Category Archives: Heaven

August 6, 2023 · 10:00

Coming Quickly

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7)

Have you ever imagined traveling in a time machine and going backward or forward in time to witness what happened in the past, or to see what would happen in the future? I am sure many people have, and several science fiction movies have attempted to portray what that might be like.

Jesus granted John the privilege of actually traveling into the future to record the events that would take place at “the end of days.” Much of what John witnessed seems unpleasant, but the end result climaxes in a completely remade planet and universe – a New Heaven and a New Earth.[1] John then sees an indescribable city descending from heaven to the New Earth with space enough to accommodate the billions of God’s children throughout the ages. The city is the New Jerusalem where God will dwell among His people.

What John witnessed defies any hitherto known reality. John could hardly believe his eyes. It was incredible! It was unbelievable! And when we read John’s attempt at describing it, our mind’s eye cannot visualize it, so we may be tempted to brush it off as fantasy. In anticipation of such an occurrence, his angel tour guide reassures John and encourages him to believe what he sees. “And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done” (Revelation 22:6, emphasis mine). It may be too much for our feeble minds to take in, but the guarantee comes directly from God, and we can rest assured that it will all come true because He is faithful to keep His promises.

Then, from some unspecified source, we hear the words of Jesus. “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7, emphasis mine). The Greek word translated as “quickly” is tachu from which we get our English word “tachometer.” Since Jesus said this almost 2000 years ago, it makes us wonder, “What is His definition of quickly?” It also gives fodder to the skeptics of whom the Apostle Peter warned. “Knowing this first, that 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 of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4, emphasis mine). Peter also reminded us that God’s timing is not like ours. “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8, emphasis mine). Peter is not providing a formula by which we can calculate God’s timetable. Rather, he applies simile (“as”) to emphasize that God’s measure of time does not correlate to ours. God is infinite. He is “timeless.” He is not bound by time. His attribute of omnipresence – being everywhere present at all times – also applies to our understanding of time. He exists in the past, present, and future simultaneously, which explains why He can tell the end from the beginning.[2] Considering the word “tachu” with the application of a tachometer, which measures the revolutions per minute (RPM) of an internal combustion engine; the faster the engine turns, the higher the RPMs the tachometer reads. In the same way, as we begin to see the things described in Revelation, they will rapidly increase in number and intensity the nearer we get to execution time. Even now, we see the rapid decline in morality and what used to be the “social norm.” The plans of the globalists – the “One-Worlders” – are being implemented worldwide at this moment. It is happing “quickly,” and this is probably what Jesus meant by the word “tachu.”

Many “Christians” today pay little attention to the Book of Revelation for a variety of reasons; however, Jesus says, “blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Sadly, far too many pastors avoid teaching it because they fear that it breeds controversy and contentions. Fear is not of God; it is of Satan whose silencing the Word of God is part of his strategy. If taught rightly, there should be no controversy and those who object are the ones that need to hear it the most. Other pastors will not teach it because they do not understand it themselves. There is only one remedy for that. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Still, others think it might incite fear in people for the things that are about to come. Good! If they are lost, fear might be the incentive they need to get saved. If the pre-millennial, pre-tribulational view is taught, Christians have the hope of the Rapture and a greater incentive to share the Gospel with friends and family. The study, preaching, and teaching of this book is a blessing, says Jesus.

“And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 22:8-10, emphasis mine). John is so overwhelmed by all that he has seen – the Rapture he experienced, the Great Tribulation, the Millennial Kingdom, the Great White Throne Judgment, the New Heaven, New Earth, and the New Jerusalem – that he falls at the feet of the angel and worships him. Note that the angel refuses the worship and directs the worship to God who alone is worthy of worship. The angel instructs John not to seal up the prophecy, “for the time is at hand.” The Prophet Daniel wanted to understand the prophecies of the end-times given to him, and he was given much different instructions. Daniel says, “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8-9, emphasis mine). Daniel was not given the insight to understand the end-times. However, in the end, “the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10). Revelation is NOT sealed, and it is written for “the wise” to understand, and now, more than ever, “the time is at hand” for the wise to understand.

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11). At this point in the Revelation, all accounts have been settled. Those that are unjust and filthy have been condemned to the lake of fire for all eternity, and they will continue eternally in the same state in which they were found guilty. The righteous and the holy (by the righteousness imputed on them by Christ) will continue in that same state for eternity.

For those of us living today, Jesus once again speaks. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:12-13, emphasis mine). We see again the Greek word “tachu,” indicating that things are quickly winding up. Jesus comes with His reward in hand to give every person according to their works. For the unrepentant, unbelieving Christ-rejectors, their reward is the lake of fire. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). For those who place their trust in Christ, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus claims authority as the great “I AM.”[3] “I AM Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” He is the timeless, everlasting God!

“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. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:14-15, emphasis mine). This is meant for us today. This is not future; it is now. “Blessed are they that do his commandments.” Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). What are those commandments? “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1, emphasis mine). “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31, emphasis mine). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12, emphasis mine). “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39, emphasis mine). Those who keep His commandments are on the “inside” (now) and have the right to the “tree of life” (i.e., eternal life). Those on the outside are the “dogs.” In John’s day, dogs were not the lovable pets that we love and cherish today. In his day, dogs were nasty, filthy, mangy, scavengers kept outside of the house. God regards sinners with the same contempt. Their sins are listed in the text; however, their main fault is their rejection of Christ and their refusal to obey His commandments. They will remain outcasts forever unless they repent while there is time. “The time is at hand!”

“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” (Revelation 22:16, emphasis mine). This message is contemporary. It is relevant for us today. It is meant for the churches, not only for the seven churches that Jesus, through John, addressed but for the churches throughout the Church Age.

“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” (Revelation 22:17). Here is the invitation. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to the heart of every person to convict them of sin,[4] to convince them of their need for the Savior.[5] The Bride, the Church, the local body of believers, is the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works. Together they issue the invitation, “Come.” It is not through coercion but through the preaching of the Word of God. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13-14, emphasis mine). All who respond to the invitation are welcome to partake of “the water of life freely,” i.e., eternal life.

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19, emphasis mine). Anyone (including myself) who handles the Word of God should take this warning very seriously. As humans, we are prone to error, and we can misinterpret Scripture occasionally for any number of reasons: lack of understanding, lack of maturity (spiritual growth – sanctification – is a process), lack of knowledge, etc. Such “mistakes” are understandable and excusable to some extent; they can be corrected. However, this admonition is for those who purposefully tamper with God’s Word in order to have it say what they want it to say. This warning is not only for the Book of Revelation, but it applies to all of Scripture because it is all prophecy, i.e., telling forth the Word of God. The Old Testament has a similar admonition. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2, emphasis mine). Anyone who handles the Word of God – pastors, evangelists, teachers, authors, etc. – needs to take this warning seriously.

“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20, emphasis mine). “He which testifieth” is the Lord Jesus Christ. He reminds us once again that His return is imminent. As we see the events predicted in this prophecy falling into place at an alarming rate, we know that the full force of this prophecy cannot be that far off. For those of us who have placed our faith in Christ, we can say with the Apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” We may even add “quickly.”

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21). “Grace” is the free, unmerited, gift of the Lord (Master, Owner, Possessor) Jesus (Yahweh Saves) Christ (Messiah, the Anointed One). That gift is eternal life, not only future, but in this present life. Eternal life, for the believer, starts right now and never ends. This physical, corrupt flesh must be done away with, but our spirit lives forever. The Apostle Paul says, “For this corruptible [flesh] must put on incorruption, and this mortal [flesh] must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). He explains how this takes place. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [die], 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” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). So, whether our dead bodies are resurrected and rise from their resting place or our living bodies are instantly changed at the Rapture, they will be renewed to incorruptible bodies suitable to be in the presence of Holy God. That is the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” that is with us always.

“Amen.” It is the same word in Hebrew and in Greek meaning, “it is true.”

Reader, Jesus is coming quickly, as He promised. Are you ready to meet Him? If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1] A New Creation | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

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July 30, 2023 · 10:00

A New Creation

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. (Revelation 21:1)

With the Great White Throne Judgment[1] out of the way, sin has been purged from the earth. However, the creation was cursed with Adam’s sin, and even with the near Edenic conditions of the Millennial reign of Christ, the planet retains remnants of the curse. God told Adam, “… cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field” (Genesis 3:17-18). The purging of the curse will come by fire. The Apostle Peter writes, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10, emphasis mine). Earth, i.e., the planet, will not cease to exist, for God promised that it would exist forever. The psalmist states, “[God] Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever” (Psalm 104:5, emphasis mine).

God, speaking through the Prophet Isaiah, says, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17, emphasis mine). The Hebrew word translated as “create” is bârâ’, and it is only used when referring to God’s creative power. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1) ex nihilo, out of nothing, with only His spoken word. John witnesses fulfilled prophecy when he reports, “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” (Revelation 21:1).

However, this time God does not need to create out of nothing. All the raw materials already exist, they only need to be purified by fire and reconstituted. Indeed, John does not see the creation of a new heaven and new earth, but rather a heaven and earth that have been made new, i.e., renovated. What is conspicuous in this New Heaven and New Earth is the absence of a sea. Often in Revelation, the “sea” is used in reference to the masses of people,[2] and sometimes they are those that are “the lost.” Since the lost were sentenced to an eternity in the “lake of fire,” it is possible that “no more sea” refers to these. We see that reaffirmed a few verses down. “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” (Revelation 21:8). However, “the sea” more often refers literally to Earth’s large bodies of water.[3] Here too, the word can be taken literally. That raises the question, how can the earth function without water? I believe Dr. Henry M. Morris, Jr. provided the best explanation.

There will, in fact, be no need for a sea on the new earth. The present sea is needed, as was the original antediluvian sea, as a basic reservoir for the maintenance of the hydrologic cycle and the water-based ecology and physiology of animal and human inhabitants of the earth. In the new earth, however, there will be no animals at all, and presumably all the men and women who live there will have glorified bodies with no more need of water. Their resurrected bodies will be composed, like that of the Lord Jesus, of flesh and bone (Luke 24.39; Philippians 3:21) but apparently with no need of blood (1 Corinthians 15:50) to serve as a cleanser and restorer of the body’s flesh as at present. This, in turn, eliminates the major need for water on the earth (blood is about 90 percent water, and present-day human flesh is about 65 percent water).[4]

For those who might lament the absence of oceans and all the aquatic activities that go along with that, the New Heaven and New Earth will more than make up for the lack of seas. As we consider the features of the New Heaven and New Earth, we need to keep in mind that John was literally at a loss for words to describe what he witnessed. The place is too wonderful to be expressed in human language, so John could only use the words available to him in his time.

The Apostle Paul experienced what he called the “third heaven.” The experience so overwhelmed him that he could not tell whether the experience was actual or a vision. Speaking of himself in the third person, he said, “And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:3-4, emphasis mine).

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). Before going to the cross, Jesus promised, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). This is the place of which Jesus spoke. It comes down from heaven to the newly re-created earth, and it is unimaginably beautiful like “a bride adorned for her husband.”

“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” (Revelation 21:3). A “tabernacle” is literally a tent designed for portability. However, the deeper meaning is that of a “habitation” or a “dwelling place.” I have always maintained that “Zion” is a name referring to the dwelling place of God. In the Old Testament (OT), Jerusalem is often referred to as Zion, as is the mountain upon which the Temple stood. Hence, when people speak of Zion, they are thinking of either Jerusalem or the Temple. However, the name comes from the fact that God chose that place as His earthly dwelling. “So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more” (Joel 3:17, emphasis mine). Now, “the New Jerusalem,” the new Zion, descends from heaven where God will dwell among His children.

“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” (Revelation 21:4). All the things that cause pain, sorrow, and tears no longer exist. How many of us can recall even one day without experiencing any of these things? I dare say that even if such days come on occasion, they are rare indeed. In the New Jerusalem, such days will be the norm, and all things that cause tears, sorrow, and pain will not even come to mind.

“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. 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. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 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” (Revelation 21:5-8, emphasis mine).

“He that sat upon the throne” is Jesus. I do not like “red letter” Bibles that supposedly print the words of Jesus in red letters, because that often tends to be subjective based on the editor’s understanding of the text. These verses are a perfect example. I recently bought a new KJV Bible. I bought the Bible online, so I was not able to examine it closely before buying it, and when it arrived, I discovered that it is a red-letter edition. In my new Bible, the words of the person speaking are not in red print indicating that the person speaking is God the Father, not Jesus. However, in my e-Sword ™[5] electronic Bible, the words of the speaker in this passage are in red print, suggesting that it is Jesus speaking. My old KJV Bible is all black lettering. It leaves it to the Holy Spirit working in the reader to make that determination. Anyhow, I long ago determined that the speaker is indeed Jesus. The first indication is that John sees Him sitting upon the throne. Jesus said that “God (the Father) is a Spirit” (John 4:24). The Father does not have a physical form that He can be seen occupying a single place. After that, the speaker says, “Behold, I make all things new.” Jesus is the Creator,[6] and He is the One that promised to prepare a place for us.[7] Then, the speaker identifies Himself as, “the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,” the same title with which Jesus first introduced Himself to John[8] in the Book of Revelation.

Jesus is the Word of God;[9] therefore, the words He speaks “are true and faithful.” God’s Word never fails. To those who “thirst” for life, i.e., eternal life, He will give “of the fountain of the water of life freely.” This could be an actual fountain of water, but it is more likely symbolic of eternal life continually springing forth without end. Jesus made the same claim to the Samaritan woman at the well. “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14, emphasis mine). Those that enter the New Jerusalem are the “overcomers.” They will inherit “all things,” and He will be their God, and they will be His children. The Apostle Paul explains it in legal terms. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17, emphasis mine). “All things” belong to Him, and as His children, we jointly inherit “all things” with Him. “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” (Revelation 21:8, emphasis mine). No extra commentary is needed here.[10]

Revelation 21:9-21 describes the appearance of the New Jerusalem. I will leave the text of the passage to the reader. The description was clearly beyond John’s language to describe. Its beauty is obviously beyond words. It is not some ethereal, misty, dreamlike apparition. It is a real, physical, three-dimensional place, exceeding the most beautiful city on Earth built by man. The dimensions are given as 12,000 furlongs square or 1500 miles per side. (21:16). Because the width, length, and height are all equal, some have suggested that it is a cube. However, others have suggested a four-sided pyramid with the throne of God, from which the river of living water flows, is at the apex (22:1). Whether cubical or pyramidical, its height (1500 miles) extends to what we now recognize as outer space. If superimposed on the United States, its footprint (2.25 million square miles) would extend from Maine to Florida, and from the Atlantic coast to 600 miles west of the Mississippi River.[11] Clearly, there is sufficient space for every believer that has ever lived. I would be amiss to venture at a number, but surely it must be in the billions.

“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 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” (Revelation 21:22-23, emphasis mine). In the previous chapters, we saw that “heaven” was arranged in a manner for which the earthly Temple was patterned.[12] In the New Jerusalem, the Temple is no longer needed. The earthly Temple had the Holy of Holies where the presence of God dwelt, and no man could enter there, except for the high priest and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement. In the New Jerusalem, God dwells with and among His people without restrictions. The sun and moon are not seen in the New Jerusalem, because the glory of God and the Lamb overwhelm the light they produce. That does not mean the sun and moon cease to exist. Remember that the New Jerusalem comes out of heaven down to Earth. It does not occupy the entire surface of the earth (which has no sea), so outside its gates, there will still be a need for the sun and moon.

“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. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it” (Revelation 21:24-26, emphasis mine). Apparently, the New Earth will have people living in it outside the gates of the New Jerusalem, none of whom were sentenced to the “lake of fire.” Those are all excluded as Jesus said, “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” (Revelation 21:8). The “fearful” are those who were timid to identify with Christ. Of them, Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). The “unbelieving” are simply those who rejected the Gospel and Jesus’ free gift of salvation. There is only one way to obtain eternal life and that is through faith in Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6, emphasis mine). In the Law of Moses, several practices were considered unclean and an abomination to the Lord. However, two extend beyond the Mosaic Law and are a perpetual abomination to the Lord; they are homosexuality[13] (actually, any sexual perversion) and idolatry.[14] The “abominable” are also prone to the other sins listed: murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers (i.e., drug abusers), etc. All of these reside in the eternal lake of fire and have no place in the New Earth and New Jerusalem.

The word “nations” here is the Greek word ethnos from which we get our English word “ethnic” referring to “people groups.” The New Earth and New Jerusalem will be populated by people from every ethnic group on this present earth. The children’s chorus “Jesus Loves the Little Children” that says “red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight” will be perfectly demonstrated in the New Earth and New Jerusalem. Evidently, there will be “kings” over the various groups and they will “bring their glory and honor into it.” I do not believe this is a tribute or sacrifice of any sort, but just their presence as the representatives of “the redeemed” will give glory and honor to the Lord and to the city. Mankind contributes nothing toward his salvation.[15] It is all by the grace of God, and all the glory goes to Him. The inhabitants of the New Earth have constant access, in and out, to the New Jerusalem. The gates of pearl are never shut (21:21).

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27, emphasis mine). Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, those to have their glorified bodies, bodies free from sin, sickness, and death, bodies that are ageless, will reside in the New Earth and New Jerusalem.

“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:1-2, emphasis mine). Since there is no sickness or death in the New Earth and New Jerusalem, the need for “water of life” and a “tree of life” is perplexing. Dr. Morris[16] gave a good explanation for not having the need for a “sea,” so, why the need for water at all? Dr. Morris suggests …

Although the text does not say so, we are probably justified in inferring that this river (like the river in Eden which was its typological forerunner) parts “into four heads” (Genesis 2:10), which in turn descends from level to level, providing abundant water for every need (aesthetic as well as physiological) of the residents of the city. [What physiological needs we will have, I do not understand since earlier he said our glorified bodies would have no need for water.]

Eventually, it’s four distributaries will, presumably, reach ground level and then flow out through the four walls of the city, north, south, east, and west whence it, like the eyes of the Lord, will “run to and fro throughout the whole earth” (2 Chronicles 16:9). Since there is “no more sea” (Revelation 21:1) the inexhaustible waters of this mighty river will supply whatever hydrologic needs the new earth may have. There surely will be an abundance of luxurious grasses and herbs and trees everywhere, as in the original “very good” created world (Genesis 1:11, 31), and the whole earth will be a well-watered paradise of abundant resources and fulfilling ministries for the servants of God.[17]

The text says that the leaves of the Tree of Life are for “the healing of the nations.” The Greek word translated as “healing” is therapeia and it means “service rendered by one to another” or “household service.” There is no sickness in the New Earth and New Jerusalem from which to be healed; therefore, a better understanding is that “the leaves of the tree were for the service of the nations.”[18]

“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: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 22:3-5, emphasis mine). The curse[19] has been purged by fire.[20] In our natural, physical state, we cannot see God and live.[21] However, that is not so with our glorified bodies; we “shall see His face” in all of His resplendent glory. “There shall be no night there,” i.e., in the New Jerusalem because the glory of the Father and of the Son will illuminate the entire place. However, as I stated before, the sun and moon will still light the New Earth, outside the city walls. The earth will still continue its annual orbit around the sun, and its rotation will continue to give day and night to the remade planet. However, within the New Jerusalem, the light of God and the Lamb will outshine the sun. And we “shall reign forever and ever” with Him.

Please, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Reader, what do you think? Do the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem sound like a good place to spend eternity? You will spend eternity somewhere, either in God’s new creation or in the lake of fire. There are no other options. If you want eternity in the New Earth with access to the New Jerusalem, then your name must be recorded in the Book of Life, and there is only one way to ensure that your name is written in that book. If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1] Revelation 20:11-15

[2] Revelation 4:6; 13:1; 15:2

[3] Revelation 5:13; 7:1-3; 8:8-9; 10:2, 5, 6, 8; 14:7; 16:3; 18:17, 19, 21

[4] Henry M. Morris, Ph.D., The Revelation Record, (Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Ill, 1982), p. 437.

[5] e-Sword: Free Bible Study for the PC

[6] John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17

[7] John 14:2-3

[8] Revelation 1:8

[9] John 1:1

[10] Heaven | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

[11] Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation Illustrated, (Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, Philadelphia, 1919), p. 205.

[12] The Seventh Seal | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

[13] Leviticus 18:22; 20:13

[14] Deuteronomy 7:25

[15] Ephesians 2:8-10

[16] Morris, p. 437.

[17] Ibid, p. 464.

[18] Ibid, p. 466.

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July 23, 2023 · 10:00

The End of 1000 Years

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (Revelation 20:7)

At the beginning of the Millennium when Jesus comes again, “the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan” is bound and imprisoned in the “bottomless pit” for a thousand years.[1] At the end of 1000 years (20:7, above), he will be released for “a little season” (20:3), “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea” (Revelation 20:8). Who are these that are deceived? They are not the saints who reign with Christ. The saints – the Bride and the Tribulation saints – have glorified bodies “like unto his glorious body”[2] that are incapable of sin, and they are immune to Satan’s deceptions. The ones who Satan deceives are the progeny of those that survived the Tribulation and entered the Millennium in their natural bodies – some believers and some non-believers – and retained the ability to reproduce. At the end of 1000 years of perfect conditions and “pre-flood” lifespans[3], billions of people will inhabit the earth. These are those who Satan incites to rebel. The “Gog and Magog” mentioned here are not the same to which the Prophet Ezekiel refers;[4] but rather, it is the “spirit” of Gog and Magog that seeks to destroy the people of God.

After 1000 years of perfect peace with Jesus reigning as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, why does God turn Satan loose on Earth again? Adam and Eve lived in a perfect environment with only one prohibition, yet they sinned and rebelled by disobeying God’s only command.[5] That took place probably within the first week following Creation. Now, after the Edenic state of Jesus’ Millennial reign, once again Satan is allowed to test mankind proving the depravity of mankind and the holy righteousness of God. God, speaking through the Prophet Jeremiah, says, “The heart [of mankind] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins [i.e., “the seat of emotion and affection”], even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10, emphasis mine). It is a sad but true commentary. People sin because they are sinful even in a perfect environment.

Satan incites a rebellion against Christ and His saints, but the rebellion is short-lived. “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them” (Revelation 20:9). God responds instantaneously, decisively, and completely – no more second chances.

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10, emphasis mine). There exists a false image of Satan and his demons ruling in hell and torturing its inhabitants. However, Satan and his “angels” will be no better off than any of the other inhabitants of “the lake of fire.” Jesus said that the lake of fire was “prepared for the devil and his angels.”[6] The Beast and the False Prophet are already there waiting for the Dragon,[7] and soon they will be joined by those whose names are not found in the Book of Life.[8]

With Satan permanently disposed of, John’s focus turns to Jesus on His throne. From the text, it is not clear whether His throne is in heaven or on earth where He has reigned for the last thousand years. Since Chapter 19, John has been reporting on events taking place on Earth; therefore, it seems feasible that Jesus’ throne could be the one He occupied in the Holy of Holies of the Millennial Temple as described by the Prophet Ezekiel. However, it could be His heavenly throne, which would have more space for the billions of people that are to be judged. Its location is irrelevant. Its significance lies in the seriousness of what takes place there.

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them” (Revelation 20:11). The One on the great white throne is Christ, who is the Word,[9] who shed His blood a ransom for many,[10] and who conquered death and the grave by rising again.[11] He offered Himself for whosoever would accept His free gift of salvation through faith.[12] By His sacrifice, He earned the right to judge those who have despised His free gift of salvation. Now, He sits in the full splendor of His glory that overwhelms earth and heaven.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12). These are those who have died without Christ from the beginning of time – small and great, peasants and kings, nobodies and celebrities – they all stand before God – Jesus is God.[13] The books were opened. We are not told, but I have concluded that the “books” include the detailed record of the life of every individual of both good and bad deeds, actions, and thoughts. Every person has his or her own complete, detailed biography. Among the books is the Bible, the Word of God, the standard against which each person will be measured. Too many people who even bother to ponder eternity believe that their good deeds will be weighed against their bad deeds, and in their pride, they think that their “good” will outweigh the “bad.” Actually, all of their deeds, good and bad, will be measured against God’s perfect standard, His Word, and only perfection by that standard will pass the test. On that day, the truth of Romans 3:10 will be undeniably evident: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;” “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

To be fair, “another book was opened, which is the book of life.” This book records the name of every person who has ever lived. However, only those adopted as children of God[14] remain recorded in the Book of Life; all others are blotted out, i.e., removed. When interceding for the sins of the children of Israel, Moses pleaded, “… unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written” (Exodus 32:31-32, emphasis mine). Moses knew the significance of that book, and he was willing to have his name blotted out of that book in order to preserve his people.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works” (Revelation 20:13, emphasis mine). Judged “according to their works,” no one will measure up to the perfect standard that Holy God demands.

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:14). Death and the grave (i.e., hell, hades, the abode of the dead) cast into the lake of fire signifies that these cease to exist. There will be no death or dying in the lake of fire. Death separates the spirit from the body. When the body ceases to function, the spirit lives on, either in hell (the abode of the dead) or in the presence of the Lord (for the believer). For the believer, Paul says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8, emphasis mine). Everyone (except those caught up in the Rapture) will experience the first death. Scripture says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Since God is the Giver of Life, eternal separation from His presence is the ultimate death. Since physical death and the grave are cast into the lake of fire, the “second death” means eternal separation from the One who gives life – alive in one sense without the ability to die, yet dead in the sense of living apart from the One who gives true life. What a horrible thought!

Those being judged at the Great White Throne Judgment are given one more chance. Their “works” measured next to God’s perfect standard fall woefully short. To ensure a fair trial, their names are searched in the Book of Life. However, because they rejected Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their names will have been blotted out of the Book of Life. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

How about you, reader? The lake of fire was created for Satan and his angels; it was not meant for you. However, the lake of fire is the destiny of anyone not found in the Book of Life. There is only one way to ensure that your name is written in that book. If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1] Revelation 20:2-3

[10] Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:6

[11] 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

[12] John 1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; Romans 10:9-11;13

[13] John 1:1

[14] John 1:12

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July 2, 2023 · 10:00

Heavenly Wedding Reception

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)

I have never been a bride, so I have no idea how a bride feels when the big day comes, and all her wedding plans come to fruition. She gets to take center stage at the wedding ceremony and later at her reception. It is a day for which she has prepared for months – picking the perfect bridal gown, selecting the perfect colors for her theme, selecting the floral arrangements, picking the perfect venue, choosing her wedding party, etc. It must be exhausting, yet exhilarating when the day finally comes.

Soon, I will experience the greatest wedding ever as part of the Bride that will join her Groom at a heavenly wedding. It will be a wedding unmatched by the grandest royal wedding ever seen on Earth. However, before the party starts, John sets up the scene.

“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand” (Revelation 19:1-2, emphasis mine). These “people in heaven” are Christians who died in Christ,[1] Christians who did not die but were raptured,[2] and those who missed the Rapture, but came to faith in Christ during the Tribulation and died for their faith.[3] These praise and worship God for His “true and righteous” judgments. All that God does is true and right. All the judgments of the Tribulation had a twofold purpose: (1) to give a final opportunity for people to repent and turn to Christ, and (2) to punish those who continue to reject God’s free offer of salvation. The psalmist put it succinctly when he said, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works” (Psalm 145:17). In His righteousness, He avenges the blood of His martyred saints. The Lord says, “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste” (Deuteronomy 32:35). Of the time of Tribulation, Jesus said, “For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke 21:22).

“And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever” (Revelation 19:3). The whole heaven celebrates the demise of the “great whore.”[4] I believe this takes place in the immediate future of the Revelation timeline. At this point, Jesus is ready to return to Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords to destroy Babylon the Great for all eternity. So, the praise of these saints is given in the past tense as if the deed has already taken place.

“And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great” (Revelation 19:4-5). We see the 24 elders[5] and the four beasts[6] once more. As discussed in a previous article,[7] the 24 elders are possibly the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel plus the 12 Apostles, but at any rate, they represent the redeemed of all time. The four beasts represent God’s creation: the wild animal kingdom, domesticated animals, birds, and mankind. These give constant praise to God.

In the first five verses of this nineteenth chapter, we see the word “Alleluia” repeated three times, which seems appropriate for the triune Godhead reflecting His perfection. “Alleluia” is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word “hallelujah” which means “praise Yahweh” (the LORD). Interestingly, the word appears nowhere else in Scripture, neither in the OT nor the NT, except here in this chapter of Revelation.[8] There are many references to giving praises to God, however, that particular word is only used here. That makes its significance all the greater! The call to worship is directed to “all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.” “Ye” is a plural, second-person pronoun. “All” is all-inclusive. In Texas, we would say, “all y’all” to include everyone and exclude no one. All “His servants” includes all the saints, and all the host of angels of all kinds and stations; all “that fear Him, both small and great.” Imagine the thunderous praise given to the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth!

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6). Praise the Lord! Alleluia! The Lord – the master, owner, and possessor of Heaven and Earth, the great potentate and sovereign – God – the One and Only true, triune God – omnipotent – almighty, all-powerful – reigns – He has absolute authority and rule over His creation, the universe, and all it contains.

Here comes the Bride! However, before proceeding, I want to share some things about a Jewish wedding, particularly a Galilean wedding, since most of Jesus’ ministry focused in the Galilean region, and all of His disciples were Galileans. Hence, they could relate to His illustrations, where those illustrations make little sense to us who are so far removed. Some of this I learned from a documentary DVD entitled Before the Wrath.[9] During His earthly ministry, Jesus made many references to weddings and marriage. Indeed, His first miracle was to turn water into wine at a wedding in Cana.[10]

In the Galilean custom, there was a betrothal before the marriage. We recall that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was “betrothed” to Joseph. We read in Matthew’s Gospel, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was [betrothed] to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily” (Matthew 1:18-19, emphasis mine). The betrothal was a written contractual agreement that was legally binding. Even though the couple lived apart during the betrothal period, they were considered to be married. Mary, coming up pregnant (and not by Joseph) created a serious breach of contract. Mary could be charged with adultery, and, at Joseph’s discretion, could be put to death by stoning.

To affect the betrothal, the prospective groom came to the bride’s father, in the presence of the town’s people as witnesses, and presented the written proposal/marriage contract that both the groom and bride signed. The groom presented a gift, something like a dowry, to the father of the bride. This was not a purchase price for the bride but rather “insurance” in case something happened to the groom before the marriage took place. In such a case, the bride would be taken care of.

Next, the groom offered the bride a cup of wine called the “cup of joy.” At any point in this process, the bride was free to accept or reject the proposal. If she agreed to the proposal, she would drink from the cup. The groom would then take and drink from the cup as well. Then he would say, “I will not drink of this cup again until I drink it anew with you in my father’s house.”

The groom would then return to his father’s house to build a bridal chamber as an addition to his father’s house for his bride. The process took about a year, and it was up to the groom’s father to determine when the room was ready. Ultimately, the father controlled when the wedding would take place. The bride, in the meantime, had her own preparations to make for the wedding. Not only did she have to make her wedding gown, but she needed to start collecting the things she would need to set up housekeeping.

Once the groom completed the bridal chamber and with the father’s approval and at the father’s direction, he would go get his bride. This usually occurred in the middle of the night when the whole town was sleeping. The groom sounded a ram’s horn that alerted the town that he was going for his bride. The whole town joined the parade. The bride had been ready long before this day arrived. She slept in her bridal gown. She kept her lamp full of oil and even kept some extra. Neither she nor the groom knew the day or the hour when this event would take place, but she was ready.

The groomsmen prepared a litter for the bride to sit in as they lifted her off the ground and carried her to the place the groom had prepared for her. This was known as “flying the bride” to the groom’s house. Once at the house, all those that could fit entered the house to celebrate, and they celebrated for seven days (one week). When the house was full, the doors were closed and no one else could enter.

With this understanding, we can clearly see what Jesus taught about His second coming, particularly as it relates to His Bride, the Church. At the Last Supper, Jesus presented His contract to His Bride. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28, emphasis mine). The “contract” was signed with His body and blood. He called it “the new testament” or “covenant” or “contract.” The Bride was His disciples and those that would succeed them in faith. They all took the cup and drank of it in acceptance of the covenant. The betrothal was in effect. Jesus then said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29).

Before adjourning from their Passover meal, Jesus prepared His Bride for what would come. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3, emphasis mine). This is the Groom’s promise that He is going to prepare a place for His Bride, and when the Father gives His approval, the Groom will sound the trumpet and descend to get His Bride, the Church, so that she can spend eternity with Him.

Now, while the Groom is away, the Bride must busy herself in preparation for the marriage. Jesus told a parable[11] about “a certain nobleman” (Himself) going away on a journey to receive a kingdom. Before leaving, He gave His stewards, ten of them, each equal amounts of money to invest in His kingdom. With that, He charged them saying, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). That is what the Bride is to do while the Groom is away preparing a place for her. There was also the matter of the “gifts” the Groom gives His Bride as “insurance.” That comes in the form of the Holy Spirit,[12] who Paul calls the “seal”[13] or guarantee of the promise.

In the meantime, the Bride awaits the shout, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matthew 25:6). However, the Bride cannot join her Groom in ordinary clothes, she must be changed. The Apostle Paul provides insight into this transformation. “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, 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, emphasis mine). In another place he says, “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not [go before] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and 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 4:15-17, emphasis mine). Just as the Galilean bride was “flown” to the groom’s house, so will the Bride of Christ be flown to His house.

When that happens, the marriage will take place. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7, emphasis mine). John records “the marriage of the Lamb” just prior to Jesus’ return to Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, but that would seem to make the marriage a rushed affair. Thinking back on the Galilean wedding; the festivities went on for seven days. That would parallel Daniel’s final week[14] – seven years. In the Galilean wedding, the festivities started when the bride entered the groom’s house. For the Church, that begins when the trumpet sounds and Jesus calls “Come up hither” (Revelation 4:1). Then during those seven years, as Bride will be examined, not for punishment, but for rewards. “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10, emphasis mine). “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, emphasis mine). All this will take place in Heaven during the seven years of Tribulation on Earth.

Therefore, I see John’s report as the culmination of the wedding feast as the Bride prepares to follow her Bridegroom as He receives His kingdom. “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:8). Above we considered the “judgment seat of Christ” where our “works” will be evaluated and rewards will be allocated based on how those works survive a “trial by fire.” All who stand before the judgment seat of Christ are saved by the blood of Christ, and nothing can annul that. However, our works here on earth will determine the rewards with which we will be clothed. Will our wedding gown be a nice, plain, unremarkable, white gown or will it be really fancy and decked out with elaborate lace and sparkling jewels? Either way, it is the “whiteness” that really matters.

“And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:9-10, emphasis mine). “He” is probably the same angel that spoke to John in Revelation 17:1.[15] He makes what is probably one of the greatest understatements thus far: “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Blessed indeed! God has blessed me all my natural life far beyond what I deserve. I cannot begin to imagine the blessing of being in the presence of God, and “These are the true sayings of God.” John is so overwhelmed by what he has witnessed that he falls down to worship the angel. The angel quickly prohibits John from worshiping him. In the OT we often find “the angel of the Lord” accepting worship, which no ordinary angel would ever dare to do. This is how we recognize “the angel of the Lord” as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Jesus. He is God and worthy of worship. Here we are given a solid reason for studying prophecy: “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” God promises that before He does anything, He will reveal it to His prophets. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10). Amen!

How about you, reader? Will you be seated at the marriage supper of the Lamb? If you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”

Notes:

[1] 1 Thessalonians 4:16

[2] 1 Thessalonians 4:17

[3] Revelation 6:9; 7:9, 14; 14:1-5

[4] Revelation 18:1-2

[5] Revelation 4:4, 10; 5:6, 8, 11,14; 7:11, 13; 11:16; 14:3

[6] Revelation 4:6, 8; 5:6, 8, 14; 6:1, 6; 7:11; 14:3

[7] The First Sight | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

[8] Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6

[9] Before the Wrath (Official Film)

[10] John 2:1-11

[11] Luke 19:11-27

[12] John 14-16

[13] 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30

[14] Daniel 9:27

[15] Beast-Riding Harlot | Ernie’s Musings (erniecarrasco.com)

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June 11, 2023 · 10:00

Vile Vials

Image used by permission of artist Pat Marvenko Smith, Copyright 1992.
Visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site at https://revelationillustrated.com/.

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Revelation 16:1)

In the words of an old country-western song, “Turn out the lights; the party’s over.” According to my understanding, we have arrived at the final 21 months of the seven-year Tribulation. The first three and one-half years brought the seven seal judgments.[1] When Jesus, the Lamb, breaks open the seventh seal, the seven trumpets begin to sound.[2] Around the midpoint of the Tribulation, according to Daniel the Prophet, the Antichrist, a.k.a. the Beast, defiles the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. If he was not recognized when he confirmed “the covenant” securing peace for Israel, which initiated the seven-year Tribulation, there will be no doubt about his identity at this time.[3]

As we follow the progression of the judgments, we notice that they become increasingly severe. At the same time, there is no indication that one judgment ends when another begins. With a few exceptions, the effects of the judgments continue throughout the Tribulation period. There are wars, economic collapses, famines, pandemics, natural disasters, and more, and now things are about to get worse.

“And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever” (Revelation 15:7, emphasis mine). John does not tell us which of the four beasts gives the seven vials (or “bowls”) to the angels, but I think it might be the third beast having “a face as a man.”[4] I come to that conclusion because the judgments that come upon the earth, while they affect all of nature, are aimed at a sinful and rebellious human race. The other beasts (lion, calf, and eagle) represent the animal kingdom which does not have a sin nature. “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth” (Revelation 16:1). Here it comes!

“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2, emphasis mine). This “grievous sore” only affects those having the “mark of the beast.” With the advancement of modern technology, things like RFID chips, which can be embedded under the skin, or quantum dot tattoos[5] (that can not only contain all of one’s personal information, including health, financial, and social credit records, but they can be tracked) already exist and can easily be used as “the mark of the beast.” Because these things penetrate the body, it is possible that the human body will react to the foreign invader and produce these sores. In the case of the quantum dot tattoos, right now they are being promoted as a way to vaccinate people while also providing proof of vaccination. Many of the proposed vaccines of the mRNA type have the potential of modifying a person’s DNA. I have heard that altering a person’s DNA by only one percent renders them no longer human. If that is true, that person (being no longer human) loses any possibility for salvation – Jesus died for humans. Also, considering that only those with the “mark” contract these horrible sores implies that not all earth dwellers take the mark of the beast. These are either Tribulation saints that have survived in the midst of all these judgments or those who potentially will be saved before Christ returns.

“And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea” (Revelation 16:3, emphasis mine). The sea does not turn into blood; “it became as blood,” which suggests some sort of pollution. When the second trumpet sounded, a third part of the sea was turned to blood.[6] However, here all the ocean waters are affected; all marine life dies. Imagine the stench of the rotting flesh and the potential for the spread of diseases!

“And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood” (Revelation 16:4, emphasis mine). Here the waters are turned into blood, just like in the plagues of Egypt.[7] In that case, the plague lasted only seven days; here there is no indication of cessation. What does one drink when there is no water to drink? All soft drinks are made with water. Alcoholic drinks do not quench thirst, and worse, they promote dehydration. Then imagine the chaos resulting from an intoxicated population! Milk might work, but the climate alarmists want to do away with cows, so that option may not be available.

While things here on earth are dire, in heaven God’s righteousness is acknowledged and celebrated. “And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Revelation 16:5-7, emphasis mine). To us, the judgment may seem like cruel and unusual punishment, but God is always righteous in all of His acts. I have often stressed God’s mercy, even during this time of Great Tribulation. He gives mankind every opportunity to repent, but they rebelliously continue to reject Him. Even when they recognized that the judgments are from God, they curse God rather than repent.

“And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory” (Revelation 16:8-9, emphasis mine). The adage “When you’re in a hole, stop digging” is lost on these people. The fact that they have already pledged their allegiance to the Antichrist has sealed their doom. They are beyond redemption.

“And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds” (Revelation 16:10-11, emphasis mine). Notice that this darkness is localized. It is only “upon the seat of the beast,” or the capital of the Antichrist. There is debate as to where his seat will be located. Some think that his capital will be in Rome, the seat of the old Roman Empire. Others suggest that it might be Jerusalem since it is there where he desecrates the Temple.[8] Still others believe it is literal Babylon as we shall see later. The argument against today’s Babylon is that it is insignificant on the world stage, unlike its historical past. However, considering modern technology, any place can serve as a control center; so why not Babylon? Wherever “the beast” chooses to make his capital, it will experience such a dreadful darkness that it causes the inhabitants to “gnaw their tongues for pain.”

“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:12-14, emphasis mine).

If I have not done so in previous articles, I need to make it clear now. The Antichrist will not rule the entire world. He wants to, but he will not achieve his goal. The Asian nations, China, North Korea, India, Pakistan, and many of Muslim nations, will oppose his rule. The Muslim nations, because they are monotheistic, will reject him when he demands to be worshipped as God. China and many other Asian nations desire their own domination of the world. They do not want to submit to the leadership of “the West.” These “kings of the east” will be enticed by the demonic spirits sent by the “unholy trinity” (the dragon, the beast, the false prophet) to come against the Antichrist. He thinks he will finally crush his opposition, but little does he know that this is God’s doing “to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” We learn in the next verses that this is the infamous “Battle of Armageddon.”

Jesus speaks now. “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15). He is not speaking to the Church because the Church is with Him in heaven. No, this is addressed to those saints that are suffering through the Tribulation. They are studying this book. They see the signs. They know the sequence of events. They know what comes next. They are watching. They know that they need to hang on for just 21 more months. Jesus here encourages them to remain steadfast and faithful in their trials. They will be blessed, as they watch the heaven split open and their long-awaited Lord descend on a white horse followed by all of His saints. Hang in there, Saints! It will not be much longer. Jesus comes “as a thief,” but not to these saints; they are expecting Him. The sudden surprise of His appearing is reserved for God rejecting sinners.

“And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). God is the one gathering all the armies of the world into this one valley. The name in Hebrew means Mount Megiddo and it actually refers to the valley north of this mountain. “This valley in northern Israel extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Joran River south of Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). It covers an area of roughly 380 square kilometers or 146.7 square miles. The blood of Jesus’ enemies will fill this “winepress” as high as a horse’s bridle. It is “the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).”[9]

“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done” (Revelation 16:17, emphasis mine). That is it! It is over! What follows describes the result of this final battle.

“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great” (Revelation 16:18-21, emphasis mine).

Earthquakes of 5.5 magnitude and above are on the increase albeit rarely publicized and occurring in locations where earthquakes are rare. The earth is groaning. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). At the beginning of the Tribulation when the sixth seal is opened, we are told that there was “a great earthquake” great enough to blot out the sun and turn the moon blood red.[10] So great is this earthquake that it causes heaven to appear as if it is rolled up like a scroll. That earthquake is small compared to this one. This one is greater even than those that split the “fountains of the deep” at the time of the Great Flood.[11] The earthquake causes “the great city” (Jerusalem) to split three ways. This will not be a localized earthquake. It will eradicate islands and demolish mountains. The tectonic upheaval created by this earthquake will spawn volcanoes worldwide, spewing dust and ash high into the atmosphere. Increased evaporation from superheated oceans will send water vapors high into the atmosphere to return to the earth as massive hailstones weighing in excess of 120 pounds.

Men on earth recognize that these things are truly “an act of God,” and rather than repent, they curse and blaspheme God. The text says that at this time “Babylon came in remembrance before God.” That does not mean God had forgotten and then suddenly said, “Oh yeah! I forgot about Babylon.” No, God’s timing is always perfect, and He does not forget (which, by the way, is why hell is eternal. Sin offends the Eternal God eternally and the only remedy is the sin-atoning, sin-covering blood of Jesus.). The time has come for Babylon to be judged. We will see that in the chapters that follow.

I take no pleasure when I think about the horrors that will come upon mankind during the Tribulation. That is why I am writing this series on the Book of Revelation. I hope that my efforts will lead as least some to avoid the judgments that are coming. And, if they do not heed the warnings before the Rapture of the Church and the coming Tribulation, perhaps they will reconsider during the Tribulation while they still have a chance. Reader, if you do not know the Savior, do not wait any longer. The time is short. Please read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”