SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 243AOctober 2, 2005
Armageddon – Not in the Far Distant Future – Part 10
An Exposition of Revelation 16:13 to 18:24
Revevelation 17:18 – And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Revelation 18:24 – And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
You might consider taking a look back at Part 8 in this series to get a better idea of how much martyr’s blood has been shed in the past by the Roman Catholic faith. But since I am more concerned about the blood of the martyrs that will be shed in the tribulation period, I will use 18:24 as a springboard for what is coming, rather than what is past.
Other Believers will die in Tribulation before Trump 7!
Billions of dollars have been poured into the coffers of those who advocate the post-1740 rapture teaching that all the saved will be whisked up to heaven before seven years of tribulation begin on this planet. I don’t believe God waited until the great evangelical movement, which began in the 1730’s, to have a first-of-the-week position taught. I have personally searched for any evidence of the position prior to 1740, and have found none. But I surely do not ask you to believe what I teach based on historical research. Please take a look in our Prophecy Update Archives for a historical and biblical exposition of the rapture question. You will find it in Archive Updates 73D, 74A, 76, 78A, 82A, 114A, 123B, 144A, 144f, 147D, 166C & 233A. Check it out for yourself!
The recent “left behind” series made millions in book sales, and filled the pockets of those who wrote them, as well as those who ghost wrote or published them. If the first-of-the-week position is incorrect, then millions are going to be in shell shock when all hell breaks loose and they find themselves still living as occupants of surface earth. How much confidence will they then have in the many other things writers taught them as being true?
I encourage you to go to the link which follows to get a truthful description of the “left behind” series.
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/BookReviews/left.htm
I am convinced that some of God’s children are going to die in the tribulation period, yet most are convinced they will not be here doing any part of it, and do not want to hear anything contrary to that belief.
Remembering that Revelation Chapters 12 through 14 are classed as parenthetical chapters, I believe the sequence which follows is a reasonable chronological arrangement of the last three and one-half years prior to the Second Advent that ends Armageddon.
War, Pestilence & Famine Ravage a 4th Part of Earth!
Revelation 6:8 – And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (Archive Updates 145E to 146C)
Angelic War Breaks Out in Heaven – Michael vs. Devil!
Revelation 12:7 –And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (Archive Birth Pang 39 & Prophecy Update 138C)
The Devil is cast Out of the Heavens onto the Earth!
Revelation 12:12 – Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but A SHORT TIME. (Archive Birth Pang 40)
Revelation 6:9-11 – Souls in Heaven are Anxious for the Rapture to Occur! (Archive Updates 146A to 146C)
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for A LITTLE SEASON, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that SHOULD be killed AS they were, should be fulfilled.
Little Season Begins on Earth – Some Saved are Killed!
Revelation 6:12,13 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Archive Prophecy Update 146C)
Israel Driven into Negev for Little Season of 3 ½ Years!
Revelation 12:13,14 – And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Archive Birth Pang 41 & Prophecy Update 138C)
One Third of Men Die in Volcanic-Earthquake Chaos!
Revelation 9:18 – By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (Archive Updates 180B, 182B, 183A, & 186A)
Satan Makes War with Negev Remnant of Jesus (seed)!
Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Archive Birth Pang 43 & Prophecy Update 140B)
Believers Killed for Not Worshipping the Beast Image!
Revelation 13:15 – And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Archive Prophecy Update 88)
Martyrs Rewarded for not affiliating with the Beast!
Revelation 20:4 – And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
II Timothy 2:11,12 – It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (Deny some saved the right to reign)
Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
II Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
I Peter 4:12-14 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory IN THE CHURCH by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Revelation 22:16,17 – I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things IN THE CHURCHES. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. [17] And the Spirit and THE BRIDE say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take THE WATER OF LIFE freely.
Ephesians 5:26,27 – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, [27] That he might present it to himself a GLORIOUS CHURCH, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Revelation 22:12,14 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.