THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH/THE FIRST RESURRECTION

First let's read God's holy, inerrant, and infallible word, Mark 13:24-27:
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

In the Old Testament, the word “elect” occurs four times and each time it refers to Israel.

In the New Testament, the word elect or election occurs nineteen times and in seventeen instances it refers to believers in Christ, in one case it refers to certain angels, and one time it refers to Jesus; but it never refers to the nation Israel. To prove that the word “elect” refers to Christians and not the nation Israel let’s read Romans 11:7, What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Here we see that Paul makes a crystal clear distinction between Israel and the elect.

Furthermore, Peter makes it clear that the word “elect” refers to Christian believers in 2 Peter 1:10, Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: What Peter is obviously referring to here is that believers in Christ should make their calling and election sure; to check-up on your salvation. Peter is not saying, “Make sure your parents are Israelites,” that would be ridiculous.

Also, we find in Colossians 3:11, 12 where it says:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; We see there is neither Greek nor Jew, that “Christ is all, and in all,” meaning that in these two verses the word elect refers to Greek or Jewish believers in Christ, but not unbelieving Israel.

Additionally, in 1 Timothy 5:21 we see:
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. We see here that the word elect can also refer to particular angels.

And finally, in 1 Peter 2:6 we see the word elect used in reference to Jesus:
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Jesus, the chief cornerstone, is “elect” of God.

It is important to understand that the New Testament meaning of the word “elect” refers to believers in Christ and it never means Christ-rejecting Israelites, who have been blinded, as we read in Romans 11:7. The inerrant, infallible word of God has given the word “elect” its true definition.

Next we shall see that it is supremely important to understand the Bible’s own definition of the word “elect.” Prior to the 19^th/20th century the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture was not popular, most people believed the rapture would be post-tribulational. It was not until certain 19th /20th century philosophers took the Old Testament meaning of the word “elect” and misapplied it, out of context, to certain verses in the New Testament that the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture gained popularity.

A pre-tribulation rapture would make the rapture imminent and that makes the rapture event an anxiously awaited occasion. Thus it became popular and preachers expounding this view, John Nelson Darby, Harry Ironside, John Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie, and especially popularized by Cyrus I. Schofield http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._I._Scofield in his footnoted Schofield Bible, likewise became popular.

Matthew 24:31 says, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other…likewise, Mark 13:27, referring to the same event says, And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. If you think these two verses refer to the rapture you are correct! Notice that this latter verse says “from…earth to…heaven.”

To make Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:17 not apply to the rapture of Christians it was necessary for these 19th/20th century philosophers to make the word “elect” in these two verses refer only to the Old Testament definition of the word “elect.” These 19/20^th century philosophers said that these verses referred to a supernatural ingathering of living Jewish people to the old location of the land of Israel, particularly Jerusalem, because there was no state of Israel, and there were few Jewish people living in that area.

However, since May 14, 1948 there has been a State of Israel and forty-three percent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population of the world’s Jews live there. Consequently, there is no need for a supernatural ingathering of Israelites from the four corners of the Earth. So now we conclusively see that Matthew 24:31, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other…and Mark 13:27, And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven…are actually referring to the rapture of all believers, including the Old Testament elect (not blinded Christ-rejecting New Testament Jews) and the New Testament elect. Obviously, many of these elect have already physically died but they will receive a new body.

“Day of the Lord,” what does this expression mean? This expression occurs 20 times in the Old Testament, specifically, Isaiah 2:12, 13:6, 13:9; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1, 2:11, 2:31, 3:14; Amos 5:18, again 5:18, 5:20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7, 1:14, again 1:14, Zechariah 14:1, and finally Malachi 4:5.

This is a time of great woe to God’s enemies. In order to prove that this expression explicitly means that great day when God pours out His wrath upon His enemies, only two of those instances are shown below, but please check all the above references.

Isaiah 13:9-11, Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Jeremiah 46:10, For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates

In the King James Authorized New Testament, the expression “day of the Lord” occurs four times: 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; and 2 Peter 3:10. They all have the same meaning as in the Old Testament, the day God pours out His wrath upon His enemies.

The expression “day of Christ” occurs three times. Philippians 1:10; Philippians 2:16; and 2 Thessalonians 2:2. There are some people who believe that this expression, “day of Christ,” refers to the rapture of the church, while others say that it and “the day of the Lord” mean the same thing. In a way, they are both correct, as we shall see.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, It is widely accepted that “gathering together unto Him” refers to the rapture.

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first:and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; “A falling away” in the Greek means: (NT:646 apostasia; “apostasy”). If the “day of Christ” means the rapture, then the rapture cannot come until that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, commonly known as the anti-Christ.

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. This happens in the middle of the tribulation period according to Daniel 9:27. As anyone can plainly see, the rapture can be no sooner than the middle of the tribulation and possibly after the tribulation. This is what the Bible says. Incidentally, Daniel 9:27 also says that he…the anti-Christ…will confirm the (Abrahamic) covenant with many for one week, so whomever that powerful person is that makes this confirmation with Israel for seven years can be identified as the anti-Christ by discerning Christians at the time of the execution of that agreement.

Paul is reassuring the Thessalonica Christians that they had not missed the rapture. They have been going through so much persecution that they thought they had missed it. To reassure them, Paul teaches them there are two things that must be fulfilled before the rapture can take place, therefore the rapture is not yet imminent for them. Specifically, there must first be an apostasy and the man of sin must be revealed! The rapture cannot be imminent until after this apostasy and the man of sin is revealed.

There has been apostasy since the beginning of time, so the apostasy Paul is referring to must be so obvious that these Thessalonians would certainly recognize it, just as they would recognize the man of sin at his revealing. These events will be so noticeable that these Thessalonians cannot help but recognize that these are the events Paul is referring to.

We had always liked the idea that the coming of Christ for us could be at any moment. Every time we had a tough situation we would think, “Beam me up, Lord!” No one wants to die, therefore, the thought that the rapture would be imminent was comforting. Of course no one knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return. Nevertheless, going through the tribulation period will not be all bad, believers already have the seal of the Holy Spirit and therefore God’s protection, according to God’s will of course. Ephesians 1:13-14 makes this clear,
13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Our redemption will be complete at the rapture. We are the “purchased possession,” purchased by Christ with His blood.

We also see in Ephesians 4:30 that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Also, Acts 2:17-20 says:
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: We will be empowered! It will be wonderful!

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: By this verse we see that the day of the Lord, when God pours out his wrath, comes after the tribulation period.

Let’s examine another of the references to the day of the Lord. Joel 2:31, The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

We have observed that the day of the Lord means the day God pours out His wrath upon His enemies…but we see here that before this can happen the sun must be darkened and the moon turned into blood. When is the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood?

Matthew 24:29, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: After the tribulation of those days. According to Revelation 7:14 this is after great tribulation, therefore, it is after the entire seven years are finished. When reading a verse of the Bible it should be taken literally, and only literally, unless it absolutely cannot be taken literally. For example, the above verse says, “and the stars shall fall from heaven,” stars literally falling from heaven to the Earth would instantly consume the Earth. Therefore, we should look for a figurative meaning for the word “stars,” and we find that the Bible refers to angels as stars, including fallen angels, in Judges 5:20, Job 38:7, Isaiah 14:13, and Daniel 8:10. But when the Bible says that Daniel was put into a den of lions, they were literal, genuine, feline lions!

Furthermore, as to the question: when is the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood? Mark 13:24, But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, After that tribulation…this cannot be at the mid-point because Revelation 7:14, indicates that some who were raptured came out of great tribulation.

Revelation 6:12, And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; So here the Day of the Lord comes after the tribulation period. This means that God’s wrath will not be poured out at anytime during the tribulation period.

Now we see that the sun is darkened and the moon becomes as blood after the Lamb opens the sixth seal. God may pour out His wrath upon His enemies at any time after this, but as seen above, according to Joel 2:31, not before this. At what point in time is this? Well, let’s read all of Revelation chapter six.

Revelation 6:1-11
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. This begins the tribulation period, the seventieth week of Daniel.

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Who could give this kind of power? God could give His permission! For an example of this see Job chapter 1, especially verse 12 and chapter 2. Who might be this rider? The Man of sin!

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. This is definitely the tribulation period.

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Notice that we have the tribulation period up until the sixth seal. The last day of the tribulation is the last day of this age, or era, the last day of the seventy weeks of Daniel. We see in John 6:39, 40, 44, 54 that the rapture is on the “last day,” and the last day is the last day of this age, the last day of Daniel’s seventy weeks. We see that after the sixth seal is opened there is a great earthquake, the sun is darkened, and the moon becomes as blood. The tribulation period has thus ended (see Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24) and this initiates the Day of the Lord and a new age, or era, begins.

Let’s consider a few things about the Day of the Lord. This is a time period that immediately follows the tribulation, and it is at least three and one half years long. We have heard much about the Tribulation Period but little has been said about the Day Of The Lord. The day of Christ is when the rapture happens, it is within the day of the Lord and it probably occurs in the first twenty-four hours, read I Corinthians 5:5.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. It is commonly thought that this expression of the Day of the Lord refers to the rapture. While the rapture is within the Day of the Lord this expression means much more than just the rapture.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. This day will not overtake a Christian as a thief in the night because we will be expecting it, furthermore, we will be raptured out at the very beginning of this time period.

2 Peter 3:10

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Often philosophers say that “a thief in the night” is in reference to the rapture, but this verse clearly says it is in reference to the Day of the Lord.

Well, what happens next?
Revelation 6:13-17
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

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

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

After the opening of the sixth seal it isn’t the tribulation period anymore, and that initiates the day of God’s wrath upon His enemies. At verse 12, when the sixth seal is opened, the tribulation period ends and the Day of the Lord begins. Up until verse 12 the Antichrist has been hitting the ball but beginning in verse 12 the Lamb of God steps up to the plate.

Chapter six of Revelation is like an outline of events that happen during and immediately after the tribulation period.

When is the rapture? Mark 13:24-27 says:

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Again, when is the rapture? Matthew 24:29 says:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (This is the last trump of this age, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. See 1 Corinthians 15:52), and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The rapture takes place in this instant. Saints still living on Earth are now caught up to heaven. Deceased saints’ souls and their spirits in heaven (from one end of heaven to the other) are reunited with their resurrected (but now glorified) physical bodies. In the twinkling of an eye we are caught up to be with the Lord and our redemption is now complete. This is after the tribulation! Remember the word elect in the above verse means Jewish and Gentile saints of all the ages, but not present day unbelieving Israelites who reject Jesus.

This is what the Holy Bible says, not some man. This is clearly what God says in this His written word. If anyone says these verses do not say that the first resurrection is after the tribulation then he is clearly twisting God’s Holy word. Do not change what God has clearly stated! 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

According to the Bible, the rapture is clearly after the tribulation period. Does this change the way of salvation? No, absolutely not. Should one teach that the rapture is post-tribulation? Yes, because it is the truth.

Continuing on now in chapter seven:
Revelation 7
1 And after these things (this means these events are chronologically after the events in chapter 6.) I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. These servants are on the Earth.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. These are the 144,000 chosen servants of God, on Earth, who here receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They must be sealed so that they will be protected from God’s wrath. No one else will be protected. These are Jewish people who had not accepted Jesus as their savior before the rapture, otherwise they would now be in heaven. They are now in the era of the day of the Lord. There are no other believers on Earth at this time, but perhaps there will be some later (see Matthew 25:31-41).

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne (in heaven), and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; These are the people of chapter 6:9-11 who died during the great tribulation (see verse 14 in this same chapter). The rapture has now already happened so they have their glorified bodies and stand before the throne of God in heaven.

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Note: They came out of great tribulation and then they went up to heaven in the rapture, the first resurrection. This verse precludes a mid-tribulation rapture.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. They have just come out of great tribulation where they suffered extreme heat, famine, and probably a water shortage.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 8

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. (Remember, the entire tribulation period is over; we’re now in the time era of the “day of the Lord,” and events are occurring in chronological order.)

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. Based on verse 13 below, these angels sound their trumpets in chronological order.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Notice that the angels sound in heaven but the results are on the earth.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. This is God pouring out His wrath upon His enemies.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Revelation 9

This is still the “Day of the Lord,” and the following events described are occurring in chronological order.

1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. The use of the word “star” here means angel since it is referred to as “him.”

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. Remember, this is God pouring out His wrath upon His enemies.

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 10

The following is a spiritual scene during the day of the Lord.

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: That there should be time no longer does not mean that there should be no more time dimension; see Revelation 11:3, 11:9, 12:6, 13:5, 15:8, 19:1, 20:2, 20:4, 22:2. Apparently, according to the next verse, “time no more” refers to God’s plan for the culmination of the Day of the Lord, the mystery of God.

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. See Chapter 11:15.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Revelation 11

The following is simultaneous with previous chapters in the day of the Lord.

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Forty-two months equals three and one half years.

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses , and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. One thousand two hundred and sixty (1,260) days equals three and one half years according to the Jewish 360 day year. Remember this is the day of the Lord, after the tribulation period!

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. God of the earth…Satan.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These two have supernatural power.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. No rain for 3 ½ years! This will have a colossal impact on the earth. See http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/2010/04/theogenic-global-warming.html .

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, (at the end of the three and one half years) the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Our Lord was crucified at Jerusalem. The inhabitants of Sodom were Sodomites and Egypt in the Bible pictures the world, therefore, Jerusalem at this time must not be what it should be, but the book of Ezekiel seems to indicate that Jerusalem is the place meant here. Also read Isaiah 1:9-10 for the same type description.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. It’s about time the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem decided to give God the glory! But thank God they finally woke up and can see. They’re no longer blinded, Ref. Romans chapter 11.

14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. That the third woe comes quickly means soon after the second woe is over.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. The seventh angel sounded; refer back to 10:7. At this point God has finished pouring out His wrath upon His enemies and they are all destroyed.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 12

Next we have an overview of events and this is not chronological with the previous chapters. In this chapter John describes a spiritual view that he sees in heaven, which is a spiritual view of Earthly events.

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman (Israel) clothed with the sun, and the moon (Israel, the light bearer, the sun and moon) under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (For the twelve tribes of Israel)

2 And she being with child (Jesus) cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars (followers of Satan…demonic angels) of heaven, and did cast them to the earth (they could come and go in heaven, see Job 1:6): and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child (Satan wanted to kill Jesus) as soon as it (Jesus) was born.

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (Jesus’ ascension)

6 And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place (thought by many to be Petra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra , a natural fortress city just across the border from Israel, just inside Jordan.) prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (Three and one half years according to the Jewish year.)

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (They were evicted and banned from heaven, never to return.)

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. “Loved not their lives unto the death,” means they allowed themselves to be killed rather than deny Christ and take the mark of the beast.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (Israel) which brought forth the man child (Jesus).

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place (Possibly Petra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra ), where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. This is a restatement of verse six.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The remnant spoken of here are Jews who are no longer blinded and now believe in Jesus.

Revelation 13

This chapter is not chronological with any of the foregoing chapters. It apparently begins at the beginning of the day of the Lord.

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Note the contrast with Chapter 6 verse 17.

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Three and one half years, apparently the duration of the day of the Lord.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns

like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 14

This chapter is a scene in heaven. It is not chronological with other chapters.

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. See chapter 7 verse 4.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. They’re not on earth anymore.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. They have now been redeemed.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. Refer back to verse 13. This is the judgment of nations mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46. These are the righteous.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. This is the judgment of nations continued. These are the unrighteous. The scene in this verse continues through the end of the chapter and is illustrated again in 19:18 from a different perspective.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. This is the end of God’s enemies except for Satan himself.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. See 19:17-18 and Joel 3:13-15.

Revelation 15

This chapter is yet another scene in heaven, not on earth.

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Revelation 16

1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief (like a thief in the night). Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Revelation 17

1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 11:8 suggests that Jerusalem has become so spiritually corrupt that it is no different from Sodom and Egypt. A whore and a sodomite are two of the abominations mentioned in Deuteronomy 23:17. The remnant that was in Jerusalem has now escaped to the place God has prepared for them so anyone remaining in sinful Jerusalem is extremely worldly, sinful, and with a decided homosexual tolerance.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. There has been much speculation on who or what is this whore. But given God’s own description, evidently this is Jerusalem. After the Jewish remnant has escaped, the city becomes extremely sinful and although steeped in the anti-Christ’s doctrine the forces of Satan so hate the city that they destroy it.

17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. As already noted, as strange as it seems, this appears to be Jerusalem.

Revelation 18

1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon (Jerusalem?) the great is fallen (past tense), is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. This is a repeat of chapter 14 verse 8.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Revelation 19

The first 18 verses are of heavenly scenes; starting with verse 19 the scenes are earthly.

1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. “His servants,” had their blood shed at the hand of the great whore. Could these be the 144 thousand of chapter 14:1-5 and 7:3,4? It would appear so.

3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. This and the following verses are the conclusion of 14:17-20.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. The remnant here refers to the remaining unbelievers.