Who Are the Mighty and the Holy of Daniel 8:24? - Part 5

Dennis Edwards

How Do We Explain the Similarity in Imagery of the Rapture/Resurrection Event and Christ Returning at the End of the Wrath of God?

The imagery that we saw in Isaiah with the sun and moon turning to darkness during the wrath of God is very similar to Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s description of the rapture event. In Mark we read as thus,

Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, (Remember the tribulation consists of the seven trumpets of Revelation 8-10 and ends with the seventh trumpet which is the rapture/resurrection event), 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 the heavens shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man (Spoken of by Daniel the prophet in Daniel 7:13-14) coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

It may be at that particular point, when the Son of God can be seen in the clouds coming for His bride, the true believers, that the remnant of the Jewish nation shall be saved and fulfill Revelation 1.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he comes with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

We have shown that the rapture/resurrection event takes place at the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet. However, the wrath of God is yet to take place, and yet, the imagery is very similar. Perhaps during the great tribulation some nuclear exchange will take place and cause the plagues that are experienced. As a result of the nuclear exchange the light from the sun and moon are affected. We saw during the trumpets of tribulation there was 1/3 destruction, while the vials of wrath that come later are much more severe.

Remember, the wrath of God is only 75 days, or two and a half months and occurs immediately after the rapture/resurrection event. In other words, all these events are happening very close to one another. The prophets seeing them from a distance would have a hard time to differenciate them from one another. No doubt, as these events come closer to be fulfilled, God will open His word to our understanding if He believes it is to our benefit.

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 the heaven.

Mark is putting the rapture/resurrection event at the end of the great tribulation period as we have seen elsewhere in Matthew. Let us look now at Luke’s version.

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the power of the heavens shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

We see Luke likewise placing the rapture/resurrection event after the distress of nations, after the tribulation period with similar imagery in the heavens.

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your heats be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkedness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Again we are warned to watch and be sober less these days come upon us unawares.

It is at the end of the wrath of God that we see the defeat of the Antichrist at Christ’s hand.

Revelation 19:20 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.

Having a world empire under his command may be the goal of the Antichrist, but he is not able to realize it completely. He reigns for the a short 3 and ½ year period of the great tribulation and into the wrath of God. However, sometime during the 75 days of wrath of God, most likely towards its end, the Antichrist is taken by Christ and cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Whether the destruction of Babylon the Whore takes place at the beginning of the 3 and ½ year tribulation period, or at the end, or during or at the end of the wrath of God period we do not for sure. It does seem from the verses we have just read that it occurs during the wrath of God. What we do know for sure is that all the nations of the world will be judged. In Isaiah we read,

Isaiah 66:15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by sword will the Lord pleade with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

Christ will come and make wars to cease unto the end of the earth. He will break the military might of man and burn it in fire. Then the world and all that dwell therein will know that the Lord, He is God. He will be exalted among the heathen. He will be exalted in the earth. Let us therefore be sober and be vigilant to warn others and do our best to bring them into relationship with Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

From all that we have read in the Scriptures, we can conclude that “the mighty and the holy people” destroyed by the Antichrist may consist of the leading nation of the present day comercial system called in the Bible “Babylon the Whore,” and the Christians believers who refuse to take the mark of the beast and worship His image. Those believers would be truly “holy.” Many of the Christians in the world today live in American. Much of the Christian literature and media is produced in America. America is also said to have the most advanced military in the world. Therefore, America, at present, seems to fit the description of “the mighty and the holy people.”

If America is the present day Babylon the Whore, which will be destroyed in one hour by fire, then both “the mighty and the holy people” would be destroyed at the same time. The Antichrist would destroy “the mighty and the holy people” with the help of the ten nations that give "their power and strength unto the beast." Could that destruction encorporate the destruction of the American Empire and her Christians? If it did, that would seem to push her destruction to a time before the wrath of God. The reason being is that the Christians will be raptured before the wrath and will not be present during it. The “holy people” would not be on the earth during the wrath of God. Some scholars believe that not all the “Christians” will be raptured, but only those who followed Jesus closely. They use the imagery of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 to justify their belief. Let us read from Matthew.

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. ² And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. ³ They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: ⁴ But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. ⁵ While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

^{Matthew 25:6} And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. ⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

^{Matthew 25:11} Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. ¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. ¹³ Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Do the above verses mean that some of the so-called Christians are really not followers of Christ and are not saved and therefore will not be raptured? We see that Scripture is veiled enough to give us a glimpse of the future and yet has enough mystery to keep us guessing and seeking the Lord that we may escape those things that are to come to pass.

Revelation 3:10 Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou has, that no man take thy crown.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Let us hope and pray that we are worthy and that our names are found written in heaven's book!

To back to Part 1 click HERE. For more on why God should judge America, go to Where is America in Bible Prophecy?  To go to Part 6 and read some comments click HERE.

Originally published January 18, 2022

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Who Are the Mighty and the Holy People of Daniel 8:24? - Part 4

Dennis Edwards

When We Look Further at the Ten Horns of Daniel 7 What Do We Find?

^{Daniel 7: 19} Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; ²⁰ And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. ²¹ I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; ²² Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

We see the Antichrist warring with his allies against God’s people during the great tribulation period until Christ returns to retake the earthly kingdom. The Battle of Armageddon seen in Revelation 19 is where Christ takes over the kingdom. At that time the kings of the earth will be judged, as will the Antichrist. It is during the Millennium, the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth, that the saints will possess the kingdom.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw the thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had receievd his mark upon their foreheads,or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ (upon planet earth) a thousand years.

Continuing in Daniel, we read,

^{Daniel 7: 23} Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. ²⁴ And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. ²⁵ And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Again, the same discription of the Antichrist we have seen elsewhere. The ten horns being those same ten kings which will align themselves with the beast or Antichrist and help destroy the Whore of Revelation 17 and 18. We see also, the persecuting of God’s people over the 3 and ½ year period.

^{Daniel 7: 26} But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. ²⁷ And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

God is the ultimate Judge. The Antichrist and his kingdom will be judged, as will the kings of the earth. The saints shall then rule and reign with Christ for that 1,000 year Millennial period just as we read from in Revelation,

Revelation 20:4c … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Where Else Have We Seen the Numeral Ten in the Prophecies of Daniel?

In Nebuchadnezzer’s dream the ten horns or kings are seen as ten toes on the feet of the great image of a man. Let us look at Nebuchadnezzer’s dream.

^{Daniel 2:31} Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. ³² This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, ³³ His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. ³⁴ Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

^{Daniel 2:35} Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

^{Daniel 2:37} Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. ³⁸ And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

^{Daniel 2:39} And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. ⁴⁰ And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

^{Daniel 2:41} And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. ⁴² And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

^{Daniel 2:43} And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. ⁴⁴ And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

^{Daniel 2: 45} Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

In Nebuchadnezzer’s dream, the 10 kings that join with the Antichrist are depicted as the ten toes. Some are made of clay and some are made of iron. Symbolically that is representative of the fact that some of those nations will be stronger politically than the others. A dictatorship would be considered a strong “iron” government. While a democracy controlled by the people would be looked at as a “clay” or “broken” or weaker government.

Nebuchadnezzer’s image had two iron legs and the feet and toes were partly iron and partly clay. Some Bible scholars believe, as a result, that the ten countries joining together with the Antichrist will be partly dictatorial types of government and partly democratic types of governments. Others believe the world will be divided into 10 trading or economic blocks which will join as a One World government, which the Antichrist will eventually control.

Still other scholars take a more literal interpretation and believe the 10 nations will come out of the old Roman Empire, 5 out of the former western Roman empire, and 5 out of the former eastern Middle Eastern Roman empire. The five nations from the former western Roman empire could include such nations as: Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and, or, Portugal. The five nations out of the former middle eastern part of the eastern Roman empire could include such nations as: Greece, Egypt, Lybia, Syria, Turkey and, or, Iraq.

Another eschatology scholar believes that the Antichrist is related to Russia. If that is true, he says the 10 nations of the former Soviet Union could return into the Russian fold as tensions between Israel with its ally America and Russia increase. He, therefore, sees the ten nations as former members of the USSR rejoining Russia as the threat of conflict with America grows.

However it occurs, and however difficult it may seem at present, we know God’s word will not fail. The Antichrist is a screwd politician and demonically inspired. World events could move suddenly in a direction that would enable such an alliance to be made and bring the prophetic group of nations together which ever they may be. But at the moment, we are speculating and we will no doubt understand more fully later as these events begin to take place.

Revelation says,

^{Revelation 17: 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.

^{Revelation 17: 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. 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.

The destruction of Babylon the Whore is one of the main endtime events. It seems to take place near the end of the great tribulation period or during the wrath of God. It could involve nuclear weapons as we have seen in some of the prophecies about the wrath of God and the “day of the Lord.” The destruction of the present day American Empire would bring on a total world confusion which could result in a new world order with a new empire in control. However, the rulers of the world who are behind the scenes may wish to maintain a semblance of stability as long as possible while they peacefully transfer power away from America toward the Antichrist. Let us look at the sixth and seventh vial of the wrath of God and see if it may be talking of Babylon’s detruction. If it is, then Babylon’s physical destruction occurs during the 75 day or 2 ½ month wrath of God.

Revelation 16:12 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 together them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Armageddon is a valley north of the city of Haifa in Israel. It has been used a battlefield before. Napoleon, when traveling through Israel, remarked that it would be a wonderful place for a battle. When the sixth vial was poured out it was to prepare and gather the nations together to “the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” the Battle of Armageddon. The sixth vial is the preparation and gathering of the nations to the Battle of Armageddon. Now let’s look at the seventh vial, the last vial of the wrath of God.

Revelation 16: 17 And the seveth 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. And the great city (Babylon the Whore or Jerusalem?) 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.

In the verses above, it seems that at the time of the seventh vial is when Babylon the Whore is judged, as she comes “in remembrance before God.” If Babylon the Whore’s political manifestation today is America, then it would be at that time that some great American city, perhaps New York, would be destroyed in one hour by fire, as we have seen in Revelation 17 and 18 previously. However, another possibility is that the “great city” mentioned in the above verse could be Jerusalem. Let us look at Revelation 11.

Revelation 11: 8 And their dead bodies shall be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified.

The city where our Lord was crucuified in, was Jerusalem. In the above verse, the city is called the great city. Therefore, the great city in Revelation 16:18 may be talking about Jerusalem, or it may be talking about the great city of the comercial system of Babylon the Whore. The verse also says that “great Babylon came in remembrance before God.” Is there any clue to understanding which great city the verse is talking about? Are there any other verses in the Bible speaking about a great earthquake around the time when Jesus comes back? Let us look at Zechariah 14.

Zechariah 14: 1 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle…3 Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

We see that Zechariah prophesying about the Lord’s return speaks about a great earthquake taking place in Jerusalem running north to south. Let us read a bit more from Zechariah’s vision.

Zechariah 14:6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light…9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

Obviously, Zechariah is talking about the Lord’s return at the end of the wrath of God preceeding the Millennium. We will look at one last verse where Zechariah describes the battle, possibly the Battle of Armageddon.

Zechariah 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongues shall consume away in their mouth.

Zechariah could very well be describing a nuclear confrontation and the effects of a nuclear explosion on those humans close enough to the blast to just consume away, or to have their faces melted by the blast. In Isaiah we have a similar depiction of the “day of the Lord.”

Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travails: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

We see similar imagery to what Zechariah saw. Are men’s faces melting away from the heat of a nuclear blast? Let us continue in Isaiah.

Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, 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.

In Ezekiel 38 and 39 we see similar imagery when the Antichrist forces are destroyed by God.

Ezekiel 38:22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstones.

Ezekiel 39:4 Thou shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 Thou shall fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, says the Lord God. 6 And I will send a fire on Magog (the Antichrist’s home land, possibly Russia), and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles (which may be England, USA, and Australia): and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Is the Lord talking about nuclear fire as we have seemingly seen described in some of the other verses? Will he allow sinful man to almost destroy himself. Or will He Himself produce the fire and brimstone that will rain down? God often uses natural ways to bring about His judgments. He often uses one nation to bring about the destruction of another nation as He did when He used Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Jerusalem. However, if the destruction of Babylon the Whore doesn’t take place until these prophecies occur, that would push her destruction to the end of the wrath of God period. It could also be that the great city that experiences the great earthquake could be a great city of Babylon the Whore.

To go to Part 5 click HERE Originally published on January 18, 2022.

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Who Are the Mighty and the Holy People of Daniel 8:24? - Part 1

Dennis Edwards

^{Daniel 8: 23} And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. ²⁴ And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. ²⁵ And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Many modern day scholars following the interpretation of the Jewish rabbis believe that Antiochus IV fulfilled the prophecies in Daniel 8. Christian apologist Jerome who lived from around 345 A.D. to 420 A.D. vehemently refused to accept that interpretation. Jerome said that Antiochus IV was a partial fulfilment of the text which would be fulfilled later under the future Antichrist. Jerome also rejected the Jewish rabbi’s belief that Daniel 11 was mainly fulfilled by Antiochus IV. The Traditional View of the Church Fathers on end-time prophecy follows the idea that Antiochus was a partial fulfilment of the Scriptures. The Antichrist in the last days will be the ultimate fulfilment.

If we follow the Traditional View of the Church Fathers, the above verses from Daniel describe the Antichrist. They are in accordance with what we have read in other Scriptures concerning the Antichrist. We see the Antichrist coming on the scene in the “latter time of their kingdom.” We see he has his inspiration from the dark side. He will also persecute and destroy the holy people and the mighty. Finally, the Antichrist will stand up against Christ, but will be destroyed at Christ’s coming.

Reference to destroying the “mighty” could be a description to the destruction of Babylon the Whore at the end of the great tribulation period or during of the wrath of God. Revelation 17 and 18 give us a glimpse of the Whore’s destruction. Let us go over that destruction briefly.

How Do the Ten Kings of Revelation 17 Relate to the Daniel Prophecies?

^{Revelation 17: 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.

Here we see the ten horns are actually representative of ten kings or leaders of nations in the future who will give the power of their appropriate kingdoms or nations to the beast, who is the Antichrist. They will also fight against the Lamb. Jesus is the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world. We can assume that these kings together with the Antichrist will be part of the Antichrist kingdom and will fight against true Christianity and its followers wherever they may be. Any others who resist the Antichrist’s authority will also suffer.

^{Revelation 17: 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. 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.

Very briefly in the above prophecy, we see the ten horns, which are ten kings or rulers, are going to join together with the Antichrist to destroy Babylon the Whore. Babylon the Whore is a mercantile system that oppresses the nations of the world. In the mid 1800s, Benjamin Wills Newton, a Christian scholar, commented that if he could designate one country or empire or city during his day as Babylon the Whore, it would not be the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. No, according to Newton, the description of Babylon the Whore from Revelation 17 and 18 in the 1800s fit more with London and the British Empire than any place else in the world.

Doubtless today, Newton would see New York City and the present day capitalistic American Empire as the head of the present day Babylon. The Antichrist, with the help of ten other nations, will destroy Babylon in one day, in one hour. Will the Babylon that is destroyed be the present day American Empire? Let’s review the verses in Revelation 18 to see the description of Babylon the Whore and her destruction.

Revelation 18:2 And he (the angel with great power) cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, 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. 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…How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says 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 judges her.

We see here that all the world is lusting after the riches of Babylon. The great men, the merchants, have become rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Both the kings of the earth and the merchants of the earth have committed spiritual fornication with Babylon the Whore in their lust for money, power, and fame. But God will let her be brought down in one day by fire.

Just as God let Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and take Judah, so Babylon, that great city, will be destroyed by the Antichrist. God said Nebuchadnezzar was his razor to clean the earth of those evil nations who were practising child sacrifice, which included Judah, God’s people. Though the Babylonians had other sins, they did not practice child sacrifice. The Antichrist will be the modern day razor God will use to judge Babylon the Whore. The Antichrist will also be used to judge God’s people for their compromises with Babylon and their lack of submission and dedication to righteousness and to following Jesus closely. Like Apostle Peter wrote,

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

God does promise to protect and help His people during the great tribulation period when the Antichrist will be using all his power to destroy them. But Jesus has warned us that serious persecution is coming and it has come to God’s people over the centuries.

Mark 13: 9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them…12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

Daniel 11: 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days…35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

Revelation 6:9-11 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: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, does thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 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 brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Though God will be protecting His people, some will die as testimonies of the truth. Just as in the beginning of the Christian period, just as under other numerous ungodly governments, God’s people were persecuted and killed for their unwillingness to serve the Roman gods or obey the ungodly laws of the land. They were unwilling to give up their faith and deny Christ. In the last days God’s people will once again be persecuted for their unwillingness to receive the mark and worship the image of the Antichrist and cooperate with his New World Order.

The following prophecy of Isaiah, spoken against the Babylonian Empire of the past, seems altogether futuristic and resembles what we have read in Revelation. Some of the Old Testament prophecies spoken against Babylon of the past, may have a future ultimate fulfilment, when present day Babylon the Whore is destroyed.

Isaiah 47: 8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwells carelessly, that says in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know loss of children: 9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. 10 For thou has trusted in thy wickedness: thou has said, None sees me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it has perverted thee; and thou has said in thine heart, I am, and none beside me. 11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it rises: and mischief shall fall upon thee: thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

To go to Part 2 click HERE

Published originally January 18, 2022.

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Revelation 17 Bible Class

Dennis Edwards: A good Bible Study explaining the significance of Babylon the Whore.

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Revelation 10 & 11

://classes.helpinghandsa.org/2020/10/27/revelation-10-11/ 

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Book of Revelation Explained

https://classes.helpinghandsa.org/2020/10/29/revelation-8-9/ 

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Did You Miss This Peace Agreement?

Dennis Edwards

In the news today we see that Morocco has become the fourth Arab country to normalize relations with Israel this year. In return, the U.S. has recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region. President Trump announced that the two nations would restore diplomatic relations, and eventually open embassies. Much of the motivation for the Abraham Pact is to counter the influence of Iran in the Middle East and stifle the radicle Muslim movement.

Some of my friends have asked me if the Abraham Pact could be the famous "Holy Covenant" spoken of by Daniel in his prophecies. In Daniel 9:27 we see that the Antichrist "will confirm the covenant with many for seven years." But half way through the seven year period, he will break the covenant, stop the daily sacrifice and place the abomination of desolations in the holy place.[Daniel 9:27, 11:31]

In Daniel 11:30, we read that "the ships of Chittum (which is Cyprus where Nato has a naval port) shall come against him (the Antichrist): therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant." We see the "holy covenant," or sometimes called the "Peace Pact," is at the center of the prophecies about the last days. 

The next verse continues with, "And arms (military might) shall stand on his part (on part of the Antichrist), and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate." We know that the placing of the abomination takes place at the half way mark of the seven year period because in Daniel 9:27 it says "in the midst of the week" or the seven year period. 

Whatever the abomination of desolations is we don't know for sure and many have speculated on its significance. In Revelation 13:15 we see that the False Prophet makes an Image of the Beast. What exactly it is we do not know. But the prophecy says, "And he (the False Prophet) had power to give life to 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."

Some speculate that the Image of the Beast may be some super computer or artificial intelligence that all mankind is connected to through some type of biometric technology like a computer chip implant, or an invisible tatoo, or special vaccine. Through the connection that humanity has with the super computer, somehow the Artificial Intelligence will be able to kill those who do not worship the Image of the Beast. 

Perhaps those that accept the Mark of the Beast will be connected to the Image of the Beast. Those who do not accept the Mark, whether it is a computer chip implant, or tatoo, or vaccine or some other newly invented technology, will be considered enemies of the state and will be hunted down like terrorists or dangerous criminals.A simple scanning device would be able to indicate whether a person has the biometric technology and thus, those who do not have one would be easily identified.

Jesus in His famous endtime prophecy told His disciples that the placing of the Abomination of Desolations in the holy place was the sign to look for as the beginning of the great tribulation. We find His words in Matthew 24:15 which connect down to verse 21 which says, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to that time, no, nor ever shall be."

Jesus goes on to say, "And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved...." Does that mean that mankind would annililate itself if the Lord did not shorten the time of the tribulation period? Some prophecies scholars think that indeed is the meaning. Jesus goes on to finish with, "but for the elect's sake (those that don't take the Mark of the Beast and do not worship the Image of the Beast, but who love and follow Jesus) those days shall be shortened."

From the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation we know that the tribulation period will be three and a half years, or forty-two months, or 1260 days. Various times in both prophecy books the three and a half year figure is used, sometimes it is expressed as "times" (2). "time" (1), and "half a time" (1/2). God has repeated the number so that we will not forget and will be able to take heart and endure until the end.

Because, "immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heaven shall be shaken: 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." That's from Matthew 24:29-30. We see Jesus coming back "immediately after the tribulation of those days," not before. Let's see what happens next.

"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." Matthew 24:31 is none other than the famous "Rapture" event. But contrary to popular American Evangelical doctrine, we see the Rapture taking place after the tribulation period. Did you notice the angels and the sounding trumpet? Where else in Scripture do we find that same imagery? Let's look at Apostle Paul's letter to the Thessalonians.

Paul writes, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which have died, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which have died in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which have died."[1 Thessalonians 4:13-15]

Paul continues, "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."[1 Thessalonians 4:16-18]

Paul tells us to comfort one another with these words during the time of tribulation, that we remember that the Rapture event is coming soon and therefore we need to endure and not faint in our minds and give in to the forces of Antichrist.

Did you notice the trumpet and the angel in Paul's description of the Rapture event which parallels Jesus's description in Matthew 24 of the same event? No secret Rapture is found in the Scriptures. Only one Rapture is spoken of and that in Jesus's own words takes place "immediately after the tribulation of those days."Shall we take another look at the Rapture event found in Paul's writtings? Let's go over to 1st Corinthians 15 where Paul talks about our new spiritual bodies.

"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all be dead, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump," again we see Paul's talking about a trumpet sounding. "For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." It's intersting that Paul mentions that it's the "last trump." Where else in the Scriptures do we find trumpets sounding? None other in the book of Revelation where it talks about the "seven trumpets" of tribulation. 

In chapter eight of Revelation we find the seven trumpets preparing to sound. I will call them the tribulation trumpets because I believe these trumpets occur during the "great tribulation" spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:21. In chapter seven of Revelation we see that an important angel cries out, "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."[7:3] The people of God are sealed or marked with a special mark or seal before the terrible tribulation "trumpets" which are to follow begin to fall.

Have we ever seen such an occurence previously in the Scriptures? Yes, we have. In Ezekiel chapter nine we are given a look into the heavenly council where the Lord is ordering an angel to go through Jerusalem before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar "and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."[9:4] God is ordering that those people who were not in agreement with the evil that was being done in Jerusalem would be saved at the time of Jerusalem's destruction. 

How exactly it was done we do not know. Some how God's people were marked by the angel and then when Nebuchadnezzar came through those people were saved during the slaving of the citizens of Jerusalem. In fact, in the imagery, it is other angels that accompany Nebuchadnezzar's forces in the slaving of the guilty. God has a way to protect His people, those that love and obey Him, even in the most difficult situations. In Revelation we see something similar. God's people are sealed before the horrendous trumpets begin to sound. 

In chapter eight of Revelation we find the first four trumpets sounding. With the first trumpet a third part of the trees and green grass on the earth is burnt up. The second trumpet causes a third part of the sea to become blood, and a third part of the sea creature to die, while a third part of the ships are destroyed. The third trumpet seems to be an astroid falling to the earth and causing a third part of the fresh water rivers to become polluted and become undrinkable. 

Finally, the fourth trumpet sounds "and the third part of the sun was smitten, 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."[8:12] We are not sure exactly what Apostle John means. Some scholars believe that perhaps the darkening of the sun, stars, and moon could be the affect of nuclear fallout covering the sky and preventing the normal shining of those celestial bodies. 

Revelation chapter nine we find the next two trumpets of tribulation. Remember, the plagues are falling on a world under control by an Antichrist world government. The plagues are not falling on God's people, but on the wicked, or unbelievers who are following the Antichrist world government. If you remember, when Moses was in Egypt, the plagues fell on the Egyptians, not in the land of Goshen were the Israelites lived. God is using to plagues to try to bring the unbeliever back to Him.

Under the Antichrist world government men are being forced to accept the Mark of the Beast or be killed. The Antichrist has a firm hand over things and aims to persecute and eliminate God's people as they refuse to submit to his ungodly ways and laws. God is pouring out the judgments of the tribulation trumpets to try and help the ungodly change from their wicked ways and return to the Lord. The Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but wishes that all men change and mend their ways and come unto Him.

The fifth angel sounds the fifth trumpet and some sort of locusts come out of  a devastating smoke that darkens the sun and the air. These locusts don't go and eat the grass, but attack those people who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads. It reminds me of how God sent hornets into Palestine before the Jews arrived to scare out the gentile people who were living there. The locust torment men for five months and their sting was like a scorpion sting. 

The Bible tells us that "in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; they shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."[9:6] Some of the other magery of the "locusts" suggest they may in fact be drones or some sort of modern day military equipment. Whatever they are "their power was to hurt men five months."[9:10] 

The sixth trumpet is the most gruesome of all. Again the imagery suggests military armament and "by these was the third part of men killed, by fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths."[9:18] A third part of humanity would be some 3 billion people, if that is what it's referring to. Could Apostle John be visioning the affects of nuclear war? 

We only have one trumpet left. Each trumpet we have seen so far has been worse than the one it preceded. What could the seventh trumpet bring, the last trumpet? Didn't Apostle Paul say something about the "last trump?" Yes, back in 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 when he was talking about the Rapture event, he said, "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (as in death), but we shall all be changed (he had been talking about the difference between the physical and the spiritual body), in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Did you notice his wording? "I will show you a mystery at the last trump, when the trumpet sounds, we shall be changed." In other words, here is the Rature event at the last trumpet. In 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, Apostle Paul uses the same imagery. Talking about the coming of the Lord and the Rapture event he writes, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

We have no doubt that Apostle Paul was talking about the same event in the two different epistles. Now, let's remember the words "mystery" and "last trump" as we read about the next trumpet in Revelation chapter ten. Remember, up until this point each tribulation trumpet seems to get worse than the one preceding it. The sixth trumpet may be forecasting the death of a third of humanity. What could the seventh trumpet bring?

Strangely enough, the tone in the tenth chapter of Revelation is totally differnt from that of the two preceding chapters. We see an angel with a rainbow on his head. Where did we see a rainbow before in the Scriptures? Ah, yes, in the book of Genesis, after the Great Flood. God put a rainbow in the sky and promised to Noah and mankind that he would not judge the world with a flood again. The rainbow was a sign of God's blessing on Noah and his descendants.[Genesis 9:9-17]

The angel with the rainbow upon his head, (remember a rainbow is a good sign), begins to cry out with a loud voice. Apostle John begins to write what he heard, when a voice from heaven says, "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not."[10:4] Then comes some of the most amazing verses in the whole section about the seven trumpets. Let's read them.

"And the angel, which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, 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."[10:5-6] The angel lifts up his hands and swares by Jesus by whom all things were created, that there should be time no longer. Wow, what on earth does that mean? Is God going to break forth from the Heavenly dimension where time as we know it does not exist? Let's keep reading.

"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 has declared to his servants the prophets."[10:7] Amazing! Do you see those words we were to remember: the "last trump" and "mystery?" We don't see the words "last trump," but the seventh angel should have had the seventh trumpet. The seventh trumpet is indeed the last trumpet. Instead of bringing further destruction and plague on mankind kind like the previous trumpets, the seventh trumpet is something different, something special. Apostle John is not allowed to tell us its significance. But Apostle Paul has already given us the clues. 

The seventh trumpet, the last trumpet, is the mystery of God that Apostle Paul gave us a sneak preview back in 1st Corinthians 15:51-52 and which he wrote about in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17. The seventh trump is in fact the Rapture event which Apostle John was not allowed to write about, but which is none the less hidden in the Scriptures for those who will search diligently. Remember the Bereraians who "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." [Acts 17:11] 

The Rapture event had been spoken of by the prophets of old. In Job we read, "If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come."[Job 14:14] Job, written around the period of Abraham 2000 years before the time of Christ, talks about the "change" like Apostle Paul wrote. Job even has something more shocking to say. Let's read on.

"For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."[Job 19:25-27] Job testifying to the coming of the Redeemer at the latter day promised by God to Adam and Eve in the Garden. Job testifying in his hope in the resurrection. 

But, we've gone on quite a bit. You have seen that the Bible is indeed a marvelous book, a fascinating book filled with both terifying future events and wonderful extraordinary promises. It behooves us to study it carefully as one would study for a final exams. God even promises a blessing to all those that read, hear, and keep those things written in the book of Revelation, "for the time is at hand."[Revelation 1:3]

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