From Whence We Came
At this point, it will be instrumental to skip over a few chapters to analyze how we got into this sad state of affairs. In chapters 12 and 13, John’s vision flashes back to his time, when the early true church was placed on the earth and to the war in heaven, in order to lay the groundwork for the situation of the last days. We will find that the history of modern civilization and current geopolitical events were all foreseen by God and symbolized in John’s vision.
Revelations Chapter 12
Tribulation of the Church
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, [in the likeness of things on the earth (JST)]; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
The “likeness” of the woman represents the early church. The child she bore was “the kingdom of our God and his Christ.” (JST Rev. 12:7) The priesthood authority is symbolized in the twelve stars, and the sun and moon symbolize the influence of the Father and the Son.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 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.
11 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.
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
The great red dragon with heads, crowns, and horns is a symbol of Lucifer’s “likeness on earth”. Soon we will see how this likeness operates upon in our world. He lived in the preexistent world, rebelled against God, made war with the angels loyal to Christ, and was cast out, along with a third of the host of heaven who agreed with him. The man child is symbolic of the kingdom of our God. The kingdom that was prophesied to rule the world is a government that rules with the word of God (rod of iron). Satan does not devour the kingdom, but God removes it from the earth, leaving the woman (early church) to flee into the wilderness. Thus we see that God’s governmental kingdom was only on the earth for the briefest moment because Satan was eager to consume it. Yet, the spiritual kingdom or the church flees into the world to hide.
The church is to be nurtured in the wilderness for 1260 days. This number has great significance in the book of Revelations. Variations of it will appear in several critical events. Using the Hebrew calendar, which has 30 days in a month, 1260 days calculates to 42 months, or three and one-half years. Various numbers held deep significance for John. For example, 12 represents the priesthood, 3 symbolizes the Godhead, 7 represents fulfillment or virtue (see ‘Covenant Structures’ by the author), and the number 6 represents deficiency or vice (e.g. 666). When one combines virtue and vice, the number 42 is used, because 6 times 7 equals 42. Forty-two months is equivalent to three and a half years. Not only is 3 ½ connected to 42 (42 months equals 3 ½ years), but it is the number 7 (virtue) cut in half. The number 3 ½ is also stated as “a time, and times, and half a time”. Thus, the numbers 1260, 42, or 3 ½, are used to symbolize the good and wicked nature of an event, not the duration of the event. These numbers are used often by John in subsequent chapters.
In the case of the woman in the wilderness, she is placed in the wilderness for virtuous and wicked consequences, “for a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” We know that the priesthood authority of the church was stripped away with the martyrdom of the apostles, and the support of the Father and the Son waned as the doctrines and truths became diluted with pagan influences.
The wilderness is symbolic of the world. After the death of the saints and apostles, the church endured tumultuous times. The Bible survived, and many people obtained a testimony of Christ through the written word of the Jews. Faithful followers of the word have constituted the church in the wilderness for almost 2000 years. During this time, Christianity has existed for good and evil: good, for the comfort of the faithful, and evil, because tyrants have usurped the power of this faith to further their conquests.
A Land of Refuge
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 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.
16 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.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Satan focuses his attention on persecuting the woman and her seed. Note that the woman survives. “Her seed” is symbolic of the many Christian sects that evolved during the turmoil. A flood of lies, turmoil, or chaos comes from the dragon’s mouth to carry her away. She is given wings to escape; the earth protects her by swallowing up the chaotic flood. This is representative of the great barrier of the Atlantic ocean as the “church” fled to America to escape the flood of persecution. Starting in 1620, pilgrims and peoples from all over Europe came, for religious freedom, to the safe haven of the New World, the protecting earth. It was here, in free America, that the true church was able to find refuge after the restoration. European Christianity was firmly integrated into the various political states.
Revelations Chapter 13
The Great and Abominable Church
1 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.
2 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.
This is a new mighty beast rising out of the sea; the red dragon (Satan) gave it power and authority. The beast may well have risen out of the flood waters of deception that came out of the mouth of the dragon. To understand the character of this worldly beast, we must understand the nature of his creator. Satan’s purpose for existence is to deceive, accuse, and destroy the followers of the Lamb (Rev. 12). He has sworn to accomplish his evil work by using armies and navies to oppress, false popes and priests to deceive, and money to lure. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi describes this same beast as “the great and abominable church” (1 Nephi 13). It was formed out of the European, or gentile, nations (1 Nephi 13:4). It was formed to destroy the saints of God (verse 5). It was steeped in materialism and wealth (verse 7-8). Satan was its founder (verse 6). The seven monster heads of the beast are symbolic of deceptive virtue. The heads could represent various things. They are possibly the European church-states, or Christian empires that evolved in the sixth millennium. They could be empires of conquest that have afflicted God’s chosen flock since the creation of Israel. The symbolism could be confined to seven specific nations/empires, but it is more meaningful to broaden the representation. This characterization of “the nature of the beast” gives greater sense to the balance of this chapter.
It is interesting that the beast and the dragon seem to be identical, yet one is subordinate to the other. If you have seen the beast you have seen the dragon. This affiliation parallels the relationship of the Father and the Son. This is a major hint that the beast from the sea is Satan’s false Christ, an anti-Christ. We can expect it to deceive and give false hope.
3 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.
4 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?
5 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.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
The ravages of World War II severely wounded the European nations. With the help of the United States, the European nations came together, and through the miracle of capitalism the wounds were quickly healed. The world marveled at this miracle. It is possible that the mouth given the beast, to speak great things and blasphemies, was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. With the voice of NATO, the European nations became an alliance that had no equal in the world. Its existence has been for virtue and vice (42 months).
The Wealth of Nations
7 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.
8 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.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
The “war with the saints” is not a military operation. It is more like the war in heaven, as described in chapter 12, a war of ideology, a war between God-given agency vs. Satan’s collectivism. Governments worldwide have embraced the capitalist/socialist juggernaut that grew out of the World War II era. This is a government system that is had for virtue and vice. Socialistic ideology pulls on the heart strings of humanity to implement economic justice through the power of a godless government. Capitalistic ideology pushes all to acquire wealth without thought of the true source of blessings.
Many great and wonderful “healings” have occurred by the new-found power of our governments. Are not nations raised out of poverty? Don’t they build schools, hospitals, homes, and fantastic infrastructure? Hasn’t our marvelous capitalistic technology relieved pain and suffering throughout the world? This beast with seven heads appears to present a secular philosophy of hope to the world, but it is a false hope. It does not lead to eternal life. When problems arise, most people turn to the hope of collective government. It has become engrained as an entitlement for many. The whole world worships the capitalist/socialist ideologies, and they are held in high esteem, even in our places of worship.
Many saints have been overcome by its allure, but there are many who keep the teachings of the Lamb of God supreme in their lives. Verse 10 may well symbolize this concept. It may be a warning to the saints to avoid captivity in a godless deceptive philosophy, and the cutthroat sword of wealth.
The Deceptive Prophet
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth 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.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
This new beast appears to be the workhorse of this unholy trinity; dragon, beast, and lamb beast. This beast comes from the earth; the same earth that protected the woman. It also represents a government: a government as powerful as the beast which was wounded. It has power to do great miracles. It makes fire come down from heaven. It is a government that worships the capitalist/socialist ideology of the wounded beast.
This beast in “lambs’ clothing” represents the United States of America. The U.S. has produced countless miracles through our technology and freedom that continue to amaze and deceive the world. Our nuclear arsenal is certainly “the fire from heaven” which all admire. The appearance, “like a lamb,” is symbolic of our “goodness” as a Christian nation. The horns on the lamb beast are symbolic of our roots in the house if Israel, namely Judah and Joseph. Later this horn interpretation will be expanded.
The image to the beast that the U.S. made is the United Nations, which grew out of the era of the wounded head that miraculously survived. The U.S endows the United Nations with life. The United States works tirelessly to bring the world in line to worship the socialist/capitalist ideology of the beast; after all, it is the hope of mankind. Nations live or die through the implementations of the International Monetary Fund, trade agreements, and treaties; all under the umbrella of the U.N. and NATO. Even the godless communist empires of the world, like the USSR, China, and their satellites, have succumbed to the philosophical power of the beast, because they know they must, or die.
A Mark of Allegiance
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 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.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
At this point in our historical analysis, there is no one in the world that escapes the mark of the lamb beast. In the future, it will be totally inappropriate for the saints of God to align themselves with the mark.
So what is this ubiquitous symbolic mark? John implies that it is tied to the world’s economic system; no man can buy or sell without it. It is the world monetary system and philosophy. Tremendous power is embodied in the lamb beast since it influences the world’s monetary system. With this economic control the lamb beast has the power to propagate its capitalist/socialist philosophy throughout the known world. Currently, all world currencies are aligned to the almighty U.S. dollar. This world currency carries the name of the beast, namely; United States Dollar. Interestingly, each word has six letters, “the number of his name.” The mark is a simple one, $. All world financial transactions can be defined with the $ mark. The emergence of this monetary system has been gradual, yet total. The system gives enormous power and wealth to governments and those who lead them.
The only way anyone can avoid the influence of the beast and its mark is to be in an isolated culture, not connected to the modern world in any way. The time will come when the saints of God will isolate themselves from this monetary philosophy. The establishment of the New Jerusalem or Zion will mark the time when those loyal to Christ will no longer participate in the godless charade of the unholy trinity.
Interpreted in a myriad of ways over the centuries, the mark of the beast has been alleged to be barcodes, implantable chips, the Catholic Church, or various individuals. In Jewish tradition, the number 7 is a representation of virtue, fulfillment, or God’s number. If we assign the number 7 to each member of the Holy Trinity, we have the number 777. The number 6 connotes deficit or evil because it falls short of the number 7, representative of Satan’s failed battle in the preexistence. If we assign the number 6 to each member of the unholy trinity, dragon, wounded beast, and lamb beast, we have the number 666. This insight can help in the understanding of the mark of the beast. It is a representation of Satan’s plan of “hope.” He wants us to “love” him, the dragon, instead of the Father. He wants us to have hope in the wounded beast (secularism); it has shown us how to live and attain healing without Christ. He wants us to faithfully serve the world, much like the lamb beast; through secular accomplishments not inspired by the Holy Ghost. This secular salvation contains elements of service, virtue, and unity. It instills false faith, false hope, and false love. It is a secular plan absent the True God. Conventional wisdom proudly proclaims that money (mammon) is the solution to the world’s ills. “You can buy anything in this world with money.” Yet “you cannot serve God and mammon.” The world literally worships this power. People do not buy nor sell without the world’s money system. The covenant children of God must not succumb to its overwhelming influence. They must have wisdom, otherwise, they will wear the mark on their foreheads (as they covet its influence) or on their right hand (as they materialistically acquire.
A Snake in the Grass
What is fascinating about these beasts and the environment they have created in these last days is their subtlety. Who would ever suppose that our wonderful land of the free, America, raised up by God in these last days to be a witness to his power and infinite foreknowledge, would also be used as a prophet of deception, promoting Satan’s secular salvation. Christ spoke of these times in JS-Matt. “For in those days there shall also arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant”(v. 22). Have large numbers of elect, faithful followers of Christ been deceived by someone boldly declaring he is a counterfeit of the True Christ? No, only psychopaths would make that claim, and only feeble believers would follow the quack. Yet Christ said there would be false Christ’s and prophets that would deceive “the very elect.” The wounded beast and the lamb beast, with their willing minions, are the Christ’s and prophets who subtly deceive with their great economic signs and technological miracles. Too many of the elect have been sucked into their materialistic web of deceit. All of us have felt their allure. They are enticing and intoxicating. We are bombarded with their preaching constantly, yet no one recognizes the false prophet because he is not wearing a white robe. No one understands the symbolism. They only want literalism.
Before we go back to chapter 9, let us take a closer look at the characteristics of these beasts. One may still be wondering what is so wrong with the civilization we have created for ourselves; democracy is advancing, godless communism is vanquished, and the poor nations of the world are beginning to come out of their economic abyss. All is well.
Revelations Chapter 17
For context, chapter 16 contains the global plagues, wars, and devastations ushered in with seven vials after the seventh trumpet blast, which will be discussed shortly in this paper. In chapter 17, John is given more insight as to why this was necessary, and an explanation of the “tools” God used to bring about the devastation.
The Beast’s Bride
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
This whore represents degenerate Babylon. She is closely associated with the beast from the sea, the affluent church-state European/world empires. The waters upon which she sits and influences are representative of “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (ver.15). She has existed for a long time, and her “glorious” conquests are not only the kings of the earth but also the destruction of the followers of Jesus. She is seductive. She is a whore because all classes of people commit immoralities with her on a political, economic, cultural, and religious platform. She is the sick pleasures and gains of the world. She has seduced our churches, too many of which imitate the whore by adorning themselves with pride, popular culture, and riches in an effort to attract money to enable the building of wealthy, popular ministerial empires. The modern culture revolution has used her open society to proudly display sex, drugs, abortion, homosexuality, alcoholism, pornography, etc., ad nauseam. The economies of the world use her allure to bombard customers with promises of happiness and pleasure through the vast sick advertising campaigns of the free enterprise system. Political rulers cannot resist her charms; her powers are intoxicating. How many times have we sent seemingly good men to public office only to compromise their ideals? She is very much alive and flourishing amongst us, yet we all put up with this whore in the name of tolerance. The message of Revelations is that God’s tolerance for this whore is going to end!
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
These verses are like a riddle. There are no prophetic answers or clues from the restored church. Scholars have tried for centuries to solve it. Even now with our contemporary knowledge of the dragon and the beasts, we can only guess as to its meaning. It is likely that the seven mountains are empires that have afflicted Israel’s family since their beginning. These empires include; Persian, Macedonian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Roman, and the European (wounded yet healed). Of these, five are past, one was current to John, and one was to be. All of these empires have sought to impose secular salvation with war and wealth upon the saints of God. In chapter 12, we suggested that the seven heads may represent specific countries or empires. We felt it better to view them as a symbolic generality.
The eighth beast is more obvious because it is the lamb beast, the American empire whose governmental foundation relied upon Greek, Roman, and European political philosophies.
The Kings Battle the Whore
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
The horns represent a fascinating group of kings. These are their characteristics:
1. They are kings, yet have no kingdom. In other words, they are not powerful empires like the heads of the beast. They represent a group of weak nations.(v.12)
2. They are of one mind. They philosophically agree.(v.13)
3. The power and strength they do have, they give to the beast. This power and strength is not governmental power derived from kingdoms.(v.13)
4. They make war with the Lamb. In other words, they seek to destroy believers in Christ and the Lamb’s covenant family.(v.14)
5. These kings or nations hate Babylon and struggle to expose her, consume her, and burn her with fire. Yet they are part of the evil beast!(v.16)
6. God has allowed them to supply the beast with power and strength until the words of God are fulfilled.(v.17)
7. In a future time, they will be overcome by Christ. Out of them will come unto Him “they that are called, and chosen, and faithful.”(v. 14)
We know that the beasts exist. They are the powerful European governments which developed after the earth protected the woman, the church. Through a series of military and political events, they have completely subdued the world with its godless, capitalist/socialist agenda. So who are the nations represented by the horns? They represent the Arab/Islamic world. They are the kings of the east. (Rev. 16:12). Arab/Islamic nations fulfill every single one of the depictions presented by John.
1. Arab nations are impoverished and militarily weak. They have no kingdoms or empires. For the most part they are ruled by kings.(v.12)
2. They are obsessively united by their religion, Islam.(v.13) They have one mind.
3. As a group, they supply western civilization, the beast, with their power and strength, namely, petroleum.(v.13)
4. Arab nations do not hide the fact that they seek the destruction of Israel and the Christianity that supports it.(v. 14) They make war with the Lamb.
5. Islam’s primary hatred is the degenerate culture of the western infidels.(v. 16) Through terrorism they eat her flesh and burn her with fire. When they withdraw their oil, they will make Babylon desolate and naked. (chap. 16:12)
6. John prophesies that their supplying of power and strength (oil), will only last until God’s words are fulfilled.(v. 17)
7. John is possibly prophesying that Christianity will overcome these nations. Practically an impossibility from today’s vantage point.(v. 14)
The symbolism of ten horns to depict the Arab nations is interesting. Animals use their horns when doing battle with predators or challengers. The beasts’ horns are to be enlisted by God to do battle with the harlot who sits upon it and over the whole earth. Although all Islamic nations are somewhat united in their battle with Babylon, it is all the Arab nations surrounding Israel on the Arabian Peninsula which may be specifically symbolized with the ten horns. These are: Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Yemen. Lebanon is not listed here because, although it is directly to the north of Israel, it is currently militarily occupied by Syria, thus its “king” is the Syrian king. John foresaw these ten nations. They afflict Israel, the European nations, and the United States with constant threats and acts of terrorism, yet they gladly supply the U.S. and Europe with their lifeblood, petroleum.
Personal Reflections
This is the world in which we live today, 2005. Borders, alliances, empires, and philosophies have changed drastically over the last 60 years since WWII. John, the seer, was shown the commencement of the seventh millennium in amazing detail. This fact alone should cause humble believers to weep and marvel at the power of our Father; we marvel at his infinite foreknowledge and we weep because we can trust that we and our children are living in the generation which will personally witness the fury of God and his wonderful mercy. We are the ones called to this work.
These beasts, images, marks, horns, and a whore, are all symbolic of the “natural” evolution of man’s proud dominion in the sixth thousand years. The devolution of man’s “creation” will come by swift and devastating natural consequences because we truly sit on a house of cards. The world is not founded on the Rock.
“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matt. 7:26,27)
These world conditions were unthinkable one hundred, fifty, or even twenty years ago, yet they exist, even as John saw them in his vision two thousand years ago! Do the events of 911, the Columbia, the tsunami, Islamic terrorism, Afghanistan, and Iraq now make sense? Man is being put in his place, as promised. God is using the tool of radical Islam to fulfill his promises. Man does not rule the skies, the heavens, the sea, or the earth. Satan still rages in the hearts of men and controls the machinery of war in this, the seventh millennium. The arrogant mistakes of the sixth seal continue, and Deity has promised a correction.
Revelations Chapter 10
John’s Commission
Chapter 10 is a personal pause in John’s vision. The chronological vision that continues after the sixth trumpet blast will continue in chapter 11.
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
This mighty angel appears to be Christ. The rainbow is symbolic of God’s covenants. His appearance is similar to that of the Father (as it were the sun). He positions himself as the absolute ruler over the earth. His voice prompts the thunders of seven other voices. These thunders are probably the seven mighty prophets of the dispensations, namely; Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Apostles, and Joseph Smith. John, although willing, is forbidden to write the messages they present. This Book of Revelations is not to be the vehicle to present their important messages.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
The mighty angel establishes a deadline for the fulfillment of the mysteries which God has declared to his prophets. When will the mystery of God be finished? When the seventh trumpet blast begins to sound. What is the mystery of God? It is the promise that God made with his children long ago, through his servant prophets. God’s promise has been explained in many ways and formats since the beginning of time. In a nutshell it is this: “Come unto me… and I will give you rest.” (Matt11:28) We will soon learn that by the time of the seventh trumpet blast, the New Jerusalem or Zion will have been established and the righteous who want to “come unto Him” will be brought in from all the corners of the earth. This constitutes the final gathering that the prophets have anticipated for millennia. It will be the completion of His covenant with Israel.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
The little book represents John’s unique mission as the one to make this marvelous vision known to the world. His message is bitter, yet sweet. His prophecy is now again reaching into the lives and into the hearts of the faithful.