ifJesuswas“cutoutofthemountainwithouthands”whatdoesthe“Mountain”represent?Thisisacrucialquestionsincetheword“Mountain”appearsinDaniel2andagaininRevelation17:9.TheangelrevealingtheprophecytoJohnindicatesthatthesevenheadsofthescarletbeastareseven“mountains”and,inturn,“theyarealsosevenkings.”(ESV).AswithDaniel,thislanguageisclearlysymbolicinnature.TheBibleinterpretsitselfonthismatterbyidentifying“Mountain”inthecontextofDaniel2astheGodheadorTrinity,ofwhichwillfill“…thewholeearth”withthepresenceofGod,asitwasbeforesin!LookingfirstinDaniel,weread:

“OLord,accordingtoallYourrighteousness,Ipray,letYourangerandYourfurybeturnedawayfromYourcityJerusalem,Yourholymountain;becauseforoursins,andfortheiniquitiesofourfathers,JerusalemandYourpeopleareareproachtoallthosearoundus.”…“NowwhileIwasspeaking,praying,andconfessingmysinandthesinofmypeopleIsrael,andpresentingmysupplicationbeforetheLordmyGodfortheholymountainofmyGod.”Daniel9:16,20.

Danielequates“holyMountain”with“YourcityJerusalem.”InDaniel11:45wearegivenapossibleliteralfulfillment,andcertainlythespiritualfulfillmentoferrorcomingbetweenpeopleandthetrueGod.“Andhe(KingoftheNorth)shallplantthetentsofhispalace(falseworship)betweentheseas(people)andthegloriousholymountain…”Thisisawarningthatfalseworshiphasbeensubstitutedfortruth.

Page 12: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

12

Aswecontinuetocomparetexts,weconsiderbothliteralapplicationandspiritualapplicationbyapplyingthesymbolicmeaningof“Jerusalem”and“Babylon.”

Moseswrote,“YouwillbringtheminandplantthemInthemountainofYourinheritance,Intheplace,OLord,whichYouhavemadeForYourowndwelling,Thesanctuary,OLord,whichYourhandshaveestablished.”Exodus15:17.

ThebookofPsalmsbringsadditionalclarificationtothemeaningoftheword“mountain”.

“YetIhavesetMyKingonMyholyHillofZion.”Psalm2:6.“IcriedtotheLordwithmyvoice,andHeheardmefromHisholyhill.”Psalm3:4.“Lord,whomayabideinYourTabernacle?WhomaydwellinYourholyhill?”Psalm15:1.“WhomayascendintothehilloftheLord?OrwhomaystandinHisholyplace?”Psalm24:3.“Oh,sendoutYourlightandYourtruth!Letthemleadme;LetthembringmetoYourholyhillandtoyourtabernacle.”Psalm43:3.“GreatistheLord,andgreatlytobepraisedinthecityofourGod,inHisholymountain.Beautifulinelevation,thejoyofthewholeearth,isMountZiononthesidesofthenorth.”Psalm48:1-2.

Here,weseereferencetoGoddwellingin“thenorth,”afactSatanunderstandsandwillattack,symbolicallyreferencedinDaniel11:44as“…news…fromthenorth.”

“AmountainofGodisthemountainofBashan;AmountainofmanypeaksisthemountainoftheBashan.Whydoyoufumewithenvy,youmountainsofmanypeaks?ThisisthemountainwhichGoddesirestodwellin;Yes,theLordwilldwellinitforever.”Psalm68:15-16.“AndHebroughtthemtoHisholyborder,ThismountainwhichHisrighthandhadacquired.ButchosethetribeofJudah,MountZionwhichheloved.”Psalm78:54,68.“FortheLordhaschosenZion;HehasdesiredforHisdwellingplace:thisisMyrestingplaceforever;hereIwilldwell,forIhavedesiredit.”Psalms132:13-14.

Isaiahalsounderstoodthespiritualapplicationoftheterm“mountain.”

“NowitshallcometopassinthelatterdaysthatthemountainoftheLord’shouseshallbeestablishedonthetopofthemountains,andshallbeexaltedabovethehills;andallnationsshallflowtoit.Manypeopleshallcomeandsay,“Come,andletusgouptothemountainoftheLord,tothehouseoftheGodofJacob;HewillteachusHisways,AndweshallwalkinHispaths.”ForoutofZionshallgoforththelaw,andthewordoftheLordfromJerusalem.”Isaiah2:2-3.“TheyshallnothurtnordestroyinallmyholyMountain,fortheearthshallbefulloftheknowledgeoftheLordasthewaterscoverthesea.”Isaiah11:9.“Youshallhaveasongasinthenightwhenaholyfestivaliskept,Andgladnessof

Page 13: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

13

heartaswhenonegoeswithaflute,TocomeintothemountainoftheLord,TotheMightyOneofIsrael.”Isaiah30:29.“EventhemIwillbringtoMyholymountain,andmakethemjoyfulinMyhouseofprayer.TheirburntofferingsandtheirsacrificeswillbeacceptedonMyaltar;forMyhouseshallbecalledahouseofprayerforallnations.”Isaiah56:7.“…ButhewhoputshistrustinMeshallpossessthelandAndshallinheritMyholymountain.”Isaiah57:13b.“IwillbringforthdescendantsfromJacob,andfromJudahanheirofMymountains;Myelectshallinheritit,andMyservantsshalldwellthere.”“ButyouarethosewhoforsaketheLord,whoforgetMyholymountain,”“Thewolfandthelambshallfeedtogether,thelionshalleatstrawliketheox,anddustshallbetheserpent’sfood.TheyshallnothurtnordestroyinallMyholymountain,SaystheLord”Isaiah65:9,11,25.“ThentheyshallbringallyourbrethrenforanofferingtotheLordoutofallnations,onhorsesandinchariotsandinlitters,onmulesandoncamels,toMyholymountainJerusalem,saystheLord…”Isaiah66:20.

Ezekiel,acontemporaryofDaniel,wastakenduringthesecondBabylonianexilein597B.C.TheLordtookhimtoheaveninvisionandrevealedmuchthatishighlyvaluableinunderstandingthebookofRevelation.Hewrites,“ForonMyholyMountain,onthemountainhighofIsrael”,saystheLordGod,“thereallthehouseofIsrael,allofthemintheland,shallserveMe”Ezekiel20:40a.Alludingtoheaven,Ezekiel34:11-15indicatesthattheTrueShepherd,GodHimselfwillfeedspiritualIsraelonthemountainsofIsrael.

“ThenyoushallknowthatIamtheLord.IhaveheardallyourblasphemieswhichyouhavespokenagainstthemountainsofIsrael,saying,‘Theyaredesolate;theyaregiventoustoconsume.’ThuswithyourmouthyouhaveboastedagainstMeandmultipliedyourwordsagainstMe;Ihaveheardthem.”Ezekiel35:12-13.

TheprophetJoelwrites,

“BlowthetrumpetinZion,andsoundanalarminMyholymountain!Letalltheinhabitantsoftheearthtremble;ForthedayoftheLordiscoming,Foritisathand:AnditshallcometopassthatwhoevercallsonthenameoftheLordshallbesaved.ForinMountZionandinJerusalemthereshallbedeliverance,astheLordhassaid,AmongtheremnantwhomtheLordcalls.”Joel2:1,32.“TheLordalsowillroarfromZion,AndutterHisvoicefromJerusalem;Theheavensandearthwillshake;ButtheLordwillbeashelterforHispeople,andthestrengthofthechildrenofIsrael.”SoyoushallknowthatIamtheLordyourGod,DwellinginZionMyholyMountain.ThenJerusalemshallbeholy.”Joel3:16-17.

ThebookofDanielcontainsmuchliterallanguage,howeverthereissymboliclanguageandtermsusedaswesawinchapter2.OtherBiblicalprophetsconsistentlyusemetaphorsrelatingtosignificantplaces,events,andpowers.“ThensaviorsshallcometoMountZiontojudgethemountainsofEsau,AndthekingdomshallbetheLord’s.”Obadiah1:21.Thepictureemergesthat,dependingoncontext,theword“mountain”

Page 14: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

14

mayliteralorsymbolicinscripture.Ifitisdeterminedtobesymbolic,itreferencesarighteousoranevilpower,dependingoncontext.

“NowitshallcometopassinthelatterdaysThatthemountainoftheLord’shouseShallbeestablishedonthetopofthemountains,Andshallbeexaltedabovethehills;Andpeoplesshallflowtoit.Manynationsshallcomeandsay,“Come,andletusgouptothemountainoftheLord,TothehouseoftheGodofJacob;HewillteachusHisways,AndweshallwalkinHispaths.”ForoutofZionthelawshallgoforth,AndthewordoftheLordfromJerusalem.”Micah4:1-2.

MicahcontinuestodescribethewickedinMicah5:10-15followedbytheLordsaying,“…Arise,pleadyourcasebeforethemountains,Andletthehillshearyourvoice.Hear,Oyoumountains,theLord’scomplaint…”Micah6:1-2.PlainlytheLordsaysthewickedwillbebroughtbeforethedivinecourtofjustice.Inaddition,Hereferstothewickedas“mountains”themselves!“ThussaystheLord:‘IwillreturntoZion,AnddwellinthemidstofJerusalem.JerusalemshallbecalledtheCityofTruth,TheMountainoftheLordofhosts,TheHolyMountain.”Zechariah8:3.InthistexttheLordisreferringtoJerusaleminitsre-createdstate.WhenwecomparethistothreetextsinRevelationthatdefinethecharacteristicsofthosewhowillnotbeintheholycity,weseethecontrastofthosewhoarecalledthe“CityofTruth”comparedwithRevelation21:8,27;22:15,indicatingthatnoliarswillbeapartofthe“city”.Spirituallyspeaking,“Jerusalem”is,orrepresents,thepeopleofGod.Theterm“Mountain,”asusedintheabovereferences,isasymbolicrepresentationoftheGodhead,theFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.Aswehaveseensincesinenteredourworld,theevilonehascounterfeitedeverythingthatisimportanttotheGodoftheuniverse.Satan’scounterfeittothecityofJerusalemisthecityofBabylon,bothliterallyandspiritually.TheLordtoldJeremiah,

“AndIwillrepayBabylonAndalltheinhabitantsofChaldeaForalltheeviltheyhavedoneInZioninyoursight,”saystheLord.“Behold,Iamagainstyou,Odestroyingmountain,Whodestroysalltheearth,”saystheLord.“AndIwillstretchoutMyhandagainstyou,Rollyoudownfromtherocks,Andmakeyouaburntmountain.”Jeremiah51:24-25.

Here,GodreferstoBabylonasafalse“mountain”ofgods.AsdescribedbytheprophetEzekiel,God’schosenpeopleIsraelwereworshipingfalsegods.

Page 15: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

15

“ThenyoushallknowthatIamtheLord,whentheirslainareamongtheiridolsallaroundtheiraltars,oneveryhighhill,onallthemountaintops,undereverygreentree,andundereverything,wherevertheyofferedsweetincensetoalltheiridols.”Ezekiel6:13.

Israelhadreceivedfairwarningaboutthisabomination.“Youshallutterlydestroyalltheplaceswherethenationswhichyoushalldispossessservedtheirgods,onthehighmountainsandonthehillsandundereverygreentree”Deuteronomy12:2.Let’scarefullyconsiderwhatLuciferaspiredtobeforehewascastoutofheavenalongwiththeangelshedeceived:

“Howyouarefallingfromheaven,OLucifer,sonofthemorning!Howareyouarecutdowntotheground,youwhoweakenedthenations!Foryouhavesaidinyourheart:‘’Iwillascendintoheaven,IwillexaltmythroneabovethestarsofGod;IwillalsositonthemountofthecongregationOnthefarthestsidesofthenorth;Iwillascendabovetheheightsoftheclouds,Iwillbelikethemosthigh.’YetyoushallbebroughtdowntoSheol,tothelowestdepthsofthePit.”Isaiah14:12-15.Byclaimingtositonthe“mountofthecongregation,”LuciferclaimedtobeGod!

Lucifer,knownasSatanafterthewarinheaven,waswellacquaintedwithMountZion,thephysicalandspiritual“Mountain”ofGod,theFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.

“Youweretheanointedcherubwhocovers;Iestablishedyou;YouwereontheholymountainofGod;Youwalkedbackandforthinthemidstoffierystones.Youwereperfectinyourwaysfromthedayyouwerecreated,Tilliniquitywasfoundinyou.“BytheabundanceofyourtradingYoubecamefilledwithviolencewithin,Andyousinned;ThereforeIcastyouasaprofanethingOutofthemountainofGod;AndIdestroyedyou,Ocoveringcherub,Fromthemidstofthefierystones.”Ezekiel28:14-16.

Asoneofthecoveringangels,LuciferwasassignedtoprotectGod’slawthatresidesintheArkoftheCovenantintheMostHolyPlaceintheheavenlySanctuary.Fromthesereferences,apictureisportrayedofSatanendeavoringtocreatehisownsymbolic“mountain.”Spiritually,thisleadsustobelievethatworshipdirectedotherthantoGod,isindeed,worshipofaformofSatan,a“mountain”offalsegods.In553B.C.Danielwasgivenanotherdream,recordedinDaniel7.ThisdreamfeaturedfourbeaststhatcorrelatewiththekingdomsrepresentedbytheimageinDaniel2.ThereareseveralprinciplesherethatwillbeusedtoassistintheinterpretationofRevelation17.Wenoticethattheleopardbeast,whichrepresentedGreece,hadfourheads.ThisforetoldthekingdombeingsplitbetweenfourofAlexandertheGreats’

Page 16: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

16

generalsoccurringin301B.C.Theterritoryheldbyeachofthesegeneralsthenfellsequentiallyoverthenext133years,aninterpretiveprincipleapplicableinRevelation17:10.ThefourthbeastofDaniel7isdescribedashavingironteethand“ten”horns,followedbyalittlehornwitheyesandamouththatuprootedthreehorns.Whilethenumber“three”isaspecificnumber,wereadinDaniel1:20thatDanielandhisthreefriendswere“ten”timesbetterthenallthemagiciansandastrologers.Thisleadstoanunderstandingthatthenumber“ten”wassymbolicoftheirsuperiorityandlikewisesymbolicforthedozensoftribesthatassumedpowerafterImperialRomefellinA.D.476.Inscripture,“horns”areusedtorepresentpower.“Andhisbrightnesswasasthelight;hehadhornscomingoutofhishand:Andtherewasthehidingofhispower.”Habakkuk3:4KJV.(Daniel7:24;8:3-9,Zechariah1:18-21andRevelation5:6forfurtherclarification).AnotherimportantinterpretiveprincipleisfoundinDaniel7:17;“Thosegreatbeasts,whicharefour,arefourkingswhichariseoutoftheearth.”Weknowthatthefourbeastscorrelatetotheimageandrepresentthekingdomsoftheearth.Thisversetellsusthatthesekingdomsarealsoknownas“kings”andsinceweknowthateachofthesepowershadanumberofindividualkings,wemaysaythatthefourbeaststhattheBiblesaysarefour“kings,”representlinesofkings.Forexample,duringthenearly645yearsthatImperialRomeruledtheworld,itwasledbymany“kings.”Alsonoteworthyisthatthesekingdomsariseoutofthe“earth”indicatingthatthesearecivilpowersthatinmanyinstancessubjectedthemselvestoagreaterevilinfluence.WewillexamineandidentifyanevilspiritualpowerinRevelation17:2,18,thatcontrolscivilgovernmentsintheworldtoday.AbouttwoyearsafterDaniel’sdreamrecordedinchapter7,hewasgivenanotherdreamin551B.C.InthisdreamrecordedinDaniel8,hewasshownaramwithtwohornsandagoatwithonelargehornthatwasthenbrokenandreplacedbyfourhorns.TheserepresentthekingdomsofMedo/PersiaandGreecethatwouldfollowBabylon.Consistentwiththepurposeofprophecytorevealthefuture,therewasnorepresentativebeastforBabyloneventhoughitdidnotfalltoMedo-Persiauntiltwelveyearslaterin539B.C.ThetwohornsoftheramrepresentMediaandPersia.ThehigherofthetwohornscominguplastrepresentedPersia,accordingtoDaniel8:3,20.Thislogicalandconsistentprincipleofprophecyrevealingthefuture,asopposedtoreviewinghistory,iscrucialtoacorrectunderstandingofRevelation13and17.TheinitiallargehornonthegoatthatwasbrokenrepresentedAlexandertheGreat,whodiedatayoungageandwassubsequentlyreplacedbyfourgeneralswhosplitthekingdomin301B.C.Boththeramandthegoatillustrateaprophetictimecontinuumthatstartswiththebeastbodyitself,proceedingtothehead(s),andthenontothehorns.ThisvitalinterpretativeprincipleisconsistentlyusedinRevelation12,13,and17,withanexceptioninRevelation12:3-5,7-9,13,toprovidehistoricalperspectiveof

Page 17: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

17

theenemy,Satan,Itisnoteworthythatthe“little,”“talking”horninbothDaniel7and8initiallygrewhorizontally(againstotherkingdomsonearth),andthenvertically(againstGodinHeaven).This“horn”powerisdescribedasbeingdifferentfromtheotherkingsdescribed(Daniel7:24).Itwasthislittle,talkinghornthatthereformerssuchasWycliffe,Luther,Calvin,andtheWesley’staughtrepresentedtheRomanCatholicpapalsystem.ThisapproachofassigningprophecytoactualeventsisknownasHistoricismandwasdecidedlyveryunpopularwiththepapalchurchduringthistime.Inresponsetothisinterpretivemethod,theconceptsofPreterism(thebeliefthatallBibleprophecyhasalreadytakenplace),andFuturism(thebeliefthatBibleprophecyrelatestothefuturetakingplacejustbeforeJesusreturns)wereformulatedandpromotedbypriestsLuisDeAlcasarandFranciscoRibera,respectively.TheBibleisveryclearthatGod’speople,thesaints,werepreservedthroughouthistorybydivineguidance.JustascivilkingdomspersecutedGod’speopleinBiblicalhistory,theyhavecontinuedtodo,asprophesied,inthe1,920yearssinceJohn’svisiononPatmosinA.D.95/96.The“Mountain”ofGodhaspreservedthe“truth”andHispeopleandtodaytheyexistineverychurch,ineveryculture,throughouttheearth.ThemembershipoftheRomanCatholicChurchandmanyProtestantreligionsismadeupofalargenumberoffaithfulpeople,manyofwhomhavesubmittedto,andhadtheircharacterstransformedbyJesus,throughtheoutpouringoftheHolySpirit,asHepromisedaccordingtoJohn14:15-18.Duringthetimeoftheend,God’speoplewillleaveeverything,includingchurchesandfamilies,inordertofollowHimandHisWord.Insummary,wewillconsistentlycarryforwardtheinterpretiveprinciplesfoundinDanieltoRevelation,bydiscerningthefollowingmeanings:

• Theword“mountain”inprophecyisasymbolforagroupoftwoormore“gods”;eithertheTrueGodmadeupoftheFather,Son,andHolySpirit,orfalse“gods”(Babylonisknowntohaveworshippeddozensofdeities)

• Thenumber“ten”issymbolic,representingalargenumber• “Beasts”representpowerswhichmaybecivilorreligious,takingtheformof

kings,kingdoms,ornations(Daniel7:17,23,24;8:20-22)• “Heads”arepowersthatrepresentkingswhich,inturn,represent“linesof

individualkings”• “Kingdoms”referstoanauthoritywithlegislativepowersthatmayhavealiteral

orspiritualapplication,basedoncontext(The“kingdom”thatChristreceivesinDaniel7:13-14isthesaintsthemselves,correlatingwiththeparableoftheTenMinasinLuke19:11-27)

• Aspecifictotalnumberof“kings”ismetduringconcurrency,eventhoughsomeceasetoexistprogressingforwardintime(suchasthefourgeneralsofGreece)

• “Horns”represent“powers”• Thecontinuumoftimeisrepresentedina“beast”startingatits“tail,”

progressingtoits“body,”thentoits“heads”and“horns”

Page 18: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

18

Chapter2

Revelation12-TheCosmicControversyBetweenChristandSatanTheapostleJohnwasayoungmanwhenhewascalledandprivilegedtowalkwithJesusduringhisministryhereonearth.HewaswitnesstotremendouschurchgrowththroughoutImperialRomeandbeyondinthedecadesfollowingChrist’sascensioninA.D.31.Onebyonetheapostlesweremartyredfortheirfaith.ThecityofJerusalemwasdestroyedinA.D.70asforetoldbyJesusinMatthew24.Finally,JohnhimselfwasexiledinA.D.95duringthereignofEmperorDomitian.HisexileendedupontheaccessionofEmperorNervainA.D.96.WhileinprisonontheIsleofPatmos,JohnwasgiventhevisionsofRevelation.ThebookofRevelationisacomplexliterarymasterpiece,includingchiasms,andlikethebookofDaniel,theeventsarebuiltbyprogressiverepetition,eachtimeaddingimportantdetailstotheoriginalsceneorevent.ThismakesthestudyandunderstandingofjustaportionofRevelationchallengingsinceitisheavilyinterrelated.Inthespiritofkeepingthisstudyasbriefaspossible,theauthorattemptstopresentjustthepertinentfactsnecessaryforunderstandingRevelation17.ThisrequiresathoroughreviewofRevelation12and13toensureconsistentinterpretationsareapplied.Revelation12:1-17isasummaryofthegreatcosmiccontroversybetweenChristandSatan.

“Nowagreatsignappearedinheaven:awomanclothedwiththesun,withthemoonunderherfeet,andonherheadagarlandoftwelvestars.Thenbeingwithchild,shecriedoutinlaborandinpaintogivebirth.”Revelation12:1-2.

ThroughouttheBibleawomanrepresentsachurch.Forexample:

“ForyourMakerisyourhusband”Isaiah54:4;“ForIamjealousforyouwithgodlyjealousy.ForIhavebetrothedyoutoonehusband,thatImaypresentyouasachastevirgintoChrist.”2Corinthians11:2;and“LetusbegladandrejoiceandgiveHimglory,forthemarriageofLambhascome,andHiswifehasmadeherselfready.”Revelation19:7.

Achaste,purewomandressedinwhite,abride,representsthesaintsbeingpreparedtomeettheGroom(Christ).Conversely,aharlot,orawomandressedaccordingly(otherthanpurewhite),representspeopleclaimingtobeofGod,however,actuallybeingofthe“synagogueofSatan”(Revelation2:9;3:9).Jesus,then,istheHusbandofallthesaints.JesusisnotonlytheBridegroom,HeisourCreator,our“Maker,”asIsaiahpointsout.OfourCreator,thewriterofGenesis1:1says,“InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.”OurGodthen,istheCreatoroftime,space,andmatter,callingustoworshipHimontheseventhdayasamemorialtoHiscreation.(Exodus20:8-11;Revelation14:7).

Page 19: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

19

Jesusisthe“SunofRighteousness”(Malachi4:2),andthechurch’sknowledgeofHimisrepresentedasbeingclothedwiththesun(Isaiah60:1-3;61:10).Asthemoonhasnolightofitsownbutreflectsthelightofthesun,itrepresentsthereflectedknowledgeofChristandthescripturesthattestifyofHim.Theplanofsalvation,asforeshadowedintheearthlysanctuaryservicesandfurnishings,alsotestifiedofJesus(John5:39).Theserituals,however,didnotprovidesalvation,somethingthattheJewshadlostsightofatthetimeofJesus’ministry.Byappearingunderthefeetofthewoman/church,themoonissubjectedtoitsproperposition,asanunderstandingoftheHeavenlySanctuary,anditsearthlycopy,serveasafoundationtoguidethechurchtotheSourceofLightandLife,Jesus(1Kings5:3;Psalm47:3).“TheheavensdeclarethegloryofGod;andthefirmamentshowsHishandiwork.”Psalms19:1.Fittingly,ontheheadofthewoman/churchwasagarlandoftwelvestarsrepresenting,initially,thetwelvesons/tribesofJacob(Israel)thatGodordainedtosharetheknowledgeofHimonearth(Genesis15:5;37:9),followedbythetwelveapostleswhogrewthepureChristianchurchfollowingChrist’ssacrificewhichclosedtheeraofthetypesrepresentedintheearthlysanctuaryservices(Matthew27:51).God’schosenpeople,literalIsrael,werehonoredtohostthebirthofJesus,however,HewasbornintothepainofdeepapostasywithintheJewishnation(Isaiah59:9-15;60:1-3;Joel2:17).ReferringtoJohnBaptistJesussaid:“Iam‘Thevoiceofonecryinginthewilderness:“MakestraightthewayoftheLord,”’astheprophetIsaiahsaid.”John1:23.God’schurchthen,toparaphraseDaniel12:3,ismadeupofthewise,whoturnmanytoChrist’srighteousness,shiningasstarsinthefirmament.

“Andanothersignappearedinheaven:behold,agreat,fieryreddragonhavingsevenheadsandtenhorns,andsevendiademsonhisheads.Histaildrewathirdofthestarsofheavenandthrewthemtotheearth.Andthedragonstoodbeforethewomanwhowasreadytogivebirth,todevourherChildassoonasitwasborn.”Revelation12:3-4.

JohnishereintroducedtoSatan,whoappearsasaredcoloreddragon,havingsevenheads,tenhorns,anddiadems,orcrowns,onitssevenheads(Revelation12:9;20:2).Thedragon’scolor,red,representssin,accordingtoIsaiah1:18.ThisintroductiontothedragonisrepeatedandexpandeduponinRevelation13:1and17:3,aprocessweseeinthebookofDanielandrepeatedmanytimesinthebookofRevelation.Subjectsareintroduced,thenlaterrepeatedandenlarged,addingmoredetailandcluestoidentifytheirmeanings.Thediademsorcrownsontheheadsofthedragon,suggestthatSatancontrolsthesevenheadsthat,inturn,areleadersofthebodyofthedragon.Johnisthentakenbackintimewhereheisshownthatthedragon’s“tail”drewathirdofthestarsofheaven,

Page 20: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

20

throwingthemtotheearth.Itwasthedragon’s“tail”thatconvincedonethirdofGod’sangelstoaligntheirallegiancewithSatan.Weseethecontinuumoftimerepresentedbythedragon,startingwithitstailnearthetimeofcreation(Isaiah14:12-15;Revelation12:7),progressingtothebody,andthenontotheheadsandhorns.ThiswillbecomeapparentwhenmoredetailisaddedinRevelation13and17.ForthosewhoarestudentsofDaniel,thistimecontinuumisillustratedintheDaniel2dreamoftheimage,withtimerepresentedasanimaginarylinestartingwiththeheadandtravelingstraightthroughthe“feet”and“toes”thatexist,andaredestroyed,together.ThistimecontinuumisconsistentwithinterpretationofthebeastsshownanddescribedinDaniel7:4-8;19-25.AsDanielisadeepstudyonitsown,theleopardbeastwithfourheadswillserveasanexample.Theleopard“body”representedthenationofGreece,anditsinitialleader,AlexandertheGreat.AfterAlexandertheGreatdied,fourofhisgenerals,representedbythefourheads,brokethekingdomintofourareas.Likewise,thegoatofDaniel8:5-8,identifiedasGreeceinDaniel8:21-22,depictstheverysamepowerastheleopardinDaniel7.ThelargehornforetoldofAlexandertheGreat,thatwhenbroken,wasreplacedwithfourhorns;thefourgeneralswhoagreedtoeachruleseparateterritoriesofGreecein301B.C.Ineachcase,the“body”oftheanimalrepresentsthekingdomand,astimemovedon,thehornsrepresentedsubsequent“kings.”

SheboreamaleChildwhowastoruleallnationswitharodofiron.AndherChildwascaughtuptoGodandHisthrone.”Revelation12:5.

This“MaleChild,”borntowouldruleallnations,referredtoJesus.JesuswasborninthelineageofthepeopleGodchosetosharethetruth;tosharethegospeltoallnations;Israel.Asprinceofourcurrentworld,SatandidhisbesttokillJesusbyinstigatingKingHerodtokillallthebabiesinBethlehem(Matthew2:10-18).HethentriedtoenticeHimtouseHisdivinepowersforHisownbenefit,therebynegatingHissacrificeforoursinsduringthefortydaysinthewilderness,beforeHisbaptism.JesusreturnedtoHeavenafterHisministry,sacrifice,andresurrection,asLukewroteinActs1:9-11.Addressingtherulewitharodofironisoutsideourcurrentstudy,howeveratthecloseofthepre-adventjudgment(Daniel7:9-14;8:13-14;12:1;Revelation15:8),ChristwillbegrantedanuncontestedkingdomcomprisedofHispeople.Speakingofthenationsoftheworld,Johnwrote,“Heshallrulethemwitharodofiron,”“AndHeHimselfwillrulethemwitharodofiron.”Revelation2:27;19:15.(Psalm2:9).

“Thenthewomanfledintothewilderness,whereshehasaplacepreparedbyGod,thattheyshouldfeedherthereonethousandtwohundredandsixtydays.”Revelation12:6.

God’spurechurch,Hisbride,wasforcedtofleereligiouspersecutionintoaliteralandspiritualwildernesswheretheBibletruthswerehiddenandprotected.Godforeordainedthatreligiouspersecution,empoweredbycivillaws,wouldlast1,260

Page 21: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

21

years,expressedinprophetictimeas“days.”ThisBibleprophecyissovitalforourunderstandingthatitisreferencedinsevenverses;Daniel7:25;12:7;Revelation11:2,3;12:6,14;13:5.TheprincipleofonepropheticdayequalingoneyearissupportedinNumbers14:34;Ezekiel4:4-6,Genesis29:27,andLeviticus25:1-7,andsubsequentlybythefulfillmentofmanyBiblicaltimeprophecies.This1,260-yearperiodbeganonMarch12,538,whenGeneralBelisarius,underEmperorJustinianI,freedRomefromtheOstrogothicsiegeinitiatedoverayearearlier.Immediately,Justinian’scode,CorpusJurisCivilis,wasplacedintoeffect,declaringChristianitythestatereligion,unitingtheRomanCatholicChurchwiththecivilauthorityofEasternRome.AnyonenotconnectedwiththeChristianchurchbecameanon-citizenhavingnorights.TheabominationofenforcingreligionwithcivillawswasfinallybrokenneartheendoftheFrenchRevolution(1789-1799)whenGeneralBerthiertookRomeforNapoleon,declaringanendtothepapacyonFebruary15,1798.PopePiusVIwasimprisonedfivedayslaterandtakentoFrancewherehediedthefollowingyear.

“Andwarbrokeoutinheaven:Michaelandhisangelsfoughtwiththedragon;andthedragonandhisangelsfought,buttheydidnotprevail,norwasaplacefoundfortheminheavenanylonger.Sothegreatdragonwascastout,thatserpentofold,calledtheDevilandSatan,whodeceivesthewholeworld;hewascasttotheearth,andhisangelswerecastoutwithhim.”Revelation12:7-9.

Herewearegivenadditionalinformationfromwhenthedragonwasintroducedinverses3and4,usingthe“repeatandenlarge”principleofthepropheticbooksofDanielandRevelation.MichaelisidentifiedasJesus,consistentwiththeeventsdescribedinDaniel10:13,21;12:1;1Thessalonians4:15-16;andJude9.AprayerfulstudyofJob1and2leadstoanunderstandingthatthereareotherworldscreatedbyGodintheuniverseandthatSatanrepresentedearthinGod’suniversalcouncils,becauseAdamandEvechosetobelieveSatan,whohadtakentheformofaserpent.Lucifer,referredtoasthe“sonofthemorning”inIsaiah14:12,wascreatedasaspecialangelwiththedutytoprotectGod’slawasoneoftwo“covering”angels(Ezekiel28:14),bringingtomindthearkofthecovenantholdingtheTenCommandments.HewasamazinginbeautyaccordingtoEzekiel28:13.Afterthewarinheaven,heandalltheangelshedeceivedwere“castout;”however,heretainsthepowertotransformhimselfinto“anangeloflight”(2Corinthians11:14).

“ThenIheardaloudvoicesayinginheaven,“Nowsalvation,andstrength,andthekingdomofourGod,andthepowerofHisChristhavecome,fortheaccuserofourbrethren,whoaccusedthembeforeourGoddayandnight,hasbeencastdown.”Revelation12:10.

Theloudvoicespeakingto,andheardbyJohn,isofhumanorigin.Thisisknownbecauseitrefersto“ourGod”and“ourbrethren,”andislikelyoneofthetwenty-foureldersreferencedinRevelation4:4,10;5:8,14;11:16;19:4.Thoughscripturetellsus

Page 22: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

22

thatwhenpeopledietheyreturntodust,italsoidentifiesasmallgroupofpeoplethathavebeentakentoheaven.TheseincludeEnoch,Moses,Elijah,andanunknownnumberraisedwithJesus(Matthew27:50-53;Ephesians4:8)aftertheirgraveswerebrokenopenduringtheearthquakeatChrist’scrucifixion.TheBibleaptlyidentifiesSatanastheaccuserofthebrethren,God’speople,in1Chronicles21:1;Job1:6;Psalm109:6;andZechariah3:1.WeseeSatan“castdown”fromhispositionasthegreatestcreatedindividualintheuniversebydiminishinghispowerandauthorityinstages,

1.OutofHeaven, 2.AtChrist’sresurrection,3.Atthefuturecloseofthepre-adventjudgment(Daniel12:1b)whenthesaints(“akingdom”)areentrustedtothe“SonofMan”(Jesus)bythe“AncientofDays”(TheFather)accordingtoDaniel7:14,4.WhenSatanisconfinedtothebottomlesspitatChrist’ssecondcoming,andfinally5.Tothelakeoffireafteronethousandyearsspentonthedesolateearth(Revelation20:1-3,7,10).

ContinuinginRevelation12:11,weread,

AndtheyovercamehimbythebloodoftheLambandbythewordoftheirtestimony,andtheydidnotlovetheirlivestothedeath(“whenfacedwithdeath”NASB).Thereforerejoice,Oheavens,andyouwhodwellinthem!Woetotheinhabitantsoftheearthandthesea!Forthedevilhascomedowntoyou,havinggreatwrath,becauseheknowsthathehasashorttime.”Revelation12:11-12.

ThebloodoftheLambrepresentsourjustificationbyJesusthroughHissacrificeforoursins.Isaiahconfirmsourjustification,“Heshallseethelaborofhissoul,andbesatisfied.ByHisknowledgeMyrighteousServantshalljustifymany,forHeshallbeartheiriniquities.”Isaiah53:11.John,inhisgospel,wrote,“Behold!TheLambofGodwhotakesawaythesinoftheworld!”John1:29b.Consistently,Johnsays,“ToHimwholovedusandwashedusfromoursinsinHisownblood”Revelation1:5.(1Corinthians15:3;Galatians1:4;1Peter2:24;1John2:2;Revelation5:6,9-14).ThetestimonyofGod’speopleistobeawitnessthroughbaptism(Mark16:15),sharingthegospel(Malachi3:16;Matthew10:32-33),andsanctificationapparentinourlivesthroughtheongoingtransformationofcharacter(2Corinthians3:2-6).Ofmajorimportanceduringthetimeoftheend(1844–20xx),thesaints(spiritualIsrael)havetheresponsibilitytounderstandandsharethemeaningofthethreeangels’messagesofRevelation14:6-12.Wewillbrieflystudypartsofthispassageinchapter10.God’s

Page 23: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

23

peoplewillstandfirminthefaceofadversityandmartyrdom.ThewriterofHebrewspointsout,“Youhavenotyetresistedtobloodshed,strivingagainstsin”Hebrews12:4.(1Corinthians10:13).ThosewhobelieveinChristourSaviorandhavetheircharacterstransformedbyHimaredescribedasheavendwellerseventhoughwearestillinhabitantsofthisearth.

“BecauseyouhavemadetheLord,whoismyrefuge,eventheMostHigh,yourdwellingplace,noevilshallbefallyou,norshallanyplaguecomenearyourdwelling;ForHeshallgiveHisangelschargeoveryou,tokeepyouinallyourways.Intheirhandstheyshallbearyouup,lestyoudashyourfootagainstastone.”Psalm91:9-12.(Revelation13:6;21:3).

Theword“woe”inRevelation12:12issignificantinscripture,alwaysforetellingdoomanddestruction.JesususedthetermmanytimesincludingwhenHecondemnedthescribesandthePharisees,usingtheterm“woe”(Matthew23:13-33;Luke11:42-51).Intermsoftiming,this“woe”inRevelation,likelyisareferencetothethirdwoe/seventhtrumpetofRevelation11:15.The“sounding”oftheseventhtrumpet(Revelation11:15a)likelyoccurredonSeptember11,2001,theshockingeventthatdrewworldwideattentiontothethirdholywarinhistoryinitiatedbythe“KingoftheSouth”(“radical”Islamists;Daniel11:25-43),asforetoldinDaniel11:40a.ThiseventtriggeredtheUnitedStatesandWesternEuropeancountriestoinvadeIraqonMarch19,2003(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_invasion_of_Iraq),however,thiswarwasinitiallyopposedbytheRomanCatholicChurch.WiththepaceofviolentactsagainstChristianscommittedinthenameofIslamincreasing,PopeFrancischangedthepositionoftheCatholicChurchbymakingcallsforthenationsoftheworldtointervenetoprotectChristianpeoplegroups,includingwritingalettertoMr.BanKi-moon,theSecretaryGeneraloftheUnitedNationsonAugust9,2014(http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140809_lettera-ban-ki-moon-iraq.html).The“KingoftheNorth”ofDaniel11:23-45,theapostateChristianchurchcoupledwiththemilitaryforceof“Christian”nations,fulfillstheinitiationofthe“whirlwind”prophecyofDaniel11:40.InastudyofDaniel11andRevelation8:13-9:21;11:15a,thelastthreetrumpetsaredescribedasthree“woes.”Theserepresenttheholywarsbetween:

Firstwoe:ArabIslamandapostateChristianity,followedbySecondwoe:OttomanIslamandapostateChristianity,andfinally,Thirdwoe:RadicalIslamandapostateChristianity.

God’spurechurch,Hisbrideandfuturekingdomofsaints,isalwayscaughtinthemiddleofSatan’sdevisingschemes.BothkingsofDaniel11,theSouthandtheNorth,areenemiesofGod.Asinhabitantsoftheearthandsea,wearewarnedthatSatanwillmakethelivesofGod’speopleverydifficult.God’speopleareadmonishedto“dwell”onheavenwhile

Page 24: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

24

theyyetliveonearth.EarthandseadwellersarethosepeoplewhofollowtheearthbeastimageofRevelation13:11-17andtheseabeastofRevelation13:1-10.Thesethinkonorsettleforearthlythingsratherthanthinkingonorabidinginheavenlythings.Pauldescribestheseasthose“…whoexchangedthetruthofGodforthelie,andworshipedandservedthecreatureratherthantheCreator,whoisblessedforever.Amen.”Romans1:25.

“Nowwhenthedragonsawthathehadbeencasttotheearth,hepersecutedthewomanwhogavebirthtothemaleChild.Butthewomanwasgiventwowingsofagreateagle,thatshemightflyintothewildernesstoherplace,wheresheisnourishedforatimeandtimesandhalfatime,fromthepresenceoftheserpent.Sotheserpentspewedwateroutofhismouthlikeafloodafterthewoman,thathemightcausehertobecarriedawaybytheflood.Buttheearthhelpedthewoman,andtheearthopeneditsmouthandswallowedupthefloodwhichthedragonhadspewedoutofhismouth.”Revelation12:13-16.

Here,JohnistakenbackintimeagainandprovidessomeadditionaldetailsconcerningtheongoingwarbetweenChristandSatan,andsometacticsbeingused.Satanandthefallenthirdofheaven’sangels,knownasdemonshedeceived,attackedGod’spurechurch,representedbythewomanofRevelation12:1.ThroughoutScripture,avirtuouswomanisusedasasymbolforGod’spurechurch(Ephesians5:23-27).Thechurchwasgivenspeedandprotectionrepresentedbythetwowingsofagreateagle(Exodus19:1-5;Deuteronomy28:49;Matthew23:37).ThepurechurchisnourishedbyGod’sWordandavoidsfalsedoctrines(Isaiah8:20).“Yourwordswerefound,andIatethem,AndYourwordwastomethejoyandrejoicingofmyheart:ForIamcalledbyYourname,OLordGodofhosts.”Jeremiah15:16.Theterm“atimeandtimesandhalfthetime,”isadirectlinktoDaniel7:25,andisreferencingthe1,260yearperiodoftribulationJesusdescribedinMatthew24:21andMark13:19-20.ManywereprotectedbybeingputtorestandcontinuetoawaitthesoundofJesus’trumpetwhenHereturns.WealsoseeSatanbeingdescribedastheserpent,adirectreferencetothetemptationintheGardenofEden(Genesis3:1-5;Revelation20:2).“Thenhesaidtome,thewaterswhichyousaw,wheretheharlotsits,arepeoples,multitudes,nations,andtongues.”Revelation17:15.Aswaterisasymbolforpeoples,multitudes,andnations,Satancausedarmiestopursuethepurechurchintotheliteralwilderness,creatingaspiritualwildernessoffalsedoctrinesinanefforttoextinguishthetruthofGod’slawandthegraceextendedbyJesus’sacrifice.Revelation12:16alludestoProtestantsescapingEurope,establishingcoloniesintheAmericas.Inaddition,thereweresomenationsthatassistedGod’speoplebyblockingarmiessenttopersecutethem,providingshelterduringthetimeofthereformers.Thenextchaptershowsthatapurewoman,representingGod’speople,wentintothewilderness.Aharlot,theorganizedpapalchurchformedintheearlycenturies,andher

Page 25: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

25

harlotdaughters(otherapostateChristianreligions),formedduring,andafter,the1,260yeartribulationthatendedin1798.

“Andthedragonwasenragedwiththewoman,andhewenttomakewarwiththerestofheroffspring,whokeepthecommandmentsofGodandhavethetestimonyofJesusChrist.”Revelation12:17.

TheKingJamesVersionbetterrendersthe“restofheroffspring”as“remnantofherseed.”Thisremnant,orsmallportion,studiedtothepointofunderstandingthattheearthlysanctuaryservicesbothtypifiedJesus’sacrificeandwereamodelofthetruesanctuaryinHeaven.HowdoesSatanmakewar?BycreatingacounterfeittrinityofthetrueFather,Son,andSpirit.Satanhimselfistheabyss/bottomlesspitbeast(Revelation11:7),andhasspreadatheism,evolution,secularism,andsexualimmoralitythatarosesoblatantlyinthe1700’s,leadingupto,andduring,thetimeoftheFrenchRevolutionreferencedinRevelation11:7-13.SataninfiltratedtheChristianchurchcausingittoarisefromamongthepeoplesandenforceitsowndoctrinesandteachingsbycivillegislation,blasphemingGodbypersecutingthesaints(1Timothy1:13).Andsoon,SatanwillcauseapostateProtestantstooverturnGod’slaw,viatheirinfluenceoncivilauthorities,bysupportinglegislationindirectoppositiontoGod’sWord.Throughaneviltrinityofspiritualism,thepapalchurch,andapostateProtestantism,God’speopleareevennowsubjectedtoterriblepersecutionthatwillsoonbecomeworldwideinscope.Revelation12:17bprovidesthedefinitionofthesaints:theyarethosethatkeeptheTenCommandmentsandthetestimonyofallGod’sprophetsoutofdevotionandhonorfortheCreatorandSavior,receivingthenewcovenantofJeremiah31:31-33.Johnfurtherdefinesthesaintsasthosewho

“FearGodandgiveglorytoHim,forthehourofHisjudgmenthascome;andworshipHimwhomadeheavenandearth,theseaandspringsofwater.”Revelation14:7.

Thistextspecificallycallsattentiontothefourthcommandment:“RemembertheSabbathday,tokeepitholy.ForinsixdaystheLordmadetheheavensandtheearth,thesea,andallthatisinthem,andrestedtheseventhday””ThereforetheLordblessedtheSabbathdayandhallowedit.”Exodus20:8,11.

Finally,theBookofRevelationrevealsJesus,theDivineAuthorofBibleprophecy:“ForthetestimonyofJesusisthespiritofprophecy.”Revelation19:10.

Insummary,wewillconsistentlycarryforwardtheinterpretiveprinciplesfoundinRevelation12,bydiscerningthefollowingmeanings:

Page 26: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

26

• A“woman”referstoagroupofpeopleclaimingtobelieveinGod,a“church”• Aheaddresssuchasa“garland”or“diadem”or“crown”denotesacommitment

toeitherGodorSatan• Thecontinuumoftimeisrepresentedasstartingatthetailandprogressing

forwardtotheheadsandhorns• Theconfigurationofthedragon(Satan)showshehasbeeninfluencingafalse

“Christianchurch”throughoutearth’shistoryandisfurtherreferencedanddescribedinRevelation13and17

• “Wilderness”isliterallyindicativeofasparselypopulatedarea,andspirituallyrepresentstheinabilitytoinfluenceorcontrolalargepopulation

• “Water”intheformofa“flood,”representspeopleaslaterdefinedinRevelation17:15

• The“purewoman”has“offspring”referringtotrueChristianbelievers

Page 27: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

27

Chapter3

Revelation13:1-10–TheSeaBeastRiseofthePapalChurch

Johnhadbeentakeninvisiontothetempleinheaven(Revelation11:19)forthedescriptionherecordedinRevelation12.ForRevelation13,Johnistakeninvisionbacktoearthwhereheisshown,anddescribes,twobeasts,followedbyacallforwisdom.Inthischapter,westudytheattributesofthefirstbeastfromthesea,usingtheBibleitselftointerpretthemeaningofthesymbolictermsused.Johnisshowninvisiontheriseofagreatpowercomingfromapopulatedareasymbolizedbythesea(Revelation17:15).

“ThenIstoodonthesandofthesea.AndIsawabeastrisingupoutofthesea,havingsevenheadsandtenhorns,andonhishornstencrowns,andonhisheadsablasphemousname.”Revelation13:1.

Thisseabeastcomesupwithinalargepopulationandwearewarnedthatthese“Gentiles”wouldbehostiletothesaints.JohnwasearliershownthattheGentileswould“…treadtheholycityunderfootforforty-twomonths.”Revelation11:2b.The“holycity”representsspiritualJerusalem(thesaints)andtheforty-twomonthsequatesto1,260days/years(42x30days),consistentwithinterpretativeprinciplesappliedtoallthetimepropheciesinthebooksofDanielandRevelation.Theterm“beast”isusedinDaniel7and8,nextappearinginRevelation11:7,“…thebeastthatascendsoutofthebottomlesspitwillmakewaragainstthem.”“Them”referstotheOldandNewTestaments,thattestifyofGod’struthandprophecywithone“mouth”(Revelation11:5).Further,theBibleteachesusto“WorshipGod!ForthetestimonyofJesusisthespiritofprophecy.”Revelation19:10b.Theconsistentpatternisthatwhenevertheword“beast”isused,itreferstopersecutionofthesaintsandbiasagainsteverylawandinstitutionassociatedwiththetrueGod.ThisbeastisconfiguredinthesamewayasthedragoninRevelation12.Thereisadditionaldetailadded;thetenhornshave“crowns”andthereisa“blasphemousname”onthesevenheads.Asweconsidertheblasphemousname,wefindthatblasphemyiscommittedbyfalselyclaimingtobeGod(John10:33),claimingthepowertoforgivesins(Matthew9:3;26:65;Mark2:7;Luke5:21),orbypersecutingGod’struepeople(1Timothy1:13).SatanhasdeceivedmanybycarryingoveranearthlypriesthoodfrompagantraditionintotheChristianchurch.ThisisadirectaffronttoChrist’spriestlyministryinHeavenbecauseonlyHecanforgivesinthroughthebloodofHissacrifice.ThisistobeexpectedbecauseSatancounterfeitsGodineveryimaginableway.Thefactthatthereisablasphemousname(singular)onthesevenheads,ofthebeast,providesevidencethatthisbeastisa

Page 28: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

28

monolithic,religiouspower.Civilpowersdonotclaimtoforgivesin,thoughthroughtheinfluenceofreligiouspressuretheyhave,anddopersecute,eitherovertlyorbychoosingnottoenforcetheirownreligiousfreedomlaws.Thesevenheadsonthebeastare“kings”orleadersofareligiouspower.Thispersecutingbeast,describedasa“little/talkinghorn”powerinDaniel7:8;8:10-12,wastolargelyrelyonoutsideenforcementtodoitsbidding,asforetoldinDaniel8:23-24.Ablasphemousnamereplacesthe“crowns”onthesevenheadsoftheRevelation12:3dragon,representingspiritualdominationralliedagainsttheGodofHeaven.Theseabeastwasalsodescribedashaving“ten”hornswithcrowns.The“crowns”denotethatthesepowerswillbegrantedauthoritybyagreaterpower,the“dragon.”Wewilllearnmuchmoreaboutthese“horns”inchapter8,coveringRevelation17:12-17.ConsistentwiththebeastsofthebookofDaniel,these“ten”hornsderivepowerfromthebeasttheyaresituatedon.AswelearnedinDanielchapters1and7,thenumber“ten”canrepresentanysignificantnumberandasinDaniel,itissymbolicforalargenumber.Johndescribesthebeastasfollows:

“NowthebeastwhichIsawwaslikealeopard,hisfeetwerelikethefeetofabear,andhismouthlikethemouthofthelion.Thedragongavehimhispower,histhrone,andgreatauthority.Revelation13:2.

AreviewofDaniel7showstheseverysameanimalswereidentifiedwithcivilkingdoms.HoweverJohnliststhemintentionallyinreverseorderasifhewaslookingbackintime,whichisaccurate.AcarefulreadingofthisverseshowsthatthisseabeasthadthecharacteristicsofthekingdomsrepresentedbytheanimalsinDaniel7.Danielwasshownthesekingdomsfuturetohisday.LookingbackfromJohn’sday(A.D.95-96)theleopardrepresentedGreece,knownforbeingfast,cunning,calculating,andstealthy.ThebearrepresentedMedo-Persia,knowntousegreatdeadlyforceandabsolute,unchangeablelawstocontrolitssubjects.ThelionrepresentedBabylon,thatspokewithgreatauthority,havingpoweroveralltheearth(Daniel2:37-38).ThegreatbeastofDaniel7thatrepresentedImperialRomeisnotherelistedsimplybecauseRomewasattheheightofitspowerwhenJohnwasgiventheRevelationvision,andhecertainlywaswellawareofitsgreatstrength!Today,wehavethebenefitoflookingbackinhistorynotingthatImperialRomeand,specifically,thepoweroftheWesternRomanempireevolvedintopapalRome,justastheprophecyofthelittle/talkinghornofDaniel7(553B.C.)and8(551B.C.)foretold,havingalltheevilcharacteristicsoftheformercivilkingdomsthatruledtheworld.John’sseabeastdidnotrepresentthesepastkingdoms;itjusthadthecharacteristicsofthemall.HowdidthecivilpowerofImperialRometransfertopapalRome?Literally,Satangavetheblasphemousseabeast,(thepapacy),thecityofRomewhenEmperorConstantinemovedthecapitaltoByzantium,renamingitConstantinople(currentdayIstanbul)in

Page 29: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

29

A.D.330.ThislefttheBishopofRomeastheleadingfigureandpowerstructureremaininginthecity.PapalRomewentontocontrolEuropefrom538to1798,combiningcivilandreligiousauthority,an“abominationofdesolation,”legislatingandpersecutingmattersofconscienceitdefinedasheresy.Spiritually,theChristianchurch,seekingtoconvertthepagansocietyofRome,integratedpaganpractices,holidays,andiconsintotheworshiptraditionsofthechurch.(Forfurtherstudyonthepropheticcharacteristicsofthisreligiouspower,seeDaniel7:8,11,20-21,25;8:9-12,19,23-25;11:23-45).ThevisioncontinuedandJohnwrote:

“AndIsawoneofhisheadsasifithasbeenmortallywounded,andhisdeadlywoundwashealed.Andalltheworldmarveledandfollowedthebeast.”Revelation13:3.

Thisverseprovidesamajorcluetoidentifythesevenheadsthatleadtheseabeast.AswelearnedpreviouslyinDaniel7:25;12:7andinRevelation11:2,3;12:6,14;13:5,GodwastopreserveHispeoplethroughanextendedperiodofpersecutionfor1,260years,spanningfrom538to1798.Variouscharacteristicsofthepapalchurchduringthisperiod,knownasthe“MiddleAges”or“DarkAges,”wererevealedtoJohnandrecordedinRevelation2:18-3:6.OnFebruary20,1798,theheadofthepapacy,PopePiusVI,wastakenprisonerandthepoweroftheRomanCatholicChurchwasremovedcompletelyforashorttime,allowingBibletruthtoflourish.Johnwasshown,however,this“deadlywound”wastobehealedandthewholeworldwouldfollowtheseabeastatalatertime.

Weareprovided,inRevelation13:4,aprecisenessthatcannotbeignoredconsideringcurrenteventsintheworldtoday.“Sotheyworshipedthedragonwhogaveauthoritytothebeast;andtheyworshipthebeast,saying,”Whoislikethebeast?Whoisabletomakewarwithhim?”

Jesusmadeitabundantlyclearthattrueworshipisincompatiblewithnon-Biblicaldoctrine.“AndinvaintheyworshipMe,teachingasdoctrinesthecommandmentsofmen.”Matthew15:9.OnedoesnothavetolooktoofartofindmanymanmadeworshiptraditionsthathavenoBiblicalfoundation.Hereweseethatbyworshipingtheseabeast/papacy,peopleareworshipingthepowerbehindit,Satan.ThesethatblasphemeGodbyclaimingsalvationthroughHisSonbutdenyingHisLawsaresaidtobemembersofthe“synagogueofSatan”inRevelation2:9and3:9.TheRomanCatholicChurchmakesitabundantlyclearthatitsauthorityisgreaterthanGod’sword.“Sundayisourmarkofauthority…thechurchisabovetheBible,andthistransferenceofSabbathobservanceisproofofthatfact.”TheCatholicRecordofLondon,Ontario,Canada,September1,1923(http://biblelight.net/c-record.htm;http://biblelight.net/Sources/Catholic-Record-6-shade.gif).Asthepapacyisperceivedtobeonhighmoralgroundandthevoiceof“Christianity”inourtime,noindividualor

Page 30: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

30

entityissuccessfully“abletomakewar”against,orcriticizeit,tothepointofdiminishingitsgrowingpowerandinfluenceintheworldtoday.

“Andhewasgivenamouthspeakinggreatthingsandblasphemies,andhewasgivenauthoritytocontinueforforty-twomonths.ThenheopenedhismouthinblasphemyagainstGod,toblasphemeHisname,Histabernacle,andthosewhodwellinheaven.”Revelation13:5-6.

Thepapacyexercisedpersecutorypowerforforty-twopropheticmonths(1,260days/years).Itdevelopedaspiritualarrogancethatwasabsoluteinpower.

“Iwasconsideringthehorns,andtherewasanotherhorn,alittleone,comingupamongthem,beforewhomthreeofthefirsthornswerepluckedoutbytheroots.Andthere,inthishorn,wereeyesliketheeyesofaman,andamouthspeakingpompouswords.”Daniel7:8.(Thethreehornsweretribesopposedtothepapalreligion,eradicatedbycivilpowersatthechurch’sbidding,between534and556.Thishistoryisbeyondourcurrentstudy).

ThepapacyblasphemedGodbyclaimingthepopetobetheVicarofGodorGod’srepresentativeonearth,withthepowertoforgivesinsbyitspriests,substitutingforChrist’sintercessoryworkintheheavenlySanctuary(Hebrews8-10).Thepapacydirectly,andindirectlyusedleverageoverthekingsofnationsitcontrolled,tokillmillionsofGod’speopleduringthe“MiddleAges.”Itdiditsbesttosilencethereformers,manyofwhichidentifiedtheRomanchurch,assymbolizedbytheseabeast.Thereareinterestingparallelsasforty-twomonthsisthreeandahalfyears.ThisisnotonlythelengthofChrist’sministry,it’salsothelengthoftimethatFrancebannedChristianity,initiatedbytheReignofTerror(Revelation11:7-10),duringtheFrenchRevolution.Indeed,threeandahalfyearsisthelengthoftimeGodwithheldrainwhenAhab(representingcivilauthority),joinedwithhispaganwifeJezebel(representingapostatereligion),opposingtheprophetElijah.TheseareexcellentstudiesandparallelsforustofurtherunderstandthattherearenocoincidencesinScripture.InRevelation13:6,weseethepapacyblasphemingGod.Thephrase,“heopenedhismouth,”isaprecursortoimportantspeech.Thepapalchurchblasphemesthreethings;God’sname(aninsulttoGod’scharacter),God’s“tabernacle”(typifyingtheplanofsalvationwitheachofitsarticlesoffurniture),andthosewhodwellinheaven,God’speople.Earlier,itwasnotedthatthesaintsaretodwellon(meaningthinkon)Heavenwhilecontinuingtoresideonearth.Interestingly,Paul’sprophecyin2Thessalonians2:3-4parallelsandidentifiesthissameentity;“…thesonofperdition,whoopposesandexaltshimselfaboveallthatiscalledGodorthatisworshipped,sothathesitsasGodinthetempleofGod,showinghimselfthatheisGod.”SatanhasalwayswantedtobeGod,toresideinthe“sidesofthenorth”(Isaiah14:12-15),toreceiveworship.Heisthe“dragon”powerbehindthepapacythatclaimstobethetruechurchwhileallother

Page 31: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

31

churchesarefalse.SatanclaimstoswitchplaceswithGod,substitutinghispriesthoodforthatofChrist’s(Hebrews9:11-15).InDaniel8:11aweread,“HeevenexaltedhimselfashighasthePrinceofthehost.”Jesus,ourMessiah,isthePrinceofthe“host;”Hispeopleofalltheages(Daniel9:25).Satandeceivedchurchleaderstotakeanecumenicalapproachtogrowingthechurchbyintegratingpaganpracticesintoworship.Spiritually,paganismwas,andcontinuestobe,“exalted”bythecelebrationofEaster,adaptedfromthefertilitygoddessEstere,bythepaganbeliefthatspiritscamebacktotheirtombs(Halloween,orHolyEvening),turningthepaganholyfirtreeintohotcrossedbuns,andChristmas,anadaptationofthesungod,DeusSolInvictus.“ThemightyCatholicChurchwaslittlemorethantheRomanEmpirebaptized.”AlexanderClarenceFlick,TheRiseoftheMedievalChurch,p.148.WemustavoidanyandallfalsespiritualmeaningassociatedwiththesereligiousholidaysthatmightinadvertentlyleadotherstobelieveGodsanctionedthemassacredinanyway.

“Itwasgrantedtohimtomakewarwiththesaintsandtoovercomethem.Andauthoritywasgivenhimovereverytribe,tongue,andnation.”Revelation13:7.

Theseabeast/papacypersecutedGod’speoplefor1,260longyears.Thislengthyperiodwasreferredtoasthe“tribulation”byJesus,asrecordedinMatthew24:21-22,29andMark13:19-20,24.Thisisanimportantpointtounderstandandthosewhoprayerfullyreadandstudythesetwogospelsources,withinthelargercontextsofthesechapters,willgainagreatunderstanding.MuchofChristendomisdeceivedonthetimingandnatureofthisperiod,believingthatthistribulationisstilltocomeandwilllasteitherthreeandhalforsevenyears.Tobesure,therewillbeagreatpersecutionknownasJacob’stimeoftroublesuchastheworldhasneverbeforeexperienced(Jeremiah30:5-7;Daniel12:1b).Thiserrorofinconsistencyinunderstandingthetimepropheciesrelatingtothe“tribulation”isprovidingfalsecomfortthatGodwillprovideasecondchance,afterfirstcomingtorescuetherighteous.ThereisnoBiblicalsupportforthesetheories.TheBibleisveryclearaboutJesus’return.Eversincethefatalwoundthepapalchurchwasdealtin1798,ithasbeengettingstronger,extendingitspowerwithinthenationsofearth,andinfluencingwarsthroughcivilgovernmentsandtheUnitedNations.

Soon,“Allwhodwellontheearthwillworshiphim,whosenameshavenotbeenwrittenintheBookofLifeoftheLambslainfromthefoundationoftheworld.Ifanyonehasanear,lethimhear.”Revelation13:8-9.

Howwilltheyworshiphim?BychoosingtoignoretheTenCommandments,specificallythefourththatstartswith“Remember…”The“BookofLife”isareferencetoGod’swrittenarchivesmentionedatleastseventimesintheBible(Ex32:33;Mal3:16;Luke10:20;Phil4:3;Rev3:5;20:12;21:27).ThosewhohaveacceptedChrist’srobeofrighteousness(Isaiah61:10),willkeepGod’slawoutofdevotionandrespectforHim.TheirnameswillbeintheBookofLife.Itisthelawitselfthatdefineswhatsinis.ItisherethatwearedirectedtoJesus,theLambofGodthatwasslainforoursins(1Peter

Page 32: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

32

1:19-21).Revelation13:9enunciatesanemphaticcommandforalltopaycloseattentiontothesewords.

“Hewholeadsintocaptivityshallgointocaptivity;hewhokillswiththeswordmustbekilledwiththesword.Hereisthepatienceandthefaithofthesaints.”Revelation13:10.

Thepapacyteachesacorruptedsystemofworshipthatleadspeopleintothecaptivityofsin(Romans7:23;2Timothy3:6).Thepapacypersecutedallwhorefusedtofollowitspaganpractices(Daniel8:23-25).Literally,NapoleondeclaredanendofthepapacyonFebruary15,1798.HehadGeneralBerthierarrestPopePiusVIfivedayslater.PopePiusVIdiedinprisonin1799.Spiritually,JesuswillputanendtoSatan’scounterfeitreligionswhenHereceivesthekingdomofthesaintsandsoonafterthat,willreturntotakeHispeople,the“kingdom,”toHeaven(Daniel7:14).TheLordwilling,thepatienceandfaithofallthesaintswilltaketheformofallthosewhoresistdefilementandaskforChrist’ssanctifying,charactertransformingpowerintheirlives.“Hereisthepatienceofthesaints;herearethosewhokeepthecommandmentsofGodandthefaithofJesus.”Revelation14:12.We,livingintheeraofthechurchofLaodicea(Revelation3:14-22),aregreetedwithJesus’offerinverse20,“Behold,Istandatthedoorandknock.IfanyonehearsMyvoiceandopensthedoor,Iwillcomeintohimanddinewithhim,andhewithMe.”Amen!Again,thoseclaimingtobefollowersofJesus,butlie,aredescribedasbeingofthe“synagogueofSatan”inRevelation2:9;3:9.MayweeachleavethelukewarmLaodiceanchurchandjointhechurchofPhiladelphiadescribedinRevelation3:7-13!Insummary,wewillconsistentlycarryforwardtheinterpretiveprinciplesfoundinRevelation13:1-10,bydiscerningthefollowingmeanings:

• Justasweunderstand“water”torepresentpeople,a“sea”representsalargepopulation

• The“seabeast”istheRomanCatholicChurch,referencedinDaniel7:8;8:9asthe“littlehorn”

• Theterm“beast,”isusedwhenacivilorreligiouspowerpersecutesGod’speople

• The“heads”representtheleadersoftheRomanCatholicChurch,thepopesSpecialnotetoChristianreaders:TheChristian“church”iscomprisedofapproximately2.4billionpeople,dispersedamongthousandsofchurchsystemsandreligions.TheRomanCatholicChurchisthelargest,andmostenduring,ofall.Whilenearlyallofthesechurchstructuresarecorruptedbynon-Biblicaldoctrines,theindividualmembershave,orwillhave,opportunitytoacknowledgetheabsolutetruthoftheBible.ItisinthespiritofGod’sgrace,thatthisstudyexposesanddiscussesthemeaningofthesymbolsintheBible.

Page 33: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

33

Chapter4

Revelation13:11-17–TheEarthBeastRiseoftheUnitedStatesofAmericaandApostateProtestantism

TheLordcontinuedtorevealthefuturetoJohninvisionandhewrote:

“ThenIsawanotherbeastcomingupoutoftheearth,andhehadtwohornslikealambandspokelikeadragon.”Revelation13:11.

Ithastwohornsthatarelikealamb,however,itisnotalamb.BeginningwiththeGenesisaccountofCainandAbel,continuingthroughouttheOldTestamentsanctuaryservices,thelambisalwaysasymbolforChrist.JohntheBaptistrecognizedHimbysaying“Behold!TheLambofGodwhotakesawaythesinoftheworld!”John1:29.Thisbeastisseencomingoutoftheearth,meaningthatthispowerwastoarisedifferentlythanthepowersprecedingit,comingfromthe“sea”(Daniel7:3).RecallingthatRevelation12:16spokeofthe“earth”helpingthewoman(thesaints),wearegivenapictureofapowerwithaChristianfoundationemergingfromasparselypopulatedarea.Itstwohornsdonothavecrowns,significantbecausethe“ten”hornsontheseabeastdidhavecrowns.ThisearthbeastistheUnitedStatesofAmerica(USA),anditwasformedasarepublicwithnokingsormonarchy.ItwasinitiatedasaChristiannation,anditspowercomesfromtwofoundingprinciples,republicanismandProtestantism,includingcivicandreligiousfreedomforall.ThepeoplegroupsformingtheUSAhadescapedreligiouspersecutionandgovernmentsthatdidnotgrantequalrightstoallitscitizens.ByformingitsConstitutionwithbothfreedoms,theUSAbecamethemostpowerfulandsuccessfulnationtheearthhaseverwitnessed.Revelation13:11continues,indicatingthattheearthbeastspokeasadragon.Acivilpower“speaks”throughitslegislativebranches.TheUSAthen,speaksaccordingtoSatan,thedragon.ForovertwocenturiestheUSAhasbeenashininglightonearthforitsJudeoChristianvalues,includingalegalstructurethathasnotconflictedwithGod’slaw.Wehaveseenasteadydeclineinsocietyduringthepastfiveorsixdecades,similartothefatethatFranceexperiencedleadingupto,andduring,itsrevolution(1789–1799).Foretellingthatera,Revelation11:8saysofFrance,“…thegreatcitywhichspirituallyiscalledSodomandEgypt…”Sodomwasknownforitssexualdepravity(Genesis19),andEgyptdeniedtheexistenceofGod(Exodus5:2),bothofwhichhavebecomecommonintheUSAinthepastfewdecades.Whileindecline,theUSAhadnot“spoken,”andenforcedlegislation,againstGod,upuntil2015.OnJune26,2015thehighestlegislativebodyinthenation,theSupremeCourt,overturnedGod’sinstitutionofmarriagebeingonlybetweenamanandawoman.ThisrulingisadirectaffronttoGod,Hislaw,andcreationitself.Further,thisrelationshiprunscountertotheBiblicalconceptofJesusastheBridegroomandHischurchsymbolizedasthe“bride.”Coupledwiththeseventh-daySabbathasasacred

Page 34: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

34

memorialtotheCreator,thesetwoinstitutionshadtheirorigininthecreationweek(Genesis2).Thisrulingwillleadtoarapidincreaseinlawlessnessandlicentiousness,andanoveralldeclineoftheworld’scivilizationwilloccur.ThisgrowinganarchyisleadingtoapopulousmovementintheUSAthatwilldemandthattheirlegislatorspasslawstolegislateafalseworshipbyitsowndefinition,aworksbasedformsimilartothatofCain’soffering(Genesis4),inafailingbidtoregainGod’sblessing.

“Andheexercisesalltheauthorityofthefirstbeastinhispresence,andcausestheearthandthosewhodwellinittoworshipthefirstbeast,whosedeadlywoundwashealed.”Revelation13:12.

The“firstbeast,”thepapacy,lostitspowertolegislateworshipin1798,andhaseversince,beenplottingtoregaintheauthoritytopersecutethosewhoholdthattheBibleisGod’sunerringWord,alwaystakingprecedentabovethelawsofman.Aswasearlierdiscovered,theterm“beast”isusedwhenacivilorreligiouspowerispersecutingthesaints.Fromaprayerfulreadingofthisverse,theLordistellingusthatthepapacywillinitiallyregainpersecutorypowers(its“deadlywound”willbefully“healed”),likelyinWesternEurope,whereithasenjoyedclosegovernmentalrelationshipsformanycenturies.TherelationshipbetweenthepapalchurchandthevariousgovernmentsofWesternEurope,wasforetoldinthedreamsoftheimageinDaniel2.Daniel2:41describesthefeetas“ironmixedwithmiryclay”KJV.Thismiry,or“sticky”clay,representsacloserelationship.(ThecompositionoftheclayinthetoesisdistinctlydifferentinDaniel2:42,usingtheAramaicword“chasaph,”meaning“brittle”ESV).TheUSAwilladoptthesamefalseworshipforms,thencausealltheearth’snationstofollowthesamepractices,possiblyviasomeleveragedposition,useoftheUnitedNations(forfurtherinformationsee:https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld),orappealforreligiousrevivalamidglobalunrest,wars,andnaturaldisasters.Legislationwillbedemandedbyapopulousmovementeagertoexchangefreedomforsafety,withoutregardforconstitutionalrights.Theseterribleeventsarecertain,asJesusdescribedinMatthew24,Mark13,andLuke21,however,theantidoteisnotlegislationoreventhepracticeofreligion;itiscompleteandtotalsurrendertoJesusourSavior.Nevertheless,usingsimilarreasoningasdidCaiaphaswhenhesaid“…itisexpedientforusthatonemanshoulddieforthepeople,andnotthatthewholenationshouldperish”(John11:50;18:14),theUSAwilljustifysettingasidetheFirstAmendmentrighttoexercisefreedomofreligion.TheCatholicChurchunashamedlyclaimstohaveuseditsauthoritytochangetheSabbathfromtheseventh-daytothefirst-day.ApostateProtestantleadershavefollowedtheSundayinstitutioninthefaceofoverwhelmingevidencethatthepapacyissymbolizedbythelittle/talkinghornofDaniel7and8,directlyfulfillingtheprophecy“…Andshallintendtochangetimesandlaw…”Daniel7:25.TheCatholicBible,theDouay-Rheimstranslation,changestheTenCommandmentsinExodus20bycompletelyeliminatingthesecondcommandmentaboutidolworship,eliminating“seventhday”

Page 35: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

35

fromthefourthcommandment,thendividingthetenthcommandmentintotwo,inordertoretain“ten”commandments.Inaddition,PopeGregoryXIII(1572-1585)institutedthecalendarusedtodayinmostoftheworld.TheGregoriancalendarwasintroducedin1582,changingthestartofanewdayfromtheevening,institutedatcreation(Genesis1),tomidnight.ThestudyofDaniel11:23-45revealsmuchaboutthepapacy,identifiedastheKingoftheNorth,thatwewillleaveforanotherstudyexceptforonepoint.Daniel11:45asaysofthepapacy,“Andheshallplantthetentsofhispalacebetweentheseasandthegloriousholymountain…”Thissymboliclanguageindicatesthatitsdoctrineshavebeenplacedbetweenthepeople(seas)andtheTrinity(gloriousholymountain),testifiedofbyGod’sWord.Thesefalsedoctrineshaveobstructedtrueworship,accordingtotheBible,betweenthepeopleandGodtheCreatorthroughcompelled,counterfeit“sanctuary”ofworship(Daniel8:11).Thisactionrecalls2Thessalonians2:4,“…hesitsasGodinthetempleofGod…”Conversely,theBibleteaches,“Yourway,OGod,isinthesanctuary”(Psalm77:13a),asthewriterofHebrewsdescribessowellinHebrews8:1-6.JohnwasshownChrist’sministrationsintheheavenlySanctuary,witnessinginRevelation5:6,“AndIlooked,andbehold,inthemidstofthethroneandofthefourlivingcreatures,andinthemidstoftheelders,stoodaLambasthoughithadbeenslain…”AsacompleterepudiationoftheCreator,SundaysacrednesswillbelegislatedintheUSA,demandedbyadistraught,popularvoicealongwithapostateProtestantleaders.LegislativeleaderscontrollingthethreebranchesoftheUnitedStatesgovernmentwillcomply,despitetheConstitutionalrightofreligiousfreedom.Thisearthbeast,then,istheUnitedStatesgovernmentanditsagenciesofenforcement,encouragedbythereligious“right”ofapostateProtestantleaders,whohaveanecumenicalrelationshipwiththeRomanCatholicChurch.

“Heperformsgreatsigns,sothatheevenmakesfirecomedownfromheavenupontheearthinthesightofmen.”Revelation13:13.

Revelation13:13indicatesthatGodwillgrantSatanthepowertoliterallycounterfeitElijah’sexperienceonMountCarmel(1Kings18:16-45),thoughthistimetheoutcomewillbedifferent.ThosewhohavearmedthemselveswithGod’sWordwillnotbedeceived,howeverthisfalseangelwillhavetheappearanceofawonderfulmanifestationoflight.SatanwillusethismanifestationtocommunicateunbiblicaldoctrinesbyimpersonatingChrist(Matthew24:23-25;Mark13:21-23;Luke17:22-37;Galatians1:6-9).Therearealsospiritualfulfillmentsintheformoffalserevivals,precedingatruerevivaltheBiblecallsthelatterrain,indicatingthattheSpiritwillcomewithfargreaterpowerthantheformerrainthattookplacejustafterJesusreturnedtoHeaven,followingHisresurrection.JustasGod’s“fire”representedtheoutpouringoftheHolySpirit,Satan’s

Page 36: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

36

“fire”isasymbolfor“unclean”spiritsthatwillfoolalargepercentageoftheearth’sinhabitants.(Forfurtherstudyontheformerandlatterrains,seeDeuteronomy11:1-17;Isaiah58:12;60:1-3;Ezekiel43:2;Hosea6:3;Joel2:1-32;Habakkuk2:3,14;Malachi3:7-16;4:5;Acts1:14;2:1-4,17,21;3:19-20).

“Andhedeceivesthosewhodwellontheearthbythosesignswhichhewasgrantedtodointhesightofthebeast,tellingthosewhodwellontheearthtomakeanimagetothebeastwhowaswoundedbytheswordandlived.”Revelation13:14.

InRevelation13:14,wefindacleardescriptionofthecomingactions,leadingtoreligiouspersecutionintheUnitedStates.TheUnitedStateswillmakeanimage,acopyofSundaylegislationthatwillhavefirstbeenenactedinEurope,andtheactionstakenwillbesimilartothepowersheldbythepapacybeforeits“wound”in1798.TheUnitedStates,ledbyapostateProtestantleadership,withthebackingofaswellingpopulousvoice,willbecomethe“falseprophet”referredtoinRevelation16:13;19:20.Theearthbeast/USA/falseprophetwillsetupasystemprovidingenablinglegislationthatprescribespunishmentsforthosewhochosetofollowGod’slawratherthanman’slaw.

“Hewasgrantedpowertogivebreathtotheimageofthebeast,thattheimageofthebeastshouldbothspeakandcauseasmanyaswouldnotworshiptheimageofthebeasttobekilled.”Revelation13:15.

LawsconcerningSundaysacrednesswillinitiallybeaminorintrusionundertheguiseofpromotingfamilyvalues,spiritualwellbeing,physicalrest,andnationalallegiancesharedwiththemajority.Associetycontinuesitsrapiddeclineintolawlessness,and,inthefaceofincreasing“natural”disasters,persecutionofseventh-daySabbathkeepers,thosehonoringtheBibleliterallyasGod’sWord,willincreasewithpenaltiesbecomingmorestringent,upto,andincluding,death.Whatwilltriggertheselaws?It’snothardtoseethethirdholywarconflictbetweensocalledChristianpeoplesandnationswarringwithMuslimsandIslamicnations,leadingtoatestofloyaltydifferentiatingthosewhofollowoneortheother.Already,leadersaretalkingaboutadministeringan“ideologicaltest”todeterminethesincerityofimmigrants.Interestingly,Islam’sholydayisFriday,whilethebeasts’holydayisSunday.OnewayofidentifyingMuslimbelieversinthemanycountriesunderattack,wouldbetohavethemrepudiatetheirreligionandaffirmSundaysacrednessasatestofcitizenship,andtoreceivestatebenefits.God’speoplewillwatchandseehowthisconflictdevelops,prayingfortheopportunitytosharethegospelofJesuswithourMuslimfriendsandneighbors.Already,thosewhobelieveintheliteralBiblehavebeenlabeledasextremistsandfundamentalistsintheUnitedStates,andelsewhere.Thetimeisrapidlyapproachingwhenallpeoplewillbefacedwithachoicetoeitherfollow

Page 37: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

37

God’sTenCommandments,acknowledgingthatHeexistsandisourCreator,or,thelawsofman.Satandemandscompleteallegiance.OurRedeemerpleadsforitbutdoesnotforceit.Naturally,thesaintswillbecastinthemostnegative,derisivelightpossible.EverypastactionandcommunicationwillbebroughttolightinordertoembarrassanddiscreditGod’speople.Asleadersyieldtheirintegrityforearthlypowerandcomfort,Satanwill,justashedidwithKingHerodandthroughoutthedarkages,influencewaveafterwaveofpersecutioninordertoforceallegiancetohim.Oneoftheearlypunishmentsdesignedtoinducealltoacknowledgethelawsofman,includingSundaysacredness,willbetorestrictcommerce.

“Hecausesall,bothsmallandgreat,richandpoor,freeandslave,toreceiveamarkontheirrighthandorontheirforeheads,andthatnoonemaybuyorsellexceptonewhohasthemarkorthenameofthebeast,orthenumberofhisname.”Revelation13:16-17.

Thisrestrictionwillgrowtobecomeaworldwidelaw,andwilllikelybetoutedasawaytomonitorandcontroltraffickingofillegalsubstances,goods,andservices.Thetechnology,bothhardwareandsoftware,isoperationalandcouldeasilybeaccomplished,retainingcashbutrequiringa“smart”identificationcardorbiometricscanforeverytransaction.Here,weareintroducedtothe“markofthebeast.”Itisdescribedasbeingoneithertheforeheadortherighthandsofallpeoplethatwishtocontinuetotransactbusiness,buyfood,obtainhealthcareandmedicines,orpaymortgages,utilities,andbuyfuel.Theseterms,likemostinRevelation,aresymbolic.Theforeheadistheseatoflearning,character,andintelligence,andtoreceivethemarkofthebeastthere,istotrulybelievethattheRomanCatholicChurchhadtheauthorityitclaims,tochangethetimeandlawsofGod(Daniel7:25).Toreceivethemarkofthebeastonthe“righthand”referstopeoplewhodon’tagreewiththebeast,however,acquiescebecauseoffearofpersecutionorpeerpressurefromfamily,friendsorco-workers,orthreatenedreleaseofembarrassingordamaginginformation.ThesewilllackfaiththatGod,whocreatedtheheavens,theearth,thesea,andallthatisinthem,isabletosupplyallourneedsandforgivealloursins.AcarefulstudyoftheearthlycostofdiscipleshipiswellworthourprayerfulconsiderationasJesusinstructedinLuke9:57-62.ThosewhostandfirmintheirBiblebasedconvictionswillreceiveGod’sseal.

“ThenIsawanotherangelascendingfromtheeast,havingthesealofthelivingGod.Andhecriedwithaloudvoicetothefourangelstowhomitwasgrantedto

Page 38: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

38

harmtheearthandthesea,saying,“Donotharmtheearth,thesea,orthetreestillwehavesealedtheservantsofourGodontheirforeheads.”Revelation7:2-3.

NoticeGod’ssealisonlygivenontheforeheadsofthesaints.ThisindicatestheuseofourintelligencewhenweconsiderGod’screationweek,Hisplanofsalvation,the100%veracityoftheprophets,andthesacrificeofChrist’sownbloodtopaythepriceofoursins…suchamazinggrace!ItisfaithintheLordthatwillenablethesaintstoplaceearthlythingsintheperspectiveofspendingeternitywithourCreatorandSavior.God’ssealisourdevotedworshipaccordingtoHisLaw,theTenCommandments(Revelation14:7,11-12).God’ssealisalsodescribedinEzekiel9:4,wherewelearnthatthosereceivingithaveobtainedtheverycharacterofGod,mourningthosewhohavechosentoservetheworld.Asnotedinchapter3,anylegislationgoverningman’sdutytoGodasHedefinedatcreation,andinthefirstfourcommandments(Exodus20:3-11),isanabomination.JesuswarnsHispeople,recordedinMatthew24,Mark13,andLuke21,whattowatchforanddoatthistime.Hemixedtwoimportantevents;thatoftheliteraldestructionofJerusalem(A.D.70),andHisrisingfrom(completing)judgmentduringthetimeoftheend.JustasallChristiansescapedthehorrificeventsbyleavingJerusalem,HispeoplewillheedthewarningandimmediatelyaretoleavethecitieswhenSundaylegislationisproposed,inournearfuture.The“abominationofdesolation”predictionhadaliteral,localfulfillmentandwillhaveaworldwideliteralandspiritualfulfillmentwhenman’slawsconflictwithGod’slaw.TheUnitedStatesisnearlythere,byoverturningGod’slawofmarriagebeingbetweenonemanandonewoman.Insummary,wewillconsistentlycarryforwardtheinterpretiveprinciplesfoundinRevelation13:11-17,bydiscerningthefollowingmeanings:

• The“earthbeast”representstheUnitedStatesofAmerica,comingundertheinfluenceofapostateProtestants

• The“image”isacopyofSundaylegislationenactedthroughpapalinfluence• The“markofthebeast”istheacceptanceofman-madelawsanddoctrinesthat

conflictwithGod’slaw,inordertocontinuecommerceandbusinesstransactions

Page 39: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

39

Chapter5

Revelation13:18–Wisdom,Understanding,andCalculation“Hereiswisdom.Lethimwhohasunderstandingcalculatethenumberofthebeast,foritisthenumberofaman:Hisnumberis666.”Revelation13:18.ThisstatementplaysacriticalroleinunderstandingthecomplexlanguageusedinRevelation17:8-11.Again,everywordhassignificantmeaning.Acarefulreadingrevealstheangelindicatingthatthisnumberwillbechallengingtointerpret,willtakeaprecisemathematicalcalculation,andwillbeidentifiedbythosewith“understanding.”PaulwrotetothefaithfulintheEphesuschurch,

“…IheardofyourfaithintheLordJesusandyourloveforallthesaints,donotceasetogivethanksforyou,makingmentionofyouinmyprayers:thattheGodofourLordJesusChrist,theFatherofglory,maygivetoyouthespiritofwisdomandrevelationintheknowledgeofHim,theeyesofyourunderstandingbeingenlightened;thatyoumayknowwhatisthehopeofHiscalling,whataretherichesofthegloryofHisinheritanceinthesaints”Ephesians1:15-18.(emphasissupplied).

TheangelGabrielwasassignedtoDanieltomakehimunderstandthevisionshewasgiven(Daniel8:16-17;9:23,25;10:11-12,14;11:33;12:10).KeytoDaniel’scomprehension,washisprayerfuldesireto“understand”(Daniel9:13).Inparticular,Daniel12:10says,“Manyshallbepurified,madewhite,andrefined,butthewickedshalldowickedly;andnoneofthewickedshallunderstand,butthewiseshallunderstand.”JesuscalledforunderstandingwhenreadingDanielsaying,“Thereforewhenyouseethe‘abominationofdesolation,’spokenofbyDanieltheprophet,standingintheholyplace”(whoeverreads,lethimunderstand)”Matthew24:15(Mark13:14).ThekeytounderstandingistohearJesus(“…HearMe,everyone,andunderstand,”Mark7:14)byprayerfullyreadingHisWord,theBible.“AndHeopenedtheirunderstanding,thattheymightcomprehendtheScriptures.”Luke24:45.“…maytheLordgiveyouunderstandinginallthings.”2Timothy2:7.

PaulwrotetothechurchinEphesus,“…byrevelationHemadeknowntomethemystery(asIhavebrieflywrittenalready,bywhich,whenyouread,youmayunderstandmyknowledgeinthemysteryofChrist)…”Ephesians3:3-4.“AndweknowthattheSonofGodhascomeandhasgivenusanunderstanding,thatwemayknowHimwhoistrue;andweareinHimwhoistrue,inHisSonJesusChrist.ThisisthetrueGodandeternallife.”1John5:20.

Toplacetheunderstandingofprophecyintheproperperspective,Paulalsowrote, “AndthoughIhavethegiftofprophecy,andunderstandallmysteriesandall knowledge,andthoughIhaveallfaith,sothatIcouldremovemountains,but

Page 40: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

40

havenotlove,Iamnothing.”1Corinthians13:2,and,“…attainingtoallrichesof thefullassuranceofunderstanding,totheknowledgeofthemysteryofGod, bothoftheFatherandofChrist,inwhomarehiddenallthetreasuresofwisdom andknowledge.”Colossians2:2-3.(Emphasissupplied).Clearly,weneedboth understandingandlove!“Wisdom,”too,comesfromGod,accordingtoscripture.“Ifanyofyoulackswisdom,lethimaskofGod,whogivestoallliberallyandwithoutreproach,anditwillbegiventohim.”James1:5.

Paulwrote,“…wespeakwisdomamongthosewhoaremature,yetnotthewisdomofthisage,noroftherulersofthisage,whoarecomingtonothing.ButwespeakthewisdomofGodinamystery,thehiddenwisdomwhichGodordainedbeforetheagesforourglory.”1Corinthians2:6-7.Psalm111:10says,“ThefearoftheLordisthebeginningofwisdom;AgoodunderstandinghaveallthosewhodoHiscommandments.”

ThisverseshowsusthatrespectfortheLordinvolveskeepingHisTenCommandmentsandisnecessaryinordertoreceivebothwisdomandunderstandingofspiritualmatters.TheOldTestamentcontainsalargebodyofinformationconcerningwisdom,muchofitassociatedwithKingSolomon.ThebookofProverbscontainsmanyreferencesaboutwisdomand,sincethepurposeofthisstudyistopointustoGod’sWord,oneadditionalquotewillsuffice:“ThefearoftheLordisthebeginningofwisdom,AndtheknowledgeoftheHolyOneisunderstanding.”Proverbs9:10.Theword“calculate”or“count”istranslatedfromtheGreekword,“psēphizō”whichisusedonlyhere,andinLuke14:28,inthecontextofcountingthecosttobuildatowerbeforeconstructionisstarted.Inotherwords,theangelistellingJohnthataprecisemathematicalcalculationwillbenecessary,tounderstandwhothisindividualbeastis.Theangelcontinuesbynotingthatthis“beast”is“aman”andthathisnumberis666.Additionalcluesoftheidentityofthismanareprovidedin2Thessalonians2:3-4andRevelation17:8,11.WhileidlespeculationisnotconducivetoprovidinghopeandbuildingfaithinGod’splanandtheveracityofHisWord,here,wearegivenspecificinformationandtoldtoperformacalculationandtounderstanditsimportanceinendtimeevents,basedoncontextandplacementinthebookofRevelation.“AndnowIhavetoldyoubeforeitcomes,thatwhenitdoescometopass,youmaybelieve.”John14:29.Aswestudiedinchapterone,BabylonbecameaworldpowerleadinguptoitsconquestofJerusalemandthesoutherntribesofIsrael.TheBiblefirstmentionsBabyloninGenesis10:10,whenNimrod,adescendentofNoah’scursedson,Ham,oversawthebuildingoffourcitiesinMesopotamiaincludingBabel(http://www.bible-history.com/babylonia/BabyloniaHistory_of_Babylonia.htm)inabout2300B.C.Itishere,whereGodHimselfdestroyedthetowerbeingbuilt,thatwecometounderstand

Page 41: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

41

thiscultureanditspeopleweredefiant,rejectingthetrueGod.Itishereapparent,thatbothliteralBabylonandspiritualBabylonareSatan’scounterfeittoliteralandspiritualJerusalem.OnecityrepresentspeopleinrebellionagainstGod,theother,thosewhohavehumblyrecognizedtheirtotaldependenceonGod.Danielchapters2and3makeitveryclearthatheaven’sdoorisopentoall,fromtheleasttothegreatest,includingpaupersandkingsinallcultures,eveninBabylonitself!TheBabyloniancultureinDaniel’sday(605-539B.C.)washighlyadvanced.Itusedasexagesimalnumericalsystem,whichhasabaseof60.ThatiswhywereadinDaniel3:1thatNebuchadnezzarbuilttheimage60cubitshighby6cubitswide.Thoughweuseabase10mathematicalsystemformostthings,thebase60systemisstillinusetoday,tomeasuretime,angles,andgeographiccoordinates.WhenNebuchadnezzarbuiltthecityofBabylon,herebuilttheruinsofaziggurat,apyramidtypestructurenamedEtemenanki,dedicatingittothegodMarduk(symbol:snake-dragon),asasubstitutefora“mountain,”forthepurposeofworshipoftheirmanygods(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etemenanki).ItislikelythattheseweretheunfinishedruinsoftheTowerofBabel,referencedinGenesis11.Babylonianscientistshadcarefullystudiedtheheavensanddividedtheconstellationsintoa36grid,starcalendar,eachrepresentingadeityorgod.Itspaganpriestsworemedallions,knownasamulets,withatabledisplaying36numbersassociatedwitheachofthesegods,asaprotectingcharm.Thesetablesofnumberswerearrangedinasquare(6x6)insuchawaythatwheneachroworcolumnwasadded,thetotalwas111.Byextensionthen,addingeitherthetotaloftherowsorthecolumns,givesthesumof666(http://hackya.com/us/babylonian-sun-seal-square/).ThisidentifierofspiritualBabylonwasprovidedbytheangeltobeusedinRevelation17:10-11.Thismeansthatbyadding1+2+3…34+35+36=666!(Seeappendix).Insummary,wewillconsistentlycarryforwardtheinterpretiveprinciplesfoundinRevelation13:18,bydiscerningthefollowingmeanings:

• Theterm“666”referstoaspecificmanwhoisinoppositiontoGodand,therefore,alignedwithSatan

• Thattheangelcalledforbothwisdomandunderstandinginordertoperforma“calculation,”indicatesthattheformulawillbecomplexinnature,andbe“spirituallydiscerned”(1Corinthians2:14)

Page 42: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

42

Chapter6

Revelation17:1-6–TheGreatHarlotAsweopenRevelation17,thenecessityofunderstandingtheScripturepreviouslycoveredinthisstudybecomesapparent.TheinterveningsectionofRevelation14to16,containsvitalinformation,fillinginmanydetailsaboutendtimeeventsandfactsinrelationtotherighteousandthewicked.Allwhoprayerfullyreadandconsiderthesechapterswillberichlyblessed,asunderstandingthemisimperativetogainacorrectunderstandingofendtimeevents,andinpreparationtomeetourLord.

“Thenoneofthesevenangelswhohadthesevenbowlscameandtalkedwithme,sayingtome,“Come,Iwillshowyouthejudgmentofthegreatharlotwhositsonmanywaters,withwhomthekingsoftheearthcommittedfornication,andtheinhabitantsoftheearthweremadedrunkwiththewineofherfornication.”Revelation17:1-2.

InRevelation16,therearesevenangels,eachhavinga“bowl”filledwithaplague.Oneoftheseangels,potentiallythesixthangelthatpouredoutaplaguedryinguptheEuphratesRiver(spirituallysymbolicforsupportbeingwithdrawnfromcounterfeitreligioussystems),comestoshowJohnthejudgmentoftheharlot.Judgmentcantaketheformofpunishment,andthisspecificactisfurtherexplainedinRevelation18:6-8,whichisoutsidethisstudy.FromRevelation12,weknowthatawomanrepresentsachurchorbrideintheBible,withChristastheBridegroom.Inthiscase,however,thebrideisaharlot.Regrettably,therearemanyexamplesofGod’speopleleavingrighteousnessandembracingidolatry(Exodus34:15-16;Judges8:27;Jeremiah3:6,8;Ezekiel23:19;Nahum3:4).Isaiahnoted,“Howthefaithfulcityhasbecomeaharlot!Itwasfullofjustice;Righteousnesslodgedinit,butnowmurderers.”Isaiah1:21.ThisverseshowsthatGod’speopleareknownasa“faithfulcity.”LaterinRevelation,welearnthatthesaintsarethe“NewJerusalem,”theantithesisofSatan’s“city”ofthewicked,Babylon.

Paulwrote,“DoyounotknowthatyourbodiesaremembersofChrist?ShallIthentakethemembersofChristandmakethemmembersofaharlot?Certainlynot!Ordoyounotknowthathewhoisjoinedtoaharlotisonebodywithher?For“thetwo,”Hesays,“shallbecomeoneflesh.”ButhewhoisjoinedtotheLordisonespiritwithHim.”1Corinthians6:15-17.

Theharlot,whoisinitiallyseensittingonmanywaters,symbolicfor“peoples,multitudes,nations,andtongues”(Revelation17:15;Jeremiah51:13),istheRomanCatholicChurchsystem,literallycontrollingorinfluencingalargeportionoftheearth’spopulation,whilemasqueradingasthe“Christianchurch.”Itisworthyagaintorecognizethat,whilethissystemistheharlot,therearemanysaintswithinthischurch

Page 43: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

43

andmanyotherreligionsthatJesuswillcalloutbeforeit’stoolate(Revelation18:4-5).Revelation17:2isacontinuationfromRevelation13:1-10,wherewenotedthatthepapalchurchcommitted“fornication”withthenationsofEuropefor1,260years,endingin1798.TheBibleisveryclearandpreciseaboutthis;“Adulterersandadulteresses!DoyounotknowthatfriendshipwiththeworldisenmitywithGod?WhoeverthereforewantstobeafriendoftheworldmakeshimselfanenemyofGod.”James4:4.Ourcurrentworlddefinessuccessbytheacquisitionofmoneyandpower,coupledwithrelationshipswithlike-mindedpeople.Notsurprisingly,thisso-calledsuccess,nearlyalwaysleadstospiritualruin.

“ThenJesussaidtoHisdisciples,“Assuredly,Isaytoyouthatitishardforarichmantoenterthekingdomofheaven.AndagainIsaytoyou,itiseasierforacameltogothroughtheeyeofaneedlethanforarichmantoenterthekingdomofGod.”Matthew19:23-24.

OnemightrightlybeconcernedabouttheirrelationshipwiththeLord,iftheyaresuccessfulbyearthlydefinitionsandareableto“enjoy”thefruitsoftheirlaborshereandnow!Revelation17:2pointsoutthattheinhabitantsofearthweremadedrunkwiththewineoftheharlot’sfornication.TheBibleprovidesampleevidencethatwedowelltoliterallycompletelyshunalcoholicbeverages(drunkennesswasthefirstrecordedsinaftertheflood;Genesis9:20-21),howeverthereisamuchdeeperspiritualconnotationhere.

“Buttheyalsohaveerredthroughwine,Andthroughintoxicatingdrinkareoutoftheway;Thepriestandtheprophethaveerredthroughintoxicatingdrink,Theyareswallowedupbywine,Theyareoutofthewaythroughintoxicatingdrink;Theyerrinvision,theystumbleinjudgment.”Isaiah28:7.

Itisthereligiousleadersimplicatedinleadingthepeopleastray!Andnowthatwe’veidentifiedspiritualBabylonasthepapalsystem,Jeremiah51:7makeschillingsense:“BabylonwasagoldencupintheLord’shand,thatmadealltheearthdrunk.Thenationsdrankherwine;thereforethenationsarederanged.”Uponcarefulconsiderationofthedoctrines,teachings,andtraditionsoftheRomanCatholicChurch,manyhavenoBiblicalsupport.Thereason:theywereadoptedfrompagantraditions,postulatedduringthemiddleagesfornefariouspurposes,orblatantlyplacedintoeffectbyachurchclaimingithasauthoritythatsupersedestheBible.Duringthetimeoftheend,theBibleidentifiesspiritualBabylonasareligiouspowerthatwillcontrolallnationsonearth!

“Forallthenationshavedrunkofthewineofthewrathofherfornication,the

Page 44: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

44

kingsoftheearthhavecommittedfornicationwithher,andthemerchantsoftheearthhavebecomerichthroughtheabundanceofherluxury.”Revelation18:3.

WhilesomewhatchallengingtoenvisionhoweverynationonearthwillbowtotheinfluenceoftheRomanCatholicChurch,wemaybeconfidentandthankfulthatGodhasprovidedsuchspecificityinidentifyingthesepowers,andwearecertainthiswillcometopass.Theconditionoftheearthisprovidedtoensureweknowwhatwillcome,andwilllikelyleadtotheacquiescenceofthenationstocurtailreligiouslibertiesinadesperate,mistakenbid,togarnerGod’s“favor.”Thislegislation,specifyingSundaysacredness,willbefollowedby“…atimeoftroublesuchasneverwassincetherewasanation,eventothattime.”Daniel12:1b.Goddoesn’twantanyonetobedeceivedbecauseJesusdiedforall!AfterRevelation17:2,thereisatransition.

“SohecarriedmeawayintheSpiritintothewilderness.AndIsawawomansittingonascarletbeastwhichwasfullofnamesofblasphemy,havingsevenheadsandtenhorns.”Revelation17:3.

Johnwastakeninvisiontothewilderness,ordesert.ThissamewordisusedtwiceinRevelation12,describingaplacewhereGodpreservedthesaints.Inthiscase,however,awomanisseensittingonascarlet(thecolorofsin;Isaiah1:18)beast(laterwefindshewasspecificallyseatedonthebeast’ssevenheads).Thisword“wilderness”isalsotranslated“desert,”indicatingamarkedtransitionofthisbeastwithsevenheadsandtenhorns,similartothebeastdescribedinRevelation13:1-10,asarisingfromthesea.Whathappenedtothepapalchurchthatoncecontrolledpeople,multitudes,nations,andtongues?Asearlierdiscussedinchapter3,inFebruary1798,PopePiusVIwastakenprisonerandNapoleonBonaparteoutlawedthechurchforseveralyears.Abruptly,thepapalchurchfounditselfwithoutthesupportofnations,afterenjoying1,260yearsofincestuousrelationshipswiththecountriesofEurope.Suddenly,theRomanCatholicChurch,thegreatharlot,founditselfinthe“wilderness,”whereitwasnolongerabletowieldinfluencewithinthecivilgovernmentsofEuropetosupportitsreligioustenetsthroughlegislation,civilpenalties,andoutrightpersecution.ThereisanotherimportantdistinctionoftheRevelation17beastcomparedwiththe“seabeast”inRevelation13.ThedescriptioninRevelation13:1,“…onhisheadsablasphemousname,”isdifferent.AccordingtoRevelation17:3,thebeastitself“…wasfullofnamesofblasphemy.”Duringthe1,260years,from538to1798,directpapalchurchpersecutionofthesaintswasenforcedbymanyofthenationswho,doingthebiddingofthechurch,directlyadministeredpersecution.Soitislikelythe“names”ofblasphemy(plural),nowcoveringtheRevelation17beast,includeallthenations,alongwiththoseindividualsresponsibleforcommittingblasphemyagainstGod,byvirtueoftheirroleinpersecutingGod’speople.Indeed,Paulcalledhimselfa“blasphemer”by

Page 45: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

45

theactofpersecutingGod’speoplebeforehisconversionontheroadtoDamascus(1Timothy1:13).ThescarletbeastofRevelation17maybeseenasthenationsthatdothebiddingofapostatereligions,directedagainstGod’speople.ThegreatharlotofRevelation17:1,nolongerabletocontrolthemasses,nowisseenasawomaninRevelation17:3,seatedontheheadsofascarletbeast,withasimilarconfigurationasthebeastinRevelation13:1,aswellasthedragoninRevelation12.Eachhadsevenheadsandtenhorns,indicatingthatSatan,himself,istheinfluencingpowerbehindthisbeastmadeupofso-called“Christian”religions,enforcedbythecivilauthorityofthenations.

“Thewomanwasarrayedinpurpleandscarlet,andadornedwithgoldandpreciousstonesandpearls,havinginherhandagoldencupfullofabominationsandthefilthinessofherfornication.”Revelation17:4.

FromJohn’sdescriptionwecanseethatsomepeople,masqueradingastrueChristians,describedinRevelation12:1as“clothedwiththesun,”formedandcontinuedareligioussystemthathasbecomea“harlot.”Itisnocoincidencethatthecardinalsandofficialsofthepapalchurchusetheseasofficialcolorsintheirformaldress.AverysimilardescriptionwaspennedbyDanielashedescribedthe“kingofthenorth,”“Butintheirplaceheshallhonoragodoffortresses,andagodwhichhisfathersdidnotknowheshallhonorwithgoldandsilverwithpreciousstonesandpleasantthings.”Daniel11:38.Evenacasualinspectionofthecathedrals,ofthesolemnityassignedtochurchdesignated“saints,”andparticularlyofMary,whomthechurchencouragesitscongregatestoprayto,confirmsthattheRomanCatholicChurchsystemisherereferenced.Again,Jeremiah51:7comestomind:“BabylonwasagoldencupintheLord’shand,thatmadealltheearthdrunk.Thenationsdrankherwine;thereforethenationsarederanged.”Johnisnowdrawntoamessagewrittenontheforeheadofthewomansittingonthebeast.Itreads, “MYSTERY,BABYLONTHEGREAT,THEMOTHEROFHARLOTSANDOFTHE ABOMINATIONOFTHEEARTH.”Revelation17:5.Inourstudyofthemarkofthebeast,describedinRevelation13:16-17and14:9-12,wenotedthedistinctionofwherethemarkwasreceived,aseitherontheforeheadorthehand.Incontrast,God’ssealwouldonlybeprovidedontheforeheadsofthesaints(Revelation7:3;Ezekiel9:4).Ourforeheadsaresymbolicastheseatoflearningandtruecharacter(Ezekiel3:4-9).Paulsaid,“…withthemindImyselfservethelawofGod,butwiththefleshthelawofsin.”Romans7:25b.TheGreekwordfor“mystery”isusedfourtimesinRevelation.InRevelation1:20,it’sdefinedwithintheverse.Ofgreatinterest,isitsuseinRevelation10:7:“butinthedays

Page 46: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

46

ofthesoundingoftheseventhangel,whenheisabouttosound,themysteryofGodwouldbefinished,asHedeclaredtoHisservantstheprophets.”Inordertodeterminewhatmysteryisbeingreferredto,asignificantclueabouttimingisprovided.Fortimeandspacepurposes,thisisbrieflyaddressedasfollows:Thesevenangelswithseventrumpetsareintroduced,anddescribed,inRevelation8,9,and11:15a.Thelastthreetrumpetsoundingsarereferredtoasthethree“woes”toalltheinhabitantsoftheearth(Revelation8:13).Asmentionedbrieflyinchapter2,whenprayerfullystudiedwithDaniel11:25-43,theconclusionisthatthese“woes”refertothethreeholywarsbetweenapostateChristianityandIslam.The“Christian”forcesincludenationswithabaseofChristianity,andtheIslamicforceshistoricallyincludedArabIslam,OttomanIslam,andthecurrentwardeclaredbyradicalIslam,coupledwithIslamicbasednations.ThiscurrentwartookonaworldwidescopewiththeradicalIslamic(“KingoftheSouth,”Daniel11:25-43)attacksontheUnitedStates,onSeptember11,2001,fulfillingDaniel11:40a.TheUnitedStatesrespondedbyinvadingIraqinMarch2003,howevertherewasnota“Christian”religiouscomponentuntilAugust7,2014,whenPopeFranciscalledfortheUnitedNationstoprotectChristiansfromradicalIslam(https://sites.google.com/site/catholicchurchesofthearea/home-page-1/canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops-cccb-documents/pope-francis-august-2014-appeal-for-prayers-for-the-peoples-of-north-iraq).ThisinitiatedthefulfillmentoftheDaniel11:40b“whirlwind”response;thecombinationof“Christian”nationsandtheentitytheworldconsidersastheearth’srepresentativeofChristianity,theRomanCatholicChurch(KingoftheNorth).Thispromptsthelogicalquestion,what“mystery”didGod“finish”(fulfill,complete,accomplish)immediatelybefore2001and/or2014?CoulditbethatthetruemeaningoftheprophecyinRevelation17becameunderstood?Thisstudyshowsthat,indeed,afewpeoplewhoprayerfullydevotedtheirattentiontothisprophecycametoaprecise,accurateinterpretationthathasnowbecomemuchmoreurgent,aswillbeshown.Themessageonthewoman’sforeheadcallsBabylonthemotherofharlots,andlaterprovidesmuchmoreinformationtoverifyheridentity.

“Andthewomanwhomyousawisthatgreatcitywhichreignsoverthekingsoftheearth.AfterthesethingsIsawanotherangelcomingdownfromheaven,havinggreatauthority,andtheearthwasilluminatedwithhisglory.Andhecriedmightilywithaloudvoice,saying,“Babylonthegreatisfallen,isfallen,andhasbecomeadwellingplaceofdemons,aprisonforeveryfoulspirit,andacageforeveryuncleanandhatedbird!Forallthenationshavedrunkofthewineofthewrathofherfornication,thekingsoftheearthhavecommittedfornicationwithher,andthemerchantsoftheearthhavebecomerichthroughtheabundanceofherluxury.”Revelation17:18-18:3.

Therecanbenoquestionthatthesymboliclanguageusedreferringtothewomanas

Page 47: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

47

thegreatcity,Babylon,thewineoffornication,therichesassociatedwitharelationshipwiththepapacy;allrefertotheRomanCatholicChurchsystem,withsecondaryapplicationtoapostateProtestantreligionswhofollowsimilar,non-Biblicaldoctrines.Asaharlotherself,theCatholicchurchbecamethemotherofharlots(Hosea4:11-13,18),thevariousapostateProtestantchurchesthat,thoughadoptingmoretruthintheBibleastheywereformed,ceasedtocontinuetosearchfor,andaccept,thecompletetruthsoftheBible.Noneareasegregiousasthefailuretoadopttheonlycommandmentthatstartswiththeword“Remember.”TheimportanceofhonoringourLordastheCreatorcannotbeoverestimated,anditisemphasizedthroughoutScriptureasthefollowingreferencesshow:

“YoushallnotaddtothewordwhichIcommandyou,nortakefromit,thatyoumaykeepthecommandmentsoftheLordyourGodwhichIcommandyou.”Deuteronomy4:2.“DonotaddtoHiswords,LestHerebukeyou,andyoubefoundaliar.”Proverbs30:6.“DonotthinkthatIcametodestroytheLawortheProphets.Ididnotcometodestroybuttofulfill.Forassuredly,Isaytoyou,tillheavenandearthpassaway,onejotoronetittlewillbynomeanspassfromthelawtillallisfulfilled.Whoeverthereforebreaksoneoftheleastofthesecommandments,andteachesmenso,shallbecalledleastinthekingdomofheaven;butwhoeverdoesandteachesthem,heshallbecalledgreatinthekingdomofheaven.”Matthew5:17-19.“Heavenandearthwillpassaway,butMywordswillbynomeanspassaway.”Matthew24:35.“Anditiseasierforheavenandearthtopassawaythanforonetittleofthelawtofail.”Luke16:17.

Jesus,intheclosingscenesoftheRevelationvisionstoJohnsaid,

“ForItestifytoeveryonewhohearsthewordsoftheprophecyofthisbook:Ifanyoneaddstothesethings,Godwilladdtohimtheplaguesthatarewritteninthisbook;andifanyonetakesawayfromthewordsofthebookofthisprophecy,GodshalltakeawayhispartfromtheBookofLife,fromtheholycity,andfromthethingswhicharewritteninthisbook.”Revelation22:18-19.

AsGodistheAuthoroftheBible,eachwordisthereforareason,forthepurposeofedifyingtheCreator.Jesusisemphaticabouttheimportanceofthelaw.Indeed,itisthebasisforGod’sKingdom,andwhatdefinesourdutyasHisservants.Bynow,thementionoftheabominationsoftheearthbecomesclear.Theseareunbiblicaldoctrines,religioustraditionsandcustoms,intoleranceforwhatispureandholy,andtheenforcementofman-madereligionthroughderision,legislation,punishment,andpersecution.God’struepeoplehavealwaysenduredthesetreatmentsandtheBibletellsustoexpectthesetoincreasedramatically,asChrist’sreturnisnowimminent(Daniel9:27;11:31;12:11;Matthew24:15-16;Mark13:14;Luke21:20-21).Insomesense,it’seasytoidentifythegoodfromtheevil,bycarefullywatchingwhichside

Page 48: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

48

peopleparticipatein.WeprayforthetransformativeSpirittomoveourheartstolove,tocarefor,andtohavecompassionforallpeople,asJesusmodeledduringHisministry.JohnmakesonemoreobservationinRevelation17:6:

“Isawthewoman,drunkwiththebloodofthesaintsandwiththebloodofthemartyrsofJesus.AndwhenIsawher,Imarveledwithgreatamazement.”

TheapostatechurchclaimedtorepresentChrist,however,deniedHisWord.Thepapalchurchhadjustcomeoutof1,260yearsofpersecutionofthesaints,andJohnsawshewasdrunkwiththeirblood.TheGreekword“martyrs”canalsobetranslated“witness,”andthesecontinuetobeawitnessforthetruth.Infact,theworldwidepersecutionofChristians,hasbeenincreasingexponentiallyduringthepastfewyears.WeareinthespiritualwarreferencedbyRevelation12:17,“Andthedragonwasenragedwiththewoman,andhewenttomakewarwiththerestofheroffspring,whokeepthecommandmentsofGodandhavethetestimonyofJesusChrist.”Here,God’speoplearepreciselydefined,sotherewillbenoconfusionforgenuineseekersofthetruth.Insummary,weconsistentlyapplytheinterpretiveprinciples,discerningthefollowingmeaningsofRevelation17:1-6:

• The“greatharlot”representsagroupofpeopleclaimingtobelieveinGod,howeverdoingtheworkofSatan

• “Fornication”referstoillicitrelationshipsbetweenreligiousordersandcivilauthorities

• “Wine”representsfalse,non-Biblicaldoctrines• An“abomination”isthecorruptionofBiblicaltruthandfalsedoctrines• “BabylontheGreat,theMother”isareferencetotheRomanCatholicChurch• “Harlots”referstoProtestantsthathaveadoptedandpracticenon-biblical

doctrines

Page 49: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

49

Chapter7

Revelation17:7-11–IdentificationoftheBeastInRevelation17:6,Johnexpressedhiswonderandwas,evidently,perplexedatthevisionoftheharlot.

“Buttheangelsaidtome,“Whydidyoumarvel?Iwilltellyouthemysteryofthewomanandofthebeastthatcarriesher,whichhasthesevenheadsandthetenhorns.”Revelation17:7.

Interestingly,theangelreactstoJohn,tellingusthisvisionwasinteractive.This“plague”angelgoesontotellJohntheformulatodecipherthe“mystery.”Godwantedustoknowitstruemeaning,howeverthisknowledgeandunderstandingwastobedelayeduntiljustbeforethesoundingoftheseventhangel,accordingtoRevelation10:7.TheangelaffirmswhatJohnwasshown:awomanandthebeast,describedashavingsevenheadsandtenhorns.Thesevenheadsareleadersofthepapalchurchonwhichthewomanisseated(Revelation17:9).Theangeladdressesthehornslater,inRevelation17:12-17.Next,theangelrevealsthekeytounderstandingthe“mystery.”Thelanguageusedintentionallymaskedtheabilitytounderstandtheformulauntiljustbefore2001,andtheidentityofthe“666”manuntiljustbefore2014.Thisisthetimeframeofthe“sounding”oftheseventhtrumpet.Todescribewhatweareabouttounderstandplainly,wouldhaveputtheBibleatunnecessaryriskduringthemiddleor“dark”ages,andasourceofdiscouragementtothegenerationsthathavefallenasleeplookingfortheLord’sreturn.

“Thebeastthatyousawwas,andisnot,andwillascendoutofthebottomlesspitandgotoperdition.”Revelation17:8a.

Thefirsthalfofthisverseconfirmsthatthisscarletbeast(havingnamesofblasphemycoveringit,representingthemixingofreligionandstateenforcement)hasthreephases;“was,”“isnot,”and,“willascendout,”afterwhichwillthengotoperdition.ApplyingourstudyofRevelation13:1-10alongwith17:1-5,weseethattheseabeastexercisedpersecutorypowersfrom538-1798directly,andmostlyindirectly,throughthevariousEuropeannations’legislativeandpolicingpowers;togetherresponsibleformartyringmillionsofGod’speople.This1,260-yearperiodprophesiedbyDanielandJohn,isthe“was”phase.Thepure“woman”ofRevelation12,wentintothe“wilderness”of1,260years,andaharlot,and“harlots,”persecutedGod’speopleduringthislongsojourn.Theseabeast(thepapalchurchdescribedinRevelation13:1-10)enteredthe1,260yearsinA.D.538,alreadyseekingtoenforceitsdoctrinesonthepeople.Thisisrepresentedbyablasphemous“name”onitsheads.Thescarletbeastrepresentstheresultsafterthe1,260yearsendedin1798;coveredwithblasphemous“names,”

Page 50: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

50

indicatingthenationswerecoercedandcompelledbythegreatharlot,“arrayedinpurpleandscarlet,”toenforceitsreligiononthepeople,throughtheuseofdemonictacticsandtortures.“Isnot”referstothenextphasethatthescarletbeast,andwomanwhotransitionedfrombeingseatedon“manywaters”tobeingseatedonitssevenheads,enteredin1798;the“wilderness”or“desert”ofitsnon-persecutoryphase,wherethepapacyremainsasofthiswriting(2016).The“beast…isnot,”showstheword,“beast,”wasassociatedwiththepriorpersecutionbythepapalchurch,howeverthepapalchurchcontinuestogrowinsizeandinfluence.ThisismadeclearinRevelation17:9,whereweseethewomanseatedonits“heads.”Thisdemonstratestheprogressionoftime.TheCatholicChurchhasnotbeeninvolvedwithreligiouspersecutiononachurch-widebasissince1798.However,thisverseindicatesthatwillchangeinthefuture,asthe“beast”willascendoutofthebottomlesspit,its“wilderness”or“desert”phase,to,onceagain,becomeapersecuting“beast.”Soonthereafter,itwill“gotoperdition.”Perditioncanalsobetranslated“destroyed,”andthereisconfirmingBiblicalevidencethatthepapalchurch(symbolicallyrepresentedasBabylon)willbedestroyedbythe“dryingup”ofitssupportstructure,symbolizedbythesixthplaguereferencingthedryingoftheEuphrates(Revelation16:12;Daniel7:11;11:45).ThesecondpartofRevelation17:8follows:

“Andthosewhodwellontheearthwillmarvel,whosenamesarenotwrittenintheBookofLifefromthefoundationoftheworld,whentheyseethebeastthatwas,andisnot,andyetis.”Revelation17:8b.

Now,thosepeoplewho“dwellon”orthinkonearthlypursuits,aretheonesto“marvel.”Thesewillbeastonishedwiththedramaticchangessoontofollow.Regrettably,thesearealsonowdescribedasthosewhosenamesarenotfoundintheBookofLifethathasbeenkeptbyGodsincecreation.Finally,asimilarphraseaboutthebeastisrepeated.RepetitionintheBibleisdoneforemphasis,andindicatesamuchdeepermeaningistobeexplored.AsimpleexampleofthiswasearlierstudiedinRevelation8:13;“woe,woe,woe”relatedtothegreatholywarsbetweenapostateChristianityandIslam.Revelation17:8holdsamorecomplexrepetitionthattakesonfullmeaningwhenconsideredwithRevelation17:10.First,weexamineRevelation17:9:

“Hereisthemindwhichhaswisdom:Thesevenheadsaresevenmountainsonwhichthewomansits.”

Asearliernoted,thewomanwhowasseensittingon“manywaters,”whenitwentintothewilderness,isnowseensittingonthebeasts’sevenheads.Thereisno“beast”while

Page 51: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

51

thepapalchurchisinthe“wilderness”ofitsnon-persecutoryphase,justthesevenheads.ThereisabsoluteconsistencybetweenthebeastsofDanielandRevelation12and13,inapplyingtheunderstandingthatthechronologyoftimestartsatthetailofthebeasts,progressingtothebody,thentheheads,andfinallythehorns.Theangelcallsforintelligenceandwisdominordertodiscernthemeaningofthecluesthatfollow,toachieveunderstanding.TheleopardofDaniel7:6,representingGreece,progressedfromthebodytothefourheads.ThiswasrepeatedandenlargedinDaniel8:8,whereitwasdescribedasagoatwithalargehornthatwasbroken(AlexandertheGreat),andreplacedbyfourhorns(thefourgeneralswhoagreedtobreakupthekingdomin301B.C.).TheangelinRevelation17:9equatestheseven“heads”withseven“mountains.”ThisbringsustothecrucialunderstandingoftheDaniel2imagedream,wherewefoundthatthe“Stone”(representingJesus;Daniel2:35)becamea“Mountain,”thatwillfill“thewholeearth,”representingtheTrinityorGodhead;literallytheTriuneGodoftheuniverse:theFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.God’suniversalkingdomwillbeestablishedliterallyandspiritually,attheendofthe1,000yearsofRevelation20:4-15.AcommonerrorismadebyinterpretingtermsinRevelationliterally,unlesscontextshowsaclearreasontodoso.NearlyallofRevelationisbasedonsymbolism,asdefinedelsewhereinscripture.Someattributethe“mountains”ofRevelation17:9totheseven“hills”onwhichthecityofRomeislocated,drawingtheconclusionthatsinceVaticanCityislocatedinRome,itrepresentstheRomanCatholicChurch.Thisconclusiontendstomaskthecomplexwordstructureofthepassage.Inaddition,theGreekwordused,oros,istranslated“mountain”or“mount”sixty-twotimesintheKingJamesVersion.InLuke3:5;23:30,textswhere“mountain”and“hill”arebothusedinthesametext,theGreekwordusedfor“hill”is“bounos.”Inaddition,thecontextof“mountains”inRevelation17:9-10,equatesthesymbolicterms,“heads”and“kings,”to“mountains.”Ourstudyinchapter1ofthisstudyidentifiedacounterfeit“mountain”ofgods,referencedbyJeremiah.Vitally,thiscounterfeit“mountain”isidentifiedasBabylon!

“AndIwillrepayBabylonandalltheinhabitantsofChaldeaforalltheeviltheyhavedoneInZioninyoursight,”saystheLord.“Behold,Iamagainstyou,Odestroyingmountain,whodestroysalltheearth,”saystheLord.“AndIwillstretchoutMyhandagainstyou,Rollyoudownfromtherocks,andmakeyouaburntmountain.”Jeremiah51:24-25.

Here,GodspecificallyidentifiesBabylonasa“destroyingmountain,whodestroysalltheearth,”promisingtomakeita“burntmountain.”AswithmanypropheciesintheBible,theinitialfulfillmentisliteral,withanadditional,spiritualfulfillmenttofollow.

Page 52: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

52

Itisnotacoincidencethatthename“Babylon”isusedsixtimesinthebookofRevelation,as“six”representsSatan’snumber,while“seven”representsGod’sperfectnumber.ThosewhostudyRevelationwillfindatleastadozen“sevens”inthebook.ThefirstreferencetoBabylonisinthesecondangel’smessageofRevelation14:8.ItisnextseeninRevelation16:19,whereBabyloncomesupinremembrancebeforeGod.WestudieditsidentifyingroleinRevelation17:5,and“Babylon”appearsthreeadditionaltimesinchapter18(verses2,10,21).TheangelgetsevenmorespecificinRevelation17:10.

“Therearealsosevenkings(“theyarealsosevenkings”ESV).Fivehavefallen,oneis,andtheotherhasnotyetcome.Andwhenhecomes,hemustcontinueashorttime.”

Theangelnowequatesthesevenheadswithsevenmountains,andassevenkings.ItisnowthatwefindconsistentapplicationoftheinterpretativeprincipleinDaniel7:17reading:“Thosegreatbeasts,whicharefour,arefourkingswhichariseoutoftheearth.”WerememberthesebeastsoftheearthrepresentedtheempiresofBabylon,Medo/Persia,Greece,andImperialRome,coveringaperiodofnearly1,100years.Wemayinferthatthe“fourkings”representedthelinesofkings,orleaders,ofeachofthesekingdoms.TheangelisdirectingthatthesameprinciplebeappliedtospiritualBabylon,theRomanCatholicChurch.Logically,weneedtoexaminetheleaders(popes)ofthepapalchurchsince1798,lookingforcluesastohowtheyfitintothisprophecy.Beforewedo,theangelhasonelastcriticalclue:

“Thebeastthatwas,andisnot,ishimselfalsotheeighth,andisoftheseven,andisgoingtoperdition.”Revelation17:11.

Weremembertopray,askingforwisdomtounderstandBibleprophecyaseitherthereisa100%consistentfitandapplicationofinterpretiverules,ortheinterpretativetheorymustbeabandoned.TheheadorleadersoftheRomanCatholicChurcharethepopes.Thechurchlists266popes,startingwithitsclaimthattheapostlePeterwasthefirst,andendingwiththecurrentpope,asof2016,Francis(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm).Welearnthatmenchosentobepopeselectthenamethattheywillbeknownby,inhonorofapredecessor,orsomeoneadmired.Inhistory,therehavebeenimposterpopesthepapacyreferstoasantipopes,soapopeisonlyformallyrecognizedifheremainsingoodstandingwiththechurch,andonlyathisdeath.Ofthe266popes,thereare82uniquenamesthathavebeenused;46nameshavebeenusedbyonlyonepope,leaving36nameshavingbeenusedbymultiplepopesthroughoutchurchhistory.Thefactthat36nameshavebeenusedbytwoormorepopes,qualifiesthemtofitthedefinitionofcounterfeit“mountainsofgods,”justastheGodhead/Trinityisthegenuine“Mountain”ofDaniel2:35,45.SinceRevelation17:9-10referstothetimethewomanis

Page 53: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

53

sittingonsevenheads/mountains/kings(havingmovedfrom“manywaters,”representedinRevelation13asthebodyoftheseabeast),wearespecificallylookingattheperiodof1798todate.Ofallthemenwhohavebeenpopesince1798,onlyeightnameshavebeenused;Pius,Leo,Gregory,Benedict,John,Paul,JohnPaul,andFrancis.Ofthese,sevennameshavebeenchosenbymultiplemenhistorically,whiletheeighth,Francis,isuniquetoJorgeMarioBergoglio,thecurrentBishopofRome.ItisnowthatweconsistentlyapplytheBabyloniansexagesimalmathematicalsystemusedinDaniel’sday,asdescribedinchapter5ofthisstudy,alongwiththeemphaticcallofRevelation13:18;“Hereiswisdom.Lethimwhohasunderstandingcalculatethenumberofthebeast,foritisthenumberofaman:Hisnumberis666.”Usingthisinformation,thefollowingunderstandingisrevealedwiththevaluein()indicatingthenumberofpopesthroughouthistory,takingeachname(seeappendix):1.Pius(12):1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12=782.Leo(13):1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13=913.Gregory(16):1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14+15+16=1364.Benedict(14):1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14=1055.John(21):1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+13+14+15+16+17+18+19+20+21=2316.Paul(6):1+2+3+4+5+6=217.JohnPaul(2):1+2=3JosephRatzinger,whotookthenameBenedictXVI,isnotcounted,asheisstillliving,thoughheplaysasignificantrole,aswewillsooncometounderstand.Wenotethatthepapacyskippedthename“BenedictX,”soBenedictXVIisthe15thpopeusingthename“Benedict.”Similarly,thepapacydidnotuseJohnXVIorXX,sothereareactuallyonly21popesthatusedthename“John,”eventhoughthelastwasdesignatedJohnXXIII.Itisnowasimplemattertoaddthetotalsuptodeterminewhothe“666”manis.78+91+136+105+231+21+3=665.BeforewejumptotheconclusionthatFranciswillbeboththeeighth“king”andaddacountof“1”yieldingatotalof666,weneedtoensureconsistency,andaddmoreinformationPaulprovidesinhissecondlettertotheThessalonianChristians.Theinconsistencyofthename“Francis”isthatitisunique;onlybeingusedbyJorgeMarioBergogliowhenhewasselectedpopeinMarch2013.Justasimportant,thoughnotyetcounted,ifJosephRatzinger(PopeBenedictXVI,2005-2013)weretodieasthe15thpopeusingthatname,theBabyloniancountwouldbe665+15(forBenedict)+1(forFrancis)=681.Inaddition,PopeFrancisdoesnotfitthecluetheangelprovidedinRevelation17:11,that“Thebeastthatwas,andisnot,ishimselfalsotheeighth,andisoftheseven,andisgoingtoperdition,”because“Francis”isauniquename,not“oftheseven.”InRevelation17:8,wereadaboutthebeastgoingtoperdition.Inverse11,thebeastisidentifiedasanindividual;“himself.”Inaddition,the“eighth”is“oftheseven.”Pope

Page 54: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

54

Francisdoesnotfulfillthisverse,asheisnot“oftheseven”(1Pius,2Leo,3Gregory,4Benedict,5John,6Paul,7JohnPaul).Providingmorecluestothismystery,Paulwrote:

“3Letnoonedeceiveyoubyanymeans;forthatDaywillnotcomeunlessthefallingawaycomesfirst,andthemanofsinisrevealed,thesonofperdition,4whoopposesandexaltshimselfaboveallthatiscalledGodorthatisworshiped,sothathesitsasGodinthetempleofGod,showinghimselfthatheisGod. 5DoyounotrememberthatwhenIwasstillwithyouItoldyouthesethings?6Andnowyouknowwhatisrestraining,thathemayberevealedinhisowntime.7Forthemysteryoflawlessnessisalreadyatwork;onlyHewhonowrestrainswilldosountilHeistakenoutoftheway.8Andthenthelawlessonewillberevealed,whomtheLordwillconsumewiththebreathofHismouthanddestroywiththebrightnessofHiscoming.9ThecomingofthelawlessoneisaccordingtotheworkingofSatan,withallpower,signs,andlyingwonders,10andwithallunrighteousdeceptionamongthosewhoperish,becausetheydidnotreceivetheloveofthetruth,thattheymightbesaved.11AndforthisreasonGodwillsendthemstrongdelusion,thattheyshouldbelievethelie,12thattheyallmaybecondemnedwhodidnotbelievethetruthbuthadpleasureinunrighteousness.”2Thessalonians2:3-12.

Whetherhewasawareofitornotatthetime,Paulisobviouslyprophesyinghere,usingtheterms“manofsin,”“sonofperdition,”and“lawlessone.”JustasJesusmixedtheneartermtoHistimedestructionofJerusalemwithHisreturninMatthew24,Mark13,andLuke21,PaulprovidedthebelieversinThessalonicaencouragementandprovidedkeystounderstandthe“mystery”referredtoinRevelation10:7and17:5,7.InRevelation17:11,thebeast,whois“alsohimselftheeighth”king,will,accordingtoPaul:

1.berevealed,2.bethesonofperditionordestruction(noteRevelation9:11),3.beinoppositionofGod,4.willclaimtobeGod,5.willbeconsumedbythebreathoftheLord,and6.willbedestroyedwiththebrightnessofHiscoming.

TheLordplacedthiscomplexriddleinHisWordforallpeoplelivingduringthetimeofthethird“woe”holywarthatachievedworldwideprominencein2001.Thiswarisincreasinginintensityandideologicalscopeatanexponentialpace.Heinfluencedthemenwhobecamepopesoverthelast1,900yearsintheselectionoftheirnames,orchestratinghow,andwhen,thisprophecywouldbefulfilled,tojusttherighttime.Thattimeisnearlyuponus.Theriddleissolvedanditsmeaningisrevealedinadvanceofitsfulfillment!ThewholeRevelation17:8-11passagereads:

“8Thebeastthatyousawwas,andisnot,andwillascendoutofthebottomlesspitandgotoperdition.Andthosewhodwellontheearthwillmarvel,whose

Page 55: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

55

namesarenotwrittenintheBookofLifefromthefoundationoftheworld,whentheyseethebeastthatwas,andisnot,andyetis.“9Hereisthemindwhichhaswisdom:Thesevenheadsaresevenmountainsonwhichthewomansits.10Therearealsosevenkings.Fivehavefallen,oneis,andtheotherhasnotyetcome.Andwhenhecomes,hemustcontinueashorttime.11Thebeastthatwas,andisnot,ishimselfalsotheeighth,andisoftheseven,andisgoingtoperdition.”

Revelation17:8repeatsthephasesofthebeasttwice,andverse11identifiesthebeastasanindividualman,consistentwithRevelation13:18and2Thessalonians2:3-8.Revelation17:10addstheelementthat“fiveoftheheadshavefallen,oneis,andtheotherhasnotyetcome”andwhenhedoes,itwillbeforashorttime.SomesuggestthatRevelation17:10-11arereferencingancientworldkingdoms.Therearevariouschallengeswiththistheory,includingthatitdoesn’tfitwiththeprevioustext,theinterpretationisnotconsistentwiththedreams/visionsofDaniel,and,itignoresasignificantpurposeofprophecy;torevealthefuturefromthetimeitwasgiven.TheangelhastransportedJohninvisiontothetimeofthesevenheads,1798todate.Morespecifically,heindicatedtoJohnthatfiveheads(mountains/kings)havefallen.Examiningthenamestakenbythemenwhowerepopesfrom1798andforward,thelastyeareachnamewasusedisin()below:1.Pius(1958)2.Leo(1903)3.Gregory(1846)4.Benedict(1922)[BenedictXVIisnotincludedashehasnotdied]5.John(1963)6.Paul(1978)7.JohnPaul(2005)ThisshowsusthattheangeltransportedJohntothetimeofthereignofPopePaulVI(1963-1978),indicatedbythepreviousfiveheadsbeing“fallen.”Thisprocessofthe“heads”fallingsequentially,isconsistentwiththefourheadsoftheDaniel7leopard(Alexander’sgenerals)addressedinchapteroneofthisstudy.Theimportanceofunderstandingthisinterpretiverule,istheusageofthefirstsixtakennamesbypopessince1798spannedmanycenturies(seeAppendix).Theonenamethatwasonlyusedbytwopopes,spanningatotalofonly26years,was“JohnPaul,”fulfillingthephraseinRevelation17:10,“whenhecomes,hemustcontinueashorttime.”PopeJohnPaulI(AlbinoLuciani)died33daysintohispontificate(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_I),followedbyJohnPaulII(CardinalKarolWojtyla)whoservedfrom1978to2005(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II).

Page 56: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

56

PopeFrancisobviouslyisnotone“oftheseven,”andasearlierdemonstrated,doesnotfitthisinterpretation,ordoeshe?RememberingwhatPaulwrote,

“6Andnowyouknowwhatisrestraining,thathemayberevealedinhisowntime.7Forthemysteryoflawlessnessisalreadyatwork;onlyHewhonowrestrainswilldosountilHeistakenoutoftheway.”2Thessalonians2:6-7.

CouldPopeFrancisbethemanreferredtointheseverses?ItisFranciswhoiscallingforpeace.Hehasalsobecomeexceptionallyunpopularwiththeconservativechurchleadership,startingin2015withhiscallsforaccountabilityinthechurch’ssexscandalsandfinancialdealings,includinganexternalauditoftheInstitutefortheWorksofReligion(VaticanBank).ThesepositiveattributesarespecificallyreferredtoinRevelation18:16,wherethepapalchurchisseenclothedwith“finelinen,”describedas“righteousacts”inRevelation19:8.However,2Thessalonians2:7foretellsthatthemanweknowasPopeFranciswillbeforciblyremovedfromoffice.BasedonthisBibleprophecy,PopeFranciswillberegardedasanantipopebytheRomanCatholicChurch.Whilewedonotknowwhenthiswilloccur,PopeFrancishassaidthathistenurewillbeshort,andlatein2015,referredtoapossibleresignationyearof2020.Again,thispassageindicatesthathewillnotvoluntarilyresign,norwillhedieinoffice.Hewillbeinvoluntarilydeposedandbeclassifiedasananti-pope,andthereforenotbeinthe“count”oflegitimatepopes.ThisworldshockingchangewillpavethewayforPopeBenedictXVItoreturntotheVaticanthrone.Eitheratthattime,orsoonthereafter,potentiallyassociatedwiththereturnofpapalchurchsanctionedreligiouspersecution,specificallytiedtoSundaysacredness,JosephRatzingerwillchangehisnamefromBenedictXVItoanewname,uniqueinhistory,reflectinghisnewauthority,includingpersecutorypowers.Bychanginghisname,whenhedieshewillnotbeBenedictXVI,thereforethepopecountwillnotbeincreased.Thecountremainsat665untilJosephRatzingerdiesusinganew,uniquename!TherestofthepropheciesinRevelationwillfollowinquicksuccession,includingChrist’sreturn,whenthemanweknowasJosephRatzinger,willbekilledbythebrightnessofHiscoming(2Thessalonians2:8).Asone“oftheseven,”hebecomesthe“eighthking,”the“666”man,ofRevelation13:18,anda“beast”himself,ashepresidesoverthechurch,advisingthekingsoftheearthinexercisingpersecutorypoweronceagain.Hewillnotdieanaturaldeath.JosephRatzingerwasbornonApril16,1927.Further,asthecoming“beast,”PopeBenedictXVIfulfillsRevelation17:11bybeing“thebeastthatwas”(referringtohisformerreign,2005-2013),“andisnot”(hiscurrentstateofretirement),“ishimselfalsotheeighth”(uponhisreturntothepapalthroneusinganew,uniquename).ThetablesintheAppendixofthisstudyprovideconclusiveevidencepointingtothisoutcome.Acarefulreadingofthispassageindicatesthatthe

Page 57: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

57

repeatingofthephrase“was,andisnot,andyetis”meansitappliesbothtotheRomanCatholicChurchsystemandtoitsfinalpopeasanindividual.Insummary,weconsistentlyapplytheinterpretiveprinciples,discerningthefollowingmeaningsofRevelation17:7-11:

• The“sevenheads”arealso“sevenmountains”and“sevenkings.”Theserepresentlinesofpopes,usingthesamenames,followedbyadistinguishingRomannumeral

• PopeFranceswillbedeposedandlabeledan“anti-pope”bytheRomanCatholicChurch

• PopeBenedictwillreturnastheBishopofRome,howeverwilltakeanewname,uniqueinthehistoryofpopes

• Theman,JosephRatzinger,willnotdieanaturaldeath;hewillbekilledbythebrightnessofJesusreturn

• Thisinterpretation,andthetimingofitsunderstanding,isthefulfillmentofRevelation10:7:

“butinthedaysofthesoundingoftheseventhangel,whenheisabouttosound,themysteryofGodwouldbefinished,ashedeclaredtoHisservantstheprophets.”

Page 58: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

58

Chapter8

Revelation17:12-17–TheHarlot’sDaughtersTheangelnextaddressesthemeaningofthetenhornsthatwereseenonthebeast:

“Thetenhornswhichyousawaretenkingswhohavereceivednokingdomasyet,buttheyreceiveauthorityforonehouraskingswiththebeast.”Revelation17:12.

Thesehorns,beingpositionedonthebeast,reflectthesourceoftheirpower(Revelation12:3;13:1);Satan.Therearefourcriticalitemstounderstandhere.First:these“ten”hornsarelocatedonabeastthatisareligiouspower(havingblasphemousnames),thereforethesepowerswillbereligiousthemselves.Second:thescarletbeastrepresentsthecivilenforcementofreligiouslegislationtobecalledforbyapostateProtestantChristianreligions(andlikelydemandedbyearth’scitizenryinanerroneousefforttoappeaseGod,associetyrapidlydeteriorates).Third:thetimeinhistoryisidentifiedwhenthese“horns”receivea“kingdom”orlegislativepowers.WerecallthattheangeltransportedJohninvisionforwardintime,asreferencedinRevelation17:10,specificallytoatimeduringthereignofPopePaulVI(1963-1978).ThishelpstoavoidconfusionintheidentityoftheseProtestantreligiouspowersbyindicatingthat,asof1978,these“horns”didnotpossessakingdom/power,yet.Fourth,thenumber“ten”issymbolic,consistentwiththeuseandmeaningofthenumber“ten”inDaniel1:20and7:7.ThebeastofDaniel7representedImperialRomeandits“horns”weresymbolicofthebarbariantribes(severaldozen)thatestablishedthemselvesintheformerterritoryofWesternRome,followingImperialRome’sfallinA.D.476.Revelation17:12defineswhenthesereligiouspowerswillreceiveauthority;“…askingswiththebeast.”Fromthisweknowthatthesehornsarenotexercisingpowerasofthiswriting(2016),astheirpowerisderivedfromthebeast,andthedesignation,“beast,”representspersecutorypowerinitiallytobeexercisedbytheRomanCatholicChurch,likelythroughcollaborationwiththenationsofEurope.ThissequenceisevidentinRevelation13:14-15,ascoveredinchapter4ofthisstudy.Aswelearnedfromourstudyinchapter7,thiswillonlyoccurafterPopeFrancisisdeposed,andthemanweknowasPopeBenedictXVIreturns,takinganew,uniquename,neverbeforeusedbyanypope.

Page 59: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

59

Thesesymbolic“horns”aretheharlotdaughtersofthegreatharlot(Revelation17:5).TheyrepresenttheapostateProtestantChristianreligionsthatdonotfollowallthelightofGod’sWord,specificallythefourthcommandmentseventh-daySabbath,acknowledgingandhonoringourGodasTheCreator.Asmentionedinchapter4ofthisstudy,astudentoftheBibleandofhistory,coupledwithcurrentevents,canseealikelypathforSundaylegislationasapartialresponsetoterrorismbyradicalIslamists;areligionthatholdsFridayasitssacredday.FurtherreferenceonwhattheBibleforetellstheliteralandspiritualoutcomeswillbeofthisthird“woe”holywarconflict,arefoundinDaniel11:40-43.TheunderstandingthatapostateProtestantleaderswilljoinwiththeUnitedStatesgovernmentinformingSundaylegislation,isdiscussedinchapter4ofthisstudy,andwilllikelytakeplaceconcurrentwith,orimmediatelyafter,thechangeofpopesandthe“beast”ofreligiouspersecutionisinitiatedinEurope.Thetermofauthority“foronehour”maybesymbolicforabriefperiodjustbeforeJesuscompletesthepre-adventjudgmentprocessreferredtoinDaniel7:9-10;12:1a;Revelation11:1-2;andEzekiel9:3-10.Usingtheformulaforprophetictimeofonedayequalingoneyear,“onehour”isfifteendays.IsitpossiblethatapostateProtestantChristianitywillbeempoweredtokillthesaintsforfifteendaysbeforeJesusrisesfromjudgmentandreceivesthe“kingdom”ofsaints?ThepoweroftheseapostateProtestantchurchesisrepresentedbythebrittleclayofthetentoesoftheimageofDaniel2:41-45(seeKJVandESV).Daniel2isfascinatingandhighlyinformative,howeveritisoutsidethescopeofthisstudy.VerysoonaftertheUnitedStatesmakesanimageof(copies)theSundaylegislationenactedinEurope,therewillbearealizationthatthepapacyhashadcenturiesofexperiencewithreligiousenforcementandpersecution,andtheUnitedStateswillprovideauthoritythatisconsolidatedandcoordinatedatthepapalchurchlevel.

“13Theseareofonemind,andtheywillgivetheirpowerandauthoritytothebeast.14ThesewillmakewarwiththeLamb,andtheLambwillovercomethem,forHeisLordoflordsandKingofkings;andthosewhoarewithHimarecalled,chosen,andfaithful.”Revelation17:13-14.

Thesaints,the“chosen”and“faithful,”lookforwardtothewonderfulpromiseinverse14.AccordingtoDaniel7:11-12,aftersupportforthepapalsystemiswithdrawn(Daniel11:45b;Revelation16:12),theseapostateProtestants,coupledwiththeenforcementpowersoftheUnitedStates,become“beasts”themselves,bydirectlypersecutingGod’speople.Asthesethingstakeplace,Revelation15:8providesaveiledreferenceconfirmingthatallpeopleonearthwillhavemadetheirchoiceofwhomtoworship.Jesus’gracehasbeenrejectedbythewicked,soHestandsupfromjudgment(Daniel12:1a)andleavestheheavenlytemple,nolongerservingasIntercessorforhumanity.Then,theangelsuppliesakeycluetoJohnthatwehavealreadyidentified;

Page 60: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

60

“Thenhesaidtome,‘Thewaterswhichyousaw,wheretheharlotsits,arepeoples,multitudes,nations,andtongues.”Revelation17:15.

TheprophetIsaiahwasprovidedaconsistentunderstanding;

“Woetothemultitudeofmanypeoplewhomakeanoiseliketheroaroftheseas,andtotherushingofnationsthatmakearushingliketherushingofmightywaters!”(Isaiah17:12),aswasJeremiah;“Oyouwhodwellbymanywaters,abundantintreasures,yourendhascome…”Jeremiah51:13.

Afterthecloseofjudgment,God’ssealedpeoplecannolongerbepersecutedbythewicked.TheplaguesofRevelation16starttofallandthefulfillmentofpropheciesconcerningthewrathofGod,willbecomeapparent.Afterthe“kingdom”ofthesaintshasbeengiventoJesus,asexplainedinDaniel7:14,noharmorplagueswillcometothesaints(Daniel12:1c).AsspiritualIsrael(Revelation7:1-8),theywilllivethroughthisperiodwithalltheirneedssuppliedbytheLord,justliketheliteralchildrenofIsraelexperiencedwhilespending40yearsintheSinaidesert,aftertheirmiraculousrescueoutofEgypt.ThiswillleadtotherealizationbytheapostateProtestantsthattheyhavebeendeceived.

“Andthetenhornswhichyousawonthebeast,thesewillhatetheharlot,makeherdesolateandnaked,eatherfleshandburnherwithfire.”Revelation17:16.

ItwillbetoolateforthewickedtocomeintoarelationshipwithJesus,tosurrendertheirlivestotheSavior,pleadingforHimtotransformtheircharacterssuchthattheyarepurifiedandmadecompatiblewiththeprinciplesofheaven.Theywilltakeouttheirfrustrationandfuryonthepapalsystem,destroyingitcompletely.Thisisareferencetothesixthplague,the“drying”ofthesymbolicEuphrates,describedinRevelation16:12,19;Jeremiah50:3;andDaniel7:11.JustastheMedesandPersiansdivertedtheEuphratesRiverthatflowedthroughtheliteralcityofBabylontoconquerit,thepeoplewithdrawtheirallegiancefromspiritualBabylon,resultinginitscollapse.Revelation17:17confirmsthecombiningofpersecutorypowerswiththeearthbeastofRevelation13:11-17,makinganimage(copy)ofthelegislation,declaringSundaysacred,andthenturningtheoperationofthisabominationovertothepapacy,asreferencedinverse13.

“ForGodhasputitintotheirheartstofulfillHispurpose,tobeofonemind,andtogivetheirkingdomtothebeast,untilthewordsofGodarefulfilled.”Revelation17:17.

ThisprocessissimilartoGodprovidingPharaohmanyopportunitiestoallowtheIsraelitestoworship,theresultbeingthatPharaoh’sheartbecameharderandmoredeterminedtorebelagainstGod(Exoduschapters5-12).Themasses,reelingfrom

Page 61: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

61

anarchy,war,anddisasterswillfillthechurches.TheministerswillclaimthatGod’sjudgmentsmaybeturnedasideifonlythenationreturnstoGod.Thedemandofthepeoplewillbetoidentifyandpunishthosewhodon’tconformtothemajoritypositionofthepapaldayofworship.ApostateChristiansandtheirleadershipwilldemandthatthepowersoftheUnitedState’slegislative,judicial,andexecutivebranchesbemarshaledinsupportofthescarletbeast/papacy(aprocesswhichwillthereafterbeadoptedbyalloftheworld’sgovernments).TheseforceswillbeinthecommonpursuitofeliminatingMuslimswhokeepFriday,andthosewhokeepthe7thdaySabbathcommandment,andhaverefusedtotakethemarkofthebeastorhisimage(declaringSundaysacredness),inordertobuyandsell(Revelation11:19;13:14-17;14:6-12).Whenreligiouspersecutionintheformofrestrictionsoncommercebegins,theabilitytobuyorsellisacurse!Insummary,weconsistentlyapplytheinterpretiveprinciples,discerningthefollowingmeaningsofRevelation17:12-17:

• The“tenhorns”representthethousandsofapostateProtestantreligionsclaimingtofollowthetrueGod,howeverpracticingfalsedoctrines.These“horns”arereferredtoas“beasts”inDaniel7:12,meaningtheyobtain,andwillexercise,persecutorypowers

• “Waters”representadensepopulation

Page 62: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

62

Chapter9

Revelation17:18-18:5–BabylontheGreatisFallen

“Andthewomanwhomyousawisthatgreatcitywhichreignsoverthekingsoftheearth.”Revelation17:18.

Thewoman,firstseensittingon“manywaters”(Revelation17:1),onthescarletbeast,thenmovingontoitssevenheads(Revelation17:9),progressingontothe“waters”(Revelation17:15),isspiritualBabylon,onepartofSatan’scounterfeittrinity.ThiscounterfeittrinityisidentifiedinRevelation16:13-14.Itiscomprisedoftheseabeast(RomanCatholicChurch),theearthbeast(falseprophet/UnitedStates/apostateProtestants),andthedragon(Satan),manifestedthroughimpersonationsofChrist,healing“miracles,”andcommunicationwiththe“dead”/demons,“spiritualism.”Whyistheunderstandingofthisprophecybeingrevealedatthistime?Simply,becausetimeisrunningout;alltheseeventshavestarted,orareabouttotakeplace.Moreimportantly,JesuswantstosaveeachandeveryonewhowouldchooseHimasLordandSavior.Therearetwothingswemustalldoasindividuals.First,repentofoursins,ofdwellingorthinkingonearthlymatters,andtoaskChristtodirecteveryaspectofourlives;toprotectusspiritually,makingus“heavendwellers.”

“24Andletusconsideroneanotherinordertostiruploveandgoodworks,25notforsakingtheassemblingofourselvestogether,asisthemannerofsome,butexhortingoneanother,andsomuchthemoreasyouseetheDayapproaching.26Forifwesinwillfullyafterwehavereceivedtheknowledgeofthetruth,therenolongerremainsasacrificeforsins.”Hebrews10:24-26.

Torepentistoacknowledgesin,andtoreturntotheLordwithallourheart,andalloursoul(2Chronicles6:37-39;Ezekiel14:6;Matthew3:2;Luke24:47).

“Truly,thesetimesofignoranceGodoverlooked,butnowcommandsallmeneverywheretorepent,becauseHehasappointedadayonwhichHewilljudgetheworldinrighteousnessbytheManwhomHehasordained.HehasgivenassuranceofthistoallbyraisingHimfromthedead.”Acts17:30-31.

TheBridegroomofMatthew25:1-13isreturningfromtheweddingsoon.JesuspleadswitheachofustopreparebystoringtheoiloftheHolySpirit(HiscommandmentsandthetestimonyofHisprophets)inourlampsnow.Theearthlytabernacleanditsfurnishings,describedinExodus,werepatternedaftertheheavenlySanctuary.EachelementpointedtoChrist’ssacrificeandtoHisongoingministryonourbehalfintheSanctuaryinHeaven(Hebrews8:1-6).EachindividualenterstheirrelationshipwithJesusbyacceptingandinvitingHimintoourlivesdaily,representedbytheAltarofSacrifice.Wethenwashinthebaptism(initiallyliterally,asapublicacknowledgmentof

Page 63: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

63

ournewlifeinChrist)oftheSpirit,representedbytheLaver,constantlykeepingaprayerinmind,representedbytheAltarofIncense.WearetoreadGod’sWorddaily(representedbytheTableofShowbread),andsharethegospelofJesuswiththepoweroftheHolySpirit(righteousnessbyHisfaith);theThreeAngels’Messages(representedbytheseven-branchedLampstand).Finally,byalwaysdwellingonthegoodnessofHislaw(protectedbytheArkofHisCovenant),weareblessedtodwellonheavenlythings(Psalm91:9).“ButhisdelightisinthelawoftheLord,andinHislawhemeditatesdayandnight.”Psalm1:2.JesuswasthefulfillmentoftheritualsoffeastsandanimalsacrificesoftheOldTestament.WhenHewascrucified,theveilseparatingtheholyfromthemostholyplacewasdivinelytornintwo(Matthew27:51;Mark15:38;Luke23:45).Jesusinstitutedanewpracticethatreplacedtheold.Wecompareittothearticlesoffurnitureinthesanctuary.Preparingspirituallyiscritical;makingcertainwehaveconfessedoursins.TheLord’sSupperispracticedbyfirstwashingeachothers’feet,followedbyeatingthebread,anddrinkingthecupofgrapejuice(Matthew26:26-30;Luke22:14-20;John13:1-17;1Corinthians11:23-29).Weareblessedwheneverwedoit(John13:17).FurtherstudyofthesymbolsoftheLord’sSupperservesasawonderfulblessing,howeverisbeyondthescopeofthisstudy. ThesecondindividualresponsibilityGod’speoplehavebeengiven,isthetaskofspreadingthegospel,incontextoftheThreeAngels’messagesofRevelation14.TheFourthAngelofRevelation14:15(theilluminatingangelofRev18:1-3),istheproclamationoftheinterpretationofthemysteryofRevelation17:8-11.God’sremnantpeoplewillrepeattheThreeAngels’messages(Revelation14:8-13)withmuchgreaterpowerthanduringthe“midnightcry”in1844,whenGod’speoplemistookthestartofthepre-adventjudgmentinHeaventobeJesus’return,initially(Habakkuk2:14).

“1AfterthesethingsIsawanotherangelcomingdownfromheaven,havinggreatauthority,andtheearthwasilluminatedwithhisglory.2Andhecriedmightilywithaloudvoice,saying,“Babylonthegreatisfallen,isfallen,andhasbecomeadwellingplaceofdemons,aprisonforeveryfoulspirit,andacageforeveryuncleanandhatedbird!3Forallthenationshavedrunkofthewineofthewrathofherfornication,thekingsoftheearthhavecommittedfornicationwithher,andthemerchantsoftheearthhavebecomerichthroughtheabundanceofherluxury.”Revelation18:1-3.

This“loudvoice,”isawarningforallofGod’speopletoleavetheLaodiceanchurchofspiritualBabylon,thecounterfeittrinity(spiritualism,thepapacy,andapostateProtestants/falseprophet),symbolizedbytheabyssbeast,theseabeast,andtheearthbeast).This“church”isreferredtoas“Jews”ofthe“synagogueofSatan”inRevelation2:9;3:9.ThisdescribesthoseclaimingtobeChristians;believersofthetrueGod.Evenatthistime,inHismercy,Jesuswillextendonelastplea.

Page 64: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

64

“4AndIheardanothervoicefromheavensaying,“Comeoutofher,mypeople,lestyoushareinhersins,andlestyoureceiveofherplagues.5Forhersinshavereachedtoheaven,andGodhasrememberedheriniquities.”Revelation18:4-5.

Thisindicatestherearestillafewpeoplewhohaven’theardthegospel,thatarereceptivetotheHolySpirit.JustasAbraham’snephewLot,andhisfamily,wererushedoutofSodombyheavenlyangels,therewillbesomethataresavedjustbeforejudgmentisfinished.Itisatthispoint,whenMichael(Jesus:Daniel10:13,21;Jude9;Revelation12:7;1Thessalonians4:16)standsupfromjudgment,andtheearthisdevastatedbythesevenlastplagues(Daniel12:1b;Revelation16),amanifestationofGod’swrath(Revelation11:18a;14:17-20).Jesuswarnsusthat,

“37ButasthedaysofNoahwere,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.38Forasinthedaysbeforetheflood,theywereeatinganddrinking,marryingandgivinginmarriage,untilthedaythatNoahenteredtheark,39anddidnotknowuntilthefloodcameandtookthemallaway,soalsowillthecomingoftheSonofManbe.”Matthew24:37-39.

Thegoodnewsisthatwehavebeenforewarned.“AndnowIhavetoldyoubeforeitcomes,thatwhenitdoescometopass,youmaybelieve.”John14:29.Insummary,weconsistentlyapplytheinterpretiveprinciples,discerningthefollowingmeaningsofRevelation17:18–18:5:

• The“woman”issynonymouswith“thegreatcity”and“Babylon,”primarilyrepresentingtheRomanCatholicChurch,withsecondaryapplicationtoapostateProtestantreligions

• Theother“angel”ofRevelation18:1-3istheFourthAngelreferencedinRevelation14:14-17

• Theother“Voice”ofRevelation18:4-5isJesus,andistheFifth“Angel”ofRevelation14:18-20

Page 65: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

65

Chapter10TheCriticalComprehensionoftheThreeAngel’sMessages

ThisstudyoftheRevelation17riddleisfocusedonwhattheLordhasrecentlyrevealedabouttheeventsoccurringneartheendoftheworld.Jesus’returnisimminent!Asnotedinchapter9ofthisstudy,twocriticalactionsonthepartofthesaintsare:

1.tomakesurewearerightwithHim,allowingHimtofullytransformourcharacters,and2.tosharethefinal,endtimemessagefromGod,withthe“oilofgrace;”theThreeAngels’messages.

ThesemessagesarefoundinRevelation14and,thoughthisstudywillnotdelveintothewholechapter,itisofvitalimportancetounderstandverses6-13.Theyread:

“6ThenIsawanotherangelflyinginthemidstofheaven,havingtheeverlastinggospeltopreachtothosewhodwellontheearth—toeverynation,tribe,tongue,andpeople—7sayingwithaloudvoice,“FearGodandgiveglorytoHim,forthehourofHisjudgmenthascome;andworshipHimwhomadeheavenandearth,theseaandspringsofwater.”8Andanotherangelfollowed,saying,“Babylonisfallen,isfallen,thatgreatcity,becauseshehasmadeallnationsdrinkofthewineofthewrathofherfornication.”9Thenathirdangelfollowedthem,sayingwithaloudvoice,“Ifanyoneworshipsthebeastandhisimage,andreceiveshismarkonhisforeheadoronhishand,10hehimselfshallalsodrinkofthewineofthewrathofGod,whichispouredoutfullstrengthintothecupofHisindignation.HeshallbetormentedwithfireandbrimstoneinthepresenceoftheholyangelsandinthepresenceoftheLamb.11Andthesmokeoftheirtormentascendsforeverandever;andtheyhavenorestdayornight,whoworshipthebeastandhisimage,andwhoeverreceivesthemarkofhisname.”12Hereisthepatienceofthesaints;herearethosewhokeepthecommandmentsofGodandthefaithofJesus.13ThenIheardavoicefromheavensayingtome,“Write:‘BlessedarethedeadwhodieintheLordfromnowon.’”“Yes,”saystheSpirit,“thattheymayrestfromtheirlabors,andtheirworksfollowthem.”

Followingisabriefanalysisofeachverse:Revelation14:6:Thisangelisseenflyingdirectlyoverheadsignifyingtherapidspreadofthismessage,the“everlastinggospel,”toalltheearth.Jesuspredicted,“Andthisgospelofthekingdomwillbepreachedinalltheworldasawitnesstoallthenations,andthentheendwillcome.”Matthew24:14(Mark13:10).WearetoldherethattheknowledgeofChristourSaviorwillreachall7.4billionlivingpeopleonearth,including

Page 66: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

66

boththosewhorejectit(earthdwellers),andthosewhodecidetoacceptChristastheirRedeemer.ThescopeofthiscommunicationisemphasizedbytheRevelation18:1loudcrymessage,previouslystudied.ThisidentificationofthetrueGod,willgooutwithinabriefperiodoftime,precipitatedbythestunningunderstandingofRevelation17,andaspiritualconvictionwillbefeltbyall.Allwillbegiventheopportunitytomakeaninformeddecisiononwhomtheywillserve;whomtheywillworship.Revelation14:7:Thefirstangel’smessage,heardwithaloudvoice,designatingitscriticalimportanceforall,istohavereverenceforGodtheCreatorandgiveglorytoHim,alone.Thiscounselembodiesthefirst,second,andfourthcommandments(Exodus20:3-6,8-11).The“hourofHisjudgment”referstoJesus’judgmentministryinHeaven,initiatingthepre-adventjudgmentprocessattheendofthe2,300day/yearprophecy(1844),giveninDaniel8:14.Byfaithweacceptthis,basedonallotherBibletimepropheciesinDanielbeingcompletedbeforethattime,includingtheseventyweekprophecyofDaniel9,(“cutoff”of,or“apartof”the2,300day/yearprophecy),foretellingChrist’sfirstcoming.TheendofthisjudgmentprocessisreferencedinDaniel7:13-14and12:1a,brieflycoveredearlierinthisstudy.Importantly,thisjudgmentactivitywasaddedtoJesus’ongoingintercessoryroleasourHighPriest(Hebrews8:1-6).ThefourthcommandmentcontainsalltheelementsofaBiblicalseal;name,title,andterritory,prefacedwiththeemphaticword,“Remember.”

8“RemembertheSabbathday,tokeepitholy.9Sixdaysyoushalllaboranddoallyourwork,10buttheseventhdayistheSabbathoftheLordyourGod.Inityoushalldonowork:you,noryourson,noryourdaughter,noryourmaleservant,noryourfemaleservant,noryourcattle,noryourstrangerwhoiswithinyourgates.11ForinsixdaystheLordmadetheheavensandtheearth,thesea,andallthatisinthem,andrestedtheseventhday.ThereforetheLordblessedtheSabbathdayandhallowedit.”Exodus20:8-11.

Importantly,Godboth“blessed”,and“hallowed”or“sanctified”theseventhdaySabbath.ByblessingthismemorialtotheCreator,Goddesignatedthedayasholyandsacred,tobeconnectedwithGod.To“sanctify”itmeansthatthis24hourperiod,fromFridaysundowntoSaturdaysundowneveryweek,issetapartforasacredpurpose,tobeatimefreefromsin,andtoshowreverencetoGod.Allourthoughts,words,andactionsaretobedirectedtostrengtheningourrelationshipwithourSaviorduringtheSabbathhours.ItbecomesapparentwhySatanhasattackedthisdayofworship,includingcreationitself,throughthetheoryofevolutionandamyriadofentertainmentsdesignedtotakeourattentionawayfromtheLord.TheRomanCatholicChurchboldlyclaimsthatitwasgiventheauthoritytochangethisweekly,holy,memorialofcreationweek,toSunday.Ifso,whywouldGodthenchangeitbackinHeaven?“AnditshallcometopassThatfromoneNewMoontoanother,AndfromoneSabbathtoanother,

Page 67: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

67

AllfleshshallcometoworshipbeforeMe,”saystheLord.”Isaiah66:23.ThiswaswrittenneartheendofIsaiah’sministryinabout680B.C.Revelation14:8:Thesecondangel’smessageisthatSatan’scounterfeitspiritualcity,Babylon,isfallen,isfallen.Itistwicefallenviaitshistoricalliteralfallin539B.C.,alongwithitsspiritualfall,viaitsfalsepretenseofChristianity;practicingthe“wine”ofitsowndoctrinesandtraditionsitdefinesasworship.Babylon’s“wrath”specificallyreferstotheforceofconscienceinreligiousmatters,throughpersecution.Theseabeast/papacyexercisedthispowerfor1,260years,endingin1798.Whilethe“beast”ofpersecutionceasedwhiletheharlotwomanofRevelation17sitsonthesevenheads(popes)ofthechurch,thebeastisabouttorisefromthewildernessand,onceagain,forcealltheworldtodeclareitsmemorialtothepagansungods,Sunday,assacred.Itwillagaincommitanabominationofdesolationbycombininggeopoliticalandspiritualpowerstogether,inordertodeceivetheworldbyitsfalserighteousness.Revelation14:9:Thethirdangel’smessagebuildsonRevelation13,withashouttogettheattentionofthewholeearth.Themessagewarnseachindividual,regardlessofculture,tradition,national,orreligiousaffiliation,torejectthebeastandhisimage.Thebeastisthepapalsystem,enforcingitsdoctrinesviathenations,andtheimage,orcopy,isapostateChristianleadersbackedbylegislativeandpolicingpowersoftheUnitedStates.Themarkofthebeastprovidestheabilitytocontinuecommerce,coveredinchapter4ofthisstudy.Conversely,God’speoplewillneedtorelyfullyonHimtoprovidewater,food,shelter,health,andprotection.ThistellsusthatallourenergiestoprepareforthistimearetobefocusedonourspiritualrelationshipwithJesusChrist,andsharingHimwithothers,notonphysicalsafetyor“survival”preparations.WearetocontinuetohonorourCreatorwithourbodies,includinglivingaccordingtoBiblicalguidance.Revelation14:10:Thedecisiontoacceptthemarkofthebeast,iscoupledwithGod’swrath,takingtheformofthesevenplaguesdescribedinRevelation16(Revelation14:17-20).TheendofRevelation14:10thenjumpstoeventsafterJesuscomes,resurrectingallthesaintswhohaveeverlived,togetherwiththelivingsaints,andremovingthemallfromtheearthfor1,000years.Itisafterthe1,000yearsthatGodreturnswithallthesaintstoperformtheexecutivejudgment,afterraisingbacktolifeallthewickedwhoeverhavelived,toacknowledgeHim.“Foritiswritten:“AsIlive,saystheLord,EverykneeshallbowtoMe,AndeverytongueshallconfesstoGod.””Romans14:11.TheseeventsareaddressedinRevelation20.Revelation14:11:TheBibleprovidesagraphicdescriptionofthefinaloutcomeofthewicked.TheyarecompletelyeradicatedbythecleansingfireofGod’spresencewhenHefullyrevealsHimselftoall.Aprayerfulstudyofthefollowingtextsprovidesamorecompleteunderstandingthatthisall-consumingfirefromGodcontinuesuntilthereisnothingleft(Isaiah34:5,9-10;66:24;Daniel2:35;Mark9:43-48;Revelation18:9,18;

Page 68: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

68

19:3;20:10;21:1).Afterthis,Godwillcreateanewearth,accordingtoRevelation21and22.Revelation14:12:Thesaintsaredefinedbythisverseashavingpatience,meaningthattheywillenduresuffering,however,theywillstaytruetotheTenCommandmentsandacceptthefaithofJesus,ourRedeemer.Vitaltounderstand,itisJesus’faith,Hisrighteousness,definingHispeople.“Forbygraceyouhavebeensavedthroughfaith,andthatnotofyourselves;itisthegiftofGod”Ephesians2:8.PraisetheLord!WearejustifiedbyHisfaith!Revelation14:13:Thisimportantverseshouldbeemphasizedduringourtime.ThebookofRevelationhassevenblessingsinit(Revelation1:3;14:12-13;16:15;19:9;20:6;22:6-7;22:14-19).TheVoicefromheavenisthatofGodtheFather,confirmedbytheSpirit.Hereweunderstandthegravityofjusthowterribletheconditionsonearthwillbe,justbeforeJesusreturns.Thisblessingispronouncedonthosewhoarelaidtorestbeforethistimeof“Jacob’strouble”(Jeremiah30:5-7).God,inHismercy,willallowmanyofHispeopletogototheirtemporaryrest,inordertoprotectthemfromtheterribleeventsabouttofallonthisdarkearth.Ofcrucialimportanceistounderstandthatthosewhodie,returntodust.Thereisnoconsciousstateofthedead.TheBibleisexceptionallyclearonthistruth,howeverSatan’sfirstliewastodisputethisfactandhehasbeenexceedinglysuccessfulinplantingthisdeceptioninnearlyeveryreligionintheworldtoday.Itisthisdeceptionfromthedragonbeasthimself,coupledwiththeseabeast(papacy),andtheearthbeast(UnitedStates/falseprophet/apostateProtestants),thatformacounterfeittrinityopposing“allthatiscalledGodorthatisworshiped,sothathesitsasGodinthetempleofGod,showinghimselfthatheisGod.”2Thessalonians2:4.UnderstandingwhatGod’sWordsaysaboutthedead,weprayerfullyconsiderthesetexts:Job14:12;Psalm115:17;146:4;Ecclesiastes9:5-6,10;Daniel12:2;John11:11;1Thessalonians4:13-18;Revelation6:9-10;20:6.JustasinthedaysofKingSaul(1Samuel28),Satanisimpersonatingfamiliarpeople,mixingprivatefactsandcircumstanceswithspiritualerror,thatwillleadthemostastutetoabandonGod’sWord.Insummary,wediscernthefollowingmeaningsofRevelation14:6-13:

• ThesemessagesareGod’sfinalmessagetotheworld• TheThirdAngelmessageincorporatesthefirsttwo• The“beast”istheRomanCatholicChurchand,secondarily,apostateProtestants• The“image”isacopyofthedoctrineofSundaysacrednessadoptedbyapostate

Protestants,enforcedbytheUnitedStatesofAmerica

Page 69: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

69

EpilogueThoughnoonebuttheFatherknowsthedayorhourofChrist’sreturn(Matthew24:36;25:13;Mark13:32,35),theprecedingstudyindicatesthatGodhasrevealedspecificevents,evenprovidinginformationallowingthoseofuslivinginthislastgenerationofsintoidentifythe666manofsin,whowilldieatJesus’return.TheworldisabouttoexperienceaspiritualshockwhenthemanweknowasPopeFrancisisforciblydeposed.Hewillnotdieinoffice,norwillheresigningoodstanding.ThemanweknowasPopeBenedict(JosephRatzinger)willbereturnedtooffice,howeverhewillNOTdieanaturaldeath.Hewillbecomethe666manofsin,andbekilledbythebrightnessofChrist’sreturn.HewasbornonApril16,1927.ThiscompelsGod’speopletogiveprayerfulconsiderationofthisstudyandthetestimonyofGod’sWord,incontextofwhatishappeningintheworldtoday.TheRevelatorrecordsanadmonishmentbytheangel,“WorshipGod!ForthetestimonyofJesusisthespiritofprophecy.”Revelation19:10b.Likewise,themostimportantunderstandingforusisthatitisourrelationshipwithChristprovidingthegraceweneedinthematterofsalvation.Paulwritesaboutthisgraceasfollows:

“forallhavesinnedandfallshortofthegloryofGod,beingjustifiedfreelybyHisgracethroughtheredemptionthatisinChristJesus,”“Nowtohimwhoworks,thewagesarenotcountedasgracebutasdebt.ButtohimwhodoesnotworkbutbelievesonHimwhojustifiestheungodly,hisfaithisaccountedforrighteousness,”“Forthewagesofsinisdeath,butthegiftofGodiseternallifeinChristJesusourLord.”Romans3:23-24;4:4-5;6:23.

InhislettertotheEphesiansPaulcontinues,

“ButGod,whoisrichinmercy,becauseofhisgreatlovewithwhichhelovedus,evenwhenweweredeadintrespasses,madeusalivetogetherwithChrist(bygraceyouhavebeensaved)…Forbygraceyouhavebeensavedthroughfaith,Andthatnotofyourselves;ItisthegiftofGod,Notofworks,lestanyoneshouldboast.”Ephesians2:4-5,8-9.

InhislettertoTitus,Paulwrote,

“butwhenthekindnessandtheloveofGodourSaviortowardmanappeared,notbyworksofrighteousnesswhichwehavedone,butaccordingtoHismercyHesavedus,throughthewashingofregenerationandrenewingoftheHolySpirit,whomhepouredoutonusabundantlythroughJesusChristourSavior,thathavingbeenjustifiedbyHisgraceweshouldbecomeheirsaccordingtothehopeofeternallife.”Titus3:4-7.

Page 70: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

70

Friends,theearthhasatbestafewyearsbeforeitstotaldestruction.ThistimeisessentialforGodtodoHisgoodworkonourcharacters,andforustosharethegoodnewsofJesus’righteousnessandHissavinggracewithfamily,friends,co-workers,andneighbors.Ofthetimeinwhichwelive,authorEllenWhitewrote:“Thereistobe,atthisperiod,aseriesofeventswhichwillrevealthatGodisMasterofthesituation.Thetruthwillbeproclaimedinclear,unmistakablelanguage.Asapeople,wemustpreparethewayoftheLord,undertheoverrulingguidanceoftheHolySpirit.Thegospelistobegiveninitspurity.Thestreamoflivingwateristodeepenandwideninitscourse.Inallfields,nighandafaroff,menwillbecalledfromtheplowandfromthemorecommoncommercialbusinessvocationsthatlargelyoccupythemind,andwillbeeducatedinconnectionwithmenofexperience.Astheylearntolaboreffectively,theywillproclaimthetruthwithpower.Throughmostwonderfulworkingsofdivineprovidence,mountainsofdifficultieswillberemoved,andcastintothesea.Themessagethatmeanssomuchtothedwellersupontheearth,willbeheardandunderstood.Menwillknowwhatistruth.Onward,andstillonwardtheworkwilladvance,untilthewholeearthshallhavebeenwarned.Andthenshalltheendcome.”{RHJuly5,1906}(https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_RH.July.5.1906.par.6&para=821.26897)HeavenlyFatherandLord,greatandawesomeCreatoroftheuniverse,weyourpeoplehavesinnedandareallsinnersindesperateneedofyourforgiveness,mercy,andsavinggrace.Werepent.WehumblyaskthatYoutransformourcharactersintheshorttimeremaining,toprepareustoreceiveYourSpiritandtobewithYou,forever.Pleaserevealthetruenatureofeviltousandremovethesinandsinfuldesiresfromourlivessothatwemaybecaring,compassionate,andlovingtoall.PleasehearourcontinualprayersandactinourlivesaccordingtoYourwill,andmaywebeatpeaceaswetrustinYou,inallthings.Provideustheopportunitytosharetheurgencyofthegospel.Thankyouforyouramazingsacrifice.Amen.

***

Page 71: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

71

Appendix

#1

Term

#

2Term

#

3Term

#

4Term

#

5Term

#

6Term

#

7Term

#

8Term

Piu

sLe

oG

reg

ory

Ben

ed

ictA

Joh

nB

Pau

lCJo

hn

Pau

lDN

ew

Nam

eE

I1

40

-15

51

I4

40

-46

11

I5

90

-60

41

I5

75

-57

91

I5

23

-52

61

I7

57

-76

71

I1

97

81

I?-

2n

d C

om

ing

1II

14

58

-14

64

2II

68

2-6

83

2II

71

5-7

31

2II

68

4-6

85

2II

53

3-5

35

2II

14

64

-14

71

2II

19

78

-20

05

2II

I1

50

33

III

79

5-8

16

3II

I7

31

-74

13

III

85

5-8

58

3II

I5

61

-57

43

III

15

34

-15

49

3IV

15

59

-15

65

4IV

84

7-8

55

4IV

82

7-8

44

4IV

90

0-9

03

4IV

64

0-6

42

4IV

15

55

-15

59

4V

15

66

-15

72

5V

90

35

V9

96

-99

95

V9

64

5V

68

5-6

86

5V

16

05

-16

21

5V

I1

77

5-1

79

96

VI

92

86

VI

10

45

-10

46

6V

I9

73

-97

46

VI

70

1-7

05

6V

I1

96

3-1

97

86

VII

18

00

-18

23

7V

II9

36

-93

97

VII

10

73

-10

85

7V

II9

74

-98

37

VII

70

5-7

07

7V

III

18

29

-18

30

8V

III

96

3-9

64

8V

III

11

87

8V

III1

01

2-1

02

48

VII

I8

72

-88

28

IX1

84

6-1

87

89

IX1

04

9-1

05

49

IX1

22

7-1

24

19

IX1

03

2-1

04

89

IX8

98

-90

09

X1

90

3-1

91

41

0X

15

13

-15

21

10

X1

27

1-1

27

61

0X

I1

30

3-1

30

41

0X

91

4-9

28

10

XI

19

22

-19

39

11

XI

16

05

11

XI

13

70

-13

78

11

XII

13

34

-13

42

11

XI

93

1-9

35

11

XII

19

39

-19

58

12

XII

18

23

-18

29

12

XII

14

06

-14

15

12

XII

I17

24

-17

30

12

XII

95

5-9

63

12

XII

I1

87

8-1

90

31

3X

III

15

72

-15

85

13

XIV

17

40

-17

58

13

XII

I9

65

-97

21

3X

IV1

59

0-1

59

11

4X

V1

91

4-1

92

21

4X

IV9

83

-98

41

4X

V1

62

1-1

62

31

5X

VI

20

05

-20

13

15

XV

98

5-9

96

15

XV

I1

83

1-1

84

61

6X

VII

10

03

16

XV

III1

00

3-1

00

91

7X

IX1

02

4-1

03

21

8X

XI

12

76

-12

77

19

XX

II1

31

6-1

33

42

0X

XII

I19

58

-19

63

21

78

91

136

120

231

21

31

XV

I2

00

5-2

01

3-1

5

To

tals

78

91

13

61

05

23

12

13

1

Gra

nd

To

tal:

66

6ABen

edic

t IX

was

ele

cted

thr

ee t

imes

and

ser

ved

as p

ope

thre

e se

para

te t

erm

s, is

cou

nted

as

one

pope

. Th

e pa

pacy

ski

pped

Ben

edic

t X,

so t

he c

ount

is 1

5 in

divi

dual

s in

the

Ben

edic

t lin

e.BN

otic

e Jo

hn X

XII

I. T

he p

apac

y sk

ippe

d Jo

hn X

VI

and

John

XX t

hus,

the

re a

re o

nly

21 p

opes

in t

he li

ne u

sing

the

nam

e of

Joh

n.CPa

ul li

ne:

the

"on

e is

" of

Rev

17:

10,

sinc

e 'fi

ve h

ave

falle

n'.

Thi

s is

the

pre

sent

ten

se fro

m w

hich

Joh

n w

as s

how

n th

is v

isio

n.D

John

Pau

l lin

e: th

e on

e "n

ot y

et c

ome"

of Rev

17:

10.

He

"mus

t co

ntin

ue a

sho

rt t

ime"

. T

he J

ohn

Paul

line

was

in p

ower

26

year

s, b

y fa

r th

e sh

orte

st o

f al

l pop

e lin

es.

Count

Count

Count

Count

Count

w

ill re

claim

his

th

ron

e (

"is

of

the s

eve

n"

Rev

17

:11

). S

oo

n a

fter,

po

ssib

ly c

oin

cid

ing

wit

h r

eg

ain

ing

th

e p

ow

er

to p

ers

ecu

te t

ho

se

w

ho

wo

rsh

ip t

he C

reato

r acc

ord

ing

to

th

e 4

th c

om

man

dm

en

t, h

e w

ill ch

an

ge h

is n

am

e t

o a

un

iqu

e n

am

e,

the '8

th k

ing

', s

ign

alin

g

t

he b

east

's r

etu

rn (

Rev

17

:8).

H

e (

Jose

ph R

atzi

nger

) w

ill d

ie a

t C

hri

st's

seco

nd

co

min

g a

cco

rdin

g t

o 2

Th

ess

2:1

-17

; R

ev

19

:20

.

EIn

ord

er

for

Po

pe F

ran

ces

(3/1

3/20

13 t

o da

te)

no

t to

ad

d t

o t

he c

ou

nt1

, h

e w

ill b

e d

ep

ose

d (

2Th

ess

2:7

). B

en

ed

ict

XV

I (D

OB 4

/16/

1927

)

Count

Count

Count

Page 72: At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis · PDF fileAt World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis ... , and my mother ... Even though many different people wrote the sixty-six books of

72

Mountain #A Running TotalA Mountain Name First Year Completion Year

1 1 Felix 269 530

2 3 Pelagius 556 590

3 6 Theodore 642 897

4 10 Marinus 882 946

5 15 Agapetus 535 955

6 21 Sergius 687 1012

7 28 Sylvester 314 1045

8 36 Damasus 366 1048

9 45 Stephen 254 1058

10 55 Victor 189 1087

11 66 Paschal 817 1118

12 78 Gelasius 492 1119

13 91 Anastasius 399 1154

14 105 Lucius 253 1185

15 120 Honorius 625 1287

16 136 Celestine 422 1294

17 153 Boniface 418 1303

18 171 Eugene 655 1431

19 190 Martin 649 1431

20 210 Nicholas 858 1455

21 231 Callistus 217 1458

22 253 Adrian 772 1523

23 276 Julius 337 1555

24 300 Marcellus 308 1555

25 325 Sixtus 115 1590

26 351 Urban 222 1644

27 378 Alexander 105 1691

28 406 Innocent 401 1724

29 435 Clement 88 1774

30 1 465 Gregory 590 1846 Rev 17:3 Woman in wilderness

31 2 496 Leo 440 1903

32 3 528 BenedictB 575 1922

33 4 561 Pius 140 1958

34 5 595 John 523 1963

35 6 630 Paul 757 1978 Rev 17:10 "one is" king

36 7 John Paul 1978 2005 Rev 17:10 "short time" king

Persecution Phase 8 = 36 666 Unique NameB ? 2nd Coming Rev 17:11 The '8th' is one of the '7'

AThe pope 'counts' are added just as Babylon 'added' their 36 gods on amulets using their base 60 numerical system (1+2+3…+34+35+36=666).

For pictures of amulets with numbers 1-36 arrayed to add to 666 see: http://historical.benabraham.com/html/babylonian_solar_cult.htmlBAs of 2015, the Vatican lists 266 individual popes, with 82 papal names used (including Peter). Including Pope Francis, there are 46 names used

before 2/15/1798, 7 after. Benedict XVI (2005-2013) is the '666 man' and will die under a different name, proving the line actually fell in 1922.

only once and since not repeated, do not qualify as 'mountains of gods'. 36 pope names are used by multiple popes (mountains of gods), 29 retired

"Fiv

e ha

ve

falle

n" R

ev 1

7:10

Non

-per

secu

tory

ph

ase

of t

he p

apac

y


€¦  · Web viewAn energy and water crisis is imminent and the consequences can be disastrous. Sustainable practices are therefore paramount. By employing smart construction &

€¦  · Web viewAn energy and water crisis is imminent and the consequences can be disastrous. Sustainable practices are therefore paramount. By employing smart construction &

Imminent Grey

Imminent Grey

THE DANGEROUS INADEQUACIES OF THE WORLD’S CRISIS …...THE DANGEROUS INADEQUACIES OF THE WORLD’S CRISIS-RESPONSE MECHANISMS 2 Adam Triggs is a visiting researcher at the Global

THE DANGEROUS INADEQUACIES OF THE WORLD’S CRISIS …...THE DANGEROUS INADEQUACIES OF THE WORLD’S CRISIS-RESPONSE MECHANISMS 2 Adam Triggs is a visiting researcher at the Global

1 World Economy Crisis. 2 Main problems Abrupt(внезапный) climate change Imminent(близкий) global oil crisis.

1 World Economy Crisis. 2 Main problems Abrupt(внезапный) climate change Imminent(близкий) global oil crisis.

Is A Bear Market Imminent?

Is A Bear Market Imminent?

Chapter 11 IMMINENT DANGER, FATALITY ... - Iowa OSHA€¦ · Chapter 11 -1 March 1, 2012 Chapter 11 IMMINENT DANGER, FATALITY, CATASTROPHE, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE I. Imminent Danger

Chapter 11 IMMINENT DANGER, FATALITY ... - Iowa OSHA€¦ · Chapter 11 -1 March 1, 2012 Chapter 11 IMMINENT DANGER, FATALITY, CATASTROPHE, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE I. Imminent Danger

MAINSTREAMING ECOLOGICAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE (EOA… · 2018-02-01 · as a catalyst to checkmate the imminent crisis by mainstreaming ecological organic agriculture into the agricultural

MAINSTREAMING ECOLOGICAL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE (EOA… · 2018-02-01 · as a catalyst to checkmate the imminent crisis by mainstreaming ecological organic agriculture into the agricultural

Crisis Management Plan 2019 - Dallas Christian College€¦ · The Crisis Management Plan (CMP) and Crisis Management Team (CMT) will only be activated during an actual or imminent

Crisis Management Plan 2019 - Dallas Christian College€¦ · The Crisis Management Plan (CMP) and Crisis Management Team (CMT) will only be activated during an actual or imminent

At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis...Chapter 3: Revelation 13:1-10 – The Sea Beast: Rise of the Papal Church Pg 29 Chapter 4: Revelation 13:11-17 – The Earth Beast: Rise

At World’s End – Our Imminent Crisis...Chapter 3: Revelation 13:1-10 – The Sea Beast: Rise of the Papal Church Pg 29 Chapter 4: Revelation 13:11-17 – The Earth Beast: Rise

The Imminent Invasion of Israel

The Imminent Invasion of Israel

Is Global Collapse Imminent?

Is Global Collapse Imminent?

The World’s Financial Crisis - Ludwig B. C

The World’s Financial Crisis - Ludwig B. C

imminent rebellion 12

imminent rebellion 12

BSc 512 Ecological Genetics · to population biology, ecology, ... In a world facing an imminent biodiversity crisis, ... Chapter Reviews 8@ 4 % each 32%

BSc 512 Ecological Genetics · to population biology, ecology, ... In a world facing an imminent biodiversity crisis, ... Chapter Reviews 8@ 4 % each 32%

Electricity-Water Nexus: Is a Crisis Imminent?files.brattle.com/files/7217_energy_water_nexus_032514_water_policy_guidelines...Abstract Several recent studies have warned that there

Electricity-Water Nexus: Is a Crisis Imminent?files.brattle.com/files/7217_energy_water_nexus_032514_water_policy_guidelines...Abstract Several recent studies have warned that there

Too Small to Fail: How the Financial Industry Crisis Changed the World’s Perceptions

Too Small to Fail: How the Financial Industry Crisis Changed the World’s Perceptions

Recognizing Imminent Death

Recognizing Imminent Death

Banking Union: imminent crisis and possible solutions€¦ · Discussion Paper Banking Union: imminent crisis and possible solutions N° 01 • JUNE 2020 3/28 1.1 The standard way

Banking Union: imminent crisis and possible solutions€¦ · Discussion Paper Banking Union: imminent crisis and possible solutions N° 01 • JUNE 2020 3/28 1.1 The standard way

How the financial crisis affected the world’s workforce... How the financial crisis affected the world’s workforce 155 Source World Bank data, sourced from aver Analytics International

How the financial crisis affected the world’s workforce... How the financial crisis affected the world’s workforce 155 Source World Bank data, sourced from aver Analytics International

The world’s looming water crisis€¦ · The world’s looming water crisis By Angelo Katsoras Introduction While today’s headlines focus on risks ranging from protectionism,

The world’s looming water crisis€¦ · The world’s looming water crisis By Angelo Katsoras Introduction While today’s headlines focus on risks ranging from protectionism,