Armageddon and How it All Ends
The Future http://www.countdown.org/#expand-future
The prophets of
the Bible foretold amazing things about the future. Many of their predictions
have already come to pass. For instance, there are over 400 prophecies about
Jesus Christ, all written down hundreds of years before His birth, that were
fulfilled during His lifetime on earth. The chance of even eight of those
prophecies being fulfilled in one man have been calculated at one chance in one
hundred million billion.
More importantly
for us now, there are hundreds more biblical prophecies about future events and
world conditions. Some of these are now being fulfilled in our times, and they
presage the fulfillment of yet others in the near future, even in our
lifetimes. These future events are of such size and scope, and are so momentous
in nature, that you will want to be prepared for them when they happen.
Our future was
predicted thousands of years ago. You can know that future.
Today,
conditions prevail and events are taking place that Jesus said would signal His
return and the end of the world as we know it. Jesus, as well as several
biblical writers, likened these signs to a woman in labor prior to giving
birth. Many of these “birth pains” such as war, famine, earthquakes, and
pestilences, have been evident for a long time.
Yet man has in
this modern age invented weapons capable of previously unheard of death and
destruction. Famine is a reality for millions, and the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization estimates that 800 million people go hungry each day, and
malnutrition in children contributes to over half of child deaths. Pollution, global warming, and the depletion of resources points
toward even greater famine and resultant violence in the near future.
And the Gospel has been taught in all nations, like never before in the course
of history, by radio, television, and Internet.
Ron’s
Commentary: An average of 21,000 children die daily: http://www.globalissues.org/article/715/today-21000-children-died-around-the-world
That is
equivalent to:
• 1 child dying every 4 seconds
• 14 children dying every minute
• A 2011 Libya conflict-scale death toll every
day
• A 2010 Haiti earthquake occurring every 10
days
• A 2004 Asian Tsunami occurring every 11 days
• An Iraq-scale death toll every 19–46 days
• Just under 7.6 million children dying every
year
• Some 92 million children dying between 2000
and 2010
This evil
accrues while elitists of the world amass fortunes to the tune of hundreds of
trillions plus! In lieu of using those fortunes to alleviate the death of these
poor children by buoying up the economies of third world countries, these
Lucifer/Satan worshippers are using their money to control and rule the world.
In addition, they imbibe pederasty and offer some of the children of the world
on their heathen altars in homage to Lucifer/Satan. They use some kidnapped
children for their sexual pleasure and then throw them overboard their yachts.
This is how Lucifer/Satan deals with the serious issues of this world which he
has been given certain power over in the Great Controversy between he and Christ, in order to prove his values versus those of
our loving, benevolent God. If God did not permit this demonstration of
Lucifer/Satan’s character, we and the angels would never be convinced of the
gravity of evil he is capable of. End
comment.
Daniel, a Jewish
prophet who lived 500 years before Jesus, wrote that in the end times travel,
knowledge, and education would increase, something
that has happened at an exponential rate in recent years and continues to do
so. The labor that precedes childbirth doesn’t go on indefinitely, and we believe
there is now only a short time before events culminate in the return of Jesus
Christ.
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him
privately. “Tell us,” they said, “what will be the sign of Your
coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it
that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to
come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will
be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of
birth pains.
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom
will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the
end will come.” (Matthew 24:3-8, 12-14 NIV)
“But Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal it up so that it will not be
understood until the end times, when travel and education shall be vastly
increased!” (Daniel 12:4 TLB)
Ron’s Commentary: Ellen White wrote: “The future was mercifully veiled from the disciples. Had they at that
time fully comprehend the two awful facts--the Redeemer's sufferings and death,
and the destruction of their city and temple--they would have been overwhelmed
with horror. Christ presented before them an outline of the prominent events to
take place before the close of time. His words were not then fully understood;
but their meaning was to be unfolded as His people should need the instruction
therein given. The prophecy which He uttered was twofold in
its meaning; while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, it prefigured
also the terrors of the last great day.” The Great Controversy, p. 25.
Ellen White also
said that Ezekiel 9 would be literally fulfilled again:
Study Ezekiel 9 "Study the 9th chapter of
Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled yet the time is passing, and the
people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a
great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and
important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into
their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling will YOU hear?
Will YOU receive His message? Will YOU be converted before it is too late?
Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity. Letter
106, 1909, pp. 2, 3, 5, 7. (To "The churches in
Oakland and Berkeley, September 26, 1909.)" E. G. White Manuscript
Releases Volume One, p. 260.
“The time will soon come when the prophecy of
Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it
will be fulfilled to the very letter.”— Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1303.
Any future literal
fulfillment of Ezekiel 9 must begin at the SDA church, spiritual Jerusalem,
Ezekiel 9 and Testimonies, Vol. 5, p.
211. Then it ends with Babylon and the world, The Great Controversy, pp. 653-656.
The first chapter
of Great Controversy,
depicts what occurred in the first literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 9, which
involved the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The terrible suffering
and destruction that occurred during that debacle was just a miniscule
foretaste of what is to come in the worst time of trouble ever known to man, to
wit:
Mat 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as
was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall
be.
Mat 24:22
And except those days should be shortened,
there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be
shortened.
The SDA Bible Commentary errs in
saying that Ezekiel 9 was fulfilled under the Nebuchadnezzar sieges of Jerusalem.
Those three sieges were meant by God to be CAPTIVITIES, that
would lead the captives to repentance and reformation. Proof of this is the
fact that the 490 years probation for Israel (Daniel
9) did not end until A.D. 34, and God would not let His people be destroyed
before their probation ended. End comment.
An evil
man—called many things by the prophets, but most commonly referred to today as
the “Antichrist”—will come to power at the head of a world government. His evil
nature will at first not be so evident, and many will regard him as a savior
because he will be able to bring solutions to some of the world’s most
intractable problems such as a more equitable distribution and consumption of
resources; resolution of long-standing hostilities between nations, ideologies,
and religions; and reduction of economic instability and exploitation. He will
be a man of war and yet gain power by both intrigue and nonbelligerent means.
He is, however, in league with Satan, and in the end will become the embodiment
of evil.
Ron’s
Commentary: The farce involved with the antichrist MAN, is that Lucifer/Satan
has been involved with everything that has transpired in this world since his
fall. If he was God, as some so regard him, why didn’t he prevent “the world’s
most intractable problems such as more equitable distribution and consumption
of resources and resolution of long-standing hostilities between nations,
ideologies, and religions, and reduction of economic instability and
exploitation BEFORE IT OCCURRED?
The reasons I
refer to Satan as Lucifer/Satan, is because he has deluded some of his
worshippers to regard Lucifer as God, and Satan as an evil being distinct from
Lucifer. They are one and the same. End comment.
It is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming.
(1 John 2:18) 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. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs, and lying wonders. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4,9)
[This] vile person … shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by
intrigue. … He shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he
shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise
his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:21,25) When the transgressors have reached their fullness,
[this] king shall arise, having fierce features, who
understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his
own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the
holy people. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his
rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their
prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.
(Daniel 8:23-25) So they worshiped [Satan] who gave authority to the beast
[Antichrist]; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who
is able to make war with him?” … 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. (Revelation 13:4, 7-8)
Ron’s Commentary:
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their
kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce
countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And
his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and
shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And
through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he
shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall
also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without
hand.
Only Divine intervention will put a stop to Lucifer/Satan’s corrupt
character and the devastation he will cause. End comment.
The Antichrist
will initiate, or at the least be very much involved in, an agreement called in
the Bible the “Holy Covenant,” that temporarily brings a measure of peace and
security to the world. It will include a solution to the vexing problem of a
just Israeli/Palestinian settlement. This agreement will allow the rebuilding
of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The signing of this covenant will signal the
start of the last seven years of man’s dominion on Earth.
Approximately
three and a half years into the agreement, after surviving what may likely be
an assassination attempt, the megalomaniacal Antichrist will break the
covenant, declare himself God, and abolish all religious worship except that of
himself.
He will confirm a covenant with many for one “seven” [seven years]. In the middle of the “seven” [years] he will put an end to
sacrifice and offering [religious rites]. (Daniel 9:27 NIV)
And after the league is made with him [the Antichrist] shall act
deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of
people. … his heart shall be moved against the holy
covenant; so he shall … rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. … Those
who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery. (Daniel
11:23,28-29,32)
Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the
sea, having seven heads. … And I saw one of his heads [the Antichrist] as if it
had been mortally
wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the
world marveled and followed the beast. (Revelation 13:1, 3)
Ron’s Commentary: Here is what the SDA Bible Commentary says concerning the
70 weeks of Daniel 9 and the one week of Daniel 9:27. By SDA reckoning, which I
believe to be true, there will not be a seven year time period at the end-time.
That seven year time period was from A.D. 27 to A.D. 34.
24. Seventy
weeks. This expression seems to be a rather abrupt introduction, but
the angel had come for the specific purpose of causing Daniel to understand the
vision. He immediately began to explain.
The word here
translated “week,” shabua‘, describes a
period of seven consecutive days (see Gen. 29:27; Deut. 16:9; Dan. 10:2). In
the pseudepigraphical Book of Jubilees, as well as in
the Mishnah,
shabua‘ is used to denote a period of seven years. Here,
evidently, weeks of years are intended rather than weeks of days, for in ch. 10:2, 3
when Daniel wishes to specify that the “weeks” there referred to are seven-day
weeks he explicitly says, “weeks of days” (Heb.; KJV, “full weeks”). Seventy weeks
of years would be 490 literal years, without (here) applying the day-year
principle (see on Dan. 7:25).
Are determined. Heb. chathak,
a word occurring only here in the Bible. It occurs in post-Biblical
Hebrew with the meaning “to cut,” “to cut off,” “to determine,” “to decree.”
The LXX
has krinō, “to decide,” “to judge,”
etc. Theodotion’s version has suntemnō,
“to shorten,” “to abbreviate,” etc., which meaning is reflected in the Vulgate
reading abbreviare. The exact shade of meaning
here intended must be determined from the context. In view of the fact that ch. 9 is an exposition of the unexplained portion of the
vision of ch. 8 (see on ch.
9:3, 21–23), and inasmuch as the unexplained portion had to do with the 2300
days, it is logical to conclude that the 70 weeks, or 490 years, were to be
“cut off” from that longer period. Furthermore, in the absence of contrary
evidence, it may be assumed that the 70 weeks would be cut off from the
beginning of that period. Viewed in the light of these observations, the
translation of chathak as “to cut” seems
singularly appropriate. In so far as the 490 years were especially assigned to
the Jews with respect to their role as God’s chosen people, the translations
“determine” and “decree” are also appropriate to the
context.
Thy people. The 490 years applied especially to the
Jewish nation.
To finish. Heb. lekalle’
from the root kela’, “to restrain.”
The passage may have reference to the restraining power that God would exercise
upon the forces of evil during the period allotted to the Jews. However, some
40 Hebrew manuscripts read lekalleh, a form
clearly from kalah, “to bring a completion.”
If kalah is the root, then the passage
evidently refers to the fact that within this period the Jews would fill the
cup of their iniquity. God had suffered long with the Israelites. He had given
them many opportunities, but they continually disappointed Him (see pp. 32,
33).
To make an end of sins. This phrase
may be parallel in meaning to the one preceding it, “to finish the
transgression.” Some expositors note that the word here translated “sins” (Heb.
chaṭṭa’oth, orchaṭṭa’th, according to some
manuscripts and the Masoretes) may mean either “sins”
or “sin offerings.” Of the 290 occurrences in the OT chaṭṭa’th has the meaning “sin”
155 times, and “sin offering” 135 times. If “sin offerings” is the intended
meaning, the following interpretation is suggested: When Christ on Calvary
became the antitype of the sacrificial offerings of the sanctuary, it was no
longer necessary for the sinner to bring his sin offering (see John 1:29).
However, the plural form chaṭṭa’oth
almost invariably describes sins and only once, unless this be an exception
also, denotes sin offerings (Neh. 10:33).
To make reconciliation. Heb. kaphar, generally translated “to make atonement”
(see Ex. 30:10; Lev. 4:20; etc.). By His vicarious sacrifice on Calvary Christ
provided reconciliation for all who accept His sacrifice.
Everlasting righteousness. Christ did not
come to earth simply to provide for the blotting out of sin. He came to
reconcile man to God. He came so that it might be possible to impute and to
impart His righteousness to the penitent sinner. When men accept Him, He
bestows on them the robe of His righteousness, and they stand in God’s presence
as though they had never sinned (see SC 62). God loves repentant, believing
souls as He loves His only Son, and for Christ’s sake accepts them into His
family. By His life, death, and resurrection, Christ has made everlasting
righteousness available to every child of Adam who, in simple faith, is willing
to accept it.
To seal up. Here evidently not in the sense of “shutting
up,” but of “confirming,” or “ratifying.” The fulfillment of the predictions
connected with the first coming of the Messiah at the time specified in the
prophecy gives assurance that the other features of the prophecy, notably the
2300 prophetic days, will be as precisely fulfilled.
The most Holy. Heb. qodesh
qodashim, “something most holy,” or, “someone
most holy.” The Hebrew phrase is applied to the altar (Ex. 29:37;
40:10), other vessels and furniture pertaining to the tabernacle (Ex. 30:29),
the holy perfume (Ex. 30:36), specified meat offerings (Lev. 2:3, 10; 6:17;
10:12), trespass offerings (Lev. 7:1, 6), the shewbread (Lev. 24:5–9), devoted
things (Lev. 27:28), the holy district (Num. 18:10; Eze.
43:12), and the most holy place of the sanctuary (Ex. 26:33, 34). The phrase is
nowhere applied to persons, unless, as some suggest, it is so applied in the
text under consideration and in 1 Chron. 23:13. The latter text may be
translated, “Aaron was separated to anoint him a most holy one,” although it
may also be rendered as in the KJV. Jewish expositors and many Christian
commentators have held that the Messiah is referred to.
In view of the
fact that the Hebrew phrase cannot elsewhere be shown to refer definitely to a
person, and in view of the fact that the heavenly sanctuary is under discussion
in the larger aspects of the vision (see on Dan. 8:14), it is reasonable to
conclude that Daniel is here speaking of the anointing of the heavenly
sanctuary prior to the time of Christ’s inauguration as high priest.
25. Going forth
of the commandment. At the time this vision was given, Jerusalem and the Temple
were still in ruins. Heaven announces that a command will be issued to rebuild
and restore, and that from that date a definite number of years will reach to
the long-looked-for Messiah.
Three decrees
dealing with the repatriation of the Jews are recorded in the book of Ezra: the
first in the first year of Cyrus, about 537 (Ezra 1:1–4); the second in the
reign of Darius I, soon after 520 (Ezra 6:1–12); the third in the 7th year of
Artaxerxes, 458/457 b.c.
(Ezra 7:1–26). See further Vol. III, pp. 97–104.
In their
decrees neither Cyrus nor Darius made any genuine provision for the restoration
of the civil state as a complete unit, though a restoration of both the
religious and the civil government was promised in the prophecy of Daniel. The
decree of the 7th year of Artaxerxes was the first to give the Jewish state
full autonomy, subject to Persian overlordship.
One of the
double-dated papyri found at Elephantine, Egypt, a Jewish colony (see Vol. III,
pp. 103–107), was written in Artaxerxes’ accession year in January, 464 b.c. From
this, the only known document of that year, compared with other ancient
records, it can be deduced that by Jewish reckoning his “beginning of reign,”
or “accession year” (see Vol. II, pp. 138, 139), began after the Jewish New
Year of 465 b.c.
and ended at the next New Year in the fall of 464. Hence his “first year” (his
first full calendar year) would be from the fall of 464 to the fall of 463. The
7th year of Artaxerxes would then extend from the fall of 458 to the fall of
457. The specifications of the decree were not carried out until after Ezra
returned from Babylon, which was the late summer or early fall of 457 b.c. For a
discussion of Ezra 7 and the historical accuracy of the date 457 b.c. as the
7th year of Artaxerxes, see Vol. III, pp. 100–104. For a full discussion of the
subject see S. H. Horn and L. H. Wood, The Chronology of Ezra 7 (rev. ed.
1970).
Messiah. Heb. mashiach,
from the verb mashach, “to anoint.”
Hence, mashiach describes an “anointed one”
such as the high priest (Lev. 4:3, 5, 16), Israel’s kings (1 Sam. 24:6, 10; 2
Sam. 19:21), Cyrus (Isa. 45:1), etc. Theodotion’s
Greek version translates mashiach literally, christos, a word that comes
from the verb chriō, “to anoint,” and
hence means simply “an anointed one.” The title “Christ” is a transliteration
of Christos. In later Jewish history the term mashiach
was applied to the expected Deliverer who was to come (see John 1:41; 4:25,
26).
Daniel
predicted that the long-looked-for Prince Messiah would appear at a specified
time. To this time Jesus referred when He declared, “The time is fulfilled”
(Mark 1:15; DA 233). Jesus was anointed at the time of His baptism in the
autumn of a.d. 27 (see Luke
3:21, 22; Acts 10:38; cf. Luke 4:18).
Prince. See on ch. 11:22.
Seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks. The natural
method of calculating these weeks is to consider them consecutive, that is, the
62 weeks begin where the 7 weeks end. These divisions are components of the 70
weeks mentioned in v. 24 thus: 7+62+1=70. For the one week
see on v. 27.
Beginning with
the autumn of 457 b.c.,
when the decree went into effect, 69 prophetic weeks, or 483 years, reach to
the baptism of Jesus in 27 a.d.
It is to be noted that if the 483 years had been reckoned from the beginning of
457 b.c.,
they would have extended to the close of a.d. 26, for 483 years requires
457 full years b.c.
plus 26 full years a.d.
Since the period began many months after the beginning of 457, it would end as
many months after the end of a.d.
26, that is, in 27. This is due to the fact that historians (unlike astronomers)
never count a year zero (see Vol. I, p. 178). Some have been puzzled as to
how Christ could begin His work in a.d. 27 when the record says that
He was about 30 years of age when He started His public ministry (Luke 3:23).
This is due to the fact that when the Christian Era
was first computed, an error of about four years occurred. That Christ was not
born in a.d.
1, is evident from the fact that when He was born Herod the Great was still alive,
and Herod died in 4 b.c.
(see Matt. 2:13–20).
A number of
modern expositors place an entirely different interpretation upon these time
periods. The “messiah” is variously identified as Cyrus, Zerubbabel, or the
high priest Joshua (see Ezra 3:2; 3:1, 3; 6:11–13). The “commandment to restore
and to build” is regarded by some as that given through Jeremiah that Jerusalem
should be rebuilt (see Jer. 29:10). These expositors believe that this
“commandment” became effective in 586 b.c., the year of the destruction
of Jerusalem, and that the “seven weeks,” or 49 years, reach roughly to the
decree of Cyrus. Further, these expositors hold that the 62 weeks, or 434
years, were intended to reach to the Maccabean era. By the covenant of the 70th
week they understand Antiochus’ consorting with the renegade Jews. They
translate “midst of the week” (Dan. 9:27) as “half a week” (see on ch. 9:27) and apply the “half a week” to Antiochus’
sacrilege of the Temple from 168 to 165 b.c. (see 1 Macc. 1:54; 4:52,
53). Translators of this school of interpretation follow an alternate
punctuation in Dan. 9:25to suit this idea (see RSV; RV; ASV, margin).
As shown above,
only a distortion of the chronological figures enables these expositors to arrive
at the events they assume fulfill the prophetic requirements. When these
figures are applied to Christ, His ministry and death, and the gospel to the
Jews, perfect synchronism is achieved. See further on ch.
8:25.
Street. Heb. rechob, “a broad place.”
Shall be built. Some interpreters attach special import to
the period of “seven weeks,” or 49 years, as representing the time during which
the building of the street and wall would be completed. However, historical
information for this period is extremely meager. Little is known of the
condition of Jerusalem in the time from Artaxerxes to Alexander. What may be
gleaned from the Bible and from historical sources is fragmentary.
Wall. Heb. charuṣ,
used in the present sense only here in the OT. In Mishnaic Hebrew it
means “a trench.” In the Akkadian the word means “a city-moat.” “Wall” is the
reading of Theodotion’s Greek version and of the
Vulgate.
Troublous times. For a summary history of this period see Vol.
3, pp. 73–79.
26. After
threescore and two weeks. The cutting off of the Messiah would take
place, not within this period, but after its completion. This expression is not
intended to fix the exact time when the calamitous event of the death of the
Messiah would take place. That is done in v. 27, where the event is placed “in
the midst of the week.”
Cut off. According to
this prophetic statement, Messiah would not appear as the Jews expected, a glorious conqueror and emancipator. Instead, He
would meet a violent death; He would be “cut off.” On the term “cut off”
meaning death,see Gen. 9:11.
But not for himself. Literally, “and nothing to him.” The meaning of this phrase
is not clear. Many possible meanings have been suggested, such as “and shall
have nothing,” “he shall not be,” “and there was no helper to him.”
And the people. The marginal reading, “and they [the Jews]
shall be no more his people,” found in some Bibles, is unsupported by the
Hebrew.
The city and the sanctuary. An
obliteration of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem,
is here foretold. This was fulfilled by the Romans in a.d. 70. The Roman soldiers took
blazing firebrands and deliberately set them in the interior woodwork of the
Temple structure, with the result that it was soon utterly demolished. For “the
people of the prince that shall come” the LXX reads “the king of nations.”
With a flood. That is, in the sense of being overwhelming
(see Isa. 8:7, 8).
Desolations are
determined. The passage may literally be rendered, “unto the end [shall be]
war, a determination of ruins.”
27. He shall
confirm the covenant. The “he” here spoken of is the Messiah of the preceding verses.
Interpreting the verse thus makes the entire 70 weeks, or 490 years, of
prophecy a consistent, continuous unit. The statements made meet a unique
fulfillment in the time of the Messiah. The confirming of the covenant may be
considered to be the continuation of the Jewish nation as the chosen people of
God through the period named. On the other hand the “confirming” may be that of
the everlasting covenant (see on ch. 11:28).
For one week. This week, the
70th, began in a.d.
27 with the opening of Christ’s public ministry at the time of His baptism. It
extended beyond the crucifixion “in the midst of the week,” in the spring of a.d. 31, to
the rejection of the Jews as the covenant people in the autumn of a.d. 34 (490
years after 457 b.c.
is a.d.
34; see on v. 25 for the method of computation). The “vineyard” was then “let
out … unto other husbandmen” (Matt. 21:41; cf. Isa. 5:1–7; GC 328, 410). For
about 31/2 years the authorities in Jerusalem tolerated the preaching of the
apostles, but their spite was finally translated into decisive action in the
stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and the general persecution
that then broke upon the church. Until this time the apostles and other
Christian workers appear to have confined their efforts largely to the
immediate vicinity of Jerusalem (see Acts 1:8; 8:1).
Inasmuch as the
70 weeks, or 490 years, are part of the longer period of 2300 years, and
inasmuch as the first 490 years of the period extend to the autumn of a.d. 34, it is
possible to calculate the ending date of the 2300 years. Adding the remaining
1810 years of the 2300 years to a.d. 34 brings us to the autumn of 1844 as the time
when the heavenly sanctuary would be “cleansed” (see on ch.
8:14).
It is to be
noted, also, that the fulfillment of the predictions of the prophecy concerning
the 70 weeks was to “seal up the vision” (v. 24), that is, the vision of the
longer period of 2300 days (see on v. 21). The accurate fulfillment of events
foretold for the 70th week, having to do with the ministry and crucifixion of
our Lord, provides incontestable evidence of the certainty of events at the
close of the 2300 days.
In the midst. Heb. chaṣi,
a word meaning either “half” (Ex. 24:6; 25:10, 17; etc.) or “middle” (Ex. 27:5;
38:4; etc.), the particular meaning to be assigned in any instance being
determined by the context. A number of the more recent versions read
“half.” This translation is based on the assumption that the context is
speaking of Antiochus Epiphanes, who, for a period of about three years,
suspended the services of the Temple at Jerusalem. But Antiochus does not fit
into the prophetic chronology. He cannot be the subject of the present
prediction. As has already been shown, the prophetic periods reach to the time
of the Messiah, and the fulfillment must be found in His day.
The midst of
the week would be the Passover season of a.d. 31, 31/2 years after
Christ’s baptism in the autumn of a.d. 27. For evidence as to the length of Christ’s
public ministry, see on Matt. 4:12. For a discussion of “half” and “midst” see Problems
in Bible Translation, pp. 184–187.
To cease. The sacrifices met their anti-typical
fulfillment in the voluntary sacrifice of Christ. The rending of the Temple
veil by an unseen hand at the instant of Christ’s death was heaven’s
announcement that the sacrifices and oblations had lost their significance.
Overspreading. Literally, “wing.”
Here the desolater is poetically pictured as being carried along upon the wing
of abominations. This has reference in part at least to the horrors and
atrocities that were perpetrated upon the Jewish nation by the Romans in a.d. 70.
The consummation. That is, the end of that which was to come
upon the Jewish nation. Sad was the fate of those who rejected their hope of
salvation.
Desolate. Better,
“desolater.” The desolater himself would eventually be destroyed (see on Matt.
23:38).
ELLEN G. WHITE COMMENTS
1 PK 556
2 PK 554
3–9 PK 555
4–6 SL 46
5 SL 48
5–7 5T 636
15 GC 470
16 PK 555
16, 17 SL 48
17–19 PK 556
18 GC 470
18, 19 SL 47
19 4T 534
20 GC 470
21 SL 48
22, 23 GC 325
23 FE 87; PK
555; 5T 635
24 7T 149
24, 25 DA 233;
PK 698
24–27 GC 323,
326, 351
25 DA 31, 98,
579; GC 313, 327, 345, 347; PK 556
27 DA 233; GC
327; PK 699
End comments.
When the
Antichrist breaks the covenant, the mysterious Abomination of Desolation is
erected in the precincts of the Jewish Temple. The prophet Daniel wrote of it a
number of times, and Jesus confirmed that when it is put in its place it will
signal the beginning of the 1260-day period known as the Great Tribulation. Daniel refers several times
to this Abomination’s capacity to bring desolation. In the book of Revelation
it is called the Image of the Beast, and it has power to cause those that do
not worship it to be killed.
It could be some
sort of cybernetic representation of the Antichrist endowed with artificial
intelligence allowing it to speak and issue orders. The Antichrist’s government
demands its worship! However, those who willingly comply are condemned to the same fate awaiting
the diabolical Antichrist.
And forces shall be mustered by [the Antichrist], and they shall defile the
sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place
there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)
Therefore when you see the “abomination of desolation,” spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, standing in the holy place … then there will be great tribulation,
such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor
ever shall be. (Matthew 24:15,21)
[The Antichrist’s False Prophet] 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. 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 13:14-16)
[An angel said] 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.”
(Revelation 14:9-10)
See also Daniel 9:27.
Ron’s Commentary: The word sacrifices
in “taking away the daily sacrifices,”
is supplied. It is not in the original text. That is not my personal opinion.
All words in the Bible that are italicized are supplied. The taking away of the
daily refers to an act that removes the sovereignty of God and His law, more
specifically His law and the Sabbath commandment. By rebuilding the Temple and
sitting in that Temple as the sovereign god, removes the continuum sovereignty
of the true God Almighty. End comment.
After the covenant
is broken, the next three and a half years will see the world plunge into
unprecedented social chaos. This period of time is known in the Bible as the
“Great Tribulation.” The Antichrist becomes fully possessed by Satan, and his
government will persecute those who refuse to worship him.
Ron’s
Commentary: The three and one half years refers to the 42 month rule of the
antichrist after the covenant of God is broken by legislation of a National
Sunday Law. This 42 month (3 ½ year) timeframe occurs AFTER the wound is healed
(IN CONTEXT) of Revelation 13:1-5. Months in the Bible are reckoned as 30 days.
End comment.
An electronic
monetary system will be put in place, and everyone wishing to “buy and sell”
will be required to receive the “mark of the Beast.” This will be a
personalized account number somehow embedded, probably in the form of an
electronic chip, in people’s right hands or foreheads. This account number is
enigmatically linked to the number 666. God’s Word warns people not to receive
this mark.
Ron’s
Commentary: This embedded electronic chip will not OF ITSELF constitute the
Mark. When it is associated with distinguishing Sunday as the day of worship
and/or worship of the antichrist, THEN it becomes the Mark of the Beast. These
events may be concurrent or Lucifer/Satan may design matters so that the people
will be required to take the chip first without any such associations, which
will make it more tempting for them to use the chip to buy and sell after it is
associated with Sunday sacredness and worship of the antichrist beast power.
Lucifer/Satan is cunning! End comment.
Meanwhile, God
helps those Christians and others who resist the
Antichrist, and in their defense unleashes horrific pestilences and plagues on
the Antichrist and his followers. We are also told how two of God’s Endtime prophets will perform miracles and publicly defy
the Antichrist. These two are probably not alone in having these powers
available to them, as other believers could have comparable abilities.
Ron’s
Commentary: Actually, the judgments, pestilences and plagues will be blamed on
Christians and all who resist the antichrist. Ellen White says that miracles
will not be safe evidence or proof of truth because Satan and his agents will
be able to produce miracles as well. God’s saints will not be of the mind to
publicly defy the antichrist. End comment.
For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the
world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut
short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be
shortened. (Matthew 24:21-23 NIV)
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. (Revelation
13:16-18)
The woman [symbolizing the believers in Jesus] 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. … 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. (Revelation 12:14,17) But the people who know
their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32)
Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given
power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to
harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those
men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given
authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. And their torment
was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men
will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will
flee from them. (Revelation 9:3-6)
[An angel] will give power to two witnesses, and they will prophesy one
thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. … 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. 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. (Revelation 11:3, 5-6)
Ron’s Commentary:
Rev 11:1 And
there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of
God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Only the 144,000 enter the Temple of God, which they have entered by
faith--Early Writings, pp. 251, 255.
Rev 11:2 But the court which is
without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the
Gentiles: and
the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Those who are not spiritual Jerusalem are regarded as Gentiles, and they
tread under foot the holy people of God for forty-two
months or 3 ½ years.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto
my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and
threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4 These
are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of
the earth.
Rev 11:5 And
if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth
their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven,
that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn
them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they
will.
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have
finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit
shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 11:8 And
their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually
is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and
kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an
half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
Rev 11:10 And
they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and
shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that
dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an
half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their
feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice
from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in
a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Rev 11:13 And
the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city
fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the
God of heaven.
Rev 11:14 The
second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
Rev 11:15 And
the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:16 And
the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon
their faces, and worshipped God,
Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee
thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou
hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were
angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be
judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and
to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Rev 11:19 And
the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the
ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings,
and an earthquake, and great hail.
Here is the SDA Commentary on
Daniel 11:3-19, along with Ellen White’s references to this chapter. The 42
months of Revelation 11:2 was 1260 years (day for a
year) in the historic fulfillment. In the end-time fulfillment, this is the
same 3 ½ years the antichrist reigns in Revelation 13:1-5, AFTER the wound is
healed IN CONTEXT.
Some will protest that there is “TIME NO LONGER since 1844,” but that is
not what Ellen White meant by those words. She meant day for a year prophetic
time. Proof of this is the time periods of Daniel 12 which have never had their
fulfillment! This is an irrefutable fact!
Daniel 12 is end-time in context and has NEVER HERETOFORE been fulfilled.
Vance Ferrell made the quip that all
time is PROPHETIC TIME or day for a year time and that is foolish error. The
times enumerated in Daniel 12 were NEVERN DAY FOR A YEAR TIMES and they refer ONLY to the
end-time, as does the 42 months of Revelation 13:1-5 which occur AFTER the
healing of the wound IN CONTEXT.
3. I will give
power. The passage reads literally, “I will give unto my two
witnesses, and they shall prophesy,” that is, I will cause my two witnesses to
prophesy.
My two witnesses. A variety of interpretations of this symbol
have been proposed. The allusions of vs. 5, 6 have led some to identify
these witnesses as Elijah and Moses (see on vs. 5, 6), but the significance of
these “two witnesses” goes beyond this. In v. 4 they are identified as “two olive
trees” and “two candlesticks,” symbols drawn from Zech. 4:1–6, 11–14. There
they are said to represent “the two anointed ones, that
stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (v. 14). As the olive branches are
portrayed furnishing oil for the lamps of the sanctuary (v. 12), so from these
holy ones before the throne of God the Holy Spirit is imparted to men (see on
Zech. 4:6, 14; see COL 408; cf. TM 338). Inasmuch as the fullest expression
of the Holy Spirit to men is contained in the Scriptures of the OT and
the NT, they may be considered to be the two witnesses (see GC 267; cf. on
John 5:39). Concerning the Word of God the psalmist declares, “Thy word is a
lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”; “the entrance of thy words
giveth light” (Ps. 119:105, 130; cf. Prov. 6:23).
They shall
prophesy. In spite of the dominance of evil during the period of 1260
days (see on v. 2), the Spirit of God, especially as manifested in the Scriptures,
would nevertheless bear His witness to those men who would receive Him.
A thousand two hundred and threescore days. A period identical with the “forty and two months” of v. 2 (see
comment there).
Clothed in sackcloth. Wearing
sackcloth was a common sign of mourning (2 Sam. 3:31) and of penitence (Jonah
3:6, 8). Thus the Scriptures might be described as being in mourning at a time
when human traditions are in the ascendancy (see on Dan. 7:25).
4. The two
olive trees. See on v. 3.
The two candlesticks. Or “the two
lampstands” (see on ch. 1:12). See on ch.
11:3.
Standing before … God. See on Zech.
4:14; Rev 11:3.
5. Will hurt. That is,
wishes to hurt, or is minded to hurt.
Fire
proceedeth. This is reminiscent of Elijah’s judgment on the messengers of Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:10, 12). Ultimately, those who persist
in resisting the witness of the Holy Spirit will be destroyed in the lake of
fire (see Rev. 20:15).
Mouth. The singular form is doubtless used collectively
for “mouths.” Such a usage is common in Greek, as, for example, with “heart”
(Matt. 15:8; Mark 6:52), “face” (Matt. 15:8; Mark 6:52), “face” (Matt. 17:6;
Acts 7:45).
6. Power. Gr. exousia, “authority.” Exousia
occurs twice in this verse and in both instances is translated “power.”
Shut heaven. As in v. 5,
this appears also to be an allusion to Elijah, who predicted that there would
be no rain in Israel for “these years, but according to my word” (1 Kings
17:1), or, as Luke gives it, “three years and six months” (Luke 4:25; cf. James
5:17).
Waters … to blood. The allusions thus far regarding these
witnesses are reminiscing of Elijah (see the foregoing and on v. 5); this one
appears to point to Moses and the first plague upon Egypt (Ex. 7:19–21).
All plagues. Not only do
the witnesses have the power to call down on their enemies the same plague as
that which fell first on Egypt, but they have authority to call down any of the
plagues.
7. When they
shall have finished. That is, at the end of the 1260 days (see Rev. 11:3; see on
Dan. 7:25).
The beast. Gr. to thērion, “the wild beast.” Thus far John
has mentioned no “beast” (thērion; the
“four beasts” of ch. 4:6 are not really beasts; see
comment there). Yet the expression “the beast” seems to imply that the
reader will understand which beast this is. Two interpretations of this symbol
have been set forth.
Commentators
who hold that the expression “the beast” implies some previous identification,
since such identification is not to be found in the Revelation, find it in the
book of Daniel, where the beast par excellence is the fourth beast of Dan. 7.
Furthermore, they point out that that beast came up out of the sea, and the
present beast “ascendeth out of the bottomless pit [abussos],”
which in the OT has a definite association with the sea (see on Rev. 9:1).
According to this view the power symbolized by the fourth beast of Daniel, and
particularly its latter phase, would be the power that kills the two witnesses.
Other
commentators identify this beast as a power that would seek to destroy the
Scriptures (symbolized by the two witnesses) at the close of the 1260-day
period, in a.d. 1798 (see on
Dan. 7:25). Inasmuch as atheism was particularly popular in France at this
time, and the anti-religious spirit of the day naturally militated against the
use of and belief in Scripture, the First French Republic has been identified
as the beast of the present passage. Seventh-day Adventists have generally held
the latter view.
The bottomless pit. Gr. abussos
(see on ch. 9:1; cf. the foregoing on “the beast”).
With respect to France, the fact that the beast comes out of the bottomless pit
has been understood as indicating that the nation had no foundations—it was an atheistical power. A new form of satanic power manifested
itself (see GC 269).
Shall … kill them. That is, attempt to destroy the Word of God. For the manner in which France made war on religion see on v. 9.
8. Bodies. Textual
evidence is divided ( cf. p. 10) between this and the
reading “body.” However, the singular form would be used collectively as is
the term “mouth” in v. 5 (see comment there).
Shall lie. To leave a dead body unburied has ever been
considered a revolting indignity (cf. Ps. 79:2, 3). See on Rev. 11:9.
The great city. The fact that this city is said to be the one
“where also our Lord was crucified” would seem to identify it as Jerusalem, the
“holy city” of v. 2. However, many commentators have understood the expression
“where also our Lord was crucified” figuratively, as the names Sodom and Egypt
are doubtless to be understood. Hence they identify “the great city” as France,
which, toward the close of the 1260-year period, manifested the characteristics
symbolized by these expressions. Generally speaking, Seventh-day Adventists
hold this latter view.
Spiritually. Gr. pneumatikōs,
that is, not literally, but by a spiritual figure of speech (cf. Isa. 1:10).
Sodom. Sodom is
symbolic of moral degradation (Eze. 16:46–55). Such
was the condition of France during the Revolution.
Egypt. This country
was known for its denial of the existence of the true God and for its defiance
of the commands of God. Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his
voice …? I know not the Lord” (Ex. 5:2). These attitudes were characteristic of
the leaders of the Revolution in France.
Crucified. That is, in the person of His followers, many
of whom perished in the persecutions in France.
9. People and
kindreds. Other nations. These would observe the
war on the Bible in France.
Three days and an half. In harmony with the principle of prophetic interpretation, that a day stands for a year, “three days
and an half” would be equivalent to three years and a half. Seventh-day
Adventists, who generally understand the beast of v. 7 to represent the First
French Republic (1792 to 1804), especially in terms of its antireligious bias,
find this prophecy fulfilled during that brief period in French revolutionary
history when atheism was at its height. This period may be reckoned from
November 10, 1793, when a decree, issued in Paris, abolished religion, to June
17, 1797, when, it is held, the French government removed restrictions against
the practice of religion.
As is true of
certain other portions of the Apocalypse, this matter of “three days and an
half” has been the occasion for considerable difference of viewpoint on the
part of commentators. This is true not only because of certain problems in the
symbolism itself but also because of the difficulty in fixing upon certain
precise dates in the history of the hectic period of the French Revolution.
Fortunately, however, the exact location of this time period is not vital to an
over-all understanding of the great prophetic time periods of the Bible or to
an understanding of the main theme of the prophecy of which it is a part.
10. Dwell upon
the earth. See on ch. 3:10.
Make merry. Gr. euphrainō, “to rejoice,”
“to make merry.” Euphrainō is
translated “be merry” in Luke 12:19. Now relieved from the
torment, that is, the convicting testimony, of the two witnesses, the wicked
quiet their consciences by losing themselves in merriment.
Send gifts. A sign of
rejoicing see Esther 9:22).
Tormented. By the convicting power of
their prophecy (see v. 3). There are few greater tortures than that of a
guilty conscience. When truth and righteousness are constantly presented before
the willful sinner, they often become intolerable to him.
11. After three days and an half. That is, at
the end of the period during which the witnesses’ bodies lie unburied and
exposed to public view (see on v. 9).
Spirit of life. That is, a spirit that is life. The Greek
phrase here employed is used in the LXX to translate the Heb. ruach chayyim,
“breath of life” (Gen. 6:17; Gen. 7:15). The Hebrews virtually equated breath
with life. Consequently, to say that the breath of life entered into a man was
to say that he received life (see Gen. 2:7).
From God. God, the Giver of all life, raises His
faithful witnesses.
Stood upon their feet. Compare 2
Kings 13:21; Eze. 37:10.
Great fear
fell. A guilty conscience, which had tormented the wicked during the
time of the prophecy of the two witnesses (see on v. 10), once more asserts
itself. Those who had rejoiced over the death of the witnesses now stand aghast
as they behold the miracle of the resurrection of these witnesses.
12. Voice from
heaven. The speaker is not identified, but presumably he is God.
Come up hither. Not only are
the witnesses resurrected by God; they are bidden to enter heaven. Thus while
“their enemies” behold “them” they are completely vindicated from the outrages
they had suffered, and the truth of the prophecy they had faithfully proclaimed
for 1260 days is demonstrated to all. The voice of God Himself has welcomed
them to heaven, before the very eyes of those who had sought to destroy them.
This exaltation
of the witnesses has been understood as symbolizing the remarkable popularity
that the Scriptures have enjoyed since the early 19th century. Soon after the
French Revolution various national Bible societies were established.
Particularly notable among these were the British and Foreign Bible Society,
founded in 1804, and the American Bible Society, organized in 1816. These
societies, with others, have circulated Scripture portions in more than 1,500
languages. Thus in the last century and a half, the Bible, rather than being
relegated to oblivion as a spiritual guide, has come to enjoy its widest
circulation.
Ascended … in a
cloud. As Jesus bade His disciples farewell,
a cloud “received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). So also the two witnesses
are carried to heaven in a cloud. The figure fittingly describes the exaltation
of the Scriptures in the period following their suppression in France (see on
Rev. 11:9; cf. Dan. 4:22).
Enemies beheld
them. See the foregoing on “come up hither.”
13. Same hour. That is,
almost immediately after the ascension of the witnesses.
A great earthquake. The symbol of an earthquake is used
repeatedly in Scripture to portray the turmoil and upheaval that characterize
the world immediately preceding the second advent (see
Mark 13:8; Rev. 16:18). Applying the prophecy to France, commentators see in
the earthquake a picture of the upheaval that shook the nation toward the close
of the 18th century.
Tenth part. This is not the final earthquake, for only a
fraction of the city (see on vs. 2, 8) falls at this time (cf. ch. 16:18). This earthquake signifies a temporary judgment
that frightens into submission some of those who have gloried in the death of
the witnesses. Some apply the expression “tenth part of the city” to the entire
nation of France on the basis that France was one of the “ten kings” to arise
from the fallen Roman Empire (Dan. 7:24). Others identify the city as papal
Rome and France as one of its ten divisions.
Of men. Gr. onomata
anthrōpōn, literally, “names of men.”
Some take the word onomata, “names,” here in
the sense of “persons” (see on Acts 3:16). Others apply onomata
to titles, offices, or orders that were suppressed during the French
Revolution.
Seven thousand. Comparatively a small number of persons are
meant, but enough to bring survivors to recognize the sovereignty of God, whose
witnesses they had despised.
The God of heaven. This title occurs frequently in Daniel (see
Dan. 2:18, 19, 37, 44, cf. Ezra 5:11, 12; 6:9; 7:12).
14. The second
woe. That is, the judgments under the sixth trumpet, which ended in
1840 (see ch. 8:13; cf. ch.
9:12; see Additional Note on Chapter 9).
The third woe. That is, the events portrayed under the
seventh trumpet (vs. 15–19).
15. The seventh
angel. This marks the beginning of the third woe (see on v. 14) and
the end of the parenthesis between the sixth and seventh trumpets (chs.
10:1 to 11:14; see on ch. 11:1). Seventh-day
Adventists date its beginning as 1844 (see on v. 19).
Great voices. These were probably those of the heavenly
hosts (cf. ch. 5:11, 12). Similarly, in the seventh
plague, a great voice is heard from the temple in heaven (ch.
16:17).
Kingdoms. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the
reading “kingdom.” Christ receives the kingdom a short time prior to His return
to this earth (see on Dan. 7:14). At the time of His coming all earthly
opposition is crushed (see on Rev. 17:14).
His Christ. That is, His Anointed (see Ps. 2:2). The
hosts of heaven, who themselves have not received salvation through Christ,
refer to Him as “his [God’s] Christ,” probably because the title “Christ”
particularly refers to the second person of the Godhead in His function as the
One anointed for the work of redemption.
He shall reign for ever. See Dan. 2:44; 7:14, 27; Luke 1:33.
16. The four
and twenty elders. See on ch. 4.
Fell upon their
faces. Compare ch. 4:10.
17. Lord God
Almighty. See on ch. 1:8. A
particularly fitting title for God as victor.
Which art. See on ch. 1:4.
And wast. See on ch. 1:4.
And art to come. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the
omission of these words. They probably are omitted from the complete formula of
ch. 1:4 because here the focus of the elder’s praise
is on the past and present position of God rather than on the future.
Hast taken …
hast reigned. The tenses of the Greek may be rendered better, “hast taken …
didst reign,” that is, hast taken and didst begin to reign. The triumphant
reign begins with God’s asserting His omnipotence. God has ever been all
powerful, and the reign of sin has been only by His sufferance, that the true
nature of evil might be revealed to created beings. When that purpose has been
accomplished, then He takes His “great power” and once more reigns supreme. See
1 Cor. 15:24–28.
18. Nations
were angry. Compare Ps. 2:1. Such will be the condition of the nations prior to the coming of Christ. They will band
together to oppose the work and people of Christ (see on Rev. 13:12; 14:8).
Wrath. The wrath of God is summed up in the seven last
plagues (ch. 15:1). The work of opposition against
Christ is brought to a halt by these plagues.
Time. Gr. kairos,
a particular time with a definite purpose (see on ch.
1:3). This is a time of judgment, both of reward and of destruction.
That they should be judged. The mention of
both reward and destruction indicates that John is speaking of the final
judgment, which takes place after the millennium (ch.
20:12–15).
Reward unto thy
servants. See Matt. 5:12; 6:1; 1 Cor. 3:8; Rev. 22:12. Since the events enumerated
are sequential (see EW 36), the reward here spoken of is the inheritance of the
new earth at the close of the millennium.
Prophets. God’s special servants, who
speak forth for Him. This class has borne heavy responsibilities and has
often suffered most severely for their Lord.
Saints. Or, “holy ones.” The members of the body of Christ characterized by the purity of
their lives.
Them that fear. Gr. hoi phoboumenoi,
a term used in the Acts for those who, though not fully proselytes to Israel,
nevertheless worshiped the true God (see on Acts 10:2). If the same general
meaning is intended here, this third class to receive a reward in the judgment
may be understood as those who have not completely known Christ and His way,
but who have lived in the fullness of the light that has come to them. Because
they have feared the name of God, as He has been revealed to them, they too
receive a reward (see DA 638). On the other hand, the phrase hoi phoboumenoi may simply be in apposition with the word
translated “saints.” The passage would then read, “the
saints, even those fearing thy name.”
Small and great. Worldly status is meaningless in the final
judgment.
Destroy them
which destroy. The fate of the wicked, who have
destroyed the earth—physically, and also spiritually—is strikingly fitting.
They themselves are destroyed.
19. The temple. There is
opened before John a view of God’s heavenly temple, with “the ark of his
testament” the focal point of the vision. Now, in the typical sanctuary, which
was a “copy of the true one” (Heb. 9:24, RSV) in heaven, the ark was in the
most holy place, which was the center of the service of the Day of Atonement—a
typical day of judgment. It is in connection with the beginning of the seventh
trumpet that John sees the temple in heaven and very particularly “the ark
of his testament.” This indicates that the second and last division of Christ’s
heavenly ministry, answering to the typical Day of Atonement, has opened. Other
scriptures reveal that this final phase of Christ’s work began in 1844 (see on
Dan. 8:14). Accordingly, Seventh-day Adventists place the beginning of the
seventh trumpet in that year.
Ark of his testament. The ark in the
typical sanctuary was the depository of the Ten Commandments, God’s immutable
moral law for all men in all ages. No believer in God in Jewish times could
think of the ark without becoming immediately conscious of the Ten
Commandments. John’s vision of the ark above argues eloquently that in earth’s
last hours God’s great moral law is to be central in the thinking and in the
lives of all who seek to serve God in spirit and in truth (see on chs. 12:17; 14:12; cf. GC 433).
Lightnings, and voices, and thunderings. As under the seventh plague (ch. 16:18).
An earthquake. As under the seventh plague (ch. 16:18, 19, cf. on ch. 11:13).
Great hail. As under the seventh plague
(ch. 16:21).
ELLEN G. WHITE COMMENTS
1 TM 17; 7T 219
2–11 GC 266
3, 4 GC 267,
269
5, 7 GC 268
7 GC 273, 287
8 GC 269
10 GC 274
11, 12 GC 287
15 GC 301
18 EW 36; 6T 14
19 CW 30; EW 32,
42, 252; GC 415, 433; PP 356; SR 377, 379; IT 76; 2T 693; 6T 368
At some point,
probably near the end of the three-and-a-half-year Great Tribulation, the
Antichrist and ten “kings,” who join forces with him, will destroy the
mysterious “Babylon the Great,” in what sounds like a nuclear holocaust.
Scripture indicates that this Babylon is not the ancient city or empire by that
name, but rather the great worldwide, materialistic, capitalistic system,
epitomized by—but not limited to—the USA. According to the visions of the
prophet Daniel, the ten kings who join with the Antichrist emerge from the
ancient Roman Empire and thus could possibly be Europe.
And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of
blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.… And on her forehead a name was
written: ‘Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the
Abominations of the Earth.’ I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints
and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. (Revelation 17:3, 5-6)
The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as
yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are
of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. … These will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked,
eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Revelation 17:12-13,16)
Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine.
And she will be utterly burned with fire. … The kings of the earth who
committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for
her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of
her torment, saying, “Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!
For in one hour your judgment has come.” “And the merchants of the earth will
weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: … Alas,
alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on
the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.”
(Revelation 18:8-11,19)
See also Daniel 7:7–8,19–24.
Ron’s Commentary: It will be proven within the auspices of this document
and an accompanying video that Babylon the Great and the great harlot of
Scripture include four entities:
1.
Mystery Babylon of ancient lore.
2.
Apostate Judaism which embraced teachings of the Babylonian mysteries in
the Talmud. The apostate Jewish religion was pronounced a harlot by Christ.
Jews accuse Roman Catholicism of being the whore of Revelation 17, and the
Catholics accuse the Jews of the same. Both are correct! The Jews played the
harlot and so did Rome. But the Jews did it long before Roman Catholicism came
into existence! They are both world class spiritual whores and both are vying
for world control under a New World Order.
The Jews were regarded by God as worse than Babylon because they had access
to the truth. Ezekiel 5 says they were worse:
Eze 5:5
Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is
Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round
about her.
Eze 5:6 And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations,
and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have
refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
3.
The Vatican, who sits as a queen thinking she shall see no sorrow. Rev. 18.
4.
Apostate Seventh-day Adventism who sits as a queen thinking she shall see
no sorrow, The Great Controversy, p.
17. Since Ezekiel 9 is again literally fulfilled, the same epithets which
applied to apostate Jerusalem of old, apply to spiritual Jerusalem at the
end-time. Apostate Adventism was pronounced a harlot by Ellen G. White, in Testimonies, Vol. 8, p.
250.
"We must as a people arouse and cleanse the
camp of Israel. Licentiousness, unlawful intimacy, and unholy practices are
coming in among us in a large degree...We are in danger
of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of allowing our churches to become corrupted and
filled with every foul spirit, a cage for every unclean and hateful bird, and
will we be clear unless we make decided movements to cure the existing evil? E.
G. White, Manuscript Releases No. 449, pp. 17, 18. (Letter 51, 1886 to
Elder Butler) Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, p.
193.
Worse than Babylon -- "God's professed people
are selfish and self-caring....They are idolaters, and are worse, in the sight of God, than the heathen,
graven-image worshippers who have had no knowledge of a better way." Testimonies, Vol. 2,
440-442.
“Then
I was pointed back to the years 1843 and 1844. There was a spirit of
consecration then that there is not now. What has come over the professed
peculiar people of God? I saw the conformity to the world, the unwillingness to
suffer for the truth's sake. I saw a great lack of submission to the will of
God…
I saw that many who profess to believe the truth for these last days think it
strange that the children of Israel murmured as they journeyed; that after the
wonderful dealings of God with them, they should be so ungrateful as to forget
what He had done for them. Said the angel: "Ye have
done worse than they." Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 128,
129.
5.
The world at large destroyed as Babylon, The Great Controversy, p. 653-656.
The above entities are destroyed at different times. End comment.
At the end of
the Great Tribulation, Jesus will return. The sun and the moon will be
darkened, but then a bright light will be seen around the world, followed by
the sound of a mighty trumpet. Jesus will be seen by everyone as He appears in
the clouds of the sky surrounded by angels. Then He will
rescue His followers out of this world, and they will receive new immortal
bodies and be caught up from the Earth in what is called the
Rapture. Scripture is clear that this event occurs “immediately after the
Tribulation” and not before, as portrayed in recent popular novels and movies.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Matthew 24:29)
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!” (Revelation 11:15)
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.
(Revelation 14:14-16) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of
Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send
His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew
24:30-31)
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all [die], but we shall all be
changed—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 we shall be
changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the
Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
In Heaven a
celebration is then held called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. One of the
titles for Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” (John 1:29) and His bride is all those
who believe on Him. (Romans 7:4) The marital metaphor is used in the Bible to
describe the intimate spiritual unity between Christ and His people, and the
fervency of the loving union of heart, mind, and spirit that accompanies this
relationship.
During this Marriage
Supper, Jesus will unite with those He rescued in the Rapture, and His
followers throughout the ages, and at His Judgment
Seat He will reward them with eternal crowns of life.
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of
many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the
Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for
the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to
her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine
linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed
are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” (Revelation
19:6-9)
For the Son of Man [Jesus] will come in the glory of His
Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (Matthew 16:27)
When the Chief Shepherd [Jesus] appears, you will receive the crown of
glory that does not fade away. (1 Peter 5:4)
The devastating
plagues described in the Bible as the “wrath of God” will be poured upon the
world, at the same time that the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is being
celebrated, specifically targeting the Antichrist and his forces.
And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on
their faces and worshiped God, saying: … “The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come … and should destroy those who destroy
the earth.” (Revelation 11:16,18)
Out … came the seven angels having the seven plagues [and] seven golden
bowls full of the wrath of God. … The first went and poured out his bowl upon
the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of
the beast and those who worshiped his image. Then the second angel poured out his
bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living
creature in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the
rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then the fourth angel
poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with
fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of
God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him
glory.
Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and
his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of
the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their
sores, and did not repent of their deeds. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl
on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of
the kings from the east might be prepared. Then the seventh angel poured out
his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from
the throne, saying, “It is done!” (Revelation 15:6,
16:2-4,8-12,17)
On a plain in
northern Israel, the Antichrist will muster his armies for his final campaign
against the nations that still oppose him. At that time Jesus and His heavenly
army will return to earth to utterly destroy the Antichrist’s forces and
deliver those who opposed his tyranny. The Antichrist and his leading henchman,
the False Prophet, will both be cast alive into the Lake of Fire, a place of
punishment. Satan, who plagued humankind throughout history and possessed the
Antichrist, will be imprisoned in the “bottomless pit.”
The kings of the earth and of the whole world,
gather … to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. … to
the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (Revelation 16:14,16)
I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He
judges and makes war. … And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white
and clean, followed Him on white horses. … And He has on His robe and on His
thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19:11,14,16)
Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights
in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of
Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be
split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley. … Thus the Lord my
God will come, and all the saints. (Zechariah 14:3-5)
And I saw 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.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in
his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and
those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire
burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded
from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. (Revelation 19:19-21)
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that
serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound
him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him
up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till
the thousand years were finished. (Revelation 20:1-3)
The restoration
of the war-damaged Earth will then begin. Jesus will rule on Earth for 1,000
years, assisted by those who had been His followers in their earthly lives.
This time is commonly called the “Millennium” and will be a veritable golden
age compared to the world that preceded it. Peace and harmony will be largely
restored to the world and the enmity between animals—and between animals and
man—will be gone. There will be those who survive the cataclysms surrounding
Armageddon, people who neither followed the Antichrist nor believed in Jesus
Christ. These live on in a simpler and righteous world, where loving God and
others will be the governing rules.
Ron’s
Commentary: This is major error. The war-damaged earth is not restored until
AFTER the millennium. Christ does not set down on this earth at His second
coming. We are caught up in the air to meet Him and we go to heaven for the
1000 years, says Ellen G. White.
"Of the
vast population of the earth before the Flood, only eight souls believed and
obeyed God’s word through Noah. For a hundred and twenty years the preacher of
righteousness warned the world of the coming destruction, but his message was
rejected and despised. So it will be now. Before the Lawgiver shall come to
punish the disobedient, transgressors are warned to repent, and return to their
allegiance; but with the majority these warnings will be in vain. Says the
apostle Peter, “There shall come in the last days
scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of
His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as they were from the beginning.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4. Do we not
hear these very words repeated, not merely by the openly ungodly, but by many
who occupy the pulpits of our land? “There
is no cause for alarm,” they cry. “Before Christ shall come, all
the world is to be converted, and righteousness is to reign for a
thousand years. Peace, peace! all things continue as
they were from the beginning. Let none be disturbed by the exciting message of
these alarmists.” But this doctrine of the millennium does not harmonize with
the teachings of Christ and His apostles. Jesus asked the significant
question, “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Luke
18:8. And, as we have seen, He declares that the state of the world will be as
in the days of Noah. Paul warns us that we may look for wickedness to increase
as the end draws near: “The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils.” 1 Timothy 4:1. The apostle says
that “in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3:1. And he gives
a startling list of sins that will be found among those who have a form of
godliness." {PP 102.2}
End comment.
The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.
(Daniel 2:44) The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under
the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey
Him. (Daniel 7:27)
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to
them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to
Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image,
and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. … They
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand
years. (Revelation 20:4,6)
He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat
their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall
not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah
2:4)
The whole earth is at rest and quiet. (Isaiah 14:7) [The Lord] will even
make … rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor [Him]. (Isaiah
43:19-20) The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down
with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and
a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young
ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The
nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put
his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)
Ron’s Commentary: Ellen White on the
Millennium
“Taking the manner in which the prophecies had been fulfilled in the past, as
a criterion by which to judge of the fulfillment of those which were still
future, he
[MILLER] became satisfied that the popular view of the spiritual reign of
Christ—a temporal millennium before the end of the world—was not sustained by
the Word of God. This doctrine, pointing to a thousand years of righteousness
and peace before the personal coming of the Lord, put far off the terrors of
the day of God. But, pleasing though it may be, it
is contrary to the teachings of Christ and his apostles, who declared that the
wheat and the tares are to grow together until the harvest, the end of the
world; [Matthew 13:30, 38-41.] that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse;” [2 Timothy 3:13, 1.] that “in the last days perilous times shall come;”
[2 Timothy 3:13, 1.] and that the kingdom of darkness shall continue until the
advent of the Lord, and shall be consumed with the spirit of his mouth, and be
destroyed with the brightness of his coming. [2 Thessalonians 2:8.]
The doctrine of the world’s
conversion and the spiritual reign of Christ was not
held by the apostolic church. It was not
generally accepted by Christians until about the beginning of the eighteenth
century. Like every other error, its results were evil. It taught men to
look far in the future for the coming of the Lord, and prevented them from
giving heed to the signs heralding his approach. It induced a feeling of
confidence and security that was not well founded, and led many to neglect the
preparation necessary in order to meet their Lord.{GC88
321.1}
Miller found the literal, personal coming of Christ to be plainly taught in
the Scriptures. Says Paul, “The Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God.” [1 Thessalonians 4:16.] And the Saviour declares: “They shall
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
[Matthew 24:30, 27.] He is to be accompanied by all the hosts of Heaven. “The
Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him.” “And he
shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather
together his elect.” [Matthew 25:31; 24:31.] {GC88
321.2}
At his coming the righteous dead will be raised, and the righteous living
will be changed. “We shall not all sleep,” says Paul, “but we shall all be
changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality.” [1 Corinthians 15:51-53.] And in his letter to the
Thessalonians, after describing the coming of the Lord, he says: “The dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” [1 Thessalonians
4:16, 17.]{GC88
322.1}
Not until the personal advent of Christ can his people receive the kingdom.
The Saviour said: “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the
holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and
before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; and he shall set the
sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say
unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” [Matthew 25:31-34.]
We have seen by the scriptures just given that when the Son of man comes,
the dead are raised incorruptible, and the living are
changed. By this great change they are prepared to receive the kingdom; for
Paul says, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth
corruption inherit incorruption.” [1 Corinthians 15:50.] Man in his present
state is mortal, corruptible; but the kingdom of God will be incorruptible,
enduring forever. Therefore man in his present state cannot enter into the
kingdom of God. But when Jesus comes, he confers immortality upon his people;
and then he calls them to inherit the kingdom, of which they have hitherto been
only heirs. {GC88 322.2}
These and other scriptures clearly
proved to Miller’s mind, that the events which were generally expected to take
place before the coming of Christ, such as the
universal reign of peace, and the setting up of the kingdom of God upon the
earth, were to be subsequent to the second advent. Furthermore, all the signs of the times and the
condition of the world corresponded to the prophetic description of the last
days. He was forced to the conclusion, from the study of Scripture alone, that
the period allotted for the continuance of the earth in its present state was
about to close.”{GC88 323.1}
Ron’s Further Commentary on the Millennium: Freemasons and Evangelicals
teach the great error that Christ will begin His kingdom on earth reign when He
comes the second time. That great error paves the way for Lucifer/Satan, as it
is he who will touch down on this earth and declare peace for a thousand years.
That is a lie. End comment.
At the end of
the Millennium, Satan will be released from the bottomless pit. He will recruit
followers, and form a rebellion against Jesus and His government. Although it
seems inconceivable, apparently he will find plenty of followers who rebel
against the conditions of Jesus’ benign but firm rule in the Millennium.
That rebellion
will be obliterated, along with the entire surface of the Earth in the Battle
of Gog and Magog. Then a beautiful new and significantly changed surface will
be recreated on the Earth.
Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his
prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of
the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as
the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded
the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of
heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20:7-9)
The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned
up. … The heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt
with fervent heat. (2 Peter 3:10,12) Then the sky
receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was
moved out of its place. (Revelation 6:14)
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. [Revelation 21:1 (see also 2
Peter 3:13)]
Ron’s Commentary: Ellen White says that Lucifer/Satan will be confined to
this earth during the millennium and that he will witness the scenes of
destruction he has caused during that time. How do we know Ellen White was
correct? It can be proven from the Bible that Ellen White’s position is
irrefutably correct. Here is how and why: John the Revelator sees a Temple in
heaven. Philadelphians are told that they will be made pillars [leaders] in
that Temple. Ellen White said that only the 144,000 enter that Temple. But John
sees NO TEMPLE in the new earth! This is one of the important details that
Lucifer/Satan and his agents have not noticed! Here is the Bible description of
the new heaven and new earth, and THERE IS NO TEMPLE THERE PER VERSE 22. So
Ellen White was right again! Amazing!
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and
a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and
there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice
out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will
dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with
them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away.
Rev 21:5 And
he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said
unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And
he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I
will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life
freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall
inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But
the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.
Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one
of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues,
and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's
wife.
Rev 21:10 And
he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me
that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God:
and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone,
clear as crystal;
Rev 21:12 And
had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve
angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of
the children of Israel:
Rev 21:13 On
the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and
on the west three gates.
Rev 21:14 And
the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Rev 21:15 And
he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates
thereof, and the wall thereof.
Rev 21:16 And
the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he
measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the
breadth and the height of it are equal.
Rev 21:17 And
he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according
to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Rev 21:18 And
the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like
unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And
the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of
precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the
third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the
sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite;
the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus;
the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And
the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and
the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God
Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And
the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the
glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And
the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the
kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour
into it.
Rev 21:25 And
the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night
there.
Rev 21:26 And
they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations
into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any
thing that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh
After this, all
people from the beginning of time who had not known or believed in Jesus will be
resurrected, and will stand before God’s throne to be judged. They will be
either rewarded or punished according to their works, and assigned to their
places in the hereafter. And Satan will be cast into “the lake of fire.”
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
(Revelation 20:11) He who sat on the throne said, “I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 21:5-6)
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were
opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead
were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the
books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered
up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his
works. (Revelation 20:12-13)
All the nations will be gathered before Him. … Then the King will say to
those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world. … Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My
brethren, you did it to Me.” … Then He will also say to those on the left hand,
“Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil
and his angels. … Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one
of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” And
these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal
life. (Matthew 25:32,34,40-41,45-46)
The Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and
night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10) And anyone not found written in the
Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14-15)
God’s great
pyramid-shaped heavenly city, the dimensions of which are an astronomical 2,200
kilometers square at the base and 2,200 kilometers high at the apex, will then
descend to the recreated surface of the Earth. God and Jesus will dwell in that
city with those who love and serve Them!
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice
from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will
dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them
and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there
shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain,
for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said,
“Behold, I make all things new.” … I will give of the fountain of the water of
life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and
I will be his God and he shall be My son.
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven
last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the
bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and
high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out
of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious
stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high
wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on
them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three
gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and
three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and
on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates,
and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its
breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its
length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred
and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like
clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all
kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire,
the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve
pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was
pure gold, like transparent glass.
But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the
moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its
light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the
kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be
shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the
glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter
it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who
are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street,
and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve
fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse,
but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall
serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the
Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation
21:1-7,9-27, 22:5)
And that is the happy ending. Although there are
certainly frightening things looming in the near future, we can take heart that
God is in control and that after the dark night there is a beautiful and
eternal tomorrow waiting. All of these things will come to pass, and you can be
prepared in the best way possible for all these events by asking Jesus into
your life and heart now. He will answer your call and you will be blest with
everlasting life and happiness now and in the future. Eternal life in the
heavenly conditions of the new Earth and Heavenly City are yours for the asking
by simply praying this prayer or one like it in your own words: Dear Jesus, I
ask You to come into my heart. Please forgive me for
all the wrongs I’ve done, and give me Your gift of
everlasting life. Help me to love You, and help me to
share Your love and truth with others. Amen.
Ron’s Commentary:
Story of Redemption Chapter 63—The
Millennium
My attention was again directed to the earth. The wicked
had been destroyed, and their dead bodies were lying on its surface. The wrath
of God in the seven last plagues had been visited upon the inhabitants of the
earth, causing them to gnaw their tongues from pain and to curse God. The false
shepherds had been the signal objects of Jehovah’s wrath. Their eyes had
consumed away in their holes, and their tongues in their mouths, while they
stood upon their feet. After the saints had been delivered by the voice of God,
the wicked multitude turned their rage upon one another. The earth seemed to be
deluged with blood, and dead bodies were from one end of it to the other.{SR 415.1}
The earth looked like a desolate wilderness. Cities and
villages, shaken down by the earthquake, lay in heaps. Mountains had been moved
out of their places, leaving large caverns. Ragged rocks, thrown out by the
sea, or torn out of the earth itself, were scattered all over its surface.
Large trees had been uprooted and were strewn over the land. Here is to be the
home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Here he will be
confined, to wander up and down over the broken surface of the earth and see
the effects of his rebellion against God’s law. For a thousand years he can
enjoy the fruit of the curse which he has caused.{SR
415.2}
Limited alone to the earth, he will not have the
privilege of ranging to other planets, to tempt and annoy those who have not
fallen. During this time Satan suffers extremely. Since his fall his evil
traits have been in constant exercise. But he is then to be deprived of his
power and left to reflect upon the part which he has acted since his fall, and
to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future, when he must
suffer for all the evil that he has done and be punished for all the sins that
he has caused to be committed.{SR 416.1}
I heard shouts of triumph from the angels and from the
redeemed saints which sounded like ten thousand musical instruments, because
they were to be no more annoyed and tempted by Satan and because the
inhabitants of other worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations.{SR 416.2}
Then I saw thrones, and Jesus and the redeemed saints sat
upon them; and the saints reigned as kings and priests unto God. Christ, in
union with His people, judged the wicked dead, comparing their acts with the
Statute Book, the Word of God, and deciding every case according to the deeds
done in the body. Then they meted out to the wicked the portion which they must
suffer, according to their works; and it was written against their names in the
book of death. Satan also and his angels were judged by Jesus and the saints.
Satan’s punishment was to be far greater than that of those whom he had
deceived. His suffering would so far exceed theirs as to bear no comparison
with it. After all those whom he had deceived had perished, Satan was still to
live and suffer on much longer.{SR 416.3}
After the judgment of the wicked dead had been finished,
at the end of the one thousand years, Jesus left the city, and the saints and a
train of the angelic host followed Him. Jesus descended upon a great mountain,
which, as soon as His feet touched it, parted asunder and became a mighty
plain. Then we looked up and saw the great and beautiful city, with twelve
foundations and twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate. We
cried out, “The city! the great city! It is coming
down from God out of heaven!” And it came down in all its splendor and dazzling
glory, and settled in the mighty plain which Jesus had prepared for it. 418 {SR
416.4}
End of Article
Addendum by Ron
A Jewish friend of mine sent me the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L4UvkoSqR8
The minister speaking on this YouTube Video is also
Jewish. His name is Ted Pike. Recall that Albert Pike of Freemason fame was also
a Jew. It is amazing that with all Ted’s knowledge of apostate Jewry, he is
still duped by their belief that there will be a millennium of peace on this
earth at the second coming of Christ. It is interesting to be shown right from
the Talmud that antichrist, antiGentile Jews claim
they are going to destroy not just Christians, but all Gentiles from the face
of the earth. They reason that we are animals and thus without a soul. Then
these same Jews wonder why there is anti-Semitism in the world. I am not
anti-Semitic. I just feel sorry for them, and utter in their behalf the prayer
of Christ on the Cross: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Their god, Lucifer/Satan, is anti all of God’s creation, including the Zionist
Jews he has deceived. All these are going to perish in a lake of fire. They
have sold their souls for a mess of pottage--the love of money and power in
exchange for eternal life. The being they worship is a murderer even of them,
so they and their god finally reap what they dish out to their enemies. The
video also shows how the Talmud says that all who believe in more than ONE
PERSON to the Godhead will be killed. That, of course, does away with the
Incarnation and sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. Lucifer/Satan wants all the
worship of all his subjects.
~rwb
Mishnah The Mishnah, translated by Herbert Danby, London, 1954; also the Mishnah section of the Talmud as published in The Babylonian Talmud, Soncino, ed. (London, 1948-1952)
LXX Septuagint. A. Rahlfs, editor, Septuaginta (2 vols.; Stuttgart, 1935)
b.c. Before Christ
a.d. Anno domini
cf. confer, “compare”
RSV The Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version (New York, 1952)
ASV The Holy Bible. The Standard American Edition of the Revised Version of the Bible (New York,1901)
[1]Nichol, Francis D.: The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 4. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978; 2002, S. 851
Gr. Greek
a.d. Anno domini
LXX Septuagint. A. Rahlfs, editor, Septuaginta (2 vols.; Stuttgart, 1935)
chs. chapters
RSV The Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version (New York, 1952)
[2]Nichol, Francis D.: The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978; 2002, S. 801