Revelation - A Book of the Past and the Future (Part 7)

Part One - Revelation 1

Part Two - Revelation 1

Part Three - Revelation 4

Part Four - Revelation 4, 5, 6

Part Five - Revelation 8, 9

Part Six - Revelation 8, 9

7ο Μέρος

GREETINGS ONCE AGAIN EVERYONE! Our good friends in Beijing and Zhengzhou, China; Brussels, Belgium; Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, Africa; and all here in the States! Welcome! This is the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and this is the seventh part of a series on the Book of Revelation – the revelation of Jesus Christ!

Let us continue in this series of Revelation that we began in November of 2020.

Indeed it is a DANGEROUS BUSINESS to stand up for one’s cause! Isn’t it!? We have certainly seen this first-hand in China. Last year in China protestors took to the streets. In which Chinese citizens are espoused with a wide variety of grievances, including corruption, forced evictions, unpaid wages, and human rights abuses! And, as I said in our latest sermon “What Is True Spirituality?”, “I applaud those protesters – I don’t agree if they are not protesting peaceably – but, you have to applaud what they are trying to attempt! … because their life is in peril! They can be beaten, they can be scourged, they can be killed, because of their protesting against the Communist government of China!” History is replete with our peoples who stood up for a cause. And, even in the founding of our own nation, the American Revolutionary War, and the American Civil War, in which our very nation was torn asunder over… well… most academic scholars identify slavery as the central cause of the war. Hundreds of thousands of our peoples died! Standing up for what they believed. And, let us not forget the Great War and World War II. The fight against tyranny, as well as against certain tyrannical leaders who desired to conquer the entire world!

Even today in this 21st century, there are certain ones who are trying to stand up for an IMPORTANT CAUSE! And do they ever get knocked down! Discredited and slandered! Do they ever get “locked out” or “suspended” from social media sites, even many ruined, including death threats! For those who stand up for what we consider right and MOST IMPORTANT – God’s will.

And, as most of you who read and study our articles of the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries are aware, we speak of this grave abomination in the eyes of the LORD God quite frequently – homosexuality. If you were to go to the streets and stand up for what you believe to be right and be AGAINST homosexuality, you would be ostracized, spit upon, labeled an extremist, and possibly even beaten, for standing up for what is exactly backed up by the living word of the Eternal God! Certainly teaching any of the LORD God’s holy immutable and relevant Laws to societies today, we are considered a cult, or a religious zealot. And not zealot in a good way. Truly, as I entitled a recent article, this is “A Dying Nation”! Soon coming there will be a final testimony against our societies, our peoples, and this world! What will be the final testimony of the end-time prophets!? All who will be martyred for standing up for the will of God.

Let’s turn in our Bibles to the Book of Revelation the 10th chapter. And before we begin here I want to remind you: We’ve been saying this for a long time. And a great many of the times which we’ve said it, our peoples to whom we speak to, simply did not understand what we are saying. The question is: When is the resurrection of the saints!? Now, we want you to understand that the majority of the churches of God which have their history with the Worldwide Church of God continue to teach that the resurrection of the saints will NOT occur until the SEVEN SEALS are over, and the SEVEN TRUMPETS are over, and the SEVEN PLAGUES are over, and sometime – they aren’t really sure - but sometime in there, the resurrection of the saints will occur. They actually still say the seventh of the plagues is somehow the extension of the seventh trump. I don’t know, they really stretch the Scriptures! Notice verse 7 – “but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, …” And that mystery is that mortal human beings would one day enter into FULL sonship and daughtership into the kingdom of God, into the family of GOD. THE SEVENTH TRUMP IS THE MOMENT OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS!

The apostle John, under the divine inspiration of God’s Spirit, makes a most interesting statement in these first few passages as we go through this chapter.

Chapter 10, beginning with verse 1 –

“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.”

This mighty being here is described as an angel. But it is also describing characteristics that we read about of our Lord Jesus Christ! There are some who question whether it is our Lord. I, personally, do not believe it is speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ. This mighty angel, certainly an archangel, is a representative of Christ. Let us recall in the Book of Luke when an angel had told the priest Zacharias, ‘Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will also go before Christ in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.’’’ And Zacharias in essence asked the angel, ‘How do you know that I am going to have a son?’ And the angel answered, “’ I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.’” So, we have this description of a mighty angel who has a rainbow about his head, his face shining as it was the sun, his feet as it were like a pillar of fire – or even as it were “like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace.”

Verse 2 – “He had a little book in his hand. …”

Now, this “little book” is not written by some human being! This “little book” is written by God! And here, the apostle John – it surely reminds us of the prophet Ezekiel, in which he saw a vision of God, which said to him, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.’ … 9) Now when I [prophet Ezekiel] looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10) Then He spread it before me; … 3:1) Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, …” – Ezekiel 2:1, 9-10; 3:1. And when he looked upon the scroll there was writing on the inside and on the outside – covered with lamentations and mourning and woe. Friends, it was not a comforting bedtime story that the prophet Ezekiel was reading!

This “little book” is some of the prophetic events which are going to immediately take place just before the resurrection of the saints of God.

“ … And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.”

And this obviously is showing that the LORD God now has all authority over the whole earth – “the sea and the land.”

Verse 3 – “and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.”

These “seven thunders” being – even though this is very poetic figurative language - we have to believe is referring to seven angelic beings.

Verse 4 – “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

Verse 5 – “The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6) and swore by Him who lives for ever and ever [meaning our Lord Jesus Christ], who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, THAT THERE SHOULD BE DELAY NO LONGER.”

So here mankind is approaching a climax moment. It’s not the climax moment, but it’s an extremely IMPORTANT EVENT! And it is written here just before the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet!

Earlier in the Book of Revelation, and we cover this in part 4 - “When He [our Lord Jesus Christ] opened the FIFTH SEAL, I saw under the altar the souls [the lives] of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” And we contend that this is speaking of God’s prophets throughout the age. Note: 1st Corinthians 10:11 and Hebrews 9:26 call this age the end of the ages.

“And they cried with a loud voice [again, allegorical language], saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” “… and it was said to them that they should rest a little longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed [here, we contend it is speaking of the “END-TIME PROPHETS”] as they were, was completed” – Revelation 6:9-10, 11.

So, we’re speaking about a time here when there is NO MORE DELAY.

Continuing in chapter 10 – verse 7 – “but 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.”

SEVENTH ANGEL, SEVENTH TRUMP! THIS IS THE RESURRECTION TRUMP! And you can turn to 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 and 1st Corinthians chapter 15, and we can read about this very event! – “the mystery of God would be finished.” In fact, this is the culmination of the event which is depicted by all of God’s prophets down through history. Certainly, all of the prophecies we read about that is yet to be fulfilled, such as in the Book of Isaiah chapter 2, Micah chapter 4, and even in the Book of Habakkuk where it says, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.” All of God’s prophets have looked to this moment in time! And here it is about to unfold! They have all thought about and meditated and pondered this very moment! There are even some of whom I know – begotten children of God who have since died – that looked for this very moment in time! In the Book of Hebrews, the apostle Paul speaks of men and women, who lived by faith – some of which were “tortured, … had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment … stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented─ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And ALL THESE, having obtained a good testimony THROUGH FAITH, DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROMISE”! “These all died IN FAITH, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them.” – cf. Hebrews 11:13, 35, 36-39.

In fact, let’s go back briefly and read about this very event. God’s living word speaks about this event in different locations. Let’s go back and read about this SEVENTH TRUMP. Again, this seventh trump is one of the meanings of the Feast of Trumpets – a memorial of the blowing of trumpets.

1st Thessalonians chapter 4, beginning in verse 13 –

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, …”

In Revelation chapter 5 there is a verse – IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE; which you should – that completely dismantles the foundation of the so-called Christian world! – because they all teach that after death you’re going to heaven if you’re good. That’s their main selling point! Well, no one has gone to heaven, but the One who came from heaven! So, if you actually believe ONE VERSE in God’s living word, you must disclaim what the churches of this world are teaching! Even if your grandparents had their names written in the Book of life, they’re not up in heaven! They are still “asleep.” Verse 10 – “’ And [He will make] us kings [or, it can be interpreted “a kingdom”] and priests to our God; AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.’” – verse 9.

The BLOWING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMP is that event where the saints of God – living and dead – are resurrected and brought into full-time eternal membership in the family of God!

Death in God’s living word is referred to as “sleep.” “ … lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”

Verse 14 – “For IF we believe that Jesus died and rose again, …”

There is an “if” there! If we believe that our Lord Jesus Christ lived, that He was real, was the Son of God, the Messiah, that He died and rose again, and that He became the sacrifice for all human beings. Again, ‘IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED!’ The last message Minister Michael C. Garrett gave to some of “the lost sheep” down in Tyler, Texas was “Look To Jesus Not Moses.” He was chastised by their leaders that he proclaimed that Jesus had died. They were offended and upset. So much so that he was fired! Of course Jesus died! This is the Message of the Book – He qualified to become our Savior, He died, and was resurrected! Our Lord Jesus’ own living words, “’ I AM He who lives, and WAS DEAD, and behold, I AM alive evermore. Amen. …’” – Revelation 1:18.

“ … even so God will bring with Him those WHO SLEEP IN JESUS.”

They lie in death. When God the Father and Jesus Christ return to this earth they will be resurrected. And this all happens upon the BLOWING OF THE SEVENTH TRUMP!

Verse 15 – “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP.”

At this very moment, the saints of God who are in their graves – who lie in death – will be resurrected first, and then shortly after that the saints of God who are alive – presently at that time – will be resurrected.

Verse 16 – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [the atmosphere] …”

Remember, God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the angels will be in low Earth orbit.

“ … with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with THE TRUMPET OF GOD. …”

THE SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDING HIS TRUMP! This is what we just read back in the Book of Revelation when it says, “ ... he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, …”

“ … And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them IN THE CLOUDS to meet the Lord IN THE AIR. …”

THE ATMOSPHERE! Where the clouds are! Not in the far away third heaven, which God’s living word hints at being to the far northern part of His universe – cf. Isaiah 14:13, KJV.

“ … And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

While we’re here, notice 1st Thessalonians chapter 5, beginning in verse 8 –

We are told to put on “ … as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9) For God did not appoint us to wrath [or, condemnation or destruction], but to obtain salvation [by and] through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10) WHO DIED FOR US, …”

Once again, Jesus died and was resurrected.

“ … that whether we wake [alive] or sleep [dead], we should live together with Him. 11) Therefore comfort [or, encourage] each other and edify [to build up] one another, just as you also are doing.”

Verse 23 – “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul [life], and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. 24) HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL, WHO ALSO WILL DO IT.”

Our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ have a Plan and the power to make it happen!

Another place in God’s living word, as I mentioned earlier, that speaks of this event in the Book of Revelation chapter 10 verse 7, is in 1st Corinthians chapter 15, beginning in verse 50 –

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; …”

To Note: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) teach as doctrine that they will be resurrected as physical human beings. 1

Sadly, the evil one – Satan the Devil – has deceived “the whole world” (Revelation 12:9) in regards to this MOST IMPORTANT “elementary principle of Christ”! – Hebrews 6:1-2. Truly we find that the whole world “progressed from a belief in magic [and I might add, darkness, ignorance, and superstitions] as a means of controlling his environment to religious beliefs, which propitiated” their gods, goddesses, and spirits. 2

“ … nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51) Behold, I tell you a mystery …”

Again, “the mystery of God would be finished.” The mystery that flesh and blood, after being resurrected wholly a spiritual being, will someday become God. This certainly, for the majority of our peoples on Earth in this present evil age, is a headscratcher. It is a mystery.

“ … We shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed─ 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and [then] we shall be changed.”

Certainly the apostle Paul, at the time of writing this epistle, thought that he would be physically alive when our Lord Jesus Christ returned.

Verse 53 – “For this corruption must put on incorruption, and this mortal [mortality] must put on immortality. 54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written [in Isaiah 25:8]: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”

Continuing in the Book of Revelation chapter 10 –

Verse 8 – “Then the voice which I heard from heaven [the atmosphere] spoke to me again and said, ‘Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”

Verse 9 – “So I went to the angel and said to him, ‘Give me the little book.’ And he said to me, ‘Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’”

What is he talking about!? As stated earlier, there are several places in God’s living word, such as in the Book of Ezekiel, where he was told to ‘eat the contents, have it become a part of you, and initially it tastes sweet, but once you understand it, it’s going to make you sick at your stomach.’ Also, notice the Book of Psalm chapter 119 and verse 103 –

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

The very living word of God – the Holy Bible. When God’s word goes into us it is as sweet as honey and it fills us up! It’s so glorious to read, learn, and understand God’s living word! But then, when it goes into his stomach it becomes bitter – why!?

First, turn with me to the Book of Jeremiah chapter 15, beginning in verse 15 –

This here is the prophet Jeremiah’s personal lament for the job which he was assigned to do. He was a prophet to the house of Judah as they were about to be taken captive.

“O LORD, You know; Remember me and visit me, And take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In Your enduring patience, do not take me away. Know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke.”

He was commanded by the LORD God to go out and preach, teach, and WARN the people. And he did exactly what he was commanded to do. But what did he get for it!? Persecution, ridicule, placed in prison. And here he is telling the LORD God in essence – ‘remember You commanded I do this.’

Verse 16 – “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Hearing and reading the LORD God’s words and doing the will of God was so soothing and joyous to him!

Notice the Book of Ezekiel chapter 3, which I spoke of earlier. The prophet Ezekiel was in captivity with the nation of Judah in Babylon. And he writes of his commission here. Beginning in verse 1 –

“Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’”

In the prophet Ezekiel’s day books were not created the way they are today. They were on a scroll. And they stored them by rolling them up. And so this giant scroll was placed before him, and Ezekiel was told, ‘eat this!’ Eat this scroll! And He said written in there ‘were lamentations and mourning and woe.’ Written in there were events, and facts, about the end-time, about the Day of the Lord.

Verse 2 – “…and He caused me to eat that scroll.”

What was on that scroll!?

Notice verse 9 of chapter 2 –

“Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10) Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.”

THAT WAS THE MESSAGE HE WAS TO GIVE TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL!

Continuing in verse 3 – “…and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.”

Verse 4 – “Then He said to me: ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.’”

So, this scroll that he ate – the same description that we read about in the Book of Revelation – was sweet in his mouth, but it would ultimately make his stomach bitter for what the message was to relay to the house of Israel.

Also – NOTICE THAT HE IS TO SPEAK TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. Do you know where the house of Israel was at that time!? Understand – the prophet Ezekiel was a prisoner. His country Judah had been invaded, and he was among the prisoners of war in a prison camp next to the River Chebar in the nation of Babylon when he was writing this. The HOUSE OF ISRAEL – the very nation to which he was being sent – had been taken captive more than a hundred and forty years before in roughly 734-732 BC! The HOUSE OF ISRAEL had been taken captive to Assyria on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. Here the LORD God was commanding the prophet Ezekiel, who was being held prisoner, to go speak with the house of Israel who had already disappeared to history! So, this prophecy is yet future.

Verses 7-11 – “’ But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; …’” God speaking to Ezekiel – a type of the end-time work. “…’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.’” – we hear that phrase quite often.

Indeed, there are a many haughty and proud looks in this world today AGAINST the servants of God who will stand up for the living word of the Eternal and for the testimony of Jesus Christ – of what is righteousness. This present evil age will eventually consider what we are doing as a “hate crime” – cf. Amos 8:11-12.

Returning back to the Book of Revelation chapter 10 –

Verse 10 – “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.”

Again – why did his stomach become bitter!?

It’s the message that will ultimately become bitter. Because he knows what the message says and he realizes the condition of his beloved nation, and that the living word of the Eternal One prognosticates a certain outcome for nations which disobey the LORD God!

Verse 11 – “And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.’”

We contend that this is speaking of the “END-TIME PROPHETS”! Again, there is soon coming a final testimony against our societies, our peoples, and this world!

Continuing into the 11th chapter of the Book of Revelation, beginning in verse 1 –

But first a little background. Let’s turn to the Book of 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning in verse 1 –

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, …”

Our gathering. Remember, we will be caught up in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air! Again, all the prophets of God suffered long for this very time! Spoke about it, meditated upon it, and patiently waited for it!

Verse 2 – “not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day of Christ [the Day of the LORD] had come.”

Here the apostle Paul, who besides being an evangelist, an apostle, and prolific writer of the living word of God, is also a prophet. He is speaking of this end-time prophecy!

Verse 3 – “Let NO ONE DECEIVE YOU BY ANY MEANS; for that Day will not come [the Day of the LORD] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4) 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 [a newly built Jewish “temple” in Jerusalem], showing HIMSELF that he is God.”

The apostle Paul is speaking of a great false religious leader that rises up in the end-time (See: Revelation 13:11-13), comes to sit as God in a “temple” which does not now exist, performing great signs and wonders “showing himself that he is God.” And this is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ speaks of in the Book of Matthew chapter 24 verse 15 –

“’ Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), 16) ‘then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.’”

“’ But when you see JERUSALEM surrounded by armies, then know that its destruction is near’” – Luke 21:20.

When this final end-time great false religious leader rises to sit in a newly built Jewish “temple” in Jerusalem – that is the abomination that makes desolate! This DOES NOT occur until the Gentile armies surround the modern-day city of Jerusalem, and overtake Jerusalem!

Verse 6 – “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; …”

Sadly, very few of our peoples around the world properly understand this “mystery of lawlessness” which was already at work in the 1st century. The “mystery of lawlessness” is related to what we speak about all the time – “Traditional Christianity.” This lawlessness which involves professing Christians who believe that they DO NOT need to keep the Ten Commandments! So, while they believe that they have a form of godliness, they are not keeping the religion that our Lord Jesus Christ nor His apostles would recognize.

In the 4th century there continued to be a separation of the two groups. Yet, one group obtained considerable Imperial favor after the sun-worshiping emperor claimed to have had a vision – Minister Michael C. Garrett speaks of this in the free PDF online booklet “Prophecy Series – The Last Crusade” page 5 – and in around 332 Emperor Constantine the Great decided to issue his “Edict Against Heresies” which resulted in the grave persecution of those who professed Jesus Christ who was not part of his group.

So, both groups, with all their numerous parts, have existed throughout this dispensation. Both groups exist today.

“ … only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.”

Those that believe in the false religion of Satan, they’ll keep going that way ‘until he is taken out of the way,’ – meaning, the son of perdition.

Verse 8 – “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy the brightness of His coming” – speaking about the very coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

So, in the end-time, despite all the chaos that’s taking place, there will arise a “holy” man who blasphemously and audaciously claims that he is God! In the Book of Revelation, he is called – “another beast having two horns like a lamb, but speaking like a dragon,” “the image of the beast.” He is called the great false prophet.

Verses 1 & 2 of Revelation chapter 11 is talking about this great false religious leader occupying “the temple of God” in Jerusalem.

Verse 1 – “Then I [the apostle John in a vision] 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. 2) 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 [speaking about Jerusalem] underfoot for forty-two months.”

The Gentiles, in the end-time, will come to occupy Jerusalem for 3 ½ years! – along with a newly built Jewish “temple” in Jerusalem.

A few believe and teach that there will NOT NECESSARILY be a physical temple built in Jerusalem or rather an “ordinance temple.” In The WatchMan Report 5.14.22, I briefly speak about this prophesied “temple of God” being built in Jerusalem in this end time, and that it DOESN’T necessarily need to be a physical temple, but could very well be a “tent,” a “home” or even an “altar.”

This term “forty-two months,” “1,260 days,” or “time, times, and half-a-time” – all mean 3 ½ years. This final European civic leader will reign for forty-two months.

Verse 3 – “And I [the angel speaking here in the Authority of the LORD God] will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY DAYS, …” – again, 3 ½ years.

Our Lord Jesus Christ also prophesied of this event! Turning to the Book of Matthew chapter 24 again, beginning in verse 9 –

“’ Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, …’” - here pertaining mostly to the final end-time prophets. “ … ‘ and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10) And then many will be offended, will betray one another. 11) Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12) And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.’”

They – possibly beginning with twelve end-time prophets (and this reasoning, this hypothesis, comes from the fact that the LORD God had TWELVE apostles at the beginning of this New Covenant era) – will be given power from God Almighty and Jesus Christ to begin prophesying – testifying - to kings, to world rulers, to the captured and subjugated “elect” of God, to a final great religious leader and a final European political civic leader – standing before the god of the earth (Satan the Devil) – WARNING for 3 ½ years!

Verse 14 – “’ And 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.’”

So, while this final European political civic leader has subdued and taken over Jerusalem – is trodding it underfoot – and while the true Church of God is protected – and we DON’T KNOW exactly how God will protect His people. If He wants to bring them together in a small encampment and place His angels about them in some remote area – I’m sure He’s capable of doing it! And if you live out in the middle of Wyoming or something, and there’s nowhere near you another Church member, if He wants to place His angels about you – He will – and no plague will come near you! Wherever you are He will know where you are! And that’s the great thing about the God that we serve! He will protect His people! If those people have the right heart. If they’re not filled with self-righteousness and bitterness, envy, and jealousy. If they truly have the Spirit of God within them – He says He will protect you! – and this final European beast power (and we say "final" because there have been SIX RESURRECTIONS or rather SIX REVITALIZATIONS of the "Holy" Roman Empire, and there will be a final one) is reigning for forty-two months these two witnesses, these “END-TIME PROPHETS,” are going to appear. They will be “clothed in sackcloth” – clothed with humility and in a state of great mourning. They will go forward and speak to the physical children of the house of Israel which are held in subjugation. Now, the question is: Who are these people!? A lot of them are the people of Israel – most of which are physical members of the house of Israel. The United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations (both past and present), Australia, and New Zealand - respectively. The people where the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh settled. However, I do believe, that among some of those people will be groups of people who thought they were members of the Church of God, who thought they were doing what they were supposed to do. But did not understand that over the years their religion had been transformed into not a worship of God, but rather a worship of human beings.

These “two witnesses” are basically patterned after the historic work of Moses and Aaron. There were times when Moses and Aaron went to the house of the Pharaoh and pronounced a decree. “Thus says the Eternal God!” The end-time prophets will do that also! But these end-time prophets will also say just like Moses and Aaron said to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” “Let the Israelites go” And so the end-time prophets – in this modern end-time – will be demanding the leaders of this soon-coming European beast power – this ten nation combine – ‘Let loose, let free, the captives which came from the house of Israel!’ A great many of the Gentile nations rise up against the nations of Israel, and greatly wound them, damaging them, destroying a great many people – and cause a state of subjugation over the nations of Israel. These end-time prophets will have a testimony, as a final witness and warning to this final European beast power, this final religious leader, and the god of this world, announcing with the Authority of Jesus Christ, “the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and believe the gospel!” “The wrath of God is coming!” And we’re going to cover here shortly the very real possibility that these end-time prophets will bring upon the world at least the FIRST FOUR of the seals – often called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Revelation chapter 11 verse 4 –

“These are the two olive trees [meaning, they are filled with God’s Spirit] and the two lampstands [meaning, from them shines the light and truth of the LORD God] standing before the god of the earth.”

This is not the Almighty Creator God, the god of the earth is Satan! And they’re not bowing before Satan, they’re standing against him! This ‘god of the earth’ is indeed Satan the Devil!

But here, briefly, let us turn in our Bibles to the Book of Zechariah the 4th chapter, beginning in verse 1 –

“Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2) And he said to me, ‘What do you see?’ So I said, ‘I am looking, and there is A LAMPSTAND OF SOLID GOLD with a bowl on top of it [representing our Lord JESUS CHRIST], and on the stand SEVEN LAMPS WITH SEVEN PIPES [representing SEVEN CHURCHES with SEVEN ANGELS OVER THOSE CHURCHES] to the SEVEN LAMPS. 3) Two OLIVE TREES [representing the TWO ANOINTED ONES] are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.’ 4) So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, ‘What are these, my lord?’”

Here the angel answers the prophet Zechariah after the return from captivity in Babylon when they had returned to the land and were trying to rebuild the temple and the wall in the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah’s day. And there were certain ones that were trying to keep them from rebuilding the temple – and the LORD in essence saying, ‘If I say that you’re going to rebuild this temple, it is going to be rebuilt! And Zerubbabel’s going to finish it! That’s My word!’

Verse 6 – “’ This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. 7) ‘Who are you, O great mountain? [speaking about the nations which were around Jerusalem trying to keep them from rebuilding the temple] Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

Verse 8 – “Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Verse 9 – “’ The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. 10) For who has despised the day of small things? For THESE SEVEN [the SEVEN ANGELS] rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. THEY ARE THE EYES OF THE LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.’”

In part 3 we briefly talked about the SEVEN LAMPS which represent the seven churches of God with seven angels of the LORD watching over them. So, these seven lamps are the seven churches and these seven pipes are seven angels watching over the seven churches of God.

Verse 11 – “Then I answered and said to him, ‘What are these TWO OLIVE TREES ─ at the right of the lampstand and at its left?’ 12) And I further answered and said to him, ‘What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from the golden oil drains?’”

Now, we know that oil is symbolic of God’s Holy Spirit.

Verse 13 – “Then he answered me and said, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ And I said, ‘No, my lord.’”

Verse 14 – “So he said, ‘THESE ARE THE TWO ANOINTED ONES, WHO STAND BESIDE THE LORD OF THE WHOLE EARTH.’”

Now, there are some who believe and teach that this is a prophecy which – these TWO ANOINTED ONES – depict these two being similar to Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was a governor of the Achaemenid Empire. We believe, however, these TWO ANOINTED ONES, will be more akin to the historic work of Moses and Aaron.

Back to the Book of Revelation the 11th chapter –

Verse 5 – “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. …”

In God’s living word, we can certainly see an analogy in the Book of 1st Kings chapter 22 in which King Ahaziah, the eighth king of the kingdom of Israel, sent messengers to inquire of a false god called Baal-Zebub (another name for Satan the Devil) whether the king would recover from his severe fall through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria. The messengers were met by the prophet Elijah who asked them, “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?” The prophet Ezekiel saying to them concerning the king, “You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.” When the king's messengers returned early to report to the king what the prophet Elijah had said, he sent out a captain of fifty with his fifty men to apprehend Elijah. “So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, ‘If I am a man of God, then let FIRE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUME YOU AND YOUR FIFTY MEN.’ And fire came down from heaven [the atmosphere] and consumed him and his fifty.”

These end time prophets (and especially these remaining two witnesses) – and we DO NOT know who they are, and you don’t either – the LORD God is going to appoint these end time prophets a great commission – a commission which they were elected to do possibly even before they were born! And, it’s possible that many of these end time prophets are not even aware, in the beginning, that the LORD God will commission them in this way! The LORD God will inspire them at the correct time – they will be divinely protected by the LORD our God!

This final testimony will not be a message of a bunch of pablum. It will not be a bunch of “Come on down, and give your heart to the Lord!” or “How sweet is Jesus lying in His manger! Let us sing together just how sweet Jesus is!” Do you really believe that these end time prophets will be giving those types of messages!? Do you really believe that these are the messages that the LORD God will be preaching to the end of this present evil world!?

IT WILL BE THE FINAL MESSAGE THAT THE LORD GOD IS GOING TO GIVE TO THIS WORLD JUST BEFORE THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS OF GOD!

What are these end time prophets going to say!?

They will say exactly what God’s living word says! – exactly what the Holy Bible says! – with the inspiration of God’s Spirit! THE TRUTH OF GOD!

What is the truth of God!?

Our Lord Jesus Christ says our Father’s and His word is truth – “’ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth’” – John 17:17; see also Psalm 119:160.

Sadly, there is a whole plethora of ideas in this world of just what truth is. But the LORD God’s true begotten children know what truth is. We live it. We keep His holy immutable and relevant Law – summed up in the Ten Commandments. And we know that the end time prophets will be ‘keeping the commandments of God and will have the testimony of Jesus Christ’ – Revelation 12:17.

We are told by the LORD God –

“’ The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet [the Lord Jesus Christ!] … from your brethren. HIM YOU SHALL HEAR, … 19) And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20) But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’”

Verse 22 – “’ when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him’” – Deuteronomy 18:15, 19-20, 22.

In the latter days – “ … the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. [see Revelation 11:3-6] 33) And those of the people who understand SHALL INSTRUCT MANY; …” And, this is speaking primarily of the end time prophets. “ … yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.” - Daniel 11:32-33.

Now, this indeed happened anciently – approximately 168 or 167 BC. But the Book of Daniel as well as the Book of Revelation also speaks of the future. Recall, the angel of the LORD said, “’ I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people IN THE LATTER DAYS.’” So, there is a secondary fulfillment of this very prophecy. So, this very thing actually did take place – as did the utter destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 led by the future emperor of Rome – Titus. But, there will be a future fulfillment of this prophecy, in which a “man of sin” as the apostle Paul says in 2nd Thessalonians who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God sitting himself in the “temple of God,” claiming that he is God!

Back to the Book of Revelation the 11th chapter –

Verse 5 – “ … And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.”

Verse 6 – “These have power to shut heaven …” – the atmosphere. Clouds, rain. “ … so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy [for 3 ½ years, a SEVERE DROUGHT!] …”

Again, we believe that the end-time prophesied witnesses, culminating with the two witnesses may have a direct hand in some of these early trumpet tribulations. Do you think this will get mankind’s attention!? Now, do you think that mankind will begin to repent at this time!? No, they won’t.

Notice Revelation chapter 8 verse 7 –

“The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. A third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass were burned up.” 3

Again, the final two witnesses will do much like Moses and Aaron did back in the days of Egypt. They will have that type of power! These ARE the two most powerful prophets ever in the history of mankind!

Recall, the apostle James speaks of the prophet Elijah – “The effective prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for THREE YEARS AND SIX MONTHS” – James 5:16, 17.

Do you think this will get our peoples attention then!? When it doesn’t rain for 3 ½ years! Now, we’ve had no rain at times for weeks, but how about for 3 ½ years when all the lakes, ponds, streams, and every little trickle of water is dried up!? And all the cattle are dead! Do you think our peoples will begin to REPENT to the LORD God then!? Sadly, no.

These end time prophets, culminating with the two witnesses, will cause this to happen to these nations that want to commit evil and evil pogroms over the world for their own rights and their will, their own ungodly behavior. These end time prophets are going to cause such plagues just like Moses and Aaron did on the nation of Egypt!

Continuing in Revelation the 11th chapter –

Verse 6 – “ … and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth will all plagues, as often as they desire.”

Verse 7 – “When they finish their testimony, …”

Surely after 3 ½ years. Will the last of this final testimony be without the shedding of blood!? No.

“ … the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit [meaning, Satan the Devil] will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.”

Verse 8 – “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt [meaning, the city of Jerusalem], where also our Lord was crucified.”

Friends, these two words – Sodom and Egypt – have a lot of meaning in this generation. We witness that this great and holy city which was supposed to be the banner, the pinnacle, the example, for all nations in regard to the LORD God’s Way and righteousness has become a city filled with Sodomites! 4 A city filled to the brim “with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30) backbiters, HATERS OF GOD, violent, PROUD, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32) who, KNOWING THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” – Romans 1:29-32.

Egypt here being a symbol of this city under the bondage of Gentile nations.

Verse 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.”

I can’t help but think of one of the biggest dictators of the 20th century, Benito Mussolini. In which on April 29th, 1945, he and his mistress were executed, then strung up and mutilated for all the world to witness (because of television). No matter their crimes – “Repay NO ONE evil for evil. …” – Romans 12:17 – this is an absolute indignity to leave any human being in a manner as this. Dead and mutilated out in the street!

Verse 10 – “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets [they believe] tormented those who dwell on the earth.”

The people of the earth will have a huge celebration upon the death of these two prophets of the LORD our God! The majority of the people of the earth will certainly accuse these two prophets of bringing upon them a 3 ½ year drought, causing a third of the trees to be burned up, all the green grass to be burned up. They will be accused of bringing upon the earth the eruptions of massive volcanoes which spew into the oceans burning with fire in which a third of the sea becomes blood, and in which a third of the living creatures in the sea die, and a third of cargo ships that cross the oceans are destroyed. They too will certainly be accused of bringing upon the earth an asteroid, burning like a torch, which strikes a third of the rivers in which many men die from the water because the water was made bitter – poisonous! They will be accused because, for 3 ½ years they all prophesied that these things would happen – and they did! The people of the earth became afraid of them! I tend to believe that a great majority of this world’s people are superstitious. How many times when you are in the public, and you sneeze, does a person you do not know say to you, “God bless”!? 5

Verse 11 – “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 certainly, because of satellite television all people on the face of the earth who have access to a television or a computer will witness this!

Verse 12 is certainly a remarkable verse! – “And they heard a loud voice from heaven [the atmosphere] saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven [the atmosphere] in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.”

We do believe – and maybe we’ve got it wrong – but we believe that these two witnesses, these TWO ANOINTED ONES, will be allowed to be resurrected first and be before the throne of God before anyone else is resurrected! That’s the great honor that God shows to them for their work.

Recall – we’re speaking about a time here when there is NO MORE DELAY.

Verse 13 – “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city [Jerusalem] fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

So immediately – within an hour – a massive earthquake kills a great many people. And the rest, the remnant of the LORD God’s people that are alive at that time on the earth, gives glory to the God of heaven.

Verse 14 – “The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.”

Sadly, even after the grievous plagues of the first woe, and all this – and even after more woes to come – “the rest of mankind … did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor walk. 21) They DID NOT repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts” – Revelation 9:20-21.

Verse 15 is talking about the SEVENTH ANGEL, the SEVENTH TRUMP – the resurrection of all the saints of God. “Then the SEVENTH ANGEL SOUNDED: And there were loud voices in heaven [the atmosphere], saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord [God the Father] and of His Christ [our Lord Jesus Christ], and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

We can certainly go and read the Scriptures of the Book of Isaiah chapter 2 which talks about the glorious kingdom of God!

“Now IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LATTER DAYS That the mountain of the LORD’s house [the kingdom of God] Shall be established on the top of the mountains [the kingdoms of this world], And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it” – Isaiah 2:2.

Or the Book of Micah chapter 4 –

“Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD [the kingdom of God], To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His Ways, And we shall walk in His paths’” – Micah 4:2.

Or the Book of Zechariah chapter 14 –

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” – Zechariah 14:16.

Verse 16 – “And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God.”

And, let me reiterate: it behooves me to explain here who are these twenty-four elders.

God’s living word does not specifically provide the identity of these elders. Yet, some information is provided enough for us to rule out some possibilities and consider some options.

They are clearly believers of God our Father and Jesus Christ. They are “in heaven.”

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. …” – Revelation 4:1.

So, this “heaven” in this vision which the apostle John is experiencing may not be the third heaven. It could very well be New Jerusalem in low earth orbit. Notice: “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. …”

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2) Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” – Revelation 21:1-2.

Also, they are “clothed in white robes.” A symbol of God’s righteousness (cf. Revelation 3:5, 18; 19:8) – “And to her [the Church of God] it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” – Revelation 19:8.

Also, they “had crowns of gold on their heads.” This is something that is not said of angels anywhere in Scripture. Something which saints are said to receive (cf. 1st Corinthians 9:24-25; 1st Thessalonians 2:19; 2nd Timothy 4:8; 1st Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10).

Let us also keep in mind – and all of this is only thoughts, speculation, and nothing more – that the twenty-four elders could be based upon 1st Chronicles 24:1-5.

If so, this ‘kingdom of priests’ represents the Church that dwells – in the immediate future – on “heaven on earth”

AND THEY, ON HANDS AND KNEES BEFORE THE THRONES OF THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, THE AMEN, THE FAITHFUL and TRUE WITNESS, the BEGINNING say:

Verse 17 – “’ 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. 18) 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’”

The culmination of everything that is prophesied in God’s living word, all the promises that the LORD God has made to the righteous prophets and saints throughout the ages is AT THIS VERY MOMENT IN TIME!

So, what is this “little book”!? IT IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE! IT IS PROPHETIC! It is the final WARNING given to this evil and vile world. A final witness and a warning to this world.

And, as the apostle John signed off – “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I AM coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” – Revelation 22:20-21. □

To be continued …..

Bibliography:

1) Mormon Beliefs: Resurrection, “the term resurrection means the literal reuniting of the spirit with the physical body after death.” https://www.mormonwiki.com/Mormon_Beliefs:_Resurrection. Retrieved 6 Jan 2023.

2) Frazer, J.G., The Illustrated Golden Bough A Study In Magic And Religion, Simon & Schuster Editions New York, NY, Original Edition © 1950, pg. 6.

3) Howell, E., Drought-weakened trees more likely to die in forest fires, study says, CBS News, 31 July 2013. Retrieved 12 Jan. 2023.

4) “Homosexual relations were legalized in the state of Israel in 1988, and during the 1990s various forms of discrimination were prohibited.” LGBT history in Israel, Wikipedia.org, 21 Sept. 2022. Retrieved 12 Jan. 2023.

5) “Most cultures around the world—with the interesting exception of Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Japan—usually have some sort of response when someone sneezes, and it’s almost always some variation of “Bless you!” or “To your health!” London, J., Thought Catalog, 19 June 2019. Retrieved 12 Jan. 2023.