Revelation: Dragons and Angels

[4u] “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you 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 knows that he has but a short time.” (12:1-12)

It is easy to recognize Mary giving birth to Jesus, but all the symbols tell us she represents something bigger than herself. The Old Testament church (the moon) reflected the light of the sun which led to the apostles (12 stars) who started the New Testament church.

Just as the woman takes us backward and forward in time, so does the dragon. At the start of evil, his tail sweeps a third of the stars of heaven (angels) to the earth, though not immediately (see the earlier chapter, The First Evil). Satan then works through the empires of the earth trying to thwart God’s plan of redemption. Notice that the crowns are on the seven heads. The empire is still united. That will change in the next chapter.

Next we see the dragon ready to devour the Child of Bethlehem. Instead, He grows “in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” He endures temptation, heals the sick, suffers death on the cross, and rises from the grave. Then He ascends to heaven to administer a perfect sacrifice on our behalf and out of reach of Satan. The woman (church) also flees the scene to be hidden in the wilderness 1260 day-years.

That leaves the focus solely on the war in heaven. While this war is an illustration of what took place at the beginning, it is a description of what actually took place right after the cross. Michael, “the great prince which stands for the children of your people” (Daniel 12:1) is none other than Jesus who fights the great cosmic conflict by presenting the Father’s love and the Savior’s sacrifice to all the heavenly beings. With a unanimous “loud voice [they] say in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

This is the deciding vote of support, the moment Jesus looked forward to when He said, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto me.” (John 12:31-32) No longer does any heavenly intelligence hold out hope of a last minute conversion on Lucifer’s part. No longer can he or any of his cohort enter New Jerusalem or attend the universal councils. Jesus has taken Adam’s place because He earned it with His own blood.

This battle in heaven takes place after the cross because 1) “Now is come salvation...and the power of His Christ,” 2) “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,” and 3) the devil “knows that he has but a short time.” If the war was one of force, then the infinite God could have exiled and destroyed Satan long before. But God made the war one of truth, love, and persuasion. And now the cross convinces the universe with eternal conviction. There are no more questions, no more doubts, no more opportunities for Satan to try to conquer the Son of man.

[4d] “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 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. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was angry 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.” (12:13-17)

The movie camera returns focus to the woman on earth, to the church in the wilderness. For the sixth time the 3.5 year, 42 month, 1260 day time period is used to measure the time period. Also, as the Bible frequently does, the true people of God are described as a remnant, a leftover, a small minority of the visible, mainline church. From the time of Noah and his family of 8 people in the ark, this has always been true.

The remnant is small in quantity, but high in quality. They keep God’s commandments and can testify of Christ’s power in their lives. In both the Old and New Testaments, this has always been the distinguishing mark between those who serve God, those who merely appear to serve God, and those who serve Him not. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day, “you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition... Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” (Matthew 15:3-6) Though a country or a church have great religious traditions, they are not part of God’s remnant if those traditions make God’s law of none effect. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) Though I agree to obey 99% my Father’s will, I really do not obey. I negotiate. Self is still ultimately in control and fighting for dominance.

Sometime during the wilderness hiding, “the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood.” Satan tries to flush the woman out of hiding to kill her, but “the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood."

What is the flood? It must be the opposite of the wilderness and the relatively dry earth. We go to the wilderness to commune with God and get away from people. “And he said unto me, The waters which you saw where the whore sits are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (Revelation 17:15) The true church is not found building cities and grand cathedrals as monuments of self-righteousness. The children of the Father live quiet lives of witness to the truth. They do not sit on thrones ruling over people, controlling conscience, and boasting of power.

Sometime during the 1260 years, the true church is helped when some new wilderness is opened up to which they may escape. Relatively populated Europe, controlled by kings and popes, is not necessarily emptied of sincere Christians, but some additional place is made available to help provide relief. The New World with its pilgrims and Puritans escaping from tyranny is a clear fulfillment. The center of gravity of Christianity shifted west again. More on this when we get to the image of the beast.

[4d] “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” (13:1-10)

The divided fourth empire

The beast in this passage is the feet and toes of iron and clay in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. It is the ten horns of the terrible beast in Daniel 7. It is the divided phase of the fourth empire, which is the great horn of Daniel 8. The parallels are numerous.

This beast rises out of the sea just like the beasts of Daniel 7, “And four great beasts came up from the sea.” This beast has 10 crowns on the 10 horns on its 7 heads. This is unlike chapter 12 where the crowns were on the heads. This beast combines powers and features from a lion, bear, and leopard—the very beasts from Daniel 7. “The first was like a lion...a second like to a bear...and lo another, like a leopard."

Just like the statue’s feet, the terrible beast, and the great horn, this beast survives until Jesus returns because the messages in the next chapter warn against worshipping this beast.

1260 years of power over the saints

This passage contains the seventh and final reference to the 1260 days.

1) The saints “shall be given into his hand until a year and years and the dividing of a year.” (Daniel 7:25)

2) “It shall be for a year, years, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (12:7)

3) “The holy city shall [the Gentiles] tread under foot forty and two months.” (Revelation 11:2)

4) “My two witnesses shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (11:3)

5) “The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (12:6)

6) “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.” (12:14)

7) “Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” (13:5)

There was no foreign antichrist that entered the church and took it over for 1260 years. It rose from within. History teaches us that it is in our nature for some to seek absolute power and control over others while the vast majority are content to leave the thinking and responsibility to leadership. Like ancient Israel’s desire to replace their theocracy with a king (“that we also may be like all the nations”), the bishops of Rome gradually took, and were given, more power. Ephesus had lost its first love, so Smyrna lost its motivation to endure persecution. Therefore, Pergamos “elevated” itself into worldly power to protect itself. Thyatira, dominated for 1260 years by the apostate, sensual Jezebel, was the natural result.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [Christ’s return] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

The official paperwork for this man of sin started with the Roman emperor in the east, Justinian. In the early 500’s he made a code of law for the fragmented empire and gave both political and religious control of the western remains to the bishop of Rome. It went into effect when the last barbarians were cleared from that city in 538.

1260 years later, in 1798, the French artillery officer, Napoleon Bonaparte, had become commander of all French forces. The French Directorate wanted the church eliminated, but for reasons of future political stability, Napoleon ordered his assistant, General Berthier, to capture Rome and only subdue the pope. Thus it was allowed to remain. The papacy was given a deadly wound from which it could heal.

The pope, like several times before in history, was put into captivity, but this time other things happened that had never before occurred. The Justinian Code was replaced by the Napoleon Code (or, Civil Code of the French). Political power was taken from the pope. The Holy Roman Empire came to a permanent demise. The old feudal system of kings and lords ruling over serfs came to a rapid end. The French Revolution radically changed European history, and western civilization, beyond our comprehension.

It is hard for most people to imagine today’s Roman Catholic church as the crusading inquisitor it once was. “Heretics” were tortured individually or armies were commissioned to slaughter them en masse. The church claims innocence in many of these instances, but only through a technicality. The church deemed someone a heretic which the state then automatically concluded was a menace to society. The local government then executed the condemned person. However, the mayors all the way up to the kings were controlled by the culture and political pressures created by the papacy. The constant threat was, “Obey or be excommunicated from church and heaven.”

The moral principles of the church are still no different today. She has no opportunity right now, but put the papacy back in power and all who are not politically or religiously correct will suffer a modern inquisition.

We often hear the church “apologize” for the excesses of those dark times in history, but it was the church that created that darkness and was supposed to remain a light in the darkness. Under the altar of the fifth seal are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of souls whose blood is crying out from the ground.

Little horn, big sins

The little horn (Daniel 7) is not the entire church-state system known as the Holy Roman Empire, which is the divided phase of the fourth empire. Neither is the little horn the great horn (Daniel 8), which refers to the whole fourth empire in both of its phases. The little horn refers to the religious leadership of the church, especially the papacy, during the 1260 years.

This idea of pope as head of the church is claimed to be based on the supposedly biblical idea that Peter the apostle was the first pope. However, Jesus never invested him, or any other individual, with such authority. Jesus told Peter, “You are Peter [petros=rolling stone], and upon this Rock [petra=bedrock] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) Christ alone is the rock and the cornerstone. (Matthew 7:24; 21:42; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6) Only as the church makes decisions in His name—His character—does God support them. (Matthew 18:18-20)

Every member of the church is called to be a representative of God. “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) The problem with popery is that he is claimed to be the authoritative representative of God, even over Scripture. But if that is true, then the teachings of popes and councils should agree with the prophets and apostles, because they were clearly authorized to speak for God by miracles and consistency. The popes have often contradicted each other, banned the Bible, claimed to be the only infallible interpreter of it, and have shown the fruit of being wolves in sheep’s clothing.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The church has suffered greatly through the ages because of a mistaken idea that church leadership needs to be like the kings of ancient Israel or like the Caesars of Rome. Rather than every person looking to God for guidance and forgiveness, a sinful, selfish man is put in the way to eclipse the Son. This is what prophecy means by speaking great things against God.

“Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses‘ seat: All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all you are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be you called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” (Matt. 23:1-10)

The church of the dark ages no longer had phylacteries and enlarged the borders of their garments, but just as priests had done for thousands of years, the clergy intercepted the authority of God. As long as they expound the Scriptures correctly (“sit in Moses’s seat”) we should heed church leadership, but when they put themselves in the place of our heavenly Father and no longer respect the rights and duties of individual conscience, then we are not to listen nor imitate.

In practical terms, that is what it means to worship. We may not bow down to priest or pastor, but when we are fearful of losing their approval, when we submit to their unscriptural opinions, when we value their guidance over God’s word, then we are effectively worshipping them. When someone is standing on the pedestal of my soul, whether they or I place them there, I have put them in the place of God’s voice to my conscience. I worship them.

Now imagine the state of society where most of the population of an entire continent worships and lives in fear of the papal hierarchy for over 1000 years. An ingrained culture comes into being that we can scarcely comprehend in this age of modern independence. This kind of power and influence works backwards into the egos of leadership and causes them to blaspheme against God.

“He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God.” Blasphemy is not only the obvious insulting of God, but also claiming to be in His stead, to forgive sins against Him (the church has the authority to decide forgiveness of sins against the church), to claim to be the gatekeepers to heaven, to pretend to be authorities of truth.

The popes “think to change times and laws.” The second commandment forbidding bowing down to graven images is erased and supposedly included in the first commandment. However, it is taught that statues and relics are invested with special powers and worshippers are encouraged to kneel and pray before them.

The fourth commandment honoring the Creator on the seventh day is set aside and replaced with the ancient pagan day of the sun. Not a single text in Scripture removes the blessing of God’s presence from the seventh day, nor a single text places a blessing on the first day. Many decades after the apostles, cowardly Sundaykeeping habits started, because they wanted to avoid being persecuted with the Jews by the empire and to make Christianity “more palatable” by the pagans. Those habits became policy. Policy became tradition. Tradition now defines what we consider normal.

Anyone who reads the book of Acts can see that today’s church has fallen a long, long way from those early days of sincere purity and humble cooperation. The Holy Spirit was poured out after the apostles stopped claiming the chief positions. The papacy is not bad merely because it is a kingly power in the church, but because it has repeatedly refused to follow the example of the apostles, even when reminded by the Reformers. The hierarchy stubbornly refuses to give up earthly power, material wealth, and carnal pleasure. Their traditions are held to be authoritative over the prophets and apostles. Their rich worldly robes will never be traded for the sacrificial cross of Christ.

They led into captivity. Therefore they went into captivity. They killed with the sword. Therefore they will be killed by the sword. The divided fourth empire will be slain by the brightness of Christ’s coming.

[4d] “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 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. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred sixty and six.” (13:11-18)

This dragonlamb beast is new to the prophetic timeline. Just as the time of trouble was not in Moses‘ timeline, so this beast is not in Daniel’s. This fits with God’s pattern of revealing more details as their time approaches and they can be better understood.

The beast in this passage comes up out of the earth. All the beasts before it came up out of the sea. As we saw earlier, sea and earth are symbols for populated and unpopulated places. The beast is at first lamblike and rises while the previous beast descends due to its mortal wound. These three clues can confirm its identity.

In the 1700’s and 1800’s, as the papacy was waning in power, the United States of America was rising. It rose relatively peacefully in a relatively unpopulated New World. No other nation could fulfill this prophecy better than the most powerful one in the world.

The United States was founded, not for lower taxes, but for political and religious freedom. This is why France gifted the country with the Statue of Liberty which has on it plaque: “Give me your tired, your poor; your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

However, the prophecy takes a dark turn when the lamb starts speaking like a dragon. With wonders, miracles, and force, an image of the beast of the Dark Ages is resurrected and worshipped. Obedience is enforced by a mark and the vast majority support it because “they should make an image to the beast.” Apparently, the USA and then the whole earth, will believe that obedience to the religious powers will be the way to survive the many threats growing in the world.

How could such a thing happen in the land of the free and the home of the brave? Fear.

In this mostly secular and Protestant country, when the natural disasters, economic troubles, contagious viruses, public miracles, and other troubles begin to pile too high for politicians, scientists, or armies to solve, then there will be a great religious revival to ask for God’s help. At that time, it will be popular to model past ages when society was more stable through uniform beliefs and practices. “Unity through conformity” will be the modus operandi. Then it will be appealing to make a modern imitation. God must be appeased, will be the thinking. But it will be the dragon, that old serpent the devil, who is intercepting worship.

These kind of political-religious movements we have seen in the past. This is how society operates and how leaders gain control. There will not be an alien monster stamping 666 on hands and foreheads. Our most fundamental issues have always been moral and in relation to God’s spiritual laws of faith, hope, and love. The decisive issue will involve loyalty to “a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences” (Daniel 8:23) as opposed to the infinite good person who creates and operates the perfect universe. 666 can apply to many things, and it applies to the Latin speaking man—LATEINOS. L=30 + A=1 + T=300 + E=5 + I=10 + N=50 + O=70 + S=200 adds up to 666.

[fw][g] “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb where ever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (14:1-5)

Back in chapter 7, between the 6th and 7th seals, we saw that the time of trouble could not start until the 144,000 were sealed. Now we see why. They were involved in a spiritual tranformation process that taught them to think and feel like their Father. They were being taught a song of special experience that opened their eyes to the lies of the false churches, represented by evil women (see chapter 17). They become so identified with the Lamb that they speak only the truth about God. Their message is summarized by the three angels.

This vision shows the 144,000 standing on Mount Zion around the throne, but this also applies to now for it is their current experience that gives them future rewards. Paul says to all true Christians, “You are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” (Hebrews 12:22-23)

Now, right now, we can sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus by faith. We can stand before the throne of our Father because His perfect love casts out fear. Our heart can be perfect right now by simply looking to Him and letting the light of His will flood our soul. Perfect sincerity and commitment is always just one choice away. We cannot know when we measure up to some invisible seal. We can’t feel when we are completely unselfish, because in those moments we are not focused on ourselves. My job is not to measure, but to follow the Lamb where ever He goes. He will lead me through the sealing process as I pay close attention to His footsteps. We are all invited to become one of the 144,000 special servants of the Father.

[fw] “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on: Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.” (14:6-13)

In this passage three angels deliver three messages to the world. Angel is a Greek transliteration meaning, messenger. It could be human or angelic. Context narrows it down. In this case, like in many places in Revelation, the messenger could be either. Usually it is both, because the heavenly works with and through the earthly. So if you read this passage and decide to wait around for a heavenly angel to appear to you, you will probably wait a lifetime.

First angel

The first angel proclaims the everlasting gospel—the eternal good news. The message from God has always been the same. The illustrations and languages change, but the truth remains the same. God is our infinite good person. All that He says and does is good. Connecting with Him makes us good and keeps us good. There is no other hope for transformation out of this quarantine or for a perfect universe. The example of the 144,000 assures us that the gospel works!

Now the hour of His judgment has come and will come. The fourth beast has been weighed and found wanting. It must be ended. The leaders and followers in that system of negative faith, hope, and love cannot survive in a restored universe. Their selfishness would ruin the perfect happiness and selfless love of the eternity to come. He who made the heavens and the earth is about to re-create them. Only the wholehearted can live there.

Second angel

This is the second time that the symbol of a city has been used. In chapter 11, “the great city” fought against the two witnesses, then a tenth of it was destroyed by an earthquake. We saw that the victory over the witnesses was fleeting, because just a year later the papacy had its political power removed.

But can the church possibly be Babylon?! Only the church can be Babylon.

The message is: Babylon is fallen, is fallen. That means that in the past Babylon was not fallen. Furthermore, she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. It is only the church, a “non-nation,” that breaks allegiance with God to fornicate with secular nations.

The second angel’s message is just a micro-summary of Daniel’s prayer applied to the Christian church. Laodicea was not created by outside antichrists. The pale horse was not made by external monsters. Babylon is the vast majority of church leadership and members who profess transformation but lead untransformed lives. In every denomination there is a remnant of true followers of the Lamb, but the mainstream churches have fallen from the heights of apostolic example.

Third angel

The third angel adds to the first two angels the final and most dire warning to the world, “If any man worship the beast...the same shall drink of the...wrath of God which is poured out without mixture."

As terrible as some historical judgments and plagues have been, there was always some mercy mixed in. There were some survivors and/or dying in one of those judgments did not automatically mean losing one’s soul. Not every soldier in enemy armies was opposed to truth. They did not often know the real plans of their leaders. Their bodies died, but their souls shall live. (Matthew 10:28; Isaiah 57:1-2)

“The smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever.” Notice that it is the smoke, not the torment, that continues forever. Though misinterpreted by many, this is the pattern throughout Scripture. We will look at that pattern when we get to the lake of fire in Revelation 20. For now, we see that the rebellious “have no rest day nor night,” but their days and nights do come to an end when God purifies the universe.

What is of more importance to us now is figuring out the mark. “If any man...receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand...and whoever receives the mark of his name” is destined for termination. What is the mark of the beast?

The Father’s seal is placed only in the forehead. The beast will mark the forehead or the hand. The forehead is where decisions are made. God will accept only willing service. The beast also accepts willing service, but also forces people into submission. Thus, the hand, the symbol of a person’s power to act, is stamped. Therefore, we can conclude that some kind of outward behavior is involved, but it will involve choice.

God’s wrath is involved. This means the choice is spiritual. When God’s wrath is poured out, it is always the result of God’s spirit being withdrawn. God’s spirit is withdrawn only when a person pushes Him away. This is just like turning off a light and the darkness takes over. It is like the water being drained out of a tub. The emptiness is poured in to replace it. God’s wrath is “giving up” on the rejectors of His grace and protection. (Romans 1)

Ever since the first description of the beast’s character in Daniel 7, it has been noted that it wars against God, speaks great words against Him, and thinks to change times and laws. In other words, the false churches war against God with evil. Can you war against Good by doing and being good?!

Good is defined by God’s law, by His pattern of loving behavior motivated by faith, hope, and love for His universe. Evil is anything less. The law defines the line between good and evil. “Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)

Notice the encouragement after the third message: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” The seal of the Father is spiritual. Therefore, the mark of the beast is also spiritual. The saints choose at any cost to keep God’s law by faith in Christ. The wicked choose to disobey God freely or they compromise out of weakness such as when the apostles denied Jesus on the night of His crucifixion.

Breaking any commandment is sin, but we already have clues about the focus of this soon coming conflict. The Catholic papacy changed the idol and Sabbath commands. The Protestant churches claim to follow the Bible, but they support Sunday without a single text. The other eight commandments have no controversy. Therefore, we should look for the final battle to focus on these two laws.

Pagan Rome often used the act of offering incense to idols to filter Christians from the rest of the population. Similarly, Babylon may use Sabbathkeeping to filter the Father’s children from the followers of the beast.

The Sabbath invites us to rest with God on His day. It is by its very nature an act of faith. God blessed the day by His presence. to receive the blessing of the Sabbath, therefore, one must enter into His presence. That opposes all that the dragon’s beast is fighting for. To Satan, it is an act of war to rest on the Sabbath.

Therefore, he makes a law “that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark.” Perhaps the seventh day will be the designated day to collect emergency money to deal with mounting crises. Perhaps local churches will keep lists of attendees as they pray to God for deliverance from the plagues. Whatever the specific scenario looks like in the future, it is clear that those who keep God’s commandments cannot participate in the economy modified against them.

[g] “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” (14:14-20)

In the other timelines we were brought up to the time of Christ’s return, but this is the first time a visual is painted for us. Now that we see Jesus in all His glory, we cannot remove our gaze. The timelines never return to the beginning. The focus stays on end time events, their explanation, and the final acts of justice that usher in the perfections of eternity.