Our Lord Jesus Christ reveals His faithfulness to those who suffer for His Name’s sake in the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 1:9, John wrote, “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The sufferings of our Lord’s witnesses is noted throughout the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 2:10 – Smyrna Christians imprisoned 10 days
Revelation 2:13 – The Lord’s faithful witness Antipas martyred
Revelation 5:9-11 – Christ’s own suffering on the cross is referenced
Revelation 6:9 – Martyrs slain for the Word of God
Revelation 11:7 – The two witnesses slain by the beast
Revelation 12:17 - The dragon wars with keepers of God’s Word
Revelation 13:7 - The beast overcomes the saints
Revelation 16:6 – They have shed the blood of saints and prophets
Revelation 17:6 – Woman drunk with blood of saints and martyrs
Revelation 18:24 – Babylon killed prophets, saints, and others
Revelation 19:2 – God avenges the shed blood of His servants
Revelation 20:4 – The beheaded for Christ Jesus reign with Him
God gives us a “why” for His severe judgments in 2 Chronicles 36:15-16, “The Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”
God’s vineyard keepers did not want to yield unto Him a harvest. In Matthew 21:34-41, Jesus compared earth’s managers to vinedressers who take God’s servants, beat one, kill one, and stone another. When He sends His Son to them, they say among themselves, ‘This is the Heir. Come, let us kill Him and seize His inheritance.’ They kill Him. Thus, God’s plan is to destroy these wicked men and “lease His vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to Him the fruits in their seasons.’”
The Book of Revelation ends well because God answers the prayers of those who cry out to Him. Prayers like the one in Revelation 6:10: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
In Psalm 79:10, Asaph prayed to the Lord in a similar fashion as the martyrs in heaven. He prayed, “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let there be known among the nations in our sight the avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.”
In Matthew 21:34-35, Jesus said that all the righteous blood shed on the earth would come upon the murderers of His servants.
Most Biblical holidays are celebrations of victory over abuse. The Passover Festival originated with God freeing His people from slavery. The Purim Festival originated with God reversing the plot of Haman to wipe out the Jewish race. Hanukkah originated with the victory of Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC over Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Incarnation and Resurrection Day celebrations originate with the Son of God coming down to earth, being born in a manger, suffering among us, being slain by our sins and then, resurrected by the power of God.
Praise God, Hebrews 4:14-15 says, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
In Romans 8:34, Paul wrote, “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” In Romans 8:38-39, he added, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Victory Over The Beast – Revelation 15:1-8
Revelation 15:1: “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.”
The Lord was gracious to John and to us to give us so many revelations of His kingdom. In Revelation 12:1, John wrote, “Now a great sign appeared in heaven...” In Revelation 12:3, he wrote, “And another sign appeared in heaven...” In Revelation 15:1, the seven last angels having the seven last plagues of God is another “great and marvelous” sign.
The word for sign in the original Greek text is σημεῖον. In the New Testament, a sign is an extraordinary phenomenon or portent that points beyond itself to a deeper spiritual reality or divine authority. In Modern Greek, the word transitions to σημείο which commonly translates to point, spot, or site. The “sign” notifies those who see it that something is about to happen.
In Joshua 6, when the Lord had seven priests blow seven trumpets for seven days as they marched around the city of Jericho, God was indicating to the people of Jericho that they needed to surrender to Him lest they perish. Rahab saw the sign, acted upon it, and was spared from destruction. She ended up in the genealogy of Jesus while the majority of her people perished on the seventh day when the seven priests blew their trumpets for the seventh time.
Jesus completes what Joshua began. Joshua’s commission was to remove idolators from the Promised Land and take possession of it. Joshua was unable to completely rid the land of idolators. Jesus, however, succeeds. He clears the entire planet of idolators when He returns.
In Revelation 10:7, the Lord says, “In the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.”
In Revelation 21:9, “one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to” John and told him, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
In Leviticus 26:14-17, the Lord said to Israel, “If you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.”
Then, in Leviticus 26:18, the Lord says, “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.” Then, He issues more plagues.
In Leviticus 26:21, the Lord says, “If you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.”
In Leviticus 26:23-24, the Lord says, “if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins.”
In Leviticus 26:27-28, the Lord says, “‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury, and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.”
In the Book of Revelation, there are seven seal judgments, seven trumpet judgments and seven bowl judgments. The Lord releases a series of hardships to persuade people to repent, and then, lets up, and gives humanity time to respond. If people don’t respond, He releases another set of judgments. His goal is to save souls from the greatest disaster which is eternal hell.
Revelation 15:2: “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.”
How did these people gain the victory over the beast, his image, his mark and the number of his name? According to Revelation 12:11, people overcome Satan and his cohorts “by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
The sea of glass alludes to the water basin before the entrance of Solomon’s temple mentioned in 1 Kings 7:23. In Exodus 30:17-21, it was used for the purification of the priests. They washed in the water before entering the holy temple.
In the New Testament, the sea of glass symbolizes the baptismal water in which a person who believes in Jesus and professes Him is baptized. In John 3:4-6, Jesus spoke of the necessity to be born of water and the Spirit. Some denominations refer to the baptismal waters as the womb of the Church from which a new life in Christ springs forth. A person’s physical birth begins with the flow of embryonic water. A person’s spiritual rebirth happens as he or she professes faith in Christ and is baptized with water in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The fire in the sea symbolizes the baptism of fire by the Holy Spirit mentioned in Acts 1:8 and 2:4. They overcame evil spirits by the power of a greater Spirit. Thus, they play harps in worship unto the Lamb and unto God Almighty. In Exodus 15:20-21, after God gave Israel the victory over Pharaoh and his army, Miriam led Israel’s women to play timbrels, dance and sing praise to the Lord. The Spirit-filled life is characterized by lively and joyful worship unto the Lord.
The vision of the sea of glass confirms the importance of baptism. In Exodus 30:17-21, the Lord warned Aaron and his sons (the priests) to wash in the basin before entering the tabernacle lest they die. The goal of Christ is to make us priests and kings unto God so we should happily be baptized in water.
Revelation 15:3-4: “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’”
In Revelation 14:14-16, “One like the Son of Man... thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.” This was the ingathering of the people of God. What do they do when they reach the shore of the crystal sea? They sing “the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.” They are not singing their own praises. No, they are giving all the glory to God.
Jesus Christ deemed those around the crystal sea to be good grapes. They feared the Lord. They believed that God’s ways were just and true. They did not take the mark of the beast. They glorified the Name of the Lord. People from every nation were with God worshiping Him. They leaned upon the Lord and He saved them.
“They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” Joyful songs of worship and thanksgiving unto God are the proper response to all of His goodness.
They sing, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty.” In Psalm 111:2, the Psalmist wrote, “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.”
In Deuteronomy 32:4, some of the words in the song of Moses about God are: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect. For all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice. Righteous and upright is He.”
They ask, “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name?” In Jeremiah 10:7, the prophet wrote, “Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.”
The chief purpose of humankind is to glorify God. When we are healed by the Lord from our sin, we take pleasure in worshipping Him. Then, we want to do as Hebrews 13:15 says, “offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.”
Revelation 15:5-6: “After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.”
The pure bright linen and gold chest sashes match the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:13. White and gold symbolize holiness and righteousness. The coming judgments are holy and just.
The “tabernacle of the testimony” refers to the portable sanctuary built by Moses under God’s direction, which housed the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments tablets.
In Exodus 40:24-34, the Septuagint (LXX) uses the same Greek terms as Revelation 15:5 for “tabernacle of the testimony” to describe the finished tabernacle being filled with God’s glory.
In Revelation 11:19, “the temple of God was also opened in heaven.” “The ark of His covenant was seen in His temple.” The Ark of the Covenant was an item in the earthly temple.
In Hebrews 9:24, the Bible states, “Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” The earthly tabernacle was a temporary, physical teaching tool designed to illustrate God’s holiness. In Revelation 15:5, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven is open.
In Revelation 15:6, the temple of the tabernacle testimony is opened for seven angels to receive the seven golden bowls filled with seven plagues.
Revelation 15:7-8: “Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.”
In Revelation 15:7, seven bowls full of the wrath of God are mentioned. These seven bowls of wrath are connected to the heavenly censers mentioned in Revelation 8:3-5.
In Revelation 8:3-5, an angel having a golden censer, stood at the golden altar, and was given much incense to “offer it with the prayers of all the saints.” The golden altar of incense was another piece of furniture in the earthly temple. The smoke of the incense is mixed with the prayers of the saints. The smoke and prayers ascend before God. An angel filled his censer with fire from the altar and threw it to the earth. The golden bowls of incense “which are the prayers of the saints” are also mentioned in Revelation 5:8.
In Revelation 15:7, one of the four living creatures gives to the seven angels the seven golden bowls of wrath. The four living creatures are very active in the end times judgments on earth.
In Revelation 4:6-8, the four living creatures are around God’s throne praising God continuously. In Revelation 5:6-14, they worship the Lamb, holding harps and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. In Revelation 6:1-8, each one in succession calls to John, saying, “Come and see” as seals 1-4 are opened. In Revelation 7:11, they worship God with a multitude of people that no one can number. In Revelation 14:3, they are near God’s throne during the song of the 144,000. In Revelation 19:4, they worship God after God avenges the blood of His servants shed by Babylon.
In Revelation 15:7, one of the four living creatures gives to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God. At that moment, the temple is filled with smoke from God’s glory and from His power. No one is able to enter the temple until the seven last plagues are completed.
In Psalm 18:6-19, David describes God’s response to his prayer as earth shaking. A devouring fire proceeds from God’s mouth. He thunders from heaven with hailstones and coals of fire. His arrows scatter the foe. He delivers David’s soul from hatred. He brings David to a broad place.
Knowing what we know from the Word of God, we need not wait until all these things come to pass to sing a new song to the Lord. If we have been continuously singing songs of lament, we can now switch to songs of victory. The Lord is surely going to bring to pass all that He promised. The crime syndicates of this world are coming to an end. The devil and his cohorts are condemned. Christ is coming! Our Lord Jesus Christ shall reign forever and ever. This life is comparable to a vapor that appears for a moment and is gone in the next, it will soon be over, and we will live forever and ever in paradise with God.
The Lord was gracious to John and to us to give us so many revelations of His kingdom. In Revelation 12:1, John wrote, “Now a great sign appeared in heaven...” In Revelation 12:3, he wrote, “And another sign appeared in heaven...” In Revelation 15:1, the seven last angels having the seven last plagues of God is another “great and marvelous” sign.
The word for sign in the original Greek text is σημεῖον. In the New Testament, a sign is an extraordinary phenomenon or portent that points beyond itself to a deeper spiritual reality or divine authority. In Modern Greek, the word transitions to σημείο which commonly translates to point, spot, or site. The “sign” notifies those who see it that something is about to happen.
In Joshua 6, when the Lord had seven priests blow seven trumpets for seven days as they marched around the city of Jericho, God was indicating to the people of Jericho that they needed to surrender to Him lest they perish. Rahab saw the sign, acted upon it, and was spared from destruction. She ended up in the genealogy of Jesus while the majority of her people perished on the seventh day when the seven priests blew their trumpets for the seventh time.
Jesus completes what Joshua began. Joshua’s commission was to remove idolators from the Promised Land and take possession of it. Joshua was unable to completely rid the land of idolators. Jesus, however, succeeds. He clears the entire planet of idolators when He returns.
In Revelation 10:7, the Lord says, “In the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.”
In Revelation 21:9, “one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to” John and told him, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”
In Leviticus 26:14-17, the Lord said to Israel, “If you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.”
Then, in Leviticus 26:18, the Lord says, “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.” Then, He issues more plagues.
In Leviticus 26:21, the Lord says, “If you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you seven times more plagues, according to your sins.”
In Leviticus 26:23-24, the Lord says, “if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins.”
In Leviticus 26:27-28, the Lord says, “‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury, and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.”
In the Book of Revelation, there are seven seal judgments, seven trumpet judgments and seven bowl judgments. The Lord releases a series of hardships to persuade people to repent, and then, lets up, and gives humanity time to respond. If people don’t respond, He releases another set of judgments. His goal is to save souls from the greatest disaster which is eternal hell.
Revelation 15:2: “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.”
How did these people gain the victory over the beast, his image, his mark and the number of his name? According to Revelation 12:11, people overcome Satan and his cohorts “by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
The sea of glass alludes to the water basin before the entrance of Solomon’s temple mentioned in 1 Kings 7:23. In Exodus 30:17-21, it was used for the purification of the priests. They washed in the water before entering the holy temple.
In the New Testament, the sea of glass symbolizes the baptismal water in which a person who believes in Jesus and professes Him is baptized. In John 3:4-6, Jesus spoke of the necessity to be born of water and the Spirit. Some denominations refer to the baptismal waters as the womb of the Church from which a new life in Christ springs forth. A person’s physical birth begins with the flow of embryonic water. A person’s spiritual rebirth happens as he or she professes faith in Christ and is baptized with water in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The fire in the sea symbolizes the baptism of fire by the Holy Spirit mentioned in Acts 1:8 and 2:4. They overcame evil spirits by the power of a greater Spirit. Thus, they play harps in worship unto the Lamb and unto God Almighty. In Exodus 15:20-21, after God gave Israel the victory over Pharaoh and his army, Miriam led Israel’s women to play timbrels, dance and sing praise to the Lord. The Spirit-filled life is characterized by lively and joyful worship unto the Lord.
The vision of the sea of glass confirms the importance of baptism. In Exodus 30:17-21, the Lord warned Aaron and his sons (the priests) to wash in the basin before entering the tabernacle lest they die. The goal of Christ is to make us priests and kings unto God so we should happily be baptized in water.
Revelation 15:3-4: “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’”
In Revelation 14:14-16, “One like the Son of Man... thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.” This was the ingathering of the people of God. What do they do when they reach the shore of the crystal sea? They sing “the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.” They are not singing their own praises. No, they are giving all the glory to God.
Jesus Christ deemed those around the crystal sea to be good grapes. They feared the Lord. They believed that God’s ways were just and true. They did not take the mark of the beast. They glorified the Name of the Lord. People from every nation were with God worshiping Him. They leaned upon the Lord and He saved them.
“They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” Joyful songs of worship and thanksgiving unto God are the proper response to all of His goodness.
They sing, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty.” In Psalm 111:2, the Psalmist wrote, “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.”
In Deuteronomy 32:4, some of the words in the song of Moses about God are: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect. For all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice. Righteous and upright is He.”
They ask, “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name?” In Jeremiah 10:7, the prophet wrote, “Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.”
The chief purpose of humankind is to glorify God. When we are healed by the Lord from our sin, we take pleasure in worshipping Him. Then, we want to do as Hebrews 13:15 says, “offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.”
Revelation 15:5-6: “After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.”
The pure bright linen and gold chest sashes match the description of Jesus in Revelation 1:13. White and gold symbolize holiness and righteousness. The coming judgments are holy and just.
The “tabernacle of the testimony” refers to the portable sanctuary built by Moses under God’s direction, which housed the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments tablets.
In Exodus 40:24-34, the Septuagint (LXX) uses the same Greek terms as Revelation 15:5 for “tabernacle of the testimony” to describe the finished tabernacle being filled with God’s glory.
In Revelation 11:19, “the temple of God was also opened in heaven.” “The ark of His covenant was seen in His temple.” The Ark of the Covenant was an item in the earthly temple.
In Hebrews 9:24, the Bible states, “Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” The earthly tabernacle was a temporary, physical teaching tool designed to illustrate God’s holiness. In Revelation 15:5, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven is open.
In Revelation 15:6, the temple of the tabernacle testimony is opened for seven angels to receive the seven golden bowls filled with seven plagues.
Revelation 15:7-8: “Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.”
In Revelation 15:7, seven bowls full of the wrath of God are mentioned. These seven bowls of wrath are connected to the heavenly censers mentioned in Revelation 8:3-5.
In Revelation 8:3-5, an angel having a golden censer, stood at the golden altar, and was given much incense to “offer it with the prayers of all the saints.” The golden altar of incense was another piece of furniture in the earthly temple. The smoke of the incense is mixed with the prayers of the saints. The smoke and prayers ascend before God. An angel filled his censer with fire from the altar and threw it to the earth. The golden bowls of incense “which are the prayers of the saints” are also mentioned in Revelation 5:8.
In Revelation 15:7, one of the four living creatures gives to the seven angels the seven golden bowls of wrath. The four living creatures are very active in the end times judgments on earth.
In Revelation 4:6-8, the four living creatures are around God’s throne praising God continuously. In Revelation 5:6-14, they worship the Lamb, holding harps and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. In Revelation 6:1-8, each one in succession calls to John, saying, “Come and see” as seals 1-4 are opened. In Revelation 7:11, they worship God with a multitude of people that no one can number. In Revelation 14:3, they are near God’s throne during the song of the 144,000. In Revelation 19:4, they worship God after God avenges the blood of His servants shed by Babylon.
In Revelation 15:7, one of the four living creatures gives to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God. At that moment, the temple is filled with smoke from God’s glory and from His power. No one is able to enter the temple until the seven last plagues are completed.
In Psalm 18:6-19, David describes God’s response to his prayer as earth shaking. A devouring fire proceeds from God’s mouth. He thunders from heaven with hailstones and coals of fire. His arrows scatter the foe. He delivers David’s soul from hatred. He brings David to a broad place.
Knowing what we know from the Word of God, we need not wait until all these things come to pass to sing a new song to the Lord. If we have been continuously singing songs of lament, we can now switch to songs of victory. The Lord is surely going to bring to pass all that He promised. The crime syndicates of this world are coming to an end. The devil and his cohorts are condemned. Christ is coming! Our Lord Jesus Christ shall reign forever and ever. This life is comparable to a vapor that appears for a moment and is gone in the next, it will soon be over, and we will live forever and ever in paradise with God.
Monday, October 5, 2026
Ripe For Harvest – Revelation 14:8-20
Revelation 14:8: “And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
Babylon forced nations to drink of her fornicating ways. What did her drink do for the nations? It brought upon them the wrath of God.
In Revelation 18:19, those who became rich by Babylon’s wealth lament and say, “In one hour she is made desolate.” Revelation 18:20 states that Babylon’s merchants were the great men of the earth because by her sorcery all the nations were deceived. According to what I see happening nowadays, people were likely deceived to buy and sell goods and services that they didn’t need, and that were actually harmful to their wellbeing.
God had a similar message for the Babylon of Jeremiah’ day. In Jeremiah 51:6-8, he prophesied, “This is the time of the Lord’s vengeance. He shall recompense her. Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand that made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine. Therefore the nations are deranged. Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her!”
In Revelation 18:20, heaven, holy apostles and prophets are told to rejoice because God has taken vengeance on Babylon on their behalf. In Revelation 18:24, the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth were found in Babylon.
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus said that a wise man hears His sayings and practices them. A fool does not. A wise man’s house is comparable to a house built on a rock while a fool’s house is comparable to a house built on shifting sands. The fool’s house will not stand during times of storms but wiseman’s house will. Babylon’s prideful pomp will fall quite suddenly like a house made of cards. Those who stand with Christ will stand forever.
Revelation 14:9-11: “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’”
A cup filled full strength with God’s wrath (not diluted with mercy) is poured out on those who worship other gods. In Psalms 11:6, David wrote that God shall rain fire and brimstone on the wicked. “This shall be the portion of their cup.” Psalms 75:8 says, “In the hand of the Lord there is a cup... all the wicked... shall drink...” In Jeremiah 25:15, the Lord said to Jeremiah, “Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.”
In Matthew 20:22, Jesus asked, “Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?” In Matthew 20:26, Jesus prayed, ‘O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.’” Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath that was meant for us sinners. When we believe in Jesus, the wrath we deserve for our sin, is paid in full by Him.
God’s wrath against sin is great. In Matthew 13:41-42, Jesus prophesied, saying, “The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity ... and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
The Lord gave a similar word to John in Revelation 13:10. He said, “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” He said this in lieu of His judgments on the kingdoms of the world. As God’s plagues on Egypt were a series of events culminating with Israel’s freedom, so God’s end times plagues on the world will culminate with Christ followers being freed from evil to be with God.
It is likely that just as people mocked Noah for building a boat on dryland, so they will mock last days Christians for holding to “that old time religion, that was good enough for Paul and Silas.”
Revelation 14:13: “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’”
In Hebrews 4:11, the Lord encourages us in His Word to make every effort to enter the rest. We enter the rest of God by believing what He has taught us. We trust in His ability, not our own.
Only God is able to transport a soul from this life to the next one. We must not be like the people in Isaiah’s day. In Isaiah 7:2, they were shaking as trees shake in the wind. So, the Lord gave them a sign: a virgin would conceive a child. His Name is called Immanuel (God with us).
Revelation 14:14-16: “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”
This first harvest is the harvest of believers in Christ. They are good fruit. The Son of Man on the cloud is Jesus Christ. He brings in the harvest of souls to God His Father.
In Revelation 1:7, it is written, “Behold, He [Jesus] comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him...” In Luke 21:27, Jesus said, “They shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” In Daniel 7:13, it is written, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven.”
In Mark 4:29, Jesus said, “When the fruit is brought forth, immediately He puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” In Matthew 13:39, Jesus said, “The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” They collect what the sickle has cut down.
Revelation 14:17-20: “Then another angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’ So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 1,600 furlongs.”
“The vine of the earth” is condemned because its fruit is not from God. Apart from Christ people produce bad grapes. They try to save themselves apart from Christ but fail. In the Gospels, our Lord’s strongest words of condemnation are towards imposters.
In Deuteronomy 32:32-33, the Lord says, “Their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter... Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.”
In Isaiah 5:5, it is written, “He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.”
In Isaiah 63:3-4, the Lord says, “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury. Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.”
In Joel 3:13-14, the Lord says, “Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow—for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”
A scholar named Bengel believes the 1,600 furlongs area is the valley of Kidron, between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. His view agrees with Joel’s prophecy that the valley of Jehoshaphat is where the antichrist will be overthrown.
In Jeremiah 25:30, it is written, “‘The Lord... will give a shout, as those who tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.”
In Jeremiah 51:33, the Lord says, “The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor when it is time to thresh her. Yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come.”
Concerning the phrase, “blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 1,600 furlongs,” the Lord said in Isaiah 26:21, “For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.”
In Revelation 14:13, the Lord gave to John a word for the wise, saying, “Write: blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” The key to being in the first ingathering, the one that ascends to be with the Lord, is to “die in the Lord.” Be in Him! Be in Christ! Abide in Him and in His Word, and you will rest from your labors and your works will not be burned up. They will follow you. They will yield blessings for you and bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Babylon forced nations to drink of her fornicating ways. What did her drink do for the nations? It brought upon them the wrath of God.
In Revelation 18:19, those who became rich by Babylon’s wealth lament and say, “In one hour she is made desolate.” Revelation 18:20 states that Babylon’s merchants were the great men of the earth because by her sorcery all the nations were deceived. According to what I see happening nowadays, people were likely deceived to buy and sell goods and services that they didn’t need, and that were actually harmful to their wellbeing.
God had a similar message for the Babylon of Jeremiah’ day. In Jeremiah 51:6-8, he prophesied, “This is the time of the Lord’s vengeance. He shall recompense her. Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand that made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine. Therefore the nations are deranged. Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her!”
In Revelation 18:20, heaven, holy apostles and prophets are told to rejoice because God has taken vengeance on Babylon on their behalf. In Revelation 18:24, the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth were found in Babylon.
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus said that a wise man hears His sayings and practices them. A fool does not. A wise man’s house is comparable to a house built on a rock while a fool’s house is comparable to a house built on shifting sands. The fool’s house will not stand during times of storms but wiseman’s house will. Babylon’s prideful pomp will fall quite suddenly like a house made of cards. Those who stand with Christ will stand forever.
Revelation 14:9-11: “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’”
A cup filled full strength with God’s wrath (not diluted with mercy) is poured out on those who worship other gods. In Psalms 11:6, David wrote that God shall rain fire and brimstone on the wicked. “This shall be the portion of their cup.” Psalms 75:8 says, “In the hand of the Lord there is a cup... all the wicked... shall drink...” In Jeremiah 25:15, the Lord said to Jeremiah, “Take the wine cup of this fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.”
In Matthew 20:22, Jesus asked, “Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?” In Matthew 20:26, Jesus prayed, ‘O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as You will.’” Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath that was meant for us sinners. When we believe in Jesus, the wrath we deserve for our sin, is paid in full by Him.
God’s wrath against sin is great. In Matthew 13:41-42, Jesus prophesied, saying, “The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity ... and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints. Here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
The Lord gave a similar word to John in Revelation 13:10. He said, “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” He said this in lieu of His judgments on the kingdoms of the world. As God’s plagues on Egypt were a series of events culminating with Israel’s freedom, so God’s end times plagues on the world will culminate with Christ followers being freed from evil to be with God.
It is likely that just as people mocked Noah for building a boat on dryland, so they will mock last days Christians for holding to “that old time religion, that was good enough for Paul and Silas.”
Revelation 14:13: “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’”
In Hebrews 4:11, the Lord encourages us in His Word to make every effort to enter the rest. We enter the rest of God by believing what He has taught us. We trust in His ability, not our own.
Only God is able to transport a soul from this life to the next one. We must not be like the people in Isaiah’s day. In Isaiah 7:2, they were shaking as trees shake in the wind. So, the Lord gave them a sign: a virgin would conceive a child. His Name is called Immanuel (God with us).
Revelation 14:14-16: “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”
This first harvest is the harvest of believers in Christ. They are good fruit. The Son of Man on the cloud is Jesus Christ. He brings in the harvest of souls to God His Father.
In Revelation 1:7, it is written, “Behold, He [Jesus] comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him...” In Luke 21:27, Jesus said, “They shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” In Daniel 7:13, it is written, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven.”
In Mark 4:29, Jesus said, “When the fruit is brought forth, immediately He puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” In Matthew 13:39, Jesus said, “The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” They collect what the sickle has cut down.
Revelation 14:17-20: “Then another angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, ‘Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.’ So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 1,600 furlongs.”
“The vine of the earth” is condemned because its fruit is not from God. Apart from Christ people produce bad grapes. They try to save themselves apart from Christ but fail. In the Gospels, our Lord’s strongest words of condemnation are towards imposters.
In Deuteronomy 32:32-33, the Lord says, “Their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter... Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.”
In Isaiah 5:5, it is written, “He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.”
In Isaiah 63:3-4, the Lord says, “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury. Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.”
In Joel 3:13-14, the Lord says, “Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow—for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”
A scholar named Bengel believes the 1,600 furlongs area is the valley of Kidron, between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. His view agrees with Joel’s prophecy that the valley of Jehoshaphat is where the antichrist will be overthrown.
In Jeremiah 25:30, it is written, “‘The Lord... will give a shout, as those who tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.”
In Jeremiah 51:33, the Lord says, “The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor when it is time to thresh her. Yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come.”
Concerning the phrase, “blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for 1,600 furlongs,” the Lord said in Isaiah 26:21, “For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.”
In Revelation 14:13, the Lord gave to John a word for the wise, saying, “Write: blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” The key to being in the first ingathering, the one that ascends to be with the Lord, is to “die in the Lord.” Be in Him! Be in Christ! Abide in Him and in His Word, and you will rest from your labors and your works will not be burned up. They will follow you. They will yield blessings for you and bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday, October 4, 2026
The Everlasting Gospel – Revelation 14:1-7
Revelation 14:1: “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father’s Name written on their foreheads.”
Praise the Lord, the Lamb is standing on Mount Zion with His followers. They are a mighty army filled with the Word of God. In Joel 2:1, the Lord says to blow the trumpet in Zion. Sound an alarm in My holy mountain! The day of the Lord is coming. It is at hand. In Joel 2:11, the Lord utters His voice before His army. His camp is great. Strong is the One who carries out His Word.
The 144,000 have the Name of the Lamb’s Father written on their foreheads, not the 666 number of the beast.[1]
In Deuteronomy 6:7-9, God told the people of Israel to have His commandments bound as a sign on their hand, and as a frontlet between their eyes. They have Christ on their minds and they serve Him with their hands. They abide in Christ, who is also called, “The Word of God.” They have submitted themselves to God and resisted the devil in accordance with James 4:7.
In Revelation 3:12, Jesus said to, “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God... and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God... and I will write upon him My new Name.”
God’s Name is on everyone who has His Spirit. In Ephesians 1:13-14, we read, “In Him [Jesus Christ] you also, when you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”
Revelation 14:2: “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.”
In Psalms 93:4, David wrote, “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.” His voice sounds like tons of water falling. Like thunder!
John hears harpist playing harps. In Psalm 144:9, David wrote, “I will sing a new song to You, O God. On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You.” God was so good to lead David to play the harp and sing songs to Him. Such songs and music are a foretaste of heaven.
Various musical instruments are used in the Bible for worshipping God. The trumpet (shofar) appears in over 90 verses, and the harp (kinnor) is mentioned 42 times. Other instruments include the lyre, timbrel (tambourine), cymbals, flute (zournas), drum, bells and let’s not forget voices as instruments of praise to God.[2]
Revelation 14:3: “They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders. And no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth.”
The Lord urges us to sing new songs multiple times in the Bible. For example, in Psalm 33:3, He says, “Sing to Him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy.” The Lord has provided so many wonderful songs for us to sing. He gives us songs of deliverance.[3]
No one else could learn the new song that the Lord gave to the 144,000. It was for them.
Revelation 14:4: “These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”
In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul spoke of Christians as virgins espoused to Christ. “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” They are pure via their relationship with Christ.
In Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:14, and Hosea 2:16, God speaks of being married to His people. In Ephesians 5:25-32, the relationship between Christ and His Church is compared to a marriage between a man and woman. In Revelation 19:7-9, the celebration of Christ being united with His people forever is called, “the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
The 144,000 Messianic Jews follow the Lamb wherever He goes. In Matthew 4:18-20, Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Those who follow Jesus are also called disciples. They learn from Him and do His bidding.
The 144,000 Messianic Jews are redeemed by the Lord from among men. “They are firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,” which means there will be many more like them as a result of their ministry. In Revelation 7:4, after the Lord introduces the 144,000 to John, He shows John a great multitude of people which no one could number from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues praising God. They came out of the great tribulation. They have been redeemed unto God by the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 14:5: “In their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
In Zephaniah 3:8-9, the Lord says to wait for Him until the day He rises up for plunder. He says, “My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger. All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the Name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.”
In Zephaniah 3:12-13, the Lord promised, “I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.”
The Lord Jesus raises up this army by baptizing them in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Jesus Christ is the truth. The meek and humble who trust in the Lord speak truth.
Revelation 14:6-7: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”
The angel preaches the everlasting Gospel to people all over the world, telling them to fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come. He urges people to worship God.
Do the terms, “Fear God” and “the Gospel” belong in the same message?
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, He will execute fiery vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. “These” says the Lord, “shall be punished with everlasting destruction.”
Jesus used the words, “unless” and “if” when He shared the Gospel.
In John 3:5, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In John 6:53, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” In John 8:24, Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
The Gospel properly preached is both bad news and good news. It is very bad news for those who reject Christ. In John 3:36, God’s Word says, “He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” In Matthew 25:32-46, Jesus spoke of separating sheep from goats, meaning those who have no relationship with Him will be castaways. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins on the cross. He resurrected on the third day to assure us that everyone who believes in Him receives everlasting life. We rest in His works to save us.
In Matthew 24:14, Jesus foretold, “This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Not that all nations shall be converted, but all nations shall have had the opportunity to believe in Christ.
As for the angel who preaches the Gospel mentioned in Revelation 14:6, I am amazed that the Gospel is spreading globally nowadays via satellite transmissions. The Holy Spirit is like air and water. He finds ways to enter nations that seem to be closed airtight and watertight.
The Gospel dispels darkness from nations. The era preceding the Reformation is commonly called the dark ages. After the Lord revealed to Martin Luther the simplicity of the Gospel, namely, salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, he published it, and an age of enlightenment followed. In Psalm 119:130, David wrote, “The entrance of Your Word gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.”
Praise be to God for the promise of a 144,000 Jewish followers of the Lamb. Praise God for the angel who flies amidst heaven preaching the everlasting Gospel. The Lord assures us in Revelation 14:1-7 that even during earth’s darkest days, His light will still be shining brightly to people all around this globe.
[1] For more details about the 144,000, please see my blog entitled, “Sealed in Christ” which covers Revelation 7:1-8. https://21stcenturyjeremiah.blogspot.com/2026/09/sealed-in-christ-revelation-71-8.html
[2] Harp verses: Revelation 5:8; 15:2; 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7; Psalms 33:2; 43:4; 57:8; 92:3; 98:5; 147:7; 149:3; 150:3-6
[3] Psalms 32:7; 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10
Praise the Lord, the Lamb is standing on Mount Zion with His followers. They are a mighty army filled with the Word of God. In Joel 2:1, the Lord says to blow the trumpet in Zion. Sound an alarm in My holy mountain! The day of the Lord is coming. It is at hand. In Joel 2:11, the Lord utters His voice before His army. His camp is great. Strong is the One who carries out His Word.
The 144,000 have the Name of the Lamb’s Father written on their foreheads, not the 666 number of the beast.[1]
In Deuteronomy 6:7-9, God told the people of Israel to have His commandments bound as a sign on their hand, and as a frontlet between their eyes. They have Christ on their minds and they serve Him with their hands. They abide in Christ, who is also called, “The Word of God.” They have submitted themselves to God and resisted the devil in accordance with James 4:7.
In Revelation 3:12, Jesus said to, “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God... and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God... and I will write upon him My new Name.”
God’s Name is on everyone who has His Spirit. In Ephesians 1:13-14, we read, “In Him [Jesus Christ] you also, when you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory.”
Revelation 14:2: “And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.”
In Psalms 93:4, David wrote, “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.” His voice sounds like tons of water falling. Like thunder!
John hears harpist playing harps. In Psalm 144:9, David wrote, “I will sing a new song to You, O God. On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You.” God was so good to lead David to play the harp and sing songs to Him. Such songs and music are a foretaste of heaven.
Various musical instruments are used in the Bible for worshipping God. The trumpet (shofar) appears in over 90 verses, and the harp (kinnor) is mentioned 42 times. Other instruments include the lyre, timbrel (tambourine), cymbals, flute (zournas), drum, bells and let’s not forget voices as instruments of praise to God.[2]
Revelation 14:3: “They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders. And no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth.”
The Lord urges us to sing new songs multiple times in the Bible. For example, in Psalm 33:3, He says, “Sing to Him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy.” The Lord has provided so many wonderful songs for us to sing. He gives us songs of deliverance.[3]
No one else could learn the new song that the Lord gave to the 144,000. It was for them.
Revelation 14:4: “These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”
In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul spoke of Christians as virgins espoused to Christ. “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” They are pure via their relationship with Christ.
In Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:14, and Hosea 2:16, God speaks of being married to His people. In Ephesians 5:25-32, the relationship between Christ and His Church is compared to a marriage between a man and woman. In Revelation 19:7-9, the celebration of Christ being united with His people forever is called, “the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
The 144,000 Messianic Jews follow the Lamb wherever He goes. In Matthew 4:18-20, Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Those who follow Jesus are also called disciples. They learn from Him and do His bidding.
The 144,000 Messianic Jews are redeemed by the Lord from among men. “They are firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,” which means there will be many more like them as a result of their ministry. In Revelation 7:4, after the Lord introduces the 144,000 to John, He shows John a great multitude of people which no one could number from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues praising God. They came out of the great tribulation. They have been redeemed unto God by the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 14:5: “In their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
In Zephaniah 3:8-9, the Lord says to wait for Him until the day He rises up for plunder. He says, “My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My indignation, all My fierce anger. All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the Name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord.”
In Zephaniah 3:12-13, the Lord promised, “I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.”
The Lord Jesus raises up this army by baptizing them in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Jesus Christ is the truth. The meek and humble who trust in the Lord speak truth.
Revelation 14:6-7: “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’”
The angel preaches the everlasting Gospel to people all over the world, telling them to fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come. He urges people to worship God.
Do the terms, “Fear God” and “the Gospel” belong in the same message?
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, He will execute fiery vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. “These” says the Lord, “shall be punished with everlasting destruction.”
Jesus used the words, “unless” and “if” when He shared the Gospel.
In John 3:5, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In John 6:53, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” In John 8:24, Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
The Gospel properly preached is both bad news and good news. It is very bad news for those who reject Christ. In John 3:36, God’s Word says, “He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” In Matthew 25:32-46, Jesus spoke of separating sheep from goats, meaning those who have no relationship with Him will be castaways. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins on the cross. He resurrected on the third day to assure us that everyone who believes in Him receives everlasting life. We rest in His works to save us.
In Matthew 24:14, Jesus foretold, “This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Not that all nations shall be converted, but all nations shall have had the opportunity to believe in Christ.
As for the angel who preaches the Gospel mentioned in Revelation 14:6, I am amazed that the Gospel is spreading globally nowadays via satellite transmissions. The Holy Spirit is like air and water. He finds ways to enter nations that seem to be closed airtight and watertight.
The Gospel dispels darkness from nations. The era preceding the Reformation is commonly called the dark ages. After the Lord revealed to Martin Luther the simplicity of the Gospel, namely, salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, he published it, and an age of enlightenment followed. In Psalm 119:130, David wrote, “The entrance of Your Word gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.”
Praise be to God for the promise of a 144,000 Jewish followers of the Lamb. Praise God for the angel who flies amidst heaven preaching the everlasting Gospel. The Lord assures us in Revelation 14:1-7 that even during earth’s darkest days, His light will still be shining brightly to people all around this globe.
[1] For more details about the 144,000, please see my blog entitled, “Sealed in Christ” which covers Revelation 7:1-8. https://21stcenturyjeremiah.blogspot.com/2026/09/sealed-in-christ-revelation-71-8.html
[2] Harp verses: Revelation 5:8; 15:2; 2 Samuel 6:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7; Psalms 33:2; 43:4; 57:8; 92:3; 98:5; 147:7; 149:3; 150:3-6
[3] Psalms 32:7; 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Worshipping the One True God - Revelation 13:8-18
Revelation 13:8: “All who dwell on the earth will worship him [the beast], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
The Book of Life is mentioned in various verses in the Bible.
In Exodus 32:32, Moses said to God, “Yet now, if You will not forgive their sin, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
In Daniel 12:1, God told Daniel, “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 your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
In Luke 10:20, Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice that evil spirits were subject to them, but to rejoice because their names are written in heaven.
In Philippians 4:3, Paul urged the Philippian Christians to help his yokefellows who labored with him in the Gospel
In Revelation 3:5, Jesus said to the overcomer, “I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”
According to Revelation 21:27, no one enters New Jerusalem whose name is “not written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Three important truths to remember from Revelation 13:8 are: 1) Don’t worship the beast, 2) God’s plan from the foundation of the world was for Christ to be slain for our sins, 3) The Lamb writes the name of those who are His in the Book of Life.
Revelation 13:9: “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.”
In Revelation, Jesus says to each of the seven churches mentioned, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Are we listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance?
How did the devil mislead our first parents? In Genesis 3:1, he asked Eve, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” He wants to create doubt in us about what the Lord has said to us. Thus, it is important to meditate on God’s Word day and night, to abide in Christ, so that we are not led astray by either forgetting or beginning to doubt God.
Revelation 13:10: “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity. He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”
The above passage contains a quote from Jeremiah 15:1-4: “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight and let them go forth. And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord: such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction, says the Lord: the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.’”
The people of Jeremiah’s day had ignored God’s voice for so long that He determined to let some die by sword, some by famine, and some by created creatures. In Revelation 13, the appearance of the beast is a fruit of the world’s rejection of God.
The phrase, “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints” is a word to the wise. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, the Lord says that love suffers long. When a saint sees people reject Christ and perish in their sin, it grieves his or her heart. Christ died to save sinners. He loves them dearly, but due to pride and hardness of heart, they reject God’s remedy for sin.
Revelation 13:11: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.”
The Lord shows John another beast. It comes up out of the earth not the sea. This second beast is called the false prophet in Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10.
The beast has a lamb’s horns and a dragon’s voice. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus warned us against false prophets who look like sheep but inwardly are ravening wolves. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul warned us against false apostles who transform themselves into apostles of Christ.
Revelation 13:12: “And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”
The second beast is a worship leader. He leads people to worship the antichrist. He can also be understood as a minister of propaganda. He publishes lies against God and God’s people. He convinces people to serve the first beast who appeared as dead and then resurrected.
In John 5:43, Jesus told the religious leaders of Jerusalem, “I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” People tend to want a religion of their own choosing rather than the one God has ordained.
Revelation 13:13: “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”
The false prophet makes fire visibly come down from heaven. This miracle answers to the miracle of the two witnesses. In Revelation 11:5, the two witnesses of God had fire proceed from their mouths that consumed their enemies.
The miracle of fire by the false prophet also answers to the miracle of Elijah in 1 Kings 18:24. Elijah told the false prophets of Jezebel, “You call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” The false prophets in Elijah’s day could not do this miracle, but it seems that the false prophet of the last days is able to do it. Thus, many believe he is a true prophet of God.
God rained down hail and fire on Egypt through the ministry of Moses. In Exodus 7:11-12, 22, 8:7, the magicians of Egypt were able to imitate some of God’s miracles by deceptive means, but bringing down fire from heaven is not mentioned as one they imitated.
In Matthew 24:24, Jesus prophesied of false prophets appearing and performing great signs and wonders. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Paul prophesied of a man of lawlessness appearing and performing signs and lying wonders.
Revelation 13:14: “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”
In Revelation 16:13-14, the Lord showed John three unclean spirits coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. “They are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
The devil deceives people to shift their allegiance from God to him. After that, he deceives people to fight against the saints who are trying to save them from him.
Revelation 13:15: “He [the second beast] was granted power to give breath to the image of the [first] beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”
In Daniel 3 there is a counterpart to the beast of Revelation 13. In Daniel 3, the king of Babylon set up a golden image to be worshipped. He made a decree that everyone should worship its image or die in a fiery furnace. Three of his officials refused to do so because of their love for God. They were cast into a fiery furnace. They would have perished except that a fourth person appeared with them. The fourth person looked like the Son of God. He was. The three officials came forth from the fire unharmed.
In Revelation 13:15, the false prophet also creates an image. Like King Nebuchadnezzar, he gives people two options in regards to the idol: 1) worship it or 2) die.
The image of the beast is animated to breathe and speak: whether by magic or by technology, the result is impressive. In Psalm 135:15-16, the Psalmist noted that idols are silver and gold. They have mouths but cannot speak not. They have eyes but cannot see not.[1]
This idolatrous image is what Jesus, Daniel, and Paul spoke of as an abomination that causes desolation.[2] It is an idolatrous image set up in the holy place of a rebuilt temple.[3]
The earliest surviving commentary we have on the Book of Revelation was written by Victorinus of Pettau around 260-290 AD. Commenting on Revelation 13:15, he wrote, “He shall cause also that a golden image of Antichrist shall be placed in the temple at Jerusalem, and that the apostate angel should enter, and thence utter voices and oracles.”[4]
Revelation 13:16-18: “He causes all, both small and great, rich, and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
Currently, many people are using a number to purchase items. It is the number on their bank or credit card. It is no longer a farfetched concept to have the numbers 666 for buying and selling.
Sometimes slaveowners and kings brand people as a cattle rancher brands his cattle. In this way, the slave, the owner and potential people stealers know without a doubt to whom the slave belongs. The antichrist brands people with the number 666. Some have suggested that this is a trinity of humanism – body, soul and spirit – yielded to the glory of humankind rather than to God. 666 because God created man on the sixth day of creation.
In Deuteronomy 6:8, the Lord told the Israelites. “You shall bind them [the commandments] for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” The devil wants people to wear his brand on their foreheads and hands instead of God’s Word.
According to Revelation 14:9-11 and 19:20, whoever worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, will be cast into a lake of fire.
In Revelation 15:2 and 20:4, those who overcome the beast, his image, his mark, and over the number of his name, are with God. They live and reign with Christ.
Let us remain faithful and true to the Lord. If our earthly government is one big crime syndicate, we still need to honor and serve the Lord. This life is short. The next life is eternal.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] See Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
[3] Enduring Word Commentary
[4] Ibid
The Book of Life is mentioned in various verses in the Bible.
In Exodus 32:32, Moses said to God, “Yet now, if You will not forgive their sin, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
In Daniel 12:1, God told Daniel, “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 your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
In Luke 10:20, Jesus told His disciples not to rejoice that evil spirits were subject to them, but to rejoice because their names are written in heaven.
In Philippians 4:3, Paul urged the Philippian Christians to help his yokefellows who labored with him in the Gospel
In Revelation 3:5, Jesus said to the overcomer, “I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”
According to Revelation 21:27, no one enters New Jerusalem whose name is “not written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Three important truths to remember from Revelation 13:8 are: 1) Don’t worship the beast, 2) God’s plan from the foundation of the world was for Christ to be slain for our sins, 3) The Lamb writes the name of those who are His in the Book of Life.
Revelation 13:9: “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.”
In Revelation, Jesus says to each of the seven churches mentioned, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Are we listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance?
How did the devil mislead our first parents? In Genesis 3:1, he asked Eve, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” He wants to create doubt in us about what the Lord has said to us. Thus, it is important to meditate on God’s Word day and night, to abide in Christ, so that we are not led astray by either forgetting or beginning to doubt God.
Revelation 13:10: “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity. He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”
The above passage contains a quote from Jeremiah 15:1-4: “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight and let them go forth. And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord: such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. And I will appoint over them four forms of destruction, says the Lord: the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.’”
The people of Jeremiah’s day had ignored God’s voice for so long that He determined to let some die by sword, some by famine, and some by created creatures. In Revelation 13, the appearance of the beast is a fruit of the world’s rejection of God.
The phrase, “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints” is a word to the wise. In 1 Corinthians 13:4, the Lord says that love suffers long. When a saint sees people reject Christ and perish in their sin, it grieves his or her heart. Christ died to save sinners. He loves them dearly, but due to pride and hardness of heart, they reject God’s remedy for sin.
Revelation 13:11: “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.”
The Lord shows John another beast. It comes up out of the earth not the sea. This second beast is called the false prophet in Revelation 16:13, 19:20, 20:10.
The beast has a lamb’s horns and a dragon’s voice. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus warned us against false prophets who look like sheep but inwardly are ravening wolves. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul warned us against false apostles who transform themselves into apostles of Christ.
Revelation 13:12: “And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”
The second beast is a worship leader. He leads people to worship the antichrist. He can also be understood as a minister of propaganda. He publishes lies against God and God’s people. He convinces people to serve the first beast who appeared as dead and then resurrected.
In John 5:43, Jesus told the religious leaders of Jerusalem, “I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” People tend to want a religion of their own choosing rather than the one God has ordained.
Revelation 13:13: “He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”
The false prophet makes fire visibly come down from heaven. This miracle answers to the miracle of the two witnesses. In Revelation 11:5, the two witnesses of God had fire proceed from their mouths that consumed their enemies.
The miracle of fire by the false prophet also answers to the miracle of Elijah in 1 Kings 18:24. Elijah told the false prophets of Jezebel, “You call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” The false prophets in Elijah’s day could not do this miracle, but it seems that the false prophet of the last days is able to do it. Thus, many believe he is a true prophet of God.
God rained down hail and fire on Egypt through the ministry of Moses. In Exodus 7:11-12, 22, 8:7, the magicians of Egypt were able to imitate some of God’s miracles by deceptive means, but bringing down fire from heaven is not mentioned as one they imitated.
In Matthew 24:24, Jesus prophesied of false prophets appearing and performing great signs and wonders. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Paul prophesied of a man of lawlessness appearing and performing signs and lying wonders.
Revelation 13:14: “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”
In Revelation 16:13-14, the Lord showed John three unclean spirits coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. “They are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
The devil deceives people to shift their allegiance from God to him. After that, he deceives people to fight against the saints who are trying to save them from him.
Revelation 13:15: “He [the second beast] was granted power to give breath to the image of the [first] beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”
In Daniel 3 there is a counterpart to the beast of Revelation 13. In Daniel 3, the king of Babylon set up a golden image to be worshipped. He made a decree that everyone should worship its image or die in a fiery furnace. Three of his officials refused to do so because of their love for God. They were cast into a fiery furnace. They would have perished except that a fourth person appeared with them. The fourth person looked like the Son of God. He was. The three officials came forth from the fire unharmed.
In Revelation 13:15, the false prophet also creates an image. Like King Nebuchadnezzar, he gives people two options in regards to the idol: 1) worship it or 2) die.
The image of the beast is animated to breathe and speak: whether by magic or by technology, the result is impressive. In Psalm 135:15-16, the Psalmist noted that idols are silver and gold. They have mouths but cannot speak not. They have eyes but cannot see not.[1]
This idolatrous image is what Jesus, Daniel, and Paul spoke of as an abomination that causes desolation.[2] It is an idolatrous image set up in the holy place of a rebuilt temple.[3]
The earliest surviving commentary we have on the Book of Revelation was written by Victorinus of Pettau around 260-290 AD. Commenting on Revelation 13:15, he wrote, “He shall cause also that a golden image of Antichrist shall be placed in the temple at Jerusalem, and that the apostate angel should enter, and thence utter voices and oracles.”[4]
Revelation 13:16-18: “He causes all, both small and great, rich, and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
Currently, many people are using a number to purchase items. It is the number on their bank or credit card. It is no longer a farfetched concept to have the numbers 666 for buying and selling.
Sometimes slaveowners and kings brand people as a cattle rancher brands his cattle. In this way, the slave, the owner and potential people stealers know without a doubt to whom the slave belongs. The antichrist brands people with the number 666. Some have suggested that this is a trinity of humanism – body, soul and spirit – yielded to the glory of humankind rather than to God. 666 because God created man on the sixth day of creation.
In Deuteronomy 6:8, the Lord told the Israelites. “You shall bind them [the commandments] for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” The devil wants people to wear his brand on their foreheads and hands instead of God’s Word.
According to Revelation 14:9-11 and 19:20, whoever worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, will be cast into a lake of fire.
In Revelation 15:2 and 20:4, those who overcome the beast, his image, his mark, and over the number of his name, are with God. They live and reign with Christ.
Let us remain faithful and true to the Lord. If our earthly government is one big crime syndicate, we still need to honor and serve the Lord. This life is short. The next life is eternal.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] See Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
[3] Enduring Word Commentary
[4] Ibid
Friday, October 2, 2026
The Lamb Overcomes the Beast – Revelation 13:1-7
Revelation 13:1: “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten diadems, and on his heads a blasphemous name.”
This beast rises up out of the sea. The sea symbolized a place of chaos in ancient times.
Its seven heads, ten horns and ten diadems represent kingdoms of the world and their leaders. Diadems are what Olympic champions wear after their victories.
It has a blasphemous name on its heads. To blaspheme is to speak against God! It is a blasphemer. It is an antichrist.
Its seven heads and ten horns connect it to the great red dragon that is described in Revelation 12:3. In Revelation 12:9, the great red dragon is identified as Satan. This beast embodies Satan.
In Revelation 17:7, an angel begins to explain to John “the mystery of the beast” which “has the seven heads and the ten horns.”
In Revelation 17:8, the phrase, “was, and is not, and will ascend out of the abyss and go to perdition” connects the beast to Satan as described in Revelation 20:1-3 where an angel binds the “dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan,” with a chain and casts him into an abyss for a thousand years, but afterwards he is released for a short time. He causes more havoc, but then, in Revelation 20:10, the Lord throws him into the lake burning with fire and brimstone “to be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The phrase, “was, and is not, and yet is” indicates he existed, didn’t seem to exist, and then, exists again. It will seem to die and resurrect to life again.
In Revelation 7:9-10, an angel explains to John that “the seven heads are seven mountains.” In Jeremiah 51:25, the Lord says to Babylon, “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, who destroys all the earth, says the Lord. And I will stretch out My hand against you, roll you down from the rocks, and make you a burnt mountain.” The angel tells John, “There are also seven kings” which connects them to seven kingdoms which are against Christ.
In Revelation 7:11-14, the angel explains that the ten horns are ten kings who are with the beast. Horns represent strength, power and ability to kill. They also give their power and authority to the beast. They make war with the Lamb [Jesus], but Christ overcomes them.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul wrote, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” From this Bible passage, we know that the beast is a person who leads a coalition of kings and their nations to make war with Christ and with the followers of Christ.
In Daniel 7:7, the Lord also showed to Daniel this beast with 10 horns. In Daniel 7:24, the Lord told Daniel that the ten horns are ten kings.
The Greek word for beast refers to a “wild beast.” People become “brutish” when they assume that they are invincible like a god. Proud rulers are capable of doing much harm to people. For example, Pharoah was cruel to the people of God.
King Nebuchadnezzar was a beast-like ruler. He made a giant statue of himself and made a law that if people did not worship it, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. In Daniel 4:30, he glorified himself, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” In Daniel 4:31-37, at the pinnacle of his pride, the Lord struck him with mental illness so that he acted like an animal, living among the beasts and eating grass like an ox. Then, the Lord restored understanding and reason to his mind, and he remarked, “Those who walk in pride, God is able to abase.”
In 1 Samuel, after King Saul experienced the Spirit’s anointing, he foolishly set up a monument to himself. After that, God’s Spirit departed from him and an evil spirit entered him. Saul tried to kill David seven times. Saul ordered the massacre of God’s priests, as well as their spouses and children. He became an antichrist. He consulted a witch. He ended up committing suicide.[1]
Revelation 13:2: “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”
In Daniel 4:4, the Lord showed Daniel a lion which represents the Babylonian Empire. In Daniel 4:5, the Lord showed Daniel a bear which represents the Medo-Persian Empire. In Daniel 4:6, the Lord showed Daniel a leopard which represents the Grecian Empire. In Daniel 4:7, the Lord showed Daniel a fourth beast with ten horns which represents the Roman Empire. In Daniel 4:17, the Lord explains that these four great beasts are four kings which arise out of the earth.
The beast, the antichrist, is a skillful predator. Like a leopard, he blends with his surroundings so he can approach his prey undetected. Like a bear’s paw, he can severely wound his prey with one quick strike. Like a lion’s mouth, his bite is powerful and deadly. The devil’s goal is to empower and enthrone kings to carry out his cruel plans against God’s people.
The Bible tells us that evil leaders gain power and authority via deception. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Paul wrote that people “perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” They believe lies and doubt truth.
In 2 Chronicles 12:1-8, after King Rehoboam and his nation abandoned the Law of God, God told him that his people would become subject to Shishak King of Egypt to help them learn the difference between serving God and serving the kings of other lands.
In Jeremiah 5:6, God spoke of wild beasts as His judgment on sin: “Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities. Every one that goes out shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.”
In Proverbs 28:15, Solomon compared a wicked ruler to a lion and a bear. “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over poor people.” In 2 Timothy 4:17 and 1 Peter 5:8, Peter and Paul characterized evil enemies as lions.
Revelation 13:3-4: “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’”
The antichrist seems to resurrect from the dead. Revelation 17:8 describes him as “was, and is not, and yet is.” He existed, no longer exists, and then, exists again. As a result, people exclaim, “Who is like the beast?” They should be saying, “Who is like the Lord God?”
When Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again, it was to demonstrate God’s love for us, and to give all who believe in Him eternal life. When the beast seems to resurrect, it is to convince people to do his evil bidding. He may reward his faithful followers for a season, but ultimately he leads them to destruction because that is where he himself ends up.
Revelation 13:5-7: “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for 42 months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His Name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 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.”
The description of the beast in Revelation 13:5-7 is like God’s description of him in Daniel 7:25: “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.” The beast is granted a window as he was in the days of Job to attack God’s people of faith for a season... for three and a half years or 42 months.
In Daniel 11:36, it is written, “Then the king shall do according to his own will. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished...” He aims to rally people from all nations and languages to be against proclaimers of Christ.
In Jeremiah 27:6-7 and 51:20-24, the Lord called Babylon’s king His servant, saying, “All nations shall serve him, his son and his son’s son. God called the king of Babylon his battle axe to destroy the nations.
In Exodus 9:16, the Lord said to Pharaoh, “I raised you up, to show in you My power; and that My Name may be declared throughout all the earth.”
The devil prefers people to serve him. In Luke 4:6, the devil said to Jesus, “All this power will I give You, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” In John 19:11, when Pilate was about to crucify Jesus, Jesus said to Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me, except it were given you from above.”
The good news is that God takes what the devil means for evil and turns it around for good.
In Genesis 37, Joseph’s jealous brothers wanted to kill him, but God preserved him.
God is good! God used Joseph to save the lives of his evil brothers and their families. In Genesis 50:18-21, after his brothers fell down before Joseph, and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” He said to them, “Do not be afraid... you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ...I will provide for you and your little ones.” God magnifies His love and grace amidst a backdrop of evil.
In Daniel 12:3, the Lord says, “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
In contrast with the works of darkness that the beast and his cohorts will be doing in the last days, the followers of Christ will be shining brightly. The Lamb overcomes the beast.
[1] See 1 Samuel 10:10, 15:12, 16:14-20, 22:18-20, 28:6-12, 31:4-6 for the details
This beast rises up out of the sea. The sea symbolized a place of chaos in ancient times.
Its seven heads, ten horns and ten diadems represent kingdoms of the world and their leaders. Diadems are what Olympic champions wear after their victories.
It has a blasphemous name on its heads. To blaspheme is to speak against God! It is a blasphemer. It is an antichrist.
Its seven heads and ten horns connect it to the great red dragon that is described in Revelation 12:3. In Revelation 12:9, the great red dragon is identified as Satan. This beast embodies Satan.
In Revelation 17:7, an angel begins to explain to John “the mystery of the beast” which “has the seven heads and the ten horns.”
In Revelation 17:8, the phrase, “was, and is not, and will ascend out of the abyss and go to perdition” connects the beast to Satan as described in Revelation 20:1-3 where an angel binds the “dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan,” with a chain and casts him into an abyss for a thousand years, but afterwards he is released for a short time. He causes more havoc, but then, in Revelation 20:10, the Lord throws him into the lake burning with fire and brimstone “to be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The phrase, “was, and is not, and yet is” indicates he existed, didn’t seem to exist, and then, exists again. It will seem to die and resurrect to life again.
In Revelation 7:9-10, an angel explains to John that “the seven heads are seven mountains.” In Jeremiah 51:25, the Lord says to Babylon, “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, who destroys all the earth, says the Lord. And I will stretch out My hand against you, roll you down from the rocks, and make you a burnt mountain.” The angel tells John, “There are also seven kings” which connects them to seven kingdoms which are against Christ.
In Revelation 7:11-14, the angel explains that the ten horns are ten kings who are with the beast. Horns represent strength, power and ability to kill. They also give their power and authority to the beast. They make war with the Lamb [Jesus], but Christ overcomes them.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul wrote, “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” From this Bible passage, we know that the beast is a person who leads a coalition of kings and their nations to make war with Christ and with the followers of Christ.
In Daniel 7:7, the Lord also showed to Daniel this beast with 10 horns. In Daniel 7:24, the Lord told Daniel that the ten horns are ten kings.
The Greek word for beast refers to a “wild beast.” People become “brutish” when they assume that they are invincible like a god. Proud rulers are capable of doing much harm to people. For example, Pharoah was cruel to the people of God.
King Nebuchadnezzar was a beast-like ruler. He made a giant statue of himself and made a law that if people did not worship it, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. In Daniel 4:30, he glorified himself, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” In Daniel 4:31-37, at the pinnacle of his pride, the Lord struck him with mental illness so that he acted like an animal, living among the beasts and eating grass like an ox. Then, the Lord restored understanding and reason to his mind, and he remarked, “Those who walk in pride, God is able to abase.”
In 1 Samuel, after King Saul experienced the Spirit’s anointing, he foolishly set up a monument to himself. After that, God’s Spirit departed from him and an evil spirit entered him. Saul tried to kill David seven times. Saul ordered the massacre of God’s priests, as well as their spouses and children. He became an antichrist. He consulted a witch. He ended up committing suicide.[1]
Revelation 13:2: “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”
In Daniel 4:4, the Lord showed Daniel a lion which represents the Babylonian Empire. In Daniel 4:5, the Lord showed Daniel a bear which represents the Medo-Persian Empire. In Daniel 4:6, the Lord showed Daniel a leopard which represents the Grecian Empire. In Daniel 4:7, the Lord showed Daniel a fourth beast with ten horns which represents the Roman Empire. In Daniel 4:17, the Lord explains that these four great beasts are four kings which arise out of the earth.
The beast, the antichrist, is a skillful predator. Like a leopard, he blends with his surroundings so he can approach his prey undetected. Like a bear’s paw, he can severely wound his prey with one quick strike. Like a lion’s mouth, his bite is powerful and deadly. The devil’s goal is to empower and enthrone kings to carry out his cruel plans against God’s people.
The Bible tells us that evil leaders gain power and authority via deception. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Paul wrote that people “perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” They believe lies and doubt truth.
In 2 Chronicles 12:1-8, after King Rehoboam and his nation abandoned the Law of God, God told him that his people would become subject to Shishak King of Egypt to help them learn the difference between serving God and serving the kings of other lands.
In Jeremiah 5:6, God spoke of wild beasts as His judgment on sin: “Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities. Every one that goes out shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.”
In Proverbs 28:15, Solomon compared a wicked ruler to a lion and a bear. “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over poor people.” In 2 Timothy 4:17 and 1 Peter 5:8, Peter and Paul characterized evil enemies as lions.
Revelation 13:3-4: “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’”
The antichrist seems to resurrect from the dead. Revelation 17:8 describes him as “was, and is not, and yet is.” He existed, no longer exists, and then, exists again. As a result, people exclaim, “Who is like the beast?” They should be saying, “Who is like the Lord God?”
When Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again, it was to demonstrate God’s love for us, and to give all who believe in Him eternal life. When the beast seems to resurrect, it is to convince people to do his evil bidding. He may reward his faithful followers for a season, but ultimately he leads them to destruction because that is where he himself ends up.
Revelation 13:5-7: “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for 42 months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His Name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 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.”
The description of the beast in Revelation 13:5-7 is like God’s description of him in Daniel 7:25: “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.” The beast is granted a window as he was in the days of Job to attack God’s people of faith for a season... for three and a half years or 42 months.
In Daniel 11:36, it is written, “Then the king shall do according to his own will. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished...” He aims to rally people from all nations and languages to be against proclaimers of Christ.
In Jeremiah 27:6-7 and 51:20-24, the Lord called Babylon’s king His servant, saying, “All nations shall serve him, his son and his son’s son. God called the king of Babylon his battle axe to destroy the nations.
In Exodus 9:16, the Lord said to Pharaoh, “I raised you up, to show in you My power; and that My Name may be declared throughout all the earth.”
The devil prefers people to serve him. In Luke 4:6, the devil said to Jesus, “All this power will I give You, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” In John 19:11, when Pilate was about to crucify Jesus, Jesus said to Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me, except it were given you from above.”
The good news is that God takes what the devil means for evil and turns it around for good.
In Genesis 37, Joseph’s jealous brothers wanted to kill him, but God preserved him.
God is good! God used Joseph to save the lives of his evil brothers and their families. In Genesis 50:18-21, after his brothers fell down before Joseph, and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” He said to them, “Do not be afraid... you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ...I will provide for you and your little ones.” God magnifies His love and grace amidst a backdrop of evil.
In Daniel 12:3, the Lord says, “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
In contrast with the works of darkness that the beast and his cohorts will be doing in the last days, the followers of Christ will be shining brightly. The Lamb overcomes the beast.
[1] See 1 Samuel 10:10, 15:12, 16:14-20, 22:18-20, 28:6-12, 31:4-6 for the details
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Christ Wins – Revelation 12:1-17
Revelation 12:1: “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of 12 stars.”
In Genesis 3:9-10, Joseph told Israel his father, “I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” Israel rebuked Joseph and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”
In Joseph’s dream from the Lord, the sun represents his father, the moon his mother, and the eleven stars his brothers. The woman in Revelation 12:1 represents the 12 tribes of Israel through whom God gave to the world His Son. Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh.
The Lord says in Jeremiah 31:21-22, “Set up signposts, make landmarks... O virgin of Israel... for the Lord has created a new thing in the earth—a woman shall compass [סָבַב] a man.” A virgin with a “man” inside her is a sign that God is doing something new in the earth.
In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet told King Ahaz, “The Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us].”
The woman represents God’s Bride. In Isaiah 54:5, God says to Israel, “Your Maker is your husband.” In Isaiah 62:5, God compares His joy over His people to a bridegroom rejoicing over a bride. In Jeremiah 2:2 and Hosea 2:19-20, God calls Israel His betrothed. In Matthew 25:1-10, Jesus compares those who enter the kingdom of God to wise virgins waiting for their bridegroom to arrive. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul speaks of Christians as promised to one husband, even to Christ. In Ephesians 5:25-32, Paul compares the relationship between a husband and wife to the sacrificial love of Christ for the Church. In Revelation 21:2, 9, New Jerusalem comes down from heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 12:2: “Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.”
In Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23, the child that the woman gives birth to is the Messiah. His is called “Emmanuel” which means God with us.
In Isaiah 66:7-8, God asks, “Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor, than she gives birth to her children.” In an earthly sense, this passage refers to Israel becoming a nation once again in 1948. In a spiritual sense, it speaks of the people of Israel being reborn, this time with the life of Jesus Messiah within them.
In John 3:3-8, Jesus told Nicodemus that the Kingdom of God is birthed inside a person when the Holy Spirit like a wind blows upon them. According to 1 Peter 2:9-10, a person is spiritually reborn and becomes a citizen of God’s Kingdom on the day he or she believes in Jesus Christ. Such a person is born again. Transformed by God’s power!
Revelation 12:3: “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.”
In Daniel 7:7, the Lord showed Daniel a fourth beast that was dreadful and exceedingly strong. It devoured what the previous three beasts (empires) left behind. It had 10 horns. In Daniel 7:24, the Lord told Daniel that the ten horns are ten kings.
In Revelation 17:3-14, the Lord shows John a scarlet beast full of blasphemous names. It has seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads are defined as seven kings. The ten horns are defined as ten kings. The Babylonian empire of the last days rides on the back of the seven kings, and the ten kings give their power and authority to the beast. They make war with the Lamb but the Lamb [Christ] overcomes them.
The sign of the fiery red dragon lets us know that Satan is the instigator and source of the evil activities of the last days’ Babylonian empire against God and His people on earth.
Revelation 12:4: “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born.”
In Daniel 8:9-10, a little horn grows toward the Glorious Land. It reaches the host of heaven, and casts some of the host down and tramples on them.
In Revelation 12:4, the dragon’s tail withdraws a third of the stars of heaven and casts them down to earth. In Revelation 12:9, the devil is cast out from heaven to earth. “His angels were cast out with him.” In Revelation 1:20, angelic messengers are symbolized by stars. The devil persuaded a third of the angels to rebel against God.
In Matthew 2:13-18, after Christ was born of Mary, the devil wants to devour Him, but an angel warned Joseph in a dream to arise and flee to Egypt (a wilderness). The devil’s plot was to use a king (Herod) to kill Jesus Messiah.
The preservation of Jesus from Herod is reminiscent of God’s miraculous preservation of Moses from Pharaoh in Exodus 2:1-10. Pharoah, whose name means crocodile, demanded that the people of Israel drown their newborn baby boys in the river, but God used Pharoah’s own daughter to find baby Moses, adopt him and raise him as her own son.
In Daniel 8:11, “the horn” exalts himself against “the Prince of the host” which is Jesus Messiah.
In Daniel 8:12, “Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn” by the which he stops “the daily sacrifices” and destroys the place pf the Lord’s sanctuary. He casts truth down to the ground.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 9-10, Paul wrote of a falling away from the Lord in the last days. A man of sin will be revealed. He “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Those who love and keep God’s Word, which is the truth, are not swept away by Satan’s lies.
Revelation 12:5: “She bore a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and His throne.”
The child she bore was Jesus Christ. He rules “all nations with a rod of iron.” Jesus rules with a rod that does not bend or break. In Revelation 19:15, a sharp sword goes out of His mouth and strikes the nations. Jesus treads the winepress of the fierceness of God’s wrath.
In Exodus 4:17, the Lord told Moses to take a rod in his hand. With it he would do signs. In Exodus 7:17-20, as he struck the waters of Egypt with it, they turned to blood. With the rod of God in his hand, the proud nation of Egypt was shattered. The rod represents authority to rule.
“Her child was caught up to God and His throne.” In Mark 16:19, after Jesus completed His mission on earth, He ascended to heaven.
Revelation 12:6: “Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1,260 days.”
In Matthew 2:13, God preserved the child Jesus and His mother by leading Joseph to take them to Egypt (the wilderness). In Matthew 2:19, after King Herod died, the Lord led Joseph to bring them back to the land of Israel.
In 1 Samuel 27, David lived among the Philistines for a time to avoid being slain by King Saul.
According to Romans 9-11, Jesus Christ abides among the Gentiles until the last days when the Jews open their hearts to Him and want Him to reign over them. The good news of the last days is that the Jewish people will turn in great numbers to faith in Yeshua Ha Mashiach.
Revelation 12:7-9: “And war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Various passages of the Bible speak of Satan being cast out from God’s presence. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus said, “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” In Luke 10:18, Jesus states, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” In 2 Peter 2:4, it is written, “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell...” In Isaiah 14:14, the devil said, “I will make myself like the Most High.” But in Isaiah 14:15, the Lord said to him, “But you are brought down... to the far reaches of the pit.” In Revelation 20:10, the devil is thrown into the lake of burning brimstone to be tormented there forever.
He “who deceives the whole world” “was cast to the earth, and his angels with him.” In John 12:31, while speaking of His death, Jesus declared, “Now is the judgment of this world. Now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” The death of Christ on the cross, removed the handwriting against humanity because Jesus paid the ransom for our souls.
Sin was the devil’s access point to destroy our souls. In Hebrews 2:14, we read, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” In 1 John 3:8, we read, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
According to Romans 16:20, “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”
Revelation 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.’”
In Zechariah 3:1-2, the Lord gave to Zechariah a vision of Satan accusing Joshua the high priest. An angel said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!” In Zechariah 3:4, the angel said to those next to Joshua, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” The Lord said to Joshua, “I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
Satan may accuse us, but his accusations are meaningless because God has forgiven us, justified us and glorified us. In Romans 8:31-34, Paul wrote, “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
In Revelation 12:11, the Lord gives us three keys to overcoming the devil’s attacks. First, rebuke Satan, because the precious blood of Christ has been shed for your redemption. Second, recite the promises contained in God’s Word over you. For example, “I am honored, precious, and loved by God. I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.” Third, and last, whether or not the Lord delivers my physical body from the fiery furnace, I will not give my soul to any other god.
Revelation 12:12: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
In Job 2:2, when the Lord asked Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan replied, “From going to and fro on the earth...” In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter warned, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Thus, it is good to pray as the Lord taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Revelation 12:13: “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.”
The devil persecutes those who profess Christ. He does this through those whom he controls. In Psalms 37:12-14, the Psalmist put it this way, “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes upon him with his teeth. ...to slay such as be of upright conversation.”
Revelation 12:14: “But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”
In Exodus 19:4, the Lord said to Israel, “You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.” In Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
The wings symbolize God’s helping hands to preserve the life of His servants. In Isaiah 49:16, the Lord says, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.”
Revelation 12:15-16: “So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.”
The enemy tries to overwhelm God’s people with a flood a trials, but the Lord says to us in Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” The standard that God raises against the enemy’s flood are His promises recorded in the Bible. According to John 14:26, the Holy Spirit brings God’s Word to our mind.
Revelation 12:17, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The woman is the bride of Christ. We who are in Christ are her offspring. We keep God’s commandments [the Law] and the testimony of Jesus Christ [the Gospel]. We speak the Law to convict sinners that they need God’s forgiveness, and the Gospel to tell them He forgives them.
Yes, the devil is at war with Christ and us His followers, but we know who wins. Christ has already revealed to us in the Book of Revelation the happy ending of our story.
In Genesis 3:9-10, Joseph told Israel his father, “I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” Israel rebuked Joseph and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”
In Joseph’s dream from the Lord, the sun represents his father, the moon his mother, and the eleven stars his brothers. The woman in Revelation 12:1 represents the 12 tribes of Israel through whom God gave to the world His Son. Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh.
The Lord says in Jeremiah 31:21-22, “Set up signposts, make landmarks... O virgin of Israel... for the Lord has created a new thing in the earth—a woman shall compass [סָבַב] a man.” A virgin with a “man” inside her is a sign that God is doing something new in the earth.
In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet told King Ahaz, “The Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us].”
The woman represents God’s Bride. In Isaiah 54:5, God says to Israel, “Your Maker is your husband.” In Isaiah 62:5, God compares His joy over His people to a bridegroom rejoicing over a bride. In Jeremiah 2:2 and Hosea 2:19-20, God calls Israel His betrothed. In Matthew 25:1-10, Jesus compares those who enter the kingdom of God to wise virgins waiting for their bridegroom to arrive. In 2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul speaks of Christians as promised to one husband, even to Christ. In Ephesians 5:25-32, Paul compares the relationship between a husband and wife to the sacrificial love of Christ for the Church. In Revelation 21:2, 9, New Jerusalem comes down from heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 12:2: “Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.”
In Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23, the child that the woman gives birth to is the Messiah. His is called “Emmanuel” which means God with us.
In Isaiah 66:7-8, God asks, “Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor, than she gives birth to her children.” In an earthly sense, this passage refers to Israel becoming a nation once again in 1948. In a spiritual sense, it speaks of the people of Israel being reborn, this time with the life of Jesus Messiah within them.
In John 3:3-8, Jesus told Nicodemus that the Kingdom of God is birthed inside a person when the Holy Spirit like a wind blows upon them. According to 1 Peter 2:9-10, a person is spiritually reborn and becomes a citizen of God’s Kingdom on the day he or she believes in Jesus Christ. Such a person is born again. Transformed by God’s power!
Revelation 12:3: “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.”
In Daniel 7:7, the Lord showed Daniel a fourth beast that was dreadful and exceedingly strong. It devoured what the previous three beasts (empires) left behind. It had 10 horns. In Daniel 7:24, the Lord told Daniel that the ten horns are ten kings.
In Revelation 17:3-14, the Lord shows John a scarlet beast full of blasphemous names. It has seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads are defined as seven kings. The ten horns are defined as ten kings. The Babylonian empire of the last days rides on the back of the seven kings, and the ten kings give their power and authority to the beast. They make war with the Lamb but the Lamb [Christ] overcomes them.
The sign of the fiery red dragon lets us know that Satan is the instigator and source of the evil activities of the last days’ Babylonian empire against God and His people on earth.
Revelation 12:4: “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born.”
In Daniel 8:9-10, a little horn grows toward the Glorious Land. It reaches the host of heaven, and casts some of the host down and tramples on them.
In Revelation 12:4, the dragon’s tail withdraws a third of the stars of heaven and casts them down to earth. In Revelation 12:9, the devil is cast out from heaven to earth. “His angels were cast out with him.” In Revelation 1:20, angelic messengers are symbolized by stars. The devil persuaded a third of the angels to rebel against God.
In Matthew 2:13-18, after Christ was born of Mary, the devil wants to devour Him, but an angel warned Joseph in a dream to arise and flee to Egypt (a wilderness). The devil’s plot was to use a king (Herod) to kill Jesus Messiah.
The preservation of Jesus from Herod is reminiscent of God’s miraculous preservation of Moses from Pharaoh in Exodus 2:1-10. Pharoah, whose name means crocodile, demanded that the people of Israel drown their newborn baby boys in the river, but God used Pharoah’s own daughter to find baby Moses, adopt him and raise him as her own son.
In Daniel 8:11, “the horn” exalts himself against “the Prince of the host” which is Jesus Messiah.
In Daniel 8:12, “Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn” by the which he stops “the daily sacrifices” and destroys the place pf the Lord’s sanctuary. He casts truth down to the ground.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 9-10, Paul wrote of a falling away from the Lord in the last days. A man of sin will be revealed. He “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
Those who love and keep God’s Word, which is the truth, are not swept away by Satan’s lies.
Revelation 12:5: “She bore a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and His throne.”
The child she bore was Jesus Christ. He rules “all nations with a rod of iron.” Jesus rules with a rod that does not bend or break. In Revelation 19:15, a sharp sword goes out of His mouth and strikes the nations. Jesus treads the winepress of the fierceness of God’s wrath.
In Exodus 4:17, the Lord told Moses to take a rod in his hand. With it he would do signs. In Exodus 7:17-20, as he struck the waters of Egypt with it, they turned to blood. With the rod of God in his hand, the proud nation of Egypt was shattered. The rod represents authority to rule.
“Her child was caught up to God and His throne.” In Mark 16:19, after Jesus completed His mission on earth, He ascended to heaven.
Revelation 12:6: “Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1,260 days.”
In Matthew 2:13, God preserved the child Jesus and His mother by leading Joseph to take them to Egypt (the wilderness). In Matthew 2:19, after King Herod died, the Lord led Joseph to bring them back to the land of Israel.
In 1 Samuel 27, David lived among the Philistines for a time to avoid being slain by King Saul.
According to Romans 9-11, Jesus Christ abides among the Gentiles until the last days when the Jews open their hearts to Him and want Him to reign over them. The good news of the last days is that the Jewish people will turn in great numbers to faith in Yeshua Ha Mashiach.
Revelation 12:7-9: “And war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
Various passages of the Bible speak of Satan being cast out from God’s presence. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus said, “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” In Luke 10:18, Jesus states, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” In 2 Peter 2:4, it is written, “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell...” In Isaiah 14:14, the devil said, “I will make myself like the Most High.” But in Isaiah 14:15, the Lord said to him, “But you are brought down... to the far reaches of the pit.” In Revelation 20:10, the devil is thrown into the lake of burning brimstone to be tormented there forever.
He “who deceives the whole world” “was cast to the earth, and his angels with him.” In John 12:31, while speaking of His death, Jesus declared, “Now is the judgment of this world. Now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” The death of Christ on the cross, removed the handwriting against humanity because Jesus paid the ransom for our souls.
Sin was the devil’s access point to destroy our souls. In Hebrews 2:14, we read, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” In 1 John 3:8, we read, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
According to Romans 16:20, “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”
Revelation 12:10: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.’”
In Zechariah 3:1-2, the Lord gave to Zechariah a vision of Satan accusing Joshua the high priest. An angel said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!” In Zechariah 3:4, the angel said to those next to Joshua, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” The Lord said to Joshua, “I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”
Satan may accuse us, but his accusations are meaningless because God has forgiven us, justified us and glorified us. In Romans 8:31-34, Paul wrote, “If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
In Revelation 12:11, the Lord gives us three keys to overcoming the devil’s attacks. First, rebuke Satan, because the precious blood of Christ has been shed for your redemption. Second, recite the promises contained in God’s Word over you. For example, “I am honored, precious, and loved by God. I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.” Third, and last, whether or not the Lord delivers my physical body from the fiery furnace, I will not give my soul to any other god.
Revelation 12:12: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
In Job 2:2, when the Lord asked Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan replied, “From going to and fro on the earth...” In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter warned, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Thus, it is good to pray as the Lord taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Revelation 12:13: “Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.”
The devil persecutes those who profess Christ. He does this through those whom he controls. In Psalms 37:12-14, the Psalmist put it this way, “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes upon him with his teeth. ...to slay such as be of upright conversation.”
Revelation 12:14: “But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”
In Exodus 19:4, the Lord said to Israel, “You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.” In Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
The wings symbolize God’s helping hands to preserve the life of His servants. In Isaiah 49:16, the Lord says, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.”
Revelation 12:15-16: “So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.”
The enemy tries to overwhelm God’s people with a flood a trials, but the Lord says to us in Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” The standard that God raises against the enemy’s flood are His promises recorded in the Bible. According to John 14:26, the Holy Spirit brings God’s Word to our mind.
Revelation 12:17, “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
The woman is the bride of Christ. We who are in Christ are her offspring. We keep God’s commandments [the Law] and the testimony of Jesus Christ [the Gospel]. We speak the Law to convict sinners that they need God’s forgiveness, and the Gospel to tell them He forgives them.
Yes, the devil is at war with Christ and us His followers, but we know who wins. Christ has already revealed to us in the Book of Revelation the happy ending of our story.
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
The New Temple – Revelation 11:7-19
Revelation 11:7: “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the abyss will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”
The “they” in Revelation 11:7 refers to the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:3-6.[1] By the grace of God, the two witnesses complete their mission. The devil wanted to kill them all along but could not until they completed their testimonies for Jesus and the Word of God.
In Timothy 4:7-8, Paul wrote of completing the mission that God gave to him: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”
“The beast” referred to in Revelation 11:7 is described at length in various Bible passages. In Revelation 13:4-8, he blasphemes God. He makes war against and overcomes the saints. People, whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of Life, worship him.
The beast ascends out of the abyss. For more information about the abyss, please click the link in the footnote to my article on Revelation 9:1-2.[2]
In Daniel 7:2-3, God gave Daniel a vision of four winds stirring up the sea and four beasts coming up out of the sea. These beasts represent world empires that exalt themselves against God and persecute the people of God.
In Daniel 7:21-22, Daniel wrote, “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”
The Lord is glorified when His saints prevail over the beast and when they die as martyrs because they refuse to worship him. Christian survivors in nations that slay saints sometimes testify to the words of Irenaeus, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The Christian movement picks up momentum after a valiant witness dies for the sake of the Gospel.
In Revelation 19:19, the Lord shows John “the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”
In Revelation 19:20-22, the beast and his false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Their army is “killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse,” that is, the Word of God, Jesus.
During the days of the two witnesses, the antichrist is ruling as though he is god. The testimony of these two witnesses says otherwise. They humiliate him. He wants them cancelled.
After the two witnesses are martyred, it seems to many that God has been cancelled.
Think of this... we all have to die... why not die while bearing witness to Christ? “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
Revelation 11:8: “Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
“The great city” is identified as Babylon in Revelation 14:8 and 18:10-21. Spiritually, Babylon is called Sodom, Egypt, and the place where Jesus was crucified.
In Genesis 13:13, “the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” In Genesis 19:24, “the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom.” In Isaiah 1:10; Jeremiah 23:14; Amos 4:11; Matthew 10:15; 2 Peter 2:6; and Jude 1:7, God uses the name “Sodom” to refer to people who are evil in His sight and about to be destroyed by Him.
In Ezekiel 16:46-49, the Lord refers to His people who committed adultery with other gods as Sodom. “The iniquity of Sodom was pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor.”
In Exodus 3:7, Egypt is noted by God as cruelly oppressing His people. God humbled Egypt by sending ten plagues against them.
“Where also our Lord was crucified.” Where was Jesus crucified? He was crucified in Jerusalem. Though the exact physical location of this event is in the city of Jerusalem, “the great city” in this case is Jerusalem that has spiritually become like Babylon, Sodom, and Egypt all rolled into one. Just like the days when Jesus came the first time, Jerusalem has become an evil place due to the beast and his influence. Jesus needs to come and clean it up.
As the ministries of Moses and Elijah proceeded the first coming of Christ, so their ministries will proceed Christ before He returns the second time. According to Revelation 11:3, the two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, which is about three and a half years.[3]
Revelation 11:9-10: “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”
In Psalm 2:1-3, the Lord speaks of nations raging and plotting against Him. The kings of the earth set themselves against Him. They say, “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” They have a misconceived notion that their Creator and Redeemer is their enemy and that Satan, the imposter god, is their friend. So, they do the devil’s bidding.
In Psalm 79:2-3, Asaph laments, “The dead bodies of Your servants they have given as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.”
People from all over the world see the corpses of the two witnesses and rejoice and give gifts to one another to celebrate their death. Sounds kind of like today’s governments, merchants and idol manufacturers who promote Santa Claus and Easter Bunny instead of Jesus Christ. They want to addict people to buying and selling, not trusting in Jesus to meet all their needs.
In Matthew 23:34, Jesus said to the religious leaders in Jerusalem, “I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify...” In Luke 13:33, Jesus said that “no prophet can die outside Jerusalem,” to emphasize their tendency to reject God’s prophets.
In John 16:20, Jesus assured His disciples and us that the world’s celebration will be short-lived. “You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”
How did these two witnesses torment the people of the world? By speaking the truth! By doing miracles that validated that what they spoke was from God. In John 10:25, Jesus said, “The works that I do in My Father’s Name, they bear witness of Me.”
Revelation 11:11-12: “Now after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”
The same God who breathed life into Adam in Genesis 2:7, and who made the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:5-14 to live again, resurrects the two witnesses. They stand upon their feet. People from all over the world see them alive again. They see them ascend to heaven. Great fear falls upon them. Modern day technology makes it possible for people from around the globe to see this miracle in real time and then, watch the recording of it repeatedly.
Revelation 11:13: “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake 7,000 people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
There was a great earthquake when Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the third day, and there is a great earthquake when God resurrects these two witnesses from the dead. A tenth of Jerusalem collapses in that hour. Kind of a tithe unto God for all the pain they caused God and His servants. 7,000 people die from the earthquake. Those who survive give glory to God.
The devil and his followers just had to eat, as we say in America, “humble pie.”
Revelation 11:14-15, “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”
In Revelation 10:7, a mighty messenger from heaven declared to John, “In the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.” In other words, the nations have filled up the cup of God’s wrath by their evil doings so God is about to pour out His seven remaining bowls of wrath on them. Then, God will create a new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.
In Revelation 15:1, John sees “another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.”
After the seventh trumpet sounds, the prophecy of Daniel 2:44 will be fulfilled: “The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break to pieces all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
After the seventh trumpet sounds, the prophecy of Daniel 7:18 will be fulfilled: “Saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”
After the seventh trumpet sounds, the prophecy of Zechariah 14:9 shall be fulfilled: “The Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His Name one.”
Revelation 11:16-18: “And the 24 elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your Name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.’”
John sees the 24 elders on their faces worshipping and thanking God Almighty for using His great power to reign over the earth. They bow before God in humble adoration because He destroyed destroyers and rewarded His servants the prophets and the saints.
The seven seal, seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments of Revelation present the unfolding of God’s plans to bring about the end of the world as we know it now and to usher in a new and better existence. In Revelation 5:7, when the Lamb took the scroll with seven seals on it from His Father, He was authorized to fulfill the remaining unfulfilled prophecies in the Bible.
Revelation 11:19: “Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail.”
John sees the temple of God opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant is there. Where is the new temple that was spoke of in Revelation 11:1-2? It is in heaven.
The temple is symbolic of the body of Christ and the ark is symbolic of Jesus. The lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail are manifestations of God’s great power.
The new temple is built upon the profession of Christ as the Son of God and Savior. In Matthew 16:13-18, after Peter professed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus replied, “On this rock, I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” The rock is not Peter. He died and is with the Lord. The rock is the profession of Christ as Lord.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:19-22 that by faith in Messiah, people become members of God’s household. Via the teachings of the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ, we “grow into a holy temple in the Lord... a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
God’s Word says in 1 Peter 2:4-5 that you “like living stones are being built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
The Lord’s new temple is not limited to one location. It stretches from heaven to earth in Christ.
In Haggai 2:9, the Lord of hosts says, “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, and in this place I will give peace.” Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy and is continuing to fulfill it in all who receive and serve Him. Praise the Lord.
[1] For Biblical into the two witnesses, go to: https://21stcenturyjeremiah.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-new-temple-and-two-witnesses.html
[2] For Biblical insight into the abyss, go to: https://21stcenturyjeremiah.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-fifth-trumpet-of-god-revelation-91.html
[3] Moses and Elijah also appear in Luke 9:30-31. They speak with Jesus of His death which will happen in Jerusalem.
The “they” in Revelation 11:7 refers to the two witnesses described in Revelation 11:3-6.[1] By the grace of God, the two witnesses complete their mission. The devil wanted to kill them all along but could not until they completed their testimonies for Jesus and the Word of God.
In Timothy 4:7-8, Paul wrote of completing the mission that God gave to him: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”
“The beast” referred to in Revelation 11:7 is described at length in various Bible passages. In Revelation 13:4-8, he blasphemes God. He makes war against and overcomes the saints. People, whose names are not in the Lamb’s book of Life, worship him.
The beast ascends out of the abyss. For more information about the abyss, please click the link in the footnote to my article on Revelation 9:1-2.[2]
In Daniel 7:2-3, God gave Daniel a vision of four winds stirring up the sea and four beasts coming up out of the sea. These beasts represent world empires that exalt themselves against God and persecute the people of God.
In Daniel 7:21-22, Daniel wrote, “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”
The Lord is glorified when His saints prevail over the beast and when they die as martyrs because they refuse to worship him. Christian survivors in nations that slay saints sometimes testify to the words of Irenaeus, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The Christian movement picks up momentum after a valiant witness dies for the sake of the Gospel.
In Revelation 19:19, the Lord shows John “the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”
In Revelation 19:20-22, the beast and his false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Their army is “killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse,” that is, the Word of God, Jesus.
During the days of the two witnesses, the antichrist is ruling as though he is god. The testimony of these two witnesses says otherwise. They humiliate him. He wants them cancelled.
After the two witnesses are martyred, it seems to many that God has been cancelled.
Think of this... we all have to die... why not die while bearing witness to Christ? “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
Revelation 11:8: “Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”
“The great city” is identified as Babylon in Revelation 14:8 and 18:10-21. Spiritually, Babylon is called Sodom, Egypt, and the place where Jesus was crucified.
In Genesis 13:13, “the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.” In Genesis 19:24, “the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom.” In Isaiah 1:10; Jeremiah 23:14; Amos 4:11; Matthew 10:15; 2 Peter 2:6; and Jude 1:7, God uses the name “Sodom” to refer to people who are evil in His sight and about to be destroyed by Him.
In Ezekiel 16:46-49, the Lord refers to His people who committed adultery with other gods as Sodom. “The iniquity of Sodom was pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor.”
In Exodus 3:7, Egypt is noted by God as cruelly oppressing His people. God humbled Egypt by sending ten plagues against them.
“Where also our Lord was crucified.” Where was Jesus crucified? He was crucified in Jerusalem. Though the exact physical location of this event is in the city of Jerusalem, “the great city” in this case is Jerusalem that has spiritually become like Babylon, Sodom, and Egypt all rolled into one. Just like the days when Jesus came the first time, Jerusalem has become an evil place due to the beast and his influence. Jesus needs to come and clean it up.
As the ministries of Moses and Elijah proceeded the first coming of Christ, so their ministries will proceed Christ before He returns the second time. According to Revelation 11:3, the two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, which is about three and a half years.[3]
Revelation 11:9-10: “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.”
In Psalm 2:1-3, the Lord speaks of nations raging and plotting against Him. The kings of the earth set themselves against Him. They say, “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” They have a misconceived notion that their Creator and Redeemer is their enemy and that Satan, the imposter god, is their friend. So, they do the devil’s bidding.
In Psalm 79:2-3, Asaph laments, “The dead bodies of Your servants they have given as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.”
People from all over the world see the corpses of the two witnesses and rejoice and give gifts to one another to celebrate their death. Sounds kind of like today’s governments, merchants and idol manufacturers who promote Santa Claus and Easter Bunny instead of Jesus Christ. They want to addict people to buying and selling, not trusting in Jesus to meet all their needs.
In Matthew 23:34, Jesus said to the religious leaders in Jerusalem, “I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify...” In Luke 13:33, Jesus said that “no prophet can die outside Jerusalem,” to emphasize their tendency to reject God’s prophets.
In John 16:20, Jesus assured His disciples and us that the world’s celebration will be short-lived. “You shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”
How did these two witnesses torment the people of the world? By speaking the truth! By doing miracles that validated that what they spoke was from God. In John 10:25, Jesus said, “The works that I do in My Father’s Name, they bear witness of Me.”
Revelation 11:11-12: “Now after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”
The same God who breathed life into Adam in Genesis 2:7, and who made the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:5-14 to live again, resurrects the two witnesses. They stand upon their feet. People from all over the world see them alive again. They see them ascend to heaven. Great fear falls upon them. Modern day technology makes it possible for people from around the globe to see this miracle in real time and then, watch the recording of it repeatedly.
Revelation 11:13: “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake 7,000 people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.”
There was a great earthquake when Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the third day, and there is a great earthquake when God resurrects these two witnesses from the dead. A tenth of Jerusalem collapses in that hour. Kind of a tithe unto God for all the pain they caused God and His servants. 7,000 people die from the earthquake. Those who survive give glory to God.
The devil and his followers just had to eat, as we say in America, “humble pie.”
Revelation 11:14-15, “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”
In Revelation 10:7, a mighty messenger from heaven declared to John, “In the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.” In other words, the nations have filled up the cup of God’s wrath by their evil doings so God is about to pour out His seven remaining bowls of wrath on them. Then, God will create a new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.
In Revelation 15:1, John sees “another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.”
After the seventh trumpet sounds, the prophecy of Daniel 2:44 will be fulfilled: “The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break to pieces all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
After the seventh trumpet sounds, the prophecy of Daniel 7:18 will be fulfilled: “Saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.”
After the seventh trumpet sounds, the prophecy of Zechariah 14:9 shall be fulfilled: “The Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His Name one.”
Revelation 11:16-18: “And the 24 elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your Name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.’”
John sees the 24 elders on their faces worshipping and thanking God Almighty for using His great power to reign over the earth. They bow before God in humble adoration because He destroyed destroyers and rewarded His servants the prophets and the saints.
The seven seal, seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments of Revelation present the unfolding of God’s plans to bring about the end of the world as we know it now and to usher in a new and better existence. In Revelation 5:7, when the Lamb took the scroll with seven seals on it from His Father, He was authorized to fulfill the remaining unfulfilled prophecies in the Bible.
Revelation 11:19: “Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail.”
John sees the temple of God opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant is there. Where is the new temple that was spoke of in Revelation 11:1-2? It is in heaven.
The temple is symbolic of the body of Christ and the ark is symbolic of Jesus. The lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail are manifestations of God’s great power.
The new temple is built upon the profession of Christ as the Son of God and Savior. In Matthew 16:13-18, after Peter professed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus replied, “On this rock, I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” The rock is not Peter. He died and is with the Lord. The rock is the profession of Christ as Lord.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:19-22 that by faith in Messiah, people become members of God’s household. Via the teachings of the apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ, we “grow into a holy temple in the Lord... a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
God’s Word says in 1 Peter 2:4-5 that you “like living stones are being built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
The Lord’s new temple is not limited to one location. It stretches from heaven to earth in Christ.
In Haggai 2:9, the Lord of hosts says, “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, and in this place I will give peace.” Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy and is continuing to fulfill it in all who receive and serve Him. Praise the Lord.
[1] For Biblical into the two witnesses, go to: https://21stcenturyjeremiah.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-new-temple-and-two-witnesses.html
[2] For Biblical insight into the abyss, go to: https://21stcenturyjeremiah.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-fifth-trumpet-of-god-revelation-91.html
[3] Moses and Elijah also appear in Luke 9:30-31. They speak with Jesus of His death which will happen in Jerusalem.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
The New Temple and Two Witnesses – Revelation 11:1-6
Revelation 11:1-2: “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court, which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for 42 months.”
Measuring communicates existence, ownership, and protection. The Lord is declaring to John and to us that His people will still exist in Jerusalem even as the antichrist and his followers seem to be in control of religion in Jerusalem. John measured the temple, the altar and the worshippers. There will still be a remnant of God’s people. They will worship God in Spirit and in truth and not according to the counterfeit religion of the antichrist.[1]
In Revelation 21:9-16, one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues said to John, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” He carried John away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain. The angel showed John holy Jerusalem. The angel had a gold reed to measure the city. The city’s length, breadth, and height are equal. It is 12,000 furlongs or 1,500 miles on each side. The wall around the city is 144 cubits or 216 feet (roughly the height of a 20-story building) high. The city is pure gold, like clear glass.
The measuring of the temple in Revelation 11:1-2 relates to Ezekiel 40 where in the 25th year of the Babylonian captivity, the Lord took Ezekiel by His Spirit to a high mountain in Israel where he sees a city. While there, he saw a man with a measuring rod in his hand. Ezekiel watches this man throughout chapters 40-42. The man measures and gives the dimensions of the new temple.
Revelation 11:1-2, the Lord is indicating to John and to us that there will be a new temple.
In Revelation 7:14-15, an angel showed to John a great multitude of people in heaven. They came out from the great tribulation. Now, they are serving God say and night in His temple. But then in Revelation 21:22, John sees no temple in New Jerusalem “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
The temple that the Lord showed John and Ezekiel may be built during the 1,000-year reign of Christ with His martyrs. The 1,000 year reign of Christ is mentioned in Revelation 20:4.
After the Babylonian captivity was over, God led and equipped Nehemiah, Ezra and many others to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. So, perhaps after the “Babylon” of Revelation 18 is destroyed, a new temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. During that era, as now, sacrifices for sin will be remembrances of what Christ accomplished by His death and resurrection. His one sacrifice of Himself was sufficient to remove the sins of the world. Sinners appropriate His sacrifice by believing in Him and professing Him to be their Lord and Savior. During our communion and baptism services, we remember the sacrifices Christ made for us.
The Lord’s message to John in Revelation 11:1-2 is similar to the message that He gave to Daniel in Daniel 7:25 and 12:7, and to Ezekiel in his prophecy. The Gentiles will tread underfoot that which is holy, but after 42 months, their treading will end.
Why would God show John the dimensions of a temple if He did not intend to restore it?
In Matthew 16:15-18, Jesus said that not even the gates of hell will prevail against His kingdom.
“The vision of the temple says that God has not forsaken His people and that His relationship with them will be restored and elevated to a new, never-before-conceived glory and intimacy.”[2]
Prophecies of Gentiles destroying and defiling the temple of God are recorded in Isaiah 63:18, Zechariah 12:2-3, and by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24:1-2 and Luke 21:24.
Revelation 11:3: “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
God showed John two witnesses. God empowers these witnesses. They witness for the Lord for a period of about three and half years. This is about the length of time that Jesus ministered on earth in the land of Israel during His first coming.
In Luke 10:1, Jesus sent His disciples out two by two. In Matthew 18:16, Jesus told His disciples, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established,” which is a quote from Deuteronomy 19:15.
In Ezra 6:14, long ago, God prospered His people in Jerusalem through the witness of His servants Haggai and Zechariah: “So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah...”
The two witnesses in Revelation 11 prophesy to uproot unbelief and plant faith in God.
They wear sackcloth. Sackcloth is symbolic of lamentation, mourning and woe. Like the prophets who went before them, and like Jesus, these two witnesses mourn for people who reject truth and embrace lies. They witness for Jesus, but their listeners hate and reject them.
Revelation 11:4: “These are the two olive trees and two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.”
God relates the two witnesses to olive trees and lampstands. Olive trees live longer than other trees. The oil for anointing people and the oil used to keep lamps burning was made from olives. Oil and fire are symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
In Zechariah 4:2-3, God gave Zechariah a vision of two lamps filled continuously with oil from two olive trees. They are continuously supplied with power by the Holy Spirit.
In Zechariah 4:14, the Lord says, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” Jesus Christ (the Word of God) and the Holy Spirit best fit this description. Anyone who is a faithful witness for God will have a relationship with Jesus the Word of God and will be filled, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In Revelation 1:20, Jesus called His churches lamps.
Revelation 11:5: “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.”
According to 2 Samuel 22:8-9, when God is angry smoke goes up from his nostrils and a devouring fire from His mouth. God embodies this visual via His two witnesses.
In Psalm 68:2, David prayed, “As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”
In Numbers 16:28-35, Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. ... And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the 250 men...” In 2 Kings 1:10-12, “Elijah answered and said to the captain of 50, if I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your 50. And there came down fire from heaven and consumed him and his 50.”
Moses and Elijah are symbolic of the Law and Prophets. They are types of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is the power of God.
In Hosea 6:5, God said to Hosea, “I hewed them by the prophets. I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and Your judgments are as the light that goes forth.”
In Jeremiah 5:14, the Lord told Jeremiah, “I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.”
God’s Law slays us. It tells us that we are sinners against God. It tells us we deserve to be sentenced to hell forever due to our sins against God and against humanity. We are criminals.
Billy Graham preached, “The cross is offensive because it says that we are sinners in need of a Savior who saves us by His grace.” To be saved by grace means to recognize that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We must receive Christ and all that He has done for us as a gift from God. We cannot earn or merit Christ. We receive Him unworthily, but gladly.
“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”[3]
We, who believe in Jesus Christ, witness for Him. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, in Luke 24:48, “You are witnesses of these things.” And in Acts 1:8; He said, “You shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses for Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
In Acts 2:3-4, when the Holy Spirit baptized the disciples, divided tongues as of fire sat upon each of them, “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
In Acts 2:32; 3:15; 13:31, the disciples identified themselves as witnesses of Jesus.
Revelation 11:6: “These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.”
The Lord gives these two witnesses power to stop the rain from falling, power to turn water into blood, and power to strike the earth with plagues.
In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah told the ungodly king of his nation, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
Jesus verified in Luke 4:25 that during “the days of Elijah... the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was great famine throughout all the land.”
James mentions this miracle in James 5:17-18, “Elijah... prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”
The two witnesses of Revelation 11:3 prophesy 1,260 days which is three years and six months.
The two witnesses “have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy.” Mark 4:39-41 indirectly states that the power to stop storms comes from Jesus. Jesus delegates His power and authority to His two end times witnesses.
In Exodus 7:17-19, God commanded Moses to strike a river with a rod. Then, He commanded Aaron stretch the rod over streams, rivers, ponds and pools of water in Egypt. When Moses and Aaron obeyed God, the waters turned to blood.
In Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 2:27, the Lord speaks of breaking and ruling the nations. He speaks of breaking them as pottery breaks when struck with a rod of iron. Revelation 12:5 and 19:15 speaks of Christ ruling all nations with a rod of iron. In Jeremiah 18:1-10, the Lord told Jeremiah as a potter destroys and reuses the clay of a pot that did not come out right, so He can destroy a nation and rebuild it. In Jeremiah 1:10, God described the prophet’s ministry as uprooting and rebuilding. He uproots unbelief and lies, and plants faith and truth.
In Revelation 11:6, the two witnesses “strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.”
In Genesis 12 and 20, God struck Abimelech’s household with diseases.
In Exodus 4:6, God made the hand of Moses turn leprous and then healed it. In Numbers 12, God gave Miriam leprosy and then healed her. In 2 King 5:27, after God healed the leprosy of Naaman, He placed his leprosy on Elisha’s servant Gehazi for being dishonest and exploitive.
In Exodus 7–12, God stuck Pharoah’s kingdom with ten plagues. The plagues on the earth mentioned in Revelation 8–16 are some of the very plagues God struck upon Egypt.
In Numbers 11, 14, 16, 25, the Israelites experienced plagues due to rebellion, complaining, and idolatry. For example, the plague that followed Korah’s rebellion killed 14,700 people.
In 1 Samuel 4:8, the Philistines expressed their fear of the God of Israel when they said, “Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.”
How did the prophet Daniel pray when he realized his nation was being judged by God?
In Daniel 9, when Daniel perceived from God’s Word to Jeremiah that 70 years must pass before the desolations of Jerusalem would end, he pleaded to the Lord for mercy. He fasted and put on sackcloth and ashes. He confessed the greatness, faithfulness and love of God toward those who keep His commandments. He confessed that Israel had acted wickedly and rebelliously. He confessed that “the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses... have been poured out upon us.” He asked the Lord to turn away His wrath. He said, “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of Your great mercy.”
The truth that the two end times witnesses speak along with the signs and wonders that they do will frustrate and anger the people who hate God and do not want God to exist. In my next article, which covers Revelation 11:7-14, we will learn how the world responds to God’s gracious overtures of kindness to help them believe in Him and be saved.
[1] Notes from Adrian Rogers sermon
[2] GotQuestions.org
[3] Jonathan Edwards expressed this exact concept—that our own actions and the very things we bring to God only serve to condemn us—throughout his actual writings. But this quote is attributed to pastor Jonathan Gibson as an adapted summary of Edwards’ view on grace.
Measuring communicates existence, ownership, and protection. The Lord is declaring to John and to us that His people will still exist in Jerusalem even as the antichrist and his followers seem to be in control of religion in Jerusalem. John measured the temple, the altar and the worshippers. There will still be a remnant of God’s people. They will worship God in Spirit and in truth and not according to the counterfeit religion of the antichrist.[1]
In Revelation 21:9-16, one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues said to John, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” He carried John away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain. The angel showed John holy Jerusalem. The angel had a gold reed to measure the city. The city’s length, breadth, and height are equal. It is 12,000 furlongs or 1,500 miles on each side. The wall around the city is 144 cubits or 216 feet (roughly the height of a 20-story building) high. The city is pure gold, like clear glass.
The measuring of the temple in Revelation 11:1-2 relates to Ezekiel 40 where in the 25th year of the Babylonian captivity, the Lord took Ezekiel by His Spirit to a high mountain in Israel where he sees a city. While there, he saw a man with a measuring rod in his hand. Ezekiel watches this man throughout chapters 40-42. The man measures and gives the dimensions of the new temple.
The measuring of the temple in Revelation 11:1-2 relates to Ezekiel 40-42 where in the 25th year of the Babylonian captivity, the Lord took Ezekiel by His Spirit to a high mountain in Israel. The Lord showed Ezekiel a man with a measuring rod in his hand. This man measures and gives to Ezekiel the dimensions of a new temple. Thus, Ezekiel’s prophecy begins with the destruction of the first temple, and ends with a vision for a new temple.
In Ezekiel 13:10-12, the Lord compared the false prophets in Jerusalem to bad builders. They prophesied of peace when there was no peace. True prophets like Ezekiel warned the people of God’s judgments. In Ezekiel 10:18, the glory of the Lord departed from the temple due to all the idolatrous practices that were happening inside it.
Revelation 11:1-2, the Lord is indicating to John and to us that there will be a new temple.
In Revelation 7:14-15, an angel showed to John a great multitude of people in heaven. They came out from the great tribulation. Now, they are serving God say and night in His temple. But then in Revelation 21:22, John sees no temple in New Jerusalem “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.”
The temple that the Lord showed John and Ezekiel may be built during the 1,000-year reign of Christ with His martyrs. The 1,000 year reign of Christ is mentioned in Revelation 20:4.
After the Babylonian captivity was over, God led and equipped Nehemiah, Ezra and many others to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. So, perhaps after the “Babylon” of Revelation 18 is destroyed, a new temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. During that era, as now, sacrifices for sin will be remembrances of what Christ accomplished by His death and resurrection. His one sacrifice of Himself was sufficient to remove the sins of the world. Sinners appropriate His sacrifice by believing in Him and professing Him to be their Lord and Savior. During our communion and baptism services, we remember the sacrifices Christ made for us.
The Lord’s message to John in Revelation 11:1-2 is similar to the message that He gave to Daniel in Daniel 7:25 and 12:7, and to Ezekiel in his prophecy. The Gentiles will tread underfoot that which is holy, but after 42 months, their treading will end.
Why would God show John the dimensions of a temple if He did not intend to restore it?
In Matthew 16:15-18, Jesus said that not even the gates of hell will prevail against His kingdom.
“The vision of the temple says that God has not forsaken His people and that His relationship with them will be restored and elevated to a new, never-before-conceived glory and intimacy.”[2]
Prophecies of Gentiles destroying and defiling the temple of God are recorded in Isaiah 63:18, Zechariah 12:2-3, and by Jesus Himself in Matthew 24:1-2 and Luke 21:24.
Revelation 11:3: “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
God showed John two witnesses. God empowers these witnesses. They witness for the Lord for a period of about three and half years. This is about the length of time that Jesus ministered on earth in the land of Israel during His first coming.
In Luke 10:1, Jesus sent His disciples out two by two. In Matthew 18:16, Jesus told His disciples, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established,” which is a quote from Deuteronomy 19:15.
In Ezra 6:14, long ago, God prospered His people in Jerusalem through the witness of His servants Haggai and Zechariah: “So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah...”
The two witnesses in Revelation 11 prophesy to uproot unbelief and plant faith in God.
They wear sackcloth. Sackcloth is symbolic of lamentation, mourning and woe. Like the prophets who went before them, and like Jesus, these two witnesses mourn for people who reject truth and embrace lies. They witness for Jesus, but their listeners hate and reject them.
Revelation 11:4: “These are the two olive trees and two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.”
God relates the two witnesses to olive trees and lampstands. Olive trees live longer than other trees. The oil for anointing people and the oil used to keep lamps burning was made from olives. Oil and fire are symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
In Zechariah 4:2-3, God gave Zechariah a vision of two lamps filled continuously with oil from two olive trees. They are continuously supplied with power by the Holy Spirit.
In Zechariah 4:14, the Lord says, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” Jesus Christ (the Word of God) and the Holy Spirit best fit this description. Anyone who is a faithful witness for God will have a relationship with Jesus the Word of God and will be filled, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In Revelation 1:20, Jesus called His churches lamps.
Revelation 11:5: “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.”
According to 2 Samuel 22:8-9, when God is angry smoke goes up from his nostrils and a devouring fire from His mouth. God embodies this visual via His two witnesses.
In Psalm 68:2, David prayed, “As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.”
In Numbers 16:28-35, Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. ... And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the 250 men...” In 2 Kings 1:10-12, “Elijah answered and said to the captain of 50, if I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume you and your 50. And there came down fire from heaven and consumed him and his 50.”
Moses and Elijah are symbolic of the Law and Prophets. They are types of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is the power of God.
In Hosea 6:5, God said to Hosea, “I hewed them by the prophets. I have slain them by the words of My mouth: and Your judgments are as the light that goes forth.”
In Jeremiah 5:14, the Lord told Jeremiah, “I will make My words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.”
God’s Law slays us. It tells us that we are sinners against God. It tells us we deserve to be sentenced to hell forever due to our sins against God and against humanity. We are criminals.
Billy Graham preached, “The cross is offensive because it says that we are sinners in need of a Savior who saves us by His grace.” To be saved by grace means to recognize that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We must receive Christ and all that He has done for us as a gift from God. We cannot earn or merit Christ. We receive Him unworthily, but gladly.
“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”[3]
We, who believe in Jesus Christ, witness for Him. After His resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, in Luke 24:48, “You are witnesses of these things.” And in Acts 1:8; He said, “You shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses for Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
In Acts 2:3-4, when the Holy Spirit baptized the disciples, divided tongues as of fire sat upon each of them, “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
In Acts 2:32; 3:15; 13:31, the disciples identified themselves as witnesses of Jesus.
Revelation 11:6: “These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.”
The Lord gives these two witnesses power to stop the rain from falling, power to turn water into blood, and power to strike the earth with plagues.
In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah told the ungodly king of his nation, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
Jesus verified in Luke 4:25 that during “the days of Elijah... the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was great famine throughout all the land.”
James mentions this miracle in James 5:17-18, “Elijah... prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”
The two witnesses of Revelation 11:3 prophesy 1,260 days which is three years and six months.
The two witnesses “have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy.” Mark 4:39-41 indirectly states that the power to stop storms comes from Jesus. Jesus delegates His power and authority to His two end times witnesses.
In Exodus 7:17-19, God commanded Moses to strike a river with a rod. Then, He commanded Aaron stretch the rod over streams, rivers, ponds and pools of water in Egypt. When Moses and Aaron obeyed God, the waters turned to blood.
In Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 2:27, the Lord speaks of breaking and ruling the nations. He speaks of breaking them as pottery breaks when struck with a rod of iron. Revelation 12:5 and 19:15 speaks of Christ ruling all nations with a rod of iron. In Jeremiah 18:1-10, the Lord told Jeremiah as a potter destroys and reuses the clay of a pot that did not come out right, so He can destroy a nation and rebuild it. In Jeremiah 1:10, God described the prophet’s ministry as uprooting and rebuilding. He uproots unbelief and lies, and plants faith and truth.
In Revelation 11:6, the two witnesses “strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.”
In Genesis 12 and 20, God struck Abimelech’s household with diseases.
In Exodus 4:6, God made the hand of Moses turn leprous and then healed it. In Numbers 12, God gave Miriam leprosy and then healed her. In 2 King 5:27, after God healed the leprosy of Naaman, He placed his leprosy on Elisha’s servant Gehazi for being dishonest and exploitive.
In Exodus 7–12, God stuck Pharoah’s kingdom with ten plagues. The plagues on the earth mentioned in Revelation 8–16 are some of the very plagues God struck upon Egypt.
In Numbers 11, 14, 16, 25, the Israelites experienced plagues due to rebellion, complaining, and idolatry. For example, the plague that followed Korah’s rebellion killed 14,700 people.
In 1 Samuel 4:8, the Philistines expressed their fear of the God of Israel when they said, “Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.”
How did the prophet Daniel pray when he realized his nation was being judged by God?
In Daniel 9, when Daniel perceived from God’s Word to Jeremiah that 70 years must pass before the desolations of Jerusalem would end, he pleaded to the Lord for mercy. He fasted and put on sackcloth and ashes. He confessed the greatness, faithfulness and love of God toward those who keep His commandments. He confessed that Israel had acted wickedly and rebelliously. He confessed that “the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses... have been poured out upon us.” He asked the Lord to turn away His wrath. He said, “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of Your great mercy.”
The truth that the two end times witnesses speak along with the signs and wonders that they do will frustrate and anger the people who hate God and do not want God to exist. In my next article, which covers Revelation 11:7-14, we will learn how the world responds to God’s gracious overtures of kindness to help them believe in Him and be saved.
[1] Notes from Adrian Rogers sermon
[2] GotQuestions.org
[3] Jonathan Edwards expressed this exact concept—that our own actions and the very things we bring to God only serve to condemn us—throughout his actual writings. But this quote is attributed to pastor Jonathan Gibson as an adapted summary of Edwards’ view on grace.
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