The Greek word ‘apokalypsis’ derives from apo- (ἀπό, ‘from’) and kalyptō (καλύπτω, “to cover, conceal”), meaning “to uncover, reveal, or disclose.” It conveys the idea of divine revelation in an eschatological sense, or insight into God’s hidden purposes or mysteries.
The English word ‘apocalypse’ is derived from this Greek word. The Cambridge Dictionary defines apocalypse as “a very serious event resulting in great destruction and change.” However, in our English New Testament Bibles, ‘apokalypsis‘ is translated twelve out of eighteen times in the KJV as ‘revelation.’ It is never translated as ‘apocalypse.’ The Book of Revelation is about God’s ‘apocalypsis’ (revelation) of the ‘apocalypse’ at the end of the age.
But the book is much more than that. “The book of Revelation’s message extends to all Christians, offering hope and encouragement. It reveals Christ’s ultimate victory over evil, encourages faithfulness amid persecution, and provides a prophetic vision of the end times, reminding believers of God’s sovereignty and His redemptive plan.” {1} Revelation Summary and Study Bible
While incarcerated on Patmos for preaching the word of God, the apostle John receives a vision of the end times from Jesus Christ and records it for the seven churches in Asia Minor (and for the universal Church). In the vision, John sees Jesus, the “Son of man,” in his glorious form (Revelation 1:13-16). This description of the Son of man mirrors the descriptions in Daniel 7:9-13, Ezekiel 43:2, Isaiah 49:2, and Revelation 19:12. The Book of Revelation is unique in the New Testament in that it contains over 500 Old Testament allusions without a single formal quotation.
The messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor are recorded in Revelation 2-3. Chapters 4-5 record glimpses of the heavenly realm. God is on the throne, orchestrating the events John records. Many Bible teachers believe that the first verse in Revelation 4 pictures the pre-tribulation rapture of the Church. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1).
John, in his vision, enters heaven. He then describes God sitting on His throne in Revelation 4:2-3.
John sees 24 seats, each with an ‘elder’ sitting in it. In my opinion, these ‘elders’ represent the Church of Jesus Christ, whose members have been raptured into heaven. “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold” (Revelation 4:4). These ‘elders’ were all wearing white garments and had ‘stephanos’ (victor) crowns upon their heads. The white garments represent purity, and the crowns represent victory over sin through acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice.
I believe the 24 elders symbolically (numerically) represent the Church of Jesus Christ, since 12 is the number of governmental perfection and the number of the tribes of Israel, and two groups of people represent the Church: Gentiles and Jews (so 12 × 2 = 24). These ‘elders’ are mentioned 12 times in 12 verses in Revelation.
John sees and hears incredible sights and sounds in heaven. “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). These sights and sounds are manifestations of God’s power, presence, and authority. They are linked to divine judgment, revelation, and the glory of His throne. Similarly, during the Exodus, when God came down on Mt. Sinai, “the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking” (Exodus 20:18). God’s voice is often described as sounding like a trumpet.
Similar descriptions of “voices, thunderings (or thunders), and lightnings” are mentioned during the seventh seal judgment (Revelation 8:5), the seventh trumpet judgment (Revelation 11:19), and the seventh vial judgment (Revelation 16:17). These indicate more of God’s judgments to come, as the seventh seal judgment reveals the seven trumpet judgments, and the seventh trumpet judgment reveals the seventh vial judgment. Earthquakes also occur during the seventh seal, trumpet, and vial judgments. In heaven, John also sees the sevenfold Spirit of God and the four living creatures as described in Revelation 4:5-9.
In Revelation 5 (five represents grace in the Bible), a book or scroll sealed with seven seals is introduced. Only one who is worthy can open the sealed book. No created being in heaven is worthy to open the book until Jesus (described as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David) comes forth and takes the book from God the Father. However, when He takes the book, He is described as “a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6). Jesus is qualified to open the book as the Lamb of God who died for the sins of mankind.
The 24 elders then sing a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10). This redemption by the blood of the Lamb of God verifies the elders as the faithful Church.
Most Bible scholars and theologians believe that Revelation is in chronological order, with the seal and trumpet judgments (a total of 14) covering the first half of the seven-year Tribulation and the vial (or bowl) judgments (a total of 7) covering the second half. I think this is true for the most part; however, several parenthetical passages appear throughout. We will examine several passages of Scripture that help establish this division between the first 14 judgments in the first half of the Tribulation and the remaining 7 in the second half.
THE SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS
The first four seal judgments are called the “four horsemen of the apocalypse.” The first horse is white, and its unnamed rider carries a bow but no arrows. “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2). Most prophecy teachers believe this is the false Messiah, the Antichrist. He has no arrows and wears a ‘stephanos’ (victor) crown, suggesting a show of power without substance that fits diplomatic or ideological conquest (perhaps the confirming of the covenant with many, per Daniel 9:27).
I believe the “ten-king” kingdom of Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 17:12 governs the world at this stage in history, after the Church’s rapture. The Antichrist is a leader or military man within this “kingdom.” He has gained enough power and influence that the ten kings authorize him to confirm a seven-year covenant with Israel and many other nations, as spoken of in Daniel 9:27.
The second horse of the second seal judgment is red, and its rider is also unnamed. “Power was given to him to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and there was given unto him a great sword” (Revelation 6:4).
The third horse of the third seal judgment is black. Its rider is unnamed as well. He carries a pair of balances (scales) in his hand. This represents famine for most of the world (except the rich). “And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” (Revelation 6:5-6).
The fourth horse of the fourth seal judgment is pale. Its rider is the only one named out of the four horsemen. “And his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8).
The “four horsemen of the apocalypse” represent the consequences of ‘natural’ wars and their aftereffects, such as famine, disease, and death. However, these verses say God gave them the power to bring these events about, indicating they are part of God’s judgments. Wars will occur throughout the seven-year Tribulation.
The fifth seal judgment switches to events in heaven. John sees “the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held” (Revelation 6:9). These are the first of the “Tribulation saints” to be martyred during the Tribulation. They were given “white robes” (temporary bodies?) and told to rest for a little while until the number of “their fellow servants and their brethren” who would be killed as they were “should be fulfilled”(Revelation 6:11).
The sixth seal judgment is the first supernatural sign and speaks of the “great day of God’s wrath.” “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).
In these verses, John uses language similar to Matt. 24:29-30, Isaiah 34:4, Isa. 13:9-13,Isaiah 2:20-21, Zephaniah 1:14, and Malachi 3:2, which are end-of-the-Tribulation/Second Coming passages. John is simply borrowing some of this end-time terminology to describe these supernatural events. They are not to be confused with the supernatural heavenly events that precede the Second Coming; however, they are signs that the Second Coming is not far off. As I mentioned before, John liberally uses Old Testament verbiage in Revelation.
These events associated with this sixth seal cannot be explained by natural phenomena, as a solar eclipse (dark sun) cannot occur at the same time as a lunar eclipse (red moon). “The darkening of the sun may be from the perspective of viewers on the earth—due to material ejected into the upper atmosphere by the earthquake or the impact of asteroids in the next verse. ‘Stars’ is ἀστέρες [asteres], from which we get the word asteroid. The most likely identification of these particular falling stars is that of a great swarm of asteroids that pummel the earth.
Although the sun is darkened, the moon continues to reflect light (as if the path light follows between the sun and moon is only minimally affected). John uses simile to describe the effects upon the moon. The entire moon takes on a reddish appearance, as when atmospheric dust darkens, or moisture refracts its light. The red appearance conveys the idea of judgment. The impression of all these heavenly phenomena is that the universe is coming apart.” In response to these events, people recognize the wrath of the Lamb.
The seismic disturbances will be of such magnitude that the entire geography of the earth is permanently altered. As great as this earthquake is, it is a precursor to an even greater one associated with the seventh bowl at which “every island fled away, and the mountains were not found” (Revelation 16:19).
The wrath of God began earlier, when the Lamb arose from His seat to open the first seal. Now it is recognized for what it is. “It should be noted that the passage does not say that the wrath of God begins only with the sixth seal, but that only with the sixth seal do unbelievers recognize that it is the wrath of God. Those on the earth are ignorant of the Scriptures. Yet even they recognize that the time of God’s wrath has now come upon the earth.” {2} Revelation 6 Commentary | Precept Austin
REVELATION 7 – THE 144,000 SEALED BY GOD
Revelation 7:1-8 is one of those parenthetical inserts I mentioned earlier. John takes us back to the start of the Tribulation, when the sealing of the 144,000 Jewish men takes place. “This literary pattern fits with the Semitic literary pattern of first giving a narrative summary or overview of an event, as in the seven days of creation in Gen. 1, followed by a detailed look at one aspect within the summary, as in the description of the creation of man on the sixth day of creation in Genesis 2. In this view, chapter six gives an overview of the six seal judgments on the earth. Chapter 7 then depicts God’s work of redemption within the same period of time.” {3} Revelation Chronology paper-1
Before the seventh seal is opened, John sees four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth. Then another angel appeared, having the seal of the living God. “He cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed” (Revelation 7:1-4).
From each of the twelve tribes of Israel, 12,000 Jewish men will be supernaturally sealed and protected to accomplish their mission to evangelize the world during the Tribulation. “These are Jewish servants of God raised up during the Tribulation after the spiritual blindness over Israel begins to lift. Romans 11 speaks directly about this future restoration, declaring that blindness has happened to Israel “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,” and that ultimately “all Israel will be saved.” {4} The 144,000: Revival in the Shadow of Wrath :: By Joe Hawkins – Rapture Ready
After the supernatural sign of the Rapture, many Jews will realize that the New Testament is an addition to the Tanakh (Old Testament) and that Jesus is their Messiah whom they did not recognize at His first coming. These Jewish believers will come from all over the world and preach the gospel of Christ and His coming Kingdom. They will come from the twelve representative tribes of Israel, including the tribe of Levi.
The 144,000 Jews will be sealed for service (and protection), just as the Levites of old were cleansed and consecrated for their service in the Tabernacle and Temple. The Levites will be one of the twelve tribes represented, with 12,000 of the 144,000.
THE HARBINGER OF REVELATION 7
In an article I wrote a few years ago, titled The Harbinger of Revelation 7 :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready, I explain how, in the time of the first Passover and subsequent Exodus, the Levites replaced the firstborn of the twelve tribes of Israel to serve as priests in the Holy meeting place (tabernacle and/or temple). During the Tribulation and the events of Revelation 7, I believe that God’s original plan for the priesthood of Israel will be ‘resurrected,’ so to speak, with the ‘firstborn‘ (Messianic Jews) of the twelve tribes of Israel (the 144,000) being sealed and consecrated to do God’s work.
I believe the 144,000 (12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10) sealed Jewish men in Revelation 7 are a literal resumption of God’s original plan to sanctify the ‘firstborn’ males of the twelve tribes of Israel to Himself. The Levites would then be one of the twelve tribes with 12,000 sealed Jewish males.
The results of these 144,000 Jewish evangelists are seen here: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10).
One of the 24 elders told John who this great multitude was: “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). They are the “fellow servants and brothers” of the earlier martyred Tribulation saints, as spoken of in Revelation 6:11. I believe this is a scene in heaven at the end of the Tribulation. Thus, Revelation 7covers the entire seven years of the Tribulation as it relates to redeeming God’s people.
THE SEVENTH SEAL JUDGMENT AND THE FIRST SIX TRUMPET JUDGMENTS
In Revelation 8, John witnesses the opening of the seventh seal, which introduces the seven trumpet judgments that follow. The opening of the seventh seal is accompanied by “voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake” (Revelation 8:5).
In Revelation 8:6–11, the first three trumpet judgments bring catastrophic results: all the green grass and a third of the trees burn up; a third of the sea becomes blood; a third of the sea creatures die; and a third of the ships are destroyed. A third of the rivers and springs also become poisonous.
When the fourth angel sounds his trumpet, a third of the sun, moon, and stars will be ‘smitten,’ “so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise” (Revelation 8:12). Before the remaining three trumpets are sounded, an angel is seen flying in the air, “saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” (Revelation 8:13). These “three woes” are the 5th, 6th, and 7th Trumpet judgments. They are apocalyptic judgments indeed!
The word ‘woe’ appears seven times in Revelation (three times in Revelation 8:13). The three woes help us decipher the timeline of the last three trumpet judgments (the three woes) by comparing them to the timeline of the events recorded in Revelation 11 and 12.
We know the 144,000 Jewish saints are still on Earth at the time of the fifth trumpet judgment (of Revelation 9:1-11), as Revelation 9:4 stipulates that when the fifth trumpet sounds, the demon locusts from the bottomless pit are commanded to sting only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (per Rev 9:3-11). Revelation 9:12 verifies this is the first of the three woes: “One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.”
The sixth trumpet judgment of Rev. 9:12-19occurs when the four demonic angels who are bound in the great river Euphrates are released to lead an army of two hundred thousand demonic horsemen. The horses are not normal horses but are some sort of supernatural creatures. The combatants released by lowering this spiritual barrier at the Euphrates kill one-third of Earth’s remaining population. Remember, one-fourth of mankind has already been killed in the seal judgments. Thus, over half of Earth’s population has been eliminated at this point. This sixth trumpet judgment is the second woe, although the actual words “second woe” are not mentioned at this point. I believe there is a very specific reason for this (see below).
REVELATION 10
Between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgments, we have the heavenly scene where a mighty angel gives John a little book. The angel tells John, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth” (Revelation 10:9). “Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings” (Revelation 10:10-11).
This is reminiscent of Ezekiel 3:3, in which Ezekiel receives a vision of God (and the four living creatures) and is given a scroll of a book of “lamentations, mourning, and woe” (Ezekiel 3:9-10). “Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness” (Ezekiel 3:1-3). Ezekiel was given the unpleasant task of prophesying the impending doom of Jerusalem and Judah at the hands of the Babylonians.
Like Ezekiel, John is given a prophecy about the tribulations of the Jewish people. After eating the little book of “lamentations, mourning, and woe,” John prophesies about the last three and a half years of the Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th week).
REVELATION 11-12 AND THE SEVENTH TRUMPET JUDGMENT
Revelation 11 describes the newly built third temple in Jerusalem and God’s two witnesses, who will prophesy for 1,260 days (the first half of the Tribulation) in sackcloth (Revelation 11:3). They have supernatural powers so that “if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoures their enemies. These have power to shut heaven, that it rains not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will” (Revelation 11:5-6).
When their 3.5-year ministry is complete, they are killed by the beast (that ascends out of the bottomless pit), and their bodies are not put in graves but are put on display for all to witness. After 3.5 days, “the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither.
And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past: and, behold, the third woe comes quickly” (Revelation 11:11-14).
The timing of the 6th trumpet judgment (the “second woe“) coincides with the great earthquake that occurs after the two witnesses of Revelation 11 are killed and then resurrected. Why didn’t John identify this as the second woe immediately after recording the sixth trumpet judgment in Revelation 9? I believe it is because God wanted to give a clue about the chronology of the 6thand 7th trumpet judgments in relation to the events of Revelation 11-13, which occur in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation.
Revelation 11:15-19 describes the seventh trumpet judgment. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:15-18).
Revelation 11:19 describes the sights and sounds that accompany the sounding of the seventh trumpet. It is nearly the same description as when the seventh seal was opened in Revelation 8:5 (except it mentions hail). “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail” (Revelation 11:19). These voices and heavenly phenomena indicate more judgments to come upon the earth (the seven vial judgments of Revelation 15-16).
The timing of the 7th trumpet judgment (the “third woe”) coincides with the events of Revelation 12:6-17, when the Devil is cast to the earth and persecutes the Jews and the faithful remnant. According to Revelation 12:6, the Jews will flee into the wilderness and will have a place prepared for them by God for 1,260 days (or 42 months, or 3.5 years). “And the woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (Revelation 12:6). This is approximately at the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation.
Revelation 12:7-11 describes a war in heaven between Michael and his angels against Satan and his angels. The Devil and his angels lose the war and are cast down to the earth, never to return to heaven.
The “third woe” is recorded in 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” (Revelation 12:12). This (third) woe in Revelation 12:12 is a clue that the seventh trumpet judgment occurs at the same time as Satan is cast down to the earth.
Revelation 12:13-14 describes Satan (the dragon) pursuing the remnant of the Jews (the woman) who flee Israel after the great earthquake in Jerusalem and the two witnesses are killed. “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time [3.5 years], from the face of the serpent” (Revelation 12:13-14).
REVELATION 13
Revelation 13 (13 is an unlucky number indeed) introduces Satan’s two evil accomplices: the beast out of the sea (the Antichrist) and the beast out of the earth (the false prophet). Together, the three evil beings form an unholy trinity in opposition to the Triune Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Revelation 13:3 describes the apparent death of the Antichrist and his miraculous “resurrection.” “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:3). His death is also mentioned in Daniel 11:45 and Zechariah 11:17: “Woe to the worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!” (Zechariah 11:17). It is believed the Antichrist will recover from this deadly wound but will be physically impaired.
The text places great emphasis on his death and revival or resurrection, indicating its importance in the events that transpire at the end. It is one of the primary motivators for his worship. “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?” (Revelation 13:3-4).
According to Revelation 13:5, the Antichrist will have sole power over the world for 42 months (three and a half years), as he will, at this point, have killed three of the ten kings, and the remaining seven will have relinquished their power and authority to him.
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:5, 7-8).
Daniel also prophesied about this in Daniel 7:24–25: “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (Daniel 7:24–25).
The Antichrist will have an accomplice in his evil reign. “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). As the ‘earth’ represents Israel, this second beast could be a Jew. He is called a “false prophet” in Revelation 16:13 and 19:20, as he will preach a Satanic gospel as though it were from the Lord. “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” (Revelation 13:12).
The false prophet receives power from Satan to perform great signs (which is what the Jews wanted to see from Jesus during His first advent), “so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast” (Revelation 13:13). This replicates Elijah calling down fire from heaven (three times, in 1 Kings 18:38 and 2 Kings 1:10, 12). Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet are the unholy trinity from hell.
The false prophet commissions an “image” to be made of the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the 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” (Revelation 13:15). I believe this will be easily accomplished with the technology of artificial intelligence.
“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” (Revelation 13:16-17). We now have the technology to insert a chip or a digital tattoo to fulfill this prophecy. “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” (Revelation 13:18).
God’s punishment for anyone taking the mark of the beast is found in Revelation 14:9-11. “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9–11).
We will examine the rest of Revelation (chapters 14–22) in the next part.
Randy Nettles
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