| The Royal Marriages, Summary continued Rev. 9:1-12 Fifth Trumpet: demonic locust-spirits from the Abyss, ruled over by the angelic King of the Abyss, are released by "a star having fallen from heaven." They torment all men (except the 144,000 sealed by God) for five months. The fallen star is probably Satan or one of his angels; 12:4, 9. Rev. 13:1-4; 17:8. The Beast who "ascend[s] out of the Abyss" at this time is Azazel, the King of the Abyss, primary leader of the rebellious angels of the pre-Flood era. During the Flood, God imprisoned these angels in the Abyss. 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Gen. 6:2-4; Enoch 7-15 Satan the dragon "gives authority to the [newly-arisen] Beast" to rule over Satan's vast worldly domains. During the Exodus, the fifth rebellion of the Israelites took place after an "evil report" about the land of Canaan was brought back by 10 of the 12 Israelite spies Moses had sent out. These spies were deathly afraid of the Nephilim ("giants") they saw, cursed offspring of fallen angels and human women. Num. 13; Gen. 6:2-4 2nd yr., 5th mo., 9th day. The spirits of dead Nephilim may well be Rev. 9's locusts. Cf. Enoch 15:10. Revelation 9:13-21 Sixth Trumpet: a great eastern army "slay[s] the third part of men." This was foreshadowed by the utter rout of an army of Israelites by the Canaanites and Amalekites to their east. Num. 14:39f. 2nd yr., 5th mo., 10th or 11th day. Rev. 10 The Little Book An angel from heaven gives a little book of prophecy to John, who "must prophesy again." The angel declares that "in the days of...the seventh angel['s trumpet]...the mystery of God [will] be finished, as he declared to his servants the prophets." This passage, I believe, refers to the time when God "will cause the prophets to depart" (Zech. 13:2f.); because the gift of prophecy has been given solely to prepare mankind for the Millennial Kingdom. (During it, there will be no need of prophecy.) Prophetic inspiration will probably cease with the death of the Two Witnesses; see below. However, God's previously-hidden written prophecies are yet to be revealed, apparently by the Apostle John himself. "In that day, the deaf shall hear the words of the book...that is sealed..." Is. 29 :18, 11 These things were cryptically foreshadowed when Mordecai revealed a conspiracy against the king. This act was written in a book, but not read aloud until the very night before Mordecai (= the 144,000) was exalted in the kingdom. Esth. 2:19f.; 6 - 8:1f. Rev. 11:7-13 Sixth Trumpet, conclusion: When the Two Witnesses "finish their [1260-day] testimony, the Beast that ascends out of the Abyss will make war against them...and kill them." They will lie dead 31/2 days, and then be resurrected by God and ascend into heaven. An earthquake will follow. This 1260-day ministry was foreshadowed during the Exodus by the prophetic ministry of Moses and Aaron. It began two years before the Exodus, and culminated nearly or exactly 11/2 years after the Exodus, i.e., after 31/2 times/1260 days. Korah's rebellion then took place against Moses and Aaron (or at least, so the biblical text implies).2 An earthquake followed. Within 31/2 days, the Lord had validated their leadership. Num. 16-17, Jasher 80:1 At this point, the foreshadowing role of the Exodus era ceased for many decades. But that itself is symbolized by the fact that both the Bible and the Book of Jasher are essentially silent about Exodus-era events from its mid-2nd up to its 40th year. Rev. 13:5-18 The Beast has already ascended from the Abyss, and has killed the Two Witnesses. At some unspecified time "he is given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies." The Mouth of the Beast (with "eyes like the eyes of a man," Dan. 7:8 � i.e., he is either human or a Nephil) is "given authority to act for 42 months [= 1260 days]. ... It [is] granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them," and to have authority over every nation. See also Dan. 7:24-25. The Mouth of the Beast is not the Beast. The latter, a fallen angel, both preceded and will outlast his mouth(-piece), who will only have authority over the world for 31/2 times = 1260 days. The Mouth's reign was foreshadowed by that of Haman the Agagite (Amalekite) during the days of Esther and Mordecai. Haman received ruling authority well after Esther's (= the Church's) marriage and Mordecai's (= the 144,000's) limited empowerment; Like the Mouth of the Beast, Haman sought to destroy the people of God. Es. 3 Rev. 14:1-5 The 144,000, redeemed, appear on Mount Zion with Christ: they are "the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." At this time the 144,000 receive the fullness of their exaltation in the Messianic Kingdom. This event was foreshadowed by the exaltation of Mordecai to become the chief minister of the great king. Esth. 8:1f. Rev. 14:6-13 "The everlasting gospel" is preached "to every nation," and people are warned to turn away from worshipping the Beast. After Mordecai was exalted, he sent a message throughout the whole kingdom proclaiming the right of the Jews to their faith. Because of it, "many of the people of the land became Jews," and others turned away from the persecution of God's people that had been encouraged by Haman. Esth. 8:3f. Rev. 14:14-16 "[T]he harvest of the earth...is reaped" by the Son of Man. 14:17-20 Next, "the vine of the earth is sickled, and the grapes crushed in "the great winepress of the wrath of God...outside the city." These events were foreshadowed when the Jews (i.e., the people of God) and their allies rose up and defeated their adversaries throughout the kingdom; then, the day following, did the same only in the royal city. Time: about 9 months after Mordecai's exaltation. The vine is symbolic of the Israelites, and specifically of Judah. Is. 5:7 Therefore, the city of Rev. 14:20 is probably Jerusalem. Rev. 11:15-19 Seventh Trumpet: (= Third Woe): "[T]he kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ." The Seventh Trumpet covers the 31/2 times of the Mouth of the Beast's depredations, and Israel's subsequent great battle victories of Rev. 14:14-20 = Micah 5:7-15 and Daniel 7:24b-27. Rev. 11:15-18's triumphant rejoicing about the establishment of the reign of the Lord over the world � but not yet over the Beast and the False Prophet � was foreshadowed by the great celebrations of Mordecai and the Jews after their victories over their enemies throughout all the provinces. Esth. 9:17f. In another manner, this period of the exaltation and establishment of the Lamb and the 144,000 to unquestioned Kingdom authority was foreshadowed during the Exodus by the budding of Aaron's rod. That event concluded all debate about who was in authority over Israel in that era. Num. 17 Rev. 11:19 speaks of "the temple of God [being] opened in heaven, and the ark of his covenant [being] seen in his temple." Aaron's rod budded while in the earthly Tabernacle of God, before the earthly Ark of the Covenant, and was returned there. [At this point, the foreshadowing role of the Exodus ceased for over three decades. But that itself is symbolized by the fact that both the Bible and the Book of Jasher are essentially silent about Exodus-era events from its mid-2nd up to its 40th years. The same holds true for the Persian era: after the final event of the Book of Jasher, biblical history falls silent for nearly three decades.] Continue Previous page Return to Index Return to Index page 2 |