THE NEW TESTAMENT
BIBLE STORY
by Keith Hunt
Chapter One hundred-forty
The REVELATION of Jesus Christ
Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Let's remember that a "woman" - "her" can most definitely
refer to "a church" - Revelation 12 and the "woman" - there is
the true Church of God.
Here in Revelation 17, we have "the great whore" - "woman" -
"the mother of..."
Obvious this is not "the true Church of God." Let's look at
some important phrases connected with the "woman" - this church.
She sits on many "waters" - verse 1; (meaning given in verse 15) -
many people, nations, and tongues. The kings of the earth have
been in bed with her (verse 2). The inhabitants of the earth have
been made "drunk" with her wine (looks kinda nice in the glass)
she pours out (verse 2). She is very rich in a physical way
(verse 4).
The woman is "drunk with the blood of the saints" - verse 6.
She sits on seven mountains (verse 10). The woman is "the great
city, which reigns over the kings of the earth (verse 18). In
chapter 18, this woman, this "her" - is obviously also an
"empire" indeed in a literal way as well, certainly at the time
of the end she is. It was through her"sorceries" that all nations
were deceived (chap.18:23). And once more in "her" was found the
blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all (the context is true
saints) that were slain while she lived and was in domineering
power (chap.18:24).
Add it all up, put it all together, use some common logic,
as we look at "woman" church history.
Is this the Church of God, Seventh Day? Did that "church" do
the above mentioned things? No, I do not think so. It this the
Baptist "churches" - did they do the above mentioned character
functions in their history? Is this the Pentecostal "churches" -
can you list them with the things done in Revelation chapters 17
and 18? Is this the Assemblies of God? Is this the Church of Jesus
Christ and Latter Day Saints (the Mormons)? Is this the Jehovah
Witnesses? Is this the Presbyterians? How about the chapters 17
and 18 being the Seventh Day Adventist church? Maybe chapter 17
and 18 is speaking about the Lutheran church. I DO NOT THINK SO!
You can go down through all the "Seventh Day" observing churches
and all the "Sunday observing" churches in the Yellow Pages, and
I do not think you will tie any of them with Revelation 17 and 18
....
EXCEPT ONE CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
There has been and can ONLY BE ONE church that meets ALL
that is mentioned in Revelation chapters 17 and 18. A church that
sits on MANY waters, many peoples, nations, and tongues. A church
that has political connections with "kings" and other high
ranking world leaders. A church that does have WORLDWIDE
influence that can and has made the inhabitants of the earth
drunk in many ways. A church that has and does have great
physical wealth and has had "nations" of physical riches under its
control, hence an "empire" that influenced the world and nations
in many physical ways, from beliefs, to religion, to
philosophies, to government laws, to even war. A church that has
in its history the real facts of killing "Christians" that
differed with it, the blood of saints on its hands, in a very
literal way. A church that has in many ways "reigned over the
kings of the earth" and done it from having its own very real
city within a city. A city that with the head of that church in
that city, could decreed, order, have authoritative influence
over even kings and governments, to do the "churches" biding.
In all of the last 2,000 years, since Jesus ascended back to
heaven, there has been ONLY ONE "woman" - ONE "church" that can
answer to all that is written about it in Revelation 17 and 18.
And that ONE church is the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH of the city of
Rome!!
It is NOT POSSIBLE that ANY OTHER church could fulfil all
that is said about it in those two chapter of Revelation. There
is not ANY OTHER church that is large enough, wealthy enough,
POWERFUL enough, sitting on many nations and tongues, having
kings and governments influenced or directing controlled by it,
and that also has a MASSIVE history of KILLING other saints or
Christians. There can ONLY BE ONE church that has ever been since
Christ, or is today, that answers to all the points given in
Revelation 17 and 18. And this church is, I repeat, the Roman
Catholic church - the Papacy!
This is so obviously true that just about all of your "old"
(not sure what the new ones have to say) Protestant Bible
Commentaries AGREE that chapter 17 is talking about the Papacy,
the Church of Rome.
I give you some of the comments of Albert Barnes, from
"Notes on the New Testament" - one of the most popular and best
selling Bible Commentaries of all time.
Quote:
OF THE GREAT WHORE. It is not uncommon in the Scriptures to
represent a city under the image of a woman ... In verse 18 of
this chapter it is expressly said that "this woman is the great
city that reigneth over the kings of the earth" - that is, as I
supposed, Papal Rome; and design here is to represent it as
resembling an abandoned female - fit representative of an
apostate, corrupt, unfaithful church...
THAT SITTETH ON MANY WATERS. An image drawn from either Babylon,
situated on the Euphrates ... or Rome, situated on the Tiber. In
verse 15, these waters are said to represent the people,
multitudes, nations, and tongues over which the government
symbolized by the woman, ruled.
WITH WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION.
Spiritual adultery. The meaning is, that Papal Rome, unfaithful
to God, and idolatrous and corrupt, has seduced the rulers of the
earth, and led them into the same kind of unfaithfulness,
idolatry, and corruption....How true this is history need not be
stated. All the princes and kinds in the dark ages and for many
centuries were, and not a few of them are now, entirely under the
influence of Papal rome.
AND THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH HAVE BEEN MADE DRUNK WITH THE
WINE OF HER FORNICATION. The alluring cup which as a harlot she
had extended to them....that is, they had been, as it were,
intoxicated by the alluring cup she held out to them. What could
better describe the influence of Rome on the people of the world,
in making them, under these delusions, incapable of sober
judgment, and in completely fascinating and controlling all their
power.... AND I SAW A WOMAN. Evidently the same which is referred
to in verse 1.
SIT UPON A SCARLET COVERED BEAST....The word "scarlet" denoted a
bring red color - brighter that crimson, which is a red color
tinged with blue....The color was obtained from a small insect
which was found adhering to the shoots of a species of oak in
Spain and Western Asia....It is applicable in the description of
Papal Rome, because this is a favorite color there. thus it is
used in chapter 12:3, where the same power (the one behind the
power - Keith Hunt) is represented under the image of a "red
dragon." ....
It is remarkable that nothing would better represent the favorite
color at Rome than this, or the actual appearance of the Pope,
the Cardinals, and the Priests in their robes, on some great
festival occasion. Those who are familiar with the descriptions
given of Papal Rome by travellers, and those who have passed much
time in Rome, will see at once the propriety of this description,
on the supposition that was intended to refer to the Papacy. I
caused this inquiry to be made of an intelligent gentleman who
had passed much time in Rome - without his knowing my design -
what would strike a stranger on visiting Rome, or what would be
likely particularly to arrest the attention as remarkable there;
and he unhesitantly replied, "the scarlet color." This is the
color of the dress of the Cardinals - their hats, and cloaks, and
stockings being always of this color. It is the color of the
carriages of the Cardinals, the entire body of the carriage being
scarlet, and the trappings of the horses the same. On occasion of
public festivals and processions, scarlet is suspended from the
windows of the houses along which processions pass. the inner
color of the cloak of the Pope is scarlet; his carriage is
scarlet; the carpet on which he treads is scarlet. A large part
of the dress of the body-guard of the Pope is scarlet....(of
course today the Papacy does not use carriages and horse, but
"scarlet" color is still used. Here Barnes is pointing out that
in his day - middle 1800s - scarlet was greatly used by
the Papacy - Keith Hunt)......
I conclude, therefore, that if it be admitted that it was
intended to represent Papal Rome in the vision, the precise
description would have bee adopted which is found here.
FULL OF NAMES OF BLASPHEMY. All covered over with blasphemous
titles and names. What could more accurately describe Papal Rome
than this?.....
AND I SAW THE WOMAN DRUNKEN WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS.....The
meaning here is, that the persecuting power referred to had shed
the blood of the saints; and that, in its fury, it had, as it
were, drunk the blood of the saints, and had become, by drinking
that blood, intoxicated and infuriated. No one need say how
applicable this has been to the Papacy.....
AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS....The meaning is,
that the warfare in which so much blood was shed was directed
against the saints as such ... and deserved to be called, by way
of eminence, martyrs....How applicable this is to the Papacy, let
the blood shed in the valleys of Piedmont; the blood shed in the
Low Countries by the Duke of Alva; the blood shed on
St.Bartholomew's day; and the blood shed in the "Inquisition,"
testify......
SEVEN HEADS ARE SEVEN MOUNTAINS. Referring undoubtedly to Rome -
the seven-hilled-city.....(more that just interesting that Rome
is built on seven hills - Keith Hunt)......
There can be no doubt that this refers to Rome - either Pagan,
Christian, or Papal. All the circumstances combine in this; all
respectable interpreters agree in this. This would be naturally
understood by the symbols used by John, and by the explanations
furnished by the angel. See verse 18. "And the woman which you
saw is that great city. which reigneth over the kings of the
earth." Every circumstance combines here in leading to the
conclusion that Rome is intended. There was no other power or
empire on the earth to which this could be properly applied;
there was everything in the circumstance of the writer to lead to
suppose that this was referred to; there is an utter
impossibility now in applying the description to anything
else......
End Quote
The notes of Barnes on these chapters are very extensive and
detailed. I have only reproduced a fraction of his notes, in his
Bible Commentary.
As Barnes came to conclude, as I have concluded from all the
natural and historic evidence, when you take all the facts and
all the verses on this "woman" that rides the "beast" - the woman
that guides and rules over nations, peoples, and kings, and the
woman that has killed the saints, has blood on her hands, there is
ONLY ONE possibility as to who she is - THE MIGHTY ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH - THE PAPACY!!
She sat on a "beast" - the secular/political/military
machine of the Roman Empire, that had seven heads, or seven Holy
Roman Empire resurrection. The SEVENTH resurrection is YET TO
COME! It will be the very last religious/political/military power
of Rome. Out of this NOW UNITED Europe, there will be TEN kings
or governments that will give their undivided mind and strength
and power to this end-time MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT. They shall
try to FIGHT Jesus, the Lamb on His return to earth (verses
10-14).
And these same ten horns will finally come to see that the
woman whore, is just that, she is a spiritual whore, she does not
represent in any form, Jesus the Christ, she has been a false
church, a deceiving church, a corrupt church, a DECEPTION that
has influenced and made drunk just about all the world in one way
or another. At her defeat by Christ and His armies at the battle
of Armageddon. The people of the ten nation/kings will HATE the
whore, and she turn and make her desolate, naked, burn her with
fire (verse 16).
The armies of this coalition of the end-time Babylon Holy
Roman Empire will be destroyed at Armageddon (Zech.14) but the
people of the Empire will still be there in the various countries
it ruled. It is they who will turn and start to ransack all the
physical building etc. that represent the Empire. A mob action
reflex. The average person by this time, will have come to see
the real enemy was not the Christ from heaven but the very power
they had been serving for 42 months. They will turn and hate the
whore, and deal with her in no uncertain a way.
We must also note that in this 17th chapter, the woman whore
was the MOTHER OF HARLOTS! She did have children that came out of
her and grew to be women in their individual manner. But all of
them have some of the genes we might say, some of the character,
some of the things that came from their mother. Of course Albert
Barnes and others would not like to see that. They would hardly
admit that all Protestant churches are the harlots from the
mother church. Interesting it is, that the Mother has no
difficulty in called the Protestant churches her "wayward"
daughters, who need to come back to her.
Let's look at a few things the woman whore has given to the
world to make the world drunk on her fornications.
The RC church has given the world the Roman Calendar, and
now just about all the world bows to it in some form, great or
small. Most of the world recognizes the 1st of January, some
fully and completely, others at least in part. When we moved from
1999 to the year 2,000, the first of January, was acknowledge by
Eastern countries as well as the Western world. And it is that
way every 1st of January now.
The RC church gave the world Christ-mass. In some form or
other just about all nations give this season some acknowledgement,
either religiously or the "celebrations" of that material
festivity.
Most of the Western world, even many "churches" observe
Halloween, originally, from the RC church as "All Saints Day."
The RC church conquered Britain and most Christian countries
with Easter in place of Passover (I have a few in-depth studies
on that on this Website).
The RC church in giving us the Roman calendar had an easier
way then to give is many pagan festivals, as well as how we
regulate the hours of the day. So we have the day beginning in
the middle of the night at 12 midnight.
Those are a few of the "made all nations drunk on the wine
of her fornications" theology and adoptions from the pagan nations.
We must not forget of course the many false theological
teachings it has made "Christian nations" drunk on, that she
adopted and has passed on to her harlot daughters. Probably one
of the most serious falsehoods was and is the teaching of sinners
burning in a hell-fire for eternity, being in pain, screaming and
burning but never dying. This teaching passed on into the
Protestant churches and was used to bring "fire and brimstone"
sermons to "get people saved."
The most serious falsehood this woman church gave and passed
on was the adoption of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the
fourth commandment, which plainly states it is the 7th day of the
week that is the Sabbath of God. And also that change was
connected with adding the false pagan festivals of the year and
throwing out God's festivals.
So, putting it all together, as Albert Barnes said, there is
just NO OTHER force or influence that can have had such a wide
impact on the world, with nations, peoples, languages, kings,
governments, and a so-called "Christian" religion of the masses,
than the Roman Catholic church, the Papacy.
She is the BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION that will yet, ONE MORE
TIME, ride the Roman political/military Empire of Europe.
Prophecy is marching on. The scene is taking shape in Europe. It
will come to pass, only time is needed and God can give lots of
time, if He so decides.
I am 65 years old as I write these last end chapters of the
New Testament Bible Story. If God grants me a long life like my
father is having (he's now 87), will all this take place in my
life time? Maybe, it certainly could, if God desires it. Then He
may not desire it and this prophecy of the book of Revelation may
not be fulfilled in my life time. But I do guarantee you that IT
WILL COME TO PASS, as I've expounded to you so far. If you have
eyes to see and hears to hear, you can see it all taking shape in
Europe, with the RC church, with the people of the West, and with
the nations of the East.
The goods news is that MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT AND HER
EMPIRE WILL FALL, and will be no more. And that brings us to
Revelation chapter 18.
.................
To be continued
 Chapter One hundred-forty-one:The Revelation of Jesus Christ #12 Chapters 18 and 19 THE NEW TESTAMENT
BIBLE STORY
by Keith Hunt
Chapter One-hundred-forty-one
The REVELATION of Jesus Christ #12
Chapters 18 - 19
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Let's use the same common logic in this chapter as we did in
chapter 17. We will notice some key verses.
This Babylon has influenced kings, governments, all nations
in an overall of the word "all" and have been made drunk by the
wine of her wrongs, spiritual fornications. And "merchants" of
the earth have grown rich through her. So we are dealing right
away with MORE than just a "church" and its theology.
She sits as a queen, and thinks she is correct, and will see
no sorrow. She is going to suffer death in one day, quick and
deliberate death. Kings or government authorities will bewail
her, when the smoke of her burning is seen. They will need to be
far off, but will lament her destruction as it comes so fast
(verses 2-10).
The MERCHANTS of the earth will weep over her death, because
it's the end of her trading and economy. Again, much more than
just a "theology church" (verse 11). Notice the END of verse 13
... no more "slaves" (margin has "bodies") and lives of people
... Oh, indeed we are back into person's lives being handled.
Merchants who were "made rich by her" shall stand off and weep
and wail, at her torment of destruction. They will say, "Alas,
alas, the GREAT CITY, that was clothed in fine linen, and people,
and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and
pearls. For in one hour so great riches is come to nought"
(verses 15-17a).
All the shipmasters, and all the company in ships, and
sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried,
when the saw the smoke of her burning, saying, "What was like
unto this great city!" (verse 17b-18).
This is going to be such a massive and LARGE destruction
that people working in the ship industry will see from afar the
smoke of her burning. Those merchants that do their trading via
the movement of ships will weep and cry because their riches are
now over and finished (verse 19).
This is way more than just a "theological church" of some
religion.
This great city or power called Babylon will be thrown down
with VIOLENCE! (verse 21).
She will be a power that did proclaim the "bridegroom" and
the "bride - Jesus as the bridegroom, and the "church" as the
bride of Christ, but it was DECEPTION and all (certainly a very
large part) of the nations were deceived by her gospel.
And once more notice verse 24. In her was found the BLOOD OF
THE PROPHETS, and of SAINTS, and of all that were slain upon
earth (in the context of "Christianity").
She is guilty of killing God's true prophets and saints!
This is no mere "church theology" religious group. It is
THAT, yes indeed, BUT this account GOES WAY BEYOND, some nice
quiet little "religious" church.
This chapter is talking about AN EMPIRE! A massive
political/trading POWER in the world, that makes merchants RICH
and wealthy - literally! A power that deals in all kinds of
merchant good, even slaves and the lives of people. It is a world
power that kills God's prophets and saints!
Let's look at the world scene. Now granted, what I'm about
to say could be argued, if you perhaps think Jesus will not
return for another five hundred year, things would be drastically
different by then, on the world scene. But if you believe Jesus'
return if not hundreds of years away, then....
Could South America, very high in Roman Catholic religion,
be the global power to be this Babylon here spoken about? VERY
UNLIKELY indeed.
Could the African continent be this global power - even more
unlikely I would say.
Could this global power be Russia, a hundred years or so
back, Roman Catholicism was very prominent in Russia. I guess you
could argue given enough time, maybe Russia is the Babylon on
Revelation 18. Could this mighty power of this chapter be China?
They have right now a red hot industry as of 2007, but they are
not and never did have the history of worldwide Christian
deception, and mass killings of the saints of God.
What about the Arab nations, could they be this Babylon of
Revelation? Once more I guess if you argue and answer with "a few
hundred years or so before Jesus returns" - you might be able to
think the Arab nations will be this power of Revelation.
But finally what about Europe? With what we have seen from
Revelation chapter 17, this chapter would flow right along, as an
extension or further expounding of chapter 17 and Europe being
this end-time economical and deceptive "christian" power, that
has in its history killed the saints of God, and put forth
teachings, and customs and practices, that have indeed covered
much of the earth in DECEPTIONS.
Europe has finally come together, after many centuries of
certain nations and leaders of those nations WANTING to bring
Europe together by FORCE of warfare, and did NOT succeed. But
"economical" reasons have persuaded them to hook up-arms and walk
together. And it so happens that most of those countries are
predominately Roman Catholic.
I submit to you, that of all the "powers" in the world - the
United European Empire fits the description and the future
prophecy (taking all the centuries of the past into
consideration) of Revelation 18.
And so the reality at the end of the day is that this
prophecy of Revelation 17 and 18, is the BABYLON POWER OF EUROPE
with THE WOMAN "CHURCH" - THE BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION OF ROMAN
CATHOLICISM, riding this last end-time
political/economical/religious system.
She will come to power relatively quickly, and be so great
on the world scene it will take your breath away. She will be the
world's greatest trading and economical power that will do
wonders in making some people very wealthy.
This end-time Babylon will be the "king of the north" in
Daniel 11, who will come and destroy the "king of the south" -
the Arab confederacy. Then march into the Holy Land, and take
Jerusalem - Daniel 411:40-45. THEN there shall be a time of
trouble as never was on the earth - Daniel 12:1. It is the same
time Jesus spoke about (Mat.24:24) and Jeremiah wrote about
(Jer.30:7). The GREAT TRIBULATION will begin. The Western world
will come under the heal of this end-time, 7th resurrection of
the Holy Roman Empire. It will deal in slavery and the lives of
people. It will kill many of the saints of God for one more time,
before Jesus returns. Other of the Lord's people will have to
flee to the wilderness. The two witness of God will preach in the
city of Jerusalem. Then into the Day of the Lord, this power will
try to conquer the people of the East (the 5th trumpet of
Revelation 9). But it will not succeed, just as it did not
succeed before in World War 1 and 2. The power to the East will
counter attack (the 6th trumpet of Revelation 9) and THAT POWER
TO THE EAST will be God's hammer to SMASH, BLAST, and bring
DESTRUCTION on Europe.
And so we are back in Revelation 18, at the time of this
Babylon Mystery Religion Empire being DESTROYED, and the
merchants of the earth wailing and weeping over her.
Chapter 17 and 18 are chapters that "clue us in" on this
mighty end-time Beast power and tell us about her destruction in
the blowing of the 6th trumpet. They are "clue us in" and
"destruction" INSET chapters that have taken us back to the 6th
trumpet sound.
The 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation are CONNECTED -
they are two parts of the WHOLE. And chapter 17th is proved by
history to be the Roman Catholic church - a woman whore - riding
the empire or Beast, which had SEVEN head resurrection (the 7th
yet to come in full reality) in history called the Holy Roman
Empire. Every one of those resurrection was in Europe. The 7th
and final resurrection will be in the same geographical area of
the planet - Europe! It's ALREADY THERE, but the woman/beast has
not yet reached full maturity, but it will, in God's time plan,
He can hold it back from maturing for as long as He wishes,
according to how long He wants the church of Jesus Christ to do
its work, before He closes the door on their teaching and
preaching of His word, to the nations of the world. The world
wide INTERNET is of the greatest tools to proclaim the full
Gospel, but when the woman rides the Beast for one last time, and
as I have been VERY PLAIN as to who this woman is, you can be
assured this Website will disappear off into outer-space, and
there will be a time of SILENCE, for the last 42 months of this
age, except for the Elijah to come, and the two witnesses
in Jerusalem.
There is one more important voice that comes from heaven
saying, "COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE, THAT YOU BE NOT PARTAKERS
OF HER SINS, AND THAT YOU RECEIVE NOT HER PLAGUES!" (verse 4).
Do YOU love God's Word, do you fear and tremble in the right
way, before the Almighty? Do you desire to DO HIS WILL and live
His commanments. The Eternal wants to give you eternal LIFE with
Him, but you must be willing to see the deceptions of Babylon
and COME OUT OF HER!
THE WOMAN THAT RIDES THE BEAST
If you need IN-DEPTH proof and reading material,
the Roman Catholic church being the "woman that rides the beast"
at the time of the end, then you need to read "A Woman Rides the
Beast" by Dave Hunt (no relation to me). This large, (over 500 pages)
book was published in 1994, by Harvest House Publications. It may
still be in print, or Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com may have
copies, or your local Public Library may carry it. The book is
LOADED with facts and histories to prove the "woman whore" of
Revelation is the Roman Catholic church.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Now, in chapter 19 we are brought forward again to the very
coming of Christ IN THE CLOUDS with His army, to battle, and have
"the supper of the great God" (verse 17).
John hears the voice of "much people" (Green in his
English/Greek Internilear translates "a voice of a crowd") - not
human people for humans do not go to heaven at death - saying,
"Alleluia; Salvation, glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord
our God: True and righteous are His judgments: for He has judged
the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her
fornications, and has avenged the blood of His servants at her
hand." And again they said: "Alleluia." and her smoke rose up for
ever and ever, and the four and twenty elders and the four beasts
fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying,
"Amen; Alleluia"
(verses 1-4).
John hears another voice coming out of the throne area,
saying: "Praise our God, all you His servants, and you that fear
Him, both small and great." He hears as it were the voice of a
multitude, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of many
thunders, saying: "Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent
REIGNETH. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for
the MARRIAGE of the LAMB is come, and His WIFE has made herself
ready" (verses 5-7).
Here we are in the time frame and scene of Jesus coming for
His bride the true church of God, and the marriage feast is
taking place. What a BLESSED AND WONDERFUL time that will be.
Finally the saints of all ages are resurrected or if alive at
Jesus' coming, CHANGED from mortal to immortal, from human to
divine, from corruption to incorruption. It is the time of what
Paul was inspired to tell us about in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
It is the last trumpet sound, the RESURRECTION takes place, the
angels gather together the saints from the four corner of the
earth (Matthew 24:30,31). It is the time of 1 Thessalonians
4:13-18. The angels will gather the saints and lead them to
Christ in the CLOUDS, in the AIR of this planet. The BRIDEGROOM
and the BRIDE shall be together, the marriage of the Lamb to His
bride has come! What GLORY, what SPLENDOR, the angels sing, a
display of fireworks like no other display blazes away. The
HAPPINESS, the JOY, the PRAISES, the SINGING, the heavenly choir
thunders out the news and the approval. At last the time has now
come for Jesus the Christ, with His bride and the angels, to TAKE
RULERSHIP over the nations of the earth.
Jesus' bride, the Church of God, all of them, each
individual is dressed in CLEAN, WHITE, linen, which represents
RIGHTEOUSNESS! (verse 8).
They will be BLAMELESS before Christ and God the Father. No
sin will be found in them. No sins will be mentioned, they are
clean and white, pure and holy. You need to read my study (if you
have not done so) called "The Truth about Judgment Day" and
understand it correctly.
John says he was told: "Write, BLESSED are they which are
called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. These things are the
true sayings of God" (verse 9).
John falls at the angels' feet to worship him, but is told
not to do so, for the angles are like his fellow servants and
brethren, that have the testimony of Jesus; all are to worship
only God. And the testimony of Jesus Christ is the "spirit of
prophecy." Those in Christ, at the time of the end of this age,
will KNOW the prophecy of Jesus, they will understand, the truth
of the matter will be shown to them, they are the ELECT that
cannot be deceived. They will know the prophecy of Jesus, they
will know who the true servants of God are and who the false
teachers are.
JESUS COMES AS KING AND LORD
John sees heaven open, and behold a white horse and He that
sat upon it was called FAITHFUL and TRUE. He is coming in
RIGHTEOUSNESS to JUDGE and make WAR!!
This is not the little Lord Jesus in a manger in a stable,
this is not the bloody and battered Lord shedding His blood on
the cross. This is the MIGHTY, the POWERFUL, the ONE who can make
RIGHTEOUS WAR, who can JUDGE with righteousness the nations and
the people of the earth. He is the ONE who can perfectly decide
who are to be DESTROYED of those on earth who are destroying the
earth.
His eyes are as a FLAME of FIRE; on His head are MANY CROWNS
(He is King of kings); and He has a name that no human knows,
only He Himself. He is clothed with a tunic dipped in blood (He
will now spill the blood of the armies of the world who come to
fight Him); and His name is called "The WORD OF GOD." He is the
very living word of God, the PERFECT ONE!
Oh yes, He has His armies also, just like the world and the
Beast power and the people from the East, will have their armies,
so Jesus will come with His mighty armies of saints and angles.
What a scene, the armies of the Lord will ride white horses, be
clothed in white raiment, clean and white (verses 11-14).
Put yourself in the mind-eye picture, can you imagine the
scene? It is the battle of the ages. It is the battle like no
other battle. It is the battle to STOP men from destroying the
earth. It is the time as Jesus said, that unless those days were
CUT SHORT, no flesh would be saved alive, the people of the earth
would indeed obliterate themselves from off this planet.
But the days will be cut short. Jesus will come with His
army. At the command of His voice (a sharp two edged sword) He
will SHOUT the battle CRY! His army will come down from the
clouds with a mighty thunderous shout, the heavens will be
ablaze, the lightnings flashing here and there. What the world
(and especially the human armies at the place called Armageddon,
led by Satan, by the man "beast" general, the man "false
prophet") will believe is the forces from another planet, an
invasion from outer space, will in fact be the GLORIOUS,
POWERFUL, MIGHTY, SPECTACULAR, JUDGE of the nations, Jesus the
Christ, the Messiah, coming to RULE with a ROD of iron, and to
tread out the winepress of the fierceness and WRATH of ALMIGHTY
GOD!!
The prophecy of Zechariah 14 will be! It has now come to
pass, it is now a reality in our New Testament Bible Story.
Jesus has come. On His vesture and on His thigh is the name
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
The armies of the Beast power in the Holy Land, and the
armies of the Eastern powers, from the other side of the
Euphrates, will have collected themselves together at the plain
called Armageddon. They will have their state-of-the-art space
age rockets and tanks, and their fast nuclear weaponed planes and
all the latest war machines that man has invented, to that time
in history. They will be ready to DO BATTLE!
But it will be NO CONTEST! Jesus will say the word, and all
the people of the armies there to fight Him, all their flesh
shall MELT off their bones. The blood will flow from Armageddon
like a river for 183 miles, going south, passing Jerusalem, and
on down to the land below. Indeed the time has then come in
Revelation 19 that was foretold long ago by Zechariah - chapter
14 (verses 14-16).
THE END FOR THE BEAST AND FALSE PROPHET
We still step back a little in time. God wants to give
emphasis! An angel standing in the sun, cries out: "COME YE FOULS
OF THE AIR, GATHER TOGETHER FOR THE SUPPER OF THE GREAT GOD, That
you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and
the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and they that sit on
them. the flesh of all, both small and great, free and slaves."
Yes, that GREAT WAR of the end of the age has come. The
rubber is going to hit the road. The acid test has come. The
beast man and the kings of the earth, and their armies are
gathered together (verses 17-19).
The BATTLE is under way! THE BEAST MAN IS TAKEN, TOGETHER
WITH THE "FALSE PROPHET" MAN, who wrought miracles. Yes, Satan
will have his miracle working man on earth also, just as God will
have His two miracle working men - the two witnesses in
Jerusalem.
Jesus will take these two evil men - the beast man and the
false prophet man, and they will face capital PUNISHMENT. They
will both be THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE - they are now DEAD,
dead as a door nail!
The armies of these two end-time evil men with be slain. He
who sits on the white horse - Jesus the Christ, will speak the
word and the armies of mankind will be slain. The fowls of the
air will have their feast of the supper of the Great God (verses
20-21).
It only remains now for the Devil, for Satan to be chained,
and God's promised ONE THOUSAND YEARS of the age of RESTITUTION
will commence. The AGE TO COME, is about to start!
...................
To be continued
 Chapter One hundred-forty-two:The REVELATION of Jesus Christ #13 - chapter 20 THE NEW TESTAMENT
BIBLE STORY
by Keith Hunt
Chapter One hundred-forty-two
The REVELATION of Jesus Christ #13
Chapters 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
John sees an angel come down from heaven, having the key to
the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. The angel lays
hands on the Devil, on Satan, and BINDS HIM UP for ONE THOUSAND
YEARS! Satan is put into the bottomless pit, he is shut up, and
sealed from coming out on to the earth. He will not be allowed to
DECEIVE the nations and peoples of the earth, UNTIL the thousand
years are finished, then yes, God will allow him to come out and
once more deceive SOME, but only for a very short season, a very
short time (verses 1-3).
What a blessing for the people of the earth, to have NO
Satan around for one thousand years. We often do not realize the
horrible work and depths of Satan. When it is all known, I think
we will be somewhat shocked at HOW CLEVER, HOW CUNNING, HOW
DECEPTIVE HE CAN BE, as he often comes as an angel of "light."
Most of the world, the people who have lived in any age, have
been BLINDED - they will be shocked when they are raised to
life again, and really come to understand the depths of the
deceptive work of Satan. The Devil really does come OFTEN as an
angel of light. There are, as I write to finish off this New
Testament Bible Story, OVER ONE BILLION, yes, that is with a big
"B" - Billion Roman Catholics in the world. To them their
Catholic "universal" church is pleasant, nice, caring, warm,
comfortable, and they believe theologically correct (even if some
do disagree with the ruling on "birth control" and "sex only for
reproduction") on the salvation points of theology.
Then you have all the hundreds of thousands in all the other
"Christian" denominations around the world. Most of the members
in those church denomination as blinded, they just simply do not
know they do not know, or they are not concerned with real study
of the Scriptures. They are in a "comfortable pew" and like it
so. It is their spiritual leaders that are mainly at fault. Most
of those spiritual leaders do go to "theological school" and
study for four years or more. They have encountered the truth BUT
just will not teach it! Satan does a number on all these one
billion and hundreds of millions that go under the name of
"Christ."
I subscribe to a "Christian Book" club. Every month you have
this magazine coming with all kinds of very fine writers (as far
as English "prose" goes) - articulate, educated, and have all the
"stuff" needed to sell books to the Christian community. I have
nothing against the "prose" of English. Jesse, who has her
Website on this Website of mine, was a much better English
"prose" writer than me, she had a way of writing much like all
these Christian book writer out there, with ONE EXCEPTION - the
MOST important one - Jesse KNEW AND LIVED the truth of God's
word. So, what am I saying, about those "Christian religious
writers" of some fame, or not? To put it bluntly (and I think you
know by now I do at times put things very bluntly) - they ARE
DECEPTIVE teachers, who have and are NOT teaching the theological
truth of God's word. But they come to you as "angels of light."
Satan is using them to deceive well over a BILLION
Christians on this earth! You think I'm exaggerating. Well just
ask any of them about the FOURTH commandment in Exodus 20.
Then you have the Islamic faith. I believe they say there
are about one BILLION of Islam faith believers in the world at
present. They are deceived also.
You have other faiths of the Eastern world, different
religious faiths in China, India, Japan. They are all deceived!
And what about all the hundreds of millions, who just simply
do not believe in God, period! They just do not think God exists,
or do not think about if He exists or not. The creation around
then TESTIFIES to the existence of the Almighty, but they choose
not to think about it. They are deceived also.
All this DECEPTION, and the one behind it all is Satan the
Devil. Think of the LIBERATING EFFECT this world will feel when
Satan is chained up and CANNOT go around deceiving in any of his
many disguises. It will be ASTOUNDING and a liberating experience
for those people who do live through to see the coming of Christ
and who feel the effect the world will be under when the Devil is
chained up, and cannot do any of his dirty work in the lives of
individual people and governments of nations.
John sees, what all true Christians down the ages have
yearned for, have waited for, and looked forward to seeing.
Thrones are there, individuals sitting on them, having judgment.
They are the lives and people of God from all ages. They have
refused to have anything to do with BABYLON the great. They have
been willing to LIVE and to DIE if necessary, for the truths of
the Lord. They were the ELECT and CHOSEN, of God. Now they sit on
thrones and REIGN with Jesus Christ for a THOUSAND YEARS!!
They have been the relatively SMALL FLOCK, the VERY LITTLE
flock as Jesus once put it, but to them God the Father, is
PLEASED to give them the Kingdom.
All the prophets of old have written about the AGE TO COME
(as Paul once termed it) - NOW it is hear! Now the saints with
Jesus, with Enoch, with Abraham, with Moses, with David, with all
the well known and not known, true Children of the Father, shall
reign and rule the nations of this earth for a thousand years.
And by the way, this is a literal thousand years, otherwise
if not there would have been no need to have gotten so specific
in saying "a thousand years." The book of Revelation, when
saying "forty two months" means 42 months, not a week, or two
years, or 15 months, it means 42 months. So when John writes one
thousand years, it means just that, ONE THOUSAND YEARS! (verses
4-6).
If you have not already done so, please read my study on the
millennium (which means "thousand") called "Armageddon and the
Age to Come" for some details in the Scriptures concerning that
age yet ahead of us.
THE REST OF THE DEAD
Jesus said in John chapter 5, that ALL in the graves would
be raised (John 5:25-29). Here in verse 5 is an important verse
that breaks up into some detail, what Jesus said in the gospel of
John. It is an example of a Bible study key - get all the verses
on any particular subject. This verse here shows clearly that
ONLY the "saints" of God will be in what here is called "the
first resurrection." Those NOT in the first resurrection, are not
raised to life UNTIL AFTER the thousand years. Now, that is
pretty plain and simple to understand. Those that are not
classified by God as worthy to be in the first resurrection, for
whatever reasons the Father has, will not rise in a resurrection
until AFTER the thousand years.
BUT THEY WILL RISE IN A RESURRECTION, that is important to
know and to remember.
More about that resurrection a little later.
SATAN AND DECEPTION FOR ONE LAST TIME
When the thousand years are expired Satan is to be loosed
out of his prison. He will go out to once more DECEIVE the
nations which are in the four quarters of the year. Gog and Magog
(the Russian part of the planet) is especially named, for reasons
we are not told about. But nations in all four quarters are
included. They will be gathered to battle, and the number is not
small at all, like the sands of the sea.
This army goes up and surrounds the camp or home of
"saints", and the beloved city. This seems to indicate the saints
are ones in the physical flesh, not yet made immortal, who live
in the beloved city, which is pretty certain to be the Holy City
- Jerusalem.
You may have many question about this, well so do I. We are
given no more details any where in the Bible concerning this
battle. The "why" is the big question. I'm sure God will have
very good reasons for allowing all this to happen, we will just
have to wait until Jesus comes to receive the answers to our
question. All we can do for now is read it and believe it will
take place as written.
It is a swift victory for God, for fire comes down from
heaven and devours this huge army.
I will say this, this battle has NOTHING to do with that
mentioned in Ezekiel 38 and 39. Both are at the opposite ends of
the one thousand years. As I will write (God willing on all the
Old Testament prophetic books) on those chapters in the future
going through the OT prophetic books, I will just leave it for
now, as I've stated. (verses 4 - 10)
The Devil is this time dealt with in another manner, he is
thrown into the lake of fire that the beast "man" and the false
prophet "man" were thrown into a thousand years earlier. It would
seem that fire is burning continually during the thousand years.
You will read about this fire in Isaiah 66:15-24, which is also a
chapter on the age to come. Some capital punishment will exist in
the millennium, for those who do not desire to have control over
their fleshly minds (we can still be carnal without the help or
Satan) and who will still want to do wicked things and transgress
against the Lord.
The Devil will see his handy work go up in smoke once more.
He will indeed be tormented about it all for ever and ever (Greek
means "ages of the ages." He now begins to see there is no
victory for him, he's smashing his head against a brick way, and
his fate is possibly what Jude alluded to in saying, "wandering
stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever
(Jude 13).
Satan will know that soon there will be no more humans he
can influence, deceive, posses, or control. His time is just
about up, and the thought of not being able to have humans to
manipulate, and lead into sins, must give the fellow night mares
at the thoughts of it all coming to pass. He indeed will have
terrible mental torment over it all (verses 7-10). Not being able
to deceive and influence and even control, would be one of the
greatest punishments he and his demons could possibly be punished
with.
Verse 10 tells us that Satan will be tormented for as the
Greek reads: "for ages of the ages." As Satan is made of spirit,
physical fire and brimstone cannot kill him. Of course God can
say the word and he is no longer, but we see from Jude and from
this verse that it is very likely he will be punished forever in
the blackness of darkness.
THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
John sees a great white throne. He that sits upon it, His
face makes the earth and heaven seem as if not there. Obviously
it is as the next verses tell us the sea and death and hell
(margin is "the grave") gave up the dead.
From verse 5 we know this is the SECOND resurrection! The
insignificant and the kings, the famous, all great or small, from
young to old, were raised up to life again. The "books" - in
Greek "the biblios" - from where we derive "the Bible" was
opened. And another book - "the book of life" was opened. These
dead, now raised to life, were judged by what is written in the
"biblios" according to how they lived, their attitude of mind.
The sea gave up the dead, and the grave gave up the dead, all the
dead, and they were judged according to how they lived, how they
thought, their very attitude of mind.
I have written in detail about this passage and all the
teaching of the rest of the Bible as to being called and chosen,
and the hundreds of millions down through the ages, that have not
been offered salvation in their life-time, who died knowing not
the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the only way to salvation.
Those studies are called, "The Great White Throne Judgment" and
"Called and Chosen - When" and also "The Truth about Judgment
Day."
Indeed there have been millions in past ages that lived and
died not having the Bible, and not knowing Jesus, the only name
under heaven whereby you can be saved (Acts 4:12).
This resurrection is not some millions standing at attention
while some judge (God) brings out a TV screen and has two
columns, the right hand one listing all the "good" deeds and the
left hand column listing all the "bad" deeds. And another book on
the judges right hand where the names of those to be saved will
be entered. Then the two columns of good and bad are added up to
see which out numbers the other. If there is more good deeds than
bad one, their name is entered into the book of life, and they
pass through a door that gives them entry into the eternal
Kingdom of God.
Some of you may laugh at such a scene. But SERIOUSLY, SOME
CHURCHES TEACH SUCH A DOCTRINE!
Now, do you know WHY this idea that some hold is CRAZY, and
off the wall? Because if it was a true teaching of God, then SOME
would obtain salvation BY WORKS!!
You may not know this, but the SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS - DO
HAVE such a teaching, it is called "The INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT."
Maybe other "Christian" churches have something similar.
It's a processing line, to investigate all your sins and good
deeds, add them up, see which comes out on top, then depending
which there is more of, you are either written in the book of
life or you are cast into eternal hell fire, where you shout and
scream for eternity in pain from the fire.
I TELL YOU FRIENDS, BRETHREN, ALL THIS IS ONE OF THE
GREATEST FALSE DECEPTIONS PERPETRATED BY SATAN THE DEVIL!!
NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON, **EVER** IS GOING TO OBTAIN
SALVATION, ETERNAL LIFE **THROUGH WORKS** It is one of the
clearest teachings in the New Testament Bible Story, that you are
SAVED ONLY BY **GRACE** (Ephesians 2:8-10). If you are in any
doubt about that you need to study my study called "Saved by
Grace."
A lot of "churches" teach you that you are saved by grace,
the SDA church does, BUT THEN they come up with some CRAZY,
UNSCRIPTURAL DOCTRINE, about SOME being able to EARN their way to
salvation and into the book of life BY WORKS, by someone (usually
God the Father or Jesus) standing as judge, opening the Bible and
investigating to see if you have more good works than bad, and
then that decides if your going to hell fire for eternity or into
God's Kingdom for eternity.
I'm telling you with plain talk, SUCH A TEACHING is not only
AGAINST everything the Bible teaches on obtaining salvation, but
such a teaching is FROM SATAN HIMSELF!
In MANY studies on this Website, you are given the TRUTH
about salvation, and the truth about being "called" and "chosen"
and THE ONLY way to eternal life. I show you the MANY passages
that give the truth, that ALL ARE IN SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, UNTIL
God decides to call you and REMOVE that spiritual blindness. I
show you that He does NOT call everyone in this physical life
time. Romans chapter 9 through 11 is ONE of the many passages to
ABSOLUTELY PROVE this fact of the Bible and the plan of salvation
as GOD HAS PLANNED it FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON EVER CONCEIVED
AND/OR BORN.
GOD HAS A PLAN OF SALVATION, we saw in the letters of Peter,
that the Eternal WOULD LIKE TO SEE EVERYONE COME TO REPENTANCE!
He does not want anyone to PERISH! He sent His only begotten Son
into the world, that whoever believes on Him, should NOT PERISH,
but have eternal life (the famous John 3:16). But UNTIL BLINDNESS
is removed YOU CANNOT even start on being called and chosen, and
walking the road that leads to eternal life. Until you KNOW
Jesus, the ONLY name by which you can be saved, you AIN'T EVEN
OUT OF THE DUG-OUT, you ain't even on FIRST base!
And MILLIONS down through the ages HAVE NEVER LEFT THE DUG-
OUT!
These verses in Revelation 20:11-13 are not talking about
some investigative judgment, or people standing in a line to see
if they are going to be saved or not by looking at the tally of
their works in the light of the Bible.
You have TWO choices, either these verses ARE talking about
some "standing in line to be investigated" as to whether they get
eternal life, OR these are people for the first time HAVING SALVATION
OFFERED to them. The LATTER is by far the BEST and the MOST LOVING,
from a God who just did NOT call and offer salvation to millions
who once lived on this earth. If you choose the first, then I can see
why millions think Christianity is garbage and God is a monster.
Some of the teachings from Catholicism and Protestism have been
garbage and did make God out to be a monster, who loves to fry
people for all eternity in some hell fire.
If you have not seen it before, are you getting now to see
why the Lord proclaims in STRONG language that the majority of
so-called Christianity is MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT? It will be
DESTROYED, and TRUTH will reign supreme one day!
These verses show MILLIONS of people coming up in a physical
RESURRECTION, who were never called or chosen in their physical
life-time. The Bible will be opened to them, they will UNDERSTAND
IT! The book of LIFE will be opened to them, they will be CALLED
to salvation. They will COME TO KNOW Jesus, the only door to
God's eternal Kingdom. They will NEED TO REPENT! They will need
to accept Jesus as their PERSONAL SAVIOR! They will need to
CHANGE their life (they will come up with the mind-set they had
all their life and died with) - GET IN HARMONY WITH WANTING TO
LIVE BY EVERY WORD OF GOD (Matthew 4:4) WANTING TO LIVE WITH THE
FAITH OF CHRIST (Galatians 2:20) IN THEM. They will NEED TO
CHANGE THEIR MIND-SET, and HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST IN THEM
(Philippians 2:5).
ALL THAT WE HAVE STUDIED CONCERNING SALVATION IN THE
WRITINGS OF PAUL, JAMES, PETER, JOHN, AND THE GOSPELS OF CHRIST,
they will need TO SET THEIR MINDS WITH THIS NEW MAN IN CHRIST,
JUST AS WE ARE DOING, JUST AS THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE US HAD TO DO.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO BE SAVED, AND THAT IS BY GRACE, BUT
WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK AND ACT, AND MOVE IN THE
DIRECTION OF THE BIBLE.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON WILL BE SAVED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. And
those coming up in this resurrection of Revelation 20:11-13, will
be saved just like we are saved today.
This is a WONDERFUL passage of Scripture that gives HOPE for
the MILLIONS who were never given salvation in their life time,
who never had the BLINDNESS removed, who never KNEW Jesus the
Christ. This is not some "second chance" doctrine that some say
we teach. This is a FIRST CHANCE!!
And let me tell you, this explanation of Revelation 20:11-13
IS A WHOLE LOT KINDER, LOVING, AND GOOD NEWS, than the SILLY
ideas of what the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches HAVE
taught AND MAYBE still TEACH!
I have put much of what I just said in BOLD LETTERS. I want
you to REALLY get the point, of false teaching as opposed to the
truth of God.
The length of time for this white throne judgment period is
NOT given. The one some have used in Isaiah (Isa.65:20 - a
hundred years) may have nothing to do with this period and
resurrection of Revelation 20, but to do with the relatively new
earth and heavens of the 1,000 years age. The context in Isaiah
would relate to the millennium age.
If you truly LOVE God, you should be REJOICING - PRAISING
GOD - for the TRUTHS you are finding on this Website. As a young
man, yes I was SHOCKED at some of the things I was discovering
about all the Christianity I had followed from age 6 to 18. BUT
at the same time, I can remember SHOUTING FOR JOY at the truths
God was revealing to me in His Word.
Jesus PROMISED His true followers, "You shall KNOW the
TRUTH, and the truth will set you FREE."
It takes the HEART, it takes HUMILITY, to takes a HUNGER and
THIRST after RIGHTEOUSNESS .... yes, it takes all of that, but I
guarantee if you have it, YOU WILL FIND THE TRUTH, AND YOU WILL
BE SET FREE!
So it is all done. Everyone now has had a chance for
salvation. It only remains for those who REJECTED it, who would
not humble themselves, who would not REPENT, to be rewarded with
DEATH, not eternal life in hell fire, but DEATH, complete
destruction of body and mind.
"And death and hell (the grave) were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the SECOND death. And whoever was not found in the book
of life, was cast into the lake of fire" (verses 14-15).
Now, righteous, sinless eternity, in a new universe
headquarters can begin.
.....................
To be finished next time
  Chapter One hundred-forty-three:The REVELATION of Jesus Christ #14 THE NEW TESTAMENT
BIBLE STORY
by Keith Hunt
Chapter One hundred-forty-three
The REVELATION of Jesus Christ #14
Chapters 21 and 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The plan of salvation for human kind is OVER! It is all
finally finished. Satan the Devil and all his host of demons are
cast away. No sin, no evil, no wickedness, no impurity, no
deception, no falsehoods, no death, will ever be. It is all
finished and glorious eternity lies ahead for the Family of God
and the righteous angels.
John sees a NEW heaven and a NEW earth, and there is no more
sea.
And why should there be any more sea. Stop and think, what
do we humans see inside the sea, just about nothing, unless you
dive down into it with some fancy man-made under water suits to
keep you alive. For most of us we would not really miss having
the sea. And when we are all in the eternal Family of God, we
would miss it even less. For now, in the present, God created
THIS earth as it is to NEED the sea. But when this age of
physical mankind is gone, then there really is no need for the
sea. The NEW earth that the Lord will make, will not require the
sea. So there just will not be one (verse 1).
Here is what John sees:
"And I John saw the HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, coming DOWN from
God out of heaven, prepared as 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
shall be their God." (verses 2,3).
Now, how about that! You've probably been told all your life
that it is YOU who will GO to be with God in heaven. The truth
of the matter, from all the evidence of the WHOLE Bible is just
the OPPOSITE! When anyone dies they go into the ground, they
return to dust, for from dust they are made. It is true, the
"spirit in man" goes to God in heaven (Eccl.12:7) but the spirit
in man does not see, hear, talk, think, walk, play on a harp, or
DO ANYTHING, by its self, without a body. This is proved very
simply by human experience. If your physical eyes go blind, the
"spirit in man" does not take over and see for you. The spirit in
man is the CD, it records your personality and your character,
but is not functional without the rest of you. God does take your
DNA CD character/personality disc on your death, and does bring
it up to heaven for the future RESURRECTION, when you will also
have a NEW GLORIFIED "spirit" body, and so we are back in Paul's
famous resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15.
The truth is WE are NOT going to heaven, heaven and God ARE
COMING TO US!
How Satan has twisted things up-side-down and in-side-out
through false Babylon Mystery religion dressed in the "Christian"
cloak.
The voice in heaven that John hears goes on to say:
"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"
(verse 4).
What a GLORIOUS TIME, what a WONDERFUL eternity for us
humans who were once subject to all the above. It is ALL FINALLY
GONE! All that has been so many times our enemy, is vanquished,
and destroyed, never to be again.
The HE that sits on the throne says:
"Behold I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW" And He tells John to "Write, for
these words ARE TRUE and FAITHFUL" (verse 5). And He further
said, "It IS DONE! I Am Alpha and Omega, the BEGINNING and the
END (eternal). 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!" (verses 5-7).
Do you REALLY UNDERSTAND that, do you really BELIEVE it? The
purpose you were created for, that God created mankind, was not
to make them into the "angel" kind - NO, it was to make them into
the God kind! Into the very SONS and DAUGHTERS of God the Father.
Popular Christianity talks about being sons and daughters of God,
but with such phrases, do they REALLY understand what it means.
If they do, they do not tell their audience. But the truth of it
all IS found in your Bible. God the Father and Jesus your Elder
Brother, WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS TRUTH! It's all over the New
Testament Story. If you have not yet discovered it by reading the
New Testament, then you can see it all expounded for you in my
study called "A Christian's Destiny."
The One sitting on the throne, goes on to say:
"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" (verse 8).
In other language from the New Testament, God is saying
UNREPENTANT SINNERS shall be destroyed in the lake of fire, they
shall not have eternal life.
THE NEW JERUSALEM
And there came one of the angels who had the seven vials of
the seven last plagues, and said to John, "Come with me, and I
will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. John is carried away to
a high mountain and is shown the HOLY JERUSALEM, DESCENDING OUT
OF HEAVEN FROM GOD (verses 9 and 10).
The Holy City with is PURE GLORIOUS SPENDER, is
representative of the pure, clean, glorious righteousness, of the
saints, who are the Lamb's wife, as we had seen back in chapter
19:7,8.
The city has the glory of God, I guess so, for God has lived
in it for .... the eternity past? We are not told. It has a clear
as crystal, stone most precious, look.
It has a wall, great and high, with TWELVE gates, and at the
gates, twelve angels, and names on the gates, the names each of
the TWELVE tribes of Israel. Three gates to each side, north,
south, east, and west.
The wall foundations were TWELVE, in each foundation, the
name of one of the TWELVE apostles of the Lamb (verses 11-14).
Does God use NUMBERS? I think He does! We have a study of
God's use of numbers on this Website. I will add more to it when
I can.
Think about how important God's plan was to Him, for the
TWELVE TRIBES of Israel (what He would do through them) and the
TWELVE APOSTLES (the work through them also) - they will be
imprinted on the Holy City for ALL eternity!
The angel that talks with John, had a golden reed to measure
the city, the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. The city lies
FOUR SQUARE. The length and the breadth and the height are EQUAL.
It is an astounding 1,500 miles. Each side then was 1,500 miles
and the height was also 1,500 miles. An AMAZING CITY, but can we
expect less from a God that is also AMAZING? No, we can not. It
is fitting that our heavenly Father would have such a MAGNIFICENT
CITY to live in, we should expect no less. The wall is 144
cubits, as man measure a cubit. We can not be exactly sure of
that height, for cubits were different in different ages. No big
deal, after being told the city is 1,500 miles in any direction,
what's a wall height, we can wait to see that.
John has to put what he sees in human terms so we can have
some idea in our minds-eye. The wall was like jasper; the city
like pure gold, like unto clear glass. The foundations of the
wall
filled or decorated with all kinds of precious stones.
We are told what structure likeness were the TWELVE
foundations. I leave that for the reader to look up, if they
desire in a good Bible Dictionary. Needless to say it would be
"out of this world" - the pun is of course quite real.
The TWELVE GATES were twelve Pearls. Each gate one whole
pearl: and the streets of the city - pure gold, again as
transparent glass (verses 15-21).
This is SOME CITY, the like of course has never been seen on
earth before. It is the city headquarters of the Great Eternal
God.
This section of Revelation is to be taken literally, there
is nothing wrong with God living in such a GLORIOUS CITY, and
wanting to bring it to the NEW earth. Those who try to teach and
say that God cannot be defined in such a natural way, as indeed
having form and shape, a spirit body, who can live in a spirit
city ... well are they going to be in for a shock, when they see
their "spiritual NOTHING God" shows Himself to be SOMETHING, not
NOTHING.
Ah, yes, could it be anything else, the City has NO temple,
FOR the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb (Jesus) ARE THE TEMPLE of
the city! There was at one time a Temple in that City, for Moses
was told to build the Tabernacle according to what was in heaven.
But NOW, all has been completed for salvation, and the Temple of
heaven is needed no more (verse 22).
This heavenly city has 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 (verse 23). Oh, I guess so, what
more light could there be than God the Father and Jesus His Son,
they are PERFECT GLORIOUS LIGHT!
Verse 24 is very interesting. The nations (Greek can be
"peoples") of them who are saved walk in the light of the city,
and "kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it."
It would seem from this verse, that the sons of God will
inhabit all over, this new earth, and will from time to time come
with their glory (resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15) into
the city. Not all of God's children will live inside the city. We
get a small glimpse into that new age, by this verse. The whole
universe is out there, trillions of light years in distance.
God's children will explore it, maybe watch over it, keep it, and
so be living in different parts of the universe, and certainly,
in different parts of this earth. For as we have seen, God's
people of various glory and positions of responsibility, shall
come to the city and walk in its light. Eternity is not going to
be "playing a harp and gazing on Jesus' face all the time."
Eternity will be INTERESTING and FUN, and we just do not know a
millionth of what it will all be, only this verses gives us a
little clue.
The GATES of this city will not be shut at all. There will
be NO NIGHT there. And again we are told the peoples (God's
children) will bring their glory and honor into it.
We are told (telling us if we want to be there to come into
this city) that no one can be there who is defiled, or works
abominations, or is a liar, but only they whose names are written
in the book of life (verses 26,27).
We saw in the epistles of John who was a liar. He who says
"I know Him, and KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, is a liar, and the
TRUTH is NOT in him" (1 John 2:4). Pretty simple indeed, the
simplicity that is in Christ, is that simple, a child can
understand it. It is not the PhDs of theology, it is not all
those who are super good at English prose and write all those
"Christian books" by the dozens out there. It is THOSE who KEEP
the COMMANDMENTS of God, are yes, saved by grace, but still have
the mind-set, the attitude, to OBEY God, who want to do His will,
follow His way of life, and I will say it once more, for you
Roman Catholic, and all you Protestant people in the world,
serving God, includes the FOURTH commandment of the big Ten!
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
John sees a wonderful pure river, as clear as crystal,
proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb. In the midst of
the street of it, on either side of the river there was the tree
of life. Trees that bare TWELVE fruits, and yielded her fruit by
the month; and the leaves of the trees were for the healing of
the peoples. This is I'm sure very real! Do you get the picture
of the world that God lives in? It is not drab, just a kind of
"nothing." It is in God's realm of living, just as diverse and
interesting, just as much pleasing and fun, as ours is. Why our
physical world and things in it, were created very much after the
type of world God lives in. These trees represent "LIFE" and
"HEALING" - they will always REMIND us through eternity what the
Father did with physical human kind - He gave them LIFE and
HEALING - salvation - GLORY as He has, but not as BRIGHT as He
and Jesus His first born Son have (read carefully 1 Corinthians
15 - there will be different glory and brightness, as pleases the
Father, when we are resurrected or changed from mortal to
immortal). (verses 1-2).
There will never be any more curse of any kind. The THRONE
of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and God's children, shall
serve Him. They SHALL SEE HIS FACE, and His name shall be in
their foreheads (verse 3,4).
We as His children shall always look up to the Father, He
will always be the one we serve and respect, just as the Son
Jesus does, did respect and follow when on earth and still
respects and follows today and forever more. It will be a
WONDERFUL FAMILY relationship for all eternity. And we are given
the absolute PROMISE that when this time of Revelation 21 and 22
is here, we SHALL SEE THE FATHER'S FACE!
This is not a God of NOTHINGNESS, as some deceived nutty
minded "teachers of theology" preach. God the Father is a REAL
PERSON, with FORM AND SHAPE, and one day His true faithful
children WILL SEE HIS FACE. Moses asked God to show Himself to
him, in the glory form. God replied to Moses, that he would show
Himself, but Moses could only see God's back-parts, as no
physical human man could look upon God and live. This HAPPENED,
this took place my friends, it was a REALITY. When we are
glorified we SHALL be able to look upon the face of God. Oh, what
wonderful reality, you just have to read it and as a child,
BELIEVE IT! Yes children can understand the clear things of God,
the simple to understand things, are written just that simply, so
children can read the Bible and understand some of the very
basics of what the Father WANTS you to understand! Let the "wise"
in their own minds, get confused, get mixed up, come up with all
kinds of silly and crazy doctrines about the Bible and God, let
them alone, they are BLIND LEADERS OF THE BLIND, as Jesus cried
out to them in His time on earth.
ONE DAY, if you are faithful to God, if you love Him with
all your heart, mind, and life, if you will but DO HIS WILL,
humble yourself, hunger and thirst for righteousness, YOU WILL
SEE THE VERY FACE OF GOD. Do tears of joy fill your eyes as you
read these words in this chapter? They do mine! Here we are, us
physical weak in the flesh, sinners, saved only by the love and
grace of God, through the love and service of Jesus the Christ,
and we can be one day given the HONOR to look upon the very face
of the MOST HOLY AND PERFECT ONE, the One we can even now call
FATHER. This should make us willing to GIVE UP ANYTHING we need
to give up, to be the true children of God. Jesus did say that to
LOVE HIM, we must be willing to give up, if we have too, our
mother, our father, our brothers, our sisters, our job, our
friends, our .... WHATEVER, to serve Him in spirit and in truth.
If we are willing to present our bodies as a living
sacrifice to God, holy, acceptable unto Him (Romans 12:1) we
shall LIVE WITH HIM AND SEE HIS FACE!!
Also, do not miss it, we shall HAVE GOD'S VERY NAME in our
foreheads, in our VERY BEING! There literally will be called
Enoch God, Abraham God, Moses God, David God, Paul God, Peter
God, John God and whatever our first name is now. We shall have
God's name, it will be our sir-name. If you have not done so,
please read my study "A Christian's Destiny" and learn the
wonderful truth of why God created human beings.
There will BE NO NIGHT THERE in that great heavenly city. No
need for candles, neither the sun, FOR THE LORD GOD GIVES THE
LIGHT, and we shall reign WITH Him for ever and ever (verses
3-5).
The angel told John that all these things ARE FAITHFUL AND
ARE TRUE.
The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to John to
show him and us the things which "must shortly be." Obviously
such phrases as "must shortly be" does not mean to God what to us
in our time frame, means to us. As I've said, two thousand years
to God, in the frame of eternity past and eternity future, is but
the millionth of the blink of an eye, to try and put it in some
kind of language that our minds can imperfectly recognize (verse
6).
Jesus cries out to us of any age since this book was written
down by John, "BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY: BLESSED IS HE THAT KEEPS
THE SAYING OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK" (verse 7).
There are SAYINGS, there are sentences, in this book, that
we need to KEEP! Have you seen some of them? Let me give you one
- Chapter 14:12. and we'll be given it again in a few verses from
this one.
When John heard all these things, his reaction was to fall
down and worship at the angels' feet. He was told NOT to do so,
because the angel was but a servant of the Lord, just as John was
and all children of the Most High. John was to WORSHIP GOD! That
is our calling also, it has never changed since man was upon this
earth (verses 8,9).
The angel said to John, SEAL NOT THE SAYINGS OF THIS
PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND. He that is
unjust, let him be unjust still; he that is filthy, let him be
filthy still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still (verse
10,11).
The time is short brethren, the prophecy of this book of the
Revelation of Jesus Christ CAN BE UNDERSTOOD. I understand it!
And I have expounded its truth to YOU, SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT!
When all these things come to pass, as they will, whoever is
alive when they do, will have A VERY SHORT TIME, before Jesus
comes in glory to reign on earth. He that is HOLY at that time,
when this prophecy is taking place, had better continue to be
HOLY.
Jesus again cries out: "Behold, I COME QUICKLY; and my
reward is with Me, to give every man according to as his work
shall be. I Am the Alpha and Omega, the BEGINNING and the END,
the FIRST and the LAST (the Eternal One). BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH
DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF
LIFE, AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES INTO THE CITY. The ones
who will not make it to enter the city, will be sinners who will
not REPENT and the LIARS (verses 12-15 - my paraphrase).
Jesus continues: "I Jesus have sent my angel to testify unto
you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring
of David, the BRIGHT and MORNING STAR. The spirit and bride say,
Come, and let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the WATER OF
LIFE FREELY" (verses 16,17).
Yes, salvation is yours my friend, it is FREE! You are saved
by GRACE, but that does not mean, as Jesus has just stated, that
you DO NOT have to keep God's commandments. The teaching that
tells you that grace ABOLISHES the commandments of God, is a LIE,
it is a cunning DECEPTION of Satan the Devil who would like to
see YOU killed in the lake of fire which is the second death.
Jesus continues: "For I testify unto every person that hears
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 person 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. HE that testifies to these things
says, SURELY I COME QUICKLY" (verses 18-20).
The above words are all the words that Jesus concluded with
in this book of this prophecy. John after hearing them said:
"AMEN - so be it. Even so come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (verses 20,21).
It's impossible to get around it. The last words of Jesus in
this book, at the time of the close of the first century A.D.
when false teachers had already come into the Church of God, and
were perverting the Gospel of Christ. They were turning the grace
of God into a license to sin! They were already leaving the faith
once delivered to the saints. They were already wanting to get
away from being called or being associated with the Jews. Just
about anything that was thought of as "Jewish" like the 7th day
weekly Sabbath, and the Festivals of Leviticus 23, was being
changed or "done away with" in the theology of these new false
teachers. It was already under way to adopt Easter instead of
Passover in the church at Rome. By the end of the second century
A.D. Easter had come to stay. Sunday observance was being kept
more and more in the Christian world, it would finally be
officially law by the time of Constantine in 321 A.D. The
observance of Christ-mass would soon be adopted by the growing
powerful Roman church, and so faster and faster was the rise of
MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT. And so it is that through that MOTHER
of HARLOTS, Satan has DECEIVED THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN WORLD (and
many other deceptions for the other parts of the world), only the
very ELECT will not be deceived!
WHAT A BIBLE STORY IS THE NEW TESTAMENT. I had no time limit
on doing all of this study on the New Testament. It was not until
November of 2007 that I decided to look back and see when I
started this study. I was surprised to see I started it in
November of 2000. It has taken me SEVEN years to the month to
bring it to completion. Interesting when you know how God uses
numbers, and how number SEVEN is completion.
But numbers aside, the main thing is that all of this study
has HELPED, INSPIRED, EDIFIED, ENCOURAGED, CORRECTED, and brought
YOU personally to a CLOSER WALK WITH GOD.
It has been a wonderful experience for me. I thank the Lord
for giving me the INSPIRATION I needed and the TIME I needed to
finish this work of the New Testament Bible Story. I pray the
Lord will give me the time to now start and finish expounding to
you all the prophetic books of the Old Testament, as they relate
to today and beyond, for the nations of Israel, Judah, and the
whole world.
As the apostle John finished so I use his words:
"THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL. AMEN.
.....................
Revelation chapters 21 and 22 written November 2007
The New Testament Bible Story started November 2000 and completed
November 2007
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